Sept 2015 | Issue # 196 w w w. b a z a a r. t o w n
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Once upon a time many years ago, there existed a band called Whitesnake, and one of their more popular songs was titled 'Here I Go Again'. I think that pretty much sums up how we all feel after our summer break, whatever we did. It seems like the majority of people I know went to Spain, or Greece (Mykonos specifically, which turned it into The Avenues, or so I hear), or stuck closer to home and spent their hard-earned dinars in Lebanon and Egypt. A few more adventurous souls went to Dubai instead, which totally astonished me, since Dubai is almost as hot as Kuwait in July/August and definitely more humid. Don't get me wrong, I love Dubai and all that it has to offer expats, especially the live music scene, the concerts, and way they have made it so incredibly family friendly if you have kids, and single friendly if you happen to be a single professional still sowing your wild oats. So, what significant Kuwait-centric news might you have missed while away? Well apparently, a tender was finally signed for a new airport terminal to be built that should be completed in the next few years, or so they say. And in other news, 360 Mall is going to almost double in size once they complete their expansion plans, and of course, The Avenues is already working on phase four which you can already see from the highway, or from the air for that matter. Speaking of malls, we’re super excited about the all-new Promenade! Arriving as Kuwait’s ultimate family leisure destination, it is located within close proximity to many schools in Hawalli’s Tunis Street. We also have an exclusive about Yaal Mall, delivering the residents of Fahaheel and nearby areas international brands and the latest in dining and leisure options. Speaking of dining, we highly recommend that you pay a visit to the Asian-inspired Bao in Kuwait City, where steamed buns of goodness are reinvented with fusion-filled flavors. September also brings with it a whirlwind of new projects, gallery openings and the beginning of the cultural season in Kuwait. We caught up with the ever-so-talented Managing Director at the One World Actors Centre Eleni Rebecca in up close and personal to learn more about the upcoming theater season, as well as the gifted writers Dana Aljouder and Nicole Vardi to learn about their debut novel Evora. We also got into a steaming office debate over the theme for Nuqat’s upcoming creative conference: The Copy/Paste Syndrome. All you have to do is flip through our pages to read all about it! If fitness is your ultimate goal this month, then our exclusive interview with none other than the World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt for Puma’s latest collection will jolt you into sticking to your new workout schedule. Finally, our fashion editors tell us that you’re probably itching for something new to spruce up your fall wardrobe and our fashion editorials will help you refine your looks for the season. From H&M’s latest, and might we add stunning, Studio Collection for Autumn/Winter 2015, shopping on a budget at Trafalgar’s newest outlet store Options by Trafalgar, to Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s menswear selection of awesome brands, don’t kill us if you burn a hole through your wallet by the end of the month. Happy Reading! Ahmed El-Adly
The bazaar team... Beta3 Kullu Boss Ahmed El-Adly
Beta3 El-Maktab Operations Tim Burns
Beta3 El-Ads Business Development Ihab Mokalled
Beta3 El-Design Design Ahmed AL-Ashab
Beta3et El-Nizam Content Coordinator/Staff Writer Yasmine El Charif
Beta3et El-Ketabah Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun
Beta3et El-Kalam Communications Hala Y. Sharara
Editor Alia Al Duaij
Contributing Writers Akram Nassar Ayman Nassar Darlene Haddad Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg Loaay Ahmed Mohammed El Soukkary Nejoud Al-Yagout Reem Al Gharabally Yasmine Dalloul
Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging
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Contributing Photographers Aysha AlShaibani Christopher Johns
The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).
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baume mercier
INDEX SEPT '15
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ELÉNI REBECCA
USAIN BOLT FOR PUMA
BERLIN CYCLE TOUR
COPY/PASTE SYNDROME
H&M STUDIO COLLECTION
For Eléni Rebecca, the talented actress, director and choreographer considers her role as Managing Director of The One World Actors Centre as a personal investment, and a whirlwind journey filled with of adventure at the same time. Join us in up close and personal to find out makes Eléni tick!
If you’re still trying to muster up the energy to pick up and head to the gym, then our exclusive interview with none other than the World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt for Puma’s latest campaign will whip you into gear! We talk training, speed and awesome Jamaican Chicken, so flip over and start taking notes.
In 2006, Berlin’s city planners completed the Berlin Wall Trail or Berliner Mauerweg as it is known in German, a cycle and hiking trail, which traces the 160 km course of the former East German border fortifications that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Reem Al Gharabally takes us on an enchanted cycling tour.
When our resident bazaar content coordinator received Nuqat’s announcement for the theme of their upcoming creative conference in November, our office entered into a heated debate about The Copy/Paste Syndrome. Read more about our inner office ponderings, and why we can’t wait for the #Nuqat2015!
Leave it to H&M to want us fill our already over-flowing closets with every single item from their Studio A/W 2015 collection. Sporty energy, utilitarian futurism and starburst shine are the themes at H&M Studio for autumn/winter 2015, so flip over and start planning for your perfect autumn wardrobe.
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Usain Bolt p.62
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CREATURES OF COMFORT
HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT
Do you think that it would be easy to dismiss the presence of foreign business in Kuwait? Can you survive without your favorite cup of steaming Java every morning? Yasmine Dalloul tackles the benefits presence of both local and foreign concepts in Kuwait, and how we could achieve the ideal creative balance.
Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s new setup for the Menswear department is all about an all-American East Coast meets West Coast vibe. If you’re looking to reinvent your look this fall, this section will be your one-stop shop, where you will be introduced to some incredible contemporary brands.
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EVORA
NEJOUD AL-YAGOUT
THE PROMENADE
BAO
AN UNTITLED PEN
Worlds apart, Dana Aljouder and Nicole Vardi’s passion for writing brought them together and created an even stronger bond. But it wasn’t until New Years day of 2012 when they started meeting up in exotic locations to start collaborating on their biggest art project yet, a trilogy titled Evora.
The latest addition to our wonderfully talented freelance team, Nejoud Al-Yagout, continues her love affair with poetry. Awake in The Game of Pretending takes us on a “journey from disillusionment to selfrealization.” Being an avid dreamer and serial fantasizer, Nejoud will continue to blow us away with her beautiful poetry.
Located right off the 3rd Ring Road in Hawalli, The Promenade is the ultimate destination for all. With an array of shops – both locally and internationally renowned – The Promenade will never leave you wanting. Make sure you’re there on the 1st and 2nd of October for their Grand Launch Celebrations!
A staple in every cuisine one can possibly consider, bread is – well – essential. Taking that knowledge to heart, the two masterminds behind the restaurant bring us gloriously stuffed baos – steamed buns – hence the name, Bao. From salads and starters to their steamed bun concoctions, both savory and sweet, we were gleeful – and very full.
Join Nejoud Al-Yagout as she sits with 15-year-old prodigy, Rayan Abdul-Baki to find out more about his works-in-progress. With his first anthology titled Words From the Sky already published and his second anthology titled An Untitled Pen close behind – Rayan blows everyone away with his neuroscientific hypothesis to curing Alzheimer’s disease.
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what: @hautekw info: New, gourmet Hot Dog joint editor’s note: We LOVE the décor of this place.
what: @Smeg_Kwt info: Official Smeg distributer in Kuwait. editor’s note: say it with us “YAAAY!”
what: @NatGeoCreative info: Photography + video agency to help creatives worldwide. editor’s note: Another reason why we LOVE Nat Geo.
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what: @ThePromenadeKw info: Kuwait’s newest leisure destination. editor’s note: Read all about it in this issue!
what: @Culture_kw info: Hip new café in Salmiya editor’s note: Cool blend between old and new décor ideas.
what: @FWIRead info: A haven for IG bookworms community. editor’s note: Share your shots of your books #FWIRead!
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STRATEGIES FOR A MORE PRODUCTIVE
WORKDAY
What is it that makes certain people highly productive at work? If the three cups of coffee you drank this morning aren’t doing the trick, it might be time to try a new approach. Here are five ways to make get more out of your workday with a little less anguish. By Akash Karia
1. MAKE YOUR MORNING COUNT As soon as you wake up each morning, there are no doubt emails, phone calls, and people that need your attention. But resist the urge to start responding right away. Put your phone down and move away from your laptop. Checking those messages may seem like a great way to get a head start on the day, but it leaves you reacting to other people’s agendas, rather than setting your own. Instead, outline your own priorities. Consider Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, who puts aside one hour every morning to set his agenda. If judging only by the success of his company, it looks like Schultz may be on to something. The truth is, how you start the first hour of your day determines how much you have accomplished by the last. So, spend that initial hour mapping out your objectives, eating a healthy breakfast, and meditating or working out. Not only will these things increase your focus, they’ll also provide the boost of energy you need to get more done in less time. 2. REMEMBER THE "LAW OF THE VITAL FEW" Otherwise known as the Pareto principle, this economic rule of thumb says that 20% of efforts generates 80% of the results. For example, by fixing 20% of its software problems, Microsoft saw the incidence of errors and crashes drop by 80%. Highly productive people understand that 80% of their output comes from 20% of their input, so they spend time on the 20% of their activities that has
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the greatest overall impact, understanding that the other 80% of their time doesn't warrant nearly as much stress or energy. Identify what, in your day, costs time but doesn't contribute much to your productivity. Systematically break down what you do and ask yourself whether it's driving 80% of what you accomplish results. Once you zero in on the 20% that gets you real results, focus on deleting, diminishing, or delegating the other 80% that doesn't produce the most value for your time. 3. WRITE IT DOWN Think about how many tasks, questions, meetings, and dinner plans fill up each day. Unfortunately, it’s easy to waste brainpower trying to commit them all to memory. So don't. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson knows a thing or two about productivity. In his autobiography, Branson wrote that his most essential possession is his notebook. He takes notes about all the people he talks to each day. The less your brain has to worry about storing information, the more focused and productive you can be on the task at hand. If you aren't a pen-and-paper kind of person, there are now countless apps to help you stay organized, remember important information, and keep your calendar in order. 4. EAT A FROG Mark Twain once remarked that if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, nothing you do
the rest of the day will be as bad by comparison. Although I can't recommend eating live amphibians, the gist is clear: Don't put off the most daunting tasks. Do them first. The more you put something off that you already don't want to do, the less likely you are to do it later in the day as fatigue sets in. So tackle the tough stuff while you're still feeling fresh and energized. 5. SINGLE-TASK You might be tempted to multitask, especially when you're under pressure to meet deadlines, but some studies show single-tasking can be more effective. In his book Brain Rules, author John Medina writes that our brains are sequential processors—they work best when we aren't dividing our cognitive resources between different tasks. In fact, some research has shown that multitasking can make tasks up to twice as long to complete and increase the likelihood of making an error by 50%. You can't afford this level of distraction. If you want to make the most of your workday, make a conscious decision to only focus on the task at hand and get rid of anything that threatens to throw off your focus. If that's Facebook, Twitter, or websites you like for entertainment, try browser add-ons like StayFocused (for Chrome), LeechBlock (for Firefox), and WasteNoTime (for Safari) to cut yourself off from online distractions.
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CREATURES OF
COMFORT The local, the foreign,
and the creative balance in between By Yasmine Dalloul
“Something that people from Kuwait do all the time is travel because they have the means, and they only target what they like and make it bigger and better according to Kuwaiti standards.” That’s how an unnamed local café owner and close friend mine put it, and she definitely hit the nail on the head. Those of us who leave our western pied-à-terres miss the creature comforts we’d grown accustomed to while living abroad. We miss them so much that we end up drawing up business plans and calling backers to bring certain chains we’re convinced we can’t live without back home, so we can enjoy them in the peacefulness of our own scorching backyards. But in between all the fun franchises that we love to boast about having to our foreign friends, we have to remember that wanderlust should not only result in specialty popcorn stores and FroYo cafes. It’s a beautiful thing to see more local businesses pop up, and to see people actively trying to better the country in any way they can. The country has already drastically changed in the past twenty years. From a fitness perspective, for instance, extensive yoga classes that go beyond conventional hatha yoga are abundant, and yogi gems come to our houses to help us practice twice a week. A variety of zumba classes and CrossFit dedicated gyms have spread to almost every neighborhood, making fitness more accessible than it has ever been in the 965. We’ve also opened our minds to expand community projects such as Qout and Shakshooka markets to discover independent small business owners, and non-profit organizations such as the Nuqat Creative Conferences provide workshops for the community to learn and gain inspiration to 26
create outlets that cater to the craftier side of Kuwait. Many people are supporting emerging social justice warriors and tactfully fighting for human, animal and environmental rights. And of course, we are all having a blast with Kuwait expanding its palate and welcoming different cuisines and comfort foods with open arms. It’s great to live in a country where you can eat your way around the world in the span of a full day, having breakfast at Dough in Miral, a light lunch at a classic favorite like November in Kipco, and ending your day with a sweet note at Before Chocolate in Salmiya. But it’s also enjoyable to have the excessive conveniences of internationally known franchises in Kuwait. I, for one, am extremely grateful that as I move back home from living abroad, I don’t have to worry about stocking up on my soy-based facial cleanser from Sephora. I take comfort in the fact that a drive to Lush for my essential Dream Cream body conditioner is a mere 15 minutes away (without traffic). It’s also amazing to know that I don’t have to book a 14-hour flight to JFK and wander to Columbus Avenue just to have a Magnolia cupcake or a burger at Shake Shack. By having these international outlets nestled within our local malls, the economy is boosted and more employment opportunities are available for locals and expats alike. Also, they make people happy and by having them so accessible to us, we’re able to prioritize and explore what we don’t have in Kuwait when we travel. I must say though- while I love the idea of sharing a mutual appreciation for a Grande Caramel Macchiato with the rest of the world(Or, if you have an affinity for the Great White
North like I do, a Double Double with a single chocolate Timbit on the side) in my opinion, we need to cool it with the franchised eateries, and focus a little more on the positive concepts we bring back with us as we return to the nest. It seems that open mindedness and willingness to explore provides a breath of fresh air within different pockets of the country and different types of people with different interests and tastes are slowly feeling accommodated. Maybe more musical outlets should be the next big concept, instead of so many people anxiously anticipating when somebody will bring an In-N-Out to Kuwait. “They only bring back what they think will work in Kuwait, and it seems to be the same thing that’s recycled- it’s about what makes them feel comfortable” -Anonymous Bil a’afiya, Kuwait. Sit back, enjoy, and have a comfortable meal at Red Lobster (come on, who doesn’t love those Cheddar Bay Biscuits?). But don’t forget that franchised indulgence is not all we’re good for, and it isn’t the only thing we have room for. Kuwait has certainly grown and changed a lot in the past couple of decades, coming a long way from rebuilding our war-torn streets, questionable dining spots and imitation Hungry Bunnies that littered the streets of Hawalli. But we don’t need to excessively fill the country with random chains from Europe and North America. We can continue to find comfort, culture and creativity through our own ideas and concepts, whether they’re inspired by travels or not.
Image courtesy of Nuqat.
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THE COPY/PASTE SYNDROME
Tapping into the notion of creative integrity at Nuqat 2015 By bazaar staff
It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In the case of one Richard Prince, the popular visual artist, the previous statement would not sit well with many people. His installation of portraits, composed of blown up photos that were taken from his personal Instagram feed, caused quite a stir at last May’s Frieze Art Fair in New York. Prince deems, along with several legal specialists, that he is basing his art on the notion of ‘appropriation’, and that ‘Fair Use’ in the art world is a common phenomenon. He has repurposed these images, after all, and much of today’s contemporary art is based on historical or now-popular imagery. In an article published by The Verge last May, ‘Fair Use’ is usually evaluated in courts on a case-to-case basis, and it “requires consideration of the difficult-to-define "purpose" and "nature" of the work, the amount of
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copyrighted material used, and the effect the appropriation might have on the market value of the original work.” While Prince’s show received much uproar, some featured ‘users’ saw it an honor to be incorporated into the artist’s work. Others believed his work to be genius. This debate is not unique to the artist above. It is most certainly not new. We discuss originality in almost every aspect of our lives. From the basis of our upcoming business plans to the décor of our homes, we are encouraged to showcase our individuality. However, we can’t deny that the human brain is tricky to say the least, where our subconscious is influenced by endless memories safely stored away, only to appear to us in a mythical reverie or in the form of a genius idea. What happens when you take this co-called genius idea, only to make it better? Should you be punished for your cunning business sense, and isn’t art subjective? We’re
all taught the basics, be it the principal theory of supply and demand in Economics, or different artistic eras in your typical art history class. What is done with learned knowledge is completely yours, or is it? It is this exact debate that has us extremely excited about the upcoming Nuqat Creative Conference. The theme for the conference this year is ‘The Copy/Paste Syndrome’ and the announcement has our offices buzzing with questions. As publishers, we’re constantly wondering how imitation both inspires, and can surely limit the creative production process. Our writers are usually horrified if they overuse a word they just read online, thinking that they will forever be unable to have another original thought, and our designers are always striving to work on new layouts for our print issues. Our inter-office debates rage with questions about one another’s signature style (yes, we writers can be petty like that, creative egos and all), and our editors do have nervous breakdowns when they realize that their splendid ideas are axed because ‘someone else just did this last month’. Rather than sit around and argue about who coined a ‘new term’ that might not mean anything in particular, this bazaar office will join the awesome Nuqaters once again this year, and embark on yet another enlightening journey. At this year’s Nuqat conference and workshops, the “Copy + Paste” process will be utilized as a departure point for questioning topics including originality, authorship, and the artist signature; social trends and business franchises; development of critical thinking in schools; creative copyright laws in music and fashion; virtual reality and simulation. The conference will help us ask whether copying can be a creative act (and if there is indeed any creative act that is free of plagiarism), how our society measures originality and whether individuality is the highest goal of creative endeavors. Yes, it’s going to be scintillating, and there might be a few ‘original’ ideas, or not. We can’t tell you for sure, which is why you need to come experience it for yourself. See you there!
Get ready to gear up and feed your creative minds with new inspirations, ideas and collaborations. Save the date of November 12 to 18, 2015 and join us at The Nuqat Creative Conference to tap "The Copy/Paste Syndrome." For more information, visit www.nuqat.me.
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up close and personal
FOR THE
LOVE OF
THEATER
Eléni Rebecca By bazaar staff
W
ith the inception of The One World Actors Centre, theater in Kuwait found a new home and opportunity, as the not-for-profit social enterprise continues to enhance the theatrical cultural exchange and sponsorship of young artists in Kuwait. The Centre’s journey in Kuwait has taken its performing companies to great heights, most recently participating and performing Antigone: An Arabian Tragedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last August. For Eléni Rebecca, the talented actress, director and choreographer considers her role as Managing Director of The One World Actors Centre as a personal investment, and a whirlwind journey filled with of adventure at the same time.
Eléni Rebecca shares her deeply rooted passion for the theater with her mother Alison Shan Price. She said, “I come from a theatrical family, so performing arts have always been prominent in my life. My mother (Alison Shan Price) started the Kuwait Acting Speech Theatre (KAST) in 1999 and bought LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) Speech and Performance Examinations to the region in 2001. She currently acts as Executive Director for One World Actors Centre, a position held after thirty years in the performing arts industry in Kuwait. I believe her drive and determination to further the arts instilled a passion within me to continue to pursue the dream.” Eléni herself was a child of the theater, taking LAMDA examinations while growing up in Kuwait. She currently holds the Performance Certificate that allows her to train students up to the age of 14 in the field of performing arts. In doing so, Eléni gives back to the community that she grew up in, ensuring that a young passion for the theater is nurtured rather than ignored. The decision to pursue a career in performing arts came naturally. Eléni enrolled in Loughborough University in the UK to study Drama and English, which offered incredible opportunities in the development of her performance craft, especially backstage and costume design. After graduating in 2013, she returned to Kuwait and took on the role of Managing Director for One World Actors Centre, where Eléni also performed or was personally involved in all of the organization’s events and productions. She said, “Whether it’s performing onstage in a Shakespearean production such as Much Ado About Nothing or Romeo & Juliet, choreographing Evita, or directing adults (Alice In Wonderland: 2014) and children (A Little Princess: 2015), there has never been a moment where I have not been 100% involved with an event at One World Actors Centre. It is an experience like no other and I highly recommend anyone that is passionate about the arts to come and get involved.” The One World Actors Centre is especially known for its multicultural companies, where artists from over thirty-five countries from around the world come together to perform. From acting, mime, physical theater, dance to musical theater, the Centre continues to create spectacular performances that exude an inimitable quality. The company recently participated at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with an incredible
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up close and personal
to be a part of it and how it is developing.” Eléni’s personal dream role is Katerina from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, while her favorite role that she performed to date has been Beatrice in Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing, which was performed by the Centre at the British Embassy in March 2014. The Shakespeare aficionado also tells bazaar about the Centre’s many upcoming projects, “We are in the process of holding auditions for our upcoming productions: Around The World In 80 Days with Crowne Plaza Kuwait (a musical evening in two installments, taking place in November 2015 and June 2016); A Lion In Winter and of course, our 5th Annual Shakespeare Festival.” With the success of Antigone: An Arabian Tragedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Eléni wishes for the Centre to expand the international opportunities for artists in Kuwait. The Centre is entering many projects into local Gulf Festivals, as well as developing new writing and performance art. Auditions will soon be open for their upcoming productions of Around The World In 80 Days and The Shakespeare Festival 2016, so stay tuned! Up close and personal questionnaire:
performance of Antigone: An Arabian Tragedy at the picturesque Greenside Venue at Nicholson Square from the 10th to the 15th of August, having to raise awareness and advertise the play to thousands of passersby. While this was the company’s first international venture, Eléni believes that the learning experience is unlike anything the company previously experienced. She said, “I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves the arts. It is something you will never forget. It was fascinating how Antigone: An Arabian Tragedy affected audience members. Spoken in two languages (English and Arabic), it was reportedly incredibly easy to follow, allowing the viewer to experience the story from both angles. It received a four-star review from
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[...continued]
premiere online reviewer Broadway Baby and was one of the ‘Top Picks at the Edinburgh Festival’ for the Alwaleed Centre for its representation of Arabian Culture. While we take for granted the melting pot of cultures that appear in Kuwait, it was surprising to see how dramatically this affected audiences. It really reminded me that Kuwait is unique in how different cultures meld and blend so harmoniously together here.” Eléni believes that Kuwaiti theater is a reflection of Kuwait’s multiculturalism, “It is unique to Kuwait, a kaleidoscope of different backgrounds, cultures and influences. I believe that the scene is successfully developing through the ventures of every performing institution or artist currently in Kuwait. It is a pleasure
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A surprise plane ticket, a backpack, a head full of creative ideas and a heart full of adventure. What is your greatest extravagance? Getting my hair dyed! I have been through the entire color spectrum, from jet-black to silverwhite. What is it that you most dislike? Cockroaches. Which talent would you most like to have? The ability to fly. That’s a talent, right? If you could have any job, what would it be? I’m very grateful to be able to live my professional dreams, so I guess the one I already have. What would you consider your greatest achievement? Being part of the Box Office team that was able to sell out the star-studded musical extravaganza A Night In The West End (held at The British Embassy, 2014) was pretty incredible. We literally had two weeks between the show being originally advertised to its opening night to sell 800 tickets, which was no mean feat. I am very proud of that and privileged to have been part of the team that made it happen. Where would you most like to live? Wherever the heart is: that is home.
For more information, visit oneworldactorscentre.org.
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6
THE TYPES OF GYM RATS By Akram Nassar
Well, summer has come and gone and with it, swimsuit season! Most of us may have felt a little self-conscious about putting on the trusty trunks after our winter hibernation and the inevitable winter weight gain, and that’s where that old gym membership from our New Year’s resolution comes in handy! Here is a recap of the types of gym rats out there that you undoubtedly met (and ultimately forgot now that it is September!) to help better prepare you for next year’s run toward the gym and avoid anyone who might sabotage your momentum: The Zombie: Zombies are somewhat active, somewhat decent gym-goers who are there to kill some time and get some exercise done at the same time. They are called Zombies due to the mindless shuffling and dead stare they exhibit while in between sets. If you are in a position of having to train with a Zombie, take advantage of the work out phase, but avoid the Walking Dead at all costs if you want to maximize your time at the gym!
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The Headbanger: The Headbanger can be seen at your local gym sporting a decent pair of headphones/ earphones, and (you guessed it) headbanging to the latest tunes. While some Headbangers show some startling strength due to the jolt they get from listening to their favorite music and are actually there to get some work done, others are too consumed by the music to actually attempt any form of exercise. Steer clear of those! The Know-it-all: These guys stick out like a sore thumb. They can be found walking around the gym 'flexing' and barking advice to ‘newbies’ on proper form and exercise etiquette. Some have a solid foundation, but most don’t know what they are talking about. That said, it’s always best to avoid all types of Know-it-all’s and stick to getting your advice from a credible source: your professional trainer! The Good Guy: Good Guys are the super heroes of the modern world. They are usually well built and advanced gym goers, and they are always there if you need someone to help out with spotting or to offer motivation to beginners and newbies. Befriend a Good Guy and your work out will be all
the better for it! Without friends to help, Good Guys ultimately turn into Know-it-alls, so do them a favor and save them from that wretched fate! The Self Motivators: These guys are there to draw attention to themselves. If you hear an unnecessarily loud groan or an extra audible grunt it’s probably coming from a Self Motivator. This type of gym rat is harmless and is usually the comic relief of the gym world. Try not to let them catch you smirking or laughing out loud though! The Professional: The diamond in the sand of the gym world, this type knows what they are doing! They know all the proper moves, the proper regiments, the proper diets and supplement strategies etc. They are usually ripped and come in groups of two or more. If you are fortunate enough to befriend a lone Professional, consider yourself lucky! Follow his lead and you’ll make it to the top of the food chain in no time! Use this knowledge wisely, and you will reach your future exercise goals sooner rather than later. Most importantly, though: have fun and don’t forget, it is all about form, form, form!
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I LEFT MY HEART IN VIENNA By Ayman Nassar
In the heart of Europe is where I left my heart. In a city that is filled with sights and sounds unbeknownst to travelers from the Middle East, such as open forests and majestic palaces, as well as the absence of daily life we have grown accustomed to such as horns and shouts and billowing dust. On a recent trip to Vienna, we discovered the true beauty of Austria by neglecting the touristic accommodation of a hotel and instead opting for a furnished apartment, compelling us to rely on ourselves for cleaning, cooking and sightseeing, and adding a robust taste, both literally and figuratively, to our stay. Of course, the first thing for the gastro-inclined would be to sample the local dishes. For main meals none can shy away from the schnitzel (try very hard to not call it by its local name here; escalope, as it takes away from the magic of its magnificence), the tafelspitz (boiled beef) and the gulasch (quite unlike the gulasch we know here). For desserts, the apfelstrudel tops the list, and always insist it be served warm. All the grand locations of Vienna are easily reachable via the myriad of public transport available. Trams, buses and metros run across the length of Vienna. Trains can take you across borders in a matter of hours. When you decide to spend a minute to understand how the system works, you will find yourself saving quite the bundle on transport costs. In the span of two weeks we had much to do and set about to do just that. The following is but a summary of a to-do list when visiting Vienna: Mariahilfer strasse (street) is the most sought street in the lands, offering delicious cuisines from (almost) every corner of the earth in addition to 36
several shops and stores that cater to all needs; from clothing to electronics, from sports to hats and everything in between. Stephansplatz (square), similar to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele of Milan and Taqsim Square of Turkey, is the key attraction housing its namesake St. Stephen’s Cathedral, as well as being home to the most famous brands and shops, in addition to the most impressive cuisine you will ever taste. It is the melting pot where everyone mingles, and it would not be out of place to find yourself walking down the street listening to a cacophony of melodious languages, none alike the other, in the short distance between two shops. The majestic Schönbrunn Palace was a mere station away by metro, and around 1KM away on foot. Its impeccable lawns and tall trees echoed in beauty by the fountain atop the mini-mountain (only 62M elevation based on GPS) behind it housing the Gloriette, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of Vienna. The castle grounds can be enjoyed for free, tours within the castle and some of the surrounding attractions cost a little. The palace is a runner’s paradise with plenty of open spaces, beautiful scenery and other runner folk. They say the best things in life are free, and the next best things are cheaper. This is put into perspective in Vienna with a self-powered “cruise” down the Danube in your very own 4-person tretboot, which can be rented for an hour, or three. An hour will see you pedaling furiously to get into the middle of the river and enjoy the serenity and peaceful atmosphere, a 3-hour voyage however will give you time to take a dip in the lovely waters (the price difference is only double and below KD 10).
In order to complete our Austrian experience, we rented a car and drove to Salzburg for a mountain excursion. Google Maps was our navigator, immediately rerouting us in case we missed a turn. The happiness of traversing a distance of 500KM (one way) amidst snow covered mountains and green forests on only half a tank of diesel was offset by the horror at the gas pump when we refilled that half tank for almost KD 24 (which is more than I spend in a month on fuel here). However, that frightening realization was equally nullified by the drive up the mountain towards Eisriesenwelt, which sounds like something out of a fantasy novel requiring a quest with elves and dwarves, but is actually the largest ice cave in the world. The trip requires plenty of pre-planning as it involves several hikes up steep mountains and a cable car ride to reach the higher point of the mountain where the cave is located, however it is thoroughly worth it to walk within a frozen mountain containing ice that is over thousands of years old. Back in Vienna, in one far off mall, Shopping City Süd (SCS), we found the holy grail of shopper’s paradise, where prices that would make sense if they were in KWD send a shock to your system upon discovery that they are in fact in Euros! Two trips were not enough, and by the end I found my shopping selection process had changed from cost based to weight based, wondering whether my newly purchased treasure would set me back at the luggage counter on the return flight in terms of excess weight. It did! However, thanks to the wonders of tax return for foreigners residing outside the EU, our tax return covered the amount we paid in excess weight.
Luxenter.com
luxenter
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THERE AND BACK AGAIN By Mohammed El Soukkary
Another summer is over, despite what your thermometer might be suggesting. It’s true. As you read this, the working season will be picking up in earnest, and even the most sluggish of bureaucracies will at least be putting up the pretense of working hard. It is when almost everyone is back from vacation, making an effort to paint a little smile across their face, illuminated faintly by the artificially white light of a computer screen. Some will be brushing up on their PowerPoint, and getting ready to enthusiastically make presentations before glazed faces that stare at them with the fading memories of beaches, mountains and an 11 o'clock breakfast time. Getting back into the rhythm of work will feel like trying to run through thick syrup while shackled with concrete. It does not, however, have to be this way; getting back to work does not have to be the worst time of the year; there are things you can do to make the transition easier, if not entirely without turbulence. Ease Into It When you get back to the office you might feel that you are obligated to make a running start, that you have to keep up a certain pace, almost as if to make up for the time you spent away from your desk; there is an almost subconscious feeling of guilt that pervades our collective behavior at this juncture, making us work at a pace that will do nothing if not burn us out. This inevitably compounds the negative feelings of annoyance associated with the return to the workplace.
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Consider instead easing back into the swing of things rather than leaping back into the fray, in the same way that you would take a few days to warm your body up after a long period of not working out and then discovering that yearlong gym membership card at the bottom of your wallet. Jumping back into the same rhythm you were keeping before the vacation will increase the risk of metaphorically pulling your mental tendons. Don’t Get Hung Up The best way to rub salt in the wound at eight in the morning as you navigate traffic on your way to work, is to hang on to the memory of waking up at 10:30am to the sound of birds chirping and gently taking in the day where your most difficult decision will be choosing between a heavy breakfast and a light lunch. Hanging on to the reverie of vacation days past is an excellent way to make everything more difficult in the office. The computer will not start up at the speed of light? It is a cosmic conspiracy against you. The printer ran out of ink? It is all set up to make you look bad in front of your bosses. Everything is a willful act apparently designed to make you feel worse about your day. So stop with the pointless self-inflicted pain, and pay attention to what you are doing. Getting hung up on the vacation will achieve two things, namely the hindrance of your performance and exacerbating your feelings of dread at walking into an enclosed space at first light. Focus on the task at hand to gradually build your tolerance
to an increasing work load, and eventually reestablish your pre-vacation rhythms, without overloading yourself. You’re Not a Prisoner Prisoners tend to keep time in relation to the date of their release, counting downwards towards their eventual freedom. Thinking of time in smaller chunks and breaking it down to weeks, days, and months is an important coping mechanism that substitutes their lack of control over their circumstances. If you find yourself counting down the days between vacations, your mental approach to your job might have more in common with the mindset of a prisoner than you think, which is counterproductive at best, and downright depressing otherwise. Yes, yes, if you had a choice you would not be typing away or designing presentations. We’ve been over that. You do however need to fund your enjoyment, and unless you find the fabled golden goose, your job will continue to play a key role in funding your lifestyle; remember that at least you have the freedom to quit if the job becomes unbearable, a luxury not afforded to the average prisoner. And Back Again Let’s not kid ourselves, if we could do what we wanted all the time we would never walk back into the office. You work hard. You put in the time and hopefully make some money while you do so. It will all have been worth it on that day when you walk out the door with the full knowledge that you will not lay eyes upon your desk for at least ten days.
prado toyota
REFLECT SUNLIGHT TO DARK CORNERS OF YOUR HOME WITH THIS SOLAR MIRROR By Mark Wilson
There’s no artificial light in existence that rivals the beauty of sunshine glowing through your windows. But if you don’t have windows consuming every wall of your home, your living room can feel like a cave, forcing you to mix natural light with the mixed color temperatures of artificial lighting. But Lucy, a solar mirror in development by Italian designers Solencia, offers a way to redirect sunlight into the dark corners of your home. Essentially a smart, rotating mirror, Lucy works
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by placing it near a window and aiming its "nose" to cast light to a wall of your choosing. Then, an onboard solar array will track ambient light and power an onboard motor, which tilts the mirror through the day to send the most light possible toward your target. Most importantly, everything is automatic and self-powered, making Lucy the perfect promise of a smarthome device that’s effortless to operate. As for the actual light output, Solencia claims Lucy can redirect a maximum of 7,000
lumens. For comparison, Solencia tells us that a 250-square-foot room needs roughly 5,000 lumens to feel well-illuminated. Thats roughly the equivalent of three 100-watt bulbs. So Lucy is theoretically capable of lighting up a 15’x15’ living or dining room. Whether or not Lucy can deliver on the promise remains to be seen. But the idea is certainly enticing, and if you’re interested, Lucy modules are already available for pre-order for $200 (KD 60).
back to school aaw
truth or dare
DANA, NICOLE, AND EVORA By bazaar staff
It all started with a dream. When Nicole Vardi and Dana Aljouder first met. A casual hallway encounter at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY blossomed into a beautiful venture – and “the rest, as they say, is history,” Dana smiled. Dana is currently an interior designer in Kuwait who found her passion in writing and performance arts. Nicole on the other hand, is a Los Angelesbased writer and freelance designer who happens to be the second assistant to Bette Midler! Worlds apart, their passion for writing brought them together and created an even stronger bond. But it wasn’t until New Years day of 2012 when they started meeting up in exotic locations to start collaborating on their biggest art project yet, a trilogy titled Evora. Inspired by Brazilian folktales, Nicole had an idea for a book about dirtwalkers and moonwalkers. Putting pen to paper – or fingers to keyboard – Nicole got to writing the first two pages of her story. And as good things come to those who dream, Nicole dreamt of the collaboration and was encouraged by her husband to pursue her instincts. A world away, Dana got the call from Nicole about the book and the collaboration. While Dana was swamped with other projects, the pages
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Nicole had sent her were too compelling to let go – and the project was set in motion. “Writing isn’t easy, especially if you’re co-writing miles apart,” Dana started, “It’s a daunting task that can take hours and hours of hard work, but we loved every second of it. Every week we’d Skype, and whenever we can we’d meet up to work on the story.” Three years after starting work on their novel, it is now published. But still, this is merely book one of the trilogy, with a fourth book possibly in the works. Their message with Evora is simple: anyone and everyone can create their own story and master their destiny. “We come from primarily different backgrounds, yet our imagination has brought us together to create a beautiful world,” Dana added, “The added bonus is that we’re sharing our story with a global audience, which makes it all the more sweet.” How would your mother describe you in one word? D: “Like me.” N: Tenacious. How would you describe your mother in one word? D: Selfless. N: Self-made.
What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? D: “Are you Kuwaitian?” N: ‘So, do you speak Brazilian?’ What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? D: Getting on the wrong boat (to Capri!) or wrong train (to Basel!). N: Meeting a complete stranger from the Internet at the New York Metropolitan Museum and then marrying him four years later. What is your theme song? D: "This Must be the Place" by Talking Heads or "The Purple Bottle" by Animal Collective. N: "I Saw the Sign" by Ace of Base for the child in me, but as a grown up my theme song is : '93’ Til Infinity' by Souls of Mischief. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? D: Gingerly… We used it once in the story. Whoever finds it can email us and we’ll give them a free copy of the book! N: Sleep… I love sleep. Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? D: All over Italy, from the backstreets of Naples to the hills of Urbino.
N: Spain, I am hoping to convince my husband to buy an olive grove so I can make my own olive oil. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? D: "The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself" -Thales. N: “Live simply so that others may simply live” – Ghandi. What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? D: A unicorn because it’s mythical and might not exist. N: An elephant because they’re gentle and protective. What do you miss about your childhood? D: A simple life. N: Summer, when you had to do nothing but play. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? D: Babylon. N: Amelie. How would you describe your handshake in one word? D: Transfixing and mindblowing. N: Firm. What is the toughest part of your character? D: I’m moody and grumpy when I haven’t eaten over 4 hours. N: I tend to skip from one idea to the next. Dana don’t worry, I’ll bring snacks! Who is your favorite historical figure? D: Lorenzo de’ Medici. N: Helen Keller. What in the world do you least desire? D: Conflict. N: Hypocrites. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of would make the world a better place? D: Compassion, courage, and humility. N: If people would just listen to one anothersometimes the only thing someone needs is a person willing to listen to what they have to say. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? D: I’m blunt and honest – no facades, just myself and I’m not scared to be myself. N: No matter the outcome, I will always see the positive. Life is too short to always see the bad. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” D: The unconscious. N: Life. For more information follow them on Instagram @evoratrilogy and to order their debut novel email them at evora@evoratrilogy.com. This book, and those yet to come are written in the memory of Dana’s grandmother – with proceeds going straight to charity.
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OVERWHELMED
& LONELY By Susannah Schuilenberg
We are constantly bombarded with information, usually in the form of “news” with headlines intended to provoke an emotional response. We can’t look at any online source without seeing ads which imply we’re missing some vital trend, videos showing accidents, injuries, or other gore; appeals for missing people, lost pets, wounded animals, or crippled veterans; and trolls. Trolls are everywhere. Those people whom, with the protection of anonymity; write horrible, nasty, vile things about everything and everybody. There’s not enough eye bleach or pictures of cute kittens than can erase some of the stuff we read or see online. There is a cost to this barrage. We become numb, self-protective, and emotionally withdrawn. Even though we may not be aware of it, our psyche slowly comes to the conclusion that the world is not a safe place and we take steps to protect ourselves. We disengage. We still go through the motions. We look like we’re participating in life, but in reality, we’re living shells; hollow and barren inside with the door firmly barred from the inside. We exist in our own lives much like a plane on autopilot. There is much about our world today that is painful. Social media has connected us to each other and to the wider world in ways never before experienced. At the same time, research says we report ourselves as feeling more lonely and isolated relationally than at any other time in history. Don’t get me wrong – I love social media
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and how it can facilitate staying connected, but this digital age has a human cost, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. In my practice, anxiety and/or depression are, by a large margin, the most frequent reason why someone seeks out help. There are many factors that influence these issues, but what comes up over and over and over in therapy is the sense of feeling overwhelmed and lonely. It doesn’t have to be that way. Restore your internal equilibrium, rejuvenate your soul, and regain a sense of connection to your world. Take a decision. 1. Choose one day per week and unplug. Completely. No screens, no online interaction at all. (If you had a near panic attack after reading this, you definitely need to take time off!) 2. Take that offline time to do something enjoyable. Something you used to do and don’t anymore. Go for a bike ride. Take a book to the beach. Paint. Call a friend for coffee (tell him/ her no gadgets). Daydream. Meditate. Do yoga. The list is endless. But do something purposeful. 3. Set aside a specific time for you to consider your life values. Social justice? Education? Animal rights? Identify what’s impor tant for your internal sense of self to be happy, and then go find a way to tangibly manifest that value. Volunteer. Get involved in community initiatives. Star t a little business. Whatever.
4. Make the people in your presence more important than anything else. Prioritize time with others by relationship. The ones in front of you; then friends online whom you really, actually know in person; then virtual friends; and finally, those people who are part of your online life by default. (Get rid of this last bunch. They hide the trolls) 5. Finally, do something every week that nurtures your soul and brings a sense of wonder to your life. Try new things. Go places you’ve never been. Try a random act of kindness for a total stranger. Take your grandmother out for tea. Get off the world’s treadmill and start walking at your own pace. Feeling overwhelmed is almost always about unwittingly giving away personal independence to others. Take back your life by choosing every day to do something by deliberate, mindful choice. When everyone else takes the elevator, take the stairs. Just decide. When someone suggests coffee, choose the little independent coffee shop on the street. Then go there. Every single day, consciously make a choice – no matter how small - which declares your autonomy and individuality. Life is too short to live on autopilot. “When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.” ~Anonymous
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COLORFUL X-RAY PHOTOS
Illuminating the beauty of vintage industrial design By John Brownlee
Everything looks cooler when you blast it with X-rays. The photography of Roy Livingston makes electromagnetic radiation his muse; in his colorful series, X-Ray Visions, the skins of alarm clocks, toy robots, old Crosley radios, and more bubble away to reveal their candy-colored X-Ray cross-sections. X-ray photography is hardly a new thing. Amateur photographers popping inorganic knick-knacks and tchotchkes into an X-ray machine to see what they look like inside as long as the X-ray has been along itself. But X-rays are usually monochrome, which is what makes Livingston's work so captivating: his
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X-ray photographs are as psychedelically colorful as a Beyond the Valley of the Dolls dream sequence. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Livingston tells me that he didn't always take such colorful X-ray photographs, but after experimenting with digitally adding color to his work as part of a study called "36 Robots," "the flood gates opened." Each of his photos begins on the analogue side by taking an X-ray and developing it. He then scans it into his computer in ultra high-resolution, manually cleaning the image as he goes. After cleaning, he creates hundreds of color variations in Photoshop—"I learned about saving large documents in Photoshop
the hard way," Livingston notes—then, after giving the project a few weeks to simmer, goes back to figure out which color paths he likes best. When it comes to deciding what to X-ray, Livingston says its all about design. "I’m a big fan of all kinds of industrial design whether it’s new or old," Livingston tells me. "It’s incredible when you see the thinking, craftsmanship and machining that goes into creating some of these objects. They are works of art by themselves." If there's anything he's trying to get across with his work, Livingston says, "It's that the simplest things can be beautiful."
fiat
HOW STARTING OVER CAN REVIVE YOUR CREATIVITY By Sam Harrison
Starting over isn't always about giving up. Sometimes, it's exactly what you need to give your creativity a fresh boost. "When you first start off trying to solve a problem, the first solutions you come up with are very complex, and most people stop there," Steve Jobs said in an interview with Newsweek in 2006. "But if you keep going and live with the problem, you can oftentimes arrive at some very elegant and simple solutions." Here are five ways to know when it's time to press the restart button and how to start over once you do. 1. PUT ASIDE YOUR FIRST IDEA. If you're looking for a fresh approach to a problem, it's usually smar t to lay aside the first idea that pops up into your head. That's usually the one most other folks would have, and it may not be the best. We can always return to our first ideas, but star ting over and digging deeper typically leads us to more interesting solutions. In the development process for the iPhone 6, Apple's first idea was to make it 5.7 inches. Lead designer Jony Ive and his team felt good about that size, but they didn’t stop there. They each carried a 5.7-inch prototype around for several days and found the phone was too big. So they restarted, ultimately designing a 5.5inch phone. As CEO Tim Cook later told The New Yorker, "Jony didn’t pull out of his butt the 4.7 and the 5.5." 48
2. FIND OPPORTUNITY IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SETBACK. Fifteen years ago, entrepreneurs Andrew Farrar and Rustam Booz created a ball that made funny noises when it rolled on the floor. They called it the "Wiggly Giggly Ball" and set out to market it as a kids' toy. But when they arrived at the Atlanta Gift Show to exhibit for the first time, they found their booth space was located in the pet section. Rather than stomping their feet and going home, Booz and Farrar took a deep breath and started over right there at the trade show, presenting the Wiggly Giggly as a toy for dogs. It was a big hit, and annual sales soon reached $2 million. Wiggly Giggly is now available in dozens of varieties for both pets and children. 3. DON'T WAIT—BE A QUICK-CHANGE ARTIST. Making a quick decision, rather than taking time to mull it over before you start afresh, can be risky. But taking risks sometimes leads to faster results and bigger rewards. That's how Academy Award–winning actress Jennifer Lawrence landed her first leading role. In 2010, she auditioned in Los Angeles for the role of an Ozark teenager in Winter’s Bone. But the casting director said Lawrence wasn’t right for the role because she looked more like an L.A. starlet than a backwoods mountain girl. So Lawrence started over that same night, jumping on a red-eye flight and following the casting crew to New York, where auditions were continuing the next day. She showed up with
rumpled clothes, tousled hair, and no makeup. She got the part. 4. DO SOMETHING NEW WITH THE SAME IDEA. Sometimes starting over isn't a matter of throwing everything out and beginning from scratch. You might just have a round idea that you're trying to cram into a square hole—and it will fit perfectly someplace else. When acclaimed chef David Chang first opened Ssam Bar in New York City, he intended it to be an "Asian fast food" lunch spot. But Ssam’s location on lower Second Avenue wasn’t a great place for lunch crowds. So Chang started serving the same menu at night, focusing on 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. This time shift attracted a late-night crowd and, more importantly, chefs from other restaurants after they got off work. They liked what they found there and created a buzz in the food community. A two-star review soon appeared in The New York Times, helping Ssam Bar thrive. 5. FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT YOUR LAST IDEA DIDN'T. Slipping up can help you reassess your abilities and decide where they can take you next. Maybe your old approach once worked great but isn't paying off anymore. You're failing, and you need to start fresh. Well, what are you still really good at? Coping with old age and illness in his later years, Henri Matisse could no longer hold a paintbrush. So he put away his oils and restarted in a new medium. Discovering he could work with scissors, Matisse began what he called "painting with scissors," creating his famous cut-out works. It became one of the most prolific—and stunning—periods of his career.
int optiques
DOES YOUR DOG REALLY NEED THIS EXCESSIVE, TECHY COLLAR? By Diana Budds
File the Buddy—a souped-up dog collar— under egregiously excessive design. Chances are your dog doesn't need an activity monitor, GPS tracker, temperature and light sensors, and OLED display around its neck. But if you want your pooch to "express its unique character through light," as the designers tout, perhaps this Kickstarter is for you. Squeaker, a pet-tech company with offices in Melbourne and L.A., is tapping into the fact that most pet owners will spend excessive amounts
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of money on their beloved critters. (JFK has even managed to funnel $48 million (14.5 million KD) of funds for a terminal dedicated to animals.) Here are Buddy's bona fides: the collar is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a series of trackers to help pet owners keep an eye on their dog's health and well being. Squeaker likens the device to a FitBit for pets. You can figure out how much the dog has walked, the calories it has burned, and how much it sleeps. You can also program the collar to alert you if your dog has left a
certain perimeter (like at the park), send reminders when it needs to be fed, when it needs to head to the vet. Bright LED lights add a level of safety at night when visibility is challenging—probably the best of the myriad design features crammed into the product. So, if your dog needs a blingy neon collar for all the raves it attends, or if you like "heading to the dog park to compare stats" as the promo video suggests, then back the Kickstarter before September 20 to make Buddy a reality.
bossini
AWAKE IN THE GAME
OF PRETENDING Nejoud Al-Yagout transcends the realm of conformity By bazaar staff
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he latest addition to our wonderfully talented team of contributing writers, Nejoud AlYagout, continues her love affair with poetry. While she writes for us and tends to the many literary works that surround her in the library, this fabulous librarian takes some time to tell us about her latest anthology. Awake in The Game of Pretending takes us on a “journey from disillusionment to self-realization,” Nejoud smiles. Although writing is still a hobby of hers, Nejoud dabbles in the art of letter writing. “I don’t write open letters,” she explains, “they’re personal letters to my nearest and dearest.” Librarian, poet, and freelance writer – “I only write articles when I’m asked to,” she laughs – Nejoud’s poetry transcends time and speaks to everyone. Being an avid dreamer and serial fantasizer, Nejoud will continue to write what she loves and will forever blow us away with her beautiful poetry. “You never know who you’re inspiring by writing,” she smiles, “my advice to anyone out there, just write.” As the launch date for her much anticipated anthology is nigh, we wish her nothing but the best and can’t wait to read more of her
writings! Since her writing isn’t chronological, you can easily pick up anywhere and delve into the curious world she creates with her poetry. Find out about love, the universe, and what it means to really be awake in this poetic journey of the self. We sit down with Nejoud for a little oneon-one to find out more about the hard hitting questions and points her poetry raises – and what love really means. You wrote this book in six chapters – how would you describe each spiritual journey you embarked on from “Awakening” to “The Divine?” The chapters are not necessarily in chronological order. In an authentic dissolution of the person-self, there will obviously be moments when we come face to face with our own darkness. The journey is one in itself, though it is divided into parts because the mind always wants to categorize everything. The mystical walk of life always, always, always leads to The Source, no matter how hard we resist it by clinging to ourselves and to the world. So we can say that "The Divine" is not the last chapter but the chapter. However, if we haven’t arrived, it is only because we have not surrendered yet and that is accepted as well.
It is all a part of a universal dance. It could be the bow before the Waltz. Based on “Realm-love” we find ourselves in need of asking: what is love if not love? "Realm-love" includes polarities and so it is incomplete. Love, even in its incompletion is complete; even in its imperfection is perfect. When we allow the varied aspects of love, we can transcend our limitations of love. Where we are in our capacity to love is merely a role. There is nothing to be judged. What sets Awake in the Game of Pretending apart from This is an Imprint in your opinion? And how do they complement each other? Awake in the Game of Pretending is the evolution of a caterpillar into a butterfly – chrysalis included! This is an Imprint was more of a reflection of two frequencies living within me (and us) – lower and higher. The two books complement each other in that both owe their inspiration to the path of spirituality. Would the “Game of Pretending” be how you view the day-to-day life around you? Yes. We are all in this game of pretending. Once we awaken from the illusory dream, however, something shifts and the material world never appears the same again. This may sound enlightening, but it can be both painful and frightening if we are not ready to let go of our attachments to thought matrices and forms. Do you view it as a type of social commentary on the superficiality that people have started to exhibit present day? Yes. We can refer to specific parts of the book as a social commentary. Superficiality has been a part of our collective unconsciousness for millennia and is not unique to our present day. Since you’ve embarked on writing these culturally driven pieces, what is your commentary on the state of being in Kuwait and the direction we’re going in from an artistic perspective? Kuwait has finally been catapulted into a higher realm. Everyone in the art scene has noticed this. We are still living in a region of cultural restraints and imposed censorships. Unfortunately, we cannot have it all, right away. But, I see boldness lately and I like it. Baby steps, though. Baby steps. Are you working on any exciting projects you’d like to share with us? My book launch is around the corner. That’s as exciting - and terrifying - as it gets for me now! You can find Nejoud’s books online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and iTunes. This is an Imprint is currently sold at Dar Nur, Q8Books (Bayt Lothan) and CAP Gallery. Her new book will be launched in Kuwait on September 15 so visit her website for more information about it and future releases www.nejoudalyagout.com.
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WHY
PINTEREST FEELS LIKE
APPLE IN THE '80S By John Brownlee
Late last month, social bookmarking site Pinterest announced a hiring coup: they were bringing on Susan Kare, the legendary designer behind the original Mac's icons and fonts, as a product design lead. Although Kare has spent decades contracting for Silicon Valley companies like Microsoft, NeXT, and Facebook, this will be Kare's first full-time design position since her stint at Apple in the 1980s. So how did Pinterest woo her, what will she be working on, and what similarities do Pinterest and Apple share? We caught up with Kare on the phone to find out. You haven't worked full-time for a company since Apple. How did you come to join Pinterest? I can't say I was actively looking for a fulltime job, but I'm always thinking about what to do next. A friend was shocked I hadn't met Bob Baxley, Pinterest's design manager. We have the Apple connection in common—Bob managed the design of the Apple Online Store for eight years. So I went in to meet him, and immediately, I just liked him. He told me: "I want Pinterest to be the very best place for a designer to work in the valley." I also met the design team, and it blew me away. It's not huge, but it's mighty. What does 'best place for a designer to work in the Valley' mean? I think what is articulated here, and this strikes me as true when I think about my colleagues, is that Pinterest is looking for really, really strong designers who are also nice. They really use that word in the hiring process, nice. It's just refreshing. I was struck by the talent pool and spirit of collaboration, and saw the imaginative office as a metaphor for the product and company. I also thought it would be fun to join a company with about 600 people—small enough to be agile about design decisions. And of course, it really appealed to me that one of the founders is also a very hands-on creative
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director. As a designer, I'm already finding that Pinterest is a great place to work because the product and culture is all about inspiring users. There's an ongoing effort to expand the extremely diverse group of designers, and everyone is able to focus on an area of interest, and contribute as part of a small team made up of designers, engineers, and product managers. So what are you working on? It's early, but I'm working on the product design team to improve the core experience of Pinterest. I'm starting out by taking a look at things like the home feed and the dozens of icons with the goal of adding meaning and clarity. Icons seems like a natural fit. Yeah, It's a logical place for me to start, but I'm also definitely part of the product design team as a whole, so I don't feel like my design input will be limited to that. But it's still very early.
Do you see any similarities between Pinterest and Apple? It's really hard to compare, but at Pinterest, I'm working team with a lot of people of different ages, experiences, and disciplines in an agile team, which is similar to how I worked at Apple back in the day. It's a good creative environment with just the right amount of structure, which again appeals to me, hearkening back to Apple. Ultimately, though, what seems most similar to me is how user-first both companies are? When we created the original Mac, we made a really sincere effort to make a computer for the rest of us, and give it a friendly, accessible UI. I see the same thing here at Pinterest, where our slogan is: "Put pinners first." Just like when we created the Mac, Pinterest is putting a really strong focus on thinking about the user at every stage in the design process.
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WHY
"BEING A GOOD LISTENER" IS HOLDING YOU BACK By Shane Snow
In 1936, a former salesman published a tip that became one of the great rules of conversation: If you aspire to be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments. Remember that the people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems. This, from the famous "Listening" chapter of Dale Carnegie's hit self-help book How To Win Friends And Influence People, is reasonable advice. But after 80 years of conflation and repetition, it's the source of one of the most prevalent communication faux pas today. Shane Snow is cofounder of Contently and author of Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, And Icons Accelerate Success. We take listening for granted as a noble conversation skill. And as I've written before, asking the right kinds of questions can be invaluable for extracting what we want from conversations. But listening too much—and especially using questions to do so—actually stands in the way of building good relationships.
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ALL YOU'LL GET IF YOU ASK ONLY QUESTIONS IS INFORMATION. Say you're at a networking event. You meet a friendly stranger and begin chatting. The stranger asks you about your work, then follows up with a question about something you mentioned, then another, then another. Then another. Every time the conversation lags, the person gets the ball moving again by asking another question. You finally walk away having talked yourself hoarse and learned nothing. At best you'll think this person was friendly; at worst, annoying. It's not as bad as that one guy who won't shut up about himself, but it's just as useless. He or she contributed nothing. Most people, when they meet someone for the first time, take Carnegie's advice too far: They use questions to initiate conversation, or to stave off awkwardness if they don't know what to say. And they think that's a good idea because "people like good listeners." (For the record, this is the case at bars and social events just as much as in business.) The better strategy is to use questions to introduce a topic, then follow up with statements. Questions are a good way to get a conversation rolling, but if you can resist the urge to follow up with more questions, you'll get to the 50/50
conversation sweet spot faster. Use the person's answer as a springboard to relate to them, instead of a slip-n-slide to another question. In other words, if you want to be a good listener, ask questions. But if you want to be interesting, share things. Tell a story. And if you want to be intriguing, share your point of view. IF YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD LISTENER, ASK QUESTIONS. BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE INTERESTING, SHARE THINGS. This is analogous, in fact, to what smart businesses have figured out with social media. By sharing interesting stories, a brand has a better chance of building relationships with customers than it does by asking them for their money (or to answer a survey). And knowing someone is listening to you—whether it's an individual or company—doesn't make you as likely to like them as if they share something interesting with you. Carnegie was right: People are generally interested in themselves. But the kind of people we want in our lives—business or personal— communicate to connect, rather than for the joy of monologue. If you want to build a relationship with someone, in other words, you need to share more and interrogate less. As it turns out, people like interesting more than they like interested.
vision express
bazaar music ’Nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jivin', too’’ - BB King
COMPTON
THE BOOK OF SOULS
ANTHEMS FOR DOOMED YOUTH
Die-hard fans of the good doctor will know about a certain album called Detox. This album has been rumored since his last solo release, 2001 (released in 1999, just to confuse you) and it has been fueled nonstop over the last 16 years by fans and artists alike, but never materialized. Then, out of the blue, Dre announced Compton, inspired by the new N.W.A biography Straight Outta Compton, and what’s more, the album is to be released mere weeks after the announcement! Expect something special from one of the, if not THE, biggest players in hip-hop history.
Iron Maiden’s eagerly awaited new studio album The Book Of Souls is finally released globally. Because this 11-track album has a total running time of 92 minutes, it is Iron Maiden’s first ever double studio album. There’s a broader split on the songwriting compared to previous Maiden records, with bassist and founding member Steve Harris contributing to seven of the tracks; six of them with Maiden’s guitarists and one sole composition. This is also the first time since 1984’s Powerslave that an Iron Maiden studio album also features two tracks written solely by Bruce Dickinson.
Anthems for Doomed Youth will be the third Libertines album, their first since 2004’s selftitled album, which was released with the band falling apart under the strain of Doherty’s various addictions. They first reformed to play the Reading and Leeds festivals in 2010, before parting again until they headlined Hyde Park in London in 2014. One of the album’s new songs, the reggae-tinged, “Gunga Din” – which features Barât rapping – was performed during the band’s Glastonbury set. The only old song on the album is “You’re My Waterloo,” versions of which have been circulating on the internet for many years.
By Dr Dre
MUSIC COMPLETE By New Order
This long awaited album is New Order’s first full studio release since 2005’s Waiting For The Siren’s Call. Music Complete finds the band revitalized, and where the band has previously pushed toward either electronics or guitars, this album sees them united harmoniously. Music Complete also marks Gillian Gilbert’s return to the studio; this is her first album with New Order since 2001’s Get Ready. The album release is on CD, download and limited edition clear vinyl. In addition, there will be an exclusive 8-piece deluxe vinyl collection that includes the album plus extended versions of all 11 tracks on colored vinyl.
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By Iron Maiden
WE THE GENERATION
By Rudimental
A firm favorite of bazaar head honcho, Mr. Adly, Rudimental release their much-anticipated second album. Having seemingly come from nowhere, the band keeps soaring and shows no sign of slowing down. With multiple releases of singles, and a full diary of live performances at various festivals and clubs – this band is one to watch. Bringing one of the UK’s finest musical creations to the masses, We The Generation promises to be more music to rock out to, be it in your car, house, or in our case, the office. Drum and bass in your face!
By The Libertines
PAPER GODS
By Duran Duran New wave heartthrobs Duran Duran are due to release their hotly anticipated 14th album Paper Gods. With glimmering synths, thumping backbeat, excessive hairspray and all – let Duran Duran’s latest release transport you right back to the 80s. The album cover, designed by artist Alex Israel, features icons that represent the band's history. This includes lips painted by artist Patrick Nagel for their Rio album. Also representing the Rio album is a pink telephone and a chauffeur's cap alluding to that record's closing track. The deluxe physical copy of the record comes with sixteen stickers of Duran Duran iconography, mirroring the album cover.
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WORDS THAT HURT AND HOW TO HANDLE THE CRITICISM By Darlene Haddad
When I was growing up, I was taught to protect myself from criticism by saying "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" Well, I discovered that this wasn't actually true. Criticism indeed can break so many things. I soon discovered that the more I went into denial about the effect that criticism had - the angrier I became. Nobody is perfect and nobody also has the right to break a person with harmful words. However, we live in a world of bullies that come in all shapes and sizes. Often times we can't control the criticism from others, but we can control our reaction to it. So what can we do about it? Firstly, when someone throws out a criticism, we can either take it as a slap on the face or as a lesson to learn from. Normally when someone is throwing out a degrading remark to us, it simply means that they have issues with anger and don't know how to handle certain situations except throw nasty comments out. When someone tells you that you are stupid or unintelligent, what they are actually saying is they haven't got the analytical skills or emotional intelligence to define the true strength of a person, but instead are weak themselves. A strong person doesn't need to point out all the flaws in another person with harshness, but rather lead them to overcome their weaknesses. We cannot control other people's actions, but we can control our own! Here are 8 ways 60
that you can be better equipped to deal with it in future. 1. Firstly, take a deep breath, step back, look at it from another perspective and try not to instantly react in the same way. This will save you from doing something you might regret and even looking bad. 2. Let's face it; no matter what you are going to do in life, there will be those who are going to try to put you down. The more successful you get, the more that they will try. In this case, try zoning out and thinking about something else. Don't even listen to what they are saying or try to argue because that is the whole point - they want you to argue with them so they can try to break your self-esteem even further. 3. Don't let the criticism stop you from living your dreams. When someone criticizes your goals and ambitions, it's often because they are negative about themselves and don't like what you are doing. However, what you end up doing is creating a wall to defend yourself, and over time, you might eventually just give up on your dreams because of one person's attitude. 4. Think about who is giving the criticism and if there is some value and worth in what they are saying. If the critic is your boss, then you should think about what they are saying and see if there is any truth in what he/she is saying and see if perhaps you did lack in the area they were criticizing. However if it is coming from an angry
person on the road, then you don't have to take any value towards it and just ignore it. 5. Believe in your goals and your visions. If you develop a strong belief in what you are doing, there will be no words or actions against you that you will shake your foundation. You will survive the negative remarks! Tell yourself everyday what is so great about you. 6. Use a new strategy to diffuse the criticism. Take some old-fashioned advice and simply respond with a positive response such as "Thank you" or "Your viewpoint will be taken into consideration." When you choose to respond with something positive, it automatically puts the criticizer into an uncomfortable position, and strips them of their negative power. 7. Some people are critical by nature and do not always realize they are hurting the feelings of others. When you come across a critical tongue, try to stop, not react, but look the person right in their eyes and repeat exactly what they said back to them. This might shock them and even shock you. It will make them think hard and long and think twice about ever doing that to you or others again. 8. Finally, be cool and just smile back at the criticism. Now you know exactly how to handle the situation by being cool and relaxed because you know what kind of makeup is this criticizer, so just smile, be happy, feel sorry for them, and feel amazing inside-because you simply are.
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USAIN
BOLT
FOR PUMA
The World’s Fastest Man talks training, speed and awesome
Jamaican chicken By bazaar staff
L
aunching their second major brand campaign – Forever Faster – PUMA have dedicated their focus on training. By asking “What are you training for?” the global sports brand challenges individuals and teams to put more energy into training and more positivity back into sport. They believe that training is not an end goal, but rather a means to a more positive self and a stronger game. The more energy you exert, the more you get back. PUMA Training swaps excuses for endorphins and aims to be faster, stronger, fiercer – no matter what. No one better speaks to this ethos other than the World’s Fastest Man, Usain Bolt. The elite ambassador to PUMA’s Forever Faster campaign breaks record upon record, making Bolt an inspiration to many. PUMA have brought the campaign to life by documenting the unique training stories of their elite ambassadors: the World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt, Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Rihanna, Star Striker Sergio Agüero, the Arsenal Football Club, the Cuban National Boxing Team, and more. Shot over the course of four weeks, the film series offers a sneak peek into the training regimen these individuals undergo to make sure they are on top of their game. It intimately captures their motivations and tactics to constantly improve and bump up every game with energy, excellence, and enthusiasm. Supporting them through all of this is PUMA’s latest addition to the IGNITE franchise – the IGNITE XT. This high intensity training shoe’s responsive design maximizes energy and movement throughout the campaign. Now you, the shopper, can integrate into the crucial part of the training campaign by joining the PUMA PACT! This platform is made available to you through the PUMATRAC running app and puma.com/training, and is entirely shareable through social media! It drives the brand’s rally cry, #NoMatterWhat, and promises to guide you with the tools and motivation needed to create a faster, stronger and fiercer you. The PACT has PUMA’s elite ambassadors leading and inspiring you to train harder – like them, #NoMatterWhat. What more can one ask for? Being led and inspired by the greatest in the world of sports is a dream-come-true for most! As PUMA’s elite ambassadors lead a very hectic training filled day, one man was kind enough to sit with us for a fun, short chat. And with that, we present to you the World’s Fastest Man, Usain Bolt. Hi Usain! How do you train for speed? Any specific training tips for those seeking to run faster? There are many things that can help someone run faster – conditioning, strength, speed, power, technique etc. It is not just one factor. You have to train in a variety of ways and cover all the aspects. What’s a typical training session for you? There isn’t really a typical session – training for me is either on the track or in the gym. It depends on the time of year and what we are working on. On the track it can be working on everything from endurance to any technical aspect for my upcoming race – the start, the drive phase, the transition for both the 100m and 200m. In the gym it’s general conditioning, strength and power.
[continued...]
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How often do you train in a year? I train for 11 months of the year, six days a week, normally in the morning and then again in the afternoon. It’s a lot of work. What does training do for you – other than strengthen your physical abilities of course? Training gives you confidence and this helps your state of mind. I know if I’m in good shape it’s going to be very hard to beat me, this confidence is very important in performing well. What kind of obstacles have you faced and overcame to achieve your goals? In elite sports, injuries can slow you down. We push our bodies to the max and sometimes we get sore or injure our muscles or joints. I’ve had several injuries in my career, but fortunately I have a good coach and team to help me make it back to the top. Any particular food and drink that help you when you’re training? Do you still like chicken nuggets? I have a good diet now and a chef that helps me eat well. I eat a lot of chicken, rice, and vegetables – good Jamaican food. It is also very important to stay well hydrated. What’s your advice for someone who’s struggling to find motivation to reach their goals? You have to find that one thing that you know is going to motivate you. You might not enjoy training for example but you might love competing and winning. If you want these things you have to be determined and train hard. Has training changed a lot for you over the past few years? When I started running as a kid, it was fun – I was good at it so I just did it. I didn’t really have to train that much to win races. As I got older I realized that I have to take better care of my body – diet, rest, recovery etc. are more important now than a few years ago. What’s your ultimate single greatest goal? Well, my single greatest goal is to become the greatest – pretty much. That's what I work towards. I want to be remembered as a great sportsman – to have a place in history. Which other athlete inspires your to become better? I have always admired Kevin Garnett as he – whether winning or losing – gives his all and inspires those around him to raise their game. And of course my mentor and coach Glen Mills. He used to say to me, “Everybody on the circuit, everybody at the championships are talented athletes already. It’s the work you put in that makes you a champion, or better than the other talented person.” For more information about PUMA Training and the new IGNITE XT Training footwear, visit puma.com/ training.
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bazaar apps Literally at your fingertips
ANGRY BIRDS 2
COUCH TO 5K
HOOKS
LAYOUT
BEGROUPD
NUMEROUS
Ready – aim – FIRE! While Angry Birds has been around for some time now, Rovio (the creators) have only just got to the official sequel. While most people assumed that the spin-offs Angry Birds Rio, and Angry Birds Star Wars were sequels, the official announcement of the number 2 following the title proved otherwise. Fans of this truly addictive series will not be disappointed here, bright graphics and fun game-play galore. If you haven’t yet jumped on the birdie-bandwagon – be sure to check out the sequel, it’ll keep you busy for days!
Problem: notifications can be stressful. Solution: Hooks, the latest custom notification system that offers you the opportunity to regain control over the sheer volume of unnecessary notifications while presenting you with those you never want to miss. Hooks allows you to set up customized reminder notifications for anything from when your favorite television show is airing, to specific weather and news notifications. In a nutshell, it’s a notification system that you can control and easily integrate into your device.
Group chats with your squad are often fraught with issues — particularly if you're all trying to come to a mutual decision. Begroupd lets you ask your friends a question and then efficiently garner a solution through ratings, polls, RSVPs, or yesor-no responses. You can use it to crowdsource shopping decisions, choose a location for this week's dinner date, or see what your friends think of that new fabulous eatery down the road. The perfect solution for those indecisive ones amidst our many chat groups!
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In a world where a sedentary lifestyle is commonplace, it can be hard to find a resource that’s convenient to accurately train up your endurance to fight the overwhelming desire to just keep sitting on the couch. Couch to 5K is a great training app that’s been available on iOS devices for a while, and now it’s finally coming to Android. The app provides a regimen to get you fit and running a 5K route in just 8 weeks.
Instagram have done it again! While constantly rolling out new and wondrous filters for us to experiment with, their new collage-making app – Layout – has finally rolled out for Android! Now, you can merge photos into a collage with various options for layout, grid size and photo order straight from Instagram. While it’s still in it’s initial incarnation the app is a bit lacking as far as customization and options go, but the seamless integration with Instagram makes it an excellent addition to our favorite photo posting app.
With so many numbers you need to keep track of these days – your personal budget, business expenses, step count, etc – it can get hectic. Enter Numerous, an app that gives you the opportunity to check all those different, and very important numbers in your life all in one place. It can pull data from a ton of different sources, such as Google Analytics, Google Calendar, Fitbit, Strava, Weather Underground, and Salesforce. So whether you're counting down to your dream vacation or just want to keep tabs on page views for your personal blog, Numerous plugs it all into one easy-to-read app.
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FRISBEE FEVER! By Lucy Westcott
At the first modern Olympics in Athens, Greece, in 1896, spectators watched 300 top athletes battle for gold in nine sports, including gymnastics, swimming and tennis. While those and a few other sports remain a mainstay of the games, the rest of the Olympic roster has fluctuated on the whims of politics and popularity, with sports like rope climbing, roller hockey and live pigeon shooting dropping out and beach volleyball now a fan favorite. Being included in the games is “an incredible milestone” for emerging sports, says Robert “Nob” Rauch, president of the World Flying Disc Federation, which this week celebrated its recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), effectively paving the way for Frisbee sports to possibly be played in future Olympic Games. Being an IOC-recognized sport doesn’t automatically mean a shot at Olympic gold, though. Members of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations can often sit on this list for years without making an
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Olympic debut. Chess received its IOC recognition in 1999, billiards in 1998, yet neither has ever been played at the international games. “The IOC, in theory, has to balance a desire to expand the Games with the need to keep them of a manageable size,” says Andrew Zimbalist, an Olympics expert and professor of economics at Smith College. “At some point, when new sports grow beyond a certain threshold of popularity, the IOC feels compelled to include them.” Frisbee (or more technically, “flying disc sports”) was among the 26 IOC-recognized sports that applied for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo earlier this year, along with American football, bowling, bridge and tug-of-war. That list of 26 was whittled to eight in June. Frisbee didn’t make the cut. Sports fans will find out in August 2016 which of the short-listed sports—baseball, bowling, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, surfing and wushu (Chinese martial arts)—will compete. The number of sports that applied for Tokyo is nearly as many as the number of sports (28)
being played at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. Core sports can contain multiple disciplines—aquatics, for example, includes swimming and diving, while gymnastics has artistic, rhythmic and trampoline varieties. There are two new additions to next year’s games: Golfers from 30 countries will compete for the first time since 1904, and Rugby Sevens, a condensed version of rugby, will make its Olympic debut. Rugby was last played at the Olympics in 1924. Recognition by the IOC does have some benefits, such as additional funding and publicity, but that’s not quite the same as an Olympic medal. Professional Ultimate Frisbee player Brodie Smith tells Newsweek that playing in the Olympics “would be the greatest accomplishment of my career, hands down. There is nothing like representing your country and playing with the best athletes in the world,” says Smith, who plays for the Chicago Wildfire Ultimate Frisbee team. “Now that dream just became a little closer to a reality.”
just ask sultan centre
5NEXT BUSINESS PITCH
STEPS FOR NAILING YOUR
By Hamish Mckenzie
Want to sail through your next big business pitch? Conventional wisdom is to tell a compelling story. And to be sure that's good advice. But you can’t go with just any story. You need the right one. And you can’t just rattle it off carelessly. You need to build it plank-by-plank, laying each one carefully into place. A poorly constructed pitch will fall apart. Follow these five steps to build a rock-solid pitch. START AT THE END As we know, all stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. But when you're planning a pitch, it's different. Figuring out how you're going to set the stage should come only after you're decided how you're going to finish. By the same token, you might be tempted to plunge right into the details. But starting in the middle is like trying to build the Eiffel Tower by ordering the nuts and bolts first, and only then drawing up a blueprint. Instead, visualize the completed structure of your pitch first. Where do you want to leave your client when you finish? What are the last words you want her to hear just before taking questions? Start there.
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MAKE AN OUTLINE Would you set out on a road trip with no map or GPS? Don't embark on the story-planning process without an outline. Once you've decided how your pitch will conclude, start sketching out how you'll get there. Distill your story’s key messages into three simple statements and arrange them in a logical order. (Our brains tend to be good at grasping information when it comes in three parts.) Then find up to three pieces of evidence to back each point up. Make sure to tailor each one to your client’s needs.
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SHAKE UP THE RFP The RFP – request for proposal – is a mainstay of the business world, and sometimes you'll find your team creating one instead of pitching in person. Fine—you'll still need a story. RFPs don’t ask you for them, of course. In fact, they’re often written in a way that discourages them. RFPs are generally framed as a series of questions, so proposals tend to take the form of a passive list of answers. Find an inventive, narrative-driven way to answer that shows your deep understanding of the client’s needs and your strategy for meeting them. In other words, tell your story. As long as it's all there, the information that the RFP requests can be presented however you like.
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PERSUADE WITH PROOF, NOT HOT AIR Salespeople love to brag. They brag because they’re proud of their product or service, and they think showing it off is the best way to convince a client to buy what they’re selling. But you need to do more than talk up what your company offers. Bring hard evidence, and make sure it's relevant. Does it link to your thesis? Does it square with your story? Every time you choose a piece of evidence, ask those two questions. All the while, don't forget the client’s needs. If a piece of supporting evidence you're considering doesn't relate to a client's business, it won't be very effective. I often see pitches jammed with every fascinating fact a pitch team has come across. But they need to resonate in your client's ears, not your own. Your goal is to tell a targeted story to this listener, not just anyone.
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PASS THE BBQ TEST So you’ve come up with a brilliant, targeted story. Your last task is to perfect it in the telling. The absolute best way to do that is by imagining someone who heard your pitch retelling it at a barbecue to someone who wasn’t there, explaining why you won the contract. If person A would be able to convince person B—a friend who doesn’t know the business well—why you landed the deal, then congratulations! Your story is pitch-perfect.
bistro
bazaar goes dining
BAO IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS Steamed and stuffed to perfection By bazaar staff
A A
staple in every cuisine one can possibly consider, bread is – well – essential. From the perfect Lebanese saj, to a freshly baked French baguette, humanity’s affinity for bread will never fade. Taking that knowledge to heart, the two masterminds behind the restaurant bring us gloriously stuffed baos, hence the name, Bao. For those of us who don’t know what a bao is: bao, aka baozi, is a Chinese steamed bread roll that is then filled with imaginative concoctions. Also, it’s pronounced bAw – as in “baw-wow.” So when a locally conceived steamed buns restaurant creates a buzz like Bao has, these bazaar editors just had to pay them a visit and inspect this dish. Well, many dishes, for that matter. 72
Needless to say, we left satisfyingly full. What we didn’t expect to walk away with, however, is a newfound knowledge and appreciation to the technique and thought that went behind their superb creations. What impressed us beyond words was that the entire design of the décor and branding was done in-house! Now, lets start from the beginning, shall we? Standing outside the beautifully crafted blue doors – don’t miss the opportunity to look up. The signage, as simple and minimal as it is, is absolutely stunning. Using circular light bulbs, the word “bao” is illuminated with the words ‘Steamed Buns’ neatly situated below. Once you walk in, the minimalist theme continues from the circular tiles on the floor to the pixilated images that adorn one side of the walls. On the other side, you’ll find a wall-length mirror with a vintage feel that beautifully compliments the area. The ceiling on the other hand is bare grey and industrial looking with exposed light
fixtures dangling from it. Between natural light and the exposed light bulbs, the mood is set. The seating is reminiscent of vintage, cozy European cafés – where you’re given the illusion of being outdoors, yet spared our summer’s heat. We fell in love with the extensive bench that runs along the entire side of the restaurant, serving the design of Bao with a brilliant social element. The theme of the restaurant emulates the shape of their bao creations – everything is circular from the gorgeous décor to the food you’re devouring. Even the color scheme chosen plays a part in the presentation as a whole. To maximize your experience, the colors chosen are grey with simple accents of green and white – this way, you can enjoy your dishes as they bring an array of colors to the table. Biodegradable paper-plates, glass cups, metal cutlery and wooden chopsticks ensure the restaurant’s efforts in contributing to a sustainable and green environment.
As you take a seat and are presented with the menu the first thing you’ll notice are the circles that mirror the restaurant's general décor. Once you look at the menu properly you’ll see that it’s short, sweet yet a mighty force to be reckoned with! So make sure you head up there with an empty stomach because the baos are worth filling up on. We started our journey with a Quinoa Salad. Combining white and red quinoa with pieces of avocado is incredible on it’s own. But adding crunchy kale, almost caramelized beetroot strips and topping it off with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze is genius! The salad was light, delicious, and everything a salad must be. Next came our starters presented in beautiful white tubs of Tempura Shrimp and Tamarind Drumstick. The shrimp were beautifully battered, fried to golden perfection, and topped with a creamy and delicious sriracha sauce. A hint of spice and packed with flavor, the shrimp was consumed happily. The Tamarind Drumstick was a whole other story. You needn’t worry about getting your fingers sticky just yet as they’re made of bite-sized boneless chicken drumsticks that are then deep-fried with buttermilk. The tamarind glaze on the drumsticks is what makes these poppers an absolute hit in our books – absolutely beautiful! Now when it comes to baos, it is absolutely essential that they are steamed, a little sticky, and light – and Bao has the formula down to an exact science. Our mains started coming in one by one and we were blown away. The baos were perfect in size, proportion, and ratio of bun to filling. We got three baos in different variations: seafood, red meat, chicken. Our first bao was a Crispy Chicken bao – fried chicken breast topped with an airy Japanese mayo and wonderfully textured apple coleslaw. The combination of hot and cold with every
bite taken was beautiful. Next on our bao journey was the Coconut Shrimp bao – gloriously coconut crusted shrimp with a sweet chilli aioli, topped off with shredded pickled cucumber and crispy carrots. The flavor of the coconut really shone through and the sauce was perfectly balanced. Finally, they had saved the best bao for last, the Brisket bao found its way to our table. Perfectly shredded ten-hourslow-cooked melt-in-your-mouth brisket with crispy onions, red chilli, and cooling ranch sauce. The meat was stunningly marinated and wonderfully rested before making it’s way to our bao. Thinking nothing can top off the savory baos, we were in for a treat – dessert baos. Since there were only two on the menu, we got both: the Donut bao and the Crispy Banana Cinnamon bao. To create a donut bao, one must fry the bao before serving – genius! A golden bao filled with the perfect proportion of homemade pretzel vanilla ice cream topped off with a salted caramel glaze. As for the Crispy Banana Cinnamon bao, the bao itself is cinnamon-infused adding depth and complexity to the flavors of the fried banana sitting atop a helping of Nutella. The whole thing is then drizzled with caramel sauce and ready for you to bite into. The experience as a whole was absolutely astounding; our journey left us with a stomach full of comfort and a warm fuzzy feeling. Just remember, head over there with an empty stomach, you’ll need it!
Bao is located in Kuwait City, Sharq Khaled Bin Waleed St. opposite Sharq Police Station roundabout. For more information on bao-Steamed Bun- follow them on Instagram @bao_kw or call them on 5147 0344. Photography by: Aysha AlShaibani. 73
bazaar techno Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke
GRAAVA ACTION CAM
GRAVITY COOKING POT
MICROSOFT UNIVERSAL FOLDABLE KEYBOARD
There's no doubt action cams are here to stay, but now competition to get market share is ferocious, so the ability to conquer new users lies in adding extras to the regular filming feature. This is the case with Graava. It has special software with artificial intelligence that will make the editing process for you! It's also very easy to add your favorite soundtrack to your videos through iTunes. You can also pair up more footage films and create a unique movie with different but complementary points of view, and finally, Graava can become a home monitoring system. We want!
From Eva Solo's new collection, the elegant Gravity Pot features a unique lid that is custom-designed to solve various kitchen problems caused by gravity when standing at the cooker - hence the name of the series. The multifunctional lid features glass aperture so you can monitor your cooking without having to lift-and-check, a built-in steam vent, as well as an integrated strainer which makes it much easier to drain water from pasta and veg by lifting and twisting the lid. The lid is also designed to stand on the edge of the pot for cleaner cooking. Available now in several sizes.
New by Microsoft is the very practical, compact and ultra-thin Universal Foldable Keyboard, designed to work with iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows tablets and Windows Phone. The lightweight Bluetooth keyboard is the perfect travel companion, letting you get more done on your tablet or smartphone no matter where you are. When you’re done, simply close it to turn it off and you’re ready to go, its foldable design easily fits into a purse, bag or pocket. It also features a spill-resistant design, and has an impressive built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to three months of usage on a single charge.
SANDISK ULTRA FIT
ZAP WIRELESS REMOTE OUTLETS
LUMOS SMART HELMET
As tech progresses, it also become smaller. USB pens are always useful but aren’t always small enough to add to your daily pocket collection. Meet the world's smallest 128GB USB 3.0 flash drive, the Sandisk Ultra Fit, now available for purchase. This ultra-small, low profile drive is no bigger than a coin! It’s so tiny, you’ll be afraid of losing it. The nifty solution can stay put for extra storage, or it can move media super-fast between devices at speeds up to 10x faster (up to 130MB/s read) than standard USB 2.0 drives. Available in capacities up to 128GB.
ZAP is an affordable converter kit that lets you control any electrical appliance in your house remotely, allowing you to turn them on or off with the click of a button. Switch on the kettle from the comfort of bed, or even warm the oven without tearing yourself away from your favorite show. Simply plug an appliance into the ZAP outlet and it becomes a remote control switch, you can then operate it from up to 100 feet away, through doors, floors and walls. Simple, practical and affordable, and judging by the insanely happy Amazon reviews, you can't go wrong.
Especially designed to be seen by drivers, in fact, not only be seen but also allowing drivers to see in advance what you're about to do, because it features braking lights and turning signals. The brake lights work through the action of the built in accelerometer, whenever you slow down they will turn on, these brake LED lights are disposed in a triangular form, an obvious association with all the warning traffic signals. The LED turning signals are activated by the wireless turning signals controls, to let the drivers know where you're going, keeping your hands on the steering device as you should.
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pavilion
ﳊﺠﺰ اﳌﻮاﻋﻴﺪ ُﻳﺮﺟﻰ اﻻﺗﺼﺎل ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ 1880881
ا�ﺳﺘﺎذة ﺑﺸﺎﻳﺮ اﻟﺒﺪر ﻣﺴﺘﺸﺎرة اﻟﺘﻐﺬﻳﺔ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻓﻠﻮرﻳﺪا -اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت اﳌﺘﺤﺪة ا�ﻣﺮﻳﻜﻴﺔ
�ﻤﻊ ﻧﻮر اﻟﺼﺎﳊﻴﺔ ،اﻟﻄﺎﺑﻖ اﻟﺜﺎ�، ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻞ �ﻤﻊ اﻟﺼﺎﳊﻴﺔ w w w . s a l h i y a p av i l i o n . c o m
@S alhiyaPavili on
GOOGLE’S AIR-SNIFFING
CARS By Zoë Schlanger
You might not know it, but living in a city is like playing air-quality roulette all day long. The air you breathe on your drive to work is different from what you’re sucking in while walking to get your midmorning coffee. Air pollution can vary significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood, depending on factors like proximity to parks and trees, the topography of the land and where congestion hot spots are clustered. Then there’s the issue of timing: Pollution varies widely throughout the day, according to several factors like weather and human activity. The air you breathe at dawn may be drastically different from the air you breathe at dusk—even if you’re sitting in the exact same spot. But what if you could see a detailed picture of your city’s daily air pollution along your route the way you now check the weather? In the not-sodistant future, that might be possible. Last week, Google announced it was partnering with Aclima, a San Francisco–based company that designs environmental sensor networks, to outfit some Google Street View cars with sensors that allow them to track air pollution in real time, while the vehicles go about their business of crisscrossing a city and taking panoramic images for Google Earth. The technology can take in data on several pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, ozone, 76
carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Each of these can negatively impact human health from chronic exposure, with threats ranging from asthma and cardiovascular disease to low birth weight, cognitive delays and even heightened suicide risk. The World Health Organization linked air pollution worldwide to 7 million deaths in 2012, which amounts to 1 in 8 people who died that year. Last year, Aclima and Google Street View went for a test-spin in Denver. The three cars in the pilot program drove around for one month and gathered 150 million data points about Denver’s street-level air quality over 750 hours of driving time. The test was deemed a success: The Environmental Protection Agency provided scientific expertise and corroborating data from its own network of stationary air-quality monitors, confirming that the mobile system worked. “If you’re a mother of an asthmatic child, you could plan your day using this kind of information,” Karin Tuxen-Bettman, who leads Google Earth’s partnership with Aclima, told NPR. “If you’re a local government, you could look at this kind of information and say, ‘What and where can me make some changes on a small scale to have some good impact?’”
Next, the air-sniffing Street View cars are going to the Bay Area in California. Air quality there is relatively good compared with, say, smoggy L.A. down the coast. Both Aclima and Google are headquartered in the Bay Area, so the location was chosen for convenience while the program is being fleshed out. But Aclima says it hopes to expand to other cities in the near future. Rolling out the project to cities where pollution is a matter of daily concern could have a significant impact. Take Vernal, for example, a small Utah town plagued by ozone pollution where the state recently found abnormally high numbers of infant deaths. Some residents suspect that the air pollution is at fault. They cite the area surrounding one intersection in town that sees an exceptionally high degree of truck traffic as being a particular hot spot for risk. The pollution-mapping project could inform speculation with data sets for communities like Vernal, warning the public and helping municipal governments effectively address any problems. The project is the latest partnership for Google Earth, which teamed with the Environmental Defense Fund last year to use its "Street View" cars to detect methane pollution leaking from underground pipes in Boston, Indianapolis and Staten Island, New York.
ayam zaman
ANATOMY OF
AN OSCAR TRAILER By Andrea Mandell
The best movie trailers, like the first one Mad Max: Fury Road delivered, can make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. And the worst can do what Vacation did, and promise a far funnier movie than it delivered. But when it comes to Oscar season (the Academy Awards loom large on February 28th) what, exactly, can a powerful trailer do for an anticipated film? For summer movies, "the trailers are about making you in awe of what you're watching. How did they pull that off?" says Fandango.com managing editor Erik Davis. "Fall awards trailers are about making you feel something. They want you to remember the movie, the experience. It made you feel sad, emotional. You cried, you saw something that was beautiful. They want to win you over on your emotions." Just look to Carol. Cate Blanchett's big fall movie went straight for the heartstrings, releasing an almost dialogue-free trailer for the bittersweet 1950s drama. Under the notes of Margaret Whiting's My Foolish Heart, Blanchett appears as an unhappily married Manhattan socialite who falls for a department store clerk (Rooney Mara). The film got raves at Cannes Film Festival and earned Mara the fest's best actress award. With big, gritty fall releases lurking around the corner, audiences also have been teased with peeks at Johnny Depp as infamous gangster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass, Jennifer Lawrence as the Miracle Mop inventor in Joy and Leonardo DiCaprio in bear-trapping pelts in The Revenant. Something as simple as a trailer can be a game changer, says IMDb.com film editor Keith Simanton, noting how The Martian boasted a 78
trailer so visceral that it recast the conversation around the movie from mere sci-fi film to awards-worthy epic. And perhaps no teaser has the Oscar crowd as riled up as Steve Jobs, starring Michael Fassbender as the mercurial tech giant. "Steve Jobs certainly looks like the perfect made-for-Oscar movie," says awards website GoldDerby.com founder Tom O'Neil. The film has a potent combination of mass appeal and industry curiosity (given the soap opera surrounding its production that was revealed by leaked e-mails from the Sony hack). "Everyone's got a smartphone, everyone's got a computer," says Davis, noting early positive chatter for the biopic. "If it's as wildly entertaining as the trailers are showing, it might be the most accessible for people to root for." As studios angle for dollars and Academy interest, they often lean on some pretty powerful (and expensive) music to preview a film's emotional tone. This year saw Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep's turn-of-the-century Suffragette modernize its message with help from Robyn Sherwell's cover of Landslide. A Great Big World's Say Something is telling viewers how to feel about the Chilean miner story, The 33. And David O. Russell plucked the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" to sell his first look at Lawrence in Joy. True, the first job of the trailer is not awards, it's to sell tickets. And it doesn't hurt to go viral. Just look at Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. His latest trailer has garnered more than 10 million views on YouTube and sent the millennial audience into hysterics the day the Samuel L. Jackson-led footage premiered. "It was smartly done. People
went nuts over it." says Simanton. "It hit the right 'cool' note." It was also laced with awards bait, particularly in how it showcased bold character work by a packed cast including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bruce Dern. "We expect the violence from Tarantino but it was loaded with emotional intensity," says O'Neil. Some trailers are just trying to creep you out with an Oscar-worthy transformation. The initial Black Mass teaser featured an unsettling dinner scene with Bulger, in which Depp is practically unrecognizable. "It was very indicative of what you were going to get and what a terrifying dude this guy was," says Simanton. After four Oscar wins for Birdman, director Alejandro González Iñárritu's trailer for The Revenant showcased why many predict the film is destined for the best picture race. Iñárritu kicked off its campaign with a trailer that conveyed the wide lens beauty and violence captured in Canada. The teaser trailer has 14 million views and counting. "You have to pay attention to The Revenant," says Davis, which reunites Iñárritu and his longtime cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. There's nearly no dialogue in the first look at the movie, which focused the sound of adrenalized breathing and stunning shots of DiCaprio set against murderous elements in the turn-of-thecentury bear-trapping drama. "Right off the bat, it's sparse, it looks like it's from another time, it's rugged," Davis says. "If you're a film fan, you look at something like that and go, 'OK, this is something that I'm going to need to watch.' " Let the Oscar games begin.
promenade
RIIP AMERICAN IDOL
That is…Rest In (Ironic) Peace By bazaar staff
We’ve avoided it as long as is possible: apparently you simply cannot have a music column at the start of the 21st century without at least mentioning American Idol. In true bazaar fashion, we will mention it here only to say goodbye, and little more. You’re not our target audience, we’re not yours—I think we both get it. When a complete juggernaut has been created out of little more than an arrogant Brit, a girl who used to dance with cartoon cats between cheerleading gigs for an LA basketball team, and an ex bass player so ridiculously unknown by the general public despite the fact that the band he was in was almost universally known (Simon, Paula, Randy, respectively) that you’d swear somebody was pulling your leg—you have to at least take notice. So, goodbye American Idol—it’s like we never really knew you! Now that they have announced the end of the show after 15 seasons. Lets look back. First, based on the British show of similar format Pop Idol, the format had already proven it could be successful with large swaths of the general public. According to a recent Variety article, “the show is credited with launching the genre craze Stateside, leading to other singing competitions including The Voice, The Sing Off, the short-lived Rising Star, plus The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, both created by Cowell and inspired by 80
the British versions.” With so many offshoots inspired by the success of this show you have to give them credit for reach if nothing else. The list goes on: So You Think You Can Dance, American’s Got Talent, The Voice, X-Factor, You’re a Star, Nashville Star, CMT Superstar, Duets, The Glee Project, The Sing-Off …And that’s before we even get into the numerous other completion format shows from Survivor to Flavor of Love that were green-lighted seemingly solely by virtue of the broad market that had now been proved out for such shows. The general problem with American Idol is evident to most of us: artists of the caliber we crave—of such originality and personal integrity as the artists of old—would not only never subject themselves to such a bizarre contest, but they also wouldn’t likely fare well. When you imagine some of the greatest musical artists of all time they are likely too specific to do well in this format: their voice is too raspy, their range too small, perhaps their original track was simply not ready for prime time in the same way all these covers are. So what does it mean that the show was so successful? Let’s be real, the show was canceled because viewers went away. But why? Simply put—the show grew stale; even by the standards of the shows own fans. It is notable then in their waning years, their quest to stay relevant has seen the
judging panel shift as much as the contestants themselves—as much as they were judging the contestants, in the end, viewers were judging as well and voting with their remote controls. Still, there is something to be said for the sheer numbers of units sold alone. Here are the artists they have created though and the track record is serious, these artists have cumulatively sold millions and millions of records, even before considering their compilation and other miscellaneous records: Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Phillip Phillips and Adam Lambert. Holy smokes—that is a lot of records sold, at a time when nobody is buying records. And what of the show itself? What say we use the shows own metric to determine if it should stay on or not? Sadly, in the immortal and often repeated words of OG judge Randy Jackson—“I’m not feeling it dog!” Take a bow, say your goodnights. I promise we will find good new music without you. And though your onedimensional-popularity-contest as metric of what is subjectively good is a shtick we are not likely to lose soon, your departure will certainly pave the way for others shows of similar fashion. You can find American Idol in syndication for the rest of your life. Try to avoid it if you can!
safir
H&M Studio A/W 2015 By bazaar staff
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eave it to H&M to make us want to fill our already over-flowing closets with every single item from their Studio A/W 2015 collection. This bazaar writer is happy to do so with no regrets whatsoever! Sporty energy, utilitarian futurism and starburst shine are the themes at H&M Studio for Autumn/Winter 2015. Zip-up coats and jackets have a modern freshness, while rollnecks are this season's essential, along with lurex sweaters and pants -both straight legged and flared. It's a layered collection of effortless pieces with a tomboy feel that will be available across 200 stores, as well as online, from September 10. Layering being the keyword here, we loved how the models were styled at the runway show, schooling us in layering to perfection. Colors from the same family are layered in different textures, giving a basic look an updated silhouette. "I love the attitude and energy of H&M Studio for Autumn/Winter 2015. Sporty zip-ups are perfect for the street, while rollnecks give a layered look. The shimmer of lurex makes it a season to celebrate, whether it's day or night," says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M. The themes from the women’s collection are filled with timeless style lessons. Zip-up outerwear is important, from utilitarian quilted nylon zip-up coats and long gilets, to camel wool coats with ribbed waists or tailored wool coats with an inner layer of zip-up nylon. Knitwear is a key focus, especially rollneck and turtleneck sweaters in varying styles. Lurex knits are for day to night, while ribbed and zippered knits have sporty energy. Pants are either straight-legged or kicking into a wide flare, while ribbed-knit leggings are given an active look. Textures are contrasted with the sheen of laminated wool on jackets and skirts, fake fur coats, matte wool tailoring and sequin blouses. Futuristic starbursts appear printed on pieces such as lurex blouses and rollneck long-sleeve dresses, or woven as a jacquard for a tailored pantsuit. The look is layered, especially with long dresses worn over matching pants, or long asymmetric silk blouses worn with rollneck knits. Utilitarian pieces highlight the tomboy mood, such as ski dungarees, or zippered fine-knit rib jumpsuits. We took away these key looks from the runway collection: Zip-up quilted coats, rollneck sweaters, lurex knits, straight-legged or flared pants, asymmetric blouses, laminated wool skirt, ski dungarees, fake-fur zippered coat and starburst print flared pantsuit. The colors from the women’s collection are bursting with winter sunshine. From burgundy, rusty red, pumpkin orange, the palette then moves toward a leafy dark green, camel, and a melange of grey, black and off-white. All of these wonderful colors are offset with gold, bronze and silver accents. To accessorize your wardrobe, the H&M Studio for autumn/winter 2015 include utilitarian caps, laminated boots, long driving gloves, heeled sandals worn with socks, moon boots, faux rollnecks and laminated bags. As for the H&M Studio collection for men, silhouettes and fabrics are the main focus, with an emphasis on jackets, coats, knitwear that are both fine and textured. Select pieces are elevated in terms of texture to take the layered look of a modern lifestyle. Where colors are concerned, think winter beach, with a palette of greys and pale blues inspired by the beautiful winter light. The H&M Studio Autumn/Winter 2015 collection will be available across H&M stores in Kuwait from September 10. For more information, please visit www.hm.com/kw.
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bazaar books Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~ Jessamyn West
IN A DARK, DARK WOOD By Ruth Ware
RISING STRONG By Harper Lee
THE MICRONUTRIENT MIRACLE
WINDOWS 10 FOR DUMMIES By Andy Rathbone
By Jayson Calton
Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her “nest” of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn’t seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. Forty-eight hours later, she wakes up in a hospital bed injured but alive, with the knowledge that someone is dead. Wondering not “what happened?” but “what have I done?” Nora tries to piece together the events of the past weekend. Working to uncover secrets, reveal motives, and find answers, Nora must revisit parts of herself that she would much rather leave buried where they belong: in the past. In the tradition of Paula Hawkins's instant New York Times bestseller The Girl On the Train and S. J. Watson’s riveting national sensation Before I Go To Sleep, this gripping literary debut from UK novelist Ruth Ware will leave you on the edge of your seat through the very last page.
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Social scientist Brené Brown has ignited a global conversation on courage, vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. Her pioneering work uncovered a profound truth: Vulnerability— the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome—is the only path to more love, belonging, creativity, and joy. But living a brave life is not always easy: We are, inevitably, going to stumble and fall. It is the rise from falling that Brown takes as her subject in Rising Strong. As a grounded theory researcher, Brown has listened as a range of people— from leaders in Fortune 500 companies and the military to artists, couples in long-term relationships, teachers and parents—shared their stories of being brave, falling, and getting back up. She asked herself, “what do these people with strong and loving relationships, leaders nurturing creativity, artists pushing innovation, and clergy walking with people through faith and mystery have in common?’’ The answer was clear: They recognize the power of emotion and they’re not afraid to lean in to discomfort.
Our poor health and growing waistlines can be traced back to the hidden crisis of a micronutrient deficiency. More than 90 percent of all Americans are deficient in at least one of these healthpromoting vitamins and minerals and don't even know it. According to nutritionists Jayson and Mira Calton, micronutrients--vitamins and minerals essential for optimum health--are being stripped from our diet and depleted by our lifestyle habits. Mira herself developed advanced osteoporosis at the age of 30. But with Jayson's help, she reversed her disease through micronutrient therapy. The Caltons' created The Mircronutrient Miracle, an incredible cure-all program, to help you lose weight and prevent and reverse common disorders, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The Micronutrient Miracle explains the truth about what you're really eating and how your habits may be depleting essential micronutrients.
YOU'RE NEVER WEIRD ON THE INTERNET by Felicia Day
Over the summer break, many of us would have been graced with the latest Windows operating system update, Windows 10. With new updates come new tech problems, and with such a new release, how can we get the answers we need? Packed with time-saving tips to help you get the most out of the software, this helpful Windows 10 guide shows you how to manage Windows tasks like navigating the interface with a mouse or touchscreen, connecting to the web, and troubleshooting problems and making quick fixes. Assuming no prior knowledge of the software, Windows 10 For Dummies addresses the updates to Windows and shows you how to get things accomplished. Focusing on the features you'll go to again and again, this new edition of this bestselling tech book will have you quickly finding files, connecting to the Web, gathering your email and social accounts in one spot, managing apps, creating and managing accounts, using online tools, customizing your settings, and so much more making you a Windows whiz in no time.
The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day— violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world…or at least semiinfluential in the world of Internet geeks and Goodreads book clubs. After growing up in the South where she was “homeschooled for hippie reasons,” Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star. Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir. Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world.
Source: www.amazon.co.uk
fantasy world
THE PROMENADE The ultimate family leisure destination By bazaar staff
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hen word got out that an awesome new leisure destination is opening up in Kuwait, we were giddily counting down the days until its official opening. We were promised fun for the entire family and more – and what we got in return was perfection. “Fun for all” was an understatement when we made our way to The Promenade. Packed with everything anyone might need (including a trampoline paradise called Trampo), we had decided then and there that this would be our go-to escape for all our needs – including the gym. Located right off the 3rd Ring Road in Hawalli, The Promenade is the ultimate destination for all. With an array of shops – both locally and internationally renowned – The Promenade will never leave you wanting. Make sure you’re there on the 1st and 2nd of October for their Grand Launch Celebrations!
There’s nothing the good people behind The Promenade haven’t thought of! A large Sultan Center outlet is, conveniently enough, located on the ground floor for easy access to all your grocery needs. Fully stocked with an array of products from the US and UK, the Sultan Center is the perfect one-stop-shop! This way, all you need to do is drop the kids off at one of the state-of-the-art children’s activity areas while you do the shopping! Keeping the local families in mind, The Promenade is close to several areas and can be easily reached via the 3rd Ring Road, making it accessible to the nearby residents in the Al-Asimah district as well as Salmiya. Equipped with fun activities – such as PLAY; an awesome arcade where kids can spend hours and be completely entertained – Trampo; awesome trampolines where kids can practice their back flips and bouncing tricks, and Clip’n’Climb; the ultimate indoor climbing walls and structures – your kids will always be excited for a trip to The Promenade. As far as dining is concerned, The Promenade is delivering on the promise of supporting local business, where many local favorites like Nagwa, Life with Cacao, Brother’s Burgers, as well as Café Bazza, and many more have opened, or will be opening their doors soon! Fun for the entire family, they also have Promenade Ice – Kuwait’s only indoor, and in-mall, ice rink! More than just an ice rink, Promenade Ice offers specialized courses – and public skating sessions – with professional coaches to help students of all ages master the art of effortless gliding. What’s more is that they also teach them the required skills and techniques to become figure skaters and ice-hockey skaters! Provided with skates, helmets, and optional fun-looking skating aids, Promenade Ice’s ultimate goal is safety. The Promenade is also an excellent place for children’s birthday parties and school trips – the kids can have a blast while learning new things in the specialized activity areas. It’s an incredible fun and safe entertainment area where children of all ages can burn off some of their energy while you hit the shops in peace. A sustainable mall with a cause, the Al Othman Charity Fund overseas the operation as a whole – making The Promenade an entirely unique concept. Spectacular panoramic views of Kuwait City and the coast can be enjoyed from any of the mall’s floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a light and airy atmosphere. The perfect place to head to straight from school – the top floor is fully equipped for the ladies! With a spa, nail salon, and ladies gym – moms get the chance to unwind and squeeze in a workout while their children enjoy one of the activities in their designated areas. For those just wanting to hit the walking path, go no further! The top floor is fitted with a cushy track for your ultimate comfort in the cool AC. Giving back to the community, the good people behind The Promenade have also created the Promenade Cultural Centre, PCC, which will provide a unique space for local artists and collectives to promote their work. With an exciting jam-packed calendar coming up, the PCC is the space to watch! While the mall is currently open for business, and your enjoyment, don’t forget to head on over for their Grand Launch Celebrations on the 1st and 2nd of October! That fist weekend in October will be packed with shopping promotions, gifts, live performances and shows for the whole family to enjoy! Celebrating this incredible new leisure destination in the heart of the Capital, The Promenade has set out to take back Hawalli and give it back to the people. Incredible retail outlets, restaurants and cafés, as well as amazing specialized spaces – The Promenade promises a fun filled time for the whole family.
The Promenade is located off the 3rd Ring Road in Hawalli – Tunis Street. For information about Promenade Ice, please call them at 2227 7138. Follow them on Instagram @ThePromenadeKW for the latest happenings and their Grand Launch Celebration Weekend!
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DOES BITCOIN’S UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGY HAVE OTHER USES? By Paresh Dave
Anyone interested in modern technology has heard of the digital currency called Bitcoin, even if few people understand how it works. Don’t worry. Credit cards and cash will remain the common currency for some time to come. But as Bitcoin and other digital currencies evolve, the technology that underlies them may soon spread into other transactions: trading stock, buying and selling real estate, purchasing music and much more. A mini-industry is forming to take advantage of the technology called blockchain, aiming to make a wide variety of transactions faster, cheaper and more secure. The idea is to remove, as much as is practical, people and their bureaucracies from the transference of money, contracts and other data where tracking ownership is important. The several days it takes for a $40,000 (KD 12,000) payment to clear a bank, for example, could be cut to 10 minutes by relying on blockchain’s specialized, ostensibly highly secure computer networks. Bitcoin does just that. “We want to use the Internet to move things around because it’s fast, low-cost and transparent,” said Adam Ludwin, chief executive of Bitcoin startup Chain Inc. Bitcoin-related startups raised $375 million (KD 113 million) in the first half of 2015, or about 11 percent more
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than they did in all of 2014, investment tracking firm CB Insights said this month. The number of investments rose 63 percent compared with last year’s first six months. Several venture funds are popping up to focus on alternative uses for blockchain. Big players including the Nasdaq stock market and Goldman Sachs, both of which engage in an unfathomable number of transactions each day, are investing in blockchain experiments. Goldman Sachs funded a startup using blockchain to track and protect U.S. dollars, not Bitcoins. And Nasdaq is working with Chain to build a blockchainbased marketplace for shares in privately held companies. Blockchain startups include Ambisafe Inc., engaged in projects such as a tamperproof national voting system, and Blockchain Technology Group, a San Diego company working on a blockchain-based music streaming service, with rock-solid transaction records that could help artists recover royalty money that somehow leaks away undetected through the existing tracking system. Blockchain is a risky bet, but some investors are going all in. Block26, a newly formed Los Angeles-based venture capital firm, last month announced a $450,000 (KD 13,600) investment
in Airbitz, which wants to enable devices to communicate with each other with help from the blockchain. “The idea is to not miss out in making history,” said Ni’coel Stark, managing principal at Block26. So what is blockchain? First, consider that a currency like Bitcoin, which lives only on computers and is backed by no government or central bank, could not exist for long — even as a cult phenomenon — if users couldn’t trust it. The biggest safety issue confronting digital currencies is double-spending: a system needs to be in place to prevent a Bitcoin from being spent by the same person more than once. Blockchain is the system that Bitcoin inventors devised. To understand how blockchain works requires dedicated study, but non-specialists might think of it as a publicly viewable spreadsheet that records every Bitcoin transaction — who sent how much to whom (it’s possible to remain fairly anonymous). Every few minutes, a “block” of new rows is added. But old blocks on the chain can’t be edited. They’re locked tight by theoretically unbreakable computer code. At least thousands of specially set up computers store a copy of the blockchain, so messing with records would require the herculean feat of infecting them all. Anyone can set up one of these computers, which work together to find inconsistencies and prevent fraud like doublespending. The people and businesses around the world who have set up these computers collect fees in exchange for authorizing transactions. Like those who sold picks and shovels to miners in the Gold Rush, some blockchain startups like Factom are tweaking the basic technology so entrepreneurs can develop new applications on top of it. And like the early days of the Internet, they say the potential uses for the blockchain being discussed today might amount to chump change compared to what businesses end up using a few years from now. The roadblocks to blockchain are more than technical. Retail banks and other established institutions make money from the friction in the system, on fees and on the float they get by holding money in the several days it takes for transactions to transfer. Still, it’s clear that entrepreneurs in the digital currency industry think blockchain applications could be “much bigger than the Bitcoin currency itself,” said Andrey Zamovskiy, chief executive at Ambisafe. “We are being approached by a big wave of disr uption.”
sultan center
CHASING THE GHOST OF THE BERLIN WALL By Reem Al Gharabally
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“They say the Berlin Wall no longer exists on the streets but in the mind. When it was extant, the Wall didn’t meander through the city, it bogarted. Its inexorable ghost is just as belligerent. It cuts uninvited through vacant lots and pricey new condominiums, rattling its hammer and sickle, spooking the tourists and locals who travel along this invisible barrier” – Paul Beatty, Slumberland. In Paul Beatty’s Berlin-based satirical novel, the characters DJ Darky and “Schwa” an eccentric jazz musician, decide to rebuild the wall, not with concrete, but through music.
In 2006, Berlin’s city planners completed the Berlin Wall Trail or Berliner Mauerweg as it is known in German, a cycle and hiking trail, which traces the 160 km course of the former East German border fortifications that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Last year in November 2014 white, helium balloons -perched on 3.6m poles and spanning a 15 km stretch of the former death strip - were released one by one to symbolize the 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall. The physical wall may be gone but its ghost still hangs around the city and cycling it is one of the best ways to commune with it. The line of this historical barrier is now clearly sign-posted and marked with a double row of grey cobble stones and in some sections a commemorative metal plaque marks the time period that the wall stood. Berlin is one of Europe’s bike friendliest cities. It is fairly flat with an extensive network of marked bicycle paths. To cycle the full length of the Wall Trail would take two days if you were bike fit, or three days if you wanted to enjoy the scenery. We did not have the time to follow the whole trail so we followed roughly the route of last year’s commemorative art installation that took us through the heart of the city. We started our ride at Bernauerstrasse. This section is heavily dotted with memorial walks, preserved sections of wall, documentation centers, and museums. The former patrol road that runs along Benauerstrasses from Schwedterstrasse to Brunnenstrasse is now a memorial trail commemorating the daring and sometimes fatal escapes from East to West Berlin captured by the media. A permanent photo exhibit of these vivid images runs between the old buildings and the new condominiums that have sprung up on what was the former “death strip.” The dramatic stories told at the info stops are in sharp contrast with the leafy pleasantness of this now gentrified part of the former East. Preserved sections of the wall are found between Brunnenstasse and the Nordbahnhof. On the sunny day we did our cycle, locals and tourists picnicked on the now green areas where the death strip ran. Tourists meandered through gaps between spikes that stand like a phantom wall - something that would have been impossible just over 25 years ago. Locals cycled past on the bike path, seemingly blasé of the historical landmarks. Small plaques embedded into the footpath are gruesome reminders of the some of the 138 persons who lost their lives trying to escape across the border strip. The Documentation Center on Benauerstrasse has a free viewing platform that gives you a stunning birds eye view of the small section of wall preserved in its original form. Here the route takes you past two former ghost stations. The trains that passed beneath former East Berlin did not stop at Benauerstrasse [...continued]
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subway station until its reopening after the fall of the wall. What remained of the overground station of Nordbahnhof was also boarded up. Nowadays a fully functioning S-Bahn station, the Nordbahnhof hosts an exhibition of its former life as a geisterbahnhof or ghost station. The station still retains the old gothic script of the pre-Nazi era giving it an air of belonging to another time. Just a few blocks from the Nordbahnhof is one of Berlin’s oldest cemeteries, the Invalidenfriedhof, the traditional resting place of the Prussian army. It was located just behind the wall in East Berlin, sections of which still remain. In the 1960s over a third of the cemetery was destroyed to make way for watch towers and patrol roads. The route from the Nordbahnhof to the notorious, former border crossing of Check Point Charlie is lined with monuments to tick off the tourist to do list: the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the beautiful Martin Gropius Bau museum and the eerie holocaust memorial with its labyrinth of more than 2,700 grey concrete slabs reminiscent of coffins. There are parts of the trail where the ghosts are harder to find. In Postdamer Platz commercialism has erased all signs of the wall. After its devastation in the war and its isolation by the wall, the square once stood as a vacant lot. But now it is a modern business district that could be anywhere in the world with its malls and
shiny office buildings. Sight seeing opportunities in some sections of the trail are scarce, as it takes you through areas tourists would seldom venture. In parts of residential Kreuzberg, the cobblestone wall markings running alongside the residential buildings look like they have been laid down to delineate parking lanes. Vacant grassy lots - a quiet testament to the devastation Berlin suffered in the war - still remain, but nearby building construction is a reminder that the empty spaces are slowly being filled in with luxury housing, Since the fall of the wall this immigrant suburb -and center of the West Berlin squatter movement in the 1980s - has become one of the most sought after areas of the new Berlin. But ghosts will still surprise you on the way. The Kreuzberg section of the trail takes you close to the beautiful St. Michael’s church that had been badly damaged during the war and its fountain and garden isolated in the death strip. Since unification its fountain and gardens have been resurrected to their former glory and although parts of the church have been restored, its center was never re-built. The last section we rode took us over the striking Oberbaum Bruke, the bridge over the River Spree that links the former East German suburb of Friedrischhain with Kreuzberg. Just past the bridge stands the East side Gallery, a conserved mural project by international artists who came together in 1990 to celebrate the fall of the wall. It is the longest remaining section still standing at 1.3 kilometers. Some of the most iconic murals in the gallery depict the ghosts of that time - the East German Trabant car that appears to be breaking through the concrete and the former East German leader Erich Honecker locked in a kiss with the former Soviet leader President Leonid Brezhnev. For the 20th anniversary of the Wall’s demise in 2009, this section was completely restored but many murals are now defaced by tourist tags and some are difficult to view behind the numerous tourists holding selfie sticks. Will the East side gallery itself one day become a ghost of its former self? In March 2013 a number of panels were removed to gain a high-rise residential development along the River Spree. Large protests by residents prevented further destruction of the gallery. For now at least, the ghosts of the wall are allowed to roam Berlin. For more information visit wall.visitberlin.de or https://berlinonbike.de/en/. Berlin Mauerweg maps are available at book and bicycle shops if you want to go it alone and bike rentals are located all over Berlin starting from 12 Euros per day. Photography by Christopher Johns.
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SUN KISSED HAIR
The TONI&GUY effect
With the Balayage & Ombre Colour techniques being in the forefront for a few years, it’s safe to say the trends aren’t going anywhere – for a long while. So naturally, beau-tique cosmetics international hosted a three-day TONI&GUY Color Workshop in their newly opened TONI&GUY hair • beauty Villa in CLIFFS Residential Tower in Salmiya. This Color Workshop, attended by TONI&GUY Kuwait’s six Color Technicians, was conducted by multi award winning Colorist and TONI&GUY’s International Artistic Director Siobhan Golden. TONI&GUY’s internationally renowned Artistic Team represents a culmination of talent and creativity that is a contributing factor to the overall global success of the brand. Their many British Hairdressing Award wins are testament to their excellence. Seen as TONI&GUY’s finest, the International Artistic Team are highly experienced group who showcase their skills at a level, which ensure the company remains the industry leader. Siobhan Golden is a key educator and the latest addition to the Technical Artistic Team. Ms. Golden is also the winner of the L’Oreal Color Trophy – London Young Colorist Award, Breakthrough Team Social Media Award and overall runner up in 2013, as well as the Trend Vision Bronze Winner for the UK in 2012. Siobhan Golden spent those three days concentrating on the Transient Color Techniques 94
that are a part of TONI&GUY’s latest Educational Course - FUTURE FOUNDATION. Each day she focused on the three different techniques with careful demonstrations: Balayage, Ombre and TONI&GUY’s exclusive Lumi- Ombrage technique. The morning sessions consisted of technique demonstrations, and that includes sectioning, color mixing, hair painting, and processing. All the trainees got to do a morning and afternoon session with the models to practice their newly learnt techniques under the supervision of Ms. Golden. Preparation for the training was an exciting experience. It took a lot of planning and careful selection to get the perfect profiles for each of the 50 models required for these three days. About the Techniques: Balayage: A French word meaning "to sweep." The color is applied by sweeping free hand applications to create natural, sun kissed highlights. Ombre: Refers to the gradual lightening of the hair strand, usually fading from a darker color near the roots to a lighter one at the ends. Ombre can be very subtle or very striking depending on the look you want to achieve – which will then dictate the technique used and the level of lightness required.
Lumi-Ombrage Lumi-Ombrage is a combination of the Ombre and Balayage techniques. It is designed to create a natural looking texture, combined to a gradual lighter effect on the ends and at the front hairline that gives a contouring luminous finish. Training Attendees: TONI&GUY- Cliffs Emma Verey- Salon Manager/Technical Director Caley Gillan- Senior Technician TONI&GUY- Al Corniche Samantha Curatolo- Salon Manager/ Senior Technician Chloe Robinson- Technical Director/Stylist Gemma Radford- Senior Technician/Stylist Syra Pearson- Senior Technician
Villa TONI&GUY, Cliffs Residential Tower, Block 9, Baghdad St., Lane 7, Bldg 638 Salmiya. Tel No: 257 03381. TONI&GUY Hairdressing for Ladies and Gents, Al Corniche Club, Al Shaab Al Bahary, Gulf Road. Tel No: 2566 3286. Working hours: 10:00AM to 7:00PM, seven days a week. Follow TONI&GUY on Instagram @toniandguykw.
TONI & GUY
bazaar movie night night The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in September
BLACK MASS
EVEREST
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS
Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Crime, Drama Cast: Johnny Depp/Benedict Cumberbatch/Corey Stoll
Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal/Keira Knightley/Josh Brolin
Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Dylan O'Brien/Kaya Scodelario/Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Synopsis: Upcoming 2015 American crime film written by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth, Black Mass depicts the true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston. Following a string of too many of his violent actions, he becomes an FBI informant for 30 years in order to take down a Mafia family invading his turf. It starts around the late 1970s and early 1980s when Bulger was just beginning this operation, around the time when he was becoming the crime boss of Irish Winter Hill Gang.
Synopsis: Everest is a 2015 British-American 3D biographical disaster thriller-adventure drama film and stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.
NO ESCAPE (THE COUP)
THE INTERN
Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Owen Wilson/Lake Bell/Pierce Brosnan
Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy Cast: Anne Hathaway/Robert De Niro
Synopsis: The Coup, with the tone of the film described as being akin to Taken, centers on an American family that moves to Southeast Asia and finds themselves embroiled in a violent uprising where rebels mercilessly attack the city. In their new overseas home, an American family finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape in an environment where foreigners are being immediately executed. During the Cannes Film Festival, it was reported that Pierce Brosnan joined the project, with his role being a "mysterious and ultimately heroic government operative."
Synopsis: 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin. Originally, The Intern was planned to feature Tina Fey and Michael Caine in the lead roles. Fey was then replaced by Reese Witherspoon as the attached star, though she left the film on January 15, 2014 due to scheduling conflicts. On February 7, Anne Hathaway was in final talks to replace Witherspoon for the lead role in the film.
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Synopsis: After having escaped the Maze, in this next chapter of the epic Maze Runner saga, Thomas and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all. Starring Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario and Patricia Clarkson with supporting cast of Rosa Salazar, Jacob Lofland, Aidan Gillen, Giancarlo Esposito, Barry Pepper and Lili Taylor.
THE v REFUELED (TRANSPORTER 4) Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller Cast: Ed Skrein/Loan Chabanol Synopsis: Frank Martin is now living a less perilous life transporting classified packages for questionable people. When Frank's father (Ray Stevenson) pays him a visit in the south of France, their father-son bonding weekend takes a turn for the worse when Frank is engaged by a cunning femme-fatale, Anna and her three seductive sidekicks, to orchestrate the bank heist of the century. Frank must use his covert expertise and knowledge of fast cars, fast driving and fast women to outrun a sinister Russian kingpin, and worse than that, he is thrust into a dangerous game of chess with a team out for revenge.
For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Cinescape: www.cinescape.com.kw or Facebook: Cinescape – Kuwait National Cinema Company. *Above programs are subject to change without prior notice.
macdonald's
An Untitled Pen
Meet Kuwait’s 15-year-old science and poetry prodigy Rayan Abdul-Baki By Nejoud Al-Yagout
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t isn’t everyday that one gets to meet a prodigy. However, I was one of the lucky ones, having had the serendipitous opportunity of chancing upon Rayan Abdul-Baki, a 15-year-old Lebanese genius living amongst us in K-city. If you haven’t heard of him yet, remember his name because this fellow is definitely going places! He published his first collection of poetry titled Words From the Sky at the mere age of 13; and he is currently working on his second anthology of poems, An Untitled Pen, which will be released in the near future. If that weren’t enough, he is also in the process of establishing a neuro-scientific hypothesis to cure Alzheimer’s disease. I had the blessed chance to meet Rayan and delve deeper into his psyche. What does it feel like to be one of the youngest published poets out there? It feels absolutely amazing to be able to begin changing my life now. There was always a quote I loved from a book by Percy Jackson: “The Sea does not like to be restrained.” Obedience never came naturally to me and I always wanted to transmit my ideas, debate and defend science when pseudoscience tried to take over. In terms of poetry, I want to express what I couldn’t express vocally while trying to battle for success. One of my poems, ‘Cinderelle’, perfectly explains this question, on how someone young and inexperienced could begin a mission and contribute to the world. Your poetry is way beyond your years and it begs the question: when did you realize that poetry was etched in your veins? When I realized it was my medium to try and shed any problems in my life. It was a fake me that I enjoyed very much. However, with An Untitled Pen, the poetry became the real me. There wasn’t a time where it all started. I had it in me. I always had a problem at school for being too wordy or disjointed with my writing – and I realized poetry was the only free medium. During my years of studying English at school, it was poetry that generated the most interest for me. Words from the Sky is a highly spiritual book. In your new book, however, the persona seems to be engulfed in darkness. What led to this transformation? Words from the Sky was written when I was 13 and I was quite naïve; it is no longer me. An Untitled Pen began when I was 15-years-old and is more philosophical, where I create a parallel universe with words. The darkness is only the icing on the cake; a sensitive eye is required to piece the puzzle from my work. The poems in the new book are mostly untitled, and I leave it for the reader to title his/her own story that s/he pieces from my work. A reader does not have to accept the title. The poetry is universal and the title of the book in
itself means that it is a pen that does not belong to anyone. It isn’t mine. I might be the author but you are the storyteller. I aim for my poems to be a combination of both prose and poetry - in a poetic form - and this form is sometimes used in my new book. Also with my passion for mathematics, biotechnology, neuroscience, computer science and physics, and the work in my hypothesis, I became a humanist and aspiring scientist. I look at everything from a scientific point of view. My debates are controversial according to my family! I hope in the near future that the world will become more open-minded and understand something before classifying it as controversial. Poetry is obviously an integral aspect of your being, but you are interested in science as well. Can you tell us a bit about your science project for the Google Science Fair? In 2005, grid cells in the entorhinal cortex were discovered by Dr. May Britt Moser and Dr. Edvard Moser. For this, they won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. Grid cells are responsible for dynamically computing the position of the self, which helps organisms understand their place in space. Recently, it was concluded that the entorhinal cortex is the first part of the brain that is attacked by Alzheimer's disease. I am hoping to combine my love for biochemistry and nano-technology by merging a quantum dot with an appropriate molecule that would target proteins in grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex. My goal is to target the proteins or the grid cells in a non-invasive manner in order to increase their potential for action and to prevent the toxic proteins or protein fragments from killing the neuron immediately. The QDmolecule would need to cross the blood brain barrier as well so we can consider this project as therapeutic. Currently, I am discussing all this with a chemistry professor, as the methodology and
engineering of the molecule are still in the planning stages. I can't wait to tell my teachers about it. The experiment should be starting very soon. For many years I have been hoping to take part in science research, but opportunities and assistance were limited. Now, this project might just grant me the wish I have always wanted: to change the world. I would no longer just be a journalist writing essays about existing projects or someone spitting out ideas. Nonetheless, all the phases I have gone through have helped me to reach this stage. You mentioned establishing an intelligence society here in Kuwait. How are you going to go about turning this pipe dream into a reality? I would call it the Kuwait Intelligent Society: a society that can change Kuwait with its greatest weapon – the brain. The society would not be based on IQ levels but ideas. I want to give children, teenagers and, possibly adults, a place where their ideas and poetry can be shared. The idea of an intelligence society may seem egotistical, but it is not about me. I have friends in Kuwait who can neither spread their ideas – whether scientific or philosophical - nor utilize their talents because they are forced to stick to a syllabus. It will boost their confidence and 10-20 years from now, they will probably win the Nobel Prize or become authors of excellent scientific researches or philosophic publications. We could also discuss solutions to the world’s greatest problems as well in our intelligence society. Finally, what advice would you give fellow teenagers regarding the pursuit of dreams? Become the pen.
Rayan’s book Words From the Sky is available at q8books (Bayt Lothan). He also has his own website www.rayanabdulbaki.com. An Untitled Pen will be released very soon. Follow Rayan's work on Facebook and Instagram @RABpoetry. 99
BUT FIRST,
LET ME
TAKE A
SMELFIE By Lindsay Tucker
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With his wild eyes and unruly mop of salt-and-pepper curls, it’s no surprise that David Edwards is often likened to the fictional, eccentric, chocolate-making genius Willy Wonka—equal parts madness and delight. From his experimental restaurant venture, Café ArtScience, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Harvardprofessor-turned-entrepreneur is showing off a digital tap-andsniff book for iPad while the lunch crowd inhales puffs of vaporized drinks.
“Here’s Goldilocks. She’s alone in the woods, and she’s afraid!” Edwards reads theatrically as we flip through the pages. An emblem with a cartoon nose on it appears in the treetops on the page, instructing readers to tap it, which I do. The nose disappears and the message “Preparing oPhone” pops up in its place. On the table in front of us, the oPhone—smell-release system that looks like a toy boat and connects to the iPad via Bluetooth—emits a dull creaking sound before a tiny puff of air with a distinctly woodsy aroma floats out from one of its cylinders. In a few seconds, the scent is gone. Like the oPhone, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: The Smelly Version is the brainchild of Edwards and his former student, 24-year-old Rachel Field, who co-founded the startup Vapor Communications in 2013. The book is just the first in a series of children’s classics that will become available for iPad later this year from Melcher Media, and which was on display at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York from April to July of this year. Called Sensory Stories: An Exhibition of New Narrative Experiences, the exhibit featured technology that expands upon traditional story delivery methods and the way they play off the senses. Interactive games, films and the Google Cube—a mind-bending virtual cube
that stretches a single narrative across its six faces— appeared alongside the oBook. Last year, Vapor Communications announced its oMedia platform—which it has optimistically dubbed “the iTunes of scent”—when they sent the smell of cookies from a phone in Paris to an oPhone in New York City. Since then, their photo-sharing app, oNotes (think Instagram with smell-tagging ability), launched to a modest usership—probably because the smells are accessible only with use of an accompanying oPhone, of which there are few. But all that will be changing soon: Along with oBooks, this fall the company plans to release an iPad case that will release up to 50 smells. Edwards declined to tell Newsweek specifically how the oCase will work, but says it will pair with odor-enhanced oGames, oMenus, oMusic playlists—they’re even working on a scent-scored oFilm with Maya Sanbar, a London-based documentary producer, who worked on 2006’s Goal Dreams and the 2008 Academy Award– nominated Trouble the Water. Edwards met Field in a class he was teaching in 2012, and he says it was her idea that set him down this path of olfactory exploration. “The idea was, what if you could have the cellphone that sends smells?” says Field. What would Instagram become if you could tack on the scent of Grandma’s gooey pecan pie or Jay Z’s sweaty T-shirt? Science has long understood that scent is strongly linked to memory and emotion, and when we send Snapchats or scroll through photo feeds, we’re missing out on important sensorial information. The technology to capture a scent with a phone isn’t there yet, but Fields says they won’t stop ’til they get there. This isn’t the first time techies have attempted to incorporate the olfactory into entertainment. “Smellies” were born in 1933, when film producer Arthur Mayer
installed a scent-delivery machine in Paramount’s Rialto Theater in New York City. Unfortunately, it was impossible to clear the aromas once they were emitted, and the experiment was quickly abandoned. Nearly 30 years later, the ill-fated Smell-O-Vision debuted with the gimmicky murder-caper Scent of Mystery. Producer Mike Todd Jr. teamed up with Swiss inventor Hans Laube, who had presented his elaborate scent-release system at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. In 1969, they unveiled the improved invention, which they called “smell brain,” at Scent of Mystery showings in three cities. Aromas of wine, pipe tobacco and train exhaust were delivered through tiny tubes to moviegoers’ seats, but it failed to be the sensory extravaganza they had in mind: Scent particles linger, they blend, they stick to clothes and upholstery. And lest we forget, John Waters’s scratchand-sniff homage to Smell-O-Vision: Odorama, which had its debut and swan song in the 1981 cult favorite Polyester. In 2010, Time named Smell-O-Vision one of the 50 worst inventions of all time. Smell-o-tainment’s previous failures don’t worry Edwards. Its delivery system is more advanced, he says, the scent distribution more localized. The cartridges inside the oPhone only release a tiny bit of vapor, for a smell that’s designed to last just 10 seconds. “It’s so different from what’s been done before,” he says. “Once the smell of chocolate is gone, you can replace it with the smell of cedar without getting that cloud of both.” Avery Gilbert, self-described “smell scientist” and author of What the Nose Knows: The Science of Scent in Everyday Life, says the portability of the oCase holds the most promise for the platform’s success. “What’s really on offer is a pocket smell-generator,” he says. “It’s potentially a mood candle, an aroma alarm clock, a
digital whoopee cushion.” Making smell available on the go is a much bigger proposition than just tagging photos and videos, he says. We’re in an age now where news is shared in 140-character messages, so “a 10-second burst of ‘smell this!’ fits right in.” Ironically, oMedia’s goal is to push our nose-inthe-phone society to re-engage with our physical surroundings. They say oMedia will force people to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Charles Melcher, founder of Melcher Media, says that it was this very idea that encouraged him to get involved with oBooks. Before radio, TV and Netflix-bingeing, storytelling was an interactive human experience, like sitting around a campfire, he says: “This technology brings us back into our bodies. It highlights the senses and is very participatory. When we interact with the outside world, we utilize all five senses, so it’s natural that storytelling should evolve into what [we] call ‘a full-body experience.’” Still, the oPlatform could end up being just another digital distraction from our physical environment. Will tagging the scent of ocean air really make us put down our phones and run carefree into the surf? The oNotes app, though still only used by a small community of early adopters, is already flooded with scent-tagged selfies. A smiling teenage girl with notes of “saffron” and “strawberry,” a 20-something hipster who thinks he smells like “rain.” Fields admits that “smelfies” were a pleasant surprise. Could oMedia’s use as an oddly personal product help them survive in the smellentertainment market where all others have failed? It certainly looks promising: Our selfie-obsessed culture might be perfectly poised to exploit the last untapped sense when it comes to media—social and otherwise. But only the nose knows for sure.
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4HOW TO MANAGE THEM PERSONALITY TYPES AND
By Mike Figliuolo
Every team is made up of different personality types, and some demand more time and attention from the leaders who manage them than others. As every team leader knows, there’s no hard and fast management strategy that fits every kind of employee. Short of that, though, there's a rough framework managers can use to decide how to direct their energy toward getting the most out of all the personalities on their teams. Here’s a quick rundown of four of the most common personality types and how to manage each one. 102
THE RISING STARS Every team has a few obviously rising talents. They noticeably, and for the most part independently, come up with ways to improve how their jobs are done. It’s clear these stars will be moving on to bigger and better things in the future. Leadership Strategy: Promote internally. Acknowledge their reliable performance and reduce the amount of supervision you provide these few—it's better spent elsewhere. Your goal should be to help them advance toward their career goals while giving them enough room to grow to make sure they don't leave for more enticing positions.
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THE SQUEAKY WHEELS These folks may produce above average results, but they consume outside resources to do it. Not only do they frequently need help fixing problems and figuring out how to do their jobs, they're regularly asking for more support, budget, or staff. Leadership Strategy: Wean patiently. You need these folks to keep delivering the good results they've shown themselves capable of while reducing the resources they eat up in order to get there. Encourage more independence by challenging them to solve problems they would otherwise toss into your lap.
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THE SQUARE PEGS The 10% of your team that consumes 90% of your leadership capital. These people claim to work hard and long and make sure everyone knows it, but they still don’t get their jobs done properly. You have to double-check everything they do. Their work is often late, incomplete, and sometimes flatout wrong. They've proved they don’t have all the skills they need for the job they're in. Leadership Strategy: Fill in the skill gaps. Your need to get these people out of the "square peg" box in the short-term, either by helping them rapidly improve their skill-set or redeploying them to another role they might be better suited to.
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THE SLACKERS On paper, these workers have all the required skills. But in practice, they just don't get results. They seem to be content knowing how to do their job instead of actually doing it. You frequently have to push them and check on their progress. Leadership Strategy: Motivate. They might not look it, but sometimes the slackers are your potential high-risk, high-return leadership investments. Your goal is to get them to perform at the levels they're capable of. The main thing holding them back is motivation, so if you can figure out how to excite and inspire them, you might be able to turn lead into gold.
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burger king
GRID EXPECTATIONS By Thomas K. Grose
It may soon pay to drive an electric car. Literally. As power grids rely increasingly on renewable energy, storing excess power is going to be even more essential. Solar and wind energy are intermittent sources of electricity, often producing a surplus when they’re in full swing, and zero when nighttime comes or winds die down. So grid operators need ways to store excess capacity in down times and tap into it when they need it. They could build huge warehouses crammed with battery packs for storage, but that would be costly. A much less expensive solution is what’s called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology: a computerized system that enables owners of electrical vehicles (EVs) to send some of their cars’ 104
stored battery power back to an electrical grid— and get paid for it. One EV battery’s capacity is around 10 kilowatt hours of power. So just 30 cars would provide enough power to run around 300 homes. As the number of EVs on the road grows from hundreds of thousands to millions, the potential to store massive amounts of energy in a fleet of EVs is vast. That energy is also very cheap: According to Willett Kempton, who oversees a University of Delaware research team that has pioneered the V2G process, buying power from EV batteries would cost grid operators just a tenth as much as building battery stations with equal amounts of energy. Earlier this year, Nissan announced it was working with the Spanish utility company Endesa to
roll out a V2G system. Meanwhile, Danish startup Nuvve, which has licensed V2G technology from Kempton’s Delaware team, is expected to begin commercial operations with two European grid operators and two global automakers during the first half of next year. An automated system would take power from EV batteries when it’s most needed by the grids and at a good price for buyers and sellers. If owners need to take a long trip and can’t risk giving up any battery capacity, they could override the system to temporarily stop a grid feed. Kempton says that owners could even earn more from V2G than what it costs them to keep their batteries charged. “The proposition,” he says, “is pretty compelling.”
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EAST COAST MEETS WEST COAST MENSWEAR CONTEMPORARY BRANDS AT
HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT By bazaar staff
Haculla
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t’s all about street style for the upcoming season! As part of Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s new set-up for the Menswear department, it’s all about an allAmerican East Coast meets West Coast vibe. If you’re looking to reinvent your look this fall, this section will be your one-stop shop, where you will be introduced to some incredible contemporary brands– from the quintessentially New York brand, Hood by Air, or explorative designer Virgil Abloh's Off-White, New York-based brands Haculla and Public School to the stylings of designer, DJ, Argentinian-born Milan resident and cultural impresario Marcelo Burlon. The vibe at Harvey Nichols Kuwait absolutely embodies authentic street style.
Haculla New York City artist Harif Guzman is better known as his alter ego "Haculla". This designer street wear collection is designed by Tykoon Brand Holding’s owner and creative director Jon Koon, and inspired by the iconic Harif Guzman’s 15 years of street art. Haculla’s first collection references Guzman’s “Dark Ages” characters. The original series is an examination of the old masters in classical art. Public School Public School is one of the up-and-coming conspirators in the new wave of young, irreverent American menswear designers. They take inspiration and energy from their New York surroundings and inject that attitude into their garments. They understand that fashion should help change or augment the way you feel. They want men to feel tough again, and their new collection most definitely reflects that. Off-White Conceived of as a bridge between the worlds of streetwear and high fashion, designer Virgil Abloh's Off-White line explores concepts of branding, the zeitgeist, and the expression of youth culture in the contemporary moment. The new collection from Off-White translates timely inspirations ranging from the graphic nature of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House and typography to emotional prints in the collection's ready-to-wear silhouettes.
Off-White
Harvey Nichols Kuwait is located at Grand Avenue – The Avenues. Opening hours are from 10 am till midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 am to 11 pm from Sunday to Wednesday. Please call 22283008 for more information. Get social with Harvey Nichols Kuwait by following them on Facebook.com/HarveyNicholsKuwait and Instagram @HarveyNicholsKuwait.
Public School
Public School
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CLAROTEK
Cybord – gliding into the future By bazaar staff
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W W
ith so many options in the world of technology, the consumer might have a hard time choosing. Yes, one might tend to go for a recognizable name or a known high-end producer – but sometimes, what you really need is someone you can depend on. Enter Wael AlAhmar, a young entrepreneur with a keen eye for creativity. Wanting to make things easier for businesses and consumers alike, Wael’s ethos is to bring in products and solutions that people need. While he has three incredible products under his belt, Wael’s plans extend greater and farther than that. Having founded ClaroTek right here in Kuwait, Wael aims to bridge the market gap with his state-of-the-art creative technologies people and businesses crave. “There are some pretty great products out there that people have never heard about or seen before!” Wael explains. Bringing you, the consumer, unique and innovative technologies, ClaroTek takes its name very seriously. Through combining Latin with science, ClaroTek (Clear/Clarity Technology) was born.
By making logistical nightmares and redundancies a thing of the past, ClaroTek invites you to “step into the future” with their incredible products and services range. Still, that’s a story for a different day – join us as we hop onto their ultimate creation, the Cybord. You might have seen or heard of these boards as they’ve made quite the buzz around town over the last few weeks – still, we at bazaar got to try them out! “Step forward to get on, and step back to get off,” Wael carefully explained as we stared down at the two-wheeled board on the ground with utter befuddlement. Taking his advice to heart, we shakily put one foot on the board – it immediately came to life. Buzzing and lighting up to warn us, and those around us, that we’re about to start gliding – hopefully forward. “You just need five minutes on it and you’ll be fine,” Wael reassured us, “just relax.” Easier said than done, we did our best to relax our legs and lower our center of gravity – the personal trainers are right, you need to always engage your core for balance – and soon enough, we were gliding forwards and even backwards! While there are different variations of this product already out there, what sets the Cybord apart from the rest is ClaroTek – plain and simple. With Wael’s careful and zealous eye for perfection, the Cybord is made of the best materials technology has to offer. Every aspect of this product’s design was inspected and honed. Manufactured, tried, tested, and sold by ClaroTek, you’re guaranteed the best after-sale service. “It is not just a toy,” Wael stresses. The Cybord has been created to make people’s lives easier. Though it does look flashy and attractive, the Cybord is a product of convenience. Lighter and easier to transport than a Segway, the Cybord is just as easy to control – once you get the hang of it. It comes with an entire year’s warranty that covers absolutely everything! From manufacturing errors to accidental physical damage – thanks to their AAA insurance policy – ClaroTek is here for you a year after purchase. For more information about ClaroTek, their products and services visit their website www.clarotek.com and follow them on Instagram @clarotek. To find out about their latest news, follow them on Facebook: Co.ClaroTek and on Twitter @Claro_Tek. The Cybord is now available through X-Cite as well as ClaroTek’s website!
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YAAL MALL A new commercial development in the heart of Fahaheel By bazaar staff
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here’s a beautiful development happening along the Fahaheel coastline, and when we came to further investigate the project, we learned about the true meaning of the local term, Yaal, the water’s edge. Developed by the prestigious A’ayan Real Estate Company, Yaal Mall & Tower pays a beautiful tribute to the local area of Fahaheel, its residents and its neighboring patrons. In order for Yaal Mall & Tower to reach its full potential, A’ayan partnered with the full service property management company PIMCO, established by the renowned Mudon Al Ahlia Real Estate. We interviewed the CEO of A’ayan Real Estate Company, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Awadhi, to learn more about the project’s details. Hi Mr. Ibrahim! Please introduce yourself to our readers. I currently work as the CEO of A’ayan Real Estate Company, a public shareholding company listed in the Kuwait Stock Exchange with a total paid up capital of KD 41.5 million. I am also the Chairman of Inshaa Holding Company that is specialized in construction materials and a board member in both Anan Real Estate Financing Company and Hajar Tower Real Estate Company. I previously worked as the CEO of Abyaar Qatar Real Estate Company, Chairman and Managing Director of Pack N Move Holding Company and in the Real Estate Department in Al-Madar Finance and Investment Company. I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Can you tell us about the latest Yaal Mall development? How would you best describe Yaal Mall for first-time visitors? Strategically located on Al Dabbous Street in Fahaheel, Yaal Mall & Tower is a mixed-use development constructed over a 7183 m2 plot of prime real estate. This development is poised to become a landmark in the most vibrant and important commercial hub in the area, as Yaal is comprised of a lifestyle shopping mall and prominent state-of-the-art office tower lending the project a distinct identity and universal appeal. It also features mid-level landscaped terrace restaurants that serve as a discrete and calm haven from the busy retail floors below and bustle of the neighborhood. Yaal Mall & Tower contains 24 floors, with four levels of dedicated retail, a restaurant floor, and 13 stories of premium office space in addition to six levels of parking that can accommodate more than 445 cars. The Shopping Mall GLA consists of approximately 15,000 m2 of premium retail space with more than 100 units. Can you tell us more about your company’s decision to sign PIMCO as the main leasing agent for Yaal Mall project? After meeting with several leasing companies
we found that the Property Integrated Management Company also known as PIMCO to be the most professional in their field of business. We found that PIMCO’s vision compliments what we wish to accomplish, especially with regards to their views in terms of creating innovative and creative property management solutions to reflect the changing modern world needs. We trust that PIMCO will deliver the highest quality of service and will successfully lease out the spaces at Yaal Mall to the best retailers in the region that will accommodate the needs of the consumers. Why was PIMCO chosen as opposed to its competitors? How will PIMCO better serve the goals of the Yaal Mall development? PIMCO is constantly evolving to meet their clients’ demands. Their ambition definitely separates them from their competitors, as PIMCO aims to be further recognized in the GCC and North Africa region for their reputable work on, and professionalism in managing every aspect of every property on hand to the smallest detail. Whether the property is in the retail, commercial or even residential market, PIMCO will tailor their services to suit the project’s demand. This perfectly fits with ’s wishes for Yaal. Since maximum optimization is the goal of PIMCO, they effectively accomplish this by providing the best
services at the best prices. The company aims to satisfy its clients and tenants by protecting their investments, increasing the value, and the revenue of their assets. This is well expressed by the company motto of “Profitability, Quality, and Savings”, which will serve the customers. We have the utmost faith in PIMCO to meet our goals and standards for Yaal Mall & Tower. How will Yaal Mall change the commercial and residential dynamics of the Al-Fahaheel area? The Yaal Mall & Tower project is leading the efforts for re-development of the central commercial district in Fahaheel. It is the first mixeduse complex designed and constructed as Class A in the area. The aim is to serve the dwellers of Fahaheel and surrounding suburbs, whether businessmen or shoppers, and particularly the targeted segment of ladies, children and family shopping. As for the location of the project and its components, it is a result of a market study that pointed to the fact that the traditional commercial heart of Fahaheel remains underdeveloped despite its historical significance and vital location amidst many commercial and residential areas. The project offers high quality rental areas for shopping and office spaces in an integrated environment with the various complementary components. In doing so, this provides the customer with added value and [continued...]
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the project serves an area that forms a central focal point for the rapid expansion of residential areas towards the south of Kuwait, as well as being one of the closest urban areas to many industrial zones. The oil sector in particular is expected to experience a large expansion in projects and will require modern well-appointed office spaces to manage and oversee those projects from within a location that’s in close proximity and accessibility from major highways. All of the aforementioned features constitute a very positive outlook for the future and the success of the project. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the design of the building? The name of the project and the design concept are both inspired by the Arabic word Yaal. Derived from the local dialect, Yaal means the water’s edge. This idea or thought permeates subtly throughout the development where details, materials, color and design features combine to create a contemporary, beautiful retail environment. Yaal is inspired by the water’s edge, and every design aspect exemplifies this meaning. 112
In order for us to arrive at a final design, we formed a team of highly qualified professional architects, consultants and contractor to guarantee the highest design and construction standards. The project reflects modernity in every aspect of its elegant design and fine detailing inspired by the sea and shoreline. Architecture, interiors, lighting, and planned pathways, all arrive as a result of a collaborative effort between an alliance of RTKL/ UK, Scott Lighting/ Germany and SSHI/ Kuwait. Execution supervision is the responsibility of AlJazeera Consultants/ Kuwait. Finally, how is Yaal Mall positioned to compete with other mall developments in Kuwait? Yaal Mall is positioned to appeal to an upwardly mobile target group for mid to upper-mid segment shoppers with a primary focus on retail categories and brands catering to women and children and family-centric shopping. It also targets patrons of a diverse mix of businesses and leisure options including but not limited to: Indoor Family Entertainment/Edutainment Center, Department Store, New Fashion brands not represented in Fahaheel, Fashion & Related Accessories,
Cosmetics & Perfumes, Jewelers & Watches, Shoes & Bags, Home Accessories/Furnishing, Fine & Casual Dining Restaurants, Leisure & Entertainment, Sports Wear, Gifts & Toys, Health & Fitness, Spa and beauty care. A’ayan Real Estate endeavors to offer a unique experience to the tenants and visitors of Yaal Mall, and has provided a host of features and facilities in the project; including dedicated prayer halls and ablution rooms, child care rooms, smart building services including security, CCTV circuits, entrance control systems for the mall and the tower, telecommunications and information, fire alarm and safety systems. The mall will also be provided with an Information desk and client services office, and valet parking. The project will also contain a dedicated VIP parking floor for tenants.
For more information about Yaal Mall & Tower, please call 2205 6116, or email the leasing department leasing @pimco-kw.com or Info@pimco-kw.com. Visit www.yaalmall.com and www.pimco-kw.com to stay updated about the project’s latest developments.
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TRAITS OF CREATIVE
LEADERS
(and how to become one) By Erik Wahl
Being a leader is difficult. That’s why most of us end up taking direction from others in our professional lives. But the ranks of the selfemployed are swelling, hinting that more people are getting comfortable taking the reins in their own hands. And in fact, becoming a leader (even if it's just of yourself) is something anyone who's committed to the task can master. There's no inborn quality that leaders possess. They're ordinary people who decide at one point or another to do extraordinary things. Here are four traits the most creative driven leaders—and therefore the best leaders, generally speaking—all possess. 1. THEY RATTLE CAGES Change is a constant. In the natural world, in politics, in business, the only thing that stays the same is the fact that nothing stays the same. Some people wait until they're propelled into leadership positions by forces around them. But the best leaders—from Joan of Arc to Martin Luther King, Jr. to Steve Jobs—first provoke themselves into action, then the people around them. They're constantly imagining new possibilities. They instigate change that they envision even when others don't. Yet perhaps the only major difference between these great leaders and the average person is that they're willing to do something rather than let circumstances dictate life for them. That typically means rattling cages and shaking up long-standing beliefs and institutions—which is never easy or universally well-received. But that's precisely what
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makes them great. To rise to your true leadership potential, chances are you'll need to rattle a few cages as well, starting with your own. 2. THEY LISTEN TO INTUITION There are things we know to be true and things we feel to be true. Thanks to our education, most of us tend to lean on our existing knowledge base to solve problems and make decisions. But the best leaders are those who realize that the things they sense—those possibilities that lie just beyond the realm of the known—hold a special value, too. Listening to them is how real breakthroughs happen. Most of us have problems balancing logic with intuition. But the truth is that those faculties aren't opposed to one another. In fact, you need to figure out how to get them working together if you're to become a truly creative leader. Intellect without intuition makes for a smart person without impact. Intuition without intellect makes a spontaneous person without direction. 3. THEY MOVE FAST One of the biggest stumbling blocks for anyone trying to accomplish something is perfectionism— the need to get it exactly right before taking the next step. But the best leaders realize that perfection is impossible, and pursuing perfection often stands in the way of what's most important: progress. Leadership requires making consistent strides, no matter how big. And the quicker the stride, the greater the progress. Don’t buy into the notion that you can take a giant leap if you spend enough time carefully mapping it
out. By the time you get done planning, others will have lapped you twice and already taken that leap you spent months mulling over. Opt instead to "just go" and let the sparks fly. You will make mistakes. But in the process, you'll learn quickly and keep moving—refining your skills and igniting new levels of creativity you didn’t know you had. 4. THEY HAVE CONVICTIONS AND STICK TO THEM "Don’t ask what the world needs," the great civil rights leader Howard Thurman once said. "Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." There’s something compelling about a person with conviction, whether or not you agree with everything he or she represents. But conviction is rare, because in our longing for stability and security, we often make the mistake of looking outside ourselves for direction when we should be looking inside. And over time we can lose sight of who we truly are and what's really important to us. Conviction can be cultivated, though—and it starts with you individually. While those who live with great conviction can always inspire you, they don't know your passions and beliefs. Only you can ask, "What makes me come alive?" From there, the gaps between who you are and who you can still be will become clear. You might find you need something dramatic like a career change, or the exercise of answering that question might help propel you down the path you’re already on. The key is to find something that you feel you’re meant to do and give yourself to it.
sultan center back to school
OPTIONS OUTLET
BY TRAFALGAR Designer luxury for less
By bazaar staff
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It’s that time of year, when we’re just getting over those postholiday blues, and conjuring up the energy to get back to work. If you’re like this bazaar writer, you too believe in the power of retail therapy. It cures all ailments, especially when designer bargains are involved! I personally think that September is the perfect time of year to jazz up your wardrobe. You get to swap out essential pieces for new basic favorites. A crisp white shirt for a seamless work look, a new little black dress for evening dinners and gatherings, or a pair of statement heels...just because! For those essentials, and so much more, make your way to the Options Outlet by Trafalgar.
Luxury Retail Company Trafalgar Kuwait opened its first outlet store, Options, making for extremely easy designer shopping suited for every budget. Located in Zahra Complex in Salmiya’s high street of Salem Al Mubarak, expect to find incredible discounts that range from 50 % and up to 75% off. With renowned brands like Ermengildo Zegna, Versace Fashion and accessories, Aigner fashion, Salvatore Ferragamo watches and local brands like Leila Designs and Christiane N Designs, your fall wardrobe is sorted! Our bazaar editors, and resident shopaholics spent hours perusing the store, rummaging through a bespoke and neatly organized closet of couture gowns and cocktails dresses on discount, while trying on almost every pair of shoes in sight. Men need to not fret, as the men’s fashion section has plenty of options for both formal and casual wear. With shirts, t-shirts, shorts, trousers, jeans, shoes and suits and ties, men will be dressing to impress, on a killer budget, in no time! If you’re looking to acquire a few designer pieces for your little ones, then the gorgeous selection of baby goodies at Options by Trafalgar dazzle. We fell in love with the mint and purple colored goodies by Versace, as well as the selection of baby shoes on offer. When it comes down to any outfit, accessories are the way forward! Your basic wardrobe might not need a complete overhaul, but you can inject new life into your favorite pieces with the right accessories. A new Aigner bag, perhaps? From leather goods like wallets, bags, iPad covers, Smart Phone covers, to bracelets, rings and necklaces, Options by Trafalgar has you covered! For more information, follow Options by Trafalgar on Instagram @Trafalgaroutlets, and @Trafalgarkuwait to stay updated about the company’s latest and greatest news! Options by Trafalgar is located on the ground floor in Zahra Complex in Salmiya. Opening hours are from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Ready, set, shop!
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THE STARBUCKS C H A M P I O N S
By bazaar staff
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very year, Starbucks challenges its baristas around the world to make the best latte art, espresso drinks, and be even more knowledgeable about coffee. To become a “Barista Champion”, Starbucks baristas have to demonstrate the espresso excellence that Starbucks is known for. The Starbucks champions are working baristas who have beaten the best baristas from their district to be named country champion.
The Starbucks MENA Barista Championship is a regional championship that was initiated by Starbucks MENA in 2014 and sees the Starbucks country champions from across the region competing against each other. The championship comprises of several rounds. The Personal Coffee Tasting gives the baristas the opportunity to lead a session with three different coffees. Baristas use different brewing methods such as Coffee Press and Turkish, and pair their coffees with foods like dates, citrus fruits and cheese. The Lucky Dip challenges the baristas’ knowledge of Starbucks core coffee range. Bar Skills tests the baristas’ mastery behind the bar on espresso-based beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos, caramel machiattos and flat whites. The Signature Beverage round gives contestants the opportunity to showcase their creativity by innovating a new beverage. The final round puts participants against each other with a Quiz, testing their knowledge on everything Starbucks related. This year, after the scores were tallied and the judges had finished deliberating, the results were announced: Mary Joy Tandiama from the UAE was crowned MENA Barista Champion – Southern Markets, and Khay Santos from Kuwait was named MENA Barista Champion – Northern Markets. The MENA Barista Championship was held in Kuwait on June 9, and featured regional barista champions Aimalyn Sayson of Bahrain, Marian Rizkahllah of Egypt, Mohammad Hadeed of Jordan, Barjien Tanjilil of KSA, Khay Santos of Kuwait, Kodmous Ayyoub of Lebanon, Dipen Bista of Qatar, Kassandra Blanca Ignacio of Oman and Mary Joy Tandiama of the UAE. Mary Joy will represent MENA for the title of “EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Barista Championship – 2015” which will be held in the UK. This is the first year that 24 countries from across EMEA will compete for this title. We speak with the winners Mary Joy Tandiama from the UAE and Khay Santos from Kuwait to learn more about their awesome experience. Mary, how long have you been working with Starbucks? I’ve only been with Starbucks for four months. I work at the Deira City Centre branch. What do you think of the competition and how you
feel about winning the barista championship and representing the MENA region in “EMEA Barista Championship – 2015” in the UK? It’s a very tough competition that showcases the talent of the baristas. The experience was amazing, but I did not expect to win. I was actually in tears when they announced me as the winner; no words can explain my feelings. What does it take to be a Barista Champion? Just be yourself, show your passion and love what you do. Khay, how long have you been working with Starbucks? I joined Starbucks two years ago at the Marina Mall branch, and have been there ever since. What do you think of the competition and how do you feel about winning the MENA barista championship? It’s an amazing feeling and the competition is a great one! Through the competition, we get to understand the coffee culture of Starbucks. What does it take to be a Barista Champion? It takes a lot of courage and passion to be a barista champion; it’s actually a very motivational exercise. It was an overwhelming feeling for an ordinary barista
like me and I couldn’t believe that I’d actually won this competition. How do the Starbucks baristas feel about the Championship? We had so much fun being a part of this exercise. We enjoyed the Personal Coffee Tasting session, using different brewing methods and pairing those coffees with foods. We also liked the Lucky Dip challenge and evaluating our ‘behind the bar’ skills. We managed to showcase our creativity and imagination during the Signature Beverage round. The Quiz was also a great opportunity to refresh our memories and helped all of us revising our knowledge of all Starbucks-related info. Mary, how does it feel to carry the MENA Barista Champion title? It feels great to be rewarded for your commitment and passion. I feel proud being part of the Starbucks family. We all know that a good cup of coffee can change our customers’ days and we enjoy delivering the best beverages which we know that customers are going to enjoy. For more information, visit www.starbucks.com, and follow the brand on Instagram @StarbucksMiddleEast. 119
bazaar a la mode THREE KEY LOOKS FOR EID BY AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS Top the style chart this holiday with laidback authentic American spirit Take it to the max this Eid! A maxi dress is the perfect day-to-evening choice. Wear with the cut-out strappy bootie and team with a denim shirt for a utility twist. Channel those boho vibes with a dreamy statement feather necklace and get ready to celebrate! Wear your destroyed denim boyfriend jeans with an on-trend peasant blouse and neutral pumps - and for a pop of color, add this tassel satchel! Your Eid lunch: sorted. Did you know each American Eagle Outfitter store has a denim expert, who can help you find the perfect pair of jeans? #AEOFitME. Kick back in effortless style this Eid holiday with the super-stretch sky high jegging and a sleeveless mesh button-down shirt with the macramé kimono for a relaxed flowy silhouette. Salute the authentic American Eagle spirit with a pair of slip-on pumps in stars and stripes. American Eagle Outfitters is located at the 1st Avenue – The Avenues, The Mall – The Avenues, as well as Marina Mall. For further information please call 182 1212. Follow AEO on FB: AmericanEagleMiddleEast and IG: @AmericanEagleME. DELVAUX OPENS ITS FIRST STORE IN KUWAIT Official Supplier to the Belgian Royal Court since 1883, Belgium’s most respected luxury brand Delvaux brings unconventional elegance to Kuwait with the opening of its first store in the prestigious 360 Mall. The new store carries the house’s seasonal collections of handbags, small leather goods and accessories, showcasing Delvaux's most intricate and innovative designs and highlighting the Maison’s outstanding craftsmanship and irreverent spirit. The Kuwait store showcases Delvaux’s new boutique concept created by Luxemburg based artists Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil. In keeping with the refined and subtle luxury that is the hallmark of the House, the boutiques’ sculptural and sophisticated interiors replete with feminine curves and references to classicism, are inspired by Flemish architecture. Marco Probst, CEO of DELVAUX comments: "The Middle East has witnessed impressive growth in the luxury goods category and we feel privileged to have an opportunity to be a part of that growth. Kuwaiti customers in particular are well known for their refined taste and penchant for luxury labels and we couldn’t be happier that our customers now have easier access to our product, each of which is crafted by hand in Delvaux’s own workshops in Brussels and France." You can find Delvaux in 360 mall. BATH & BODY WORKS LAUNCHES TAHITI ISLAND DREAM: A DREAM COME TRUE! Get swept away on a sensual island escape where fresh ocean air meets sultry white sand beaches! With top notes of fresh coconut water, sparkling mandarin, golden pear and kiwi blossom, mid notes of jasmine petals, water lily and lush frangipani and dry notes of tahitian vanilla musk, skin amber and Australian sandalwood. Bath & Body Works, the world renowned fragrance brand, is now available in over 60 locations across the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Russia and Poland. With more than 1,700 stores across the globe, Bath & Body Works takes pride in providing its customers with a world-class selection of beauty products, and has redefined the way customers wear fragrance with The Daily Trio. Customers can ‘layer’ their favorite scent in three simple steps – cleanse, moisturize and fragrance - to make it part of their everyday personal care routine. It’s time to bask on this addictive new scent – it’s a dream come true! Bath & Body Works have various stores throughout Kuwait. Find them on Facebook @ BathAndBodyWorksMiddleEast for more information. ONTIME LAUNCHES JUICY COUTURE SUMMER 2015 WATCH COLLECTION Ontime announced the launch of Juicy Couture Summer 2015 Watch Collection, now available in selected stores including Marina Mall, Al Kout, Al Mohalab, Awtad Al Jahra, The Avenues Black, The Avenues Plus, Al Bairaq, The Gate Mall, and 360 Mall. Juicy Couture is internationally identified as the confident casual luxury lifestyle brand from America, embracing their bright and glamorous fun of Los Angeles heritage by discovering the couture in the everyday and delivering an element of surprise in everything they do. The collection includes the brand’s best-selling family, ‘Pedigree’, which is back again with a stylish new twist on classic representations. Both 38mm timepieces feature a crystal- set bezel and silver white sunray dial with gold plated bracelet for a high end look in the two tone bracelet or the plain golden one. A third model of the ‘Pedigree’ family is the navy silicone strap for a laid back fresh summer feel. ‘Stella’ is another unique timepiece that will make any Juicy girl shine. The 36 mm Stella is inspired by the colors of the rainbow. For a closer look at the collection of watches and brands available, visit us at your nearest ONTIME outlet at the Avenues, Marina, Bairaq, Gate, Awtad Jahra, Al Kout, 360 Mall, The Airport, Al-Mohalab, Al-Fanar or Discovery Mall. 120
BE A STAR WITH CENTREPOINT’S BACK TO SCHOOL COLLECTION Centrepoint, the region’s largest retailer, has launched its fun and practical back-to-school collection that is set to make all school children stars. Adding the excitement to the start of a new academic year, Centrepoint is offering the widest range of licensed character merchandise in the market in addition to its smart and comfortable collection of accessories, shoes and cosmetics. Fulfilling every child’s dream to be a star, Babyshop’s latest selection of merchandise, features the widest range of licensed character merchandise in the market that includes everything from school bags and water bottles to stationary pouches and lunch boxes. The exclusive range of Shaun the Sheep, Trash Pack, Ben 10, Spiderman and Minions back-to-school merchandise promises to win the interest of the boys, followed closely by the likes of Disney’s Cars, Avengers, Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Smurfs etc. Young football fans can also pick from exciting FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United themed school gear. Favourites such as Disney Princess, Hello Kitty, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Marie the Cat (for pre-schoolers), Lulu Caty, Minnie, Frozen, and inside out are part of the colourful and trendy line-up for girls. Appealing to the teens and tweens is Lifestyle’s latest back to school range with designs that are red-carpet worthy and bound to make every student’s year at school. With brands such as Mimmie’s Teddy Bear, Ferrari branded school luggage and Happy House, it is the perfect accompaniment for every student to carry with them this school year. The collection includes stylish and colourful designs are bound to be every child’s dream accessory. Extending the character range, Splash at Centrepoint is offering a full range of books, notes pads, pencils, mugs, back packs, pencil cases and many more items based on famous characters like Hello Kitty, Batman, Barbie, SmileyWorld , Superman and Super Girl Neon capsule collections. Head to Shoe Mart for as the region’s leading footwear and accessories brand unveils a delightful array of smart and comfortable styles that will go perfectly with school wear. Girls will get to rock the classy school-goer look featuring floral accents, perforations, glaze-matt contrasts and embossed effects. Sturdy year-round materials bond with flexible soles to assure relaxed wear day in and day out. The boys will be spoiled for choice with an impressive range that’s durable enough to sail through the action-packed year. High on comfort and style, the specially designed range features all leather Velcro strap ultra-light shoes. White canvas sneakers take care of sporty days and are designed to withstand boys’ active lifestyles. Visit Centrepoint at Al Rai, Avenues, Hawally, Salmiya, Fintas, Jahra, Fahaheel, Sulaibhikhat, and Kuwait City.
YOU’RE INVITED! RIVER ISLAND’S AW15 COLLECTION AND EID EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH River Island is launching their AW15 collection and Eid Exclusive range on the 14th of September. Join them in-store for a fun night of exotic mocktails, great music and special discounts! Where? 1st Avenues, The Avenues When? 14 September, 6pm to 9pm Dress code? Dress to impress! PS. Follow River Island on Instagram @RiverIslandME and if you RSVP by mentioning a friend below their Instagram invitation they will pick 10 lucky guests to join the VIP list on the night. See you there!
NEW ARTIST PLEXI GLOSS BY MAKE UP FOR EVER Sophisticated, glamorous or nude, a beautiful mouth is always eye-catching. MAKE UP FOR EVER does it again. Enter Artist Plexi-Gloss, a new intense and non-running Lip Lacquer range with targeted and sophisticated shades. Its innovative non-sticky formula and exclusive perfect-dose applicator give lips shocking shine, excessive color and stay-on power. Thanks to its exclusive SuperFlex Applicator, its unique lip-hugging shape features a small “gloss reservoir” to collect the perfect amount of lip lacquer for an incredibly smooth texture and glossy color that lasts for hours with no risk of running. Artist Plexi-Gloss is available in 35 intense shades that range from the softest to the most show-stopping, divided into five categories: 100s are nudes, 200s are corals, 300s are pinks, 400s are reds and, of course, 500s are arty shades. For even more choice, the glosses all come in two versions: (P) pearl for a shine that’s peppered with fine pearlizers, and pure for color that’s more intense than ever.
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Loaay's Two Cents Got business problems or challenges at work? With his Two Cents page, Loaay Ahmed shares his expertise in strategic management consulting to help managers, employees and entrepreneurs thrive.
Q
I find asking for referrals and introductions from existing clients awkward and might give an impression that we are desperate. I tried hiding behind email requests but that resulted in nothing. What’s the right way to ask?
programs. For example, if a group of employees is into baking, holding your own company "Bake Off" competition. If others are into football, design your own mini World Cup (without the FIFA corruption please). If some employees are into reading novels, have your own monthly book club. Maybe a Kuwaiti employee can make a session about the history of Kuwait, some social customs, words and phrases to non-Kuwaitis who are interested in knowing more about the culture they live in. Leave it to each group to arrange their own logistics of how, when and where make their activity come to life. Take the lead instead of giving up and looking for greener grass...and that's just my two cents.
If asking for a referral makes you feel like someone is slowly ripping a large strip of bandage off your sensitive skin, relax. It’s much easier and not painful at all. You just didn’t know the most suitable approach. Before discussing how to ask we need to address whom to ask. The CEO is not always the best person to reach out to. For example, if a CEO had interest in your services or products. His company approached you. A few presentations and discussions later, you delivered, they’re happy. When you examine the actual users in that company or people who have interacted with you and your team the most, you’ll realize it was the operations director, not the CEO. Asking someone you didn’t build a strong bond with during the delivery phase is naturally uncomfortable and definitely useless.
A prospect seemed convinced with our presentations and demos. Yet, no decision was made after weeks of following up. Other than asking about budget availability upfront, how can you tell if a prospect is serious or wasting time?
Emails lack the warmth of the human connection and inboxes of many managers are flooding with unread emails. The phone is not smart because you can’t tell if your client is engaged or busy signing documents. Say the following at the end of a face-to-face short and positive meeting: “We’re expanding to the healthcare industry. Whom do you know in that sector that can benefit from our XYZ service?” Being direct, and more importantly, specific with whom you’re targeting will help your clients focus on their list of contacts. Most clients won’t mind the question if they like your business; they’re just busy and you need to make it easy for them to help you. The more you ask using this technique the more it will feel natural to you. And as the wisest Jedi, Yoda, once said, “Do or do not. There is no try”...and that's just my two cents.
Being convinced doesn’t equal automatic decision-making. Decisions are affected by many factors. Some are related to the decision maker’s own character: his/her own beliefs that this product is the right one; how his/ her reputation may be perceived internally if a wrong decision was made; how big or small the decision is – if it is his/her first big decision, hesitation is highly expected; his/her strength of character in facing criticism or resistance to using the product, just to name a few. Other factors are within the company: complexity of the purchasing procedures and processes; tactical buy-in from those who eventually will be the users of the product – maybe s/he is working on convincing the team to commit to the new product for the initial phase; priorities for the department or the company have shifted, and much more.
Q
Our HR team is lazy. They’re not willing to do any social activities for the staff other than the boring annual open day. When we asked them to do more, they said, “No budget.” Is there anything to be done about it?
It’s possible that that HR team is not lazy but just doesn’t have the budget and/or the creativity to find simple ideas that are engaging to employees. If the company has some cash to spare or willing to part with, ask the executives for an increase on employees social activities spend and link it to a clear ROI. For example, find an online research report that shows how productivity increases and internal corporate politics decrease in an environment of socially engaged employees. The Internet is rich with such data. Use it to support your request. Although management may not be crazy about the idea, potential high ROI will encourage them to take the request seriously. Once approved, elect an annual employee representative to work with HR not to cause friction and to bring some ideas and employees’ insights. If the company can’t or won’t spend more, come up with simple activities that are affordable and fun for the team. Take inspiration from TV
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Q
The mistake that many sales professionals make time and time again is that they go to the prospect eager to present the product or service and blow all the whistles and horns about the features and benefits while pushing for a purchase. You might think, “How’s that a mistake?” What makes their presentation and attempt to win the deal a mistake is that their selling process is incomplete. Without investigating about the actual prospect’s needs, decision-making process, timeframe, urgency, and budget availability, it will be extremely difficult to determine the validity of this opportunity. Also, any presentation without such insights will be generic to say the least. A little more asking, a little less babbling...and that's just my two cents. For Loaay Ahmed's advice on business or work matters, send a short email to loaay@knightscapital.com. Regrettably, only the questions chosen for publishing will be answered.
Loaay Ahmed is a management adviser and strategic expert. To learn more about Loaay and his consulting service, strategic business therapy, visit www.knightscapital.com.
hypoxi
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SEVENFRIDAY - INSPIRED BY INDUSTRIES, ENGINES, MACHINES & ART Shaped a little bit like a vintage television screen, the SEVENFRIDAY watchface on the "P" Collection models features a large design and roughly 47mm wide size. That makes for a large watch, but it works, given that the whole point is to be bold, and to stand out from the crowd with a truly inimitable design. The SEVENFRIDAY “M” Collection watches have three concentric discs that move outward, indicating the seconds, minutes, and hours. In a sense, the watch operates in a way that is the opposite to how analog watch dials indicate the time, but does represent how the hands are stacked on a dial. SEVENFRIDAY currently has three main types of watches that include the “P” Collection, “M” Collection, and the “V” Collection– to be released soon. Each of them contains Japanese Miyota automatic mechanical movements. The SEVENFRIDAY brand is based in Zurich and was founded by a watch industry veteran, Daniel Niederer. Niederer was a bit tired of the typically stuffy and stiff way the watch industry approached design, as well as how it sold watches. A former luxury watch distributor, Niederer felt that some of the watch industry's margins on their products were out of line with production costs, as well as consumer expectations. He also hated how the brands he helped sell were stuck on (literally) the same old designs and marketing practices. Seeing tons of room for change and improvement, for Daniel, the only solution was doing it himself, hence the birth of SEVENFRIDAY. SEVENFRIDAY is available at Beidoun, Al Hamra Luxury Center, Al Batel - Marina Mall and Al Batel – Muthana Complex.
SUGAR & SPICE DAZZLES TWEENS WORLD AT FANTASY WORLD TOYS In today’s world, to be a Tween is to lie somewhere between childhood and teenage (Age between 7 to 12 years). Not only is it an adventurous time for these girls but also a phase where they are becoming more self-conscious in their friends’ circle. Fashion and make-up tend to be some of the first few discoveries through which they learn to express opinions, views and develop character. Fantasy World Toys has a dedicated section for the tweens named ‘Tweens World’, introduces its newest and hottest item on the shelf: Sugar & Spice, UK’s top-selling glamorous make-up set for tweens. A luxurious beauty & grooming brand, high-quality cosmetic line for makeup for beginners who want to have fun with fresh looks. Each Sugar & Spice trolley is thoughtfully designed to appeal to the tweens who are constantly on the move with friends with sleepovers and party planning. The kit contains a variety of tools such as shimmery nail polishes, glittery rouge blush, bright and colorful eye shadows and more! The Sugar & Spice make-up & trolley cases can be found at Fantasy World in the Avenues branch.
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HUBLOT AND PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SCORE Hublot and Paris Saint-Germain, the world-renowned french football club, debuted the official watch of Paris Saint-Germain, Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Paris Saint-Germain, in celebration of the team’s North America summer tour. Hot on the heels of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, where Hublot served as the official timekeeper, this partnership and timepiece are another example of Hublot’s love for global football and ongoing support of the Hublot Loves Football campaign launched during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil last summer. Hublot’s U.S. Managing Director, Jean-Francois Sberro, hosted an exclusive cocktail event with the team at a private rooftop garden atop the historic Rockefeller Center to launch the Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Paris SaintGermain timepiece. Star players in attendance included Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Silva, as well as Kevin Trapp who officially joined the Parisian Club last week. The timepiece unveiling was hosted by former New York Giants’ quarterback and friend of Hublot Jesse Palmer and included VIP attendees, including New York Giants’ star Victor Cruz, New York Knicks’ basketball player Lance Thomas, FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada champion Kelly O’Hara and LVMH USA CEO Pauline Brown. You can visit Hublot at The Avenues, al Kout mall, Behbehani complex, Laila Gallery, Marina Mall and Souk Sharq. GULF BANK WELCOMES HOME THE YOUNG DIVERS Gulf Bank recently concluded its platinum sponsorship of the 27th Memorial Journey for Pearl Diving, organized each year by the Committee of the Marine Heritage of the Kuwait Sea Sport Club, under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait. The closing day ceremony, also called “Youm Al-Quffal” in Arabic, was attended by H.E Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Minister of Information and Youth Affairs, representing HH the Amir, Retired Lieutenant General Fahad Al-Fahad, the President of the Kuwait Sea Sport Club, Mr. Tarek Al-Saleh, Assistant General Manager- Investment Unit Head at Gulf Bank, as well as a number of VIPs and Ministry representatives who took the opportunity to welcome back and honor the young Kuwaiti divers, as well as the captains of the dhows for upholding and preserving the traditional legacy of Kuwait. During the yearly memorial journey, young participants are reminded of the difficulties Kuwaiti sailors faced before oil had been discovered, along with the traditions and values their ancestors developed during these times. Gulf Bank is fully committed to supporting and developing the youth through a wide variety of social activities and events. For more details about these initiatives, please visit the bank’s website www.e-gulfbank.com. STAY KOOL THIS SUMMER!!! AN AMAZING OFFER FROM AUTO1 – TIRES. For the first time in Kuwait, comes an amazing summer promotion from AUTO1 – Tires (Ghannam Tire Center Company) where consumers who buy and install any brand (FALKEN, NEXEN, MASTERCRAFT, THUNDERER & GOODRIDE) of 2 or 3 or 4 tires will now get FREE V-KOOL™ Window films for the vehicle of their choice. Imagine getting the world’s most technologically advanced heat control window film to protect you and your loved ones, from the harmful UV & IR rays and preventing further fading of the upholstery fabric and color inside your current vehicle! Plus you get to enhance your drive each day by simply by having replaced your existing tires with a leading international brand of new tires giving you comfort, confidence, and in some cases extreme noise reduction. This KOOL Summer promotion is valid at the AUTO1 – Tires until Oct 10, 2015. “As daily temperatures continue to be in the mid to high 40s, we strongly recommend all motor enthusiasts to check the condition of their vehicle tires on a regular basis, and take the necessary corrective measures especially with back-to-school season coming up”, added Mr. Rajesh Panjwani, Deputy General Manager-Sales of Kuwait AUTO1 – Tires. Visit AUTO1 – Tires outlets for this amazing offer, situated in Shuwaikh and Sharq industrial areas. HEAD TO KIDZANIA FOR SOME SUMMER MADNESS FUN! Ready for some fun? KidZania Kuwait, the exciting kid-sized metropolis, has launched its Summer Madness program. Running from August 2 to September 19, 2015 at KidZania, Summer Madness introduces two new activities: the Silly Science experiments and Crazy Sports challenges. Silly Science gives kids the opportunity to explore the fascinating worlds of physics, chemistry and biology by conducting scientific experiments first-hand. From creating a string telephone, building erupting volcanoes to discovering the power of static electricity, science has never been this interesting with these fun-packed workshops! KidZania’s Crazy Sports Program is designed to build stamina and hone kids’ sports skills. Kids can run, jump, duck and climb with a range of physical challenges and classic sports such as football, basketball and volleyball. This is perfect to get kids away from their electronic gadgets and onto the playing field! Accommodating children up to 14 years old, KidZania’s Summer Madness is guaranteed to deliver a memorable summer experience in a safe, fun and child-friendly environment. Visit Kidzania at level 1 of The Avenues, or go to www.kuwait.kidzania.com for more information. 125
WHAT BIG EARS YOU HAVE By Kevin Maney
Ever since Steve Austin displayed his bionic powers on The Six Million Dollar Man, we’ve been talking about adding body parts that make us superhuman. These days, the most likely body part to get upgraded by mass-market technology is our ears. Our eyes lost out when Google Glass proved to be about as useful as a Segway, and almost as embarrassing to own. 126
Compared with boosters for legs, hands, noses or anything else, augmented hearing is the closest to becoming accessible and common. This could first change the nature of live music and later affect much bigger things, like cities, language and relationships. Just wait until you can tune out your spouse with augmented hearing earbuds—like hitting mute when Donald Trump comes on TV—and set your audio world so all you hear is the doorbell. (Because you won’t want to miss the pizza delivery.) Before the end of the year, startup Doppler Labs plans to come out with a promising product called Here— oversized earbuds, about the size of a 10 fils coin, meant to give you control over live sounds. They don’t play Spotify songs; instead, they filter and alter the thrum of the real world around you. The early versions will have volume control and some noise cancellation, so you can put them in your ears and make city sounds less harsh while boosting conversations so they come through loud and clear. One Here setting is “Baby Suppress,” which sounds like birth control but is meant to squash the sound of the crying kid behind you on a cross-country flight. For an aging population that grew up damaging their cochlea at Ramones concerts, augmented hearing buds could do some of the work of hearing aids while feeling cooler to wear and costing onetenth as much. The first Here buds will be less than $300, hearing aids go for anywhere between $2,000 and $7,000. Doppler is initially aiming Here at lovers of live music. CEO Noah Kraft, a musician and audiophile, found it frustrating that the music sounded different in various areas of a live venue. Here buds will allow a user to adjust volume, bass and effects such as reverb to customize a concert’s sound. Before long, Kraft says, the band’s sound chief could send settings to every Here bud in the room so everyone wearing them has the same optimized experience.
Augmented hearing buds could be the biggest thing to hit live music since electric amplification, which changed the very nature of music, from orchestras and big bands to small combos playing through microphones and amps. Once everyone in a venue is wearing augmented ears, artists will be able to rethink the way the music gets to our brains. Maybe every member of the band will play in a different corner of the room, allowing audience members to wander from one musician to the other, seeing the performance intimately while still hearing the sound all perfectly mixed together. “Our hope is that Here will open up a new paradigm for the concert experience and for live listening,” Kraft said. But Doppler and others working on augmented hearing don’t plan to stop at music. Doppler has a vision for “a computer, speaker and microphone in every ear”—a nod to Microsoft’s old goal of a computer on every desk—and predicts that in 10 years people will wear these 24 hours a day. The company’s grand plan includes mapping every point on earth for sound, so your buds could automatically optimize what you hear. Imagine these buds with GPS, knowing that if you’re home at 2 a.m., it should adjust to cancel the snoring next to you and the neighbour’s barking dog. Or if you’re on a hike in the backwoods, it should amplify any distant sounds of a bear charging your way. Augmented hearing could change the economics of a major city, where noise has an impact on where people choose to live and work. Heck, if you could wear noisecanceling buds all the time, you could live under a jet runway approach that’s next to a bus depot. While Doppler seems furthest along, it’s not alone in chasing these ideas. You can already buy soundaugmenting apps that use your smartphone as the mic and filter, pushing the altered sounds to your regular earbuds or headphones. Ear Spy, for instance, markets its app as “the latest in personal espionage,” letting you tune in to a conversation from across the room. A group of Finnish researchers recently published a study on what
they call the “pseudo-acoustic environment,” which they describe as “a modified representation of the real acoustic environment around a user.” And high-end hearing aid makers have continually built more acoustic filtering into their devices. GN ReSound Linx has a mode meant for restaurants that turns down music and background noise and focuses on conversation. Such hearing aids, though, cost thousands of dollars and are marketed as medical products, not consumer gadgets. One brilliant aspect of augmented ears is that a huge chunk of the population already wears things in their ears a good deal of the time. Earbuds don’t draw attention or announce that you’re a geek. They don’t creep out people around you. And an aging but still vain demographic that needs help hearing but won’t wear a “hearing aid” (estimates are that only one-fifth of people who need hearing aids use one) would more likely sport cool new earbuds that do much of the same work. “The ear is such a logical place [for a device] because we’ve been wearing wearable tech on our ears since the Walkman,” Doppler Executive Chairman Fritz Lanman said. Beyond Doppler’s vision, some of the propositions for augmented hearing get pretty wild. Once you have a computer in your ear, it could do a lot of things your ears could never do. One idea is instant translation. Automated language translation is getting better all the time. Combine that with a sound processor and it could catch Chinese coming in and send English into your ears. Language barriers would disappear—and with them, maybe any need to teach foreign languages. Another idea is to allow us to hear wavelengths never meant for our ears. Color is a wavelength we see but can’t hear, but what if you could hear green? Imagine the impact on the colorblind. Or what if you could hear infrared, essentially letting you see in the dark through your ears? This stuff is likely to happen. With Google Glass and the stalled Apple Watch and other wearables, there’s no there there. Now, however, we’ll soon have a Here here. 127
big boys toys Because grown men still need to play
NIPI SMART COOLER
CASIO G-SHOCK MUDMASTER
SUUNTO EON STEEL DIVE COMPUTER
The idea behind Nipi is that we'll always need and love cold drinks – and adding to that, we also need power to charge our smartphones, tablets, cameras, etc. That’s where Nipi comes in handy! Featuring a solar panel charger, and two 14.000 mAh lithium polymer batteries that will feed your devices' needs and provide you with super cool drinks. With Nipi you also get 4 USB ports to connect your devices or up to two other solar panels, in case you need more electrical juice (for your actual cold juice). The cooling system ensures you get cold beverages for up to six days thanks to the special insulation materials on its thick walls. Perfect for all the shaleih trips and boat rides!
Casio have added a new high-end model to their G-Shock family, the great looking GWG1000 Mudmaster. As with other G-Shock models the Mudmaster is shock-resistant, but is also constructed to resist mud and vibration so that it can be useful in a variety of harsh land environments, like the desert or mud. Notable features include an analog/digital hybrid display, triple sensor with compass bearing, altimeter/ barometer, temperature, tough solar charging and Multi Band 6 radio time synchronization, plus a 200-meter water resistance, and low-temperature resistance to -10°C (14°F). Available in black, olive or yellow strap options.
The Suunto EON Steel is a new premium dive computer suitable for all levels of diving. The strongly built, wrist mounted computer, features a bright, crystal clear color screen that provides perfect viewing at any angle and in any condition. Suunto's next generation dive computer lets you customize it according to your needs; choose either the graphical or classic layout then create your own personalized dive screens showing exactly what you want to display (water temperature, tank pressure, battery, compass, dive time, etc.). It also has a 150m depth limit, and 20-40 hours dive time with one charge.
CANON ME20F-SH
ZOKU LOFT MICRO APARTMENTS
2016 HONDA AFRICA TWIN
Canon has introduced the insane ME20F-SH, an impressive multi-purpose camera that features an ISO equivalent of over 4,000,000, and has the ability to capture Full HD color video in neardarkness! The ME20F-SH high-end video shooter features a sleek, subtle and compact design, making it the perfect drone companion, resulting in the ultimate nighttime aerial setup. At the core of the ME20F-SH is a 2.26 megapixel 35mmfull-frame CMOS sensor that can handle Full HD 1080, at up to 60p. BUT…this comes at a hefty price, so only ultra-serious shooters need apply. Currently priced at 30,000 USD (KD 9000). Ouch.
Zoku Loft is a new living concept that aims to end the reliance on hotel rooms. The 24 meter squared (258 sq-ft) micro apartment is designed as a living/working hybrid for "global nomads” who typically seek temporary residence for anything from five days to several months. Each space comes with all the necessary residential and business facilities, combining comfort and efficiency for both work and play. The loft has several clever space-saving features like a retractable staircase and hide-away storage areas. It also includes a king size bed, spacious shower, fully equipped kitchen and commonly used home/office supplies. A literal homeaway-from-home.
After much anticipation, Honda has officially unveiled the new 2016 Africa Twin! The brand new CRF1000L brings back one of Honda's most iconic motorbikes, the legendary Africa Twin, after the venerable XRV750 went out of production 12 years ago. The original Honda Africa Twin is possibly the most reliable, versatile and proven adventure touring motorcycle ever produced, and this new version inherits the full essence and spirit that made the XRV750 Africa Twin so good. The new Africa Twin features a 998 cc parallel twin engine and will be available in four colour options, including the iconic red CRF Rally.
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bazaar around town DEAN & DELUCA LAUNCHES NEW HEALTHY LIVING CAMPAIGN Dean & Deluca, Kuwait’s gourmet café and retail store, is bringing back its popular Healthy Living event to coincide with the end of Eid holidays, with the aim of encouraging customers to make better food choices without compromising on taste and flavor. The event runs from 22 July to 30 September, and includes a new menu and a selection of premium foods that can be found in the retail section at the Dean & Deluca store in The Avenues. Following a healthier lifestyle begins with cultivating healthier eating habits. To maintain health and wellness, it is crucial to have a balanced, nutritious diet that has plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fewer foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar. In keeping with this philosophy, Dean & Deluca has scoured the globe to select the finest array of healthy products features artisanal items, often organically grown that will satisfy the palates of a diverse range of customers and can be enjoyed throughout the day. Starting with breakfast, the options include delectable delights such as the Light Labnah, with a succulent blend of mixed berries, nuts and honey; and the savoury Egg White Omelette, with a fusion of onions and mushrooms. For customers with a sweet tooth, the golden sugarfree waffles and pancakes, drizzled with sugar-free mascarpone cream and topped with fresh red berry puree, maple syrup and fresh berries, offer a healthier alternative. The lunch and dinner menu offers an Organic Quinoa & Chickpea Salad with tomato, onion, mint leaves, pomegranate and parsley pesto sauce, and lemon olive oil dressing. The new wood-fired Pomegranate & Cardamom Chicken kebabs, accompanied by a healthy green bean salad, carrot puree and marinated wood-fired tomato is another enticing pick. To complement the Healthy Living menu, Dean & Deluca is also serving nutritious cold blends and smoothies in flavors such as Orange Dream, The Pineapple, Banana, Blueberry and Fresh Berries. The Healthy Living foods available in the retail section include organic products, healthy breakfast options and dried fruits and nuts. The organic range includes Avlaki Organic Olive oil, produced from organically cultivated olives and bottled unfiltered. The breakfast selection includes Dean & Deluca Granola, which contains no wheat and is low in sugar, yet crunchy and flavorful. The Rude Health Nutty Crunch Muesli is another great way to start the day, with a mix of crunchy toasted flakes, granola bits and wholesome nuts. You can visit Dean & Deluca at The Avenues. ASHA’S SPOONS CELEBRATES 5 YEARS OF GREAT FOOD
Asha’s at Spoons, Mahboula, is celebrating five years of serving its customers the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, making it one of the most successful Indian restaurants in Kuwait. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and great service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine with rich ambience assures its customers a unique dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past five years. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer and founder of Asha’s, said: “I have always been overwhelmed by the positive response our menu has received. Residents of Kuwait really understand global food and we are delighted to serve them India’s finest cuisine.” Asha Bhosle has contributed to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes, and be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every item is created using only the freshest of ingredients. In addition to the restaurant in Spoons, Asha’s operates at two other locations: 1st Avenue - The Avenues and Marina Crescent. EVIAN DEBUTS NEW BOTTLE DESIGN IN KUWAIT
evian premiered its newly-designed PET bottle in Kuwait, adopting a perfect symphony between substance and form. The launch follows the successful debut in the UAE and it is now being rolled out in key markets across the GCC. The new design represents a major breakthrough, fitting for the water that first defined the world’s premium water segment in the early ‘80’s. Sleeker and with cleaner lines, the new evian bottle’s transparency celebrates its contents: evian Natural Mineral Water, a distinctly pure water, as nature intended. The bottle sports a “label-less” look. Its front features a simplified, elegant reduction of the previous logo design. A panorama of mountains celebrates the water’s source in a corner of the French Alps - a region protected by the farming community to ensure evian water maintains its pure, natural form. The bottle’s simple shape and beveled mountain ridges echo the simplicity and regality of the water’s home. The brand’s special story is told on the back of the bottle, and “evian” is carved smartly into the base as a playful design touch. Discovered in 1789, and bottled since 1826, evian water traces its roots to the birth of the French Alps. The new bottle design is available now in the 330m, 500ml & 1L sizes across all sales channels in Kuwait. Additional formats set to debut in the following months. 130
THE FIAT BRAND CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN KUWAIT WITH THE ALL-NEW FIAT 500X
The all-new 2016 Fiat 500X, now available in Kuwait from Al Mulla and Behbehani Motor Company (MBMC), is the latest and bigger addition to the Fiat lineup in the region, combining the authentic Italian design and engaging driving dynamics that are synonymous with the Fiat brand, together with unmatched functionality, and a full array of safety, comfort and convenience features. "X" represents change and transformation, but at the same time it also represents balance and the crossroads between opposite entities - the "transversality" that the new Fiat model, which finds its ideal positioning at the intersection of various automotive segments that include both young and mature drivers. Today, there is a clear, complete option for all of them - the Fiat 500X. “The Fiat 500X will significantly expand the reach of the Fiat brand, both in Kuwait and across the Middle East,” said Andrew Bailey, Fiat Brand Manager at MBMC. “It delivers the Italian design and personality that the Fiat brand is renowned for, along with an unprecedented level of equipment, convenience features and advanced technology.” You can visit the Fiat showroom near the Avenues, in Al Rai. Please call 1885 500 for details. MARRIOTT HOTELS RAMADAN CAR RAFFLE DRAW
JW Marriott Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Hotel held the Ramadan Grand Car Raffle Draw. The event was attended by a representative from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the grand prize for Ramadan was sponsored by Hyundai Kuwait. By way of expressing thank you and appreciation of valued guests who joined Marriott during the Holy month of Ramadan, JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City and Courtyard by Marriott hotel were pleased and delighted to announce the two grand prize winners. Mr. George Aoun, the Cluster General Manager of Marriott Hotels in Kuwait and his team, celebrated the delivery of the two cars to the winners. Congratulations and we look forward to another year of celebrating with Kuwait Marriott Hotels. NEW LEXUS QUICK SERVICE CENTER
Mohamed Naser Al Sayer & Sons, one of the Al Sayer Group Holding Companies announced the commencement of operations of the new Lexus service center facility located at Shuwaikh. Mr. Faisal Bader Al Sayer, Vice Chairman of Al Sayer Group cut the ribbon marking the inauguration of the brand new facility. Main attendees of the event were Mr. Simon Frith Business Director Lexus Division, Eng. Sherief Sabry Deputy GM Lexus Service, in addition to representatives from other business divisions of the Group and distinguished members from the press and media. Explaining the significance of the new facility Mr. Faisal Bader Al Sayer, Vice Chairman of Al Sayer Group said “we have always paid the utmost attention to feedback and suggestions from our customers and the main objective of establishing this new Quick Service Center for Lexus is to serve our valued customers better. This is a customer oriented facility with modern and stylish interior design. The new Lexus service center is located at a prime location in Shuwaikh at the intersection of Ghazali and Jahra Roads. Working hours of the showroom will be from 7am till 10pm from Saturday to Thursday and 2pm till 8pm on Friday. For further information please contact Lexus hotline 1830030 VICTORIA’S SECRET CELEBRATES NEW BODY BY VICTORIA COLLECTION
The all-new and even better Body by Victoria collection offers the softest bras, smoothest lace, and most comfortable fit. Victoria’s Secret also introduces its new Lounge Collection with the softest bras made to chill, lounge and play. The collections come in 12 perfect silhouettes ranging from sizes A-DDD and XS to XL. You won’t want to miss the latest Body by Victoria styles! The brand new Victoria’s Secret Body Care collection features four daily-use products that deliver nourished, touchable skin from head to toe: smoothing scrub/wash, ultrarich cream wash, hydrating body lotion and a weightless body oil. Clinically proven formulas with patentpending technology, the new VS Body Care collection is available in four different scents: Acai, Verbena, Shea and Coconut Milk. Additionally, the brand will be revamping one of their most popular scents, Victoria’s Secret Tease. The warm fragrance with notes of black vanilla, frozen pear and blooming gardenia is the ultimate flirty scent encased in a boudoir-inspired bottle with a touch of lace, fishnet and a hot pink atomizer. You can find out more by visiting Victorias Secret on Twitter and Facebook @victoriassecret, or visit their store in The Avenues.
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bazaar scopes what’s your sign? CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22
PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20
Take a chance on a blind date. Don’t jump the gun and rush to judgment; there’s more there than meets the eye. Tolerance is called upon by a female Aquarius now. Listen carefully before you offer advice. Start plans rolling for a tropical vacation later this fall.
This is a month with ups and downs. Don’t let a sour mood ruin a good time. Pay close attention to a loved one’s needs. A special date puts a smile on your face. Dress to thrill. Leave a weekend open for impulsive plans. Try to spend more quality time with family.
LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22
ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19
You seem to be caught up in things that make others happy, while putting your own interests on hold. Romance is a concern now. Use your sensitivity, charm and your inner lion’s courage to change your situation.
It’s time to stop wallowing in self-pity. Things are not as bad as they may seem. A Leo friend helps you un-load at this time. Be careful not to reveal too much. Exercise helps get anxiety out. Watch not to overspend on a shopping excursion this month.
LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 Take a mental-health day from work this month and visit a favorite bookstore. Good news comes over the phone. Romance is tricky this month. Search further than words for the truth. Honesty equals power. A Scorpio is holding back on you. Your financial situation calls for a reality check.
SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Don’t jump into relationships without thinking. Passion mixed with stubbornness can lead to poor decisions in love. Visit a distant family member this month. It will take patience and trust to rebuild broken bonds, but it’s worth your while. Tension builds at work.
TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 Don’t let your stubborn side get the best of you. It’s time for common sense to prevail. Take a long lunch at work, if it means keeping your temper in check. Dress sharp in the office. A Capricorn will notice. A social celebration at the end of the month helps lighten your mood.
GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21 Exercise, exercise, exer-cise Gemini. This month will wear you down without it. Friends and colleagues call on you from all angles – be prepared. A Virgo comes to you for career advice. Share the benefits of your experience. Make plans to see old friends now.
VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 Things could seem crazy at home and you might have to put your own needs on the back burner for a while. Prepare for an athletic competition this month – don’t neglect sleep. Watch your diet, especially now. Stay away from junk food and caffeine.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 – DEC 21 An old schoolmate invites you to a big celebration this month. Bring a date. Maybe the Libra who’s been catching your eye at work? Go for it. Dress to kill. Take time out this month to catch up on letter writing and phone calls. A Scorpio plays a role at this time.
CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 It’s time to let those around you know just how much you appreciate them. Make a special trip to the stationery store and buy some greeting cards, or better yet, make your own. Relaxation is key at home. If you’re planning a special event, remember to schedule some breaks.
AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 Protect your sanity this month. A heavy workload requires that you schedule your time carefully. Sleep will help keep you smiling and keep your patience running. It’s time to get rid of belongings that just eat up space.
source: www.2015horoscope.com 132
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