Sunday, February 12, 2006

Cover, FEB 06


by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Who We Are

In 2001, “The Worldly” began as a humble independent publication.

Initially, dedicated staff members pieced together 16-page printed newsletters and distributed them by hand on Bruin Walk at the UCLA campus.

With funding from local Westwood business and out of the pockets of our own staff, we were able to publish four issues for the months of February–June 2002.

In 2002, we petitioned the university to adopt our newsletter as an official UCLA publication, and upon approval, our little printed newsletter made its move to the internet as among the very few pioneers of ASUCLA’s web magazine program in March 2003.

Two years later, in October 2005, the ASUCLA webmag program was dropped, but “The Worldly” lives on.

Now, having accumulated a total of six years worth of content, and with members of its original staff still dedicated to the publication, "The Worldly" has made its move to its own domain (and began this blog as a partner site).

In 2008, we were granted recognition by the government as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and public charity. We strive to continue bringing our readers more cultural content through the years through an ever-growing roster of writers, artists, and editors, and to do our part to support international charities battling poverty, preserving culture, and doing good all over the world.

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We want your stories, your articles, and your art. We want to know what you think about the world, as you experience it. We want columnists, travel blogs, and your photographs from your journeys abroad. We want to overpopulate our website with your articles, and what you have to say.

We want to send you to performances, art galleries, and to openings. Share your favorite ethnic recipes from home. Write about your favorite restaurants, and tell our readers where they should eat! Write film and DVD reviews on the movies that changed your perception of the world.

If you aren't down to commit a full-fledged web magazine, but still have something to say, send us your story anyway. We publish stories about the world and its many cultures. Help us support what you support. Open our eyes. If your story is relevant, compelling, and sincere, you'll see your submission on our website. Link it to your friends, and you're a published 'Guest Contributor.'

There is a place for everyone.


Check out our website: THE WORLDLY
Contact us: theworldly@gmail.com

Mission

From our first printed issue, FEB 2002


Dear Reader:

It may seem puzzling to you that a single magazine would endeavor to report on the world. "The world", after all, is a very broad topic. For as long has language has been written, man (and woman) has been writing about the world in an attempt to understand it, to contain it's every aspect in books upon books, volumes upon volumes. The quest, as we all know, is one without an end.

"The Worldly" won't attempt to unravel the world's mysteries, however. This publication won't reveal to you the meaning of life, the essense of happiness, or the reason why humans are made different.

What "The Worldly" will attempt to do is instill in its readers both an awareness and profound interest in world cultures. For however long this publication exists, it will strive to promote the idea that all our differences shouldn''t divide us. If anything, they should encourage us to expand our horizons - to educate ourselves in how the diversity that surrounds us enriches every one of our lives.

"The Worldly's" motto is, quite simply: "Know the world, and know yourself". Never let it be said that we don't have a right to be proud of our own distinctive cultures. True pride in our roots, however, comes not from believing in the superiority of the group of people to which we belong. To fully understand the uniqueness of our cultures, it is essential to know how ours differs from all others. Therefore, you can only truly appreciate your heritage if you know what separates yours from the innumerable ones that exist.

"The Worldly" strives to give you knowledge of cultures around the world as they exist today. It will strive to give you a better understanding of your place here on this planet.

All year, our staff will be working to put together a monthly compilation of compelling and informative articles. Each issue will contain social commentaries on modern day problems that plague our world, reviews on international films, restaurants, and music, and many entertaining features that will offer you a glimpse into cultures. Hopefully you will be able to utilize the knowledge to enrich your life.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Exclusives, FEB 06

FUNKE – Into the Heart of Imagination
Author Cornelia Funke takes her audience into the heart of imagination.
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

Funke’s audience, mostly children, were in awe as she, along with actor Rainer Strecker, read from the world of “Meggie” and her father “Mo.”

The international success of Funke’s books -- over one million copies of all of her books have been sold, has turned her into the German version of Joanne K. Rowling, who is the English author of the “Harry Potter” books.

According to TIME MAGAZINE, Funke is among one of the 100 most influential people in the world.



MERKEL – Female Leaders and a Meeting of Minds
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to the White House.
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

Merkel also addressed the challenges that she perceived had been brought about by the end of the Cold War. The threats of terrorism and the process of globalization, she said, could lead to more negative, rather than positive, competition among nations.

“Machen wir das jetzt miteinander? Machen wir das jetzt gegeneinander?” Are we going to work together? Are we working against each other? she asked, according to a press release by the German Embassy in Washington D.C.



UTOPIA – A Perfect Little Theater in the Heart of France
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

Functioning as an artistic and political venue, "Utopia" hosts a number of different debate soirées affiliated with the regional Forum Social de la Gironde. Other local, liberally-oriented political organizations often use the venue to publicize or hold events as well.

Concerts, along with local arts and dance classes and productions, leave their flyers on the shelves situated just inside the entryway. The monthly Gazette, which the theater releases for free, is thus more than just a compilation of movie times and summaries: it is the diary of the local community.



VARBERG – To Be or Not To Be
My visit to Varberg, Sweden
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

According to the knowledge of a Varberg public librarian, and author Kalle Svensson, Shakespeare had been among the guests who were in attendance at the funeral of Anders Bing, the Danish lord of the castle, and of the fortress of Varberg.

The book, “Denmark, Hamlet and Shakespeare,” written by Cay Dollerup, and published in 1975 by the “Institut für Englische Sprache und Literatur Universität Salzburg, Austria,” tries to trace the geographical locations that Shakespeare must have traversed during his visit to Northern Europe.

Reviews, FEB 06

THE CORRS - Bringing Ireland "Home"
by JENNIFER CHANG, creator



These traditional Irish songs are unique in their haunting melodies and their bleeding-heart lyrics. They reflect the sentiments of a people who share a tragic history, burdened with oppression. They tell of provincial love affairs. They paint pictures of colorful characters and colorful places. The enchanting voice of lead singer Andrea Corr does these songs justice, and the instrumentals – re-rendered by the expert hands of the band’s talented musicians - are fresh takes on old favorites.

Features, FEB 06

AMERICA - The "I Love My Job" Lanyard
New Orleans, Louisiana
by RYAN JOE, columnist

On Decatur St, you can find a number of horse-drawn tours. They cost around 15 dollars per person, though the price is negotiable, especially for large groups. These tours take you throughout the French Quarter, and I've heard it said that the way they operate is that the drivers simply point out every other house and say, "You see that? It's haunted." And then they pause while everyone takes out their little camera-phones.

blogEXCLUSIVE, FEB 06

A ship loaded with desire
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent
[photographs by SIMONE KUSSATZ]

I wish you would
change your mind,
to get a break from
the pain traveling
through my flesh
and soul

I wish you would
change your mind
so that my hopes
were not dashed
like the waves breaking
on the rocks at Monterey

I wish you would
change your mind, to
listen to the sound of
cosmic bells and
take another dance
in the moonshine

And yet, I seem to drown
in my whirl of whishes,
gazing at the stars,
comforting my soul
thinking unfilled wishes
make space for new ones to come

So I change my mind and
remain at the bay
looking through
my telescope for a new
ship loaded
with desire