The Worldly

The Worldly JULY 2008 Issue

2008-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

The following posts represent our new articles for the July Issue of The Worldly. Click on the post titles to read the full articles, and please feel free to comment on any and all of them. We have some great topics up for discussion this month, from travel to culture to race relations.

For the unacquatined, The Worldly is a web magazine and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We rely on your support and donations to keep running. Meanwhile, 100% of profits from our store go to a different international charity every month.

This month we're raising $250 to buy a water buffalo for poor families in the Philippines, so stop on by!

THE GREAT TRIP TO THE GLORIOUS AMERICA - Part 8 - The City of Chicago: Moroccans of the World

2008-07-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

We got back to Chicago at noon. It was a very hot day. I could not believe this worldly city called Chicago was so hot, even though it was built on the beautiful breathtaking Lake Michigan. The grand avenues, the skyscrapers and the busy streets were the first glimpses I caught of this cosmopolitan city...

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The Imprisonment of Women’s Rights Activists in Iran

2008-07-15T16:13:00.001-07:00

On June 18, 2008, 21-year-old and women’s rights activist Hana Abdi was sentenced to a five-year prison term in the West Azarbaijan Province after having been in detention since her arrest in November 2007. The Sanandaj Revolutionary Court issued Abdi the sentence on charges of “gathering and collusion to threaten national security.” What had Abdi been doing that posed such a threat to national security? She had been collecting signatures on behalf of the One Million Signatures Campaign for Equality, a grassroots effort to collect one million signatures in support of changes to discriminatory laws against women. Because of this she was given the maximum prison sentence possible...

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TANTALIZING - The World of Spanish Tapas

2008-07-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

We had just finished a week's tour of Spain's Levant coast where we had been treated to the bottomless pit of Spanish hospitality. Now, for the last night in Spain, the owner of Resaurante El Callejon in the heart of Madrid was hosting us. Ernest Hemingway's description of it in his novel, The Dangerous Summer, brought it into the limelight when he wrote:

"We got into Madrid in time for a late lunch at the Callejon, a narrow crowded restaurant on the Calle Ternera where we always ate alone because we both thought that, day in and day out, it had the best food in town"...

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FURO - Japanese Bath-Turned-Dance

2008-07-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Cultures mesh as minds unite on the Tel Aviv Port in Israel for a multicultural modern dance production: Furo. Japan’s Ohad Naharim and Tabaimo both collaborated with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company to create an original visual and audio spectacle.

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Nadav: A True First-Hand Account of Poker in Israel

2008-07-15T16:09:00.001-07:00

Summary: This narrative journalistic piece takes a look at poker culture in Israel and contrasts it through the eyes of Nadav, an American who lived in Israel for two years and came back to visit friends and family there. The article attempts to show differences and similarities between the way a casual tournament in America would be as opposed to how it was in Israel....

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LARGO - The Best Kept Secret of Los Angeles' Subculture

2008-07-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

It is 7:45 on Friday evening, and the Los Angeles sky threatens rain. On Fairfax Avenue, across from the famous Canter’s Deli, a thin strand of white lights illuminates a modest sign that simply reads, ‘Largo’...

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The Worldly JUNE 2008 Issue

2008-06-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,The following posts represent our new articles for the June Issue of The Worldly. Click on the post titles to read the full articles, and please feel free to comment on any and all of them. We have some great topics up for discussion this month, from travel to culture to race relations.

This month we're raising $250 to buy a water buffalo for poor families in the Philippines, so stop on by!

THE TROPICANA - A World of Cuban Fantasy

2008-06-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Situated on the outskirts of Havana in lush tropical gardens, the Tropicana, from 1939 until our times has been a myth mixed with fantasy. Established as a casino/entertainment nightspot by the mafia, it became a mecca for American tourists before the Cuban revolution. Then after the overthrow of Batista, it was turned into a folkloric cabaret for workers who performed well at their jobs. Today the wheel has turned a full circle and again the Tropicana has become a major tourist attraction - sans the mafia, roulette wheels and slot machines...

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SHANE COOPER STAYS INSANE - An Unconventional New Zealand Artist Creates Provocative Museum Pieces When He's Not Engineering Software

2008-06-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

Shane Cooper’s day job keeps him sane. His artwork, according to him, keeps him insane, and for that, he is very grateful.

As a software engineer, his work “satisfies some weird, autistic urge inside me,” says Cooper. “It’s not that my work is boring, it is in fact highly challenging and I am constantly learning new things, but I need an outlet for the bizarre thoughts and images that are constantly flowing through my brain...”

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THE LAYERS OF LIFE IN SAYULITA - A Small Mexican Beach Town is Heaven... Or Is It?

2008-06-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

This last May I spent the entire month in Mexico. I stayed in a little beach town in Nayarit called Sayulita. Like most places today, the city has reached a crossroads between progression and modernization, or maintaining old traditions. I heard conversations about rising costs, increasing numbers of Americans buying property and continuing modernization. The oldest ATM machine has only been around for two years. People there still remember the days when horses provided the only means of transportation...

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MY LUFTMARE - A Traveler Encounters an Un-crossable Barrier in Frankfurt

2008-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

When we travel internationally, we usually concentrate on passports, visas, impending lack of sleep, and possible diarrhea. And so when I was to make what would be my final return trip to Russia in 2004, I thought I had all eventualities covered...

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LET THE GAMES BEGIN - There are no winners in the recent protests in the East. Tashi Wangdi, representative of His Holiness, on Tibet

2008-05-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

With only a few months before the Beijing Olympics, an outburst of protesting and unrest has erupted within Tibet, spreading not only awareness but also outrage throughout the world. But what many do not understand is the unique situation – culturally, politically, as well as historically – in which Tibet stands. In order to get a better grasp of the situation in Tibet before the Olympics propaganda fully explodes on both sides, here is an exclusive interview with Kasur Tashi Wangdi, former Kalon and current Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas...

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LIVING IN A DREAM AT LAS POSAS - The surreal vision of Sir Edward James exists as a lush Mexican jungle paradise

2008-05-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting high up in the trees, overlooking the incredible hidden city of Las Posas, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. A light rain is falling from an electric sky, which is itself obscured by towering extraterrestrial trees. Abstract buildings lie dormant—swallowed up by the jungle. Massive tree roots spiral up around concrete obelisks like boa constrictors. Welcome to the tropical La Huasteca rainforest at Xilitla...

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JIMMY CARTER IN SYRIA - Striving for peace, or in bed with the enemy?

2008-05-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Last month, former president of the United States of America Jimmy Carter flew out to Damascus and held talks with Hamas – a radical Islamic group that legally came to power in the 2006 Palestinian Parliamentary elections...

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AT CHARLEVOIX’S LA FÊTE DES SAVEUERS

2008-05-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

It seemed to be a confusing mob scene as the elite of Quebec’s Charlevoix gourmet region milled around – some arguing, some gossiping, some discussing politics while others were simply enjoying themselves at La Fête Des Saveuers held at École secondaire du Plateau: a cooking teaching establishment. Hosted by the Table Agrotouristique de Charlevoix, it was the fourth annual celebration by this eco-friendly organization, which draws some 250 annual participants...

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THE WOULD-BE TEACHER - A traveler, a rebel, a writer, and the path that chose him.

2008-05-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in a far off distant land known as America, there lived a woman named Muriel who gave birth to a baby boy and called him Julian. Since this was during the time period following the minor conflict known as World War II, there was no need for political correctness. Thus, Julian grew up totally oblivious to the fact that such a preposterous idea ever existed. However, once it had manifested itself he stubbornly refused to have anything to do with it, just as he would throughout the rest of his days...

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39 MONTHS IN SIBERIA - CHAPTER 9 AND EPILOGUE

2008-05-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

As soon as I had returned from my visit with my parents in California and moved into the flat on Morskoy Prospyect, I called Galina to arrange to get together, just as we had agreed in June of 2002. So my second day back, I went to her flat. The minute she opened the door, I was struck by her beauty and charm, as I had only seen her once before, and that was three months prior. She looked exactly as she did in a photograph, which she had e-mailed to me during the summer. She was simply stunning with her green eyes, shoulder length blond hair, and model-like figure. Her mannerisms were notably feminine and kind. She definitely represented a younger age than she had, while at the same time, one could see experience in her face...

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THE GREAT TRIP TO THE GLORIOUS AMERICA - Part 7: Music Park

2008-05-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

The second day of our stay in Freeport we were invited to a music show by the students of the local university at a very beautiful green park. It was almost six when arrived. The orchestra was already there and they had set up their instruments. People started arriving from every corner. We chose picked seats that were right in the front. Said, Abdul and I sat in the same row on the same bench. The other colleagues and the interpreters were sitting three rows behind us...

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IRAQ: FIVE YEARS PASSED

2008-04-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

Last month marked five years of American presence in Iraq. After watching three of the most important buildings in America topple, citizens of the most powerful country in the world wanted revenge for these horrific acts. Many in the United States were swept up in the fervor of Bush’s “axis of evil” and became convinced by the administration that an invasion of Iraq would help prevent such attacks in the future.

Five years later the world is as dangerous a place as ever and the Middle East hasn’t been this turbulent since Lawrence of Arabia. In a speech that was prepared for the anniversary’s date, President Bush said, “Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision – and this is a fight America can and must win”...

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RELIVING SPAIN’S MOORISH HERITAGE AT PETRER

2008-04-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

We were in high spirits as, with my wife Freda and two daughters, Muna and Leila, I drove from Alicante that May day, through rice fields and orchards, first introduced and planted by the Arabs after their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, to attend the Moros y Cristianos Festival at Petrer or Petrel near Spain’s eastern coast. Rewardingly, our first sight was the Arab built fortress-castle overlooking the village. Was the festival to be held in and around this fortress? We did not know. However, we planned to find out...

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39 MONTHS IN SIBERIA - CHAPTER 8 - Morskoy Prospyect

2008-04-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

Just before leaving for America in early June of 2002, I rented a flat on one of the main streets of Akademgorodok called “Morskoy Prospyect” (Boulevard of the Sea). An American couple, while working for the Peace Corp, had lived there. I knew them through NSU, so when it came time for them to leave, they told me their flat would be vacant, as they knew I had been looking for a place of my own. They gave me the name and number of a woman, Olga Volkova, who was handling the rental, since the owner of this flat was living in Moscow with her daughter and son-in-law...

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THE GREAT TRIP TO THE GLORIOUS AMERICA - Part 6 - Freeport: The City of Lincoln-Douglas Debate

2008-04-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

It was approximately nine when we left the airport. It was dark outside. The van ride from the airport to Freeport was full of fun. Everybody was energized, screaming, dancing and making fun of each other. Everyone was full for excitement to discover this new part of the country. I personally had no idea about Freeport. I knew Chicago, its skyscrapers, Michigan lake and its emblematic personality Al Capone. I wanted to visit his home, listen to people talk about him and visit places where he used to go. I also knew that Chicago is compared to the biggest Moroccan city, Casablanca...

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SHANT FORGET THIS - The Life of a Shantytown at UCLA

2008-04-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Truthfully, I was pretty darn scared that it was going to rain. Regardless, rain or not, I was still scared; it was so cold. I remember calling a director of Hunger Project as well as of Habitat for Humanity, and asking if the event would still go on and the answer I got was “of course.”

“Of course,” I thought to myself, “what at a stupid question; shantytowns don’t just disappear because of the weather – they’re always there”...

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TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON: Food for Thought - Violence Escalation in Gaza, And the World Watches

2008-03-07T11:10:00.001-08:00

Anybody who follows Middle East events, or simply follow the news, has heard that violence has been escalating in Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Israel pulled out of the Gaza territory in 2005 and their problems have begun to reach a critical point over the last few days...

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THE GRACIOUS AND SEDUCTIVE MERENGUE - The Dominican Republic’s National Dance

2008-03-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

For many years visitors usually came to the Dominican Republic for its salt, sand, sex and sun. Now after decades of neglect, the country's folklore had come of age. In an extraordinary interior in one of a network of caves, 5 km (3 mi) long, located on a ridge overlooking Santo Domingo's Mirador South Park, there is an excellent merengue entertainment centre. Called Guacara Taina, the cave has been transformed into the country's cultural nucleus and top discotheque. With a seating capacity of over 700, it has been designed to promote Dominican folklore and culture - traditionally not offered to visitors...

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THE WORST KIND OF RACIST

2008-03-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

Those of us who live in California, especially Los Angeles, are terribly, terribly spoiled. We are swathed daily in the “sun-kissed mist” wistfully crooned about by Al Jolson. We know how to party, said (says…?) Tupac. And in Los Angeles, most of our racism is out in the open. Take that, rest-of-the-country!

“Is she being sarcastic?” Well, hear me out...

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GLOBALIZATION IS… Illumination and Musings on the Trend

2008-03-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

Globalization is a term that folks living in the 21st century encounter on an everyday basis. Whether in the newspapers, on television, in classrooms, or at your local anti-globalization hippie ecological pep rally, it’s a term that is now all but unavoidable...

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ON THE "WHY" QUESTION

2008-03-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

I arrived in U.S. in 1977 at the height of the Cold War tensions. At University of Michigan where I learned English as a second language, I met a lot of American students who after hearing my name, with the accompanying heavy accent, would usually ask me, “Where are you from?” To my surprise, most could not place Iran in their minds...

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KISSING KULTURES - Reflections on a social nuance in the U.S., Russia, and Mexico.

2008-03-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here in America, we have evolved to the point of unacquainted men and women feeling quite comfortable in social settings. We give a salutary hug or peck on the cheek upon arrival and departure. This is assuming of course that “political correctness” doesn’t interfere...

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39 MONTHS IN SIBERIA - CHAPTER 7 - NSU

2008-03-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Akademgorodok is the home of Novosibirsk State University, which prides itself on an eight-to-one students-to-teacher ratio. Many of the graduates from NSU go on to work as scientific researchers or software engineers right in the Novosibirsk area. As small as it may be, Akademgorodok is becoming the IT capital of Russia. Life in a small university town can have its advantages. Ira knows a woman who is in charge of the computer room for disabled students, as well as being a professor of chemistry at the university...

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THE GREAT TRIP TO THE GLORIOUS AMERICA: Part 5 - Portland

2008-03-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

The plane started lowering its height. The pilot said that we had started descending. The environment was very green with a very white mountain standing in front of us like a huge landmark for spotting Portland. I cannot remember how many miles or how minutes we went through this green paradise. It was a huge forest. Endless and limitless...

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Previews, Letters, & Comments, FEB07

2007-02-05T20:49:00.000-08:00

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The Modern Slavery
por OSCAR GUAJARDO, special guest writer

THE POWER OF ART
by ALEXIS MEILLAND, paris liaison

THE ANSWER IS MEDITATION
by TERAH, special guest writer

THE OLD HOMES OF DAMASCUS
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

CYCLING SILK
Four months of cycling.
Four thousand kilometers.
One incredible journey along the Silk Road in western China.

BLACK TAPE - A SMUGGLED IRANIAN FILM FINDS GLOBAL AUDIENCES
by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor

THE WORLDLY FEATURED ARTIST - George Firican

ADVENTURES IN SOUTH MEXICO - Part I
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer

Previews, Letters, & Comments, JAN07

2007-01-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

A PERFORMANCE OF SANKAI JUKU
Considering Butoh as a Concept
by Amy J. Ganser, staff writer

THE BALEARIC ISLANDS’ HANDICRAFTS LIVE ON
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

BOLIVIA AND THE END OF THE WORLD
by IRINA ZHOROV, special guest writer

The end of the world starts out slowly, with a good beat and a few couples dancing, sometimes the lone man too, shuffling his shoes and twisting his hips erotically between the small tables set up around the perimeter of the small room. Drinks are ordered and the cute bar girl makes her rounds to each table, flirting occasionally. The bald barman watches on approvingly as she brings back empty pitchers and more reciepts, More sweet nectar at table 7.

WAR AND ITS IMPACT ON CULTURE
by SUDHEENDRA DHULIPALA, special guest writer

ME CHINESE - Sneaky Silky
by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor

Cover, DEC06

2006-12-16T06:30:00.001-08:00

by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor.

Previews, Letters, & Comments, DEC06

2006-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE
A Glimpse into the Ways Europeans Spread Yuletide Cheer
and Celebrate the Holidays - Old World Style
by ALEXIS MEILLAND, Paris Liason

DANCING IN THE MARGINS FESTIVAL
The second annual sublime dance festival
That explores the spaces between "ethnic" and "not ethnic enough"
by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor

THE QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL
A Festival of Heritage and Family Fun
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

DISCOVERING THE CHINESE WAY
Observations on Teaching in China
By JULIE THOMPSON, special guest writer

A YEAR IN TOULOUSE REMEMBERED ON TWO WHEELS
by ANNIE NGUYEN, special guest writer

FRANCE - Large Head, en Français
semester@sea.wldy
by ALEX BUDAK, staff columnist

LETTERS FROM A REAL-LIFE ARCHAEOLOGIST
The Adventure of Latin America, Part III
by CALIFORNIA KAY, staff writer
Coming on December 11! Stay Tuned!

Blog-exclusive video clip, DEC06

2006-12-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Check out this link for an interesting film on the role the US media plays in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: Click here.

Cover, NOV06

2006-11-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor.

Cover, OCT 06

2006-10-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, OCT 06

2006-10-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

THE KHAM AID FOUNDATION - October's Featured Charity
by ROXY VARZA, managing editor

The Worldly kicks off its new charitable focus. Visit our store: The Worldly Culture and Travel Store. All profits this month go to benefit Kham Aid.

The people of the Kham region, known as Khampas, are reputed for spreading mayhem throughout the Himalayas and for their warlike spirit. And yet despite their warlike image, the people of the Kham region are anything but. The region is undeveloped, as many of the inhabitants are malnourished and do not have access to modern education. While KAF has succeeded in implementing amazing disaster relief programs in the past – the organisation last gave over $5,000 to help rebuild the Manigango Primary School after a 2004 fire -- economic development, education, and health care are the programs currently in need of support.

SI, SE PUEDE - The Century Boulevard Protest
September 28, 2006
by AJ GANSER, guest writer

With a beautiful Los Angeles sunset as our backdrop, we chanted "Si, se puede!" as police officers rallied through the street. Glancing at the faces surrounding me, I saw young children atop of their parents' shoulders marching next to elderly activists. Mantras were shouted both in English and Spanish. Amongst the protesters were individuals of every age, ethnicity, religion and belief system, uniting together for the equality of their fellow man and woman. City councilmen, students from LMU, APU, and UCLA, state legislators, professors, and members of the clergy were arrested side-by-side with support from their family and friends.

SERENADING MARIACHIS - The Heart, the Soul, and the Song of Mexico
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

Even more Mexican than the tequila (also born in Guadalajara), the two go hand-in-hand when there is folkloric entertainment. Mariachis often perform in city squares and plazas, which at times act as hiring halls for those seeking their services for baptisms, hotel entertainment, patriotic holidays, restaurants, weddings, and a particular type of Catholic mass. Playing the best-known Mexican music in the world, the Mariachis are part and parcel of almost every carnival, traditional fiesta, or festival in Mexico, and have become a trademark of the country and its culture.

TAIWAN DEMONSTRATES - A Protest, In Pictures
by JESSICA CHU, guest writer/photographer

Taken from the frontlines of the protests, these pictures present the truth about the peaceful demonstrations of concerned and politically-aware citizens in Taiwan. Their numbers have swelled to include hundreds of thousands.

With high tensions rising in Taiwan, two major groups have risen and dominated Taiwan’s political scene. The Democratic Progressive Party, also known as the Green Party, support President Chen Shui Bian -- despite allegations of monetary fraud and corruption from not only himself, but also his allies and administration. Although the media has continued to portray the demonstrations as violent and uncontrollable, with many clashes between the Red and Green parties, the majority of demonstrators camp out only to express their dissatisfaction with the president.

Features, OCT 06

2006-10-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

ME CHINESE - Beijing's Greatest Hits
by JENNIFER CHANG, founding editor

J. Chang left the North American continent for the first time in July and returned at the end of August, just a bit worldlier. These are excerpts from her journal documenting observations on the other side of the world.

The Forbidden City is so-called because it was off-limits to commoners for over 500 years. The complex was home to the Ming and the Qing Dynasties and stood as a symbol of imperial rule until it faced destruction by angry mobs who would have liked to have seen it razed to the ground during the Cultural Revolution. Premier Zhou Enlai had the good sense to demand that they not lay a finger on it. Today, the Forbidden City rakes in the tourist dollars and is accessible to anyone who can pay the 40 yuan admission fee, and you can even rent a cassette tape narrated by Roger Moore.

BELGIUM - Try Everything
semester@sea.wldly
by ALEX BUDAK, staff columnist

This summer Alex spent 10 weeks studying abroad through Semester at Sea, a floating university, where he took classes while aboard the ship, and made explorations around Europe when the ship docked. The journey took him to Iceland, Norway, Russia, Poland, Belgium, France, Ireland and Spain. Here is the fourth of a multi-part series where he shares his journey with us.

Waffles in Belgium, it should be noted, are not quite like their American cousins. Waffles in Antwerp more closely resemble fried cake. Also, you can forget asking for “a little syrup” on your waffles. Here, you choose a couple of toppings, which range from whipped cream and cherries (my personal favorite), to a chocolate coating, to ice-cream, whipped cream, or sprinkles and chocolate sauce, as one of the girls I was with had. Amazingly, it seems despite how many things you can think of throwing on top of a waffle, the price it seems never tops 3 Euros. It is, therefore, more of an artery and cavity-challenger than it is a wallet-stretcher.

SOUTH AMERICA - The Adventure of Peru, Part 2
Letters from a real-life archaeologist
by CALIFORNIA KAY, staff writer

Intrepid archaeologist California Kay trekked through into the heart of Latin America this summer. The following is the first of a three-part series documenting his adventures in the form of the letters he sent home to his dear ones.

I spent most of my time in the rural town and archaeological site of Pampa Grande, a spectacular desert region surrounded by mountains on one side and a glowing green river valley below. The area is recognizable by thousands of impressive ceramic sherds strewn about the ground, the best of which were taken by looters, evidenced by looters pits that dot the land. Two majestic huacas, or pyramids, which have somewhat endured the tests of 1,500 years, earthquakes, and El Niño events, sit boldly in the Peruvian sun, and a somewhat treacherous climb to the top of the largest of the two gives you a splendid view of the land and the people below. Only these remnants are evidence of the Moche empire that once existed one thousand years or more years before the Inca Empire.

Cover, SEP 06

2006-09-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by JENNIFER CHANG, creator

Exclusives, SEP 06

2006-09-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

KASHMIR - From Waterfront to Gypsy Camp
Houseboating and mountain trekking in a land little-traveled
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer
Mountain trekking in Kashmir was one of the most difficult but at the same time one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My girlfriend and I were under the impression that we would take a pleasant stroll through the mountains with a trusty guide, but we were sadly mistaken. Mountain trekking in Kashmir is really mountain trekking. Our supplies included a transportable gas stove, pressure cooker, two bottles of oil, water, two tents, some basic food and vegetables, and two live chickens (that’s right two live chickens).

TOHU - "Happy Confusion" in a Town that a Circus Built
TOHU LA CITÉ DES ARTS DU CIRQUE
Humanity, environment, the arts... and the Circus that supports them
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent
As an ecological project with a social conscience, the transformation of this former dump is revitalizing the Saint-Michel district, which has since been the home for many poor immigrants. TOHU is currently transforming the area into a vibrant centre for the community, and for cultural and economic development. Today, TOHU, which is being built through a combination of public and private funding, hums with activity. The area now carries an aura of circus magic – as the former dumpsite is transformed into a gem.

MINE AND SEEK - Hidden Killers
For children in Afghanistan and Cambodia, land mines bring death long after the war is over
by NOOSHIN SHABANI, staff writer
Landmines are the hidden killers that linger in fields, roads, and schoolyards. They sit silently without preference as to who is the victim. They come in different disguises, depending on their power. The placement of leftover landmines is a problem which is not greatly exposed too the public. We see war on the news nearly every day but what is missing is the coverage of the continuous war that the local people are forced to face.

AFRICA - Breast Ironing in Cameroon
Women in Africa bear a painful tradition
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

Breast ironing, a practice that involves pressing heated objects – most commonly spatulas (24%) and stones (20%) – onto a girl’s developing breasts, is believed to be an efficient means of delaying pregnancy; by “removing” signs of puberty, these girls are thought to no longer appear sexually attractive to men.

The practice, which was initially thought to improve a mother’s breast-milk, is now inflicted upon 24% of all Cameroonian women as young as the age of nine. While the practice is commonly performed by family members, 58% of the time by the mother, these young and naïve girls buy into its reasoning and often continue inflicting the practice upon their own bodies.

Features, SEP 06

2006-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

SOUTH AMERICA - The Adventure of Peru, Part I
Letters from a real-life archaeologist
by CALIFORNIA KAY, staff writer

Intrepid archaeologist California Kay trekked through into the heart of Latin America this summer. The following is the first of a three-part series documenting his adventures in the form of the letters he sent home to his dear ones.

The Cathedral of San Francisco and its catacombs was perhaps the greatest experience I’ve had in a while. The church itself is just humongously impressive by itself, as it seemed like everything from the giant altar, the four hundred year old library, to its collection of paintings, down to its door hinges were made by artists not from this world. Who knew the brotherhood of a church lived in such decadence?

ME CHINESE - "Chinese Idol"
by JENNIFER CHANG, creator

J. Chang left the North American continent for the first time in July and returned at the end of August, just a bit worldlier. These are excerpts from her journal documenting observations on the other side of the world.

I was stunned. Each of the contestants that took to the stage was phenomenally talented, and also well-trained, which cannot be said of most “American Idol” contestants that make it to the final rounds. After each performance, the singers are required to give a one-minute speech on a topic from a list of three. Not only did these people have to be skilled singers, but they also had to be orators. “Star quality” is set at a much higher standard in China, apparently.

Cover, AUG 06

2006-08-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by JENNIFER CHANG, creator.

Exclusives, AUG 06

2006-08-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

MEXICO - Democracy At The Crossroads
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer
& FELIPE DOMINGUEZ, guest writer

The writers of this article had the opportunity to be in the historical city of Guanajuato in central Mexico, a city were the Felipe Calderon of the PAN took almost 60% of the vote. On Election Day, or D06 (short for “Decision 2006”) as the media dubbed it, we attended Guanajuato’s main Bus Station, which housed a special electoral booth for out-of-towners. It took three hours in line for any citizen who wanted to cast their vote. By midday, one of the IFE representatives announced --to a crowd of 300-plus voters-- that they only 100 ballots were available.

MEXICO - Savoring Guadalajara
In the heart of Mexico, one finds flavor
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco, and one of the country’s great colonial cities, is considered to embody the soul of Mexico. It is renowned, even in the outside world, for its beautiful settings, green flower-decked parks, cultural and historic sites, rousing folklore, beautiful women, authentic handicrafts, and above all, its gourmet cooking.

Due to its innumerable attributes, travellers and writers, and even its own inhabitants have given it such labels such as: ‘City of Roses,’ ‘City of Fountains,’ ‘the Western Mexican Pearl,’ and ‘the Royal City. See full article for exclusive recipes!

UNITED STATES - Living On The Streets, Part I
The homeless youth form their own culture in Los Angeles
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

Daniel Rotman is a 25-year old former UC Berkeley student, with a BA in politics and legal studies. He had an idea when he founded the Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition on June 2, 2005. The coalition, a union between Demoracy for Change and the Los Angeles Youth Network, is an outreach campaign whose primary purpose is to help women and children off of the streets of Los Angeles.

UNITED STATES - Living On The Streets, Part II
The LAYN’s mission
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

With the money received from grants, private benefactors, or fundraised by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition, along with the exciting “Celebrity Poker Party” benefit (with Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Brooke Burke, Mira Sorvino, Britney Spears, … ) on September 9, 2006 at the Crystal Casino, this dream will hopefully come true.

“If we succeed in our attempt to build a fourth shelter next spring we will want the children who are employed to pay partial rent, which will go to a savings account,” Director of Administration Katherine McMahon explained.

OREGON - Seeking Refuge
The Immigrant Refugee Community Organization
By REBECCA ROSS, guest writer

The employment demographic at IRCO generally consists of employees who came to the U.S. as refugees and as immigrants themselves. Together they represent 46 diverse ethnic groups speaking more than 30 languages. This impressive aspect is the key to their helping refugees and immigrants; employees use first hand knowledge and the use their abilities to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.

Features, AUG 06

2006-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

ME CHINESE - Beijing Bipolarity
by JENNIFER CHANG, creator

J. Chang left the North American continent for the first time in July and returned at the end of August, just a bit worldlier. There are excerpts from her journal documenting observations on the other side of the world.

We had lunch, naturally, in the large Chinese restaurant, with the waitress standing beside our table the entire time, topping off our tea the instant it was drained from our cups. I made a connection between her, the driver, and the uniformed guards that I saw standing dutifully at the entrance to all the apartments and offices I had visited that day.

Chinese people seem to perform duties with a noticeable greater level of pride and dignity than Americans generally do, or perhaps it just looks that way to the untrained eye. In the days to come – I made a mental note – I’d look for signs that people here hated their crappy jobs as much as the folks back home did.

Cover, JUL 06

2006-07-01T00:04:00.001-07:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, JUL 06

2006-07-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

UGANDA - African Fashion Show
The Spirit of the Modern African Woman
by NOOSHIN SHABANI, staff writer

The village women in Uganda start work when the moon is still present, and their day is done with only hours before they next arise. The role of a woman is multiple in African society. She acts as the mother, provider, teacher, and wife, and to have strength is priority. Despite the poverty and nineteen years of political conflict, the women in Uganda spend this evening celebrating the true beauty of just being a woman.

ANDALUSIA - Handicrafts in Spain
An Arab Legacy that Still Lives
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

As I travelled through southern Spain, I could see that the handiwork of the Arabs saturated every facet of life. All these trades, which make Andalusia unique in Europe, almost without exception, are an Arab legacy. Some have been evolved to fit into the modern age, but most are as they were when the Arabs were a part of Spanish history.

Despite the many religious wars in the past, the Spaniards have, to a great extent, preserved their Arab heritage, especially in the field of handicrafts. The Alhambra in Granada, the Mesquita of Cordóba, the Alcázar in Seville, and above all, Andalusia’s artisan products, testify to the rich artisan legacy that the Arabs had bequeathed to Spain.

THE FOODS OF ETERNAL DAMASCUS
A recipe for splendour
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

Through the centuries, such have been the epithets with which men have described Damascus – which is the oldest continuously inhabited urban centre on earth. Aramaeans, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and, above all, the Umayyad Arabs of the 7th century, left a rich legacy in all areas of the city's daily life - particularly in its food.

Added to this, Damascus and its sister city of Aleppo were at the western end of the wealth-producing Silk Road, which for some 4000 years, was the pathway of trade that connected the Far East and Europe. The Frankincense Route, which was no less important in the creation of both cities’ affluent lifestyle, was the route over which the perfumes and spices brought by Arab dhows to southern Arabia were transported overland to these cities.

AFRICA - INSIDE MOROCCO
Reflections on a journey home
by REBECCA ROSS, guest writer

At the Djemaa el Fna Square, you will experience the majority of what Morocco has to offer, and everything from intricate henna patterns on your hands and feet that are made from a natural dye. There were the energetic Gnawa Dancers that charged money for the taking of their photographs. There were the souk’s--shopping areas--set up along the center square, where bargained for the items we wanted.

We even watched some perform acrobatic stunts and then charge us and a few others as well. And interestingly enough, I was even persuaded by snake charmers to put a tamed black water snake around my neck for good luck. But this is hardly painting a full picture as to everything I saw in these cities. It’s like an ongoing circus, so much to see and do, but so little time and money.

PHILIPPINES - The Worth of a Book
Education in the Philippines
by NOOSHIN SHABANI, staff writer

The levels of poverty in the Philippines are extreme. Many of the Filipinos who are fortunate enough to get an education, go on to seek work abroad, as the opportunities are greater overseas. The Philippines has a ballooning amount of debt to repay, and education is not on the priority list. According to the Philippine Education Sector study (World Bank & Asian Development Bank) 1998-2008 will be a period of limited or zero growth in the public budgetary allocation to education as a whole.

Reviews, JUL 06

2006-07-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

A SOUR NOTE IN FRANCE - la Fête de la Musique
The disappointing truth about one of France's biggest musical events
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

Every year, on June 21st, the entire country of France celebrates music. After it was discovered that 5 million French citizens play a musical instrument, Maurice Fleuret, the Director of Music and Dance in 1982, started this national musical gala in order to allow amateur musicians to publicly demonstrate their musical talent. However, what started out as an amazingly artistic and cultural affaire actually turns out to be riddled with problems.

Cover, JUN 06

2006-06-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by KATHERINE PARADERO, editor-in-chief.

Exclusives, JUN 06

2006-06-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

PETRA - Lost City of Stone
Petra Comes to the Canadian Museum of Civilization
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

The most comprehensive exhibition ever presented, reflecting the ancient Jordanian city of Petra, and its creators, the Nabataeans, has arrived at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, which is Canada's largest and most popular cultural institution.

Featuring over 200 exceptional objects, many on display for the first time in North America, the exhibition, ‘Petra: Lost City of Stone,’ will conclude its North American tour in Canada’s capital. This exhibition is the most complete portrait ever mounted of the amazing and mysterious city of Petra in Jordan.

KENYA - From the Safari to the Slum
Choose Volunteering
by NOOSHIN SHABANI, guest writer

One of my most shocking moments was when I visited my fellow volunteer at Kibera slums, the levels of poverty were overwhelming. About 5 minutes after I walked out the slums we came across a huge western supermarket which has everything you would typically find in a market. Kibera was shocking but the contrast between the slums and the supermarket was unbelievable, it spoke a lot about how drastically wealth is polarized in Kenya.

FOREIGN AMERICA - A Cultural Commentary
The Peculiarities of Our Culture
by STEPHEN DUCLOS, guest writer

After recently living out of the country for five years, in addition to an earlier three-year experience out, I have returned to encounter a foreign culture – that is, foreign to a “foreign American.” The thing is; wherever we live and learn, we naturally tend to absorb and take our newly acquired knowledge and culture with us – especially when it makes perfect sense and betters our lives. We are products of our environments, no matter where they may be.

JERASH - Rome in Jordan
Ancient Rome Comes Alive in Jerash
by HABEEB SALLOUM, senior global correspondent

No sooner had we sat down in the semi-reconstructed Hippodrome at Jerash, Jordan’s Roman city, a massive arena that once seated 15,000 spectators, then, in the distance, that I witnessed the appearance of a part of a Roman Legion. In a few minutes a re-enactment of the golden days of Rome came alive before us. Roman soldiers drilling, gladiators fighting each other, and chariot races -- all depicting the days of Roman splendour -- suddenly came to life.

Features, JUN 06

2006-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

RUSSIA - Midnight Train to Moscow
semester@sea.wldy
by ALEX BUDAK, staff columnist

Though tired from the lack of sleep, and my mouth a bit sore from trying to eat the bread, I left the train with a smile on my face, knowing that no matter what hardships I would face later on in life, I had managed to pee accurately in a rickety, dirty, Russian train – and no one can ever take that away from me.

Cover, MAY 06

2006-05-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, MAY 06

2006-05-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

CHILD SLAVERY - African Cocoa Farms
by NOOSHIN SHABANI, guest writer

Over 240,000 children have been sold as slaves in West Africa to work on coffee, cocoa, and cotton plantations. 15,000 of these children are aged between 9-12. While our children get an education, the children that we have forgotten about can only dream of such opportunities. They don’t get the luxury of education. Instead, they get a tortured life of abuse and daily beatings. This is their payment so that you can have your Mars bar.

COACHELLA - The Spirit of Woodstock Lives
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer

It’s difficult to describe what a day at Coachella is like, and pictures hardly do it justice. Electricity, aura, energy, vibe; whatever you want to call it -- there is something special in the air at Coachella. When you pull into the parking lot you can already hear the first bands of the day starting their sets. Anticipation is painted on everybody’s face as they eagerly make their way across the field in the beating sun towards the entrance.

McCLELLAN - Giving up a Tough Job
The United States Press Secretary Resigns
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

One of McClellan’s huge tasks as press secretary has been to apply diplomacy. Another issue that was discussed during that Monday afternoon on April 17, 2006 was the presence of homosexual couples with their adoptive children during the White House Easter Egg Roll. For this reason, McClellan was asked if the White House would welcome all sexual orientations to participate in the Easter Egg Roll next year.

Features, MAY 06

2006-05-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

NORWAY - Do You Know the Way to Norway?
semester@sea.wldy
by ALEX BUDAK, staff columnist

I was constantly amused by the Norwegian fascination with American culture, the pinnacle of which occurred when I wandered into a shop that must be Norway’s version of Abercrombie. In the store – which was blasting Maroon 5 and Ludacris – were t-shirts with American sayings that I couldn’t help but wonder about.

Probably my favorite was a ¾-length shirt that boldly said “SOUTH COUNTY RHODE ISLAND” on it. What Rhode Islander would have enough state pride (or county pride, for that matter) to wear a shirt proudly displaying that they are from the smallest state in the union? Fear not, Rhode Islanders, there are Norwegian teens reppin’ for your state (and if you’re lucky enough to be from southern Rhode Island, your county as well).

AMERICA - This
Columbia, New York
by RYAN JOE, staff columnist

I've just enrolled at the ol' MFA program at Columbia and I'm getting pretty cynical.

Mike, back in New Orleans, pointed out to me that these MFA programs really are a bit of a scam. Consider that medical school costs an arm, leg and left nut because, in the end, the school must fund chemicals and all those shiny stainless steel implements used for dissecting cadavers (which also cost money).

What do MFA programs need? A photocopier. So in charging a lot of money to attend these programs, a university takes little risk but reaps big dividends.

Cover, APR 06

2006-04-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, APR 06

2006-04-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

FASHION WEEK - The Culture of Beauty
In the world of high fashion, has ethnicity become an accessory?
by JENNIFER CHANG, creator

A specific culture surrounds the realm of high-end fashion, and it is one that, by necessity, must appear light years ahead of what exists in the present.

Fashion designers seeking to push the envelope must be able to identify beauty that is not readily observable, and not universally understood.

Designers who have created clothes out of things like trash bags, or deflated Mylar balloons will tell you that they can’t afford to be bound or blinded by societal standards of what is beautiful and what must be dismissed as ugly. The fashion world has long-since shucked off the lines of color and gender.

OLYMPICS - TORINO 2006
Looking Back: The Political Side of the Olympics
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

Sports have a political system all their own. Athletes live in a world where they become candidates aiming for election. They abide by sport laws and function under sport government officials. An athlete’s life is extremely political. But add a global element, where athletes no longer represent themselves or their teams, but rather their nations and their governments -- a whole new political element comes into play.

In this light, one can see how the twentieth Olympic Games, which took place in Torino, Italy, were anything but fair play.

POETRY - word & violin
Memories, Myths, and Migrations
by KATHERINE PARADERO, editor-in-chief

With the stage at the level of the floor, and with painted-over windows behind them, the performance that evening had its focus on themes of migration and on the myths that surround it.

The story of Lot’s wife, who becomes a pillar of salt when she turns back to witness the burning of Sodom and Gomorra in the Old Testament, is the inspiration for the parallel that Sundaralingam draws to the refugees who are the witnesses of their own burning cities.

For refugee women like herself, who have had to leave their countries and their homes to burn, there is a part of them that remains, like Lot's wife, forever frozen there. It is to these women that the poem, “Lot’s Wives” is dedicated.

Reviews, APR 06

2006-04-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

CD REVIEW - "Bridge Across The Blue"
Connecting historical parallels among the very personal

and the ethno-cultural
by KATHERINE PARADERO, editor-in-chief

“Bridge Across The Blue” lifts the lid of the American ‘melting-pot’ and presents to you a selection of narratives – often delivered in the very same voices by which they were composed.

Only this time, producers Colm O’Riain and Pireeni Sundaralingam have done the courageous thing and stirred it up a bit before giving you a taste.

Voted by the editors of About.com as among the seven best spoken word / poetry anthologies to add to your collection, “Bridge Across the Blue” explores ideas of migration, and musical parallels, by drawing together many unexpected links across history, ethnicities, and personal journeys.

Features, APR 06

2006-04-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

ISRAEL - Finding Self
Finding Self, Family, and Identity in the Middle East
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer

That day in Petach Tikvah represented everything I hold to be true and beautiful about Israel. It is a land where people from all different backgrounds can come together and celebrate each other’s faiths and cultures, and grow from it. It is a tragedy that the political conflicts receive the most attention.

Although war is an unfortunate reality in the Middle East, it is far from a constant war-zone. Israel remains a safe country to travel to, and still stands as one of the most incredible and unique countries to visit in the world. Regardless of what’s in store for its future, Israel will forever be remembered as country where East and West lived side by side for centuries, and a country that continues to inspire people of all backgrounds even today.

ICELAND - There's Always A Way
semester@sea.wldly
by ALEX BUDAK, staff columnist

Tevye, of “Fiddler on the Roof,” measured his life in sunrises and sunsets. It’s a good thing he didn’t live in Iceland, or his internal clock would have been way off. While in Iceland I saw both the most spectacular sunrise, and the most spectacular sunset of my life – all within a matter of 30 minutes.

Since Iceland is so far north -- right outside of the Arctic Circle – and we were visiting right at the summer solstice, the sun dipped below the horizon for just a fleeting second, only to reappear seconds later, now performing a midnight sunrise. Luckily for me, the 24 hours of sunlight gave me the time I needed to explore all that Iceland had to offer.

FRANCE - Villepin, Si Tu Savais
The CPE and Me
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

When the first big protest in Bordeaux took place on February 7th, I had no idea it would grow to be so big. The CPE gave employers the right to fire employees under the age of 26 without being obliged to communicate a motive.

Bordeaux was ranked consistently the third or fourth city in France with the most abundant turnout at protests, numbers generally between 20,000 and 40,000. Large protests took place in the center of town, without fail, every Tuesday at 11:30 am, coordinated with the rest of the nation through various different forms of organizational networking.

AMERICA - Free Kittens!
New Orleans, Louisiana
by RYAN JOE, staff columnist

First: Does anyone need a kitten? We found five kittens on our property that are about the size of guinea pigs. They are all simply adorable and they currently subsist off a liquid diet, fed through a bottle, just like old fogies in a nursing home.

If you would like a kitten and live reasonably close to me, then let me know as we cannot keep all five. Otherwise, we will have to put them in a little baggy weighted with rocks and toss them into the pool.

Cover, MAR 06

2006-03-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, MAR 06

2006-03-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

MOHAMMED CARTOON DEBACLE – No Laughing Matter
The explosive situation may not be about the cartoon at all…
by GILAD CHUDLER, staff writer

In September 2005, the Jyllands-Posten, (a Danish newspaper) printed a series of political cartoons. This has wrought outrage among followers of Islam because of its depictions of Mohammed. What started as a political satire has turned into an internationally-recognized controversy.

In October 2005 al-Fag, (a popular Egyptian newspaper) republished the cartoons, criticizing them as a “continuous insult” and a “racist bomb.” The Egyptian readers received these cartoons as a deep insult, but continued to carry on with their daily business, and with no demonstrations.

When Danish Imams arrived in Egypt to stir up protests, they could only achieve this by planting face cartoons, all of which were far more offensive than the original twelve.

GLOBAL FAMILY - Do Two Daddies Make A Home?
Homosexuality blurs definition of "family" in France & beyond
by ROXY VARZA, assistant editor

The French define a marriage as the union between a man and a woman, the reason being that a child, in order to develop a proper sexual identity, must grow up in the presence of both a male and female parent.

However, in today’s changing world, divorced, single, and remaried parents are just as common, if not more common, than what the French call the PME or Père-Mère-Enfant family structure.

ACADEMY AWARDS - A Hollywood Ritual
78th Annual Academy Awards in the hands of Stewart and Cates
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

Even before the big day arrives, there is plenty to see to get into the Oscar high.

For true Oscar lovers, an exhibit by the title, “Meet the 50 Golden Statuettes,” will open up on February 10th at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

This will be a chance to see the golden statues close-up; before they go into the hands of the Oscar show presenters and winners.

Altogether, the Sunday March 5th ceremony will be a promising and spectacular day for those directly participating in, and for those watching the event from a distance.

ACADEMY AWARDS - A HOLLYWOOD RITUAL, PART 2
On Location Outside the Oscars
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

Next to camera people and other journalists, I was running along and taking pictures of the 51 students from the Inner City Filmmakers (a training and film industry job development program for young adults between age 17-22 in Santa Monica, www.innercityfilmmakers.com) who carried the 51 Oscar statuettes down the red carpet and into the Kodak Theatre.

Features, MAR 06

2006-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

AMERICA - Hurricaine Amigo!
New Orleans, Louisiana
by RYAN JOE, columnist

Hurricane Dennis will probably not hit New Orleans. Florida will get the brunt of it, as usual, which is sad for them but they shouldn't have voted for Bush. God hates Florida.

The elderly in Native American tribes, when they felt that their time on earth was ending, would venture out into the wilderness alone to quietly die.

That's sort of what Florida is--our big American pastel-colored wilderness where baby boomers send their parents to quietly die on the beach. It's the Nursing Home State!

Hurricane Dennis was a category 5 hurricane at one point, which would've been bad. Now it's a category 2, which is sort of wimpy and befitting of a name like Dennis.

Cover, FEB 06

2006-02-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Who We Are

2006-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

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.

Exclusives, FEB 06

2006-02-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

Exclusives, DEC 05

2005-12-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

SUSILOWATI – Dancing in the Margins Festival 2005
The space between the pages of ‘ethnic and not ethnic enough’
by KATHERINE PARADERO, editor-in-chief

Attending the opening night of Sri Susilowati’s Dancing in the Margins Festival doesn’t feel like a typical Friday night in North Hollywood.

Two minutes before curtain, warm greetings are still being exchanged among family members, friends, and performers about to hurry backstage.

Every seat that is filled is a direct personal connection to the performers, the producers, the cause, and the message. For every person seated, and for every person waiting in the wings, there was I’m sure, at least one particular face and one particular story that had brought them each to this place on this night.

KRAUSS - "The History of Love"
An exploration of love, literature, and the immigrant experience.
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, senior global correspondent

With so many books produced every month, how does one decide which novel is worthwhile reading?

A graduate from Stanford, Oxford, and the Courtauld Institute in London, Krauss read from “The History of Love” on October 22, 2005 at the American Academy in Berlin, where I had a chance to meet her in person.

Pregnant, and expecting her first child, Krauss stood before her audience at the American Academy in Berlin. With her parents seated at the forefront, she explained why she had written the “History of Love.”

Cover, NOV 05

2005-11-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, NOV 05

2005-11-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

PATERSON - An American in Berlin
Our exclusive interview with the director of Berlin's 'CABARET'
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

Well. It wasn't my decision. It was the decision of the producers. It was their idea. They approached me. But I was enthusiastic about the project from the start. First, I always wanted to be in Berlin. Second, when I walked into the “Bar Jeder-Vernunft,” I was fascinated, and thought [that] this [would totally be] the place for CABARET. And third, I don't get involved with many musicals, except for the ones with deeper messages and [have] a darker edge to them, so "Cabaret" was something that intrigued me greatly.

BEN-HUR - The Creation of Art as a Mosaic of Methods
An interview with Israeli artist Daniel Ben-Hur
by Simone Kussatz, special guest writer

I then came across an ancient mystic and Kabbalah teacher by the name Abulafia. He lived about 700 years ago in the 14th century. He told his students to sit on the floor and to start thinking, however not in words, but letters. It could be one letter, or several, as long as they didn’t build a word. This seemed like meditation to me. He got back to the source of things, because before any word, any thought, or any theory could be established, there were only letters.

GERMANY – It’s the World’s Largest Pumpkin Exhibit!
Not in America . . . but in Ludwigsburg
by Simone Kussatz, special guest writer

Jucker was right, I had never seen wood-crafted cows, sheep, wagons, pigs, goats, oxen, or even a tractor (a Lanz Bulldog) decorated with pumpkins. What I had learned about Halloween and the pumpkin time in America was that one dressed up and went for a trick-or-treat.

Here, however, I had come across a pumpkin spectacle to an extent that I had no idea even existed. The menus were filled with everything from pumpkin sparkling wine to pumpkin jam, pumpkin noodles to pumpkin mustard, and the tables, likewise, were filled with people eating and drinking.

Features, NOV 05

2005-11-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

AMERICA - Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
New Orleans, Louisiana
by RYAN JOE, columnist

He said, Damn, I shouldn't've come from Pittsburgh. Now I have to get enough money to make my way back home to Santa Cruz.

So that explained it. I hear Santa Cruz is notorious for drugs. Like you don't have to buy it there so much as pluck the junk ethereally out of the air. I wasn't sure why he told me this, though. I felt as if he wanted me to invite him in, offer him the bathroom as a safe harbor in which he could shoot up and vomit.

I closed the door and kept watch until he left. My roommate told me later, "If I'm sitting outside and I see someone coming down the street with crazy in their eyes, white or black, I just go back in. And if you see them loitering outside, you just have to use profanity. Tell them to get the fuck up and fucking walk. There was a guy who used to go through the trash, but he's gone for now. Man, I really wish we had a balcony."

Cover, OCT 2005

2005-10-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

by AMY CHOU, cover artist

Exclusives, OCT 05

2005-10-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

SOMMER - An Evening With German-Born Actress Elke Sommer
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, staff writer

"Back in Germany, I received a phone call from Hollywood one day and was asked "Would you like to star in a picture with Paul Newman?"

Sommer's role in "The Prize (1963)" not only brought her international recognition, but also a long-term friendship with Paul Newman who is "a great person," she said. Among other features, Elke Sommer performed in "A Shot in the Dark (1964)," "Did I get the wrong number (1967)," "The Wrecking Crew (1969)," as well as "Severed Ties (1992)."

She has worked with national and international stars, including Hannelore Elsner, Senta Berger, Curt Juergens, Gina Lollobridgida, Joseph Cotton, Dean Martin and Bob Hope.

CARDINALE - Tunis-born Actress attends screening of
Luchini Viscontia's 'Sandra'(Vaghe Stelle Dell'Orsa, 1965)
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, staff writer

For someone like Ms. Cardinale who said that she was very introverted in her early years and refused to accept film roles, "when Omar Sharif asked me if I wanted to play in a film with him, I thought he was crazy," her life seemed to have undergone a metamorphosis when she turned into one of the most remarkable European actresses, a considerable Hollywood-actress and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, helping women to improve their lives by standing up for their rights.

Having played in numerous Hollywood movies, including THE PINK PANTHER (1963) CIRCUS WORLD (1964), BLINDFOLD (1965) LOST COMMAND (1966), THE PROFESSIONALS (1966), ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968), THE RED TENT (1971), ESCAPE TO ATHENA (1979), FITZCARRALDO (1982), A MAN IN LOVE (1987) Cardinale said that one has to be very strong as an actress.

"It was intimidating playing with actors such as Lancaster, Delon, Hudson, Henry Fonda, Bronson and David Niven. It was he who told her once: "After Spaghetti, you are the best Italian invention."

PULLEN - Criticizing the Glamourization and Exploitation of Crime in American Culture
An exclusive interview with the artist.
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

People a lot of the time assume that to create a great movie or still photograph that involves big sets and crews -- that it takes a million dollars, which is just not true. You can make it happen for very little if you have the determination. I think it takes professionalism and drive.

Everyone came on board working on the project for the experience… That’s the great thing about creating art, movies etc. If you’re working on a cool project and don’t have much funding -- people love to contribute. It’s not about the money… it’s about the experience of making something.

I was really lucky -- great people came on board and really made it possible. I worked with the stunt crews from movies and shows like “Kill Bill” and “CSI”, fashion models from large campaigns like Guess to big runway models, there were dedicated students that wanted experience.

There really was never a shortage of great people around completely driven and making it happen.

ROBINSON - Artistry and a Man in Orbit
Interview with an astronaut.
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

Q: Do you have a favorite photograph taken during your trip to orbit?
A: We took several thousands. There is a picture of orbit on earth with thunderstorms at the terminator, the region between light and dark on the earth. The sun is very low on the horizon. The thunderstorms are casting shadows 200 miles long.

Q: What makes the colors in orbit different from the colors on earth, and what’s your favorite one?
A: The colors in orbit are always bright and intense, much more so than on earth. The various shades of blue are probably my favorite, especially at the edge of the atmosphere. The blue is illuminated and transparent. It changes all the time against the deepest black of space.

Features, OCT 05

2005-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

AMERICA - Exploring A Third World
New Orleans, Louisiana
by RYAN JOE, columnist

The local Six Flags amusement park, family fun, roller coasters, and cotton candy, is also host to constant gang warfare. People just get murdered left and right there. The whole city is basically a carnival gone horribly wrong.

And even from above, looking down from a plane, the place is weird. I remember seeing this huge body of water, like a great brown sea, surrounded by this steaming green mass of foliage. A thin strip of pavement traversed the lake. The sun was setting. You get the picture.

As an example of how odd this place is, until recently, if there were three people driving in a car, up to two open containers of alcohol were allowed. The overriding logic being that at least one person might still be sober.

Another one: New Orleans gave the world the daiquiri. New Orleans also has daiquiri drive-thrus. The law stipulates that if you get pulled-over and have a daiquiri in the car, you just better not have a straw in it. I cannot make this up.

Reviews, MAY/JUN 05

2005-06-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

DVD - "Hotel Rwanda"
The Story of an Unlikely Hero in a Modern Genocide
by SHEILA DICHOSO, staff writer

“I think if people will see this footage they’ll say, ‘oh my god, that’s horrible,’ and go on eating their dinner.”

The place is Kigali, Rwanda. The year is 1994. 800,000 people have been killed, and the world does nothing.

1994 marked the year when America, along with the rest of the world, turned their back away on Rwanda. With no help from Western Powers and insufficient coverage from the media, few people knew at the time that genocide was occurring right under their noses.

The United Nations finally addressed the warfare between the Hutus and Tutsis in May 1994, yet about 500,000 Rwandans had already been killed, and the genocide was described using the less-brutal term “acts of genocide.” They claimed that a real “genocide” could not be confirmed. This gave a free pass for people to shun away from it. Eleven years later, the virtually unnoticed story has finally surfaced in the poignant and powerful film "Hotel Rwanda."

DVD Review - "Jologs"
A quirky, non-linear narrative with ethnic Filipino flair
by KATHERINE PARADERO, staff writer

The movie opens, and about midway, you are convinced that you too can keep track of all eleven characters whose stories are inextricably woven together by Ned Trespeces’ screenplay. Gilbert G. Perez directs a young and lively ensemble cast in his 2003 contribution to the comedy-drama-slice-of-life genre.

The movie’s circular plot gives purpose to the story, as each retelling opens from a different point of view of the same set of events, effectively coloring the shared experiences of these characters with what at times does feel like the actual emotional substance of life.

Exclusives, MAR/APR 05

2005-04-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

APPLE PIE - A Bite Out of Cultural History
Just how American is apple pie?
by CALIFORNIA KAY, guest writer

We’ve all heard one of the most patriotic and appetite-inducing phrase many times over: “As American as apple pie.” No other idiom stirs the salivary glands, although “That’s how the cookie crumbles” and “There’s the icing on the cake” come pretty close. But just how genuinely American is America’s beloved classic dessert? Of course, questioning the “American-ness” of the American Apple Pie is bound to stir pride of some, but we can’t always have our cake and eat it too. Nonetheless, here’s the tantalizing story of how a great dish became the favorite of a great nation . .

ART GALLERY - Jack Rutberg Runs a Unique 'Museum'
Rutberg's gallery brings poignant pieces of history to Los Angeles
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

A self-made man, Jack Rutberg discovered his love for the arts on "rainy and melancholy days", where he would find himself mostly in museums. Never having received any formal training, he was to learn about the arts, in much the same as he had acquired English, while being a French speaker upon his arrival in the United States. That Rutberg's passion would one day form into a long-lasting career was not intentional. "What at first only seemed to be a hobby, later got out of control", he said. "It was a revelation."

FILMMAKER - A Mendelssohn in Hollywood
The filmmaker Henry Jaglom is a descendant of the great German-Jewish thinker
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

... He has also directed and written the screenplays of films, such as A SAFE PLACE (1971), SOMEONE TO LOVE (1988), VENICE, VENICE (1992), DEJA VU (1999) and FESTIVAL IN CANNES (2002), in which he worked with Jack Nicholson, Maximilian Schell, Anouk Aimee and Greta Scacchi...

Jaglom's films often deal with women's issues – but not in the usual Hollywood manner. "Hollywood so neglects women's real stories and real lives and indulges in male fantasies about women that have little to do with the reality of women's lives," the filmmaker said.

SPANDANA - An Indian Classical Music Concert
by MADHAVI KARUNAKARAM AND N. RAMACHANDRAN, special guest writers

Perfection is like a horizon, the closer you go towards it, the further it moves away. Then why do human beings have this obsessive passion to reach perfection?

In any field to attain perfection is not easy. In Hindu philosophy, we say a perfect person is one who has attained ‘mukti’ or enlightenment. In Indian Classical music it is all about ‘hitting’ that perfect swara or note.

Reviews, MAR/APR 05

2005-04-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

MUSIC - La Oreja (de Van Gogh)
"Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida"
by MICHAEL KAY, graphics editor

Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida (loosely translated, “What I Told You While You Were Asleep”) is a beautiful and ingenious album in many respects.

Although generally ranked among the rock/pop charts, Lo Que Te Conté has elements of dance, easy listening, and folk to satisfy the tastes of virtually anyone in search of delightful, easy-on-the-ears music.

Once you start up the first track, you can almost begin to visualize the vivid masterpieces of Mr. Van Gogh himself. Lo Que Te Conté is a one-hour escape from the pressures and rushes of everyday life, invoking feelings of nostalgia and romance.

RESTAURANT - Shahrzad
A Taste of Tehran
by ROXY VARZA, staff writer

You cannot leave a Persian restaurant if you have never tried ghormeh-sabzi. This stew takes a ridiculous amount of preparation, trimming cilantro leaves one-by-one from the stems.

Cilantro, onion, kidney beans, juicy beef chunks, and other spices and herbs are blended together with the tangy flavor of fresh lemon and limoo omani (dried lemon) to create a mouth-watering flavor. Iranians take this dish very seriously.

Exclusives, FEB 05

2005-02-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC SURGERY
You can’t blame it on Barbie: The Color of Plastic Surgery
by ROXY VARZA, staff writer

If it seems as though the west has set the facial standard, this is not necessarily the case. Humans of all cultures and ethnicities tend to find symmetry and youthfulness attractive. This includes large eyes, young skin, small noses, and full lips.

Therefore, double eyelid surgeries and nose jobs may be the result of a global ideal rather than a western standard.

But it’s probably more fun to blame it on Barbie.

LIVE AID CONCERT
Jammin' Tunes to Save Lives
by ANH V. NGUYEN, staff writer

For one day, this concert united the world with a common goal and raised approximately $110 million for the cause. Never before had anything of such magnitude been organized.

Bob Geldof eloquently stated, “to die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually absurd, it is morally repulsive.” To this day, he continues to convince the UN, the EU, and the World Bank to cease the governments’ attempt to spend money to subsidize farmers on agricultural export dumping as millions still die of starvation.

The Live Aid DVD provides over 10 hours of musical satisfaction. The proceeds will go to the Band Aid Trust in Africa, continuing the effort to alleviate the suffering caused by famine.

REMEMBERING THE TSUNAMI - If Symbolism Sets in...
The benefit held by UCLA's International Institute raises funds, raises hopes
by SIMONE KUSSATZ, special guest writer

The first half of the benefit ended with a remarkable performance by the Californian dance group, Sri Dance Company. The three female dancers, Sri Susilowati, Caroline Chang and Sydney Cassatta expressed, in abstract and metaphorical movements, the suffering of women.

Dressed in white shirts, colorful skirts and yellow veils, the dancers moved their bodies in ways that complemented the gentle music of the composer, Albert Chang.

THE CAPTIVATING FADO - and Its Origin
by HABEEB SALLOUM, special guest writer

The name fado comes from the Latin fatum (fate). It is the popular song and music of the Portuguese cabarets and nightclubs - the entertainment par-excellence of that land. A type of urban melodies rather than folk tunes, its origin is not clear to numerous music historians.

A number of Portuguese writers, perhaps still sub-consciously fighting the Crusades, claim that the source of the fado is to be found in Africa, Brazil or the sailor songs on the high seas. However, others more objective in their observations have asserted that it is of true Moorish origin.

In the New Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Theophilo Braga states that the root of the fado lies in Moorish or Arabian tradition. R.Gallop in Portugal, A Book of Folk-Ways quotes Arménio Correia Lopes who claims that not only the fado but the Spanish tango and habaZera are the direct descendants of the Arabian majuri.

Exclusives, JAN 05

2005-01-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

SRI LANKA - More than a Tsunami Plagues It
by MEENADCHI GUNANAYAGAM, staff writer

In 1964, the Srimavo-Sashtri pact effected the deportation of 500,000 disenfranchised Tamils. Take the buggers back to India, the gov't said.

In 1983 however, the final straw was lit. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) killed 13 Sinhalese soldiers. On July 23, 1983 the government brought the fallen back in state, leading the coffins on a tour of the capital city Colombo.

It was the Kristelnacht of my country. A governmentally backed, anti-Tamil pogrom began. Tamil homes were looted and crashed, women raped en masse, and people were petrolled and burnt alive. Thousands fled the country and those that didn’t removed themselves from Sinhalese inhabited areas – fleeing to the North and East. The LTTE received cadres by the hundreds. It was the start of the civil war.

THE LEGENDARY SWORDS OF DAMASCUS - Now Only Museum Pieces
by HABEEB SALLOUM, special guest writer

Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, was for hundreds of years known for its fine swords. ...they were legendary for their sharpness and were considered superior to all other swords.

There were many myths and legends relating to the swords of Damascus... One such tale tells of a meeting between Richard the Lion-Hearted and Saladin. Richard, to impress his guest with his great power, cut through with his broadsword a thick iron bar with a single blow. Saladin, unimpressed, threw a silk pillow into the air and, as it fell, sliced it into ribbons with his Damascene blade.

Another story relates that the Damascene blade is so flexible that a man can take the hilt in one hand and the point of the sword in the other, then bend the sword around his body and when released the blade would spring back to its original shape.

Reviews, JAN 05

2005-01-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

MOVIE - A Very Long Engagement
A heart-wrenching tale of war, an up-lifting tale of romance
by ERIKA WHITCOMB, staff writer

The director John-Pierre Jeunet (director of Amelie) holds nothing back to depict gruesome battle scenes. Jeunet makes a point to allow the audience to get to know various soldiers, each one unique from the next. One particular soldier happens to be Mathilde’s (Audrey Tautou) fiancé Manech (Gaspard Ulliel).

The majority of the film shows Mathilde’s desperate attempt to find him, as the war is over and she faithfully believes he is still alive. The viewer gets a feeling of the genuine chemistry or love that exists between Manech and Mathilde but in a refreshing way. Jeunet shows the growth of their relationship from their first meeting as young children, along with all the quirks that came with it.

MOVIE - House of Flying Daggers
“I want to be free...like the wind.”
by Thu Pham, Staff Writer

The film begins toward the end of Tang Dynasty, when the government became corrupted. The movie revolves around a female dancer named Mei (Ziyi Zhang), whose rare beauty is enhanced by her intelligence and her deep perception of life.

Her encounter with two corrupted government officials, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Leo (Andy Lau) leads to a whirlwind adventure that uncovers many secrets and surprises.

MUSIC - Gunther and the Sunshine Girls
Sweden’s Dance Sensation is Crazy and Wild
By CALIFORNIA KAY, staff writer

The greatest thing about Gunther and the Sunshine Girls is their ability to engage listeners in endless entertainment, musical satire, and the simple relaxation in letting listeners dance to their hearts’ content.

In many hip-hop music videos, girls (aka “hip-hop bunnies”) are scantily clad while the lead singer speaks of serious subjects such as growing up in a rough neighborhood or losing a girl (it goes without speaking, of course, that these subjects require scantily clad hip-hop bunnies).

Gunther, on the other hand, sings of sensual-oriented subjects like girls in string bikinis on a summer night, while the barely-clothed Sunshine girls rub tushes with each other (literally) in the music video of Teeny Weeny String Bikini.

Features, JAN 05

2005-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

TRAVELOGUE - AMSTERDAM
Things you MUST do in Amsterdam!
by JEANNIE HO, exclusives editor

2. If you like beer, or if you are curious about how beer is made, go to the Heineken Brewery to achieve the Heineken Experience. Don’t worry, the cost is only 10 Euros and you receive three free cups of Heineken.

3. At night time, take a stroll through the naughty parts of Amsterdam to witness the world‘s oldest profession. The prostitutes in the Red Light District don‘t loiter on the street corners, rather they sit in front of huge windows which lead to their rooms. Red lights shine bright.

COLUMN - Twisted
What in the World?
by LAWRENCE LU, columnist
The people hurt by the wave DO very much need help. They have needed help for the longest time, flooding or not, but no one cared. But this time, the world’s media gave them the spotlight and with a wave of their money making wand, made them the next big “thing.”

Do you think a few million from a movie star is anything considerable? It would be more of a statement for an average citizen to give $10. There are those who appear truly genuine in their efforts like Leonardo Dicaprio, who wouldn’t disclose the amount donated, and who wanted to research what the money would be used for.

But for the others, it was like watching a pissing contest.

They just happen to be pissing cash over Asia.

Exclusives, DEC 03

2003-12-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

HOW THE INTERNET CHANGED KOREA... ...and how internet publications will change the world.
Featuring an exclusive interview with Samuel Minje Cho, VP of a national daily South Korean newspaper
By JENNIFER CHANG, Editor-In-Chief

“Young supporters of No Mu-hyon flooded the internet with e-mails and saturated text messaging services with calls to get out the vote for No Mu-hyon……From what my wife had heard, candidate Yi Hoe-ch'ang was leading until about 3 pm on 19 December. The polls closed at 6 pm. If that's correct, there was about three hours for the No Mu-hyon supporters to rally and turn the vote around.”

Reviews, DEC 03

2003-12-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

BOOK REVIEW - "Pillars of Salt"
A gripping tale of woe, love, lust, and insanity, set in the backdrop of an Arab world.
By JAMIE THORNTON, Staff Writer

“… I will recount to you an horrific story…unfold the multi-layered secrets of both past and present,” and this is exactly what Fadia Faqir does in her fiction novel, Pillars of Salt. The first chapter begins from the point of view of the ‘best story-teller in Arabia’ yet it is actually a story about two women who are committed to an insane asylum in Jordan and why they were sent there.

Fadia Faqir’s novel is a heart wrenching tale about two women stripped of their humanity based solely on the fact that they were born female and stood in the way of something that a male in their lives wanted.

Features, DEC 03

2003-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

TRAVELOGUE - Esfahan (in Iran)
Things you MUST do if you ever travel to Esfahan, Iran
Dean Gransar - Staff Writer

Naqsh-e-Jahan Square:This square, meaning "pattern of the world", is an open field surrounded by structures all around where the king would receive guests and perhaps watch a game of polo. To get a good feel of it, rent a cart and take it around the square. The small shops making handicrafts and the structures (Imam mosque, Aliqapu, Sheikh-Lotfollah mosque and the old bazaar) are really all pieces of art.

The vaulted ceilings, exquisite tile-works and mosaics work with space and light creating a mood that must be experienced to be understood. When you look at the vaults, the pattern revolves around the center (representing God) and everything else (the universe) surrounding it. Astronomically many of these structures correspond to each other and were well thought out. This perfection is typical of structures built in the Islamic era.

Reviews, JUN 03

2003-06-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

EMPANADA'S PLACE - A Restaurant Review
All the flavor of Argentina - in a flaky pastry crust
By CATHERINE GARCIA, staff writer

Empanada's Place 3811 Sawtelle Blvd. Culver City(310) 391-0888
With a cozy ambiance, fast service, and good, affordable food (empanadas at $2.25 each, $22.50 per dozen), Empanada’s Place is a definite must-try! Just don’t forget to bring cash or your checkbook—they don’t accept credit cards.

Features, JUN 03

2003-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE - of a South African Student
Though he was forced to flee to the states years ago, Raoul still remembers his life in South Africa
By JEANNIE HO, staff writer

In 1994, there was a major regime change in South Africa, which caused extreme political turmoil. This new regime tried to erase the British elements in society, from the Afrikaner’s (Dutch descent race) to the wealthy European folk with the status of “upper classmen”. Luckily, my friend Raoul Ludwig Phillip Haeck was able to escape the political upheaval; he left his home a few years ago to live in the United States. However, he has decided to share his normal daily experiences from his days of living in South Africa.

Exclusives, JUN 03

2003-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

CERAMIC TREES OF LIFE - The Fowler Brings You Mexico
Color and culture from across the border
By JENNIFER CHANG, editor-in-chief

The clay pieces, decorated in paints and varnishes, are laden with religious, social, and mythical symbolism. For example, the use of the tree shape suggests that the country’s modern identity lays in the land’s ancient past. It has also come to represent family (think of a “family tree”) and also the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge at the center of the Garden of Eden.

Exclusives, MAY 03

2003-05-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

A DYING PEOPLE, A DYING CULTURE - Plight of Native Americans
These are their stories.
By MEENADCHI GUNANAYAGAM, staff writer

In 1974, the US government passed Public Law 93-531 or the Relocation Act. This law required Dineh residents in the Big Mountain (also called Black Mesa) area to relocate so that the coal and uranium deposits could be extracted. Land was purchased in 1980 by the government as a relocation site.

The “New Lands” was in Chambers, Arizona. It is also a site for one of the worst radioactive spills the world has ever known. In 1979, approximately 94 million gallons of radioactive water was released in Church Rock, New Mexico and managed to contaminate the area. In addition, over 1,000 tons of uranium solids were released from a nearby mine pond.

Those who resisted the relocation faced severe and continuing harassment from the US government. Livestock was stolen, wood gathering was banned, and running water was cut off. Religious ceremonies were interrupted and violated by road blocks, F-16 fighter jets flew low over these ceremonies, and sacred grounds were bulldozed. In addition, many resisters were kidnapped while others were spied upon and subject to constant governmental surveillance.

Reviews, MAY 03

2003-05-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

LOVE AND WAR 'NOWHERE IN AFRICA' - Movie Review
By MEGAN BLANCHARD, assistant editor

This Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film is well-deserving of its title. Nowhere in Africa, by German filmmaker Caroline Link, is a beautifully rendered portrait of the Kenyan landscape and its people. From the arid landscape of a summer drought to the panoramic summer deluge on the African plains, the cinematography in Nowhere In Africa is breathtaking. Although the setting of the film might be reminiscent of an especially enticing Discovery Channel special, deep human struggles are at the heart of this film.

Features, MAY 03

2003-05-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

TRAVELOGUE - Things you MUST do in Mexico (Cabo San Lucas)
By MARK PRATT, guest writer

5. I remember one place named Mama's - it had the best machaca (shredded meat mixed with eggs and different kinds of salsa) I've ever had. To get a hands-on dining experience, the restaurant at the Finnistera hotel, the Blue Marlin, cooked the fish we caught and complemented that with tortilla soup and ceviche (seafood mixed with diced tomatoes and onions in lemon juice).

Exclusives, APR 03

2003-04-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

NATURE AND CULTURE - The Dobe Ju Hoansi and Hxaro Exchange
Part One in the Series
By SIERRA SERRANO, managing editor

Richard B. Lee, Anthropologist, discussed hxaro exchange with a Ju hoan man. Lee asked, “If you gave me a spear and I in return gave you a 3 strings of beads would that be ok?” The man replied, “Yes.” “Two Strings?” “Yes” “One String” “Yes.” The Ju Hoan man explained that “One string, five strings, any return would be alright. You see we don’t trade with things, we trade with people.”

Reviews, APR 03

2003-04-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

A SEXY "WHODUNIT" - DVD Review
8 Femmes (8 Women)
By CALIFORNIA KAY, staff writer

What do you get when you put a musical, a comedy, a mystery, a drama, and an all-star French cast together in a single movie? You get 8 Women! One of the freshest and funniest cinematic works produced by the French in 2002, 8 Women won various film awards like the Silver Berlin Bear, Lumier, and the European Film Award, and was even nominated for a César and others.

Features, APR 03

2003-04-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE... of an Exchange Student in Germany
Follow Kim Liao through a typical day in Wuppertal
By PATTY HUNG, staff writer

2:00P.M. – Lunch is extra special because Kim gets a respite from the aforesaid cold cuts, cheese, and dark bread. Instead, she eats lip-smacking Spätzle (fried noodles usually served in a sauce), Goulasch Suppe (a heavily spiced soup with meat and vegetables), Birne Helene (dessert consisting of pears covered with a fruity sauce), Schnitzels (pork with a breaded crust), or the greasy but totally worth it Thüringer Roastbratwursts, “the absolute best sausage you’ll ever have in Germany,” according to Kim.

Exclusives, MAR 03

2003-03-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

THE EAST MEETS THE WEST: A look at Alternative Medicine Today
Alternative Oriental medicine goes mainstream
Interview with Dr. Richard Chang
By CALIFORNIA KAY, graphics editor

The best evidence of the public’s reactions is that several insurance companies now cover some forms of alternative medicine as treatment. Insurance companies, namely, Blue Shield, Blue Cross, and Signa have now considered acupuncture as a treatment. It’s gaining in popularity only because, for many people, it’s working. That’s why the insurance companies are willing to cover this treatment. Even the state MediCal program now covers acupuncture treatment. In America, there are several million acupuncture visits in the United States every year, and the number continues to grow.

Reviews, MAR 03

2003-03-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

TO INDIA AND BACK: A Book Review
"Motiba's Tattoos" by Mira Kamdar
By MEGAN BLANCHARD, assistant editor

Mira Kamdar’s intriguing family history, chronicled with a kind of mystical reverence in Motiba’s Tattoos, ranges in scope from the private turmoil of a young girl, raised on the peninsula of Kathiawar, India, to the vast opportunities of that very girl’s sons and grandsons in the American West. Fate weaves an unpredictable path for the Kamdar family, beginning in the tiny village of Gokhlana, India, and traveling all the way to Rangoon (the capital of Burma), Bombay, and finally to places as distant as America, London, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

Features, MAR 03

2003-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

TRAVELOGUE - Things you MUST do in Peru
By JESSICA FLORES, staff writer

2. You MUST try…
- Peruvian-Chinese food! It’s called Chifa, a unique blend of Chinese and Peruvian styled food that’s distinct from the two. It is delicioso!
- Peruvian ice cream – Lucuma, made from Peruvian cherimuya fruit
- Inca Cola (actually, this is sold in select American markets as well)