Features, APR 06

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

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Exclusives, MAR 06

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

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

by AMY CHOU, cover artist.

Who We Are

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is a place for everyone.

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

Mission

From our first printed issue, FEB 2002


Dear Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exclusives, FEB 06

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

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

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

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

Reviews, FEB 06

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



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