Here are some things that are hot in November: - The weather starts to cool down in the UAE, making outdoor activities more comfortable. - New smartphone and tablet releases right before the holiday season from Apple, Samsung, and others. - Shopping deals and sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday towards the end of the month. - Popular TV shows and movies return from their mid-season breaks. - American Thanksgiving on November 26th brings family gatherings and delicious meals. - The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula One auto race takes place from November 27-29. - Many cultural events and exhibitions happen in Abu Dhabi during the month like the Abu Dhabi Art

1. NOVEMBER2014
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Abu Dhabi Tempo
NOVEMBER2014
GRINDLINE:
KROUSIANO R-KELLY’S APPRENTICE
REMEMBERING SHEIKH ZAYED
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT LEADER
ONE LOVE, ONE TANGO
WITH OLIVER AND LIN
GRINDLINE:
KROUSIANO R-KELLY’S APPRENTICE
REMEMBERING SHEIKH ZAYED
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT LEADER
ONE LOVE, ONE TANGO
WITH OLIVER AND LIN
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Managing Editor
Bagersh@tempoplanet.com
Twitter @bagersh
ADDRESS:
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MEDIA LICENCE NO. 1/105866/24295
See Abu Dhabi like
you’ve never seen
before!
42
d’s
note
November is probably the busiest month in
the whole year! So much so that we were
totally conflicted whilst putting this issue
together - on what to keep, and what to
trim out.
Close on the heels of the pure cinematic
indulgence of the Abu Dhabi Film festival is
the art and music smorgasbord that is​​Abu
Dhabi​Art​, the Yasalam music scene and
the world-class musicals. Then there are all
the delightful bursts of creativity around
the country’s museums and educational
institutions. Within our pages you’ll find
cool stories on everything from music to
photography; design to film production; all
the way to social causes and lifestyle
must dos.
As this goes to press, the Tempo team
prepares to help host a November 6 social
mixer for international and locally based
designers. The event, which will be at
MoxieZone in twofour54 Rotana Complex,
is part​of​the exciting 20th International
Symposium on Electronic Art brought to the
UAE by Zayed University. We’re hoping it
will be an evening where artists share their
passion for design and revel in the magic
of art and creativity. If you are a digital
artist and want to attend, connect with our
Facebook group Tempo Beat, to know more.
Feed the soul. Peace.
MANAGING EDITOR
Sana Bagersh
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Vera Rosales
MARKETING COORDINATOR
Bilal Yaman
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Shihabudheen Hamza
DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR
Melaku Muluneh
TEMPO GROUP: CONTRIBUTORS:
Alma Kadragic
Amal Naseem
Angeli Castillo
Anthony Freeman
Azza El Masri
Blakniss
Dorian “Paul D” Rogers
Donna Howarth
Heather Long
Vandevoorde
Kimberly Moultrie
Lana Nasser
Marien Oomen
Maryam Rashed Alzaabi
Melissa Lowry
Mirriam Akbar
Nauf Al Shaikh
Nikith Nath
Nisma Hamid
Noora Al Ali
Paul Freeman
Puneet Wagh
Salma Al Mansoori
Seumas Gallacher
Shahid Saeed
Sophia Grifferty
Theresa F. Weber
Vanessa Middleton
Viktoria Vinnikava
ontents
06 notes &cyberchatter / librarian’s lounge
07 quest for quirky / generation z
08 what’s hot
09 what’s cool / people calendar
10 tempo top 10 / high five/ #temporeviews
13 infographix: remembering sheikh zayed
14 phototripping
15 shutterbug adp
16 the epicurean
20 time capsule: maha chatila
22 grindline: krousiano r-kelly’s apprentice
25 blueprint: ragdha
26 #mindyourhashtags
27 arab film studio / making money
29 against all odds: mamoon sultan
30 articulate café / dhabi dames
31 youth talk / parental guide
33 flash fiction
34 game hedz / tech talk
35 women in business /expat returns home
37 one love, one tango
38 king of the cable: omeir saeed
39 instafame / tempo skillmarket
41 teen vox pop / improving education
42 360 view: the horizon beckons

6. www. tempoplanet.com6
POST YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
notes cyberchatter
ON THIRD CULTURE
PARENTING
TEMPO POLL OF THE MONTH
LIBRARIANS’ LOUNGE:
HELPING BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY
What is November most famous for?
Very relatable! –
Rania Hassan Mohammed ElAmin
ON PHOTOTRIPPING: STREET
PHOTOGRAPHY
Nothing like taking a walk with
your camera, the world is waiting! –
Yusuf Samad
ON ARAB PRIDE: HAMZA CHRAIBI
AND ‘ARAB EXCELLENCE’
Arab initiative at its best! Kudos
to Hamza Chraibi and Arab
Excellence! – Kadeem Hadi
tweet@tempoplanet follow@tempoplanetlikeusonfacebook/abudhabitempo
By Vanessa Middleton
#ASKTEMPO
I am 35 and have been a
Tempo reader for some time.
I am in a bit of a dilemma. My
high school teacher recently
sent me a friend request on
Facebook. This is the same
teacher that once flunked me.
Should I ignore her or try to
develop a more mature (and
cathartic) relationship with
her and accept her request?
Should I try to connect with
her even if I don’t like her?
Not if you don’t like her- it’s your
choice. No one is obliged to accept
anybody on FB. I blocked half of my
work colleagues just cause I didn’t want
them nosing into my private life outside
office. – Susanna
Teachers assign failing grades to
students who don’t do their work.
Unless the teacher came out of nowhere
with some sort of assessment that no
one in the class had seen before, the
responsibility for the ‘flunking’ rests on
the students. If you want to be friends
with your former teacher, great. If you
still feel bad about your own behavior
or the teacher’s behavior, it could be
resolved by a FB connection. – Michele
Depends on your relationship with the
teacher. It can either be awkward and
creepy, or it can be a new friendship
based on respect and
understanding. -Deena
This happened to me…but it didn’t
work. For some reason I saw him still as
my teacher, and I felt a need to always
‘behave’ and ‘censor’ my comments.
After a while I quietly ‘unfriended’ him.
I hope he hasn’t noticed. -Arcat
POST YOUR QUESTIONS IN OUR FB GROUP:
TEMPO UAE
The month before National Day, let the
practices begin! (33%)
Tech season! New gadgets out just in time for the
holidays! (27%)
It’s Diwali! Where are my rockets? (22%)
Guns ‘n’ Roses, November Rain! That Slash solo
was out of this world! (18%)
Librarians are critical
to the development
of the knowledge
based economy;
librarians are
essential players. As
big data abounds and
pervasive information
overload persists; an
information specialist
is necessary to
empower individuals
with the tools and
special skills required
to navigate through
vast data to meet
their specific needs.
Ultimately, they help
to develop, create and
innovate ideas into
viable solutions.
UNESCO’s development
target emphasizes the
importance of ensuring people have the skills and abilities needed for critical
reception, assessment and use of information and media in their professional and
personal lives. According to UNESCO, “empowerment of people through information
and media literacy is an important prerequisite for fostering equitable access to
information and knowledge, and building inclusive
knowledge societies.”
Most people assume librarians don’t have to do much all day except read books.
Not so - our duties represent a multitude of activities, which include development,
information and instructional technology, teaching, research support, data analysis,
planning and much, much more. Most people assume librarians don’t require any
qualifications. Not so - the terminal degree for the profession is a Master of Library
and Information Science. PhD opportunities are also available in this discipline. Most
librarians have a wide range of undergraduate degrees in many different disciplines.
Therefore these individuals with a rich and diverse educational background and
discipline bring their expertise to the field.
The American University of the Emirates in Dubai offers one of the only Master of
Library and Information Science Degree for those interested in pursuing further
studies in Library and Information Science in the UAE. The University College of
London has recently opened a branch in Doha exclusively offering Master Degrees
in Museum Studies, Cultural Heritage, Conservation and Archaeology. Most people
assume librarians are all in the same field however there are many different areas
of specialization including school librarianship, academic/university librarianship,
museums, law, government, special or corporate librarianship as well as public
librarianship. Even more specialized fields include archivists, information literacy
specialists, geographic information systems specialists, instructional technologists
and more.
You can learn more about librarianship at the upcoming Sharjah International Book
Fair. The American Library Association has teamed up with the organizers of the
festival to present a three-day Librarian’s Professional Development series. The event
will take place during the Sharjah International Book Fair, November 11th – 13th.
Meet and greet the president of the American Library Association, which is one of the
oldest and largest library associations in the world. Over 40 international speakers
will share their expertise and insight on trends in the profession; you would be able to
experience a wide variety of programmes as well as network with regional
library professionals.

7. www. tempoplanet.com 7
Aviation History Month National Novel Writing Month Historic Bridge Awareness Banana Pudding Lovers Month
SOCIAL MEDIA:
November is the month of Aviation History, Novel Writing,
and Historical Bridges and finally…..Banana Pudding!QUIRKY FINDS!
From 1903, when the Wright Brothers
finally got the first airplane in history off
the ground (pictured), to 2014, beautiful
Boeing 787 Dreamliners with luxurious
interiors. Aren’t inventions awesome?!
We’ve come a looooooong way!!
Could you write a “novel” on what you know
about women?
This unique novel comes with over a
hundred blank pages…take that as a
statement of what men really know about
women or write your own pages! What
would you say?
Bridging the gap between past and present.
Which is scarier?
Historic Bridge Awareness month brings to
mind the Hussaini rope bridge in Pakistan.
Not exactly the safest bridge in the world and
only the most courageous dare to cross it. The
Millau Viaduct, which is the world’s tallest
bridge is located in southern France and is
close to 2,500 meters in length. Which would
you cross?
And finally, for Banana Pudding Lovers
Month, satisfy that sweet tooth with some
banana pudding, an American Southern
favourite! This delicious sweet treat comes
packed with bananas, vanilla wafers
(biscuits), cream and
other tasty ingredients.
Magnolia Bakery in
Galleria Mall does it the
best! Check out this video
and dance your way over
to the Mall!
quest for quirkyBy Kimberly Moultrie
@Friedwanderer
generation zBy Mirriam Akbar
@InMirzWords
Bringing People Closer or Driving Them Apart?
It’s no doubt that social media, and
technology in general, have had the greatest
impact on our times. We are so dependent
on social media and technology that we
forget little of this existed just 10 years ago.
Imagine if all of it were to stop right now…
Imagine the trouble we’ll have finishing the
simplest of tasks. We rely on social media in
our everyday activities - in fact I’m sure as
you read this, you’re going to pull out your
phone a couple times. That’s the problem -
or at least that’s the question…
This question of the impact of social media
in our lives has been up for discussion
for the past few years. With technology
enhancing each day, and social network
sites becoming a common source of
information for people all over the world,
you can’t help but ask the question: have
social media and technology brought people
closer or driven them further apart?
Right off the bat, we can all agree that
social media and technology have made it
easier for people to connect with family,
friends, workers, and even with people
from other parts of the globe. They’re able
to share pictures, videos, links and other
pieces of information. We have to agree that
technology has brought people closer. Take
for example my family who lives in Toronto,
Canada who my grandparents haven’t met,
but Skype changed that completely. It’s not
the full experience, but it’s a big deal when
you think about it.
Now we know everything good has its
fair share of bad too, and you’re probably
wondering how social media has drifted
people apart when it’s done so much
to bring them closer in a virtual world.
Through this virtual world people are
always connected, but its never like the real
thing. You see, technology has also changed
the way we interact - when we meet! I go to
gatherings of family or friends, and there’s
less quality socializing because everyone’s
busy communicating on their phones. That
means that social networks have, in many
ways, made us anti-social!
Think about the miscommunication that
happens in the virtual world. I’m sure
everyone knows at least one person who no
longer speaks to another person because of
an argument that might have taken place
through a social network site like Facebook,
Twitter, etc. It makes you wonder if this
would still happen if social media was
limited in scope, or didn’t exist at all.
We know that social media technology
won’t be leaving us anytime soon and that it
is integral to our lives. But moving forward,
we need to figure out not only how to utilize
it to best effect, but also how to mitigate the
problems that it can cause.
Street Art by Banksy

8. www. tempoplanet.com8
TheSpaceAD
TO ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT AND BE INCLUDED IN OUR ISSUE, CONTACT US AT: or e-mail editorial@tempoplanet.com+971 2 491 8624
Art Class
Mondays | 10AM-12PM
Unleash your hidden talents with art classes open to all
skill levels! This drawing and painting course covers the
basics of the subject and gives the student the skills to
continue with painting along the right lines. For more
info contact local artist Matt McCobb 0551454595.
Rooftop Rythyms
November 5 | 7:00PM - 9:00PM
After two years of hosting a successful poetry open
mic night (predominantly in English) to Abu Dhabi,
Rooftop Rhythms has decided to pay homage to the rich
Arabic history of poetry with a new event hosted and
performed exclusively in Arabic. For more info, visit the
Rooftop Rhythms page on Facebook.
Mobipix UAE
November 5 - November 12
MOBIPIXUAE’s fundraising roadshow is part of a series
of #mobile photography exhibitions across the UAE.
The roadshow aims at raising funds for 100CAMERAS,
a registered NGO based in New York that empowers
kids to create tangible change in their communities by
teaching them to capture their lives
through photography.
I’m Feeling 22
November 13 - November 27
An NYU student curated art exhibition exploring youth
culture and experimentation for artists and all creatives
based in the UAE, with the main focus on university
students and recent graduates.
Abu Dhabi Art
5 November – 8 November
Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi
This year’s Abu Dhabi Art will present an exciting
lineup of art, talks and performances that bring together
the world’s top galleries, artists, cultural icons, collectors
and visitors from across the globe. The sixth edition will
present the two key elements launched last year; the
Artists’ Waves section which showcases curated works
by artists, as well as Durab Al Tawaya, a performing arts
programme that takes Abu Dhabi Art beyond Saadiyat
Island and into the city.
Info: www.abudhabiartfair.ae
Abu Dhabi Alive
13 November – 15 November
Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
The UAE’s most exciting fitness and lifestyle event is
back for a second time! Thousands of visitors will again
have the chance to take advantage of live fitness classes
and sports activities, cooking demonstrations, free
health consultations and giveaways as well as a host of
competitions. Pre-registered visitors will have free use
of all facilities like bowling centre, tennis courts, beach
tennis and the rugby field.
Info: www.abudhabialive.ae
Abu Dhabi Science Festival
13 November – 22 November
Abu Dhabi Corniche (East Plaza) & Al Ain Zoo, Abu Dhabi
This annual festival brings science to life in the United
Arab Emirates. Each year thousands of visitors experience
and enjoy a wide variety of thrilling scientific activities
through an array of exciting workshops, shows and
interactive exhibits. This 10-day event returns to its
popular Abu Dhabi Corniche (East Plaza) location, and for
the first time to two new activations in Al Ain (Al Ain Zoo)
and Sharjah (Al Majaz Waterfront).
Info: www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae
2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix
20 November – 23 November
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
This year will see the most exciting Formula One Etihad
Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ever, with the circuit
hosting the season’s last race and with double points on
offer to drivers. Abu Dhabi will come alive with musical
excitement with the return of Yasalam, the largest city-
wide programme run by any F1 host city. Crowds will
be treated to a packed programme of world-class events
including international performers, stunning firework
displays and a flypast of Etihad Airways’ new Dreamliner.
Info: www.yasmarinacircuit.com
SHOES, A MONOLOGUE
19 November – 20 December
MoxieZone, Abu Dhabi
As we embark on a journey through life we learn and
experience a myriad of things. Every walk is different,
but the one thing we have in common is the task of
taking the journey and choosing which pair of shoes
to do it in. ‘SHOES’ is a compilation of witty, heartfelt,
and thought provoking monologues written by C.
Cunningham. This brilliant show is the first of its kind in
Abu Dhabi and is sure to be a hit.
To book your event’s space in MoxieZone, contact
Vera at 02 491 8624/vera@brandmoxie.com

9. www. tempoplanet.com 9
< Angeli Castillo
nov20
nov nov26 30
nov dec30 3Stay upTEMPO! Like and follow us on our social media:
Also join our FB group, TEMPO UAE, to stay updated on our community events dedicated to the arts, music, and fashion!
Abu Dhabi Tempo @tempoplanet @tempoplanet
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
CHIC LADY SHOW
ABU
DHABI @ ADNEC
UAE NATIONAL DAY
CELEBRATIONS
at Emirate Wide
ramzi khansa
• Lebanese
• 20
• Student
IBN BATTUTA:
THE VOYAGER OF ISLAM I
at Emirates Palace
ISAF SAILING WORLD
CUP FINAL 2014
at Next to Lulu Island
HAVE A WORD - A ONE DAY LITERARY
FESTIVAL | 16 NOVEMBER | DUCTAC,
MALL OF THE EMIRATES | DUBAI
The Have a Word day-long literary festival is a celebration of the
written and spoken word. Visitors will have a chance to purchase
second-hand books as well as arts and craft items. The afternoon will
feature a selection of stalls selling new and second-hand books as well
as all artworks, talking books, word games, puzzles, knitwear, stickers
and homeware. Alongside the stalls will be a multi-faceted line-up of
readings, music, recitals, slam poetry and other spoken word horseplay,
all live onstage. | Info: www.dubaicalendar.ae
EMIRATES AWARD FOR ARABIAN GULF
YOUTH 2014 | 18 NOVEMBER | ABU DHABI
The Emirates Award for Arabian Gulf Youth is a social business
competition that aims to unlock the creativity of the GCC region’s
young people to solve the challenges facing society through the
creation of a social enterprise. The Emirates Foundation seeks to
support youth initiatives that can create real and sustainable
social change.
This initiative showcases for social enterprise ideas and is a platform for
young venture philanthropists in the Arabian Gulf region to bring their
ideas to life and connect with the people who can help them make them
happen. The top 15 competition entries with the most creative and impactful social enterprise ideas will be selected to
come together to the UAE to attend the mentorship program on 16th November and showcase their ideas to the judging
committee on 17th November. The three winning ideas will be announced at the awards event which will take place in
Abu Dhabi on 18th November 2014. | Info: www.emiratesfoundation.ae
TO GIVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL… EDUCATION
This holiday season, The Body Shop is teaming up with War Child, the global charity for
children affected by war, to grant children the wish of education. With your help,
The Body Shop aims to provide more than six million lessons in war-torn areas. For every
specially selected gift you buy, no matter how big or small, The Body Shop will make a
contribution that funds a class for a child. Rob Williams, the CEO at War Child UK says: “In
areas of conflict, getting a child back into school keeps them safe. Building their confidence,
knowledge and skills opens the doors of opportunity. That’s why we have teamed up with
The Body Shop this Christmas. Buy a gift, help a child. It’s so simple, but so brilliant.”

10. www. tempoplanet.com10
songs in
the uae
| Abu Dhabi | Ajman | Dubai | Fujairah | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah | Umm Al Quwain
6
7
8
9
10
Lovers on the Sun
> David Guetta Feat. Sam Martin
New Thang
> Red Foo
Won’t Look Back
> Duke Dumont
Steal My Girl
> One Direction
Wait On Me
> Rixton1
2
3
4
5
Thinking Out Loud
> Ed Sheeran
Animals
> Maroon 5
Cool Kids
> Echosmith
New Flame
> Chris Brown Feat.
Usher & Rick Ross
Centuries
> Fall Out Boy
now showing this month
Tempo’s movie buffs came together and discovered this month’s latest flicks in the Gulf.
For contests, ticket giveaways and
freebies, Like & Follow Tempo on
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
tempo movie reviews Follow #TempoReviews on Twitter for more.
The special bond that develops between plus-sized
inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada,
who team up with a group of friends to form a band
of high-tech heroes.
Fun Fact: The first animated Marvel film to be
released theatrically via Walt Disney Animation
Studios. Several characters from the Big Hero 6 comic
didn’t appear in the film due to copyright issues.
Directed by: Don Hall, Chris Williams
Cast: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung
Katniss Everdeen is in District 13 after she shatters
the games forever. Under the leadership of President
Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss
spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a
nation moved by her courage.
Fun Fact: First film in the series to be shot digitally.
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
the dimwits set out on their first adventure,
they head out in search of one of their long
lost children in the hope of gaining a
new kidney.
Fun Fact: The film will be released 20 years after
the original.
Directed by: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Laurie Holden
Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own
business but things don’t go as planned because
of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull
off a harebrained and misguided
kidnapping scheme.
Fun Fact: This is the first sequel Jennifer Aniston
has ever done in her entire career.
Directed by: Sean Anders
Cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
Big Hero 6
Genre: Animation | Action | Comedy
TEMPO PREDICTION:
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Genre: Adventure | Sci-Fi
TEMPO PREDICTION:
Dumb and Dumber To
Genre: Comedy
Tempo Prediction:
Horrible Bosses 2
Genre: Comedy
Tempo Prediction:
POWERED BY
Melissa Oval
Age: 17
Social Media: Melissa11rocks (YouTube)
Nationality: Canadian
Genre(s): Pop
Inspiration(s): Birdy, Gabrielle Aplin
Favorite Artist/s: Ed Sheeran
Music Dreams: To be a successful singer and perform around the world.
SHOUT OUT: ARE YOU A SINGER/BAND AND WANT TO BE FEATURED IN “MUSIC HIGH FIVE”? DROP A LINE ON EDITORIAL@TEMPOPLANET.COM
AND BE SURE TO JOIN THE TEMPO - TEMPOPLANET FACEBOOK GROUP
Watch my High Five video here
SHOUT OUT: DO YOU WANT TO BE FEATURED IN TEMPO HIGH FIVE? JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP ‘‘TEMPO BEAT” AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR TALENT!

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TALKING BOOKS
By Seumas Gallacher
@seumasgallacher
…in some of the science fiction movies, yer heroes and heroines are often
endowed with the ability to clone themselves… to be more than one thing at
the one time… to be in more than one location at the one time… and as yeez
sat there in the kids’ section at the cinema, chomping away at yer crisps and
slopping yer ice cream all over the seats, yeez thought, ‘right! that’ll do me!’…
…then, as yeez grew into older versions of yer youth, that wish would become
more wistful… the realisation that being just one presence is hard enuff
going sum’times… comes now the age of the internet… the era of the SOSYAL
NETWURKS is inescapably upon on us… for we scribblers, a wee chink of light
appears that tells us that p’raps those childhood fantasies of self-cloning may
not be so unachievable after all… coz, here’s the thing… the distilled wisdom
currently dictates that to have a better chance of ‘succeeding’ (there’s that daft
WURD again, whatever it means to yeez as an author), yeez are recommended
to clone yerselves… is that possible, Mabel?… you bet yer redolent rectum it is…
first up, getting yer wee masterpieces written demands yer Writer persona…
over time, along comes sum’thing else, called yer ’Author’s Voice’… the style
and regular content that is recognisable as yer own, even if people don’t see
yer name on the book cover… (fr’example, if yeez pick up any book by Charlie
Dickens and start reading it in the middle, before long yeez would know it’s
by Dickens… that’s the ‘Author’s Voice’)… then on to the ‘getting yerselves out
there’ gig… lots of novelists and scriveners abhor this bit… being ‘present’ on
the internet in a plethora of guises.. Twitter-ing, Facebook-ing, Google+-ing,
LinkedIn-ing, Stumbleupon-ing, any-other-bluudy-netwurking-yeez-can-find-
ing, …and prob’ly most vital of all of these, Blogging… in all of that chattering,
communicating, networking, yer ‘Author’s Brand’ develops… yer SOSYAL
NETWURK presence is key to yer ‘Author’s Brand’ recognition on the Web…
(yer unique distinctive personality, or whatever version yeez choose to display
of it as such)… so, as a quill-scraper, are yeez an Author?… are yeez a Voice?…
are yeez a Brand?… yes!… yes!… and yes!… yeez are the composite of all of that to
the outside readers and writers’ universe… the fantasy sci-fi is possible… beam
me up Scottie!… see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…
David Moore is an Australian Digital Poet/ Filmmaker/ ponderer and is the senior lecturer in
video production at Abu Dhabi Women’s College.
I recently read that we ALL live 80 milliseconds
in the PAST… that by the time we recognize the
NOW, it has already become living memory. This
actually explained a lot to me, how we sometimes feel
disconnected from reality, when we open our mouths
and utter something, instantly regretting or rejoicing
in our ignorance or joyousness or both.
This concept, the ephemeral, intangible quality of
time continued to lodge in my mind, not unlike the
transporting moment from the movie American
Beauty, in which Ricky Fitt’s video’s a swirling
plastic shopping bag, whilst underscored by the
beautiful dialogue “… it helps me remember... I need
to remember... Sometimes there’s so much beauty in
the world, I feel like I can’t take it, and my heart is just
going to cave in.”
It was also about this time my first-born left home,
something all parents go through, but nothing prepares
you for… the impact of which is rarely discussed. I grieved for almost a year… starting six
months before he even left. I would no longer wake to see him everyday, hear his voice, argue
with him, my son was now relegated to misbegotten Skype calls with lamenting parents, to
being a visitor in his own home when visiting to Australia.
A quote from a movie at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival several years ago kept echoing
through my mind. A young Chinese woman grieves to a friend that she had done the sums,
and from the time your children leave home to their subsequent visits, if you add it all up…
you’re lucky if they spend a collective year with their parents in the next 30 years. Sadly this
rings true for all of us, and what do we have left, but our memories…
For my son’s impending 21st birthday, an event which distance and schedule prevented
spending together, I devised something that I hoped would be special. 88 Milliseconds was
a book that I wrote to celebrate our expat lives together in Abu Dhabi and the specialness
of my son. In writing and editing nearly a thousand pictures… I came up with 100 pages of
photographs and short stories to celebrate life, art, culture, travel and our time together. I
presented it to my son who, with the demure attitude of 21-year-old, thanked me, thumbed
through a few pages and put it away. That’s ok… because I didn’t write it for now, I wrote it for
later, because one day I know he will find it, read it… and treasure it, because, whether we like
to admit it or not, we all become nostalgic.
I only printed two copies (one for him, one for me), with the wonder of the digital age printing
technology. It was surprisingly cheap and of excellent quality (my other hat is running a
graphic design company for 10 years). What did surprise me was the reaction to the people I
showed my copy to… I started to receive encouragement to reprint for it other people, possibly
even to sell, but this book was special, I wanted to keep 88 milliseconds for him… for us (if
you’re wondering why 88 and not the current title, it was 80 milliseconds for the past, and
2 milliseconds extra for each member of our immediate family. 88 seemed like a nice round
number, not unlike me). I started to treat the project as a new book, took out some of the more
personal stories that were just for him and replaced them with stories of equal joyousness
and humour, but also involving friends as well as family. With the help of Susan-Sojourna
(Sojo) Collier, a highly experienced writer in Applied Communications at Higher Colleges of
Technology’s Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Sojo began to curate the pictures and stories to
generate an exhibition to support the book launch.
80 milliseconds is the past... it is the time it takes you to blink, the time to touch your toes (for
some of us anyway) the time it takes for your children to leave home.... it is a celebration of
time, art, family, travel and the (not to distant) past.
Copies of the book may be purchased online at Blurb.com or the direct link http://blur.
by/1CV0pWX for $34.63 plus delivery. The Photographic Exhibition and Book Launch will be
on Display at Higher Colleges of Technology Abu Dhabi Women’s College, City Campus on the
12th of November, 2014.
80 MILLISECONDS
THE BLOG
by David Moore/@concretesockz

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ADVERTISING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION BRANDING
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business@brandmoxie.com
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13. www. tempoplanet.com 13
It’s been 10 years since Sheikh Zayed ruled this amazing nation. Emiratis Noora Al Ali and Maryam Alzaabi tell, through
this infographic that they created, what made the founding father the extraordinary leader that he was.infographix
R emembering
Sheikh Zayed

14. www. tempoplanet.com14
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Fashion photography is a genre that is most often associated with advertising and fashion magazines. It has developed its own protocols and aesthetics over
time, enhanced by choice of location and accessories. Fashion photography has been in existence since the early days of photography, capturing time and
place, as well as documenting prevailing trends.
MY NAME IS NIKITH NATH...
I am 22 years old, and I’m from Kerala, India. I have loved photography since I was young and took it up as my passion when my father gave me a Canon EOS
1100D two years ago. I have taught myself, and am mainly into fashion and landscape photography. I conduct workshops for aspiring photographers and love
to promote photography. www.studiosnsquared.com
phototripping By Nikith Nath
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
BEAUTY WITH ATTITUDE
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Lens: Canon 50mm/1.8f
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 100
Focal Length 50mm
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Lens: Canon 50mm/1.8f
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
Aperture: f/2
ISO: 100
Focal Length 50mm
LADY IN THE WILDERNESS
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Lens: Canon 50mm/1.8f
Shutter Speed: 1/5 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 1600
Focal Length 50mm
A SMILE IS A GIRL’S BEST ACCESSORY
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Lens: Canon 50mm/1.8f
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 400
Focal Length 50mm
IN TIME
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Lens: Canon 50mm/1.8f
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 400
Focal Length 50mm

15. www. tempoplanet.com 15
shutterbug adp The Group: Abu Dhabi Photographers
‘‘I am a self-taught photographer, born and raised in Belarus. I developed interest in photography during my childhood. I was fascinated by the mystery of dark
rooms and got inspired by family photographs taken by my father. I have won several awards in local photography competitions. My latest and biggest, so far
is 1st place in the 3rd annual ‘Spaces of Light’ Photography Competition under the Category ‘Architectural Beauty of the Emirates Palace’. I am still searching
for my specific style of photography. I enjoy traveling around the world and experimenting with colours, textures, contrasts, selective focusing, slow shutter
speed, unique angles, interesting lighting conditions and new approaches in post-processing photographs. My photography was featured in several magazines,
online publications, calendars, coffee table books. I am a member of Abu Dhabi International Photographic Society (ADIPS) and hold a FIAP distinction from The
International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). www.facebook.com/vinnikava’’
ABOUT: Abu Dhabi Photographers is a group of photography enthusiasts who meet regularly to capture beautiful shots and to share knowledge and creative
experiences. The group is managed by BrandMoxie.
THE CHALLENGE: PATTERNSPhotographer: ViktoriaVinnikava

16. www. tempoplanet.com16
the epicureanBy Lana Nasser
Instagram: @l4n4n
I’m buzzing from an intense
post workout high. I still have
the shakes and nothing can
quite quench my thirst as a
fruit and veggie liquid heaven.
One of my favourites would
have to be the Morning Glory
from Nectar at Bodytree
Studio – blueberries, bananas,
orange, organic acai powder
and organic goji berries. The
best part for me is pushing my
body to reach crazy mental
goals, sweating out all the
toxins and then rewarding it
with a freshly made juice full
of nutrients and antioxidants,
kick-starting its repair cycle
into hyper-drive. That’s my
reason for loving juice, what’s
yours?
Juice bars have become a trend, a style
cooler than fashion; a status symbol.
Nowadays it’s hipper to look after your
body from the inside out. So how did this
obsession come about? Juice has been
sloshing around waiting for it’s grand
entrance since the thirties. It paired
perfectly with the crusades for fitness, the
popularization of Gerson therapy, which
was a treatment of juice, supplements and
coffee enemas for cancer patients and the
work of Norman Walker, a pioneer in the
raw food movement and vegetarianism. As
a young man he couldn’t accept the idea
of ill health or a sick body and was able to
cure himself by grinding carrots for juice.
He believed in juicing your way to vibrant
health and disease prevention: parsley for
maintaining adrenal and thyroid glands,
turnip for soft bones and teeth and green
peppers for quality nails and hair. Today his
famed Norwalk cold press juice machine
is touted as an innovation as it delivers
smoother, less pulpy nectars that allow the
body to better absorb the benefits of juice.
Unfortunately his concept had a very small
cult following and the ideas never caught
on; Walker passed away in 1985 at age 99
but some say at 118.
Juice picked up again in the nineties when
it was closely tied to the super-foods and
veganism. If you wanted a disconnection
THE JUICE ON JUICE
from mass-produced sustenance then
juice was your answer. Juice was natural
and allowed you a kind of float-on-a-cloud
feeling through life, a little nutsy and
hungry but full of energy, epiphanies and
goodness. At that time there was another
health culture taking hold, better known as
the pamper-yourself culture with expensive
hot stone massages. So when the pampering
world collided with the all the natural high
of the hippie juice world, the juice craze
was born with lots of excitement to go with
it. Companies like iZo Cleanse in California
and Blue Print in New York by Zoe Sakoutis
and Erica Huss pioneered juice’s revolution.
Each tackles juice through a different
process but the general message is the same:
to promote health and strength and now is
your chance to ride the bandwagon
to rebirth.
This vibe has burst on the scene in Abu
Dhabi and Dubai in the last two years;
especially as health and fitness awareness
campaigns and events gain momentum and
popularity. The hardest decision would have
to be choosing which of the juice bars is the
one for you. According to Mira Naaman,
owner of Nectar, “you choose the juice that
best suits your lifestyle!”
There are the juice bars in Abu Dhabi that
offer freshly blended elixirs, which you can
also custom design with the energy boosting
extras such as organic wheatgrass, organic
aloe vera, organic flaxseeds or organic
chia seeds or even preorder your juice so
it’s ready right after your workout. While
others offer pre-bottled cold pressed juices,
which are smoother because of the pressing
process the fruits and vegetables go through.
You can’t create your own, but the juices
have an increased shelf life and allow you
to experience the benefits as close to eating
the actual fruit. Then you have the stores in
Dubai that specialize in various detoxifying
juice cleanse programs, depending on how
much detoxifying you’d like to do on your
body and for how long. Customers can
choose to detox anywhere from 5 to 20 days
and results are best achieved the longer they
remain on the programme.
“I feel like I have so much more energy and
my skin looks amazing!” was what one of
my friends had told me after she completed
the program. Some people take it one step
further and just replace some of their meals
with juice. Personally I enjoy my food and
texture way too much to give it up for any
number of days. Trying out kale with my
juice is about the only juice adventure I’m
willing to go on. Actually, the only time I
prefer to get juiced is after a tough crossfit
class, freshly blended with all
my favorite accessories!

17. www. tempoplanet.com 17
Let me start by admitting it took me longer
than usual to write this column, especially
since the topic, “mental strength,” has eluded
me. Besides, I’ve only been able to get at its
core and lock it down for brief periods of time.
Why? Mental strength is like muscle strength;
no one has unlimited supply.
However, if we put mind into muscle
and engage “resiliency” – the common
denominator when seeking wisdom from
a yogi, CEO and journalist – we are likely to
soldier on despite challenges and setbacks.
So, what do a yogi, CEO and journalist have
in common? Each adjusts to discomfort,
market fluctuations, and looming deadlines,
respectively. They have the ability to adjust,
recover and succeed in the face of adversity –
that’s resiliency and it’s applicable to physical
and mental strength.
You can’t approach fitness or sport without
the right mindset and ultimately, realistic
expectations,but what happens when you
plateau in weight loss or lose a competition?
What will foster continued daily physical
activity and delayed gratification while
healing a bruised ego? Mental strength, of
course, and that also entails flexibility, like
having alternatives to your goal.
Mark Twight, a demanding and highly
effective celebrity trainer, credited for mind-
body transformations from Spartan-actors
in “300” and its sequel and more recently,
“Man of Steel” Henry Cavill, says “the mind
is primary…the actual physical effort and
transformative process originates in the
mind.” So, focus on what you can control, like
strength of character. His training sessions
begin with an interview and based on his
ENGAGE YOUR CORE KNOW YOUR FISH!
clients’ responses, he adjusts training and diet
to adapt to everything else. “Training doesn’t
exist alone, and it’s not the most important
thing. It’s an integrated part,” says Twight.
If you’ve ever set sights on a goal, you are
essentially uncovering what you’re capable
of – what is already there – like leaning
out to show off your hard-earned six-pack.
However, it is natural to feel apprehensive
when embarking on a new endeavor. My
client tells me she must unearth confidence
deep within herself every time she kits up for
kite-surfing. Yet, she gains courage and insight
each and every time she surfaces.
Just think, “While this is tough, I’m tougher.”
Don’t risk giving in or giving up because
living below your ideal or standards leads
to frustration and worse, self-destruction.
Instead, risk vulnerability by enlisting others
for accountability and inspiration. Focus on
impressing yourself and always count
your blessings.
Mix the ingredients together and cover both
sides of each fillet, place in an oblong dish,
cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove fish
from the fridge to come to room temperature.
In the meantime, empty one tin of coconut
milk in a large pan - allow to simmer. Gently
place the fillets and the juices in to the pan.
Don’t allow the sauce to boil or the fillets will
fall apart. Simmer for 5 minutes – turning
once (ensure cooked). Remove the fillets on
to a warm plate and cover. Boil the sauce to
reduce the liquid (approx. 5 minutes), lightly
drizzle the sauce over the fish and serve
immediately. The remaining sauce can be
served on the side. The fish would work well
with steamed brown rice or brown noodles,
served with green vegetables.
lean and cleanBy Melissa Lowry
@fitandfaithfulforever
By Donna Howarth
@cleaneatuae
I hold my hands up, I made a mistake this
month – I purchased Hamour! What is the
matter with that, I hear you ask?
Whilst researching Hamour recipes and how
I could cook this lovely chunky fish, my web
browser revealed an article, which stated;
“Hamour is currently being fished at seven
times the sustainable rate and is the most
overfished species in the UAE!” I was racked
with guilt and scolded myself for not being
aware of the UAE’s fish crisis, how could I
be so ignorant? I was also reminded of UK’s
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s “Big Fish
Fight” Channel4 Series and “The Fish Fight
Campaign” of which I watched and signed the
online petition! I was compelled to write this
article as my reaction was, if I did not know
then, I am sure there will be others – especially
with our society being so transient.
I was eager to learn if the UAE was taking
any action to protect their fish reserves and I
was relieved to discover that there is a charity
called ‘Choose Wisely’ (supported by WWF)
- that is based in Abu Dhabi - to address
such issues. I invite you all to visit www.
choosewisely.ae to learn more about what is
being done to protect the UAE’s reserves. The
website includes a handy consumer guide to
assist when choosing your fish and a recipe
book in English and Arabic – both can
be downloaded.
For this month’s clean recipe I have decided
to use Yellow Tail Scad as this is on the ‘green’
scale of the consumer guide. I purchased my
fish from one of the large supermarkets… the
cost was Dh 20.50 per kilo – which I thought
was very reasonable and affordable by the
majority of families.
Yellow Tail is a ‘medium’ tasting fish and when
poached, the meat comes away quite easily
from the bones. The fish can be baked, fried,
barbecued and grilled, therefore, making it
quite a versatile fish.
Thai Style Yellow Tail Scad poached in
Coconut Milk. (Serves 4)
- Fillets from 2 large fish
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1tsp each - fresh ginger, garlic & lemon grass
- 4 spring onions – green parts only, chopped
- 1 heaped tablespoon of chopped
fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons of nut oil
- Season with black pepper and sea salt

20. www. tempoplanet.com20
time capsule
LIFE MUSIC FOOD TRAVELABOUT ME
Your most valued possession?
My laptop, because I can stay connected
with friends, work, and play games.
Where can we find you most?
In my bedroom.
One thing you cannot live without?
Again, my laptop, because I use it for
everything.
Who inspires you the most?
Mark Ryden. I’ve always admired his
surreal style of art and hope I can be as
talented as him someday.
Five things you need for survival?
Food, water, shelter, internet connection,
and friends.
Car you would like to own?
I don’t really care, as long as it’s eco-friendly
and safe.
Your idea of peace?
I don’t really know.
Your goal in life?
To just be happy and able to support myself.
Items you keep on buying even though you
have plenty of them?
Body jewelry and pullovers.
An early memory?
When I was in elementary school, my
friend and I would play at her house after
school. We’d pretend to be on a cooking
show and make food out of sand, flowers,
dirt, and leaves.
If your life were a book, what would
it be called…?
Life and Stuff
If you could wake up tomorrow in
someone else’s body, it would be…?
Wake up in a billionaire’s body and donate
their money to charity.
Music you would want played at your
funeral?
Death Cab for Cutie and Silversun Pickups.
Current Last Song Syndrome (LSS)?
I don’t really have a last song, but an album
I can’t stop listening to is Bloom by Beach
House. It’s too hard to choose a favorite song
because they’re all equally good.
Favorite hangout?
It doesn’t really matter as long as I have
good company.
If today were your last day, where would
you rush to go?
I wouldn’t really want to travel, just see
family and close friends.
Idea of a perfect weekend?
Hanging out with close friends, playing
video games, catching up on reading series,
and doing some art.
Recent place you travelled to…
I went to Montreal in May to visit my aunt.
If you were on death row, what would
your last meal be?
A veggie burger with fries.
And dessert?
A Cinnabon.
Maha Chatila
Profession: Surreal Artist
Age: 20
Nationality: American-Lebanese
Motto: Be open-minded and accepting.

22. www. tempoplanet.com22
GRINDLINE:
KROUSIANO R-KELLY’S
APPRENTICEBy Angeli Castillo
Tempo: What do we need to know
about Krousiano?
Krousiano: Well, my real name is
Kevin Krouse. Most call me
Kevkrouse but you can call
me Krousiano. I’m 22, from
Detroit, Michigan. I’m an
artist-songwriter.
Tempo: How does a
rapper from Detroit
deal with challenges
here?
Krousiano:
The biggest
challenge I’ve
come across
so far is trying
to connect with
the right people for
studio time, professional
photos, and videos, as well
as building local fan base.
Tempo: We heard you trained with
R-Kelly – how did that happen?
Krousiano: It was heaven, I learned
a lot. That man is a pure genius.
I’ve had a chance to be one on one
with somebody who’s been in this
industry before I was born…and is
still relevant today. His teachings
have made me be a better writer.
He taught me that it’s important to
make your audience see and feel
what your writing as if it were a
picture I was painting; to adopt
a strong work ethic; discipline in
making music; and professionally
representing myself.
Tempo: Any funny moments with
R-Kelly?
Krousiano: Some were surreal. For
example Kelly’s studio, ‘the Blue
Room’ has many of his platinum
plaques mounted. It’s hypnotic…same
as meeting other celebrities whether
it was basketball or in the club. I
remember Kelly saying, “Don’t be all-
star struck”. But my most favourite
moment was going to Club Excalibur
in downtown Chicago. Idris Elba (actor)
and Dj Pharris were there. R-Kelly
and I stepped off the tour bus with
his entourage from the cameras
straight to the VIP room as if
we were in a movie scene. He
treated me like family; I can
say he is one of the most
influential male figures in
my life.
Tempo: What sets
you apart from
other rappers?
Krousiano: I feel
like this… Where
I’m from its all about
who has the most money,
sells the most drugs, and who
got the most street credibility. I
feel that since this is the main focus
of many rappers in my city and across
America that I can create and bring
forth my own message… one that
Ambition is nothing without hard work
and for singer-songwriter, Kevin Krouse
aka Krousiano, the sky is the limit to his
dream of being the next big thing in the
R&B/Hip-Hop scene. Tempo gave the mike
to Krousiano and let him drop the beat…

23. www. tempoplanet.com 23
want to make your dreams come true there’s no time to sleep. Me personally,
I’m up like a vampire ALL NIGHT chasing my dreams!
Tempo: What’s your ‘tempo’?
Krousiano: Speed! My music and my work ethic has a fast tempo. I’m at a
170+ bpm (beat per minute) when it comes to working. Every day I write…
record, write… record, and write… record. It is hectic and very hard work,
but for me it’s a way of life. Back home my partner, Chase Dinero is the
same way. We both work ridiculously hard and act as if doing music is as
important as breathing. So when I hear the word tempo, I relate it to what
we call “the grind of life” because coming from a fast paced city I too must
have a steady fast and upbeat tempo…a strong rhythm that flows to the beat
of my heart!
promotes hope and inspiration to all people. What I feel sets me apart from them
in my story, my lyrics. I simply want to bring real hip-hop back. As an upcoming
artist, it’s about creating uplifting lyrics and a new sound that everybody
can relate to.
Tempo: Would you let us in on your upcoming music video?
Krousiano: It’s called ‘Meditation / F.T.P.’ and it’s short for Fight the Power. It’s
about clearing my mind and getting away from stress and drama and finding
inner peace. It’s also to raise awareness about how unarmed black youth in
America are being treated by law enforcement.
Tempo: What’s your take on the UAE’s music scene?
Krousiano: There is potential! But it hasn’t yet been brought out. I come from
Detroit, the Home of Motown Music, so it’s in my blood to bring out music
wherever I go. The UAE is becoming more modernized by the day and I want
to be the pioneer to help music develop. I asked a group of young men in the
local mall if they listen to Hip-Hop. They told me no and I felt that Hip-Hop
has a negative image in the UAE. So, I want to bring that “change” in thinking…
to promote a positive Hip-Hop image not only in the UAE and beyond. I’m also
interested in linking up with local talent in the UAE. I believe crossing Arabic
and American music will help build a new platform for anyone who has a dream
of becoming an entertainer in the Hip-Hop industry.
Tempo: Any advice for aspiring rappers?
Krousiano: Yes! Always pursue your dreams regardless of your situation or
reality. Make it your job, your study. You need to live, eat, sleep what you desire
to do in life to be great. When I say sleep I don’t mean it in a literal since. If you

24. Under the Patronage of
H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi
Minister of International Cooperation and Development,
President of Zayed University
ISEA2014 @ISEA_2014
www.ISEA2014.org
30 October — 8 November, 2014
SE
INTERNATIONAL
#ISEA2014
The 20th International Symposium
on Electronic Art
Abu Dhabi
24.4667° North
54.3667° East
Sharjah
25.4333 ° North
55.3833 ° East
Dubai
24.9500° North
55.3333° East

25. www. tempoplanet.com 25
Raghda
Profession: Student
Age: 21
Nationality: Sudanese
FASHION STATEMENT:
I like my money right where I can see it - hanging in my
closet!
PERSONAL STYLE:
Simple and open to change, depending on the mood.
FAVE BUY OF THE PAST MONTH:
The “Celfie” shirt from Bershka
FAVE STORE?
Bershka, Forever21, H&M, Zara, and Garage.
ANY FASHION PET HATES?
Loose on loose clothing.
PHOTOGRAPH BY:
Angeli Castillo

26. www. tempoplanet.com26
MIND YOUR HASHTAGS
POP CULTURE ART
Pop art, ink drawings,
artworks using coffee, gold,
found objects, oil, acrylic,
miniatures, collage, as well
as sound and video art, are
behind the most obvious
contemporary social topic
of online life, hashtags!
Mind Your Hashtags is an
art exhibition by THE (The
Henosis Events) team held
at The Space Abu Dhabi.
“Abu Dhabi is the buzzing centre of
contemporary art in the Middle East not just
because Guggenheim and Louvre museums
are opening here but also because of the
wealth of artists who reside in the capital,”
says Ashvin, one of the artist-curators for
Mind Your Hashtags. “These artists have a
unique view about the world around them,
and they feel the need to express it. That
has always been our focus. And the result
was spectacular.
The word Hashtags in the title does not take
itself too seriously… it is used tongue-in-
cheek to present the new-age vices through
which our daily ‘social’ lives are ‘tagged’ and
‘hash tagged’. The open call challenge asked
artists’ expression of the mindboggling
realities of the 21st century… and their
personal interpretations of the details
around them.
The 50 new artworks showing at this event
are by 17 artists from 9 countries: Eman
Hakim (Egypt), Saif Mhaisen (Palestine),
Desislava Dare (Bulgaria), Mark Barretto
(Philippines), Ram Nath (UK), IS (Palestine)
Suhair Fakhoury (Jordan), Laurette
Kovary (USA), Ashvin (India), B’lu (India),
Sofia Chatzisaranti (Greece), Sara Amer
(Philippines), Haafiza Sayed (India), Sumanta
Dahda (India), Michael Turda (Philippines),
Romy Ravindran (India) and
Nissa Riyas (India).
“We believe that it is a social responsibility
to encourage artists to keep producing
the thought-provoking environment
they are able to create for the community.
Let us contribute towards enriching our
community from within,” says Ram Nath,
one of the participating artists.

27. www. tempoplanet.com 27
IMAGE NATION
PRESENTS ARAB FILM STUDIO
MAKING MONEY:
NOORA ABDULLA EBRAHIM ABDULLA ATEEQ AL ALI
Arab Film Studios (AFS) by Image
Nation Abu Dhabi is back for
the fourth year with its annual
short film competition which sees
amateur film makers from across
the region compete for the
Dh 50,000 development grant.
Launched in conjunction with twofour54,
AFS provides opportunities for aspiring
film makers to learn the tools of the movie-
making trade and to get their break into the
industry. Entries are open from now until
early December 2014. Eligible contestants
can enter by uploading short films between
1-3 minutes long on Vimeo with the caption
“Use Your Imagination”.
These submissions can be filmed in any
format from using mobile phones to HD
cameras and can be in English or Arabic
without subtitles.
Twelve successful finalists will be selected
from the initial stage to take part in a three
month multi-disciplinary training held in
conjunction with twofour54. During this
time, they will have the opportunity to learn
from leading film professionals who will
provide them with the inside knowledge of
the film industry.
Following the bootcamp stage, contestants
will be required to develop and produce
their own short film with the help of
mentors and skills acquired in the course
of their bootcamp training. The films will
be judged by a panel of industry experts
from around the world to choose the
winner, who will receive a 50,000 AED
development deal with Image Nation
Abu Dhabi.
Some winners from 2013 have been
fortunate to make successful breaks into
the film industry. One such contestant is
Belal Anteple whose award-winning film
Mr. Idea will be screened at this year’s Abu
Dhabi Film Festival.
As Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman
of Image Nation Abu Dhabi stated,
“Image Nation Abu Dhabi continues to be
committed to the development and support
of aspiring filmmakers in the UAE, and Arab
Film Studio is a key initiative in developing
filmmaking talent. The competition
provides a unique opportunity for aspiring
filmmakers to learn from industry
professionals and our trusted partners such
as twofour54, who provide best in-class
training and the experience to see firsthand
what it takes to produce a short film from
scripting to screen. We look forward to
receiving our first submissions.”
For more information on entry and
competition details,
visit www.arabfilmstudio.com.
“It all started in June when we had the
opportunity to attend a one-week workshop
by KBA-NotaSys in banknote security
and designing, as a part of our graphic
design curriculum. Fatima Abdulla Farah
Abdulrahman and I applied what we have
been learning, and used that to design of
two banknotes. Later we designed two more
banknotes to complete a series. We also
got the help from a third team member,
Shaima Al Amari, who also got the
chance to attend the whole workshop and
understand the rules of bank note security.
During the process, we received lots of
encouragement and feedback from our
teachers, families and fellow students.
Experiencing the field of banknote
designing made us think about extending
our knowledge and experience into
applying it in real jobs. Winning the
banknote design contest, we were thrilled
to visit KBA-NotaSys in Switzerland and
meet experienced designers and learn the
printing process of banknotes.”

29. www. tempoplanet.com 29
AGAINST ALL ODDS:
MAMOON SULTANBy Vera Rosales
We all have our aspirations in
life, from wanting to become a
grade school teacher to managing
a successful startup company -
maybe even becoming a famous
celebrity. However for visually
impaired Mamoon Sultan, being
able to lead a normal life and find a
way to contribute to society, in his
own way, is his goal in life.
Diagnosed with cataract at the age of six,
Mamoon Sultan was born in Yemen and
moved with his family at a young age to the
UAE. Doctors kept telling his parents that
it would be an easy procedure to treat the
cataract however luck was not on Mamoon’s
side when lost sight in his left eye.
The son of a production controller and
a housewife, Mamoon’s education was
planned only until the ninth grade. After
seeing him doing very well, his teachers and
friends urged him to continue his schooling.
His mother coached him at home, helping
him with his reading and writing and
Mamoon was able to complete high school.
But he hit a roadblock that lasted for eleven
years: there were not many colleges that
provided support for the visually impaired.
“During this time, people told me that
I couldn’t do anything because of my
blindness – even my father told me that he
did not expect much from me. This made
me feel envious of my brothers whom my
father was always watchful of. This made
me want to prove myself to them”.
Mamoon stayed at home until an institute
for the visually impaired called“Tamkeen”
was established in Dubai. The institution
developed and equipped the blind through
courses that helped them attain jobs in
various organizations. After his completion
of Tamkeen’s specialized programme,
Mamoon started his job hunt by sending
CVs to different companies. Then Standard
Chartered Bank showed interest in him.
After interviewing him the bank hired him
in their Abu Dhabi branch.
Mamoon says the bank appreciated
his performance as customer service
representative turned floor manager. “They
told me how much the branch’s image
improved because of me. I even received
a letter of thanks from management
commending me for a job well done”.
One day his manager introduced him to
the head of Higher Colleges of Technology
and invited him to continue his education
at New York Institute of Technology –
Abu Dhabi on a full scholarship. A few
weeks later he found himself in the college
studying Business Administration.
Mamoon struggled at first. “To be honest
with you I was feeling a bit strange, I did
not know anyone, and nobody knew me.
I started by taking one to two courses in
the first three semesters because no one
could help me and as a visually impaired
person I need more time to finish my work.
A normal person could read a simple page
in five minutes, but for me it would take at
least twenty to read and understand”. But
with generous help from friends he calls the
“The Three Musketeers,” Mamoon was able
to complete his Bachelor’s Degree.
Mamoon loves living in Abu Dhabi. “The
streets here are very simple to remember.
And if I need to catch a taxi, I would just
use my phone. If you go to any companies
and tell them about your disability, the staff
is accommodating and gives you priority.
Sadly, I can’t use the bus system.”
Whenever Mamoon receives praise from
his peers he points out that anybody can
do what he did, the only difference is that
he can’t see as well as everybody else. “We
must always believe in ourselves and be
open to learning. It’s a matter of showing
interest and doing the hard work. Many
people are given opportunities but fail to
seize them; it is because they do not have
the interest.’
Still employed at Standard Chartered Bank
Mamoon is planning on pursuing his MBA
at New York Institute of Technology - Abu
Dhabi. His favourite subjects are marketing,
management and business. Despite his
father’s reservations, he plays football
and swims.
Mamoon with Sarah El Gohary, Marketing
and Recruitment Director of NYIT-AD
Mamoon showing us his nifty gadget for reading.

30. dhabi dames
My Facebook Revolution
By Marien Oomen
By Dorian “Paul D” Rogers/@pauldTHERIPY
www. tempoplanet.com30
A KICK OUT OF KICKBALL
I sat down recently with Dennis Crump,
organizer of the UAE’s first ever kickball
league, to share a coffee and good
conversation about everything related
to the art of this unique game and how a
dream was turned into reality...
Paul D: You were born in Chicago, Illinois.
What was life like growing up there?
Dennis: Growing up in Chicago made me
a survivor. The negative media Chicago
receives is sometimes the truth and
sometimes not. If you can make it out of
Chicago, you can make it anywhere. My
view on life is to take advantage of it and
find a plan to ensure you are successful.
Paul D: How has growing up there shaped
your perspective?
Dennis: Many friends and family members’
lives were cut short in Chicago due to
violence. These unfortunate incidents
taught me to cherish life. My parents had
four sons which include me, Shaun, Darius,
and Johnathan. All of my parents’ children
have been shot or killed except for me,
and I am the oldest at thirty-five years old.
Shaun was murdered by gun violence in
1996, Darius is paralyzed from the waist
down due to gun violence in 1999, and my
younger brother, Johnathan, was shot in
the back and hip in 2010. These tragedies
pushed me to have a better life. My main
goal was to get out of Chicago to find a
better way. The great aspect about Chicago
is the togetherness of the city. We come
together when times get tough.
Paul D: Your story is an impressive one of
survival and triumph. I joined your kickball
league last year and playing on my team,
The Desert Kickers, has been one of my best
experiences in the UAE thus far. Explain
the art of kickball for those that have never
heard of it.
Dennis: Kickball is by far the easiest sport
to learn and play. It is played similarly to
baseball and softball. Instead of using a bat,
players use their feet to kick the ball and
run to the various bases. The ball is a 10-12
inch sized, red, rubber ball that is rolled to
the kicker. Once the ball is kicked, the kicker
can be hit with the ball to be called out or
have the ball thrown to the base.
Paul D: Kickball was popular for many in
the USA during childhood. Why are adults
so excited about this sport?
Dennis: I think it’s because adults want to
be kids again. Everyone wants to have fun,
and everyone wants to get fit. It’s popular
because people of all shapes and sizes can
play. We not only play kickball but party,
travel, and socialize as a family.
Paul D: When did you first notice it taking
off with adults in the US?
Dennis: I noticed it when I was approached
by a group of women who were playing
it recreationally. I also have a refereeing
company so they contacted me and asked
me if I can provide officials for their
respective leagues. I helped improve the
league by adding elements of organization
with which the ladies were not aware.
After that, leagues started popping up in
Atlanta everywhere and word spread that
I organized them and provided officials.
That’s how it took off in the adult world.
Paul D: Your sports company that oversees
your kickball events is called 3C Sports. Can
you explain the inspiration of that name?
Dennis: 3C is named after my three
daughters who last names are Crump like
mine. While trying to find a name for my
company, I wanted to find a meaning that
would remind me to stay motivated and
give my all to the company. The best thing
to do was name it after the people for whom
I would die. The name means something.
Paul D: How can people find out more about
your activities in the UAE?
Dennis: They can e-mail me at
3ckickball@mail.com.
Paul D: Well, I have to say I got a kick out of
this interview. Can you back away to the
other side of the restaurant, so I can ball up
the check and kick it to you?
It is the best of times; it is the worst of
times. It has insidiously entered our home
and taken over our lives. It used to be the
teenagers’ prerogative, but its glamour
disappeared when their moms got on
board… keeping tab on their movements!
The ‘clever’ ones have two accounts. A
safe FB for family, and a ‘cool’ one for
their friends. Who wants their moms to
patronize their wall anyway? Or an old,
unfashionable aunt saying
something outrageous?
This week we heard of the oldest woman
on FB: the 114-year-old woman had to lie
to join Facebook. Due to its age limitations,
a newly tech-savvy Minnesotan had to lie
about her age to join the
social network.
In another case a 70 year old mama told her
husband, ‘O hon, did you post that hippo
picture? Do it quick.” After ten minutes, her
hubby happily announces there are ‘two
likes’. They both sip coffee, munching on
their doughnut in glee.
Rewriting a Steve Jobs Quote
On a FB wall, you come across the ‘crazy
ones, misfits, rebels, and troublemakers’.
Some who see things differently – who
are not fond of rules. You can share their
quotes, disagree with them, glorify or vilify
them, but you can’t ignore them. Part of
the human race surges forward with a
brilliant quote - while one half sees them as
the crazy ones, the other half sees genius.
The highly motivated ones think that they
can change the world; and sometimes they
actually do.
Jump in the Fray; its Good for Your Mind
When you don’t have a mind boggling,
debatable, insightful, ecstatic update-
deserving thought in your mind,
consider it bad. Thinking positive and
powerful thoughts can keep Alzheimer’s
and boredom away. It can start you
giggling inwards, with a sense of joy and
achievement. The mind benefits when on
full alert. Watching television news these
days does awful things to your brain.
You Can Update While Waiting for
Oven to Beep
Visiting somebody else’s wall is like
dropping in to someone’s home. Often times
we are caught up within our own (home’s)
walls: sprucing it, making it look intelligent,
worldly wise, funny, holy, spiritual,
linguistically superior, and as ethical as the
moment seizes us. And after we ‘post’, we
sit back and wait for our guests to enter and
‘like’ our decor and little appetizers.
There’s also the desire to keep up with the
Joneses! Even coveting your neighbor’s
good (updates) and wishing you had got
there first. There’s a race to show one’s
intelligence quotient, one’s travel diary,
one’s charitable vein, one’s luscious curves…
the list is endless. The truth is nobody
wants to own a colourless home… or a blank
Facebook page.
This is a good revolution. So write on my
wall, please!
articulate cafe

31. www. tempoplanet.com 31
Parenting:
Not such a bubble after all
Worldwide Friendships
By Nisma Hamid/@nismahamid By Heather Long Vandevoorde, Ph.D./@hvdvoorde
Over coffee, my girlfriends and I often
discuss how fortunate we are to be parents
in this relatively safe UAE society with
the low crime rate. The risk of kidnapping
and theft is far lower than in our home
countries. Our kids can, by and large, speak
to strangers without reservation. “Stranger
danger” is a foreign concept. But, inevitably
that is when the conversation turns to the
downside of the way we live: traveling. We
all feel the same, the moment we leave the
UAE; we become different parents, telling
our kids not to talk to strangers and holding
them firmly by the hand at all times. I’ve
said, time after time, to my friends how
concerned I am about my kids when they
have to leave the bubble of safety in the
UAE for the “real world.” How will they
survive coming from such a secure setting
and being released into the cold, harsh,
real world?
It was just this line of conversation I was
rattling off with Patricia, the woman I
consider my mentor, during her recent visit
to Abu Dhabi from the USA. “My kids live
in such a bubble. Their exposure to crime,
drugs, alcohol and other teenage problems
faced by kids in Europe and North America
is so minimal that I fear what will happen
when they go off to university there,” I
sighed. “I don’t know how to prepare them.”
To my surprise, she was not at all
sympathetic to my cause. In fact, what
she said threw me completely off-track.
“Heather,” she said, “your kids are so much
better prepared than most kids their age
around the world. They have a wealth and
depth of experience that cannot compare.”
Specifically, she went on to describe that
my kids:
• Can speak easily, without hesitation, to
non-native English speakers. During her
visit, Patricia saw my girls interact with
people with every level of English. They
never skipped a beat or failed to get their
point across, regardless of whom they
were speaking with. They have developed
patience and perseverance. They are
good communicators.
• Interact easily with people from
different cultures. Along the same lines
as the previous point, we see every type
of native dress in the UAE. “I’ll admit,
even I was a little overwhelmed by the
fully-covered local ladies here. It’s really
different for me to see,” Patricia said. What
she noticed was that my girls will talk to
anyone with ease. They are not prejudiced
or intimidated by any style of dress or
makeup.
• Are independent and not always at
Mommy’s side. While I had only seen the
negative side of this for their future, she
pointed out that my girls are self-confident
travelers, leaders who are comfortable
in a variety of situations. Patricia cited
an example from when we were in an
unfamiliar souk and were momentarily
uncertain of how to return to the car. They
didn’t freak out, they asked for help and
made a resourceful plan.
• Have strong negotiation skills. When
shopping at the Gold Souk, Patricia found a
bracelet she wanted to buy. The girls were
instantly at my husband’s side, confidently
helping him negotiate a price. “Most of
the kids their age in the USA would never
even think a price was negotiable, let alone
care about helping to reduce it,” she said.
“Negotiation is a skill that will directly
translate to their success professionally.”
Patricia’s comments opened my eyes. I
have always been proud of the fact that my
daughters are not shy and don’t lack self-
confidence. But she showed me that this
is a direct reflection of the life they have
had and the environment they operate in.
She pointed out that my kids have every
chance of making intelligent choices when
released into the “real world” for university
because of the internal filters we have
helped them build by the experiences
they are having daily right now. “Kids can
develop danger-awareness easily,” she said.
“But how to be resourceful and get out of
tricky situations is a bigger challenge. Your
kids have a real leg up in that department.”
I was grateful for the relief she stirred in
me. My responses will be very different the
next time the conversation arises with
my girlfriends.
parental guide
Living in the UAE comes with so many
benefits; if it didn’t, we wouldn’t be here,
would we? But life here isn’t perfect; some
of the few downfalls of living here are the
friendships you make. How can friendships
be bad? Because everyone leaves!
The UAE is a ‘transit’ country. People come
and go, on to their new lives or back to
their old ones. I can’t relate to most of these
people because I’ve been in the UAE since
I was three. I have rarely met another
expat who’s been in the country for a big a
percentage of their lives as me.
I now find myself trying to distance myself
from intimate friendships. I try to stray
between cliques, where my friends are all
ages, religions, and nationalities. I do this
because I do not want to be hurt when
reality strikes and someone I care about
has to leave the country. I want to avoid
the pain that happened when some of my
closest friends left.
My neighbor was in my grade 3 through
7, and was also my best friend. In the
summer of the sixth grade she told me she
was moving to Canada. I was absolutely
shattered. Who was I going to spend
my time with? Since I wasn’t ‘popular’,
was I going to be alone? Those questions
haunted me, filling me with dread and
selfishness. We began our long-distance
relationship with late phone calls and
Facebook messages. Soon contact became
less and farther apart until, eventually,
they stopped altogether. I still like to say
that she was an extremely important part
of my life.
Another friend I met in 5th grade also met
with the same fate. We were really close -
we bonded well because we saw ourselves
as outcasts, shunned by our peers. She was
shy and not a lot of people heard her speak,
but she did not feel insecure around me.
Just when we were at the height of our
friendship, she left to Sweden. I’m still in
touch with her: we Skype, snapchat, and
call each other often. She’s now a big shot
model in Sweden, Tokyo, and LA. If she
could go from an introvert to a confident
model, I too can achieve my goals and
follow my dreams. I am so thankful for the
friendship we share, but I also resent the
distance that has come between us.
Ever since she left, I’ve come out of my
shell and have begun to socialize with
different people, with many groups of
friends. I still don’t have a best friend
for fear of the day one of us moves or
graduates. When I graduate I know all my
friends will no longer be with me, proving
that avoiding the pain of separation is
pointless. On the bright side, who knows,
maybe I’ll end up reuniting with the
friends that have left before.

33. www. tempoplanet.com 33
Swaydat Khassaf
By Salma Saif Mohamed Rashed Harmash Al Mansoori
Flying Beds and
Invisibility Suits
By Anthony Freeman and Paul Freeman
THE OTHER EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD
By Amal Naseem
ZAYED UNIVERSITY’S AL KHARAREEF STORYTELLING CLUB
was created to enrich the legacy of the Emirati storytelling tradition
and contribute to the revival of this important cultural heritage
within the United Arab Emirates.
Last year, the Club in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music &
Arts Foundation launched an Emirati cultural literacy project titled
the Story Mile, a collection of 48 original fables and folktales, written by students
from the Academic Bridge Program, illustrated by the College of Arts and Creative
Enterprise majors and translated by ZOWD volunteers into the language of its
characters, Emirati dialect.
The Story Mile tales, which are the first of a three volume series, were recently
published as a book in English and titled “Tales from the Emirates” in Arabic. The
stories not only share the storytelling tradition of the Emirates, but have also
introduced other key aspects of Emirati culture and are creating new footprints in
the sands of the cultural landscape of the UAE.
FLASH FICTION IS A STYLE OF FICTIONAL LITERATURE CHARACTERIZED BY
BREVITY; WITH THE STANDARD BEING A STORY OF UNDER 1000 WORDS.
A family lived on a farm that people said
was haunted. One of the rooms, guarded
by a jinni, stored dates filled with woven
baskets called Swaydat Khassaf. One day,
Ahmed heard a sound from the hallway
and ran away. Then, the same thing
happened to his sister Hamda. The next
day, they told their father Zayed, but he
just laughed.
The twins didn’t stop until their father
checked. “Look, there is nothing here!” he
said. Suddenly, they heard a sound. Zayed
went to see. “Go and wait for me,” he said.
He stretched out his hand and opened the
room. He saw nothing but
Swaydat Khassaf.
As he stepped inside, the door suddenly
closed! Zayed tried to open it, but couldn’t.
In the dusky room, he saw a small light in
one corner. He yelled for help, but no
one heard.
Night came and Zayed was still locked in, so he decided to see what the light was. There
were two yellow eyes and a black shadow. A jinni was standing behind him. “Zayed, I’m
not the kind of jinni you think,” it said.
“How do you know my name?” shouted Zayed.
The jinni laughed, “I am a jinni. How do you expect me not to know?”
Zayed fell to the ground, crying, “Why? Why? Why?” The jinni felt bad, so he opened the
door. Zayed jumped up but felt so dizzy he nearly fell over. Luckily, the jinni caught him.
“I’ll let you go, but you must not tell anyone about me,” it whispered. Zayed promised and
the jinni set him free.
Outside, Hamda, Ahmed and their mother were waiting. When they saw Zayed, they ran
towards him, but the jinni made a noise. Sara got a knife and pulled Zayed towards
the cottage.
Once inside, they asked what had happened. Zayed only said there were rats in the
storage room.
All of a sudden Zayed woke up! He realized that it was just a dream. Zayed told this tale to
his twins for the rest of their childhoods so that they would never go into
dark places alone.
I was digging in the garden while mum was
at work when I found a dirty old lamp. As I
rubbed off the dirt, a genie appeared.
“I’ll grant you three wishes,” said the genie.
“I wish I had a flying bed,” I said, because I
wanted to take a ride to far away places.
The next moment my bedroom windows
swung open. My bed flew out of the room
and disappeared.
The genie laughed. “What’s your
next wish?”
“I wish I had an invisibility suit,” I replied.
With an invisibility suit I could trip up the
school bullies in the corridors or push them
off their bikes.
The genie laughed again. “Your wish is
granted. But if you can’t see your invisibility
suit, you’ll never find it. What’s your
final wish?”
Angry with the genie, I said, “I wish you
were back in the lamp.”
The genie was furious, but he disappeared
back into the lamp, so I went and threw it
in the sea.
When I got back home, I found that my
bed had returned; and when I opened
the fridge to get a cold drink, I found an
invisibility suit inside.
“School bullies, watch out!” I said.
What’s the difference? I ask as an 18-year-
old blessed to have been born into a loving,
well to do family - living in one of the
richest countries in the world. I ask as an 18
year old who has been given all that she’s
ever asked for…and not asked for. I am ever
thankful to the one and only for being so
merciful and gracious. But now I ask, what’s
the difference between me and that other
18-year-old girl… the one who is exactly like
me, yet miles away from me?
Whilst I enjoy reading my favourite books
sipping my green tea in my backyard, she is
walking the streets begging for food. Why?
Whilst I tease my younger sister and my
brother, she is being sold to criminals by her
own brother. Why?
Whilst I shop with my mother, she shrieks
out for her dead mother. Why?
Whilst I have a heart to heart conversation
with my father, she is getting a beating from
her father for being born a girl. Why?
What is the difference? What have I done
that she hasn’t? What is in me that isn’t in
her? Why do I get to enjoy all these worldly
pleasures while she suffers each and every
second of her life?
Her heart is pure as gold, her tears speak
a thousand words, her eyes hide a million
dreadful stories. She sees herself as
defective; a damaged piece being torn alive.
All she prays for is to go back to her Master.
Her poor body is tired. She feels hollow
inside. She needs love and compassion to fill
her. She needs God. She loves Him despite
the trials and hardships He has put her
through. She knows she will be blessed in
the afterlife. She cherishes life despite being
tired of it.
Now I understand the difference between
her and me. I believe that I shall be
answerable for both her life and mine,
because I have the power to help her. I can
change the helpless state that she seems
destined to live. She is no different from
me; we’ve sprouted from the same roots
and bloomed in different directions. She is a
sister, a consciousness, and a duty.

34. CAMCORDER WARS
BITS AND BYTES
AEROMOBIL THE WORLD’S FIRST PRODUCTION
READY FLYING CAR COMING SOON
How many times have you pined for a flying car while blocked in a traffic jam on
road? AeroMobil a Slovakian company has been working since 1990 to turn that
dream in to reality. AeroMobil is a “flying car” that makes perfect use of existing
infrastructures created for automobiles and planes, and opens the door to real door-
to-door travel. It fits into a standard parking space, its engine enables it to tank at any
gas station, and it can take off and land at any airport. Powering the AeroMobil 3.0 is
a Rotax 912 engine that has a range of 700 kms while flying and 875 kms on the road.
The flying car is said to consume 15 litres per hour for flying, and
12.5Km/l while driving.
tech talkShahid Saeed
Talker for the Non-Techies
SONY HDR-PJ820E
The Sony PJ820E records Full High Definition video and features a built-in 50 Lumen projector
with Auto Keystone adjustment.
Perfect for recording and playing
footage for friends and family, the
PJ820E also features a HDMI multi-
terminal which accepts HDMI output
from other devices such as Digital TV
Tuners and DVD players. A back-
illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor is
combined with a powerful BIONZ X
image processor to deliver sharp Full
HD video with exceptionally low-noise
results when shooting in low-light conditions. The Sony HDR-PJ820E HandyCam will propel
your movies and storytelling to new heights and new audiences.
www. tempoplanet.com34
Watch the AeroMobil here
CANON LEGRIA HF G30
The Canon Legria HF G30 is a very wide Full HD camcorder with a 20x optical zoom, 400x
digital zoom and a large 3.5in OLED touchscreen monitor. It also has an electronic viewfinder,
built-in Wi-Fi and a host of enthusiast-
oriented features such as a zoom and
focus ring. The G30 is based around
the latest spin of Canon’s Advanced
HD CMOS Pro, a sensor that has been
specifically tailored for enhanced
video performance. This is a relatively
large 1/2.84-inch unit with a gross 3.09
Mpixels, of which 2.91 Mpixels are
used when shooting video. The Legria
HF G30 is a consumer camcorder, but
it has plenty of features that will make enthusiasts very happy, such as the audio jacks, lens ring
and two accessory shoes. Plus, its image quality is excellent.
game hedzBlakniss
Original game head from Atari to XBox!
GAMES CON 2014 AND
SOMETHING EXTRA
Good news everyone!! Hodor, Booker DeWitt
and Last of Us Hero Joel will all be at Dubai’s IGN
convention this year! There’ll be other guests too
and depending on your area of interest, direct
your giddy excitement accordingly.
What?
Yes, what is the IGN convention? IGN is an
online portal for all things comic, game and
cartoon related. It’s where many go to get the
latest reviews, updates and opinions on the
world of geekdom. As for the convention itself,
the website describes it as, “The region’s biggest
film, video games, technology, and comic’s
convention”. It promises to, “host a number
of spectacular activities for enthusiasts as
international celebrities mingle with the crowds.
Fan favourite Sci-Fi and Super Hero movies will
be screened. Fans will also get to interact with
regional artists in Q&A sessions. “It goes on to say that a gaming tournament, cosplay
competition and workshops on animation and manga as well as panel discussions and
quizzes will be on tap. Sounds pretty sweet.
Who?
The celebrity guests are pretty exciting and include the actor Kristian Nairn, who plays
Hodor the giant oaf on Game of Thrones, Troy Baker - one of gaming’s most prolific
voices - whose played the lead roles in Bioshock Infinite and The Last of Us. Oh yea.
Female cosplayer Riddle will also feature. She’s exceptionally popular in the world of
cosplay and is known for her convincing portrayals of famous characters. If you’re a
cosplayer, you’ll want to learn from her.
Closer to home, acclaimed Emirati filmmaker Mohammed Fikree will be in attendance,
sharing his wisdom in flash animation, music composition, voice acting and short films.
Accomplished Arab actor/director/composer Falah Hashim will also bring his wealth of
talent to the IGN stage, adding a very strong showing of homegrown talent. That’s
how it should be.
When and where?
It all happens November 21 and 22. The site doesn’t have a location up, but reports say it’ll
go down at The Meydan. Check it out at ignconvention.com/uae

35. www. tempoplanet.com 35
MEETING MIAMI HEAT
Government Ranking
In developing this ranking, Forbes
considered and analyzed each government
in the MENA region before identifying
specific individuals. They then contacted
those shortlisted and requested all
relevant information, while also consulting
official government websites and public
documents to ensure an accurate ranking.
Criteria included 1) The individual’s role in
influencing revenues and budget; 2) Degree
of power associated with their position; 3)
Economic indicators of the country – World
Bank’s KAM Index, GDP and GDP per capita;
and 4) Length of time in their position.
In the government ranking, the UAE
secured the top spot with Sheikha
Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister
for International Cooperation AND
Development and President of Zayed
University. Of the 59 entries, 5 Emirati
women were honored. They include
Maryam Mohammed Al Roumi, Minister
of Social Affairs (#10); Dr. Maitha Salem Al
Shamsi, Minister of State/Chairwoman of
the Marriage Fund (#13); Reem Ebrahim
Al Hashimy, Minister of State who has
headed the Dubai 2020 Expo (#14); and Najla
Mohammed Al Awar, Secretary General of
the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (#32).
Executive Management Ranking
The Executive Management ranking
includes women who hold high corporate
posts in private or government owned
companies and women at the helm of
publicly listed enterprises. Forbes consulted
published financial statements and official
websites, and contacted each respective
company to access the required information.
Criteria included: 1) Degree of power
associated with the position; 2) Years of
professional experience 3) Individual’s
media interaction and online presence; 4)
Number of years in operation; 5) Number
of countries in which the organization has
operations; and 6) Number of employees.
Six out of the 56 entries are Emiratis. Salma
Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO Economic Zones
World was ranked #3 just behind Shaikha K.
Al Bahar, Deputy Group CEO of the National
Bank of Kuwait (#1) and Dr. Nayla Hayek,
Chairperson of Swatch Group in
Lebanon (#2).
Other UAE notables include Dr. Amina Al
Rustamani, Group CEO TECOM Investments
(#6); Dalya Al Muthanna, President and
CEO, GEO Gulf (#13); Suzzane Al Anani, CEO
Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (#21);
Noura Al Kaabi, CEO Media Zone Authority
– Abu Dhabi (twofour54) (#29); and Hala
Badri, EVP Brand and Communications,
du (#33).
The growing list of Emirati women on the
Forbes list is impressive. To learn more
check out: www.ForbesMiddleEast.com
Forbes List 2014: 26 Emiratis among 200
Most Powerful Arab Women
The 2014 ranking of the 200 Most Powerful
Arab Women was recently published
by Forbes. This year the rankings
were divided into three categories: 1)
Government, 2) Family Business and 3)
Executive Management. Given the size of its
economy and population, the UAE has done
remarkably well.
It only had one less entry than Saudi Arabia,
the largest economy in the region, and three
less than Egypt, the most populous country.
In two of the three sector lists - government
and family business - an Emirati woman
came out on top as number one!
Family Business Ranking
This ranking includes family businesses,
as well as those set up by enterprising first
generation entrepreneurs. To create this
ranking Forbes considered privately held
companies and used published financial
statements and official websites. Each
respective company was then contacted
and asked to provide further detailed
information. Criteria included 1) Degree
of power associated with the position; 2)
Years of professional experience; 3) Family
generation the individual belongs to (in
the case of family businesses only); 4)
Individual’s media interaction and online
presence; 5) Number of years in operation;
6) Number of countries in which the
organization has operations and 7) Number
of employees.
The UAE leads the list with Raja Easa Al
Gurg, Managing Director of the Easa Salaeh
Al Gurg Group in the first position. Of
the 85 entries 15 are Emiratis. Other top
ranked Emirati women included Fatima
Al Jaber, COO Al Jaber Group (#13); Amna
Bin Hendi, CEO Bin Hendi Enterprises
(#14); Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, VP of
Marketing, Ahmed Sediaai and Sons (#21);
Alia Abdulla Al Mazrouei, COO Mazrui
Holdings LLC (#26); Hamideh Ismail Harizi,
Chairperson Gourmet House (#30); and
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi,
Founder and CEO Kalimat Publishing House
(#34). The publishing house is the first in
the UAE dedicated solely to publishing and
distributing Arabic children’s books and
Arabic educational content.
On the third Thursday of every month,
trustee members of the Coral Gables
Chamber of Commerce attend an upscale
luncheon at the historic Biltmore Hotel
and listen to a business leader outline a
new company project or summarize recent
achievements.
Every so often, there’s a change of pace
as we say in baseball, a slower ball than
expected, and at the trustee luncheons that
can mean something less serious and more
fun than a business presentation.
Once a year, the Coral Gables Chamber
promotes the Miami Heat, one of the
dominant teams in the NBA since 2010.
Recently, however, the Heat have begun
spiraling downward. First, they lost the
NBA final series to the San Antonio Spurs,
and, worse, they lost superstar LeBron
James to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team
he had left in 2010 to move south.
Many American business men and
women are enthusiastic sports fans,
and professional sports teams benefit
from sponsorship by local and national
companies. The Heat have been the joy of
Miami and the Chamber since 2010.
The football Dolphins were local favourites
when they won the Super Bowl in 1972 and
1973. The baseball Marlins were cheered
when they won the championship World
Series in 1997 and 2003.
Then came the drought in national
championships for Miami-based
professional sports teams that lasted until
the Heat began serious winning four years
ago. That phase is now over, and we’ll see
how long it takes for the Heat without
LeBron to become dominant again.
Regardless, the Coral Gables Chamber
supports the Heat and holds an annual
luncheon for the team before the season
begins. Several players attend and
participate in a panel, talk about their plans
and hopes for 2014-15, and
answer questions.
The best part, however, was before the
luncheon began. As we approached the
ballroom entrance, a line formed. Why?
Because inside, on a small platform, stood
three of the Heat’s players: colourful and
multi-tattooed forward Chris “Birdman”
Anderson and rival point guards Norris
Cole and Mario Chalmers.
As each guest climbed on the platform, Ada
Stevens, the official photographer, snapped
a picture. No time to see how it came out,
no chance to redo anything, one shot, that’s
it. I had given my camera to the guy on
line behind me who took a picture as I was
turning away. Ada’s was much better.
The players and I are standing at the same
level. On the left is the short guy, Mario
Chalmers. In the middle is Birdman who is
taller than anyone you’ll ever meet outside
of a basketball court, and on the right,
Norris Cole, the other short guy. I’m 5 feet
6 inches or 1.68 meters and wearing low
heels. No one in professional basketball
is short.
As we ate lunch, the players talked about
how the team will manage without LeBron
and how they handled injuries. They said
there would be changes in offense and
defense and agreed that several players
– themselves included - would have to
raise their game. Former Heat center and
star Alonzo Mourning who is now Vice
President of Player Programs for the Heat
joined Anderson, Chalmers, and Cole in
being optimistic about the team’s future.
The fifth guest on the panel, Dr. Harlan
Selesnick, never played but is crucial for
stars and journeymen alike. He has been
team doctor for the Heat since 1988, dealing
with the injuries that afflict players during
the long NBA season.
Dr. Alma Kadragic
Follow Alma on Twitter: @almakad
Theresa F. Weber
an expat
returns home
women in
business
Follow Theresa on Twitter: @TheresaFWeber and @ACT_LLC
Alma Kadragic with Chris, Norris and Mario of Miami Heat.
PhotobyAdaStevens,SnapHappyPhotos

37. www. tempoplanet.com 37
ONE LOVE, ONE TANGO
WITH OLIVER AND LIN
“Tango has a way of bringing
people together no matter
who you are and where you
are from.”
Oliver and Lin Krstic met back in February
2012 in Barcelona at a ‘milonga’, a place or an
event where Argentine Tango is danced. The
two are founders and instructors of
TANGO-OK™, a Dubai-based tango company
that teaches the art of Argentine Tango to
people of different ages and walks of life.
Tempo got to dance with the couple and chat
about what sparked their love for the social
dance that is tango.
Tempo: How did you two meet to create a
school for Tango here?
Oliver: I had just returned from my
annual Buenos Aires trip where I spent
three months intensively working on my
Tango. Apart from teaching Tango, I was
then traveling a lot in Europe and Asia as
a professional Tango DJ. I was invited to
play at one of the milongas in Barcelona in
February 2012, and on my day off, I went to
a milonga ‘Casa Valencia’ to relax. There, I
met Lin whom I knew I had to marry!
Lin: I was in Barcelona for work - I wasn’t
into Tango professionally then. I took a few
days off to have a vacation in Barcelona and
went to a milonga with a friend and there
I met him, the love of my life - Oliver. Ever
since then we have been inseparable. Oliver
was living in Switzerland. I had a job in
Dubai at that time so Oliver moved here to
be with me and to figure out what he would
do here.
Oliver: I couldn’t imagine doing anything
else other than Tango. I thought to go
back to my previous profession - private
banking, but Tango was always on my mind.
We decided we would give it a shot. In
November 2012, we created our first group
class at The Fridge
Dubai, and to our most
pleasant surprise,
received 14 students.
We were excited and
encouraged. We never
looked back from
then. Today, we have
our own studio in
Dubai and a really
wonderful group
of students, some
of whom came to
Buenos Aires with
us this past August.
Lin: When the classes
started taking off it was impossible for
me to sustain my day job. I left my job
and dedicated myself to Tango full-time
with Oliver.
Tempo: Argentine Tango was declared by
UNESCO as part of the world’s ‘Intangible
Cultural Heritage’. What makes it so unique?
Oliver: Argentine Tango developed in the
late 19th century among the working class
in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo
(Uruguay). In that period, Argentina
experienced massive immigration with
predominantly Europeans arriving to seek
a better life. This melting pot of cultures
of the Europeans, Africans and native-
born Argentinians created the dance and
music, which borrowed elements from
one another. UNESCO has defined the
‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ as
that which “... is transmitted
from generation to generation,
and is constantly recreated
by communities and groups,
in response to their
environment, their
interaction with
nature, and their
history. It provides
people with a
sense of identity
and continuity,
and promotes
respect for cultural
diversity and
human creativity.”
Tempo: You will be
holding the first ever
Tango marathon this
month. Can you tell us
more about it? What
are you most
excited about?
Lin: The Tango marathon
is a popular concept in
especially Europe. It’s
basically an extended
milonga, sometimes 3-4
days in duration. The Tango
marathon is an event by
social Tango dancers for social
Tango dancers. Tango DJs are
invited to play the music for
these marathons to motivate
the crowd to keep on dancing.
Our first Tango Marathon
here in Dubai is called
miMARATHON and it will take
place on 21st November 2014
(Friday) at The Fridge Dubai. It’s
a 10-Hour event and we have a promising
group of DJs to play the music. These DJs
will play music from the Golden Age of
Tango (1940s and 1950s). We’re excited as
this is our first marathon and we can’t wait
to see all our friends, and students in one
place, sharing Tango together in one long
magical evening.
Tempo: Any message to those interested in
learning Tango?
Oliver: Anyone can dance Tango. Tango is
about embrace-and-walk. It is said to be a
‘walking-dance’. If you can walk, if you can
embrace, you can dance Tango. Social Tango
which is danced in milongas in Buenos Aires
and all over the world, and one which we
teach at TANGO-OK™, is different. What
is most powerful and beautiful is rarely
visible to the eye but felt between the two
dancers in an embrace. Social Tango is about
connection - with the partner, with the
music and with the whole dance floor. It’s
an internal expression of Tango.
Tempo: Your future plans for
TANGO-OK™?
Oliver: We would like to focus on enriching
our current Tango classes and to give
our students the best possible Tango
experiences. We have plans to invite great
teachers and dancers to come to Dubai and
Abu Dhabi for special workshops. In the
months moving forward, we have teachers
lined up and will announce their visits as
soon as we can confirm the details. In July/
August 2015, we will conduct our 2nd
Buenos Aires Tango Holiday - the last one
was a resounding success. Of course, we
would like to host miMARATHON - Dubai
Tango Marathon 2nd Edition. Apart from
that, let’s see! We live in the moment so we
will just have to go with the flow.
More info:
www.tango-ok.com | tangookay@gmail.com
By Vera Rosales

38. www. tempoplanet.com38
KING OF THE CABLE:
OMEIR SAEED
You could say the word
‘wakeboarding’ here, and no one
knew what you were talking
about. But now wakeboarding
has a serious following, and this
November sees the WWA Wake
Park World Championships
taking place November 5 to 7.
Tempo got to chat with one of
the UAE’s top wakeboarders,
Omeir Saeed, 17, about the sport,
his preparations and
future plans.
Tempo: Tell us about Omeir Saeed, the
professional wakeboarder…
Omeir: My passion for wakeboarding
started in 2011 after my friends took me
wakeboarding for the first time. After that
I was addicted. In wakeboarding the rider
is pulled by a water vehicle or cable system
across the water. It was hard for me to get up
at first but after a few attempts I managed to
get around the cable. Not knowing that I had
to go through the orange balls in the water
I once edged out too far and the handle slid
out of my hand! I flew straight out of the
lake in slingshot motion.
Tempo: What does wakeboarding
mean to you?
Omeir: Wakeboarding means the world to
me. It has given me so many opportunities
to travel the world and meet new people.
My family has been very supportive of my
wakeboarding. An unforgettable moment
for any wakeboarder is when he lands a
new trick especially after trying it so many
times.
Tempo: You’ve won titles…?
Omeir: A year after I started wakeboarding
in 2011, I won the 2012 UAE National
Championship. The week after that
I won the WWA Junior Men World
Championship title - which is my greatest
achievement. I recently competed in the Al
Forsan King of Cable Competition and won
first place on King of Air, King of Kicker and
King of Rails and was crowned the overall
King of Cable.
Tempo: How’s the wakeboarding scene in
the UAE?
Omeir: Over the past three years
wakeboarding has grown drastically in
the UAE. There are now a lot more people
who participate in the sport. My youngest
brother who is only seven years old started
wakeboarding this year and he managed to
get third place in the under 10 category.
Tempo: What’s a normal day at the water
for you?
Omeir: It would be my friends and I trying
new tricks and learning new moves. We
always try to progress with our riding
techniques. I have taken some pretty hard
falls, but nothing too serious. It happens
when I get confused with a certain move.
Tempo: You are preparing for the World
Championships in Abu Dhabi. What is
your training like?
Omeir: I train on Thursdays and Saturdays
as I can’t train during the week due to
university. The world championship is
coming up fast so by then I will hopefully
be prepared to battle against the best
wakeboarders in the world. The atmosphere
at the cable is always chilly but when it
comes down to competition day its game on
and you get to see some crazy riding.
Tempo: How do judges score?
Omeir: They score on technicality,
composition and execution of tricks. In
order to get a high score you need to be able
to make a technical run of tricks that are
all landed cleanly. In a normal competition
setting there are three parts: qualifiers,
semi-finals and finals. In order to qualify to
the next round you need to score well.
Tempo: What inspires you?
Omeir: Watching new videos of Pro Riders
trying new tricks motivates me to try new
things and progress my riding.
Tempo: Any advice for new wakeboarders?
Omeir: When you’re doing what you love,
time and self-doubt are your only barriers.
Tempo: Future plans?
Omeir: Hmmm. To finish university and
compete in every competition that I
possibly can!

39. www. tempoplanet.com 39
instafame The Tempo team routinely trawls instagram in search of creative talent.
To be discovered connect with us on Instagram @tempoplanet.
Growing up, I read a lot of books and watched a lot of cartoons. I had what people call a creative
mind but I never knew how to express myself. So instead of words, I took a pencil and just
scribbled. Then the scribbles turned to human-drawings. I got into anime and manga for a while
then that pencil turned into a paintbrush. Art has and always will be a way of expression without
words; a form of communication through vision.
Brian Allen Domingo
School: Philippine Emirates Private School
Instagram ID: @brianzebrain
Promoting the creative community. Showcasing artists, designers, creators,
devolopers, writers, performers and film makers.TEMPO SKILLMARKET
Conor Kerry, Hungarian
15 years’ experience in Event Project
Management, Cameraman, Sound Editor,
DJ, Web Streaming
Describe yourself: As a Libra I like
creative ideas and flexibility, I am
empathetic and I focus on details what
my clients and colleagues want me to
achieve.
“I would like to work as many
different media related fields as I can
to gain more experience and to be able
to use all my skills”.
HIRE ME BECAUSE… If you tell me
your ideas and you listen mine, maybe
we can make something amazing
out of it.
Joanny Chamorro, Spanish
15 years’ experience inVideography
Describe yourself: I am an enthusiastic
person; I have a strong commitment and
good work ethics. Forming relationships
with my colleagues and customers is
something I enjoy and excel at.
“I want to improve my performance
in providing services at the same time
my best for clients”.
HIRE ME BECAUSE… I have good
experience in this business.
Harvey Glen, 34, British
16 years’ experience in Cinematography
Describe yourself: A creative
cinematographer who is calm and can
adapt to any situation. I’m fast and have
the ability to always find the beauty in
any situation.
“I look forward to new challenges,
pushing the craft of cinematography.
Working with different and talented
people. Filming more scripted drama.”
HIRE ME BECAUSE… you won’t know
how good I am until you do.
Hanan El Shimy, Egyptian
16 years’ experience in Cinematography
Describe yourself: Versatile and dedicated
to giving the best quality of services in
my area of expertise, open to learning and
constructive criticism and always looking
out for
new challenges.
“I look forward to making great
feature movies and I am presently
preparing and working on them
even now”.
HIRE ME BECAUSE…I am good at
what I do.
Contact me @
conorkerry@hotmail.co.uk
Contact me @
choa53@gmail.com
Contact me @ 0501036357
harveyrglen@gmail.com
www.harveyglen.com
Contact me @
nonyash@hotmail.com
Watch my video here Watch my video here Watch my video here Watch my video here
Be our next InstaFame Ambassador! Follow us on instagram @tempoplanet and tag us to your best shots. Don’t forget to hashtag - GoTempo!
Tempo supportstwofour54’s efforts to promote a community of freelance talent and bridge the gap in the creative fields. Twofour54 supports Abu Dhabi’s emergence in the media and entertainment
industry by giving creative individuals a path to self-employment and providing local and global businesses with a pool of expertise.For more information visit www.twofour54.com

40. BAS Mall More Reasons Tempo Magazine.pdf 1 9/14/14 1:17 PM

41. www. tempoplanet.com 41
teen vox pop
Noora Al- Ali, 20
I like how active most of the Emira-
tis in the UAE feel the whole time.
I also love the vision we have for
the future and the commitments of
everybody around me in what they
want to achieve.
Habiba Hassan,23
I love the clean streets and
the safety.
Dalal, 24
Almost everything. Living in the
UAE is such a blessing: from the
day I was born until now – it is the
best life I could ask for. This coun-
try offers me the best education,
shelter and security.
Bashair Al Mashjari, 21
The human population is given
value here. The prosperity and
security.
Maryam Rashed Al Zaabi, 21
All people are living in safety
– the place we live in is secure.
Also, I like how the leaders have
great vision and how they love
being the first.
Maha, 20
UAE is an ambitious country.
Thriving for the best in every as-
pect from security, policy, politics
and business.
FAVOURITE
THINGS ABOUT
LIVING IN THE
UAE
Tempo caught up with six female students from Zayed
University to get their insight on their…
IMPROVING EDUCATION:
REVAMPING SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEMS
ACS student Sophia Grifferty spoke to
Matthew Foss, her teacher, about what he
sees as an antiquated ‘calculated average
grading system’, and the need for a radical
revamp.
Matthew Foss is an experienced
international teacher of 19 years, and has
spent time teaching all levels of high school
English in the United States, Ghana, Sri
Lanka, Tanzania, and now the UAE for his
second year.
Foss is an ardent champion for working
and interacting with teenagers as well as
reading and discussing literature. He loves
daily interactions with students and loves
when something clicks with a student.
Foss’s passion for teaching and learning has
motivated him to confront an ever-present
issue in the world of education:
the grading system.
A teacher by profession and a lifelong
learner, Foss hopes to improve the averaged
and calculated grading system in schools.
Throughout his career, he has worked in
a wide variety of ‘systems’ with a wide
range of curricula and a variety of reporting
systems and grading procedures.
In Foss’s current school and in schools
around the world, teachers are forced to use
a mathematic formula of averaging grades
for an overall calculated grade by the end of
the semester. Advocates of averaging grades
might argue that it’s a simple and easily
understood way to show, both publicly and
privately, student achievement, but Foss
argues, “I am basically opposed to having
to average grades” and that the “one size
fits all model does not accurately display a
student’s growth and ability”.
Foss explained: “There is way too much
research about why this system is
antiquated and flawed, but the crux of my
issue comes with the fact that if a student
improves over the course of the semester
(let’s say moves from earning C’s to B’s to
A’s), the student will get the average of that
grade (so…a B here). If a student moves
all the way up to the A by the end of the
semester, why not earn the A?”
Foss proposes a “best fit” grading system
for the “highest, most consistent level of
performance.” The ideal grading system,
he says, would allow teachers to use their
judgment when it comes to final grades.
Like in the example above, if a student
improves over the course of a year or
semester, a teacher can consider the
student’s development when deciding his
or her final grade. In turn, if a student’s
performance declines throughout a
semester, a teacher can take the student’s
regression into account.
“In school it pains me to see and hear
how hyper-focused all stakeholders are
on numbers. It highlights the fact that
we value numbers over the process of
individual improvement. I understand that
I live in a number driven society where you
know report cards are needed and parents
need to see numbers, and colleges need to
see numbers… I’m not against that. It’s how
we get to that final number that drives me
crazy.”
Grades are vital in the education system,
but what holds true is the growth and
development of a student. Foss advocates,
“I believe we need to move to a system
that allows us to focus on progress, and
to look for a ‘best fit’ model, which for me
means the highest, most consistent level
of performance. We should grade on the
quality of the process, and the quality of the
progress, rather than on a mathematically
driven number.”

42. www. tempoplanet.com42
360° VIEW – THE HORIZON
BECKONSBy Puneet Wagh
Imagine flying, like a bird,
over Abu Dhabi city. Well,
using cutting edge drone
technology The Media
Company (TMC) is now giving
us wings to soar…
TMC is an Abu Dhabi agency that provides
complete solutions in film, animation,
branding, advertising, event production,
social media and apps development. The
team is optimistic and ambitious with a local
focus. Fuelled by passion to innovate TMC
has used advanced UAV (Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles or Drones) technology, to create
a virtual bird’s eye-view tour of the UAE -
project ‘UAE 360’.
The 360° aerial content offers a breath-
taking experience: imagine standing on
top of a skyscraper and looking down at
the streets below or taking a helicopter
ride along the coastline with the clouds
skimming by - it gets better than that.
The speciality of a drone mounted camera
is complete freedom of view: it can go
down, around and come out between the
structures; images are captured closer to the
object hence in more detail and from points
impossible to have with any other camera
set up (a helicopter would be restricted in its
movement). Content is interactive: you can
look up down and all around, you can zoom
in to explore it closer or zoom out for wide
angle view, add to it 360 feature and you
have almost a real life experience.
Abu Dhabi 360° virtual tour is a part of
UAE 360 that offers unique views of various
locations, say the Sheikh Zayed Grand
Mosque like you’ve never seen before,
giving you an opportunity to explore in
details not only a particular structure but
also its surroundings; 360° panoramas take
you on a ‘virtual tour’ … a virtual journey
of gliding along Abu Dhabi skyline and
‘teleporting’ you to another location with
one tap on a panorama ‘hotspot’. The 360°
videos are experiencein themselves, in full
HD or even higher - 2K/4K resolutions -
provide an interactive, multi-dimensional,
seamless view of the city ‘in action’. There’s
no buffering of time stopping you!
The project is incredibly broad in its
viewpoint and it is indeed for everyone; it’s
a look at Abu Dhabi like you haven’t seen
before. Those who have yet to visit this city
will be able to see what’s awaiting them,
those who’ve seen it or lived here now have
a chance to relive it in a whole new way!
The homesick can visit their city; the streets
where you walked, your school and your
home is now just a click away. It’s possible
to have an entire city at your fingertips.
You can bring architectural knowledge to
life and simply be in awe of the wondrous
essence of this city.
360° virtual reality is that next step which is
going to push the boundaries of the possible.
This project was a ‘labour of love’ for the
team at TMC. After several attempts, the
right people were finally assembled. It
takes a skilled team to bring this vision to
reality and TMC has partnered with an
extensively experienced crew of DOPs and
photographers from Airpano 360 experts
who have filmed all over the world using
state-of-the-art technology to capture the
most amazing landscapes. With the right
people and the right equipment, there is no
end to what can be accomplished.
Getting the team together seemed like the
easier part, getting the paperwork and the
legal requirements completed turned out to
be a whole new task altogether for this band
of dreamers.
One of the first challenges was to explain
what exactly this project was intended for
and more importantly why it was started in
the first place. The idea of ‘showing the city
and the country to the world’ did not seem
very believable. Nevertheless, the
team persevered.
Many phone calls, meetings and document
signings later, the project finally began to
take shape. Many different authorities and
individuals provided invaluable support
to the TMC team especially the National
Media Council who were believers of the
project from the beginning.
For now, filming in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
has been completed with the eventual goal
being to cover the entire Emirates and show
this region in all its magnificence.
Abu Dhabi 360 is on The Media Company
and Airpano website for everyone to enjoy
and very soon a link to Dubai 360 virtual
tour will be released as well:
www.themedia-company.com
Now, there is only so much that words and
static pictures can say about a city. So, with
the ‘UAE 360’ project, let the city speak
for itself.

44. DEGREE PROGRAMS
YOUR GATEWAY TO NEW YORK
BEGIN YOUR STUDIES IN ABU DHABI AND FINISH IN NEW YORK!
More than 50 undergraduate degree programs are available through NYIT’s "Gateway to New
York." Take your first year of core courses at NYIT-Abu Dhabi, then complete your degree in
New York—while working with and learning from people from many cultures and experiencing
one of the world’s greatest cities and centers of commerce!
Management
Architecture and Design
Engineering & Computing Sciences
Education
Arts & Sciences
Health Professions
Osteopathic Medicine
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
For more info call 02-4048523 | 056-6882042
nyitad@nyit.edu
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