Horizon - First Edition

Issue N1, 8th December 2009

Lift off in 3, 2, 1!

Change: Yes we can

The rats are back

Staying true to one’s word

5 fashion tips to smash

Opening of the “Culture Lebanon exports and Crafts” exhibit in the world’s most expensive chocolate Glass Hall

Lift off in 3, 2, 1! Medicine is a difficult path to undertake; a choice worth taking, yet one which necessitates sacrifices. The constant overcharging of materials and the shortness of available time keep the students locked behind the doors of their dorm rooms. Bit

by bit, one becomes cut off from the rest of the world and finds himself confined to a universe of books, teachers, and some more books. Social contact and encounters diminish day by day, till eventually meeting colleagues or friends outside the class room and halls of university becomes so scarce that some have metamorphosed into senseless robots, with studies being their main and only function. It’s this very same disconnection from the outside world which gave away to the birth of an idea; a concept of a project which goal was to put the world in the hands of those who lost their familiarity with it and could revisit only once every month or so. Still, an idea remains nothing more if no commitment and no devotion are involved. “Horizon” does not arrive to deal with the medical needs of the student; it has come to fill the social requirements of every human being, even if at the basic level. A gap between the future-to-be MDs and the outside world was being created on the first day of every academic year; the magazine is here to reconstruct the bridge between the two old friends which have been torn apart by a desire to one day be able to treat the ill and improve the quality of life of the needy. “Horizon” knows no limits, has no boundaries; it will boldly go where no Man has gone before…and beyond.

Change: yes we can Since the dawn of man millions of years ago, humans, like every other species that roamed the planet, have found life on Earth quite difficult. One thing though distinguished them from the rest of God’s creatures: the power of adaptation. They were able to survive all the changes Nature and earth threw at them by changing themselves. Time passed by, yet one constant remained: the continuity of change. We arrive to the present, where life is still as hostile as it was during the days of Homo erectus. Nowadays however, challenges take a different form. Every person is subjected throughout his life to various situations and obstacles which aid him in obtaining knowledge and gaining experience. Some learn from the incidents and mistakes they lived through in order to improve themselves and triumph against the upcoming challenges, while others pass through life without any noticeable changes, satisfied with their traits and accomplishments. Many claim that Change is inevitable and an integral part of the Circle of Life. Others on the other hand assert certain things are unchangeable, beginning from character and ending with personality, using arguments such as parenting and indoctrination at low age. Certainly they do have a point to a certain extent, but they fail to realize that this only renders the task more arduous. With determination, will, confidence, and a catalyst (a major event for instance), transformation can occur if, and only if, one is convinced of the fatality and harm of the behavior and traits of his past self. The key is one has to believe in one’s ability and capacity to take such a leap. On a larger scale, our current world needs change. With the rate we’re going, in fifty years no more, famine, pollution, temperature, wars, lack of morality, will reach critical levels an there would be no turning back. But in order to embark on such a global change, one has to start with thyself, especially with one’s perceptions and conceptions. When one can successfully change himself, one can do anything. So to those who are adamant in their belief that change has its limitations, simply reply with these words: Change: yes WE can.

"I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get bettter."

Staying true to one’s word All around the world, in every culture in every country, individuals make various statements and promises of various mature and with diverse intentions. Some keep to them, others don’t; a few issue promises with the intention of keeping them but ail t due to numerous reasons. Words without steps to concretize them count for nothing, even if uttered with the utmost sincerity. A person weighs as much as his actions, and staying true to one’s word or not determines the level of trust, reliability and confidence others can put in this individual. And it spreads to all aspects of one’s life, starting by one’s professional work, passing by his circle of friends, and ending with his private life. A person is worth as much as his ability to fulfill his engagements. Hence, for all those who made promises they couldn’t keep, if possible, try to accomplish them, even if sometimes it appears to be too late. As well, from now on, do not issue promises you judge yourself inept to keep, and work your best to realize those you do make. Remember that it’s your credibility, image and other’s perception of you which lay at stake. The choice is yours.

Lebanon exports world’s most expensive chocolate

BEIRUT: These days status symbols are everywhere - from cars and jeans to cell phones and, now, even chocolate. We all love chocolate, but what is the ultimate price to pay for the delicious dessert? Patchi, the famous Lebanese luxury chocolate-makers, have taken decadence to a new level. Recently, they launched the world’s most prestigious and expensive box of chocolate, turning the ubiquitous treat into a coveted possession. When it comes to selling luxury chocolates, packaging really is everything. Designers at Patchi began with the box itself, a beautiful, leather-wrapped cover that is hand-embroidered with high-quality silk from India and China. This is only the beginning, however. Upon opening the box, the chocolate connoisseur will find 49 hand-wrapped chocolates ensconced in soft suede leather, separated by gold and platinum linings. In case that isn’t enough, each chocolate is adorned with either a 24-carat gold flower and Swarovsky crystal or a handcrafted, miniature silk rose. Despite all the glitziness, the box has a beautiful, elegant appearance, and the colors are subdued. It currently sells at the renowned London-based department store Harrods, with the hefty price tag of 5,000 British pounds (currently about $7,824, but closer to $10,000 before recent drastic changes in exchange rates). Patchi, which opened in 1974, quickly established itself as the destination for sophisticated chocolate lovers who are also seduced by unique and attractive packaging. With the success of their chocolates worldwide, they have branched into other areas in the luxury market, such as a handmade silverware line and ornamented accessories. They are also known for their array of exquisite handmade roses, which add a delicate and pretty touch. Nadine Haikal owns a boutique in Hamra called Cocodine, which sells gifts and chocolates. Her shop has been open for almost three years, and most of her chocolates are imported from Belgium. When asked what she thought of the world’s most expensive box of chocolate, she said, “There would be no customer here for that. Buyers of the Patchi-designed extravagant luxury item might be even rarer.

The rats are back Hamelin, Germany - The rats are back in Hamelin, where a legendary Pied Piper once rid the Germany city of both rodents and children. The city confirmed Tuesday it was battling a rat population explosion in an area of overgrown former garden allotments close to the city centre. “It’s like a rubbish dump in there and has developed into a rat refuge,” said municipal spokesman Thomas Wahmes. After a rapid rise in rat numbers this year, the vermin were spreading into a new housing estate nearby. The city’s hands are tied because it does not own the wilderness, where locals used to grow vegetables. Its ownership is legally so tangled that no one can act. Rat poison has been distributed in a ring around the rat-ridden area. In the medieval legend of the Pied Piper, a stranger playing music on a pipe mesmerized the rats to drown themselves in the river Weser. Because the city, known in the German language as Hameln, refused to pay him, he vanished with all its children.

Opening of the “Culture and Crafts” exhibit in the Glass hall

The “Lebanese Craftsmanship Gathering” opened, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism, its annual exhibit in the Glass Hall of the ministry, under the care of Minister Elie Marouni represented by his counselor Joseph el Hmeiry and the presence of the ambassadors of Kazakhistan and Japan Mr. Kowwat Norgoz Haven and Mr. Yoshihia Koroda alongside a number of craftsmen and enthusiasts.

The chairman of the Gathering Mrs. Medlan Mkarzel pointed out that the “culture and Crafts” exhibit roamed all Lebanese regions and grabbed trophies in a number of countries it visited, and it spread the Lebanese culture in the form of creative cultural merchandise as gifts. She also announced that the exhibit would last till 31st December from nine am till eight pm, and will include book signing, folkloric dances and poetic séances which revenues will go to help the elderly artists and craftsmen, as well as an artistic workshop presented by artist Georges Khoury and his students.

Rashana

This village situated in Batroun caza in the North district, rises about 360 meters above sea level and is about 50 KMs far from Beirut, the Capital, and stretches over 133 hectares transformed by “Basbous” family (the 3 brothers Michel, Alfred, and Youssef) into an open air museum which impressed the geniuses of Art in Lebanon and the World, thus transforming Rashana into a global city attracting Arab and foreign tourists as well as whoever is interested in Arts, wooden and stone sculptures. So its rocks turned into creatures beating with life and welcoming from all around the world all who adore the Art of Sculpting. Rashana is a Syriac word in origin “Rishana” which means president, first governor. Yet, Dr Anis Freiha postulated that the origin of the word is “Roshana” which is a Phoenician word meaning peak and top of the hill…One should point out that in an ancient manuscript written by a seventeenth century monk, that the inhabitants in the villages East of Batroun sought a cave in 1305 escaping the Mamelouks; their soldiers buried the cave with rocks and soil. After this era, Rashana’s residents discovered the remains of human bones and a cave but they were buried again. The cave today needs redigging to shed light on the past eras of this region’s history. Rashana’s inhabitants are interested in planting olive and almond trees, and oak trees disperse around the houses which shine with their solid and coordinated stones and their wooden windows. Rashana also has a church in the name of St Maroun ornamented with a modest altar. There is also the school of Father Michel Khalife which was founded by Antoine Khalife in Thoum and relocated to Rashana in 1980. It hosts annually the International exhibit for the Art of Sculpture in which participates various Arabic and foreign nations, and where sculptors work on inventing new stone and wooden carvings in different shapes and styles that embody the desires and thoughts of every artist. These sculptures ultimately stay in Rashana as donations to the International exhibit of Sculpture.

Let’s have a laugh A pregnant woman is in a car accident and falls into a deep coma. Asleep for nearly six months, she wakes up and sees that she is no longer pregnant. Frantically, she asks the doctor about her baby. The doctor replies, “Ma’am, you had twins! A boy and a girl. The babies are fine. Your brother came in and named them.” The woman thinks to herself, “Oh no, not my brother, he’s an idiot!” Expecting the worst, she asks the doctor, “Well, what’s the girl’s name?” “Denise,” the doctor says. The new mother thinks, “Wow, that’s not a bad name! Guess I was wrong about my brother. I like Denise!” Then she asks the doctor, “What’s the boy’s name?” The doctor replies, “Denephew.”

Let’s eat Dawood Basha (Meat Balls with Onion) INGREDIENTS: 1 kg (32 oz)finely minced lean meat 1 medium onion, peeled and grated 1½ kg (48 oz) sliced onions ¼ cup shortening or butter 1 tbls salt (as desired) 1 tspn ground allspice 2 tbls pomegranate thickened juice a dash of ground cinnamon a dash of ground dried mint 1 cup water PREPARATION: Mix well meat with grated onion, salt, cinnamon, and allspice. Divide meat into 2.5 cm diameter balls. Fry onions with shortening and a dash of salt on moderate heat until soft. Add meat balls. Fry on low heat till golden for 10 minutes. Dissolve pomegranate juice in water. Add to meat. Cover and cook for 30 minutes on low heat. Serve hot accompanied with rice.

Ingredients

Ghrybe (Lebanese butter cookies)

• 2 cups solid rendered butter • 1 cup super fine sugar • 1 cup confectioners sugar • 4 cups cake flour (approximately) • blanched almond halves Method Place butter in mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for about 10-15 minutes until butter is white and fluffy. Add 2 types of sugar. Whip again thoroughly with a spatula; gradually add flour and continue to mix with spatula until the flour is absorbed and a medium soft dough is formed. Be sure to mix with spatula, because heat from hands melts the butter. Add more flour if needed. Remove mixture to lightly floured surface and quickly roll with floured hands into rope shape about 1 1/2 inch diameter. Cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces on diagonal forming a diamond shape. Place one almond in middle of each diamond. Place on baking sheet at 300 F until cookies are set. They should remain white not brown, about 10-12 minutes. Let cool on sheet. When cold remove carefully.

O’ fashion Tall Tales: 5 Fashion Myths to Smash 1. High heels add not only inches but poise: “You stand straighter and hold yourself more confidently,” says 6 footwear designer Kathryn Kerrigan, 28, who produces cute shoes in the hard-to-find larger sizes many tall women wear. 2. Vertical lines have a slimming effect if you’re both big and tall. Just pick your spots for stripes: on top for a leaner-looking torso; on the bottom to minimize wide hips. 3. Cropped pants are most flattering at the ankle bone, so what to do if they come only to your midcalf or knee? Buy regular-length pants instead of long to get the effect, or cover up with knee-high boots. 4. Bright colors and big prints do work when you’re statuesque. On the pear-shaped, an eye-catching shirt balances hips by broadening the appearance of the upper body; for inverted-triangle types, bold skirts or pants can offset a more voluptuous top half.  5. Pencil skirts make you look like a beanpole only if you wear monochromatic out-

fits that emphasize the vertical axis. Try a contrast instead, such as the classic white shirt and slim black skirt.

Actualities - Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston, died Friday while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas. Jett had suffered a seizure at his family’s vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island, said Michael Ossi, a lawyer for the family, in a statement through Travolta’s rep. The teen hit his head in a bathtub Friday morning and was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital, police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey told the Associated P ress. - Jennifer Garner and husband Ben Affleck have welcomed their second daughter, PEOPLE confirms exclusively. The actress’s rep says: “Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck gave birth to a healthy baby girl.” The baby was born Tuesday in Los Angeles. - Fugitive director Roman Polanski received a message from prosecutors in a sexually explicit court motion Tuesday that all is not forgiven and they will fight dismissal of a three-decade-old conviction for raping a 13-year-old. - Lindsay Lohan says she hasn’t split with DJ Samantha Ronson, despite media reports they had publicly sparred several times over the holidays. In a brief post on her MySpace blog, the 22-year-old actress wrote: “We did NOT break up!” - An Ugandan gave birth to a 2.7Kg baby while on a plane heading to Boston on the 31st of December 2008. The baby is to have Canadian nationality as it was born on Canadian space. Fortunately for the mother and the baby, there were 2 doctors on the plane and they helped with the delivery. - The Obama family has picked the Hi-Adams hotel in Washington as its temporary residential place while waiting for the moving to the White House on the 20th of January. A popular tale says the hotel is haunted by the wife of Henry Adams which had a nervous breakdown and committed suicide in 1885.

US Top 10

Entertainment

1 Marley & Me 2 Bedtime stories 3 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 4 Valkyrie 5 Yes Man 6 Seven Pounds 7 The Tale of Despereaux 8 The Day the Earth Stood Still 9 Doubt 10 Slumdog Millionaire

Showing in Lebanon: Fishtales; Igor; Changeling; Sex Drive; Australia; Garfield:

A Tail of Two Kitties; Righteous Kill; Bedtime Stories; Al Dada Doudy; Open Season 2; Four Christmases; Transporter 3; Over Her Dead Body; Beirut Open City; The Day the Earth Stood Still; Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa; Twilight ; Bolt;The Visitor; Body of Lies; The Duchess; Taken; High School Musical 3 Return of the Phenix @ Casino du Liban

Historical Epic Musical “Return of the Phenix” played by MANSOUR Rahbani, Created By OUSSAMA Rahbani at Casino du Liban from Dec 4th till Feb 27th.

Health & Science - BEIRUT - Bank Byblos’ “Lebanon this week” reported that the Ministry of Public Health launched a ‘medicine’ health card in collaboration with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in charge of the Medical Assistance Program that aims at providing chronically ill patients with the required medicines. The card ensures constant communication between the patient, the healthcare center and the YMCA. It also allows the healthcare center to do all the patients’ registrations and the drugs payments’ procedures through an online connection established between the center and the YMCA. The card aims at facilitating medicines’ deliveries and insuring continuous deliveries to the patients. The card will be launched at a first stage through 30 medical centers and its use will be extended later on to all medical centers and clinics throughout Lebanon. - FAO warned that the phenomenon of increase in ocean temperature, of tropical typhoons, floods, and drought may have disastrous consequences on food security in the pacific islands. The report indicated that adapting to environmental changes in policies, strategies, programs and agricultural budgets must become an absolute priority. - A study that appeared in “The Lancet” British medical magazine stated that one in ten children living in a rich country is subjected every year to abuse in one way or another. The people interrogated belonged to Northern Europe, Northern America, New Zealand, Australia, Japan. The study also showed that official figures were much lower, ranging from 1.5 to 5%. In Britain, 1 million children are affected by this trend.

Want to play? - Pete

Sampras, the tennis legend, failed to make it to the finals of the Blackrook Masters”, but his return on the field still receives warm cheers for returning to Britain where he won Wimbeldon 7 times. He lost in front of Cedric Biulin 6/7 (7-10) and 6/7 (5-10). - Five Formula 1 teams declared they will not quit the sport unlike Honda recently did. The F1 racing organization has announced that a deal has been reached to minimize the expenses for the years 2009-2010. It’s needed to point out that major teams have a yearly budget of 300 million $. - Honda puts its F1 team for sale. A source close to Ross Brown and Nick Ferrey, the Honda team heads, said that if a buyer isn’t found in one month, then the team will be finished. - French Trezegueh thinks of coming back from retirement on the international scene. He believes World Cup 2010 could be a target for him. - Vietnam’s Soccer Federation President announced that the local federation is willing to pay Manchester United a fee of 2.47 million $ for a friendly on Vietnam’s soil in 2009. The federation is also thinking of inviting the Italian team Milan for a friendly as well. - Manchester City, the English Premiere league team, made an offer of 150 million Euros to Real Madrid to buy its international goalkeeper Cassillas. - Denver Nuggets star Carmello Antony will be sidelined for 3 weeks after fracturing his right wrist in the teams’ match victory over the Indiana Pacers. - David Beckham played for 45 minutes on his AC Milan debut as the Serie A giants beat Hamburg 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 friendly draw in Dubai. - Qatari driver Nasser el Atiyyeh won on his BMW first place in the first stage of Rally Daccar 2009 which was held Saturday in Argentina. -The lebanese soccer team expedition left to Cyprus on Monday for a friendly with Cyprus club Ike Larnaka.

Inventions & Discoveries - Flying Ski is the perfect invention for the sports enthusiast with phobias. Now you can water-ski even if you are afraid of it and soar at high speeds even if heights give you agita. A popular Russian singer and former car-racing champion, Nikolay Fomenko, is preparing to give Russia its very own electric sports car: Marussia - Laser experminent hopes to save water crops

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Across: 1- Mr. Griffin; 5- “Slippery” trees; 9- Gave food; 12- “terrible” szar; 13- peachy --; 14 - metallic Earth; 15- mention; 16- bible twin; 17- Tonic’s frequent partner; 18- “60 minutes” network; 20- military compounds; 22- chips; 25- sealed with a --; 27- purpose; 28- still snoozing; 30- remote; 34- preserve; 36- building wing; 37- Renowned explorerMarco; 38- Novelist Ferber; 39- Yukon “cab”; 41- needing a doctor; 42- responsibility; 44- new heaven student ; 46- Exctasy; 49- Society girl; 50- John, in Aberdeen; 51- “-- excited” (2 words); 54- fail to include; 58- Capp and Paccino; 59- “bewitched” twitcher; 60- John Wayne’s nickname; 61- drains energy; 62- departs; 63- Adam’s home Down: 1- opposite of Max; 2- -- Marie Saint; 3- lamb’s father; 4- sweater feature (2 words); 5- -- out (supplements); 6- bandleader Brown; 7- --Culpa; 8- gives the cold shoulder; 9- heavy mists; 10- --canal; 11- bears’ lairs; 19- “—good sport!” (2 words); 21- PDQ’s skin; 22- counterfeit; 23- Told a long tale; 24- Hymn’s end; 25- Gene or Grace; 26- unoccupied; 29- number one; 31outwit; 32- “—know” (2 words); 33- acting part; 35- hockey player’s protection; 40- apply henna; 43- employing; 45- habitation; 46- slant; 47-tra--- (hyphenated); 48- clouseau’s rank (abbreviation); 49- mates for bucks; 52- cow sound; 53- Mariner’s dir; 55- -- wrestling; 56- Mamies’ hubby; 57- countdown starter 5 9 4

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For suggestions, feedback, wish to put one’s work in the magazine, or be part of the crew, please contact me at 70/694602 or send a message to [email protected] Editor in Chief & Designer: Jimmy Chahine Publisher: Fourth Year class of Medicine