Egypt Independent: Life Style-Main news

Final Issue: Lifestyle reporting tends to revolve around class

Amany Aly Shawky — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:37:00 +0000

This piece was written for Egypt Independent’s final weekly print edition, which was banned from going to press. We offer you our 50th and final edition here.

Reporting for a lifestyle section in a magazine or a newspaper can be a challenge. For most publications, the lifestyle section is a window on beauty, fashion and hairdos, while others see it as a mirror reflecting society’s needs.

In a typical lifestyle piece, expensive fashion meets wealthy people shopping for expensive things.

After years of reporting for lifestyle, one realizes the power of words in making fashion novices famous, bashing restaurants, praising menus, recommending hangouts and killing jewelry collections. Being the first to eat at new restaurants is a luxury only a lifestyle reporter knows.

With all this lavishness around the corner, it is alluring to stay confined to a certain social class, promoting one posh lifestyle. Temptation is grand, but the journalist’s sense of duty and the integrity directly affiliated to the job requires a certain responsibility toward readers — the truth about street vendors, reasons behind power cuts, increases in generator sales and the domination of department stores in downtown.

“We live in a classist community,” says May Abdel Azeem, founder and managing editor of What Women Want.

Egypt is a number of societies each living in its own bubble, Abdel Azeem explains.

“What matters to a certain community wouldn’t necessarily matter to another, taking into consideration the various backgrounds and educational levels,” she adds.

Reporting for lifestyle is challenging, as one always needs to keep the balance between what is light and entertaining and serious topics, so both needs are addressed, she says.

“It all boils down to how well the writer knows his readers and how saturated those readers’ basic needs are,” she says.

For many lifestyle magazines, matters can be more money driven. Advertising is the name of the game, and articles can sometimes be specially tailored according to the ads coming in and the clients advertising with the publication.

“I was asked several times to write in favor of certain products simply because the owner advertises with us [our magazine], although I may think otherwise,” one young journalist, who has asked to remain anonymous, says.

Money versus integrity, in some cases, is another challenge lifestyle reporters may face during their careers.

“Lifestyle magazines face many challenges,” says Rola Kamel, founder of Identity Magazine.

Good journalists tend to prefer to report for newspapers, as magazines may appear less serious, Kamel says.

“As for readers, they prefer local Arabic newspapers when reading about politics,” the managing editor says.

Kamel also voices frustration about favors expected by clients who advertise with the magazine, and condemns their lack of knowledge about the readership.

“Nowadays, young readers expect short, concise, entertaining and informative pieces, which lessen the chance of bigger, analytical, serious pieces,” Kamel says.

Final Issue: FLAG of no country

Take to the Sea — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:17:00 +0000

This piece was written for Egypt Independent’s final weekly print edition, which was banned from going to press. We offer you our 50th and final edition here.

How much do you know of the sensible nuances between Egypt’s coastlines? How much travel literature did you read about what kind of a tourist you would be if you were a Red Sea vacationer as opposed to a Mediterranean Sea visitor?

Where does the limit of our knowledge of these getaways lie? In many ways, the understanding can be found at the beach — or a few kilometers further and deeper where you can finally experience the wonders of underwater life.

But the beach is only the beginning of these uncharted human experiences, a home for which the high sea and, more precisely, underwater fiber-optic cables — are at their best, or so it would seem until they get cut.

This invisible infrastructure permits the voyages we make everyday, dozens of times, in the sea of the Internet, that virtual universe reconfiguring the act of tourism in multiple ways and interrogating the logic of seeking information.

Today, you travel every day in the sea of cyberspace. Look at the Earth as if you were above, or drive through using Google Street View.

When the Internet was created and became increasingly available for the masses in the 1990s, the rhetoric in the media and popular discourse often referred to its power to shorten geographic distances — the possibility to cross all boundaries and visit other worlds thanks to the marvels of technology. The illusion was that humanity was virtually connected, as if through magic.

The magic of the World Wide Web was also celebrated as a democratizing scientific advancement, capable of giving access to information “horizontally” to the people, without mediators controlled by hierarchical institutions appropriating the authority to distribute this information likened to travel agencies that package exotic experiences to mesmerize vacationers.

Yet with all the advances the Internet has brought, some of the technology still relies on the same infrastructure laid out 150 years ago.

And all the magic of the endless voyages the Internet promises disappears the moment the cable is cut.

Like the international waters they span, these cables are transnational. One cable cut troubles a whole continent.

One such cable, FLAG, short for Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe, was laid in the mid-1990s to connect Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It begins in North America and ends up in Japan, and goes through a number of countries between the two, including Spain, Italy, Egypt and India.

These cables are symptomatic of how data travels, and paying attention to them has allowed us to reorient ourselves toward the material conditions — the physical infrastructure — of what we take for granted as a virtual world.

While being invisible and enigmatic to the tourist’s bare eye, this underwater infrastructure is a reflection, a literal undersea reflection, of the classical power dynamics in the pipeline of information. A case in point is presented by Neal Stephenson of Wired magazine, who in 1996 took on a legendary journey, traveling across the world following the laying of the longest cable on earth. During his stop in Egypt, he looked for the ruins of the Great Library of Alexandria.

“I didn’t know the exact route of SEA-ME-WE 3 and was intrigued to learn that it will be passing through the same building in Alexandria as SEA-ME-WE 1 and 2, which is also the same building that will be used by FLAG. Because this place, soon to be the most important data nexus on the planet, happens to be constructed virtually on top of the ruins of the Great Library of Alexandria.”

Further delineating the power dynamics of the fiber optic cable system, Stephenson wrote:

“... In a nicely Pharaonic touch, one of the six ducts going into the ground here is the sole property of President Hosni Mubarak, or (presumably) whoever succeeds him as head of state. It is hard to envision why a head of state would want or need his own private tube full of air running underneath the Sahara. The obvious guess is that the duct might be used to create a secure communications system, independent of the civilian and military systems (the Egyptian military will own one of the six ducts, and ARENTO will own three). This, in and of itself, says something about the relationship between the military and the government in Egypt. It is hardly surprising when you consider that Mubarak’s predecessor was murdered by the military during a parade.”

This possibility to access information about concealed experiences through alternative itineraries tells of a past present with us in these places, in one place that’s 2 inches thick and 28,000 kilometers long, and ties all continents in one go.

1929: Trans-Atlantic cables were cut following an earthquake near Newfoundland.

2005: The SEA-ME-WE 3 submarine cable was cut 35 kilometers south of Karachi.

2006: An earthquake near Hengchun rendered inoperable numerous cables between Taiwan and the Philippines that connect Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and China.

2007: Pirates stole an 11-kilometer cable that connected Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

2008: Two of the three Suez Canal cables, two cables in the Persian Gulf and one in Malaysia were cut in separate incidents.

2010: The SEA-ME-WE 4 submarine cable, which connects South East Asia and Europe, was reportedly cut in three places off Palermo, Italy.

2011: The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami damaged a number of undersea cables that land in Japan.

2012: The EASSy and TEAMS cables disconnected about half of the networks in Kenya and Uganda.

2013: The SEA-ME-WE-4 connection from France to Singapore was cut by divers in Egyptian waters.

Final Issue: Five signs it may be time to end a relationship

Heba Helmy — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +0000

This piece was written for Egypt Independent’s final weekly print edition, which was banned from going to press. We offer you our 50th and final edition here.

We all know that being in a relationship is exciting, but learning to evaluate whether your relationship is thriving or just surviving is a must. If you are not both on the same page, your relationship probably isn’t working and it may be time to pull the plug.

According to psychologist Amina al-Gammal, if you spot one or more of these five behaviors in your partner, it’s an indication that he or she is not investing much effort in the relationship, and you may want to move on. Your future will thank you.

Indifference

Showing indifference toward a relationship makes it lose its spark and can cause withdrawal and the silent treatment. No one wants to give their effort if it’s not reciprocated.

Working on a relationship all by yourself will eventually make you feel frustrated from trying so hard. While you may be keen to maintain emotional closeness, it is vital that your partner is keen on working things out as well.

Don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position. Find the right moment to speak up and confront your partner in a mature manner if you’re feeling uneasy, but without picking a quarrel.

If he or she doesn’t value your feelings and your attempts to improve the relationship, and is unwilling to discuss the issue, it may be time to move on and look for a partner who deserves your efforts.

Poor communication

Communication is the backbone of any relationship. Once partners stop communicating, understanding and sharing feelings, and being intimate, they no longer have a healthy relationship.

A partner who communicates poorly may be self-centered and need to be in control of the relationship. This person may perceive himself or herself as always being right and may judge without giving others a chance to express their ideas or perspectives.

This dynamic often leads to a constant state of denial. This person may respond to criticism by blaming her or her partner, and debating with the aim of winning the argument in order to impose his or her own beliefs.

The secret to successful communication with this type of partner is seeking a problem-oriented approach, to look deeper into the roots of your arguments and come up with satisfactory solutions for both of you. If your partner does not respond positively to these overtures, it may be time to end the relationship.

Bossiness

Living under your partner’s thumb means you allow him or her to mold your character into the person your partner wants you to be. You should decide from the very beginning whether you want your partner to have the upper hand in your relationship, or take a firm stance and say “no.”

A controlling partner may try to manage everything in your life and will often underestimate your good qualities.

A bossy partner also tends to pinpoint so-called “improvements” you should make to your life and character while overlooking any attempt to be a better person or develop new habits. Accordingly, no matter how much you try to satisfy this type of partner, it may feel like an unreachable goal.

Do not allow your character to be compromised. Let your motivations to change come from within.

Betrayals

While you are trying to silence your relationship worries, you could suffer a breakdown in terms of your life choices. One of the most devastating aspects of this whole experience is feeling unworthy and incapable of sustaining a healthy relationship.

Instead of putting the burden on your shoulders, it’s essential to know that betrayal says more about your partner’s ethics and sincerity than your own self-worth. If you find it hard to forgive and you are not the one responsible for the betrayal, it may be time to escape from the endless cycle of feeling empty and anxious.

Confront your fears, restore trust in yourself and other and then start all over again.

Philandering

You may have been swept off your feet by this type of partner, and that’s understandable. But hang on to your emotions.

Even if he or she is showering you with compliments, you may come to realize that he or she will not actually commit. So look out for red flags in the relationship from the beginning to discover if he or she is someone who isn’t going to wear a playboy hat and later break your heart.

If, after going out on a handful of dates, this partner is saying you are “the one,” you may need to pause your heart and use your head. While these overtures may make you feel over the moon, you should ask yourself how this person could feel this way so quickly.

Such a partner may, for instance, say he or she wants to introduce you to his or her family, but never fulfill the promise — pretending to take the relationship to the next level but actually offering nothing but words. This type of partner may see you as part of a long queue of potential lovers, rather than a person worth commitment, and that's your cue to find the nearest exit.

Power up: Electric generator sales are on the rise

Amany Aly Shawky — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

With news about future power cuts mounting and rumors of three- and four-hour-long power cuts in Cairo this summer, electric generator sales are increasing by the minute. Places such as Attaba and Souq al-Sabtia are crowded with anxious buyers looking for the best deals.

Electricity expert Hefzy Zayed said in an interview with ONtv satellite channel this month that poor maintenance of power plans and the lack of liquidity to buy raw materials for the plants has caused the electricity shortage.

Zayed said electricity cuts may occur across the country for up to two hours a day, and some predict rural areas will experiences power cuts lasting four to six hours.

Unsurprisingly, many families are now purchasing generators.

An electric generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, forcing electric currents to flow through an external circuit. Whatever is hooked up to a generator will last for a few hours after the power is cut, but appliances turn off before the generator power turns them on again.

Before the increase in power cuts, generators were sought by hospitals, factories and hotels — places that stand to lose lives, or large amounts of money, from loss of power.

The busy Gomhurriya and Naguib al-Rihany streets in Attaba are experiencing a new wave of well-off buyers who are desperately looking for the device.

“A 1,900-watt generator will run the lighting system of a small apartment, a fridge and a small fan, and costs LE2,600,” says Mohamed Samir, a store owner on Gomhurriya Street.

Larger generators, such as 6-kilowatt devices, can run an air conditioner up to 3 horsepower.

“These could go up to LE6,000,” Samir adds.

The most affordable generators are made in China.

“Japanese generators are less available,” says a shop owner who asked to be identified only by his last name, Remond.

He owns Patmos Tool Market in Attaba, and says LandTop and Lincoln are the most common brand.

“A [6-kilowatt] Lincoln electric generator costs LE8,000,” Remond says.

For those who can afford it, a Honda electric generator is a good buy but it costs about LE25,000.

Used generators are also sold in Sabtia market.

“Prices range from LE8,000 to LE60,000, depending on the machine’s capacity and whether it is automatic or manual,” says Sherif al-Khouly, who recently bought an electric generator for his house on the outskirts of Cairo.

The young father felt compelled to buy the expensive device in anticipation of emergencies during expected power cuts.

“The device has many disadvantages, among which are its high price, its loud noise, its big size and its fuel or diesel consumption,” says Khouly, who needs to store large quantities of fuel from now on to power the generator.

Ezzat Amin, a husband and father, says he has been looking for a generator since the Freedom and Justice Party’s Renaissance Project failed and after days soaking in his own sweat, wearing nothing but his undershirt.

“Generators are ‘in,’” Amin says, laughing.

“Importing electric generators is now a profitable business,” he explains, saying he knows a group of friends importing a shipment of 30 generators from China — 10 for personal use and the rest for sale.

He compares the high demand for diesel and electric generators to a state of turmoil or war.

“Egyptians are in a state of bewilderment,” the artist and scriptwriter, who wrote the book “Party of the Couch,” says. “Nowadays, you either find an affordable generator that runs on diesel, which is becoming a rare commodity, or a device that runs on fuel but is extremely expensive.”

Amin thinks the solution for the country’s energy problems is to increase diesel prices, eliminate the black market and end smuggling.

“The country is collapsing, and both electricity and diesel are commodities that are largely stolen and smuggled,” he says.

Mai Khaled, a housewife, says she thinks a little planning will pull her family through the summer.

“We have yet to purchase a generator,” she says, explaining that her building has emergency lights and they can cope with heat by taking showers — the only fear is losing refrigerated and frozen food. “I want to buy surge protectors for my fridge so it doesn’t burn out, but a generator is excessive.”

Of course, the vast majority of the population cannot afford generators. Emergency lights, flashlights and gas lamps may be a more affordable rescue plan during power cuts, and the realization of this demand has led to an increase in lamp and candle prices in poor and rural areas around the country.

As summer approaches and the temperature steadily increases, the need to solve the electricity problem becomes more presing. Whether it’s an automatic Honda generator or a gas lamp, Egyptian households are hoping to arm themselves with the necessary equipment.