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The 1st issue of Alquin Magazine 2008-2009
Some articles in this issue:
- the bands played on
MP3 players, rock concerts, playing in a band – great fun, but your ears might not think so. Even though you might not have trouble hearing now, you might end up with ringing ears – literally.
- funfair kids
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a fun fair and move from town to town instead of just spending the whole time in one place, in a house that can’t even move? For the kids in this article that’s what their whole life is about, because they are part of the fun fair crew. And yes, they thoroughly enjoy it!
- floozies
When your life consists of clubbing and getting very, very drunk every night, it might be difficult to switch to the life of a lady. Nevertheless, these girls gave it a try and changed their miniskirts for designer dresses.
- the angry carpenter
Harrison Ford was once dubbed ‘carpenter to the stars’ because of his carpentry skills. Nowadays, he’s of course better known for his acting skills, and proves he’s still alive and kicking – or lashing his whip - in the new Indiana Jones film.
- disabled models
When people think of models, they usually think of, well, models of perfection. Radiant young women with perfect bodies, a dress size ordinary people may only dream of and a smile to match. The young women in this article would perfectly match that description – if they hadn’t been in a wheelchair, missing an arm or deaf. Still, that doesn’t keep them from pursuing a modelling career.
- food miles
Have you ever thought about the distance that kiwi you just bought has travelled to get to your local supermarket? The family you’ll meet in this article has, and has chosen to eat only locally grown products because they don’t want to pollute this planet more than necessary.
- Heathrow is my home
Heathrow is a bustling airport near London. However, it’s also home to numerous homeless people, who have flocked to the airport because of its relative safety compared to the streets of London.
- teenage paparazzo
Many Hollywood teenagers dream of a career as an actor or director. However, Blaine, the teen we meet in this article, has chosen another career path. After school, he hits the streets of Hollywood to chase celebrities and check out tips on the whereabouts of famous actors and singers.
- oxygen for fame
Darryn Lyons is another paparazzo – and he fits the image one might have of a gossip photographer much better than 15-year-old Blaine. Ruthless, ambitious and enterprising, this man is convinced that celebrities are actually dependent on the people in his business.
- just a game?
Anthony Horowitz is a writer of children’s books, so maybe not the most logical person to write an article about Grand Theft Auto 4. Nevertheless, as the father of two sons who are keen gamers, he might be able to make a point about GTA4 and similar games.
- gene dating
It doesn’t seem very romantic when you have to admit to your friends that you and the love of your life met thanks to a mouth swab that determined your DNA and matched it with someone else’s. Still, this might become more and more common as people have less time to simply meet prospective partners in social situations.
- global intelligence
Wikipedia is criticised by many people because it’s not completely trustworthy, but the writer of this article argues that we shouldn’t focus on these minor inaccuracies, but look at the idea behind it.
- illiteracy
You might not know it, but there are thousands of people who are not able to read and write. How do they survive in today’s world, how is it possible that they never learnt how to read or write at school, and what can be done to help them?
- those sexy Iranians
Most people associate Iran with strict religious laws and little freedom. However, these Iranian boys and girls from Tehran beg to differ.
- Persepolis
Growing up in Iran, Austria and France has thoroughly shaped and shaken Marjane Satrapi. She created a highly amusing graphic novel about her road to adulthood which tells the reader about being a rebel, dealing with extremists from every kind and growing up in different cultures.
- beneath the roses
Gregory Crewdson’s photos aren’t simply nice mementos of life in the United States. Each picture tells its own story, and most stories tend to leave the viewer with a slightly uncomfortable feeling.
- out of this world
Jeremy Clarkson - you probably know him as a Top Gear presenter – loves cars. Especially when they’re fast, big and make a lot of noise.
- reader, I loathed him
Everyone who’s read Jane Eyre knows that, in the end, after a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings, governess Jane Eyre marries her beloved Mr Rochester, her former employer. But how realistic was this scenario? This article reveals all.
- the day shopping had to stop
Maybe you enjoy shopping. Just meeting with a couple of friends and trying on nice clothes, making fun of ludicrous hats and sunglasses and occasionally buying a shirt or a bag. Some people don’t know when to stop though. Even though their house is overflowing with never-worn pants, shoes and skirts, they keep on buying and running up huge debts, like the woman in this story.
- runaway despair
Where do you go when you’re not happy at home and when you’re starting to consider even sleeping on the streets is better than staying? Well, for London teenagers one option is the London Refuge. Here you can read more about this institution and meet some of the teenagers.
- mixed messages
Caramel is a film by a Lebanese woman, who has mixed her own experiences and those of her friends in the script. Meet Nadine Labaki, actress, writer and filmmaker, and the characters in her film.
- the new apartheid
Apartheid in South Africa was officially abolished more than a decade ago. However, as a recent YouTube video proved, that doesn’t mean that racism doesn’t exist anymore. The Rainbow Nation isn’t the perfect society people hoped it would be yet.
- star-crossed lovers
Bonnie and Clyde will forever be remembered and romanticised in songs and literature. Still, this gangster duo wasn’t as innocent as some films might suggest. Here you can read how they got to meet and how they ended up as bank robbers and killers.
- hard times
Life in the US in the 1930s was far from pleasant. Thousands of people had lost all their savings when the market crashed, a persisting drought caused the harvests to fail and only the lucky few had jobs. Find out which incidents and events led to this unfortunate situation.
- the real inconvenient truth
Nigel Lawson, a member of the British House of Lords, doesn’t believe in global warming. Or, if it exists, he doesn’t believe it’s such a bad thing to have somewhat warmer weather. In this essay he explains why he thinks so.
[ Click here to find out more! ]
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