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ONLY BE ISTANBULITE

Only-Be Istanbulite

If there’s smoke there’s fire… Rumours and their social effects.

We all know the saying “If there´s smoke there´s fire”, but beware!, Even though conventional wisdom is often correct, rumours have two sides and one of these shows clearly how we relate to and  judge other people. For this reason, if there’s smoke, it doesn’t always mean there’s fire It is no secret that we live in a world where stories and rumours about others, especially if they hurt the people involved, spread with tremendous ease, not to mention if these people are famous people we see on television or the Internet. But clearly there is no need to be famous, more than ever; we may find ourselves involved in a rumour circulating in some of our social circles that has little to do with reality. Sociological explanations of the rumour say that they help us to socialize and meet people with whom we interact through social constructions.  Our ideas about others are extremely vague and often arbitrary, an sometimes, just seeing a person is enough to make assumptions about their  life and personality, for example if we see a good-looking man, dressed smartly in suit and good manners, it will make it harder to believe in rumours that are  inconsistent with the social image that he shows. This sounds simple and seems at first glance like it helps us to maintain a social vision which is shared and mental order. But what happens with the thousands of rumours that seem to be unfounded, that share in the salon, with our neighbours in the shop up the block or in the hallways at work? Rumours are not always about...

Old predictions for the future actually turned out to be true

In the last article talked about people´s predictions for the year 2050. There will be robots that do everything and we will all be elderly cyborgs who survived World War III. Maybe! History shows that the predictions people make tend to be surprisingly accurate…. In 1900, a magazine asked its readers to send in their predictions about the future. For example, they imagined that houses would be climatized with hot air and cold air that came through pipes. Although they didn´t correctly imagine the form the technology we know today would take, they knew perfectly well that there would be air conditioning. Many more of their predictions have come true since then, even before they imagined they would, for better or worse. Sometimes what we dream of for the future isn´t what´s best for us, even if it is feasible. For example, these readers thought the cars would be much more common than horses, and horses become a cult object for the wealthy. Now, we see that our forefathers were right, but the price of progress is that we are suffering a great economic and ecological crisis because of our dependence on oil and cars, not to mention a health crisis caused by living a much more sedentary lifestyle than our ancestors lived. They also thought that photography would become a part of everyday life, and capable of representing the day´s events almost instantly. They also saw the possibility of live television broadcasts, or as they said “People will be able to see what´s happening in the world from anywhere else” Thanks to the Internet and television, we are...

What we dream will happen in 2050

Clairvoyance is not a very exact science, in fact it’s not a science at all. But people keep making predictions about the future, because it is our nature to want to know and prepare for what might happen. According to a recent study, the life of the future will be very different from life as we know it today. The respondents feel that: 66% of people said that artificial arms and legs will be more powerful than natural arms and legs. Given that 58% believe that there will be another world war or nuclear attack before 2050, chances are, you will have an artificial limb if you survive until 2050. If these predictions seem very pessimistic, comfort yourself knowing that 71% of people say a cure for cancer will have been found by 2050. Economic conditions will be worse, according to the 58% who say the gap between rich and poor will increase. 86% believed that retirement age will be at age 70 years or even later. And that’s if a computer or a robot isn’t already doing your job … Science will advance to the point where robots and computers will be indistinguishable from people, according to 81% of the people. To find out all these changes, will have to read about it in a blog or see it on some sort of electronic device, because the respondents were pretty sure that paper news is about to go the way of the dinosaur. The best part of the future? We may have space alien friends, or go on holiday in a spaceship. When I read this survey, I...

Seal concert in Istanbul

Soul music resumes in Istanbul on July 19 as part of the Jazz Festival. After the huge success of his tour last summer, the famous British singer Seal decided it´s time to share his music in Istanbul. Winner of three Grammy Awards, Seal managed to sell more than twenty million records worldwide during his successful musical career, his talent as a singer and author propelling it into the top of the more popular musical artists. Inexhaustible sources of success, his first two albums “Seal I” and “Seal II” marked the music of the 90s and and he has found great success as a singer with songs like “Kiss From a Rose”, “Crazy” or “Love´s Divine” becoming music classics. In the concert next July, along with his band featuring Steve Sindelnyc (drums), Marc Summerlin (guitar) and Marcus Brown (bass), Seal will release several songs from his upcoming album (rumored to be out in September) and there is no shortage of hits from his career. Mixing pop with rock and soul, the famous singer once again demonstrated his talent by offering thousands of fans romantic moments as well as moments full of energy, passion, rhythm and dance. In one of his last interviews Seal said that the music has always been the most important thing in his career. Don´t miss the opportunity to hear quality music on 19th July as part of the Istanbul Jazz Festival. Rent Apartments in Istanbul and enjoy an unforgettable night enjoying the rhythms of your favorite...

Istanbul Jazz Festival

The root of all modern music styles, jazz, returns to Istanbul for a festival that is about to turn sweet 17, from 1 to 20 July. More than 50 concerts await music lovers during this international festival, which invites more than 300 groups and artists to the city. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover a fascinating city and delve into its many architectural and acoustical treasures. The Open Air Theatre Cemil Topuzlu, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of St. Irene, Istanbul Modern, Istinye Park, the Board IKSV, the Sepetçiler villa and the Marmara Esma Sultan are just some of the places where concerts will be held, and you are sure to vibrate with pleasure. Don’t miss the opening ceremony with a concert by the best Turkish musicians at The Marmara Esma Sultan … International stars Artists and groups such as Tony Bennett, Grace Jones (16.07), Seal (17.07), Chick Corea, New Folks and Martha Wainwright (who will interpret songs by the divine French chanteuse Edith Piaf) are eagerly expected. Save the date for July 3, and head over to the Festival of Tünel, held in various cultural centres and concert halls divided between Galata and ?i?hane. Stages will be set up in tunnels and Kuledibi Galata to host several free performances: it’s free, which means you can’t afford to miss this chance to enjoy exciting jazz rhythms. Rock, pop, blues, reggae and new age resonate as well, which makes this event a festival for all types of people. In recent years, Bjork, Massive Attack, Eric Clapton, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Paco de Lucia, Jane Birkin, Mercedes Sosa and Lenny Kravitzhave...

Murat Germen in Istambul

From the 26 May 2010 until September 19, 2010, the Modern Art Museum of Istanbul will host an exhibition of Murat Germen´s photography. The title of the exhibition is “Way” and the exhibit´s concept references all the senses of the word. That is, the photos portray the idea of a way as a road, as a physical path to a place, as well a path for living, a metaphorical journey or manner of confronting a challenge, or how to find direction. Murat Germen writes of his work ” I think of photography as an opportunity to bring to the fore the ordinary things that people, consciously or unconsciously, ignore or don’t see, and give them the chance to change their prejudices. I try to bring out the extraordinariness that may be latent in the normal.” As a photographer, Germen is very focused on the technical side of contemporary photography, and uses many digital editing techniques. He often produces large format images. Especially noteworthy are his panoramic photos, which portray a troubled but familiar world, on a scale that makes the viewer appreciate all the subtleties and hidden details of a scene. Some of the photos in this exhibition measure 10 meters, allowing visitors to inhabit the world of the artist. There will be texts that elucidate their way. The modern art museum in Istanbul was opened in 2004 and was the first museum of its kind in Turkey. It is located in the district of Tophane, and every Thursday admission is free. In an era of “Blockbuster” exhibitions of canonical classics, this museum is noted for its continued support...

Rock-a-Baby

The children of famous rock stars perhaps belong to one of the most envied species in the world: in addition to being rich, gorgeously blessed with their beautiful model mother’s genes, they embody the glamour of rock, with its air of abandon and rebellion better than anyone else. Born and raised under public scrutiny, it’s not surprising that these enfants terribles have sought to bathe in the glow of the stage lights and the camera lens. They parade down the red carpet, mingle with the most interesting celebrities at the coolest parties, and serve as a nice accessory for every event. They don’t need to prove their place in society or stand out for their merits; their attention and adulation are guaranteed; as illustrated perfectly by the “Paris Hilton phenomenon,” they are the century’s perfect celebrities. Known and loved by millions, for being rich and not for doing much else. However, the name of their famous parents may also be a curse. The son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sean, so far has not been able to remove the label “son.” Despite multiple attempts to establish himself as a musician, this guy stands out for his weakness for pretty girls and his exclusive pedigree. For years we saw him walking hand in hand with the “it” girl of the moment, like the model Irina Lazareanu, or his current squeeze, extra-cute Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The couple has turned a blitz of media coverage from curse to profitable blessing. With their eccentric outfits and nonplussed expressions, they stand strong before any camera that promises to bring more media attention. Apparently,...

Body Language: What They’re Really Saying

If words only account for ten percent of what we say, where does the other ninety come from? The tone of our voice has a lot to do with it, but by far the biggest communicator we have is our bodies. Unless we are pathological liars, our bodies signal pretty much everything we are feeling. It´s not just the way we stand, it´s our hand gestures, eye movements, everything. The person you´re talking to does it too – and if you know what to look for you, you can spot it. Lying The body is an honest thing, and lying puts it into a state of stress. The heartbeart becomes more rapid, adrenaline floods the system, and the body wants to ´catch´ the lie before it´s out. Kids even cover their mouths when they lie. Lack of eye contact, sudden smoking, scratching the nose or upper lip, looking downwards and away are all signs of lying. Be careful with these though! Any kinds of stress can produce the same results, so if you accuse someone of doing something, they may show all these same signals even if they are innocent. Job interviews are another time that people often look like liars. It´s not just because they´ve padded their Cvs – its just plain old interview stress that makes them look shady. Love Well, not really love. Sexual attraction. In men: There is a difference in men´s body language when they want sex, and when they are attracted to a woman as a potential partner. Men are pretty transparent when it comes to sexual body language: They talk sex, they...

International Children’s Festival – Where Kids Rule

Around the world there are many children that don’t live in the same conditions as other kids. Some of them don’t have someone who cares about them, someone to tell them about rules like you can only eat candy on Saturdays or establish bedtimes. But when the festival where kids rule begins, there is going to be a change, at least for a week in the beginning of June. International Children’s Festival is an event which is celebrated on various days in several places worldwide. The Festival starts on the 1st of June and ends on the 5th of June. It is not clear why they chose to have the festival on this date; maybe it has something to do with the Chinese generals in San Francisco who gathered a few Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat festival in 1925, which coincidentally happened on 1st of June that year. This festival is set to honour children and minors and is an opportunity for children around the world to share their cultures through language and art. It provides an opportunity for kids to be involved in art activities and presentations, and it is both educational and entertaining. You can have a chance to play a major role in the International Children’s Festival; you can be a volunteer! Make an impact in the community and explore what life is like in a world where kids rule. Over 650 people around the community gather together to make this festival possible! You can help with things like paint faces, sell merchandise, assist artists, and much more. Take an advantage of this amazing...