THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Earth’s SPORT DAY core • Many private companies and organisations mark theory National Sport Day P | 4, 5 & 6 P 10 | MARKETPLACE • McDonald’s Qatar adds Grand Chicken Spicy to its permanent menu
P | 7 Tips to encourage couples to focus on the most important FILM elements of decorating, not • The SpongeBob Movie: just style but the four C’s: cost, Superhero slugfest drags comfort, colour and compromise. a good sequel down P | 8-9
HEALTH • To reach your goals, don’t be such an optimist
P | 11
TECHNOLOGY • Celebrity computer Watson is now learning Japanese
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DOING INTERIORS LEARN ARABIC • Learn commonly used Arabic words AS A COUPLE and their meanings P | 13 2 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 COVER STORY
Five ways to survive a home decorating project as a couple
By Elizabeth Mayhew
admit it. I singlehandedly took over the decorating of my family’s house. To most, this would seem natural because I work Iin the field and have always had a very strong aesthetic point of view. But what our friends and colleagues don’t realise is that my husband also has interior design opinions — ones that I bulldozed over. Although I am proud of how our house turned out, I am not proud of the fact that I pretended to, but in reality did not, involve him. My husband equates the decorating proc- ess to the time we selected our wedding regis- try — I dragged him along under the guise that his opinion mattered when all I really wanted was for him to like what I liked. For our house, we bickered about the place- ment of the dining table, the colour of the sofa, whether to hang curtains and of course the price of everything. In almost all cases, I got my way, but not without consequences. Even today, years after the last room was finished, my decorating domination comes back to haunt me especially in the heat of an argu- ment (it’s the prime example of how I take over everything). Although I can’t undo my actions, I can impart some wisdom to my clients so that their process is more balanced than ours was. I encourage couples to focus on the most impor- tant elements of decorating, not just style but also what I call the four C’s: cost, comfort, colour and compromise. I also asked for the advice of Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Saltz gives smart, no-nonsense tips — ones that I wish I had followed years ago. PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 3
When it comes — Cost chips. Clarity comes when I tell them that to decorating, I The No. 1 thing couples fight about is the simplest way to judge a colour is to try it money, so when it comes to decorating, the out, at which point they roll up their sleeves have worked with most important thing you can do is set a and get to work. Painting is fun, and working couples who have budget before you begin. Do your homework together will make you both feel good. Saltz clearly delineated and make sure you factor in all extra costs says it is important to give each other credit. such as moving and installation. I always sug- “Pride in your home, like pride in your family, responsibilities: gest investing in the big pieces first for each is something that can increase your closeness He deals with room: sofa, dining table and bed. Saltz suggests because it reflects both your tastes.” going one step further: discuss early on how everything you will handle either one of you wanting to — Compromise outside, she deals make a budget change along the way. When it comes to decorating, I have worked with couples who have clearly delineated with everything — Comfort responsibilities: He deals with everything inside. Comfort is one of the trickiest elements of outside, she deals with everything inside. But decorating because what is comfortable for for most it’s not that easy. One client of mine a 5-foot-2 woman might not be comfortable said, “all men want a La-Z-Boy recliner, and for a 6-foot-4 man. Go furniture shopping all women don’t.” Though the truth might together. Also know the purpose of each room not be so black and white, the challenge still and furnish it accordingly. Saltz suggests that is finding a way to balance style desires with couples should decorate in 10-year increments comfort and financial desires so that, as Saltz for actual family living. In her experience, says, “you avoid later resentments.” I wish I many fights occur when couples decorate for had had that advice. Saltz recommends that an ideal and not for kids, messiness and ease couples make communication a priority with of care, which not only creates tension, but weekly check-ins during which they take each also decreases the opportunity for fun family other’s temperature on their decisions, budget experiences and memories that build intimacy. and any changes that might have arisen. From a decorating standpoint, comfort and fabric go hand in hand; you will never be fully — Style relaxed if you are terrified of staining what Style is perhaps the trickiest for couples to you’re sitting on. To determine the right fab- navigate because it is so personal. You can’t ric choices, think about look, feel and, most argue with someone if he or she thinks a sofa important, durability (check out solution-dyed isn’t comfortable, but you can argue if that per- outdoor fabrics for all upholstery). And when son doesn’t like a sofa because of its chunky leg it comes to sofas, consider extra-deep seats, and modern silhouette. Presumably you and down or down-covered foam cushions and your partner have had some discussion of style ample pillows or throw cushions (these are before you embark on a decorating project, but, so that short people like me will be comfort- quite often, one’s taste changes and evolves dur- able in those extra-deep seats!). ing the process. Saltz warns that “if you disa- gree, remember it is stuff, not people, you’re — Colour talking about, so don’t personalize having differ- Painting your walls is without a doubt the ent tastes.” The one place Saltz makes a definite single most transformative tool in all of inte- style recommendation is in the bedroom. She rior design and one of the most flexible. Its says, “Think ‘romantic’ in your bedroom. This impact is immediate, changing the mood of a is your nest with your partner. Increase both room and your perception of its size. Although of your feelings of being desired by planning a painting a room is easy, choosing a colour can place to share your love for each other.” be a challenge. Numerous times I have sat Mayhew is the author of Flip! for Decorating. with couples as they labor over tiny paint WP-Bloomberg 4 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT DAY
Al Zaman Exchange won the first place in Qatar Central Bank Marathon conducted as part of Qatar National Sport Day.
NIA cricket tournament orth Indian Association (NIA) Ncelebrated National Sport day by arranging Cricket tournament at Qatar Cricket Association Ground No. 5 in West Bay. Four teams participated in the event. Shoprite won the gold cup and PWC won the silver cup. Medals were awarded to other participating teams from PEPSI and Al Qamra. Ikhlaq, Piyush Rathore and Dr Aswani Bose won the ‘man of match’ awards and Dr Bose also won the man of the series award. NIA managing committee arranged breakfast and lunch at the play ground for the participants, members and guests. Umpires were Shivani Mishra, and Narendra Tomar. Mohit Pant was the scorer. The Peninsula
Intertec Group celebrated the National Sport Day with the Group CFO George Thomas. SPORT DAY PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 5
Galfar Al Misnad Group holds Sport Day Run — Go Green
s part of the Qatar National Sport Day event, AGalfar Al Misnad Group conceived and sponsored the Sport Day Run — Go Green on February 10. More than 500 people comprising the manage- ment, staff and workers of Galfar Al Misnad Group participated in the more than 3km run along the corridors of Corniche. The main objective of the 'Qatar National Sport Day Run' was to effectively showcase the importance of preservation of greenery and spread awareness of healthy living. Hema Chandran, Group General Manager, addressed the gathering and pointed out that the private sector is responsible for the appropriate upkeep of the environment. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, Assistant Under Secretary, Ministry of Environment, stressed the need of imparting continuous awareness and knowl- edge of ‘Go Green’ throughout Qatar. Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary and CEO of Qatar Olympic Committee, stressed the importance of health and healthy living conditions for all. The Peninsula
Mannai Corporation marks National Sport Day
annai Corporation marked the outside our work environment.” with various team activities set up for all including National Sport Day celebration with He also added: “Mannai will remain to promote human foosball, bubble football, obstacle race, tug its employees and subsidiary com- an active healthy lifestyle through our inter- of war among others. Mpanies at the Marriott Hotel, Beach department tournaments and other external Mannai also organised off-site tournaments that area. engagements. We continue to exercise the val- were held prior to the National Sport Day celebra- On the occasion, Khalid Mannai, Executive ues of ‘The Mannai Way’. Mannai is a team and tion. The teams were represented by employees Director of Mannai Corporation, said: “This gath- together we make a difference”. from different department and divisions of Mannai ering is dedicated not only for fun as we engage in The day also marked the recognition of 15 Group. The off-site games included football, bas- the activities set for the day but this is an opportu- employees who completed 25 years of service. ketball, volleyball, table tennis, billiard and chess. nity for all of us to fellowship with our co-workers The event was attended by over 2,000 employees The Peninsula
Sharaka Holdings participates in ‘Every Step Counts’ event
Sharaka Holdings teamed up with Aspire Zone Foundation to participate in “ Every Step Counts - The 5,000 Step Journey”. A 500 strong Sharaka team comprising members of the staff and their families took part in the event. The group first got together in front of The Torch Hotel and made their way down the chosen track to complete the 5,000 step journey. By participating in the “Every Step Counts” event, the com- pany hopes to instil in its team members the importance of balancing work with exercise. 6 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT DAY
Landmark Olympics
Landmark Group celebrated National Sport Day with many activities for its employ- ees as well as for customers. To celebrate the day, the group conducts Landmark Olympics every year to support sporting activities and spread the importance of healthy living among its employees. All employees of the group participated in indoor and outdoor games like football, basketball, volleyball, cricket, softball, table tennis, carom, chess and bowling alley.
HOG Sport Day activities
National Sport Day activities organised by HOG (Harley Owners Group) for its members and their families at the Sealine Beach Resort.
Hyatt Plaza organises ‘5000 step Journey’ inside the mall
mphasizing the importance of healthy living, Hyatt Plaza shopping mall staff and Emanagement team conducted a ‘5000 step Journey’ inside Hyatt Plaza shopping mall on Qatar National Sport Day. The event, exclusive to Hyatt Plaza staff, management team and their families, was organised under Hyatt Plaza Walking Club, Qatar’s first dedicated Mall Walking Club. “Qatar National Sport Day is a perfect occasion to remind our team about the importance of staying No 3 and followed the walking track members to walk in the indoor, climate said Fuad Shaqadan, Leasing and physically active in their daily lives identified for Mall Walking club controlled atmosphere of Hyatt Plaza Marketing Manager, Hyatt Plaza and encourage them to walk more,” members. The participants completed Shopping Mall. The initiative also Shopping Mall. said Feroz Moideen, General Manager, a total of 5 rounds across the mall promotes daily walk with monthly The initiative currently has more Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall. “During covering the entire mall. prizes and free health checkups for all than 1,200 members and registration our activity today, all of us have Hyatt Plaza Walking Club, the its members. “Hyatt Plaza walking club is open to general public. “Customers renewed our resolution to walk more initiative of Hyatt Plaza with the is the first and one of its kind initiative can register at Hyatt Plaza customer and stay physically fit.” support of Aspire Zone Foundation, in the country which provides a venue service desk, walk more, stay fit and get The journey started from Hyatt promotes daily walk among customers for people to walk and stay fit despite awarded,” concluded Fuad Shaqadan. Plaza customer service desk at Gate and general public by inviting its unfavorable weather conditions,” The Peninsula COMMUNITY / MARKETPLACE PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 7
Lulu manager dies shok Kumar, aged 54 years, who was working as ‘Regional AMeat Manager’ with Lulu Hypermarket Group died yesterday morning at Wakra Hospital due to brain hemorrhage. He was working with Lulu Ideal Indian Hypermarket Group since April 1999 and was the regional in-charge of their Fresh Food Section. School honoured He hails from Maloor, Pathanapuram, Kollam District, Kerala and is survived by his wife Suja and two children. Ideal Indian School (IIS) was honoured for topping in the Gulf region (GCC) in the CBSE Class XII Examinations held in March Mortal remains has been taken to 2014. Lakshmi AJay Nair of IIS topped in the commerce Stream with 97.4 percent marks. IIS Principal Syed Shoukath Ali Kerala for the funeral ceremony. received a memento at the 27th Principal’s Conference of CBSE Affiliated Schools in the Gulf held in Bahrain recently.
Special menu at Chi’Zen to welcome the Year of the Sheep hi‘Zen at the Oryx Rotana Doha Cis planning to welcome the Year of the Sheep welcomed with a series of festive offerings. Chef Eddie Burburanto and his team have created a special four course set menu at QR199 per person to celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year. A total of six dishes comprise of delicious treats like Salmon in crushed black pep- per, Beef Noodle Soup with Pok Choi, Cantonese Soya Chicken, and Yeung Chow fried rice, to name a few. The dessert offering is the traditional Milk ‘Winter Sale Promotion’ at Fifty One East Cream Sticky Rice cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. Fifty One East kicked off its winter sale promotion with up to 50 percent The Peninsula discount on their luxury brands at all their outlets located at Al Maha Centre, City Center Doha and Lagoona Mall. The sale will last till February 18.
McDonald’s Qatar adds premium Grand Chicken Spicy to its permanent menu
cDonald’s Qatar announced creation. The Grand Chicken Al Mana Restaurants & Food Ma new addition to its core Spicy patty, complemented Co, said: “The new high quality menu, the premium Grand with the delicate heat of the product in our permanent menu Chicken Spicy. The newest Dijon mustard, two melted comes in response to customers’ member of the Grand Chicken slices of Emmental Cheese, demand for additional spicy range is already available at all fresh lettuce cuts, blush-red chicken sandwiches. At McDonald’s stores in Doha. tomatoes, are all brought McDonald’s, we are committed McDonald’s premium Grand together in a tasty artisan bun. to providing our loyal customers Chicken Spicy beautifully Commenting on the new with favoured flavours using only brings together a combination premium offering from quality ingredients, as they have of ingredients curated McDonald’s, Kamal Saleh Al come to expect from us.” especially for this new spicy Mana, Managing Director of The Peninsula 8 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 ENTERTAINMENT PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 9
NEWS HOLLYWOOD NEWS BOLLYWOOD Films targeted to get publicity: Aamir Jon Stewart leaving Comedy The SpongeBob Movie: Superhero ctor Aamir Khan, whose last movie PK got embroiled in multiple Acontroversies before and after its release, feels that films have now Central’s ‘The Daily Show’ become soft targets for publicity-hungry people. PK, which portrays Aamir Khan as an alien, raised questions about omedian Jon Stewart, famed for his biting television satire of politi- religion and people’s blind faith in godmen. cians and the media, will leave his job as host of Comedy Central’s slugfest drags a good sequel down Aamir was present at the ‘Youth For Governance’ event here. He was asked Cparody newscast “The Daily Show” later this year, he told his studio to share his thoughts about controversial films that go on to become hits. audience at the end of Tuesday night’s episode. He said: “When people like the film, then it becomes a hit. When we Stewart, 52, who has starred on the show since 1999, said he had no spe- say ‘hit’, we mean people like that film. The only reason behind a hit film cific plans for his next career move, but was thankful for the opportunity is that how good you have made it. And if you have made a bad movie, no to host the programme. matter how well you market that film, it’s not going to do well.” “It’s been an absolute privilege,” said an emotional Stewart. “It’s been Sharing his “theory on films”, Aamir said: “No matter what you do, you the honour of my professional life, and I thank you for watching it, for can’t make a bad film work. And no matter what you do, you can’t kill a hate-watching it, whatever reason you are tuning in for.” good film. It works both ways,” he added. The announcement came after Comedy Central’s other big name, former Aamir further said that the film industry has now become a soft target “Daily Show” contributor Stephen Colbert, ended his tenure as star of for people who want cheap publicity. “It is an unfortunate fact that nowa- companion show “The Colbert Report” and left the network in December to days, every film seems to have attracted some or the other controversy. succeed the retiring David Letterman as host of the “Late Show” on CBS. There was a case of plagiarism filed against Rajkumar Hirani for PK. The The New York-based “The Daily Show,” which airs weeknights at 11pm person filing the case got his name on the front page, which is what he on the Viacom Inc-owned Comedy Central, is expected to continue, the wanted. So, it has now become easy to get publicity,” the actor said. network said, but a replacement for Stewart has yet to be named. Aamir also appealed to the media to investigate such stories appropri- “Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become ately when they appear, instead of following them and fanning them blindly. a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come,” Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless said in a statement. Stewart replaced Craig Kilborn roughly 15 years ago as host of the late- night cable programme, which has won Peabody and Emmy awards. Thrilled to work with Bajpayee: Hashmi “17 years is the longest I have ever in my life held a job, by 16 years and five months,” Stewart said on Tuesday’s broadcast. ctor Sharib Hashmi, who will share screen space with critically “The upshot there being I am a terrible employee. But in my heart, I know Aacclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee in his next film, says he is thrilled to it is time for someone else to have that opportunity,” he added, prompting be working with him. boos from the audience. “My next film is with Manoj Bajpayee which is titled Adaab Dawood “The Daily Show” averages slightly more than 1 million viewers a night, Ibrahim Bol Raha Hoon. It’s an out-and-out comedy film. I’m thrilled to a far smaller audience than his late-night competition on broadcast net- work with Manoj and I’m so thankful I got an opportunity to work with works, but Stewart became disproportionately influential in US politics him. I’m sure it’s going to be a learning experience for me to work with and culture. him,” Sharib said. His lampoon- Directed by Samir Karnik, Adaab Dawood Ibrahim Bol Raha Hoon will go By Jordan Hoffman ing of elected and Krusty Krab vault. An unforeseen Squidward.) get into trouble as they continue the on floors in March 2015. The film will be widely shot in Gujarat. would-be office- development causes the recipe to disap- Best, though, is a chat with Bubbles, hunt for Krabby Patties. It’s here that Meanwhile, Sharib will also be seen in Badmashiyaan. holders, broadcast t’s been a while since I checked in pear, and now SpongeBob and Plankton a hyper-intelligent dolphin floating the narrative caves in on itself, as Talking about the film, he said: “In Badmashiyaan, I’m playing a Haryanvi journalists and with SpongeBob SquarePants. My must join forces to find it, because the through space in some sort of pyramid Antonio Banderas is revealed as the don. It’s a very unusual role. It was not easy to play a Haryanvi character, other public fig- nephew doesn’t need babysitting lack of Krabby Patties has sent Bikini as he watches over our galaxy. None “author” of Bikini Bottom’s current but I worked really hard for it,” he said. ures, especially on Iand rarely I stumble home from Bottom into chaos. (With a blink this of this much impresses the unflap- woes, something of an update on Bugs the conservative a concert with the munchies. But the joyous community of aquatic creatures pable SpongeBob, who always seems Bunny in Duck Amuck. end of the spec- bright yellow oceanic Candide still lives transforms into the post-apocalyptic more preoccupied with being on his The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of trum, has made in a pineapple under the sea, undergo- mayhem of The Road Warrior, leather best behaviour. (And besides, Bubbles Water makes a calculated marketing him a darling of ing madcap adventures that ride cur- garments and all.) is prone to interrupt his own brilliant decision to dovetail into superhero Varun to try ‘new stuff’ in every film the political left. rents of absurdity, all while maintaining SpongeBob and Plankton’s buddy pronouncements with uncontrollable tropes, which no doubt looks great on ctor Varun Dhawan, who is being appreciated for his aggressive and Young adult his purity and optimism. The SpongeBob picture is rife with tangents, like a squeaks.) the poster, but causes the last third of Arugged look in soon-to-release Badlapur, plans to try new things in viewers form the Movie: Sponge Out of Water is 90 min- literal trip inside SpongeBob’s cotton The film’s final act ramps up the the movie to drag considerably. Much every film in the future. core of his fan utes of sugar shock that requires lit- candy brain and excursions on a time lunacy by bringing the gang into the like real superhero movies, the slugfest “I have some big plans, but I don’t want to talk about them right now. The base. In a 2004 tle exposure to the nearly 15-year-old machine. (Through use of the latter we “real world”. On a populated beach, showdown lasts forever. It really is a idea is to do new stuff poll by the Pew franchise. Sure, there’s a semblance of meet Squidwardsaurus Rex, an enor- tiny 3D versions of SpongeBob, letdown, because so much of the action with every film,” Varun Research Center a story (and some winks for longtime mous-but-still-cute Jurassic version of Squidward, the adorably imbecilic in the film is top notch. A jailbreak said here Monday dur- for the People and fans) but this is primarily an exercise Krusty Krab’s curmudgeonly cashier Patrick (a purple starfish) and more scene (with Patrick as guard) cuts ing a road show to pro- the Press, 21 per- in hyperactivity meant to spark glee together wonderfully, as do the 2001: mote Badlapur. cent of respond- in kids and draw chuckles from adults. A Space Odyssey-inspired time-travel “After this film, I ents aged 18 to 29 The effect is admittedly ephemeral, yet Sony and Marvel to partner on Spider-Man movie jumps. Moreover, the script is a mine- have a film (ABCD 2) cited “The Daily while the film is running it is altogether field of puns blasting in every which which is shot in 3D. Show” as a regular effective. ony Pictures and Marvel Studies have reached a deal to partner on the next direction. The idea is to give the source of political A framing device introduces live- installment of the $4bn Spider-Man franchise, uniting the web-slinging It isn’t just the sheer density of audience something news. action Antonio Banderas as a pirate superhero with Marvel’s comic book universe. jokes that is impressive, but the diver- exciting with every A two-time snatching a book about SpongeBob’s S Kevin Feige, president of Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios, will co-produce sity. Trippy visual surrealism, like film and not the same Oscar host who home village of Bikini Bottom. the next film set for July 2017 release with Sony’s Amy Pascal, according to a state- Plankton’s POV shots as he’s tortured thing so that they feel has branched out Exaggerating his Iberian accent, our ment from the firms. by SpongeBob’s laugh, can quickly crys- there is a new form into the movie bearded narrator commences to spin a Under the agreement, the Spider-Man will also appear in an upcoming Marvel tallise into clever sight gags. Barking of entertainment,” he industry, Stewart made his directorial debut with the film Rosewater last yarn about our lovable animated pals. film, and Marvel characters, which include Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, “hold that thought!” and cutting to a added. year. SpongeBob, you may recall, works for could appear in later Spider-Man films, the statement said. literal representation of that action is So far, the 27-year- Beginning his show business career in stand-up comedy in New York, Mr Krabs at Krusty Krab making Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Sony Corp, will continue to own the something not just any animator can old has been seen in Stewart took his satirical humor to MTV in 1993, where he hosted “The Krabby Patties. cinematic rights to Spider-Man, a Marvel superhero, the statement said. pull off. By the time Bubbles the Space romantic and light-hearted roles, but in Badlapur, a dark intense drama, Jon Stewart Show.” Mr Krabs may be a bit of a skinflint, “Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this Dolphin reappears to do an angry rap Varun will be seen as an aggressive man on a mission of revenge. Directed “The Daily Show” has been a launchpad for several comedians besides but he’s all right. Plankton, a tiny bad deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among just before the credits, you’ve either by Sriram Raghavan, Badlapur is slated to release on February 20. Colbert, among them Steve Carell and John Oliver. Reuters guy, has long wanted the secret formula other Super Heroes,” the statement said. Reuters given yourself over to the weirdness for the Krabby Patties, and he’s finally or you’ve walked out of the theatre. cooked up a way to snatch it from the The Peninsula 10 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 SPACE HEALTH / FITNESS PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 11 To reach your goals, don’t be such an optimist
By Christie Aschwanden who are positively fantasizing about the future might be enjoying future t’s that time of year when New success in the here and now, and they Year’s resolutions begin to fade, can become so relaxed that they don’t and even the best-laid plans can get serious about addressing obstacles,” Ibecome sidetracked as life gets Oettingen says. busy. But as psychologists and behav- In her new book, Rethinking Positive ioural economists have found reasons Thinking, Oettingen outlines a mental economists call hyperbolic discounting, ‘Today is a push-ups day,’” he says. The why it’s so easy to let good intentions contrasting strategy called WOOP, for in which immediate rewards seem more Android app has helped him stay on slide, they’ve also come up with tools “wish, outcome, obstacle, plan.” alluring than further-off ones, even if track with the exercise goals that, “his- to help. First, you identify your wish or goal, they’re smaller. torically, I’ve been very good at not quite As counterintuitive as it may sound, then you take a moment to imagine how “The idea is that our decision-making getting around to.” many resolutions fail due to positive great it will feel to attain it, next you is distorted by the immediate conse- Stickk is another goal tracker that thinking, says Gabriele Oettingen, a think about obstacles you might encoun- quences,” says Daniel Reeves, a game uses financial incentives for motiva- psychologist at New York University. ter and finally you build a plan to over- theorist who, with his wife, Bethany tion. Whereas Beeminder relies on self- Her research has shown that optimis- come these barriers. Smartphone users Soule, founded a company called reports and data tracking, Stickk enlists tic thinking can actually hamper your can download a WOOP app to help them Beeminder to help people overcome what it calls “referees” to hold its users drive to succeed. save goals and plans and track progress. this bug in our mental processing sys- accountable. After setting your goal, you In one study, her research team asked Some goals fail when they fall prey tem. If you’re trying to lose weight, you set the stakes, in dollars, and then select a group of 134 dieters to list a goal they to a phenomenon that behavioural won’t see the benefits of skipping dessert a person to keep you honest. Your ref- thought they could attain in the next today, whereas you can experience the eree must confirm to Stickk that you’ve two weeks. Some were also asked to tasty pie right now. Beeminder brings done what you’ve said, or else you’re on imagine themselves succeeding, while the distant goals closer by creating an the hook for the money. others were told to think about their Some goals fail when immediate payoff for the behaviour with “What we’re doing is literally raising goal but also obstacles that might stand rewards in the future and a short-term the price of your poor decision today in in their way — an exercise called men- they fall prey to a punishment for choices that derail your real time,” says Jordan Goldberg, who tal contrasting. Two weeks later, the phenomenon that long-term plans. founded Stickk in 2008 with two Yale people who had anticipated potential Users sign up and commit to a goal, behavioural economists. Your long-term roadblocks reported that they had eaten behavioural economists then use Beeminder to track progress. self wants to be healthy as you age, but fewer calories than those who had only call hyperbolic Marking your goal on Beeminder the you of today would rather watch TV envisioned succeeding. becomes a tiny pleasure, like crossing than go to the gym. By forcing you to “We found that positive dreams and discounting, in which something off a to-do list. And after a pay a fee for choosing to skip the gym, fantasies are not only not helpful, but immediate rewards free period, the service charges your Stickk brings the long-term costs of they might actually hurt,” Oettingen credit card an amount you’ve volun- that behaviour closer. says. Further studies suggest that seem more alluring tarily pledged if you get off track. “It If you fail, the money can go to a mental contrasting helps goal-setters than further-off ones, quickly grows to an amount that actu- friend, a foe, a charity or what Goldberg prepare to deal with potential setbacks, ally motivates you,” Reeves says. The calls an “anti-charity” — a cause that while simply thinking positive thoughts even if they’re smaller. programme, which can be used online irks you. “If you’re pro-gun-control, can make them feel less energised to or via smartphone apps, integrates with we’ll send your money to the NRA, or tackle obstacles. “It seems that people and automatically uploads data from vice versa,” he says. “We see the highest more than a dozen apps and devices, success rates among users who choose including such fitness trackers as FitBit, this option.” Up and RunKeeper. New Jersey resident Sharon Klein has Mirabai Knight, a 33-year-old ste- tried to lose weight numerous times, but nographer for the deaf in Manhattan, nothing seemed to motivate her. “I could has the Beeminder app on her smart- always start again next week,” she says. phone and is using it for such goals as Committing to Stickk “set a fire under eating less junk food, riding her bike to me,” she says. “As a Republican, I chose work and losing weight. She says that to pay $25 to the Democratic Party each Beeminder has taught her to pay closer week if I fail.” She says that selecting the attention to her habits and has given her anti-charity provides extra motivation, important insights into how to succeed. because she can’t rationalise failing by “I’ve learned that I need to go through telling herself that the money is going a long data-collection period before I to a cause she believes in. start trying to change my behaviour,” Klein enlisted her sister as her ref- she says. “It’s better to be consist- eree and persuaded her husband to sign ent than ambitious, because all of this up for a Stickk weight-loss goal, too. change is ultimately about what happens Teaming with her spouse could boost over the long haul, not the short term.” her chances of success. A study pub- Beeminder has helped 31-year-old lished last month in the Journal of the software developer David MacIver man- American Medical Association Internal age the tension between the desire to Medicine found that people whose do something beneficial regularly and spouse takes up a healthful habit are the feeling of “I don’t want to do this more likely to succeed at adopting that now.” “The monetary sting means I can’t habit than were those whose partners just ignore it when Beeminder is saying, didn’t. WP-Bloomberg 12 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 TECHNOLOGY
Celebrity computer Watson is now learning Japanese
By Hayley Tsukayama IBM Researcher Risa Nishiyama demon- emember Watson, the computer that won strates SoftBank’s “Jeopardy!” in 2011 and made us all worry Pepper robot, which about the impending obsolescence of the uses the Watson Rhuman race? Have you ever wondered computer. what it’s been up to since then? Well, like many sudden celebrities, Watson has dabbled in several interests. It visited Capitol Hill. It penned its own celebrity cookbook. And now, in partnership with the Japanese tech firm Softbank, Watson is going to lend its brain power to robots and take on one of the greatest challenges of its develop- ment cycle: learning Japanese. and verb. Then native speakers — yes! humans! — theory, could help Pepper better understand the con- It’s a test of Watson’s technology, which — very will read its first attempts at translations, correct text of questions and make it a better companion simply put — is designed to take in huge amounts them and feed the right sentences back into the down the line. of information, process and learn from them in the system. Over time, Watson should be able to learn It also provides a good opportunity for IBM, which same way the human brain does. Watson has already the language. has never officially broken out its sales figures for spent years picking up the weird phrases, nuances “You give it homework problems, grade its home- Watson. A report last year from the Wall Street and quirks of English. But this is the first time IBM’s work, and it figures out what’s right,” Gordon said. Journal said that Watson had totaled less than $100m tried to teach Watson a language that doesn’t use Softbank was a logical partner for IBM here, in revenue as of October 2013; IBM chief executive the Latin alphabet. Gordon said, because it has roughly 1,300 subsidiar- Virginia Rometty has said publicly that Watson “This is a major step for us,” said John Gordon, ies that specialize in everything from telecommu- should generate $10bn in annual revenue within ten IBM’s vice president for the Watson Group. IBM has nications to gaming to robotics. It has also signaled years. fed Watson texts translated from Japanese before; its interest in big data, partnering last year with IBM spokeswoman Lia Davis refuted the report’s he said it’s been hard to capture the “richness and General Electric to sell that company’s big data characterization of Watson’s success, noting that the depth” of the language, a process made even more solution. company’s Business Analytics department — which difficult because Japanese has three different alpha- The breadth of Softbank’s business opens plenty includes Watson — reported revenue growth of 7 bets and thousands of characters. of applications for Watson beyond answering quiz percent over the past year to $17bn this year. That To accomplish that task, Watson will have to work questions. The companies have already dropped some department also includes IBM cloud services and its to improve itself using essentially the same process of Watson’s technology into Softbank’s humanoid mobile partnership with Apple. that students learning foreign languages have for Pepper robot. That robot, which is designed to be IBM is pretty confident that this type of “cognitive years, though on a much larger scale. It will get a empathetic and hold conversations, is due to go on computing” — in which computers learn like people bank of 250,000 words, and turn them into 10,000 sale in the coming months in Japan. (There hasn’t — will define the next era of computing. There’s a diagrammed sentences to identify the subject, object yet been any decision about US sales.) Watson, in lot of information out there and having a machine to digest and process it all saves humans a lot of time and papercuts. To date, IBM has focused the Watson project on a few core industries such as law Uber introduces India-specific safety features or health care to help professionals stay abreast of ber Technologies Inc added a panic button and tracking features to its taxi hailing app in India after new literature to best inform their daily practice. Uthe US-based company was banned in New Delhi last year over rape allegations against one of its Gordon said that the company has opened up its drivers. Uber’s India app now has a “send status” feature to enable passengers to share ride details with program to developers of all stripes to explore other their contacts in real time. The app also has an “SOS” button to call the local police directly. ways that businesses can build on top of the Watson A spokesman said the functions were the first market-specific safety features launched by Uber. The platform themselves. company also said it plans to launch safety features in other countries soon. That could lead to future partnerships, and “Safety concerns tend to be unique for each local market. We recognized the demand for these features expanded revenue for IBM down the line. Gordon in India,” the spokesman added. said that he’s enjoyed watching the applications for Authorities in New Delhi banned Uber in December following the rape allegations and issued rules Watson grow, specifically mentioning a veterinary that require all taxis to be equipped with a physical panic button. marketing firm and a group that’s used Watson to While the service remains officially banned in Delhi, Uber resumed operations there in January help people evaluate which charities will use their and has since said it has stepped up background checks on all its India drivers. The app is available in donations most effectively. several cities. The Japanese experiment will almost certainly Uber is also fighting bans in France, Spain and South Korea for alleged violations including using lead to other partnerships — and other attempts to unlicensed drivers. It has also had to contend with rape allegations against drivers in Chicago and Boston. teach Watson new alphabets and languages down the Reuters line, Gordon said. WP-Bloomberg COMICS & MORE PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 13
LEARN ARABIC
With the Jeweler
Where can I nd a jeweler? Ayna a id ba'iç al mou awharat?
Is he far from here? Hal houwa baçeed min houna?
Can you accompany me? Hal tasta eeç an tourafiqanee?
I like this ring Laqad aç abanee ha a al atem
Can I try it? Hal asta eeç an ou arribha? I am thinking to buy a gift for my Oufakkir an aštaree hadiya li adeeqee friend Let me see this necklace Arinee ha a al çiqd Hoy en la Historia What is its price? Ma siçiroho? It is expensive Innahou ali February 12, 2003 It is cheap Innahou ra ees Scientists said the monarch I will buy this necklace Sa'aštaree ha a alçiqd butterfly population appeared to have made an almost complete How much shall I pay? Kam çalaya an adfaç recovery from the massive die-off Thank you Šoukran of the previous winter Note: ç = ‘a’ in ‘ag 1895: China surrendered at the Battle of Weihaiwei, ending the Sino-Japanese War Baby Blues by Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman 1980: The International Olympic Committee rejected a U.S. demand for cancellation or relocation of the Moscow Olympics 1995: UNITA rebels accepted a peace treaty to end 19 years of war in Angola 2005: American nun Dorothy Stang, an environmentalist and land rights activist, was murdered in Brazil Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS ALL IN THE MIND Hagar The Horrible by Chris Browne Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.
Zits by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
BITS, BYTE, CACHE, COMPUTER, DATA, DESKTOP, DIGITAL, DISK, DRIVER, FLOPPY, GIGABYTE, HARD DRIVE, ARDWARE, HEXADECIMAL, INPUT, INSTALLATION, INTERNET, KEYBOARD, KILOBYTE, LAPTOP, MAINFRAME, MEGABYTE, MEMORY, MICROCHIP, MODEM, MONITOR, MOUSE, NOTEBOOK, OUTPUT, PASSWORD, PERIPHERAL, PRINTER, PROCESSOR, PROGRAM, SCANNER, SCREENSAVER, SOFTWARE, UTILITY, VIRUS, WIZARD. 14 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 CROSSWORDS
ACROSS 41 Ending with peek 6 Kiss interrupter, maybe 41 Radiant light around the 55 Swiss Surrealist CROSSWORD1234 567 8910111213 1 U.N. V.I.P.’s 45 Released early 7 Rod Stewart’s “Maggie head 56 Blues rocker Chris 5 Eats 47 Kind of format for some May,” for one 42 *Like Pisces, in the 57 Cribside cries 14 15 16 8 Novelist Allende data 8 Periodical output: Abbr. zodiac 59 Like pinot grigio 49 *Longtime TV 9 “Tristram Shandy” 43 Cereal grain 17 18 19 14 Composer Schifrin 15 Yellowfin, on a menu weatherman novelist 44 Pay dirt 20 21 22 16 Robust 51 Fit to be tied 10 Outer ear 46 A Beatle 17 *___ Motel 52 Eight bells, maybe 11 *Bit of excitement 48 One, for one 23 24 25 26 19 Some shots 53 Imprudent 12 Reagan cabinet 50 Red ink entry member who was 27 28 29 30 20 Reacted in horror, say 56 ___ Quimby (Beverly 54 It may be upside-down Cleary heroine) previously counselor to 22 Hillock LUNG AMFM BS IDE 31 32 33 34 58 *Divide up the president OPER BOAR UNDER 23 2008 action thriller with 13 Fleur-de-___ Liam Neeson 60 Heretofore FLUE LETS SABER 35 18 Bit of dough 24 *Dressing choice 61 Mamie’s man T IRELESSWORKERS 21 Group beaten in a battle 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 62 Villainous visage STOKE OHBOY 27 Tornado siren, e.g. of the bands? 30 Like a fifth wheel 63 Aftermarket options MO T H OS U A B E 45 46 47 48 23 Dance genre 64 Capital of Texas? EBAY HAM CTSCAN 31 Homes, colloquially 25 Court fig. 49 50 51 65 Small vortex LISTLESSFEELING 32 Campus digs 26 Broadband inits. MASHED G I N ADDS 34 Pulitzer-winning 28 More out there 52 53 54 55 biographer Leon DOWN 29 Habitual drunkard OST GUN TERP 35 Inn patron 1 It’s between B.C. and 56 57 58 59 33 Yank’s foe SODO I ESTEE 36 “Dear” one Sask. 36 Manhunt letters RUTHLESSTACT I CS 60 61 62 40 How breakfast may be 2 Cooking wine 37 Seven Sisters college OCHOA AS I F I POS served … or how the 3 *Bit of hair 63 64 65 38 *Leeway AL I EN LUNA CINE answers to the eight starred 4 Parasailers, e.g. RANDD TEAR KNOX clues should be entered? 5 “You crack me up” 39 46-Down’s partner
HYPER SUDOKU How to play Kakuro: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate How to EASY SUDOKU play Hyper Easy Sudoku Puzzles Sudoku: Place a digit from 1 to 9 in A Hyper Sudoku each empty cell so every Puzzle is solved row, every column and by filling the every 3x3 box contains all numbers from 1 the digits 1 to 9. to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear YESTERDAY’S only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is ANSWER solved like a normal Sudoku. CINEMA / TV LISTINGS PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 15
Playing It Cool (2D/Comedy) – 10:00am, SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 1 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:55pm TEL: 444933989 444517001 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) 2 – 11:30, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 & 11:55pm 13:05 Eastenders 08:00 News Sou2 Tafahom (2D/Arabic) 3 13:35 Doctors 08:30 Witness – 11:00am, 1:20, 3:40, 6:00, 8:30 & 11:10pm 14:05 Lark Rise To 09:00 The System The Boy Next Door (2D/Thriller) 4 Candleford 10:30 Inside Story – 6:10, 8:10, 10:10pm & 12:10am 14:55 The Omid Djalili 11:30 The Stream Paddington (2D/Family) Show 12:00 News – 10:15am, 12:10, 2:00 & 4:00pm 15:25 Rev. 12:30 People & Yellowbird (2D/Animation) 15:55 Dad's Army Power 5 – 10:50am, 12:50 & 2:50pm 16:25 The Weakest 13:00 NEWSHOUR Link Inside Story Everly (2D/Action) – 4:50, 7:00, 9:00 & 11:15pm 14:30 17:10 Eastenders 15:00 Witness Jupiter Ascending (2D/Action) 6 – 11:45am 2:15,, 7:10, 9:35 & 11:55pm 17:40 Doctors 16:00 NEWSHOUR 18:10 Lark Rise To 17:00 News – 5:00pm The Gambler (2D/Drama) Candleford 17:30 The Stream Son of A Gun (2D/Action) 7 19:00 Dad's Army 18:00 NEWSHOUR – 10:00am, 2:40, 5:00, 9:30 & 11:50pm 19:30 The Omid Djalili 19:00 News The Gambler (2D/Drama) – 12:10 & 7:20pm Show 19:30 Earthrise American Sniper (2D/Action) 20:00 Stella 20:00 News 8 – 12:00noon, 4:30 & 9:15pm 20:45 Waking The 20:30 Inside Story Wild Card (2D/Action) Dead 21:00 NEWSHOUR – 10:10am, 2:30, 7:15 & 11:45pm 22:25 Lead Balloon 22:00 News Kingsman: The Secret Service (IMAX 2D/ 22:55 Zen 22:30 The Stream 9 Action) – 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 &11:00pm 23:00 The System Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) 10 – 11:00am, 1:30, 6:30 & 9:00pm Everly (2D/Action) – 4:00 & 11:30pm 12:00 Too Cute! 13:00 Indestructibles – 2:00pm 1 Yennai Arindhaal (2D/Tamil) 12:55 Wildest Africa 14:00 Animal Autopsy Yellowbird (2D/Animation) – 5:00pm 13:50 Treehouse 15:00 Outback Masters: Wrangler Picket 43 (2D/Malayalam) – 6:30pm Boxtrolls 17:00 Ultimate Airport Souk Tafehom (2D/Arabic) – 8:30pm Special Dubai Wildest Middle Outback Roy (2D/Hindi) – 10:45pm 14:45 19:00 East Wrangler 2 Anegan (2D/Tamil) – 2:15pm 15:40 Tanked 20:00 Big, Bigger, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) 19:20 Deadly Islands Biggest MALL – 5:00 & 9:00pm 20:15 Tanked 22:00 Secrets Of The 21:35 Shamwari: A Great Escape – 7:15pm Everly (2D/Action) Wild Life Revealed Testament of Youth (2D/Drama) – 11:15pm 23:00 Deadly Islands 23:00 Caught In The 23:55 Swamp Act 3 Anegan (2D/Tamil) – 2:00pm Playing It Cool (2D/Comedy) – 4:45pm The Boy Next Door (2D/Thriller) – 6:15 & 10:00pm Big Eyes (2D/Drama) – 8:00 & 11:30pm 13:00 My Boys 12:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Better Off Ted 12:30 Coronation 1 Yennai Arindhaal (2D/Tamil) – 2:15pm 14:00 The Michael J. Street Fox Show 13:00 The Ellen Everly (2D/Action)– 5:30pm 14:30 Community DeGeneres Big Eyes (2D/Drama) – 7:15 & 11:15pm 16:00 Modern Family Show Picket 43 (2D/Malayalam) – 9:15pm 16:30 The Goldbergs 14:00 Parenthood 19:00 Black-Ish 15:00 Covert Affairs – 3:00pm 2 Playing It Cool (2D/Comedy) 21:00 The Daily 16:00 Emmerdale Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) Show With 16:30 Coronation LANDMARK – 5:00 & 11:15pm Jon Stewart Street 21:30 Modern Family 18:00 Parenthood The Boy Next Door (2D/Thriller) – 7:00pm 22:00 Family Guy 19:00 Suits Testament of Youth (2D/Drama) – 9:00pm 22:30 It's Always 20:00 The Flash Sunny In 21:00 American Idol 3 Anegan (2D/Tamil) – 2:00 & 10:30pm Philadelphia 22:00 24: Live Another Day Souk Tafehom (2D/Arabic) – 5:00pm Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (2D/Hindi) – 7:15pm
Roy (2D/Hindi) – 2:30pm 13:00 Barbie In The 13:00 Straight A's 13:00 Jamai Raja 12:15 A.N.T. Farm 13:05 Auction Hunters Nutcracker 15:15 Chasing –5:00 & 9:00pm Testament of Youth (2D/Drama) 13:30 Bandhan 12:40 Hannah Montana 13:30 The Liquidator 14:30 Everyone's Mavericks 1 14:00 Doli Armaano Ki 13:05 Hannah Montana 13:55 Auction Hunters 17:15 All Is Lost The Boy Next Door (2D/Thriller) – 7:15pm Hero 14:30 Jodha Akbar 13:30 Wizards Of 14:20 Marooned With 16:00 Jelly T 19:15 The English Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) 15:00 Kasamh Se Waverly Place Ed Stafford 18:00 Cinderella Teacher – 11:15pm 16:00 Hum Paanch 14:20 Jessie 15:10 Philly Throttle 20:00 Dr. Seuss' 21:00 How I Live Now 15:00 Austin & Ally Everly (2D/Action) – 2:45pm 17:00 Gulf Rangoli 16:00 Fast N' Loud Horton Hears A 23:00 Lovelace Season 4 15:45 Liv And Maddie 16:50 How It's Made Who 01:00 All Is Lost Playing It Cool (2D/Comedy) – 4:30pm 17:30 Gulf Rangoli 16:10 Violetta 17:15 How It's Made 22:00 Everyone's 03:00 The English Season 4 17:00 Austin & Ally 17:40 Dual Survival Hero Teacher ROYAL Big Eyes (2D/Drama) – 6:15pm 2 18:00 Maharakshak 17:25 Jessie 18:30 Airplane Repo 23:30 Jelly T Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D/Action) Aryan 17:50 Liv And Maddie 19:20 Street Outlaws PLAZA – 8:15pm 18:30 Bandhan 18:15 Girl Meets World 20:10 The Liquidator 19:00 Hello Pratibha 18:40 Austin & Ally 20:35 Auction Hunters Roy (2D/Hindi) – 10:30pm 19:30 Jodha Akbar 19:05 Austin & Ally 21:00 Street Outlaws 19:30 Violetta 3 Yellowbird (2D/Animation) – 3:00pm 20:00 Jamai Raja 21:50 Street Outlaws 14:00 Standing 13:00 Quartet 20:30 Kumkum Bhagya 20:20 A.N.T. Farm 22:40 Hellriders Ovation 15:00 Madea's The Boy Next Door (2D/Thriller) – 5:00pm 21:00 Qubool Hai 20:45 A.N.T. Farm 23:30 Dual Survival 16:00 Dumb And Witness 21:30 Satrangi Sasural 22:00 Suite Life On 00:20 Fast N' Loud Protection Everly (2D/Action) – 7:00pm Dumberer: 22:00 Ghanchakkar Deck 01:10 Street Outlaws When Harry 17:00 Man Of Tai Chi Souk Tafehom (2D/Arabic) – 8:45pm 01:00 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 02:00 Street Outlaws Met Lloyd 19:00 Delivery Man Li'l Champs 5 22:50 Shake It Up 02:50 Hellriders 18:00 Chalet Girl 21:00 Ride Along – 11:00pm Big Eyes (2D/Drama) 23:10 Wolfblood 03:40 Auction Hunters 20:00 The Internship 23:00 Rush 22:30 The Love Guru 16 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 POTPOURRI
Excavated records show Events in Qatar Family Art Workshops the perilous past of 17th When: Till March 31, 2015 Where: Katara Art Studios - Bldg 19 century Londoners What: Katara Art Studios is hosting a series of Diverse Family Art Workshops from September 2014 to March 2015. Londoners in the 17th century were never far from They invite families to attend with their danger as plague, infant mortality and angry mobs men- children aged between 5 years old to 10 aced the capital, burial records dug up by the Crossrail years old. construction project showed. The cost of each workshop is Crossrail, a £15bn ($23bn) railway link connecting east QR150 and west London due to open in 2018, is conducting a marathon digging operation for the 42km (26 miles) of A Roman Sestertius brass coin from around AD 30 with an new tunnels under the British capital. image of the Emperor Hadrian which was dug out from the Shirin Neshat: Afterwards When: Sixteen volunteers working with Crossrail did a dif- Crossrail site next to Liverpool Street Station. Till February 15, 2015 Where: ferent sort of digging, combing through parish records Mathaf: Arab Museum of to provide the names of more than 3,000 people at the Hundreds more of the people identified had fallen victim Modern Art What: Bedlam Burial Ground under Liverpool Street Station. to the plague or other epidemics such as small pox and The first solo exhibition in the The majority of those identified were buried between tuberculosis. Middle East by internationally acclaimed 1570 and 1729, a period which included the English civil The burial ground took its name from the nearby artist Shirin Neshat. Occupying the entire war of 1642-51, the Great Plague of 1665, and the Great Bethlehem Hospital for the mentally ill whose name was ground floor galleries, the exhibition Fire of London of 1666. commonly shortened to Bedlam. features existing and newly produced works. “This research is a window into one of the most tur- The ground did not keep its own records, so the volun- Free admission bulent periods of London’s past,” Jay Carver, Crossrail’s teers searched the records of over 100 parish churches lead archaeologist, said in a statement. in central London which sent their members to Bedlam Among those identified was Nicholas Ambrose, a mayor to be buried. Rock Paper Scissors of London buried in 1575, and John Lamb, an astrologer Crossrail will begin excavating the ground next month, When: Till February 15, 2015 with noble clients who was stoned to death by an angry and will submit the skeletons to scientific analysis before Where: HBKU Student Center Art mob in 1628 after allegations of rape and black magic. reburying them in consecrated ground. Gallery But most of those buried at Bedlam were London’s The railway, which will link Heathrow Airport and What: Kelley Lowe, Fleming Jeffries, poor, and the records paint a picture of a fragile existence central London to suburbs and satellite towns, is Europe’s Sophiya Khwaja: a collaboration between where disease and infant mortality were never far away. largest infrastructure project and is now half complete, three artists exploring their material One man, John Smith, buried three of his children on budget and on schedule. and immaterial worlds through hand- within a month in 1574, and made his own final trip to Reuters work. Raw materials range from the Bedlam four years later. industrial and discarded to the natural and domestic. Themes of scavenging, mapping, and deciphering coincide with the joy of making in a diverse show of hybrid installations and works on paper. Free entry IN FOCUS by Ekshwanku Mehmi Yousef Ahmad: Story of ingenuity When: Nov 11- Feb14; 10am-8pm Where: Qatar Museums Gallery, Building 10, Katara What: As a pioneer of Qatar’s modern art movement, Yousef Ahmad’s artistic journey has spanned over three decades, and his work has been influenced by his surroundings and emotional ties with Qatar’s culture and traditions. It showcases three phases in his career, from the early oil paintings that include the depiction of Al Zubarah Fort, to mixed media calligraphic pieces to new conceptual artworks. Free Entry
Mal Lawal Biennale When: Till February 28 Where: Doha Exhibition Center What: Spread over 5,000sqm space, the expo is divided into 11 categories and offers a feast to the eyes and intellect of visitors with a diverse array of objects. There has been a rise in the number of participants from 90 in the first edition to 152 this year, 110 of whom are from Qatar and 42 from other GCC countries. Free entry
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