Community Community The Emirates Sohni Dharti Airline Festival Al Khor is all P7of Literature P20 set to see off 2016 will run for its locally organised almost two weeks, cricket tournament, from March 1 until Pakistan Cricket March 12. League in style today.

Friday, February 19, 2016 Jumada I 10, 1437 AH

DOHA 16°C—26°C TODAY PUZZLES 14 & 15 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 16

THE UPPER TRAJECTORY: Jo Anne Willis, Manager of the Austin branch of the Chicago Public Library, poses for a portrait at the Austin library. She says there is a waiting list to check out books on racial discrimination at her branch.

COVER Turning the page STORY Racial injustice, Black Lives Matter inspire reading lists in the US. P2-3 2 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY COVER STORY How bad makes book sales good In 2012, when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.49am the Black Lives Matter movement was born as a hashtag Shorooq (sunrise) 6.06am Zuhr (noon) 11.48am Asr (afternoon) 3.04pm of protest on social media, it became clear that a new Maghreb (sunset) 5.32pm Isha (night) 7.02pm dynamic had emerged, writes Nara Schoenberg USEFUL NUMBERS

Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Ooredoo Telephone Assistance 111 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Time 141, 140 Doha International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Medical Commission 44679111 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Weather Forecast 44656590 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555 44845464 MAKING A STATEMENT: The Black Lives Matter movement. Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 or 21 years, Lisa Shorney’s book The list is fl uid but almost always those books are hugely popular. People Qatar Assistive Technology club has focused on fi ction, includes three essentials. In addition to fi nd them to be super-relevant, and they Centre 44594050 but in September they made an Between the World and Me, a National generate a lot of discussion.” Qatar News Agency 44450205 exception. Book Award Winner and longtime best- Kris Kleindienst, co-owner of Left 44450333 They read Between the World seller, there’s also the surprise hit The Bank Books in St. Louis, which launched Q-Post – General Postal Fand Me, African-American journalist New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in its Black Lives Matter reading list after the Corporation 44464444 Ta-Nehisi Coates’ searing indictment of the Age of Colorblindness, legal scholar death of Michael Brown in 2014, has also Qatar University 44033333 racism in America, told in the form of a Michelle Alexander’s argument that noticed an uptick in interest. And Diane letter to Coates’ teenage son, a young man mass incarceration is the new legalised Wachtell, executive director of The New raised far from the mean streets where segregation. The book debuted in 2010 Press, which publishes The New Jim Crow, his father came of age but nevertheless but didn’t hit the New York Times best- says the book’s success has been fuelled, grappling with many of the same issues: seller list until 2012. in part, by outrage over police shootings. racism, police violence, the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel The book, which launched in 2010 with te Unqu centuries of political and economic Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other an initial printing of just 3,200 copies, got uo ot inequality. Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great an early boost from an eloquent author, Q e “Everybody said that was one of the Migration, an unstinting look at the supportive black churches and some TV We know best discussions we’ve had,” says Shorney, trials and triumphs of Southern African- coverage, Wachtell says. 56, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Americans who migrated north in the But in 2012, when 17-year-old Trayvon what we are, but know “We live in a very suburban, white 20th century, is the third of the big three. Martin was shot and the Black Lives bubble out here. My friends, for the most But readers, editors and bookstore Matter movement was born as a hashtag not what we may be. part, we’re pretty liberal, and even so, I owners also point to a book of poetry, of protest on social media, it became clear remember one girl who’s so bright, saying, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia that a new dynamic had emerged. — William Shakespeare ‘This can’t be true.’ And I said, ‘What do Rankine, which is currently climbing the “It is with really mixed emotions that you mean?’ And she said, ‘Well, it’s so best-seller lists. And they say there are (the author) Michelle and I communicate much worse than I thought.’” signs of renewed interest in old favourites about the book going up and up the Shorney, who gave Between the such as the 1990s best-seller, Why Are best-seller list, because its rise and fall World and Me to friends and family for All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the correlate almost exactly to horrible things Christmas, is part of an emerging trend Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations happening in the world,” Wachtell says. on best-seller lists, in book clubs and at about Race. “Whenever there’s a front-page story libraries and publishing houses. At a time “Those books are super-popular,” says about police brutality or an unarmed Community Editor when a string of high-profi le shootings Jo Anne Willis, manager of the Chicago black man being shot without provocation and deaths of African-Americans is Public Library’s Austin branch. by the police, the book goes up the list.” Kamran Rehmat inspiring public activism and private “If you would just take a casual look Readers interviewed by the Tribune e-mail: [email protected] soul-searching, readers are increasingly at our catalogue, those are the books gave a wide range of reasons for their Telephone: 44466405 turning their attention to what some are you have to place a hold for; there’s a interest in the books, from Shorney, Fax: 44350474 calling the Black Lives Matter reading waiting list. That’s one way you can tell who was raised by a mother who was list — a series of infl uential books that how popular they are. But also just in passionate about racial justice and equal highlight racial injustice. general conversation with my patrons, opportunity, to Mike Obiala, 69, of Lake Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 3 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

SEARING INDICTMENT: The three works that have struck a chord with the readers.

Forest, Illinois, who said he couldn’t in the largely African-American well, it’s a safe place,” she says of quite remember why his book club Austin neighbourhood, says the the book club. The discussion was chose The Warmth of Other Suns, but books spark lively and far-ranging honest and emotional, with one was glad they did. conversations, with senior citizens member saying she didn’t know Obiala, who is originally from telling 20-somethings their personal many black people. It wasn’t an easy the South Side, says his family stories, of, say, growing up in the conversation to have, Shorney says, sold the house where he grew up South, and younger members talking but it was a valuable one. when black people moved into the about their experiences at Black Lives Not long after The New Jim neighbourhood. Matter protests. Crow was published in 2010, a man “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten “In general, the reason we like to approached Wachtell at a dinner much, much, much more liberal,” read these books and discuss these party. He didn’t know about her he says. “I’m fortunate I have many books is because they relate to our connection to the book, but he did many black acquaintances and own lives,” says Willis. “They make know she worked in publishing, and friends (who) I probably wouldn’t us think, we get to know the other he had a question. He’d just read a have enjoyed in my teens and person’s viewpoint and, ultimately, I life-changing book about systemic twenties. So from that standpoint, think it creates community — a sense racism in the criminal justice system, the book was reinforcing what my of sistership, or fellowship.” and he loved that book, but he just beliefs have tended to become: that Shorney, a bookseller at didn’t see how such a serious book the African-American people were Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, on such a diffi cult topic could ever treated so, so unfairly for absolutely says she’s always been concerned succeed commercially. no reason. They certainly deserved about racism. But her commitment Who would publish a book like a better shake than many of them deepened after a May 2015 “racial that? got. All of us intellectually know reconciliation” bus trip through “Well, actually I published that that, but actually reading about the American South that brought book,” Wachtell said. that, and being able to relate to members of her mostly white A lot has changed since then — some of the people really drives the church together with members of a The New Jim Crow, has been on point home.” predominantly African-American best-seller lists for more than 100 Kristin Martin, 43, of Chicago, church from the South Side. weeks and sold 600,000 copies. says that her book group, which reads “The main thing I learned on that But whether sales of such books will very eclectically, wanted to include trip is that it’s not enough to say, ‘I continue to grow is an open question, a book that was politically timely. am not a racist.’ You have to be anti- Wachtell says. When they chose their list for the racist. You have to do something,” “There is a feeling among people year in December, three out of seven she says. who have been working in this members nominated Between the When she heard about Between the fi eld for 20, 30 years, that we have World and Me, so now the book is on World and Me, she knew she had to an opportunity and a window to the schedule for 2016. read it. She suggested it to her book eff ect some real change: There is a Willis, who leads a Chicago Public group, and led the discussion. receptivity that is unlike anything we Library book discussion group “Because we know each other so have seen for decades, but it could end at any moment, and we’d better hustle,” she says. “Whenever there’s a front-page Shorney feels a sense of urgency as well. story about police brutality or an “You can’t just sit in our house and unarmed black man being shot read your book, you’ve got to take it to the next (level), whether that is without provocation by the police, reaching out and helping in a tutoring programme, or maybe because your the book goes up the list.” awareness is raised you see things you didn’t see before — right there — and — Diane Wachtell, executive you can make a diff erence,” she says. director of The New Press “Any small thing is a step forward.”— Chicago Tribune/TNS 4 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY BODY & MIND

and dedicated teams in the US, especially in paediatrics. “It’s a shortage wrapped in a shortage,” said Dr Ben Guedes, a Palliative care eases paediatric intensive care specialist and medical director of Co-ordinated Care for Kids at Florida Hospital for Children, a programme that encompasses paediatric palliative care. There’s one palliative care patient’s discomfort physician for every 1,200 patients with serious or life-threatening diseases, according to data compiled One of the misunderstood areas of medicine, it has a much broader by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. It doesn’t help that palliative application and should start at the time of diagnosis for complex or care is not a source of income for hospitals and health systems. It’s not a procedure-based service life-threatening conditions. By Naseem S Miller and it doesn’t generate high reimbursements. “When you look at it black and unpleasant symptoms ... the white, it’s not a money maker, but whole point is to ease physical and if you look at it from a programme psychological suff ering.” perspective, it’s the right thing to do,” It’s the common thread that said Cary D’Ortona, CFO and COO at connects multiple specialists and Arnold Palmer. provides support for families. Access to palliative care varies “It’s the umbrella and safety net,” by location. In a state-by-state said Kelly Eberbach, a clinical nurse report card, the Center gave Florida educator at Nemours Children’s a C for access. Late last year, Hospital, who focused her doctorate Florida Surgeon General Dr John research on palliative care. Pitts, Armstrong appointed a palliative care meanwhile, soothes Jabbar’s pain and committee, which included Pitts, to discomfort and doesn’t stop Atwell advise the department about services from giving her child life-sustaining and initiatives. medications. Research shows that early Today, Jabbar, who is blind, takes intervention with palliative care six medications that control a range improves patients’ and families’ of conditions, including asthma. But quality of life, regardless of the if he’s in pain, there’s morphine. And outcome. “That way the family gets his mother has decided: no more to know us, and we become part of surgeries. the treatment team,” said Selsky. As part of the Arnold Palmer “If they get better, you’ve made a palliative care team, every few weeks, friend; and if not, at least the family a music therapist drops by the house doesn’t have to deal with new and lets Jabbar enjoy the music of people” when it comes to hospice the world he cannot see. A chaplain care. “No one should approach end comes by and lends Atwell a listening of life in a state of turmoil,” he said. ear. AnnaMaye Clonts, a paediatric Pitts came into Joseph Nuwayhid’s SAFETY NET: Jabbar with his mother Tamara Atwell at their Orlando home. hospice nurse with VITAS Healthcare life toward the end of the eight-year- and Amie Deak, a care co-ordinator old’s battle with leukaemia. our years ago, after no,’” she said. “The fi rst thing you that palliative care is one of the at Arnold Palmer, have become her “He gave us his personal phone two-and-half months of think of when you hear hospice is misunderstood areas of medicine. friends and support network. number,” said Joseph’s mom, hospitalisation and more that he’s going to die.” While the public might view it as A true palliative care team, like Mervat. “He came in before Joseph than 20 procedures had But then she met Dr Blaine Pitts, only end-of-life or hospice care, it the one at Arnold Palmer, is led by passed away and he looked over proven futile, Tamara one of the few board-certifi ed has a much broader application and a board-certifi ed palliative care his medications and stayed over FAtwell took her son Jabbar home. paediatric palliative care specialists should start at the time of diagnosis specialist such as Pitts and includes an hour and made sure we were Jabbar’s body was freezing cold. in the area, whom she credits to this for complex or life-threatening nurses, social workers, music comfortable.” He was purple. His pulse was low. He day for keeping her son alive and conditions such as genetic disorders, therapists and a chaplain. Established Cancer had spread all over Joseph’s was comatose. Doctors told Atwell happy. cancer, or heart and lung conditions. programmes like the one at Akron body and his pain could be severe. that there wasn’t much else they “Jabbar is a nice example of how “Palliative, if you look up the Children’s Hospital, where Pitts But palliative care, which at this point could do for her fi rst-born, her angel, by not pursuing invasive intervention meaning, is Greek and it means to trained, have more than a dozen team had become hospice care, comforted her two-year-old who was born with we actually promoted the child to relieve,” said Dr Cliff ord Selsky, members. him. “Instead of worrying about my brain abnormalities. live longer and have a better quality a paediatrician at Family First Other hospitals here also provide son all day and I knew he’d be OK and “They said, ‘We’ll connect you of life,” said Pitts, who has created Pediatrics in Winter Springs and palliative care, but none has a we’d be able to have some memories with the palliative care team,’” Atwell Central Florida’s only palliative care a board-certifi ed palliative care dedicated team led by a palliative care together,” said Nuwayhid. “His recalled on a recent afternoon, while team at Arnold Palmer Hospital for specialist. “So it’s relief on a daily specialist. passing was a bitter pill, but they holding Jabbar in her arms. “They Children. basis whether it’s from nausea, There’s a local and national made it easier to swallow.” — Orlando mentioned hospice and I said ‘Oh, Pitts and other experts say dry skin or pain. It’s relief from shortage of palliative care specialists Sentinel/TNS High fish intake in pregnancy raises obesity risk in children

onsumption of fi sh over three Women who ate fi sh more than three times less during pregnancy, the results published The researchers analysed data from times a week during pregnancy a week when they were pregnant gave birth to online by JAMA Pediatrics indicated. 26,184 pregnant women and their children may put babies at an increased children with higher BMI (body mass index) Also, the magnitude of the effect in European and US studies to examine risk of rapid growth in infancy and values at 2, 4 and 6 years of age compared of fish intake was greater in girls than associations with maternal fi sh intake and of childhood obesity, warns a new with women who ate less fi sh. boys. “Contamination by environmental childhood growth and overweight/obesity. Cstudy. High maternal fi sh intake during pollutants in fish could provide an Children were followed-up until the age of Fish is a common source of human pregnancy leads to an increased risk of rapid explanation for the observed association 6. Of the children, 8,215 (31%) were rapid exposure to persistent organic pollutants, growth from birth to two years and with an between high fish intake in pregnancy and growers from birth to two years of age, while which may exert endocrine-disrupting increased risk of overweight or obesity for increased childhood adiposity,” said lead 4,987 (19.4%) and 3,476 (15.2%) children were properties and contribute to the development children at ages four and six years compared researcher Leda Chatzi from the University overweight or obese at ages 4 and 6 years, of obesity. with maternal fi sh intake of once a week or of Crete in Greece. respectively. — IANS Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 5 BODY & MIND COMMUNITY

Managers can help employees stay healthy

Besides helping new employees get settled in a job, managers — if given an incentive — can also help them achieve wellness goals, suggests new research. Tying just 10% of managers’ salary increases to their employee wellness eff orts, could have a big payoff in terms of creating a culture of health at the workplace, and could tip the scales toward healthier employees, the study said. While workplace wellness initiatives are common, few have had substantial success in getting individual employees to make healthy changes. “Instead of focusing on individual wellness outcomes, we propose that it would be more eff ective if managers were incentivised to create healthier overall work environments with simple, easy to implement actions such as installing a water cooler, providing healthy snacks at meetings, and encouraging work/life balance,” said lead author Rebecca Robbins from Food and Brand Lab, Cornell University, New York. The study surveyed 270 adults with manager roles and found that 68% supported the idea of being evaluated by their employee wellness actions. “Leadership support is essential in any workplace change, including wellness. Most employee wellness initiatives don’t utilise the power of manager leadership — this strategy is unique in that it really taps into the manager’s ability to lead their team to wellness,” study co-author Brian Wansink, director, Cornell Food and Brand Lab, noted. The fi ndings appeared in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. — IANS Loss of sleep during adolescence may cause health issues in future

Slow-wave sleep deprivation in teenaged boys predicts whether they are at risk for insulin resistance and other health issues, a neuroscience researcher has said. “Boys who experience a greater decline in slow- wave sleep as adolescents have a signifi cantly higher chance of developing insulin resistance than those who more closely maintained their slow-wave sleep as they got older,” according to Jordan Gaines, a neuroscience researcher from the Pennsylvania State University. “These boys are then also at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, increased visceral fat and impaired attention,” Gaines explained at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Slow-wave sleep (SWS) is an important stage of sleep that is involved in memory consolidation and recovery after sleep deprivation, and is also associated with reduced cortisol and infl ammation. Gaines analysed results collected through the Penn State Child Cohort in order to study long-term eff ects of SWS loss from childhood to adolescence. The cohort included 700 children from the general central Pennsylvania population, ages fi ve to 12. Eight years later, 421 participants were followed up during adolescence — 53.9% were male. Gaines found that in boys, a greater loss of SWS between childhood and adolescence was signifi cantly associated with insulin resistance, and this loss was marginally associated with increased belly fat and impaired attention. However, Gaines did not fi nd any associations between SWS and insulin resistance, physical health or brain function in girls. — IANS Raising kids can radically rewire your immune system, says study

ore than just giving you gray vaccine or travellers’ gastroenteritis. still, it was a surprise that having kids was a one of the most potent factors that altered hair, the challenges associated “This is the fi rst time anyone has looked much more potent immune challenge than an individual’s immune system was whether with parenting — such as at the immune profi les of two unrelated severe gastroenteritis,” Liston noted. they co-parented a child. sleep deprivation, stress and individuals in a close relationship,” said co- The research took a detailed look at the Individuals who lived together and shared chronic infections — can lead researcher Adrian Liston from University immune systems of 670 people, ranging a child showed a 50% reduction in the radicallyM rewire your immune system, new of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium. from two-86 years of age, to understand variation between their two immune systems, research has found. “Since parenting is one of the most severe more about what drives variation in our compared with the diversity seen in the wider What is more, the researchers found that environmental challenges anyone willingly immune systems between individuals. From population, the study showed. The fi ndings raising a child together has a greater eff ect on puts themselves through, it makes sense that an assessment of the eff ects of a range of appeared in the journal Nature Immunology. your immune system than the seasonal ‘fl u it radically rewires the immune system — factors, including age, gender and obesity, – IANS 6 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY CUISINE Going healthy with the humble lettuce risp, green, leafy, curly, crunchy, bright and nutritious — no matter excess moisture so that the dressing what you call it, we all know coats evenly on the salad leaves. the humble lettuce and There are numerous varieties of consumeC it as a healthy food. Lettuce is lettuce leaves available of the shelf and also known as the “weight loss food” or they are easy to grow in your backyard the “rabbit food” due to its low calorie garden as well. Broadly speaking, count and high fi bre content. Whether the prominent varieties of lettuce it is a burger at McDonald’s, the fatoush are icebergs, romaine, butter head— salad or the Mediterranean Greek Boston, butter head— Bibb, green leaf salad, they are all incomplete without lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and oak leaf the crunchy green leafy lettuce. lettuce. Some other leaves like fricassee Lettuce leaves release a milk-like sap and baby spinach are not real lettuce, when cut and that’s how its name is but are generally termed as such due to derived from the Latin word lactuca, their resemblance to lettuce. for milk. Lettuce is the generic name for Turkey Romaine Wrap the green leafy vegetable. It is one of the incredible sources of essential Ingredients nutrients that are necessary for our Romaine lettuce 1 head wellbeing. This makes it one of the Turkey breast 1 no most sought after greens. The recipe Carrot 1 no below is a very simple and minimalistic Cucumber 1 no example, which uses lettuce leaf as a Radicchio ½ head wrap for the fi lling, making it a lettuce Bell peppers red and yellow ½ no wrap sandwich. Beetroot ½ no There are mainly two popular Olive oil 2 tbsp lettuce varieties: namely romaine and Salt to taste the iceberg lettuce. When you have Crushed black pepper To taste an option between the two, choose the romaine lettuce as it has one of Dressing the highest nutritional values among Garlic cloves 2-3 no lettuces, whereas iceberg has the Lemon juice 2 tbsp lowest nutritional value. Mayonnaise 1 cup Romaine lettuce has less sugars and Dijon mustard 1 tsp sodium, twice the calcium and protein, Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp three times the iron and vitamin K, Parmesan cheese ½ cup and eight times the vitamin C when Salt ¼ tsp compared to iceberg lettuce. Grounded black pepper ¼ tsp While choosing the lettuce leaves, pick bright-coloured green and red leaves. Look for clean and fresh Method looking plants, with compact inner Marinate the turkey breast with leaves. Avoid lettuce heads that are oil, salt and crushed black pepper and wilted and have rusty leaves. The refrigerate for one hour. wider and open shaped lettuce is Roast in a pre-heated oven at 180 healthier as compared to the one’s Degree Celsius for an hour, check by with closed leaves as the wider leaves piercing with a knife, if the juices run absorb and produce more nutrients clear the turkey breast is cooked. in the sunlight. You can refrigerate Remove from oven and allow to fresh lettuce in a plastic bag for up to stand for 15 minutes. a week, although each lettuce variety Thinly slice the turkey breast or pull has its own keeping quality and shelf the meat to get shredded turkey meat. life. Keep aside. Preparing the lettuce before use is To prepare the dressing, combine even more important than choosing fi nely chopped garlic, lemon juice, a fresh lettuce head. An unclean or mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mishandled lettuce leaf can cause parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, salt foreign particles in the form of insects and pepper. and worms to land in your salad bowl. Whisk to get a smooth dressing, Even pathogens can survive on the adjust the seasoning and keep aside. leafy green easily as it is a ready to eat Thinly shred carrot, cucumber, product and is rarely exposed to high beetroot, bell peppers. temperatures before it is served. That’s Wash and spin dry the lettuce leaves. the reason why you’ll fi nd lettuce to Place the shredded vegetables on each feature on the list of “dirty dozen” leaf followed by turkey meat on top. foods —foods you should always Drizzle the prepared dressing on top. buy organic. Luckily more and more Wrap the leaves to close the wrap, organic lettuce is available nowadays. serve cold. Thus, always wash the lettuce leaves individually in cold running water z Tarun Kapoor is executive chef followed by a generic rinse with any at Doha’s Horizon Manor Hotel. ice cold salad wash. Then dry out Send your feedback to: Turkey Lettuce Wraps. Photo by the author the leaves in salad spinner to remove [email protected] Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

Sand Art at the Festival 2016 launch event. Fanning the passion for literature

success in later life and that message proud of its commitment to By Anand Holla must get across to families across community-based engagement. the country. One of the Festival’s This year more than 1200 volunteers key aims is to bring out a passion for will be helping to make the Festival s arguably the Middle literature. The reception our authors happen, demonstrating that the East’s largest literature receive when they visit schools or ideals identifi ed in the recent World event, the Emirates take part in the Education Days Government Summit are already Airline Festival of emphasises the importance of the alive and well in Dubai. In addition, Literature 2016 will Festival in fi ring their imagination,” the Festival stages the vibrant Fringe, Arun for almost two weeks, from he said. which runs alongside the Festival, March 1 until March 12, the initial The Festival’s strong education- with student performances and art fi ndings from the fi rst phase of the focused programme allows students displays. children’s survey reveal a lot about and youngsters in the UAE and the Amongst the international what the new generation of literatis Gulf region to meet their favourite names featured in the Festival are wants. authors during the ever popular television stars Nadia Sawalha, The festival that will host Education Days and the brand new Lisa Faulkner and John Torode more than 150 writers, poets, Student Sessions. These will be discussing their books and their illustrators and thinkers presenting held at the home of the Festival, varied on-screen careers, Sean Fay a spectacular array of genres, the InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Wolfe self-published author of an topics and subjects, appealing to Isobel Abulhoul makes a point at the press conference which was held Festival City as well as in numerous unoffi cial Minecraft fan adventure audiences of all ages and tastes, recently. locations in Dubai and additionally, trilogy and new Harry Potter and the will be held at the InterContinental many authors will be visiting schools Philosopher’s Stone illustrator Jim Hotel, Dubai Festival City, next CEO and Trustee of the Emirates to read. “Today’s children have a and colleges to meet and interact Kay. Of particular interest to young month. The event presents Literature Foundation and Festival bewildering range of activities to with students. readers will be the host of beloved opportunities to meet some Director of the Emirates Airline choose from in their leisure time so it For the fi rst time the Festival will children’s authors and illustrators of the world’s top authors to Festival of Literature. “The huge is heartening to see that reading for be hosting Poetry Live! GCSE Poetry coming to the Festival this year. attending literary debates, listening array of talent and topics that we pleasure is still high on the agenda,” Day, an international session where Jacqueline Wilson, Horrible Science to readings, participating in are privileged to cover in 2016 has said Abulhoul. poets interact with the students who series writer Nick Arnold, and many workshops and experiencing the allowed us to extend the length of “Parents should be mindful that study their work as part of the GCSE more will entertain children of all ages exciting fringe and children’s the Festival and do justice to the many children would like more time curriculum. The event will feature with talks, discussions and workshops. events. most diverse programme yet.” to indulge their love of reading, but UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duff y, The tickets for the festival are “Each year the Festival evolves One of the initial fi ndings from fi nd it hard to do so as their days are John Agard, Simon Armitage, Imtiaz now available online via the Festival to embrace new ideas, appreciate the fi rst phase of the survey shows so packed. More than anything we Dharker and Grace Nichols and has website, ticket prices start at new perspectives on literature, and that more than half of the children need parents to be involved in their already proved to be immensely AED50 and many children’s events celebrate the traditional forms we taking part said that they wished children’s reading habits. Reading popular among schools. and activities are available free-of- hold so dear,” said Isobel Abulhoul, they had more time in their day from a young age sets children up for The Festival offi cials are especially charge. 8 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY TRA Dramatic rock formation Death Valley feel of u

PATIENT: Photographers set up their cameras and wait patiently just before SUNRISE: Zabriskie Point is a popular spot to watch the sunrise unfurl on the mountains, illuminating them in warm pink, dawn at Zabriskie Point, where the sunrise lights up the mountains and nearby orange and yellow tones. rock formations.

By Lauren Williams

rom the moment our car climbed over the rust- coloured mountains and descended into boulder- studded valleys, a sense ofF peaceful solitude was the tone for our weekend in Death Valley National Park in USA. Only five hours from the coast, the barren landscape and dearth of cars outside our caravan of three added to the feeling that we were a world apart from bustling Southern California, away from civilisation altogether, pioneers exploring virgin land. It felt as though we ventured out onto the surface of Mars, or at least, that’s where my imagination took me. LIKE ANOTHER PLANET: Photographe Of course, we’re not the first sunrise lights up the mountains in bright people to set foot in Death Valley — far from it — but the vast UNIQUE LANDSCAPE: People stand in the parking lot, the only flat area amid the rugged rocky landscape of Devil's Golf Southern California traffic before expanses of open space, absence Course in Death Valley. arriving at our rendezvous point, of structures and preternatural the Outpost Cafe in Hesperia. From silences can inspire such musings. sparse vegetation, the rocky terrain camp where Japanese Americans Lake, according to the Bureau of there we would caravan into the It is astonishing that the land in is amazingly varied, from salt flats were confined during World War II. Land Management. There are more park. Death Valley remains as pristine and sand dunes to snow-capped But on this trip, we concentrated than 500 of these unusual tufa After our Trona Pinnacles pit as it is, with its history of mining. mountains and trickling springs. on the area’s ancient history. spires in the dry lake basin, their stop, we arrived at our campsite in In 1994, Congress expanded the We entered the park through the Driving into the park from the pores and jagged edges reminiscent Furnace Creek by early afternoon area’s protection beyond its status desolate mining town of Trona. west meant we could stop by the of corral. with plenty of daylight left to pitch as a national monument to that of a Had we driven an extra 100 Trona Pinnacles, jagged peaks Our group of six left our our tents, despite the shortened national park. miles or so, we could have stopped formed underwater up to 100,000 respective homes at 6:30am on winter days. While its land is characterised by to visit Manzanar, an internment years ago in the now dry Searles a Friday, wading through a little Of the nine campgrounds in the TRAVEL Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 9 AVEL COMMUNITY ns, barren landscape give unexplored frontier IF YOU GO Getting there: There are several entry points into the park. We wanted to see the Trona Pinnacles and took I-605 to I-210, then caught I-15 to the 395. The road to turn off the 395, Searles Station, isn’t clearly marked, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a green sign that says Trona. Pro tip: Check your tyres before you head out. Some of the backcountry paths are unpaved and have sizeable holes and rocks that can wreak havoc on smaller cars. That being said, my Toyota sedan did fi ne. Weather: Death Valley has highly variable weather and is the There are some 500 spires at the Trona Pinnacles, formed thousands of years hottest and driest place in North ago when the area was underwater. America. Between November and March, though, daily highs range from an average of 65 to 82 WINTER WONDERLAND: A wooden boardwalk follows the Salt Creek Trail degrees. After March, average high where pupfish mate in the springtime. The area is coated in white minerals temperatures climb and by July can giving it a year-round winter wonderland appeal. reach 116 degrees. Rainfall is near non-existent. Pack accordingly. Reservations: Campers should make reservations up to four days in advance during peak season — October 15- April 15 — at recreation.gov. Other times of the year, it is fi rst come, fi rst served.

The Trona Pinnacles formed up to 100,000 years ago, when they were submerged in 640 feet of water. The Searles Dry Lake basin is part of the western Mojave Desert.

Closer to camp lie the rolling springtime. Croaking ravens patrol Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes that the campgrounds on the hunt for seem to stretch on for miles. Some food. mounds reach 100 feet in height. Other desert dwellers, such as Climbing to the top of a few of the the hairy scorpion, kit fox, pallid taller sandy hills is a must, if only bat and chuckwalla, are also Death for the view. The fine sand has an Valley inhabitants, although we almost silky quality, although the didn’t encounter them. tiny particles invariably find their The night before we left, a full way between your toes and coat moon cast a luminous blue light ers capture Zabriskie Point as the your skin, detracting somewhat over the campsite, eliminating purple and pink hues. from the landmark’s appeal. the need for flashlights, and Salt and other minerals coating dry lightning over the distant 3 million acre park, Furnace Creek BELOW SEA LEVEL: People walk over salt at Badwater, the lowest point in the landscape give Death Valley mountains further lit up the night is perhaps the most “plush,” with North America at 282 feet below sea level. During a hot day you can hear the a perennial winter wonderland sky. Yipping coyotes, audible sinks to wash dishes, RV hook- salt crackle in the sun. quality. both from the north and south, ups, fire pits, picnic tables and Despite its barren landscape, intensified the eeriness. flushing toilets. It’s also the most appointed convenience store with the crater’s precipice and can hike Death Valley isn’t devoid of life. On our last morning, we awoke expensive, at $18 each night during firewood and decent snacks. 600 feet into its core, or climb The Devil’s Cornfield, a field of before dawn to watch the sunrise peak season. (During the park’s Fifty miles from the Furnace up and around its rim. We opted low-lying green brush, is between at Zabriskie Point. The slowly sweltering offseason, the price dips Creek campsite sits the incredible for the latter, walking up the Ubehebe Crater and Mesquite unfurling light painted the distant to $12 nightly.) It’s also convenient, Ubehebe Crater, which was pebbly path made up of tiny black Flat. A wooden boardwalk at the mountains and marbled rock given the campgrounds’ proximity formed as recently as 300 years volcanic rocks, where we glimpsed Salt Creek Trail follows a trickling formations in incredible purple, to Furnace Creek Ranch, which ago, according to the National neighbouring Little Hebe crater in stream in which pupfish perform pink, orange and yellow hues. — includes a motel and a well- Park Service. Visitors park near the distance. a quirky mating ritual in the The Orange County Register/TNS 10 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY INFOGR Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 11 RAPHIC COMMUNITY 12 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY MOTORING BMW Contemporary to ‘unite and showcase Middle East artists, collectors’

he BMW Group is expanding its support of contemporary Art and Culture in the Middle East with the launch of BMWT Contemporary, an exclusive initiative that aims to strengthen intercultural dialogues and spark curiosity and imagination. BMW Contemporary will unite artists and collectors from across the region to meet, discuss and share their bespoke collections with the public and bring to life their unique stories in a series of online episodes that will be featured across BMW Group Middle East’s social media channels throughout the year. The fi rst episode, entitled “The Art of 7”, will see renowned Art Consultant and Curator Ali Khadra introduce Youssef Nabil, an internationally acclaimed Egyptian artist, and Sheikha Paula Mubarak al-Sabah, a high-profi le art lover and collector residing in Kuwait. As the fi rst host of the series, Sheikha Paula has allowed exclusive access COLOURFUL: A promotional image for BMW Contemporary. to her stunning Kuwait Estate in which audiences will not only learn Group Middle East, said: “The nurture and support regional integral part of the BMW Group’s for innovation, and creativity in about her extensive collection BMW Group has been involved talent. We believe that BMW corporate culture. The company many respects be it design or how but will immerse themselves in supporting various arts and Contemporary does just that. It is believes that unrestricted freedom we engage with our audiences,” into Youssef’s world of Egyptian cultural platforms for more the 40 a great showcase of how creativity is of the utmost importance, as continued Heidlberger. Glamour, departure and loss. years, with hundreds of initiatives knows no boundaries, and we hope much so for the art world as it is The BMW Group focuses its Commenting on the initiative, taking place worldwide. Here in that each of the episodes’ artists for ground-breaking innovations cultural co-operations on jazz Christina Heidlberger, BMW Brand the Middle East, we are committed spark interest and inspire people within business. “As a car company, and classical music, modern and Management, Marketing Services to fostering this association and across the region.” we see many synergies with the Art contemporary art, architecture and and Event Manager for BMW actively seek opportunities to Cultural commitment is an & Culture world. We both strive design.

Winners of Total’s Qatar Cadillac’s All New 3.6L V6 National Day 2015 honoured engine wins recognition

he all-new, 3.6L V6 powering several Cadillac models today was named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines. The new V6 debuted in late 2015 on Cadillac’s 2016 ATS and CTS product lines. TThe engine also will be off ered on the upcoming CT6 range-topping sedan, and is the standard launch engine for the fi rst-ever XT5 crossover launching in the fi rst half of 2016. WardsAuto reviewed 31 engines from 11 automakers in this year’s competition, which looked at power, inners of Total’s - namely ‘My National Day’, fuel effi ciency, new technology and refi nement Qatar National ‘Qatar in the past’ and ‘What and compared it with data for similar engines and Day 2015 makes Qatar special to you’, a propulsion systems. celebrations ‘My Qatari Space’ competition “The 3.6 delivers the kind of power and lusty exhaust for employees was organised, where employees note you associate with a V-8, for the price of a V-6. Wand their families were creatively transformed their Plus, it’s loaded with advanced technology, including awarded during a ceremony at offi ces with the national day fuel-saving cylinder deactivation,” says Drew Winter, Total’s premises. The yearly spirit. director, Content at WardsAuto. competitions, which commence “These events help us to The engine incorporates technologies for during Qatar National Week, promote the national spirit in uncompromised effi ciency and performance, including call upon participants to capture the company”, says Guillaume direct injection, continuously variable valve timing the charm of Qatar through Chalmin, Managing Director of and, for the fi rst time, Active Fuel Management illustrations, pictures and Total E&P Qatar. It brings out the (cylinder deactivation.) Active Fuel Management drawings. In a special edition of charm of Qatar - the spirit of its temporarily deactivates two cylinders in light-load the competition, participants residents, and its cultural values. driving conditions to enhance fuel effi ciency and were also asked to portray and This also encourages residents, seamlessly reactivates them when the driver demands TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED: The 3.6L V6 for explain what makes every day especially those new to the full power. All the above are supplemented by auto stop the Cadillac ATS, CTS, CT6 and upcoming XT5 features Qatar special to them. country, to explore the heritage of start and with an output range from 310 HP to 335 HP cylinder deactivation, direct injection and stop/start In addition to the competitions the country. depending on application. technology. Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 13 LEISURE COMMUNITY

Colour by numbers

Colour by choice

Maze Connect the dots Picture crossword 14 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY CARTOONS Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 15 LEISURE COMMUNITY

Quick Clues Wordwatch scrutate (SKRU-tayt) “My lungs felt inefficient, distended, a nod or a laugh. The winners turned MEANING: like balloons full of water.” up in the next day’s paper.” verb tr.: To investigate. Edwin Cameron; Was I Ready to Be a David Von Drehle; A Journalist’s ETYMOLOGY: Judge with HIV?; Mail and Guardian Singular Voice; The Washington Post; rom Latin scrutari (to examine). (Johannesburg, South Africa); Feb 7, May 6, 1997. Earliest documented use: 1882. 2014. USAGE: grok (grok) “Philosophers have too often Addisonian (ad-uh-SO-nee-uhn) MEANING: thought that they can learn more MEANING: verb tr.: To understand deeply and about human nature by scrutating adjective: Having clarity and intuitively. the murky depths of substance and elegance. ETYMOLOGY: faculties than by interpreting the ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his obvious evidence.” After Joseph Addison (1672-1719), science-fiction novel Stranger in a John Lachs; The Relevance of English essayist and poet. Earliest Strange Land. Earliest documented Philosophy to Life; Vanderbilt documented use: 1789. use: 1961. University Press; 1995. NOTES: NOTES: Some aphorisms by Addison: In Stranger in a Strange Land, Heinlein distend (di-STEND) What sculpture is to a block of describes grok as a Martian word MEANING: marble, education is to a human soul. meaning “to drink”. That’s the literal verb tr., intr.: To swell, inflate, or Three grand essentials to happiness meaning; however, figuratively it extend. in this life are something to do, means to understand something in ETYMOLOGY: something to love, and something to a profound way. To grok something From Latin dis- (away, apart) + hope for. is to be one with it in a way that the tendere (to stretch). Ultimately from Content thyself to be obscurely good. observer and the observed become the Indo-European root ten- (to When vice prevails, and impious merged. Across Down stretch), which is also the source men bear sway, the post of honor is a USAGE: 6. Authentic (7) 1. Send (5) of tense, tenet, tendon, tent, tenor, private station. “Any first-time Apple user immediately 7. Claw (5) 2. Writer (6) tender, pretend, extend, tenure, USAGE: groks the nature of the device.” 9. Power (5) 3. Conclude (3) 4. Harvest (6) tetanus, hypotenuse, tenable, “Murray Kempton enjoyed being in Melvin Bukiet; Me and My Mac; 10. Convent (7) 5. Voyage (7) tenuous, extenuate, countenance, 12. Conveyor (11) a group of reporters; he liked to try The Chronicle of Higher Education 8. Claim (7) pertinacious, and detente. Earliest out ideas for columns, dropping fully (Washington, DC); Oct 16, 2011. 14. Sewing (11) 11. Embitter (7) documented use: 1400. formed Addisonian sentences into 18. Wariness (7) 13. Escape (7) 19. Earlier (5) 15. Separate (6) USAGE: conversation to see which ones got — wordsmith.org 21. Pert (5) 16. Distant (3,3) 22. Lose (7) 17. Poisonous (5) 20. In favour of (3) Sudoku Yesterday’s Solutions Cryptic Clues

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of Across Down values and to complete 6. Weight that can be carried is a profitable 1. Contented to be very quiet in the dry the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that burden? (7) grass (5) 7. Deferment of getting up because 2. Finally natural timber from the mountains every column, every row and every 3x3 untruth is fashionable? (3-2) (6) box contains the digits 1 to 9 and none 9. Country where father falls into 3 & 20Dn. 1000 find Cupid’s weapon in is repeated. transgression (5) vegetable (6) 4. Insert the necessary information for a 10. He uses his legs in revolutionary MALL CINEMA (1): KUNG ROYAL PLAZA CINEMA service (7) stopgap (4-2) 5. Charming but only partly victorious (7) 12. Be called he-man beater (4,3,4) FU STYLE (2D) 2.15pm; EL PALACE (1): KUNG FU STYLE 8. Python coiled round ring in violent wind 14. Is it therefore cheaper to stay in bed? AMERICANO (2D) 4pm; EL (2D) 2.15pm; EL AMERICANO (2D) (7) AMERICANO (2D) 5.45pm; CINEMA LAND MARK 3.45pm; CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES (6,5) 11. Fit gear ordered for warship (7) 18. Most of the staff spilt tea on material (7) BACTRACK (2D) 7.30pm; (1): MIRUTHAN (Tamil) (2D) 5.30pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 13. Six agree essentially (7) DEADPOOL (2D) 9.30pm; 2.30pm; BACTRACK (2D) 7.15pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 9.15pm; 19. Tony not to speed to beautiful girl (5) 15. Tell during class? (6) 21. Arouse sudden fear amongst rival 16. Wearisome work in court? (6) DEADPOOL (2D) 11.30pm. 5pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 7pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 11.15pm. armies (5) 17. Fun within one’s grasp or talents (5) MALL CINEMA (2): ALVIN & THE MOONSOON MANGOES ROYAL PLAZA CINEMA 22. Shy about turn-out in rural area (7) 20. See (3) CHIPMUNKS: The Road Chip (2D) (Malayalam) 9pm; CRIMINAL PALACE (2): NEERJA (Hindi) 2.30pm; CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES (2D) 11.30pm. 2.45pm; ISHQ FOREVER (Hindi) Yesterday’s Solutions (2D) 4.30pm; HAIL, CAESAR! (2D) CINEMA LAND MARK (2): 5pm; PADRE DE FAMILIA 6pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 7.45pm; EL AMERICANO (2D) 3pm; EL (Filipino) 7.15pm; NEERJA (Hindi) QUICK CRYPTIC CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES (2D) AMERICANO (2D) 5pm; HAIL, 9pm; ISHQ FOREVER (Hindi) Across: 1 Debatable; 8 Nun; 9 Across: 1 Narcissus; 8 Lie; 9 Prize 9.45pm; HAIL, CAESAR! (2D) CAESAR! (2D) 7pm; DEADPOOL 11.15pm. Illustrious; 11 Neglect; 12 Impel; 13 cattle; 11 Recited; 12 Lance; 13 Parody; 11.30pm. (2D) 9pm; DEADPOOL (2D) 11pm. ROYAL PLAZA CINEMA Casket; 15 Jeered; 17 Shame; 18 Lovable; 15 Snooze; 17 Roods; 18 Draught; 20 20 Inadvertent; 22 Too; 23 Threefold. Anaesthetic; 22 Gut; 23 Financier. MALL CINEMA (3): MIRUTHAN CINEMA LAND MARK (3): PALACE (3): ALVIN & THE Down: 2 Eel; 3 Taste; 4 Berate; 5 Down: 2 Air; 3 Inert; 4 Stands; 5 Set (Tamil) 2pm; NEERJA (Hindi) ISHQ FOREVER (Hindi) 2.30pm; CHIPMUNKS: The Road Chip Emotive; 6 Insuperable; 7 Knowledge; plan; 6 Clean forgot; 7 Represent; 10 4.30pm; LOVESHHUDA (Hindi) CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES (2D) (2D) 3pm; HAIL, CAESAR! (2D) 10 Legislation; 11 Necessity; 14 Elegant; Incorporate; 11 Reportage; 14 Distaff; 16 6.45pm; MOONSOON MANGOES 5.15pm; MIRUTHAN (Tamil) 5pm; BACTRACK (2D) 7pm; HAIL, 16 Sliver; 19 Verve; 21 Nil. Edison; 19 Ashen; 21 Ice. (Malayalam) 9pm; MIRUTHAN 7.15pm; HAIL, CAESAR! (2D) CAESAR! (2D) 9pm; CRIMINAL (Tamil) 11.15pm. 9.15pm; BACTRACK (2D) 11.15pm. ACTIVITIES (2D) 11pm. 16 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 8 easy steps to an organised, dust-free workshop

that’s there, and prevent the messes yet to these smaller items that often go missing. bags is a tiring and unwanted step when you’re come. in the middle of a project. To keep from making Include a retractable vinyl window multiple trips back and forth to the garbage, Utilise ceiling space shade create a handy garbage station that corrals Many projects need all the surface area you The work table often gets the brunt of the the broom, garbage container and extra liners can get, so when it comes to storing tools or mess from glue spills and paint to dents and in one spot. Place these items on a tray with placing extra extension cords, utilise available dust. Attaching a retractable vinyl window wheels and it easily becomes a mobile station so space above. It’s a great spot to hang wire shade to the side of your work table enables you can get rid of the garbage as you go. baskets to get seldom-used tools out of the way, you to pull down a protective cover over your and place hooks for getting extension cords off workspace when you need it. The best part is, Cover walls with chalk paint the fl oor. most materials can be easily wiped or scraped Sometimes an organised workshop involves off the vinyl when the project is nished,fi making a space for your creative ideas. Rather Choose the right tool leaving a cleaner, mess-free work table. than cluttered notebooks and binders of notes, The best way to remove dust is to do so at the paint the walls of your workshop in chalk paint source. Choose the tool connects to standard Consolidate with a battery charging so you can jot down notes, measurements, wet/dry vacuum hoses and adapters, and station timelines and plans in an easily visible spot. intake ports on the tool itself collect airborne Misplaced battery packs can delay This keeps your big ideas top of mind and holds dust and debris. It’s a great asset for a dustless progress during a project. Avoid the stress you accountable to any deadlines you have set. workshop, especially with sanding, engraving and consolidate all of your battery packs into and polishing jobs or when working with dusty one, central battery charging station. Create a Wipe up water ny good DIY project leaves a trail materials like wood and drywall. long tray out of wood or metal and place with Dust loves water. Water spills around the of dust, tools and various scraps a dedicated power strip. Use this area as the workshop are a great way to ensure the dust around the workshop. While the Install magnetic strips landing space for all your battery packs, so next spreads and stubbornly sticks to where it end-product is often fulfi ling, Hand tools, measuring tape and other time a power tool runs low on juice, you can shouldn’t. To prevent dust from clinging to the remaining cleanup never is. small items have a way of going rogue while quickly replace it and keep your projects going. every surface, ensure your workspaces are dry However,A having a clean, organised workshop you’re mid-project. Rather than throwing prior to working with dusty materials like wood you can easily maintain isn’t impossible. Here them into a big, cluttered bin, install a few Create a garbage station and drywall. are eight workshop cleanup and organisation rows of magnetic strips along the wall of your Running scraps to the garbage, searching for tips to eliminate the dust, grime and clutter workspace. It’s an easily visible place to store a broom and dustpan, and fi nding extra garbage © Brandpoint

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Way too often you change your plans in order to fit in with someone Mars the motivator and your co–ruler continues his merry march Be careful what you wish for today twins. You might just get it and else’s and then feel put out and passive aggressively beat yourself through your opposite sign and relationship zone through the end of what a disappointment it will be! Next time, think bigger and don’t up about it. Steer clear of that kind of behavior today. the month. This is giving you all kinds of wonderful ideas to kickstart tell anyone about it! 2016.

CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

As long as you are honest with someone, there is absolutely no If you feel as if you are falling under the spell of someone and you’re There’s absolutely no rhyme or reason why something is happening reason why they have any right to be angry with you. If they are, not quite sure it’s in your best interests, back away a little and think the way it is happening right now, Virgos. All you can do is go with that’s on them. on it. the flow.

LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Don’t be shy about asking for something you know and feel you There is no such thing as ’winging it’ today. You do have to do the Be careful that you don’t say something that comes off as catty or deserve today Librans. Being shy is not usually in your cosmic DNA work and focus on the tasks in front of you Scorpios. If you feel you overly sarcastic today Sags. Today is one of those days when smiling but if you do feel slightly intimidated, step up and ask. need help, ask for it. and being sweet will definitely work out better for you.

CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Forget about all those people you feel wronged you in any way over Unless you are absolutely sure that someone is going to fall into line If you can avoid something you really don’t want to do today, then the past few weeks and instead focus on all the good people you with your way of thinking, don’t risk making a bold move right now do it Pisces. Going out of your way to please others could backfire have in your life right now. Aquarius. Lay low. today. Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 17 BOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY Satyamev to have episode on water issue, says Aamir

uperstar Aamir Khan says the only face of this project. next season of his popular “I will not be the only face, we will television show Satyamev Jayate, have Sachin Tendulkar and many Marathi which focuses on social issues, celebrities. All of us are the face of this will have an episode on the water project,” he said. crisisS in Maharashtra and other areas. The first edition of the Satyamev Jayate “The topic of water problems will Water Cup will focus on three districts, be tackled in this season of Satyamev and one taluka each within those districts. Jayate, especially the problems related Helmed by CEO Sayani Bhatkar and to Maharashtra,” Aamir said at a press COO Reema Dutta, Paani Foundation is conference held to announce the Satyamev a not-for-profit company whose main Jayate Water Cup. objective is to communicate, impart “The response to Satyamev Jayate knowledge and bring about a change in was so strong that we felt we will take outlook among people at the grassroot one more step ahead and focus on one level about water conservation and topic. We decided to work on water and watershed management. Maharashtra. Water is important and Aamir Khan has given the thumbs up OBSERVATION: Amitabh Bachchan Maharashtra is my birth place. I feel if we to actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar’s respect water, water will respect us so we Marathi film Natsamrat, starring veteran Ki & Ka fun, progressive: Big B all need to come together for this,” Aamir actor Nana Patekar in the lead. The said at the event. Bollywood superstar says the film is a Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who will be A competition will be organised “must watch”. seen doing a cameo in fi lmmaker R. Balki’s where villages will be involved in water “I saw Natsamrat last night. What a upcoming fi lm Ki & Ka, says the trailer of the conservation activities, with the winning film! And what an amazing performance fi lm looks “cool, fun and progressive”. village bagging prize money of Rs.50 lakh. by Nana,” Aamir posted on Twitter. Ki & Ka, which stars actors Kareena The contest will be held between April 15 “A must watch for all who love Kapoor Khan and Arjun Kapoor in the lead, and May 31. performances! And Vikram ji (Vikram is based on the life of a young, married Aamir and Kiran Rao’s NGO Paani Gokhale) has done no less. Outstanding! couple whose relationship challenges the Foundation will also work in association Both Nana and Vikram ji kept me riveted gender roles placed upon women and men in with the Maharashtra government towards throughout. Thank you Mahesh, Nana, Indian society. solving the water crisis in the state. Vikram ji, and to the entire team,” the PK “Next Balki fi lm Ki & Ka trailer ... Previously, Satyamev Jayate had featured star added. With Kareena and Arjun... Cool, fun and an episode on rainwater harvesting, Natsamrat is based on late poet VV progressive... haha,” Amitabh posted on which spoke about the various methods Shirwadkar aka Kusumagraj’s legendary Twitter on Wednesday. of conserving water, steps which could be Marathi play of the same name. In return, Arjun tweeted: “The three tried even in housing societies. Nana plays the role of Ganpat correct adjectives to describe you more than Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Ramchandra Belwalkar or Natsamrat in #KiAndKa ! Thank you for the love Amit and director Rajkumar Hirani were also the film. Uncle”. present at the event. The story of the film revolves around In the fi lm Arjun will be seen playing a “When we went for promotions of PK, a veteran theatre actor who has been house husband, while Kareena will play an some episodes of Satyamev Jayate had ALL FOR A CAUSE: Aamir Khan the best of his lot, acting in plays based ambitious marketing manager. Ki & Ka, been shot. Wherever we would go, we on William Shakespeare’s works. But which is slated to release on April 1, is Balki’s had to stop Aamir from talking about it. also to offer a solution to it through the gradually, Natsamrat becomes homeless fi rst fi lm in which the Piku actor will not He was so passionate of talking about show,” he said. About the water initiative, and weary. be playing the lead. They have previously Satyamev Jayate,” Hirani said. Hirani said: “If Aamir has taken it up, he The film also features Medha Manjrekar, worked together in fi lms like Cheeni Kum, “He often said it is our job to not just wouldn’t give up, he will anyhow do it.” Mrunmayee Deshpande, Ajit Parab, Neha Paa and Shamitabh. — IANS showcase the flaws in the society, but However, Aamir said he will not be the Pendse and Sunil Barve. — IANS

Dhalla gives background score for Tere Bin Laden... Kona Venkat, Prabhudeva join hands for a bilingual Composer Dhruv Dhalla, popular for fi lms like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and Tere Bin Laden, has given the Popular Telugu writer Kona Venkat will co-produce Prabhudeva’s background score for Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive. Dhalla said in a statement: “I’m a huge fan of Hans Zimmer upcoming horror-comedy which will be simultaneously made in and his background score in movies like The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, and Dark Knight are masterpieces Tamil and Telugu. Sharing the news on his Twitter page, Venkat wrote: and truly inspire me. Background score is a critical element in the entire fi lmmaking process. It gives a whole new “Proud to write and present MVV cinema prod no 3 with @PDdancing dimension to the sound and emotional experience of any given situation in a fi lm.” @tamannaahspeaks in Telugu. Dir by @DirectorLVijay. Journey Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive is slated to release on February 26. — IANS continues”. To be directed by Vijay, the fi lm also stars Tamannaah Bhatia and Sonu Sood in important roles. Besides producing, Prabhudeva will also be playing the lead in the fi lm. Smoking is not cool, Venkat will pen the dialogues for the fi lm’s Telugu version. — IANS it’s disgusting: Leone

Actress Sunny Leone, who will star Fitoor director pleased by audience response alongside actors Alok Nath and Deepak Dobriyal in an anti-smoking Abhishek Kapoor’s Fitoor might have received a mixed response advertisement, feels the “disgusting” from critics but the romantic drama has been “appreciated” by cinema habit that so many peoples around lovers for its unique presentation. The director is “encouraged” with the the world have, is not at all “cool”. response. “I hope people like the ad we have Fitoor, released earlier this month, features Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina made and more than anything Kaif and Tabu in the lead roles. The fi lm’s dramatic love story and visual stop smoking. It’s so not cool! opulence has received a thumbs up from movie afi cionados, thus taking Disgusting,” Sunny posted on its opening weekend total to Rs.14.11 crore. Twitter. The director says he is happy with the response. “My aim was to Sunny, who was last seen on the create a memorable movie going experience unique to its world and silver screen in Milap Zaveri’s sex story. I am truly encouraged that cinema lovers have appreciated it for comedy fi lm Mastizaade, next has what it is,” Kapoor said in a statement. fi lms like One Night Stand and Fitoor is based on Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations and is Beiimaan Love in her kitty. — IANS TAKING A STAND: Sunny Leone the love story of a poor boy and a rich girl. — IANS 18 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY HOLLYWOOD ‘Any aspect of life can help you be a better performer’ Canadian actor Yannick Bisson, who plays Detective William Murdoch in the series Murdoch Mysteries, on life and career in showbiz. By Luaine Lee

hough he’s been in the business since he was 13, Canadian actor Yannick Bisson has tried to quit several times. “I was tiredT of the ups and downs and the uncertainty,” he says, seated at a small, round table draped in a white linen tablecloth in a meeting room here in Pasadena, California. “It was getting to the point where you sort of have to cut your losses a little bit. You have to be responsible, and I had opportunities. I was starting to do well at building homes and things like that. That interested me a lot as well. So I was debating whether to go do that full time or not. And I was looking for a sign, really.” He was in his mid-30s, married and the father of three daughters. Worried about his family, he found himself renovating and restoring older homes and fl ipping them. “I really enjoyed it and learned a lot,” he says. “It was something I could see myself doing. I don’t tackle a whole lot of electrical, but I could build you an entire house. I worked as a professional framer, as a tile-setter, did a lot of my own plumbing; I taught myself,” he says. Bisson also hawked cars, delivered pizza, sold long-distance phone service, bartended and plied some voice-over work. All of that odd-job experience was not wasted when Bisson, 46, was off ered the role of Detective William Murdoch in the long running series Murdoch Mysteries 10 years ago. That enduring character is enjoying SPY SAGA: Yannick Bisson has played the intrepid Detective William Murdoch for nearly 10 years. The latest series, Season 9, takes place in 1903 and is airing a reincarnation as Ovation airs on Ovation under the new title, The Artful Detective. the new Season 9 of The Artful Detective, renamed to coincide with circumstance. I’m a little bit more He did harbour a strong sense be pulled out of another activity concentrate on their work. Shantelle the artistic bent of the network. laidback than that.” of self and rebelled at 15. “I sort of or lose more friends, whatever – is writing her third book and Bisson The older Murdoch Mysteries are He’s earned the chance to packed it in. I was focused on my things that are important to you is chasing the criminal element of streaming on Acorn.TV and can be be laidback. Bisson started in career, so my father, brothers and when you’re a kid.” Toronto as the intrepid detective. found on DVD. commercials when he was 13. His sister went to places like Korea, When he was about 16 he met his Unlike Murdoch, Bisson admits “Any aspect of life can help you dad built bridges and the blended Thailand, Malaysia. I was left with future wife, actress and former pro that he can only concentrate on be a better actor because what are family (a sister, a half-brother, and my mom part of the time, (his cheerleader, Shantelle. But she had one thing at a time. “I can’t even we doing except living life while two step-brothers) moved often, parents had split when he was six). a boyfriend and would have nothing exit off the highway if somebody’s somebody’s recording it?” he says. constantly transplanting Bisson But then I was living on my own to do with him for four years. Finally talking to me,” he says. “But on the “You just sort of hop into diff erent and his siblings. from about 15 on,” says Bisson, they found themselves auditioning fl ip side there have been instances contexts and say diff erent words, “It’s a matter of becoming a who’s dressed in a black suit and for the same Pepsi commercial. “I where I’ve been followed and had to but that’s been mostly my job on professional adaptor, and you do black shirt, unbuttoned at the neck. was in heaven,” he recalls. ditch a tail and my wife thinks I’m Murdoch is taking the audience it like your life depends on it for so “It wasn’t easy, but I just wanted “Then I found out from her as cool as James Bond because I’ve through the story and being the long, then it becomes an easy thing to to stay put, lay down some roots, friend if she was single. I asked had to do that a couple of times. audience’s feelings and eyes.” make a living at. So the tricky things and do what I was doing. It was her out and she said yes. And I’ve managed to switch into action Bisson insists he’s not at all like can be that you lose yourself in all of more of a reaction. I didn’t really we’ve been together ever since.” mode and my wife said, ‘Babe! Murdoch. “He’s too stuff y. There’s it. That’s not necessarily good. So it’s think of it as a choice. It was a way (Neither got the part in the Pepsi That was awesome.’ It’s one of the a lot of work to being Murdoch, important to have a strong sense of of reacting to the things I didn’t commercial.) few times in my life when my wife there’s the (Victorian) shirt and self if you’re going to really capitalise agree with. I didn’t want to move Their girls are 26, 24, and 19 now, was really impressed with me,” he the things and a lot of pomp and on that aspect of your life.” around anymore, I didn’t want to permitting Bisson and his wife to smiles. — TNS Friday, February 19, 2016 GULF TIMES 19 HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY

Vanessa Hudgens under scanner for defacing rock Actress Vanessa Hudgens and her boyfriend Austin Butler are under investigation for reportedly carving their names in a heart into a rock formation in Sedona, Arizona. A public affairs officer for Coconino National Forest has said the incident involving Hudgens and Butler “is under investigation”, reports etonline.com. “Offi cials at the Coconino National Forest became aware of the incident when the media alerted them of the situation,” the CAUGHT UNAWARES: offi cer said. “There is no deadline Vanessa Hudgens for this investigation — it takes as long as it takes. The maximum Hudgens posted a photograph of punishment for this is $5,000 and/ the carving on Instagram, but the or six months behind bars.” post has since been deleted. — Eyebrows were raised after IANS

CO-STARS: Priyanka Chopra, left, and Dwayne Johnson. J J Abrams’ God Particle movie to release in 2017 No cast members have been announced yet. Paramount Pictures and Paramount and Bad Robot Priyanka Chopra plays bad filmmaker J J Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions have been developing Productions have set a February the project since 2012. At that 24, 2017 release date for the point, Onah was attached to direct roles better: Dwayne Johnson science-fiction thriller God from a script by Oren Uziel with Particle. the film being developed through The story, set in the near future, the low-budget Paramount ollywood star Priyanka Chopra, who In the video, he is seen in the frame with the former centres on a team of astronauts on InSurge label. has now become a popular name in the beauty queen against seaside. a space station making a terrifying God Particle is the first title to West due to her role in American thriller “She’s one of the biggest stars in the world. Insanely discovery that challenges all they release on February 24, 2017. It series Quantico, will next be seen playing talented, relentlessly smoking and extremely dangerous know about the fabric of reality, opens a week after Maze Runner: a negative character in upcoming fi lm — perfect for #Baywatch. Welcome @PriyankaChopra as they desperately fight for their The Death Cure and Bad Boys 3, BBaywatch. Her co-star Dwayne Johnson feels the to our bad %** and incredibly dysfunctional family. survival. and two weeks after Fifty Shades actress plays bad roles “better” than the good ones. Cue Rated R slo-mo running on the beach. We start Nigerian-American filmmaker Darker, The Lego Batman Movie “She’s (Priyanka) cool, but does bad even better. shooting next week. World. #WelcomeToBaywatch,” Julius Onah is directing the movie, and The Mountain Between Us. Can’t wait. #Baywatch,” Johnson posted on Twitter. Johnson wrote alongside the video. reports variety.com. — IANS The actress will be seen playing the villain in the One of the most watched TV shows globally, movie, based on the popular 1990s TV series of the Baywatch, was about the Los Angeles county lifeguards same name. who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles, California. It Stephen Fry to shift Johnson, best known as The Rock, earlier welcomed starred David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson among from Britain to US after his stint as BAFTA host the actress on board by sharing a video on Instagram. others. — IANS during which he made a gag at the Comedian Stephen Fry has expense of his friend Jenny Beavan announced that he will soon be — calling her a “bag lady” — as she Ryan Reynolds in talks Cowell hosts lavish shifting from Britain to US. The collected her award for Costume for Mars mission fi lm birthday party for son 58-year-old is “applying for a Design for her work on Mad Max: green card”, which is the legal Fury Road. Actor Ryan Reynolds is in talks Music mogul Simon Cowell process for hopeful candidates to Fry went on to the micro to star with Mission: Impossible hosted a lavish birthday become a lawful and permanent blogging site to inform the irate - Rogue Nation star Rebecca party for his son Eric, who resident of US, and will move with web mob that he and Beavan are Ferguson in Life, a Skydance turned two on Valentine’s his partner Elliott Spencer, reports old friends and she was in on the Productions fi lm focusing Day. Eric was treated to a femalefi rst.co.uk. joke, but after his explanation on a Mars mission that fi nds star-studded party at a club. “We’re moving to Los Angeles fell on deaf ears he quit the social intelligent alien life. His father’s friends, including and I’m applying for a green card. networking site. Fry married Daniel Espinosa will direct the the Britain’s Got Talent We’re excited about having a new Spencer, who is a comedian, last fi lm from a script by Reynolds’ panel Alesha Dixon, Amanda base,” Fry told The Sun newspaper. year and the duo currently live in Deadpool writers Paul Wernick Holden and David Walliams The news comes following the Norfolk, England. and Rhett Reese. Espinosa and and former The X Factor star backlash Fry received on Twitter — IANS Reynolds teamed previously on Louis Walsh, attended the the 2012 American action thriller party, reports femalefirst. Safe House. Skydance’s David co.uk. Ellison and Dana Goldberg are Cowell, 56, recently Alice Eve’s plane plunge producing with Bonnie Curtis admitted that while he hadn’t terror and Julie Lynn. Paramount is planned to become a father, expected to be the distributor. Eric has changed his life for Actress Alice Eve endured — IANS CELEBRATION: Simon Cowell the better. – IANS a nightmare fl ight when her plane plummeted 2,000 ft after experiencing severe turbulence. Romano used to deliver The Star Trek: Into Darkness mattresses in trucks said in a statement: “I did not spend much time actress was fl ying from London to growing up in New York per se, but when I started South Africa when her fl ight was Everybody Loves Raymond star Ray Romano says doing stand-up comedy at the age of 20, I was there hit by severe turbulence, leaving before doing stand-up comedy, he used to deliver every night. And before I started doing stand-up, her shaken but unhurt. “The fl ight mattresses in a truck in Manhattan. Now, he has I delivered mattresses in a truck in Manhattan, on dropped 2,000 ft — the pilot said been cast in Martin Scorsese’s debut TV show Vinyl every street there is.” it was the worst turbulence he had as Zak Yankovich. The show revolves around 1970s “However, in the 1970s, I was growing up in seen in his 35 years in the sky,” Eve New York. It will also show Scorsese’s association Queens and music played a huge part in my life. told dailymail.co.uk. with Mick Jagger and Terence Winter. Even today, my iPod is filled with 1970s stuff and my “There was a lot of screaming Talking about working for the role, Romano wife hates it,” he added. — IANS and a few people were hurt,” she THAT SINKING FEELING: Alice Eve added. — IANS 20 GULF TIMES Friday, February 19, 2016 COMMUNITY A grand finale to PCL 2016 today

By Umer Nangiana

ne of the most prominent community organisations of Pakistani expatriate inO Qatar, Sohni Dharti Al Khor is all set to see off its locally organised cricket tournament, Pakistan Cricket League (PCL) in style. The organisers are holding a colourful closing ceremony and prize distribution on Saturday after the final match of the tournament in Al Khor. The Sohni Dharti PCL 2016 comprising six teams was styled on Pakistan Super League (PSL) currently underway in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Five teams in the tournament were named after the five PSL franchises representing the five capital cities of Pakistan. However, the Sohni Dharti PCL 2016 also featured Gilgit Elevators. The finalists will be decided today (Friday) after the two semi- finals between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings. The hotly contested tournament was witnessed by scores of cricket-lovers residing in Al Khor community and outside. Sohni PARTICIPATION: A large number of people attended the mandarin festival. Dharti had launched the cricket extravaganza in style too. A grand Dr Shoukar Chandna will speak to bazaar featuring mandarin festival children and youth of the Al Khor and fresh Pakistani fruits and Community. vegetables directly imported from A regular feature of Sohni Pakistan was held at New Football Dharti annual activities calendar, Field Al Khor Community earlier the format of the programme also this month. allows the participating children The festival attended by a large to share their learning experiences number of Pakistani expatriates and give their input. In the featured one of the best mandarin programme the participants will varieties (kinnow) from Pakistan. be shown a motivational video Kinnow, widely grown in the which will be followed with a Punjab province, is exported to discussion on video. many countries of the world. There will be speeches from the “We got the kinnow imported participants before the keynote fresh from Pakistan and all our speech on the topic of successful fruits and vegetables arrived on parenting. The PCL 2016 organising the day of festival fresh from committee included Zaheer Khan, Pakistan. The visitors of the Muhammad Qasim and Nassoh festival were happy to find some Akhter while the Sohni Dharti of the best quality kinnow in executive committee members Qatar,” Anwar Ali Rana, President include Shabbit Siddiqui, Gulzar Sohni Dharti, told Community. Hussain, Azmat Ali, Zubair The kinnow is hybrid of high Rabnawaz and Javaid Alvi. yield citrus cultivars, King and The main objectives of the Sohni Willow Leaf, first developed by Dharti are to promote cultural, Howard B. Frost at the University social and sports activities for of California Citrus Experiment Pakistanis residents of Al Khor Station. After evaluation, the Community, develop the talents kinnow was released as a new of Pakistani children in education, citrus hybrid for commercial culture and sports, contribute cultivation in 1935. in welfare and development of The fruit matures in January Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad at the mandarin stall. community, especially to promote or February. It peels easily and the preservation of environment has high juice content. Most of besides ingredients for the typical community members ambassador response from the people was very of community and surroundings the target export markets of the Pakistani dishes found in different Ahmad appreciated the eff orts encouraging. It was a capacity and integrate Pakistani community Pakistani kinnow are those of areas. Other Pakistani products of Sohni Dharti for its initiatives, event and visitors appreciated the with other nationalities of Al Khor developing countries. About 61 such as clothes were also put on providing expats opportunity to products,” said Rana. community. percent of total world exports display for the visitors. bond over some delicious Pakistani The Saturday’s closing Membership of Sohni Dharti is of oranges and mandarins are of Ambassador of Pakistan to food. ceremony of the PCL 2016 will be open to the people of Pakistani seedless varieties. Qatar Shahzad Ahmad was the “We annually organise the followed by another mega event origin residing in Al Khor Besides the mandarin, the chief guest at the festival and the mango festival here at Al Khor. by Sohni Dharti called Future community, and to Qatargas and festival also offered visitors the opening ceremony of the cricket This year we thought we will have Leaders Programme. Renowned Rasgas employees living in Doha traditional Pakistani cuisine tournament. Speaking to the a mandarin festival as well and the scholar and motivational speaker as well.