Thursday, March 5, 2020 Rajab 10, 1441 AH
Doha today 140 - 260
THE TEAM: The One More Orbit crew that completed a 48-hour Round-the-World flight over the North and South poles.
OVER Milestone C STORY How One More Orbit mission team, Qatar Executive joined hands to set world circumnavigation speed record using a premier Qatari jet. P4-5
REVIEWS BOLLYWOOD
Kelly Reichardt’s masterpiece Who would’ve thought I’d make explores untamed Western frontier. a fi lm based on a slap: Sinha Page 14 Page 15 2 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.36am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.54am Zuhr (noon) 11.47am Asr (afternoon) 3.09pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.39pm Isha (night) 7.09pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
The Invisible Man was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia CAST: Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody Emergency 999 DIRECTION: Leigh Whannell can see. Worldwide Emergency Number 112 SYNOPSIS: When Cecilia’s abusive former husband takes Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark, The Mall Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444
Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374 VFW local VFW post and an innocent teen against a deranged drug CAST: Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Fred Williamson dealer and his relentless army of punk mutants. DIRECTION: Joe Begos SYNOPSIS: A group of war veterans must defend their THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall te Unqu uo ot Q “Your e attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
Community Editor For movie timings and Kamran Rehmat further details please scan e-mail: [email protected] the QR code above with your Telephone: 44466405 mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com Fax: 44350474 Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY
Ballet Lessons information, 66053485, 33232490 or visit WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier www.SmedleyToastmasters.org WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 4pm – 8pm For more info e-mail at registration@ atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.
Whiskers & Purrs WHERE: Tennis Courts, The Pearl-Qatar WHEN: March 7 Time: 1pm – 6pm A fun-fi lled event for the family which will promote responsible pet ownership. The objective is to raise community awareness MIA Park Bazaar 2020 Street Food is the ideal venue for a leisure about animal welfare and highlight the plight WHERE: MIA Park experience for the whole family off ering over of pets that have been abandoned by families. WHEN: Ongoing till April 25 20 dine-in options and 18-hole World Mini- TIME: 2pm — 8pm Golf setup. MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of Katara Winter Festival & Bazaar the Old Souq tradition with vibrant mix of Hobby Classes WHERE: Katara Cultural Village around 120 stalls. You can browse and buy WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art WHEN: Ongoing till March 14 handicrafts, accessories, paintings, clothing, Centre TIME: 10am-10pm food, jewellery, photography and art. WHEN:Wednesday – Monday Katara has an indoor bazaar with more than Mamangam is an art and performance 200 stalls from 18 diff erent countries. You centre started with a vision of spreading can buy clothes, perfumes, bags, handicraft, our knowledge, interests and experience in footwear, other accessories and much more. various disciplines in arts across different The festival also has a vast playground for countries for children and adults. children. We offer regular classes in disciplines like traditional classical dance, art and craft, Public Speaking Classes for Adults Bollywood and hip-hop styles, Carnatic WHERE: Sharq Capital, C-Ring Road music, robotics, percussion instruments, WHEN:Ongoing till July 1 keyboard, yoga, zumba and martial arts TIME: 6:30pm – 9pm like Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu and Kalari. Get trained by experts to be a good speaker. For those who wish to register e-mail Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a at [email protected] or call on six-month speech-craft programme that 33897609/44723680 teaches new members to speak confi dently and develop leadership skills. For more
Qatar National Robotics Challenge WHERE: Qatar National Library WHEN: March 31 TIME: 8am — 4pm Beach Holi Festival at Sealine The Qatar National Robotics Challenge is an advanced robotics competition in which WHERE: Sealine Beach students of Grade VIII-XI design, build, programme and operate robots to compete in a WHEN: March 13 head-to-head challenge. The programme is designed to encourage interest in science, TIME: 2pm onwards technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Get ready to escape the day full of fun and euphoria with vibrant colours, foot-stomping Bollywood music, delicious food and more!! And all this done On the beach and under sunny skies.Come brace yourselves for one of the most amazing Holi in Qatar.
Metro Street Food WHERE: DECC Metro Station WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 12:30pm
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY One More Orbit, one more glory The aircraft landed at Kennedy Space Centre on July 11, successfully setting the new world record of flying pole to pole in 46 hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds, breaking the previous record time of 52 hours and 32 minutes, writes Mudassir Raja
THING OF BEAUTY: The fastest ultra-long-range business jet in the world, the Gulfstream G650ER is capable of reaching Mach 0.925 and sustaining a comfortable Mach 0.90. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 Turbofans delivering 16,900 pounds of thrust, the extended range variant is capable of flying 7,500 nautical miles at up to 51,000ft.
Thanks to the Qatar Airways network around the globe, we were able to prepare every fuel stop efficiently and swiftly, a major component in breaking the world speed records. We wrote history during that mission, something that will remain in the books for a long time
— Ettore Rodaro, executive ‘ PILOTING TO GLORY: The pilots flying One More Orbit. vice-president, Qatar Executive ’ Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY
hen one sees the map of the world, Qatar may seem geographically smaller but it is Wsecond to none when it comes to major international achievements and visionary steps. One More Orbit is the accomplishment that to a great extent owns its success to the visionary mindset that has already been driving Qatar to international repute and glory. The identically named documentary and the fl ight it recorded circumnavigating the Earth in record speed might not have been possible if Qatar Executive had not courageously off ered one of its premier jets for the journey. Marking the 50th anniversary of man’s landing on moon, the One More Orbit mission team and Qatar Executive joined hands last year for the world circumnavigation speed record using the Gulfstream G650ER plane. The documentary that was recently screened for a select gathering at Novo Cinema in Souq Waqif off ers real time CIRCUMNAVIGATION: The chart depicting the flight journey. excitement and the challenges that both the fl ight and the fi lm crew the International Space Station, faced during the world record fl ight. In addition to setting the new excelled himself directing the The QE Gulfstream G650ER pole-to-pole world speed documentary, while simultaneously departed Cape Canaveral on July participating in the record.” 9, 2019 at 9:32am to begin its record, Magdalena Starowicz, Terry said: “One More Orbit pole-to-pole mission. The onboard mission is so much more than just One More Orbit team comprised Qatar Executive’s flight a world record. It is an adventure Terry Virts, Nasa astronaut; unlike any other. Celebrating Hamish Harding, Action Aviation attendant during the mission, Apollo’s 50th and Magellan’s chairman; Jacob Obe Bech, Jeremy became the first woman in [Ferdinand Magellan, organiser of Ascough and Yevgen Vasylenko, the fi rst circumnavigation of the Qatar Executive pilots; Benjamin history to complete the polar Earth in 1519] 500th anniversaries, Reuger, Qatar Executive engineer; we did something that had never Magdalena Starowicz, fl ight circumnavigation of the earth been done before, with an amazing attendant; Jannicke Mikkelsen, live international crew. There has also streaming cinematographer, with never been a documentary made friends and families of the crew pole-to-pole world speed record, Canaveral, the home of Nasa. working with Inmarsat [a British like this done before and we hope completed the team. Magdalena Starowicz, Qatar The documentary was produced satellite telecommunications the viewers will laugh, feel the The mission was split into four Executive’s fl ight attendant during by Untitled and directed by Nasa company] and SD Com [a PR tension of crossing the South Pole sectors. The fi rst leg was from Nasa the mission, became the fi rst astronaut Terry Virts, one of and press agency, specialised in the Antarctic winter and be Shuttle landing facility in Florida woman in history to complete the team members on board the in in transport and logistics] to inspired.” in US to Astana in Kazakhstan. The the polar circumnavigation of the Gulfstream G650ER during the reposition satellites specifi cally for Ettore Rodaro, executive vice- second fl ight was from Astana to earth. The mission was not easy as mission. the mission. president, Qatar Executive, said: Mauritius. The third leg was from the crew had to maintain the weight Talking to Community on the “We faced real problem in “The successful accomplishment Mauritius to Chile, considered the in the fl ight, its temperature, and eve of the special screening of coping with the ideal weight that of this mission has been possible most dangerous. The fi nal fl ight speed keeping in mind the weather the documentary One More Orbit we could carry during the fl ight to thanks to meticulous preparation was from Chile to back to Nasa, conditions, the refuelling landing, in Doha, Jim Evans, executive keep it lighter — to be faster. We on all levels, throughout all Florida, with refuelling pit stops at the on fl ight schedule, the varying producer of Untitled Inc., a Los also worked with Nasa and had to departments of Qatar Executive. each location. The aircraft landed temperatures in both the poles etc. Angeles-based production house, move the satellites ensuring the Thanks to the Qatar Airways at Kennedy Space Centre on July 11, The One More Orbit team shot said: “Many people said that live streaming and determining the network around the globe, we were successfully setting the new world the documentary capturing all the One More Orbit was not possible. location of the fl ight. We wanted able to prepare every fuel stop record of fl ying pole to pole in 46 drama, excitement and challenges Within fi ve weeks, we assembled a to have some big acting names but effi ciently and swiftly, a major hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds, of the entire mission, from planning multicultural fi lm crew from dozens again it would overload the jet. component in breaking the world breaking the previous record time through to execution and fi nally, of countries around the world and Multi-talented astronaut Terry speed records. We wrote history of 52 hours and 32 minutes. the successful touchdown at Cape live streamed the entire event, Virts, a former commander of during that mission, something Qatar Executive and the One that will remain in the books for a More Orbit team also broke 11 long time. It is an exciting feeling other records during the mission. to have mastered the challenge These records include: North through excellent teamwork and Pole to South Pole in 22 hours, 7 using fi rst-class equipment. minutes; Cape Canaveral to North “I have nothing to do with the Pole in 7 hours, 34 minutes; Cape fi lm business; I am really excited Canaveral to Astana in 12 hours, 16 to see the documentary. It has minutes; North Pole to Astana in been pretty amazing. The project 4 hours, 42 minutes; North Pole to also shows how amazing Qatar Mauritius in 13 hours, 24 minutes; as a country is providing us with Astana to South Pole in 17 hours, 25 such an opportunity. We actually minutes; Mauritius to South Pole transported our brand all over the in 8 hours, 43 minutes; Mauritius world. to Punta Arenas, Chile in 12 hours, “Qatar Executive is the launch 28 minutes; South Pole to Punta customer for Gulfstream’s recently Arenas in 3 hours, 45 minutes; introduced fl agship jet, the South Pole to Cape Canaveral in Gulfstream G700TM. The new 14 hours, 45 minutes; and Punta aircraft brings an unprecedented Arenas to Cape Canaveral in 11 combination of performance, hours. DOCUMENTING HISTORY: Team members of One More Orbit and Qatar Executive at the documentary screening technology and cabin size to Qatar In addition to setting the new in Doha. Photos supplied Executive’s fl eet.” 6 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
GAME CHANGER: Dreams — a notepad for doodling. Follow your Dreams How the future of playing video games is making them, by Will Freeman
e’re living in actually making a game in Dreams is at the centre of the experience, really interesting answers. He had Evans has an even grander an age of mass, the defi ning way to play it. providing a wealth of simple tools previously had no idea he could vision. “I’d want someone to go democratised “When you make something you to get players making their own have made what he made. He only and collect an Oscar and say: creativity – or at don’t have to make for a reason, levels. made it because I stumbled into ‘I’m doing this now because I least that’s what you can make it for the experience,” The studio’s latest release ups the it after he picked up Dreams. He picked up a video game 10 years Wthe technology industry likes to says Media Molecule co-founder ambition by allowing a vast amount was messing around and suddenly, ago called Dreams’,” he reveals. tell us. You can shoot a movie or and creative director Mark Healey, of creative freedom. With an early you know, he was putting a lot of “I’d love for that to happen, and record an album on a smartphone, pondering the idea that so many build of Dreams available to some eff ort into it, and he made a popular I think it will, or could. On a you can become a household name people shy away from creativity due players since April 2019, many have game. It was brilliant, and that’s smaller scale we’re hiring people with a webcam and a YouTube to insecurities about having a clear simply chosen to create content somebody who probably would from this community already, so channel, and you can download any vision for any fi nal output. “When that other users can place in their never have thought to have tried to it’s almost already happening.” of a dozen applications and build a I play guitar, I love playing and I’ll creations: models of trees or even make such an ambitious game.” One of those people is Jamie video game from nothing. sit at home and I just play. I don’t offi ce furniture. That’s something And that is the aim with Dreams. Breeze, a former teacher turned But the latter is an intimidating record myself every time, or put it Media Molecule actively fosters, in The Media Molecule team are Dreams community content notion. Games are ultimately on YouTube. I just enjoy doing it fact. Recognising that games are equally quick to add that it will creator, who now works at Media complex mechanisms, constructed because when you’re in the midst commonly made through numerous suit people with a clear, ambitious Molecule, having fallen for his from code, involving physics, of doing it, to me, that’s what the contributions by diff erent idea for a game. But encouraging new employer’s output early in the narrative, animation and audio. word ‘art’ means.” individuals, Dreams is deeply creativity and shooing away LittleBigPlanet series. “As a kid, There has been a deliberate eff ort Healey and his colleagues often informed by remix culture and imposter syndrome are core to what I always wanted to be in games within the industry to make compare Dreams to a notepad for the idea of creative collaboration. Dreams is. Indeed, the included eventually, but that’s not very creative tools more accessible, doodling or a toy box in which Yet Media Molecule’s platform campaign mode game Art’s Story realistic, is it? I just thought I’m arguably spearheaded by Unity, a you can tinker for the sheer joy of has also been used to create some tells the studio’s own tale of going to try something that’s a bit technology that both powers games it. But you can release completed very impressive things, from the creative self-doubt and discovery. more down-to-earth. So I went and lets users create them – and creations out into the world via the strikingly polished to the daringly “I really hope it’s a bridge for for teaching and I enjoyed it. Of yet, designing and constructing a game’s community. In fact, a rather original. people to get into zones that course, it’s a brilliant contribution game can feel overwhelming. Even sterile term best defi nes Dreams. SlidEout 3019, for example, is they have dreamed about getting to the world. But with Dreams I the fi rst step, having confi dence in It is a platform: a place where you a loving homage to the Wipeout into really, so people can end up feel like I’ve got a wider sort of your ideas, is a diffi cult one. It’s also can build games using simple, racing series that has stunned even getting into maybe the games audience since I can inspire more where Media Molecule’s ambitious surprisingly instinctive tools. Or the lead Dreams team, and enjoyed industry or another creative role,” people by doing this. I was limited new PlayStation 4 release Dreams you can use it to craft an animated considerable viral success. says Healey. “But what I really as a teacher, in a way.” comes in. scene that isn’t a game, paint in 3D, “Someone was saying to the hope is that someone makes a Teaching remains a vital Dreams isn’t just a game with or just compose music. guy that made it: ‘Well, why game in Dreams that is so good we societal contribution; there’s little a level building mode and it Dreams’ lineage actually goes didn’t you do this in Unity? Why have to put on the PSN store as a doubt about that. But Dreams certainly isn’t a traditional game back to the series of platform games didn’t you use a professional game standalone game, and then it sells makes one thing clear: there are development tool like Unity. What that fi rst brought Media Molecule engine?’,” remembers Alex Evans, more than Dreams. That’s what I other ways to inspire and motivate its creators say is that, although fame. The LittleBigPlanet titles Media Molecule co-founder and would really want to see; sort of creativity. you can use Dreams to play games, always put user-generated content technical director. “He gave some our greatest achievement.” — The Guardian Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 7 INTERVIEW COMMUNITY Unforgettable: Meet Italy’s Andrea Muzii, the world’s memory champion
A 20-year-old with a passion for boxing and an undistinguished academic career has developed a skill for remembering long sequences of numbers and images. He’s now trying to make a living out of it, writes Alvise Armellini
ave trouble remembering someone’s name or fi nd yourself struggling for a certain Hword? If it makes you feel better, Andrea Muzii – a world champion of memory - forgets things once in a while. Muzii, a gangly 20-year-old Italian university student who doesn’t really fi t into the nerd stereotype, is the new star of the Germany-based International Association of Memory (IAM). “I don’t feel particularly special,” he says. “It’s something I’ve achieved just by practising, I had no particular predisposition for it.” In December, Muzii won IAM’s annual world championship in Zhuhai, China, beating about 150 other contestants after several tests involving long sequences of numbers, words, dates or card images. In the process, Muzii set two world records. One was for memorising 572 numbers in fi ve minutes, and the other for memorising 1,829 poker playing cards in one hour. “You’re shown all these numbers over a set period of time, you memorise them, and then you write them down on a computer or on paper, trying not to make any mistakes,” he explains. Muzii insists he is no computer geek or nerd. In his spare time, he is also an amateur boxer - though you TRAINING: Andrea Muzii poses with decks of cards he memorises as part of would not guess it from his slight his training routine. frame - and says he was “actually never very good at school.” maybe 20 per cent talent, but most is also IAM President. He says being a world memory of it comes down to training.” The organisation’s list of its top champion does have practical Memory sports are very much 10 players is completed by fi ve advantages in everyday life, but a niche discipline, but “growing Mongolians, all women, and two also earns him a bit of mockery every year,” according to IAM. men, one from France and one from when he does not live up to his “In 2019 alone, there were 15 India. CHAMPION: Italy’s Andrea Muzii won the World Memory Championship reputation. tournaments held in 13 countries,” Muzii has risen to the top spot in held in December in China. Whenever he forgets something the organisation tells dpa. just a few months, having started - and it still happens - he quips IAM describes itself as with memory games in March place.“I discovered this entire his parents. His father teaches that he gets “the usual comments the biggest, but not the only 2019, initially as a way to get better new world of memory games [...] medicine at university and his from friends and family like international memory games at the Rubik’s cube, a previous and I ended up liking them more mother is a job centre adviser. ‘Whaaat? But you are the world organisation. It was born in 2016, passion. than the Rubik’s cube, which I’ve Muzii has an older sister in champion!’” but memory competitions have The Italian recalls that when abandoned,” he says. London as well. He is studying He also says he now fi nds it been held since 1991. he got his IAM trophy the others Practising for the world medicine, but has also found two much easier to deal with “any According to Muzii, the “were a bit annoyed because they championship involved spending business partners with whom he situation in which you have to discipline has long been dominated did not expect me to win. They’ve hours at his computer looking at is preparing video tutorials for learn something: exams at school by the Mongolians, while at the been doing this for years and I long sequences of numbers and people who want to sharpen their or university, picking up a new European level the Germans are the came a bit out of nowhere.” cards, an activity Muzii evidently memory. language, remembering people’s best competitors. Muzii used to take part in likes. This has made his parents faces and name.” He singles out for praise his Rubik’s cube challenges in which “When I started, my parents reconsider their views, he says Muzii insists that anyone can German rivals Johannes Mallow contestants played blindfolded, were not very happy, because it with a smile: “Now they are a bit follow in his footsteps, as long and Simon Reinhard, who sit thus mostly relying on memory seemed a bit of a waste of time,” he more convinced [about what I am as they practise. Even at his eighth and sixth, respectively, in to click the rotating three- recalls. doing] because it’s turning into a competitive level, he says, “there’s the IAM world rankings. Reinhard dimensional puzzle into the right Muzii, who is single, lives with job.” – DPA 8 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY TRAV Baja Island: easy adventure
Archipielago Espiritu Santo is one of Mexico’s youngest national parks, and Isla Espiritu Santo, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Gulf of California, is its marquee attraction, writes Christopher Reynolds
EXOTIC ACTIVITIES: Boating, kayaking and snorkelling are popular at Isla Espiritu Santos, Baja California, where the waters teem with exotic sealife.
’d just snorkelled into a outlier in every sense, and I wanted who founded Baja Expeditions in most of them day-trippers who arrival on Espiritu Santo. Each was sea cave. Before I could see a look. 1974. He spent years exploring the spent just a few hours. about 10 feet square with one or much of anything, a sea lion The island, about 31 square miles, peninsula, then rallied Californians Most overnight outfi tters operate two cots. pup burst in front of me sits 18 miles north of La Paz. The from both sides of the border to from fall through spring, avoiding We did have to beware of ‘jejenes’ and nuzzled my hand with a high ground is close to 2,000 feet block development of the island. the hottest and stormiest months of – a.k.a. sand fl eas – and now and whiskeredI snout. It tickled. Then above sea level, and the slopes are Means and local activists the year, charging $175 to $350 per then a faint chorus of pop music came another pup, and another, all studded with tall cardon cactuses persuaded Mexican business person per night. would seep from a yacht on the bay. eager to play. – island cousins of the mainland’s leaders and American nonprofi ts – Like many visitors, we headed We snacked. We hiked along the Well, I thought, that didn’t take saguaros. including the Nature Conservancy, straight for Los Islotes, a set of edge of the estuary, through the long. It had been barely six hours Turkey vultures perch on the the World Wildlife Fund and the islets north of Isla Partida, where cactuses and red volcanic boulders since our panga started puttering cactuses while pelicans and David & Lucile Packard Foundation snorkellers and divers can swim above the bay, until we passed a tall, toward the Baja desert island of cormorants glide overhead. – to buy out the island’s private beside a sea lion colony. blank wall and came to a buzzing Espiritu Santo, and the standout Meanwhile, the waters seethe owners, give the land to the The water was busy with boats nest of wasps, face high and moment was already at hand. It with creatures that divers and Mexican government and set and snorkellers. But soon their uninterested in us. seemed too easy. snorkellers prize. Moorish idols. aside money to help pay for its numbers dwindled under the We perched on a boulder and And then the weather changed, Parrotfi sh, Mexican goatfi sh. management. afternoon’s increasingly gray skies, listened to Ramirez talk about the night fell and the shouting began. Sardines by the score. Moray eels. Unesco declared the area a and we had the luxury of hanging Pericu, a people who lived on the Archipielago Espiritu Santo is Sea turtles. biosphere reserve in 1995. In around. island thousands of years ago and one of Mexico’s youngest national I didn’t see manta rays, 2007, Mexico sealed the deal by left funerary caves, rock art and fi sh parks, and Isla Espiritu Santo, hammerhead sharks or whale protecting the island, its sidekick A spell and then a storm: hooks made of sea shells. Then we surrounded by the turquoise waters sharks this time, but people often Isla Partida and the surrounding That’s when I had my sea lion tiptoed back to camp, where dinner of the Gulf of California, is its do. archipelago as a national park. encounter and an eye-opening was cooking and a slight drizzle was marquee attraction. Means died in August. With his spell of snorkelling, which took stippling the sea. There are no roads, no bridges, Saved from destruction” legacy in mind, I had signed up me within arm’s reach of at least a As darkness fell, our panga no permanent human population. Things could have worked for a three-day, two-night island dozen fi sh species. captain, Juan ‘Tito’ Lucero Cuevas, Apart from a few rangers and out diff erently on the island if trip in October, Baja Expeditions’ Through that evening and the told me how he’d spent 43 of his 57 anglers, the only people who sleep developers had their way in the fi rst of the 2019-20 season. By following day, we snorkelled, years on and around the island. ashore are guests and staff of a 1990s. The island would now be luck of the draw, it would include kayaked and puttered on the beach, “The hardest thing is when handful of eco-campgrounds that home to at least one casino hotel just three guests along with guide living the way Robinson Crusoe strong winds come from the north,” have won government permits in and probably dozens of homes. The Eric Ramirez, who has a degree in would have if he’d had the foresight he said in Spanish. recent years. property lines were drawn, and the marine biology; a boat captain; a to bring a cook, captain and But there was no place else he’d On a peninsula where plan was in motion. cook and two helpers. naturalist guide. rather be. When death comes, development hums more loudly Up stepped Timothy Means, Park offi cials estimate 40,000 Our tents had been pitched on Lucero told me, “I hope my family every day, that makes the island an a former Colorado River guide people visited the island last year, Candelero Bay well before our and friends will put my ashes in Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 9 EL COMMUNITY before it gets a little too real
RAIN SCARCE: Historically, the area where Baja Expeditions sets up camp gets barely 8 inches of rain per year, most of it in August and September.
CAMP: Baja Expeditions’ camp on Candelero Bay, Isla Espiritu Santo, where guests snorkelled, PICTURESQUE: The shallow water and rock formations of Candelero Bay on Espiritu Santo. kayaked and puttered on the beach.
these waters.” Then he stepped out They told me later they had few hours, then accepted my of the dinner tent and looked with been setting up camp in the same invitation to sleep on my fl oor. alarm at the estuary. Lucero had spot for 30 years and never been heard water and realised it wasn’t fl ooded like this. While the other A rainbow and a transformed the sea. It was the rain, now in guests sheltered in their tent at the trail: torrents, gathered and channelled untroubled north end of our beach Our camp was a sight in the by the island’s ridges and arroyos, camp, the crew grimly splashed and morning. Downed tarp. Tilted rack roaring toward lower ground. scrambled at the south end, where of stand-up paddleboards. Broken Toward us. the water was rising. mirror over the main sink. Nine I stood on the rain-pelted sand, inches of water in each panga. But Trouble in the night: directing my headlamp beam to the team was fast reassembling I was still in the tent when the help the crew see what they were things. By 8am, breakfast was estuary burst its banks. Water doing. on a table. Sleeping bags were rushed past my feet, cutting a route I eventually busied myself hanging out to dry, and the radio through our camp to the beach. dragging kayaks to higher ground was crackling with plans for The crew stripped to their and digging a trench in hopes of reinforcements. The fi rst blue skies bathing suits and headlamps, channelling the runoff – a futile of the weekend appeared, along hollering and dashing back and eff ort, but something to do. with a modest rainbow. forth to move equipment, food, And then, no more than 30 So we went kayaking. And bird- tables, the refrigerator. minutes after the water burst upon watching in Bahia San Gabriel. The runoff quickened and us, the runoff settled on a single But before we fi red up the pangas deepened. Within moments, our route to the sea. It had bisected and left Isla Espiritu Santo for shade tarp had collapsed, and most our camp, and the wind and rain good, we re-hiked the trail to the of the crew’s tents were swamped. raged on. There would be hours of boulders, this time skirting the Lucero’s tent, crumpled and nudged reconstruction and clean-up ahead, runoff ’s new path. by the current, looked as if it might but the water had stopped tearing The rocks were redder, the rain- join our anchored pangas off shore. away sections of beach. scrubbed cactus greener. The wasps The crew had turned off our The crew could take a breath, had fl own or drowned. And the tall, electrical hub – half a dozen car reclaim gear from the shallows blank, red-rock wall that was so batteries, solar collectors, radios, (including Lucero’s tent and my prominent? Now it was a backdrop phone chargers. But in precious backpack) and set up on higher to a roaring waterfall. little time, the water advanced ground. I walked to my tent at the The island was new again, and within a foot of the tent that held north end of camp and crashed. except for the bug bites, I felt that STORM: A surprise storm dumps rain on Baja Expeditions’ camp on Espiritu it all. Ramirez, tent-less, worked another way too. – Los Angeles Times/TNS Santo. 10 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC
Try This Use two fingertips to find the bone on the 1 side of your helper’s wrist about 2 cm Counting (1 inch) below the thumb Move your fingers toward the palm of your heart helper’s hand, and you will feel a softer spot
beats Hold that When a spot gently, doctor and you will gives feel you a a tiny checkup, movement – he or she checks your helper’s how fast your heart heart beating is beating, and it’s simple to learn how to do it: Count the number of beats in 15 seconds, You’ll need 2 multiply by 4 and write that number down • A helper Trade places and have your helper • Watch with count your heartbeat second hand • Pencil and paper Both of you go outside, walk around 3 quickly for 2 minutes, then check your heartbeats again Graphic: Paul Trap What happened?
A person’s heartbeat, or Sit quietly for a few minutes, pulse, is given in beats per and your heart slows down minute again When you exercise, That’s why you count beats your heart speeds up for 15 seconds (1/4 minute) then multiply by four
Graphic: TNS Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Drink orange juice to cut obesity risk and better heart health
ant to live a healthy and However, they still haven’t been able to long life? Please take note. pinpoint exactly how nobiletin works. Researchers have found that According to the study, the researchers drinking two-and-a-half hypothesized that the molecule was likely glasses of orange juice a day acting on the pathway that regulates how fat Wcould reverse obesity and reduce the risk of is handled in the body. heart disease and diabetes. Called AMP Kinase, this regulator turns According to the fi ndings, published in the on the machinery in the body that burns Journal of Lipid Research, the researchers are fats to create energy, and it also blocks the studying a molecule found in sweet oranges manufacture of fats. and tangerines called nobiletin, which they However, when the researchers studied have shown to drastically reduce obesity and nobiletin’s eff ects on mice that had been reverse its negative side-eff ects. genetically modifi ed to remove AMP Kinase, “We went on to show that we can also the eff ects were the same. intervene with nobiletin. We’ve shown that “This result told us that nobiletin is not in mice that already have all the negative acting on AMP Kinase, and is bypassing symptoms of obesity, we can use nobelitin this major regulator of how fat is used in to reverse those symptoms, and even start the body. What it still leaves us with is the to regress plaque build-up in the arteries, question – how is nobiletin doing this?” known as atherosclerosis,” said study Huff said. researcher Murray Huff from Western According to the researchers, this result University in Canada. is still clinically important because it shows The research team demonstrated that mice that nobiletin won’t interfere with other fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet that drugs that act on the AMP Kinase system. were also given nobiletin were noticeably The current therapeutics for diabetes like leaner and had reduced levels of insulin metformin, for example, work through this has the same positive metabolic eff ects in interventions that have been shown to work resistance and blood fats compared to mice pathway, the researchers said. human trials. “Obesity and its resulting eff ectively, we need to continue this emphasis that were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol The next step is to move these studies metabolic syndromes are a huge burden to on the discovery of new therapeutics,” Huff diet alone. into humans to determine if nobiletin our healthcare system, and we have very few concluded. – IANS
ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20
You could be in the spotlight in the next few days, Aries. Try to resist If you have ties to any therapeutic profession, Taurus, you may make It’s like you have to do everything at the same time right now, succumbing to the applause of the audience, as you may encounter a strange discovery related to the health field today. You won’t find Gemini. What you really need is an extra pair of hands and some some unexpected obstacles. After being recognised by the public, this discovery in any book or methodology that you normally follow. additional hours in the day! It’s your nerves that may pay the price you may need to confront the question, “Now what?” The answer Emotions aren’t so blind as rational society would have us believe! for this fast-paced existence. You can’t go on like this. Rather than lies in taking a modest approach from the outset. Sometimes they lead us down the road toward knowledge. That’s give up on your goals, why not give yourself more time to reach the case today. them? CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22
Why do so many relationships seem to come with built-in booby This is going to be a day to protect your sense of space and privacy, Expect to have to make some adjustments in your life, Virgo. You traps, Cancer? Today you may get a particularly pressing demand Leo. You may be forced into some kind of partnership with some may be in a diff erent frame of mind than your partner. Why not use from someone in your family to give of your time or money. You’re unscrupulous people. They’re going to make you feel like your the day to step back from the relationship? Spend time apart for a unwilling to part with either at the moment. You aren’t going to let territory is being invaded. What they don’t know is that you’re change. After all, there’s nothing dramatic about the fact that your your emotions choose for you for once. Hold onto your convictions prepared. This isn’t a time for people to be bothering you! needs and desires aren’t in sync. It’s only temporary. and don’t let others influence your decisions! LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21
You may find today a bit upsetting, Libra. Your nurturing instincts How irritating to realise that those pesky problems from the past Continue slowly and steadily, Sagittarius. You may get all worked up genuinely want to assist the many people who ask for your help and haven’t been resolved, Scorpio! Today you will have the strength over nothing because you want everything done at once! It would advice, yet you can’t shake the feeling that they’re taking advantage and awareness to put these problems to rest simply by talking about be a good time to prioritise what you really want to do. Be cautious of you or trying to make you do things you don’t want to do. Yes, it’s them. Ironically, the reproaches made by your partner are what of anything that distracts you. You have such a great desire to hard to be a good parent to others and yourself at the same time. spark the change in attitude that you need. live through extraordinary experiences. Give yourself the time to completely experience them! CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20
For a few months now, you’ve felt that things are accelerating in your If by chance you have to speak in public soon, Aquarius, trust that Here is just the kind of day artists dream about, Pisces. After yet professional life, Capricorn. Perhaps some projects have developed people will enjoy listening to you. Words come eff ortlessly to you, another lukewarm reception of your artwork, an influential agent more quickly than you anticipated. They may have even gotten a bit and you exude confidence. You willingly accept the compliments of shows up and off ers to place your paintings in one of the most out of control. Today you should let yourself distinguish more clearly others. Your energy level is high and you will be unstoppable. This is prestigious museums in the world! This is just an example of the what you’ve done so far. You may be in for a surprise. only fair after all of the work you’ve put in these last few months! kind of extraordinary event that could be in store for you today. Whatever your pursuits, you have a very good chance of success! 12 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES
Wordsearch Adam
Pooch Cafe
ELIZABETHTOWN DANVILLE PINEVILLE GREENUP HAZARD FRANKFORT LOUISVILLE OWENSBORO LEXINGTON STANTON DIXON RICHMOND HARLAN INDEPENDENCE GRAYSON MURRAY PARIS LIBERTY LA GRANGE STANFORD
Codeword Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated. Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY
Super Cryptic Clues Colouring
Across Down 1 Trees discovered in the Spanish 1 One blend – mixture given title? manuscript (4) (8) 3 A break for the kids when 2 Some could help a man actors have to work? (8) climbing a tree (5) 9 They pinch children (7) 4 More off for instruction? (6) 10 It doesn’t matter if it’s dis or 5 Surrender return on dat duck? (5) investment (5) 11 Fish that may be amber (5) 6 U.S. state – or Asian one! (7) 12 Trial – or trade (6) 7 Peer almost ahead of time (4) 14 Asleep, but prepared to slip 8 Some other message for away (6) Olympian messenger (6) 16 Rub away a bread roll (6) 13 Backing for last couple of 19 Endless oriental holiday in actors in show (8) spring (6) 15 Braves chase pa all over (7) 21 Feed the furnace in this town 17 Ribs to order in a restaurant (5) (6) 24 Anaesthetic used in some 18 Herdsman finding river in port therapy (5) (6) 25 King surrounded by 20 Trunk for the end of August menservants or knaves (7) or thereabouts (5) 26 Discover the absence of our 22 A reporter beginning to turn island state (8) up for music drama (5) 27 Post that once provided 23 A number of sheets - about a personal protection (4) thousand? (4) Answers Solution Wordsearch Codeword 14 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY REVIEWS Kelly Reichardt’s masterpiece explores untamed Western frontier
of trappers searching for gold in procession on a river raft, it’s big By Katie Walsh beaver pelts. It’s a stripped-down, news. Chief Factor (Toby Jones) grittier Jack London tale, but in now takes his tea with cream like this world, it’s not so much the a proper Englishman, and for or 25 years, director call of the wild that beckons, but Cookie and King Lu, it presents Kelly Reichardt has been the call of home, in the form of opportunity: the chance to bake plugging away at her comforts that are so far from this some proper treats, and naturally, oeuvre, eight feature untamed frontier. Here, Otis Cookie the chance to sell them. fi lms that carefully Figowitz (John Magaro) forages for Reichardt and Raymond’s tale is observedF American life on the mushrooms and salmon to feed a subtle, yet biting exploration of fringes. Since 2006, Reichardt the men of the scrappy trapping early markets, primitive systems of has collaborated with writer company he’s signed onto as a cook, capital that crop up in wild places Jon Raymond on what could be as they demand steaks and biscuits. like the Western frontier, where considered her Oregon fi lms: Old Cookie is always busy, always scarcity makes things all the more Joy, Wendy and Lucy, Night Moves, watching, always taking in the precious, and money takes many Meek’s Cutoff and now First Cow, world around him as a forager forms. Cookie and King Lu fry up potentially her masterpiece, based and scavenger. One night he a few oily cakes and sell them for on a novel by Raymond. discovers a naked Chinese man bills, coins and shells, creating a First Cow opens with a William in the underbrush and he clothes demand for their sweet treats baked Blake quote: “The bird a nest, the and feeds him, getting to know the with purloined dairy. Scarcity spider a web, man friendship.” intelligent King Lu (Orion Lee), is what makes their endeavour It’s unclear how that theme will on the run from Russians after lucrative, and dangerous. play out in the opening scene. A murdering one. When they bump What Reichardt and Raymond puppy nuzzles the soil inquisitively, into each other later in a muddy present is a story about the power a woman (Alia Shawkat) digs, shanty town, it seems fated, and the of money in a world where money unearthing two skeletons lying two men eff ortlessly strike up an hardly seems useful. The power it side by side near the banks of a easy co-existence in a small hut. accumulates is like a runaway train, river. Reichhardt is a master of Cookie is contented to busy snowballing and steamrolling the the kind of simple, economical himself with whatever comes delicate webs of connection that storytelling that masterfully uses his way, whether it’s berries or humans so tentatively spin. But the withholding of information to fishing or chickens, but King with a gentle hero like Cookie at its draw in the audience. Lu has different, bigger plans, centre, with his sweet, sad eyes and This discovery dissolves into the schemes and visions of grandeur deep well of empathy, friendship past, into the beautifully lush and in his head. When the very first proves it can prevail in the quietly punishing woods of the untamed milk cow makes her way to the moving and masterful First Cow. Oregon Territory, into the world town, arriving in an almost regal – TNS Pixar’s animated adventure, a fun fantasy romp creatures (elves, pixies, ogres, creating that potent blend of By Katie Walsh centaurs, et al.), magic has gone tear-jerking and cutesy, culturally out of fashion, replaced with the relevant humour. But Onward convenience of electricity and literally embodies this ever-present nward, the newest appliances, these magical beings longing for a lost loved one, as animated adventure having settled into a comfortable Ian and Barley drag their father’s from Disney/ suburban domesticity. Ian has sentient legs around with them on Pixar, fi nally all the issues of any awkward their search for the gem, with Ian brings mainstream teenager: an overbearing brother, hoping for one moment with the representationO to a group crippling social anxiety, his mom’s father he never knew and Barley previously relegated to the margins boyfriend is a cop. Worst of all, looking for some closure. of popular culture: the fantasy- he badly longs for a connection to The fantasy characters allow obsessed metalhead. In this warm his father, who died before he was for this magical experimentation, tale of brotherly love forged during born. and if you can get over the sheer an epic coming-of-age quest, On his 16th birthday, a dejected emotional terrorism contained in Chris Pratt voices older bro Barley, Ian receives a gift from his father: a those legs, Onward is a fun romp a burly chap (or elf, rather) in a wizard staff and spell bestowed to supported by creative and clever battle vest with an affi nity for all both brothers with the hopes that world-building. Pratt’s vocal things Dungeons & Dragons and they can conjure up Dad for one performance and the character of Magic: The Gathering, or rather, more day. Ian discovers he does in Barley are a necessary element in the generically branded versions. fact have the magic touch, but the keeping things buoyant enough In his trusty steed Guinevere, an brothers bungle it, bringing him to bounce through this story, and old purple van airbrushed with only halfway back. They manage a necessary tonic to off set Ian’s a mighty Pegasus (which Pixar to manifest his legs before the rare neuroses, which can explode into may or may not have stolen from Phoenix gem explodes, and so bursts of self-sabotage or outward a local Bay Area artist, pending in hopes of completing the spell anger. an intellectual property lawsuit), before he disappears at the next But like any good adventure Barley blasts sweet heavy metal sunset, the brothers hit the road in story, it’s clear that it’s never about tunes about wizards and beasts and Guinevere for a good old-fashioned the destination, but the journey magic. Barley is a blast. quest. itself, and fortunately, Ian comes This isn’t Barley’s story, though This premise makes Onward to see that everything he was he’s an integral part. This is the potentially the most morbid looking for in his father was with story of his younger brother, example of the Disney Dead Parents him all along. Coming from the Ian (Tom Holland), a shy young trope, which they’ve relied on for Pixar poignancy factory, it’s no elf who discovers that he does, decades. Dead parents have been surprise that Onward plucks all the indeed, have a little magic in the easy shortcut right to emotional right heartstrings to produce many him. In this world of fantasy stakes for the young characters, laughs and many tears too. – TNS Thursday, March 5, 2020 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY
Demi’s new song to arrive soon Bautista in awe of child co-actor
Singer Demi Lovato, who hasn’t released Actor-wrestler Dave Bautista has formed an album since 2017’s Tell Me You Love Me, a special bond with child actress Chloe has announced that her new song is on the Coleman. He says she is a bright light and way. he is in awe of her. Bautista worked with “Couldn’t keep it a secret any longer!!! Coleman in the action-comedy My Spy. My new single #ILoveMe is out on Friday,” “Chloe is special in so many ways, she the singer captioned a photo on Instagram, is a bright light, and I’m in awe of her. She reports eonline.com really loves acting and it comes across in so In January, a source had said the 27-year- many ways. You can’t learn what she does; old “has been working very hard on new it’s instinctual,” Bautista said. music since last year”. My Spy is about a hardened CIA The source added: “She has spent several operative and his unlikely 9-year-old months of 2019 in the studio and is still sidekick. It is directed by Peter Segal, and fi nalising her album to this day. She has put also stars Ken Jeong, Parisa Fitz-Henley, so much eff ort into it, and it is going to be Nikki Hahn, and Devere Rogers. the most vulnerable album she has put out. In the fi lm, Bautista is a hardened CIA Demi hopes to have the album by Summer, operative, who is demoted following a Fall at the latest.” botched operation. The source also shared that “she had a He is given a last chance to keep his job very trying year and has a lot she wants to with a mission to go undercover and surveil share with her fans through music”. a family. But their daughter (Coleman) “Demi will be expressing her struggles blows his cover by discovering the hidden WRESTLER: Dave Bautista has formed through sobriety, rehab and will address cameras. She then asks him to teach her a special bond with child actress Chloe the overdose in her own creative way,” the how to be a spy. Coleman. insider added. The fi lm is being brought to India by PVR “Writing the music has been very Pictures. It will release on March 13. started chatting and got to know each other therapeutic for Demi and has helped her a Talking about her bond with Bautista, pretty fast and became good friends. Dave lot in her sobriety. She is excited to share NEW MUSIC: Demi Lovato has been Coleman said: “When I was introduced is like a big teddy bear who can play a really her story with her fans and wants to be able working very hard on new music since last to Dave, I was thinking, Oh my god, he’s a nice guy as easily as he can a tough guy.” to go on tour and reconnect.” – IANS year. giant! But I quickly pulled it together. We – IANS Who would’ve thought I’d make a film based on a slap: Sinha
media, Sinha had said his last three By Arundhuti Banerjee releases – Mulk, Article 15 and Thappad — define a discrimination trilogy of sorts, representing oppression on grounds of aapsee Pannu’s latest release religion, caste and gender respectively. Thappad has won critical Did he ever imagine he could one day acclaim as well as positive narrate a Bollywood film entirely around response from the film a slap? “This is a fantastic time for us, fraternity. The film has started storyteller. When I started my career in aT conversation on domestic violence from television, there was a certain type of an entirely new perspective among niche stories that were told. Who would have viewers, and director Anubhav Sinha feels thought that one day I would get a chance overwhelmed by all the love. to make a film on a story that is based on “The last time I started getting nothing, just a slap – a habit or practice thousands of good words was after the that has been normalised for so long that release of Article 15. I ran away to Gulmarg, if the woman gets upset over it, society to the mountains where there was no says she is ‘over-reacting’. I would say that network! I get scared of such love where the credit goes to audience who has given people come out of the theatre and say, us the confidence to tell stories and raise ‘this is the best work of Anubav Sinha till questions on a subject that matter to us, date’. I feel the pressure and wonder what that too in mainstream space.” will I do next. Now I think I cannot deliver On the co-existence of a variety of anything that is average,” Sinha said. cinema and on how every film is finding an He added: “It is not easy to deliver a audience, he said: “Just look at these past good film and take the expectation of the three weeks. On February 21, a film like audience one level higher every time. I am Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan released, overwhelmed and pressured. I cannot deal which is a love story. Next released my with so much love! Thank you so much (to film Thappad and in the coming Friday, the audience) but I want to disappear!” the a commercial Bollywood formula film filmmaker said, with a deep breath. like Baaghi 3 is releasing. We all have our Starting his career on television, diverse audience.” Anubhav directed basic commercial stuff Not long back, Sinha took a stand OVERWHELMED: Anubhav Sinha feels overwhelmed by all the love he has received for his film in Bollywood during his early phase, which against CAA and student violence at the Thappad. saw releases such as Tum Bin (2001), Dus Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. (2005), Tathastu (2006), Cash (2007) and Along with several intellectuals and “There is a difference between an activist to start a conversation and ask a question Ra.One (2011). common citizens, he hit the road to be part and a celebrity and filmmaker. Do not after watching my film. That is it. His turnaround film was Mulk in of a peaceful protest. take us that seriously! I am a responsible, We (filmmakers) really do not have a 2018, followed by Article 15 last year and Being a filmmaker, what kind of opinionated citizen who raises questions responsibility beyond that. We only try Thappad now. responsibility does he feel he owes to on things that matters through his to inspire people positively,” Sinha signed At a pre-release screening for select society, beyond the films he makes? cinema. It is that simple. I want people off. – IANS 16 GULF TIMES Thursday, March 5, 2020 COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE
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