Community

P7
Community
The American
School of
Doha is all
set to present
“13”, a musical
theatre
production.
Community
Embracing a
completely new
idea, Magical
Festival Village
in Katara comes wrapped
in a suburban European
architecture style.
P20
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Jumada I 26, 1437 AH
DOHA
20°C—27°C TODAY
PUZZLES 14 & 15
COVER
STORY
OUT AND ABOUT: Neil Morris.
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 16
Taking
flight
Ornithologist Neil G Morris
on his love of birds — and
birdwatching in Qatar. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
4.37am
5.53am
11.45am
3.07pm
5.40pm
7.10pm
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
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Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
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Centre
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Corporation
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Qatar University
44033333
ote Unquote
u
Q Failure is
the key to success;
each mistake teaches us
something.
— Morihei Ueshiba
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Jai Gangaajal
GENRE: Crime, Drama
CAST: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush Mahesh
Khedekar
DIRECTION: Prakash Jha
SYNOPSIS: A newly appointed Senior Inspector finds
herself against very powerful goons and having people
from her own department against her. It is a sequel of the
2003 crime film Gangaajal, and starring Priyanka Chopra in
the lead role with Jha appearing in a supporting role. Jai
Gangaajal is about a female cop, who takes on some powerful
and influential men in her district. Movie is about today’s
dictum of society-police relationship. The movie has all
the bizarre things happening around the society in reality.
The film is not made on a big scale and also has very less
characters. It is a concentrated story. Priyanka Chopra played
the role as SP Abha Mathur, who fights for corruption in the
hinterlands.
Pokkiri Raja
GENRE: Action, Comedy, Romance
CAST: Jiiva, Hansika, Matwani, Sibiraj, Ramdoss
DIRECTION: Ramprakash Rayappa
SYNOPSIS: Pokkiri Raja is a fun filled entertainer where
Jiiva and Hansika play IT professionals. Sibi plays a youngster
who does nothing in particular. The story primarily revolves
around these three characters.
Mall Cinema (1): Zootropolis:
Zootopia (2D) 2.30pm; Action
Hero Biju (Malayalam) 4.30pm;
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 7pm; Jai
Gangaajal (Hindi) 8.45pm; London Has
Fallen (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Jai Gangaajal (Hindi)
2.15pm; Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 5pm;
London Has Fallen (2D) 7pm; Race (2D)
9pm; 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of
Benghazi (2D) 11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Kalyana Vaibhogame
(Telugu) 2.15pm; Kings Of Egypt (2D) 5pm;
Always Be My Maybe (2D) 7pm; London Has
Fallen (2D) 9pm; Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) 11pm.
Cinema Land Mark (1): Pokkiri Raja
(Tamil) 2.30pm; London Has Fallen (2D)
5pm; Action Hero Biju (Malayalam)
6.45pm; Kings Of Egypt (2D) 9.15pm;
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 4pm;
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 6pm; Jai
Gangaajal (Hindi) 8pm; Jai Gangaajal
(Hindi) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Race
Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) 11.15pm.
(2D) 2.30pm; London Has Fallen (2D)
Cinema Land Mark (2):
5pm; Bachaana (Urdu) 7pm; Always Be My
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 2.30pm;
Maybe (2D) 9pm; London Has Fallen (2D)
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 4.30pm;
11pm.
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 6.30pm; 13
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): 13
Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi
(2D) 8.30pm; 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi
(2D) 2pm; Bachaana (Urdu) 4.30pm; The
Of Benghazi (2D) 11pm.
Revenant (2D) 6.30pm; 13 Hours: The
Cinema Land Mark (3): Kalyana
Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi (2D) 9pm;
Vaibhogame (Telugu) 2.30pm; Race (2D)
Race (2D) 11.30pm.
5pm; Always Be My Maybe (2D) 7.30pm;
Asian Town Cinema: Action Hero Biju
London Has Fallen (2D) 9.30pm; London
(Malayalam) 5.30, 7, 8.15, 9.45 & 11pm;
Has Fallen (2D) 11.15pm.
Jai Gangaajal (Hindi) 6, 8.45 & 11.30pm;
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):
Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) 6, 8.45 & 11.30pm.
Zootropolis:Zootopia (2D) 2pm;
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Spring Exhibition MIA
DATE: March 14-July 16
TIME: 10:30am- 5:00pm
VENUE: QM Gallery Al Riwaq
An exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese
artists, curated by internationally acclaimed
New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang,
will be on view at the QM Gallery Al Riwaq.
The exhibition will be the major highlight
presented in the context of the Qatar China
2016 Year of Culture. Artworks exemplifying
each and every artist’s unique artistic language
and methodology will be displayed in individual
galleries.
Chinese Silk Art
DATE: March 24-May 9
VENUE: QM Gallery in Katara
The second major exhibition of the Qatar
China 2016 Year of Culture, ‘Silks from the
Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’, presents silk
as a theme, and as a special local product of
Zhejiang that played an important role in trade
along the Silk Road. The exhibition highlights
ancient and modern Chinese silk works, with
around 100 pieces due to be showcased at the
QM Gallery in Katara over a period of 6 weeks.
Lighting Tech Qatar 2016
DATE: May 9-10
VENUE: Intercontinental Hotel
The third annual Lighting Tech Qatar will
provide a platform for interacting, exchanging
ideas and learning about the challenges and
opportunities of Qatar’s rapidly developing
lighting industry. The event will feature a high
level advisory board with representatives from
Ashghal (Public Works Authority), Amey and
Parsons Brinckerhoff. It will address the latest
government regulations, industry standards
and certifications, the impending needs and
requirements of the lighting industry in Qatar,
and how they can be addressed.
Reduced Shakespeare Company
DATE: March 11
TIME: 1-8pm
VENUE: Katara Drama Theatre
Join and enjoy the fun and laughter and see 37
Plays in 97 Minutes! An irreverent, fast-paced
romp through the Bard’s plays, The Complete
Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was
London’s longest-running comedy having
clocked a very palpable nine years in London’s
West End at the Criterion Theatre! Join these
madcap men as they weave their wicked
way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies,
Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that
will leave you breathless and helpless with
laughter.
Baby & Kids World Qatar 2016
DATE: March 21-23
VENUE: Doha Convention Center
Elan Events and Fira Barcelona announce
the very first Baby & Kids World exhibition
taking place in Doha from the March 21-23
at Doha Exhibition & Convention Center
(DECC). Baby & Kids World Qatar will be held
as a business-to-business platform with a full
range of children’s needs: child care, maternity,
children’s fashion, toys, education and food,
in addition to a festival dedicated to families
giving companies an opportunity to interact
with end consumers directly.
The Great British Festival Qatar
DATE: Until March 19
The Great British Festival Qatar 2016 will
celebrate UK culture, education, tourism and
business. The festival will feature a number of
events organised by the British Council, the
British Embassy and others, including an interschool football competition, an education fair
and a pop-up science event. Also, as the UK is
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
EVENTS
GULF TIMES
marking 400 years since Shakespeare’s death,
the best of Shakespeare will be celebrated
through a number of film, music and theatre
events. For more details, please visit: https://
www.facebook.com/britfestqa/
01 Mall Novo Cinemas 3×3 Basketball
Tour
DATE: March 10-12
VENUE: Ain Khalid
QSports and Qatar Basketball Federation
invite you to participate in the eagerly awaited
01 Mall Novo Cinemas 3×3 Basketball Tour
2016 to be held inside the 01 Mall in Ain Khalid.
As part of QSports Mall Jam programme,
exciting cash prizes of over QR22,000 will be
awarded to top three teams in each division.
The venue is a specially constructed FIBA
approved court inside the 01 Mall!
Spring Fest
DATE: March 11
TIME: 1pm-6pm
VENUE: Gems American Academy
Delicious food, weekend bazar, art display
and much more. Come one, come all and be
a part of this exciting spring festival at Gems
American Academy. To top it up you can also
enjoy outdoor cinema under the twinkling
stars, at 6in the evening. Please get Qatari Id for
adults and children over 12 years.
Symbols of Latin America and
Caribbean
DATE: Until March 15
TIME: 7pm-10pm
VENUE: Katara Art Studio Bldg 19
Documentary photographs that represent
11 Latin American countries in five categories
which are the capital of the country, the
national animal, the national plant or
flower, the national dish; and the historical
monument.
Aspire Tennis Cup – Men
DATE: March 11-19
VENUE: Aspire zone
Aspire Zone will organise the first edition
of Aspire Tennis Cup - Men for four days (two
weekends) on March 11, 12, 18, 19, 2016 from
4pm to 8pm. Registration fees: QR100 per
participant (paid during technical meeting).
The tournament is open for men aged 18 years
and above and will include two categories:
First category: doubles match for 12 teams of
participants aged 18 to 39.
Pakistan Cultural Festival
DATE: March 31-April 3
VENUE: Katara Cultural Village
Biggest made in Pakistan expo, ethnic food
street, huge kids zone, live musical concert by
Pakistani singers, folk dancers, performances
and more.
Shrek the Musical!
DATE: March 9-19
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: QNCC Theatre
Shrek the Musical! tells the touching story of
a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked,
feared his entire life by anything that crosses
his path, retreats to an ugly green swamp to
exist in happy isolation.
Cultural Diversity festival
DATE: Until May 31
TIME: 7:30-9:00pm
VENUE: Katara Beach
Over 20 countries from all over the world are
showcasing their traditions and heritage.
Al Gannas
DATE: Until Oct 30
TIME: 9am - 11:30 am
VENUE: Al Gannas Society
Al Gannas Association is participating in
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
the ‘Our culture is a school’ programme by
organising many activities for the students
every Monday and Wednesday of the week.
These activities include explanations on
hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons and
preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry
a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat &
camel hair), prepare traditional Arabic coffee,
etc.
Qatar International Food Festival
DATE: March 22-28
VENUE: MIA Park
Qatar Tourism Authority will organise the
seventh edition of Qatar International Food
Festival under the theme “a different side of
food”. This year’s festival will be extended to
seven days and expanded to other landmarks
and eateries, including: the Pearl-Qatar and
Katara Cultural Village. Chinese food lovers
will also have plenty to look forward to, with
Chinese cuisine featuring as part of “QatarChina 2016 Year of Culture” celebrations.
Winter Weekends at Aspire Zone
DATE: Until March 24
TIME: 4pm-9pm
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation invites you to come
along with your family and friends, and to bring
your kids every Thursday for outdoor sport
fun activities, including football, volleyball,
competitions and games for boys and girls,
from 4pm to 9pm.
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Summit
DATE: March 10-12
VENUE: Hajar Auditorium
Hamad Medical Corporation will organise
the Third Qatar International Metabolic
and Bariatric Surgery Summit with the
participation of distinguished keynote speakers
and panelists who will share their experiences
through lectures and discussions on bariatric
and metabolic surgery techniques. The summit
will feature live sessions to provide technical
knowledge from experts around the world and
support specialists to adopt new techniques in
their practice for revisional and complicated
bariatric surgeries.
Economic Development Forum
DATE: March 7-8
VENUE: Sheraton Doha Hotel
The Entrepreneurship in Economic
Development Forum forum aims to further
highlight the importance of entrepreneurship
as a vital element in economic development
and an engine for private sector growth and
diversity. It will bring together officials, policy
makers, academics, educational institutions,
universities, businessmen, bank leaders,
financial institutions and economists from all
over the world.
Childhood Cultural Center
DATE: Until March 31
TIME: 9am-10:30am
VENUE: Katara
Childhood Cultural Center participation
in ‘Schools Enrich our Culture’ programme
includes a variety of educational and artistic
workshops.
Art Exhibition
DATE: Until April 18
VENUE: Porto Arabia, Pearl
Diffusion by Peter Zimmermann — A
mesmerising solo exhibition of colourful,
futuristic works. Anima Gallery, Parcel 17, Porto
Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. Contact: 40027437
4
GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
“(Birdwatching) is a
hugely spiritual thing”
— Neil G Morris, ornithologist
Coming
to Qatar was
one of the most
rewarding experiences.
I was to discover nine
species of bird that
had never been seen
in the country
before
SUNDAY
CONVERSATION
PASSIONATE: Neil Morris on the field in Doha, last week.
By Anand Holla
W
hen one listens
to Neil G Morris
speak about
birds, the British
ornithologist’s
fascination seems as tenacious as
the tireless flight of millions of his
winged friends.
Invited by the Qatar Natural
History Group (QNHG) to give
a talk at Doha English Speaking
School on the common, and
not-so-common, birds of Qatar’s
cities, coasts, farmlands and
desert, Morris reminisces about
one particular weekend back when
he lived in Doha, while talking
to Community.
“I vividly remember having to
persuade my companions to come
out birdwatching with me during a
violent storm,” he recalls.
To make it worse, Morris wanted
them to travel with him to Al
Ruwais where the winds were
particularly violent on that day. “At
the end of long day, they were glad
I had been so persistent. We saw
the very first Long-tailed Shrike
and Little Gull for Qatar — two
‘firsts’ in a day! It’s not often that
any birdwatcher finds two national
‘firsts’ in a day anywhere in the
world,” he says.
Over an extended conversation,
Morris shares all about his passion
and why he loves birds the way he
does.
birdwatching. The thrill of seeing
new birds in the countryside in and
around my village was bettered only
by the thrill of travelling to exciting
faraway destinations to find and
watch birds I could not see at home.
the window, too. I also remember
endless hours cycling with my
pal Ian to our nearby reservoirs
in freezing weather and summer
heat to go birdwatching at every
opportunity.
What is it about ornithology
that got you interested at such a
young age as 11?
I have always been fascinated by
the natural world. As a kid, I would
pour over wildlife magazines and
encyclopaedias, making lists of the
animals I wanted to see when I was
grown up! As birds are everywhere,
easy to see and often very colourful,
I quickly developed a passion for
What are your earliest
memories of birdwatching?
My earliest birdwatching memory
is of my German teacher (called Mr
Brittan!) telling me to stop staring
out the classroom window. When I
explained that I was looking at flocks
of wild thrushes — Redwings and
Fieldfares — that were arriving from
Scandinavia to spend the winter
in England, he took a look out of
How did you keep up with
your passion, and when your
career eventually took you in
another direction, did you miss
birdwatching?
I had always imagined that I
would end up working in wildlife
conservation, and dreamed of
working on a beautiful Indian
Ocean desert island looking after
the seabirds and wildlife. One
Sunday, March 6, 2016
GULF TIMES
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.
Eurasian Hoopoe.
“If you know
when and
where to
look, then the
coasts, deserts,
farms and
even cities and
towns of Qatar
offer excellent
birdwatching
opportunities”
Lilith Owlet.
particular ambition was to work for
the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds (RSPB), and I was very
lucky to fulfil this ambition early on
in my career. But instead of being
sent out as a trainee warden to one
of the RSPB’s nature reserve, I took
on a short-term marketing role. I
loved the job and decided to pursue
marketing as a career, knowing that
I would always have birdwatching
as my ‘hinterland’. Working at the
RSPB gave me a chance to be at the
epicentre of birdwatching in the
UK, while building my career in a
fascinating professional discipline.
How did moving to Qatar
help you reconnect with
ornithology?
After 18 busy and intense years
as Deputy Managing Director of
the Institute of Direct and Digital
Marketing, I needed a change.
Coming to Qatar with my family
was one of the most rewarding
experiences of my life. With my
wife securing a contract in the
health service in Doha, I took up the
role of house husband — though
to be fair it was more like absentee
husband as I spent all the daylight
hours possible out ‘in the field’.
With the help and companionship
of a number of other birdwatchers
and wildlife photographers in
Qatar, I explored every corner of
this fascinating country. If you
know when and where to look,
then the coasts, deserts, farms
and even cities and towns of
Qatar offer excellent birdwatching
opportunities.
Briefly tell us about your
experience of observing and
photographing birds in Qatar.
Also, what sort of peculiar
trends did you notice about
birds in Qatar?
Some 325 species of wild bird
have been recorded in Qatar to date.
Of these, 82 per cent are migratory
and winter visitors. So, for many
species, there are specific windows
in the calendar when they can
be seen. Some spend the winter
here, while others pass through in
spring and autumn on their way
from Africa to breeding grounds
in Asia and vice versa. A few, such
as the Northern Wheatear and
WillowWarbler, travel from the very
southern tip of Africa where they
have spent the winter all the way to
Alaska and Northwestern Canada
to nest; and they do the reverse
journey again in the autumn. It’s
amazing to see these incredible
travellers stopping off in Qatar to
rest and feed midway through this
epic annual migration.
That must certainly be
exciting.
Yes, birdwatching in Qatar takes
White-throated Robin.
you to some pretty extreme places.
You must be prepared for some
unexpected problems! I shall always
remember the kindness shown to
me by the Qataris when I got stuck
in the mud, stuck in the sand, or
suffered multiple punctures. No
matter where I got into trouble,
there was a friendly villager or
policeman who came to my rescue.
I think it’s something to do with
living in the desert and the kinship
in always being prepared to help
your fellow travellers. Every year,
species of bird are being recorded
in Qatar for the first time and new
breeding species are being found.
But the populations of nearly every
species of wild bird are rapidly
declining. Qatar provides winter
and migration refuge to several
species that are gravely endangered.
Without active conservation
measures, these species will quickly
disappear from Qatar forever and
even become globally extinct.
How would you describe the
joy of indulging in the world of
birds?
As a conservationist, I could
make the scientific and pragmatic
case for the necessity for species
conservation and for the protection
of the precious and increasingly
fragile environment in which we
live. But I think it’s also a hugely
spiritual thing. What would the
world around us be like without
bird song? How would it feel to
wander along the coasts, in the
deserts or around our towns and
cities without seeing the colour
and business of all the birds we
take for granted? The world would
be a much less uplifting place
without birds. I like to think of
birdwatching as hunting without a
gun. I can see gloriously colourful
and characterful birds, even take
their photographs, and then leave
them for the next person to enjoy.
Whether it’s enjoyment of birds,
wildlife or any other aspect of
the natural environment, I think
the enjoyment goes right to the
heart. It’s simply a deep, innate
appreciation of the living world.
Could you share some basic
tips on when and where to
find birds in Qatar and how to
identify them?
March marks the official start
of spring — and the start of bird
migration in earnest, which
continues until the end of April. It’s
a wonderful time to look for birds.
The coastal flats around Al Ruwais
and Al Khor host thousands of birds
of many different species. Many are
starting to acquire their colourful
summer dress before departing for
northern Europe, Asia, Siberia and
the Arctic. But you don’t have to go
far. Parks such as MIA Park and Al
Corniche Park near the Sheraton
Hotel are worth checking regularly.
Al Wakrah Park, Al Shamal Park
and many of the tree-lined, lawned
parks around Qatar are also well
worth a visit.
As a birdwatcher, you
have made some interesting
discoveries in the UK as you
have in Qatar. Which one is
most special?
I cut my birdwatching teeth
in the UK and was lucky enough
to find the second ever Redflanked Bluetail on the mainland.
I found the Bluetail late on
a Saturday evening. The next
morning dawned with more than
2,000 birdwatchers from all
over the UK queuing on a small
country track to catch a glimpse
of the bird. During the ensuing
week, birdwatchers came from all
over Europe to see this enigmatic
visitor from Siberia. In Qatar, I was
fortunate to discover nine species
of bird that had never been seen in
the country before. In addition, I
observed nine sub-species that had
never been documented in Qatar
before. I shall always look back
fondly on my birdwatching jaunts
in Qatar, to the companionship of
those who birdwatched with me,
and to the Qataris who were always
ready to smile and come to my
assistance.
6
GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
WEATHER ADDICT
SKYLINE: Spring in Doha means that the weather is getting steadily hotter, and we’re leaving behind the pleasantly cool temperatures of winter.
Photo by Francisco Anzola/Wikipedia
Spring is in the air
By Steff Gaulter
I
t’s March, which means that it’s spring
here in Qatar. Arguably, however, in this
country it is a less joyous time of year
than it is elsewhere in the globe. Spring
for us means that the weather is getting
steadily hotter, and we’re leaving behind the
pleasantly cool temperatures of winter.
Elsewhere in the world, spring is a time
of year which is filled with great optimism.
In places like northern Europe, Japan
and Canada, much of the land has been
smothered by snow and ice for the preceding
few months. Finally, in spring, the weather
begins to turn milder, the snow starts
retreating, and green shoots begin to appear.
As the days wear on, the length of daylight
rapidly increases and the sun climbs steadily
higher in the sky. Having lived in England
for many years, I can tell you that going to
work before the sun has risen and returning
home when it had already set, is no fun. The
few hours of daylight were always at a time I
was tucked away in an office, which usually
had no windows. It’s not really a wonder that
many people suffer from Season Affective
Disorder, and felt rather depressed in winter.
Spring was a brighter time of year, and
with shoots emerging from the soil and buds
appearing on many trees, it is little wonder
that spring is associated with rebirth and
renewal.
Having said all this, spring isn’t always
a smooth and gradual transition from the
weather of winter to that of summer. It is
often more of a fight between the different
types of weather, with winter winning on
some days, but summer triumphing others.
In Sarajevo, Bosnia, the temperature on
March 3 last year was 10C, but just 2 days
later, the air never made it above freezing. In
Chicago, USA, the temperature climbed to a
balmy 23C on March 16, 2015, but 24 hours
later, it failed to get above 7C. In Beijing it was
a similar story, with 14C being the maximum
on March 8, but only 5C the next day.
Not only does this changing in weather
keep meteorologists on our toes, but it also
makes sure everyone keeps their eye on the
weather. Otherwise, there would be a few
‘wardrobe malfunctions’ with people wearing
heavy coats on a balmy day, or shivering in a
t-shirt while it is snowing.
The fighting weather types don’t only
result in yo-yoing temperatures, but it
also leads to some rather dramatic weather
as well. North America is one of the best
examples of this. For the majority of the
winter, much of the continent is dominated
by the cold air that digs south from Canada.
However, during spring, warm, humid
air from the Gulf of Mexico starts to gain
intensity. The warm air makes regular surges
northwards, forcing the cold air to retreat.
Where these two airmasses meet, is the
setting for some of the most destructive
weather that we see anywhere in the world.
Huge thunderstorms develop that can bring
torrential rain, damaging hail and devastating
tornadoes.
It was these fighting airmasses that
triggered the outbreak of severe weather that
struck North America on February 23 and 24.
The storms initially pummelled the southern
states of the US, before slamming into the
east coast. At least sixty tornadoes touched
down in ten different states. The twisters
raged from Texas to Pennsylvania, bringing
panic and destruction.
One tornado slammed into Tappahannock
in Virginia. The ferocious storm carved
a 45-kilometre (28 mile) path and left 20
people injured. Another tornado struck an
apartment building in Pensacola, Florida.
Witnesses described the aftermath as a
‘war zone’, with trees being shredded, cars
tossed around and debris strewn across the
landscape.
Even those people who dodged the
tornadoes weren’t necessarily unscathed by
the weather. The storm brought torrential
rain and damaging winds. The winds spread
as far north as New England, knocking down
numerous trees and triggering power outages.
Hundreds of thousands of people were left
without power.
As the east coast grappled with the storms,
further west winter weather dominated the
region. Parts of Canada and much of the
US Midwest was pounded by heavy snow.
This forced the cancellation of thousands of
flights, including about 40 percent of those
that were scheduled at Chicago O’Hare’s
International Airport.
Tornadoes can occur in North America
in any month of the year, but they are most
common in spring. This is when the contrast
between the frigid northern air and the
tropical southern air is most pronounced.
It’s also the time of year when the ground is
heating up quickly, giving extra energy to the
atmosphere and the weather. More energy
produces more severe weather.
With the sun climbing higher in the sky, it
will continue to get warmer in the northern
hemisphere. It’s almost guaranteed that
North America will see more tornadoes
ripping across the landscape. In Qatar, the
temperature is also climbing, but at least the
weather here is generally benign.
(The author is Senior Weather Presenter
at Al Jazeera English channel. She can be
contacted on [email protected]
or on Twitter at @WeatherSteff)
Sunday, March 6, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
FINE TUNING: Stills from the rehearsals.
ASD brings the ‘lamest place
in the world’ to life in ‘13’
By Anand Holla
I
t signals the start of teens,
and it’s also a number
associated with mystery and
ominousness. But the number
13, in this case, is all about
teens.
This month, the American School
of Doha (ASD), fresh from wrapping
up another edition of its annual
Friendship Festival, will present
“13”, a musical theatre production
set in fictitious Appleton, Indiana.
Appleton is likened to the
“lamest place in the world” until
protagonist Evan Goldman arrives
from New York City to start a new
life. “13”, however, an original
musical by Jason Robert Brown,
is far from the lamest place in the
world. It is a place where everyone
goes to great lengths to try and
fit in, and for better or for worse
eventually finds their niche.
Debuting on Broadway in 2008,
and featuring a then-unknown
Ariana Grande, “13” follows Evan,
played by newcomer Qori Irawan,
a preteen who is forced to move
from the “Big Apple” to plain
old Appleton. Once there, Evan
befriends his slightly eccentric
neighbour Patrice and Archie,
a boy struggling with muscular
dystrophy. The trio become close
and seemingly perfect for one
another until Evan decides to invite
the “popular” kids to his 13th
birthday party. That’s when the
problems begin.
The beauty of “13” is that its
premise could take place anywhere.
Every 13-year-old, past and present
has dealt with the anxieties of
being accepted and feeling like
they belong. We often remember
the positive aspects of growing up,
but tend to forget that growing up
can also be painful, embarrassing
and lonely. This coming of age
musical, much like life, portrays
this important stage of life in both
funny and heart-warming ways.
Returning actor Quincy Loria
plays Patrice with the simplicity
and kindness of a small town girl
wanting to connect with someone
new, and shows her disappointment
and sadness through an incredibly
sincere rendition of What it
Means to be a Friend, when this
connection stumbles.
Veteran actor, Garett Woolley,
also returns, this time as Archie, a
boy who is more optimistic about
living with a terminal illness than
most students are about dealing
with acne. You will almost feel
guilty for enjoying Terminal Illness,
which Archie sings together with
Evan in a bantering, Jerry Lewis/
Dean Martin kind of way.
Director Jen Loría once again
has taken a relatively new cast of
actors and has transformed them
into a credible bunch of American
suburbanites. Middle school
newcomer Erikka Ocampo plays
Lucy, the “mean girl”, in a conniving
and double crossing way that
quickly makes you forget that she
played loveable Tiger Lily less than
a year ago. Loría somehow makes
these transformations appear
seamless.
Dan Quayle Junior High, the
setting for “13”, contains every
person from your own school: The
cool kids, the preps, the skate punks
the jocks… and then there’s you.
And just like school, this show is a
rite of passage, one that shouldn’t
be missed because whether you
are in Appleton, New York City or
Doha, we eventually all fit in.
“In the Broadway production,
even the band was made up of
teens, which is a fantastic way to
involve a diverse group of artists.
The cast is comprised entirely
of teenagers, but the stories that
come to life here are ageless, the
emotions they explore timeless,
the laughter and the memories
they provide priceless,” says a note
on the “hilarious, coming-of-age
musical about discovering that
‘cool’ is sometimes where we least
expect it.”
The original musical opened
on Broadway at the Bernard B.
Jacobs Theatre on September 16,
2008, in previews, with an official
opening on October 5, 2008 and
closed on January 4, 2009 after 105
performances and 22 previews.
8
GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
DeBakey students
celebrate World Book Day
The DeBakey High School-Qatar students celebrated World Book Day with
group activities. Students in grades seven and eight dressed as their favourite
book character, presented persuasive essays, and devised a list about the pros
and cons of reading. High school students participated in a literacy scavenger
hunt with a focus on information text reading.
World Book Day is an internationally recognised occurrence with the intent to
celebrate authors, illustrators, books and overall celebration of reading. This
is the 19th anniversary that World Book Day has been celebrated. Its main
aim is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading
by providing them with an opportunity to recognise why reading is such a
wonderful experience.
At the close of each school year, DeBakey students are provided with a
Summer Reading List that identifies books students must read during their
summer break. Once school is back in session, students are involved in group
discussions and comprehensive testing. “World Book Day is the perfect
opportunity for our students to be further involved and encouraged to read
beyond their daily school work assignments,” said Linda Mabrie, DeBakey
Director.
Come for a taste of
Turkey at ‘Gozleme’
T
he Grand Heritage Hotel Doha has
partnered with the Turkish Cultural
Center to launch what it describes
as “one of the most exciting
culinary festivals in the city,” the
Turkish food festival “Gozleme”.
The event is taking place at the hotel’s
signature restaurant Agora, starting from
tomorrow. The first day of the festival will
be open to the press and invited guests only.
The opening ceremony will be attended
by ambassador of Turkey to Qatar Ahmet
Demirok.
A special à la carte menu with an array of
mouth-watering authentic Turkish dishes
will be prepared by the culinary team of Agora
restaurant, promising to bring in the real
flavours of Turkey. Guests visiting the festival
will be able to experience traditional Turkish
delights, including its famous national treat
and the main feature of the festival “gozleme”
(traditional savoury Turkish flatbread and
pastry dish). The “Gozleme Lady” is flying
all the way from Turkey to Doha specifically
to treat visitors of the festival to its authentic
freshly-baked delicacy.
Gozleme (GOES’-leh-meh) is a traditional
Turkish snack and street food made with
fresh sheets of ‘yufka’ dough that are rolled
out by hand, and then spread with delicious,
spicy fillings of cheese, spinach or seasonal
vegetables.
Everything will be set to recreate the magic
of Turkish culture, visitors will be offered a
‘mystical nostalgic ambiance’ that is enhanced
by live traditional Ottoman music and
complete with rich aroma of Turkish tea and its
delicious sweets, said the hotel.
“Turkish cuisine is one of the most diverse
and most delicious culinary cultures of
the world. The idea behind the event is to
showcase the rich culinary heritage of Turkey,
generate better awareness of traditional
Turkish food and encourage local residents and
guests to try it out,” said Durmus Budak, Head
Chef of Agora Restaurant. “All guests of the
festival are guaranteed a fascinating journey
through the history of Turkish gastronomy.”
The Turkish food festival will continue
until March 22. Those wanting to explore
and experience the cultural roots and
contemporary influences of Turkey will be
able to dine at Agora restaurant every day
from 1pm to 11pm during the festival. For more
information or reservations please call 44455540.
Traditional Turkish Gozleme.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
QTS honours two prominent Indian expats in Qatar
Doha Bank CEO Dr Seetharaman was honoured by Qatar Tamizhar Sangam (QTS) recently at the Indian Cultural Centre. He was also congratulated for having received multiple awards honouring his
lifetime achievements and business acumen. RSN Group CMD N Gowrishankar was also honoured for his humanitarian efforts and services, especially in the Chennai flood relief operations.
Bio-Oil, an ideal gift for Mother’s Day
T
he award-winning Bio-Oil — a specialist
skincare product that promises to improve
the appearance of uneven skin tone, signs of
skin ageing, skin dehydration and pregnancy
stretch marks — could be an ideal Mother’s
Day gift.
Its makers say: “Leave all your skin worries behind if
you are planning to treat your mom for a brunch by the
beachside or enjoy some fun outdoor activities together
as Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of uneven
skin tone that can be triggered by external causes, such
as excessive exposure to the sun and helps to enhance
the skin’s texture.”
Bio-Oil’s advanced formulation, which contains the
breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil, makes it highly
effective and gives visible results, says the company.
The skin lipid layer is often unable to cope with the very
dry Middle Eastern climate, and too much moisture is
drawn out of the skin. Bio-Oil increases quality of the
natural invisible oil layer on the skin that then acts as a
barrier to stop moisture from escaping.
Ageing skin study conducted by Thomas J. Stephens
& Associates in USA in 2011 showed that Bio-Oil is
effective in improving the overall appearance of ageing
skin on the face and neck. After 8 weeks, a statistically
significant result was achieved. After 12 weeks, 94%
of subjects in the Bio-Oil treatment cell showed a
significant improvement of the face skin and 80% of
the neck skin, according to the company.
Bio-Oil was given the Best Maternity Skincare
Product award by the UK Loved by Parents Awards
in 2012 and named as the Best Secret Weapon by the
South African Women’s Health magazine readers in
2012.
Bio-Oil has won multiple awards.
9
10 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
Showcasing the symbo
The exhibition, featuring representative photographs of 11 Latin American countries
and the Caribbean will be on display at Katara until March 15. By Umer Nangiana
Chiapas from Mexico.
I
n a first of its kind exhibition,
eleven Latin American
countries and the Caribbean
have put together a dazzling
showcase of all that is
beautiful about the continent.
Bringing together documentary
photographs that represent 11
Latin American countries in five
categories, the capital of the
country, the national animal, the
national plant or flower, the national
dish and the historical monument,
the exhibition “Symbols of Latin
America” officially opened at
Katara Cultural Village, building 18,
recently.
The ambassadors of almost all
the represented countries along
with the government officials from
Qatar opened the exhibit, which
Photos by Umer Nangiana
will remain open to public until
March 15.
“It is a very good opportunity
for us to show our country, all its
beauty and our culture. And with
11 Latin countries doing it together,
I think it is a good opportunity for
Qatari people to know us more,”
Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar
Rossana Cecilia Surballe told
Community in a chat at the opening
ceremony.
Argentina is contributing portraits
to the exhibition; especially those
featuring national parks, most of
which are part of world heritage like
the Talampaya National Park that is
a Mesozoic park. In food, the typical
Argentinian meat, Empanadas is on
display in all its juicy flavours.
“In Patagonia, there is whale
watching. Three months of the year,
these whales come to Argentina
to the South Patagonia to this
special site called Porto Parana and
thousands of people go there to
especially see this show of whales,”
said the Argentinian ambassador,
referring to a picture showing the
site of whale watching.
The exhibition also features
another national park from the
province of Rio Negro, with its
many lakes of different colours.
And there is also the famous
floral sculpture from the capital
of Argentina, Buenos Aires. “We
did not bring our national flower
which is Ceibo, but this sculpture
is very famous in Buenos Aires and
represents different flowers,” said
the ambassador.
She said the Argentinian
community in Doha is not very big
but it is very active. There are about
200 people here. Most of them are
professionals.
“We have many pilots and staffers
[working for] Qatar Airways. We
have engineers and architects
involved in multiple projects in
Qatar; and many chefs, which is why
you get the opportunity here to taste
our flavours and our meat,” added
ambassador Rossana.
There are many Argentinian
restaurants in town. For the last
three to four years, the number of
tourists visiting Argentina from
Qatar has been increasing, she said.
“Our understating is that more and
more people are getting interested
in going to Argentina and also
many people from there are coming
here. Qatar is also very famous in
Argentina,” said the ambassador.
Ambassador of Peru to Qatar
Julio Florian said the exhibition was
like a cornerstone, because it is the
first time that Latin America and
the Caribbean are doing something
collectively and the object is to
strengthen the relations with Qatar
by showing their most basic symbols.
“By symbols I mean the capitals
of the countries, their wildlife and
gastronomy because people may
know that countries like Argentina
and Peru are in South America but
they would not know basic things
such as their animals, plants and the
overall picture of their capitals,” said
Julio.
The objective of this exhibition,
Sunday, March 6, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
ols of Latin America
Ambassador of Mexico to Qatar Francisco Niembro.
Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar Rossana Cecilia Surballe, second from right, with ambassador Jamal Nasser al-Bader,
right, and others at the exhibition.
he added, was to keep on building
bridges between a group of countries
and Qatar, which geographically
speaking are very far away but in
many-a-sense are close.
“If you look at the food in our
countries, many of them descend
from this part of the world. For me, it
has been fantastic. I am very happy.
The attendance has been fantastic,”
Julio told Community.
Showing the same symbols as the
others, Peru has put on display the
national fruit, the national plants
and animal, the capital of the city
and the historical monument Machu
Picchu. Peru has held a separate solo
exhibition for the pictures of famous
Peruvian horses, the Paso, back in
2012 in Katara.
Whale watching in Patagonia, Argentina.
Julio said the tourism from
Qatar to Peru is also increasing
year by year. “It might not be in
high numbers but it is now in the
hundreds, going by [the number
of people asking for visas at the]
embassy. I am very happy about it.
It is a slow process we are aware
of that, but little by little it is like
climbing the mountain,” said the
Peruvian ambassador.
Ambassador of Mexico to Qatar
Francisco Niembro also appreciated
the concept of the exhibition.
“It is a great concept. The
attendance here was great and we are
very happy because this is the first
time that all the 12 countries have
organised this exhibition together,
which is really colourful, full of
culture and a good way of showing
what we are and where we come
from,” said the ambassador, talking
to Community.
In the pictures on display, the
Mexican embassy is promoting
Mexico City with all its perspectives
showcasing its greener areas with
the Chapultepec Park in one of the
many states of the country. “It is
full of jungle, full of green waters
and cascades, and of course the
gastronomy and the cultural heritage
that we have from the Mayans,
shown here in the pyramids. We have
tried to give a snapshot of what we
have in Mexico,” said ambassador
Niembro.
“Chiapas is probably my personal
favourite state in Mexico. There, you
Ambassador of Peru to Qatar Julio Florian at the opening of the exhibition.
really feel in contact with the nature
and all the symbolism that the
Mayans used to have and they still
have it in this part of Mexico,” said
the ambassador pointing to a picture
from the valley.
The picture was taken during the
spring season, he added, when you
can actually see the true colours
Symbols from Brazil at the show.
of nature there. The place in the
picture is in the South and probably
not that well-known as people
mostly head to beaches. But it is
in the middle of the jungle and the
ambassador said it was “beautiful
and a must-visit place.” It also has
what they call, the ambassador
added, the magic towns.
12 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
OFFBEAT
Jonathan Yeo, left, and actor Kevin Spacey, right, with an oil painting portraying fictional President Francis J Underwood as played by Spacey. At centre is chief curator Brandon Fortune of the National
Portrait Gallery in Washington where it is hanging. Underwood is the lead character in the popular Netflix video series House of Cards.
A likeness of an
impersonation
of a fiction
By Rachel Spacek
B
ritish artist Jonathan
Yeo makes a specialty
of painting actors who
are playing characters,
as well as portraits
of politicians. His latest work
perfectly combines those two
genres.
He has just collaborated with
actor Kevin Spacey and the US
National Portrait Gallery in
Washington to paint Spacey in
his role as the fictional President
Francis J Underwood in the popular
Netflix video series House of Cards.
Yeo has previously worked with
actors including Dennis Hopper,
politicians such as British exprime minister Tony Blair and
US former president George W
Bush, and peace activist Malala
Yousafzai.
“As a portrait painter, depicting
a brilliant actor doing their job
presents a particular challenge, as
you are trying to capture both their
portrayal and some of their actual
character on the canvas,” said Yeo.
The Spacey portrait displays
Frank Underwood in his chair in
the Oval Office in a strong pose,
with his legs crossed and fists
clenched on the desk.
In an uncanny moment, Spacey
attended the unveiling as his
affable self, posing for pictures
next to the sterner character
portrait.
Yeo explained that a portrait of
an actor in role is meant to make
the audience feel uncomfortable.
He describes Frank Underwood’s
pose in the portrait as “larger than
life” and notes that the figure is
“bearing down at you.”
Yeo said when painting actors
in their roles, it is important to
celebrate and enjoy the pantomime
and yet to get to know the actor as
a person.
A previous collaboration
between Yeo and Spacey was
a portrayal of Spacey in his
Shakespearean role as King Richard
III of England. The portrait is on
display in the National Portrait
Gallery in London.
Yeo visited the House of Cards
set and was inspired by the impact
the character of Frank Underwood
had on the audience.
“Kevin Spacey and I have been
collaborating for several years
around the idea of life and art
crossing over. What an actor does
when they inhabit a role in many
ways parallels what happens when
you make a piece of artwork based
on a living subject,” Yeo said.
Born in 1970 in London, Yeo
began as a self-taught painter. In
an interview with The Guardian, he
recalled in the 1990s after he began
painting that portraits had become
outdated and unpopular.
Yeo’s first major project began
in 2001 when he was appointed
the official portrait painter of the
2001 British general election. Yeo
went on to paint a portrait of Tony
Blair in 2008. Work with other
politicians and actors followed.
Since Yeo’s first major project,
his work has been exhibited widely
across the world, especially in
Europe, North America and East
Asia.
Along with painting portraits
of politicians, cultural figures
and actors, Yeo paints portraits of
people who have undergone plastic
surgery.
In a 2011-12 exhibition in the
Lazarides Gallery in London
entitled “You’re Only Young
Twice”, Yeo portrayed patients
both before and after their plastic
surgeries. The exhibits featured
cosmetic surgeries such as facelifts.
For Yeo, the most important
part of portraying a politician or
actor in their character’s role is to
find elements in the person and
character that create a story. Yeo
said he thinks that it is “always an
interesting part of a portrait when
you can’t quite work out what is
going to happen next.”
Yeo’s portrait of Spacey as
Frank Underwood went on
display February 24 in the lobby
of the National Portrait Gallery in
Washington. —DPA
Sunday, March 6, 2016
INFOGRAPHIC
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
13
14 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
European Tour
ALBANIA
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
BRITAIN
BULGARIA
CROATIA
DENMARK
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
HOLLAND
HUNGARY
IRELAND
ITALY
LUXEMBOURG
MONACO
NORWAY
Pooch Cafe
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROMANIA
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
SPAIN
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
UKRAINE
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
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
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.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Sunday, March 6, 2016
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
4. Enlarge (7)
8. Comment (6)
9. Thrive (7)
10. Chimney (6)
11. Coma (6)
12. Surly (8)
18. Impeach (8)
20. Spirit (6)
21. Energy (6)
22. Assortment (7)
23. Travelling show (6)
24. Treachery (7)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Preamble (7)
2. Threatening (7)
3. Trial (6)
5. Long run (8)
6. Native sailor (6)
7. Savage (6)
13. Owing (8)
14. Bill (7)
15. Go back (7)
16. Respect (6)
17. Price-list (6)
19. Source (6)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
4. Shocking threats make one a nervous
wreck (7)
8. Means to rebuild around one town on
the Somme (6)
9. Price paid for stocking (7)
10. In the storm, it tends to be on hand (6)
11. In English, you and I making an
observation (6)
12. By which one may reach The Hook of
Holland - or Athens, maybe (5,3)
18. For example, the cane isn’t to be used
(8)
20. In search of the first of the sweets for
dessert (6)
21. Used by the hatchet-man in the polar
expedition? (3-3)
22. Everybody in favour of party novelty
(7)
23. They are found in the air rifles when
dismantled (6)
24. Speech will show where one lives (7)
DOWN
1. Train me to change gear (7)
2. This bird pecked another one (7)
3. To cause an entanglement, she gets
involved with men (6)
5. Impetuous types with fevered brows? (8)
6. He goes round as a painter (6)
7. Gradually moving towards the border (6)
13. They cut out a ballet movement (8)
14. Wild enough to daunt me, maybe (7)
15. Back a revolution by the Irish (7)
16. A loud onslaught will make you
apprehensive (6)
17. Cashier the informer (6)
19. Try to get the ball from the rigging (6)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Misanthrope; 9 Ore; 10 Provident;
11 Dusky; 13 Noisier; 14 Shoddy; 16 Egoist; 18
Recluse; 19 Shell; 20 Prankster; 21 Axe; 22
Thunderbolt.
Down: 2 Ire; 3 Apply; 4 Thorny; 5 Raining; 6
Precipice; 7 Nondescript; 8 Story-teller; 12
Slowcoach; 15 Drunken; 17 Gentle; 19 Scrub; 21
Ail.
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Ides of March; 9 Mum; 10 Directive;
11 Levee; 13 Spin out; 14 Carter; 16 Senior; 18
Tea-rose; 19 Steam; 20 Originate; 21 Ass; 22 Rent
asunder.
Down: 2 Dom; 3 Sedge; 4 Forest; 5 Ascribe;
6 Crinoline; 7 Implication; 8 Westernmost; 12
Versatile; 15 Egotist; 17 Sedans; 19 Stern; 21
Ace.
16 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Four things to consider
when choosing siding
S
care and maintenance required. Vinyl typically
requires just soap and water for periodic
cleaning. Wood and fibre cement can require
repainting every five to seven years. Stucco will
need to be repainted and sealed. Brick and stone
require re-pointing of mortar. The earlier point
about durability plays a part here too, ensuring
the option you select is free from potential
time-consuming — even costly repairs — due to
storm damage such as wind and moisture.
electing new siding is one of
the most important decisions
homeowners face when building
new or remodelling an existing
home. With so many options — both
classic and modern materials — there’s a lot to
consider.
Many manufacturers are now combining
traditional styles and materials with high-tech
finishes, delivering a product homeowners can
love for years to come.
Durability
Siding selection is typically an once-ina-lifetime decision, making durability a key
factor for many. Homeowners should look for a
siding option that is resistant to every element,
including rain, wind and even the sun.
Design
Perhaps the most-overwhelming decision
for most when considering siding options is
deciding on a style and colour. There are seven
primary siding material options available to
homeowners — vinyl, metal, wood, brick, fibre
cement, stucco, and stone — and countless
colour and style options within each material
type. To guide you in determining what would
look best, it is recommended to ask a siding
specialist like a contractor, builder or architect
for help. They can educate you on colour coordination and what would go well with the
neighbourhood, while still giving personalised
options for your home. They will also be able to
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Be open to some good advice today Aries. Even if you feel the advice
is slightly misplaced or unwarranted, it’s still a good idea to listen,
learn and use the advice or not.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Mercury, the planet of communication and planning moves into
Pisces today, your ninth house of spirituality, higher education and
vision. Tuesday March 8 is the day of the Pisces Super Moon and will
be in the same part of your chart. Think big and think future Cancers.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Venus your ruler and the planet of beauty and love remains in
Aquarius, your romance zone (through March 12). Make the most of
her visit and if you’re single, get out there and mix and mingle.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
Mercury the communication moves into your chit chat zone today.
You’ll be more talkative than usual and some of you may feel as if
you are saying too much at times.
weigh in on accent pieces like trim and shutters,
which can help bring out your style.
Maintenance
Beyond style and colour, homeowners are
also seeking siding that is low-maintenance,
which reduces or eliminates the cost and
personal time expended for proper upkeep.
Each siding material type has a different level of
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
If you’re unsure about something, ask for help and advice today
bulls. There’s nothing worse than doing something which you aren’t
sure about and making a mess of it.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Don’t backtrack today Leos. If you feel as if you can’t do something
you said you would do, then you need to come clean and admit that
you can’t fulfil your promises.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
There is nothing you can do if you feel that all your bills seem to be
piling up all at the same time. That happens sometimes and all you
can do is prioritize what bills are the most important and go from
there.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Mars the planet of passion and energy transiting your friendship
zone makes this a wonderful time to make fun plans with friends
and if you’ve been talking about some sort of business venture, it’s a
good time for that too.
Affordability
Lastly, set a budget. Do your homework
on the options and secure estimates, then
compare them with your budget. Don’t forget
that sometimes investing a little more into
the project up front may reduce issues and
maintenance costs down the road.
As you look to select new exterior siding,
be sure to keep in mind these important
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©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Venus in your fellow air sign of Aquarius and passionate Mars in
your relationship zone make this a very sexy time for you indeed.
If you and your partner feel like staying in bed today...that’s just the
thing to do.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Mercury your ruler, the planet of chit chat and planning moves into
Pisces today — your one on one relationship zone. The next few
weeks will be a time for you to calmly and carefully deal with people.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Be careful that you don’t over share today Sags. Maybe you’re out
for brunch and find yourself telling all sorts of tall tales which in
hindsight you will wish you hadn’t shared.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The world is yours Pisces — right now you have Mercury, the Sun and
Neptune in your sign. Make sure you are making the most of this by
working out what you want to see happen once your New Moon/
Super Moon lights up the sky next Tuesday.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
English has become
too important for us:
Javed Akhtar
RED LINES: Balachandra Menon
Freedom being
misused in India:
Balachandra Menon
F
reedom is being
misused in India, says
veteran Malayalam film
personality Balachandra
Menon who feels
strongly that “the law of the land
should be adhered to”.
Asked about his concept of
“creative freedom” for filmmakers,
Menon, who has directed more
than 40 films and acted in close to
100, told IANS: “There is a strong
social premise in our country
and I feel today freedom is being
misused and not used. There is
a right to protest in our country,
but at times the manner in which
the protest is done breaks all
permissible levels. I don’t agree
with it at all.”
The 62-year-old will be in New
Delhi to screen his latest film Njan
Samidhanam Cheyyum to a select
audience. He will also interact with
them. The film released last year.
Talking about the information
and broadcasting ministry’s
decision to set up a new committee
to look into the functioning of
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
By Sanu George
GULF TIMES
the censor board, which has been
mired in controversies, Menon
said: “Over the years I have always
said what I wanted to say through
my films. I have ensured that I will
not allow anyone to question what
I tell through my films.
“I have expressed it well too, and
have at times argued for the right
to express my creative freedom
with the censor board officials, and
they have allowed me to express it
the way I want it.”
Menon, who entered filmdom
in the 1970s and has a distinctive
style, also pointed out that there
are numerous clubs in the country
which insist on a dress code.
“Please don’t misunderstand
that I am batting for the censor
board. But I say the truth from the
bottom of my heart.
“It was in 2001 that in a leading
vernacular newspaper I wrote an
open letter to then Kerala chief
minister A K Antony saying that
some sort of benchmark should
be set for TV programmes. There
are rules and regulations, and
we live in a country where the
Constitution gives us rights and at
the same time there are things that
have to be restricted.
“Hence, I believe the law of
the land should be adhered to,”
added the filmmaker, whose debut
directorial Uthrada Rathri had an
A-certificate.
Commenting on the emergence
of film festivals across the country,
Menon said: “The concept is good,
but it should not be hijacked by
people with an agenda. If that
happens, then the concept of
holding festivals would be lost.”
While he appreciates the
proliferation of digital media
for the film world, Menon
stressed that a film’s success is
not dependent on digital media
because people come in huge
numbers to theatres if a film is
good. “The success depends on
the way the film is made and not
whether it’s promoted through the
digital media.”
About his future projects,
Menon, who has introduced hugely
popular actresses like Shobana,
Parvathy, Karthika, Annie and
Nandini, said he was soon going
to don the greasepaint in the
film Oozham. He will act in the
movie along with upcoming star
Prithviraj. The film’s shooting will
begin in April. — IANS
Bollywood’s wizard of words
Javed Akhtar feels the quality
of language in dialogues and
songs in present-day Hindi films
reflects the lack of command
that most youngsters have on
vernacular literature, and said
that sometimes, the society gives
too much importance to learning
English.
A balance should be
maintained, he said, pointing out
that the solution lies in parents
inculcating healthy reading habits
in their children. It is something
that comes naturally to his own
children — filmmakers Zoya
Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar, he
said.
At the launch of Zee Classic’s
new show The Golden Years
1950 - 1975, A musical journey
with Javed Akhtar, the veteran
writer-lyricist, asked about the
deteriorating quality of lyrics in
Bollywood, said: “It is simple to
accuse a lyricist or music director,
but if you see carefully, it is a very
complicated situation.
“Vocabulary itself has shrunk
in the society ... One reason is
our education system, in which
literature is not on the list of
priority. For the last 30 to 40
years, we are not exposing our
children to literature and poetry.”
Expressing dissent over the
limited use of proverbs in speech,
Akhtar said: “Knowledge of
vernacular language is limited ...
How many children are there who
would have read a poetry book or
seen their parents read one?
MAKING A POINT: Javed Akhtar
“When they are not exposed to
poetry and have not been taught
importance of language, the
language will shrink, and it
will reflect in dialogues and
songs.”
He said that “because of
liberalisation and corporatisation,
English has become too important
for us”, but was quick to add
that he does not undermine the
importance of English.
“What is wrong is that we are
learning that language at the
cost of (not knowing) our mother
tongue. This should not happen,”
stressed the 71-year-old, who
has penned films like Zanjeer
and Sholay and is adept at Urdu,
Hindi and English. The problem,
he feels, lies in the fact that while
the upper middle class section of
the society is sending children to
English speaking school, it is the
“deprived classes” who are going
to vernacular schools.
“Language is getting nurtured
in harsh and deprived socioeconomic conditions. And
privileged class is learning
English. In every society, it is
the middle class that nurtures
language, but our middle class has
nothing to do with our language
(nowadays).”
Delving upon the state of
the film industry, he said that
young filmmakers who are below
30 “haven’t really read their
language”.
“He does not know Hindi
or Urdu well ... He dreams
also in English. So how will he
understand?” In this scenario,
Akhtar feels “children should
be bilingual” as they become
smarter. — IANS
18 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
‘We must go back’
A
t age 81, Capt Eugene
Cernan is, in a sense,
the living embodiment
of the US space
programme. Recruited
by Nasa in 1963, he voyaged into
space three times: aboard Gemini
9A in 1966, on Apollo 10 in 1969
and for the final time in 1972,
aboard Apollo 17. On that mission,
he became the last man to leave his
boot prints on the moon — so far.
That flight is memorialised in
the documentary The Last Man on
the Moon. Cernan wants to set the
record straight about that whole
“last man” business. In a phone
interview from the Houston area,
he acknowledged being “the last
man to have left my footprints on
the moon. The last man of Apollo.
The last man of the 20th century.
But I can assure you, I am not the
last man.”
Astronauts, he said, will go
back — must go back, and not just
to the moon. “We can’t afford not
to go back to the moon, and on to
Mars,” he said. “There’s no bigger
challenge than outer space,” he
said. “Except for the depths of
the ocean, it’s really the greatest
frontier that surrounds us.”
What’s needed, he thinks,
is an inspirational leader to
motivate young people to take up
that challenge. President John
F Kennedy — who went before
Congress in 1961 to say “this nation
should commit itself to achieving
the goal, before this decade is out,
of landing a man on the moon and
returning him safely” — was such
a figure. “He was a visionary, a
dreamer and politically astute,”
Cernan said. “All we’ve got to do is
reinspire the passion in their hearts
and minds. And that’s what I hope
this movie is going to do.”
Cernan said his goal is to “get the
kids off those games they’re playing
and put that bright mind of theirs
to do something significant in their
generation.” These days, he travels
around the US speaking about the
importance of manned spaceflight.
Kennedy issued his challenge at the
height of the Cold War, when the
race into space was a contest with
the Soviet Union for technological
and political superiority. Once the
US beat the Russians to the moon
in 1969, the impetus to continue
quickly faded.
After Cernan’s 1972 mission, the
Apollo moon-landing programme
was discontinued. Now, with the
space-shuttle programme also
discontinued and the US working
with Russia to carry American
astronauts to the International
Space Station atop Russian rockets,
manned missions to the moon and
Mars seem indefinitely on hold
— at least for the US. “Kennedy
would be rolling over in his grave,”
Cernan said. Other nations —
primarily China, but also India
— are developing their own space
capabilities. It’s possible, Cernan
Last Man on the Moon subject and former astronaut Gene Cernan
hopes US develops a new interest in space. By Soren Andersen
NEW AGE: Gene Cernan at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; Below right: Gene Cernan aboard the lunar module after his final EVA; Gene
Cernan test drives the lunar rover on the moon.
bel ieves, that the next human to set
foot on the moon could be speaking
Chinese.
“When the Chinese set forward
to do something, they don’t have
a four-year plan, they have a
15-year plan, and their plan is not
canceled with every administration
change like ours,” Cernan said.
He described the US as “a very
impatient nation.” But Cernan is
certain that someday a manned
mission to Mars will be launched —
and that when it is, no single nation
will be launching it. “We can’t
afford it,” Cernan said. “We have to
share it.”
And, he added, “the rewards are
going to be spread out all over the
world.” — The Seattle Times/TNS
Sunday, March 6, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Gwyneth Paltrow feels she
has ‘earned’ her wrinkles
Tina Fey mocks Oscars
Actress-comedian Tina Fey
thinks that the Academy Awards
are “Hollywood bull****”. The
45-year-old thought there were
too many social and political
messages being pushed during
the annual ceremony and joked
that she can’t understand why
any of the Hollywood stars
involved in the event would slam
“corporate greed” when they are
so wealthy themselves, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“I would say being at the
Oscars, and I don’t know if you
guys feel this way when you go
out there, but I am so glad I live
here. Because half ways through
I was like, ‘This is some real
Hollywood bull%%**’.
“Everyone is telling me what
to do and it was like, people
are yelling at me about rape
and telling me about corporate
greed, but really it’s climate
change. I was like, ‘Guys, pick
a lane. Too much coming at
me. Also, you are all rich, why
are you yelling at me about
corporate greed?’,” she added.
— IANS
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow
believes that she has “earned” her
wrinkles as they are a sign of all the
hardships she has gone through
in life. The 43-year-old actress
feels also believes that she aged
gracefully, reports etonline.com.
“I feel like I’ve earned my
wrinkles, and I’m very proud of
everything that I’ve gone through
in life, both good and bad. The
mistakes I’ve made and learned
from, the wonderful things that
have happened, the successes, the
not-so-wonderful things,” Paltrow
said.
“I don’t want to be 26. I would
never want to go back there ever
for a million years. I think what we
want to do is look our best as we age
gracefully,” the Iron Man 3 actress
added. — IANS
ROPED IN: David Hasselhoff
Hasselhoff to star
in Baywatch flick
A
DADDY COOL: Ben Affleck
Affleck’s ‘best dad moment’
Actress Jennifer Garner says
that it was the “best dad moment
in history” when her ex-husband
and actor Ben Affleck dressed
up as Batman for their son’s
birthday party. For their son Sam’s
superhero-themed birthday
party last weekend, Affleck
delighted the four-year-old by
appearing in a Batman costume
from his upcoming film, Batman v
Superman: Dawn of Justice, reports
people.com.
“We all dressed up, I dressed up
as a ninja and Ben dressed up as
Batman for Sam. It was the best dad
moment in history,” she said.
Asked if her son is excited about
his dad playing Batman, Garner
gushed, “He kind of is losing it, it’s
really sweet.” — IANS
ctor David Hasselhoff,
with the help of Dwayne
The Rock Johnson, has
announced that he’s
going to feature in the
Baywatch movie. Johnson took
to Instagram last week to share
a clip of their video call, reports
aceshowbiz.com. “Pleasure to
officially welcome the original
Baywatch gangsta himself David
Hasselhoff to our movie!” Johnson
captioned his Instagram post. In
the clip, the wrestler-turned-actor
asked Hasselhoff: “I don’t know if
the world is ready for both of us. Are
you ready?”
Hasselhoff responded: “C’mon
man, Rocking the Hoff, I was born
ready!” “Baywatch is the most
successful TV show of all time and
from the day we announced we
were turning it into a movie, ‘The
Hoff’ (Hasselhoff) has been our
greatest supporter,” Johnson added
in the caption. However, it is not yet
known about Hasselhoff’s role in
the film.
Filming is currently underway
in Boca Raton, Florida. Besides
Johnson, the film stars Priyanka
Chopra, Zac Efron, Alexandra
Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach and
Ilfenesh Hadera. Baywatch is set for
a May 19, 2017 release in the US. —
IANS
CYCLE OF LIFE: Gwyneth Paltrow
Will Smith, David Ayer
may reunite for Bright
Director David Ayer and actor
Will Smith, who worked together
for American superhero film Suicide
Squad, are reportedly teaming up
again for the upcoming thriller
Bright. They are in talks to join
the film, which is scripted by Max
Landis, reports variety.com. Ayer is
eyed to direct the film with Smith as
the lead actor.
Actor Joel Edgerton is also
in talks to feature as a co-star.
Although plot details are not
known, sources suggest the project
will be in the vein of End of Watch
(which was directed by Ayer) but set
in a world where fairies live among
humans. — IANS
Why Kutcher went ‘under the radar’ for wedding to Kunis?
CONFESSION: Ashton Kutcher, left, and Mila Kunis
Actor Ashton Kutcher, in an
appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres
Show, says one reason why he
wanted to keep his July 2015
nuptials with Mila Kunis as private
as possible, was because they were
concerned about helicopters trying
to capture images of their intimate
ceremony
When DeGeneres commented
that the wedding was “sneaky”, the
38-year-old actor said they had “a
legitimate concern”, reports eonline.
com. “I was, like, posting things on
social media that were in different
locations to avoid that, because
we didn’t want to be screaming
our vows at each other and be like,
‘Forever! ‘Did you say never?’ We
didn’t want to do that thing, so we
went really under the radar with it,”
he said.
In addition to talking about his
summer wedding, Kutcher also
spoke about his 17-month-old
daughter, Wyatt Kutcher.
“She loves dancing. She’s down
with dancing. I mean, if I sing The
Wheels on the Bus Go Round and
Round, she loses it. That’s her thing.
She just loves it when the wheels go
round. We go to the playground and
she gets on the little steering wheel
on the playground thing, and the
wheels go round. She gets excited,”
the actor said. — IANS
20 GULF TIMES Sunday, March 6, 2016
COMMUNITY
Ali al-Obaidli, the CEO of Ezdan
Holding Group.
ALL IN ONE: The Magical Festival Village will host a number of events and entertainment activities. The facility will also have various discount seasons on
famous global brands.
Shopping redefined
at Magical Festival
By Umer Nangiana
A
major entertainment
and shopping
festival, Magical
Festival Village,
completely designed
and implemented by Qatari
companies, just kicked off last
weekend. Embracing a completely
new idea, the Village, located
at Katara, comes wrapped in a
suburban European architecture
style. It offers a combination of
entertainment and shopping in a
joyful and happy atmosphere that
spreads on 40,000 sq m area. The
festival will run for three months.
It is going to host many firsts.
The Village proposes a number of
events and entertainment activities,
such as 400 shopping boutiques
introducing products from 20
countries, for the first time in Qatar.
It will also host various discount
seasons on the most famous global
brands. The facility offers about 20
restaurants and cafes in its centre
and corners, expected to increase
and reach 40 by mid-march, in
order to provide visitors with more
tables and culinary options.
“We have been eager at the
Magical Festival Village to furnish
modern entertainment facilities.
We have built two entertainment
destinations dedicated to families
and kids with games that have
been brought to Qatar for the
first time, such as the outdoors
skiing court, the giant trampoline,
cart race, special effects cinema,
as well as a riddles room,” says
Abdulaziz al-Mohannadi,
Operations Manager, Magical
Festival Village.
The Fort Castle, the Village’s
main attraction, has been built
to morph into a giant screen
displaying exciting movies in 3D
Mapping technology, along with
technical and mechanical effects
bound to take visitors to a whole
other world of fun.
In addition to that, a VR studio
(Virtual Reality) that teleports kids
to where their favourite cartoons
have been drawn and formed,
using the same effects used in the
renowned international studios.
The completion of the project
took 50 days relying on Qatari
companies on all design and
implementation aspects, where
Qatari cadres oversaw this whole
process with the direct support and
co-operation of Katara Cultural
Village management.
Walkways and narrow streets of
the Village are not only enjoyable
and beautifully designed but will
also serve as an open art gallery,
displaying handmade artworks of
the most important international
artists. They will turn into an
museum, especially at night with
the Lantern Garden softly lighting
every corner. The streets will host
free entertainment activities such
as daily carnivals, musical corners,
and a plethora of other shows that
will pop up to surprise visitors.
A number of festivals have been
already scheduled. Some of these
The completion of the project took 50 days relying on Qatari companies on all design and implementation aspects.
include, the Smart Science Festival
that encourages the innovation
mindset in kids and Fantasy and
Laughter Festival designed for
families. There will be a Chocolate
Cupcake Festival around cakes and
sweets focusing on not promoting
products, but only fun and
enjoyment.
In addition, there will Master
Chef Arabia Festival with major
chefs in Qatar competing directly.
It will feature chefs from all around
the GCC in its next year’s edition.
There are women only events
planned such as Fashion Week,
which will host leading designers
from the Arab World and beyond.
“Magical Festival Village is the
first project of its kind in the region
characterised by an open nature
that makes its visitors enjoy the
winter weather. We are working
on the annual form, where it will
be held every year, effective from
October of each year to the end of
May,” says al-Mohannadi.
CEO of Ezdan Holding Group
Ali al-Obaidli said that their
partnership in the project stems
from the desire to create a
stronger communication with the
community. “We seek this through
projects that would provide an
exclusive family shopping and
entertainment outlet over a large
area,” said al-Obaidli. He added
that the Group’s decision to enter
this strategic partnership is derived
from its approach towards investing
in the entertainment sector,
especially malls.
The Group has been very
successful, in a relatively short
period of time, in building and
managing malls. Ezdan owns three
malls with a total area of about
195,000sq m.
Al-Obaidli stressed that Ezdan
Holding Group is in the works to
inaugurate Ezdan Mall in Al Wakrah
during this year. This is the largest
mall the Group owns, with an area
of 75,600 sq m, it is expected to be
a quantum leap in the malls sector
for being the biggest commercial
centre in the vital and population
dense area of Al Wakrah.
Al-Obaidli explained that this
strategic partnership is the result
of the Group’s distinct stake in
the company that oversee the
festival and organises its events
on an annual basis. This company
also plans to organise a number
of events aimed at stimulating
hospitality in the state and
contributing to make Qatar one
of the best regional tourism
destinations, especially for citizens
of the GCC.