thursday it never rains but it pours - oman daily...

THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

In the mesmeric world of art and craft It Never Rains But it Pours Bastianich dishes out common senseTH

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20-26, 20144

CONTENTS Weekend

The positive side is we get to know what is going on in everyone’s lives especially about what they want you to know

Xu’s mellow style is simple and modern giving his work a

humanistic charm

PAGE 12

SPECIAL REPORT

PAGE 20

LIFESTYLE

In Oman, the rain brought with it a promise of new beginnings

PAGE 32

COMMUNITY


Connecting the worldA general subject for discussion now-a-days is whether social

media networking is changing the lives of people. Without doubt we say and admit that it has affected their social life and activities

in various ways. With its availability on many devices including mobile phones, it allows users to continuously stay in touch with friends, relatives and other acquaintances wherever they are in the world. It also unites people with common interests andbeliefs, and has been known to reunite lost family members and friends because of the widespread reach of its network.

True, social media is the driver behind that connection, helping put us back in touch with old friends and maintain rapport with our loved ones. It’s about sharing and broadcasting your life online, conversing with friends and strangers, but crucially in an always on and always connected manner.

At the same time there is one crucial question — does it not cause increased anti-social tendencies? Some studies have found social media as a source of problems in relationships. Several news stories have suggested that because people are not directly communicating with each other. Profiles often portray an idealised, highly considered version of one’s true self, which can engender feelings of inadequacy amongst those looking on. A friend’s life highlights and milestones might seem a long way off to many which can make them feel as if they’re missing out or being left behind.

In this respect, social networks can act as an uncomfortable mirror against which we unconsciously measure ourselves and determine our own sense of worth. They are also a reminder of the benefits of true social interaction, aka meeting up with someone and talking to them.The internet has in effect become such an ingrained and important part of our everyday lives that it’s having a very tangible detrimental effect on our well-being.

In this issue of the Weekend, we examine the relevance of social media in human life.

From the editor’s desk

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Features EditorSamuel Kutty

ReporterMelanie Held

DesignUpendra Nayak

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ProductionMohammed Mubarak al Moharbi Muzammil Hussain

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Editor-in-ChiefAbdullah bin Salim al Shueili

Deputy Managing EditorBader bin Zahir al Kiyumi

Vol 1, No 23

Samuel Kutty


AROUND THE GLOBE

Gilles Goujon, chef at the three-starred L’Auberge du Vieux Puits in the southern town of Fontjoncouse,

said he is increasingly frustrated with the poor etiquette of amateur food photographers.

He said food pictures “take away the surprise” of some of his dishes and “take a bit of my intellectual property”.

Not to mention that “a photo taken with a not-so-good smartphone is rarely good.”

“It doesn’t give the best image of our work. It’s annoying,” he said.

One blogger at his restaurant several months ago posted a complaint about the doneness of her pigeon, complete with a picture, but hadn’t cut the bird open.

“You couldn’t even see how the pigeon was cooked!” said the still-fuming chef.

“It’s complicated to ban it,” Goujon said.

“I’m trying to find the right way to say it on the menu but haven’t found the proper formula so it doesn’t make people angry.”

French chefs are hardly alone. There has been a growing backlash in the United States to intrusive photo-taking, with some top-tier restaurants banning photography.

French food blogger Stephane Riss said critics of food photographs are overreacting.

“For chefs, the more they are talked about, the better,” he said. “Photos boost visibility and revenues... It’s free publicity.”

Riss even suggested that some chefs fear the scrutiny of photographs, which make a badly presented dish undeniable.

“The chefs have to be in top form every day because if there is one mistake, it goes on the Internet,” he said. — Reuters

French chefs rebel against ‘food photographers’


By Bob Mezan

AFTER wearing a paper bag on his head to a red carpet premiere and walking out of a press conference for his new film, actor Shia LaBeouf’s

latest bizarre antic revealed an art project last week.LaBeouf, 27, a former Disney star who later became

known as the lead of the “Transformers” film franchise, set up an art installation entitled #IAMSORRY at a Los Angeles gallery.

About 30 people were lined up to enter the gallery one by one, where each attendee is asked to pick one item from a table that held a wrench, a vase of flowers, a bottle of bourbon and Hershey’s chocolate kisses among other items.

Gallery visitor Maycie Thornton said she had taken a flower from the vase and then was escorted through a black curtain into a dark room, where LaBeouf was sitting with a paper bag with the words “I Am Not Famous Anymore” on his head. He wore a similar bag bearing the same words at the Berlin Film Festival premiere of his latest film “Nymphomaniac.”

“You can still see his eyes, and it was like, it was kind of wet under, it looked like he had been crying and his eyes were like so sad. So I just immediately got so awkward,

because you’re like trying to talk to someone who is not talking back to you, in this room by yourself,” Thornton said.

Another excited fan, Alex Schlagel, asked the actor to remove the paper bag from his head, and then told him how much she enjoyed his films, before leaving him her phone number. LaBeouf does not verbally communicate with the attendees. “It was weird to be excited because he was so sad, and then I didn’t know what else to say, so I asked if I could take his bag off,” she said.

LaBeouf’s art project has been compared to that of actor Joaquin Phoenix, who in 2009 displayed erratic behavior and an unkempt appearance at public events. Phoenix announced his retirement from acting to pursue a career as a hip hop artist. The stunt was later revealed to be the subject of Casey Affleck’s mockumentary “I’m Still Here.”

Whether LaBeouf is transitioning away from movies to become a conceptual artist or just finding novel ways to drum up press for his film work, the media have been amused and perplexed by his recent behavior.

The art project comes after the actor was accused of plagiarizing the work of little-known graphic novelist Daniel Clowes in his short film “Howard Cantour.com” in December.

LaBeouf into ‘art’ with a scratching head


AROUND THE GLOBE

Visitors to South Africa can view the Big Hole in Kimberley riding a vintage orange-painted tram that

dates back to 1887.The 20-minute tour starts at the

Kimberley Mine Museum before taking tourists around the Big Hole, a disused opencast mine where diamonds were extracted until 1914.

Tickets around the world’s largest man-dug pit cost 20 rand ($1.60) and can be purchased on board. — dpa

Explore the Big Hole in Kimberley

Amundsen ship at Fram museumThe permanent exhibition in

the Fram Museum in Oslo has been given a new look,

with a new extension to house the polar exploration ship Gjoa, the first ship to be sailed through the entire Northwest Passage by explorer Roald Amundsen and his crew.

The new extension is connected to the main museum by a tunnel.

The highlight of the Oslo museum is the Fram, which was the first ship specially built in Norway for polar research.

The vessel was used by Amundsen on his trip to Antarctica for his South Pole expedition 1910-12. — dpa


Ponant offers Asia-based cruises

France-based Compagnie du Ponant now offers cruises out of Asia to destinations in Australia and Oceania.

The L’Austral luxury cruise liner will sail seven routes during the 2014’2015 season, stopping off in places such as Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, as well as

Auckland in New Zealand.Passengers will also have the opportunity go snorkelling

on the Great Barrier Reef.The Oceania cruise begins in Bali and takes in a tour of

Indonesia’s islands, as well as stops at Komodo and the Lizard islands. — dpa

A record number of wives in the United States are more educated than their husbands, as the rate of college-educated women grows, according to the Pew Research Center. Couples in which the husband

has fewer degrees than his wife account for 21 per cent of marriages, a three-fold increase from 1960, a Pew analysis of census data shows.

“It used to be more common for a husband to have more education than his wife in America,” Wendy Wang, a research associate at Pew, said in a statement on her findings. After three decades of steadily increasing, the percentage of couples in which husbands are more educated fell to 20 per cent in 2012.

The trend among newlyweds is even more pronounced, in part, due to rising college graduation rates for women, the study says. Last year, women aged 25-32 were 7 per cent more likely than men to have completed college.

Further contributing to the trend, more people are marrying outside their educational level. Only 60 percent of married couples today have similar education levels, down from 80 per cent in 1960.

While high school graduates are less likely to marry, college graduates are getting hitched in larger numbers.

But the education gap in marriages does not necessarily translate when it comes to a paycheck. Most women who married less educated men still did not earn more than their husbands. — Reuters

US wives more educated

Light that lit the path for trade

— V R Shetty

A bit of honey quenches the thirst— Salim al Moharbi

vrshetty

OMAN THROUGH THE LENSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20-26, 201410


Camp without bonfire— Lakshmi Kothaneth

Tender, yet bold and beautiful— Salim al Moharbi

Share your pictures with

#ODOWeekendand get them published

LAKSHMIK


SPECIAL REPORT

It’s true social networking services have affected the lives and activities of people in various ways because they can continuously stay in contact with their friends and relatives. At the same time, it can cause increased disruptive tendencies. The Weekend examines the impact of the social media on human life


By Lakshmi Kothanath

“This is my Facebook movie, find yours.” This is what you probably have done in the last few days if you have been connected on Facebook. It

does not matter when you joined Facebook, your life might have changed some way or the other.

Initially, it must have been the pure joy of getting connected with good old classmates. And then after a while you might have found it exhausting keeping up

with the updates and your commitment to click on ‘likes’ lest you hurt your Facebook friend’s sentiments.

Have we all of a sudden become so public with our thoughts, celebrations and sorrows?

I am sure you thought of it at some point. If we were to take a few minutes to chill out and try to recollect some of the special moments in celebrations we would realise most of the time was sent on taking pictures and posing. Did we even ask each other how we were doing?

There are hundreds of friends on the ‘friends list’. Half of them are not even familiar with who you truly are.

The world at your fingertips


SPECIAL REPORT

That is an issue all together that has been creating stress in many people’s lives. The very thought, “Are they better off than me?” has been adding pressure on personal lives.

Facebook also lets you post thoughts and let us face it; most people are feeling less lonely. But is this the ideal way to get over loneliness?

The positive side is we get to know what is going on in everyone’s lives especially about what they want you to know. Facebook has been an excellent social tool and a strong medium when it came to news.

Corporate across the globe realised they need a presence on FB. However Facebook also provides an opportunity to give you a feedback. “Facebook is not just about information. It is about communication,” pointed out Stefano

Virgelli, a Communication Consultant.People often forget that what they post

are going to stay on Facebook for almost forever somewhere, even if you delete it. Sometimes the spur of the moment emotional postings have cost relationships that have gone beyond just being sour.

What is even more intriguing is the fact that employers often look at your Facebook account before they make the commitment to make the hiring process.

And so that means Facebook is not just something of face value alone. Used in the right manner it can be a great communication tool.

Najah al Riyami reflects on the past ten years of Facebook and gets people thoughts.

Facebook, the social media site has reached its tenth anniversary already. Tenth already!

Savita Naidu



Facebook has many benefits such as networking and sharing ideas to expanding business, as a platform for advertising.

While this widespread Facebook culture has changed the quality of our communication, we sometimes question whether it is necessarily for the better. We are social creatures at heart who strive for connection at a human level — despite the progression of our digital lives- that cannot be fulfilled through social media alone. Hugs, eye contact, body language and hearing a person’s voice are all important aspects that strengthen understanding and connection between one another.

While some refuse to enter the realm of Facebook unless it is a necessity, such as one reader I spoke to who explains that he is a private person and would not want to jeopardise that by joining Facebook. “It is too exposed,” he explains; while another


SPECIAL REPORT

reader said she joined Facebook when she left the country, simply to connect with her family while away. Others will use it often and as part of their lives, updating statuses to share with hundreds of people worldwide.

Savita Naidu is into organising events, but most of all she feels great staying connected with her friends she has had for years and her new friends she has made on Facebook. This is what she has to say:

“The world lives life on rockets and jets, leaving behind emotional people who still believe in attachments and consistently keeping in touch with friends and folks in their good and bad.....:-)

Facebook is a boon to such...I, having been the latter kind, start my day happily and end it

happily too. The educative motivational posts I share have been playing positive in many of my needy contacts which give me immense pleasure.:-)

Every ‘like’ I receive on my posts has been boosting my confidence to do what I want to do in my way, and to be around all the beautiful people who know to encourage and take time to see and read like at least on Facebook.

The world I feel has shrunk to be on my finger tips :-) I can’t imagine my days without fb :-)”


What the expert says

The Weekend spoke to Stefano Virgelli, Communication Consultant

and a Self Development Coach, VOX LAB to know how the corporates have leveraged on Facebook.

How has Facebook changed your life?

“Facebook has indubitably simplified connections. Long lost friends are now back to surface. Others have managed to ‘spam’ their wait out by tagging me in tons of pictures where I did not belong. New friends shared great content, allowing me to grow more curious. I have even witnessed how dramatic can be when a friend passes away and his Facebook profile “survives”. My professional network expanded in dozens of countries. Facebook also

offered me a free pictures repository both for personal and professional use. All in all I have spent hundreds of hours on Facebook on almost daily basis.”

Because you are an expert in the field, how would you say it has changed the economics when it comes to Facebook’s role in the corporate world?

“Facebook has been seen by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) worldwide as a free platform to increase the reach.

However, most of corporate giants have leveraged on Facebook with content rich and well thought projects. Others just stayed out of the game such as Apple.

What are the challenges you see?

“As far as SME are concerned, Facebook has seldom represented business revolutions. One must not forget that Facebook is social media tool, not business media tool. Whoever started a personal Facebook account has done so to keep in touch with friends and relatives. I yet have to meet a person who started a Facebook account to view more advertisement.”

Why did Facebook succeed the way it did?

“Facebook appeared when forums were the standard way of Social Communication. Forums were mostly thematic and aimed to engage with like-minded strangers. Often in Forums there were Off Topic areas to entertain general conversation. Facebook managed to become a global giant Off Topic Forum. The main reason of its success was the backing - by capital injection - of superstars such as, but not limited to, Bono Vox, who personally invested $40 million in Facebook. Lack of funds is also the reason why most of Facebook competitors could not succeed.”

Would FB sustain this success?“This is not clear yet. Although

Facebook filed for a memorable IPO, the aftermath in the stock market was shocking — a strong reminder that a billion of clients who spend little money, are worth as much as a handful of clients who spend a lot. But Facebook is an expensive business to run, and now it has to increase revenues and generate more profit quickly. Unlike Youtube, where users, content generators and advertisers have three distinct roles, in Facebook, they are the same. This is a major sustainability challenge to overcome.”


CONTENTS Lifestyle


In the mesmeric world of art and crafts

Homemade Hair Gel PAGE 24

PAGE 20

The ‘Green’ Ethics PAGE 26


By Jenni EdenAuthor, artist, life coach and

drama teacher based in Omanwww.jennieden.com

‘Day Dream believer’Last week I asked you to begin to

develop an ‘attitude of gratitude’, did you start to think of the things you

are grateful for? I often do it when I am stuck in traffic. You can do it when you are stuck in a cafe queue, or a shopping queue, when you are waiting for your parents to take you out or when you’re waiting for a friend. Instead of moaning about being late, stressing or getting impatient, I think of what I love and why, then invariably, I’m not late! We take so many things for granted. Sight, touch, hearing, walking, and talking: it’s only when you lose one of these abilities that you realise how precious it is. We take for granted that we have decent clothes, shoes on our feet. We take for granted that we have family around us, a house to live in and keep us warm, we take for granted the friendships and love we receive from others. We might want more but until we are thankful for what we have, we cannot receive more.

Doing this activity has a great benefit. It brings you into alignment with positivity and its frequency. It raises your vibration. Everything has a frequency, even colours have their own frequencies. Frequency is the rate at which something vibrates, a wave, like sound waves, infra-red has a frequency, radio waves have a frequency. Have you seen those dog whistles? They operate on a very high frequency, that apparently only dogs hear, which I have never understood because I hear them. As you get older, the high notes are lost and your frequency becomes lower.

Now, I want you to think about what your ideal life is. Describe your perfect day, how do you travel? What is it that you do? Do you work in an office? Are

you freelance — this means working for yourself, offering your expertise to other businesses? Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have an idea of a business you can run? Where do you want to be 5 years from now? What do you want to be doing? Who is in your life? How do you look? How much weight do you want to lose or gain? How much money do you earn? Write things down in detail. You can get pictures from the Internet, magazines and newspapers for you to put onto your own vision board later but for now write them down in note form to help you expand on them later.

I suspect when you start to do this, some of you will keep it small because as you start to imagine what things could be like, you start to self-censor it. You decide to brings thing down to what you think might be achievable or more realistic, am I right? Are you saying things to yourself like: ‘Oh that’s not possible’, or ‘well I can’t see how I’d go from RO 360 a month to 3,600 so that’s not realistic’?

This is because operating deep inside every one of us is a series of limiting beliefs and lack mentalities. Now I ask you ‘Where is the fun in doing that? Where is the fun in trying to be realistic?’

You might think you are making it manageable and believable, but what you are doing is shifting your frequency away from the magic and joy that operates in the Universe. So, metaphorically, you’re tuning your radio dial away from the actual station you want to hear or receive things from.

So go have some fun! Think bigger, richer, more vibrant thoughts.

Until next week.Love and light.


ART & CRAFT

In the mesmeric world of art and crafts


By Kabeer Yousuf

When the legendary artist and sculptor Pablo Picasso said ‘Art washes away from the soul the

dust of everyday life’, he might likely have implied any form of art or craft that is a true reflection of one’s emotions in the form of creativity.

Standing atop the axiom, one can aptly presume that any form of artistic manifestation of one’s feelings can influence human minds beyond the man-made geographical or societal or linguistic borders and shower a gentle effect on the minds of the art enthusiasts.

Here in Muscat, the art and crafts renditions of three Taiwanese artists are ruling the minds of thousands of visitors at the Amerat Park who are literally giving in to the hallucinating impact of these creations.

When one of the artists finds solace in textile and jewellery, the other finds bamboo as the perfect way of expressing his innate talents while the third artist says what he wants to convey to the people is with clay and ceramics.

Xu Min Sheng, a young artist whose bamboo works adorn some of the iconic buildings across the world was first introduced to the art of bamboo weaving in 1997 through participation in the Bamboo Weaving Heritage Project sponsored by the National Centre for Traditional Arts. Since then, Xu Min-Sheng has indulged himself in the world of bamboo weaving. His work combines traditional bamboo weaving with lacquer craftsmanship. Xu’s mellow style is simple and modern giving his work a humanistic charm that brings the art of bamboo weaving into a new era.

Through fifteen years of artistic contemplation and sheer hard work, Xu has made a name for himself in the field. Not only is he a winner at the Taiwan Provincial Fine Arts Exhibition, the National Crafts Award, and other prestigious contests, he has also been invited to exhibit in Paris, Spain, and Germany in 2004. In 2005, he was invited to New York to participate in bloom Taiwan - bamboo, flowers, Taipei 101 Exhibition, Live demonstrations. And 2009 was invited to Canada’s 2010 Winter Olympic Cultural Festival Outdoor Light Show.

“Although I’ve been weaving intricate bamboo creations for the last 15 years, I’m still pursuing the spiritual path of bamboo and have never


ART & CRAFT

stopped learning whereabouts of the heart”, a humbled XU told the Observer.

Undermining what he said, Xu has always been, while relying on his own efforts, never stick bamboo decoration and styling aspects of creation, but he has set a unique writing style of designing and modeling bamboo design of the road. He has also diversified the creative directions of bamboos, including bamboo fencing, bamboo landscape designing and production, bamboo furniture, and bamboo creation from the exquisite and delicate. Indeed, Xu Min-Sheng sets example for how a creative talent can become the country’s most sought-after in the bamboo industry.

Yu-Ping Lin, a young, vibrant a Taiwanese- European lady and an emerging designer maker works with textile and jewellery. Yu-Ping’s work is process-based and structurally complex. She practices paper cutting/ folding where the ideas of 3D structures originate.

Her work focuses on the notion of Origami and paper art, architectural structures, interaction and seduction of pattern; the original pleasure captured by the structure of organisms inherent in nature. Due to the designed structure, it offers diversification of wearing.

For me, it is a “living” material and changes condition along with temperature, pressure and humidity

’

’


“I do not set out to be a jewellery or fashion designer but as my portfolio developed and I became interested in both elements and aesthetics”, says Yu-Ping with her never-fading smile.

Her work was awarded the Winner of The Best Fashion Accessory Award of British Craft Trade Fair 2012 and Gold Prize of Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Council Awards 2011 Council Special Award of Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Council Awards 2011.

For Lin Lung-Chieh, a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) graduate from Tainan National University of the Arts, Graduate Institute of Applied Arts, Ceramics, clay is the major material to represent his concept.

“For me, it is a “living” material and changes condition along with temperature, pressure and humidity. I enjoy the time making ceramic works and explore the form, texture, glaze colour or firing technique”.

Lin, who has been travelling places endorsing his country’s tradition and culture is overwhelmed by the aesthetic sense of Omanis here. “The response from my Omani visitors is inspiring. The experience of residency programme in different countries helps me to see various ceramic culture and also challenge to material and environment. It brings me more possibility of works and communicate with people through ceramic”.


BEAUTY

By Melanie Held

Homemade Hair Gel

MixingPlace your sieve over the heat proof

container. Bring the water to a rolling boil on high heat and add the Flaxseeds to the water. Allow the water to continue to boil for 3 minutes while continuously stirring the pot with a spoon. Turn the heat down to medium/low heat (simmer) for 5-7 minutes while continuing to stir. Switch off the heat and then immediately pour your liquid gel into the sieve slowly (make sure not to burn yourself!) Let the gel sit for 3 minutes and then add any of the optional ingredients mentioned above (do not heat your oils while making the gel.) Store your FSG in the fridge after every use (you can keep up for a maximum of 1 week.)

Additional Information» FSG does not have that same firm

consistency of commercials gels. If you want to make it a little thicker you can either use a little more Flaxseeds or add ½ a teaspoon of plain powdered gelatin.

» You can reuse your Flaxseeds 2-3 more times if you store them in a container in the freezer.

» After you sieve your gel pour some water into the pot you used to make it easier to clean up.

Note: The ingredients mentioned in the Homemade Gel should NOT be used if you are allergic to any of them! These are just suggestions.

DIY Hair GelHave you tried tonnes of different hair

gels that have given your hair hold but also left it feeling “crunchy” and stiff or worse left it flakey and dry? Most gels contain chemicals and perfumes and while they might give your hair hold for the day you may be left with dry hair. If you are looking for a gel that will give you a light hold without that “crunchy” feeling, that does not flake and most importantly is all natural, then Flaxseed Gel (FSG) is the way to go! Apart from being an amazing all natural styling product, FSG will actually nourish your hair due to its high content in Omega-3 Oils (fatty acids) from Flaxseeds. FSG will also give your hair a natural shine, moisture and is even known to mildly help an irritated scalp.You will only need two main ingredients for this gel and if you want to spruce things up can add some additional ingredients (optional.)

Ingredients

the gel a little)

choice (optional)

e.g. Peppermint (optional)

Tools

container


HEALTH

Week 2 of 1 Month Workout Challenge

By Melanie Held

This is the second edition of a four week programme and hopefully by this week you have started to get

used to the programme. Since you should already be familiar with the schedule we have upped the ante by increasing the repetition of each move as well as extended the time you will need for each exercise. By increasing the repetitions and time needed you will slowly start to build up your endurance. As always try to enjoy your routine and look at each move as getting one step closer to a healthy and fitter you!

Always remember to warm up and cool down before and after you start! You can briskly walk in place for at least 5 minutes and then stretch your arms, legs and core muscles. Remember to wear appropriate foot wear (sports shoes) and clothing when exercising and it is important to drink enough water! The spaces in the table (below) labelled as “Done” indicate the areas where you can note down how many/how long you did each exercise.

Note: The above mentioned exercise routines should be done safely and you should consult your personal physician/doctor before starting a new routine.


MOTORING

By Paul Lienert

To look over the roster of racy new and future vehicles, the initial impression is that US, European and Asian automakers want to turn back the clock to a time

when performance and speed trumped concerns about energy and the environment.

So-called green cars — electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells — are being heavily overshadowed by sports cars, in a broad spectrum of sizes, shapes and price segments, from Ford Motor Co’s (F.N) redesigned 2015 Mustang to Kia Motors’ (000270.KS) zippy GT4 Stinger concept. This was evident a the recent Motor show in Deteroit.

“Speed sells,” said Michael Tracy, principal at Michigan-based consultancy the Agile Group. “People don’t talk about wanting to buy a Camaro because the base V6 gets great mileage.”

A Hint Of GreenIn fact, there is more than a hint of green lurking in even

the sexiest sports cars at this year’s Detroit auto show,

which opens for media members this week. Take the new Mustang, which this fall will offer buyers the choice of a 420-horsepower 5.0-litre V8 — a throwback to the classic street cars of yesteryear — or an economical 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that still cranks out an impressive 305 horsepower.

“We’re seeing a new era of performance cars that are very safe, very fuel-efficient and more mainstream,” said industry consultant Lincoln Merrihew, of Millward Brown Digital.

The latest edition of Volkswagen AG’s (VOWG_p.DE) Golf R, which goes on sale in early 2015 in the United States, is a good example.

Under the familiar hatchback shell of the long-running Golf, VW has fitted a 290-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. VW said it is the most powerful Golf ever sold in the United States, but it also surpasses the fuel economy of the 2013 edition, with an EPA highway mileage rating of 31 miles per gallon. To help improve the car’s stability and traction, all-wheel drive is standard.

Evolving DefinitionThe definition of “performance” is evolving, from the

The ‘Green’ Ethics


old-school values of straight-line acceleration and cornering capability. As with the Mustang and the Golf, engines are getting smaller to improve efficiency, but devices such as turbochargers provide more power, so there is less tradeoff between going faster and going farther.

Perhaps the epitome of the modern sports car is Kia’s GT4 Stinger, a compact, low-slung four-passenger model fitted with a 315-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that hints at a future rear-wheel-drive performance model from the Korean manufacturer.

Makers of traditional sports cars are reducing weight, which further enhances both sides of the power versus economy equation.

Even the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, which goes on sale this spring, has benefited from General Motors Co’s (GM.N) “lightweighting” efforts. GM engineers shaved mass from the $75,000 muscle car by using a smaller battery and thinner rear glass, as well as eliminating the trunk carpet and the tire-inflator kit.

Lighter WeightBMW (BMWG.DE) says its redesigned 2015 M3 sedan,

which reaches US dealers in early summer, has shed 175 pounds, in part by using more aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in place of heavier steel and by switching from a normally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.

The smaller engine makes more power and, with the weight reduction, enables faster acceleration, while

boosting fuel economy by 25 per cent and lowering emissions by the same amount.

Both the M3 and its two-door companion, the new 2015 M4 coupe, also provide an array of driver assistance systems, including a new Active Driving Assistant that warns of an impending collision with a pedestrian.

Enthusiasts will find many of the same safety systems and focus on efficiency in the latest supercars from Europe, Asia and the US, notably the 620-horsepower 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which goes into production late this year.

The Fun FactorChevy also aims to amp up the fun quotient for Corvette

owners. Later this year, the 2015 Corvette will offer an optional Performance Data Recorder — essentially a built-in high-def videocam and microphone that will enable drivers to record up to 13 hours behind the wheel and play it all back on the car’s in-dash touchscreen or upload it to Facebook and other social media sites.

Five years ago, during the depths of the US auto industry’s recession, “excess went out of fashion,” said consultant Merrihew, as auto companies parked their performance models to focus on greener technologies.

Now that the economy has rebounded and automakers are redefining performance as a combination of speed, safety and efficiency, “that stigma is starting to fade,” he said, “and performance cars are OK to buy again.”

FACES AT FESTIVAL VENUES28


1

2

3

4

By Lakshmi Kothaneth

29THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20-26, 2014

1 Saleh is a familiar figure seen at popular events. He has his own way of broadcasting and conveying information whether it is a match, exhibition or yet another public event. Seen here at the opening of the International Village for Craft Industry.

2 Fathiya Al Wisi, Deputy Director for Private Schools at the Ministry of Education has busy evenings as she and her team members plan out the evenings at the Educational Village at Al Amerat Park for Muscat Festival. The children colour and then attend the road safety class. The young ones beam as they walk away with toffees, baloons and gifts.

3 Imad Al Husami and Akram Mohammed Wemeni. Akram is the head of Yemeni delegation of artisans. Imad Al Husami is a yearly visitor to the festival so catching up with the latest happenings at Artisans Village, his favourite aspect of Muscat Festival.

4 A story from Palestine is what Hamzeh Natsheh has. He is the fifth generation artisan in their family based in Hebron specialising in Cermaics and glass. They bake them right at the Artisans village at Muscat Festival in Al Amerat.

5 A representative from the Russian pavilion.

5


CONTENTS Community It Never Rains but it Pours

PAGE 32

Second Sea Festival in Saham PAGE 37


By Irene Klotz

Some animals, like humans, can sense and respond to a musical beat, a finding that has implications for understanding how the skill evolved, scientists said

on Saturday.A study of bonobos, closely related to chimpanzees,

shows they have an innate ability to match tempo and synchronize a beat with human experimenters.

For the study, researchers designed a highly resonate, bonobo-friendly drum able to withstand 500 pounds of jumping pressure, chewing, and other ape-like behaviors.

“Bonobos are very attuned to sound. They hear above our range of hearing,” said Patricia Gray, a biomusic program director at University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

Experimenters beat a drum at a tempo favored by bonobos - roughly 280 beats per minute, or the cadence that humans speak syllables. The apes picked up the beat and synchronized using the bonobo drum, Gray and psychologist Edward Large, with the University of Connecticut, said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“It’s not music, but we’re slowing moving in that

direction,” Large said.Related research on a rescued sea lion, which has no

innate rhythmic ability, shows that with training, it could bob its head in time with music, said comparative psychologist Peter Cook, who began working with Ronan the sea lion while a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Scientists suspect that the musical and rhythmic abilities of humans evolved to strengthen social bonds, “so, one might think that a common ancestor to humans and the bonobo would have some of these capabilities,” Large said.

The addition of sea lions to the list suggests that the ability to sense rhythm may be more widespread.

Gray and Large said they would like to conduct a study on whether bonobos in the wild synchronize with other members of their species when they, for example, beat on hollow trees.

“That’s really co-ordination. Now, you’re talking about a social interaction,” Large said. “If your brain rhythms are literally able to synchronize to someone else’s brain rhythms, that’s what communication is potentially all about.”

Gray and Large’s research was conducted at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida.

Bonobos, like humans,keep time to music


SPECIAL FEATURE

I woke up to the sound of thunder echoing in the mountains surrounding our little village near Sidab. Like a ball in

a pinball machine the sound bounced off the side of the mountain, hit another and was thrown right back at me. The cheap Chinese window panes used in my building rattled ominously. Even the dog woke up.

It was still so early in the morning that darkness enveloped our little village and left a perfect background for the angry lightening which lit my bedroom in a split-second instant. As I looked out of the window I could see the road below me glittering from millions of raindrops reflecting in a faraway street light.

The rains had come.In my home country rain was just part of

life. It did either rain or it didn’t; you never paid much attention. At best, you would look out of your window in the morning

It Never Rains but

it Pours

By Rachael Mwww.facebook.com/ePicOman


Small streams of muddy water were forming along the side of the road, picking up speed as they started their journey towards something bigger


SPECIAL FEATURE

before getting dressed just to work out what to wear that day. Sigh and dive into your raincoat and wellie boots. You would swear under your breath when cars splashed dirty rain water up your legs as they went past you on the way to work or the shops.

In Oman, the rain brought with it a promise of new beginnings.

Of better times to come. Of life. Each drop was swallowed up by the ever-thirsty ground with gratitude and seeds just laying there in wait drink to their heart’s content. It didn’t take long before the land was rewarded with a green almost transparent sheen, from now nourished plants that had long been forgotten. Leaves and stalks on dusty, tired-looking

trees and shrubs got a new lease of life and greeted the world green and fresh. You could almost hear the collective “Aaaahhhhh….” from the earth.

The rain grew in intensity and strength and a light sprinkle had turned into a steady shower. Small streams of muddy water were forming along the side of the road, picking up speed as they started their journey towards something bigger. I opened the window to breathe in the cool air and spotted the ‘muazzin’ running towards the mosque to call for early morning prayer. “Hasten to prayer, hasten to success”. He nimbly jumped through the puddles, dishdasha slightly lifted to avoid the spray, but already soaked from top to bottom.

But he smiled as he ran.In a country where water is scarce, rain

is a call for celebration and joy. As the rain lashed down I watched a group of young boys, who clearly had abandoned all thoughts of going to school that day and instead of crispy white dishdashas were kitted out in shorts and rain coats, quite clearly belonging to someone else, judging from the size. Like cloak-clad knights they ran through the water, splashing each other with bursts of laughter, being children again, singing fragments of a poem they had heard sung many times together with the traditional Al Yola dance at weddings and Eid celebrations “..you are like the rain falling, falling from the top of the mountain..”. Something beautiful.

Suddenly we heard a low rumbling. The wadi nearby had burst its natural defences and was flooding our road. It was no longer gentle streams but a roaring river taking with it everything in its path. Stones and huge rocks were swept along as though made of foam. The boys quickly climbed to safety on the rocks before they too were carried away or hit by debris. They sat for a while enjoying the spectacle, humbles by the sheer power of nature, before climbing back along the rocks to join the others now running towards the wadi.

Office workers who had made a half-


hearted attempt at getting to work sat in their cars for a while, reversed and went back home to phone their bosses.

“Sorry Sir, I am not coming in to work today. It is raining”. The boss, if Omani, would nod his head in agreement and understanding. The boss, if Westerner, would shake his head and mumble “…a few drops of rain…”, but knowing full well that he was up against something bigger than that.

And just as quickly as it started, the raindrops stop falling.

In Oman rain often takes the form of a deluge rather than a shower and the parched earth, which so gratefully soaked up the first drops, now start choking and eventually have to give up. The run-off of water can be devastating — when it has nowhere to

go.The sky was still dark grey, holding

promises of more to come, but for now it was taking a break. The villagers all came out to assess the damage. The road was blocked, of course, and we couldn’t leave; the electricity had gone in the entire village, though ironically enough the street lights were still on. Old ladies embraced and spread out rugs near the wadi for impromptu picnics. Kids were daring each other to jump into the muddy cold water, and the entire place was wrapped in a wet earthy smell. We all breathed deeply and smiled.

And then, the most beautiful of sights. Dozens of small torrents found their natural paths down the mountains and we were suddenly surrounded by tiny but perfect

waterfalls, flowing, running and trickling downwards. A sight, much more at home in Switzerland. We all stopped what we were doing and just watched in amazement. All we needed now was Julia Andrews running down the mountain, skirt billowing behind her, signing ‘the Hills are Alive..’ and the picture would have been complete. This only lasts for a few minutes — then it is all over.

By early evening, just as the road was almost cleared by men in orange, the rain started again, as did the electricity. It was almost possible to hear a collective “…Aaaahhhhh!” from the village as dozens of electric kettles were switched on at the same time and tea was prepared.

And like the earth hours ago, our parched throats accept the first drops with relief. The rain has come…

By Lakshmi Kothaneth

In all 110 horse riders and that many pure bred Arabian horses lined up

to begin their unique journey at 8.30 am sharp on Monday with magnificent sand dunes as their backdrop.

In the welcome speech, the chairman of the committee, Brigdier Abdulrazak Alshahwarzi, explained the unique concept of Gallops of Oman. The Royal Cavalry Band performed the welcome music.

The Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Bin Nasser AL Mahrizi, after his speech, waved the flag officially starting the ride across 180 kms.

With the blessing of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, an avid horse lover, the ride was originally conceived to combine the thrill of adventure, with the exploration of a country that abounds with a rich cultural heritage, according to the organizers. These explorers of Oman

will experience the land and its culture riding Oman’s own Arabian horses.

Riders from nine countries were full of excitement and focus as they prepared for the unique ride on exclusively Oman’s own Arabian

horses; majority of the horses from the Royal Cavalry while others are from private owners in Oman. For some of the riders it is the first time to camp in a desert and first time to ride a pure bred Arabian horse. “Arabian horses seemed to have more energy, and are fiery. It is very exciting,” some of the riders pointed out.

The first stage of Gallops of Oman covers 40 kms and will take the riders more than six hours to cover the distance. “It is a challenging one, especially the part where they have to climb up the dune and come down the slope. The horses have been here practicing for a week,” explained Brigadier Abdulrazak Alshahwarzi.

The riders are from nine nationalities including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK, USA, Belgium, Switzerland and the host Oman. The participants are formed into 22 teams of five.In total there are five stages and the fifth stage will conclude at Qudayma Camp, the other two camps are at TIWI Al Hatayem Camp and Quhaid Camp.

Gallops of Oman marches ahead


EVENTS

Muscat City Centre and Qurum City Centre, one of the Sultanate’s leading

lifestyle destinations and key partners of Muscat Festival, are hosting a variety of fun forms of family entertainment and children’s activities during this cultural event.

Every Thursday and Friday, from 5pm-10pm, and Saturday, from 3-10pm, until February 22, families can enjoy games, fun cartoon characters, face painting and an upbeat DJ, demonstrating the malls’ commitment to bringing new and exciting experiences for its guests.

The programme includes live dance and musical stage shows, and roaming artists featuring Fun-loving Freestyle Dance

Team at Muscat City Centre on February 15. Mystifying Hellos the Illusionist will entertain visitors at Qurum City Centre on February 20, with Laugh-out-loud and the musical Daffy Show and Juggler at Qurum City Centre and the International Carnival at Muscat City Centre on February 22.

Throughout the duration of Muscat Festival, shoppers who spend RO 15 at Muscat City Centre or Qurum City Centre, will be enter a grand-prize draw to win one of two luxury trips to Disneyland Paris for the whole family. This is inclusive of two adults and two children below 12 years of age, and paid accommodation for five nights per family.

Family Fun at City Centres


The second Sea Festival was held in

the Wilayat of Saham under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications. Among the festival activities were heritage shows embodying the coastal life and reflecting the Omani people’s ties with the sea, sailing boar race as well as folk art shows.

There were several races held during the event.

Second Sea Festival in Saham


CONTENTS Leisure

All About Music PAGE 44

Bastianich dishes out common sense PAGE 40


DECLUTTERINGBy Suzie Bruce

If you didn’t have a pitch at the recent table sale at the British School, then you missed one of the year’s best real opportunities to clean up and clear out. Soon the

barren season will be gone and with it the symbolic urge to strip the clutter from your home, your waistline, your busy mind.

The sale wasn’t the last of the season, though at 30 tables it may have been one of the largest of these bimonthly winter-spring events. And the symbolism of January runs deep. It is a reminder in the immediate aftermath of the holiday indulgence that the season of giving hasn’t ended. Moreover, a whole range of charities benefit – so, what’s not to like!

Table sales are where you bring your unwanted Christmas gifts, the unused sport and craft tools of your evaporated dreams of becoming an artist, parachutist or bonsai gardener, the souvenirs weighing down your sideboard that belong on someone else’s sideboard. They enable you to dump the shiftless heap of neglected stuff accumulating around you and give your surroundings room to breathe - for now.

It is early morning down at the school and Jenny is dusting off some Bahla pots and a Delsey suitcase in an adventuresome looking khaki fabric which she is hoping someone else is going to fill with knick knacks to take home– maybeeven with her pile of spare bed linen. Or, better again, the mock crocodile Gabor shoes that never really saw an outing. Love is fickle, and none more so than shoe love.

Her stall neatly laid out, Barbara looks resolute. She never had any real desire to share a camper’s starlit nights with rocks and scorpions and is selling a range of cold boxes and gas lamps. She spots someone eyeing her fishing rod - and knows she has a mark.

Wendy, meanwhile, is off to a cracking start – gone already her 2 ft stuffed zebra and tiger. She is studying Jenny’s shoes.

Table sale or no table sale, decluttering is liberating. Lovers of fengshui will persuade you of the mirrored effect it has on the mind. You will be less stressed knowing where everything is, calmer without visual interference from the mess, healthier with less gathering dust and on generally better terms with your living partners.

There was another reason not to forego this least

strenuous of all New Year resolutions. Friday 31 January bade goodbye to the Year of the lazy Snake and ushered in the Year of the Horse, bringing energy and health. It is an auspicious year in the Chinese calendar and equine-themed fashion and jewellery is a prominent feature of this year’s spring/summer collections. So hopefully you threw that boa constrictor draft excluder your northern relatives thought you might need in Muscat into the bag. Maybe you spotted a little horseshoe charm or pendant to take home with you? Size is keythis early in the season. Remember, you have a whole year to fill up your space again.

In the end, Jenny was fortunate with the shoes. Although it is deemed unlucky to buy shoes during the first fortnight of the new Chinese year, she knew her market, and her Gabor shoes were courted and won by a determined suitor who valued them beyond sense and superstition.

FOOD

By Richard Leong

Lidia Bastianich serves up a helping of common sense along with techniques for home cooks to make creamy

risotto, moist meatballs and other popular Italian dishes in her 11th cookbook, Lidia’s Commonsense Italian Cooking.

The award-winning chef co-owns six Italian restaurants, including four in New York, one in Pittsburgh and one in Kansas City. Whether in a casual or upscale atmosphere, she says each restaurant showcases the styles and flavours of Italy.

The 66-year-old, who was born in Pula, Croatia — once part of Italy — spoke to Reuters about her latest best-selling book, which she co-wrote with her daughter, Tanya, as well as her tips for home cooks.

In the beginning of your book, you quoted Voltaire, who said: “Commonsense is not so common.” What is your common sense approach in the kitchen?

You cook pasta. You put the cover on the pot. You save a third of the energy. You put the pasta in boiling water. It cooks faster and it doesn’t stick together. When you salt your food, you do it intermittently. Salt your major ingredients as you are cooking instead of putting it all in. If you add it all in the onion, it might not get to the meat. Look at the oven. We all cook with the middle rack. There is a top rack and it’s there for a reason. You want crispness with your roasts or meats or your pudding? Put it on the top rack.

You speak often about not wasting food. What ingredients do most Americans end up throwing away?

We all have carrots. We munch on them every now and then, but we don’t use them for much else. You could make an apple and carrot salad with shoestrings of apples, shoestrings of carrots and a bit of lemon juice. It’s a great winter salad. Recycle bread whether it is in a salad or a bread pudding. You spend a lot of money

Bastianich dishes out


on expensive Italian cheeses. Don’t throw that rind away. Scrape it and put in a soup or a broth.

You travel to Italy frequently. Are there dishes there that you think Americans should know more about?

What I would love to see more here is rabbit. This summer when I was there, I ordered it every time I saw it on the menu ... I love to see scungilli (sea snails). I ate them when I was a child.

What kind of activities you recommend for children in the kitchen?

They can wash the vegetables, set the table, make the centerpiece depending on how old they are and what they can handle... It makes them part of this event, doing these things for one another.

Besides being a great chef, you are a businesswoman. What advice do you have for running a successful restaurant?

The restaurant is really a tough business. You have to know food or you have to understand a chef and appreciate his knowledge. But it goes well beyond food. Today’s consumers are so informed. Fod needs to be socially conscious and raised properly. It needs to nourish us properly. You also need a good setting. You have to make them (customers) feel welcomed. You have to give

them good value.

IngredientsMeatball and Eggplant TagliatelleMeatballs (Makes about 20 1½-inch meatballs)1 pound ground beef chuck½ cup finely chopped onion½ cup grated Grana Padano cheese½ cup fine dried breadcrumbs1 large egg, beaten2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley1 teaspoon kosher saltSauce and pasta (makes 3 quarts, enough for 3 lbs of pasta

and for up to 18 servings)¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil6 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced1 medium Italian eggplant, peeled, cut into ½-inch cubesTwo 28-ounce cans whole San Marzano tomatoes, hand

crushedKosher salt for the pot1 pound tagliatelle¼ loosely packed cup fresh basil leaves, chopped½ cup grated Grana Padano cheese

MethodFor the meatballs: Combine all of the listed ingredients

in a large bowl, and mix well. Form into 1-½-inch meatballs and place on a sheet pan.

For the sauce: In a large straight-sided skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic. Once the garlic is sizzling, add the eggplant. Brown the eggplant on all sides, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then add the tomatoes. Slosh out the cans with 2 cups pasta water and add it to the skillet. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until eggplant is almost tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the meatballs and continue simmering until the meat is cooked through, about 20 minutes more.

In the meantime, bring to a boil a large pot of salted water to cook the pasta. While the pasta cooks, transfer half of the meatballs and sauce to a container, to freeze or refrigerate for another time, leaving half of the sauce and meatballs simmering in the skillet.

When the pasta is al dente, transfer it to the sauce with tongs, and sprinkle with the basil. Toss to coat the pasta with the sauce, adding a little pasta water if the sauce seems too thick. Remove the skillet from the heat, toss in the grated cheese and serve.

Note: To make a serving for six, use half of the sauce and meatballs with 1 pound of dry or fresh fettuccine. Don’t forget the fresh basil and grated Grana Padano. The meatballs and sauce reheat well and will keep in the freezer for a month or so.


common sense

ACROSS

1 Such letters constitute mail, naturally (5)

6 Dress the wounds of a dog? (5) 9 When a spider gets entangled,

it’s hopeless! (7)10 Salute with tears in one’s eyes?

(5)11 Endless calls? (5)12 Money for food (5)13 Quarrelled over a terrible

umpiring decision (4,3)15 Fiendish fate? (3)17 The responsibility isn’t on you (4)18 Smooth, for example, in a lot of

rough treatment (6)19 Sadness at Stamford Bridge? (5)20 Toy with one’s food? (6)22 Live on a ship (the Queen

Elizabeth?) (4)24 Caught in some shady deal (3)25 About to go to a place for

meeting a government department (7)

26 The tag can be all wrong (5)27 Dishonest talk about a point (5)28 One possible icon involved in an

architectural order (5)29 A movie we back (7)30 A piano in a thousand (5)31 A vital man, when up to this, is full

of tension (5)

DOWN

2 Get tough (6) 3 Due to certain criteria, is out of

business (6) 4 It can catch creatures, but not by

the gross (3) 5 Wear ostentatiously, just for fun

(5) 6 Plagiarists fit only to mash praties

(7) 7 Redhead to help out in getting

dry (4)8 Strong, firm little fellow (6)12 Germ the French get, being of

sound military significance (5)

13 Not back for the tough outer casing (5)

14 Transparent lid covering a portion of duck (5)

15 Scoffed in threatening fashion (5)16 Put the light out and have a party

with Sue, perhaps (5)18 Woman twice left out, and that’s

straight! (5)19 Cried and suffered when

interrupted by tea, unsuitably (7)21 Bacon’s right for Jane (6)22 Buzz off and get one free (6)23 Looking up, lying (6)25 Regular payments in the current

series (5)26 Green fabric? (4)28 Trouble getting half a firkin! (3)

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONSACROSS: 1, Chain 6, Patch 9, Despair 10, Greet 11, Rings 12, Bread 13, Fell out 15, End 17, On-us 18, L-e.g.-ato 19, Blues 20, Trifle 22, Be-SS 24, Had 25, Re-venue 26, Label 27, Ch-E-at 28, I-onic 29, We-stern 30, Grand 31, Key-Ed (up).

DOWN: 2, Harden 3, I-deal-s 4, Net 5, Sport 6, Pirates 7, A-r-id 8, Co.-gent 12, Bug-le 13, For-t-h 14, L-uc-id 15, Eaten 16, Do-use 18, L-Eve-L 19, Bl-eat-ed 21, R-Asher 22, Beg-one 23, Supine 25, Rents 26, Lawn 28, Irk.


FUN TIME


STARS FOR YOU

If It’s Your Birthday

You will recall during the next few days actions and relationships of the past year and will conclude that you could have handled things better and achieved better results if you had given more thought to your decisions and acted less impulsively. The coming year will bring a change for the better.

AQUARI US (January 21-February 19)

An unexpected invitation will give you an insight into the lives

of some people completely removed from your own social sphere.

P IS CES

(February 20-March 20) You should think very carefully before you allow yourself that

luxury purchase which may mean that you have to go without certain necessities for a while.

ARI E S

(March 21-April 20)You simply cannot afford to put your complete trust in anybody

no matter how sympathetic they appear until you have known the person for a while.

TAURUS

(April 21-May 20)The nervous tension which causes you to lose your temper

too frequently is no doubt due to overwork and you should try to take things easier for a while.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 21)Don’t hesitate to express your true feeling towards a person of

the opposite sex who may be too shy to take the initiative. Someone has to take the risk.

CANCER

(June 22-July 21)Someone on whose co-operation you have been counting may let

you down at the last moment and you will be hard put to find a substitute in a hurry.

LEO

(July 22-August 21)A friend will invite you out for a meal today to celebrate his

birthday. It may be a rather modest occasion but you will be pleased to be the chosen one.

V IR GO(August 22-September 22)A neighbour who has taken up a lot of your time and made you

get behind with your work out to be willing to help you make up for the lost time.

L I B RA

(September 23-October 22)A closer relationship with a young member of the family will

only be established if you are sincere and show your obvious desire for it.

SCORPI O

(October 23-November 21)You would be justified in asking the relatives of an elderly

neighbour to take some responsibilities off your shoulders.

SAGI TTARIUS

(November 22- December 21)If you are not in a position to make substantial contributions to

a cause in which you believe take every opportunity to talk to others who can.

CAPRI CORN (December 22-January 20)

Your ability to put those around you at ease and create a

congenial atmosphere makes you a very valuable asset at any social gathering.

WRITE AND LEARN

Riddhi Gopinath, Class IV-D, ISM


R Soundharya, Std II-C, ISWK

All About Music

Because I love to play music, I could play it all night long,And when I make my music, I hope you sing along.Playing piano is so much fun.It fills me up with glee. When my hands get moving quick, They dance like little monkeys.When I strum my guitar,I crank it up loud. And wailing on it would be funIn front of a large crowd.Playing drums is really cool.I make a steady beat. And I strike the shiny drum set With both my hands and feetWhen I pluck my bass,I lay down a funky groove,And when people hear my bass guitar,They all want to move.Playing music is so much funBecause it’s the very best,But now I need to take a break.My fingers need a rest!

— Jake

Prabith Prakash, Class 1, ISMbi h k hh Cl SS


Dear parents/children,

The Weekend is providing opportunities for your students to help them publish their creative work in the pages of the magazine being published every Thursday.

The magazine has devoted ‘KIDS CORNER’ pages for students from kindergarten to those aged 15 to express their ideas and show their skills in writing, drawing etc.

What to include:Apart from the write-ups, drawing, etc, names of the pupil and school,

age, class and phone number of the parents/teachers. Manuscripts are not returned. If you wish, include a photo as well.

Send in or e-mail your original work to us:Features Editor, Weekend, Oman Daily Observer,PB No 974, PC 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman,

[email protected],[email protected]


LAST WORD

Home from HomeIt is almost two years since I left Oman or

the UAE. The chill of Oman’s winter evenings are beginning to gnaw a little

more and the warm days come to me like a long awaited spring. Living away from home for longer than normal is something like being in transit. You are neither here nor there and the idea of breaking from the limbo is a background thought as you acclimatise to therush of the here and now. Like a battle to find your gate at a terminal, all other thoughts outside daily life often get blocked out.

This is probably the longest time I’ve spent away from my home country and although two years is not particularly long for some people, I can feel a lot of sympathy for those, for whatever reasons, have been unable to return back home, wherever they may be. That is especially true for those who can’t return to their countries and loved ones due to war.

For myself, there are multiple of reasons and none are thankfully tragic, but I am happy to say that having a daughter recently has kept me too busy to travel. I’ve also been fortunate to have my family visit me here,so I’ve not been completely out of touch with home.

But things have changed. What once seemed surreal has become routine, what might have irritated me, often passesby without notice. I have always felt myself to be quite grounded wherever I go, adopting some things from the country I am resident and retaining a lot of who I was back home. It’s flexibility and a sense of fascination that makes any experience in the unknown all the more wondrous, but just realising that people are no different wherever you go, is important to remember.

In Europe it still amazes me how little people often know about the region and visa-versa. Even those who have had brief encounters with the region, a two-week

holiday in the Gulf or North Africa, I feel, still have only wondered at its veneer. Likewise, many people I have met who studied in the west, I feel haven’t quite “got” the country they lived in.

Even myself, having living here, on off for four years, am still considered a newbie by many expatriates and for good reason. There are still local dishes I have not tasted, wadis I’ve never seen, or even neighbourhoods in Muscat I am yet to explore. Like science, being a journalist should be about modesty and humility, knowing you will never find all the answers but it is something that keeps you searching. Like a scientist looking at the workings of the universe we might never be able to answer our own questions.

I haven spoken to many journalist and photographer friends in the region about the concept of parachute journalism. It is the trend amongst newspapers to fly in journalists to report on stories, in a country they often know little about. It is sometimes why the zeitgeist of country they write about often feels lost, or key components of the narrativeare missing, or even that there are unabashed factual errors.

They say to understand a country, or to write about a place, one has to spend a substantial time living there. My friends say that it is the only way to have your finger on the pulse and meter the mood and it is because “the news” affects you too. It is your home away from home and there are many people you love and care for living in the country. Perhaps a sense of detachment tempers great analysis but it is not the best way to find the true, human side of a story.

Still, it might be a good time to return home for a visit soon, but with the creation I am most proud of making here in the country.

Paul McLoughlin

thursday it never rains but it pours - oman daily...

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