Community

P6
Community
Jireh Eagle beat
Pampanga
Dragon 104-87
to win the Aspirants
Division of Ooredoo
Ambassador’s Cup
2016.
P16
Community
Community
caught up with
young poet Nabil
al-Nashar, who stood out
at the recent Words &
Strings event at Katara,
for a long chat.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Dhul-Qa'da 20, 1437 AH
DOHA
33°C—41°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11
PUZZLES 12 & 13
WATER WAY TO GO: The Katara beach will see a lot of water and sand activities, including slip slides, inflatable games, bubble soccer of different types, soapy fields, a water park city and a host of
other activities.
COVER
STORY
Take a splash
The two-month festival at Katara beach will
bring the world of water sports to Doha. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Skiptrace
GENRE: Action, Comedy
CAST: Jackie Chan, Johnny Knoxville, Bingbing Fan
DIRECTION: Renny Harlin
SYNOPSIS: Skiptrace is a 2016 Hong KongChinese-American action comedy film directed by
Renny Harlin, produced, starring and based on a story
by Jackie Chan. The film co-stars Chinese actress Fan
Bingbing and American actor Johnny Knoxville. A
detective from Hong Kong teams up with an American
gambler to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal.
Fists and feet are flying in this explosive action-comedy
starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville. For years,
by-the-book Hong Kong detective Benny Chan has tried
to avenge his partner’s murder at the hands of a drug
lord. When Benny learns that freewheeling American
gambler Connor Watts (Knoxville) has the evidence he
needs, he teams with Connor to get justice.
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.51am
5.11am
11.37am
3.06pm
6.04pm
7.34pm
THEATRES: The Mall,
Royal Plaza
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Hamad International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222, 44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555, 44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Humanitarian Services Office
(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)
Ministry of Interior
40253371, 40253372,
40253369
Ministry of Health
40253370, 40253364
Hamad Medical Corporation
40253368, 40253365
Qatar Airways
40253374
ote Unquote
u
Q The love
of family and the
admiration of friends is
much more important than
wealth and privilege.
—Charles Kuralt
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
EVENTS
The Neon Demon
GENRE: Horror, Thriller
CAST: Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves
DIRECTION: Nicolas Winding Refn
SYNOPSIS: When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los
Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of
beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to
get what she has. Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just
after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head
of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to
become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens
who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must
contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer.
As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality
changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
Mall Cinema (1): Cell (2D) 11.30am;
Equals (2D) 2pm; Skiptrace (2D)
3.45pm; War Dogs (2D) 5.30pm; Cell
(2D) 7.45pm; IDI: Inspector Dawood
Ibrahim (Malayalam) 9.30pm; Cell
(2D) 11.45pm.
Mall Cinema (2): The Secret Life Of
Pets (2D) 11.30am; Ice Age: Collision
Course (2D) 1pm; The Secret Life
Of Pets (2D) 2.30pm; The Secret
Life Of Pets (2D) 4pm; The BFG:
Big Friendly Giant (2D) 5.30pm;
Skiptrace (2D) 7.30pm; Skiptrace
(2D) 9.30PM; Neon Demon (2D)
11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): War Dogs
Interactive session on cardiac care
Date: Today
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Aster Regional Corporate Office
Aster Medical Centre, a division of Aster DM Healthcare
is organising an interactive session on latest cardiac care
measures. The session will be led by Prof Dr Raveendran
P, Specialist Cardiologist, Aster Medical Center, Al Hilal.
This opportunity is limited to only the first 30 registrants.
Call Aster Helpline 44440499 for more details and free
registration.
Doha Beauty Show
DATE: Oct 20-22
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center
Qatar’s first Doha Beauty Show will be held from
20th to 22nd of October at the Doha Exhibition and
Convention Center. The Doha Beauty Show is the first
of its kind event in Qatar that is dedicated to local and
international trade and beauty professionals as well as
local consumers. The three-day show focuses on four
pillars in the beauty industry, including Cosmetics &
Fragrance, Spa & Aesthetics, Natural Products and Hair
Care & Nails.
Skiptrace (2D) 9pm; Neon Demon
(2D) 11pm
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):
Cell (2D) 11.30am; Happy Bhaag
(2D) 11am; Happy Bhaag Jayegi
Jayegi (Hindi) 1.30pm; War Dogs
(Hindi) 1pm; Ice Age: Collision
Course (2D) 3.30pm; Happy Bhaag (2D) 4pm; Life On The Line (2D)
6pm; Cell (2D) 8pm; Cell (2D)
Jayegi (Hindi) 5.15pm; Manhattan
Nocturne (2D) 7.30pm; Life On The 9.45pm; Life On The Line (2D)
11.30pm.
Line (2D) 9.30pm; Dharma Durai
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3):
(Tamil) 11.15pm.
Skiptrace (2D) 11am; The BFG: Big
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
Friendly Giant (2D) 1pm; Equals (2D)
(1): The Secret Life Of Pets (2D)
3pm; The BFG: Big Friendly Giant
11.30am; Ice Age: Collision Course
(2D) 5pm; War Dogs (2D) 7pm;
(2D) 1.30pm; The Secret Life Of
Pets (2D) 3.15pm; The Secret Life Of Manhattan Nocturne (2D) 9pm;
Pets (2D) 5pm; Skiptrace (2D) 7pm; Happy Bhaag Jayegi (Hindi) 11pm.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Climate Change Programme
DATE: Sept 4-8
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Maktaba Qatar, Al
Mabahej & Saha 33, Doha
Are you looking for a programme
that helps your child understand
how and why our climate is
changing? The programme
“Climate Change’’ is designed for
children 7-14 years old to introduce
them to the causes and effects of
the climate change and what people
can do to slow the change and
prepare for it. Each session is based
on games, science activities and
triggering their curiosity to make
research and work on projects.
sessions with a limited number of
50 participants per session. The
event is open to public registration
on-site from 6 to 7:45pm.
Doha Sightseeing
DATE: Until September
TIME: 9am-9pm
VENUE: Around Doha
Doha Bus is Qatar’s first Hop-on
Hop-off sight-seeing bus tour,
providing both local residents and
visiting tourists a flexible way to
discover the country’s vibrant past,
present and future. Each Doha
Bus tour highlights a variety of
interesting locations throughout
this fast changing landscape
including Souq Waqif, The Pearl,
Villaggio as well as The Museum
of Islamic Art. Doha Bus enhances
the sightseeing experience with
seven different language options
to choose from as well as group
discounts, private coach tours
and corporate outings. Doha Bus
is a fun, interactive and highly
education experience for every
traveller.
Barzan Girls Center’s
Summer Programme
DATE: Until August 25
TIME: 6pm
VENUE: Barzan Girls Center
Barzan Girls Center is organising
its summer programme, which
continues for a month and targets
girls aged 15 years and above. For
registration, you can visit the
center’s headquarter at 6pm.
The programme aims to exchange
experiences and information
between the girls, establish the
spirit of co-operation between
them, and to advance their
characters through learning.
It features several educational
programmes, workshops, courses,
camps, festivals, skills, and trips.
For enquiries, please call at:
44789392.
The Artists in Residence
exhibition is a culmination of an
intensive nine-month programme,
featuring works by 18 local
contemporary artists who have
been working in the artist’s studios
and spaces at the Fire Station since
September 2015. The exhibition
showcases new work and projects
created by the artists during their
residency period, shedding light on
the development of their innovative
ideas and diverse studio practices.
Photographic, sculptural, and
installation based artworks fill the
Garage Gallery and showcase these
talented artists.
Combination of Sun, Sand
and Surfing
DATE: Ongoing
VENUE: Aqua Park
For the first time ever in Qatar, it
will be possible to ride up curved
sidewalls at 90 degrees to the
direction of the water flow. Giving
visitors and especially surfing
fanatics an amazing experience
available at only one place in Qatar
Aqua Park.
Come join us and also take
advantage of the extra free ticket
you get anytime you buy two
Stingray Tickets.
Qatar Summer Festival at The
Pearl
DATE: Until August 27
TIME: 6:30pm
VENUE: The Pearl-Qatar
The Pearl-Qatar is hosting
several entertainment activities and
roaming musical acts and parades
at dedicated locations in Porto
Arabia as well as Medina Centrale
from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on August
19, 20, 26 and 27.
Qatar Summer Festival 2016
DATE: Until August 31
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and
Convention Center
Enjoy with your family the Qatar
Summer Festival, organised
by Qatar Tourism Authority
throughout the month of August
under the theme ‘Color Your
Summer’. It will include a wide
range of summer entertaining
events and activities, art zones,
shopping promotions, in addition
to a unique entertainment city.
Garage Gallery
DATE: Until Nov 1
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Spaces at the Fire
Station
Qur’an Memorisation Course
DATE: Until August 31
TIME: 8am-12pm
VENUE: Eid Charity Female
Center
Qur’an memorisation unit at Eid
Charity Female Center will organise
Al Shafea Qur’an Memorisation
Course for those above 15 years
at the three branches of the unit
(Dafna, Wakrah and Al Khor). The
course starts from 8am to 12pm.
Registration fees: QR400.
Aspire Splash and Dash
DATE: Every Sunday and
Wednesday
TIME: 7pm-9pm
VENUE: Aspire Dome
The athletics track and
swimming pool will be open for
50 participants aged seven years
and above per session and facility.
Swimming skills are mandatory
for registering at the swimming
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Bazar and Back-to-School
DATE: Aug 22-Sept 1
TIME: 9am
VENUE: Duhail
The Women’s Section of Sheikh
Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for
Humanitarian Services (RAF) has
opened a charity event, ‘Bazar and
Back-to-School’ at its headquarters
in Al Duhail.
The event offers Eid dresses for
children and adults, household
items, and stationery donated by
companies and philanthropists
for the needy people. It receives
people daily from 9am to 9pm and
on Friday from 4pm to 9pm. The
event continues until September 1.
The event aims at providing goods
at low prices to needy families for
Eid al-Adha and for children who
will be back to school when the new
academic year starts next month.
GULF TIMES
Filipino Community Family Day
DATE: Sept 13-15
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Westin Hotel 7 Spa, Doha
Kulinarya Qatar is inviting everyone to attend the annual Filipino
Community Day & Food Festival to be held from September 13 to 15 from
10am-10pm at the Westin Hotel and Spa. The event will feature Filipino food
restaurants and different international
stalls, Filipino and local products, cultural shows, kids activities, games
cooking competitions, workshops and other exciting programmes.
Vacation Competition
DATE: Until September 21
VENUE: FCC Office
Women’s forum of Friends
Cultural Centre has announced
competitions for Qatar-based
Malayalee students of grades IV–
XII. There are two competitions
including Avadhikkalath an
article on vacation experiences
and Avadhikkalakazhchakal, on
photography. Article on vacation
experiences should be prepared
in Malayalam or in English with a
minimum of 500 words. Photographs
for the competition should be
printed on A4 size art paper or photo
paper. Pictures should not have
been published before and should
not be downloaded from internet.
Entries for competitions need to be
submitted to FCC Office on or before
21 September 2016. More details can
be obtained by contacting telephone
number 44661213.
QSports Summer Camp
DATE: Until September 1
TIME: 8am-1pm
VENUE: Al Jazeera Academy
Registration for QSports Summer
Camp 2016 is now open. QSports
summer camps are committed to
providing a safe, fun and skillbased experience for kids between
the ages of four and 14. We have a
dedicated team of specialist kid’s
coaches and classes and activities
are safe, planned, progressive,
active, creative, inclusive and
designed to maximise participation
of all children by offering a variety
of activities.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always
challenging. Let’s meet and learn
some moves every Monday night.
You don’t need to do anything, just
join us. Level 1 (intermediate level)
7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be
there at Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana
Club.
Cake Decoration Classes
DATE: Morning and evening
VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al
Saad Street
Tavola offers a range of cake
decorating and kitchen skills
classes. Tavola is the only
authorised Wilton method provider
in the Middle East.
New Bootcamp Abu Hamour
DATE: Sunday, Tuesday,
Thursday
TIME: 6pm
VENUE: Doha British School
Located just minutes from
Villaggio and a walk away from Ain
Khalid Gate the Doha British School
campus is our newest Bootcamp
location. The training takes place
on the main grass playing field
surrounded by an athletics track.
There are showers available and
changing rooms.
Pottery workshop for kids
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 5pm-6pm
Kids will learn a new hand building
technique for creating and finishing
artworks in clay. For more, call
44865201.
Sketching with pencil and
charcoal
DATE: Sunday and Wednesday
TIME: 5pm- 6:30pm
If you can hold a pencil, you can
draw…Discover techniques to make
your drawing more realistic. Every
Saturday and Wednesday from
5pm-6:30pm.
Fitness Training
DATE: Sunday, Tue, Thu
TIME: 6pm-7pm
VENUE: MIA Park
There are fitness classes in the park
on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
nights at 6 and 7pm. Open to all
levels of fitness. Bootcamp is an
intensive and fun way to train and
also meet new people in the open and
friendly group atmosphere. More
information, from Bootcamp, Qatar
or info@bootcampqatar.com
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Moon Deck
LOCATION: Warwick Doha
Hotel
The Rooftop Grill provides
guests with an eclectic menu,
sumptuous flavours and relaxing
poolside ambiance – day or night.
From international staples to local
favorites, variety is just part of the
Rooftop Grill’s charm. Views of
downtown Doha act as the backdrop
to one of the most unique dining
experiences in Qatar.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Everyone’s invited to
beach festival in Qatar
From the young and old to families and the physically
challenged, the festival promises to be a lot of fun in a
respectful and secure environment. By Umer Nangiana
SAFETY FIRST: The festival features inflatable competitive fun water games. The entire event contains no hard materials on the venue that can pose risks to the children. It is a family-oriented event
with games and competitions especially designed for the Qatar audience.
W
hether you are an
adventure buff or
a novice, you need
not to go farther
than Katara beach
to soak in some water sports. At the
two-month-long water festival,
The Splash Water Park is bringing
ultimate water sports competitions
designed for everyone featuring
some attractions held for the first
time in Qatar.
Pull out your swim attire
and get ready as the fun begins
on September 1. From a mix of
activities including aqua aerobics,
music and dancing set at Katara
beach 4, the festival promises to
attract big audiences with some
of its unique attractions such as
the 150-metre-long zip line and
50-metre-long city slide.
Alaqat, the organisers of the
event, promise to make it a great
opportunity for both youngsters
and elders alike with special
packages designed for families. The
Splash Water Park has reserved
special discounts with special
places for people who are physically
challenged.
Some days during the twomonth-long festival are reserved
only for people with physical
disabilities and the access will be
free for them.
The organisers aim to make this
“biggest beach festival in Qatar” a
great opportunity for people to have
fun, learn about the activities, sport
and amazing facilities available to
them at such a recreational space.
People should expect in this
event that it is a family friendly
environment. “It will be a very
respectful and secure environment
as we want families to feel at
ease,” Hatim Aboussid, Business
Development and Events Manager
of Alaqat tells Community.
The park will feature a lot of
water and sand activities including
slip slides, inflatable games, and
bubble soccer of different types,
soapy fields and a water park city
with interconnected games and
competitions where both elders and
youngsters can participate.
“These games are not plain
simple neither are they too
complicated. Everyone can try
their hand at these games and they
would find them equally exciting,”
claims Aboussid.
The entire event, he adds,
contains no hard materials on
the venue that can pose risks to
children. It is a family-oriented
event with games and competitions
especially designed for the Qatar
audience. Unlike other water park
facilities, this festival will see
children taking part in competitive
games instead of just playing
around.
“We have done our research
and we have found people are
looking for a one-day pass kind of a
scheme. You pay one fixed amount
and do whatever you want as many
times as you want on that day. You
don’t leave until mid-day,” explains
Aboussid.
The only added cost will be the
surprise attraction of the event, the
zip line. It’s two towers connected
to each other on which visitors can
rail down from one end to the other
end and have an overview of the
whole venue. It will give the visitors
a spectacular view of Katara and the
nearby sites. This attraction alone
will cost QR100.
Among the first time ever in
Qatar attractions, Aboussid says,
there is the 50-metre long slide.
“Whenever a person looks on
YouTube or anywhere else for fun
activities during summer, they see
a lot of attractions that they have
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
The festival brings many new water games to town.
never experienced. We are bringing
those attractions to Doha,” adds
Aboussid.
The audience, he said, would be
excited to know about water blobs,
the kind of water beds on which the
competing team members try to
throw their respective opponents
out into the water. There will be
a city slip slide. It is a long slider
which ends with a splash or a
jump into the water. The festival
is going to feature the longest so
far in Qatar, 50 meters. Aboussid
says it is going to be a truly summer
experience.
Among the scores of
competitions and games, some
are only reserved for elders where
the difficulty level is high. Besides,
the festival will have an airconditioned tent on the side for
elderly and families who are not
much interested in the sun.
“We are professional water and
urban sports practitioners who also
like to hang out with good music
and nice and funny people,” say the
organisers. The concept includes
activities such as inflatable games
in the water, human football,
bumber ball championship and
water volleyball championship on
the beach.
There will be sporting action
during the day and fun in the night.
At sundown, the visitors will enjoy
the food stalls and active nights.
There will be live entertainment
with music concerts and fire shows.
The concerts on the beach will
provide the audience with a chance
to hear great live music featuring
local talents. The fire show is a mix
of choreographed fire dancing with
staff, poi, fans and lots of great
surprises.
It will be done to contemporary
music and at the end the audience
will have a chance to get on stage
with the performers. Aboussid says
the organisers can also host group
and staff parties, reunions and
special occasions.
For security reasons, he says,
the access to water games will be
restrained after 7pm. However, the
GULF TIMES
visitors will still have the chance to
take a swim. After 7pm, there are a
range of activities lined up on sand.
Aboussid says they are already in
talks with the relevant authorities
to extend the festival for another
month. If it happens, the festival
will be a three-month event which
will come back every year during
this time.
Hatim Aboussid, the Business Development and Events Manager of Alaqat, left, with Jihad Adouani, the Managing
Director of Alaqat.
Photo by Umer Nangiana
He says the inaugural event will
be a chance for the organisers to
see what clicks for the audience
what does not and then re-assess
their plans. There are currently no
plans to make it permanent yearlong features, says the organiser.
However, they are open to such
possibilities in future.
With the event, Aboussid says
they are more specifically targeting
families keeping in mind the needs
of each member of the family.
“We are looking to provide the
people of Middle East a ground
for entertainment in their own
countries instead of travelling
overseas. The expats should
also feel happy on having such
entertainment right here for their
The unique beach concerts will provide local talents a chance to showcase their skills.
children and for themselves,” says
Aboussid.
Following the water festival,
Alaqat is organising a mega
Philippines property and real-estate
event, said Jihad Adouani, the
Managing Director of Alaqat, which
is an all-Qatari company. It will be an
exhibition of property and real-estate
opportunities in Philippines.
6
GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
T
Bangladesh MHM School
& College does well in HSC
2016 exams
he Bangladesh MHM School & College has notched up impressive results in the
Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (HSC) held in April 2016 under the Board
of Intermediate and Secondary Education in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Out of 50 students, 43 students have passed with good grades. The pass
percentage of the batch is 86%. Six of them, pictured here, secured the maximum
GPA of 5 — Zannatul Ferdous, Tamanna Jannat Promi, Tahsin Shuhrah, Afsana Hossain, Ashif
Rifat Sammad and Mohammad Rafi Ahmed.
Acting Principal Zulfiker Azad congratulated all the successful students and advised them to
keep up the spirit for future result. He expressed his gratitude to the teachers and parents for
their whole-hearted co-operation in this respect.
Jannatul Ferdous
Afsana Hossain
Tamanna Jannat
Tahsin Shuhrah
Ashif Rifat
Rafi Ahmed
Jireh Eagle wins Aspirants Division of
Ooredoo Ambassador’s Cup 2016
Finals MVP, Mar Mercado.
J
ireh Eagle reigned
supreme in all
departments of the
game against hopeful
Pampanga Dragon in
a lopsided victory, 104-87, to
capture the coveted championship
crown in the Aspirants Division of
Ooredoo Ambassador’s Cup 2016
over the weekend at Al Gharafa
Training Gym.
Employing a balanced execution
all throughout the game, the
new champions never allowed
Pampanga to inch closer after it
started to pull away with wide
double digit edge in the latter part
of the second quarter.
Analysts say the dominance of
Jireh in the offensive execution
was a big factor for their win as
Back To Back MVP, William
Quinones.
ASPIRANTS CHAMPION: Jireh Eagle show off their trophy.
Pampanga could not find any
solution to counter it to stay closer
when the champions started to
make a major game statement.
Season’s back-to-back Most
Valuable Player William Quinonez
of Pampanga tried to carry his
team with a high-scoring 32
points, but it seems he was just
alone in pushing his team in
contention while Jireh’s top players
contributed baskets in a balanced
passion.
Meanwhile, Doha Dessert earlier
triumphed over 3 Star & A Sun,
70-67, to claim the 3rd place plum
of the tournament.
The champions took advantage
of their being way ahead in points in
the paint with 58 against 44, second
chance points 21-14, points off
bench 33-22, and rebounds 56-44.
Finals MVP Mar Mercado of
Jireh top scored for his team with
20 points even as other teammates
also chipped in with double-digits
baskets, with Ryan Nolasco scoring
19 points, Franklin Reambonanza
with 15 points, Mac Loremia and
Jasper Bay with 10 points each.
Photos by Ronnie Castro
Jireh’s head coach Noriel
Jambalos was adjudged best coach
while Mythical Five awards went to
Jasper Bay of Jireh, Markley Parico
as guards; Maximo Bingat of Team
Doha Desert, Andy Jess Tudio of 3
Stars & a Sun were best forwards;
and William, Quinones was
adjudged as the best centre.
Each awardee received team and
individual award plus trophies.
Jireh received QR4,500 and gold
medal, Pampanga got QR 1,500,
Doha Desert got QR1,000 and 3
Stars received a trophy.
Pibaq also announced that
Filipino worker Moises Montano
Carlos won the Philippine Airlines
raffle draw of one round trip ticket to
any destination in the Gulf region.
The Ooredoo 20th Season
Ambassador’s Cup of Pinoy
Basketball of Qatar (Pibaq)
was presented by Alicafe. The
tournament was brought by
Qatar Basketball Federation and
the Philippine Embassy in Qatar
and co-sponsored by Diana
Jewellery and Watches, GO Sports,
Travelex Exchange, Power Horse
Energy Drink, Control-P Seventh
Spectrum, Boracay Filipino
Restaurant Philippine Airlines and
Shuttersbug Photography.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
SCIENCE
Did the earliest Americans pass
through ice or cross over water?
New study fuels debate
By Amina Khan
W
hen it comes to
ancient human
migration, it’s
all in the timing.
Scientists studying
a corridor that could have allowed
ancient American settlers to pass the
glaciers separating Alaska from the
rest of the continent might not have
been viable at the right time window
to allow some of the earliest human
migrations through.
The findings, published in
the journal Nature, offer an
unprecedented profile of one possible
migration route while deepening the
mystery around how some of the first
people actually made it south into
America.
Scientists have long thought that
humans passed from what is now
Siberia to present-day Alaska via the
Bering land bridge (a strip of land
that today is covered in ocean) but
then had to wait for the ice sheets
across present-day Canada to recede
before continuing southward. Then,
about 15,000 to 14,000 years ago, two
retreating glaciers (the Laurentide
and Cordilleran ice sheets) opened up
a corridor to the rest of the continent.
At first, it seems like that corridor’s
appearance might mesh well with the
appearance of early settlements in
North America, such as the Clovis in
New Mexico, who were south of the
massive walls of glacial ice by 13,400
years ago.
But the earliest humans in South
America appear to have set up shop
about 14,700 years ago. Keep in mind,
the glacial corridor opened up only
15,000 years ago at the earliest. So
unless those intrepid humans in what
was known as Beringia were able to
traverse North, Central and South
America in a mere 300 years, it’s very
unlikely that any humans who might
have passed through the glacial
corridor were the ones to first settle
in the Americas.
That’s not to mention that the
corridor was not some stroll in
the park: It was about a 930-mile
journey, which means there had to
be enough food to hunt or gather
along the way. And developing a
rich ecosystem from the ground up,
featuring plenty of edible plant and
animal life, takes time.
“Understanding the postglacial
emergence of an unglaciated and
biologically viable corridor between
the retreating Cordilleran and
Laurentide ice sheets is a key part of
the debate on human colonisation
of the Americas,” the study authors
wrote.
So when would the corridor have
Scientists have long thought that humans passed from what is now Siberia to present-day Alaska via the Bering land bridge, but recent studies are deepening
the mystery around how some of the first people actually made it south into America.
become viable for human travel? To
find out, an international team of
scientists led out of the University
of Copenhagen pulled nine cores of
lake deposits from the Peace River
drainage area in western Canada.
They focused on a “bottleneck” area
in the corridor that was the last to
thaw, pulling out fossils, pollen, plant
remains and all kinds of DNA from
urine, feces and tissue embedded in
the earth.
They analysed the deposits
and reconstructed a profile of
the environment through time
using the deposits, which were
up to 12,900 years old. The pollen
remains hint that there were only a
few grasses and sedge before 12,700
years ago. But by 12,600 years
ago, the landscape had changed to
steppe grassland akin to today’s
prairies, able to feed grazing bison.
Two centuries later, hares and voles
show up in the record, followed by
mammoths, elk and bald eagles.
“The presence of bison and
mammoths is important because
they are known to have been hunted
by early Americans, and the presence
of a top predator such as the eagle
indicates a productive food web,”
Suzanne McGowan of the University
of Nottingham, who was not
involved in the research, wrote in a
commentary on the paper.
Around 10,000 years ago, that
corridor probably closed up —
though with trees instead of ice. The
coniferous forest that took over the
grasslands would probably not have
supported large animals like bison,
which humans would have needed to
survive that journey.
Based on these dates, this corridor
was probably not a viable route for
those humans who reached the
Americas south of the continental ice
sheets by 14,700 years ago, the study
authors wrote, or for the ancestors
of the Clovis, who arrived by 13,400
years ago.
“More broadly, although Clovis
people may yet be shown to represent
an independent migration separate
from the peoples present here by
14,700” years ago, the authors wrote,
“they must have descended from a
population that entered the Americas
via a different route than the ice-free
corridor.”
One possible alternative is the
Pacific-migration hypothesis; early
Americans may have travelled either
by land via the shore’s ice-free
margins or by sea, paddling down the
coastal waters.
But for now, the answers remain
unclear — especially given that
recent research published in
the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, which
looked at DNA from different
bison populations, argues that the
corridor would have been habitable
during an earlier period of time.
“Resolving this debate might
require further consideration of
whether the absence of steppe
pollen and ancient DNA in the
earliest sediments from the
corridor region constitutes
proof of absence of the species
of interest,” McGowan wrote,
“because depositional conditions
in proglacial lake environments are
often unstable, leading to sediment
reworking and degradation.”
Either way, she added, the new
DNA research “has provided a
window onto ancient worlds.” —Los
Angeles Times./TNS
8
GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
OFFB
Life in a castle isn’t always a bed o
Baron and Baroness Le Suire in one of the
DREAM HOME: With 38 rooms, 60 radiators and hectares of garden, many people would dream of a castle like Baron and Baroness Le Suire’s in Bavaria. So what
is it that makes them unhappy with their home?
By Teresa Tropf
D
LITTLE PROBLEMS: The Baroness and Baron of the castle in
Bavaria’s Altmuehltal Nature Park use pieces of wood to balance out the
crooked floors for their furniture.
ozens of rooms and
acres of garden — that’s
what most people think
of when they imagine
living in a castle.
But when Baroness Mechthild
von Le Suire talks about her castle in
Bavaria’s Altmuehltal Nature Park it
doesn’t sound particularly luxurious.
“It’s a dream and a nightmare at
the same time,” says the 66-yearold with a laugh.
She and her husband Baron
Andreas von Le Suire have lived in
the rather idyllic-looking Schloss
Altenmuhr for several years and
they’re now familiar with the pitfalls
of living in a building which dates
back to the 10th century.
They know what it’s like, for
example, to have the builders
cursing because they’ve had to stay
up till midnight to try and install a
fitted kitchen into a kitchen with
sloping floors and walls which bulge
in odd places.
“They joked they would never
come again,” says Mechthild von Le
Suire, who used to work as a doctor
in Munich.
“Nothing’s straight here,” she
soon realised.
Their grandchildren’s balls always
roll into the same corners and
they’ve had to make countless castor
cups for tables, chairs and cupboards
to stop them wobbling.
The internet only works with a
wi-fi booster because the walls are
so thick.
Andreas von Le Suire accepted
the inheritance because he likes
pottering about and because he
loves the building’s history and the
memories it contains.
The 67-year-old is happy to show
visitors around the castle, which has
been privately owned by his family
since 1840.
Maintaining the building and its
cultural heritage is important to him.
“When we re-plastered the walls
we found a newspaper dating back to
1860,” he says.
There’s always plenty to do.
“It’s basically a permanent
construction site,” he says. “But I
knew what taking responsibility for
this building meant.”
Because the building is listed,
all extensive renovation work has
to be agreed beforehand with the
authorities.
“It’s preferable that listed
buildings are used and lived in,” says
a spokesman for Bavaria’s heritage
conservation authority.
But the Le Suires aren’t entitled to
public funding.
In addition to the maintenance
and renovation costs, the Le Suires
also get steep monthly bills for
REALITY: When the baroness and baron
water, heating and electricity.
In the winter they keep to just
a few rooms, in order to keep the
heating bills down.
They don’t know if either of their
children will want to take on the
castle themselves one day.
“At least it’s not the case that they
say, ‘I don’t want to have anything to
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
BEAT
of roses, say German aristocrats
A look into the “summer salon” in the castle of Baroness Mechthild von Le Suire and her husband Baron Andreas von Le
Suire in Bavaria’s Altmuehltal Nature Park.
eir dining rooms.
n talk about their castle, it doesn’t sound particularly luxurious.
do with the old ruin’,” says Andreas.
But he also knows that a rural castle
doesn’t fit easily into everyone’s life
plan.
Until their retirement, he and
his wife only used the castle as a
weekend getaway.
But unwilling heirs and a lack of
investors pose an increasing problem
for old buildings in Germany,
particularly in the former East, where
land reform imposed by the Soviets in
1945 meant that nobles had their land
confiscated and the line of inheritance
was broken.
In former West German regions like
Bavaria, castles and palaces are often
still tied to agricultural land, which
also has to be maintained.
“You’ve got lots of
room,” the Le Suires
often hear when a relative
wants to store a piece of
furniture or a picture.
“Lots of space —
sometimes too much,”
comes the reply. —DPA
Another look at the castle.
10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Top tips for healthy hydration: You're
probably missing this key ingredient
T
his summer, Everyone
experienced a heat wave that kept
many people indoors or in the
shade. Very high temperatures,
especially for a prolonged period
of time, can be extremely dangerous — and
not just for the elderly or other vulnerable
individuals. Participating in any outdoor
activity, especially sports or physical labour,
can be risky even for the healthiest among
us. The key to staying healthy is staying
hydrated.
As our bodies try to cool off, we sweat
and lose not just the water we need, but
something just as important — electrolytes.
Electrolytes are made up of sodium and
potassium among other elements which
need to be replaced. Experienced athletes
and runners know the importance of
electrolytes, and drink sports drinks like
Gatorade rather than just water. Replacing
water without sufficient sodium can quickly
produce hyponatremia, a potentially fatal
condition caused by too little sodium in the
blood stream.
z Hyponatremia: A real threat
Hyponatremia symptoms are similar to
those of heat exhaustion and heat stroke,
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
There are some things in life you simply can’t avoid today Aries. With
Venus having moved into your sixth house of health and well–being.
Now is the time you have to face up to whatever health issues you
have — whether you’re a few kilos overweight or quite a few...
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Be open to new ideas and visions today Cancers. Mercury the think
tank of the zodiac along with Venus the lover in your communication
zone makes this a great time for you to voice your opinions loud and
clear.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
If your inner voice is screaming at you about something — important
or not so particularly important, listen to it! With your ruler Venus
and Mercury the communicator both holed up in your past karma
zone. This is a good time for you to go over important things from
your past.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
Sometimes there is nothing you can do but to throw up your hands
and make other plans Capricorns. You may feel you are on the right
track but the Universe does not agree.
and are often overlooked. Sometimes people
drink more water when they start having
these symptoms and end up making their
condition worse. Symptoms range from
mild to severe and can include nausea,
muscle cramps, disorientation, confusion,
seizures, coma and death. To avoid this
condition, medical experts advise marathon
runners to consume extra salt. This advice
should also be considered by anyone
exposed to excessive heat.
z An increased risk
As we age, our kidneys become less
efficient at conserving the salt we need
when the body is stressed, such as from
dehydration and high temperatures. When
combined with common medications
such as diuretics, which are commonly
prescribed to treat hypertension, the result
is a greater risk for hyponatremia.
The key lies in finding the proper balance
of electrolytes essential for normal function
of the cells and organs. Electrolytes help to
regulate cardiovascular and neurological
functions, fluid balance and oxygen delivery.
activity in the heat or even an indoor
exercise programme should drink eight to 12
ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes during
a session. If exercising exceeds an hour, a
beverage that contains salt and an energy
carbohydrate is far superior to plain water.
The recommended concentration of
salt in a fluid replacement beverage is a
quarter teaspoon per litre. Most sports
drinks contain salt, although the amount
is not quite that high. Anyone can make an
alternative to commercial fluid replacement
beverages easily by adding a quarter to a
half teaspoon of salt per litre, or 32 ounces
of water.
When you exercise, your body's
metabolism works at a much higher rate,
breaking down and regenerating tissues
and creating waste metabolites that need
to be flushed out of your system. However,
regardless of your level of activity, you
still need to maintain good hydration. So
remember to always drink plenty of water
to beat the heat, but also up your intake
of electrolytes, particularly sodium and
potassium.
z Recipe for hydration
Ideally, anyone engaging in outdoor
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Now that Mercury the communicator and Venus your ruler are in
sync in Virgo, your fellow earth sign and romance zone, single bulls
should be on the lookout for someone fabulous entering their life.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Now that the planner of the zodiac Mercury has joined up with the
planet of love and Jupiter in your second house of money and self–
worth. There are ways to spend money and definitely ways to make
more money. Try to do a little of both!
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Don’t let someone turn you off doing something you feel is a really
good thing for you to do and something you know you would enjoy.
They’re not the boss of you — you’re the boss of you.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
If you don’t feel like being overloaded with work today, delegate
Aquarius. As long as you do it in the nicest way possible, no one will
object.
©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Don’t disparage someone simply they are following their dreams
right now — even if you feel their dream is way too unrealistic or
something they will never be able to achieve. Let them find that out.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Your ruler Mercury is now firmly settled in your sign — a place he
feels very comfortable and happy in. You will feel a lot more in
control and at ease with yourself and your plans and the things you
say and do.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
There is nothing to be gained by trying to outsmart someone today.
You need to focus on what it is you want to do versus what everyone
else is doing right now.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Every now and again you simply have to rise to the occasion and do
whatever it is you’re expected to do Pisces. No questions or issues
either!
12 GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Back to Back
ACHE
BEAT
BOARD
BONE
BREAKING
BURNER
COURT
DATE
DOOR
DROP
FIELD
FILL
FIRE
GAMMON
GROUND
HAND
LASH
LIGHT
LIST
LOG
NUMBER
ORDER
PACK
PEDAL
REST
ROAD
SEAT
SPACE
STAGE
STAIRS
STITCH
STOP
STROKE
SWEPT
SWING
TRACK
WASH
WATER
WOODS
YARD
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
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Anxiety (12)
7. Weapon (5)
8. Songbird (5)
9. Tear (3)
10. Warranty (9)
11. Overweight (6)
12. Rarely (6)
15. Splendid (9)
17. Insect (3)
18. Dwelling (5)
19. Greek island (5)
21. Tuxedo (6,6)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Junior RAF man (12)
2. Self-image (3)
3. Cause to be beloved (6)
4. Long narrow flags (9)
5. Satellite’s path (5)
6. Periodic (12)
7. Reddish-brown (5)
10. Intermediary (2-7)
13. Male duck (5)
14. Association football (6)
16. New Zealand native (5)
20. Age (3)
CRYPTIC CLUES
ANSWERS
WORDSEARCH
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Do it in a still somehow? (12)
7. Incorrect grown-up (5)
8. Resigned to the cost I worked out
(5)
9. Some couturiers not in fashion (3)
10. Obvious love for a party document
(9)
11. One that’s statuesque and
inscrutable? (6)
12. Take the car with a learner plate?
Rubbish! (6)
15. Weariness of the girl I duet badly
with (9)
17. Ate up a light meal (3)
18. I rant about the locomotive (5)
19. And not the paper on standards (5)
21. Enterprising runner? (12)
1. Is not solaced, somehow, when
dejected (12)
2. It’s said to make a marriage! (1,2)
3. Foot inscription? (6)
4. Military unit having time to request
to go to church (4,5)
5. Gongs with a hole in are musical
instruments (5)
6. He’s always in the classroom (12)
7. Look at the timepiece (5)
10. Churchman making moron sing?
(9)
13. Indications of choice needed to
change the stove (5)
14. Vegetable and vase found in
rubbish dump (6)
16. Upset the saint with a blemish (5)
20. Regret that it’s a French way (3)
CODEWORD
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 4 Embrace; 8 Origin; 9 Ejected; 10
Resist; 11 Sullen; 12 Pavement; 18 Accustom;
20 Unreal; 21 Secret; 22 Popular; 23 Devour; 24
Meander.
Down: 1 Corrupt; 2 Missive; 3 Lissom; 5
Majestic; 6 Recall; 7 Clever; 13 Evaluate; 14
Stardom; 15 Amatory; 16 Invoke; 17 Return; 19
Uneven.
CRYPTIC
Across: 4 Scandal; 8 Rioted; 9 Unhitch; 10
Diesel; 11 Ocelot; 12 Thousand; 18 Overalls; 20
Return; 21 Launch; 22 Cutlass; 23 Nowell; 24
Cyanide.
Down: 1 Predate; 2 Boredom; 3 Deters; 5
Canoodle; 6 Nailed; 7 Anchor; 13 Agonised; 14
Slander; 15 Asphalt; 16 Deputy; 17 Muslin; 19
Reason.
13
14 GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
POP SPOT
Blossoms make it to top of
the Britain album chart
in
brief
Adele
There are weirdly conflicting reports from superstar
singer/songwriter Adele and the NFL Super Bowl
committee.
During a recent concert in Los Angeles, Adele took the
opportunity to quash rumours that she would be the
star of 2017’s Super Bowl half-time show. She said she
had been asked to perform but declined the offer. She
told her audience the show was more about dancing
than music and she is no dancer.
All of this seemed fair enough. But then the NFL and
Super Bowl sponsor Pepsi issued a statement saying
Adele had never been offered the half-time show. They
said they were fans of Adele but neither she nor any
other artist had been given a formal offer to do the
show.
So, who is lying? Adele certainly had nothing to gain by
telling fibs. Perhaps the key lies in the words “formal
offer.” Adele may have simply been asked if she had
any interest in doing the show. At the moment though,
the differing accounts make all concerned look bad.
Bon Jovi
CLOSELY PLACED: Each member of the band was born in Stockport’s Stepping Hill Hospital and lived within a two kilometre radius of
each other.
F
rom a Stockport scaffolding
yard to the top of Britain’s album
chart. This is the path trodden
by indie quintet Blossoms.
“The scaffolding yard played a
big part in our success,” smiled bassist and
vocalist Charlie Salt, 24. “The company
is owned by my grandad. He allowed us
to use part of a warehouse building as our
rehearsal space. We developed our songs
and became a far better band through the
work we did in there.”
“Charlie and (guitarist) Josh (Dewhurst)
joined the band in January, 2013,” remarked
singer, guitarist and songwriter Tom
Ogden, 23. “We got immediate access
to the scaffolding yard so had a winter
rehearsing there and it was always freezing
cold. But we could make as much noise as
we wanted without disturbing anyone and
being in there was just inspiring.”
Their appreciation of this time in the
scaffolding yard is revealed in the cover
photo on the band’s self-titled debut
album. Some of their early videos were also
filmed there.
“We wouldn’t be the band we are
without our time in the scaffolding yard,”
said 18-year-old Josh. “We don’t want to
hide where we’ve come from. We’re proud
of what we’ve been able to achieve in such
a short time and want the fans to know
about our heritage.”
Each member was born in Stockport’s
Stepping Hill Hospital and lived within a
two kilometre radius of each other. Yet only
Tom and drummer Joe Donovan knew one
another as youngsters. The boys bonded
during a school trip to the Alton Towers
theme park when they were 13.
“We both loved music but I was actually
more into films,” Tom revealed. “I really
wanted to be a filmmaker. Music was more
of a sideline. I learnt piano at school as a
means to get out of science classes. I also
wrote a World Cup song in year eight. All
the kids did one but the teacher picked
mine for us all to sing.
“My dad was the person who really
spotted my musical potential. He can’t
play anything but has a great ear for music.
He encouraged me to write more songs. I
knew he’d give me an honest assessment
so his positive comments gave me
confidence.”
Tom’s problem was finding things to
write about.
“I’d broken up with my first girlfriend
so the feelings about this provided most of
my material. That’s why almost all of my
early work consisted of break-up songs.”
With Tom and Joe having decided
to form a band, their first recruit was
keyboard player Myles Kellock.
“All five of us got to know each other
through teenage parties,” revealed 22-yearold Myles. “I’d started as a drummer but
switched to keyboards after breaking my
wrist.”
“We played our first gig on April
3, 2013, at the Night and Day cafe in
Manchester,” recalled Joe, 23. “We still
had our regular jobs then and it was more
than a year later before we went fulltime with the band. We’d actually played
at festivals and done a weekends-only
UK tour before we quit our jobs.”
Blossoms self-released their first single,
You Pulled a Gun on Me, in January, 2014.
The Coral’s James Skelly was impressed
enough to sign the band to his Skeleton
Records label. James and Rich Turvey also
produced all of their subsequent work
despite the band now being signed to
Virgin EMI.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to
James,” Joe stated. “He saw our potential
and has helped enormously in our
development as a band.”
The most surprising thing about
their album chart success is that the
band’s highest-placed single, 2015’s
Charlemagne, only reached number 98.
“I guess our fans were just waiting for
the album,” Tom laughed. “All the singles
are on there.”
As delighted as Blossoms are by their
success, the irony is not lost on them that
their album has taken top spot from the
self-titled LP by Viola Beach.
“Most people will know Viola Beach
were touring with us when they and their
manager were killed in a road accident,”
Josh stated. “We had a break in the tour
and they’d gone to play a few gigs in
Sweden when the accident happened.
They were a great bunch of lads and a
brilliant band.”
“Everyone knows how highly we
regarded Viola Beach,” Tom remarked.
“Their album couldn’t stay top forever so I
think their families, friends and fans were
pleased that we succeeded them at number
one.”
Jon Bon Jovi may be 54 now and have hair which is
rather greyer than it used to be. But the New Jerseyborn rocker and his band are back with their 14th
studio album, This House Is Not For Sale.
The LP is scheduled for release on October 21 but
the title-track is available now as the lead single. The
accompanying video, which was filmed on location in
Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, can be seen
at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ri2KEiXlNk
The album is the first Bon Jovi record to contain no
input from former guitarist Richie Sambora. Although
he did not play on last year’s Burning Bridges, Richie
co-wrote one track.
Jon describes the new songs as “really going back to
the beginning. The record is about our integrity. We’re
at a stage in our career where we don’t have anything
left to prove. Some songs have a little more of the ‘chip
on my shoulder’ sound which is okay for us right now.
We’re really proud of the album.”
Green Day
Green Day also have a new LP in the pipeline.
Revolution Radio, the trio’s 12th studio album, will be
released on October 7.
Like Bon Jovi, Green Day have also just issued the lead
single. Unlike Bon Jovi, the trio have not yet made
an official video. Instead, Bang Bang is accompanied
by a lyric video. This is posted at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=mg5Bp_Gzs0s
The album is Green Day’s first new work since singer/
songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong’s spell in rehab. He
says the songs were inspired by the socio-political
issues of today.
Billie Joe describes Bang Bang as being about the
culture of mass shootings which have happened in
America mixed with narcissistic social media.
“A sort of rage is happening. But it’s also being filmed.
We all have ourselves under surveillance. To me, that is
so twisted. After writing the song, I wanted to get the
concept out of my brain because it freaked me out.”
The Pretty Reckless
Completing a trio of American bands with upcoming
albums, New York rockers The Pretty Reckless will
release their third studio LP, Who You Selling For, on
October 21.
Fronted by singer/actress Taylor Momsen, the
band also have a new single available now. There
is no official video but an audio posting of Take Me
Down can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_
nrlsUvbKTs
Promos and audio postings of their past releases
can be found at www.youtube.com/user/
PrettyRecklessVEVO/videos
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
GULF TIMES
15
COMMUNITY
SHOWBIZ
Don’t like portraying
myself on screen:
Neil Nitin Mukesh
I
LEARNING CURVE: Neil Nitin Mukesh
n his nine-year journey in Bollywood, Neil Nitin
Mukesh, who is popular for his charming looks and
disarming smile, has mostly essayed characters
with shades. The actor feels that he undergoes
major learning process while portraying negative
characters.
Asked what attracts him towards negative characters,
Neil told IANS: “I think there is flip to every person
...There is always that alternate characteristic about a
person that he is hiding within himself and what I am in
person ... I don’t like portraying myself on screen because
it’s the easiest thing to do ...So, that challenges me as an
actor.”
“When I do that, I go through a lot of learning process,”
added Neil. The 34-year-old actor shared that when he
ventured into tinsel town, many told him to make his
debut with a “love story”.
“I chose Johnny Gaddar because first of all everyone
doubted that I could be an actor. Every one thought
that Mukesh’s grandson, Nitin Mukesh’s son should be
a singer. So, just to prove them wrong because what I
believed in, not just being rebellious, I wanted to prove
them wrong,” he said.
The Prem Ratan Dhan Payo star says portraying
negative roles challenges him and “sharpens my axe
slightly more”. “They are multi-layered, there are so many
nuances, there are so many details into these characters
that you get to study and understand. And every time you
portray a gray shade or any character ...it’s just another
layer that comes up. So it’s a learning process,” added Neil.
— IANS
Amala may star in Kannada remake Vela Illa Pattathari
If the industry sources are anything to go by, Amala Paul will most likely reprise her own role in the yetuntitled Kannada remake of Tamil blockbuster Vela Illa Pattathari. “The makers are keen to have her on board
since she played the role in the original. Right now, they’ve only initiated talks and are yet to officially approach
her with the offer,” a source from the film’s unit told IANS.
To be helmed by Nanda Kishore, the remake will star Manoranjan in the lead. The project is being bankrolled
by Rockline Productions. Amala, meanwhile, is getting ready to commence work on Dhanush-starrer Tamil
drama Vada Chennai. — IANS
Jessica Alba’s ‘dumb’ fears
Actress Jessica Alba thought she was dumb for not
going to university. “I thought I was dumb because I didn’t
go to college. I felt if you didn’t have a degree you’d never
be respected or considered intelligent. Now I realise I’m
perfectly capable of doing lots of things,” Alba told the
Observer Magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
She shared that she used to be afraid to speak up
about being objectified in Hollywood. She explained:
“Success in entertainment used to be purely financial
for me. Once I was in my mid-20s and had achieved
some degree of security, I started looking for something
more substantive to focus on. Then when I got pregnant
a few years later, I came up with the idea for my
company.
“When I was young I didn’t know how to speak up (at
work) and say, ‘I don’t like this.’ I wasn’t that person (a
sex symbol) people were portraying me as. I come from a
pretty conservative background; I was a tomboy wearing
baggy clothes. But you’re being marketed in a movie to sell
it — I understood it was the characters I was playing.”
However, the actress never set out to create an empire.
“As a new mum, I found it challenging to find effective
products without things like synthetic fragrances. I
wanted to create a consumer goods company that stands
for transparency and is actually profitable. Hollywood can
be hard for the faint of heart,” she said.
“People hustle to be successful and then that moment
when they feel they’ve made it, it disappears in an instant.
SELF-MADE: Jessica Alba
I don’t feel like my persona in entertainment defines me.
I’ve never put a whole lot of importance on it. When I was
on every magazine cover and in all the new movies, I knew
a lot of it would go away.
“I spend a lot more time on my business than acting.
When I can find the time and it’s entertainment, I’ll do
something,” she added. – IANS
ALL FOR SPORT: Sonakshi Sinha
Sonakshi Sinha keen to act in sports-based film
Bollywood actress Sonakshi
Sinha, who will be seen in a gutsy
role in upcoming action drama
Akira, is now enthused to feature
in a sports-based movie. “I was
very active in sports during my
school and college days. I used to
participate in volleyball, basketball,
swimming, shot put, discus throw
... I was a good player.
“So, of course, if I get a
chance, I will surely do a sports
film,” Sonakshi said here while
promoting Akira on the set of
Savdhaan India.
She also said she misses
indulging in sports, but tries to
make time for tennis or volleyball
once in a while. “I hope if I get a
role, I will do that (on screen),” she
added.
Her film Akira is a remake of
Tamil film Mouna Guru and is
directed by A R Murugadoss.
The film is set to hit theatres on
September 2. Besides that, she is
also filming for Noor and Force
2. — IANS
Family, acting workshops kept Abhay away from Bollywood
Actor Abhay Deol, who was
missing from the silver screen
since 2014, says travel, family and
acting workshops kept him busy for
that period. Abhay after featuring
in the 2014 film One By Two was
seen on-screen in Mudassar Aziz’s
Happy Bhag Jayegi, which released
on Friday.
Asked what kept him away from
the silver-screen for two years,
Abhay told IANS over phone: “I was
travelling, I was in California and
spent a lot of time there. My family
is there and my mom is there right
now. I had some friends in LA as
well ... So I spent a lot of time over
there.”
The Aisha actor also shared that
he did a couple of acting workshops
in his two-year break. “I did a few
acting workshops ...So I did that.
I would do another workshop
hopefully soon ...I spent some time
with family. I hadn’t done that for a
while,” he added.
Happy Bhag Jayegi is a romantic
comedy film co-produced by Anand
L Rai and Krishika Lulla. The film
also features Diana Penty, Jimmy
Sheirgill, Ali Fazal and Piyush
Mishra. — IANS
BACK AFTER A BREAK: Abhay
Deol
16 GULF TIMES Tuesday, August 23, 2016
COMMUNITY
‘My poetry revolves around
analysing human behaviour’
By Anand Holla
O
f the 17 talents that presented
their creative pieces on an
evening of poetry, spoken word
and music at the recent Words
& Strings event at Katara,
presenter-producer Nabil al-Nashar’s poem
stood out for its refreshing flair as much for
its depth and delivery. Community caught up
with the young poet for a long chat.
How and when did you start getting
interested in poetry?
My mother always loved Arabic poetry
and knew quite a bit about it. When I was
younger, she would recite Arabian epics and
ballades that always fascinated me. The
stories were cool but the rhyme, musicality
and sheer playfulness of some poets as they
tickled different parts of your brain with their
words, got me hooked. There is something
about the eloquence of using your words as a
weapon sometimes and others as a romantic
tool, which I found captivating. My interest
for poetry grew from there. As a child, I
wrote a few poems in Arabic and I always
had support from my family and at school. It
was later on in my late teens when I started
exploring English poetry that I stumbled
upon “spoken word” and poetry slams. It was
then I knew that I found my style.
What does writing and reading out
poems do to you?
It sure is a special feeling. There is nothing
quite like it. When I am writing a poem and
I am feeling inspired and “in the zone”, I
find myself engrossed by an overwhelming
sensation of urgency. I feel like I have
something important to say and that I need
to get it out now, lest I lose that thought in
the recesses of my mind. I know it’s hard to
imagine, but it’s a thrill, much like riding a
roller-coaster or jumping out of a plane. I’ve
done both of these things and to me it’s a
similar experience. The heart rate elevates,
breathing becomes faster and the whole
body is in a general state of excitement.
Unfortunately these “in the zone” moments
are rare. Most of the time, I’ll write lines and
lines and eventually throw it all away. Either
because I wasn’t inspired or it didn’t reflect
how I felt inside. I look at poetry as a vessel
to carry not just thoughts and ideas but also
feeling.
Can you elaborate?
Some poetry can be read but some “spoken
word” in my opinion must be heard and
observed on a stage. It must be performed.
The reason is simple. Two people can read
the same line and yet interpret it emotionally
very different from one another. Only the
poet can deliver his words with the pace,
pitch, tonality, inflection, and of course body
language, that best reflect the feeling he/she
means to deliver with the lines. Needless to
say performing on stage is an exhilarating
experience because that too has a certain
“zone”. I like to imagine like it’s taking the
audience on a journey into my mind. You
always hope that they enjoy the ride and
appreciate your overall message. But the fact
that they allowed me to take them on a ride in
WORDS AND WISDOM: Nabil al-Nashar reciting his poem at the recent Words & Strings event in Doha.
the first place means a great deal to me.
What sort of themes and emotions do
you usually explore in your poems?
I like to explore anthropological and societal
issues. My poetry mostly revolves around
analysing human behaviour. For example, how
we feel and deal with the concept of “time”,
why our ideals and morals change as we age,
or modern issues that trouble most of my
generation concerning identity and where we
fit in the world. I try to share whatever answers
I have for some of these questions and hope
that it sparks enough conversation after so
I hear other people’s answers. I like to talk
about family and relationship with parents,
considering the generational gap on top of the
cultural complexity we have as young Arabs
living in a world where western culture is
dominant. A lot of my poetry tries to highlight
the struggle of reconciling our identity with
nationality and globalisation. I don’t say it
quite on the nose as I am explaining now, but
rather explore it through fiction and scenarios.
I always try to end my poems with a solid, clear
message almost as a “lesson learned” kind of
moment. At least, the lesson I have learned. The
best part is when I discuss later with people and
see what lessons they have learned.
Do you think poetry as an art form
is still relevant to the youth and society
today?
Of course, it’s relevant. I would argue that
it’s ever more relevant. With the rise of the
Internet generation and social media tools,
everyone now has a voice. A lot of people
are talking but most don’t have something
to say. Any kind of speech delivered is better
improved when the person actually has
something he/she personally are invested in
saying. It gives it that authenticity. In that
regard, poetry can be seen as anyone who has
something to say and can make it rhyme. It’s
really that simple. Rappers are poets! Some
of them are lyrical geniuses who influence
millions of youth every day.
Can you share your favourite moment
or anecdote related to coming up with a
poem?
Every poem is different in terms of the
process and the inspiration that leads to it.
Some poems I wrote by sitting down and
focusing on the message I wanted to get
across, but most come from the least expected
muses. My latest poem On How to Be Free is
a one-sided dialogue that erupts between an
old alchemist sitting in his apothecary and a
An excerpt from On How to Be Free
We didn’t evolve we’re still killers
Our wooden catapults are now metal canons!
They’re just bigger
The guns are all different but it’s still the same
trigger
Look at the world man and tell me are we a big
beautiful butterfly?
Or are we still a leachy greedy dirt eating
caterpillar
customer who just walked in. I was walking
through an old part of Cairo when I saw such a
man sitting just outside his shop full of herbs
and spices.
I thought to myself, if I asked him about
some of the problems I had today, what would
he say? An old-timer like him would surely
have a wildly different perspective to modern
wisdom on how to answer today’s difficult
questions, I wondered. I saw him for a
fleeting moment but if it wasn’t for me seeing
that man, I never would’ve thought of writing
this piece. It still fascinates me sometimes
how anything, a certain image, a fleeting
moment could inspire something inside of
you strong enough to make you write poetry.