DT Page 01 Oct 16 - The Peninsula...coming 7th annual Qatar Internation-al Universities’ Fair. The...
Transcript of DT Page 01 Oct 16 - The Peninsula...coming 7th annual Qatar Internation-al Universities’ Fair. The...
‘Desierto’: A stark thriller on the border
COMMUNITY | 06 HEALTH | 10 ENTERTAINMENT | 12
Soy protein in childhood may prevent bone loss
in adulthood
www.thepeninsulaqatar.com
SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016 @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatarEmail: [email protected] thepeninsulaqatar
Skills Development Centre celebrates
Dussehra
Ebru is a traditional Turkish art of paper decoration by spreading paints, which do not dissolve in water, with brushes made of horse hair and rose wood on dense water that is thickened by gum-tragacanth.
EBRUPAINTING P | 4-5
| 03SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
CAMPUS
DeBakey organises a ‘Think Pink Day’
In recognition of Breast Cancer
Awareness month, students of
the Senior Class Office at DeBakey
School – Qatar organised a ‘Think
Pink Day’ where nursing students
from University of Calgary arranged
informational activities concerning
cancer awareness and prevention.
DeBakey students distributed
pink ribbons and students were en-
couraged to wear pink tops. Fund-
raising activities were also arranged
through the student-sponsored
bake sale, photo booth sessions, and
hand-crafted accessories.
Georgetown to meet with future students at Qatar International Universities’ Fair
The Georgetown University in Qa-
tar (GU-Q) admissions team will
be showcasing the benefits of
a Georgetown education at the up-
coming 7th annual Qatar Internation-
al Universities’ Fair. The event, which
will run from October 17 to 19 at the
Qatar National Convention Center,
will allow prospective applicants to
find out more about the unique stu-
dent experience at GU-Q.
The annual fair is hosted by the
Qatari Ministry of Education and
Higher Education and aims to con-
nect students and their parents with
the admissions staff of the universi-
ties and colleges around the world. In
addition to morning sessions for local
schools, the Fair will be open to the
public in the evenings from 5:00 pm
to 8:00 pm. “We are pleased to sup-
port the efforts of the Ministry of Ed-
ucation and Higher Education once
again this year and to highlight Qa-
tar’s mission to develop world-class
higher educational options here at
Education City,” said Director of Ad-
missions, Joseph Hernandez.
“We are looking forward to meet-
ing with potential students and their
parents and introduce them to the
opportunities that come with a Geor-
getown education. In addition to an
unparalleled learning experience and
a world class degree, Georgetown of-
fers a long tradition of community
service and the chance to be part of
a diverse student body,” he said.
Interested students can meet at
the GU-Q booth to find out more
about campus life, extracurricular op-
portunities and GU-Q’s Bachelor of
Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) de-
gree. This interdisciplinary program
prepares students to tackle press-
ing global issues by providing them
with training in critical thinking, ana-
lytic and communication skills within
an international context.
Students at GU-Q’s Education City
campus follow the same curriculum
as the Edmund A. Walsh School of
Foreign Service at Georgetown’s Main
Campus in Washington, D.C. and can
major in Culture and Politics, Interna-
tional Economics, International Histo-
ry, or International Politics.
Staff at the Fair will be able to
answer questions from students in-
terested the degree who would
like practical advice on the applica-
tion process. Attendees will also be
able to find out more about GU-Q’s
student clubs and activities, study
abroad options, and campus life.
Bhavan’s Public School cele-
brated Grandparents Day and
Gandhi Jayanti on October2,
in all the three campuses with
great enthusiasm and fervour.
The event began with a welcome
address by Principal MP Philip in Ma-
tar and Headmistress Shailaja Krishna-
kumar in Midmac Campus followed by
the cultural programmes.
Students put up scintillating per-
formances that comprised songs,
dances and drama for their grandpar-
ents.
They also enacted the family tree
of Gandhiji and sang patriotic songs.
Grandparents had great fun with lively
music and games.
The guest of honour in Midmac
Campus was President PN Babura-
jan and in Matar Campus General Sec-
retary KM Anil. In their address they
spoke about the values and impor-
tance of grandparents.
Bhavan’s Public School celebrates Grandparents Day and Gandhi Jayanti
COVER STORY
04 | SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
Exploring Ebru painting in QatarBy Amna Pervaiz Rao
The Peninsula
Art in some form or another
has existed as long as man. It
is a part of our daily lives and
is present in cultures across
the world. Most people have an appre-
ciation for art. They enjoy observing or
creating it. Art is integral in our culture
because it provides us with a deep-
er understanding of emotions, self-
awareness, and more.
“Ebru art is one of the kinds of art in
which only patterns are made in mar-
bling. Ebru is slightly different. You cre-
ate things with the help of ebru, it looks
like a reflection and you can’t create fac-
es with the help of ebru art,” said Sana
Hussan while talking to The Peninsula.
Ebru is a traditional Turkish art of
paper decoration by spreading paints,
which do not dissolve in water, with
brushes made of horse hair and rose
wood on dense water that is thickened
by gum-tragacanth.
The word Ebru origin comes from
Persian language (Ebri-eyebrow or Ab-
ru-face of water) and Ebru in Turkish
which means marbling. It isn’t known
exactly when or where Ebru art start-
ed but the early examples are from the
16th century in the Ottoman-Turkish
era and spread from the east to the
west by way of Silk Road and other
trade routes same as like paper.
The technique is relaxing itself it
is simple but one should be very cau-
tioned, Ebru technique consists of
sprinkling colours containing a few
drops of ox-gall onto the surface of
the bath of water mixed with kitre
(gum tragacanth) in a trough. By care-
fully laying the paper over the bath,
the floating picture on top of it is read-
ily transferred to the paper; thus each
Ebru is a unique print. To obtain beau-
tiful Ebru results, one needs to have a
light hand, refined taste and an open
mind to the unexpected patterns form-
ing on the water, said Ebru expert Sa-
na Hassan explaining the basic tech-
niques of Ebru Art.
After completing her secondary
and higher secondary education from
Doha, Sana pursued a degree in Fash-
ion Designing from ITMF, Pakistan. She
reminisces, “Back then, we would be
taken to art exhibitions. At one event,
I was standing by myself and noticed
an old lady staring at my hands. ‘You
know, you should do something with
art. You will do well,’” she said. “It felt a
little weird but that line stayed with me.
The lady was right.”
Ebru expert Sana Hassan
explaining the basic techniques
of Ebru Art.
Feather Pattern created with rakes
COVER STORY
| 05SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
After returning to Doha, Sana con-
tinued with her studies while working
for a recruitment company. “I had tried
my hand at marbling during my student
years at ITMF, and was exploring eve-
rything I came across — from candle-
making to textile-printing. I would even
create art and gift them to friends and
family,” she says.
Soon Sana got married and moved
to Saudi Arabia, and she somewhat lost
touch with her artistic side. After three
years there, a job opportunity in Qatar
for Sana’s husband meant that the fam-
ily moved to Doha.
“It was nearly two years ago that I
hit restart,” Sana says, “When I would
meet my old friends and acquaintanc-
es here, they would ask me what was I
doing these days and I would be kind of
blank. I sensed restlessness within me. I
knew I had to do return to art.”
While Sana had tried her hand at
ancient art such as Babylonian art and
Egyptian art, Islamic Art captured her
imagination like no other. “That’s be-
cause in Islamic art, you don’t make fac-
es, and also figures are conveyed as
mere reflections. The fact that I had to
follow this rule seemed very interesting,”
said Sana.
Plans of destiny I would say, art was
always my passion. My parents and sib-
lings were supportive throughout, with-
out parents it was never possible. Now
my husband is my backbone,” said Sa-
na.
Sharing a funny incident, she said:
“My art teacher always used to take all
my paintings and drawing I used to
draw in my second grade. She used to
submit it in different competitions her-
self. One day I received an award from
Qafco Flower and Vegetable Show. My
father was overwhelmed looking at that
award, as he used to work for the same
company. Such moments are evergreen
in my life.”
Sana said that she had recently
participated in “World Record of Ebru
Patch Work”. “I was the only Pakistani
participant representing Qatar. This was
one of my biggest achievements,” said
Sana. “Fifth World’s Ebru Day is going to
be marked with an event of seven days,
during which I will be able to showcase
my work and a great opportunity will be
given to work with world famous Ebru
Art artists. I am very much positive to
participate in this event,” added Sana.
“My teaching career will continue
with the classes I bestow in VCU. These
classes are especially designed to make
people relax, as in special medication
for the people who want to take off
from all their worries and stress. I will
make a studio in my home for all those
people who want to learn Ebru Art, reg-
ular classes will be provided,” said Sana
while sharing her future plans.
Apart from working as an artist, she
loves to help others. With housewives
and her friends, she designs plans for
them either they are related to design-
ing a boutique or anything else. “I like
to see people walking with me,” she
says with a streak of satisfaction in her
tune. She says that the motive behind
her art-teaching activity was meant to
save her falling prey to sense of artificial
pride and arrogance. “I simply love so-
cial working and will definitely continue
helping others in all possible ways,” said
Sana Hassan.
Suminangashi technique
Waved Pattern Stoned pattern
Gel-git pattern and waved effect
COMMUNITY
06 | SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
Spoken Arabic
Guide released
Spoken Arabic Guide, the latest book of Aman-
ulla Vadakkangara, a Doha-based Indian au-
thor was released at a function yesterday. Dr
MP Hassan Kunhi, a longtime Doha-resident
and a prominent Indian entrepreneur released the
book by handing over a copy to Muhammedunni
Olakara, global chairman of Anti-Smoking Society.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Hassan Kunhi high-
lighted the importance of initiative to know the lan-
guage and culture of the country we work in and
urged the audience to utilise all opportunities for the
overall development. Familiarising Arabic language
usages will benefit all expatriates to sharpen their
communicative skills and improve efficiency at work
place. It will also strengthen socio cultural relations,
he said.
It is highly relevant in the context of the Minis-
try of Economy and Trade making it mandatory that
all business tools including invoices, product labels,
service lists, and warning about health risks should
be in Arabic, he said. Hotels, shopping malls, car
showrooms, maintenance centres, and other stores
have also been asked to assign at least one Arabic
speaking employee at their reception desk.
It is very important that all expatriates should try
to master at least the basic Arabic communication.
He lauded the efforts to spread the language and
called up on the community to make use of all chanc-
es to learn Arabic language.
Receiving the first copy of the book, Olakara said
it was very important for learning the language of
country for a number of reasons. He said “Arabic lan-
guage, apart from its rich cultural and traditional val-
ues, is the most important language for communica-
tion in Qatar and the region. Knowing the language
will greatly improve the communication skills of the
expatriates with the government departments and
the citizens of the country. Moreover, it will enable
the people to understand the cultural and local tra-
ditions of the country in a better way. Arabic is one
of the most vibrant languages in the world.
Mentioning the importance of learning Arabic, he
said: “Learning Arabic language will help the expatri-
ates in the country to converse and deal with others
more confidently and conveniently. It is important for
every expatriate to know the language of the country
so that they feel integrated with the culture and val-
ues of the country.”
Habeeburahman Kizhissery, executive director of
Friends Cultural Centre, also spoke on the occasion.
It is the twelfth book of Amanulla to teach Spo-
ken Arabic. He has different programmes aimed at
different segments of the society and all his books
are hailed as hot cakes on the topic. His major books
on Spoken Arabic are Spoken Arabic Made Easy, Spo-
ken Arabic for all, Spoken Arabic Tutor, Spoken Ara-
bic Master, A formula to speak Arabic and Spoken Ar-
abic Gurunathan.
He has successfully conducted several batches
Spoken Arabic programmes in Qatar.
Amanulla Vadakkangara proposed a vote of
thanks.
Amanulla, the former head of Arabic and Islam-
ic Studies at Ideal Indian School Doha, is popular
among the expatriate communities for his initiatives
to spread Arabic among the students and elders. He
was responsible for introducing Arabic as a second
language in Indian schools in Qatar. His Arabic for
English Schools is a recommended series for CBSE
schools in India and abroad.
His Arabic lessons as Radio Teacher in UAE based
Radio, VOICE OF KERALA is being followed by thou-
sands of listeners worldwide.
Skills Development Centre celebrates Dussehra
Skills Development Centre, one of the pioneer
institutes in the field Of Fine Arts and Per-
forming Arts has done it again! SDC is known
for its contribution towards Indian Arts, cele-
brated the last day of Dussehra- “Vijayadashami” in a
grand scale, welcoming a new talent to Doha.
The event was inaugurated with the traditional
lighting of the lamp with the dignitaries like the sec-
ond Secretary of the Indian Embassy KS Dhiman, ICBF
President Aravind Patil, Film Producer Chandramo-
han, ICC former Cultural Secretary and cultural activ-
ist Milan Arun, music lovers group head and KPMG
partner Gopal Balasubramanyam, Sanskriti General
Secretary K K Sanakaran, Auditor - Indian Communi-
ty Benevolent Forum Ravi Shankar made the honors.
The event started up with the new talent in Doha,
Carnatic singer from Music Academy Chennai Aish-
warya Vaithyanathan. She presented three of beau-
tiful compositions keeping the audience spell bound.
There were some brilliant dance and musical per-
formances from the talented faculty members and
equally talented young budding students of SDC. The
event was a complete Vijayadashami treat to the
spectators who came to feast at Skills Development
Centre, Qatar.
MARKETPLACE
| 07SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
The Institution of Engineers (India) holds theme seminar
Qatar Chapter of the Institu-
tion of Engineers (India) or-
ganised a theme seminar on
‘Skill Development for Young
Engineers to Reform the Core Sector:
Vision 2025’ on October 7, at Hotel
Radisson Blu
Eminent speaker N V Raghavan,
Operations Manager of Intercol-Dyar-
co, has delivered indepth theme pres-
entation and stressed the importance
of skill development to bridge the gap
in current market scenario.
The session concluded in an in-
teractive way, with questions and an-
swers where 105 Engineers from var-
ious consulting and contracting com-
panies attended the event.
Maheshwaran Thanikaivelu
opened the session and Dipak Da-
hake, secretary, welcomed the audi-
ence and introduced the speaker.
Abhijit Kuwalekar proposed the
vote of thanks.
Aniruddha S Kulkarni, Chairman,
announced that Annual Mega Event-
Engineers’ Day will be celebrated on
October 21 for members and invitees
only.
IEI Qatar Chapter is conducting
various technical seminars and work-
shops for the benefit of engineers in
Qatar and offering free annual mem-
bership to graduate engineers for this
year and urged the engineers to join
the Chapter.
ABP receives 10 years of academic accreditationT
he Academic Bridge Program
(ABP) received its first 5-year
accreditation in August 2011
from the Commission on Eng-
lish Language Program Accreditation
(CEA), the main accrediting organisa-
tion for foundation programmes in the
United States. In October of 2014, the
ABP began the process of re-accredi-
tation with CEA.
The review process was long and
intense. In March of 2016, a three-
member accreditation team from CEA
visited the ABP. While on site, they ob-
served classes, conducted interviews,
reviewed policies and procedures, and
inspected documents to ascertain the
degree to which the ABP meets the in-
ternational standards established by
CEA. After reviewing the visiting team’s
report, the CEA Commissioners vot-
ed to reaccredit the Academic Bridge
Program for a period of 10 years. The
10-year re-accreditation is the highest
form of accreditation granted by CEA
and extends through August of 2026.
CEA Accreditation confirms the
high quality of education provided by
the ABP and recognises the hard work
and dedication of the ABP’s faculty
and staff, as well as the support pro-
vided by the Office of Pre-University
Education, Qatar Foundation, and the
ABP Board of Governors.
Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director of the
ABP, explained that “for students, fac-
ulty, and staff members, this accredi-
tation represents the validation of our
Academic Bridge Program as an exem-
plary model of English language pro-
grams throughout the world.”
Moza A Al Boainain, the ABP’s As-
sistant Director for Student Services,
noted that the“reaccreditation for 10
years sends a positive message to par-
ents, teachers, universities, and gov-
ernments and encourages more stu-
dents to apply to the ABP.”
Hamza Duhaini, the head of the
ABP’s Math and Computer Depart-
ments, explained that the accredita-
tion ensures that “all courses at the
ABP include appropriate learning ob-
jectives and learning outcomes stated
as part of the course description in the
course syllabi and has been strategi-
cally aligned with corresponding stu-
dent learning outcomes and the ap-
propriate means of assessment.”
The ABP self-study was coordinat-
ed by a steering committee chaired
by Asmaa Al Qaysi, Special Assistant
to the Director, and Dr Mark Newmark,
Assistant Director for Academic Affairs.
Bob Campbell, the chair of the ABP’s
EFL Department, explained that the
self-study invited “us to look at facul-
ty qualifications, professional develop-
ment, and how faculty are evaluated.
Some positive changes came out of
the process.”
Marci Brown, the chair of the ABP’s
Academic English Department, noted
that “while we think the ABP curricu-
lum is excellent, the self-assessment
process was an opportunity to ex-
amine the curriculum in detail to see
where we could strengthen our pro-
gramme.”
Dr Avril O’Donoghue, the chair of
the ABP’s Science Department, not-
ed other benefits of the accreditation
process. “Self-evaluation of the length
and structure of our program of study
for reaccreditation required in-depth
reflectivity on practices, identification
of weaknesses and some remedial
action.”
FOOD
08 | SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
The Washington Post
During a recent interview event, “Gefilte
Manifesto” writers Jeffrey Yoskowitz and
Liz Alpern prompted lots of audience head
nodding when they referred to “growing
into” foods. Beets fall into that category of things
a mature palate can appreciate, I think. Their earth-
iness, attributed in part to an organic compound
called geosmin, generally is not something young
folks enjoy.
I grew up with a borscht-loving father and learned
to make the stuff for him yet still never cozied up
to the vegetable served that way or “Harvard” style,
from a jar - until I had them roasted, when I was in
my late 20s.
And at this time of year, when the purplish-red,
candy-striped and golden ones get bundled togeth-
er at the grocery store, roasting them all together is a
fine way to go. This salad shows off their colour; the
crunchy hazelnuts tossed in with them during the fi-
nal minutes of oven time play off the beets’ roasted
texture, as does the pan-crisped paneer cheese. A
dressing of yogurt, dill, horse radish and a touch of
honey provides an unexpected tangy jolt.
Paneer and Roasted Beet SaladYou can peel the beets before you cut the vege-
table into wedges - as instructed below - or you can
scrub the exteriors well and, once roasted, slip off the
skins after they’ve cooled for a bit.
Firm, fresh paneer cheese is available in large su-
permarkets, where you can also sometimes find black
mustard seed, a staple at Indian markets.
Serve with warm focaccia.
Adapted from “The Indian Family Kitchen: Classic
Dishes for a New Generation,” by Anjali Pathak (Clark-
son Potter, 2016).
4 servings
Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds beets, preferably of different colours
(see headnote)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seed (see headnote;
may substitute brown mustard seed)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 3/4 ounces (about 1/2 cup) skinned hazelnuts
5 1/2 ounces paneer cheese (may substitute hal-
loumi cheese; see headnote)
Several sprigs fresh dill
1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons plain Greek-style yogurt (regular or
low-fat)
1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish
Pinch fine sea salt, or more as needed
Drizzle of honey
2 cups watercress
Method
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking
sheet with aluminum foil.
Peel the beets, then cut them into wedges and
place on the baking sheet. Drizzle them with half the
oil and toss to coat, then sprinkle the mustard seed
and ginger over them. Roast for 20 minutes, then
add the hazelnuts to the baking sheet and roast for 5
more minutes, so the nuts become fragrant. Let cool
on the baking sheet.
Meanwhile, line a plate with paper towels. Heat
the remaining oil in a wide nonstick skillet over me-
dium heat. Cut the paneer into large bite-size pieces.
Once the oil shimmers, add the cheese and fry for a
few minutes, moving the pieces in the pan so they
become golden brown. Transfer to the plate to drain
while you make the dressing.
Coarsely chop the dill and place a generous pinch
of it in a medium bowl, then squeeze in the juice
from the lemon half, being careful to avoid adding
pits. Whisk in the yogurt, horseradish, salt and hon-
ey (to taste) in a medium bowl until emulsified. Taste,
and add salt as needed.
Combine the watercress, the remaining dill, the
roasted beets, toasted hazelnuts and seared paneer
on a platter. Pour the dressing over the mix and toss
to coat just before serving.
Nutrition | Per serving (using low-fat yogurt): 360 calories, 14 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 25 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 210 mg so-dium, 6 g dietary fiber, 17 g sugar
The season’s colourful mix shines in this salad
FASHION
| 09SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
By Robin Givhan The Washington Post
Joy. Is it so hard to come by?
Not contentment, which im-
plies something more enduring,
something that comes from with-
in (although perhaps with the help of a
therapist). Joy comes in a jolt, a sud-
den flush of pleasure. It may be mo-
mentary, but it’s real. This is the busi-
ness of fashion. It should be able to put
a smile on your face.
Lately, though, it has been a strug-
gle. So as Fashion Week came to a close
in Paris on Wednesday, applause goes
to designers such as Dries Van Noten,
Stella McCartney, Chitose Abe of Sacai,
Miu Miu’s Miuccia Prada and Louis Vuit-
ton’s Nicolas Ghesquiere. They made
folks smile.
They sent out great clothes that
were easy to wear, but interesting and
distinctive. There was sharp tailoring
and breathtaking colours and prints.
Breezy caftans, ruffled dresses, men’s
shirting, shades of yellow and pink.
And sparkles.
Fashion let down its guard, at least
in some quarters. It stopped trying to
be fierce and cool. At the finale of Mc-
Cartney’s show, the models danced.
They clapped and howled as they ran
down the runway in a dance that was
choreographed but not awkward, and
their delight in actually being able to
take a deep breath and laugh was ev-
ident. At Vanessa Seward, the mod-
els looked happy. It was not a strained
smile, like a TV pundit who spews vitri-
ol while maintaining some zombie grin.
The models simply looked pleased to
be there.
Like other industries, fashion has its
difficult times. Lately it has struggled
to balance creativity with pragmatism.
Sales are flat in the luxury business or
sliding downward. Designers are grap-
pling with diversity on multiple fronts -
both race and body shape. They have
seen the aesthetics of fine collections
buried under public outrage because
they cast too homogeneous a group of
models in their show or gave them the
wrong hairstyle. Yes, yes, the models
are too thin, too young, too white. But
it’s getting better. Last season, Balen-
ciaga was taken to task for not featur-
ing women of color on the runway. For
spring 2017, it was a far more diverse
group of models.
Things are improving. Too slowly,
but fashion is moving forward.
Yes, yes, the clothes on the runway
are too expensive for the average per-
son. But fashion lovers will save up for
that one perfect indulgence. And rich
folks are still eagerly handing over their
credit cards. Everyone else will bene-
fit from the trickle-down, the spiraling
outward of ideas and trends. They will
find beautiful floral prints, breezy caf-
tan-style dresses and broad-shoul-
der blazers at the mall. Just remem-
ber to give a shout-out of thanks to
Ghesquière, Van Noten, Phoebe Philo
at Céline and Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci,
among others.
But fashion still can’t get a break.
Cynics still take aim at the pure bliss
it may conjure. One more time: Buy-
ing an expensive frock is no better or
worse than the four-figure foodie meal
you just had, the fancy car you keep in
your garage or the exotic vacation you
can’t stop talking about.
Fashion can be political and pro-
vocative, which means that sometimes
it’s disturbing, hard to look at. Espe-
cially right now, because politics, no
matter where one lives in the world,
seems about as ugly as it can get. This
season, fashion here has had to car-
ry on under heightened security - bag
inspections, identification checks and
bomb-sniffing dogs. And then it con-
tended with the unnerving report of
the armed robbery of Kim Kardashi-
an in her guest residence. The assault
gave everyone pause.
But fashion has pressed on, com-
menting on street culture and our state
of being and attempting to show us a
good time. It has been a season of de-
buts, with new designers taking a bow
at Saint Laurent, Dior and Lanvin. And
at Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli flew so-
lo for the first time. This didn’t repre-
sent just a shift in aesthetics but also
a moment of business upheaval. These
companies have billions of dollars in
revenue. And there’s nothing frivolous
about that.
There’s money to be made in silk,
organza and tulle. Indeed, there may
be no more tulle left in the world; there
was so much of it on the runway. It was
embroidered and beaded. It came in
every colour under the sun - a rainbow
seemingly spun from sugar. And like
sugar, best consumed in small doses.
But after 10 days of shows, a few
linger in the imagination. The Dries Van
Noten collection certainly does. He dec-
orated his endless runway with ice in-
stallations. Beautiful bouquets of flow-
ers were frozen inside enormous cubes
of ice that slowly melted on the runway.
If there was a message in the setting,
it was about how time moves forward,
nothing lasts an eternity, beauty fades.
So seek your flowers now.
The clothes were such beauties.
The floral prints - both abstract and re-
alistic - were breathtaking, not too pre-
cious or garish. Dignified.
There were beautiful prints at Gi-
venchy as well. They evoked the swirl-
ing interior of quartz and marble. Slim
dresses in contrasting blocks of colour
skimmed the body. It was a collection
that felt lighter and less brooding than
it has in recent seasons.
And finally, Sarah Burton, whose Al-
exander McQueen collection was in-
spired by the Shetland Islands, sent her
models down a runway covered in tra-
ditional rugs. Lush embroidery distin-
guished the clothes. And several dress-
es looked like they had been assem-
bled patchwork-style.
But the most delight aspect of the
collection was her note that the patch-
work was inspired by a Shetland tradi-
tion: When a couple marries, two Taatit
rugs -- bed coverings given as wed-
ding presents -- are stitched together
as a symbol of love and unity.
A simple gesture, but a beautiful
one. And in fashion, it delivers a spark
of joy.
Breezy caftans, ruffled gowns:
Fashion is ready to make you smile
Like other industries, fashion has its difficult times. Lately it has struggled to balance creativity with pragmatism. Sales are flat in the luxury business or sliding downward.
HEALTH
10 | SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
QNA
People who feel dizzy when they stand up
quickly have a 15 per cent increased risk of
suffering from dementia in later life, new
research suggests.
A 24-year study of more than 6,000 people,
found a stark link between the chances of develop-
ing any form of the neurological disease, including
Alzheimer’s, and experiencing orthastatic hypoten-
sion, which can trigger head rushes or dizzy spells.
Scientists at the Erasmus Medical Centre in the
Netherlands suspect the link could be explained by
brain tissue damage caused by a temporary star-
vation of oxygen during the sudden drop in blood
pressure, reported The Telegraph.
Between 1990 and 1992 they monitored 6,204
men and women, with an average age of 68, who
had no history of dementia or stroke.
After an average follow-up time of 15 years, 19
per cent of the participants had developed demen-
tia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia
and Parkinson’s dementia.
Of the 1,152 who had dizzy spells or head rush-
es when they stood up quickly between 1990 and
1992, there was a 15 per cent relative increase in all
dementia types.
The association was even more pronounced for
those who didn’t have a compensatory increase in heart
rate during the momentary drop in blood pressure, with
a 39 per cent increase in long-term dementia risk.
IANS
Move over milk, soy protein
isolate early in life might
be what’s needed for
strong, healthy bones in
adulthood, researchers say.
The findings showed that giving
children a diet high in soy protein iso-
late can protect against serious bone
loss during adulthood as well as help
ensure overall better bone quality.
“Appropriate early-life nutrition
can optimise peak bone mass,” said
Jin-Ran Chen, researcher at the Uni-
versity of Arkansas for Medical Sci-
ences in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“Consumption of soy foods has
a variety of health benefits, includ-
ing amelioration of bone loss dur-
ing adulthood,” Chen added. For the
study, Chen and colleagues used a
very young female rat model.
One group of rats was fed a soy
protein isolate diet for 30 days (from
postnatal day 24 to 55), and then
was switched to a regular standard
rodent diet until six months of age.
The rats were altered to mimic
postmenopausal bone loss in wom-
en to determine the amount of bone
loss. The second group of rats was
fed a regular standard rodent diet
throughout life.
“The centuries-old mantra that
children need milk to ‘grow strong
bones’ remains true, but the study
shows evidence that the protein com-
ponents of soy ‘milk’ have key osteo-
genic effects,” said Thoru Pederson,
Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
“The study could ultimately have ma-
jor pediatric health impacts through-
out various parts of the world,” he said.
The research was published on-
line in The FASEB Journal.
Feeling dizzy when standing up linked to increased risk of dementia
Soy protein in childhood may prevent bone loss in adulthood
The findings showed that giving children a diet high in soy protein isolate can protect against serious bone loss during adulthood as well as help ensure overall better bone quality.
ENTERTAINMENT
| 11SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
By Subhash K Jha IANS
Film: “Motu Patlu: King of Kings”
Writer-Director: Suhas D Kadav
Rating: ***1/2
It gladdens the heart to see a competent well
made animation film from an Indian production
house. And full marks to Ketan and Deepa Me-
hta and their visual effects studio for putting to-
gether a children’s animation film with a strong yet
supple message that’s acceptable to both kids and
grown-ups.
“Motu Patlu” is based on the well loved animation
characters.
The two friends Motu and Patlu (described rather
blatantly by their physicality but drawn with person-
ality strokes that are far more subtle than the name-
calling suggests), this time befriend a lovable but la-
zy and somewhat cowardly circus lion (actor Vinay
Pathak gives endearing voice to the lion), who longs
to escape and live a free life.
But wait. Life for our four-legged friends is not
so simple. Writer-director Suhad D Kadav throws in
the complications without cluttering the quaint can-
vas with unnecessary socio-ecological sermonizing.
Yes, there are some strategically positioned com-
ments on deforestation and animal extinction. But
none of this is done in the spirit of preaching. The fun
element is predominant as our circus-bred lion-he-
ro is coaxed into abandoning his innate timidness to
emerge a true lionheart.
The scenes are written in playfully bantering style.
The dialogues are colloquial and crisp and spoken in
a simple yet intelligent language that is dexterously
communicable to both the young and the older au-
dience.
The script very cleverly uses tropes and stock
characters from age-old conventions of commercial
cinema and transforms them into some kind of virtu-
al magical emblems of continuity and change amidst
terrifying warnings of destruction. The villain who
likes to remind us that he is not zero but a hero, is
accompanied by a moll named Monica who spends
all her time in the wildlife sanctuary swatting mos-
quitoes.
Midway through the amiable briskly trotting nar-
rative, the lion-hero gets a double role and the ani-
mation scenes get progressively ambitious. The film’s
canvas is grand in its own right. The climactic battle
between the villain and the jungle animals skillfully
eschews violence and embraces that feeling of fun
underlining the sombre context of presentation.
“Motu Patlu” remains confidently in the ambit of
non-adult entertainment. While engaging children’s
attention with genuinely served up homilies and inci-
dents, the narrative never gets down to pontifying or
talking down to children.
No small achievement for children’s cinema in our
country.
‘Motu Patlu’: A film that kids
and grown-ups can enjoy
AFP
West Indies’ cricketing star
Dwayne Bravo announced
plans to take his talents to
the dance floor by joining an Indian ce-
lebrity dance competition, months af-
ter making waves with his acclaimed
hip hop anthem “Champion”.
“I am very excited to be a part of this
show and to do something different. I
just want to have fun and enjoy,” Bravo,
33, told reporters on Friday ahead of
his first performance in Jhalak Dikhla
Ja, the Indian version of BBC’s Strictly
Come Dancing.
“These days, cricket and entertain-
ment go together... Dancing is definite-
ly harder than cricket,” said Bravo, who
was a part of the West Indies squad
that played against Pakistan in a Twen-
ty20 series last month.
The all-rounder might well take in-
spiration from former England bowler
Darren Gough who won the third se-
ries of Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.
Bravo launched the track “Cham-
pion” in Mumbai in March during the
World Twenty20 competition which his
side went on to win after beating Eng-
land.
The lyrics of the song mention vari-
ous sporting heroes and political icons,
with a special shoutout to his big-hit-
ting teammate Chris Gayle.
The accompanying music video fea-
turing a shirtless Gayle went viral, hav-
ing clocked 932,573 views on YouTube
to date.
Bravo, who quit Test cricket last
year, plies his trade in T20 leagues
across the world, including in the In-
dian Premier League and the Big Bash
in Australia.
Cricket star Bravo to shake a leg in Indian dance show
ENTERTAINMENT
12 | SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
By Alan Zilberman The Washington Post
“Desierto” is a stark, economical
thriller. Its conflict is elemental and
the characters are defined with
bold strokes.
Director Jonás Cuarón, the son of acclaimed
filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, draws from the primal
motives of “Gravity.” (He wrote that screenplay
with his father.) Instead of science fiction, how-
ever, this earthbound tale has a poignant political
message - and not a subtle one.
A truck passes through the desert. In it, Moises
(Gael García Bernal) and about a dozen other men
and women are trying to cross the border into the
United States. The van breaks down, so they are
forced to continue on foot.
On the American side, Sam (Jeffrey Dean Mor-
gan) hunts rabbits with his dog and a high-pow-
ered rifle. Illegal immigrants frustrate Sam - we
know he reported tracks to the indifferent author-
ities - so when Sam spots the small band of bor-
der crossers, he takes matters into his own hands.
He shoots them dead, one by one, but Moises and
a few others escape.
The film is a sustained cat-and-mouse chase,
with helpless innocents trying to avoid their inhu-
mane pursuer. “Desierto” gives equal time to Moi-
ses and Sam, establishing just enough back story
so we can understand who they are.
Sam is not just a deplorable villain, but a bro-
ken man who uses his victims as an outlet for
misguided rage. Moises is not just an illegal im-
migrant, but a thoughtful father whose empathy
is constantly challenged. The chase is exhaust-
ing, almost as if the desert is a character in the
film, and yet there are dialogue-driven moments
in which the heroes and villain evolve from carica-
tures to people.
Cuarón’s larger point - one that he pursues
with every frame - is that border crossers deserve
our sympathy. They have dreams, flaws and feel-
ings. Sam only sees them from a distance. (There
are many shots of him peering through the scope
of his rifle.)
The act of killing invigorates Sam: In a chill-
ing scene, he laughs to himself after hitting his
targets, shouting that this land is his. His entitle-
ment is a contrast to the desperation of the vic-
tims, who seek only opportunity. All the actors,
including Morgan, find nuance despite the sim-
ple, stripped-down requirements of the script by
Cuarón and Mateo Garcia.
There are no surprises in “Desierto.” Every in-
teraction, no matter how brutal, plays out ex-
actly as you might suspect. Moises proves him-
self resourceful, outsmarting Sam during a pivotal
scene, and the final confrontation is more poign-
ant than vengeful. But the utter lack of surprise is
not a bad thing, exactly, since awaiting the inevi-
table is its own kind of breathless suspense.
Even if a beautiful and impenetrable wall was
built on the border, people like Moises - decent
and frightened - would find a way here because,
sometimes, the promise of a better life is worth it.
Three stars. Rated R. Contains strong lan-guage and violence. In English and Spanish with subtitles. 94 minutes.
Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.
‘Desierto’: A stark thriller on the border
TECHNOLOGY
| 13SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
By Steven Overly The Washington Post
You meander around the supermarket loading a
basket with goods -- breakfast tea, sugar, milk.
Along the way, though, you become befuddled.
You struggle to recall the items on the shopping
list. When you arrive at check out, you discover sever-
al items in the basket that you do not recall picking up.
Then it comes time to pay the cashier and you can’t
seem to count out the proper sum.
This virtual reality experience, played out using an
Android smartphone, is the work of medical research
nonprofit Alzheimer’s Research UK. The organisation’s
primary mission is to raise money for research into de-
mentia and other memory-related illness, but it also
seeks to raise awareness and empathy for a disease
that its leaders say the public still poorly understands.
“They only think about memory problems. The reali-
ty of dementia is much bigger than that,” said Tim Par-
ry, director of communications and brand. Thus, Alzhe-
imer’s Research UK wanted to “put someone in the
shoes of someone living with the condition.”
As an increasing number of cause-driven organisa-
tions have done, the nonprofit group turned to virtual
reality. Those experimenting with the technology say it
is more accessible than ever before, and offers the best
medium to date for evoking genuine empathy for their
mission, whether it be medical research, global educa-
tion or humanitarian relief.
The initial promise of virtual reality technology cen-
tered largely around entertainment, adding a new di-
mension to movies or video games and creating a di-
version from the everyday. But projects launched by
news outlets and nongovernmental organizations in
recent years have demonstrated the technology’s po-
tential to tell real-life stories in more compelling ways.
Now, nonprofit organisations are taking that a step fur-
ther and using virtual reality to build awareness and
solicit donations.
Oculus, the Facebook-owned maker of virtual re-
ality headsets, debuted a “VR for Good” programme
this year that paired 10 nonprofits with filmmakers and
provided the teams with funding to create virtual re-
ality experiences that are expected to premier at the
Sundance Film Festival in January. The head of the pro-
gram, Lauren Burmaster, said virtual reality has the po-
tential to combat fatigue among donors who feel dis-
connected from the results of their money.
“A lot of times people want to see where their mon-
ey is going but you can’t offer them that,” Burmaster
said. “That’s the first thing we’re really seeing - nonprof-
its using this technology to bring their donors to the
work that’s happening.”
The education nonprofit Pencils of Promise gar-
nered buzz last year when it transported a room of its
wealthiest donors from a Wall Street gala to a school
house in rural Ghana. The organisation not only man-
ufactured a 16-foot-wide replica classroom for donors
to walk through, but also outfitted them with virtual
reality goggles that showed a two-minute video that
placed their mind in the classroom as well.
The organisation raised more than $2 million that
night, and the video has been viewed 8 million times
since then. “If you see anyone try our VR piece for the
first time, immediately their jaw drops,” said Natalie
Ebel, the head of marketing. Usually those who open
their wallets to Pencils of Promise have never been to
the developing countries where the organisation does
its work. Virtual reality creates an “empathetic connec-
tion and presence” more effectively than photos or vid-
eo, she said.
But virtual reality is not without its barriers and lim-
itations. While the cost of production has come down
considerably, the technology required is still more so-
phisticated and expensive than that needed to shoot
regular film or still photography. Production time also
tends to be longer, meaning projects need more time
and money to deliver.
Not all experiences also allow the viewer to be fully
immersed. In the Alzheimer’s Research UK project, for
example, the character has a female voice and Brit-
ish accent, which makes it impossible for all viewers to
fully connect. The supermarket and other characters
were also computer animated, creating another sep-
aration between real-world viewers and the artificial
scenario unfolding before them. The project had other
videos set in real places.
But taking the viewer to a real place and engag-
ing with real people also has its challenges. Am-
nesty International UK launched its “Fear of the Sky”
project as sentiments toward Syrian refugees in Eu-
rope were turning sour. The project places viewers on
the bombed-out streets of Aleppo as a civilian activ-
ist explains the dangers faced by those for whom this
is their actual reality. The project required Amnesty In-
ternational UK to train and coordinate with activists al-
ready on the ground, many of whom took real risks to
capture the images necessary to make the project pos-
sible. “There were some difficulties because of the re-
lentless bombing,” said crisis response manager Kristy-
an Benedict. “It took maybe six or seven times longer
than it was meant to in the project plan.”
Still, organizations believe the result may justify the
challenges. “To actually feel that you’re inside Aleppo
and . . . the sense of abandonment and isolation and
fear of not knowing when the next barrel bomb is go-
ing to drop on you,” Benedict said. “The general con-
sensus was shock.”
“VR is certainly something that’s adding itself to the
menu [of tools] that different campaigners can use to
tell a story,” he said.
How nonprofits use virtual reality to tackle real-world issues
ASIAN TOWN
NOVO
MALL
ROYAL PLAZAVILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER
BABY BLUES
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE
Imaginative quiet teenager Rafe Katchadorian is tired of his middle school’s obsession with the rules at the expense of any and all creativity. Desperate to shake things up, Rafe and his best friends have come up with a plan: break every single rule in the school and let the students run wild.
14 SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
CINEMA PLUS
Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.
Laaf Wa Dawaraan (2D/Arabic) 10:00am & 2:40pmThe Duel (2D/Thriller) 12:20, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40pm & 12:00midnightI.T. (2D/Action) 11:00am, 1:00, 2:30, 3:00, 5:00, 5:15, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:15, 11:00pm & 12:00midnightStorks (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00 & 4:00pmMiddle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pmThe Riot (2D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnightJungle Master 2: Candy Planet (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 1:45, 5:30 & 9:15pmDisappointments Room (2D/Horror) 11:45am, 3:30, 7:15 & 11:00pmMiss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2D/Family) 11:00am, 4:00 & 9:00pmUSS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2D/Action) 2:30, 6:30 & 11:30pmMasterminds (2D) 11:00am, 3:10, 7:20 & 11:30pmDeep Water Horizon (2D/Action) 1:00, 5:10 & 9:20pm Inferno (2D/Thriller) 11:20am, 12:00noon, 1:40, 4:00, 4:30, 6:20, 7:40, 8:40, 11:00 & 12:15am IMAX 10:00am, 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40pm & 12:00midnight
Jungle Master 2: Candy Planet (2D/Animation) 2:00, 3:30 & 7:30pm Paoulo (2D/Malayalam) 2:00 & 8:45pmRekka (2D/Tamil) 2:30 & 11:00pmMiddle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2D/Comedy) 5:00 & 7:00pm
Inferno (2D/Thriller) 5:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm
The Duel (2D/Drama) 5:00 & 11:30pmUSS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2D/Action) 7:00pmI.T. (2D/Drama) 7:00 & 9:15pm
Oppam (Malayalam) 6:30 & 9:30pm Paoulo (Malayalam) 7:00 & 10:00pmRemo (Tamil) 7:00 & 10:00pm Rekka (Tamil) 6:30 & 9:30pm
Jungle Master 2: Candy Planet (2D/Animation) 2:00 & 4:30pm Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2D/Comedy) 3:30 & 5:15pm
Paoulo (2D/Malayalam) 1:30 & 8:45pm Remo (Tamil) 2:00pmThe Duel (2D/Drama) 5:00 & 11:30pmOppam (2D/Malayalam) 6:00pmInferno (2D/Thriller) 7:00 & 11:30pm I.T. (2D/Drama) 7:00 & 9:15pm
Eedu Gold Ehe (2D/Telugu) 8:45pm Rekka (2D/Tamil) 11:00pm
MIDDLE SCHOOL
AL KHOROppam (3D/Malayalam) 11:00, 11:30am, 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, 8:00, 8:30, 11:00 & 11:30pmInferno (3D/Thriller) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30pm & 12:00midnight
LANDMARKJungle Master 2: Candy Planet (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:00pm Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2D/Comedy) 5:00 & 5:30pm
I.T. (2D/Drama) 7:15, 9:45 & 11:30pm Inferno (2D/Thriller) 7:00, 9:00 & 11:15pmPaoulo (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 7:00pmRekka (2D/Tamil) 2:30 & 11:15pm The Duel (2D/Drama) 5:00 & 9:15pm
15SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016
Yesterday’s answer
Conceptis Sudoku: Conceptis Sudoku is
a number-placing puzzle based on a 9×9
grid. The object is to place the numbers
1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each
row, each column and each 3×3 box
contains the same number only once.
Yesterday’s answer
MEDIUM SUDOKU
ALL IN THE MIND
CROSSWORD
BRAIN TEASERS
Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal,vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.
ASSAIL, ATTACK, BATTLE, CHALLENGE, CHAMPION, CLASH, COMBAT, COMPETITION, CONFLICT, CONQUEST, CONTENDER, CONTEST, DEFEAT, DEFEND, DRAW, ENEMY, FIGHT, GAME, MATCH, OFFENSIVE, OPPOSITION, OUTDO, OUTFLANK, OVERCOME, OVERPOWER, PARRY, PLAYER, PROTECT,REPEL, RESIST, RIVAL, SPORT, STRUGGLE, TRIUMPH, VANQUISH, VICTORY, WARRIOR, WITHSTAND.
07:00 News
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02:00 NEWSHOUR
13:10 Jessie
14:50 Austin & Ally
15:15 Disney
Cookabout
15:40 Bunk’d
16:05 Descendants
Wicked
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16:10 Miraculous
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16:35 Miraculous
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17:00 Gravity Falls
17:25 Frenemies
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21:35 H2O: Just
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22:50 Sabrina
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23:10 Hank Zipzer
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11:00 Predators Up
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11:55 Ten Deadliest
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16:30 Wildest Islands
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19:15 The Vet Life
22:00 Mountain
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22:55 Lair Of The
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23:50 9-1-1 Encounters
00:45 Man-Eating
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01:40 Attack Of The
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13:05 How It’s Made:
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14:20 Gold Divers
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16:00 Deadliest Catch
16:50 Fast N’ Loud
18:30 How It’s Made:
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19:20 Gold Divers
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21:50 Sonic Sea
23:30 Fast N’ Loud
01:10 Extreme Car
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02:00 Sonic Sea
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