D C—18 C TODAY PUZZLES LIFESTYLE OROSCOPE Heartfelt

DOHA 12°C—18°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 14LP

Sunday, February 19, 2017Jumada I 22, 1438 AH

CommunityAuthor John Gray will hold workshops on

‘How to get what you want at work’ and ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’.

P6 P16 CommunityThere are now toys to help people

redress stress from spending long hours at computers and a lack of movement.

HeartfeltBoxer Joshua Mohr recounts journey

from addiction to recovery to relapse

and back again. As well suff ering 3

strokes in his 30s, the last leaving an

8-millimetre hole in his heart. P4-5

COVERSTORY

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

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Sunday, February 19, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Running ShaadiDIRECTED BY: Amit RoyWRITTEN BY: Navjot Gulati, Amit RoyCAST: Arsh Bajwa, Brijendra Kala, Tapsee PannuSynopsis: Running Shaadi is an Indian romantic comedy

fi lm produced by Shoojit Sircar and Crouching Tiger Motion Pictures about the unique concept of helping people run

away with the love of their life to get married. It was named RunningShaadi.com but later changed to Running Shaadi. The unlikely duo of a conscientious Bihari and a Sardarji geek stand up and create a platform providing “High Take Social Service“ to Indian couples who want to spend their lives with their soul mates.

LOCATIONS: The Mall, City Center

GoldDIRECTION: Stephen GaghanWRITTEN BY: Patrick Massett, John ZinmanCAST: Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramírez, Bryce

Dallas HowardSYNOPSIS: Gold is an American crime adventure fi lm

directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Gaghan, Patrick

Massett and John Zinman. Kenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on a journey to fi nd gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia.

LOCATIONS: City Centre, Gulf Mall, Villaggio, The Mall, Landmark

Mall Cinema (1): Running Shaadi:Com (Hindi) 2pm; Gold (2D) 4:15pm; The Last Face (2D) 6:15pm; Jolly LLB 2 (Hindi) 8:30pm; Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 11:15pm.Mall Cinema (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 3pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 5pm; My Ex And Whys (Tagalog) 7pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 9:15pm; Running Shaadi:Com (Hindi) 11:15pm.Mall Cinema (3): Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 2pm; Fist Fight (2D) 4:45pm; The Lady Bloodfight (2D) 6:15pm; Fein Qalby (Arabic) 8pm; Fist Fight (2D) 10pm; The Remains (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 2:15pm; Ballerina (2D) 5pm; The

Remains (2D) 6:30pm; Fist Fight (2D) 8:15pm; The Lady Bloodfight (2D) 9:45pm; Gold (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 2:30pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 4:30pm; My Ex And Whys (Tagalog) 6:30pm; Jolly LLB 2 (Hindi) 8:45pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Irada (Hindi) 2:30pm; The Last Face (2D) 4:30pm; Irada (Hindi) 6:45pm; Fein Qalby (Arabic) 9pm; Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Fein Qalby (Arabic) 5:15pm; The Remains (2D) 7:30pm; Fist

Fight (2D) 9:15pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 2pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 4pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 6pm; My Ex And Whys (Tagalog) 8:15pm; Munthirivallikal (Malayalam) 10:45pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Fist Fight (2D) 3pm; The Lady Bloodfight (2D) 5pm; Gold (2D) 7pm; Fein Qalby (Arabic) 9:15pm; The Last Face (2D) 11:15pm.Asian Town Cinema: Munthiri Vallikal (Malayalam) 4:30, 6, 7, 9, 10:30pm & 12am; Jolly Llb (Hindi) 5:45pm; Irada (Hindi) 8:30pm; Jomonte Suvisheshangal (Malayalam) 6:30pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 9:30pm.

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.49amShorooq (sunrise) 6.06amZuhr (noon) 11.48amAsr (afternoon) 3.04pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.32pmIsha (night) 7.02pm

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

– William Arthur Ward

EVENTS

Screening of Kannada fi lm ChowkaWHEN: February 23WHERE: Westend Park Cinema (Asia

Town), Screen 1TIME: 7pmA special screening – only one show

– of new Kannada fi lm Chowka hits Doha this Thursday. Directed by Tharun Sudhir, Dwarakish Chitra’s 50th fi lm is an entertaining multi-starrer with an underlying message for the youth to contribute to the society. Four youngsters – Vijay Raghavendra, Prem Kumar, Diganth Manchale, and Prajwal Devaraj – from four diff erent eras end up in jail for no mistake of theirs. However, they reconcile to their fate until they meet an old man in jail who, too, is wrongly jailed. He inspires them to not waste their lives any longer. What these four men manage to do next is the rest of the story. For tickets, contact Subramanya Hebbagelu on 5564-1025.

NaghamWHERE: The Backyard at Sheraton Grand

HotelWHEN: ThursdaysTIME: 8pm onwardsAfter the success of The Backyard, a

concept is born to introduce Arabic music adding a twist of International tunes. Live band music by Nagham’s offi cial band and guest artists every week. The entrance fee is QR100. For details, call 44853000.

Picasso-Giacometti WHEN: February 22 to May 21WHERE: Fire Station Artist In ResidenceThis exhibition brings together more than

120 works by Picasso and Giacometti, drawn from the collections of the Musée national Picasso-Paris and the Fondation Giacometti in Paris, as well as exceptional loans from French and other international collections, covering paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs and interviews with the artists.

The exhibition refl ects two years of research undertaken by the Fondation Giacometti and the Musée national Picasso-Paris, which reveals for the fi rst time the previously unknown relationship between these two artists, who, despite an age gap of twenty years, shared many moments, both personal and professional.

The exhibition is organised in six sections, evoking diff erent aspects of each artist’s production, including the development of their work as young artists through to

their modernist creations, showing the correspondences between their works, the infl uence of the surrealist movement, and the return to realism during the post-war period.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of lectures and an extensive education programme, as well as a self-guided handbook for the visitors.

A richly illustrated catalogue published as co-edition with Flammarion will accompany the exhibition, featuring new essays by art historians and the curators of the exhibition.

Dia al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow)

WHERE: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and QM Gallery Al Riwaq

WHEN: Until April 16Qatar Museums presents a monograph of

one of the most renowned modern artists of the Arab world: Dia al-Azzawi. The exhibition, showcasing over 500 works across fi fty years and a range of media, aims at mapping an itinerary of modernism and profi les the practice of the Iraqi artist. The exhibition is curated by Catherine David, Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

Motocross World Championship WHEN: February 24, 25WHERE: Losail Motocross TrackThe opening round of the 2017 FIM MXGP

World Championship will take place at the Losail Motocross Track for fi fth time in a row. General access is free-of-charge, while a Paddock ticket costs QR100 for the two days. VIP tickets are going for QR1,000 for the two days. For details of what’s included in the Paddock and VIP tickets, please visit the Losail Circuit Sports Club website. The tickets will be available at the Welcome Centre of the Losail Circuit Sports Club during the week of the event.

Revival of Qatar’s musical heritage and Qatari Folk singing program

WHEN: Thursday, Friday until April 28WHERE: Beach 15, Katara TIME: 6pm to 10pmResidents will have the opportunity to

watch and enjoy authentic Qatari musical arts and folk singing every weekend until April 28, 2017 at Katara.

The second edition of this cultural show dubbed as ‘The Revival of Qatar’s Musical Heritage and Qatari Folk Singing Programme’ is in line with Katara’s continuous eff orts to preserve the heritage of Qatar’s ancestors.

Some sideline activities at the event include training sessions, competitions, exhibitions, documentary research, publications, and lectures and seminars.

Chamber Music at MIA: Telemann Concerto for Four Violins

WHEN: March 2TIME: 6pmWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtThe monthly free chamber music concert

by members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in the atrium of Museum of Islamic Art will be on March 2, with the

West Bay skyline as a backdrop. No tickets or reservations required. All ages welcome. Seating will be on a fi rst-come fi rst-serve basis.

Secrets of the SimpsonsWHEN: March 5TIME: 7:30pm to 9:30pmWHERE: Shangri-La HotelIn this fun-fi lled PG13-rated presentation

loaded with cartoon clips, Mike Reiss, a four-time Emmy Award winning writer of the Simpsons show, tells you the stories and secrets from behind the show: dealing with celebrity guests, surprising critics (including George HW Bush) and even more surprising fans (Pope Benedict).

You do not have to love The Simpsons, or even have seen the show, to enjoy this presentation.

Mike Reiss has won some of the most prestigious awards in the world of entertainment, including four Emmys and a Peabody Award, during his twenty-six years writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in Season 4, which Entertainment Weekly called “the greatest season of the greatest show in history.” In 2006, Mike received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Animation Writers Caucus.

Reiss has written jokes for such comedy legends as Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Garry Shandling and Pope Francis! He is also an award-winning mystery writer, children’s book author and playwright.

A limited number of tickets are on sale at the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar offi ces in West Bay. The price is QR280 for adults and QR180 for children under 15, which includes dinner.

Qatar Superstock 600 Championship Round 3

WHERE: Losail International CircuitTIME: 10amWHEN: March 23, 24 and 25Qatar SuperStock 600 is a new road racing

championship organised by Qatar Motor Motorcycle Federation and Losail Circuit Sports Club.

The championship will have 12 races over 6 rounds at the Losail International Circuit.

The riders are competing using one-make bikes that will be used for the rest of the season, a stocked 600cc bike. The organisers bill it as “a great chance for every competitor to test themselves and fi ght for the title in fair racing conditions and in a professional environment”.

Grandstand and Paddock area are open for free to all the spectators.

Al Gannas(For school students) Until March 31, 20179am–NoonAl Gannas SocietyFree ( For boys only, requires

registration) Al Gannas association is participating in

the “Our culture is a school” programme, by organising many activities for the students every Monday and Wednesday of the week.

These activities include explanations on hunting and related items tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel heir), prepare traditional Arabic coff ee and start a fi re. For further details, visit katara.net

Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a LegendDATE: Until February 25, 2017WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor,

Museum of Islamic Art The temporary exhibition is curated by

Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports

Museum and presents a unique collection of artefacts from the boxing legend’s career, including photography from Ali’s outdoor exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971 and memorabilia spanning his journey to the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world title winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 and his fi nal world title winning fi ght against Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978.

Qatar Music Academy(For school students) Until March 28, 201711am–2pmFree (Requires registration) Qatar Music Academy focuses on teaching

its students the principles of Arab and Western music. As part of the “Our Culture is a School” programme, Qatar Music Academy has off ered interested schools the opportunity to attend various workshops. These workshops will include an introduction to Arab and Western music and instruments, as well as the teachers giving a brief overview of the educational music programmes at the Academy. For further details, visit katara.net

Fitness TrainingDATE: Sunday, Tuesday, ThursdayTIME: 6pm-7pmVENUE: MIA ParkThere are fi tness classes in the park on

Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of fi tness, 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 [email protected]

3Sunday, February 19, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

Long-time Doha resident passes away

Long-time Doha resident and Indian

entrepreneur Kader Haji Kollummal (Al Afia

Supermarket Group) passed away at Hamad

Hospital on Thursday. He was 64. He is survived

by his wife Fathima, sons Abdu Sukoor and

Ashraf Ali (Doha residents), and daughters

Nafeesa, Maimoonath and Sameera. The burial

was held yesterday at Chakyarkunnu Juma

Masjid, Thalassery, Kannur district in Kerala.

Obituary


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

“I’m not afraid to bare all”

SUNDAYCONVERSATION

I became panicked that I

was going to die and my 18-month-old

daughter, Ava, would have no idea who I

was

— Boxer Joshua Mohr on his trying life in the memoir Sirens

By Agatha French

Joshua Mohr is no stranger to second chances. In his new memoir, Sirens (Two Dollar Radio, $15.99 paper), he recounts not

only his journey from addiction to recovery to relapse and back again, but the experience of suff ering three strokes in his 30s, the last of which reveals that he has an 8-millimeter hole in his heart.

Raw-edged and whippet-thin, Sirens swings from tales of bawdy

addiction to charged moments of a father struggling to stay clean. Mohr’s prose is lean and scrappy — a featherweight boxer that packs a punch — and when we talk over the phone, he speaks with as much fl uency about literary structure as he does tattoos and punk rock. “I’m not afraid to bare all,” Mohr says, and that while writing this memoir he found himself “clinging to the capital T truth to leave some sort of artefact, some sort of record, for my daughter,” whom he was afraid wouldn’t remember him if he didn’t make it out alive.

We discussed the pros of writing

(almost literally) under the gun, why he doesn’t consider Sirens a recovery memoir, and what it’s like to be a living metaphor. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What drove you to write this book?

After I had my third stroke, the doctors found a hole in my heart. I had two months from diagnosis to the operating table, and I became panicked that I was going to die and my 18-month-old daughter, Ava, would have no idea who I was. The ticking clock has a punitive

connotation, but because I was legitimately worried I wasn’t going to survive the surgery it was easy to be truthful about things that are pretty disgusting and pretty despicable. It alleviated a

lot of pressure. Every artist has that malicious inner editor who’s constantly chirping in our ear, telling us we’re a hack or we’ll never be good enough or whatever the complaint de jour happens to be,


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

but I was able to turn that voice off — all the niggling concerns that might have occupied my mind pre-diagnosis. Those two months were probably the purest I’ve ever lived. My concerns truncated: I want to be a good dad, I want to be a good husband, I want to show up for my sisters. Everything else fell by the wayside, so when I was writing, usually late at night, there was nothing holding me back.

The ticking clock may have drowned out your inner editor, but there are a number of scenes in the book that I can imagine were painful to relive, let alone publish. Were there any passages that made you think, “Am I really going to write about this?”

Certainly the night that I bottomed out. That scene took a couple weeks. I would write for fi ve or six hours and then I would need to grow my literary bullet-proof-vest back for a couple days. If I’m interested in pure truth, it can’t be airbrushed. I feel like I got my black belt in honesty with scenes like that.

The narrative weaves between past and present in interesting ways. How did you conceive of the structure?

I know it sounds super nerdy, but structure is the element of the book that I’m the most proud of. I wanted to fi nd a way to tell the addiction story that we’ve heard so many times, but to turn it on its head and subvert those expectations. Something that seemed exciting to me was having narrative in the past tense and a narrative in the present tense that are both building toward their own sovereign apex.

I’m a failed musician, and I often think in terms of music. Most rudimentary guitar chords have three notes. The addiction stories — those are one note. The second note is January 1, 2014, through March 11, 2014 — my surgery day — the person fearing for his life. The third note is this meta-narrator — there’s a presence in the book inviting the audience to get as close to the narrative as she possibly can. I wanted to play them all off of one another. At fi rst, certain scenes might not seem to go together, but on a second read you notice some echoes, some concentricity.

Scenes of past addiction did feel particularly searing against those of present-day fatherhood. To use musical terms, were you after dissonance or harmony?

Dissonance. Total dissonance. One of the things that I love as a storyteller is contrast. I think about punk rock this way. A song can be the same chord progression, but it sounds totally diff erent based on the mood and the energy that’s informing that moment. In the verse it’s just the kick drum and the bass and the singer sort of growling, but by the time you get to the chorus the electric guitars are going crazy and the singer’s screaming out his lungs. I really wanted this book to sound like a punk song. I

intentionally didn’t edit this book as much as I would have edited a novel. A friend of mine who’s a tattoo artist says she can only work on a tattoo for so long before the skin starts to rip. As a writer working on a computer, I don’t have that. I worked hard not to overwrite this book.

Toward the beginning of the book, you say that if you

don’t tell this story “there’s the chance I’ll forget to fear my sirens.” Would you call this a recovery memoir?

I remember listening to an interview with Raymond Carver once. The interviewer called him a minimalist, and in his very hair-splitting way he said, “No, no, I’m a miniaturist.” People call this an addiction memoir; that’s not what it is to me. To me, this

is a relapse memoir. I wanted relapse in this story to read like an abject predator, just waiting for me to get overconfi dent, waiting for my hubris to fl are up, waiting to strike. So often, bad addiction memoirs present some binary: “I used to do drugs and I was a bad person, now I’m clean and sober and everything’s fi ne.” And that’s just so false. I’m a dad who drives a Subaru Outback — I mean how embarrassing is that? — but within the ecosystem of the Outback, I can be having really traumatic and dangerous things going through my head, just in terms of trying to maintain my sobriety. People never talk about what’s good about being an alcoholic or a drug addict, but I would make the argument that if you’re able to get sober and you’re able to use that tunnel vision not for self-destruction, but to express yourself … I mean I’ve written six books since 2009, not because I’m smarter than anybody else but because my workdays are longer.

You describe the shame that accompanies relapse as “electric shame,” which is so visceral. Do you remember when you hit on that phrase?

I remember exactly. I was writing about my fi rst relapse after 13 months. I thought about calling the book Electric Shame, and then I realised that sounds like a ’70s jam band.

The doctor who pioneered your heart surgery, Werner Forssmann, was also a Nazi. “Forssmann is a monster and a genius,” you write. “We all are. We are never just one thing.” Did it scare you to introduce this

character, and this ambiguity, into your narrative?

I think any time you’re using the word Nazi on the page, especially as a jumping off point to have an existential conversation about yourself — the answer is yes. I was scared to death of that. But I’m also a fi rm believer that if you’re not writing stuff that scares you, you’re probably not doing your job right. I can tell when storytellers are holding back.

Literature, fellow writers and readers, feel like bright spots in the narrative. What part does the literary community play in your life and work?

Art is a huge part of my life, and we’re all participating in this conversation that’s been happening since people scribbled on cave walls. I don’t know how I would see myself without books. I don’t know how to process the world without interacting with the blank page. And a bunch of strangers standing in a room, all feeling emotionally moved by the written word? It’s beautiful.

After three strokes, doctors discovered that you had a literal hole in your heart. When the shock settled, what was it like to realise you were a living metaphor?

When I told my friends, they were like, “Yeah, we know. Obviously you have a hole in your heart.” But in the book, that was something I felt I had to really paint with a light brush. It easily could have turned into a lifetime movie: “the man with the hole in his heart.” It’s like a Johnny Cash record. —Los Angeles Times/TNS

MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT: Joshua Mohr, right, and his work.

CONCERN: While writing this memoir Mohr found himself “clinging to the capital T truth to leave some sort of artefact, some sort of record, for my daughter,” whom he was afraid wouldn’t remember him if he didn’t make it out alive.


COMMUNITY

Perhaps no book on men, women and their relationships has attained such widespread popularity as John Gray’s #1 New York Times bestseller Men

are from Mars, Women are from Venus. The author of the “most long-lived, and tried-and-tested relationships guide ever” will be in Doha next month to share some fascinating secrets and clever insights with you.

In an event helmed by Doha Business Solutions, Gray will be holding workshops through the day on March 7 at the W Doha – for registration fees and timings, you can write to Monir Fady at [email protected] or call him on 5080-0130. The workshops will tackle two subjects – ‘How to get what you want at work’ and ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’.

Born in Houston, Texas, the famed relationship counsellor is best known

for his now iconic book, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, in which he observed: “When a man can listen to a woman’s feelings without getting angry and frustrated, he gives her a wonderful gift. He makes it safe for her to express herself. The more she is able to express herself, the more she feels heard and understood, and the more she is able to give a man the loving trust, acceptance, appreciation, admiration, approval, and encouragement that he needs.”

Hailed as an essential tool for couples who want to develop more satisfying relationships with their partners, the book provides a practical and proven way for men and women to communicate better by understanding and respecting the diff erences between them. Asserting the notion that men and women are as diff erent as beings from other planets, the book has several gems such as: “Men are motivated when they feel needed while women are motivated when they feel cherished”, and “Because she is afraid of not being supported, she unknowingly pushes away the support she needs.”

On his website marsvenus.com, Gray emphasises on how every loss has a lesson and points out, “I wrote Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus only after experiencing the tremendous heartbreak of a failed relationship and then feeling the immense joy of fi nding the true love of my life. My soulmate, Bonnie. I was able to learn from my past mistakes, dispel my past assumptions and create a better understanding of the love I could give and the love I wanted to receive in all my relationships.”

After more than 40 years of working with millions of individuals and couples, Gray says he has realised it is the little things that make a big diff erence in life. “Most times, these little things are just the positive thoughts and simple actions you can make to improve your health and the relationships in your life. And life is all about your health and your relationships. The rest is just stuff ,” he says, in a note on his ideas and work, on his website.

“Everyone hits bumps in the road. Some can feel like black holes that are impossible

to escape and have swallowed everything. But each loss should be viewed as a lesson that can teach us how to improve ourselves and progress to a better future. Sometimes, we just need to be given a little direction and the right tools to learn from those hard lessons,” he further explains.

The Number One bestselling relationship author of all time, Gray is the author of over 20 books. His books have sold over 50 million copies in 50 diff erent languages around the world. Gray is a leading internationally recognised expert in the fi elds of communication and relationships. His unique focus is assisting men and women in understanding, respecting and appreciating their diff erences. His advice can be easily used to improve relationships at home and in the workplace.

For more than 35 years, Gray has conducted public and private seminars for thousands of participants. Gray entertains and inspires audiences with practical communication techniques. His mission is for men and women to understand, respect, appreciate and work together. A popular speaker on the national and international lecture circuit, often appearing on television and radio programmes to discuss his work, Gray has made guest appearances on such shows as Oprah, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The CBS Morning Show, among others.

Author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus to hold

workshops early next monthThe workshops by John Gray will tackle two subjects – ‘How to get what you want

at work’ and ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’. By Anand Holla

John Gray

Cover of the book.

“Men are motivated when they feel needed while

women are motivated when

they feel cherished”


COMMUNITY

Two-day sports gala at Pak Shamaa School & CollegePak Shamaa School & College organised a two-day sports gala to celebrate the National Sport Day (NSD) recently. The event was organised separately for boys and girls. Commodore Irfan Taj, defence attaché at the Embassy of Pakistan, was the chief guest. Ziaullah Bangash, MPA of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, was the guest of honour. The guests were welcomed by MA Shahid,

the president of management committee of the school, Principal Nabila Kaukab and other school off icials.Students from the junior and senior sections took part in various competitions including athletics, ring race, wheel chairs, eating competition, Lazana Game, collection game, hurdle race, tug-of-war, and football.The winners, teams and individuals, were given prizes.

IMAR Group celebrates National Sport DayGroup IMAR companies celebrated the 6th Qatar National Sport Day on February 14 at Mesaieed Global Village. IMAR Sports Day was organised by the newly formed sports committee led by Sam Alex, Camp & Welfare Manager. “It was an effort that started weeks ago with the preliminary rounds of cricket matches that culminated in the semi and final games played on the day. This was in addition to a variety of other sport activities such as football, volleyball and basketball among others, leading to a satisfied workforce as per IMAR’s main motto,” Alex said.

“The festive atmosphere allowed for enhancement of team spirit and contributed to the personal and professional growth of the participants,” Bassel Fakhreddine, HR & Admin Manager, representing the executive management of the Group said. “We always look after our employees and encourage them to take part in physical activities like sports. It is one of the best ways to have a healthy lifestyle, a priority for Qatar in order to develop a healthy workforce and accomplish the Qatar National Vision 2030,” he added.The winners were awarded trophies, medals and vouchers by the management.


COMMUNITY

Birla Public School students receive hall ticketsThe Grade XII students of Birla Public School recently received hall tickets for their senior school certificate examination. A total of 215 students will be appearing in the CBSE exam that will start on March 10, 2017. Senior staff members, including the principal, attended the ceremony.

KSQ organises ladies, children’s talent search programmesKarnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ) celebrated its annual ladies’ and children’s talent search programme recently at Indian Cultural Centre. Renowned singers Ratnamala Prakash, Indu Vishwanath and Pancham Halebandi rendered popular Kannada and Hindi songs to a full house. The highlight of the performance was Kannada Bhavageethegalu (light music songs), penned by famous Kannada poets.

Shwetha Srivatsav, a popular cine star and two-time Filmfare Award winner, was the guest of honour. MES Indian School off iciating principal, Hameeda Kadar, was the chief guest. A fashion show was part of the function. The event ended with a prize distribution ceremony for ladies and children who had won in various competitions earlier in the day.

Over 545 families participate in Vodafone, Jungle Zone treasure huntJungle Zone organised a treasure hunt over three days in partnership with Vodafone recently. The initiative aimed to inform parents about how to keep their children safe in the digital world and encourage them to have an open dialogue with the children about these matters – this comes under AmanTECH Vodafone’s aid programme for online child safety.More than 545 families were registered for the activity. Jungle Zone also organised

roaming acts like juggling, magic shows, an acrobat and a mascot. “We are looking forward to more events that can be both entertainment and edutainment and add value to the customers,” said Feroz Moideen, the General Manager of Hyatt Plaza and Jungle Zone. “Soon we will be launching a Lego workshop for kids between 2 to 12 years of age and we are going to come up with loads of fun activities [details of] which can be seen on social media of Jungle Zone.”


COMMUNITYMOTORING

The Ferrari 812 Superfast: Geneva world premiere for the new, extreme performance V12 berlinetta

Ferrari has selected the 87th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show for the world premiere of the new 12-cylinder berlinetta, the 812 Superfast, the most powerful and

fastest Ferrari in the marque’s history. This new car not only introduces a plethora

of innovative features but is also particularly signifi cant as the V12 series marked the offi cial start of the glorious Prancing Horse story in 1947, 70 years ago this year.

The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history, in doing so building on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf. It is aimed at clients demanding the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range: an uncompromising sports car that will deliver exhilarating driving both on road and track yet also be comfortable enough to allow its owners enjoy it as an all-round experience.

EnginePowered by a new 6.5-litre V12 engine that

unleashes 800 cv, the 812 Superfast is the new benchmark in the mid-front-engined sports car segment, achieving maximum power output at 8,500 rpm, which translates to a specifi c power output of 123 cv/l. Figures that no other front-engined production car has ever even come near to delivering and which ensure the kind of thrilling top-end performance that is the exclusive characteristic of Ferrari’s noble V12 heritage.

The engine’s power is underscored by a full, rich exhaust sound that exploits the acoustic clout delivered by its increased displacement.

Maximum torque is 718 Nm @ 7,000 rpm, a signifi cant 80% of which is already available at 3,500 rpm, improving both driveability and pick-up even at low revs.

These performance levels were achieved in part by adopting a 350 bar direct injection system for the very fi rst time on a high-performance engine and pairing it with

variable geometry intake tracts conceptually derived from those of naturally-aspirated F1 engines.

The 812 Superfast’s dual-clutch transmission has specifi c gear ratios which, combined with shorter up and down-shifting times between gears, sharpen throttle response still further.

Vehicle dynamicsThe 812 Superfast is equipped with

leading-edge control systems and components, resulting in unparalleled handling and roadholding. It’s the fi rst Ferrari to sport EPS (Electric Power Steering) which is used to fully exploit the potential of the car’s performance and, through the complete integration with all the electronic vehicle dynamics controls – including the latest 5.0 version of Ferrari’s patented Side Slip Control (SCC) – make its powerful

performance easier to handle and even more thrilling to exploit.

The vehicle controls also feature, for the fi rst time, the Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0 system (PCV) which, following the experience gained with the F12tdf, features a further evolution of the software that improves the nimbleness of the handling and reduces the vehicle response times even further.

Styling and aerodynamicsDesigned by the Ferrari Styling Centre,

the new 812 Superfast redefi nes the formal language of front-engined V12 Ferraris, underlining the car’s exceptional performance with very sporty lines and proportions.

Seen in silhouette, the 812 Superfast has a fastback sleekness: a two-box design with a high tail reminiscent of the glorious 365 GTB4 of 1969. The design of the fl anks

visually shortens the tail and is characterised by impressively muscular wheelarches which imbue the 812 Superfast with the power and aggression warranted by its imposing V12. Full-LED headlights integrated into the design of the sculpted air intakes on the bonnet also emphasise that front muscle, integrating with, and wrapping around the front wheelarch.

At the rear, four round tail-lights inspired by Ferrari tradition emphasise a design crafted around horizontal lines and give the 812 Superfast a broad, imposing stance, visually lowering both spoiler and cabin.

As with all Ferraris, style and aerodynamic function are seamlessly integrated to produce innovative solutions and forms. Two examples are the multi-functional frontal section, which incorporates a cluster of aerodynamic solutions including active fl aps at the front of the underbody, and the rear fl ank which features an unprecedented aerodynamic by-pass to increase downforce.

The car is being launched in a special new colour, Rosso Settanta, which marks the company’s 70th anniversary.

InteriorThe interior of the 812 Superfast has

been revisited in line with the more extreme exterior whilst maintaining unaltered the exceptional on-board comfort and space that Ferrari’s front-engined V12 berlinettas have always off ered.

The cabin has been given a sportier, more radical look with the main elements seeming to fl oat, creating an eff ect of both thoroughbred racing eagerness and lean elegance. The horizontal dash loops stylishly around the central air vents for a sophisticated, sculptural look.

New, more sporty and ergonomic seats feature alongside the new HMI, including new steering wheel and instrument clusters and the latest infotainment and air-conditioning units.

The interior of the 812 Superfast.

812 Superfast


COMMUNITY

Coff ee tables and claims – design as it relates to contractors

Most of us are familiar with IKEA as a leading seller of fl at-pack furniture even if we have not actually bought any furniture from them. The rental fl ats of

the world would be empty if not for IKEA.When you buy a piece of IKEA furniture,

such as a coff ee table, for example, you are in a similar situation to a contractor starting up on a construction contract, setting aside that you have actually paid for the furniture.

On opening the fl at-pack it is essential to fi nd and read the instructions. These instructions are equivalent to Issued for Construction (IFC) documents, a combination of specifi cation and IFC drawings.

It is essential to read and understand the instructions much as it is to read and understand a contract’s documents. Fail to do so and the outcome will be exactly the same, be it constructing a coff ee table or a fl yover.

IKEA’s designers have worked many hours to produce a coff ee table design that will hold several cups of coff ee, a selection of magazines and the essential TV remote. This coff ee table has also been through testing to ensure its suitability for this job.

The result is what you see in the brochure. Follow the instructions and you will go from fl at-pack to coff ee table in no time at all.

Each element of the coff ee table is shown on the drawings with the method of fi xing specifi ed. This should also be the case for IFC documentation on a construction project. The design is the employer’s and the contractor takes this and builds the project in accordance with this design. The end result should be what the employer required and look like the architect’s impression.

What IKEA’s instructions do not tell you are things such as how to support the table legs whilst attaching the stretchers or how to insert the glass top into its frame. These are methods of working and best left to the individual to decide. Much the same is true in construction contracts where methods of working are dealt with via the contractor's method statements.

However, once in a while problems occur with fl at-packs. Maybe there is a piece of MDF that is not shown in the instructions. What to do? Throw it away? It may be an essential part. Fix it somewhere and hope for the best? The furniture was designed to function in a certain way and there could be coff ee spillage if this piece is inserted wrongly!

The thing to do is to ring the Helpline. The correct procedure is to ask the designer what to do.

Likewise, if the instructions show a round peg to be inserted into a round hole 5 mm from the edge of the table edge but the hole is square and 20 mm from the edge, the same procedure would apply.

The same is true in a construction contract. If a detail is not shown on the IFC or there is a contradiction between drawings, then

the contract should contain a mechanism to allow the contractor to request instruction

from the employer on how to deal with this situation. After all, the design was ‘Issued for Construction’.

This would also apply when site conditions do not match the design issued by the employer such as a sewer line running through the middle of a column base.

You would not expect IKEA to tell you to develop or correct their coff ee table design nor should the employer require a contractor to complete or correct the employer’s IFC design.

Unfortunately in many cases this is what happens. The contractor is required to complete an insuffi cient or defective design during the shop drawings process. This brings up many questions.

If you were to revise or otherwise alter IKEA’s design of their coff ee table, who would be liable for any coff ee spilled if a leg failed? How would that aff ect IKEA’s designer’s liability? Would IKEA have any recourse to their designer? Would IKEA owe you money for the redesign?

All of those questions are equally applicable in construction contracts.

Similar to the scenario of the IKEA coff ee table, a contractor for a construction contract can expect full details suffi cient to construct the project to be issued as IFC. If there are any omissions, discrepancies or errors within the IFC documentation, the contractor should ask for and expect instruction before continuing.

If only putting together fl at-pack furniture was as easy as construction.

If a detail is not shown on the IFC or there is a contradiction between drawings, then the contract should contain a mechanism to allow the contractor to request instruction from the Employer on how to deal with this situation. Photo by Jack Murphy

Matthew Schofield, Executive Director, and Sean Vernon, Contractual/

Commercial Consultant at Quantum Global Solutions continue their series of articles

on the construction industry. This month, Sean discusses how furniture design and

the construction industry have more in common than you’d think.


COMMUNITYINFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITY PUZZLES/CARTOONS

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

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.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Let’s Cook

Sudoku

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.

BAKEBARBECUEBLENDBOILBROILCHOPCLEAN

FILLETGRATEHEATKNEADMEASUREMICROWAVEMINCE

MIXPEELPUREEROASTSEASONSLICESTEAM

TASTETOASTWARMWEIGHWHIPWHISK


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

DOWN2. The first humans (4,3,3)3. Pain (4)4. Fails to hit (6)5. U.S. inventor (6)6. Short musical drama (8)7. Cow-house (4)11. Declared (10)13. Issue (8)16. Convulsions (6)17. Remember (6)18. Den (4)20. Periods of time (4)

ACROSS1. Legend (4)8. Easy task (6,4)9. Dips in liquid (8)10. Mature (4)12. Genuflects (6)14. Idea (6)15. Lax (6)17. Motive (6)18. Minus (4)19. Mishap (8)21. Unofficially (10)22. Team (4)

ACROSS1. Egyptian goddess is shown twice (4)8. Hot stew taken in by medical orderly (10)9. Possibly greets an N.C.O. (8)10. Sound comeback (4)12. Goes into liquidation when working hard? (6)14. Game on board to wind up with (6)15. Shun and finally cut (6)17. Bash in, perhaps, and drive away (6)18. One entitled to look closely (4)19. Casual feature of grain for malting (8)21. Animal gets cold in the Far East (10)22. Learning a new role (4)

DOWN2. What disposing of a good pair of nylons would be? (5,5)3. Sticks up, looking complacent (4)4. Small streetlights - might help them to find their way home! (6)5. Stalls, so both have to change (6)6. Keep quiet aboard ship (4,4)7. Voice of natural tone (4)11. Is valid as a description of what a bucket does (5,5)13. Supporter likely to maintain contact (8)16. Just say he’s a craftsman (6)17. Just happened to be cruel (6)18. With due deference to speed (4)20. Genuine old Spanish coin (4)

Quick Clues

Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

QUICKAcross: 7 Noise; 8 Carnage; 9 Apparel; 10 Penal; 12 Disrespect; 15 Invaluable; 18 Tines; 19 Support; 21 Overrun; 22 Anger.Down: 1 Antagonist; 2 Nippy; 3 Bear; 4 Ocular; 5 Proposal; 6 Painter; 11 Literature; 13 Illusory; 14 Evangel; 16 Absent; 17 Tough; 20 Plan.

CRYPTICAcross: 7 Dregs; 8 Adapted; 9 Arrests; 10 Equip; 12 Well-placed; 15 Armageddon; 18 Sol-fa; 19 Nastier; 21 Portend; 22 Vesta.Down: 1 Edwardians; 2 Tears; 3 Uses; 4 Tassel; 5 Waterloo; 6 Staunch; 11 Pedestrian; 13 Engraver; 14 Implore; 16 Denude; 17 Rinse; 20 Save.

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Stop and think before making any major moves today Aries.

Sometimes you leap before thinking about how far you’re leaping or

what you’re going to land on.

Being a nurturer is hard work, isn’t it? You’re known for being

maternal and a nurturer. But who nurtures you when you need it? If

you feel people are taking and not giving, change that storyline.

As much as you aren’t ready to admit defeat today Librans, you

might be wasting your precious Sunday if you don’t. There’s no weak

link in admitting you couldn’t do something. It’s simply part of life.

If you can’t think of something nice to say...you know the rest! While

it’s not easy, being politically and socially correct is the best way

to be – especially in these modern times of twitter and instagram

where words fly and drama arises.

Instead of asking for help today, why don’t you try to do it on your

own? Whatever it is, if you put that renowned Taurus tenacity into it,

you will do it!

The Moon shines in Sagittarius today, your fellow fire sign and

fifth house of romance, self–fulfilment and fun. Make it a day to

remember and do something fun – with your other half or your bff

or just for you.

Avoid someone who wants you to go out of your way to suit their

schedule. It’s Sunday – and it’s often the only real day you get to

relax. Stand your ground Scorpios.

Being the independent person you are, your birthday month has

inspired you to reach for the stars. Now your birthday month has

come to an end with the Sun moving into Pisces today. Now what?

Sometimes there is nothing else to do but follow someone else’s lead

and try things their way. You like to do things your way pretty much

all the time, but every now and again you do have to acquiesce to

other’s advice.

Don’t say “no” too quickly today Virgos. Think about it, ruminate on

it and say “maybe’ instead of “no” which is so definite. You might just

enjoy yourself.

The Moon shines in your sign today, your first house of ego and

personality. Have you been too vain in the past? Or too self–centred?

This is one of those days when you might want to come down a

notch or three.

Happy birthday to those first cosmic cab Pisces off the rank! You’re

just a Pisces and should have your chart done in order to find out the

degree the Sun is in Pisces...always good to know!

Whether it’s business travel, family road tripping or a romantic getaway,

exploring new places is exciting. You may be counting down the days until you leave, but if there’s one thing you dread, it’s packing. Deciding what earns a spot in your suitcase is hard enough, let alone figuring out how you can fit it all in.

Do you look with envy at savvy jet-setters who seem to navigate airports with ease while only toting a small carry-on? It’s because years of travel experience has taught them some packing tricks that make the process simple. Now you can use these same strategies to pack with ease no matter how near or far you plan to travel.

Select double-duty clothing items

Check the weather for your destination so you pack only items appropriate for the forecast. You

won’t need that big sunhat if rain is coming. Want to take it one step further? Choose items that multitask. For example, a large scarf can be a stylish accessory and also be used as a blanket on the plane or at the beach.

Pack toiletries strategicallyIf possible, only bring samples

and travel sizes of items to save space. Then leave them behind at the end of the trip to open up luggage space to bring home mementos. To avoid luggage spills and explosions, place toiletries in plastic bags or add plastic wrap to the tops before screwing on the cap.

Choose time-saving toolsAir drying hair takes forever

and hotel hair dyers are often slow and unreliable, so pack a lightweight, folding dryer like the Panasonic EH-NA27-K Nanoe Compact Hair Dryer to streamline your beauty routine. The nano technology draws moisture from the air to create moisture-rich ions that penetrate each hair shaft

ad enhance hair’s smoothness and shine. Need more incentive? The unique Quick-Dry Nozzle is designed to dry hair faster, so you can spend less time getting ready and more time enjoying your vacation.

Fold to prevent wrinklingTo prevent wrinkles on delicate

items, try wrapping them around soft, bulky items. For example, wrap a silk blouse or cotton trousers around a sweater. Avoid folding clothing any more than necessary. In fact, many people use a rolling method for packing clothes to save space and prevent wrinkles.

Utilise odd-shaped itemsShoes take up a ton of luggage

space, so strive to select no more than three pairs, and wear the heaviest or bulkiest pair while travelling. Place shoes along the sides or bottom to strengthen the bag and then stash items inside to maximise space (like socks, nylons and deodorant).

Eliminate makeup mayhemOnly bring makeup essentials

on a vacation and pack multi-use items such as a lipstick that can also be used as a blush. To prevent shadows and pressed powders from cracking, place a pressed cotton pad between the powder and the lid.

Grab a few plastic bagsOne of the most versatile things

you can bring on a trip is also one many people forget: resealable plastic bags. Whether you need a bag for bringing toys down to the pool, a place to put dirty clothes throughout your trip, or something to place that soggy swimsuit in before you check out of the hotel, plastic bags are your secret weapon.

©Brandpoint

7 tips to conquer your packing challenges while travelling


COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

Sunday, February 19, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Can empathise with Kareena, says Shilpa

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty has said she understands the emotion and pressure felt by new mother Kareena Kapoor, known for her fi t body.

“As an actress, I can understand the emotion and pressure on her, especially when she is the synonym of a fi t body. I had the same pressure when I became a mother. I didn’t get out of the house for fi ve months. After my delivery, I went with my husband for brunch and I heard some ladies were laughing and talking about my weight. It was very daunting,” Shilpa said at the launch of her wellness series by Tiger Shroff .

Kareena, who recently spoke about her pregnancy and how she is planning to get back into shape, said she was hurt by the comments she read on a website.

“People love to talk about others but you have to understand what fi tness means to you. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you. It is a part of our life that as a celebrity we are going to be judged anyway,” she added.

“Even if we overate during the pregnancy, what’s the big deal. Losing weight is the easiest thing to do if you are focused,” said the actress and entrepreneur, who is also known as fi tness enthusiast. — IANS

By Linda Winer

If you didn’t know that Emma Stone could sing and dance before La La Land, you clearly had not seen her knockout turn as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, her Broadway debut in 2014.

More to the point, if the devastating coming-of-age story of a gay black man seems like a plot breakthrough in Moonlight, you haven’t been around for the decade of gripping stage plays by the movie’s screenwriter, Tarell Alvin McCraney.

And if Fences has made you want to see more movies by a gifted screenwriter named August Wilson, you are out of luck. Instead, you are going to have to seek out the nine other stage plays in the decade-by-decade American Cycle that Wilson created before he died of cancer at 60 in 2006.

It’s wonderful that Denzel Washington — an Oscar nominee for Fences along with co-star and Broadway veteran Viola Davis — has signed on to executive produce the rest of the cycle for HBO. But Wilson, alas, won’t be around to write the adaptations.

You know how we’re always talking, often complaining, about all the Hollywood stars in the theatre today? Well, the stardust has blown in the other direction this year, with a startling number of theatre people earning Oscar nominations — most conspicuously, playwrights for their screenplays.

This is not precisely news for Kenneth Lonergan, who has nominations for directing and writing best picture nominee Manchester by the Sea. Lonergan had footprints both in movies and theater almost from the start of his important career.

By the time Hollywood began throwing honours at him in 2000 for You Can Count on Me, including an Oscar nomination for his screenplay, Lonergan had already made 1996 Off -Broadway news with This Is Our Youth, which, among other attributes, introduced a restless bundle of talent named Mark Ruff alo.

The playwright was on his way to being a 2001 Pulitzer Prize fi nalist for The Waverly

Gallery, still the deepest portrayal of an ageing woman I’ve ever seen. And then there was Lobby Hero, another quietly marvellous play about lost boys and overeducated underachievers.

We were spoiled, expecting to get many more of his clear-eyed, insightful plays — works that feel small but ask big questions and carry a big stick. But his career hit a bump with the movie Margaret, fi nished in 2005 but, after notorious years of editing and legal problems, was not released to his satisfaction until 2013, and then was virtually forgotten.

So there is a special thrill in the success of Manchester by the Sea, which has six Oscar nominations. At the same time, we got the premiere last spring of Lonergan’s hilarious

comedy about celebrity, Hold Onto Me Darling.

Neil Pepe, who directed the Off -Broadway premiere at his Atlantic Theater, pinpoints the humanity that this witty and disarming work has with the rest of Lonergan’s writing. “It is an extraordinarily funny and yet timely story about the nature of fame in America and how it relates to the truth of an honest, regular guy,” says Pepe, who fi rst saw it in a reading in 2004 starring Matt Damon and Casey Affl eck, an Oscar nominee for Manchester.

I asked Pepe if he knew why some playwrights’ work translated to the movies while others, perhaps even the language-driven Wilson dramas, are a less easy fi t. “I don’t know how to tell which writers have that ability, if

there’s a way to say, ‘Oh, I know this one is going to cross over,’ “ said Pepe, taking a phone break before tech rehearsals for The Penitent by David Mamet — another playwright whose heavily stylised writing would not, at fi rst glance, have been ready-made for Hollywood.

Pepe is “so happy Kenny is fi nally getting serious recognition,” and marvels how Lonergan understands both media. “He has a great visual sense and sense of economy for fi lm,” he says, “and knows how to use his imagination on the stage.”

I asked Pepe if he worried that the theatre would, once again, lose talents to the seductions of Hollywood. He scoff ed and off ered this welcome reassurance: “I think great writers like being great playwrights.” —Newsday/TNS

Playwrights, living and dead, make the jump to Hollywood

MIFFED: Kareena Kapoor. GRATEFUL: Taapsee Pannu.

Very diffi cult to get good fi lms: Taapsee

Actress Taapsee Pannu is on a roll. She has at

least four fi lms lined up for 2017, and she is loving her busy phase.

She has Running Shaadi, Naam Shabana, The Ghazi Attack and Judwaa 2 in her kitty.

“It’s very diffi cult to get good fi lms for us, so I am very much excited about all my fi lms,” Taapsee said on the sidelines of a special screening of Running Shaadi, which released on Friday.

The movie, debut directed by Amit Roy, also features Amit Sadh.

Talking about the romance comedy, she said: “Running Shaadi is very special to me and because of this fi lm, I got to work in Pink. I am looking forward to seeing the audience’s reaction.

“Until now, you have seen me doing rough and tough roles, so now I want to see if I can also make the audience laugh. I am pretty sure this fi lm will be able to bring a smile on everyone’s face.”

Running Shaadi revolves around a unique concept of helping people run away with the love of their life to get married. — IANS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Denzel Washington as Troy Maxson and Viola Davis as Rose Maxson in a scene from the movie Fences from Paramount Pictures.


COMMUNITY

By Sophie Rohrmeier

In the old days, people used to complain that children were glued to the television. Now they worry that they’re even more under the spell of their smartphones and tablets.

The toy industry fi rst exploited tech and used apps to build out their business. But now they’re also looking to take advantage of the counter trend.

Stress from spending long hours at computers and a lack of movement need some kind of redress, and now there are toys to help people fi nd it.

The industry has even co-opted former US fi rst lady Michelle Obama as its mascot after the success of her “Let’s Move” campaign.

The industry calls it the “Body and Mind” sector, and it’s set to be one of the biggest trends of this year. It was also featured at the world’s largest toy fair, which took place in the German city of Nuremberg recently.

The toys featured included the “Gonge Roller,” which looks a bit like a hoverboard and which is supposed to help develop motor skills and co-ordination, and an electric skateboard that takes a bit of practice to stand on as it whizzes away underneath you.

There’s also a yoga game to encourage aerobics and colouring books – which lately have also been aimed at adults – to help people relax.

It’s diffi cult to exactly defi ne the segment and its sales fi gures, because it encompasses such a diverse range of products, says Willy Fischel,

director of the German Association of Toy Retailers (BVS).

But “Body and Mind” is a defi nitely a sector with great potential for the future, he says.

Last year the smartphone app Pokemon Go had people all over the world getting out onto the streets, moving while playing a game.

And this year dancer and engineer Daigo is to unveil a new app which uses sensors in bracelets as well as Bluetooth to transform movements into beats, making the body into an instrument that follows the dance.

While children and young people may no longer be able to imagine their lives without

smartphones or tablets, WhatsApp or Instagram, the toy fair’s website suggests that shouldn’t be the case.

Expectations on children to perform well at school have risen, it says, adding, “Such digital and mental strain leads to stress.”

Mathias Albert, a sociologist at the university of Bielefeld who co-wrote a study on youth for oil company Shell, agrees.

“Their life and educational paths are less easy to plan for,” he says. “There’s a lot of uncertainty among children and young people.”

“There’s pressure to get good grades coupled with the question, ‘What use, actually, is a good grade?’”

There’s also a key diff erence between the age of television and the age of the smartphone, he says, with children and young people now being accessible everywhere and all the time.

“It’s clear that that causes stress,” says Albert.

Stress is also linked to that other buzzword, obesity, which is at record levels around the world.

Children need at least 60 minutes and preferably 90 minutes of exercise a day, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“But an alarming percentage of adolescents in Germany don’t even manage that single hour a day of exercise, from moderate to intensive and spread out over that time,” says Swantje Scharenberg, director of a Karlsruhe-based research centre focusing on sport and children (FoSS).

Because children spend their afternoons on the Internet, children are getting less and less exercise, according to Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign.

Scharenberg also welcomes the toy industry’s move to cash in on the yoga boom. “Whatever helps people exercise, play and do more sport, we should use all of it,” she says.

But Albert disagrees. “The idea of motivating children to do more exercise by using toys, I think, to be honest, is absolute nonsense.”

They just need to go outside, he says, and most have a bike.

What would make more sense to him would be to encourage ideas that use smartphones to get children outside into the fresh air – like Pokemon Go for example.

Scharenberg’s research centre is working on exactly that kind of app; it’s aimed at the whole family, measuring all of their activity and motivating them to take more exercise. -DPA

Toymakers try to get kids moving

A man tries out the Hovertrax hoverboard at Nuremberg's toy fair.

A child prods the touch-screen of a tablet at a shopping centre in Berlin. Stress from spending long hours at computers and a lack of movement need some kind of redress, and now there are toys to help people find it.

Documents

D C—18 C TODAY PUZZLES LIFESTYLE OROSCOPE Heartfelt