Black & White magazine issue21 by Black & White

Vol.1 Issue 21II September 7-20, 2010 Ramadan 28-Shawwal 11

Watch DanZak live on September 16 p10 Sablat Oman's bank of volunteers p23 Saniya - the energy woman p50

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October 2010

Featuring Hema Malini, Esha Deol & Ahana Deol

Dance for a cause

Parampara – a classical dance presentation in Odissi and Bharatnatyam featuring India’s ‘Dream Girl’, Bollywood actress Hema Malini and her two lovely daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, paying homage to womanhood and traditions…

More details: 24565697/98675976, blackandwhiteoman@gmail.com

In support of: Mobile Mammography Unit & Home Away from Home initiative

Excellent topics I am happy to read the 'Message from the Messenger' (issue 19). It is wonderful that you are choosing topics, which are of great relevance. It's highly appreciated. The topic, ‘First Muslim and the First Mosque of Oman’, made excellent reading! Keep up the good work! S.A.S. Naqvi, sports consultant, FMEC/OHA and technical advisor, MABGOC, Ruwi

Capture the essence There is magic (issue 18), not only in Bahla, but in most villages of Oman. Go to any village in Oman and you will find a whiff of that magic in even the remotest corner of the town you are in. There is an air of mystery in Oman, something unusual and something extraordinary. Maybe the magic of Bahla is different and perhaps there is good and bad magic there, but the important factor is that there is something magical about Oman, something enchanting, something lovely and captivating. Try to always capture this essence in your stories and then you don’t have to look back ever again! God bless all at the Black & White! Nandita D., Muscat

Today’s men – the best I completely agree with the story, ‘Modern men are more traditional (issue 19)’. There’s a marked difference in the way men handled themselves in the past and how they do so now. Men used to be very macho, almost chauvinistic, earlier; then we saw the era of the metro-sexual men who were too caught up with themselves and finally, thank goodness for the present kind of men who do not feel it beneath their dignity to express themselves or help at home if and when required. The best that any woman would hope for are the chivalrous, traditional kind of men… Leena Johnson, Al Hail

66 September September7-20, 7-20,2010 2010

Men are men – always selfish Men are men, and the less said of them the better. In what way is the modern man traditional? Traditional as in the ‘cave man’s’ sense? Then, maybe, otherwise, I don’t see them in any different way. Men believe that they are very macho and are mostly chauvinistic. Yes, today’s men express themselves more, but what does that mean exactly? They express their needs and wants more than before. It doesn’t mean that they are softer, kinder, more considerate, generous and caring. Chivalrous, they might be, until they get the women they want then they treat them like doormats and walk over them. Men have only become more selfish over the years, and the only consolation is that they are more sophisticated about it – otherwise, men remain men. Always selfish and always thinking about themselves! Ellen Coolidge, Qurum

English should not be the only criteria As a frequent letter writer to newspapers and magazines, I must say that I am always looking for a chance to be read and heard. Now, I am motivated to write this after reading the piece ‘Edit makes magazine…?’(issue 19). One important point that I want to raise here is that the editors of newspapers and magazines should not dump letters that are badly written. People like us who want to write -- but do not have the capacity to write letters in proper English -- will feel totally let down when our letters are not carried. Maybe we do not know English that well; in the sense, we may not be able to write well, but should that be the criteria? I mean, if we know English, does it mean that we will have more things to say or that we are better people? I can express well in my native language, but, I can’t do the same in English, still I try. So, please don’t throw away my letter just because I have not been able to express it right. Having said that, I must say that I have sent many poems and letters to magazines and newspapers here and some of the editors have done proper justice to them, editing, and even rewriting them. I am really humbled and honoured by the treatment meted out to my work. Anand Thota, CBD Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Black & White 7

Xclusive The Tilapias of Musannah destined to be one of the 32 Tilapia, most important farmed seafood products of the century is slowly swimming its way to ubiquity in Oman

Cover Photo: Najib Al Balushi

DanZak set to storm Oman

Oman to get a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of volunteers

Come September 16, DanZak will be performing with DJ Teddy Jam at the lawns of the Muscat Intercontinental hotel. This is the first-ever live Omani concert where DanZak would be performing

The energy woman

Contents Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC Black & White Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos Office location: Hatat House, Office no: 212, II Floor Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496 Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com 8 September 7-20, 2010 Printed at Mazoon, Muscat, Oman

Oman Sablat will be creating this new project called Taoun. It is going to be a bank of volunteers in all regions, spanning Oman

BPA Consumer Audit applied for December 2009

Saniya Khalfan Al Ghannami is a businesswoman with a difference. She could be ideally termed as the quintessential Omani businesswoman. Or, better put, she is someone who can really show what an Omani woman is capable of.

Editor-in-chief Managing editor Work editor Design & production Photographer Advt. & marketing

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Priya Arunkumar Adarsh Madhavan Beneek Siraj Najib Al Balushi S M Azeiez, Ali Al Raisi Swithun Fernandes

All about X, Y & Z

Thanks-for-youremail-but-I-am-out-oftown-from-today-till… By Adarsh Madhavan “Thanks for your mail. I am afraid that I will be out of the office starting 20/08/2010 and will not return until 20/09/2010. I will be away from Muscat for the next 30 days. Therefore, I will be unable to check my mails. As a result, my ability to respond promptly will be severely curtailed. I regret any inconvenience caused. I will respond on my return on Sunday, 20 September. In case of emergency, please contact my secretary at (secretary’s email id). Thank you for your understanding. Best regards. (Name).” Since the last few days, every email that I sent I have been getting the same ‘sorry, out-of-town’ response. What is happening? Is everyone on vacation? All my email queries to people in town are bouncing back with these messages. Check out the above response, which I got most recently. I desperately wanted to contact this person, and when I did I got this reply. Everyone to whom I sent mail gave me similar responses. Then, there are others from whom I got these types of responses: “Thank you for your email. I am currently out of office and will be back on duty on Thursday, 30th September 2010 Kind regards (Name).” And then there are the others who seem to be perennially out of town:

better to contact him on Tuesday.” So, I do that, I contact ‘Sir’ on a Tuesday and there is no response and when I continue to follow up on Wednesday, I get an email stating that: “Thanks for your email. I will be out from 25/08/’10 to 8/09/’10” and that I should be contacting the same secretary who is going to do nothing but say that, “Sir is out of town from August 25 to September 8!” So, I drop ‘Sir’ and look at greener pastures… How is it possible for these people to be forever out of town, my little head wonders? Is it the nature of their work, which is taking them out of town? Wow, then they must be really busy people and probably in bigger positions than what I gave them credit for? So, am I the only one who is sending them emails? And, have emails become outdated all of a sudden? Or, it could be that people no longer send mails to each other anymore…they must all be meeting directly and not in Oman, but abroad? Are all meetings being conducted outside Oman? I frankly don’t know. I am sending mails by the dozen, no, by the hundreds and not even one mail is getting acknowledged and the only ones that reply to me carry the above ‘out-of-the-office’ legend. Either no one wants to reply to me and was plainly ignoring me or most of them were really out of town or whatever.

“Thanks for your email, but I will be out of town from 10/08/’10 to 18/08/’10.”

I think it is high time that I also prepare my own outof-office statement just to be on the safer side and send it to all instead of just making it an automated response:

Okay, you think, they will be back by 19/08/’10 and when you contact them on that day, they will not respond because it is a weekend and you don’t really know when it is a weekend for them: Thursday and Friday or Thursday/ Friday/Saturday? So, when you finally e-contact them on Sunday, their secretary replies back tersely that since ‘Sir has a board meeting from Sunday to Monday, it would be

“Folks, don’t send me any emails for the time being. I am going to be out for the rest of this year, as of today till mid-January. I don’t have a secretary and so even if there is an emergency, none of your mails are going to be answered." So there! editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Black & White 9

Playground 10 September 7-20, 2010

DanZak set to storm Oman A pretty young girl went nudge, nudge, nudge to her friend when they were strolling one recent evening near the Jawaharat Al Shatti complex in Qurum: “Saw that guy?” “No, who?” her friend asked and turned to have a better look at what her buddy was getting so excited about. Then they both exclaimed in one breath: “Wow, DanZak!” Yes, wow, DanZak (nee Hamdan Shamis Al Zakwani). Oman’s own Omani English singer, songwriter, producer, businessman and commercial pilot to boot. THE NAME IS NOW KNOWN, POPULAR and is all set to reach new heights sooner than this young African-born Omani could imagine. For, September and October are going to be crucial months where the young artist is going to come out both locally and internationally and see if he can break through the ranks to become an international artist with perhaps even his firstever record… Come September 16, DanZak will be performing with DJ Teddy Jam at the lawns of the Muscat Intercontinental hotel. This is the first-ever live Omani concert where DanZak would be performing. “I will be singing 10 songs and I hope it will be a great show!” DanZak tells Black & White sipping a cool drink at Second Cup in Qurum. DanZak has not yet released an album, but he has already 11,000 fans on his Facebook site and is on many radio shows across the Middle East. A major break is in the offing when this young Omani R&B and Hip Hop

singer sings at Akon’s Hitlab before the legend himself in October. If selected, DanZak will not only have his song on top of the charts, but also be cutting a record deal.

want to do all my life – be a singer! I was pretty young at that time and getting out of my teacher’s studio, my mind was already made up as to what path I wanted to take: Music!

So much is at stake today and DanZak is standing poised before a new point in history where he could be adjudged the only Omani English singer to attain international status. But, how did this all happen? How did Hamdan Shamis Al Zakwani become DanZak?

NAFISA MADE ME ‘SHAMAM’ In 2005, Hamdan met some local singers there; they exchanged ideas and then a year later, in 2006, came his first-ever solo. “I recorded ‘Nafisa’ in 2006 at the G records studio in Africa.

“It started out as a hobby in 2002,” DanZak quietly tells us. “But, what started out as a hobby is today my everything, my main purpose in life!” Hamdan was born and raised in Africa as a proud Arab. “How did I get into music? Well, it was more of an experiment. My school teacher invited me one day to his home studio and I was at that time in Rwanda (Central Africa). I sang my first-ever song, a mix of Swahili and English. I kind of liked it and it just hit me that this is what I

“Nafisa is a cute song, which proved to be a very popular radio hit. It is the song where I am singing to a girl called Nafisa… I sang that song under the name of Shamam.” DANZAK “Music was my passion by then and I had made up my mind as to what path I should take,” Hamdan said. But, at his home, his family members were keen that he took up a proper career. Family came first, and so Hamdan came back to Oman in 2007 and took up couple of jobs, first with DHL and then with HSBC. Black & White 11

“During this time, I continued my experiments with music, sang, learned and up dated myself consistently. Although there aren’t enough resources here to support musicians, I still managed to get into event management and later went on to create my own production company called Music Masterpiece(MMP). The MMP was created in association with Blonde Mafia Management, who handled me as a brand and created a brand name: DanZak. Throughout this period I got together with some music lovers in Oman and sang from home. A friend inspired me to take up my dream job, that is to be a commercial pilot and off I went to Australia to pursue a course in flying. I currently hold a qualified/authorised commercial pilot license.” Australia proved to be a mind opener for DanZak. “I ordered musical equipments on e-Bay and started recording with the help of some online producers. As DanZak I sang songs like Omani Queen and Wifey, which proved to be instant hits.” At this stage, Hi FM picked up DanZak’s songs and that proved to be a turning point of sorts for him in Oman. “The songs were very well publicised and promoted. My fans grew in numbers and today, I am on Facebook with over 11,000 plus fans. I am grateful to my friends who supported me and my fans who created DanZak in me.”

Playground

HOLIDAY SPECIAL In 2009 September, DanZak flew down to Oman from Australia for a two-week vacation. And that was the time when he did his first-ever live concert called the Traffic Lights Concert as part of an Eid party occasion. “I still live that experience. 12 September 7-20, 2010

It was mind blowing, standing up on stage, with a sea of fans screaming out my name! I realised that singing was no more a hobby -- it was my main purpose in life. Flying is my hobby today. That was the day Danzak became ‘live’!” AKON’S HITLAB (WWW.HITLAB.COM) During this period DanZak had also registered himself in Akon’s Hitlab (a website where unsigned singers can upload their songs for analysing against the top 100 Billboard hits of the past six years) as an artist and posted his songs. “There were over 28,000 artists who were registered in Hitlab.” But, this soon began to produce results: “By March this year, I was ranked as one of the top 10 artists in Akon’s Hitlab for a period of three weeks. Three of my songs were on the top 10! By May I was ranked number one artist and I remained there for over 10 weeks. Currently I am number 2 out of the 30,000 registered artists. “Akon himself spoke about me and my songs in one of his radio shows. It was a proud moment for me. Akon’s Hitlab is an online lab where musicians can come and test out their songs to find out if they have a potential hit on their hands! And Hitlab is holding a contest where you could see your dreams of getting a record deal fulfilled! With key players of the music industry on the jury listening in on your creations, your song could be the next one to top the charts! I am singing in front of Akon this October. I am selected and my fingers are crossed…” MY INSPIRATION Who or what inspired him as a singer? “I was bowled over by R. Kelley’s 'Snake'. It was absolutely

fascinating and is made in an Arabic context with camels, sands, tents et al in the background of the music. Seeing that video I knew that this is what I want to do and where I want to be… "Then of course, I am inspired by the one and only MJ (Michael Jackson). Of course, I am not a good dancer, but Michael is my all-time inspiration! Currently, Akon is my favourite and my big inspiration. The thought that I would be performing in front of him itself is really great – it is like a dream coming true...” MY FAVOURITES He has sung some songs and surely one or two of them must be his favourites? “Honestly, I love all my songs. But my most favourite one is Ireena. It is a song I did to create awareness on breast cancer. "In Africa, breast cancer awareness in some areas is still in its infancy and the medical facilities available to attend to this disease is much low. As a singer I wanted to touch lives, make a difference and so I chose to sing one… Ireena is a girl who suffers from breast cancer and it is a sad song on her sufferings… "In the pop list, I love BumbyBumpy; it is very light and has a feelgood factor about it! You can check me out at the facebook or Akon’s Hitlab list."

By March this year, I was ranked as one of the top 10 artists in the Akon’s Hitlab for a period of three weeks. Three of my songs were on the top 10! By May I was ranked number one artist and I remained there for over 10 weeks. Currently I am number 2 out of the 30,000 registered artists

WISH ME LUCK ON SEPTEMBER 16 Yet another Eid and DanZak is all set to beat his earlier local performance here with some scintillating stuff. “I will be performing with DJ Teddy Jam on September 16 at the Muscat Intercon lawns.I will be singing 10 songs and I hope to do a great show!” For show details check DanZak's facebook profile or www.hifmradio. com or call 95555699 Black & White 13

Black & White 13

Men read 14 14 September September7-20, 7-20,2010 2010

Exercise and asthma do not go together, or so goes the belief. Some even believe that it will do more harm than good for them. But, like most beliefs, this one takes quite a beating. The truth is that most asthmatics are likely to benefit from some form of regular physical activity.

ONE OF THE GOALS OF asthma treatment is to help you maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise and other physical activities. Following your asthma action plan by taking medications as prescribed by your doctor, avoiding triggers, and monitoring your symptoms and lung function will help you achieve this goal. If asthma symptoms prevent you from participating fully in activities, talk to your asthma doctor. A small change in your asthma action plan may be all that is needed to provide asthma relief during exercise or activity. Activities that involve short, intermittent periods of exertion such as volleyball, gymnastics, baseball and wrestling are generally well tolerated by people with symptoms of asthma. Activities that involve long periods of exertion, such as soccer, distance running, basketball, and field hockey, may be less well tolerated. Also less well tolerated are cold weather sports such as ice hockey, cross-country skiing, and ice-skating. However, many people with asthma are able to fully participate in these activities. Swimming, which is a strong endurance sport, is generally well tolerated by many people with asthma because it is usually performed in a warm, moist air environment. It is also an excellent activity for maintaining physical fitness. Other beneficial activities for people with asthma include both outdoor and indoor biking, aerobics, walking, or running on a treadmill. Ideally, whether or not you have asthma, exercise should be performed four to five times per week for at least 30 minutes. Talk to your doctor to find out how much exercise you should get.

EXERCISING WITH ASTHMA Despite the fact that asthma may be brought on by aerobic activity, exercise may still be a desirable option for many asthmatics. Research indicates that as tolerance for physical exertion is built up over time, it is less likely that an asthmatic will experience an attack during exercise. And, in addition to reducing the risk of developing many other diseases, appropriate exercise can help asthmatics reduce stress, sleep better and feel more energised. IF ASTHMA ATTACKS WHEN YOU EXERCISE •Always use your pre-exercise asthma inhalers (inhaled bronchodilators) before beginning exercise. •Perform warm-up exercises and maintain an appropriate cool-down period after exercise. •If the weather is cold, exercise indoors or wear a mask or scarf over your nose and mouth. •If you have allergic asthma, avoid exercising outdoors when pollen counts are high and when there is high air pollution. •Restrict exercise when you have a viral infection, like a cold. •Exercise at a level that is appropriate for you. Maintaining an active lifestyle is important for both physical and mental health. Remember: asthma is not a reason to avoid exercise. With proper diagnosis and the most effective treatment, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of an exercise programme without experiencing asthma symptoms. If you begin to experience asthma symptoms during exercise, stop and repeat your pre-exercise inhaled medication. If your symptoms completely go away, you may restart the exercise. If your symptoms return, stop the activity, repeat your quick relief medication and call your health care provider for further advice. Black & White 15

Kick those

Men read

MYTHS!

16 16 September September7-20, 7-20,2010 2010

Many myths are known to hold back those wanting to exercise. The most common among them is this myth that walking is less effective than running. Is this true? And is it true that exercise can be counterproductive because the more you exercise, the more you eat? Let us find out: WALKING IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS RUNNING What happens when you run for 30 minutes? You burn calories! And it is true that you will burn about twice as many calories running for 30 minutes than walking for 30 minutes. But, experts note that if a runner and a walker cover the same distance, they burn about the same number of calories. So if you’re willing to take the ‘slow route,’ you are likely to lose just as much weight. In fact, studies have proved that how long you exercise matters more than how hard you exercise.

and fruit drinks) raise blood sugar levels dramatically, which encourages fat storage, weight gain, and hunger. Fibrous foods like apples, as well as proteins, raise blood sugar less, making them friendlier to your waistline. Finally, foods that contain a lot of water, such as vegetables and soup, tend to fill the belly on fewer calories, so you’ll stop eating them way before you stop eating more caloriedense foods.

EXERCISE INCREASES HUNGER? Exercise makes you hungry? Wrong, say experts. It is a common misconception: If you burn hundreds of calories during a workout, you’ll end up eating more. But research shows that exercise has no effect on a person’s food needs, with the exception of endurance athletes who exercise for two hours a day or more. In fact, research shows that exercise often suppresses hunger during and after the workout.

DIET ALONE IS ENOUGH FOR SUSTAINED WEIGHT LOSS You will lose weight in the short term by slashing calories, but experts say exercise is what keeps pounds off for good. Exercise burns calories, of course. It also builds muscle, which takes up less space than fat. Muscle tissue also requires more calories to sustain it than fat tissue does. In other words, the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you’ll burn at rest. In fact, some studies suggest that over the long term, if you had a choice of eating consistently less or exercising consistently more, exercise would be the better weight-loss choice.

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOUR CALORIES COME FROM Calories are not created equal. First, some foods (in particular, proteins) take more energy to chew, digest, metabolise and store than others. Others (such as fats and carbohydrates) require fewer calories to digest and store. Second, different food types have different effects on your blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates (think white bread, cookies,

THERE IS NO BEST TIME FOR EXERCISE If you’re simply walking to get healthy or take off some weight, it doesn’t matter when you do it, as long as you do it. But if you’re an athlete looking for the best-quality workout, choose the late afternoon, when body temperature is highest. Muscles are warm, reaction time is quick, and strength is at its peak. If you push yourself harder as a result, you will burn more calories.

Black & White 17

How to manage your

S W D hift

ork

isorder

Men health

By Sanjit Aaron

One of my colleagues had a bad problem in office. He used to come to office bright and early but by mid-morning he would slump on the desk and snore away. I took him to a doctor who said he had SWD, or, in other words, shift work disorder. The SWD is a medical condition that can be easily diagnosed and treated by a medical practitioner, the good doctor told me. According to him, the SWD occurs when your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal sleep-wake clock is out of sync with your work schedule â&#x20AC;&#x201D; your body is telling you to go to sleep when your work schedule needs you to stay awake. 18 September 7-20, 2010

CAN NEITHER SLEEP NOR WAKE UP Because of this disruption of your body’s natural rhythm, people with SWD often struggle to stay awake during their waking hours, or have trouble sleeping during their sleeping hours. If you are having SWD, you may have trouble focusing and this may also lead to bad road behaviour; in the sense, you may have sleepiness-related accidents; and at work you are likely to become miserable and your overall performance will be affected. Now, even when you go back home, you will lose out on many family and social activities because you may not only be off mood, but, you would also display signs of increased irritability. Doctors note that there are chances that in such SWD patients, there maybe a gradual worsening of heart and stomach disorders. WHO IS AT RISK FOR SHIFT WORK DISORDER? While shift work disorder (SWD) can affect men and women of all ages, some factors may cause even greater problems coping with shift work: •Age greater than 50 years •History of sleep disorders •History of stomach disorders •Diabetes •Heart disease WORK SCHEDULE IS THE CULPRIT The doctor also noted that if you work night, early morning, or rotating shifts, your work schedule may be causing your sleep-wake cycle to be out of sync. Nonstandard shifts have become very common in today’s workplace. SHIFT WORKERS A wide range of occupations require either permanent or occasional shift work: Professional and business services such as accountants,

stockbrokers, customer service reps, IT support staff, and other people with corporate jobs; healthcare professionals such as emergency room physicians, nurses, and overnight pharmacists; leisure, entertainment, and hospitality segment workers such as bartenders, servers, chefs, casino dealers, performers, radio DJs, concierges, and doormen; production and manufacturing such as steel, textile, and other factory workers; protective services staff like firefighters, dispatchers and security guards… COPING WITH SYMPTOMS If such workers have SWD, the only way to resolve is to have a change in the shift work, but, of course, there are some things you can do to try to cope with your symptoms: •Avoid caffeinated foods and beverages before bedtime •Get a full eight hours of sleep each day •Turning on bright lights may help diminish drowsiness when you need to be awake •Eliminate noise and light from your sleep area •Try to stick to your sleep and wake schedule, even on weekends GET TO THE SPECIFICS When you talk to your doctor, you have to make sure that you point out specifics: Let him or her know about your work schedule; what hours you work and whether you work shifts/non-traditional work hours; if you have had any changes in your work schedule. Also, tell your doctor if you feel that your excessive sleepiness (ES) is interfering with your job routine; when and where you feel sleepy; things you do to stay awake (like drinking coffee, soda, or energy drinks); how it affects your job or personal life and if you plan your life around sleepiness. Black & White 19

www.omanonlinesearch.com

Coming Soon! Oman's first comprehensive online directory

More details: oos@blackandwhiteoman.com

Off the wall

Tired of everything Tired. I am tired of being measured by a ruler, weighed by a weighing machine and judged by the colour of my skin. Tired. Tired of being forced to play a role; pretending to be someone I am not and walked over by those who don’t care about me. Tired. Tired of being misunderstood, because I can’t understand myself and tired of being ignored and sidelined because I look and feel so inconsequential and inconspicuous because of my unobtrusive nature. Tired. And I am tired of being tired because it is quite boring. You have got to drop this boring pose and make a splash of your life, make people know you, hear about you. You have got to be heard, known and loved… You have got to make a lot of noise, otherwise they might not notice you whimpering away in the dark. Tired. Tired of people telling me what to do and what not to do; and why I should do this and why I should not be doing that… There are so many out there who tell me everything from what I should wear to what I shouldn’t wear and what I should be saying and what I shouldn’t… Tired of people telling me that I don’t look good, or am morose, or don’t smile too much or am too quiet or too rude…or that I don’t care and that I am too cautious or too aggressive… Tired of people carping about my faults and insulting me… I mean, I am an adult; I mean, I think, so I am, so let me be… But I am starting to feel that no matter how I act, or what I say, there will always be people to point things out, to try teaching me something or simply to annoy, irritate or just to poke fun at me. I am tired of people who I think will be there for me and yet dump me unceremoniously when I need them the most. I have already lost many people like that and I have already cut ties with many who were close and there have been more occasions than one where I felt I was the happiest just being alone, with myself, with my book or just my thoughts, sitting quietly somewhere, undisturbed and at peace. I guess I should be a good friend of myself before I can be a good friend of someone else and I simply can’t try anymore, I don’t have the energy.

By Adarsh Madhavan

he ft

wall

I don’t have the guts to confront the odds and I don’t have the zip in me to be up and get going. I am tired. Tired of all that goes on around me, inside me and outside me. Tired. I am tired of trying to be who I am not and I am tired of telling myself that I should stop trying. Tired. Tired of being questioned and judged, burdened, bludgeoned and belittled. I am tired of the questions thrown at me – questions to which I don’t have any answers. I am tired of being rejected. I am tired of the way my heart feels all the time, tired of the way I cannot even hope to control it. I am tired of feeling unwanted. Tired of knowing that no matter what I do, no matter how much I try, I will never be good enough in the eyes of those who matter the most to me. I am tired of being sick. I am tired of the way it makes my body feel all the time. It brings me down to the brink of giving up all hope of repair within me. I am tired of not being able to depend on anyone, even myself... I am tired of the people who have said they care then they do not; I am tired of those who have given me their warmth and then as suddenly have taken it away again, leaving me cold. I am tired of not having anyone to listen, to care, to be there for me. I am tired of the headache of having an heartache, and I am tired of wearing my heart on my sleeve. I am tired of feeling the way I do. Tired. Just tired. Tired for heaven’s sake! adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

Black & White 21

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Oman watch

Oman to get a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of

VOLUNTEERS Ali and Said (*) are two enthusiastic young Omanis who are ever ready to offer their hands to anyone who needs help. When the recent cyclone hit Oman, they went out of their way to help the victims and assist in anyway they could. They visited the affected areas and on their own helped many affected people, which was quite appreciated. If there is a cause, they will be there to support it, the duo said recently. There are many like Ali and Said in town, always ready to help without seeking anything in return. But, the biggest hurdle that keen volunteers like Ali and Said and others face is that there is no organised form of volunteerism in Oman.

Black & White 23

We will have team leaders handling different regions of Oman, who will, in their regions, collect a bank of volunteers. This is a first-ever attempt of its kind in Oman. Oman Sablat feels that it is time we united the volunteers of Oman

Oman watch

THERE WERE VOLUNTEERS, but they were all scattered around, and their efforts too were often quite scattered. It is not that Omanis don’t help; they do, but, most often than not, help is required on a sustained and not isolated basis. And, collective help was always far better than the scattered unorganised approach. But, things are going to change as there is good news in the offing for those into volunteering. For, Oman Sablat (www.s-oman. net), one of Oman’s most popular website, is on the verge of forming Taoun – a bank of volunteers, which they hope will be a permanent solution for the lack of proper volunteers in Oman. 24 September 7-20, 2010

TAOUN – A BANK OF VOLUNTEERS “Oman Sablat will be creating this new project called Taoun. It is going to be a bank of volunteers in all regions, spanning Oman. We will maintain a data base and an official website. The website will be officially launched later this week and it will have all details. Now any charity organisation or corporate or event manager can just log on or get in touch with us and we will provide them the data base and volunteers,” Khalid Al Balushi, vice president marketing and business development, Oman Sablat and Yahya Rahi Al Balushi, project manager, Taoun, told Black & White.

“You may find such services in most developed countries. But, in Oman, we are coming out with such a venture for the first time,” Yahya Al Balushi added. “Oman has a name in the region as one of the countries where volunteerism is at its best. Omanis are helpful by nature and the recent weather disasters have proved it time and again. But still, there is a dearth of volunteers in Oman, region wise. Charity organisations find it difficult when there is no bank of volunteers,” Yahya Balushi said, while detailing about their plans to come out with the first-ever organised bank of volunteers in Oman.

Both of them noted that the main challenge a volunteer faced was de-motivation. “Most of the time a volunteer is very enthusiastic and works diligently for the cause. But when he receives a cold shoulder, it is a major blow to his ego. That is where we will come in.

nine regions in Oman and these team leaders will be the programme ambassadors. Being in the NOSG (National Organisation for Scouts and Guides) for very many years, I feel we can reach out well and gather a good data of volunteers,” Yahya Balushi said.

SABLAT OMAN CSR PROJECT Sablat Oman is also creating a CSR wing, which will adopt various CSR initiatives and promote them to successful completion. “Any CSR initiative, idea that will benefit our nation and society will be taken under our wings. We hope to encourage small-time entrepreneurs and organisations that bring out great CSR ideas,” Khalid Al Balushi said.

SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM Now, the spirit of volunteerism is among all – Omanis and expatriates alike. And so, this is for all residents in Oman, locals and expats. “As a bank we will take care of the volunteers too. "Initially we will choose eight-team leaders who will take care of the

“Sometimes an idea remains just an idea because of lack of funds, support and right environment. Sablat Oman will provide just that: the right environment, training and expertise in successful completion of a CSR initiative!” (*) names changed

Man of many hats Yahya Rahi Al Balushi, project manager – Taoun – is a man who dons many hats: He is a member, technical team, Oman Scouts & Guides; regional – administration-in-charge of Arab Networking Scout Link; coordinator of Asian Region of Scout Link; Muscat region commissioner of Rovers and programme developer; he is responsible for opening the first Arabic chat room for scouts; member of the Royal Amateur Radio Society, Oman; trainer of trainees in the UNFPA. SCOUT MOVEMENT IN OMAN Scouting commenced in the Sultanate in 1932 when the first scout batch was instituted in the Sultani School, Muscat, and the Brownie Pack and Girl Guides in 1972 in Fatima Az-Zahra’ school, Muscat. The year 1975 was considered the real start-point of the scouts movement in the Sultanate, when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said issued the Royal Decree promulgating the law organising the scouts movement on technical and scientific basis and the formation of the National Organisation for Scouts & Guides under the auspices of His Majesty, the Sultan thus, emphasising on the constructive role it plays towards the society and specifically towards the youth. Black & White 25

BankMuscat ‘Oman Celebrates’ ePayment card BankMuscat has launched a limited edition commemorative pre-paid card. A collector’s item, the ePayment card evocatively highlights the bank’s ‘Oman Celebrates’ campaign in tribute to the 40 glorious years of the blessed Renaissance march.

Breadtalk Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr delights BreadTalk recently launched an exquisite series of specially designed products comprised of delicious pastries and desserts for the Holy Month of Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holidays. Jannat Moosa, marketing director at Bin Mirza International said, “As a trend-setting lifestyle brand, celebrating the holy month has become a seasonal hallmark at BreadTalk. Each year, we continue to push creative boundaries by offering a new selection specially prepared by our local chefs for family and friends to enjoy during the joyous holiday season.”

Victorinox HACCP knives

Khimji’s Luxury & Lifestyle division has launched a new range of HACCP knives for professionals from Victorinox, the pioneering brand, famous for the timeless design and manufacture of the Original Swiss Army Knife. In line with International food regulations, the coloured grips of the knives indicate their intended use, thereby boosting safety and hygiene. Rohit Shah, general manager, “Khimji’s Luxury and Lifestyle Division said: "In addition to the internationally recognised colour concept, the HACCP knives from Victorinox showcase the usual exceptional quality standards. The firstclass quality of the steel and optimum hardness ensures the best possible edge retention with a minimum risk of breakage. Victorinox provides a lifetime guarantee covering all material and manufacturing defects.” Khimji Ramdas Toll-free number: 800-75000.

Mazda

Wordpress

celebrates 90 years! At the apex of its 90th anniversary celebrations, Mazda has also launched a new micro-site - www.mazda.com/90th/ which very simply and elegantly chronicles Mazda’s 90 year history, and goes on to explain the story behind two of Mazda’s major endeavours over the past 90 years: manufacturing excellence and ‘fun-to-drive’.

26 September 7-20, 2010

Nawras IPO to launch on September 15 Nawras announced its plans to proceed with a listing of its shares on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) using the bookbuilding* process. Commenting on the announcement, Ross Cormack, chief executive officer of Nawras, said: “For the last five years we have been dedicated to enriching the lives of people in Oman by providing them with better communications products and services. In this time we have grown rapidly to serve nearly two

million customers, and counting, representing 45 per cent of the Omani mobile market at the end of June 2010. With our unrelenting focus on customers, we have delivered innovative products and pleasingly different services – and we are determined to continue doing so. Subject to CMA approval, the offering will represent up to 40 percent of the company’s total share capital and is expected to be

launched after the Eid holidays on September 15, 2010. Retail and institutional investors will be able to participate in the offering, which will be the first IPO of 2010 in Oman and the first since the Sohar Power Company IPO in July 2008. Nawras also announced that Morgan Stanley, BankMuscat and QNB Capital have been appointed joint lead managers with Morgan Stanley and BankMuscat confirmed as bookrunners on the transaction.

OIFC to accept utilities bill payments from AMEX card members Oman Investment & Finance Co. SAOG -OIFCand American Express Middle East and have announced an agreement that will make utilities bill settlement for American Express card members even more convenient in Oman. The agreement is to enable American Express card members to settle their water, electricity, telephone, mobile and internet bills with their American Express Cards at any of OIFC’s main branches spanning Oman. OIFC branch locations can be found on http://www. oifcoman.com/branches.php Shabir M. Al Yousef, chief executive officer of OIFC said: “We are happy to add more value and convenience to our customers, and I am confident that American Express card members will benefit from this agreement.”

Big deals for MINI Oman’s exclusive MINI importer, Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, has expanded its Autumn Campaign offer, launched earlier last month, to include MINI. Customers purchasing MINI vehicles until the end of September will benefit from a host of added-value incentives, including complimentary vehicle registration and comprehensive insurance for the first year of ownership. Johnny Oommen, head of operations of Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, said: “The Al Jenaibi International Automobiles Autumn campaign is one of the year’s highlights for customers in Oman; it gives them the opportunity to purchase premium BMW and MINI vehicles without added ownership costs such as car registration and insurance. We aim to give customers a premium purchasing experience, which includes taking care of the smaller details such as registration and insurance.” The Autumn Campaign runs until the end of September 2010 at Al Jenaibi International Automobiles. Black & White 27

BankMuscat

IFTARS galore Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate houses as well as individuals gave off sumptuous Iftars, inviting staff and families, as well as other guests, including media, as part of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Glimpses of the Iftar celebrations at various locations.

HSBC

OMIFCO

KIMS

Oman Air

Wordpress

Bait Al Khonji

28 September 7-20, 2010

Vale

OMRAN

Samatel

mobile services in Oman Samatel, the Sultanate’s newest mobile operator, announced the launch of its services for residential and business customers. The company promises to provide Omanis with the highest quality services and industry leading customer service. Today’s launch is a significant landmark in the

Sultanate’s rapidly developing mobile industry. “Samatel is a brand new concept in the Sultanate, during our planning phase we went to the drawing board and decided that we don’t want to do different things but rather we will do things differently” commented the founder and chairman Sheikh Khalid

Al Mataa’ni. “The hard work, dedication and attention to detail we have invested in Samatel means we can invite our customers to experience ‘a life of happiness’ - a mobile service unequalled anywhere in the region,” announced an elated Dr Wael Tahir, Samatel Ceo."

Spicy Village Chefs of Oman

Omanoil marks 18 years of safe operations Oman Oil Marketing Company (Omanoil) has corroborated its industry stature by marking 18 years without Lost Time Injury (LTI) at the Mina Al Fahal (MAF) Joint Venture (JV) Terminal, operated in partnership with Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company. With a corporate mission formed on a strong foundation of HSSE, Omanoil’s Terminal operations have once again demonstrated their capacity to handle substantial increases in fuel volumes which today has reached 2,190,000M3 per day both safely and efficiently, as it preserves and enhances the working environment in which it operates.

Spicy Village offers you the chance to earn the title of ‘Chef of Oman’ and receive royalties on dishes sold in the restaurant for a year. From October 6 to 10, cooking contests will be held at Spicy Village Oman restaurants, with the dining areas converted into kitchens and participants cooking their favourite recipes in front of a watching audience and a panel of judges. A total of 50 winners will be selected in five categories, with the top three winners in each category receiving special prizes. And the winning dishes will be published in a special Spicy Village cookbook and offered in Spicy Village restaurants for a year, with winners earning 20 percent commission on sales of their dish.

Anyone who has dined at a Spicy Village restaurant for RO10 or over and has kept their receipt(s) can take part simply by submitting their chosen recipe to: receipe@spicyvillage. com or by applying online at: www.spicyvillage.com. The contests will be held at the following Spicy Village restaurants: October 6: Spicy Village Alkhuwair; October 7: Spicy Village Rusayl, October 8: Spicy Village Sohar, October 9: Spicy Village Sur October 10: Spicy Village, Nizwa Contact: receipe@spicyvillage. com, or complete an online recipe application form at: www.Spicy village.com/ cookerycontest.html Black & White 29

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In Black & White

In Black... It is always a lively feeling when you are seeing those slim beauties swimming with ease in your aquarium, and equally sad when you see them floating, lifeless THE SILENCE OF THE FISHES You could take it either way: the silence in my living room is broken by the rhythmic bubbling sound emanating from somewhere. Or, you could say the bubbling sound has become part of the silence in this room. I feel as though I am underwater…come on, if I can hold myself in this same form of silence for some more minutes, I will be part of the silence myself and relaxed and one with my peaceful living room. No, I am not hallucinating. I was just giving you how I feel about the bubbling aquarium in my room. It always gives off a feel-good peaceful sense. I am a lover of aquariums and have always had one at home. This is a spirit shared by my kids who have also loved aquariums. Yet, somehow, this peaceful feeling has been disrupted in the last few months as my fishes have been dying, one by one leaving a very bad feeling in me… It is always a lively feeling when you are seeing those slim beauties swimming with ease in your aquarium, and you feel equally sad when you see them floating, lifeless. That has stopped me from having an aquarium. Fish need freshness, a little bit of algae, right food, lots of space and oxygen. And an aquarium is not just a passion or a hobby, it is a responsibility. So, imagine the responsibility of having a fish farm! And that too in different weather conditions offered by Oman. Our salutations to Hilal Al Rawahi, the lone tilapia farmer from Musannah who has taken up his hobby seriously to create a responsible and sustainable food project – fresh water fish farming. It is an innovative idea and we hope that he will be successful when he goes commercial. The B& W team reports that it saw some 600 plus tilapias

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief swimming in his tanks…Amazing! Tilapias make good harvest in sweet water and there are other popular varieties too. It is difficult to have a saltwater fish farm because for one major reason: saltwater fish are evolved to deal with water constantly rushing out of their bodies. The salt in the surrounding water exerts what is called osmotic pressure on the fish. Thus saltwater fish have evolved to be constantly drinking water and excreting salts. When you put a saltwater fish into freshwater, it continues to drink heavily and excrete salt. Thus the fish quickly loses too much salt, and its body begins to react accordingly; nervous impulses are unable to travel, and it soon dies. EID MUBARAK The Holy Month of Ramadan is almost complete. This month has helped us all exercise our self discipline. But, I would say, why limit ourselves to just one month in a year? Let us be disciplined throughout the year, throughout our lives! That is what Islam is all about… With Eid Al Fitr around the corner, let me wish all of our readers a very happy Eid. Celebrate Eid in the true spirit… Eid Mubarak!

& White Black & White 31

B&W Xclusive

The TILAPIAS of Musannah

32 September 7-20, 2010

It was like a virtual jack-in-the-box: We peered into a bucket filled with murky green water and then suddenly something leapt out of it, missing our faces by an inch, startling us all out of our wits. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;somethingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was nothing but a five-inches long fish called Tilapia, which many feel is destined to be one of the most important farmed seafood products of the century and slowly swimming its way to ubiquity in Oman.

Black & White 33

B&W Xclusive

Looking after fish was a childhood fantasy for Hilal Rawahi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I loved aquariums and loved the variety of fishes. I used to create aquariums and always loved to learn more about them. Watching those beautiful fish going about their daily business is great for your stress levels and keeps you happy"

34 September 7-20, 2010

MEANWHILE, OTHER TILAPIAS FOLLOWED the first one, leaping out of the bucket, and soon we were knee down in a sweltering farm in Musannah trying to save these healthy, but frisky fish from being fried in the hot August sun. We did manage to put them back into the bucket and then into their tank, which has been their home for the last three months or so. “They are a bit frisky, but quite intelligent,” Hilal Ali Al Rawahi, a retired PDO (Petroleum Development Oman) official, who is now into breeding Tilapia since the last three years at his 27,000 sq mts farm in Muladha, Musannah district, tells Black & White. They are quite frisky, we agreed as we joined the farm owner in feeding the everhungry fish. Only a tiny portion of the farm is being used for Tilapia. There are two 8.5mts X 1.5mts tanks filled with around 600 odd three months old Tilapia in one; an equal or more number of one-month old Tilapia in the second and several hundred

Koi and Cat Fish in the third, equally divided tank of the same specifications. Hilal Rawahi’s main focus is on the Tilapia, a fish that some chefs love to hate, because they feel that the fish isn’t fishy enough! Some of them do not like its mild taste, but, in Oman, fish eaters are known to enjoy the St Peter’s fish (a moniker it has earned from a story in the Bible), which is known to be ecologically sustainable and relatively cheap. TILAPIA FARMING One of the fastest-growing fish industries has been the production of pond-raised Tilapia. The species hold several advantages for commercial production. It is a hardy fish, highly resistant to many diseases and infections that commonly strike other fish populations. Tilapias are also excellent breeders and grow fast on relatively small and diverse food supplies. The most important element for successfully raising tilapia is proper environment. Black & White 35

The fish tanks of Hilal Al Rawahi also featured some catfish. Catfish have been widely caught and farmed for food for hundreds of years in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Judgments as to the quality and flavour vary, with some food critics considering catfish as being excellent food, others dismissing them as watery and lacking in flavour

They are warm-water fish that need to live in waters ideally maintained at about 76 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Ponds or other bodies of water that are not prone to drying up or flooding are the best choices. Experts recommend estimating two to three mature fish per square meter of water surface.

“I use the same. They are very active and live fish and keep jumping around. It is impossible to catch them with a net, so it is better to drain the pond when it is time to catch them. It takes up to six months for a tilapia to grow to edible size, approximately one (1) kilogramme per fish.”

Depth should be at least one meter deep. “I have built three tanks and use the water for my farming too. The water is a natural fertiliser for my plants. These fish also live on algae, so I don’t have to fully clean it up,” Hilal Rawahi said.

ORNAMENTAL FISH Hilal Rawahi is also into farming of the Koi (an ornamental/aquarium fish) and the catfish. Koi fish are ornamental and domesticated varieties of the common carp and are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds. Here they are kept in different tanks.

B&W Xclusive

SKILLED ESCAPE ARTISTS One of the most commonly used methods for harvesting pond-grown tilapia involves both seining and draining of the pond. It is hard to catch all the tilapias using only seining since these fish are skilled escape artists.

36 September 7-20, 2010

FISH PARTY “When it is time for harvest of the Tilapia I just throw a fish party,” Hilal Rawahi laughed. For the last three years, he has been farming, but not on a commercial scale. “I don’t sell them (the fish) yet.

Black & White 37

It is hard to catch all the tilapias using only seining since these fish are skilled escape artists

I am still in the learning process and there is lot to learn.” Hilal Rawahi noted that it was not easy to get fish food. Initially, he brought the fish food from Thailand, but it was not practical. But, give him a challenge and he had a knack of getting around it. In this case, Hilal Rawahi learnt to make the food himself. “These fish need more proteins and I make a food out of dry sardines, dates, wheat etc with the help of a mincing machine. So far so good and my fish seem to love them and are growing healthily.”

B&W Xclusive

NOT YET COMMERCIAL Currently, Hilal Rawahi has got just one helper to help him and that is more than sufficient, he said. “This type of fish farming is on a smallscale basis. It is not too strenuous an activity. 38 September 7-20, 2010

I haven’t started making it a fulltime commercial activity as yet, so, the workload is less,” he said, adding that he intended to get into it fulltime soon. SERIOUS BUSINESS Fulltime fish farming is very serious business, Hilal Rawahi noted. “We all know that we have been eating up the natural resources and the world is witness to the places where fish have become extinct. Many valuable fish species are disappearing from our oceans because of over harvesting, loss of habitat and pollution. When the most important fisheries collapse, fishermen and seafood processors will be forced to be out of business. It is time we all thought of our future and got in to eco safe process of food production.

It is not easy to get fish food locally. Hilal imports smaller quantities of fish food from Thailand

Though my fish farming started off as a hobby, I knew the importance of aqua culture and sweet water farming. Aqua culture is a sustainable process of food cycle and I hope to establish an environmentally sustainable and profitable farm soon. I might take up shrimp farming too. "My biggest challenge would be to maintain tolerant temperatures here and I am learning how to. Tilapias, as I told you before, are very tolerant fish and it would be easy to farm. However when I go commercial I would have to invest on infrastructure to maintain tolerant and acceptable temperatures for the fish to survive healthily. Sufficient oxygen, space and protein rich food along with the right temperature will give me a good harvest.” MOUTH WATERING OPTION Currently in Oman you get frozen

and semi-frozen tilapias from Thailand. If we can cultivate them here, it would be a successful project and will give local market live and fresh tilapias at a cheaper rate. “I am hoping to invest in glass containers/ tanks at various restaurants, so the customer who comes in to eat can actually choose his fish before it is cooked. I am sure it is a mouthwatering option! “This project can serve as a small business model and it would also bring in employment opportunities. Ultimately, in the long run, I believe fish would remain the main source of food globally. So why not start investing in it in Oman?” If Hilal Rawahi is successful with his selective breeding programme, chances of shimmering Tilapias making its way from the tank to the table is very likely in the future. Black & White 39

B&W Xclusive

Hilal Rawahi brought tiny fishes, around 10 pairs from Thailand and put them in a small liner (like the one above) Liners are plastic sheets that can be used to create a make-do tank.

The water drained from the fish tanks are used for irrigation purposes in Hilal's farm; no artificial fertilsers are used here.

40 September 7-20, 2010

Third most important fish in fish farming TILAPIA IS THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT fish in fish farming after carps and salmonids. Because of their large size, rapid growth, and palatability, tilapiine cichlids are the focus of major farming efforts, specifically various species of Oreochromis, Sarotherodon, and Tilapia, collectively known colloquially as tilapias. Like other large fish, they are a good source of protein and popular among artisanal and commercial fisheries. Most such fisheries were originally found in Africa, but outdoor fish farms in tropical countries such as Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia are underway in freshwater lakes. In temperate zone localities, tilapiine farming operations require energy to warm the water to tropical temperatures. One method uses waste heat from factories and power stations. Commercially grown tilapia are almost exclusively male. Cultivators use hormones such as testosterone to reverse the sex of newly spawned females. Because tilapia are prolific breeders, the presence of female tilapia results in rapidly increasing populations of small fish, rather than a stable population of harvest-size animals. Whole tilapia fish can be processed into skinless, boneless (PBO) fillets: the yield is from 30 percent to 37 percent, depending on fillet size and final trim. The use of tilapia in the commercial food industry has led to the virtual extinction of genetically pure bloodlines. Most wild tilapia today are hybrids of several species. NUTRITION Tilapias have very low levels of mercury as they are fast-growing and short-lived with a primarily vegetarian

diet, and thus do not accumulate mercury found in prey. Tilapia is a low saturated fat, low calorie, low carbohydrate and low sodium protein source. It is a source of phosphorus, niacin, selenium, vitamin B12 and potassium. TILAPIA AS EXOTIC SPECIES Tilapias are unable to survive in low temperate climates because they require warm water. The pure strain of the Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aureus, has the greatest cold tolerance and dies at 45 °F (7 °C) while all other species of tilapia will die at a range of 52 °F (11 °C)-62 °F (17 °C). As a result, they cannot invade temperate habitats and disrupt native ecologies in temperate zones; however, they have spread widely beyond their points of introduction in many fresh and brackish tropical and subtropical habitats, often disrupting native species significantly. Because of this, tilapias are on the IUCN’s 100 of the World’s Worst Alien Invasive Species list. USES OTHER THAN SUPPLYING FOOD Tilapia serve as a natural, biological control for most aquatic plant problems. Tilapia consume floating aquatic plants, such as duckweed watermeal (Lemna sp.), most “undesirable” submerged plants, and most forms of algae. In the United States and countries such as Thailand, Tilapia are becoming the plant control method of choice, reducing/eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and heavy metal-based algaecides. Tilapia rarely compete with other “pond” fish for food because tilapia consume plants and nutrients unused by other fish species and substantially reduce oxygen depleting detritus, adding tilapia often increases the population, size and health of other fish.

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Najib Al Balushi Black & White 41

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Finally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you some offbeat stuff. Here goes, if you like it, give us the green signal for more; if not, just take it with a pinch of salt. For this fortnight, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

‘Miss’ treated

Nitternatter

Should we report the beggars?

42 September 7-20, 2010

Some companies have random hiring and firing policies. In the sense, they hire and they fire, without much ado. But for expatriates who have left their hometown in another country and have left everything to find a life here, it would be a great shock when they are suddenly dumped and fired without even being given an explanation. One such man who recently lost his job approached our friends with searing tales of how he was mistreated by his employers, particularly one of the main employers. “She was quite horrible. I am particularly new to Oman, new to this field (of his work) and new to this type of attitude. I had worked in Mumbai and Kochi I was never treated in this manner. “Even if you are not a good boss, you need not treat your employees like slaves – she wanted absolute respect and office decorum. I was

all for that. Frankly, I am a very quiet person and even quieter worker. I never show disrespect to anyone, least of all my seniors, but she made even a mild mannered employee like me go berserk with anger. “She would treat me and the rest of the team like rugs on the floor; walking over us without any compunction. Forget about answering back to her, we could not even express ourselves – she would just order us around and would not even let us speak. Many of us shivered in her presence and she vitiated the work atmosphere to such an extent everyone wanted out! Finally, disgusted with her daily abuse, I decided to quit. But, somehow, she came to know about my decision to quit and just sacked me. I was told to get out of the country within a week,” the boy told an acquaintance of Bitter Batter. His only request is that he might work under anyone, but for a woman boss!

There are people reporting about beggars in their neighbourhood, but then, is it really that big a problem? We remember how some of these types hovered around drive throughs and the like earlier, but not sure if they are still active. They used to come with tales like they are cancer stricken or on the verge of death and were in need of immediate help, but refused when we would offer to take them to a hospital. Otherwise, these beggars who sit in a corner don’t seem to bother anyone and are really harmless. We would suggest that beggars should be reported to the authorities concerned if they happen to bully you or ring your doorbell or knock at your door incessantly. Otherwise, if they are just sitting quietly in a corner, should we report them? Well, do as your conscience dictates you!

Bad service

Get rid of these mobile phone drivers

Gautam Chakraborty (gtmchakraborty52@gmail.com) has sent us this note about his ongoing battle with a company he had bought some AC’s and a refrigerator from. “I bought three Window AC’s and a refrigerator from Souq Technia (Al Khuwair) in March. From the first day itself, one AC was giving a problem. It was giving off a sound like that of a generator. Verbal complaints to the company went unheeded. Finally on April 25th, after a heated verbal argument, my complaint was registered via service order no. 2091433. Regret no action was taken. Again after several phone calls, the company sent their man on May 17.

In between I had registered an online complain through their net service. No action was taken. On May 17, they changed a part in the AC but the problem remained. The service engineer said he can’t do much more than this. On May 18, I called up the same company and requested them to change the AC. I was told that they will do it the next day. Regret, no one came nor called. Now my calls are being ignored too! Is anyone listening?” (If officials of Souq Technia would like to comment on the above or send their version of the above issue, they are most welcome. Please send them to the email id given below).

Sabita. S is a lady from Azaiba. She has been living in Oman for the last 12 to13 years. She has never ever written to a newspaper or magazine in her life and has never felt the need to. But, lately, owing to the rise in traffic accidents, which she squarely blames irresponsible driving of the motorists in town, she says she feels the need to write to the media and express her feelings on the issue of accidents and over speeding etc. Currently, she says, the main reason for accidents on the road is sheer carelessness and the devil-may-care attitude of many of the drivers. “Rarely do you see drivers getting into a REAL accident – what I mean to say is,

none of these accidents are accidents – they are forced errors; they are brought upon by sheer negligence and ugly road behaviour. And, you know what, one day, I am going to overtake these motorists -who have one hand over the steering wheel and the other on their mobile phones – screech to a halt in front of them, run to their car window and wrench the mobile phone from their hand and fling it away! I swear I am going to do this. I am really tired of these mobile phone drivers!” Well, let us hope that good sense will prevail to these mobile phone drivers and she will not be forced to act out her threat.

(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on editor@blackandwhiteoman.com or call 99218461)

Black & White 43

CAVE MEN INVENTED the first piece of cutlery ever - the knife. Knives were made from stones, bones and shells. The serrated edge, better for cutting with was achieved by chipping pieces off the edge of the blade. Next came spoons, carved out of wood, stone or bone. Kitchen forks have been endlessly evolving for the past millennium or so. But a historical background check will put its origins somewhere in Greek. Initially used for the carving of meat, the fork comes to the dining table pretty late. It was around the 7th century that royal courts in the Middle Eastern world started to use the fork on the dining table. In another century, they were passed on to the Byzantine world, where the use of forks at the dining table became symbolic in wealthy and noble families. The fork was later carried on to Italy through a matrimonial alliance with the Byzantine. The fork came to the English notice by a man called Thomas Coryate, who brought forks to England in 1608. It took a very long time for the English to take up the fork as it initially met cultural resistance. They gained acceptance in the 13th century and became very popular by the 14th century, both in Italy and France, the noblemen using them to keep their attire clean whilst dining. By the 16th century forks were being used by both upper class and merchant class. Guests would even arrive for dinner with their own fork and spoon carried in a box called a cadena. By the 18th century forks had made their way across many European countries and over the sea to Great Britain. The Germans improved on the design by adding a curve to it, and by the 19th century they possessed four tines. By the time the humble fork made it to the 20th century, another addition was made to create a whole new implement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the spork a utensil that is part spoon and part fork.

Kidstuff

Tongue twistersâ&#x20AC;Ś try em! Of all the felt I ever felt, I never felt a piece of felt which felt as fine as that felt felt,when first I felt that felt hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s felt. 44 September 7-20, 2010

5 1 6 9 2 9 3 8 2 6 1 7 8 9 5 9 1 4 9 2 6 5 8 3 2 Difficulty Level

motris.livejournal.com

2010 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

By Dave Green

3/12

By Thomas Snyder

SOLUTION: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

Black & White 45

PICK-UP POINTS MUSCAT WADI KABIR Bait al Zubair Bait al Baranda Marina Bander Al Bustan Palace Hotel Oman Dive club Shangri-La- Barr Al Jissah Sri Lankan School NHI Pencil Building (Stationery shop) Al Maha bunk –Wadi Kabir Ajay Enterprises (Khimji) – (Next to Jingles nursery) Hotel Golden Oasis Sana Fashions Al Maya markets – (Old Rawasco) Scientific pharmacy – Opp to al Maya market ( Arab Udipi Rest)

Circulation

CBD AREA TO DARSAIT Al Amana Building materials – Opposite Jawad Sultan Al Omaniya Financial Services office Oman oil bunk Khimji mart shopping mall – (Old shopping & saving) Khimjis Bait al Ahlam- CBD area Pizza Muscat (Opposite ministry of manpower) Pizza Hut/TFC – CBD area Centre point-Splash Muscat Securities market Times of Oman Shell petrol Bunk (Next to Sheraton) OCCI Library – Oman Chamber of commerce (OPP MSM) KFC – Ruwi Oman International Bank – Ruwi Palayok Restaurant – Filipino restaurant Ever ready supermarket New India Assurance Office Al Fair – Ruwi high street Lakhoos Money Exchange, Ruwi High street Damas Jewellery/office – Ruwi Oman UAE Exchange – OCC Centre Air Arabia Office- Shanfari Travels Ruwi Hotel Gulf air building – Gulf air office Saravanabhavan Restaurant Sarco – Samsung showroom Khimji Megastore – Swarovski showroom OTE Moosa Abdul Showroom – next to al Jadeed Toshiba Showroom Al Jadeed shopping Badr Al Samaa Samara video (next to Talentz, old bait al ahlam) after 5pm Ministry of Education – Opp Wearhouse – Ruwi Future management consultants -(opp Toshiba showroom) Haffa House Hotel Al Falaj Hotel Muscat Bakery- Near church Pakistan School (after temple & church Darsait) Naranjee Hirjee office (before Hotel Golden Oryx) Hotel Golden Oryx Bank Muscat corporate office (Opposite Hotel Golden Oryx) Kamat Restaurant Uptown Restaurant Turtles Book shop Al Rima Clinic Lama Polyclinic

46 September 7-20, 2010

Oman Air – CBD NBO- CBD area Bank Muscat Bank Sohar HSBC Standard Chartered Oman Arab Bank Harmony Music Centre – Next to OAB Bahwan Travel Agencies – CBD banks area OTTB – Oman Travels Bureau Air India office – CBD next to Costas Costas Papa John Supa Save – CBD Woodlands Bank Dhofar Horizon Restaurant – (Next to Moon travels) Oman post office Lulu Darsait Khimji Ramdas Head office, Muttrah (Kanaksi Khimji & pankaj Khimji) Majan College – Darsait junction (canteen) Indian Social Club Melody Music Centre – Next to ISM German Embassy – Hamriya roundabout Apollo Medical Centre Computer Xpress – Hamriya Roundabout Atlas Travels (Wadi Adai Roundabout (next to polyglot) Hatat House Passage to India Best cars Hyundai/Subaru/GM showroom Al Asfoor Furnishing Ahli Bank Shell marketing office SEAT car showroom- Wattayah DHL office- Wattayah Honda Showroom Sabco Head office wattayah NTT travels Wattayah Toyota Bahwan Advertising – Ist floor – Toyota showroom Lexus Ford showroom Shanfari Automotive Wattayah Motors- VW showroom Khoula Hospital Institute of Health sciences – opposite Khoula Kia showroom- wattayah QURUM AREA TOWARDS AL KHUWAIR Al Harthy ComplexPizza Muscat – next to Sultan Center in al Harthy complex Sultan Center Nissan showroom BMW showroom Muscat Private School Qurum city centre Pizza Hut – Qurum Capital Store Al Asfoor Plaza KFC Hardees Fono showroom next to Sabco centre Shah Nagardas Sabco Centre- Barista coffee shop only Al Araimi Panasonic Showroom NBO Qurum Al Khamis Plaza Al Wadi commercial centre – Coffee shop Mercedes showroom

CCC- Stand CCC Al Fair Bollywood chat Pizza Hut – Qurum Second Cup Nandos McDonalds Salman Stores Jawahir Oman Hamptons Business Services & Travel Amex office Ernst & Young buildg (OUA Travels) Starbucks Hawthorne institute- ELS Fahud Street, opp Qurum park Mumtaz Mahal Left bank Oman Association for the disabled Ministry of education (20 +20=20) Muscat Intercon Jawaharat Al Shatti complex- stand Oasis by the sea - crepe café stand LNG Office Al Qurum resort Bareek Al Shatti Complex Al Qandeel head office -, Entrance of Bareek al Shatti Al Shatti Cinema - Dunkin Donuts Al Sahwa Schools– principal’s office next to Ramada hotel Hotel Ramada Al Muriya Offices- next to Al sahwa schools Grand Hyatt Muscat Al Masa Mall Radio Shack Al Sarooj Complex Shell Petrol Bunk- Al Sarooj Al Fair Ramee Guestline Rock Bottom Classic Institute of Arts- next to Asas Oman Asas Oman Apartments Crowne Plaza Coral hotel Qurum Pvt school PDO Ras Al Hamraa Club Omanoil head office AL KHUWAIR/MSQ TOWARDS AZAIBA ELS – Al khuwair service road British School Muscat – MSQ British Council Oman oil- Madinat Qaboos Pizza Hut Khimjis mart – MSQ Kargeen Café Al fair Family Book shop- MSQ Tavola – Al Noor Hall buildg Starbucks Hana slimming centre – Ist Floor Fotomagic Al Noor Hall Al Jadeed Eqarat office Above Welcare Clinic – al Khuwair Domino Pizza Oman mobile Safeer Hypermarket Mustafa Sultan Souk Technia Omantel Oman international Bank – Al khuwair main office Ibis Hotel

Park inn Hotel Friendi Office Muscat Bakery Tropical Ice creams Subway Pizza Hut service road Ice Skating Rink National Training Institute Golden spoon Restaurant Shell Select- Al Khuwair Mcdonalds Mct holiday Inn Hotel Oman Bowling Center Halliburton Café Vergnano Khimji Mart – Next to Verganano Safeer suites Axa insurance (opp assarain Al khuwair) Zakher shopping Mall PAN Furnishing Harley Davidson Thrifty Al Amal Medical Centre – Dr Bashir Hotel Radisson Pizza Hut Al Khuwair Ozone Video Shop(Next to Pizza Hut) American British School Omar Khayyam Restaurant, next to V kool Grill House (next door) V Kool TAISM Centre for British Teachers – CFBT Baushar Complex Café Aviation Club Restaurant AZAIBA TOWARDS SEEB Lulu Hyper market – Baushar Oman Medical college College for Business & financial Studies opp Oman medical, baushar Azzan Bin Qais school - Baushar Muscat private Hospital Dolphin Village – Bausher Royal hospital Ghala industrial area – NTI National mineral water – Tanuf ( next to Al Madina Holiday Inn) Oman oil Azaiba Spicy Village – Rusayl Pizza Hut – Ghala Oman oil – Ghala Towell head office – Enhance & Ist floor Mazda showroom Mcdonalds – Azaiba Select shell Azaiba Oman Tribune – Al Watan office New India assurance Azaiba office Safeer Hypermart Nawras head office Zubair showroom and Yamaha corporate office(two places)- Yamaha Showroom – close to Zubair showroom – 1st floor Polyglot Institute GU Tech – Beach road Azaiba Chedi Muscat The wave Muscat corporate office NACA – national cancer Awareness Assn MCC – Crepe Café Al Bahja– Mood Café & food Court Al Maya Super market Oman air Seeb office (Below Flyover, before Golden Tulip) Oman Tourisn College Golden Tulip Hotel Air port Select Shell – Seeb Pizza Hut airport KFC

MUSCAT, SALALAH, SUR, SOHAR, NIZWA, BARKA, KASAB MUSCAT continued...

SALALAH

SOHAR

NIZWA

Muscat golf hills, SEEB KOM SQU – SQUH hospital , SQUH 2- canteen, 3Diplomatic Club, 4 – College of Commerce, 5 – Students banking area) Pizza Hut – al Khoud Sultan School al hail service road – principals’ office Caledonian college – principal’s office Oman Foot ball association

SHOPPING MALLS Lulu shopping center Al- Istaqarar shopping center (Salalah) Dhofar shopping center Bab Al- Salam market Al- Mashoor (Salalah) Al- Mashoor (Saada) Al-Khareef K.M Trading Al-Isteqarar (Saada) Al-Hoq super market Hamdan commercial market Fresh super market (Al-Sarat) Union Salalah Market Family bookshop

Spicy Village Restaurant Lulu Hypermarket Jumeirah Shopping Centre Khimji’s Mart Al Salem shopping Centrepoint Moosa Abdul Rahman – GMC Toyota Nissan Mitsubishi LG showroom Sohar Bakery Sohar University Bank Muscat Habib Bank Bank Sohar Oman International Bank Al Raffah Hospital Badr Al Samaa Oman Arab Bank Bank Dhofar HSBC Travel City National Travels and Tours Universal Travels and Tourism DHL Dhofar Insurance Al Ahlia Insurance Taeeger Finance Co Omantel Al Jazeera Group Narenjee Hirjee (International)

OIB, Nizwa OIB, Firq BankMuscat, Nizwa BM main branch, Nizwa BankMuscat, Firq NBO, Nizwa NBO, Firq Bank Abudhabi Toyota OTE Omantel Nawras Khimji, Nizwa Khimji, Izki Muscat Bakery, Nizwa Pizza Hut Discount centre Family shopping Al Diyar Hotel Safari hotel Al-Nif shopping, Izki Hungery Bunny, Nizwa College of Science College of Technic Nizwa Medical College Busmath Clinic Thalal Clinic Omanoil, Izki Omanoil, Firq Omanoil, Nizwa Omanoil, Marfa Shell, Izki Shell, Firq Shell, Nizwa Al-Maha, Firq Nizwa university -Dept of foreign lang Al-Maha, Marfa

RUSAYL AREA Rusayl Industrial Estate Oman Cables Sadolin Paints Jotun Paints Al waqia shoes Mehdi Foods Areej veg oils MINISTRIES AREA – AL KHUWAIR Ministry of tourism(Ghala, next to ISG) Ministry of social Development(next to Regional municipalities, Bank Mct) Ministry of foreign affairs

SUR Al-Hashar LNG LNG, Club Sur Sur Beach Hotel Sur University OTE, Sur Mitsibushi Rawaya coffee shop Toyota Nissan Sur Plaza Hotel Mazda Khimji Omantel Private Hospital, Sur BankMuscat Sur Hotel NBO, Sur Bank Dhofar, Sur ELS, Sur

HOTELS Crown Plaza Hilton Salalah Hamdan plaza Dhofar Hotel Salalah hotel Haffa House Redan Hotel Al- Hanaa Hotel BAMSIR hotel Al- Jabel hotel Al- Nile suite (Saada) Salalah Mariott MINISTRIES Ministry agriculture & fisheries Ministry of education Ministry of defense Ministry of housing & electricity Ministry of water Ministry of tourism Diwan of Royal court (Salalah) Ministry of primary court and justice Ministry of Commerce & industry Dhofar municipality (Baladia) Ministry of man power PETROL STATIONS, BANKS Shanfari filling Station shell select, al saada Oman oil Shell Salalah Bank Muscat Omantel Oman Arab Bank Pizza hut Dhofar University Al Maha souk

BARKA Lulu hyper market Safeer Centre Al Nahda resort Al Maha Souk Oman Oil Rumais Oman College of management OIB NBO Bank Muscat Shell OTE SARCO Nissan showroom Omantel

FREE FORTNIGHTLY MAGAZINE AVAILABLE ALL OVER OMAN ON 7TH & 21ST

20, 500 COPIES (BEING AUDITED) Circulation enquiries: 98675976/24565697

Black & White 47

Your stars ARIES March 21-April 20 Emotional disruptions in social relationships will improve this week. Recently distant friends or acquaintances will now offer detailed explanations and unique invitations. Expect group projects to quickly change over the next eight days: individual efforts may be more rewarding. Avoid subtle romantic triangles.

CANCER June 22-July 23 You may experience moody friends or minor disagreements with loved ones. All of this now moves slowly into the past. Romantic attachments may soon change. Both lovers and close family members will introduce new activities and interests. Your choice will be clear: participate or become socially isolated.

LIBRA September 24-October 22 Listen and react honestly: many Librans will now find greater freedom by revealing their private emotions to loved ones. Work officials may request unusual financial information. Be thorough: workplace success may now rely heavily on timely negotiations and an honest disclosure of facts.

Horoscope

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20 Past records or business contracts will be a source of workplace confusion. Communications or business messages will be delayed this week. Relationships that have been emotionally draining over the past two months will now quickly fade. Power struggles and unrealistic ego needs may be a deciding factor. 48 September 7-20, 2010

LANCE EDWARD ARMSTRONG (BORN LANCE EDWARD GUNDERSON ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1971) is an American professional road racing cyclist who is best known for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support.

TAURUS April 21-May 20 Take an assertive approach to business negotiations to bring the desired results. An unusual exchange of information or a quickly changing work routine may initiate new agreements. Watch documents or long term financial promises closely: Stay focussed on your original goals and all will progress smoothly.

LEO July 24-August 23 Past business ideas and unique partnerships may require extra work this week. Over the next few days expect business officials or career associates to be highly focussed on past events and minor financial details. Schedule new home events or short term vacations energy and sleep patterns return to normal: pace yourself and expect quick bursts of creativity.

SCORPIO October 23-November 22 This is an excellent time to bring a key relationship more intimately into your life. Expect partners to respond with warmth and genuine admiration. Unattached Scorpios will encounter an unusual wave of sensual or romantic attraction toward a close friend. Watch contracts and business messages closely for sudden changes.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 Romantic and social relations will now intensify. Family members may offer strong opinions or express previously withheld emotions. Key issues involve financial security, past documents or the history of business transactions. Pay special attention to property matters or land agreements.

GEMINI May 21-June 21 Listen to the advice of professionals or official managers. For the next few days delicate business negotiations and new contracts will work in your favour. Watch for unusual power struggles or disagreements between officials. Also avoid complicated social events.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Business advances and career risks will now be rewarding but may also take several months to fully develop. Be patient and provide important documents or paperwork early in the process. A close friend may be quietly jealous of time spent with others. Be diplomatic: this is not a good time to publicly address deep feelings.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 Powerful emotions are now in operation: loved ones will soon need to spend extra time sorting out their priorities or social needs. Offer encouragement but avoid judgments: for the time being loved ones will not react well to social criticism. Expect dramatic reversals and boldly expressed opinions.

PISCES February 20-March 20 Emotions are unpredictable at present but will not be problematic in the long term. Remain patient: loved ones may now need to make peace with past disappointments. New money information or short term obligations may soon cause confusion in work relationships. Avoid public discussions concerning finances or assigned work roles.

For her

SHE

Healthy food can make you thin

We eat even when food overwhelms us; or, simply when we are before food. Yes, when food is before us, we just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help putting it in our mouth. The problem with food is that it is mostly visually appealing and aromatically enticing. So, there is little escaping it when it is before you.

The energy woman Saniya Khalfan Al Ghannami is a businesswoman with a difference. She could be ideally termed as the quintessential Omani businesswoman. Or, better put, she is someone who can really show what an Omani woman is capable of.

Sometimes, cheating is allowed

There is nothing wrong with cheat meals. Providing that the amount you eat in your cheat meal does not undo ALL your hard work for the rest of the week. The risk with not counting the calories in your cheat meal is that you may overdo it. Of course, if you are weighing yourself regularly, you will be able to determine if you are overdoing your cheat, because you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose weight that week Black & White 49

Eve's drop 50 50 September 2010 September7-20, 7-20,2010

The energy WOMAN She worked as a nurse, flew planes (she has a commercial pilot’s license), she has also sold and is even now selling clothes, but now, this highly enterprising and accomplished Omani businesswoman has turned her passion for a cause: to save energy for Oman! Saniya Khalfan Al Ghannami is a businesswoman with a difference. She has seen and done it all and before becoming a businesswoman, she has had her stint with the PDO (Petroleum Development Oman) and worked as a civilian officer with the ROP (Royal Oman Police).

SHE COULD BE IDEALLY termed as the quintessential Omani businesswoman. Or, better put, she is someone who can really show what an Omani woman is capable of. That she has trailblazed a path, which very few Omani women has even stepped into is secondary to the fact that today, Saniya, a proud, but young grandmother, is on a business mission to save energy for Oman. While she has dabbled into all (and more) of the fields mentioned, her current passion is to whip up interest in energy saving. She is now busily promoting a unique UK brand called ENIGIN, which has a wide range of energy-saving appliances, to Oman Inc. The appliances are considered to be the most effective way of combating rising energy prices and increasing supply demands. According to Saniya, the ENIGIN products have been able to provide one of the most important responses to one of the biggest threat humans have ever faced – climate change. Some of the ENIGIN products are so efficient that they can cut down energy costs by round 90 percent, she said. “How good are the energysaving bulbs that you buy now? ENIJIN has bulbs that last for 10

years! Which bulb can last that long and still cut your bills down by 90 percent? There are different energy saving units for homes, corporates, industries, factories etc. For instance, an ENIJIN electrical monitor can help you monitor your energy consumption on-a-day-to-day basis; make you understand and measure it. Some months your bills are more, sometimes it is less. This way you can know if you are wasting energy. Sometimes with small changes in lifestyle, we can change the whole consumption of energy. Many believe they can save energy with small behaviour changes. Most of us severely underestimate the major effects of switching to efficient, currently available technologies like the energy savers,” Saniya told Black & White in a recent interview. Before she detailed her energy saving business, Saniya also spoke about her earlier days, after her education. “I took up business in 1984 and got in to the clothing arena. I started off with a boutique called ‘Lujaina’ at Al Wadi Commercial Centre in Qurum. It started soon after the birth of my daughter Lujaina. As she grew I changed the clothing in accordance with her ages.”

According to Saniya, the ENIGIN products have been able to provide one of the most important responses to one of the biggest threat humans have ever faced – climate change

Black & White 51

We all pay for the electricity we use. So wasting energy is the same as wasting money

Now Saniya has a boutique at Al Bahja called ‘Tanya’, named after her granddaughter. “Currently my daughter takes care of it. The clothing line took me to various places and I was soon savvy with various international brands and brought them to Oman.

Eve's drop

I started off my career thinking I will be a commercial pilot, and then I had a brief stint as a nurse. But I soon realised that business is my passion. Business needs lots of awareness, travel and updating. So in this process I have learnt quite a lot and ventured in to a world of eco friendly energy-saving business. BUSINESS WOMAN WITH A PURPOSE “All of us do business in some way or the other, for many it could be their career, identity or livelihood. But I wanted to do a business that gave back something to the society. I believe in innovation and creativity. So after many years of search and learning, I got in to something after my heart. I wanted to reduce carbon footprints and pollution in my own way. I got in to the world of energy saving appliances. My travel for the clothing business to the UK and Europe made me realise that most community and corporate were in to energy saving attempts, so I got into this business of selling energy savers -- from bulbs to monitors to meters.” Energy efficiencies in all walks of life will help reduce the effects 52 September 7-20, 2010

of climate change, and commerce and industry can make a significant contribution by using the best available technologies to reduce the amount of energy needed to operate facilities, Saniya feels. She stressed on the importance of getting more from less. Population levels are projected to increase from 6.5 billion today to 8.3 billion by 2030. At this rate of growth, the world’s demand for energy will have increased by 53 percent elevating global CO2 emissions by 55 percent. SAVE ENERGY, SAVE OUR EARTH “Every year, we use more energy than we did the year before. Remember, energy isn’t free. We all pay for the electricity we use. So wasting energy is the same as wasting money – and we know that’s not a good idea! We can earn the money back, energy spend is energy gone forever! Wasting energy isn’t good for the environment either. Most of the energy sources we depend on, like coal and natural gas, can’t be replaced – once we use them up, they’re gone forever. Another problem is that most forms of energy can cause pollution. What do we do about it? Get prudent and live wisely. My range of products will ensure that energy is saved on a day-to-day basis,” Saniya said, enthusing confidence. “As I got in to the field of energy savers, I realised that this is the business I can do well. There is not much

of awareness or range of energy saving brands in Oman and ENIJIN would be one of the first of its kind offering a wide range for all business houses and industries,” she said, adding that ENIJIN products are long lasting and came with free maintenance, care etc. One of the products called ACE claims to decrease the power used for air conditioners by 30 percent, while CUES, another product, has the capacity to reduce the power consumption of the refrigerators to 30 per cent. Then there are LED lights that will reduce energy consumption down to 90 per cent. “I am just starting the business now but I have good responses and I hope to reach out to many corporate and industries in town. There are a few industries in Oman that consume thousands of rials worth of power. SAVING ENERGY BECOMES EASIER Every time you turn off a light bulb or close the refrigerator door, you’re saving energy. But now by introducing ENIJIN products to the Oman market, energy saving becomes easier and long lasting. There are lots of easy ways to save energy at home – and all those energy-savers add up to a big impact on the environment. For details on ENIJIN 97617999 or log on to www.mygreenoman.com

Cooking

A DATE with recipes In many countries, dates are added to salads, couscous dishes and curries, but they are most commonly used in baked desserts and confections. Because dates are very high in sugar, they can easily be converted into sugar. If there is one healthy sweet, it is a date… summer is usually the season for dates and with the festive season coming up, here are two quick date dessert recipes…

Date Ball Cookies kiies Date Ball Cookies are made with dates, pecans, butter, and nd d honey. ho h on ne ey. y. Ingredients: •2 cups corn flakes •3/4 cups dates, chilled •1/2 cup pecans •2 tablespoons honey •1 tablespoon butter •2 teaspoons orange juice •Sifted confectioners’ sugar •Pecan halves Method: Put first 3 ingredients through meat grinder. Add honey, butter, and orange juice; knead with hands until thoroughly blended. Shape date mixture into 1-inch balls; roll in confectioners’ sugar and top each with a pecan half.

Date Halwa alwa Ingredients: •1 c Seedless dates •Half cup milk •¾ cup sugar •¾ cup ghee •Half cup cashews cut into fine pieces •25g pistachio nuts, finely chopped Method: Mix together milk, sugar and dates. Keep this mixture to boil. When boiling, add ghee. Then add 1/4 cup of cashew nuts. Cook on slow fire till the mixture is almost dry and the halwa is formed. Remove from fire, spread it on a dish and add the remaining 1/4 cup of cashew nuts. Garnish with the chopped pistachio nuts. 53 3 Black B Bla Bl lac ack & W White hite hi ite te 5

I love ‘Me’... Laila, Omani graduate student of Nizwa University

By Laila Ibrahim Obaid Al-Gharbi

We all know what love is. And most of us strive to be loved by others. I agree that being loved by others is crucial in social life but not more than loving ourselves first. For many years I believed that loving myself means that I am a Narcissist (someone who loves himself very much). But not anymore because I have decided to live every moment of my life with love, joy and peace. Today, I understand that loving me has become the basic key to success. I want you all to find out how to love yourself and utilise this powerful love in your real life. Let’s just start by loving ourselves then we will feel the greatness behind that love. People may think that you are an egotist, but the more you value yourself and love it; the more lovable you will be.

Learning curve

Loving ourselves is the inner peace and the strong connection with God because you believe that you belong to Almighty and you are supported by Him overall. Furthermore, loving ourselves mean that we have high self-esteem, which enables us to overcome any problems that we may encounter in our path to success. Indeed, loving ourselves is being in need these days because many of us still have that negative attitude when they hear “I love myself’’. I call all of you to stop thinking that way and start supporting each other to raise the amount of love we already have for ourselves. Loving ourselves means that we are confident enough to face any criticism from anyone because you know how to protect yourself well. People are trying to give love but do they really love themselves first. By now, I can say that if we, ourselves, don’t feel the true love toward ourselves then we will fail absolutely to give it to others. Loving ourselves is the power within which makes you ready for any risk in life.

54 September 7-20, 2010

Let us not go on and on about this, let me just emphasise that it is high time that we start loving ourselves to give it out perfectly and without any expectations. Now, let’s move to the recipe in which you can love yourself and use that love to enjoy your life. How can I love myself, you may question yourself. But always think positively and feel the happiness behind it. Anyhow, what I am saying here comes out of my own experience that I myself went through and want to share with you. Firstly, accept yourself as you are: your appearance, your behaviour and your thinking. Accepting is very important here and I guess if you accept yourself as you are, you will have a better value to yourself. Secondly, forgive yourself if you did a mistake because we all make mistakes and without them we will not have any experience. Third, embrace every moment in your life by enjoying everything that you do. Fourth, be a good support to others because that will help you to feel the greatness you have by just being there for someone who needs a hand. Moreover, start saying that you love yourself and allow yourself to feel it deep in your heart. Then, you will feel the beauty of your life and the beauty of your soul. Love yourself and experience the difference within that powerful love. Never think that by loving yourself may reveal the worse of you and that won’t happen if you value others and respect them. It is their right too, to love themselves and be respected. Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, smile and say ‘’I love myself’’. lalgharbi@yahoo.com

It's my life

Oh my God, the Net is not working

Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')

By Vandana Shah Pounding heartbeat, racing pulse, beads of perspiration on my forehead…that was me 20,000 feet up in the air…when I discovered that I HAD LOST MY NETBOOK. I was flying for a writers’ convention to Bhutan and all my work was in it. I shuddered with fear thinking what I would do over there. I just wanted to cry so I took some tissues to weep into them and also to make my resolution about not losing expensive items and while writing this I drifted into scripting what I would be presenting to the publishers. Was it difficult? Sure, but all it required was my brain and an ability to think beyond the paraphernalia of technology. We have a slavish mentality towards the tools of technological development. If the internet is not working we break into a cold sweat and wonder what will happen? What about all the applications on the computer? Do we need all the applications? Or is it a case of creating an artificial demand because there is a supply? The brain has become a virtual reality but the virtual reality has become a reality – a hug on facebook is the only hug I can give so I am hugging strangers on facebook but I want to fight with my friend in my backyard and family members at home. I want to share my feelings with the world at large on a social networking site but not tell my spouse or best friend that they hurt me and are not there for me or even thank them for putting up with me and my tantrums. I am sure that we are and can use technology for productive purposes but let’s not ignore the fact that it is our brain that is creating technology and is making it work. Wishing all my friends a happy Eid-Mubarak! Till next time peace and love P.S. This is also my birthday month!

Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, www.vandanashah.com Email me what you’d like to say on 360degreesbacktolife@gmail.com Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

Black & White 55

Psyche

And the Award for the Most SUPERSTITIOUS goes toâ&#x20AC;Ś

Women are more superstitious than men. If you want to dispute that, tell me first: When was the last time you saw an astrology column in a menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazine? Women are said to experience more anxiety, or at least, more women than men seek help for anxiety problems.

56 56 September 2010 September7-20, 7-20,2010

ALTHOUGH PERSONALITY VARIABLES are not a strong factor in developing superstition, there is some evidence that if you are more anxious than the average person you’re slightly more likely to be superstitious. But, then who is not superstitious? Even the most rational ones among us may have occasionally participated in superstitious thinking or behaviour often without even realising that we are doing it. Haven’t you taken a sneak peek at your daily horoscope at some point or the other; avoided crossing a black cat; knocked on wood…? Well, caught you! If we actually do a poll, we are likely to find that at least half of the people in the world are a little bit superstitious. A teenie-weenie bit at least? But, many are of the opinion that women are more superstitious than men. Again, are these just shots in the dark and pinning a brand on women just because they are women? LOCUS OF CONTROL Research on gender and locus of control may provide a small clue into this belief that women are more superstitious. Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe that they can control events that affect them. Individuals with a high internal locus of control believe that events result primarily from their own behaviour and actions. Those with a high external locus of control believe that powerful others, fate, or chance primarily determine events. Then, you believe that you are sort of buffeted by life, and things happen to you instead of the other way around.

People with external locus of control are more likely to be superstitious, possibly as a way of getting more power over their lives. “Part of the reason why women are more superstitious than men is that women feel, even in today’s modern society, that they have less control over their fate than men do,” researchers note. In childhood and early adolescence, boys and girls do not differ much in locus of control, but in college and late adolescence onwards, women begin to show a greater dependence on external locus of control than men, and thus more susceptible to superstition and paranormal belief. WOMEN BELIEVE IN STAR SIGNS Many are of the opinion that women are more convinced of things such as star signs and the magical ‘power’ of stones, palm reading etc... They are also more likely to refer to luck or God as an explanation of fortunate/ unfortunate circumstances. A sense of security and confidence are perhaps the greatest benefits we get emotionally from superstitious thinking or behavior -- like carrying an object or wearing an item of clothing that you deem to be lucky. And one of the driving force behind most superstitions is wanting more control or certainty. We tend to look for some kind of a rule, or an explanation for why things happen. Sometimes the creation of a false certainty is better than no certainty at all, researchers note. Superstitions provide people with the sense that they’ve done one more thing to try to ensure the outcome they are looking for. So, could we say that this is the realm of only women…? You are the best judge.

Black & White 57

Healthy food can make you If we stopped eating when we were full, we would be thin. But, unfortunately, we don’t. The truth is that we all eat even when we are not hungry. Don’t ask why, because you will not be able to get to the root of that matter. We eat even when our stomach is full. We eat when we are bored; when we are tired; when we are thinking; when we are angry, upset or restless.

Shape n sound

WE EAT EVEN WHEN food overwhelms us; or, simply when we are before food. Yes, when food is before us, we just can’t help putting it in our mouth. The problem with food is that it is mostly visually appealing and aromatically enticing. So, there is little escaping it when it is before you. There is a way out of this though. If you are only eating at home, then you can make your food so unappealing that all you need is to nibble it. Mostly, visually unsatisfying food is left untouched. But, this is not exactly practical. You can do it once, but not always. PENCHANT FOR WRONG FOOD And, then it is a habit of most people to eat all the wrong things. Even people who go to the gym, tend to gobble up something that is going to be bad for them in the future. The body is like a machine, if you don’t put the right kind of fuel into it, it won’t work properly. In physical terms, you’re looking at weight gain and bad health, apart from other problems. The right thing to do is to make sure you eat mostly healthy foods.

58 September 7-20, 2010

thin Here are five (5) healthy foods that you need to eat to be thin and look great:

1 2 3 4 5

PUMPKIN AND PUMPKIN SEEDS – Pumpkin seeds are filled with magnesium and pumpkin itself is a high satiety food, meaning that if fills you up with very little calories helping you to avoid overeating. It also contains vitamin A and is high on fiber which is good for the digestive system.

SARDINES – These fish are a wonderful and healthy food for you to eat. They are full of Omega-3 and calcium and are also rich in other substances like Iron, zinc, and vitamin B. Make sure to avoid eating salted sardines, eat them in their own oil or in olive oil instead.

GREEN TEAS – Drinking tea can be very healthy. Green teas are rich in antioxidants which can help delay the aging process. Don’t take green tea with sugar as it’s fattening. Try some wild honey instead.

SWEET POTATOES – Loaded with vitamin C, rich in fiber and potassium, sweet potatoe is a healthy food item and one which children and adults like. So you can and should make them part of your family’s menu.

BROWN RICE – White rice is much less healthy than the natural brown rice which is full of Vitamin E and B-6, copper and zinc, and also fills you up for a long time and so helps reduce hunger.

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Sometimes,

CHEATING

Shape n sound

is allowedâ&#x20AC;Ś

60 0 September Sep Se ptttem embe em ber 7-20, 7-2 7-20, 20, 2010 20 20 2 010 10

Some dieters are known to eat clean six x days a week and then cheat for one day. y. Cheating kept the metabolism guessing and running and allow them to avoid a plateau during their entire dietary journey ey There is nothing wrong with cheat meals. Providing that the amount you ou eat in your cheat meal does not undo ALL your hard work for the rest off the th he week. The risk with not counting the calories in your cheat meal is that you you ou may overdo it. Of course, if you are weighing yourself regularly, you willl be be able to determine if you are overdoing your cheat, because you won’t lose ose e weight that week. And you will know to be more careful the following week. eek k. For those wanting to lose weight, dieting seems to be the only solution. n. And those wanting to lose weight jump on diets instead of resolving to eat eat healthier. But amidst this flurry of low carb to low fat, and sheer plain deprivation n comes the blessing of a planned ‘cheat meal’. Dieters everywhere rejoice at the idea of a preconceived gorge once a week without the guilt. The main idea is that you diet for a certain amount untt of time, then cheat with a meal that consists of foods that are not usuallyy on n your diet, ice cream, pizza, cake, etc., to trick your metabolism and speed ed itt back up. The question is, does it work? Is it okay? The answer is yes. First of all, your metabolism does not think. It is a programmed mechanism aniism m in your body, the collection of all the chemical reactions that take place within cells to transport the nutrients from food to the proper places in your our ur body where they can be broken down and used for energy or stored forr later la ater er use. You cannot trick your metabolism. It simply responds to stimuli, so you yo ou ou want to manipulate the variables and stimulate a different response. Dieting and eating very restricted calories can be rough on your mindset. sett. You will miss all the foods you enjoyed before and it can take a toll on you you u emotionally. You can become cranky and irritable and resentful of the diet die et ifif you don’t give yourself a break every now and then. A cheat meal can serve serrve e as a reward for being so disciplined and loosen up your will power so you ou can go on strong. It can allow you to still go out with your friends to eat out out at nice restaurants without having to freak out about the menu and the lack lacck of healthy options. Or it can help you to enjoy a day out at the park with the th he kids and actually get to eat what they eat for a while. Deprivation has never been a very successful tactic with humans. It is usually used as a punishment. So be smart. Don’t punish yourself. The privilege of eating healthy is one very few people can afford and we have ve to appreciate the fact that we have this option. Your body will definitely appreciate it. So if you can stick to your diet all week, it is okay and yes it can be beneficial to you to throw in a cheat meal on the weekend. 61 Bllack B Black acck & White a Wh hiite te 61

Nothing serious about it…

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar Four women are a pile of gossip and fun! I was eavesdropping on a gang of middle aged ladies, who had nothing better to do, other than gossip! They had loads of spare time and this time the topic was very personal. Husbands! Here it goes: Psst… look at her, that plain Jane over there in that corner… She has a very handsome hubby! You should see him; he could have got better girls; he is one handsome hunk! God! Why do good looking men fall for plain looking girls? Especially when there are pretty females around? They waste their lives. And look at us; we could have got better ones. One chipped in: I was too young to decide, mine was an arranged marriage and I come from an orthodox family, had no choice, other than to marry the man of their choice. Another one: my family looked for financial stability, so no complaints. Wish I never got married… the third one sighed! The fourth one was totally bored. But she was the best! She put up a question: Do you know the three types of men? She didn’t wait for an answer: The handsome, the caring, and the majority. My husband belongs to the ‘majority’. They all laughed aloud. Made me smile, I had a few speaking that about me too! Poor husbands, if only they heard what their ‘pretty’ better halves thought of them! Seeing me smile, they grinned at me, and asked: “Are you married? I nodded yes! And said: to a handsome man!

“Plain Jane, handsome hubby formula,” I grinned back! Handsome men deserve pretty women? I queried. They corrected me: Pretty women deserve handsome men! Well, what if your hubbies chose only pretty woman, I shot back. No way, they chorused! You think they will get anything better? We were the best they could ever aspire for! Roaring laughter again! They had no qualms about anything. I laughed too. Laughter can be infectious sometimes. Life is funny, if you want it to be. I know of a lady who stopped talking to her father since he forced her to marry against her will, for very many years… I know of women who shed tears everyday and died a slow death. Then there are people who fight bitterly over silly things and here are a few, sitting casually and laughing away joking at their personal expense. Life can be funny at times. Maybe we all should do just that. Believe that life is not always that serious. Live and let others live too. Gossip while you have company. Eat as much as you can digest. Act without a thought. Judge every person you meet. And laugh at yourself! An alarming number of people suffer from… seriousness! Stay away from it! A word of caution: Although laughing is good for your general wellness, laughing at others’ expense is in bad taste and is to be avoided, just like laughing with food in the mouth, for it could choke you! priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

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