Black & White mag issue 29

Vol.2 Issue 29II March 7-20, 2011 2-15 Rabi' II

Shades for men p16 Glimpses of 'Dance of India' p20 Don't be embarrassed p60

FREE Fortnightly

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Poetry out aloud p34

Presenter

THANK YOU Dance

As part of the Indian

Bharata Nrityam by the legendary artiste

Dr PADMA SUBRAHMANYAM (Recipient of "Padma Bhushan" Award from the President of India)

Special thanks to:

Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Founder, Soorya Stage & Film Society

Organised by: Event Partners:

U SPONSORS of India

Republic Day celebrations

Classical Dance along with popular actor-dancer

VINEETH

and

Dr GAYATRI KANNAN MAHATI KANNAN K. SHYAMAKRISHNAN A NRITHYODAYA PRESENTATION (Chennai, India)

The Embassy of India Muscat

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Announcing

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Congrats to the B&W Congrats to the Black & White team for a well conducted event (Dance of India show). Needless to say, Dr Padma Subrahmanyam is a legend and having her in our circles is indeed a blessing. Even though I am from India and am a great dance lover, I have never had the chance to see this great dancer. For this, I would like to thank the B&W for making it happen!

Krishnagopal S., Wadi Kabir

Grand success ‘Dance of India’ event staged at the auditorium of the Indian Embassy was a grand success. I need not say this because the crowd that spilled over from the auditorium itself was proof of the interest generated and it did not fail to impress. Words fail to describe Dr Padma’s dance and her disciples were equally good. Vineeth and Dr Gayatri were brilliant. I am still reliving those dance scenes in my mind. Thank you Black & White and Indian Embassy.

K. Karunakaran, Qurum

Lawns would have been better If only you could have organised the ‘Dance of India’ show at the embassy lawns instead of the auditorium, it would have been great. I am not saying that the dance event was bad; on the contrary, it was one of the best dance event I have ever seen in my entire life, thanks to the seamless organising and the effortless manner in which the dancers danced. I only wished more numbers have seen this unique dance event.

Anjoli Sharma, Seeb

10 10March March7-20, 7-20,2011 2011

Green legacy This refers to the news of a veteran print professional who left Oman (Black & White issue 26), but in a unique way. The news of the legacy he left behind really touched my heart.

It’s indeed a good start by giving the idea of planting 1,000 Neem tree saplings inside the Rusyal Industrial area.

The green campaign is a noble cause, which will help support the environment. We can see how global warming is affecting the entire world in so many ways, and thus this initiation by R.Prabakaran to make part of the industrial area more greener by planting these Neem saplings, which has so much of medicinal value shows the love and gratitude to his second home, which he had served for 14 years. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours back home!

Malar Mahen, Ruwi

Tourist spots will bring revenue Your feature on ‘Hot Hammams’ (issue 28) was quite timely. Well, at least for me. I had visited the same hammam in Sunub area just couple of weeks before your report and was surprised to see it. Most of the thoughts that went through my head are there in that feature and it was as though I was reliving it again. I am really glad that you featured this hammam for another good reason: these quaint spots in and around Oman need to be highlighted to the public. More and more people should go and visit it. That will add value to it and perhaps more tourists will visit it. Touristic spots add revenue to the government coffer and it is a requirement as a responsible media to spotlight these unique places of Oman.

Habiba M, Seeb

Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Black & White 11

Xclusive

Poetic Extempore

34

Omani folklore poet Fadhel has three listeners on his right, and three on his left. He launches off on an everyday topic, much to the delight of his listeners, and they cling on to the last word and repeat it, which adds to the momentum of the free verse

Cover Photo: Najib Al Balushi

Bitter Batter

Shades for men

60

16

or 44 Hippocratic hypocrisy oath?

Doctors are known to take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to practice medicine ethically.

But, one of our readers claims that the doctor she took her daughter to must have taken the Hypocrisy Oath

For men who have a passion for outdoor activities, sunglasses are a must.

Don't be embarrassed anymore

Contents

if you think you are the only one afflicted with body-related problems, think again, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more common than you think.

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 Printed at Mazoon, Muscat, Oman 12 March 7-20, 2011

BPA Consumer Audit applied for December 2009

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 Swithun Fernandes Aloni Mehta, Priyanka Sampat

All about X, Y & Z

Let's not beat our own tribe

By Adarsh Madhavan OTHERWISE… My usually amiable social worker friend did not seem to be that friendly with me when I bumped into him recently. His greeting was devoid of warmth. He’d usually greet me with great amount of joie-de-vivre, but this time he seemed to be a bit moody, distracted. What happened, I wondered and felt a bit uneasy.

I am a bit of an anti-social element and since I don’t party, and am a bit of a mouse on the social scene, my conscience went nibbling on the cold reception I got. Although I don’t keep company with any, I still assume that I am seen as a scribe in need or if I may go the extent, I would say, a friend in need, at least on occasions. This coldness was a bit of a surprise and so I dug in deep and tried to pull this social worker out of his suddenly spun cocoon. I managed to break in and he said quietly that I needed to speak to his wife, another active social worker. But, she waved me off and said we are in a public place, too many people, we will speak later. Okay, I said, but then her husband finally told me what had happened. “Your last column, you sort of poked fun at a so-called social worker…”

Yes, I said. “You know since some time now, whenever you mention a ‘social worker’ it always referred to me…so all of those who read it, asked me why you were making fun of me?”

Uh oh, I thought. He was right. Off late, whenever I mentioned the tag social worker, I had meant him. I have not been mixing with any other social workers and I was slightly off the scene myself. The only slight contact I had was with this well known social worker, who is also a scribe for a regional news channel, and so what he was saying was right.

Everyone would have thought I was referring to this man when I mentioned about the big-mouthed social worker who never dirtied his fingers.

Oh, I never thought of that, I said sheepishly. “Yes, I know you were not talking about me, especially

since we had not met each other off late, yet, you know when people get talking…I was wondering whether you were taking a swipe on me,” he grinned.

No, no, I said, why would I do that? So, this is why you cold shouldered me, I asked him. He grinned again.

“No, that was just a ruse to catch your attention, he said and you fell for it. Please correct the anomaly in your next piece please. Otherwise…” he grinned again. Well, I did. You know you can’t cross these social workers. Otherwise…

BITING OUR OWN FINGERS This column space was devoted to the surge in socially relevant news articles by local scribes in the English media here sometime back and the recent front page school-related piece by A.E. James, in Times of Oman, is one of the best examples in that direction. Of course, a newspaper report has its limitations. And this one too covered an issue in the confines of the same restrictions. But since it was critical of only one establishment, and it had some lapses, which led to only one party getting all the flak, the one at the wrong end of the stick revolted in the only manner it knew best.

But, what pained us, the silent scribe tribe, is the criticism against the journalist by his own fraternity members. Instead of supporting a fellow scribe and trying to douse the fire that he had unwittingly set, many from the woodwork wormed out to throw muck at their own fraternity member. Wrong or right, the unwritten law among the journalistic fraternity here, there and anywhere is that our kind stick to our own through thick and thin! What a joke! The moment, someone got into the limelight, everyone tried to deride and mock and pull him down. Instead of supporting him and trying to rally around him, many, who have never ever tasted the first blood of a true investigative report even was spitting venom into the air…Now that the muck had fallen right where it originated, could we stop beating our own tribe members, please? Please? editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Black & White 13

Men health

Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise or not.

There are simple stretches you can do while watching TV, on the computer, or getting ready for bed

14 March 7-20, 2011

Stretch

like a cat

If you’ve ever watched a cat, you may have been intrigued by the cat’s incredible agility and resilience. How can a cat fit into spaces that seem way too small for it?

How does a cat balance on the slimmest edge with the greatest of ease?

STRETCHING COMES naturally to all of us too. You might notice that if you have been sitting in a particular position for a long time, you stretch unconsciously. It makes you feel good! In addition to that good feeling, a consistent stretching programme will produce large gains in flexibility and joint movement. Be kind to your muscles and they will be kind to you!

Simple question – can you touch your toes?

CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR TOES? No? Well, if you fall short of touching your toes, as most guys do, don’t blame your tight hamstrings, instead blame yourself!

You have a major flaw in your physique. And it is called poor flexibility! Incorporating a flexibility component into your programme will also greatly reduce the risk if sustaining a muscle strain during your workout or your daily activities.

Everyone can learn to stretch, regardless of age or flexibility.

Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise

or not. There are simple stretches you can do while watching TV, on the computer, or getting ready for bed. If you are doing strength training exercises, stretch in between sets.

It feels good and saves time from stretching at the end of the workout!

Stretching elongates our muscles which improves the range of motion within our joints. Improving our range of motion allows us to optimally function throughout our daily activities and performances.

Stretching has a positive effect on our body’s proprioceptors.

Proprioceptors are receptors located within our joints, muscles and tendons that sense movement changes and react accordingly.

Stiffness in your superficial back line prevents you from working your lower-body muscles through their entire range of motion—for instance, during a squat or a lunge. It also leads to poor lower-back posture when you’re performing these movements. All of this results in a less-effective workout and a higher risk of injury.

HOW TO STRETCH Now that the importance of flexibility has been exposed and the benefits are clear, the next step is to obtain a thorough understanding of how to optimally incorporate a flexibility component into your programme. Of all the fitness components, it should be noted that flexibility is the easiest to gain, however it is the first to go when not maintained. This means that in order to sustain the elasticity of your muscles, stretches must be performed quite frequently.

The recommended frequency for optimal benefits is to perform stretches 4 to 7 times a week, ideally following your training sessions as part of your cool down. Light stretching is recommended during your warm up, but to a lesser extent.

It is extremely important that the stretches be of low intensity. As with any new movement, repetition is key for muscle memory. Performing three repetitions per stretch is ideal for the achievement of optimal results.

Also, you will notice that with each repetition, you become more flexible and are able to take each stretch further than the last.

Black & White 15

Men read 16 16March March7-20, 7-20,2011 2011

SHADES for men

Unlike women, men do not have a wide range of accessories to deck themselves up with. But, they have sunglasses! That is one accessory in which they can look cool and trendy. Sunglasses undoubtedly occupy a lion’s share in most men’s wardrobe.

IN TODAY’S WORLD, designer sunglasses for men have become hugely popular as a fashion statement. And, most importantly, they are also extremely comfortable to wear and are very durable too.

For men who have a passion for outdoor activities, sunglasses are a must. All the more, these sunglasses can block the harmful UV rays and help in protecting our sensitive eyes. These sunglasses work extraordinarily to shield the eyes from the harmful weather conditions whether it is snowing or rough terrain.

When men start choosing sunglasses for themselves they think about many things, besides considering style and fashion. They give equal importance to the quality of the sunglasses which they are purchasing, the comfort level of such sunglasses, the fashion trend prevailing at that time, status and cultural factors too. It is not just about walking into any store and getting sunglasses for oneself.

So, why don’t you get yourself a pair of stylish eyewear?

LOOK GOOD - FEEL CONFIDENT Mild, bold, moody…the truth is quite often that the type of sunglasses you choose to wear reflects your personality type. Even a moderatelooking person can present himself in the best possible manner by

sporting designer sunglasses from top-notch brands and gives off an air of confidence. When a person looks and feels confident, he can carry himself well and eventually face the challenge of life very boldly. Did that sound corny? No, you look good, you feel good.

SHIELD FOR YOUR SENSITIVE EYES Designer sunglasses can not only make you look dashing and stylish, it also protects your precious eyes from the hazardous UV rays emitted by the sun. If you are a man who spends a significant amount of time outdoors, these shades can be more than handy. Eventually various types of eye-related incidents such as eye fatigue can also be avoided.

SUNGLASSES FOR ALL Okay, you don’t belong to the wealthy bracket. But, who cares?

Gone are the days when only the rich and the wealthy could afford to buy designer sunglasses.

Investing quality time in browsing the internet can be quite fruitful as there a number of websites which offer a sizeable discount on selected models especially during the festival season. Going in for renowned and famous brand names would no-doubt burn a hole in the pocket ranging from a few hundred dollars up to thousand dollars. Opting in for top brands would give a good range of choices.

Black & White 17

O

Gimme a second chance

f

he ft

wall

By Adarsh Madhavan Give me one more chance, I heard him say. I stared at his broad back. Couldn’t understand what he was saying. Or, rather, I heard what he said, but, he was standing, facing a wall in his room.

Give me just one more chance, God, just give me one more chance, these words hurled against the wall, ricocheting off my ears. I suddenly understood what he was doing, he was praying and since he was a big boy, his frame covered the prayer spot from my sight. I pirouetted lightly and made hasty my exit from the room. I had actually sneaked into the room to frighten the living daylights of this irascible friend of mine who was always upto some mischief; the party loving madcap who always lived a hey-ho, high-five life.

In the sense he was the kind who was always the life of a party, the perennial gung-ho type who was always full of beans. He used to tease all of us a lot and he went around with a cheerful and irreverent sense of humour, sometimes dark, sometimes bordering on the supercilious, and sometimes displaying a superiority complex. But, you could never get angry with him.

Off the wall

Even when you fight with him, you could never stay angry with him for more than a few hours, because he himself would have forgotten about it and would be needling you with some of his lip-splitting jokes. He and I constantly took potshots at each other and we were in an age where actually nothing mattered. But, I never knew he prayed and I never knew that there was another side to him, which was well, steeped in humility. I say it like that because, I had never seen him bow before anyone, nor have I seen him ask any favour from anyone or for that matter asked forgiveness for any wrong he had done.

But, this larger-than-life boy was suddenly a different, meek, humble and forgiveness-seeking version of himself, something I couldn’t fathom…was something terribly wrong, I wondered as I slipped outside of his home and waited just outside the doorstep. It was too embarrassing for me and I certainly didn’t want to embarrass him either. Anyway, he came out of the room looking a bit down but the moment 18 March 7-20, 2011

he saw me, he transformed himself from Dr Giveme-one-more-chance-God to Mr I-don’t-care-adang type. I was quite nonplussed by this unusual metamorphosis.

Was this really my friend? Yes, it was, but then, who was that boy quivering before his God? I understand all of us are different before mere mortals and different before God, but, I was worried whether he was in some kind of trouble. But, I never found the courage to ask him ever, because in an year or so he went off from college; his family had moved to a different town. I later learnt that his dad committed suicide, but I still couldn’t connect that boy praying desperately before the lord and this boy who was always full of mirth. But, that fervent prayer of his stuck and I would often think of those words: Give me a second chance. God, just give me a second chance…and I don’t know whether it pained me or brought me some kind of consolation.

Slowly as I also grew from a cocooned age where I was king and nothing ever mattered to the concrete jungle of life where anything and everything mattered and I felt more like a puppet in the hands of fate, and sometimes, even before people I thought I was close to. I realised that perhaps, that boy must have gone through a very trying period in his life and he must have tried to sort out many things that were going awry and that must have been his quiet and private plea: Give me a second chance! And I don’t know whether he got it, but I believe he must have. I really believe that the second chance comes, late maybe, but it comes.

And this is why, when the walls close in from all ends, I also mutter, perhaps with that same intensity and fervour: give me a second chance, God please give me a second chance… adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

Thank You readers

WINNERS Thank You readers Thank You W ell wishers wishers aand nd friends friends Well

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Thank ank You Well wish wishers andd friends

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Moiz Safri Please collect your gifts from Black & White office, Hatat House, 212, II floor on or before 21-03-2011. Phone: 24565697 Black & White 19

Dr Padma, Vineeth â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dance of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Omanwatch

In a spectacular dance performance, jointly organised by the Black & White and the Indian Embassy, the world renowned Indian danseuse, Padma Bhushan (Dr) Padma Subrahmanyam, proved yet again why she is a "living" legend.

20 March 7-20, 2011

The ‘Dance of India’ event, presented by Oman Air, at the packed auditorium of Indian embassy, recently, saw the legendary dancer unveil fascinating mythical tales of India utilising a treasure trove of dance movements and steps that had the audience glued to their seats long after the event was over.

Sheer tales steeped in Hindu mythology, rich and lively characters from the epic Ramayana came alive on the compact stage of the embassy auditorium.

‘Paddukka’, as Dr Padma is fondly known, transported not only herself into a spiritual dance bliss, but also took the dance lovers along in this amazing dance spectacle, organised as part of the Indian Republic Day celebrations.

The crowded auditorium, which spilled over with enthusiastic dance lovers, included the presence of the guest of honour, Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali, chairman and editor-inchief, Times of Oman, Philippe Georgiou, chief officer, corporate affairs, Oman Air, and many other dignitaries and top members of the Indian community.

The host, Anil Wadhwa, the Indian ambassador, were present along with many officials of the Indian embassy.

The ambassador and Soorya Krishnamoorthy also spoke on the occasion.

The organisers thanked the event sponsors, mainly Oman Air (show presenter) and the others, which included OMIFCO (Oman India Fertiliser Company), Al Ansari Group, Damas and Spicy Village. The ‘Dance of India’ event was a right mix of patriotism, integration,

tradition, art and a delectable slice of humour, according to dance lovers that thronged the show.

Sanskrit teacher Kavitha Rama Krishnan’s Tanjore (Thanjavur/Thanjavoor) paintings display also added an extra element of beauty and culture to the dance event.

Some of the select 40 heritage and culture rich Tanjore paintings were even displayed on the stage, other than the hall outside the auditorium.

The dance performance started of with Padukka performing the evergreen patriotic Indian national song Velli pani malaiyin meethu penned by Subramanya Bharathi, the national poet, followed by Jathiswaram by Vineeth.

The troupe of artists from Nrithyodaya, Chennai, comprising Balakrishnan Kannan, Dr Gayatri Kannan, Mahati Kannan, Shyamakrishnan, Neeraja Nagarajan, Radhika Muthukrishnan, Prabu Sriram, and Chittoor Kumaresan Patanjali displayed a rich mix of talent and variety, infusing patriotism, traditionalism, mischief, humour and heritage, as befitting the occasion of the Indian Republic Day celebrations.

For Padukka, dance means everything. “It is a means of spiritual awakening,” the legend, who is a rare combination of dancer, choreographer, music composer, singer, research scholar, teacher and author, told the rapt audience, post event.

Krishnamoorthy said the theme selected by Padukka quite befitted the occasion, and it had enormous grandeur, while yet being intimate. “I would call it an intimate theatre, executed with élan and perfection!”

The Embassy of India Muscat

Omanwatch 22 March 7-20, 2011

Black & White 23

Omanwatch 24 March 7-20, 2011

Black & White 25

Omanwatch 26 March 7-20, 2011

The Embassy of India Muscat

Spot the Mazda’s V-Mobile Making your loved one feel special became easier during the Valentine season with Mazda’s promotion – ‘spot the Mazda V-mobile’.

Spot the Mazda V-mobile as it cruises across Muscat, click a picture of it and email it to club@ towellauto.com; the person who spots the most number of Mazda V-mobiles (at multiple locations), stood to win a premium gift hamper through a raffle draw - a stylish Ray-Ban sunglass worth OMR100 and a weekend stay at Al Nahdha Resort & Spa. As part of the Valentine’s promotion, on buying a Mazda3, one could also win a premium gift hamper (Ray-Ban sunglasses and weekend getaway at Al Nahdha Resort and Spa), along with a Mazda TLC package that includes giving your Mazda3 a tender

loving touch with soft cushions and car perfumes and a fiveyear extended dealer warranty.

Kaya Skin Clinic laser hair removal Laser hair removal is fast becoming a common routine for women and some men too. Unwanted hair has always been restrictive, annoying and frequently embarrassing. “The number of sessions required depends on the area of the body being targeted, skin colour, coarseness of hair and gender. In addition, since hair grows in several phases, laser can only affect the currently actively growing follicles. Therefore, several sessions may be needed to reduce hair growth,” said Dr Tayssir Jarbouh, a dermatologist at Kaya.

‘Colours of Fusion’

Wordpress

wows audience

The NPA Events’ Colours of Fusion event held under the auspices of Anil Wadhwa, the Indian Ambassador at the embassy of lawns was a scintillating celebration of the Indian Republic Day. Roberto Riggio was superb on the violin, oud and harmonium while India’s national award winner Pravin Godkhindi mesmerised the audience with the flute.

The group included Jason Mckenzie on the drums, Snehasish Mozumder 28 March 7-20, 2011

on the Mandolin, Fareed Haque on the guitar, Subrata Bhattacharya on the tabla, Kai Eckhardt on the guitar, vocalist Nirmalya Roy, percussionist Somnath Roy (Ghatam, Dhambek, Ganjira and Kalimba), keyboardist Partha Paul, percussionist Mongopal Dhar on the Bangla Dhol, Dhol, Darbuka and Sanjoy Das on the guitar.

‘Colours of Fusion’ was held in co-ordination with Subrata Bhattacharya’s fusion band ‘Naad’.

As a special gesture, NPA Events handed over a part of the proceeds of the concert to the Centre for Special Education.

Khimji’s Watches was the presenter of ‘Colours of Fusion’.

Other sponsors were OMZEST, Renaissance Services, OMIFCO, Samsung, Oman & UAE Exchange, Galfar, Talentz Centre and DTC. Ruwi Modern Printers was the print partner while Times of Oman was the media partner.

Oman Air Holidays offer to Malaysia and Salalah Oman Air Holidays have come up with unbeatable packages to Kuala Lumpur and Salalah valid until March 31. For just OMR 199 per person, the 3-nights Malaysia package that includes flight, hotel, transfers and taxes comes as a never-to-be-missed offer that is sure to be extremely popular with discerning travellers.

For those who want to travel closer to home, Oman Air Holidays have packages to Salalah partnering with the 5-star Salalah Marriott Resort and the 5-star Crowne Plaza Salalah Resort to offer residents of Muscat

an opportunity to experience the enchanting city of Salalah with 5-star services and amenities.

The Salalah Break Package includes return flights from Muscat, complimentary hotel transfers with a two nights luxury stay at one of the 5-star resorts on twin share basis and complimentary buffet breakfast.

Packages start from OMR 99 per person at the Salalah Marriott Resort, and OMR 129 per person at the Crowne Plaza Salalah Resort, which also offers free buffet dinner every night.

LG Full LED 3D TV

Workshop on landscaping and agriculture

The LG Electronics and OTE Group, announced the Middle East launch of the 72-inch LZ9700, world’s largest Full LED 3D TV. The LZ9700 will let viewers see life-sized action on a beautiful crisp picture. With Full HD resolution on an LED display, the LZ9700 delivers pictures as large and colourful as paintings at an art gallery. The extra spacious screen size also makes the picture more immersive than ever, offering viewers a 3D experience every bit as good as the screen in the local multiplex.

The German Industry and Commerce Office (AHK Oman) has hosted two separate events for the business delegation from Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany recently at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat. One of the goals of this initiative of the ministry of economics, transport, agriculture and viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate was to present a workshop on “Landscaping and Agriculture”

by Prof. Dr Roland Kubiak from the German Institute for AgroEcology, which was warmly received by representatives from the local private and public sector.

Ernst & Young workshop

Ernst & Young, in yet another firstof-its-kind enterprise, has facilitated a workshop on enhancing leadership capabilities. The workshop was attended by senior business leaders from leading companies in Muscat.

Black & White 29

Park Inn Muscat sales team

Johnson & Johnson

gives away 40 laptops

Johnson & Johnson distributed 40 laptops to the winners of ‘win forty’ contest.

The event was conducted in commemoration of the 40th National Day of Oman and drew to a grand success with thousands of participants making it a lively event. All it consisted of was the purchase of Johnson & Johnson products for just three rials and filling up the coupon to take part in the promotional offer.

Held at Lulu’s Al-Burj hypermarket, the draw picked up 40 winners at a glittering event.

“Obviously we enjoy a far better reach with a tie-up with Lulu and make our presence more solid in Oman,” said Alex Rajan, business development manager, Ramniklal B. Kothary, the authorised distributor of J& J products in the Sultanate.

The Park Inn Muscat has recently added two members to its sales team who will take on the responsibilities of handling separate sectors of the hotel’s business in Oman.

The newly recruited employees will fortify the sales efforts for the four-star property in the local market.

Khalid Al Zadjali the new sales manager and a promising young Omani has a background of six years of experience in the hospitality industry in Oman. Raja Nair has joined the Park Inn as assistant director of sales. He had previously worked in a hotel in Oman in a similar capacity and holds over a decade of work experience in total in the hotel industry with prestigious hotel chains. Raja and Khalid will come under the wing of Fahad Al Wahaibi, director of sales and marketing.

Wordpress

Apollo Medical Centre Announces Unique Sun Rise Clinics Apollo Medical Centre, an associate of Apollo Hospitals Group, India and the trusted and most preferred healthcare provider in the Sultanate has announced the launch of the unique “Sun Rise Clinics”.

This concept is being introduced for the first time of its kind in the private sector health care in Muscat. Sun Rise Clinics ensure early morning Out Patient Consultations to the people of Sultanate with specialist.

These clinics start from 8am instead of the usual timing. In the initial phase, Apollo offers Sun Rise Clinics in the department of obstetrics/ gynecology.

Sandeep Kumar, Ceo of Apollo says 30 March 7-20, 2011

there has been demand for Early Morning Clinics from the general public and Apollo is now capable to meet the demand.

He also added that apart from Sun Rise Clinics, in Obs/Gynecology, Apollo also offers continuous OP services from 8am till 9pm with a break on all week days. “We are sure it will be beneficial and convenient for the patients whom we can offer our services at their convenient time.

It will also reduce the waiting time for the patients” he continued.

“As Apollo is celebrating fifth anniversary, we offer special packages for ante – natal services and deliveries. This package

includes special discounted rates, exclusive counselling for husband and wife, post delivery privilege card facility for mother and child etc,” Sandeep said.

Apollo Medical Centre has been performing arthroscopy procedures regularly and is also coming out with laparoscopy services from March. Both these services ensure minimal invasive procedures which will be beneficial for the patients.

Apollo is considered as one of the best centres for mother and child care and offers round-theclock emergency services in all departments.

OIB outperforms its competitors Oman International Bank (OIB) is ahead of the other leading banks in terms of return to investors based on an analysis of the bank balance sheets.

Evaluated on three critical parameters - the cash dividend declared, the dividend yield and the Return on Equity (ROE), the OIB has emerged as the market leader on return to its investor. The bank has not only generated higher return for its investors consistently but also shared the same with its investors through higher dividend payout and yield.

Sanad to sell renna

mobile products

'Between Two Lines' on March 11

World renowned painter, M.F. Husain, the ‘Picasso of India’ as Forbes magazine famously described him will be holding ‘Between Two Lines’ – a two day exclusive exhibition of 12 of his latest paintings on Calligraphy at the Indian embassy.

Husain will be accompanied by his son Owais Husain, also a painter and a multimedia artist with a growing repute of his own. The latter will also be displaying 12 of his personal creations on paper.

This exclusive event will be held on March 11 and 12 at the Indian embassy lawns and auditorium under the auspices of the Indian ambassador, Anil Wadhwa. This invitation – only exclusive event is brought together by Blue Mosaic, Trinity Investment Partners and NPA Events.

As part of renna mobile’s strategy for growth, a new distribution activity was announced in conjunction with Sanad Service Centers in Muscat.

In an event held at Ubhar Restaurant in Bareeq Al Shatti, Sheikh Samer bin Ahmed Al Nabhani, executive director, Sanad Project, ministry of manpower and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, board member, renna mobile launched the activity.

The event was attended by the first 20 Sanad Service Center owners, who have signed up around Muscat Governorate, and media partners, in addition to the renna mobile management and distribution team.

Mars' eighth outlet Mars International L.L.C opened their eighth outlet, and sixth in the Sultanate in Al Khuwair.

Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Yahya Al Rawahi, wali of Bausher inaugurated it in the presence of directors and staff of Mars.

Mars International is focussing on expansion strategy as well as to support their growth.

Briefing about the future plans, Vinodan said we had strategy budgeted for opening 3 new outlets by 2012. The one in Barka is almost at finishing stages and the ones to follow will be at Sur and Sinaw.

Black & White 31

Naqvi gets lifetime achievement award

Veteran sports personality Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi was recently conferred with a ‘lifetime achievement’ award by the ministry of sports. The minister of sports affairs Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy presented the prestigious award to Naqvi at a function organised at Al Bustan Palace hotel.

“It was the first award given to an Indian by the ministry of sports,” a delighted Naqvi said after receiving the award.

World Cup at Spicy Village World Cup fever has hit the world. And at the Spicy Village restaurants too!

World Cup décor, so you can live cricket, feel cricket and even eat cricket! The restaurant offers a sixer of a buffet all the way at all Spicy Village outlets in Muscat, Nizwa, Sohar and Sur. A spread that offers you the best of Indian, Chinese, Thai and Continental cuisine. From breads to biriyani,

Wordpress

Muriya appoints its

from starters and soups to salads and desserts – over 20 delicious items on the menu, every day. This lunch buffet is available right through the World Cup, all for just OMR2.900. What’s more, they have also got a fabulous offer for you: Pay for four, and get the fifth free.

Contact 99224718

Natyaarpanam – an

1st Omani Ceo

enchanting evening of dance

Muriya Tourism Development company has announced the appointment of its first Omani Ceo, Adil Taqi.

Formerly with Damac, Taqi brings with him years of prime real estate experience and has also held senior positions at large corporations locally, including Alliance Housing Bank (now known as Ahlibank) and PDO. He aims to bring his distinct Omani experience, insight and attitude to ensure that Muriya’s projects meet the needs of locals, and expatriates and continue deliver on time as promised.

A captivating show by four Indian School Ghubra (ISG) students at a programme called Natyaarpanam, which served as the platform for the arangetram (initiation) of Aiemy Mary Sam, Anindita Purohit, Devasena Joshi and Fairooz Rashid Sulaiman, at Al Falaj Hotel recently.

The quartet, all disciples of the ISG teacher Shailaja Sreekumar enthralled the packed audience at Le Grand Hall with a variety of dance forms.

32 March 7-20, 2011

In Black & White

In Black...

The beauty of the Arabic language is felt best when you hear it from the poets.

It is very fascinating to watch the simple, but very creative, villagers fight it out with words on the Maidan Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief

CREATIVE EXTEMPORE I watched and listened with great interest. The man at the centre picked up an everyday theme and then started to recite. It was a simple poem, but rich with meaning and effective pauses where those who couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch up had the time to register the words and their meaning.

Watching from the side, I had the advantage of thinking it was not only fun, but easy to doâ&#x20AC;Śthe main man picked up a topic and recited the lines on that. The next one took it forward with great ease.

In those days, as a teenager, I used to watch the Indian Antakshari shows on TV, and this seemed to be a takeoff on that. It was quite engrossing and it was a relay of poetry, which went on for hours. I am not into poetry myself, but, it was always interesting to watch and listen from the sidelines.

Every Friday the young and the old of a village would get together to a leisurely war of words, complimented by the traditional beat of drums, the songs and the Omani kahwa. These forms of Maidan poetry sessions were quite common in Al Batinah, Sharqiyah and Dhahirah regions.

The beauty of the Arabic language is known best when you hear it from the poets. It is very fascinating to watch the simple, but very creative,

villagers fight it out with words on the Maidan. The words just flow from the heart, from a simple topic of the day like the sun rise to the most complex of debates, all extempore.

Arabic is indeed a language that has passed the test of time and remains one of the oldest and most unique languages in the world. It is beautiful when spoken and written and you will feel a sense of extreme accomplishment when you start to understand it. Like every other language, the Arabic language has its own peculiarity and it has its own origin.

What could be a threat to the language is that a lot of people tend to use it less and it is on the decline nowadays. Blame it on the addiction to the modern forms of entertainment, the television, music downloads and mobiles.

In this issue, the B&W team has tried to capture the beauty of the Maidan, poetry that is recited out aloud, in one of the villages near Barka. Let us hope that our attempt to reach the Maidan poetry to English reading folks will widen its reach. Happy reading and reciting!

& White Black 33 Black & & White White 33

B&W Xclusive 34 March 7-20, 2011

Poetic Extempore Black 35 Black & & White White 35

B&W Xclusive

Fadhel Al Haddabi

36 March 7-20, 2011

Ya men wasalt barh Al Fuad, Karayim ma’ah yem fithalto (fithalto) News wasa’a Alyoum wa biyomeh wa Ya’ani Al-khabar yooled fee yomeh (fee yomeh) Yislam wasalkum birah wa fuad ‘Oqub ma wasaltu watafathaltu (tafathaltu)…

You who have come Have made us feel at ease (talking to a man named Kariyam) Kariyam, you have come with the horn made of silver (silver!)

What news today?

What's happening?

Give me all the news that is born today! (today!)

Thanks, thanks for coming Thanks for taking that extra mile Your visit has gladdened my heart And it has opened up to welcome you, welcome… (welcome!)

Black & White 37

Younger generation in their 20s finds Maidan interesting.

From left to right: Mubarak, Fazal, and Khamis Second side: right: Saleh, Abdul Hamed, and Saad.

IN A LITTLE CLEARING, in the woody, date-palm fringed area of Shirs Al Haddaba village in Barka, Fadhel Al Haddabi, sits on a large mat, reciting poems. Fadhel, who is a well-known Omani folklore poet, has three listeners on his right, and three on his left. He launches off on an everyday topic, much to the delight of his listeners, and they cling on the last word and repeats it, which adds to the momentum of the free verse.

B&W Xclusive

We watched the magical poetry session from the side, making sure we did not intrude or make some disturbance that would break the rhythmic flow. But, the group was so caught up in the poetic throes that they did not even mind the flash lights from our cameras. One could find strains of the Indian song competition, Antakshari, in the Maidan, at least in the quick take off on the last word, but that is where 38 March 7-20, 2011

the similarity ends as the chorus or the last word repetition does not take the poetry off on a tangent.

They continued with a whole theme, sometimes getting into different aspects of the same theme.

After maybe half an hour or so of some unusual poetic extempore, Fadhel paused and smiled at us. Almost on cue or more as a continuation of the poem, all six members of the poetic team seated before Fadhel also turned and smiled at us. We smiled back.

We were genuinely happy at having watched a live Maidan in action.

Just an hour ago when we had visited the Maidan it was silent and seemed a tad bit lonely. The silence was occasionally broken by a lone donkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bray and some birds that seemed to twitter and flutter around the area.

Fadhel came and livened up the scene with his homely version of contemporary Maidan poetry, which dwelt on reigning issues, sometimes, even political. “But, we always maintain a very simple and light tone,” Fadhel slowly explained, as though he was yet to come out of the poetic trance he and his fellow listeners and poetic partners experienced just moments ago.

It maybe light and simple, but in that lightness, and in that simplicity were words weighted with import and great amount of significance.

“This is Maidan!” Fadhel made a dramatic declaration. A torrent of words flowed from him, poetic, rhythmic almost songlike in their intonation, but the words had a topical, newsy feeling. And, as our interpreter noted, these were the current news, the happenings in

the region, which he said in a light manner, and with a little twist. At one point, they were mentioning something about Egypt…

WAR OF WORDS “The Maidan is a war of words, poetry, music… it is a part of the Omani tradition of getting together.

We all meet together and recite poems in Arabic; it is a sort of a creative contest done in leisure.

All of the men in the village come together in one field,” Fadhel explained.

“Maybe in the olden days, this was a means of passing on the richness of the Arabic language. By passing on the traditions of the society to the newer generation; or maybe, this was a means to keep the clan together and enhance creativity on the social front,” he added. Whatever the reason behind it, the Maidan type

of poetry was not dead; in fact, it was gaining more ground and even youngsters were keenly following it.

All six of the Maidan participants at the Shirs Al Haddaba areas were in their early 20s.

While we only had a glimpse of the Maidan-type poetry, a full-fledged one would be like a major festival.

“Yes, you can call it that! People come in large crowds, some with family, and some with friends.

There will be lot of noise and cheer and the womenfolk also take part in the celebrations,” Fadhel said.

But, did women also partake in the Maidan type of poetry? Did they also take the lead? “Not exactly.

Their roles are slightly different in the Maidan set up. Instead of reciting, they take to singing and also dancing. So, the poetry is set to colourful music and dance!”

Black & White 39

B&W Xclusive 40 March 7-20, 2011

FAMILY TRADITION For Fadhel, the Maidan has been very much like a family tradition.

“The art of Maidan poetry has been passed down to me over the years.

I remember attending the Maidan along with my father and uncles when I was just a small kid. I was both fascinated and little bemused too. I couldn’t get the poetic Arabic then…”

Fadhel has come a long way since then. Today, he is still fascinated by the creative verses that streams out him and others, but, he is no longer perplexed by the turn of Arabic words. And, in the Shirs Al Haddaba area, Fadhel now heads the Maidan poetry sessions. “I can proudly say that I am heading the Maidan just like my father and grandfather did. I was groomed to attend the Maidan as a young boy. In fact I was not much attuned to poetic Arabic and those first few sessions were difficult to comprehend for me.

But, I slowly got the hang of it and then those little stumbles and groping in the dark became a smooth flow for me.

Now, I am not just interested in the language and lyrics alone, but also in the day-to-day news and happenings. I have not outgrown the Maidan and I don’t think I ever will.

Today, many men and women have come to understand that Maidan means that it is an opportunity for the old and the young to come together and exchange views and news through a medium that is fun as well as entertaining.”

POETRY TO CURE THE POSSESSED The Maidan is not just about poetic sessions alone. We learnt that the Maidan recitals were also called for reading of the possessed and ill.

"It (the Maidan) is also used as an arena to cure the possessed and the sick.

“We recite to cure the sick and most of the times we have been successful at it. The reading and recitals for the sick are part of our culture and tradition too.

There are certain lyrics and music that come along with it. I remember one such case, a complicated one, where the suffering man was ailing for many years and could not find any relief even at Ibn Sina or any other traditional or modern medicinal clinics. This man went through a rigorous Maidan session of 3 to 10 days. After that, he came out totally cured. These kind of curing recitals are not religious; they are more of curative recitals and the verses are as mentioned in our holy books.”

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAIDAN The Maidan sessions are episodes that run to two and half hours and sometimes even goes up to a week.

People from far and near come to attend it.

Black & White 41

B&W Xclusive

The loser would be the one who remains silent and has no answers to the poems or recitals.

The winner takes it all. You should see the tempers flaring up sometimes. It is a serious affair, sometimes funny, sometimes sad

42 March 7-20, 2011 42 February 21-March 6, 2011

The Maidan (Al Sooriya) is done after the I'sha prayers 9.30pm to 12 midnight, sometimes 8.30am to 12 noon and evenings 4pm to 6pm. It depends on everyone’s convenience and also the climate.

Al Zaffan goes up to a week or even 10 days. The other type of Maidan called Al Miss’ab is a family affair.

The last Miss’ab was held some three months back and is normally held once or twice every year. Al Miss’ab is a full family affair and the families camp at the location. There will be singing and dancing and the drum beats run throughout the day and night.

The usual poetic Maidan involves literary participation and people who are good in Arabic take part. The Raisi Al Maidan starts the session with any topic, from sun rise to the current Egypt upraising, it can be any topic decided by the head poet.

He recites; he voices his opinion in rhythmic Arabic with a generous dose of humour and light satire added on to it.

The opponent may not be one, it could be many. Whoever catches on and replies in the most befitting manner, rich in the language and satire, wins the prize money! There is always some sort of prize money or gifts attached to the regular Maidans, Fadhel tells us.

“The loser would be the one who remains silent and has no answers to the poems or recitals. The winner takes it all. You should see the tempers flaring up sometimes. It is a serious affair, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. There is a mix of emotions involved and whatever emotions are less or more, the whole episode is a very passionate affair!

Lots of noise and laughter rings in the midst of claps and drum beats.”

MAIDAN FOR POSTERITY Maidan is a rich Omani tradition that is practiced all over Al Sharqiyah, Dhahirah and Al Batinah regions.

“It is not a custom that will just die.

The youngsters in my village still participate in the Maidan. In fact the youngest one is hardly nine.

Since it is part of the family tradition, the young boys will attend at least one episode and it becomes the responsibility of the elders in the family to pass on the heritage to the younger generation.

I am in my late 30s and I was initiated to this custom by my father and grandfather. I believe that Omani boys, will at some point of time, attend at least one of the sessions even if he is away from Oman.

The youngsters in my family are all involved in Maidan and I feel it is my responsibility to pass the poetic message on. I am sure it will continue for the future too.”

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Najib Al Balushi

Black & White 43

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:

Hippocratic or hypocrisy oath?

Nitternatter

Lady is in severe pain… so what?

44 March 7-20, 2011

Doctors are known to take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to practice medicine ethically. But, one of our readers claims that the doctor she took her daughter to must have taken the Hypocrisy Oath. She was livid, so forgive her, doc.

But, can we forgive you that easily doc? Because according to this Omani lady, she was referred to you at a government hospital, but since you were busy, and had a tight schedule and a long patients list, running from here to Sohar, you told the lady and her daughter to come to a private

hospital. She did. You made her wait.

Finally, you saw her, made her tell the complete story of her daughter’s problem and then after listening to all that just dismissed her saying that this was not your area and you had to go back to the same hospital and see a different doctor. All that is okay… But, doc, if you didn’t offer consultation, if you merely hear out a person who is not even your patient, why did you ask her to pay?

Was that right on your part, doc?

Anyway, we don’t want to know, you tell her directly, or reimburse her…

Still on the subject of docs, we have another Omani lady here who told us of how she approached her doc who was at a government clinic for an ailment she had. Her right leg was so painful that she wanted to cut it off, and so she asked the doc for an appointment, but he was busy. So when could she see him, she asked.

Well, he was busy and had to go to another private clinic where he offered consultation. Could she come there please, she asked. She told him she was in great pain. No, was the curt answer. Too many patients, too busy! But, she was in real pain, was there a chance to meet the doctor anywhere? Could she meet him tomorrow at least?

Tomorrow? No way! He was off. Weekend. Thursday and Friday. Golf! She could meet him only next week. Okay, the lady in pain said. But, when could she meet him, please? Ummhhh, there was no way she could meet him on Saturday as he was going to the SQUH. But, but, could she come to the SQUH to meet him, she pleaded? SQUH, ha, no way… At the SQUH he was quite busy; he would have meetings till late afternoon…no, he can’t meet her on Saturday. Ideally, let her come to meet him on Monday at another private clinic... So, the lady in severe pain had no choice, but to wait. Is this the way doctors should treat a lady in pain?

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

Just an aberration

Now, all of the above might look like a diatribe against doctors (or those in the medical field)â&#x20AC;Śbut, that is not what this is all about. It is just a coincidence that we got two or three issues on doctors all at the same time, but, the point to make here is that in both these cases we have two esteemed members of the medical profession acting callously and without any care for their patients. Have doctors seen too much of pain that it no longer matters to them anymore?

We are disturbed. Let us hope that these incidences are just an aberration in the overall picture and surely just two cases cannot have us calling the whole medical profession as callous, cruel and heartless!

Why should might always win?

Might always rules. This maybe what people are accustomed to and many believe it to be natural in the order of things. But yaaki, why is it that might always wins; why are bullies always winning? What order is that? No, we are not saying that the meek should always inherit the earth, but, shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the meek, the weak, the deprived, the aggrieved, the pained, the injured, the one who have lostâ&#x20AC;Świn occasionally, or at least once? We do not refer to any particular incident, or citing just one topic, but a variety of them, all in a cluster, but each one hankering for justice, separate and on their own.

There is too much injustice in this world (hear, hear!) and too much injustice is heaped on those whom we know and we wonder, we really wonder why?

Black & White 45

Do we negotiate enough?

By Dr CK Anchan

Dr Anchan C.K. managing director, World Wide Business House

The ability to negotiate is one of the most valuable skills you can bring to any job. Whether you’re after a pay rise, time off, a new job, getting someone to back off, more help or more recognition, the ability to negotiate will give you a much better chance of success. It is something that puts you personally and professionally in the driver’s seat!

Negotiation in its truest sense means listening to the other party. Trying to understand where they come from. In a world that goes out of its way to keep buyer and seller separate, I find no substitute for face to face negotiation and the fruits that come from it. The best negotiating tool will always be the art of listening.

It is the ultimate art of looking before you leap and not jumping to the handshake and the contract. Instead, the art is in refining what you want, setting those unstoppable goals and also leaving some wriggle room on stuff you don’t truly care about.

Negotiations are not emotional. Refuse to act emotionally and you are half way there. In addition, remember that the person who says little and shows the least cards maintains the most control.

Management talk

Here are few tips, which have certainly worked for me, I am sure it will work for you also: 1. Increase the goodwill on both sides viz: compliment the person you are in negotiation with; use positive indications and words.

2. Keep listening and ask intelligent questions viz : understand what the other person is saying and their point of view. To listen shows respect and good intentions, and will make the other person feel valued.

3. Become aware of emotional climates viz: If the other person is angry, do not panic, keep your cool and be pleasant, you will find the person settling down within some time.

4. Be clear about the decision you are going to take in advance viz: whether you are going to compromise, or not. Assess all aspects of the situation.

5. Buy time and keep your options open viz : Give yourself room to manouveur. Make sure you have something to offer the other person, as well as something you want.

6. Conclude with win – win situation viz: Both sides should leave the negotiation feeling they’ve come away with something and that they’re satisfied.

To conclude for now, Life is a process of negotiations, from negotiating contracts with clients, buying your first house to negotiating your next salary raise. So happy negotiating!

46 March 7-20, 2011

By Seyad Farook

Nature's Quest

What is the difference between poison and venom?

Seyad Farook, ophiologist/ field herpetologist at the Sultan Qaboos University

IF YOU DRINK VENOM, WILL IT KILL YOU? Poisons are substances that are toxic (cause harm) if swallowed or inhaled. Venoms are generally not toxic if swallowed, and must be injected under the skin (by snakes, spiders, etc.) into the tissues that are normally protected by skin in order to be toxic. However, it is NOT recommend drinking venom for any reason..

Types of Venom: (a) Cytotoxin (cell-affecting venom) Most of the slower venomous snakes have a quick acting component in the venom (cytotoxin) that will cause an immediate burning pain.

Cytotoxins destroy cells and tissue.

A bite from a cytotoxic snake generally produces local pain and swelling around the bite area. Depending on the exact nature of the venom, discolouring and necrosis will take place. Most people bitten by cytotoxic snakes survive. Bites from a puff adder, which has predominantly cytotoxic venom, can cause disfigurement. This is because of a large amount of necrosis and even gangrene which results in digits or limbs having to be amputated.

Carpet vipers, horned vipers, Sand vipers and false-horned vipers have a cytotoxin element together with a more potent haemotoxin.

Black & White 47

Kidstuff

The colour of the first successful bubble gum was pink because it was the only colour the inventor had left

48 March 7-20, 2011

Did you know...?

The oldest known sample of chewing gum is a piece of birch bark tar estimated to be 6,500 years old. It seems to have been chewed by a person 30 to 40 years old with a cavity in one tooth.

People have chewed on natural materials for hundreds of years, including thickened resin and latex from certain trees, sweet grasses, leaves, grains and waxes.

More than 1,000 varieties of gum are manufactured and sold in the United States.

100,000 tons of bubble gum are chewed every year.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest bubble ever blown was 23 inches in diameter!

Cinnamon, spearmint and peppermint are among the most popular flavours of chewing gum today.

The country using the largest number of chewing gum manufacturers is Turkey, using more then 60 companies manufacturing chewing gum!

In A.D. 50, Ancient Greeks were believed to chew mastic, tree resin taken from the bark of the Mastic tree. Grecian women favoured chewing this to clean their teeth and sweeten their breath!

Humans are the only animals on earth that chew gum.

Greeks chewed gum thousands of years ago.

The ages of 12 to 24 chew more gum than any other age group.

The colour of the first successful bubble gum was pink because it was the only colour the inventor had left. The colour “stuck” and today bubble gum is still predominantly pink.

Detectives have been known to identify criminals by comparing the suspect’s chewed gum to their dental records.

Because of gravity, you must measure bubble gum bubbles by their width, not their height.

Swallowed bubble gum will not get stuck from your intestines, but it will pass through your system, because gum base cannot be digested.

Tongue twisters Double bubble gum, bubbles double Black & White 49

Your stars ARIES March 21-April 20

TAURUS April 21-May 20

GEMINI May 21-June 21

Extremely revealing and, at times, unusual messages or statements from friends and colleagues may be a key theme now.

Watch closely for subtle changes and unexpected revelations from loved ones. Renewed intimacy and rare moments of tenderness are likely to continue in the coming weeks.

You will make peace with several months of business indecision, financial strain and lagging confidence. Much of this will affect career matters but, for some, long-term romantic relationships may also be at issue. If so, expect a friend or lover to push for new public promises in your home life.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look back: really, there is very little that could have been done to affect change during the past eight weeks. Beginning this week, however, and lasting over the next five to six months, honesty will be greatly rewarded. Planetary alignments indicate a new phase of shared goals.

CANCER June 22-July 23 A trusted friend or companion will now reveal important family information or ask for delicate social advice. Timed events may be a key concern: expect a variety of questions concerning recent group celebrations, public statements or family gatherings.

LIBRA September 24-October 22 After several weeks of low self-esteem or deep romantic doubt, most Librans will now experience serious overtures of passion, loyalty and dedication. To some degree, this may also apply to business partnerships or career ambitions but, for the most part, will manifest as social or romantic intensity.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20

Horoscope

STEVEN PAUL JOBS (BORN FEBRUARY 24, 1955) is an American business magnate and inventor. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Jobs also previously served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios; he became a member of the board of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney. He was credited in the 1995 movie Toy Story as an executive producer

Family expectations are now on the rise. Early this week expect a close relative or trusted friend to present unusual ideas for home expansion or improved relations with older relatives.

Optimism is what is important here; so be sure to provide plenty of support and encouragement.

50 March 7-20, 2011

LEO July 24-August 23 No worries here, though: at present, planetary alignments suggest that recently withheld passions, observations and ideas will rise quickly to the surface. Accept all comments as valid and let others witness your empathy: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to make your feelings known.

SCORPIO October 23-November 22 Older relatives and key officials may this week ask for more your time, attention and loyalty than is warranted. No long-term changes are likely here, so not to worry. Do, however, respond quickly to all requests and instructions. At present, both loved ones and long-trusted colleagues will need reassurance.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 New romantic promises and expanded commitments in love relationships will be a continuing theme for much of the next two weeks. Much of this will act as an overture to deepen a key relationship or increase emotional intimacy.

This is the right time to begin new projects.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Employment decisions and short-term financial obligations will be a key topic of conversation during this period. Eventually, all will work in your favour; so not to worry. Do, however, quickly clarify all missing documents or time schedules errors.

Stand your ground: all is well.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 Important phones calls, messages or invitations should not be ignored over the next few days.

Pay special attention to the social habits, daily needs and ongoing emotional expectations of loved ones. Someone close may this week reveal a surprising family conflict or ask for discrete romantic advice.

PISCES February 20-March 20 Early this week expect an older colleague or work official to return to outdated and ineffective practices. Group projects and team assignments may be particularly bothersome. The key here is to allow others to briefly revisit old habits but quietly encourage change. By late next week all will work in your favour.

motris.livejournal.com

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 51

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

52 March 7-20, 2011

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

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Black & White 53

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Cooking

By Praba Iyer I have fond memories of my early years in Kanpur, India.

Situated on the banks of the Ganges, Kanpur was as fertile as it could be. Our home had crisp green lawns with roses of every hue.

My favourite pastime in the summer months was counting the number of tomatoes on the vine, which stretched on to the side walls of the house. I remember admiring the red plump fruit against the faded brown wall. While my dad brought home red juicy apples and healthy bunches of grapes, mom would cut a bowl of fresh tomatoes and sprinkle a little sugar, for us to eat.

This was when I fell in love with fruits. My grand mother taught me that fruits were natural cleansers and eating fruits everyday helps remove toxins from our body. I also learnt to cut fruits from her.

We get most fruits the year round. When my boys were younger, my Wednesday morning ritual was to head to the Farmer’s Market, and stroll the isles, sampling and buying freshly picked fruits. All the colours and tastes were a feast for the eyes and the palate. Fruits are a big part of our home menu, either as an evening snack or a salad everyday.

Praba Iyer is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. She was the Associate Chef at Greens Restaurant in Fort Mason, SF. She teaches custom cooking classes in the bay area

Here are some fruit recipes you can add to your menu. Now you can entice your kids with a healthy alternative to yet another chocolate chip cookie or cheetos! Enjoy!

MANGO SALAD

GREEN FRUIT SALAD

This is a versatile recipe which is always a crowd pleaser. You can be creative as to what you add, to fit your cuisine preference.

This refreshing salad incorporates many green fruits. It has Kiwi fruit that is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Honeydew is a great source of folate (folic acid). This salad is best when made and served immediately.

•1 ripe mango, sliced into cubes/ strips •1 corn, kernels separated •1/2 English cucumber, sliced into cubes/strips •2 sweet peppers, sliced into rings •1/2 lime juice •1 green chili •2 tablespoons of cilantro chopped •salt to taste Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, refrigerate and serve.

Variations: My Indian version has toasted cumin and/or sprouted moong beans. You can turn it into a Mexican mango salsa with grilled fish. Try it as a Thai Green Papaya salad with Mangoes, by adding mango to shredded raw papaya along with thai chilies, lime and few roasted cashews.

•1/2 honeydew, skin removed, seeded and cubed •2 golden delicious apples, cored, sliced into cubes •3 kiwis, peeled and sliced •1 cup of green grapes, seedless, sliced into halves •1 banana, peeled and sliced •Garnish with pomegranate seeds for color (optional) Dressing 2 lemon, juiced 1 tablespoons of honey ½ teaspoon chaat masala (optional) ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon mint leaves julienne Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing together. Place all the fruits in a bowl, mix in the dressing and serve.

Black & White 55

Accept the things you cannot change

Laila, Omani graduate student of Nizwa University

By Laila Ibrahim Obaid Al-Gharbi Sometimes you may feel as your life is turning topsy-turvy. And sometimes you may feel though there is no purpose. Indeed, there are times when things seem to go awry. And then you feel so helpless, like a little log tossed upon stormy seas.

It is normal to feel like that sometimes when things are not going smoothly with you. Circumstances would determine the status of your mood and your life in general. But, it need not be all that bleak and bad. There are ways to overcome any such feelings.

Believe it or not, accepting things that you cannot change is very important to keep your sanity! Truly, you cannot change the whole world if your problem is with the world.

But when you embrace the problem and accept that there are some things which cannot be changed, it will be of help to you. Because acceptance will provide you with enough strength and determination to make things work easily for you.

On the other hand, there will be many others who may face difficulty in doing this. Even when things are upside down, take advantage of it and charge your soul with strong belief in yourself and the ability to succeed. And when things are down, fight it with everything you have got and never ever give up. Then and only then will you feel that you have got a better understanding of making a life of success and happiness.

Sometimes going through a wave of ups and downs is just wonderful as God has given us the choice to make our life. We better appreciate our life and be thankful to God because there are others who have succumbed drowning under the waves of ups and downs.

Learning curve

On the other hand, those who have struggled and fought to make the wave of ups and downs work for them, because they know the purpose of their existence, are alive and kicking. So, ask yourself: "Do you really know the purpose of your life?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Then, no matter if the waves of ups and downs come to you or not, you are equipped to meet these imposters in a very strong and neutral manner. lalgharbi@yahoo.com

56 March 7-20, 2011

It's my life

Make way for the S-OL-I-T-A-I-R-E

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

By Vandana Shah 50000 DOLLARS ….W-HA-AA-T, no you can’t be serious…well, if it is, then I’ll just have to dream about it lustily…but really is it worth that much? Does its cost equate its worth? After all it’s just a stone, why should it be so unaffordably EXPENSIVE? A solitaire is about 10 times the worth of a cluster of diamonds. So a cluster of diamonds is like clutter in comparison to a single large stand-alone diamond.

A solitaire expresses the power of one and the strength of individuality. When you have the ability to stand apart from a group, you become worth much more than a bunch of people huddling together and still not making the same impact as an individual.

The minute you have the courage to take a different path you become the SOLITAIRE whose brilliance outshines and overshadows the smaller diamonds. It eclipses the other diamonds not because it tries to but just by the virtue of its presence.

A solitaire has a different grading system from your usual run of the mill diamonds and any jeweller will happily accept it back and pay you a decent amount for it, unlike the other diamonds which have almost a zero return value. It’s just so different from other diamonds that a comparison between them seems a silent mockery of the latter.

So why is it so difficult for us to be a solitaire and shine with our brilliance rather than needing the crutch and support of a group to barely exist in life? Why can’t we be bold and choose the untrodden path, face a few challenges and eventually become priceless?

Needless to say it is going to be impossibly difficult but whoever said the path to greatness was not brimming with obstacles?

Go ahead make a bold decision today and be a solitaire…while I go and be one and hopefully buy one.

Till next time peace and love!

Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, editor of Ex-Files. www.vandanashah.com.

Email me what you’d like to say on 360degreesbacktolife@gmail.com Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

Black & White 57

shape n sound 58 March 7-20, 2011

Any woman can have a BUFF body MAN OR WOMAN, WHO WOULD NOT love to have a buff body? Yes, you may have to huff and puff to get a buff body, but more importantly, it is having the right attitude. Whatever anyone says, there is nothing better than simple, straightforward exercise and toning down of the food intake to make you take a simple trip from the unfit fat lane to the slim and trim healthy path. Many women, especially those who are about to tie the knot, would die to have a fit body, at least before they get hitched. Whatever the reason, the need to have a buff body is a genuine requisite for many a woman. Let us see if we can get somewhere with this desire: BE CONSISTENT How many times have you started a fitness regimen only to discover that working late, buying that almost-forgotten birthday gift, and cheering the kids at their soccer game or fancy dress parties have eaten up all your planned work-out time?

A consistent routine helps. What is needed is to plan it out ahead of time. Working out three days a week is ideal; irregular training makes for irregular results.

ALL-ROUND FOCUS Sometimes what happens is that we tend to focus only on the problems parts.

That is not unusual because when you have a problem thigh, upper arms, stomach etc., you may tend to work out those areas more than the others. But, experts note that instead of focusing on one or two body parts, it is better to work on the whole package. As you work on the entire body, the problem areas will disappear.

STOP TALKING, START WALKING So, you want to be buff and what you do is just stroll around the block or take your dogs out for short walks around the corner and you want to be buff?! Uh, get a life woman! It does not work that way. A stroll around the block examining the sidewalk won’t do much to get you buff. As they say, there is walking and then there is WALKING! If you can’t do fast walk, at least walk briskly, and when you walk for exercise, make sure you swing your arms rhythmically to boost your metabolism. Also, keep your back straight and your chin up for better balance.

GOODBYE ELEVATORS Ugh! You are right. Those stairwells in your office building do look ugly. But, believe us, these ugly steps may can help tone your legs while you’re at work.

So, why not make an attempt at it? Climbing stairs strengthens leg muscles and provides a good cardiovascular workout at the same time. Quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes will benefit, experts note.

NO RESTING Lifting weights can be exhausting, especially when you’re starting out, but how long you rest between repetitions can make a difference in how quickly your fitness level improves. Try not to rest for more than 45 seconds between sets. This will speed up your metabolism and burn more calories.

Black 59 Black & & White White 59

Psyche 60 March 7-20, 2011

Don’t be

EMBARRASSED

anymore!

SOMETIMES OUR BODY refuses to cooperate. Especially when we need it to cooperate with us the most!

It could be a sudden expelling of gas, a hiccups attack, an overactive bladder, and a belch you just can’t swallow, to ill-timed yawns, excessive sweating... life does not get any worse than this. But if you think you are the only one afflicted with such problems, think again, it’s more common than you think. And there are ways to avoid such bodily embarrassments: BLADDER LEAKS For some, it happens when they sneeze, for others when they laugh or cough, or when they exercise.

Small, small uncontrollable leaks called urinary incontinence can cause extreme embarrassment.

Known as stress incontinence, it’s the most common type of bladder control problem in women. Another type, called urge incontinence or overactive bladder, happens when you have a strong need to urinate but can’t reach the toilet in time. It is said that every woman who has given birth to at least one baby is going to suffer some urinary incontinence problems – it is almost unavoidable.

But, all is not lost. Here is what you could do: If you have an incontinence problem, there are exercises designed to tighten bladder muscles that control the flow. These include Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor and bladder training -stopping your urine flow mid-stream every time you go to the bathroom.

Try to learn how to just stop it and release it several times; this will help build the muscle that controls

urination. You can also try emptying your bladder before engaging in activities that might bring on a leak, such as exercising or dancing.

Experts note that you should avoid coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate if you’re going to be away from home and a bathroom and also if you know you have this problem, even occasionally, make sure you wear underwear, and carry an extra pair, just in case.

BURPS, HICCUPS, AND GROWLS It is a make it or lose it business presentation that you have to make.

Just as you are about to begin it, a loud growl is heard throughout the conference room. You and the rest of the people are as shocked as one can be when confronting a beast like that.

Something that makes horrible sounds like that has to be a beast right? Right? Well, you are speechless as you look everywhere for the culprit and realise that is none other than your stomach!

Okay, now that is a beast from the stomach, but what happens when another ugly creature escapes from the confines of your own mouth?

Yes, we speak of another monster called the belch or that series of monsters called the hiccups.

Belches and growls are usually due to gassy foods; hiccupping is the result of an irritation to the diaphragm which can also be made worse by gassy foods, medical experts note, adding that anxiety can magnify the problem.

Burping and hiccupping can come on when you swallow a lot of air, and that’s very common when we’re anxious. If you’re a person who sighs

a lot, then you probably swallow air when you’re anxious.

What can you do about it? Well, the simplest form of defense is to cut down on gassy foods in the hours previous to when you want to be at your best. These include cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and broccoli, beans, and for some folks, dairy products and fried foods.

Drinking more water also helps. The GI tract is more likely to spasm when it’s dry, so keeping well hydrated reduces the likelihood of hiccups, burps, and nervous coughs.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING It is but natural for many: when the heat is on, you break into a sweat.

For some, just a bit of stress is all that is required to make you drip.

There are some people who actually have a problem with overactive sweat glands, but for the most part, excessive sweating that occurs only in certain situations is all about stress.

A by-product of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, nervous sweating is a reflection of sympathetic nerve discharge -- a manifestation of the fight-or-flight response that kicks in when we’re anxious.

But even sweat problems have solutions: Let us learn to condition ourselves ahead of time for facing stressful situations. It’s a matter of brain retraining. Gradually expose yourself to the nervous situation, and eventually your body won’t respond as if you’re in danger. And if those slick ads are true, well, the easiest way to prevent excessive sweating is simply to try an antiperspirant deodorant. What do you say?

Black & White 61

Of ghosts and angels

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar There is someone in our living room, madam!

The call from my maid was not eerie, but definitely funny.

The first thing that came to the mind was that it could be a burglar.

Man or woman? I queried.

I am not sure madam, but I think it is a ghost, she declared.

Now it definitely sound funny for me, I laughed But, my maid was pretty sure of her statement.

Can you please come home early tonight? I didn’t want to ridicule her, so I agreed.

The night when I reached home, she went on to explain the full story.

Every evening, there is this presence in the living room, someone just moves around, actually fleets past through the sliding glass section and she pointed it out to me.

I have been living in this apartment for over six years and I have never felt anything supernatural.

But, how do you know it is a ghost? Ghosts don’t loiter around as they wish; I tried to convince her that ghosts don’t exist. But, her mind was made up.

She said she was watching the television and every time she turned her head, she saw someone fleet past by. She went on to tell me stories of her village where many have seen ghosts in person.

All said and done, I promised her to keep a watch; maybe, just maybe, ghosts do exist.

I convinced my maid that I am going to get rid of the ghost and told her that ghosts generally don’t harm good souls; it could be an angel, guarding us all!

All of us hold on to our own beliefs and I believe in guardian angels!

She was hooked. She believed the story and slept well that night.

Let us clean up the living room and reset it, I suggested. The hall was reset and everything looked normal. And I jotted it down on my fridge for Friday, ‘keep a watch for ghosts at

night/evenings” I did and there weren't any ghostly visitors last Friday. Maybe it was a day out for the visiting ghost!

Two weeks have passed by and I still could not spot anything.

Last week, while I was watching a movie and well, I saw a fleeting shadow; unmistakably something flashed past. It is all in my head, my mind said. Your mind only believes what it wants to, in fact your eyes see one thing, and your mind believes another. Aren’t we all in some way creating our realities in alignment with our most dominant beliefs?

Suddenly the interest to watch the movie fizzled out and here I was actually watching out for any shadows through the corner of my eye!

I changed positions, but, in a couple of hours I saw many fleeting shadows. I pull up the shades, and sat again watching over the ghosts and angels of my room. This time the fleeting shadow turned out to be a flashing light! Flashing headlights of a car, turning at the corner junction!

Every time a car turned in to our road, its headlights flashed on to my window glass. My home is located on a slope, right above the corner! Caught the ghost finally!

For a moment, I did believe there was someone in the room. It is true, we definitely are the sum total of our experiences. It is the emotions which are tied to these memories that affect us. The conscious mind of course, is the seat of our rational mind, but the unconscious is the seat of our emotions, or feelings. I believe when there’s a conflict between our intellect and our emotions, our emotions always win! Mine almost did. My maid still believes it is something else, but she is 90 per cent convinced that the car headlights played the culprit. She prays a little extra now, and lights up a few extra candles too… ha! priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

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