The Express Tribune hi five - December 21

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Your Proofness: Sarah Munir Master Storyteller: Nudrat Kamal Creativity Analysts: Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Talha Ahmed Khan, Munira Abbas, Omer Asim and Umar Waqas

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

Hi light

2 When you hear the word ‘sports’, your mind goes to the usual games: cricket, football, hockey.

These fit into our idea of sports since they are full of purposeful activity and complicated rules and strategies. But we humans have a remarkable capability to turn almost every silly activity into a competitive game, and we’ve used this capability to come up with some truly strange sports. There are competitions for egg rolling, lizard racing and pea shooting.

There are annual games for pie eating and milk drinking. There is even a sport called finger pok oke yo your ur o pponent with pp w th your wi yyou ourr inde iindex nde ex fi ffinger. nger. ng jousting in which you try to poke opponent not random rran ando dom do m games g mes thatt occur ga occ o ccur cc urr ssometimes om met etiimes All these strange sports are not ope op er competitions, com omp peti t tiion ti onss, with wit i h designated desi de sign si gna gn ated d among friends. They are proper even ev nts a and n committed nd ccom ommi om m ttted players mi pla laye yers ye rs w who ho o organisations that plan the events y .

Here r a re e s som om m e of f t h he c razi ra z zi es e s t take the sports very seriously. are some the craziest sports that exist:

It’s true that ironing a pair of extremely wrinkled pair shalwar kameez can feel like running a marathon, but the sport Extreme Ironing (also known as EI) takes ironing to a whole other level. In this sport, people take ironing boards to remote locations and iron items of clothing. These remote locations can be anywhere from the top of a high mountain to a canoe in a river. Many times, the ironing is done while doing some other activity simultaneously — such as skiing or snowboarding. According to the EI Bureau, extreme ironing is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.” It is said that the game was started in 1997 in Leicester, England, by resident Phil Shaw who decided to combine ironing with rock climbing to make things more interesting. He began touring around the world to promote this new extreme sport and since then, lots of people have taken up the challenge.

You will remember rock-paper-scissors as the game you play when you and your siblings can’t agree on which one should set the table for dinner. But while the game has historically been used to make such decisions, there are also world-wide competitions for the game.

The game originally developed in ancient China where it was called shoushling (hand command). Variations of the game are also part of Japanese history. By the 20th century, the game had spread throughout the world, played for fun and as a choosing method (similar to a coin toss). But it didn’t become a tournament in itself until 2002, when the World Rock Paper Scissors Society standardised a set of rules for international play and began overseeing annual International World Championships. There are even computer programming competitions for algorithms that play Rock Paper Scissors. Experts argue that the game requires strategy and skill, and isn’t just a random series of hang signs.

Have you ever looked at a herd of scary-looking bulls and asked yourself, “Wouldn’t it be fun if these bulls came charging straight at me while I ran for my life?” If you have, you wouldn’t be the first one to entertain such a crazy notion. The Running of the Bulls is a popular sport in Spain, especially in the city of Pamplona. It is a sport that involves running in front of a dozen bulls that have been let loose on a closed off section of the city’s streets. The sport first came into existence in the early 14th century. There was a need to transport the bulls from the off-site corrals where they had spent the night, to the bull-ring where they would be killed in the evening. Young people would jump among the bulls while they were being moved to show off their bravado. Today, the most famous Running of the Bulls competition takes place during the eight-day festival of Sanfermines in Pamplona, but similar events also take place in cities of Mexico, Portugal and France.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

Hi light

3 Toe Wrestling is another childhood game that has made it to the big time adult sporting world. The rules for this game are pretty simple. With shoes off, the competitors face other toe-to-toe across the ‘toedium’, where they interlock their big toes and try to force each other off the toedium (a lot like arm wrestling).

The World Toe Wrestling Championship is not a new competition, dating back to 1976, when the World Toe Wrestling Competition started at a pub in Wetton, England. The locals of the Ye Olde Royal Oak Inn thought it would be a great idea to hold a toe wrestling competition, where the contestants lock their big toes together, and attempt to force their opponent’s foot to the ground.

Annual competitions are now held in Derbyshire, England. Toe Wrestling’s poor cousin the Thumb Wrestling competition, is still a popular children’s game, but has not yet reached the height of a world championship and classification as a sport.

What would you like to see in Hi Five? Send an email to hifive@tribune.com.pk and let us know!

Anyone who has ever been in a fight can attest to the fact that getting hit in the shins is super painful and a very effective way to take down your opponent. So it should come as no surprise that Shin Kicking is an actual sporting competition that goes back centuries. It originated in England in the 17th century and was a very important part of the Cotswold Olimpick Games that were held during that era. It also became a popular pastime among Cornish miners. Today, the World Shin-kicking Championships are an annual event that draws crowds of thousands of spectators. During each round, the combatants face each other and hold onto each other’s collar.

They then go on to attempt to strike their opponent’s shin with the inside of the foot as well as their toes. Legend has it that some shin-kickers wore steel-toe boots during the competitions in the 17th century and tried to build pain tolerance by hitting their shins with hammers. In today’s competitions, however, the combatants are required to wear soft shoes and stuff their trouser legs with straw for padding.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

4 Say a Prayer for

Peshawar

s Fun facts about video game Studies have shown that playing action video games trains people to make the right decisions faster without loss of accuracy. Video game players develop a heightened sensitivity to what is going on around them that helps them with multitasking, driving, keeping track of friends in a crowd and navigating around town.

Conversely, there is also research about extended gaming limiting children’s physical activity and an overexposure to violence at a young age.

Robin Williams loved video games so much that he named his two children after game characters (Zelda and Cody).

The crystal structure of an AIDS virus was decoded in 10 days using an online video game called Foldit. This was something that had stumped scientists for over 15 years.

Nintendo was sued and found guilty because kids were getting blisters playing the game Mario Party.

PHOTO: AP

On 16th December 2014, the terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed into the Army Public School in Peshawar and brutally murdered 148 people, 132 of whom were children studying in the school. It is one of the worst tragedies in Pakistan’s history. It is senseless and barbaric, and can have no justification. People all over the world are outraged by this incident and have sent messages of solidarity and condolence to Pakistan. We should all say a prayer for those who lost their lives in the bloody massacre and pray that the survivors and the families who lost their loved ones have the strength to get through this difficult time.

The inventor of the Game Boy was originally Nintendo’s janitor. The president of the company happened to walk by and was impressed by a toy he had created out of boredom. He later went on to have an illustrious career.

The first coin operated video games were introduced in the 1970’s with titles such as ‘Computer Space’ and ‘Pong’ gaining popularity.

A popular example of multiplayer gaming can be seen in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). These games enable large numbers of players to interact in the same virtual world, creating fictional characters, live virtual lives and experience the challenges and quests that various MMORPG games offer. A good example of this type of gaming can be seen in the popularity of World of Warcraft (WoW), which has become immensely popular and currently has over 10 million paying subscribers.

Did you know?

How is snow formed?

There are some things that are so ever-present in our world that we don’t stop to think about them or why they occur in the first place.

These include things like the sky being blue or ice being cold or the mysterious substance that is fire (is it a solid, liquid or gas?). Since winter is coming (and in some places has arrived already), it seems appropriate to dwell on the winter-themed issue of snow. What is it and how exactly is it formed? Snow is formed when temperatures are low and there is moisture — in the form of tiny ice crystals — in the atmosphere. When these tiny ice crystals collide they stick together in clouds to become snowflakes. Snowflakes are collections of ice crystals that can occur in an infinite variety of shapes and forms — including prisms, hexagonal plates or stars.

Every snowflake is unique, but because they join together in a hexagonal structure they always have six sides. If enough ice crystals stick together, they’ll become heavy enough to fall to the ground. Snow is formed and will fall if the temperature is below 2°C. It is a myth that it needs to be below zero to snow.

If the temperature is warmer than 2°C then the snowflake will melt and fall as sleet rather than snow, and if it’s warmer still, it will be rain. The size and make up of a snowflake depends on how many ice crystals group together and this will be determined by air temperatures. Snowflakes that fall through dry, cool air will be small, powdery snowflakes that don’t stick together. When the temperature is slightly warmer than 0°C, the snowflakes will melt around the edges and stick together to become big, heavy flakes. This creates ‘wet’ snow which sticks together easily and is good for making snow men.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

Get your weekly dose of the unusual and funny news from across the globe!

A true friend Some best friends will do anything for each other — even if it means raising more than $1 million. An eight-year-old boy has raised more than $1 million to help cure his best friend’s rare disease. In 2012, when Dylan Siegel, then six, found out that his best pal, Jonah Pournazarian, had a rare liver disorder called glycogen storage disease type 1B, he decided to write a book to help raise money for a cure. Dylan describes his friendship with Jonah as “awesome as a chocolate bar,” so he called the book Chocolate Bar and started selling copies for $20 each, according to ABC. To date, nearly 25,000 copies have been sold in all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide. Jonah, now nine, is one of just 500 children in the world with the disease, which has no cure. He fights dangerously low blood sugar and has to be fed cornstarch and water every few hours through a feeding tube in his stomach. It’s the only treatment for a disease that, left untreated, can cause hypoglycemia, seizures and even death. Every cent made from Dylan’s book is going to Dr. David Weinstein’s Florida lab, the largest clinical research programme for the disease in the world. TIME.COM

One-way trip to Mars More and more people are willing to go to Mars, even if it means dying there in a few weeks. “People are willing to risk everything just to see Mars, to walk on the surface of our little ruddy buddy,” says Seth Shostak, an astronomer who scans the cosmos for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. His experience accords with what many say is a distinct surge in public enthusiasm for space travel generally, and a manned mission to Mars in particular. “I would totally love to go to Mars,” said Pamela A. Melroy, a former NASA astronaut who piloted two space shuttle missions and commanded a third. But the questions of when and who the “we” will be remain very much up in the air. A “global exploration road map” prepared by NASA and 15 other space agencies suggests that a team of astronauts will be bouncing over the frigid rouge dustscape of Mars by the 2030s. But there is a catch. To make the project feasible and affordable, the founders say, there can be no coming back to Earth. Would-be Mars pilgrims must count on living, and dying, some 140 million miles from the splendid blue marble that all humans before them called home. NYTIMES.COM

World wide weird

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Science for dogs

Meet Derby, a husky mix adopted by USA residents Sherri and Dom Portanova, who was born with a congenital deformity that left him with partially developed front legs with no paws. For a long time, he had two choices: Use a mobility-enhancing doggie wheelchair that allowed him to roll around or move around using his underdeveloped legs. But now, thanks to 3-D-printed prosthetics, Derby has a third option: complete prosthetic legs designed by his former rescue foster parent, 3D Systems employee Tara Anderson. In a post on the company’s blog, 3D Systems explains how it took two 3DS designers and a certified animal orthotist just a few hours to design and print a pair of custom-fitted leg replacements that changed Derby’s life forever. The two reinforced loops give Derby the balance and support to run along faster than his owners, and he does so at least two to three miles every day. “When I saw him sprinting like that on his new legs, it was just amazing,” Don Portanova said. MIC.COM

Taking down SeaWorld Thanks to a 2013 documentary called Blackfish that revealed the horrible ways in which SeaWorld was mistreating its animals, the marine animal park is now gradually going out of business. This is a big win for animal rights activists around the world who have been strongly criticising its inhumane practices towards the animals that they keep captured and force to perform for crowds of spectators.

Today, SeaWorld can’t even book musical acts to perform for them. With revenues continuing to decline even after an intense PR effort, this is good news for people interested in the conservation and welfare of whales. Without some radical changes, this may even be the beginning of the end for SeaWorld. The film Blackfish focused on the captivity of Tilikum, an orca whale that was involved in the deaths of three individuals and the consequences of keeping orcas in captivity. The film’s message was that keeping these whales in such horrible conditions will cause them harm and force them to become dangerous for the people around them. MIC.COM

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

Reading corner

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PHOTO: MUNAF KAUSAR

Name: Muhammad Hassan Khan Age: 17 years Star power: Captain of the winning team for the interschool cricket competition 2014.

Cricket is not just a game for Hassan — it is a way of life. Muhammad Hassan Khan grew up in a cricket-loving household, and developed an interest in the game when he accompanied his father to the 40 and above cricket games in which his father participated regularly. It was while watching his father play that Hassan decided to properly learn cricket. And he hasn’t looked back since.

Currently a student of Class XI in Beaconhouse School System, Hassan has achieved a lot in his short cricket career. He was the vice captain of the Pakistan Under-17 cricket team last year, and has also played for the Karachi Under-16s and the National Cricket Academy Colts Under-19s. This year alone has been quite a feat for him. He went to England as the vice captain of the national under-17 team, and even though they didn’t win, Hassan says he really enjoyed the experience. He also captained the winning team for the interschool cricket competition that was organised by HBL for schools all around

the country.

Hassan says he feels really proud of his accomplishment. “I feel really good that people around the country, especially in Karachi, are acknowledging and appreciating my cricket wins.” But his passion for the game is in no way dwindling. He wants to one day play for the national cricket team. “It is my dream to join the Pakistan cricket team,” he says. For now, Hassan is focusing on achieving the goals of his immediate future. “There is an Under-19 World Cup taking place in 2016 in which I will be participating, so I am working hard for it.”

Best Christmas Movies Kick off family movie night with a bowl of popcorn and these great Christmas-themed movies to get everyone in the holiday spirit: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Based on the funny and heartwarming story of the same name written by Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is about a town full of people who love Christmas and a cranky old creature who tries to steal the holiday away. In Whoville, live the Whos, who look forward to Christmas each year.

But just outside of Whoville lives the Grinch who hates Christmas. The Grinch plots to steal Christmas away from the Whos whom he equally abhors. But when a little Who called Cindy Lou tries to befriend him, miraculous things happen and the Grinch learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Home Alone (1990) It is Christmas time and the McCallister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris. But in the rush to get to the airport, the family forgets their youngest, Kevin, sleeping at home. So for his Christmas, Kevin got what he always wanted: to be left alone at home for the first time. But being home alone is not all fun and games. Two burglars, Harry and Marv, are about to rob his house on Christmas Eve and Kevin must guard his home against them at all costs. Home Alone, the classic Christmas film, is a ton of fun.

Rise of the Guardians (2012) Instead of picturing Santa Claus nibbling cookies and drinking milk, would you rather imagine him teaming up with the Easter Bunny and battling dark forces? If so, the Rise of the Guardians is the perfect Christmas movie for you. In this film, Santa Claus, known as North is the leader of the Guardians, a team of immortal creatures that protect the hopes, beliefs, and imaginations of children all over the world.

When an evil spirit called the Pitch arrives, the Guardians — which include Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy — must join forces to defeat it.

Jingle All The Way (1996) Action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in Jingle All the Way, a mixture of action hero hijinks and a bucketload of laughs. After constantly disappointing his son because of his own preoccupation at work, Howard vows to make it up to him on Christmas by getting him whatever he wants for the occasion. The problem is that Howard’s son wants an action figure of his television hero, Turbo Man, and since it’s Christmas Eve, every store is out of the toy. Now Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure. Will he succeed and redeem himself in his son’s eyes in time for Christmas? Watch Jingle All the Way to find out.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. One day he stumbles into Christmas Town, and is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloween Town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween. Bu he doesn’t quite understand the concept of Christmas properly, and ends up abducting Santa and delivering spooky gifts to everyone. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a seasonal mash-up of Halloween and Christmas and is a spine-tingling hoot, with musical numbers galore.

Do you have a favourite book or movie you would like us to review? Write to us at hifive@tribune.com.pk and tell us all about it.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

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Artwork

Syeda Ammara Ashfaq

Notable Entries for the Liberty Books Cards Riva Khan Winner

Competition

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 21, 2014

ARTS AND CRAFT

1. Take a coloured origami paper, with the coloured side facing down.

2. Fold the paper in half and unfold it, making a crease down the middle.

3. Fold all four corners of the paper so that they meet in the centre.

Unfold again.

You will need: All-purpose flour Baking powder Salt Butter Sugar Egg Vanilla extract

2 cups 1/2 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon 1 stick (softened) 1 cup 1 large 1 teaspoon

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4. Fold the paper to make three panels of equal size, and unfold.

5. Fold the two opposite corners of the paper so that they meet in the centre.

6. Fold from both sides once again to make a thin stripe.

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7. Bend the stripe to make the creases as shown.

8. Open the flaps of the stripe to get the shape of a box.

9. Finish the box as shown in the picture.

1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl beat together the butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture until it is well combined. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate until firm for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Transfer half of the dough to a lightly floured piece of parchment and roll until it becomes just under 1/4inch thick. Transfer the dough on parchment to a baking sheet and freeze until it is firm (around 30 minutes). Repeat with the other half of the dough.

3. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Use a craft knife or a cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and space them two inches apart on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate them until they are firm (about 15 minutes).

4. Bake until they are golden on the edges (12 to 15 minutes). Let them cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Decorate the cookies with an icing of your choice.

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10. Repeat steps one to ten to make another box.

11. Then insert one box into another as shown, and draw the spots on the dice.

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MARTHASTEWART.COM

Remember kids, always get permission from your parents before you start.

It’s always a good idea to have a helper nearby.

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