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crobats Circus a -3 PAGE 2 game l paper Magica PAGE 4 rikes Ninja st PAGE 5 are ck cats Why bla d bad luck re conside 6 E G PA
Your Proofness: Sarah Munir Master Storyteller: Sundar Waqar Creativity Analysts: Amna Iqbal, Essa Malik, Jamal Khurshid, Samra Aamir, Talha Ahmed Khan, Munira Abbas and Umar Waqas
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
Hi light
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Have you ever been to a circus or seen it on television? Have you seen people perform tricks like cycling on a thin wire or standing on top of each other and jumping around? Well, such acts are known as acrobatics. Acrobatics goes back to the time of the ancient Greeks and the word acrobat itself actually originated from the Greek language meaning walking on tip toe. Acrobatics is most often associated with activities that make extensive use of gymnastic elements, such as acro-dance, circus and gymnastics, but many other athletic activities such as ballet and diving may also use the same skills. Acrobatics are widely used in circuses around the world. Let’s learn more about them.
What are acrobatics? Acrobatics grew in popularity as a sport in the 18th century in Europe, especially with the popularity of the circus. Acrobatics is a demonstration involving great agility (power of moving quickly and easily) and complexity. Acrobatics is now seen in many athletic events other than the circus, where it began. Some of the well-known sports that involve acrobatics are gymnastics, ice-skating, roller-skating and diving. Most acrobats that are seen in the circus have gone through extensive training programmes that have lasted for several years. Even after the initial training, they are required to keep up their training every day in order to maintain and improve their current difficulty level. Many acrobats in the circus are former competitive gymnasts. The acrobats need to have a high level of flexibility, strength, and knowledge of their body relative to the ground. One of the main physics concepts that is taught to the acrobats is the ability for them to find their center of gravity and be able to do so quickly. If they are unable to find their center, they will not be able to hold their current position, either in a handstand or in a pyramid. The main technique required to become an acrobat is having the ability to know where your center of gravity is at all times. Many know where it is, but the difficult part is actually being able to maintain your stability while upside down or in the air. The acrobat has to be able to equate the sum of the torque (force that tends to cause rotation) on each individual part to the torque at the center of gravity. The upward force of the support has to equal the downward force of the acrobat or acrobat’s weight. The sum of these forces must be equal to each other. If these two forces are equal, then the acrobat is balanced in his or her position, or the pyramid formed by several acrobats is in balance.
Circus acrobatics Various forms of acrobats are employed in a circus where this sport first gained popularity. Whether in a circus or television you must have seen people doing fascinating and rather dangerous acts with great perfection and skill. A popular form of acrobatics in a circus is tightrope walking which is the art of walking on a thin rope or wire usually at a great height. Tightrope walking became popular in the 19th century and In the late 19th century, tumbling and other acrobatic and gymnastic activities became competitive sport in Europe. Traditionally, acrobatic skills were kept within families and passed from parents to children. This is still true especially among family circus groups, although most acrobats are now taught by larger scale education systems as circuses are now made up of many more professionals than they used to be.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
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Hi light
Circus Performers - The Upside Circus performers Ever dreamed of running away from home and joining the circus? Think you have what it takes to be an acrobat or trapeze artist? Not just anyone can go and join the circus and become an acrobat or trapeze artist. You need to have a specific talent, the right body type and be very determined. Find out some of the ins and outs of becoming a circus performer:
Circus Performers - The Downside Despite what many people think, the life of a circus performer isn’t all high-flying fun and games and clowning around. It might be more glamorous than a desk-job but there are some drawbacks. Circus performers work long days and spend a lot of time away from home. You have to work a lot of long hours and weekends as well. Your life is always on risk as well as you have to perform daring and dangerous acts.
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One of the upsides of being in the circus is that you get the chance to travel the world and meet different people. You get to travel with the circus family and perform in different places and impress a wide and different audience each time. You also improve your strength and balancing skills.
Little known facts about acrobatics • Earlier, the term acrobatics was only used when people were talking about the act of walking on a tightrope. • Cirque du Soleil is one of the most popular acrobatics productions in the world. It was created in the early 1980’s by a Canadian named Guy Laliberte. Cirque du Soleil translates to ‘Circus of the Sun’. The concept of the sun was incorporated in the name as a symbol of energy and youth. This contemporary circus differs from the traditional circus in that Cirque du Soleil uses no animals in the acts. • For an act to be called a ‘high-wire act’ the wire should be over twenty feet high. • Adili Wuxor is known as the ‘prince of tightrope walking’. Last July he set a Guinness record by tightrope walking for a little more than 198 hours over the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing, China. • Acrobatics are highly respected in China. Around 100,000 people in China attend schools to learn acrobatics.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
Activity
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Magical Paper Game
Step 1
Supplies needed: • Paper • Pencil • Scale • Scissor • Tape
On a piece of paper mark the measurements 2x3x4 cm.
Step 4 Fold it once again to get eight boxes in a column.
Step 7 Join triangles to make pair of twos.
Step 8 Now take one pair and join it to the other pair of triangle.
Want to watch a video guide for this? Log onto Toffeetv.com and check out the activities section!
Step 2 Cut the excess part.
Step 5 Cut the strips.
Step 9 In the end place the tape on the base of a triangle and join it to the other from both ends.
Step 3 Fold the paper.
Step 6 Fold a strip to make a triangle with the help of tape.
Step 10 It is ready! Now you can turn it to any side you want and play or you can name the sides and play with your friends and show them your Magical paper game.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
Get your weekly dose of the unusual and funny news from across the globe!
Reading to cats Is there anything cuter than schoolchildren reading books to homeless cats? Almost definitely not, as these photos prove. A Pennsylvania rescue centre encourages kids to read to the cats as part of their ‘Book Buddies’ scheme – and as you can see from the pictures, the felines are definitely paying attention. Children aged six to 13 who are able to read at any level are invited into the shelter to read to the cats in the adoption room at Berks County Rescue League. The shelter claims that it offers kids a chance to practise their reading skills, whilst the ‘cats find the rhythmic sound of a voice very comforting and soothing’. Parents of children who have participated in the programme are full of praise for the scheme. “I want to thank you for giving my son the opportunity to participate in a programme such as this one,” said one mother. “I believe it truly helps him to not only read, but to help the animals who do not have warm loving homes, and that we must help speak up for the animals who do not have a voice.” Another mother added: “This was a great experience for both of us and we are looking forward to coming back soon. Thanks for all you do for the animals.” METRO.CO.UK
World wide weird
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Rail for real
What is the strangest thing you have heard of in a backyard? Well, a house has been put on a sale with a model railway track in the garden. Meticulously designed over a decade, it is seen as a peak of US model train engineering – and can even carry passengers. Handmade steam engines, a 120m (400ft) tunnel and a bridge add to the experience. And after a hard day of roaming around the gardens you can check out the model railway museum in the barn. The listing for the house says: “For those seeking and appreciate that absolute one-of a kind find, here’s the perfect paradise that’s uniquely its own.” METRO.CO.UK
Ninja strikes Roar What would you do if a man wearing a scary robotic bear costume jumped out in front of you on the street? You’d probably be terrified, much like these New Yorkers were when they were frightened by the monstrous creation. A YouTube video shows most of them fleeing from the pretend animal as it growls, knocks over hot dog stands and causes an all-round nuisance. Surprisingly, one of the only people who wasn’t scared was a toddler, who stood up to the ‘brown bear’. The costume was created by Chobani Yogurt after featuring a similar-looking bear in one of its advertisements. In the ad, the bear causes chaos in a shop and only stops once it finds one of the company’s yogurts. What do you think about this? METRO.CO.UK
A lighting technician has emerged from the shadows to become a qualified ninja. Jake Sharpstone is one of only about 50 people worldwide to have been awarded the highest rank in ninjutsu – the ancient martial art used by warriors. And the 48-year-old celebrated by giving himself the mild-mannered ninja name of Genteel Dragon. “Part of ninjutsu is secrecy,” said Sharpstone, from Brighton. “It wouldn’t be very secretive of me to walk through the streets of Brighton covered head-to-toe in black.” He joked: “But if I had to undertake a mission at night, that’s when the suits and darkened face paints come into play.” Sharpstone, who runs an LED lighting company and the Bujinkan Brighton Dojo martial arts club, was given his 15th ranking in ninjutsu in Japan. “It’s dangerous but the discipline teaches you to know exactly how to handle every situation, and most importantly keep safe. But most important is to have a good heart that benefits mankind.” METRO.CO.UK
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
Did you know?
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Word Origins Do black cats signify bad luck? Have you ever heard people say, ‘if a black cat crosses your path it is bad luck’? Have you ever wondered why people say that or why just black cats are considered bad luck and not white or grey cats? Well, this always was not the case.. In fact, in early Egyptian times, dating back as far as 3000 BC, cats (including black ones) were the rock stars of the animal world, held in high esteem, to kill one was considered a capital crime. It wasn’t until the middleages in Europe that black cat’s status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with so-called witches. The fear of witches practicing black magic had just hit Europe and stray cats were often cared for and fed by the poor lonely old ladies later accused of witchery. Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were guilty of witchery by association. This belief was intensified when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560s started making rounds. The pair were said to have been traveling one moonless night when a black cat crossed their path. Naturally, frightened they threw rocks at the cat until the helpless injured creature hid inside a woman’s house, who at the time was suspected of being a witch. The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was limping and bruised and believed that to be more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night. Thus, an animal once looked on with admiration became a symbol of evil omens in some parts of the world. However, in some cultures, the black cat is considered a symbol of good luck even today. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity.
How to say ‘mouse’ in different languages Azerbaijani Basque Croatian Czech Finnish French Galician German Hungarian Irish Malay Spanish Swedish Turkish
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Siçan Sagu Miš Myš Hirri Souris Rato Maus Egér Luch Tetikus Ratón Mus Fare
Cool facts Cats can’t taste sweets. A cat’s tongue consists of small hooks which come in handy when tearing up food. Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw. Cats with white fur and skin on their ears are very prone to sunburn. Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten. A cat can jump even seven times as high as it is tall. Cats must have fat in their diet because they can’t produce it on their own. Cats have both an undercoat and an outer coat. The heaviest cat ever recorded was 46 lbs. On average, cats spend two-third of every day sleeping. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life. A cat’s hearing is better than a dog’s.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
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Fun & games
Crossword
How carefully did you read this week’s issue of HiFive? If you think you are upto the task, try to solve our special crossword. The answers are all over HiFive! Put on your thinking caps, it is time to put the old noggin to work!
Across 1. Cats must have ---------- in their diet because they can’t produce it on their own. 4. A cat’s ----------- is better than a dog’s. 6. A cat can jump even ----------- times as high as it is tall. 7. Cats have five toes on each ------------ paw, but only four toes on each back paw. 10. Cats have both an ----------- and an outer coat. 11. Acrobatics goes back to the time of the ancient Greeks and the word acrobat itself actually originated from the Greek language meaning ----------- on tip toe. 12. Cats with white fur and skin on their ears are very prone to --------------.
Find your Way!
Down 2. A cat’s ----------- consists of small hooks which come in handy when tearing up food. 3. Cats can’t taste ----------. 5. Both humans and cats have identical regions in their brains that are responsible for -------------. 8. On average, cats spend two-thirds of every day ------------. 9. Cats have over one hundred ------------ sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
Maheen Ahsan Age: 10 Winner
Aaleen Ahsan Age: 9
Notable Entries for the Liberty Books Card Competition
Mahnaz Mir Winner
Mumtaz Mir Age: 10