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n eye to keep a ou need y s e m a G 2016 out for in -3 PAGES 2 s nce geek e for scie id u g A : App talk PAGE 4 acks nisation h DIY: Orga PAGE 6 d ver existe Potter ne y rr a H : What if PAGE 8
Your Proofness: Dilaira Dubash Master Storyteller: Hurmat Majid Creativity Analysts: Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Talha Ahmed Khan, Mohsin Alam, Maryam Rashid, Hira Fareed, Nabeel Khan, Sobia Khan and Umar Waqas
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Hi light
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Video games go as far back as 1940 when Edward U Condon designed a computer that played the traditional game Nim in which players try to avoid picking up the last matchstick. Tens of thousands of people played it, and the computer won at least 90% of the time. But the long luscious history of video games is a story for another day. Fast-forwarding to today’s day and age video games have become more interactive and life-like. With more and more game genres being recognised there is something to interest everyone out there. The year 2016 is going to be a hot and happening year in the world d of games and we have brought to you a glimpse of what’s in store for you in the world of virtual ual reality.
Far Cry Primal is going to be prehistoric. That means there won’t be any modern firearms, dude-like protagonists or gas-powered vehicles. Instead, you’ll have to get in touch with nature by learning to use primitive weapons and call upon vicious animals to take down your enemies. You play as a beastmaster who’s able to communicate with animals like wolves and high-flying owls, Cesar Millanstyle. That means you can saddle up a saber tooth tiger and ride it across the ancient landscape. Like previous Far Cry games, Primal drops you into a vast open world that you are free to explore as you like, but there are plenty of dangers waiting in every direction. Prehistoric beasts and opposing tribes are always looking to rip you to shreds, but it seems that the multiple groups of humans and beasts prowling the wild are also aggressive towards each other — which, as Far Cry players know, can be a powerful tool if you know how to use it. Available: February 23 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
No Man’s Sky is theoretically the biggest game ever. In it, you’re free to explore a universe, and by universe, we really mean an infinite expanse of planets, life forms and dangers. Everything in the game is procedurally generated, creating the galaxy as you explore it. In addition to the planetary exploration, there’s also plenty of sci-fi action going on, giving you the chance to build your own spaceship and take it into starfighter battles. You won’t be exploring the No Man’s Sky universe alone, either. Players will be able to discover planets, build settlements and forge new technologies, then share those locations with their friends. The game seems to be what every wannabe space explorer could ever want, and at long last, it looks like No Man’s Sky will be hitting the PS4 and PC in 2016. Available: June (PS4, PC)
A deadly virus has broken out and spread across the United States on Black Friday causing the government to collapse in under a week. In response, what remains of an organisation called The Division must restore order and help prevent any further chaos. Of course, this means exploring a derelict New York City with friends and hunting for awesome loot, a la Destiny — though your friends might not stick around if you backstab them in the game’s many PvP Dark Zones. Available: March 8 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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Hi light
After breathing new life into the fighting game genre with 2008’s Street Fighter 4, developer Capcom now finds itself in an interesting position with its upcoming sequel. SF4 found great success in going back to the basics, in keeping things simple. But sequels demand new ideas, and Street Fighter 5 delivers by replacing the focus attack mechanic with three new designs: V-Triggers, V-Skills and V-Reversals. So far, the result feels like a mix between Injustice: Gods Among Us and the Street Fighter Alpha series, with a heavy focus on giving each fighter individualised gimmicks. Available: February 16 (PS4, PC)
It’s easy to forget that Mario — the mustachioed mascot who sold d millions by platforming through the Mushroom Kingdom — stars in some of the wittiest, most enjoyable RPGs available. Both the Paper er Mario and Mario & Luigi games are known for their wry humor and d their timing attacks — hitting a button in time with an attack to deal extra damage. Jam is an RPG mashup of both Mario roleplaying universes. Considering the Paper Mario series has been in a weird place with its last two entries, hopefully this collaboration will return it to its RPG roots. Available: Spring (3DS) DESIGN BY HIRA FAREED What would you like to see in Hi Five? Send an email to hifive@tribune.com.pk and let us know!
When Final Fantasy 15 arrives in 2016, it will have officially been in development for 10 years. Despite name changes, platform shifts and a brand new director taking over the game, it’s actually looking like it might have been worth the wait. Director Hajime Tabata has a flair for taking risks with Square Enix’s flagship series, as with the strange mix of manga melodrama and war documentary in his most recent release, Final Fantasy Type-0. The emerging themes of bombastic anime action and male friendship lend themselves nicely to a road trip story full of cars, camping, and magic roadside diners, all that helps make Final Fantasy 15 an ambitious, truly unique entry not just in the series, but in the role-playing genre as a whole. Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One) SOURCE: GAMESRADAR.COM
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Trivia
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Fun facts about February The Welsh call February ‘y-mis-bach’ which means ‘little month’.
Q: What did the math book say to the other math book? A: Boy, do I have problems.
The birthstone for February is Amethyst. Two zodiac signs for February are Aquarius (January 20 — February 18) and Pisces (February 19 — March 20)
Q: What is a witch’s favourite part in school? A: Spelling
Q: Why did the grasshopper go to the doctor? A: Because he felt jumpy
Q: Where does a rabbit learn how to fly? A: In the hare force
February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, United States February is also an important month for American sports fans, as two teams face each other in the Super Bowl on the first Sunday of February. In leap years, it is the only month that begins and ends on the same weekday. People born on a leap year technically celebrate their birthday only once every four years, but most observe it on the 28th. February starts on the same day of the week as March and November in common years, and on the same day of the week as August during leap years. On February 27 America celebrates National Strawberry Day. February 4 is World Cancer Day.
Q: Why did the egg go to the doctor? A: Because he had a cracking headache
In fact Americans have a food celebration each day of the month throughout the month.
NASA App Ever wanted to see what NASA is up to, right from your phone? With a growing collection of over 14,000 images and videos, you can see what’s happening in space, keeping your eye on current NASA missions and news. The app also features launch and mission information, a live stream of NASA TV and it connects to Facebook and Twitter, for easy sharing of exciting information. User rating:
Sky View This app is perfect for stargazers who don’t have the time to learn every constellation by heart. All you have to do is point the camera at the sky, and it will identify stars, constellations and planets, both day and night. You can even use the app to travel in time, seeing accurate images past skies, as well as how the sky will appear on future dates. What’s more, the app requires no WiFi, meaning that it always works, no matter where you are. User rating:
BrainPOP Compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and android systems. BrainPOP provides you with a different animated short film everyday, quizzing you on what you’ve learnt. All of the videos are subtitled, allowing you to absorb the facts as you go. The films encompass a huge range of subjects, including maths, biology, physics, engineering, medicine and music. BrainPOP is a great science app for students looking for a fun and interactive way to learn. User rating:
3D Brain 3D Brain lets you explore 29 different interactive brain structures, providing information on what each region does, and what happens when different areas become damaged. The app also tells you how different structures can be involved in mental illness providing a number of related case studies. You can also investigate the brain further through links to the latest peer-reviewed research. User rating:
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
World wide weird
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Get your weekly dose of unusual and funny news from across the globe!
Cheesy theft For the second time in one week, police in Wisconsin have recovered a stolen load of cheese worth tens of thousands of dollars. Marshfield Police Lt Darren Larson said 41,000 pounds of Parmesan cheese worth $90,000 was stolen from a Marshfield distributor January 15. A delivery man picked up the cheese that day, but it never reached its intended destination in Illinois. Larson says investigators received a tip that the cheese was likely in Grand Chute. Police in Grand Chute found the entire shipment intact. It had already been unloaded into a warehouse. On Monday, police in Germantown said $70,000 worth of cheddar and other cheeses stolen from a distribution centre there had been recovered in Milwaukee. NBCNEWS. COM
A big act
Best buds Bo and Matthew filmed themselves carrying out their elaborate transformation in a YouTube video that documented their hilarious waistgate scheme. After a couple of failed attempts, one of the two men manages to cling to the other’s chest, wrapping his legs around his buddy’s waist. A large shirt and track jacket are then placed on top, making the giant bulge resemble a massive belly. They then practiced their walk and talk before heading to the theater. “We’d like one ticket for the Avengers, please,” the face of the operation practiced. “What do you mean, ‘we’?” a muffled voice corrects. Their clever getup fooled the theater’s staff and earned them a spot on Reddit’s front page Monday. Their video has since been viewed more than 17,000 times. We don’t know where or when they pulled this off. We don’t even know the culprits’ full names, so the joke might be on us. But we give them points for creativity. HUFFINGTONPOST.COM
Hello spring
Eagle act The Dutch National Police have taught the birds of prey to catch drone mid-air and bring it back to the ground. This is in the hopes of enforcing new drone laws which forbid the drones from snooping where they shouldn’t be. A video shows policemen ordering the eagles to catch one as it swoops on the robot and grabs it with its claws, taking it down. Mark Wiebe of the police said that camera drones are being banned as they pose a threat of falling and hitting bystanders. He said, “There are situations in which drones are not allowed to fly. This has almost always to do with security.” They teamed up with Guard From Above — a Danish bird training company — to teach the eagles how to successfully take them to the ground. Mark said, “The bird sees the drone as prey and takes it to a safe area, a place where he does not suffer from other birds or humans. MIRROR.CO.UK
Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog renowned for his ability to forecast the onset of spring, did not see his shadow after emerging from his burrow on Tuesday morning, predicting an early spring. Phil’s prediction came at about 7:25am and was met with cheers from a crowd of thousands who participated under a clear sky and 21o F (-6 temperatures in the folk tradition that has been embraced by winter-weary Americans for more than a century. According to legend, if Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, February 2, the cold weather will not loosen its grip on North America for six weeks. But if the morning is cloudy and no shadow appears, spring-like weather is supposedly around the corner. The event, which typically brings out 30,000 revelers to the small, west-central Pennsylvania town, has become a television staple at the beginning of one of the coldest months of the year in the US Northeast. In addition to the celebrated rodent, the pageant features an entourage of city elders in old-fashioned dresses and top hats, presiding over the festivities. The organiser, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, is touting the 2016 event as “Phil’s 130th prognostication,” although technically it is not the same groundhog every year but one picked to represent the character. Club spokeswoman Katie Donald said 1886 was the first year that the club trekked to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney and the groundhog delivered a weather forecast. UK.REUTERS.COM
Never Give Up By Shafaq Rizvi Sara, 10, loved to write poems and stories. She was passionate about writing, but was always discouraged by her family and friends. Her teachers knew she was talented and believed in her creativity and writing skills. Sara too was determined to become a writer and prove her aptitude. Being an avid writer, she loved reading books and magazines on weekends. While reading them she always thought to launch her own magazine and become a famous writer. Luckily, her dream was about to come true. Her favorite magazine had asked children to send their short stories to be published in the next edition. Sara was thrilled and excited. She grabbed her notepad and wrote a beautiful story on how a person can achieve her goals with determination and zeal, and succeed. Her story was ready. She edited it a bit and submitted it on the given email address hoping for the best. She was anxiously waiting for the weekend now to see her story in the magazine. It was funally Sunday and as she opened the magazine, she saw her story published with her name. She was overjoyed and overwhelmed and ran into her parents’ room to show them her work. Her story was enough to make her parents realise her skills and abilities and that they should encourage her to follow her passion and write more. They hugged her and applauded her work and efforts. On the other hand, Sara was happy that she had convinced her parents about her passion and ambition. She also realised that it takes time and hard work to prove oneself and one should therefore never give up. Share your short stories with us. Email them to hifive@tribune.com.pk
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Reading corner
6 Directions:
Material
• Cut felt to fit your box width-wise (you can always trim it later, so don’t worry too much about having it perfect). • Tape one side of your felt with the double sided tape or glue.
• Felt
• Start rolling the felt from the other side. (If you’re using tape, it doesn’t hold too great, but it does the trick, just be careful.)
• Cloth (your choice of colors)
• Do this with every piece of felt until there’s enough to fill your box.
• Lace (optional)
• Do any trimming necessary to make them fit in the box well. • Take the rolls back out and wrap them with fabric.
• Scissors
• Optional: Repeat with lace.
• Double sided tape or glue
• Put them back in the box
• A box or box lid
• If the box is too high cut some excess off the top. • Put your rings in and display.
Directions: • Fold a tee in half, lengthways. • Tuck the sleeves under it.
String straws through necklaces to keep them from getting tangled with one another.
• Fold it in half, this time horizontally. • Repeat once more to create a neat little stackable rectangle. • This would save space and let you see all your options be it in a drawer or a shelf.
Use inexpensive ice cube trays to organise your earrings and keep them from getting tangled.
Cover up a hanger with some ribbon and use it to display your sunglasses and spectacles. This creative idea would also keep you from losing your glasses ever again.
Cover up a shoe box with some wrapping paper then throw in some old toilet paper rolls to create smart pen storage for your desk.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Activity corner
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Test your problem solving skills by completing this puzzle in the least possible time.
Key to last week’s puzzle.
Help Po defend his family by finding all the words given below in the puzzle: PO LI SHIFU KAI TIGRESS
MANTIS MONKEY VIPER CRANE NOODLES
SECRET PING MEI OOGWA KUNGFU
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
• JK Rowling may not have been as famous as she is. • Generations of young people may never have gotten into the habit of reading. • The word ‘always’ would have been nothing more than a word. • We’d need to learn life lessons the hard way. • The world’s definition of magic would be completely different. • We would not have known much about mythical magical creatures like Hippogriffs and Centaurs.
Here are a bunch of reasons to bring out your colouring books: 1. You can do it alone or with a group of friends.
• A lot of valuable lessons about friendship may never have been learned.
2. Colouring feeds the creative side of your mind.
• A number of people may never have found fictional characters they could relate to.
3. You can spend as much or as little time as you’d like creating your masterpiece.
• Emma Watson may never have blessed the silver screen. • The current generation may have been all but blind to Alan Rickman’s greatness. • A world without Harry Potter would be a world with fewer novels. • There would have been a bigger generation gap sans the series, with no magical story to bridge the gap between them. • One of the biggest fandoms would never have existed. • The ultimate Harry Potter vs Twilight debate would never have existed. • Our imaginations may have been less wild. • There would have been less hope in the world.
4. There aren’t any rules. You can colour inside the lines, outside the lines, in one colour or in dozens of colours. And you can have multiple masterpieces in the works at once. No one says you have to finish colouring one picture before you start the next one. 5. You get to be a kid again for a little while — no stress, no responsibilities, no judgment. The final result doesn’t have to be perfect either. If you like it, that’s perfection enough. 6. Colouring is a calming activity. People often feel less stressed after they spend some time colouring because it allows them to focus on something other than their day-to-day concerns. Some folks use colouring as a way to unwind before bedtime. 7. Pursuing creative activities in your free time may lead to improved performance in other activities. 8. It helps increase your concentration span. Staying inside the lines takes focus, but not so much that it’s stressful. 9. You can hang your finished artwork on the fridge (or frame it and hang it on the wall) for all your friends and relatives to see. SOURCE: HUFFINGTONPOST.COM