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Yousuf Jassem Al Darwish
Mohammed Sami Zulfikar Jiffry Chaturka Karandana
Ayush Indrajith Sampath Gunathilaka M D maheshwar reddy b
Hassan rekkab
dona fernandes
Pratap Chandran Bikram Shrestha Arjun Timilsina Bhimal Rai
Nadira Amarasinghe
Vani Saraswathi Sindhu Nair Cassey oliveira
Venkat Reddy M Sujith Heenatigala Hanan Abu Saiam
Sandeep Sehgal Alpana Roy Ravi Raman
JAN - FEB 2012 It’s the dawn of a new year! Happy 2012! We thought of a ‘sporty’ beginning. We feature the inspiring story of Nada Mohammed Wafa – the first female Qatari to participate in the Arab Games. Then there was the recently concluded Run the World Festival which was a potpourri of fun, frolic and fitness. And for those of you who love extreme sports, we have Arab adventurer Nabil Al-Busaidi talk about his successful expeditions. This and so much more. It’s one action-packed issue that you wouldn’t want to miss. Address all your correspondence to CAMPUS, Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584, -Fax:(+974)44550982, email: campus@omsqatar.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/Republishing CAMPUS content: To obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in CAMPUS, please contact our syndication & licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a CAMPUS article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. Custom reprints: Any of the previously published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. The reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. Contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information.Previous issues (January 2004 onwards) of CAMPUS are available for sale, contact our Library department. To subscribe to CAMPUS call our subscription department on the numbers given above.
Published by Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 email: campus@omsqatar.com website: www.omsqatar.com
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The Seminal Swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa is the first Qatari female swimmer to participate in the Arab Games.
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Laugh out loud issue 10 JAN - FEB 2012
At 15, Issa Al-Fahoum is the youngest comedian in Qatar.
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Arab Games 2011
Four volunteers share their valuable experiences at the Games with CAMPUS.
My Big Year When I turned 18
Turning 18 meant that Marsya Kamrul Ariffin was now eligible to participate in a global competition called Your Big Year.
The reluctant adventurer
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For Arab Adventurer Nabil ‘Nabs’ Al-Busaidi, being first is all what matters.
Fun Fact
How to stop time
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16 Run The World Festival
34 Career Buzz
8 ideas to make you happier at work
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When fitness means a whole lot of fun...
A game of cars and wheels CAMPUS explores a new market for buying and selling cars.
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CAMPUS Cool Quotient
You would want to be caught wearing these...
Gaza students
get a voice at Doha Forum
A
t the Fourth United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum held in Doha recently, ten Al Fakhoora students were successful in their mission of giving students in Gaza a voice at the forum. Al Fakhoora is an international campaign that supports student advocacy to raise awareness of the plight of students in Gaza. The ten students joined nearly 400 other young leaders at the Youth Preparatory Event for the forum, where they debated key aspects of cross-cultural and interreligious understanding and drafted recommendations to world leaders. They also attended sessions throughout the Forum, and were key participants in a lab session titled “Communication Works for Those Who Work at It”. The session featured a live conversation with students from Pennsylvania State University on the importance of dialogue. Bissan Al-Basyouni, a student at Al Aqsa University said, “Our perception has really changed after meeting so many different people during this conference. I had no idea that there are people from around the world that really do feel our suffering. It was great to feel that connection.” Al Fakhoora Director, Farooq Burney commented, “This UN forum was a great opportunity for our students to share with other young people around the world what it means to be a Palestinian living under the blockade.”
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NU-Q students bring Arab stories to the stage
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ix young screenwriters and five acting students at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) brought stories of revolution, gender relations and the struggle between traditional parents and their Westernized children to the stage through six original short plays under the theme of Arab Awakenings’. “The ideas behind these plays were all revolutionary, hence the name Arab Awakenings’ – as they addressed issues that are not often discussed in Arab culture,” explained junior communications student Motasem Kalaji, who acted in five of the six plays. NU-Q junior Ethar Hassaan found inspiration for her script, Between Nothing and Something, in her experience while travelling to Egypt’s Tahrir Square to witness the revolution on the ground. Her character Noha, a female journalist, refuses to leave the country with her husband Haytham and rejects his depiction of protestors as “unemployed slum dogs”. Meanwhile Thamer Al Thani, a senior at NU-Q, wrote the script for Nagging Survival, which follows a young Arab-American man and his traditional Arab mother as they try to survive a fatal disease outbreak. As hero Yousef does everything he can to stay isolated from the rest of the infected population, his mother is bent on reminding him of his roots, and finding him a wife.
Professor Miriam Ellen Ewers holds a replica of a headset
Farah Syafiqah Zamri with her replicated shuttlecock.
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Photo Courtesy: VCUQ
By y Casseeira Oliv
irst year students of the space research class at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) had something interesting on display in December, 2011. There were scaled-up three-dimensional replicas of real-life objects like a headset, Louis Vuitton shoes, a handbag, etc – all made out of cardboard. “Space research is one of the four pillars of design foundation that is taught to first year students at VCUQ. The other pillars are time studio, drawing and surface studies. In space research, students have to design objects in 3D. The goal is to have students examine objects closely in the real world, and that observation translates into them remaking the form using cardboard. It’s important that students pay attention to the form – the materials, the edges and the surfaces, and other details – in order to replicate it with accuracy. Space research is applied across all disciplines of design such as interior design or fashion design,” said Miriam Ellen Ewers, the professor whose class was involved in the exhibition. “This project was interesting because we had to start off with cardboard and then move on to other materials. The challenge was to come up with an idea and then get everything in place. We were asked to choose a subject which meant something to us. I chose a shuttlecock because I like playing badminton,” says Farah Syafiqah Zamri, 18, space research student. Space research is a 15-week course that is mandatory for all first year students at VCUQ.
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Stenden University to host
two charity events Mystery and masquerade Stenden University Qatar and Bliss Events will host their very own Mystery Masquerade Ball – a charitable event that will take place on January 25, 2012 from 6:00-10:00 pm at the W Hotel. Mystery Masquerade Ball is centered around a game where everyone must work together to solve the mystery and find out who among them is the murderer. The hosting team chooses the game, plants the clues, and assigns everybody a character. Along with the costumes, guests will enjoy the thriller with the feel of the modern masquerade. People will enjoy the music and their fancy vintage costumes with the provided masks, while others enjoy their dinner and hunt for the murder’s clues. Stenden University hopes that this event will provide a great opportunity to showcase a different level of events that are popular abroad but haven’t yet made their way to Qatar. The event will present something new and exciting to the people in Qatar and allow them to enjoy themselves for a good cause as all profits that arise from the event will be donated to the Qatar Red Crescent Society, which takes on humanitarian projects in and out of Qatar. Tickets are available for QR100 and QR55 at the Stenden University campus and at the venue on the day of the event. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/131757303608518/?ref=ts
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Largest Game of Hideand-Seek Charity Event As a charity fundraiser dedicated to Somalia through the Qatar Red Crescent Society, a group of students at Stenden University Qatar are planning on hosting and breaking the Guinness record for the largest game of “hide-and-seek” in Qatar. The event will be held at Katara Cultural Village in February. The current record is a total of 508 participants, and Stenden University hopes to set a new, unbreakable record with 1,000 participants. During the course of the game, there will be several other activities for those who are not participating, such as young children and parents. After the game ends, awards will be given out to the universities and high schools that provide the largest number of participants and collect the largest amount in donations. Through this event, Stenden University aims to fulfil its vision of setting a trend of breaking world records in the region and be recognized as a pioneer. In addition, the event will provide an opportunity to place a traditional Qatari game, “khisheshah”, or “hide-and-seek”, on a global level, as well as bring universities together to help the cause. The event is organized by a group of senior students at the university majoring in International Business Management and currently doing their minors in Event Management. “Hosting an event is part of our studies for this particular course. However, we have decided to transform a simple university project to one which will have an impact on the community we live in as a whole,” they said. “Such an event hasn’t taken place in Qatar where the youth get together to work hand-in-hand for a common cause, sending a message from one community to another. This will also help break the barriers set between the different universities and schools.”
The nial n ed adre conclud d u q 12th ames Al Sad 3, 2011 bG he r2 -Ara ully at t cembe i singer n n a P Iraq essf n De ion o succ Doha o rks and mposit s. o of co on ium ant firew clusive ab nati 00 d a t i S ex he Ar the 4,0 es brill t er’s with Al Sah ture of four of ab Gam e u to th Ar tf em Kaz e brigh speaks rted the eriod of S p o th PU and tire upp CAM s who s the en e shifts g l r an urin ntee ultip volu mittee d rking m program for Com mes, wo e whole e, both Ga king th erienc ublic. ma ble exp r the p ya d fo enjo lves an se them
Arab Games 2011
A Valuable Experience For Volunteers By Donnades Ferna
L
ong before the Arab Games 2011 began, the Games’ organizers were busy preparing a Volunteer Program to train thousands of volunteers with skills that included how to manage time, work in a team to solve cross -cultural problems, and at the same time promote a system of volunteering and community service in Qatar, among both the local and the expatriate community in the country. “We were on the look-out for committed and enthusiastic volunteers, with a passion for sports and a willingness to serve the country as
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it strove to deliver an Arab Games of world-class standards,” said Saadoun Al-Kuwari, Workforce Director of the Games. According to him, the volunteer program was designed to be a source of excellent training for the volunteer community, and this paid off as the volunteers displayed exceptional skills wherever they were needed. “Volunteers and community involvement lie at the very heart of any truly successful sporting event,” he says. “The volunteers joined the program for several reasons, but most of them were sports enthusiasts who were looking for an opportunity to serve the country.”
I learned to deal with the problems of other people and I also learnt about different cultures in the country. Most importantly, I made some amazing friends. Jaber Abdulhadi H. A. Al-Marri “I loved the motivation that the Games gave me,” said 28-year-old Qatari, Jaber Abdulhadi H. A. Al-Marri, who volunteered as a Media Assistant. “It was my honour to serve my nation and I was excited that I could work as a team with the entire Arab Games community.” Jaber believes that his experience was successful, as well as fun and distinctive. His duties included facilitating the needs of the media services organisation and introducing clients and guests to Qatar, while informing them of the most important developments of the country. “I learned to deal with the problems of other people and I also learnt about different cultures in the country. Most importantly, I made some amazing friends,” he says. When the volunteers were selected, they were first tested on their special skills and abilities, as they were to be assigned to a variety of tasks such as answering phone calls from clients, meeting people and providing them with quality information, and assisting the media in their task of reporting at venues. Some of the volunteers were seen encouraging staff members on a demanding day by providing them with immediate assistance, with a smile on their faces. This task seemed easy for Raphael Ndubilo,
a 20-year-old from Nigeria who had always wanted to work outdoors and had hoped that at the Games he would not have to stay at one place. “I’m a sports fan,” says Raphael, and this was one of the reasons why he decided to volunteer. “It’s been a year since I came to Qatar and started working here. As soon as a friend told me that they were looking for volunteers for the event, I applied immedi-
ately.” According to him, there was not much stress in the work and the experience was splendid for him. “I must say that I got the volunteering work by the grace of God. At the Arab Games the atmosphere was always full of life and I made many new friends. Moreover, the night shift work that they assigned me to worked best for me as it didn’t interfere with my day job.”
At the Arab Games the atmosphere was always full of life and I made many new friends.
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As a sports fan, especially of football, it felt wonderful to be offered the opportunity to volunteer at a sports event.
Sofiane Djamouh Similarly, Sofiane Djamouh, a 26-year-old from Algeria, says that he enjoyed the work assigned to him at the departure area of the motor-pool cars, where he had to assist the clients’ managers in their task of providing immediate transportation at whichever venue required it. “As a sports fan, especially of football, it felt wonderful to be offered the opportunity to volunteer at a sports event. When I came to Qatar, I was told that the Arab Games were selecting volunteers for the event and I applied. T his has been unforgettable experience that definitely benefited me.” T he Games also gave volunteers an opportunity to socialize, make new friends and expand their views about different cultures. “I was a two-league football player for the Amel Bou Saada Club in my country. So when I heard about the Arab Games 2011, I was excited to volunteer, make new friends and be a part of an important game of the Arab world,” says Samir Dahmani, a 29-yearold from Algeria. “It was a great opportunity for me, as I am new to this country, to meet a variety of expatriates and locals and learn about their culture and lifestyle.” T he volunteers were also awarded a Volunteers Discount Card, which fetched
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them discounts at important outlets and service providers in Qatar. Other benefits included free bus service to any venue of the event and their meals being taken care of. At the end of the Games, the volunteers received a certificate of appreciation at an event where volunteers of all venues met and celebrated their success. The volunteers also Samir Dahmani
I was excited to volunteer, make new friends and be a part of an important game of the Arab world.
received gifts of appreciation that included T-shirts, caps, balloons, flags, vuvuzelas and inflatable cheering sticks. The Arab Games definitely proved to be a great initiative by the Qatari community to encourage “volunteering spirit” among the people of Qatar and to encourage them for any future events.
Qatar’s Seminal Swimmer By y Casseeira Oliv
Nada Mohammed Wafa was just another 17-year-old studying at Doha College until the Arab Games 2011 came knocking, turning her into a star overnight. She now proudly holds the title of being the first Qatari female swimmer to participate in the regional games.
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As the first Qatari female swimmer, I will have hopefully set a new trend for other female swimmers in the country to follow.
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ada Mohammed Wafa has a phobia. Strangely, it’s that of the sea. “It’s weird, but true,” says the young swimmer. “I worry that there may be sharks lurking in the sea. I will only go into the water an hour after everyone has, then I know it’s safe.” Thankfully the pools are a safe haven where Nada has been practising since the age of nine. “I would always see older swimmers doing their routine and wished to be as fast as them one day.” With regular practice she soon got her technique right, and the speed came naturally. She’s now a pro at long distances. “It’s important to learn technique to develop speed,” she says. News of Nada’s excellent swimming skills soon made its way to the Qatar Olympic Committee and she was nominated as the first and only female swimmer to represent Qatar at the Arab Games 2011 – a title that Nada will
cherish for the rest of her life. “I’m extremely honoured. Being able to participate and represent my country is a big achievement in itself. As the first Qatari female swimmer, I will have hopefully set a new trend for other female swimmers in the country to follow.” As for aspiring female swimmers she urges them to “Fulfil your dreams, never give up. Have passion for what you want to do and carry on with it.”
Fighting all odds A major concern for Nada at the Games was the different styles of swimming she had to perform. While every other competitor had that one signature stroke to focus on, being the only swimmer from Qatar, she had no choice but to master not one but all four styles of swimming – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly – though free-style is her best.
“Coping with all four styles is definitely not an easy task, but nothing is impossible,” she says. Perhaps what made things possible for Nada was not just her passion for swimming but the support that her friends and family showered upon her during the course of the competition. “They would visit me almost every day whilst I trained. They encouraged me to work harder.” Whilst there’s always a grim perspective of Arab women participating in sports, Nada has never had to face cultural interventions of any kind. Say, for instance, the dress-code. “There’s nothing wrong with the uniform I wear. It covers until the knee, so it shouldn’t matter. I love my sport and I take it very seriously. I do it to represent my country and make it proud, and that is what matters.” Her family isn’t apprehensive to send her abroad for competitions, though her mother would be a little worried to send her alone,
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Did you know?
Nada has completed two courses in lifesaving and has taught swimming to amateurs. She has also won several competitions in school. nodding her head. “...but I try remembering the words of encouragement from my friends and family. That makes me want to swim faster.” Her mantra for de-stressing before the big day: meditation and yoga. “It’s important to do your stretches, sleep well and eat a healthy and light meal. My mother forces me to have more home-cooked meals. It’s annoying but I know I have to do it more often,” she says.
What’s next?
Victory is important in a game, but for the Arab Games I was more than happy to have been able to just participate. she jokes. Nada has always enjoyed the liberty to play sport as a child. In fact her love for sport comes from her father, who is a former goalkeeper for the Qatar national football team. “My father always tells me that if you have a passion for something, you will definitely do well.” However, for Nada the real challenge was “competing with world champions”. “I am definitely not far off,” she says with a chuckle of pride. She mentions that she has always been inspired by Italian female swimmer, Federica Pellegrini, and since the Games she has begun to look up to Tunisian swimmer, Oussama Mellouli.
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“The Games has turned me into a much more confident person. To meet new people, to be able to compete with world champions and learn their technique is an amazing experience. “Victory is important in a game, but for the Arab Games I was more than happy to have been able to just participate. But for future competitions I will definitely work harder to get some medals. After all, pain is temporary while glory is forever.” So what goes on in her mind when she’s out there racing? “Many people tell me to concentrate only on the game and not think of anything else. I try... but...”she laughs while
What was once a hobby for Nada has now become an enticing career option that she hopes to pursue, thanks to the Arab Games. “It will always be my dream to represent my country internationally and make it proud.” This has given her all the more reason to focus a little more on her swimming than she normally did. “Prior to the competition, I used to limit my practice to 3-4 times a week in order to focus on my academics. There was a time when my practice sessions dropped down to twice a week only. But the Games have motivated me to give equal time to both.” Her school too has been very supportive of her endeavours, to the point of postponing the semester exams for her. “My teachers and schoolmates at Doha College are very proud of me. They even mentioned my achievement in the school’s newsletter. “I’m also grateful to the members of the Aspire Team and the Women’s Association at the Qatar Olympic Committee for supporting me. They were kind enough to assign me a female volunteer who took care of my needs during the entire course of the competition. Everyone has encouraged me so much and cheered me on in my journey. I’m grateful to one and all.” Nada may not have won a medal at the Games, but that hardly matters. As the country’s first female swimmer, she has most certainly won for women an opportunity to leap into their pool of passion.
Run the World Festival
When fitness means
a whole lot of fun... It was amazing how the otherwise serene Katara Beach turned into a party hub for an entire week, with hordes of youngsters taking part in the country’s first youth festival. Organised by The Youth Company (TYC) and powered by the Qatar Museums Authority, the Run the World Festival (RTWF) was based on the idea of spreading the traditions and themes of other cultures to promote fitness, sports, a healthy lifestyle and civic engagement among the youth.
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By y Casseeira Oliv
W
hat did you miss?
The first day of the festival had young photographers and filmmakers showcase their art works and express their vision of ‘Youth and Sports’ through a photo/video contest, while on the third day around 100 delegates and experts in the sports arena came together to discuss projects that were related to engaging youth with sports in Qatar. The best projects that received funding will be implemented this year. Parents and children poured in on the fifth day of the festival, which was also the Family Day. While kids were busy playing their favourite beach sports, parents too were entertained with live performances. The sixth day not only had young people participating in a fun-filled Track Marathon; young singers and musicians also got an opportunity to showcase their talent in a You(th) Got Talent
Competition. The festival culminated on December 18, 2011 with the grand celebration of Qatar’s National Day and the closing ceremony of the Festival. Throughout the weekend, different health and medical associations such as Queen Medical, the Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar Recreation Center and Hamad Medical Corporation offered visitors free consultancy for problems associated with the health of youth. The Festival’s campaign also raised an important message for the country’s youth to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle.
United we stand This year’s RT W Festival was handled by a young and international team comprising people from Mexico, Russia, Slovenia, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Italy, India, Egypt, Pakistan, etc. Volunteer Director for RT WF 2011, Abdulrahman Sajid from T YC, said,
“The youth of Qatar have shown that nothing is impossible. If 30 young people ranging from 14 to 27 and from different cultural backgrounds can organise a successful nation-wide festival with the theme of sports and healthy lifestyle in just three months, then it’s true – youth can change everything.” With the success of its first attempt, T YC is hoping to make this an annual festival and create a platform for future events and opportunities in the country. “I believe that RT WF will grow bigger and better each year. We have already started planning for the 2012 edition and are expecting more than a hundred staff members, nearly two thousand volunteers, and a lot of companies that believe in you(th) to participate. RT WF will thus be an opportunity for each and every individual in the country and region to showcase their talent,” he added.
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Get Going...
The RTWF managed to generate some interesting activities. CAMPUS takes a look at a few...
Parkour People running up walls, flipping in air, jumping over railings... the scene might look straight from a movie, but it’s actually a popular form of practice in France, where people are trained to get past hurdles just like a superhero! A professional parkour practitioner (also called traceur) can jump across building rooftops, but it would be advisable for you to start off with something less dangerous! There’s a Doha, Parkour & Freerunning group on Facebook that you could look up for more.
Skateboarding They say that skateboarding was born when surfers in California were wondering how to surf on flat waves. Over the years, the skates have definitely left the shores to rule the streets. Just like your bicycle, skateboards are a cool mode of transportation. And thanks to the rebellious few, there are a lot of tricks one can perform while skateboarding, such as the ‘hippie jump’. So gather a few pals, take out your skateboards, and wheel off... but be sure you are not a menace for pedestrians!
Lip Dub How many times have you lipsynced your favourite songs? So what if you are not a great singer; you can pretend to be one with lip dub. Lip dub is a video that features a group of people lipsyncing to a song. The video is usually shot in one go, and moves from one person to the other across different rooms. Now all you need is a video recorder!
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Aikido The city is quite safe, but there’s no harm learning some self-defence tricks. Aikido is a Japanese martial art form that is practised for defending oneself while at the same time not causing grievous injury to the attacker. Rather than attacking back, Aikido only curtails the attack. A group of aikido enthusiasts practise frequently at Karate Academy Sports Club, located off al-Nasser street. It’s a good way of channelling your body’s energy. Moreover, it’s not just your physical strength but also mental strength that builds up.
Human Foosball Yeah, foosball or table football is fun. Now try playing it off the table – it’s even more fun! Real-life players are arranged in a similar fashion on either side. You could either have ropes tied parallel to each other or maybe have lines drawn on the ground to know where each person has to stand. And then the game begins. Since it’s impossible to play a 360-degree shot or spinning in this case, there are few chances of you playing foul.
The Reluctant
Adventurer When coming first is what matters By y Casseeira Oliv
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Nabil ‘Nabs’ Al-Busaidi is not an early riser; he is not much of an ‘outdoors’ person either. what, Then, made him reach the North Pole, scale mount Vinson and row across an ocean? He reveals it all in an interview with CAMPUS.
Nabs’ expeditions since 2009: April 2009: Nabs became the first Arab to walk the 650 km from Resolute Bay to the magnetic North Pole.
August 2009:
F
ive weeks on snow. Seven weeks at sea. That’s where Nabil ‘Nabs’ Al-Busaidi has last been. Nabs is an Arab adventurer who has been in the limelight since 2009 thanks to his string of accomplishments. They include being the first Arab to reach the magnetic North Pole in 2009; the first Omani to climb the highest mountain in Antarctica – Mount Vinson – in 2010, and the first Arab to row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2011. While most people would be driven with a flaming passion to take on such feats, Nabs had none. Moreover, he loathes the great outdoors. “I could go and watch a football match. But ask me to go camping, I would refuse,” he says. The only thing that drives him to do what he does is the coveted title of being ‘the first Arab’. “A friend of mine once told me about his expeditions. He said if I did the same, I would be the first Arab to do so. It didn’t matter if I
was slow or fast; if I was the first, I would always be the first. “This was a good reason to give it a try. No Arab had done this, it was about time some Arab did. I thought, why not me?” Nabs’ continuous tryst with success might make his journeys seem effortless. However, it is hard to fathom the challenges that are associated with such tasks. “When people hear that I reached the North Pole or rowed across an ocean, they say, “Oh, wow! You did that!” Actually they don’t quite comprehend the difficulty of the task, naturally, because it’s beyond the realm of their experience.” Take, for instance, the plummeting temperatures at the North Pole. “Place your hand in the freezer for some time. You wouldn’t be able to bear a temperature of -5 degrees Celsius, so imagine staying at -50 degrees. To top that, you are required to walk 650 km while carrying a load of 50 kg all along. When has anyone even walked five kilometers? It’s like walking a marathon every day. “Only seeing snow around, not being able
He assisted his friend, Commander Richard Ryan, a US naval officer, for a wheelchair traverse from Land’s End, Cornwall, England to John O’Groats, Scotland. They raised almost $25,000 for charity and set a world record by completing the expedition in eight and a half days.
December 2009: He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa – with his brother.
January 2010: He became the first Omani and the second Arab to climb the highest mountain in Antarctica, Mount Vinson.
April 2010: A major mishap foiled his attempt to be the first Omani to summit Mount Everest.
March 2011: He became the first Arab to row over 4,600 km across the Atlantic Ocean.
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to communicate with anyone, not doing anything else but walk hour after hour, day after day – it could drive anyone crazy. You need to find a reason to keep going; if you don’t, even a second is too much to bear.” Back in April 2010, Nabs was en route to be the first Omani to summit Mount Everest when a major mishap abruptly ended his journey. A fall left him with several broken bones in one ankle and he required evacuation from base camp. Three months in bed was depressing, he says. “However, I was determined to do something else, if not this.”He changed his expedition style and ended up rowing the Atlantic Ocean in 2011. “I was not a good swimmer and I had never rowed a boat either. Unlike other people who have tons of experience in sailing or fishing, I had none. But I was determined to do it.” And he did. “I don’t know if I would go back to scaling Everest. It does bring back bad memories,” he says. “Till my ankles get better I can’t really do anything about it.”
Inspiring youth Most of Nabs’ expeditions are sponsored, and he has managed to raise $150,000 for charity so far. The watch that he wore to the North Pole was auctioned for charity too. He also makes it a point to visit schools, inspiring students to do their bit for charity. One school in Bahrain did a sponsored ‘Climb of Mount Everest’ event where 121 students climbed 29,000 steps, which is exactly the height of Everest, and raised $25,000 in half an hour. This time around, it’s Stenden University in Qatar who is organizing in February the world’ biggest game of hide-and-seek, and Nabs will be the first person to start ‘seeking’. “The students are making arrangements for the officials of the Guinness Book of World
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Records to come down from England. The money raised will aid the charity that the students have chosen in Qatar.” Student interactions have always been an interesting experience for Nabs. He even feels that students ask better questions than journalists. “They always ask the weirder stuff,” he says. “One student asked me that if I hated waking up in the mornings, why did I plan for an expedition? “The only reason I did it was because I wanted to be the first Arab to do so. And that was enough to wake me up every morning. I do the stuff that I don’t like to get the stuff that I like,” he says. “But then students also ask questions such as “Is it cold out there?” he laughs. Talking about the youth of this generation, he says “There’s a general perception of them not being self-motivated because they have everything in life. But I believe that if they have the desire to do something, they would definitely do it just like any other person in the world. The question is if they have the desire or not.”
Did you know? There are two North Poles in the Artic region – a geographic and a magnetic. The northernmost point on the Earth’s surface is the geographic North Pole, also known as true north. It’s located at 90 degrees North latitude and all lines of longitude converge at this pole. The magnetic North Pole lies hundreds of miles south of the geographic North Pole, in Northern Canada. The Earth’s magnetic pole is the focus of the Earth’s magnetic field and is the point that traditional magnetic compasses point toward. Its location is said to shift on a daily basis.
What about encouraging them to take on something adventurous? “It’s up to them,” he says. “Everybody’s Everest is different. My Everest was Mount Everest; for others it might be buying a house, playing a sport or reaching the office on time every morning.”
Lessons learnt With every journey in life comes a lesson to learn for life. The first for Nabs was to “be prepared”. “In crisis management, they say, a disaster happens because 21 small things go wrong, and these 21 small things could be as petty as not tying your shoe laces, not carrying spare batteries, etc. “At Everest I could have died, if not for my safety equipment that I had carried along. You need to always have a contingency plan for every step that could go wrong.” And as he relates incidents about how people have landed in grave situations in the past because they didn’t have a back-up plan, you would conjure up stills from the grotesque adventure movie 127 Hours that was adapted from a true story. “I had come across this story (127 Hours) a few years ago, and though what he did was amazing – like cutting off his arm – he is the only one to blame for putting himself in that situation. How many of those things could have been mitigated if only he had planned well.” The other thing he says is “You spend so long at expeditions worrying about dying any minute, that when you return you stop worrying about trivial things like traffic. You realize there are bigger things in life to worry about than what we usually do. You begin to enjoy life better.” Mountains, the ocean, the Pole – what’s next Nabs? “The next would be to sit at home. I want to see for how long I can do that,” he laughs.
Laugh
out loud By y Casseeira Oliv
There are three reasons why I find stand-up comedian Issa Al-Fahoum amusing. Firstly, at 15, he’s definitely the youngest comedian in Qatar. Secondly, he is an Arab’ studying in one of the popular Indian’ schools here. Thirdly, his school happens to be my alma mater. Off I go excitedly to meet the promising young comedian over a cup of giggles and a bite of nostalgia.
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D
on’t be fooled by his age. Issa Al-Fahoum is only 15, but there’s an air of maturity about him. He’s outspoken yet cautious about every word he utters. “I don’t want to fall into any kind of trouble,” he says. How he ended up as a stand-up comedian is a funny story in itself. Early last year, there was a talent search competition organised by a private company across a number of schools in Qatar. When the officials arrived at Issa’s school, his physics class was about to begin – which is his not-so-favourite subject. Given the choice, he naturally ditched his lecture on the pretext of taking part though he wasn’t really planning to take part. As luck would have it, he bumped into his physics professor, who was also one of the staff helping with the competition. What transpired between the two goes something like this... Professor: What are you doing here? Issa: Umm...I’m taking part. Professor: Really? In what? Issa: Umm...Stand-up comedy. Professor: OK. Go ahead. “I was like, Oh no! What to do now?,” says Issa. “I thought of running back to class, but my friends who had come along told me to give it a try.” And then it was never turning back... Issa is now a prominent member of Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ) – a coalition of stand-up comedians in Qatar founded by Halal Bilal, who is a Muslim comedian from South Africa. SUCQ promotes stand-up comedy in the region by supporting and developing aspiring comedians and hosting regular events and tours. “I have discovered comedy from Halal, and hopefully many others will,” says Issa. “He usually guides me on what jokes have to be said and what not to be said in my act.”
Jokes Apart... Most of Issa’s jokes emanate from the hilarious experiences he faces as a Palestinian studying in an Indian school. “It’s funny when people think I am a Pakistani. And when I tell them I am a Palestinian, the first question that they ask is: ‘No offence, man, but what are you doing in an Indian school?’ “My father wanted me to attend an Indian
school because he thinks it has the strictest education system, which I agree. Moreover, Arabic school was never an option because I am not very well-versed in Arabic.” But adjusting with people from other cultural backgrounds has always been easy for Issa. Studying in Canada before coming to Qatar was a good exposure to a multi-ethnic environment. Back on stage, Issa loves impersonating his teachers, and he puts on the Indian accent with such flair that it would trick you into
that particular nationality. But it’s all in good humour, he clarifies. “I have many Indian friends. My best friend is an Indian. I just find it funny how some of them converse in English. “Being an Arab, I joke about my culture as well,” he adds. But topics like politics or religion are definitely a no-no in his acts... “Different people react differently, they think differently. You need to find the most general topics that everyone finds funny. I make sure to have a few friends of mine sit in the audience to get their honest feedback. I listen to their suggestions and try working on them. “People say getting on stage is the hardest part, but it’s not. Coming up with new jokes is even harder.”
Looking Ahead...
thinking he’s an Indian-in-disguise. Doesn’t he worry about being in their bad books? “In comedy it’s not about what you say but how you say,” he explains. “When I have to talk about a particular teacher, I would start off by saying ‘I have this cool teacher, he’s amazing’, and then would go on to impersonate him. Then it doesn’t sound offensive.” It’s also necessary to gauge how tolerant the audience is, he says. Studying in an Indian school and surrounded by Indians every day, it’s obvious that most of his jokes target
Back at home, it took a while for his parents to understand what their son was up to. “They didn’t take me seriously at first; they felt I was wasting my time. But when my name started appearing in local newspapers along with other comedians, my parents realised it was a big deal. My mother would take those news clippings and show them around to friends and family. And one day, my father came up to me and said that if I wanted to do comedy, I could go ahead. But he wants me to get a degree first because if comedy doesn’t work out, then there’s something to fall back on.” He’s pretty determined about turning this passion into his profession. He plans to move to Canada for graduation as the comedy scene is huge there. “Till I complete school, I shall keep doing comedy in Qatar to expand my experience. I still have to improve my confidence and charisma on stage.” Canada is also home to popular comedian Russell Peters, whom Issa simply loves. “I have been watching his videos regularly. There is talk of him performing in Qatar this year. It would be a dream-come-true if I could open the show for him!” As for our meeting, it ended on a hilarious note with me listening to a few of the jokes that he had prepared for a show later that evening. “I experiment with new jokes only at smaller shows, it’s fine even if those don’t work out. My tried-and-tested jokes are reserved for the bigger shows.”
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My Big Year When I turned 18... By a a M rmsryul Ka ffin Ari It all started when I turned 18 last October. Turning 18 tends to be a pretty big deal to most teenagers because it signifies a transition into the next phase of life – adulthood. Not only does this mean having an excuse to throw a party, or being legally qualified to try and obtain a driving licence; it also denotes an increase in responsibilities. For me, turning 18 meant that I was now eligible to participate in a global competition called Your Big Year.
W
hat is Your Big Year?
Your Big Year (YBY) is an annual global competition organised by Smaller Earth – a company that offers young people meaningful opportunities from around the globe – in an effort to encourage entrepreneurship and global citizenship. The prize is a chance to spend a whole year working on different charity projects in different parts of the world; you get sponsored to travel the globe while helping people and gaining new cultural experiences along the way. It is definitely an amazing opportunity for character building – to learn more about yourself, and to shape who you are and who you will become in the future.
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I came across this competition during the summer when I was exploring options for my gap year trip on Google. And I thought ‘why not?’. It sounded like a good idea. It made me realise that I was really enthusiastic about getting Qatar more involved in global events related to leadership and entrepreneurship. Qatar is usually at the forefront of the sporting industry, but we have yet to be represented in many global conferences such as the Global Entrepreneurship Congress that is about to take place in Liverpool in March 2012. The competition definitely provides good exposure for the country, carrying on from its 2022 World Cup bid success. It not only involves me as a participant, but encompasses the entire community as a whole, encouraging participants to contribute actively to helping others. I am the only person representing Qatar this year, so I’m hoping more people will join in the future! They can have awesome gap years too!
How did it proceed... The competition is made up of three stages. The tasks involved vary from year to year, but here’s an outline of what went on this year just to give you an idea of how it all works.
Stage 1: The first stage was to gain Passport Points by encouraging as many people as possible to register as supporters on the competition site. This was a really difficult task for me because people couldn’t grasp the concept of this competition. While people all over the world take part in YBY and Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) annually, the concept is still foreign to Qatar. I decided to take the initiative to present and explain the campaign during small events and gatherings that were held in the country.
‘Oh Grow Up Already’ Campaign
Marsya Kamrul Ariffin (l) with a friend On November 11, 2011, the 111 people who made it through to Stage 2 were announced, including myself, proudly representing Qatar with the 10th highest number of votes.
Stage 2: There are three tasks in the second stage. The first was to take part in any events related to GEW, which is a one-week world-wide celebration to commemorate innovators,who bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and promote human welfare. I discovered that the Bedaya Center was planning an event to push Qatar to be one of the participating countries, so I decided to team up with them to present my campaign and help spread awareness regarding entrepreneurship. The event was held at the Student Centre in Education City with roughly 200 eager participants (and really good food!). The second task was to produce a short video explaining an idea that would help Smaller Earth achieve their 2020 vision of having an impact on 20 million people. Smaller Earth has covered many different projects such as education, building infra-
structures and raising awareness on different issues, but there’s one thing I feel they have missed – ART. Art is a universal language that’s capable of inspiring everyone despite our differences in perception and culture. I want to inspire the world through art. Therefore, I proposed the idea of creating connected murals that are to be scattered all over the world. I believe that allowing the locals in various parts of the world to experience and be involved in a global art project will hopefully give them positive experiences they will never forget. The final task was to interview three amazing people and find out what their Big Year was – a year that had a great impact on their lives. Having successfully completed all tasks, I have been given a spot in the Global Entrepreneurship Congress along with 15 other finalists from around the world. I’m hoping to be able to represent Qatar all the way through this competition. I have been working very hard, and it would definitely be an amazing opportunity to be the only one to represent Qatar. Stage 3 here I come!
I started a Facebook page on the same day I registered for the competition. The ‘oh grow up already’ page is a funny take on me turning 18. It documents my entire YBY journey from day one, with plenty of my original comics and a number of video projects too. It has been a tiring but exciting journey, involving energy drinks, rallying votes, and getting to know a lot of new people. If you want to find out more, or simply like looking at cute comic-style drawings, feel free to visit my campaign page at http://www.facebook.com/ohgrowupalready.
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A Game of Cars and Wheels By Donnades Ferna
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The sun had almost gone down, and the clouds were starting to brew up something, when I drove down a few weeks back into Street No. 10 of the Industrial Area. I rolled down my window and breathed in the air that had a whiff of gasoline mixed with dust particles and carbon monoxide. The smell doesn’t differ much no matter where you are in the Industrial Area.
T
he street was packed with cars scattered all over. People were walk ing around, opening the bonnet of the cars to check the engine while others stood around bargaining the price of the cars. Some others just walked about searching for something in particular. By five o’clock, the street was bustling with activity as hundreds of prospective sellers brought in their vehicles to sell directly to buyers for quick cash, which they call in Arabic ‘Maaraz’ or ‘the exhibition of cars’. Although Maaraz happens every day, Fridays especially are the busiest on Street No. 10. People bring in a variety of cars in hopes of selling them for a better price and also for buying their preferred car. I realized that it would be impossible to drive through the busy street packed with cars, so I parked near a roundabout and walked right into the street to a corner where a crowd had gathered around a dark blue Mercedes as the owner talked to the onlookers about the mileage, the engine specifications and other details of the car. “I have been on the lookout for a Mustang sedan for myself,” says 28-year-old Sameer Kareem Mohammed, who has been visiting this street for the past two months. “I like American cars
Rashid Izzat
I have been in the business of repairing used cars and selling them for a better price for the past 13 years. and also long-lasting cars like Toyota, but the prices of these cars have gone really high.” By the end of 2009, the financial crisis
around the world had a huge and direct effect on the prices of cars in the market. Today, the automobile industry has totally risen up from
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its plummet and prices have soared again, based on the demand for cars in the country. While people like Sameer prowl the area in hopes of buying a car, others work as agents who provide consultation to the sellers and buyers about the actual value of cars to be able to sell and resell the car. “I have been in the business of repairing used cars and selling them for a better price for the past 13 years,” says 29-year-old Rashid Izzat. Rashid began work with his father when he was just a boy and eventually started his own business. “I don’t remember the number of cars that I have bought and sold in the past 13 years, and I have not kept a record of each one of them either. These cars last with me for different periods of time, some cars for just two days,” he says. Just then, a man started talking on the microphone in Arabic from the auction market located on the right side of the street. I walked into the auction market and, much to my disappointment, was asked not to take pictures until I talked to the manager. As I settled this small problem with the people
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there, Rashid explained to me that in the auction market, cars cannot be sold if they do not have their detailed vehicle identification card. “Most people who sell their cars through auction want to sell them really fast at a lowrange price.” According to him, taking cars to the auction market is the “Plan B” for those people whose cars otherwise do not sell out on the street. I walked around with Rashid for a while as he showed me how business is done every day, and how he has managed to stay honest in his business by accepting that each car type has a different life span and a different way of handling. “Most people think that they can start this business like me and make some quick money in a day or two, but understanding different cars takes years of experience,” he says. As of habit, Rashid picked up a cup of tea from the roadside cafeteria and a packet of sunflower seeds to eat along the way as he went out looking at cars and giving free consultation to friends who went along with him. Earlier, he used to buy cars based on their resale value and for meeting the needs of his family. Today, things have changed for
him. “I like German cars now. It has been a strong preference since the past year because these cars have a unique style and pride in themselves.” According to Rashid, his business has become his life. He fell in love with cars as a boy and worked with his father on the machines. He was taught that the cars breathed life just like a human body did, and also functioned in the same way. “I feel them now,” he says with a smile. “I can tell from a distance exactly what is wrong with a car by listening to the malfunctioning noise it makes. These metals have life, just like the blood running through your veins.” The sun had now set as I strolled on the much emptier street with my camera, snapping pictures of cars, cheerful people and others who might have to try their luck next time. I stood there silently looking at the cars whirl by out of the street into the distant darkness, leaving a trail of smoke and the familiar smell of gasoline, and I thought to myself that I might well have caught a glimpse of “the life of cars” that Rashid was talking about earlier.
Digital innovation is back ‘Innovation Theater’ at QITCOM 2012
Q
ITCOM Conference & Exhibition has announced the second edition of its Innovation Theater that will be held at this year’s conference from March 5-7, 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Center. QITCOM Innovation Theater is a unique platform to attract, promote and expose young talent to the world of digital content, and encourage entrepreneurs to voice their business ideas that aim to enrich Arabic digital content. The Innovation Theater competition is designed as two stages. The first stage is an application phase where interested candidates fill in applications that will later on be filtered to shortlist a few candidates for a three-week crash course that will support them with conceptualizing their ideas. The second stage will
be held at the theater, where the short-listed candidates will be pitching their ideas live during the three days of the event. Three winners will be selected after evaluation by a panel of prestigious judges and audience voting. In addition, the theater will also host speakers from around the world to share their success stories, advice and expert opinions on digital content innovation and entrepreneurship. During QITCOM 2011, the Innovation Theater was attended by over 800 participants. It had a mix of live pitching and structured feedback sessions and witnessed 28 shortlisted young entrepreneurs receiving guidance from mentors. These experts included key members of the regional business community and successful entrepreneurs from around the world.
Six of the winning ‘Innovation Theater’ contestants were rewarded with the opportunity to set up their own businesses and received over QR200,000 worth of services and business assistance. The top spot was won by Khalid Mohammed Abou Jassoum and his team at Wanasa World, who aspired to set up an edutainment center in the virtual world. Organized by ictQATAR, QITCOM aims to link policy makers, local, regional and international thought leaders, ICT technology providers, entrepreneurs, innovators and the country’s large-scale ICT consumers under one roof to showcase innovations in connectivity that will transform Qatar into a knowledgebased economy. QITCOM 2012 will offer network ing oppor tunitie s for the se practitioners to share experiences, ideas and perspectives.
Those who wish to participate in this year’s innovation theater or would like to receive more information can contact 44995349 or incubation@ict.gov.qa
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career buzz
8 ideas to make you
happier at work So you have bagged that internship you had being eyeing for months. But it turns out that work-life is mundane, and you hate dragging yourself out of bed and into the office every morning. Here are a few easy tips from Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, to turn your mood around.
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Keep it fresh
Wake up to a good mood. Wake up early, put on some chirpy morning music, wear an outfit that makes you feel good about yourself, and have a hearty breakfast.
Boost your confidence
Everybody has that one great hour in a day during which they’re highly efficient. When you get that energy rush, use it to your advantage by doing the difficult task you dread the most or have kept pending.
Use your best hour
There is so much going on in the world while you’re cooped up in an uneventful office space. Check your Twitter feed or favourite paper throughout the day to feel connected to the outside world.
Work may seem dreadful as soon as you wake up but gets gradually better through the day once your confidence levels are up. Look in the mirror every morning and tell yourself: “I’m going to rock today.”
When you’re swamped with work it’s easy to forget about chatting with colleagues at work. Even if you’re not in the mood to do that, after you mingle for a while you’ll find that you feel better about your job.
Socialize
Read the news
Make some noise
Pack your favorite sweet snack for work. It will give you something to look forward to after lunch, keeping your mood levels pleasant.
Sweeth tooth
No, you don’t have to disrupt the entire office, but at the very least play some work-mode music on your headphones to help you concentrate better. After all, excessive silence can sometimes be distracting.
Make a checklist
There is something extremely satisfying (and at the same time challenging) about checking items off a to-do list. Try to add an extra item from tomorrow’s tasks just to keep you on your toes.
Bayt.com is the #1 job site in the Middle East with more than 40.000 employers and over 6.500.000 registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the globe, representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs on www.bayt.com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region.
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This 18-carat white gold chain ring from Akillis has a mini puzzle motif replete with diamonds. And we found matching earrings too. Quite charming!
Cool Quotient campus
The great Chinese mythology is brought back to life with this dragon watch from Piaget. By the way, the year 2012 is also the Year of the Dragon!
You would want to be caught wearing these... By y Casseeira Oliv With Citizen’s next-generation Eco-Drive Satellite Wave watch, you are guaranteed to be on time for lectures. This watch searches for the closest of the 24 navigation satellites that orbit the Earth and captures the day, date and time signals the satellite emits from space, 20,000 km above the Earth. Amazing!
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We can’t take our eyes off this elegant blue ruby-encrusted ring from Roberto Coin. Ruby is considered everlasting, and they say wearing a ruby near the skin promotes a long, healthy, happy life and good fortune!
Grab eyeballs with this glittery purple belt from Versus.
2012
This orange scarf from Carolina Herrera has elegance written all over. And it’s hard to choose from these bright and chunky bracelets.
Put on these uber-cool shades from Salvatore Ferragamo and you will look nothing less than a star!
Now you have an annual calendar on your wrist! The new timepiece from Parmigiani works on the brand’s PF 331 automatic movement technology that automatically accounts for the variation in the number of days in each month. The only manual correction required is for the February in non-leap years. We don’t mind!
We love Louis Vuitton for this Tambour Blush watch. A pale pink dial and a pink alligator strap... Ah! Pink! Dare to carry this flaming red wallet from Carolina Herrera? We fear it might just burn a hole in your pocket!
We wouldn’t want you to wear too many hats. Just this one from Paul Smith is enough to make you look cool yet dapper!
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Fun Fact:
How To Stop Time By Donnades Ferna “... us physicists believe the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one.� Albert Einstein
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H
ere is something fun to do: Find a clock with a smoothly moving second hand. Watch the second hand for about 50 seconds. Then take your eyes off it, and back again, but 20 minutes ahead of where you stopped watching the second hand of the clock. Your peripheral vision will make you see the hand move closer and closer to where you are watching at the moment. Now is when you can try and stop time! Jump 20 minutes ahead again, if the hand catches up to the point you are presently looking at. You will here make the most extraordinary discovery of your life even with very little practice. You can stop time. In the beginning you might have just stopped it for two or three seconds. But with more focusing and practice you’ll be able to stop it for a longer period. If the above measurement of 20 minutes does not work for you, try to adjust your focus closer to or further away from the second hand. Each one of us has a definite focal point where we can all freeze time! Each time you try this experiment, try counting inside your head and it will amaze you how much longer you are able to stop time with more and more practice. In reality, each time you try this you are into some of your own silent thoughts that change and take you to your own speed where you travel in zero clock time. This is one simple technique that you just tried. People use other methods too, some that take more practice but eventually leave the practitioner with more time in their hands. Remember, these techniques of mastering time are things that you do not learn in one day. Making a life of schedules and being able to fluctuate between these schedules to meet your needs will teach you that you can do so many things that you have not yet accomplished and make life an adventure. Einstein believed that time is only an illusion. This means that we humans have divided time into a “past,” “present” and “future”. According to us, the past is something that has already happened and is behind us, probably remaining only in books and our recollections. Moreover, we believe that the “future” is something that is yet to happen. It is something we hope for, or believe will happen, based on our experience of the past
Did you ever wish you had more time to finish a certain task, more time to
stay with someone beloved before saying your goodbyes, but couldn’t do
anything about it?
On the other hand, have you heard people say things like “I really
did not feel the time pass by so quickly!” or “Time just does not move for me!”? Is it possible to stop time or master it to fit your needs?
and present. We cannot actually live the future until it becomes the present. So we can come to a conclusion that the past is a memory and the future is a hope, as neither of these can be accurately measured in any way. We are always here, in the present, and since we needed something to get on with life and the unprecedented changes that life
brings us, we created “time”. In an online post by Leigh Brasington, a retired software engineer and a meditation teacher in Massachusetts, USA, he writes: “In 1979 - 1981 I took a trip around the world. I often encountered signs that said You Are Here’. You know what – every one of those signs was right! I’m always here. I can’t go anywhere but here. If I think I’ll leave here and go there, when I get there, here I am here again.” According to him, the slogan Be Here Now’ is not just a suggestion; it’s the only option. If we want to familiarise ourselves with the deepest truth of things as they really are, we have to find a way to be in perfect coordination with the now’ . “Things change in the general direction of having greater entropy. Entropy is a measure of the amount of disorder in a system. That’s why when we measure time we find it restricted to one direction (unlike when we measure distance) – things are changing such that the overall system has more and more entropy,” writes Leigh. Some people might say that the experiment you did above is just an optical illusion. But, if they try answering why with practice you can stop time for a longer period, their explanation will not pan out. Another interesting fact is that time goes by really fast when we are dreaming while asleep. Just like a movie, we might see many events in our dreams in just a short span of time. We wake up and feel that we have slept for so long but the clock says that it is just the middle of the night. Or you might see the dream a short time before you actually wake up in the morning. Some techniques of stopping time include how to control time in our dreams. This might seem strange, but it works if you start practising with lucid dream training. Lucid dreams are those dreams you have while you are in a half-asleep half-awake state of dreaming. People who have practised this have experienced months of events in that one stretch of their sleeping period. Once again, time is an illusion that we have created. So to master it is also easy by creating techniques of your own. As Leigh writes: “To be totally in harmony with this truth, you’d need to wear a watch that always said now’. But you’d be late for a lot of meetings....”
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gizmos
get gadgety Big Big Cursor Conductive Stylus Don’t you miss those arrows, pointy hands and hour glasses that once ruled our PC screens? Cursors have gone out of sight with the ever-evolving touch screen phenomenon. Now you can get them back with the Big Big Cursor Conductive Stylus that work on all capacitive touch screens. Styled as arrows or pointy hands, they are approximately .7cm long. Moreover they are magnetic and readily stick to your tablet’s cover, so don’t worry about misplacing them. Available at: www.thinkgeek.com
QR 20*
Staple-free Stapler
A stapler that does not use staples! Makers of this unbelievably true staple-free stapler came up with this device when they couldn’t take the pain inflicted by those tiny metal wires any longe – staples poking your thumb, tearing up the corners of the papers or, worst, your shirt getting stapled! How it works: This handy device cuts a tiny flap in the corner of your paper and folds it in on itself, tucked in a tiny paper pocket, thus “stapling” your paper in a way. This sleek and small staple-free stapler is available in chaotic-evil black, deep blue and smokey clear, and can clip together up to five sheets with ease. Available at: www.thinkgeek.com
QR 33*
QR 25*
Electric Magnetic Digital Graffiti This is perfect for those who love graffiti art but fear damaging property. For this you will only need a metal surface. The LED Magnetic Digital Graffiti set comprises 20 different LEDs (in red, blue, green and yellow) each with a battery and a magnet attached. Once you pull out the tab, it gets activated and glows on sticking to a ferrous surface. The best part is you can remove it whenever you want. We think your car will look really cool with the LEDs, but make sure you use it on YOUR car only! Available at: www.thinkgeek.com
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