ReadMe 147

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SURF’S UP

TAKING A CHANCE

The sweet story of a shy shop assistant who went on to achieve global singing success after wowing the world on Britain’s Got Talent

SWEET AS KANDY

As the weather hits the perfect temperature for a day at the beach, make sure you’re looking stylish on the sand with our pick of the perfect beachwear

Issue 147

HOPE FROM HORROR

After the tragic loss of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, what impact could the event have on the aviation industry?

Alternative

existence Could virtual reality ever replace the real world?

Health | Fitness | Film reviews | Entertainment | Cars & gadgets | Community | Listings

Please tak this co e py along with y ou .

D o not li Dubai tter M D h 2 0 0 e t ro fine.

08 COMMUNITY

t’s that time of year again when cars don decorations, children paint their faces and celebrations take over not only Dubai, but also the entire United Arab Emirates. National Day this year, however, takes a special prominence as the UAE marks 40 years of independence as a nation. For those of us who have lived in Dubai for a while, or those who were born and raised here, National Day is a tradition we are familiar with and proud of. However, for those who will be joining in the celebrations for the first time this year, here is Read.’s guide to what it is all about.

COMMUNITY 09

THE PALM JUMEIRAH

Our Father Zayed The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan believed in the generosity and kindness of the people of the United Arab Emirates. He possessed a faith in humanity and believed that each person possesses an internal sense of selflessness that can allow him or her to care for others within the community.

It was with this belief that he asked the people to act as one. To create a Spirit of Union that could be celebrated and shared by all within the UAE.

Forty and

fabulous The Spirit of the Union

The Spirit of the Union is the spirit that enables millions of people, from all different backgrounds, religions and nationalities to co-exist without barriers. The Spirit of the Union is derived from the vision and leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed, and is maintained today through His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the fellow leaders of the nation’s emirates who continue to shape the UAE’s future. It is the spirit that binds the cosmopolitan community of the UAE under one flag, but with millions of voices. National Day is about celebrating and sharing this spirit, as it has existed in the past and looking towards the future.

The Union lives within me and it is the dearest thing in my whole existence.”

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

A brief history of the UAE

Calendar of the weekend’s events

1892: The UK forms a treaty with the Emirates as seven ‘Trucial Sheikhdoms’.

Early 20th century: The local pearl diving industry enjoys a rapid growth, followed by a dramatic decline following the two world wars and an economic slump globally.

THE EMIRATES TOWERS

LIVE UNION - 14,600 BALLOONS RELEASED December 1, 2011 4pm-5pm, Heritage Village, Al Shindagha

1960s: Oil is discovered in the UAE.

TRADITIONAL DHOWS

1971: The UK’s treaty with the Emirates expires, which leads to each sheikhdom becoming independent. The then rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, agree to form an independent union between the two emirates.

December 2, 1971: Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, and Umm alQuwain join with Abu Dhabi and Dubai to form the United Arab Emirates. Ras al Khaimah joins the union later, in early 1972.

SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD

Through these celebrations we hope to recognise achievements of the past and the present, commend the people who have influenced the nation, reignite the ties that bind us together and to reconnect with the communities in which we live. Together we have the unique opportunity to contribute to the evolving narrative of the UAE and to unite in celebration across this great nation.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

READ. NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011

MAIN EVENT IN DUBAI - SPIRIT OF THE UNION Thursday, December 1, 2011 3.30pm–9pm, Heritage Village, Al Shindagha

DISPLAY OF FALCONS December 1 to December 3, 2011 5pm-10pm , Heritage and Diving Village TRADITIONAL EMIRATI MARKETS December 1 to December 3, 2011 5pm-10pm, Heritage and Diving Village

How do we celebrate?

National Day is celebrated in many different ways, however there is always plenty of excitement and preparation in the lead-up to December 2 itself.

Shops will stock anything from key rings, hair bands, posters and car accessories in the colours of the UAE flag. People will hang the flag from windows and balconies and some may even light up trees outside their home with lights in the colours of the UAE flag. Hotels, restaurants and malls will also hang the UAE flag both on the outside of the building and inside.

On the actual day, locals often perform traditional sword dances, and since it is a public holiday, many families will go for picnics or to watch firework displays. There are also many special competitions, such as traditional dhow racing, camel racing, and special events like The Best Decorated Car competition. During National Day, people adorn their cars with flags, pictures and streamers to drive up and down roads and corniches honking their horns and shouting in celebration.

MOTORCYCLE PARADE BY THE EMIRATES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION December 1, 2011 5pm-10pm, Heritage Village, Al Shindagha SPIRIT OF THE UNION – MILITARY BAND, TENTS, FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT December 1, 2011 9am-2pm, Warsan 3 RTA TRAFFIC AWARENESS CORNER December 1 to December 3, 2011 5pm-10pm, Heritage Village, Al Shindagha SCHOOL COMPETITION ACTIVITIES, TRADITIONAL GAMES AND NATIONAL POETRY December 1 to December 3, 2011 5pm-10pm, Heritage and Diving Village MARCH OF LOYALTY FOR H.H. SHEIKH ZAYED December 2, 2011 4pm-5pm, Jumeirah Road THANK YOU KHALIFA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP November 17 to December 3, 2011 9pm-11pm, Al Nasser Sports Club

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011 READ.

10 HEALTH

ASK THE EXPERT DR SHEREEN HABIB WELL WOMAN CLINIC

Get your ‘tash on Movember has come around again. The ladies got their pink ribbons last month, and in keeping with good old gender stereotyping, this month the lads get moustaches.

So what’s it all about?

Movember is a cheeky way of raising awareness about male cancer; the two main types being testicular and prostate cancer.

Testicular cancer is a disease of young men.

It is most common in men aged between 15 and 40. Every man has a one in 250 lifetime risk of developing it but it has one of the highest cure rates of all forms of cancer.

What does this mean for the average man?

It means that early detection is key. Regular testicular self-examination to look for a change in size or shape of the testes or for hard lumps is vital.

Prostate cancer is a disease of older men, and is overall the most common form of cancer in western men. It can present with symptoms of poor urinary stream or frequent urination, especially at night. Occasionally urination may be painful or there may be blood in the urine.

If any of these symptoms occur, a visit to the doctor is vital. The doctor will perform a digital rectal examination and a blood and “Every urine test. man has Remember a one in that prevention 250 lifeis always better time risk than cure, and awareness is of debetter than veloping ignorance so testicular get growing that cancer.” ‘tash!

HEALTH 11

Them

bones them bones...

They support us through thick and thin, but how often do you consider the health of your bones?

ture age and start to have problems with our bones and joints that we begin to take notice of them again.

“Actions toward building healthy bones should begin in childhood, as this is the most important stage of development and growth, but these actions should continue throughout your lifetime,” says Dr Filippe Agardo. “Many of my older patients will present conditions such as osteoporosis and low bone density, but it’s never too late to take steps for healthy bones.”

To understand the basics of bone health, think of your bones like a bank account, which allows you deposit or withdraw calcium throughout life. Calcium is the mineral that makes our bones dense and strong.

During the first couple of decades of life, you are building your bone bank account, until peak bone mass (the maximum bone density you will ever have) is reached, usually between the ages of 18 to 25. Consuming plenty of calcium as part of a balanced diet, plus high activity levels in younger life helps to

Down with Vitamin D Vitamin D is also vitally important in building and maintaining healthy bones, and there are plenty of foods that can provide it. Some foods that are rich in Vitamin D include: Herring Mackerel Oysters Sardines Tofu Rice milk Shitake mushrooms Eggs

ou may not realise it, but our bones are living and growing tissue.

Throughout life, the bones are constantly being renewed in a process called remodelling, whereby old bone is removed and replaced with fresh new bone. While we can all probably remember being told to drink our milk as young children to make our bones strong, there comes a point in many people’s lives where the bones are forgotten.

It is only when we reach a more ma-

READ. NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011

build this bone mass. However throughout adult life, if your dietary calcium intake starts to drop, your body will start to ‘withdraw’ from the calcium account. As is the case with a normal bank account, the more you take out, the account starts to look a little empty, the results of which can be conditions such as osteoporosis, also known as brittle bones.

So what can we do to build up an empty bone account? Dr Agardo says, “It is important, and also pretty easy, to meet the recommended amount of calcium whatever stage of life you are in simply by choosing a wellbalanced diet. People automatically think of cheese and milk, but there are plenty of other calcium-rich foods, such as broccoli or salmon, which are also less likely to affect the levels of fat you consume than with dairy products. It is also important to keep active. Gentle weight-bearing exercise can do wonders for your bones, as well as keeping your weight

Gentle weightbearing exercise can do wonders for your bones.” under control, which has its own repercussions on the strain your bones are under on a daily basis.”

So, if you are one of the people who could be considered guilty of neglecting the calcium heroes of your body, maybe it’s time to consider the health of your bones and make a little deposit into the bank.

The bare bones The smallest bone in the human body is the stirrup bone in the middle ear, which is around 0.28cm long.

There are 206 bones in an adult body, more than half of which are located just in the hands and feet.

We are born with around 300 bones, which, during late childhood, fuse into larger, bigger and stronger bones.

Adult human bones account for 14

per cent of our total body weight.

Bones contain living cells which help them grow and repair themselves. If bones weren’t made of living cells, broken bones would never mend.

Humans and giraffes both have eight bones in their neck, the vertebrae in a giraffe’s neck are simply much longer than than the ones in ours.

BONE TISSUE GROWS AND REPAIRS ITSELF

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011 READ.

12 YOU

Clogged drains To blast through blockages of greasy food in the kitchen sink, mix equal parts of salt, vinegar and baking soda, pour down the drain and allow to sit for an hour before chasing it with boiling water. A mixture of one cup of salt and two cups of hot water can also be used to eliminate drain odour and break up grease deposits.

YOU 13

Dull furniture Many commercial polishes contain harsh chemicals and can ruin the finish of wood after long-term use. Instead, try a natural mix of sweet oil and vinegar to get your wooden surfaces gleaming again. Use three parts of sweet oil to restore the shine with one part of vinegar to remove marks. Mix well and apply with a clean cloth as you would with furniture polish. Do not use on unfinished wood or laquer.

Dirty dishes When you can’t face washing the dishes straight away after a meal, sprinkle them with a little salt to prevent food from sticking.

That way, when you do come to clean them, the job will be a lot easier.

Home cleaning remedies

Sometimes the best remedy for stained surfaces or lacklustre furniture is closer at hand than you might think. From cleaning the dishes with salt to polishing wooden picture frames with a dab of sweet oil, basic store cupboard staples can work wonders when you don’t have the right product for the job under the kitchen sink.

Upholstery stains It’s inevitable that fabric sofas, chairs and cushion cases will get marked over time, and it’s expensive, not to mention inconvenient, to remove all the covers and have them cleaned professionally.

Instead, try creating the following home remedy to remove stains: Mix six tablespoons of pure soap flakes with two tablespoons of borax together then slowly add a pint of boiling water, stirring well to dissolve all the ingredients.

Leave the mixture to cool, then whip it into a foamy consistency with an egg beater.

Brush the dry suds onto the stain, then quickly wipe them off with a damp sponge.

If limited kitchen space forces you to keep the rubbish bin in the open then you’ll be familiar with the unpleasant smells left over from last night’s dinner that can greet you in the morning.

Aside from washing the bin regularly with soapy water, you can also put a cotton ball soaked in fragrant essential oils in the bottom of the container before putting the bin bag in to fend off those nasty odours in the kitchen.

Grubby tiles Use the following recipe to create a fresh, tangy powder that will make kitchen and bathroom tiles gleam: In a small bowl crush half a cup of pure soap flakes with the back of a spoon until reduced to a powder.

Mix in one cup of chalk and a cup of baking soda, breaking up any lumps.

Sprinkle eucalyptus essential oil

Smelly garbage

over the surface of the powdered mixture, then spoon it into a screw-top jar, with holes punched in the lid.

Cover the holes with masking tape and leave the mixture to sit for a week. Before use, remove the tape and dispense evenly on the dirty tiles through the holes in the lid, then wipe clean.

Streaky glass

Instead of using paper towels to clean glass surfaces and windows, try crumpled newspaper for lint-free results. Mix a quarter of a cup of white vinegar, one tablespoon of cornstarch and two cups of warm water together in a spray bottle, shake well and spray liberally onto glass surfaces before buffing with a clean cloth or newspaper.

Tarnished silverwear The dull, mottled look that begins to erase the gleam on your silverwear can easily be removed with a little salt, soap and warm water. Begin by rubbing each piece with a pinch of salt and a soft cloth then wash them by hand with dish soap and warm water to restore the shine.

Stubborn oven Grease becomes even harder to remove when it has been baked and set several times in the oven before you come to clean it. One excellent remedy uses a mixture of 16 ounces of baking soda with a quarter of a cup of washing soda. Dampen the surfaces of the oven before sprinkling on the mixture. Wipe the interior once more with a wet rag then apply the mixture again and leave it on overnight. In the morning, wipe the mixture and the grease away, rinsing well to remove any filmy residue. For really stubborn, burnt-on stains, scour with salt and an abrasive pad.

READ. JUNE 3-9, 2012

JUNE 3-9, 2012 READ.

14 YOU

YOU 15

Freshen up

ith the pressures of modern life weighing down on many of us each day, it can often be all too easy to feel down.

Whether it’s an upcoming presentation at work, misbehaving children, or simply missing friends and family back home; there are many things that can take your mood from golden to blue in an instant.

Luckily, however, there are a number of ways in which you can give yourself a little boost. While constant, 24-hour-a-day happiness is, for most people, a near impossible feat, just a few simple tricks could lift you out from under a grey cloud in no time. Here are seven easy mood-lifters, guaranteed to have you smiling again in no time.

The thought of having to tidy up a messy home fills many people with a sense of dread. However dealing with one room or area each day can make things simple. If you have let it build up, however, then perhaps it’s time to don the rubber gloves and get cleaning. The sense of pride you can achieve from admiring your new tidy house can boost your mood no end, and perhaps the new space might even encourage you to change the furniture around or purchase a couple of new objects to brighten up a room. So try a spring clean for a happiness-booster—a messy house does seem to equal a messy mind after all.

The pursuit

ness of happiness We all feel down from time to time, but these seven simple moodbusters could quickly lift you back up

Making progress

Having a list of unfinished tasks or duties can weigh heavily. Take a look at your to-do list and ensure you tick at least one thing off each day. Whether it’s putting up a shelf, attending a routine check at the doctor’s or paying this month’s bills—whatever is playing at the back of your mind will be lifted instantly as soon as you deal with it. The satisfaction of crossing something off your list is an instant way to boost your happiness levels.

READ. JUNE 17-23, 2012

Energy is one of the main influences on how happy we feel—if our energy is low and we feel lethargic, our mood instantly drops. While many believe we act the way we feel inside, in fact this is quite the opposite and the majority of us feel how we act on the outside. Therefore, try tricking your body into feeling more energetic by simply acting more energetic. Talk briskly while on the phone instead of mumbling and dawdling through a conversation, or rather than meandering around your workplace, try walking with a quicker pace and a more direct approach.

Hello sunshine

Lean on me

Not only do you gain energy from interacting with other people, but, thanks to a phenomenon known as emotional contagion, you can often “catch” a person’s mood.

Therefore, call up an energetic friend or— even better—meet with them in person.

If someone you care for has recently had good news or a cause to celebrate make the time to catch up and hear about it—their enthusiasm and energy could be the key to cheering you up instantly.

Light deprivation is one reason why many people feel tired throughout the day, which in turn can have an effect on your mood. Research suggests that sunlight stimulates brain chemicals that improve a person’s mood, so if you find yourself stuck inside a windowless office all day you’re bound to start feeling down.

Make an effort to head outside on your break. While the midday sun in Dubai may be too hot to eat Al Fresco, walking to a different building to get lunch or popping outside during a phone call can give you an instant hit of vitamin D and the feelgood chemicals you need to feel perked up and back to your usual smiley self.

Get moving

A full-on workout releases a large amount of endorphins in the brain, which are the chemicals that make you feel happy. However, even if you can’t manage a session in the gym, a brief and brisk walk will give you a similar boost. Try heading out as soon as you get home from work, when the sun has dropped and the stresses of the day are over. It’s all too easy to plonk straight down onto the sofa after a hard day at the office, but just a small amount of exercise will leave you feeling content and pleased with yourself before you crash out for the evening.

Let’s pretend

Mood music

Listening to stimulating and upbeat music gives most people an instant lift and is one of the quickest, most reliable ways to affect your mood and energy level. Music itself has a powerful way of linking in with our memories and emotions, therefore listening to your favourite song or putting on an album that brings back thoughts of happy times can transform your mood in a flash.

JUNE 17-23, 2012 READ.

16 YOU

YOU 17

Shop sensibly

t’s a week to go before payday and you’re down to the last few hundred dirhams.

There are bills to pay and a week’s worth of food to buy and you simply can’t work out where all the money has gone this month.

If you frequently find yourself vowing to be more financially prudent and counting down the days until the pay cheque comes through, then you can take a look at our top tips for managing a healthy household budget for a little guidance.

Managing the household budget We offer simple tips that could help take control of finances.

Keep the bills down Little things like leaving the TV on in the background, letting the tap run while you brush your teeth and forgetting to switch off lights when you leave a room can really add up. Make a conscientious effort to use the minimum necessary water and electricity—not only will you reduce your bills but you’ll help the environment, too.

Identify hiddentures expendi

the ATM may seem thdraw cash from wi to sts week, co it 2 Dh The oney five times a if you withdraw m ilarly, if Sim ar. ye e th insignificant but of d Dh520 by the en u , then yo gs st ba co ve tic as ha ll it wi ges for pl rmarket that char ork out W e. or m or you shop at a supe 0 30 g at another Dh nditures are you could be lookin ur household expe yo in sts co en dd where the hi ent to reduce or prev and take measures at ed ris rp t be su them—you migh is frees up for how much cash th other things.

Pay in cash

Somehow, handing over a bank card at the till and tapping in the numbers feels less like spending then paying in hard cash. One way to really take control of your expenditures is to withdraw set amounts each week for food and bills, and put it into labelled envelopes.

This forces you to see exactly how much you’re spending and avoids nasty surprises when you check your bank balance at the end of the week.

Start a savings account If you find it difficult to put money aside then set up a standing order to transfer an affordable amount into a savings account each month. It doesn’t matter if it’s only a small amount. Just Dh150 a month will leave you Dh1,800 better off at the end of the year, or more if you put it in a highrate savings account.

READ. APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2012

Share the responsibility For a household budget to work, everyone needs to help out. Make sure your family is aware of the budget limitations and cost-cutting plans and, if extra motivation is required, point out the things you can enjoy together with the savings you’ll all make.

Draw up a budget

It may sound obvious, but many people struggle to account for their outgoings, and a detailed budget can help them keep track.

Spend a month writing down every thing you purchase, down to the Dh1.5 for a can of Coca Cola at lunch. At the end of the month, use this information to identify areas where you might cut back then draw up a realistic budget, which takes into account all the necessities, including bills, rent and food. It’s a good idea to leave aside a little each month for unforeseen expenditures, like home repairs or trips to the dentist—there’s always something you can’t plan for.

Write a shopping list of all the things you need each week then do a big shop at one of the cheaper supermarket chains to stock up on all of the basics. It works out much cheaper to buy in bulk, but don’t be roped into deals like two for the price of one unless it’s something you planned to buy anyway. Another way to cut back on the shopping bill is to consider the products you choose at the supermarket. Instead of purchasing more expensive, imported brands, go for local products.

Keep your receipts Eat wisely After rent, food is the highest monthly expenditure for most families. To cut back try taking a packed lunch to work rather than buying food at the café and keep track of the coffees and snacks you buy throughout the day, which add up in the long term.

In the evenings, cook enough for two meals and freeze the leftovers for another day to make the most out of your ingredients.

Once the budget is drawn up, it can be easy to let it slip if you don’t keep monitoring your expenditures. For the budget to work, you need to be constantly aware of how your expenditures equate to the exact amounts you have set. Keeping all your receipts and organising them according to each category of expenditure provides an easy way of doing this. At the end of each week, add up the receipts for food, transport and bills and re-evaluate your spending for the next week accordingly.

APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2012 READ.

18 TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY 19

gameplay, instead giving the players the chance to explore the world and complete side-missions as they like.

And there is almost no limit to the number of side missions that can be undertaken. This means that players can spend entire weekends simply wandering around the beautifully designed landscapes, taking in some of the best graphics this generation of consoles has seen and whiling away the time building up their characters.

As Nick Cowen wrote in his review of the game, “The largest cost that Skyrim wishes to exact from players is that which is measured in human hours: time. So, with that in mind, may your boss believe you when you phone in claiming you have the plague, may your significant other be tolerant and understanding, and may your friends know you well enough not to make enquiries with the police if they don’t hear from you in over a month.”

Another game that has been known to eat up cumulative months of human hours is called Second Life. This gives players just what it says on the box; a second life.

It’s actually less of a game than an

BYTES & PIECES The voice of technology

For a few years, voice recognition software has existed within home computers, mobile phones and cars. However, the iPhone 4S has created a whole new market thanks to its Siri feature. It’s not just big business for Apple, however, with the company behind the software, Nuance, reporting that its mobile and consumer business is up 31.6 per cent from a year ago.

“By this But how does point, Siri actually your work? When you speech is speak into the handset, the a series sounds are of vowels encoded into a and concompact digital sonants.” form, which is relayed to a cloud server, loaded with models that comprehend language. At the same time, your command is evaluated on the iPhone. The software communicates with the cloud to gauge whether the command is local or if it needs further assistance from the cloud.

By this point, your speech is a series of vowels and consonants which can be run through a language model to estimate which words make up the sentence you spoke.

The possibilities for this technology seem endless at the moment. Nuance are rumoured to be exploring bringing voice recognition into the home, most probably through televisions. So it would seem that Siri could be a part of all our lives within the near future; let’s just hope we don’t fall out.

THE ELDER SCROLLS: SKYRIM

Living digital lives Since the early days of gaming, Role playing games have stolen hours from players’ lives. But have they become too addictive?

READ. NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011

ccording to recent reports, the sensationally popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (that’s MMORPG to the gaming gurus), World of Warcraft, has been losing subscribers. Game developer Blizzard’s CEO last week admitted that the number of active players has dropped from 11.4 million to 10.3 million over the last six months.

The fantasy game is infamous for sucking “real world” time from its players, with concerned spouses and parents taking to the media to complain about the amount of dedication their loved ones give to what they see as “just a game”. Some players spend hours on end completing quests with their online friends, paying little attention to their physical surroundings. So will the news about World of Warcraft losing players provide concerned parties with some relief?

Unfortunately, no, it won’t; the gamers are simply heading elsewhere. And it seems that our love for role playing games (RPGs) shows no signs of abating. What’s more, RPGs do not need to be of the massively multiplayer online variety, in which players can interact with thousands of online strangers, to earn themselves big followings.

Take another fantasy RPG, the most recent release from the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim. This was released earlier this month at a star-studded launch party hosting guests such as Christina Aguilera, and has garnered seriously high praise from both critics and consumers. Like every other RPG, character development provides the cornerstone of the gameplay.

The player must build up his or her strength, abilities and appearance over the course of the game, mostly by way of completing tasks.

What’s more, like its predecessors, Skyrim provides relatively non-linear

22.8 million

Total hours spent by Second Life residents in 2008. online virtual world populated by users’ avatars. It’s based on the world we already live in; people walk through it, meeting and interacting with other people, creating and trading property and services with each other. How to classify Second Life is frequently debated, as it has no real objectives.

Some say that because it’s possible to build up business and property empires, it can be classified as a role playing game, though others say that it is more like a social network.

Either way, its popularity is impossible to debate. Earlier this year, it was reported that the online world has around one million active users, though the number of registered us-

ers is higher than this, sitting around the 21 million mark. And in 2008, the world’s “residents” spent a total of 22.8 million hours inworld.

And it’s numbers like this that show just how much time people are willing to invest in virtual lives. And as the capabilities of these games increase, the more people they will ensnare into their digital worlds.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT

Tech beat WINDOWS PHONE ON THE UP

Microsoft’s mobile app store, the Windows Phone Marketplace, now hosts over 40,000 apps, suggesting that the operating system is becoming more popular with app developers. The apps come from around 10,000 publishers, and 33 per cent of the apps have been added over the past three months.

Windows says that 165 apps are being added to the store every day.

RUDE WORDS BACK

Pakistan’s telecommunications regulator has reversed a ban on text messages containing rude words such as “quickie”, “athlete’s foot” and “idiot”. Naturally, ruder words than these were also banned, but many criticised the telecoms regulator, due to Pakistan’s constitution containing a free speech clause.

JOURNALISTIC TWEET WARNING

Associated Press has issued warnings to a number of its journalists for breaking news stories on Twitter before they are published on the wire, according to reports. The news organisation has been forced to draw up strict rules in response to the rise of the social network, stating that its staff members must post breaking news on the wire before tweeting about it.

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011 READ.

20 FASHION

FASHION 21 TOPSHOP

Release the

FABRICS Whatever your mode of transport, be it a skateboard or a Bentley, houndstooth is the kind of print that any man can pull off. Whilst its origins may be with menswear, worn as outerwear by Scottish shepherds and also adopted by chefs, its adoption by mainstream fashion is slightly more unusual and previous resurgences of the trend have primarily been the territory of womenswear. But there’s no real rhyme or reason for that, because, like plaid, it can be found

hounds

FERRAGAMO

It looks like houndstooth is back, and it’s set to stay for a while.

FABRICS

FERRAGAMO

RACHEL EVAN WOOD

Her STELLA MCCARTNEY

READ. NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011

If you are only to invest in one key item this season, go out and bag yourself some quality houndstooth. It is the one trend of the season that truly keeps on giving, continually reinventing itself, it never really goes out of fashion.

Unless you’ve had your head buried in the fashion-sand this year, it’s been pretty hard to miss the incredible influence of the British Heritage culture. As such, it comes as no real surprise that houndstooth, with its roots in the Scottish highlands and country gentile, has awoken from its slumber in time for the autumn/ winter season. Houndstooth entered mainstream fashion during the 1960s thanks to designers such as Ann Klein and Geoffrey Beene, who picked up the fabric also synonymous with chefs and transformed it into a must-have.

The black and white checks became symbols of status and by the 1990s, all the big names, from Chanel to Moschino, were CHRISTIAN DIOR adopting the style.

While many designers, including Gucci, toyed with houndstooth this season, it was Salvatore Ferragamo who really championed the checks. And there’s good news, too; spring/summer 2012 is not without the print, as Stella McCartney and Chanel re-work the look as the climate changes. Perhaps stick with houndstooth accessories so you can easily bring the trend into next season without too much commitment.

Ferragamo’s dresses and shoes have become ‘it’ pieces amongst celebrities. From Kim Kardashion to Rachael Evan Wood, Lady Gaga and even Rihanna, Hollywood has transformed into black and white. And houndstooth has once again become a symbol of not only wealth or status, but also of being pretty ASOS darn cool.

Him

in many different styles and sizes. Though, unlike women, who can pull off incredibly bold, large printed houndstooth, men really are better off sticking to smaller, more traditional finely woven fabrics paired with block black, as seen by Justin Timberlake. That said, Moncler Gamme Bleu took things to the other extreme this season, not only parading models down the runway in head-to-toe houndstooth but also getting them to walk along with actual hounds.

MONCLER GAMME BLEU

FASHION OPINION Time to hear the audience

Men really are better off sticking to smaller, more traditional finely woven fabrics

GUCCI MONCLER GAMME BLEU

HART SCHAFFNER MARX

We are all fully “Investaware that we ing in live in one of the most fashionable a little countries in the couture world, and the every women of Dubai now and have always then been privy to one fashion rule never in particular; hurt investing in a little anyone.” couture every now and then never hurt anyone.

Whether it’s the latest musthave pair of Manolo’s, the most desirable Chanel purse, or a oneoff creation by Queen of Spades, if it’s unique, we want it. Well, someone at Gucci must have heard our call, as the fashion house has recently announced a new limited edition handbag; completely gorgeous, completely desirable, and completely Dubai.

The exclusive ‘Marrakech’ bag comes in stunning blue night and taupe python colours, with handbraided handles, signature detail on the tassles and ‘G’ ornaments which adorn the outside. The bag’s lining is just as luxurious, with nappa leather, an array of compartments, plus—just in case it’s not unique enough—a metal plaque to state the bag’s exclusivity to Dubai.

Time to dig out the credit card from the bottom of that last-season handbag, we think.

The ‘Marrakech’ bag costs Dh17,550 and is exclusively available at Gucci boutiques from December 2011.

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2011 READ.

22 TECHNOLOGY

Game on!

With the release of Diabo III last week, PC gamers around the world were finally able to buy what has become one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Given that the last installment of the franchise, Diablo II, was released in 2000, and that the current game was announced four years ago, in 2008, it’s easy to see why fans have been so eager to get their hands on it.

Of course, the Diablo series of hack-andslash role playing games isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, meaning that the new release won’t mean much to plenty of people. However, there are certainly enough exciting games coming out this year to whet the appetite of anyone even slightly interested in gaming.

Here’s our list of the 10 most anticipated games for the remainder of 2012.

StarCraftII: Heart of the Swarm

Release date: TBA The military science-fiction real-time strategy game franchise, StarCraft, hardly needs an introduction, having been a massive hit since it was first launched on the PC in 1998. The new game, Heart of the Swarm, is set to be a sequel and expansion pack to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and is to be part two of the StarCraft II trilogy. It will feature a continuing campaign, new units plus multiplayer changes.

Hitman: Absolution The Last Guardian Release date: TBA The Last Guardian has become something of a legend among PlayStation 3 players, given that it has been hitting headlines since a concept trailer came online in 2009.

However, due to complications, such as director Fumito Ueda leaving Sony, the date has been continuously pushed back. If it ever comes out, the title will be a third-person, action-adventure game that incorporates puzzle elements, with the protagonist attempting to flee the ruins of an expansive and complicated castle.

READ. MAY 20-26, 2012

Release date: November 2012 This will be the fifth game in the Hitman series, and will run on the Glacier 2 game engine from IO Interactive. Details surrounding the gameplay have been sketchy ahead of the November release, though it has been confirmed that at least one part of the game will be set in Chicago, and that the rest will be in the United States. The new game will also feature an online option.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD Release date: Summer 2012 This gaming franchise is as old as the first PlayStation, and it made a superstar out of pro skater Tony Hawk. And critics across the board agree that it was a fantastic series, providing hours of fun for both serious and casual gamers. This new game is said to take the series back to basics, getting players to focus on linking tricks and grinds together in order to score big points, all in glorious high definition.

TECHNOLOGY 23

Max Payne 3 Release date: May 2012 Slated for release this month, Max Payne 3 is the first game following protagonist Max Payne to not be developed by the Finnish Remedy Entertainment, and also the first not to be written Sam Lake, who created the character. Much like its predecessors, Max Payne 3 will feature over-theshoulder zoom aiming, bullet-time action sequences, new action movements, and playable cut scenes. New multiplayer functions will also be added.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Release date: Winter 2012 Set several years after the events in Metal Gear Solid 4, the newest Metal Gear game will bring back former agent Raiden, the main protagonist from Metal Gear Solid 2, and pit him against cyborg enemies as he attempts to help rebuild an unnamed country.

Unlike any of the previous games, this will purely be an action game, with the focus on swordfighting and an advanced cutting system.

Far Cry 3 Release date: September 2012 The sequel to 2008’s Far Cry 2, this game is set to be released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. True to the series’ roots, it will be an openworld, first-person shooter, set on a number of desert islands that the protagonist must escape from. The map will be around 10 times bigger than the last game’s, and players will be able to fire from crouching positions more effectively, as well as use more melee attacks.

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BioShock Infinite Release date: TBA Though, at the time of writing, release dates are sketchy for this game, it is certainly highly anticipated. With the promise of similar gameplay to the previous two BioShock titles, the storyline is actually unrelated.

Either way, it is sure to be hit, despite the last one being criticised for being too easy.

Halo 4 Release date: November 2012 This is the eighth installment in the Halo game series, and is almost as guaranteed to sell huge numbers of copies as The Avengers was to sell movie theatre seats.

The storyline will pick up some time after the ending of Halo 3, with the Master Chief reprising his role as the main protagonist. His AI counterpart, Cortana, will also appear in the game, developers have announced.

Grand Theft Auto V Release date: TBA Plenty of rumours have been flying around about the release date of the first major Grand Theft Auto title since GTA IV, which began the “fourth era” of the series, though nothing has been confirmed yet. However, developer Rockstar has said that this game will kick-start a so-called fifth era, and will be set in the fictional Los Santos city, which lies in the fictional state of San Andreas, where popular series titles have already taken place.

MAY 20-26, 2012 READ.

24 FILM

FILM 25

What a tangled web we

weave A decade on from SpiderMan’s big screen debut, our fascination with the web-spinning super hero ensnares us with a reboot, featuring an entirely new cast and production crew.

events that creates both our friendly neighbourhood hero and the mutant reptile that threatens all of New York City.

The movie also returns Parker back to his high school days, when the science nerd had trouble navigating typical teenage issues—girls, money, chores—even after he’s bitten by a radioactive spider.

By the end of 2007’s Spider-Man 3, Parker seemed dangerously close to settling down with the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson (Dunst). Awkward and miserable, though, has always been the way fans like him best.

As gutsy as it was to push the reset button, Tolmach and his co-producers, Avi Arad and the late Laura Ziskin (who succumbed to cancer last year after an esteemed career backing 16 films, including all of the Spider-Man entries), rolled even bigger dice by selecting Webb to direct.

Aside from having a fantastic last name for the project and a lifetime love of comic books, he had just one feature film under his belt, and an indie romantic comedy at that. On top of that, he’d have to shoot his summer blockbuster in 3D, a technology he had no previous experience with.

What

“Marvel’s latest reboot and re-imagining has all the right ingredients to start another explosively successful franchise.”

Webb’s (500) Days of Summer lacked in explosions, however, it more than made up for in emotional heft.

Bringing that strength would assure that this would be a Spider-Man where moviegoers would care as much about Peter Parker in his Tshirt and jeans as in his costume.

Now Webb just needed to find his Peter Parker to wear both. Weeks into the audition process, Garfield— a then 26-year-old British-theatre veteran whose breakthrough film, The Social Network, was still months away from opening—got his moment to show he could do it all.

Emma Stone (The Help, Easy A) was cast to play Stacy, Peter’s first love (even before Mary Jane Watson), whose death at the hands of the Green Goblin in a 1973 Marvel comics story incited some, well, strong feelings in fans.

MARTIN SHEEN AND SALLY FIELD PLAY PARKER’S UNCLE AND AUNT

EMMA STONE PLAYS PARKER’S FIRST LOVE INTEREST, GWEN STACEY

Did you know?

This film marks the first time Dr Curt Connors becomes The Lizard on film. Although Connors appeared in the original Raimi films, the character never became the Lizard, despite some strong hints.

Rhys Ifans rejected his stunt doubles, and insisted on performing all his own stunts as the Lizard.

Anne Hathaway, who was going to star in The Amazing Spider-Man as Felicia Hardy (Black Cat), went on to star in The Dark Knight Rises as Selina Kyle, the woman who eventually becomes Catwoman.

NEW RELEASE Columbia Pictures is making the high-risk, high-reward move of rebooting its Spider-Man property just 10 years after Sam Raimi’s original hit theaters. There wasn’t anything wrong with that franchise, either; the three Raimi/Tobey Maguire/ Kirsten Dunst Spidey films grossed just a web strand under $2.5 billion worldwide.

In fact, there was a Spider-Man 4 script in the works before the studio went another way.

They’ve arrived at their destination now, however. The Amazing SpiderMan lands on the 50th anniversary of the debut of writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko’s greatest creation in Marvel Comics.

While an original story, this isn’t your father’s Spider-Man. It’s not even your older brother’s SpiderMan of a decade ago. In addition to British-American actor Andrew Garfield in the title role, there’s a fresh love interest (Emma Stone as the

READ. JULY 1-7, 2012

A-Z OF MOVIES

Her character’s prospects for surviving into a sequel are bolstered by the fact that the Green Goblin is nowhere to be seen. Connors is a much more sympathetic nemesis, a one-armed scientist who accidentally turns himself into a mutant terror while testing a serum meant to regrow limbs on disabled veterans.

All-in-all, Marvel’s latest reboot and re-imagining, with a fresh-faced Peter Parker, has all the right ingredients to start another explosively successful franchise.

Bollywood news brainy Gwen Stacy), a new villain (the Lizard) and a new take on the famous back story.

Director Marc Webb’s version is a slightly darker take than Raimi’s version. One where Spider-Man is hunted by police—led by Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), his girlfriend’s dad—and haunted by his abandonment as a child.

Driven by the desire to learn more about the parents who left him with his aunt and uncle years earlier, Peter Parker visits his father’s former scientific partner, Dr Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans).

That sets off a chain of

Lucky break It’s been two decades since Shah Rukh Khan made his big screen debut in Deewana, and the star believes it’s all down to luck and angels. “Twenty uninterrupted years of serving. Thank you all. I guess I got lucky, lucky to be working all the time,” SRK recently tweeted.

Starlets honoured Big bang on Dabangg 2 Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit and former beauty queen and actress Sushmita Sen were recently honoured for individual excellence. Sen was given the Woman Entrepreneur Award, and Madhuri was given the Platinum Diva Award at a ceremony held at the Kingdom of Dreams.

Three technicians were injured on the set of Dabangg 2, starring Kareena Kapoor, last week at the Mehboob studio, following an “electric blast”. There was a mishap while filming an action sequence, and those injured were taken to Lilavati Hospital. All three technicians are reportedly safe and well.

“O” is for Outlaws

Ridley Scott’s movie Robin Hood is a reminder of popular culture’s recurring fascination with the idea of outlaws as heroes.

But are these kinds of portrayals based on reality?

And to the extent that they’re fictitious, why are they so persistently attractive?

But Robin Hood is poor material for a reality case study, there being no conclusive proof that such a character ever existed.

Of course, Scott isn’t the first director to tamper with history.

Hollywood has been mining the American West for hero material since the beginning of movies, and outlaws have been a prime source. Historical reality hasn’t been viewed as a requirement.

Take, for example, two of the most famous celluloid outlaws, Billy the Kid “It helps to cast and Jesse the outlaw as James, both the underdog, of whom particularly one have been who can presented as channel Robin Hood resentments.” types, who preyed on the rich to benefit the poor. What is it that makes the idea of them so attractive to us?

As a good story always benefits from a sympathetic central character, it helps to cast the outlaw as the underdog, particularly a noble one who can channel whatever resentments we may have at life’s unfairness.

There’s a simple takeaway here.

If historical dramas and movies about outlaw figures catch your fancy, by all means enjoy them.

But know that the message part is strictly caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

JULY 1-7, 2012 READ.

26 FILM

FILM 27

Screen

attention, more believable. Kenneth Branagh is tremendous as Olivier and comes out with some brilliant lines such as, “Teaching Marilyn to act is like teaching Urdu to a badger.”

A romance between a celebrity and a mere mortal may have been done before, and there is no shortage of plays within a play or films within a film, but here the film has intertwined class-bound England with super-celebrity Hollywood in a way that blows

Without taking itself too seriously, My Week With Marilyn is a compelling film that brings out the best in its all-star cast.

Notting Hill out of the water. The film doesn’t pretend to show any great insight, but it puts across what was clearly the greatest moment of Colin Clark’s life in a film which is highly enjoyable and skilfully put together by director Simon Curtis.

DONNA DON

FILMMAKER UNMEDICATED PRODUCTIONS

Eddie Redmayne plays

The miracle of the medium

Colin Clark in a way that makes you understand how the star fell for him REDMAYNE AS COLIN CLARK THE ON-SCREEN CHEMISTRY IS A WONDER

NEW RELEASE In the summer of 1956, 23-yearold Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), the son of the great art historian Kenneth, made his way down from Oxford to try his luck in the film industry. The well-connected youngster managed to negotiate his way into the job as an assistant on the set of Laurence Olivier’s rather lack-lustre film, The Prince and the Showgirl, 1957. While the film is infamous for the lack of chemistry between its two leads, Olivier and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), behind the scenes lurked a tender, almost-love story.

Out from the ashes of this dire movie, came a true love story, and a far more enjoyable film from this side of the 21st century, in the form of My Week with Marilyn. The film is seen from the standpoint of Clark, who 40 years on, published his account of his set. The original publication missed out one crucial week, though, only to

be revealed five years later, and the film follows this story; the story of how a puppyishly enthusiastic young Clark fell for the screen-siren Marilyn Monroe.

Monroe was on honeymoon with her third husband, the playwright Aurthur Miller (Dougray Scott) at the time of filming but the relationship was already falling apart.Williams plays the actress so terrifically, with eyes that lure you in but are always on the edge of tearing up. Childlike, unreliable and dependant on drugs and alcohol, Monroe was completely at odds with the professionalism shown by the furious Olivier. One would have expected the on-set love affair to occur between Monroe and Olivier, but the two were both too needy, too different. While her husband is out of the country, Colin becomes her confidant, her lover and, miraculously,

Did you know?

Kenneth Branagh and Laurence Olivier have both acted in or directed movie versions of William Shakespeare’s Othello, Hamlet and Henry V. And in their respective movies about Hamlet and Henry V, they play the lead role. Laurence Olivier played Othello in the 1965 film version of the play and Branagh played Iago in the 1995 film version.

Olivier directed and acted in Richard III, while Branagh starred in a radio and audiobook version of the play.

Scarlett Johansson was approached for the part of Marilyn Monroe but turned it down.

READ. DECEMBER 4-10, 2011

Five actors from My Week With Marilyn have appeared in different Harry Potter movies—Kenneth Branagh (as Prof.

Gilderoy Lockhart), Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger), Geraldine Somerville (as Lily Potter), Toby Jones (as the voice of Dobby) and Zoë Wanamaker (as Madame Hooch).

Colin Clark (1932-2002) was the younger brother of the British Conservative Party Member of Parliament, Alan Clark (1928-1999).

EMMA WATSON

SILVER SCREEN

she ups her game on the set, too.

Not only does the film set provide the perfect location for an affair, the English countryside makes for some cutsey scenes including a grand day out to Windsor castle, jaunty country walks and even a little skinny-dipping in the river.

Although Williams clearly steals the show, as she should do, Eddie Redmayne plays Colin Clark in a way that makes you understand how the star fell for him in turn. Tall, handsome and instantly likable, it may be unlikely that he was quite so good-looking, but it does make the situation where Emma Watson’s character, who is also vying for his

Bollywood news Baby Bachchan still nameless After a fortnight, baby Bachchan is still nameless.

Fans from all over have been tweeting the parents and grandparents with many suggestions, but the Bachchan’s have been unable to decide. Requests to see a photo have also been turned down. The little and only information released about the baby is that she resembles Aishwarya and her name would start with the letter A.

Salman Khan wants to settle down

Kangana Ranau’s Gaga Connection

Salman Khan has reportedly opened up to a close friend that he is tired of his single status and that it is high time he settled down. The friend said, “Salman has changed. He has become progressively protective and guardian-like towards his younger heroines. But the flip side is, he now feels that if he continues to be the universal ‘Bhai’, no girl would ever want to marry him.”

Kangana Ranaut, who plays a mutant not too dissimilar to Catwoman in upcoming movie Krrish 2, now has a connection to Lady Gaga. The suit, which the actress reportedly lost five kilos to fit into, was sewn together by the same team who make Lady Gaga’s costumes.

Film is an amazing medium that not only combines many artistic mediums within its complex web of production, but in doing so, requires a leap of faith that a plethora of talented individuals will harness their talents together in harmony, trusting the quality of the film will not be compromised due to internal conflicts, not to mention the audacious level of financing required to even get the camera rolling.

As a viewer, you have a rich vista of joys to choose from, something to suit your every mood and whim. Film can give you the opportunity to teleport into the Amazon jungle and view natural wonders that are soon to be extinct, step back in time to see the downfall of the likes of Caesar, Napoleon, Woolfe or offer a glimpse into the “Whatcomplexities ever your of modernday living, mood, wherever in there is the world you a film to choose.

Whatever match it.” your mood, there is a film to match it. Living vicariously, you can be frightened, uplifted or moved to tears without leaving the comfort of your living room.

Film gives you an opportunity to develop insights and empathy for others. Don’t be lazy and avoid films with subtitles, as they are the films that can offer a chance to side-step the Hollywood machine for a while and really see how different nationalities live and love. And you don’t have to venture too far from your comfort zone to do so, as DIFF is starting on December 7 and will provide you with a visual and cultural feast right on your doorstep.

DECEMBER 4-10, 2011 READ.

26 FILM

ot only is Owen Wilson one of the funniest actors in Tinseltown but he is also one of the most talented, scooping Variety’s International Star of the Year award at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival. The Wedding Crashers star has appeared in four films this year and has worked alongside some of the finest names in the business, including Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Bruce Willis and Jackie Chan.

On his recent trip to Dubai, the American actor admitted to being nervous at the prospect of working with director Woody Allen on his latest film, Midnight in Paris. Speaking in a live interview at the Madinat Jumeirah, Wilson revealed that the

FILM 27

Pass. The Texan native said he never dreamt that he would become an actor, despite both his parents working in a creative industry.

“I was living in Dallas, so it seemed so far-fetched to just go off to Hollywood,” said Wilson.”I thought I would just be a writer but Wes pushed us to act in Bottle Rocket. It’s funny how things work out.”

Wilson started his career as a writer and is behind the critically acclaimed film, The Royal Tenenbaums, which he wrote with director Wes Anderson.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for Best Original Screenplay.

The 43-year-old made his acting debut in 1996 in the comedy, Bottle Rocket, which he co-wrote with Wes Anderson. Soon after, Wilson auditioned to be in the Cable Guy, a film directed by Ben Stiller and

Read. caught up with one of Tinsletown’s hottest stars, Owen Wilson, at the Dubai International Film Festival.

Texas

Funny Guy weather helped him bond with the legendary director.“Woody would always be on his iPhone during takes, checking the weather around the world,” he said. “So I asked him, ‘Where is the hottest place right now?’ and it was actually Dubai.” Wilson explained that he received a letter from Woody asking him to take on the lead role in the film.“He sent me a really nice letter and he described the character as a bit more intellectual than I would normally play,” he says.

The Hollywood actor captured our hearts in films, Marley and Me and made us laugh in box office hits, Zoolander and Hall

READ. DECEMBER 18-24, 2011

WILSON WITH HIS BIG-NAME CO-STARS

starring Jim Carrey, and got the role. “Ben really loved Bottle Rocket and said he was excited to find stuff that we could work on together,” he said. Wilson and Stiller have worked on over 10 movies together and have built a strong friendship.

Zoolander, Starksy and Hutch and Meet The Parents were all a smashing success at the box office.

“You develop a level of comfort

I turn around to see Robert De Niro standing there looking at me and I just froze; I completely forgot all of my lines”

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Did you know?

Wilson was the voice of Lightning McQueen in Disney’s Cars.

He is part of the comedy ‘frat pack’, which includes his brother, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Vince Vaughan and Ben Stiller.

A self-proclaimed troublemaker, Wilson was expelled from school in the tenth grade and later headed to military school in New Mexico.

The actor is known for his distinctive nose which he broke several times playing football at high school.

Wilson became a first-time dad on January 14, 2011, to son, Robert Ford Wilson.

with a person, which seems to be a natural thing. I have worked with Ben a lot because I like his sense of humour and he’s an incredibly hard worker. I don’t have to worry too much that he’ll be sweating the details” he said.

Despite being considered one of Hollywood’s finest comedy actors, and starring in hit after hit, Wilson admits that even he still gets starstruck when working with the actors that he most admires.

He recalled, “I remember being on the set of Meet The Parents and I turn around to see Robert De Niro standing there looking at me and I just froze; I completely forgot all of my lines. It was extremely embarrassing and of course Ben was there laughing because he knew that I was nervous.”

It’s this humble manner that has seen Wilson become an audience favourite, and it doesn’t look set to change any time soon.

‘FRAT-PACK’ BUDDY VINCE VAUGHAN

Bollywood news Second injury for Hrithik Hrithik Roshan has injured himself while shooting for Krrish 3 at the Filmistan Studios. A member from the unit revealed that, “Hrithik tried to use the first-aid kit to nurse his hand, but then realised that the injury required professional attention. Everyone on set was very concerned, but he did not let it affect the shoot.”

Hrithik injured his back in October while shooting an action sequence for the Agneepath remake.

Audiences vs Ricky Bahl The new Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma flick, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, made an average start at the box office. The romantic comedy got mixed reviews and earned approximately Rs.16.54 crore during its opening weekend.

The film sees Ranveer fooling three girls before finding his match with Anushka.

While some say the film has opened well, others feel the Anushka-Ranveer jodi has failed this time.

Shilpa Shetty is expecting!

Shilpa Shetty has confirmed that she is expecting her first child with her businessman husband, Raj Kundra.

The stunning actress made the announcement on Twitter. The 36-yearold actress-turned-businesswoman, who became a popular face in Bollywood with films like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Baazigar and Dhadkan, married Kundra in 2009.

SILVER SCREEN Lucky number eight The eighth Dubai International Film Festival rolled out of town as quickly as it arrived last week, leaving many attendees raving about how this was possibly the best year yet.

One of the main highlights was the arrival of Tom Cruise and his co-stars for the Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol world premiere. When a movie this big chooses not only to film in Dubai, but to host its world premiere here, it reiterates how our city is becoming the location of choice for blockbusters.

Other films also debuted at the festival, including the much-anticipated My Week with Marilyn, which “It was the lesser-known received rave reviews from filmmakers most who who put in a attended the good effort screening. to steal the While Cruise show.” was the main draw for many, among the other wellknown stars at this year’s DIFF we saw Owen Wilson, Simon Pegg, Shah Rukh Khan and Helena Christensen, all adding a touch of sparkle to the event.

However, it was the lesserknown filmmakers who put in a good effort to steal the show.

Many of Dubai’s up-and-coming directors and producers used the opportunity to develop projects, mingle with those in the know, and some lucky participants even got to show off their work to industry professionals and film fans alike. So hats off to the organisers and those who took part, and roll on next year.

DECEMBER 18-24, 2011 READ.

28 TECHNOLOGY

Game on!

With the release of Diabo III last week, PC

Of course, the Diablo series of hack-andslash role playing games isn’t everyone’s cup to buy what has become one of the most of tea, meaning that the new release won’t anticipated games of the decade. Given that mean much to plenty of people. However, the last installment of the franchise, Diablo there are certainly enough exciting games II, was released in 2000, and that the current coming out this year to whet the appetite of game was announced four years ago, in 2008, anyone even slightly interested in gaming. it’s easy to see why fans have been so eager Here’s our list of the 10 most anticipated to get their hands on it. games for the remainder of 2012.

StarCraftII: Heart of the Swarm

Release date: TBA The military science-fiction real-time strategy game franchise, StarCraft, hardly needs an introduction, having been a massive hit since it was first launched on the PC in 1998. The new game, Heart of the Swarm, is set to be a sequel and expansion pack to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and is to be part two of the StarCraft II trilogy. It will feature a continuing campaign, new units plus multiplayer changes.

Hitman: Absolution The Last Guardian Release date: TBA The Last Guardian has become something of a legend among PlayStation 3 players, given that it has been hitting headlines since a concept trailer came online in 2009.

However, due to complications, such as director Fumito Ueda leaving Sony, the date has been continuously pushed back. If it ever comes out, the title will be a third-person, action-adventure game that incorporates puzzle elements, with the protagonist attempting to flee the ruins of an expansive and complicated castle.

READ. MAY 20-26, 2012

Release date: November 2012 This will be the fifth game in the Hitman series, and will run on the Glacier 2 game engine from IO Interactive. Details surrounding the gameplay have been sketchy ahead of the November release, though it has been confirmed that at least one part of the game will be set in Chicago, and that the rest will be in the United States. The new game will also feature an online option.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD Release date: Summer 2012 This gaming franchise is as old as the first PlayStation, and it made a superstar out of pro skater Tony Hawk. And critics across the board agree that it was a fantastic series, providing hours of fun for both serious and casual gamers. This new game is said to take the series back to basics, getting players to focus on linking tricks and grinds together in order to score big points, all in glorious high definition.

TECHNOLOGY 23 18 TECHNOLOGY

Max Payne 3 Release date: May 2012 Slated for release this month, Max Payne 3 is the first game following protagonist Max Payne to not be developed by the Finnish Remedy Entertainment, and also the first not to be written Sam Lake, who created the character. Much like its predecessors, Max Payne 3 will feature over-theshoulder zoom aiming, bullet-time action sequences, new action movements, and playable cut scenes. New multiplayer functions will also be added.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Release date: Winter 2012 Set several years after the events in Metal Gear Solid 4, the newest Metal Gear game will bring back former agent Raiden, the main protagonist from Metal Gear Solid 2, and pit him against cyborg enemies as he attempts to help rebuild an unnamed country.

Unlike any of the previous games, this will purely be an action game, with the focus on swordfighting and an advanced cutting system.

Far Cry 3 Release date: September 2012 The sequel to 2008’s Far Cry 2, this game is set to be released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. True to the series’ roots, it will be an openworld, first-person shooter, set on a number of desert islands that the protagonist must escape from. The map will be around 10 times bigger than the last game’s, and players will be able to fire from crouching positions more effectively, as well as use more melee attacks.

Release date: TBA Though, at the time of writing, release dates are sketchy for this game, it is certainly highly anticipated. With the promise of similar gameplay to the previous two BioShock titles, the storyline is actually unrelated.

Either way, it is sure to be hit, despite the last one being criticised for being too easy.

Release date: November 2012 This is the eighth installment in the Halo game series, and is almost as guaranteed to sell huge numbers of copies as The Avengers was to sell movie theatre seats.

The storyline will pick up some time after the ending of Halo 3, with the Master Chief reprising his role as the main protagonist. His AI counterpart, Cortana, will also appear in the game, developers have announced.

The voice of technology

For a few years, voice recognition software has existed within home computers, mobile phones and cars. However, the iPhone 4S has created a whole new market thanks to its Siri feature. It’s not just big business for Apple, however, with the company behind the software, Nuance, reporting that its mobile and consumer business is up 31.6 per cent from a year ago.

“By this But how does point, Siri actually your work? When you speech is speak into the handset, the a series sounds are of vowels encoded into a and concompact digital sonants.” form, which is relayed to a cloud server, loaded with models that comprehend language. At the same time, your command is evaluated on the iPhone. The software communicates with the cloud to gauge whether the command is local or if it needs further assistance from the cloud.

By this point, your speech is a series of vowels and consonants which can be run through a language model to estimate which words make up the sentence you spoke.

The possibilities for this technology seem endless at the moment. Nuance are rumoured to be exploring bringing voice recognition into the home, most probably through televisions. So it would seem that Siri could be a part of all our lives within the near future; let’s just hope we don’t fall out.

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Halo 4

BYTES & PIECES

Grand Theft Auto V Release date: TBA Plenty of rumours have been flying around about the release date of the first major Grand Theft Auto title since GTA IV, which began the “fourth era” of the series, though nothing has been confirmed yet. However, developer Rockstar has said that this game will kick-start a so-called fifth era, and will be set in the fictional Los Santos city, which lies in the fictional state of San Andreas, where popular series titles have already taken place.

THE ELD

L d l

Sinc ing g lives

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER READ. MAY READ. 3, 2011 20-26, 2012