Observer & Busness 27 Mar 2012 - Oman Daily Observer

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26 SPOTLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012 BMW Golf Cup event attracts 105 players THE past weekend saw some of the country’s best amateur golfers battle it out at the Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club in the first ever BMW Golf Cup — Oman. A total of 105 players took part in the 18-hole Individual Stableford Event, with golfers falling into one of two categories: Division A (Men up to handicap 14; and Ladies up to handicap 18); and Division B (Men with a handicap between 15 to 28) and Ladies with a handicap between 19 to 36). HASSAN Meer’s (pictured) solo show Work Marry Remember is to be held at AB Gallery Zurich on March 28 and will run from March 29 to May 19. Hassan’s work consists of photographs, videos and an installation. While Hassan’s works are powerful in themselves, there is a strong relation between the artworks — altogether they create a Gesamtkunstwerk. Reflections from Memories is a series of photographs, inspired by the house of the artist’s grandfather. Each photograph reflects the artist’s memory, showing him in front of ruinous facades of some old house, the entrance or door being a gateway to the past. The fascination of memories and the past are also expressed in the site — specific installation being Reflection from the Memory. Comprised of suitcases and old boxes, which have been taken from the grandfather’s house, the installation is given a haptic effect which creates an even stronger interconnection THE Indian Telugu community in Oman celebrated the festival of Ugadi, marking the traditional new year, with a mega event at Al Falaj Hotel last week. Dr A B K Prasad, hailed as the doyen of vernacular journalism of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was among a number of well-known personalities felicitated on the occasion. With The 18-hole championship course posed a real challenge for the players, providing an exciting day of golf for spectators The 18-hole championship course posed a real challenge for the players, providing an exciting day of golf for spectators. Peter Bell was the Division A winner with 40 Stableford points; whilst Shirley Prescott finished on top in Division B with 42 — both were awarded with an exclusive BMW Golf Cup Trophy and BMW Golfsport Gifts. Meanwhile second and Hassan Meer’s solo show to feature at AB Gallery Zurich between the memory and the object. As a further element the artist integrated video projections into the antique objects — one film being a short film, a documentation of the protagonist looking for his house of birth and the second one showing a sequence of black and white family photographs, flickering across the screen in 8mm aesthetics. Similarly poetic, even nostalgic are the photographs from the Wedding series. Capturing a young couple who have just married the photographs show their hours after marriage: from posing for the wedding picture to the first encounter in their wedding night. These photographs have a strong emotional power that is conveyed by their body postures. Anxiety and rejection seem to dominate the situation, a general disturbance that has no legitimacy within the force of tradition. Hassan Meer’s multimedia installation Asian Workers Play Cricket in their Break Time, comprised of a video work and portrait photographs, discusses the role of migrant workers in the boom cities of the Arabian Peninsula. This documentary shows migrant workers playing cricket in their break from work. Doing what he does best he gives the workers a face, and the right of visibility — something that they may lack in the reality of a migrant worker’s life. Hassan Meer was born in Muscat and is currently living and working here as an artist and curator. He holds a Bachelor and a Master from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, USA. After his studies in the USA he returned to his home country, being very active since then. Apart from his various activities he is also the founder of the Circle Show. This collective show organises exhibitions for young artists, encouraging them to present their works. Duqum Exhibition in November THE Omani Society for Fine Arts is participating in the Duqum Exhibition, which is to be held in the month of November. The exhibition will shed light on the port town of Duqum, its natural, environmental and cultural aspects. Interested artists have been urged to send their work by September 15. Categories for participation are: paintings, photography, sculpture, collage, graphic art (printmaking, etching and carving), computer graphics and digital art print. Telugu community marks traditional new year a journalistic career spread over five decades, Dr ABK, as he is called, has the singular honour of being the Editor of all the mainstream journals in the Telugu language. In addition to his contribution to journalism, the stalwart was also recognised for his lifelong work in promoting Telugu culture. Speaking on the occasion, Dr ABK highlighted the significance of Telugu third place in Division A were Amanvir Atwal and Danny Byrne while in Division B Sanjeev Nagpal and William Welsh were the runners up. The award for the nearest the pin went to Mukesh Sawhney, while Amanvir Atwal won the longest drive and Subba Rao achieved the straightest drive. Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, BMW Group‘s importer in Oman, also organ- and dwelt on the traditions of the ancient Telugu people. “Brotherhood continues to be essence of life; only strong relations will enable people to live harmoniously,” he noted. The programme began with a classical kuchipudi dance performance by Koka Vijaya Lashmi depicting several thematic mythological illustrations. This was followed by a magic ised a Golf Clinic for its BMW customers which saw great enthusiasm among non-golfers to learn the sport. During the tournament, Al Jenaibi International Automobiles displayed a range of BMW models at the Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, among which were the BMW X3, X5 and X6, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and the BMW 7 Series. “We always aim to offer our customers exciting ways to experience the BMW brand beyond vehicle ownership,” said Rachid Zamani General Manager of Al Jenaibi International Automobiles. “Golf is a sport that is in synergy with the BMW brand values of strategic thinking and aesthetic expression. Both the sport and BMW are exclusive, elegant and stylish, a perfect match for the brand’s premium character,” added Zamani. McDonald’s congratulates staff on Customer Service Award THE Customer Service Excellence Award in the Retail Category presented by OITE (Oman’s leading conference and event management company), to McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants LLC) was in turn dedicated to its staff in recognition of their unwavering commitment to the brand’s superior customer service standards. Ali K Daud, Development Licensee and President of McDonald’s Oman, handed over a trophy to the employees in acknowledgement of their outstanding efforts that helped earn the company this prestigious honour. At the recent 1st Customer Service Conference, McDonald’s Oman was named winner of the Customer Service Excellence Award 2011 in the Retail Category. The Award recognises McDonald’s exemplary performance in delivering quality amid a consistently high standard of service to customers. The brand was also cited for its successful strategies in improving customer service specifically in areas such as Research and Development, Innovation and Improvement, Customer Satisfaction, People Development and Organisational Philosophy. Ali Daud said: “The Customer Service Excellence Award 2011 is a reflection of McDonald’s customer-centric philosophy. I congratulate McDonald’s employees on this honour and proudly dedicate this Award to them for their unswerving adherence to our quality benchmarks.” He added: “I also thank the organiser, OITE, on their initiative to recognise companies and individuals who strive for excellence in customer services in Oman.” McDonald’s Oman regularly honours employees who distinguish themselves in meeting the brand’s high standards in quality service and hygiene. Outstanding employees of each restaurant are conferred ‘Employee of the Month’ and ‘Employee of the Year’ titles, along with other rewards, in an ongoing drive to promote total customer satisfaction. show by Altaf Ali, who is popularly known as Magic Ali. Prominent Telugu ghazal maestro Dr Srinivas enthralled the audience with his powerful renditions focusing on family and love. A legendary Indian classical vocalist who pioneered the art of Telugu ghazal singing, Dr Srinivas has set three Guinness World records and a Limca Record by singing ghazals on Gandhism in 125 world languages. The artistes were felicitated by an organising committee comprising Dr Rangaiah, Dr Keshav and Ramdas. Another dignitary feted on the occasion was fertility specialist Dr Rama Devi. The programme was co-ordinated by Prasanna Kumar, Rajendra Prasad, Guna Saida, Ramesh Babu, P V Srinivas, Bapi Raju, Madhusudhan, Naidu, Anil Kumar, Raja, Ganga Prasad, Padma Srinivas, Palepu Srinivas and Haribabu. Ramdas and Asma Khan were the emcees. The evening ended with the distribution of prizes to the winners of the rangoli, cooking, sports and elocution competitions. The entire programme was presented by Al Wiqayah Trading exclusively for members of the Telugu community residing in Oman. On the Lighter Side Clarity SUCCESS and happiness depends much on clarity. When I say clarity I mean clearness and simplicity in perception and understanding words that come out from one’s mouth ie clear of any ambiguity. Lack of clarity is responsible for all the frustration and underachievement than any other single factor. People who value clear speech are in a better position to accomplish more in a short period of time than others could ever hope for. But with the mother of junior I have to develop a special talent to gain complete clarity whenever she communicates with me. Unfortunately in some cases I always fail miserably to understand the words that come out of the mouth of the only mother of my children. I have become so astonished at my ignorance no matter how much she tries to clarify things. My misinterpretation of her words have become so imminent that it is as if we speak in different languages. But with some more effort and after gaining some experience, I have managed to accomplish some understanding whenever she speaks. I am told by experts that almost all women reason in the same lines, so fellow husbands gather around and listen to me, per chance you might learn one or two things about your wives. When the mother of junior uses the word “that’s OK” that is when I prepare myself for some trouble coming my way. This term is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. “That’s OK” means she wants to think hard and long before deciding when and how you will pay for your mistake. When the mother of junior says “fine” — that’s when I understand that I need to shut-up. If you hear the mother of your children using the word “nothing”, you got to be very careful. This means ‘something’ and you better be on your toes. Beware that arguments that start with “nothing” usually ends with “fine”. In normal circumstances, junior’s mother does not use the word “thanks”. But whenever she does, I do not faint nor do I question it. I just say “you are welcome” and let it go because it can mean a lot of things. One of the few words that men and women find equilibrium with is “Of course”. One may take it as ‘yes’ or ‘certainly’ and the other as obviously but in the end they all mean the same. When a woman says than she needs ten minutes to dress, a man should understand that this means an hour or so. Don’t be mad about it. It’s the same definition all over the world. If your woman sighs loudly — you know that wordless statement; don’t misunderstand her for breathing in some oxygen. It means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing in front of you arguing with you about “nothing”. If a woman says “go ahead” most men often misunderstand it as permission. It is actually a dare. Don’t do it. When a woman says “don’t worry about it I will do it”. it is the second most dangerous statement she can make. It means that she has asked you several times to do something and is now doing it herself. This will result in you asking at a later stage “what’s wrong?” Be cautious of “I don’t mind”. Many a times this means a “no”. When she says “do as you wish” don’t be so foolish not to understand that it means she is categorically and completely against the whole idea. Only by discovering your wife’s inner beauty, her strengths in clarity and understanding her words by exploiting them to their highest degree — can you ever fully realise the great amount of satisfaction and enjoyment in everything you do. You cannot play football if you cannot run. Likewise you cannot understand your wife unless you are well-informed of her language. Master these terms in order to get rid of the language problems in your house and greatly improve your relationship with your other half. A successful man is one who understands the language of his wife. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. Free blood-glucose testing clinic held LANDMARK Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, conducted a half day free bloodglucose test at L&T Oman Labour Camp, Rusayl, as part of their ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative. The group is working to raise awareness of diabetes in the Sultanate. Over 350 labourers from the camp turned out to complete the test which was conducted by Al Raffah Hospital and LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson Company. As part of this clinic, Dr Sarfraz Ahmed, Chief Medical Co-ordinator, from Al Raffah Hospital held an informal question and answer session with the labourers and advised them of the many lifestyle changes which can be made to control diabetes. This event is part of the ‘Beat Diabetes’ campaign supported by Ministry of Health and Oman Diabetes Association. Awareness is the first step in the battle against diabetes. With this objective Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative works towards making people alert about the growing diabetes epidemic across the region. The landmark Group has inked partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), an umbrella organisation of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. Landmark Group becomes the organisation’s first retail corporate supporter partner. Across the year the Group conducts various activities, in its ongoing endeavour to educate people about the growing propensity of diabetes. The Walkathon is their champion event, which culminates all their efforts towards the cause. In 2011, the Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon in Muscat attracted over 7,000 people and over 2,000 people were administered free blood-glucose test across.
PEOPLE’S PLATFORM FOR the last many months we are hearing that the house rents are going to come down due to big supply and demand gap. Apparently we see many new buildings in almost all parts of the Sultanate’s capital area. I also see many new buildings lying vacant, but when we go to ask for rent the house owners quote very high rent. I find there is an artificial hike in house rents. This needs to be checked, as people like me, who come to Muscat for jobs, end up paying more on rent. — Abdul Editor: Prices cannot be managed artificially for a long time. Demand and supply theory applies everywhere. If the buildings are more in supply, the rents are bound to come down and this is what the real estate agents, developers and landlords are expecting. Communication woes WANT to raise the issue of the I Communication Studies students of Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS) through your newspaper. Now Communication Studies is an internationally accepted media course which comprises many chapters like journalism, public relations, event management, digital media, radio and television broadcast. It was a great disappointment for me when I went to a media house to apply for the post of sub- editor and my application was not accepted on the grounds that I do not hold a journalism degree. I am not able to convince the authorities that Communication or Mass Communication graduates have better knowledge of the media sector than those who possess 27 LETTERS/HEALTH TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012 Rising house rents defy demand, supply principle a degree journalism. — Ali Maqbooli Editor: I advise you to take up the matter with a competent authority. Since you are a graduate in Communication Studies I hope you can communicate and convince them. My good wishes are with you. Do you have a word of appreciation for any services you received? Or suggestions for improvement? Observer is giving you an opportunity to rant or rave about anything and everything around you: Please write to: Viruses can defeat superbugs SCIENTISTS are harnessing viruses to beat extremely resistant bacterial infections, which are fast becoming the bane of public health. Bacteriophages are viruses that can infect bacteria and multiply within them and destroy them. Soon after their initial discovery in 1915, these viruses were investigated as antibacterial agents. "Each bacteriophage is highly specific to a certain type of bacteria and needs the right bacterial host cell in order to multiply," said David Harper, chief scientific officer at AmpliPhi Knee surgery inhibits return to sports KNEE reconstruction surgery is not of much help as around 40 per cent of people do not return to their previous level of activity or participation in sports, a study reveals. Gradually, the number of people actively participating in sports before being injured drops below 50 per cent within seven years of surgery. Doctoral student Clare Ardern, from La Trobe University's Musculoskeletal Research Centre, followed over 300 people from two to seven years, the American Journal of Sports Medicine reported. Participants had either played football, basketball, netball or soccer before surgery, according to a university statement. She said that while most people after surgery get back to playing some kind of sport, only around 60 per cent returned to playing at their pre-injury level. — IANS Bioscience in Bedfordshire, Britain. "The more bacterial targets there are, the quicker they grow by killing the host cells. Therefore it seems very likely that infections harbouring high numbers of bacteria will benefit most from bacteriophage therapy — for example chronically infected ears, lungs and wounds," Harper was quoted as saying in a university statement. "For these types of infection, only a tiny dose of the virus is needed — as small as one thousandth of a millionth of a gram. This can usually be administered Badr Mohammed al Thanawi, Executive Co-ordinator, Office of the Editor-in-Chief Tel: 24649451, Fax: 24649469; e-mail: featuredesk@yahoo.co.in This chef pairs gourmet food with health, nutrition FOOD CORNER FOOD lovers who believe gourmet cuisine and weight-watching don't often go together must have an experience with acclaimed British chef Rob Rees — often referred to as the Cotswold chef from the heart of England. The lucky ones got to savour the celebratory chef lunch and dinner crafted by him, which were presented over several courses paired with the finest of beverages at the The Orient Express at The Taj Palace. "The evidence of good food reflects not only on the health and environment but actually on the performance and behaviour of an individual. Eat better and you will obviously do better," is the cornerstone of chef Rees' food philosophy. He is also committed to bettering the food culture in Britain and eventually making a global imprint. In that directly to the site of infection in a spray, drops or a cream. The major advantage to bacteriophages is that they don't infect human cells so seem likely to be very safe to use," Harper said. "The need for new approaches to counter such high resistance is both urgent and vital. New approaches will save lives," stressed Harper. Clinical trials for bacteriophage therapy are now under way. These findings were presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin. — IANS stated objective, India ranks high on his list of priorities. "English breakfasts, roast dinners, fish and chips are being replaced by some healthier options that will have a lasting impact on the health of Britishers," said the chef who was initiated into the profession by his mother. Dental bugs may trigger heart condition MOUTH bugs seeping into the bloodstream can cause blood clots and trigger endocarditis or inflammation of heart's inner tissues, which could be fatal. Infective endocarditis is treated with surgery or by strong antibiotics — which is becoming more difficult with growing antibiotic resistance. "About 30 per cent of people with infective endocarditis die and most will require surgery for replacement of the infected heart valve with a metal or animal valve," said Helen Petersen from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) who led the study. Streptococcus gordonii is a mouth bug which contributes Honoured with Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2006 for his services to the food industry, the creations of Rees focus on reducing salt, sugar and fat, which mean a lower calorie intake to directly impact on the people's health and general well-being. With the am- to plaque formation on teeth. If they enter the blood stream through bleeding gums, they can wreak havoc by impersonating as human proteins. Researchers from the RCSI and the University of Bristol have discovered that S. gordonii is able to produce a molecule on its surface that lets it mimic the human protein fibrinogen — a blood-clotting factor. This activates the platelets, causing them to clump inside blood vessels. These unwanted blood clots encase the bacteria, protecting them from the immune system and from antibiotics that might be used to treat, according to a Royal College bience of the bygone era at The Orient Express providing the perfect setting, Rees presented his unique dishes. The gratifying meal started of with a tartar of smoked salmon on a coriander biscuit with a sherry dressing accompanied by a 2006 Maison Louis Jadot Chablis 1er Cru The plats principaux, or the main course, of duck leg confit with truffle, mashed potato and chorizo reduction created by chef Rees (inset) statement. Platelet clumping can lead to growths on the heart valves (endocarditis), or inflammation of blood vessels that can block the blood supply to the heart or brain. "Our team has now identified the critical components of the S gordonii molecule that mimics fibrinogen, so we are getting closer to being able to design new compounds to inhibit it. This would prevent the stimulation of unwanted blood clots," said Steve Kerrigan from the RCSI. These findings were presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week. — IANS 'Les Vaillons'. After a change of palate with a fruity sorbet, the plats principaux comprised duck leg confit with truffle mashed potato and chorizo reduction, delighting the dinners. A 2002 Maison Louis Jadot Pommard 1er Cru 'Epenots' provided the perfect accompaniment. To round off, he served a summer pudding with lemon curd with distinct Indian flavours. "There is no fusion but appropriate application," summed up Rees, who has had a 43-year, hugely-active life and a quarter of a century as a chef. "Healthcare systems round the globe cannot afford the consequences of bad eating habits." Recently, Rees opened Star Bistro, a unique, awardwinning eatery with challenged young people. The Cotswold Chef Food Centre is another hub of activity that delivers bespoke courses to motivate people to the world of great British food and regional ingredients. — IANS Cut in interest rate IT was great to hear that the Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) Board of Governors have agreed to reduce the interest rate ceiling on new personal loans offered by various commercial banks operating in the Sultanate from 8 per cent to 7 per cent per year starting from April 1 this year. I wonder what will happen to those who have already taken the loan last year. Will the new regulation be applicable on them also? — Majid Editor: It is real good news for those who are in need of personal loans. By extending such services the government not only helps individuals, who are in need but also keeps the money rotating in the market which ultimately is part of the country’s economy. Flights to Khasab resume IT is good news that Oman Air has announced the resumption of normal service to Khasab. About six Oman Air flights daily to and from Khasab had been cancelled as a result of the continued poor weather conditions causing inconvenience to passengers. — Asfaque Editor: We do not have control over weather conditions. Such steps are necessary for the safety and security of passengers. Ghala industrial area THERE is a plan to redevelop the Ghala Industrial Area in Muscat into a mixed used residential and commercial district. The plan envisages a complete makeover of this neighbourhood into one of Muscat’s vibrant new districts. The authorities would do well to allocate space for small and medium enterprises in the industrial estate. — Suhail Editor: The development of Ghala Industrial Area has been long overdue. We hope the new plan starts soon and taking care of the SMEs woes. World Theatre Day thoughts CENTURIES ago the English bard William Shakespeare wrote: All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; In these memorable lines from his play As You Like It he succinctly brought out the intricate and inextricable link between life and theatre. Obviously, our life is packed with events and drama. Not just special happenings like weddings and funerals but even routine occurrences. We become dramatis personae in this perpetual story of life. Theatre is thus an integral part of life that is as old as human history and civilisation! The World Theatre Day (WTD) that falls today, is a celebration of this inseparable slice of human life and cultural heritage. Hence it is but apt that we take a brief look its significance. The Day was established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). This year, the 50th anniversary of its inception, is observed with great fervour by over 100 ITI Centres across the world. ITI itself is an international NGO, founded in Prague in 1948 by the international theatre community with the active support of the Unesco. The lofty mission of ITI is to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice and encourage creative co-operation in theatre arts with a view to consolidate peace and friendship between peoples. ITI is guided by the principles of mutual respect of the national traditions of member countries. In order to achieve this mission, the ITI encourages activities and programmes in the sphere of live performing arts like drama, dance, music and theatre and disseminates relevant information. It co-ordinates the organisation of theatrical congresses, workshops, festivals, exhibitions and competitions at national and international levels. It also supports the great international festival of performing arts, the “Theatre of Nations” initiative, the first edition of which was organised in Paris in 1957. It continued to be held there annually for the next 15 years. Nowadays, it is held in various cities of the world in rotation. ITI’s key publication The World of Theatre is reckoned as the best available reference guide that explores the diversity of the current global dramatic scene. The ITI undertakes several performing arts projects with a clear social agenda like increasing gender equality, preserving endangered cultural heritage, developing local economies through art festivals and even bolsters peace efforts in civil war zones. Various national and international theatre events are organised to mark WTD. A key initiative is the extensive circulation of the World Theatre Day Message from a figure of world stature who shares his or her profound reflections on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace. This year’s message is from American award-winning actor, director, producer and fashion designer John Malkovich. The World Theatre Day highlights the role of performing arts in fostering cultural interaction and instills selfconfidence in youth, empowers women, minority groups and other less privileged sections of societies and establish greater social harmony. In the context of the 50th Anniversary of World Theatre Day Irina Bokova, Director-General of Unesco said: Theatre has the power to move, inspire, transform and educate in ways that no other art form can. Years ago the well-known English playwright Oscar Wilde echoed similar sentiments by describing theatre as the greatest of all art forms, in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. The World Theatre Day is indeed an appropriate celebration of this glorious reality. Quote: Theatre director: A person engaged by the management to conceal the fact that the players cannot act. — James Agate
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Observer & Busness 27 Mar 2012 - Oman Daily Observer

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