Y Tabloid - Issue 88 - September 15, 2009 - Y-oman.com

Weekly September 15, 2009Issue 88WASTE NOT.WANT NOT.SOAP OPERADIABETESHealth, Beauty, Cars,Gadgets and StuffBooks, Movies, Music,Sports and more...

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3 R’s can make it right!Dear Reader,Over the past few weeks, we have spent many a moment outof the office in pursuit of refreshing imagery and content. Itis part of our nature to explore, and so our interests and ideashave taken us far across Oman, with cameras at the ready andpens primed. We stopped at many a grandiose destination, andwithout fail encountered garbage; carelessly and intentionallydropped, regardless of the item and regardless of the location.As a part of nature, we rely on nature for our survival.Yet it seems that without financial reward we care littlefor our actions and defy our connection. Maybe it’s timewe realised that something really must be done,so in this issue we attempt to light a fire that willcontinue to burn bright, and hopefully someone,somewhere, takes a step in theright direction for us all.Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.The Y Team

This week in10Twentyfour SevenCensorship, Dubai Metro, President in Prison, Curry202814 Check This OutStar Wars, Erudite, Sound, MoviesSpotlightDiamond LifeY-ratedCLEANING UPOMAN30Yin-YangSun Care, Kissy-kissy32 Yin-YangFloating Turntable, iStraw, CARS37 X-tra TimeBARC, F1, MotoGP, AGCC Under-17, Ruski39 ChillaxativeCrosswords, Cartoons and Stars24CultureKitchen-sinkDRAMA42 Out & AboutFashion, Charity, Cowhide

Take Responsibility!At last someone in the media is coming out with an answer for the appalling numberof accidents on the roads of Muscat, rather than just listing the statistics. I can seevery well that certain driving instructors, along with other factors, bear responsibilityfor this sickening phenomenon of dangerous and careless driving and I hope theappropriate authorities will take heed of the message your article expressed. I wouldlike to see Y Magazine keep up the momentum of hard-hitting journalism and I lookforward to seeing what the magazine has in store for us [in the] next issue.A. Michaels, AzaibaIf Music Be the Food of Love...Play On!As a lover of music and films, I am extremely happy of your coverageof certain momentous creations in art. The stories are concise andclearly written, so you must be as committed and passionate to musicand cinema as much as I am. Your album and film reviews [are]my favourite pages. I was surprised to see an article covering Kes.This independent film isn’t known by many people and it’s a toughmovie to watch. Good work.Omar S. – AzaibaCorporate ClownsStill Fooling AroundIt has been nice reading wonderful stories where the various corporate housesin the advanced world have shown their social responsibilities (Y- issue-86).However, the same companies in the Third World are dictating their own termswith lawmakers and behaving, like blood suckers [for] employees as well as forsociety. Adverse effects on the land around the villages nearbythe Pepsi & Coke plants in India is well known, but at the moment they gounpunished. The law makers in the Third World have to honestly formulatestricter laws in the interest of their people so that these corporate clownsare set to the right track.Mohammad Osama Rawat, RuwiHappy TimesDear Editor,Congratulation for the new look! It looks really good!I wish you all the best!Fairouz Asfour

Editor-in-ChiefSayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al BusaidiManaging EditorKiran Jay HaslamWork EditorPaul McLoughlinFeatures EditorClint Derric EgbertChief ReporterKarima FaridHealth & Beauty EditorJennifer CuttanceDesign & LayoutJon HueekContributorTanya KasimPhotographyJerzy WierzbickiEditorial Enquiriesinfo@y-oman.comPublished by SABCO Press,Publishing & Advertising LLCY is a SABCO Media Product.Sign Up!At renna shops in Athaiba and Ruwi (Dhofar Building and KM Trdg) all Lulu Hypermarkets,Al Maha, Shell Select, Omanoil, 3G Outlets, OIFC, Al Fair Markets, Babil Cold Stores, FotoMagic Outlets, Khaboora Cold Store, Sohar Beach Bakery, Safeer Hypermarkets, KhimjiMarts, Al Raka Outlets, Turtles Bookshops, & hundreds of other dealers all over Oman!To learn more call 800 RENNA (800 73662) or visit www.rennamobile.com

Hear my train a comin’The first urban metro network inthe Persian Gulf’s Arab states wasinaugurated on September 9 th inDubai. The system is expected toease the means of transportationfor millions of Emirati workers.Dubai has a rapidly growingpopulation, expected to increase to three million by 2017, and has seensevere traffic congestion problems percolate. The Dubai Municipality arepinning their hopes in the metro system to relieve traffic problems and supportcontinuing urban development. The Red Line covers a distance of 52.1kmand has 29 stations, four of which will be underground. Only 10 stationsare operational as of now. The journey is expected to take an hour totravel and can seat an estimated 32,000 passengers an hour. The GreenLine will consist of 18 stations and will run a distance of 22.5km. The DubaiMetro systemwill carry anaverage of1.2 millionp a s s e n g e r sa day or 355million peryear. Dubai’sRoads andTransport Authority (RTA) expects 318km of lines to be operational by2020. At the time of going to press, Y received word that the newly openedsections were experiencing technical difficulties, leaving many stranded forhours on end.DYNASTY DETENTIONFormer Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian, has been chargedwith fraud and money laundering, which has landed him with asentence of life in jail. Chen fervently denies the accusations thathe pocketed a total of RO 5.7 million during his eight years in office,believing that the charges are politically motivated and organisedby the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) government. His wife, Wu Shu-Chen, was also given the same sentence. Taipei District Courtconvicted Mr Chen on six charges and Mrs Wu on seven chargesand in addition to incarceration the couple were fined a total of RO5 million. The court also slapped a 20-30 month prison sentence onthe couple’s son and daughter-in-law for speculated involvement.10

SENSELESS CENSORSHIPOne of our Y team members is currently studying online at the most reputed university for music in the world, Berklee. In factBerklee’s online interface has just been deemed the ‘best online academic interface’ globally, this however is not the opinion ofour telecommunications and Internet service provider here in Oman. After repeated attemptsto click on various links within the universities website, the result was a block notificationpage from Omantel stating that the site is ‘pornographic’ and consequently blocked.The link is:http://www.berkleemusic.com/marketing/email/welcome?return_url=http://advisors.berkleemusicblogs.com/?p%3d21&party_id=13754762&token_id=540&hash=6D68FFD34AB372C86ED8206559D33125261229B0&promotion_id=2813Perhaps someone from Omantel can clearly explain to us here at Y, the process of determining which sites are blocked forInternet users in Oman? Or at least clarify the procedure to immediately and expediently release the ones that have incorrectly been blocked. This blunder couldvery well affect businesses and the academic interests of one of our staff members![Ed: My wife recently tried to access online recipes from www.rachelallen.co.uk, the home of British celebrity chef Rachel Allen, to find the site blocked aspornography! Fiendish recipes?]

Pass the DUTCHYto the left-hand side!As many are aware, Hemp plants look like Cannabis plants, butunlike the latter, have little psychoactive effect due to low levels(only trace amounts) of THC. Dutch police recently touted thediscovery of 47,000 ‘Cannabis’ plants worth a whopping RO2.5 million, and quickly (and very publicly!) set about raidingthe location to destroy the cash crop.The ever-popular ‘clogg’ seems to have worked its way intothe Dutch authority’s thinking process, as only after the cropdestruction did police cotton-on to the plants being rooted inthe grounds of a well-respected school of agriculture. It turnsout the plants were a type of hemp being farmed as a fibre foruse in textiles. In Holland, Cannabis is a controlled and legalsubstance, however, large-scale production is still prohibited.Next thing you know, ‘Frau Antje’ will be behind bars forpedalling dubious cheesy snacks!CURRY BASHINGTRIGGERS CURRY DIPLOMACYAustralian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stated: “Imagine if we never had Indian foodin Australia. We would be sentenced to 100 years of English cuisine,” during arecent address amidst concerns that ethnic foreign students in Australia arebeing treated as second class citizens. Most Indians are not amused. To addfuel to the already burning fire of racial violence against Indian students,it now seems that key academic institutions favoured by students abroad arecoming under scrutiny for mismanagement and poor funding.Universities and colleges in Australia are in it for big dollars. Overseas studentscurrently contribute RO 4.78 million to the economy, and are now taking to thestreets to protest the recent ‘administration’ of Sterling Collegein Sydney. The institution is just one of the money hungrycentres of education to go under, closing its doors and leavingstudents who have paid thousands of dollars in fees out inthe cold. Rudd and his crew are now heading to India, to clawback the respect of Indians in the hope of salvaging the education‘industry’ Down Under.12

Al KhuwairTel: 24482263Fax: 24482273SeebTel: 2442421424423404Fax: 24423124On every take away or Deliveryof OR 3.000 get (2.25 liter Softdrink free)of OR 5.000 get 2.25 liter Softdrink + Soup freeIftar buffet also available at Al khuwair Branch @ 3.400 ORTel: 24567974Fax: 24561196Loch Ness Monster FoundSome weird and wonderful things have been spotted on Google Earth, but if rumours are true, then none will bequite so special as this one. One vigilant security guard, Jason Cooke, spotted what he claims to be the LochNess Monster on the digital-map website Google Earth, earlier this week. The shape appears to bare allthe hallmarks of the elusive ‘Nessie’: 65 feet long with four legs, a tail and flippers. Cooke wasflabbergasted by the likeness saying, “I couldn’t believe it. It’s just like the descriptionsof Nessie.” Sightings of the supposed monsters have been recorded forcenturies, and it is claimed that Nessie would even attack the Loch’s nativeresidents, the Picts, who were illiterate and unable to document such‘encounters.’ Although the world’s top scientists might not be rushingdown to Loch Ness to explore the lake for further evidence of Nessie,you can investigate the image from your very own home by typing inthe coordinates: Latitude 57°12’52.13”N, Longitude 4°34’14.16”Winto Google Earth.13

VIRAL VIDEO‘Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man)’An a cappella tribute by MoosebutterWritten and performed by Chris, Weston, Glen and Mister Tim, better knownas Moosebutter, this ‘A Cappella’ tribute to John Williams (the composer ofthe theme music for Star Wars and countless other classic films) is simply brilliant.If you are a Star Wars geek; the kind that attends events held at 4-starhotel conference and banqueting halls, clutching a light sabre and intenton getting a 4” x 6” photograph of a pre-Star Wars fame Mark Hamilton signed off,then you will revel in the witty lyrics. If you aren’t a geek of this order, then the singingand clever but simple video overlaying will hit the spot. Moosebutter is a musicalcomedy act and judging by what’s been posted up on YouTube, this video is certainlyone of their better efforts. There are obviously a few adlib mistakes in the lyrics,and many a geek has badgered the group for their ‘grievous mistake’ in whichthey refer to Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher’s role) as Natalie Portman. It’s gettinga lot of hits nonetheless and is a cracking idea, well thought out, and featuresgreat vocal talent. Check it out!15

Heartbeat OmanWith the aim of developing joint ventures between Omani and Indian entrepreneurs,‘Heartbeat Oman: Seminars on Entrepreneurship Growth’ comes to Muscat foranother session to bring together the Sultanate’s most promising business leadersin one room. Taking place in the Al Jabrin Ballroom at the InterContinentalMuscat on October 18th and 19th, the seminars will feature leadingauthorities on business development; looking deeper into the issues of medium-sizedbusiness growth in Oman and what separates leading firmsthat lag behind in terms of size and profit. A hostof sponsorship prospects are open to businessesand those who wish to expand the horizons for theirventures can contact PREngine at 96661991 for moreinformation.SING IT OUT LOUDEXCITMENT UNDISGUISEDGet your senses to soak in truly authentic Italian cuisine.salads, pizzas, pastas and cool desserts prepared to perfection.The excitement never stops at PizzaExpressFancy yourself as a tenor or soprano? Well,now you can bellow out to your favourite operasongs with the Muscat Singers at the British SchoolMuscat’s auditorium, weekly. With 25 years ofdelighting audiences in Oman and beyond withrenditions of classic opera and West End show tunes,the choir is looking at expanding its team ofbudding Pavarottis and Callas’. Music Directorof the Muscat Singers, Gwen Willson said,“We take anyone who loves to sing. Thereare no auditions to go through – you just needbags of enthusiasm and the willingness toattend a weekly rehearsal.” The choir meetsevery Saturday evening and you can start ablossoming career in opera, or just enjoy anoutlet to shatter glass, by calling Kate on 96528524.Qurum, Oasis by the sea, Next to Jawaharat A’Shatti, Tel: 246 9616916

DONT MISS THEOPPORTUNITY TOWIN TWOHUMMERSTHIS SEASONKEEP ON WINNINGFor every RO 20 spent, enter afortnightly draw of shoppingvouchers worth RO 600 for 7 drawsA maximum of 20 coupons will be given for every invoice.Winnersfor theTwo MegaDraws will beAnnounced on17 October and1 DecemberDuring Ramadan, Al Araimi Complex will be open from 10:00am to 1:00pmand 7:00pm to midnight and 7:00pm to midnight on FridaysOn the first day of Eid, the Complex will be open from 4:30pm to 10:00pmNow online! www.alaraimicomplex.com Visit us for the latest updates and promotions at our premier outletsGoogleopolyA huge multi-player version of the popular property game, Monopoly City Streets was launchedrecently online by Google. Developed by toymaker Hasbro, Monopoly City Streets will run for fourmonths and utilises Google Maps and Open Street Map as its playing board. The whole planet is nowup for sale! It’s the largest Monopoly game of all time and offers players the chance to purchase anystreet in the world. The goal of the game, like the real-world version, is to earn money on real estateand become the wealthiest property owner.Here’s how it works:1. New players are given three million ‘Monopoly dollars’ to build their virtual empire.Every street in the world is, in theory, available for purchase.2. Once a player takes control of a street, they are able to charge rent and build new virtualproperties. Streets can also be traded or sold with other players.3. The game has ‘chance cards’ that allow players to sabotage neighbouring rivalsby building rubbish dumps, prisons or wind farms on their property to reducethe rent value of their neighbours.4. Players can only remove a hazard by bulldozing it off their property,again through the use of chance cards.To take part in this truly global game, visit www.monopolycitystreets.com17

CLASSIC DVDeXistenZWorld-renowned game designer Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh)is testing eXistenZ, a fully immersive game, with a focus group of oddgamers in a large hall. To play they must plug a ‘pod’, a bio-organicgaming device, into a ‘bio-port’ near the base of their spines. As thegame begins, an assassin armed with a bizarre organic gun attacksGeller. Fearing for her safety she flees with Ted Pikul (Jude Law) and thepair embarks on a strange adventure where distinguishing reality fromthe game IS the game. Eerily cryptic, Director David Cronenberg bringshis signature style of fleshy and grimy FX to this tricky and complexscript. It is a tripped out William Burroughs inspired sci-fi flick, andworth watching on DVD.WHITEOUTSounds like one of thedumbest storylines ever: aUS Deputy Marshall mustuncover the identity of amurderer in three days,in Antarctica. Yes that’sright, Antarctica, a frozenwasteland at the bottom ofour planet, uninhabited bylife apart from a few nerdyscientists, penguins andfur seals. Not the obvioussetting for an intriguingthriller, which is probably why it has never been done before by filmmakers. Director DominicSena was obviously ignorant of this fact, or overly confident of his skills behind the lens, when hecast Kate Beckinsale as a young detective who discovers a ‘secret mystery’, more sinister thanthe actual murder she is investigating. However, with a bad script, poor direction, jilted acting,and a shallow plot, watching Pingu on the Jim-Jam channel, makes for more riveting viewingthan this murder mystery.18

SOUNDClassic Album:LEAN ON METhe Best of Bill WithersSmooth, soulful and engaging. Laconic, righteousand loving. Bill Withers’ contribution to music runsso far and so deep that it is hard to use a fewkey words to sum up the wonderful composersachievements. ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, ‘Lean OnMe’ and ‘Just The Two Of Us’ are probably theartist’s biggest hits, but the 2005 re-release ofhis 1981 ‘Best Of’ collection delivers a muchricher experience to the listener. Highlights includethe very human recount of ‘Grandma’s Hands’, the bitterly astute ‘Use Me’ and touching ‘Lovely Day’. All writtenand recorded by Withers, with the greatest musos supplying the canvas for his warm vocals and hip rhythms,this album is a delight at any time of the day, in the company of anyone. Although it is especially well suited to thosemore intimate moments with ‘you know who’!The Fiery Furnaces: I’m Going AwayIf there were a dictionary for definitions in contemporary music, then next to the word ‘weird’ would certainlybe the name of New York-based indie-outfit, ‘The Fiery Furnaces’. The same goes for the words ‘experimental’,‘bizarre’ and the term ‘Greek-Orthodox.’ The brother and sister-duo that make up The Fiery Furnaces have longbeen associated with quirkiness, owing to the more-than-unorthodox sound of the band’s previous seven albums.If you expect more of the same from Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger, then you are in for a disappointment withthis album. They should have named the album Greek Un-Orthodox!‘I’m Going Away’ features none of the zany compositions similar to ‘My Dog Was Lost, But Now He’s Found’,nor any whimsical organ-driven blues progressions as heard in the song ‘Benton Harbor Blues.’ Instead theband gives us a straight-laced attempt at seventies-style rock, with the same hyperactive lyrics, but thankfullywithout the usual clash of synthesizers and reverberation that normally breaks-up otherwise pleasant, foottappingmelodies. The album is an absolute delight for those who don’t normally shop for their records at chainmegastores,and ‘I’m Going Away’ is more mature, polished and confident than previous studio releases. Theband has finally found its sound; so let’s hope there is no truth in the title of this impressive album.

Modern Life is RubbishPaul McLoughlin, Clint Derric Egbert, Kiran Jay HaslamPeople may be forgiven if they are being fed mixed messages byadvertisers, politicians and celebrities. On one hand you have AlGore, Barack Obama and Bono passionately telling us how weshould think more about our everyday habits; that every action hasa reaction, and that it’s our fault that the world is on the brink ofdestruction. On the other hand rainforests are demolished, untreatedwaste is secretly dumped into the waterways of developing nations,and disposable products are more than ever before in abundance.A recent investigation showed that 1,400 tonnes of toxic waste wasdumped into the waters of Brazil, with many governments complicitin this action. News reports beaming shots of melting icecapsin the north and famine in the south, are regular images on ourtelevisions, broken up by an interlude of advertisements urging usto buy plastic, burn oil and purchase another tonne of metal.It’s a daily fixture of modern life and runs like clockwork; ensuringthat not one single second from our ‘McMuffin’ breakfast to ourmicrowave dinner is spared. Cleverly crafted advertisementsencourage us to spend, spend again, and spend some more. Moreoften than not it is on things we don’t actually need. 16 billionplastic containers, 92 billion aluminium cans, along with 42 billionglass bottles are discarded in America each year. Globally, wewaste 2.02 billion tonnes of product per year. Fast food restaurantsare the main culprits behind this wastage, with inexpensive foodwrapped in wax-paper, plastic or polystyrene packaging the mostcommon form of waste on our streets. According to an internalreport, to combat this McDonalds spends a measly RO 500,000a year on processing waste. McDonalds is quick to point out thenumber of initiatives to reduce the amount of packaging used forcombo meals, however, the continued aggressive advertising of thebrand for people to buy more and ultimately produce more waste,works against the small token gestures of environmentally friendlypractices the business has been known to highlight.They are not alone. One of the key forms of marketing used today by businesses, is thatadvertised as ‘eco-friendly practice’. Hotels and supermarkets are quick to highlight theirrecycling programmes and caring approach, but the disposal of food that has been deemed‘expired’ means that billions of rials of otherwise good food is left to rot each day. The keyissue here is that this food is more often than not, still fit to eat. Whilst millions of peoplecan’t afford a healthy diet, millions of tonnes of fruit and vegetable, canned food and meats,are being dumped. Rather than clearing it out by marking down the price, these food itemsend up stacked high in landfills today.Landfill and incineration are simple solutions for disposing of waste, but are ecologicallyunsound. Africa has been used as a giant trash can for Europe over several decades. Whilethe developed world turns a blind eye (after all waste has to go somewhere and peopledon’t want to pay more tax), African’s have seen huge dumps built across their continent,covering hectares which could easily be better utilised for farming. This is happening incountries that suffer from ‘terminal hunger’. Children chasing small change, sift throughscrap on toxic waste dumps, instead of attending school to help build a new generation ofeducated Africans. Why is this allowed to continue? The fact that it costs RO 1 per tonneto dispose of waste in Africa as opposed to RO 100 per tonne in Europe; just may havesomething to do with it.So what can we do? In many countries people are taking recycling seriously. What abouthere in Oman? There is little education evident amongst the populous as to what is right andwhat is wrong. We continue to see a passing car’s window go down and a plastic packagebeing tossed out. We see people washing their cars in natural wadis, with little concern forwhere the oil, caustic brake-dust, fluids, and detergents go. It doesn’t dawn on them thatfurther downstream people may be using this wadi as their primary water source. We seepeople open their car doors and drop their litter in the Lulu car park, prior to taking-off. It iseducation, and it starts at an early age, at home and at school.I frequently fight with supermarket staff at check-out counters, as they place individualitems in seperate plastic bags, and then place them in recycle bags that were originally20

“Selfless acts seldom occurin our modern fast-paced world,yet we all want for ourgrandchildren to experienceparadise on earth”Photography by Jerzy Wierzbicki

Y asked the Manager of theEnvironment Society of Oman, NidaEl-Helou, for information on recyclingintended to abolish the use ofplastic. It is education, or lackand tips on how to make the best useof the resources in hand, this is whatthereof. These supermarket she had to say:chains should instruct theirstaff properly, rather than When it comes to recycling, it is verysimply branding a recycle bagand selling it for profit, withno obvious intention to followthrough with the correct usageof the bag. A nifty marketinggimmick indeed.important to keep in my mind theconcept of the 3R’s: “Reduce, Reuse,Recycle”, which tells us that recyclingis the least favourable of the triad andcomes as the last priority after the firsttwo options are exhausted. Peopleshould REDUCE their consumption (ofThese acts are seen on a dailybasis, and not just perpetratedby Omanis; foreigners to thiswater, electricity, paper, plastic bags,commodities, etc.) and consequentlyreduce the production of waste. Whenland demonstrate equally one cannot reduce and hence producesignorant behaviour and areoften seen littering, with blatantdisregard for the environment.Oman has some of the world’sbest beaches, and its waters areteeming with life. These naturalwonders are the stars of thewaste, then one should try their bestto REUSE whatever is produced. Whenone produces waste, which cannot bereused anymore (such as after writingon both sides of recycled paper), this‘waste’ should be recycled, and not sentto a dumpsite.Omani show, yet head to Sifabeach after Eid and you will seepolystyrene coffee cups, plasticplates and forks, aluminium foil, bottles, tins, and rotting food items littering the palesand.MILESTONES TO MAKE US THINK:1970 New Jersey introduces mandatory recycling; the concept is widely acceptedwithin the United States1971 Germany introduces “Abfallbeseitigungsgesetz”, a waste disposal law1980 Australia introduces kerbside recycling schemes2009 Dulsco introduces “recycle to regain” mobile collection service in DubaiWhen I was a child we made boxes at kindergarten and decorated them with nice brightlycoloured labels. One for waste paper, one for plastic, one for glass, and one for organicwaste. When little Johnny finished eating his apple, the teacher would ask us “which boxdo we put the apple core in kids?” and we all answered in tone-deaf unison “the organicwaste one Miss!” So where do we put our garbage here in Oman? In plasticbags and in skips that are removed by people we don’t know, and taken toplaces we didn’t know existed. What happens then? Is it burned? Sorted?Separated? Sold to scrap merchants?Selfless acts seldom occur in our modern fast-paced world, yet we all wantfor our grandchildren to experience paradise on earth. Without sufficienteducation, recycling will not take hold, and we leave little for the nextgeneration to enjoy of Oman’s natural beauty. We should also be using our voices to senda clear and strong message to the people who govern waste management: “Introducea comprehensive and well-thought out recycling campaign.” We urge the authorities tointroduce fines for littering here in Oman, and in turn use those ‘fine’ funds to set-uprecycling campaigns, ‘green’ education programmes, and provide adequate numbers ofrubbish bins around town centres and ecological attractions. In foreign countries thatrecognise their environment as a source of tourism and income, the fine for throwing acigarette-butt out of your car window is approximately RO 100. The cost of a plastic bagcan be as high as 60 baiza in these same countries. When you go to the supermarket andyou must pay for bags; you think twice before you use one. Oman participates in a globalsociety, and in turn we must play a role to ensure we keep this world clean.22

Soap WorksPaul McLoughlinIt’s a force which draws in countless numbers of families into living rooms across thecountry. Sitting in front of television screens, for an hour or so while these programmesair, few sounds can be heard from these homes accept for the dramatic dialogue on thebox in the centre of the room, and perhaps the odd sigh of relief or excitement from itsaudience. Yes, we’re talking about ‘Bab Al Hara’, ‘Mirna oo Khalil’ and ‘Noor’; showsthat have an overwhelmingly large and loyal viewership in Oman, celebrating the unity ofRamadan nights. The power of the ‘soap opera’ is something which has been frequentlyoverlooked, and rarely understood, by those from the outside. Although there is noshame in the voyeuristic element to serial soaps that delve into the homes and rooms offamilies on a daily basis, the underlying power of being able to relate to and understandsociety on a larger scale from these dramas is discernible. And this ability for peoplefrom all walks of life to associate with alternating and contrasting surroundings has hada fundamental impact on the progression of society as a whole.Soap opera beganduring the days of radio;subservient housewiveswould often tend tocleaning and chores, whilstsnatching a few momentsof overly dramatisedentertainment on theradio. The clever men inmarketing were quickto grasp who their keyaudience was and beganto advertise soap productsduring the programmes, hence the name ‘Soap Opera’. For these women the lure oflearning more about the private details of others became a temptation too captivatingto ignore. After television’s timely entrance, stations quickly adopted the soap operaconcept, now dubbed a ‘serial drama’, and millions of more housewives began to ogleinto the lives of others. They were then able to wash away any feelings of voyeuristicguilt once credits rolled. British soap opera opposed the idealism of the American dreamthat characterised US drama, making regionalism a central part in their story lines.Coronation Street was the first of these, set in Manchester, in a working-class suburb,the 1950s soap was largely a product of the ‘angry young men’ movement of thatera, painting a gritty picture of everyday life through ‘kitchen-sink’ style observationaldrama. In stark contrast, American soaps force-fed viewers a morally righteousdoctrine, and often featured the flamboyant life of high-rolling oil tycoons and the trials ofa broken-home due to a torrid affair with a dapper young doctor. Both UK and US dramastill managed to include endless snippets of overly drawn out emotional moments,usually where one participant in the conversation would turn to face an inanimate objectand offer up sentiments of either regret, fear or wistfulness.The structure was perfect for those watching whilst tending to housework, or frequentlytoo tired to concentrate on in-depth storylines. Dialogue was the driving force andstorylines themselves never ended, as there was always room for new characters to24

eplace stale or dead ones. It was just like real life, an often repetitive state of monotony, albeitwith a few surprises thrown in. Soaps became regular fixtures of many women’s lives, oneswho were forced to the ‘kitchen’ and denied equal access to education, but held a glowingyearning to learn more about life outside their four walls. Soap operas gave ‘domesticated’women access to this ‘other world’, and a glimpse into how life could be. Tragic narratives ofcharacters they could easily relate to gave relief and comfort to battered wives and ignoredspouses, appealing to this with poor social skills, unable to express their own pain and sufferingfrom a domesticated life of bullying and abuse. With this, a stronger female identity was born,far removed from the submissive roles of women in the previous generation of entertainment.Whilst the works of Virginia Woolf and Germaine Greer might have been lost on many of thehousewives, these ‘role plays’ allowed for women to expect more in life and gave an examplefor them to follow. Indeed, it was the progression of soap storylines that was to be one of thegreatest contributing factors for women’s rights in many nations. That’s more than any singlefeminist intellectual could ever claim. More and more, women went out to work, enrolled inuniversities and began to lead their own lives, taking comfort and direction from their favouriteSoap stars onscreen lives.In Brazil, where soaps are something of an institution, the society has experienced rapiddevelopments, which many attribute to the increased access to television sets and thereforesoap operas. There are between 60 and 80 million regular viewers of evening soaps in Brazil25

(or ‘Telenovellas’ as they are called in Portuguese) with formatsmost frequently following the lives of white, upper and middle-classfamilies. In areas where the soaps are broadcasted, a recent reportsuggests increasing levelsof divorce and lower levelsof fertility amongst theseneighbourhoods.On the other side of theworld, in India, researchto show the effects ofradio drama on societyuncovered a villagewhere ‘Tinka Tinka Sukh’ increased enrolmentto the village’s girls’ school by up to 40 percent. There was also anoticeable reduction in the use of bridal dowries for marriage. The regularviewing of soaps is said to be the equivalent of six-months of schooling,which is of hugeimportance forcountries such asBrazil and Indiawhere many ofthe poor only haveaccess to primaryschooling. Thereis certainly ane d u c a t i o n a lelement to mostsoaps. With theability to adaptpressing socialissues, suchas HIV awareness, abuse or drug use into storylines, soaps offerfamilies and social groups a chance to discuss subjects often taboo.Their storylines can also give insight into the personal tribulations ofothers, whether homosexual, victims of disease or socially outcast.The increasing prominence of people of Afro-Caribbean and Asiandescent on television screens helps to dispel minority stereotypes andencourages racial integration.With the rising popularity ofserial drama in Oman, it opensthe question of whether soapscan help wash away any stainsthat still blemish society, witha little help from ‘Mirna’ and‘Khalil’.26

EDGIER.THOUGHT-PROVOKING.RIVETING...Every Tuesday, Y is available at all the places you love to go, wherever they may be.CafésMallsRestaurantsPlaces of InterestStarbucks, Costa Coffee, Second Cup, Café Vergnano, Al Makan Café,and all your favourite hang-outs!Markaz Al Bahja, Sabco Centre, Al Araimi Complex, Al Khamis Plaza, CCC,The Sultan Centre, Lulu Hypermarket, Al Maya Shopping Centre, Al Masa Mall,Supa Save, Al Fair, Zakher Mall, Al Noor Plaza, Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre...Left Bank, Pizza Express, Kargeen’s, Bollywood Chaat, Nando’s, Woodlands,Wok of Life, Flavours, Crepe Café (Muscat City Centre), Uptown, Golden Oryx,Saravanaabhavan, Pizza Hut, Muscat Bakery and fast food outlets all over town!Al Shatti Cinema, Seeb Airport, InterContinental Muscat, Grand Hyatt, Al Bustan Palace,Shangri-La, Marina Bandar, National Hospitality Institute, Ras Al Hamra Club PDO,Sultan Qaboos University, Majan College, the British Council...Production & Logistics EnquiriesAyman CanawatiTel. 99253209ayman.canawati@sabcogroup.comTo Advertise with UsFeroz KhanTel. 95213406feroz@sabcogroup.comBhavna NeelTel. 97190377bhavna@y-oman.com

The Sweetest ThingKarima FaridMillions of diabetes sufferers across the world hold Diagnosed withtheir own inspiring stories. Reading these stories ofproblems faced, their challenges and triumphs, andgenerally how fellow diabetics have coped with theircondition, provides an interesting, inspiring and atdiabetes at the mereage of two, Habiba’syoung parents haveto deal with theother times sad, but nonetheless an account that canbring a tear to the eye of even the toughest of people.heartbreakaccompaniesthatthisHowever, these messages can deliver a salutaryfrightening illnesslesson we can all learn from and Habiba Al-Tawqiand adapt theiris just one of these people who wants the world tolearn more about the illness. Life is certainly far fromlives to deal witha child requiringover for those afflicted by diabetes.special needs.Eating becomes literally a matter of life and death, sospecial diets were put in place and separate mealscooked for their child. The emotional stress one goesthrough cannot be ignored, as patients become lost ina bombardment of endless information and directionsof how to lead a healthy life. It’s a matter of stayingalive without ending up blind, on kidney dialysis, withsevere nerve damage, or amputation, just a few of thepossible side effects for diabetics.Meet Habiba Al-Tawqi, an outstanding character and afighter, she is the author of Diamond Life, a book thatconfronts head-on her own experiences as a diabetic.On the whole, the book is the story of her life, whereshe sends out a positive message to the readers to letthem know that “Diabetes is not the end of the world,it becomes a different way of life.” This personal storyis what she calls her “treasure” and fits with the title ofthe book, Diamond Life.Habiba was inspired to write her autobiography afterreading a book, many years ago, about a German girlwho suffered from the illness. That is where it all startedfor her; the motivation and inspiration she gained fromthis story drove Habiba forward to write her own accountof living with the disease with an intense roller-coasterride of emotion expressed in its 12 chapters. If you areunaware of the illness then Diamond Life prepares thereader for an explanation of how diabetes works, andwhat difference it makes to everyday life for a sufferer.Nevertheless, Habiba is an example of positivity andgrace, becoming the Arab Childrens Health Congressand Diabetes Ambassador in 2007, she imparts asimple message for all victims of diabetes: “Whateverbattles you must face, live your life, love your life, andthank God for your life.” Habiba donated 200 booksto the Diabetic Association in the U.A.E, to help raiseawareness and show people with the disease that theyare not alone. Although a hit in the UAE, the book is yetto be released in the Omani market.For any family dealing with diabetes, emotional issuesare just as burdening as the physical disease itself. Thesemental strains must be addressed, not just for the persondiagnosed, but the whole family. If you are living withdiabetes, please make sure you get the emotional helpyou need and deserve. You may have to live with diabetes,but ensure that you have it under control, and that it doesnot control you. After all, it’s a disease which requires asmuch care emotionally as it does physically.28

“Whatever battlesyou must face,live your life,love your life,and thank Godfor your life”TYPE 1 DIABETES ADVICEDiabetes in children is becoming more common, for reasonsnot completely understood. Diabetes is not contagious, itmay develop at any age, with statistics show highlighting twopossible peak ages: early years of primary school or earlyyears of secondary school. Most children affected have Type1 diabetes (Diabetes mellitus – IDDM), where the pancreasproduces very little or no insulin at all. With this type, patientsmust inject themselves daily with insulin.Symptoms of diabetes develop rapidly. The condition is usuallydiagnosed days after the symptoms first appear. Symptomsmay include:Passing excessive amounts of urineUnusual thirst and tirednessWeight lossBlurred visionIf these symptoms are not picked up, more serious ones canappear:Tummy ache and vomitingHeavy, deep breathingSmell of acetone on the breathGoing into a comaIf you notice any of the above symptoms please take yourchild to a physician immediately.Your doctor will check glucose levels in the child’s urineand blood. If the levels are unusually high your child may beadmitted to hospital. Treatment involves ‘twice-daily’ injectionsof insulin, which is needed to bring the diabetes under control.You and your child will be taught how to administer theinjections at home. Injections should be administered underparental supervision. Children usually take one injection beforebreakfast and the second injection before supper.29

Here comes the SUNJennifer CuttanceWhile the temperature may be ideal for sunbathing, it is advisable to bear inmind the dangers the Sun can hold. Studies have shown that although someSun exposure is good for health, it is also known that over exposure to the suncan be as dangerous as smoking. There are a number of dangers, including skincancer, but if you take the necessary precautions, you can enjoy the hot summerwithout fear.The three most common forms of skin cancer:• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Basal cellsappear on the outer layer of the skin, usually on the head, neck, shoulders orhands. Sometimes tiny veins may appear and sore, dry patches may possiblydevelop. Other symptoms could include crusting, and bleeding. Although thecancer does need to be removed, it is the least harmless and can be removedwithout scarring body tissue.• Squamous cells are usually redder, and scalier in appearance. Bleeding cansometimes occur and it may look like ulceration. Squamous cells appear onthe face, neck, shoulders, and hands. This form of skin cancer is regarded ashighly dangerous and needs immediate treatment. It can reoccur even afterthe growth has been surgically removed.• Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, and requires immediateaction. It shares the same characteristics of other skin cancers, but canrapidly change in size, shape, and colour and may emerge as a mole on thebody.BE AWAREHave a ‘Mole Map’ preformed by your doctor once a year. If you have skin that ismore susceptible to sunburn or freckles, have your skin examined once every sixmonths. Remember that it’s not just ‘sun worshipers’ that suffer adverse affectsfrom the Sun, so stay vigilant at all times.Exposure to the Sun at a young age may result in skin problems later in life, whichis why regular checkups are a must.Abiding by the rules of regular checkups and following these tips, shouldallow you to enjoy the Sun safely.• Wear sun block before spending long periods outdoors;fear not George Hamilton, you will still develop a tan this way!• Apply SPF (Sun Protection Factor) lotion before you get dressed anddon’t forget to put sun block on your ears and on the back of your neck• Use a water-resistant sun block if you’re swimming and apply your sunblock every two hours or even more regularly if you’re in and out of thewater• If you are spending long hours in the Sun then use a lotion with ahigh SPF; 15 or 30 is ideal. Anything below SPF 6 gives you no sunprotection in the Omani environment• Use a sun protection cream in your hair before swimming especially ifyou’re in salt water to prevent damage• ALWAYS wear a hat• Use an after-sun cream or spray to prevent peeling• We need ten minutes of sunshine each day, but avoid the peak UV hoursbetween 10am and 4pm. Exposure to the Sun allows our bodies toobtain much needed vitamin D• Eat three to four Brazil nuts each day to keep your selenium levels high• Never walk barefoot, especially on hot surfaces around a pool or onsand in summer• Take an antioxidant supplement to fight-off free radicals from the Sun• Zinc cream provides excellent protection for your nose, cheeks andears. It’s great for kids too• Ensure your children wear a ‘rash’ shirt (as seen on surfers, so thereare no worries about not looking cool) and always get them to wear ahat that has a neck flap. And of course, apply sun block regularlyRemember, without the right protection, your skin will rapidly age andwrinkle!30

LUSCIOUS LIPS TIPS…Like our nose, our lips are largely exposed to the sun. Over exposure to the sun’srays produce free radicals on the skin that can deplete the natural collagen onskin as well as on lips. Exposure to the sun can also cause lip discoloration, leavingthem chapped, dry, and sore. Wearing a lip balm with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF)is essential, particularly when living in sunny Muscat.Chap-sticks are suitable for both men and women and come in a variety of colours. Makesure that the chap-stick is ‘SPF 15’. Neutrogena’s colourless chap-sticks are one of the bestlip moisturisers around and are available at Muscat Pharmacy. Don’t worry boys, chap-sticksdon’t leave your lips looking ‘glossy’, but if you are into that look, then by all means try a balm!Expert Opinion:Hair for this SeasonAn excellent ‘SPF 15’ lip balm that provides deep moisture and relieves soreness is ‘Blistex Daily LipConditioner’. It has a soft glossy effect that tingles after application. The tingle exfoliates dead skincells that are on the surface of the lips. It is available at Muscat Pharmacy and it is by far one of themost effective lip balms available. ‘Blistex’ lip balm comes in a variety of flavours, packages and forms.Blistex lip ointment comes in a tube, and has an intense, advanced moisturiser. Its medicated formulapenetrates to relieve soreness and severe dryness. Only a small amount is required to cover the lip areaand it has the appearance and texture of a cream.A Little Tip…To remove any flaky dry skin from your lips apply oil to your lips and brush your lipsin a circular motion using a toothbrush.Vanessa Locke, an award winning ‘Master Colourist’ and ‘Senior Stylist’,who has worked in leading hair salons such as ‘Charles Worthington’ inLondon and the ‘Bret Holmes Salon by design’ in New Zealand, tells uswhat looks are ‘hot’ this season.“This season bright red and copper is definitely in. The colours should beused sparingly and subtly, to avoid any clash with one’s taste in clothing. Ihave also noticed an interest in longer lengths, fringes, and disconnectioncuts this season. Golden blonde, honey and caramel are still ever popular,along with soft curls.”Vanessa mentions that ‘disconnection cut’ is the term used for stylingwhere sections of the hair do not connect. Commonly weight is removedfrom underneath and the cut is left heavy on top, or a combination ofhaving hair ‘emptied out’ in a section and left longer in another. She adds,“There are a lot of different haircuts that are disconnected. The mostcommon one is the undercut.”

StuffLifestraw iStrawThis genius invention is probably the biggest life-saver inhistory. It’s a personal low cost water purification tool, reusablefor up to 700 litres of water (or a timeframe of up toone year). For the cost of 770 baiza, you can purchase thisspecial straw that purifies contaminated water and reducedwaterborne bacteria by up to 99.9999%More than a billion people will finally be able to drinkbacteria-free water as the iStraw can eliminate the ingestionof bacteria like Cryptosporidium or Giardia. Considering thatmore than 50% of travellers report some kind of sicknesswhen travelling, around 40% of travellers report Diarrhoea,and nearly 18% of travellers lose at least one day of their tripto illness, we think this is one device that everyone shouldhave in their toiletry bag.Void LP record playerAlthough this is only a design concept at the moment, it is so cool we felt it hadto be featured in Y. Korean designer Rhea Jeong is working on transforming herfuturistic vision of a vinyl player into a reality. The idea is that the vinyl recordfloats mid-air without anything holding it up, whilst a small red ball spins inthe circular grooves of your favourite record and produces sound from built-inspeakers. Wow!IN THE POCKET BABY SEATThe In The Pocket baby seat is smalland light enough to fit in yourpocket. It is suitable for childrenaged six months to two years andcan be attached to most chairs.It costs only RO 20, is machinewashableand available inblack, red, green and blue.32

USB Duplicator by NexcopyThis device does not appeal to the average consumer, but itdoes have it’s place. Often neglected, USB flash drives arean under-rated promotional tool. Have your company logobranded on a USB stick, and use the Nexcopy to load it upwith data, sales material, promotional videos, or tutorials, andyou could be on to a winner. Nexcopy claims the machine cancopy and transfer 30MB in about 40 seconds. This meansthe USB duplicator can spit out 1,200 drives in approximately1 hour. “Hey big business, less caps and t-shirts and moreUSB sticks please!”Kerchoonz K-BoxLOUD music on the goThis portable mobile phone sized device turns any flatsurface: wall, table or ceiling into a giant speaker. The 2 wattK-box uses a hydro-gel suspension system and boasts anoutput of 95dB at 1m distance and a 40Hz - 20KHz bassfrequency response. The K-box has a battery-life of up to 20hours and is rechargeable via USB. It plugs into any laptop,MP3 player, or mobile phone. Currently only available onlineat Kerchoonz.com and amazon.com for RO 28, we hope tosee it in stores here soon!Shoe RaincoatAnother must have item, especially forthose long rainy days in Salalah! TheShuella shoe raincoat protects your shoesand feet in damp weather conditions.The handy raincoat comes in a littlecarry pouch and it is available in pink.Vixens will soon be stamping around inpuddles… Yippee!33

Autobahn KiranJay HaslamBUMBLEBEEIS HERE IN OMANThe new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, as seen in the latest blockbuster film‘Transformers 2’ now prowls the streets of Muscat. OTE Wattaya has delivered the first newCamaro SS to its proud new owner Badar Al Maashari, with a grand ceremony involving GMMiddle East President Mike Devereux and Sheikh Sa’ad Suhail Bahwan.The 2010 Camaro is another example of a ‘resurrected classic badge’ marketing maneuver,not unlike the recent Hollywood trend to re-hash great fables and classic movies. The carwas originally designed in the mid-60’s and was catapulted to fame in its Z/28 configuration,allowing the carmaker to compete in the SCCA Trans-Am series of the day.In present form the Camaro is in its 5 th generation, and with 462 horses on tap theneo-classic SS retains its aggressive stance and performance. Plant your right footand the brutal 6.2 litre V8 shoots past 100 km/h within 4.7 seconds, and as with mostAmerican muscle cars, even if handling is compromised at a hefty kerb weight of1,746kg, a comfortable ride is assured. Multi-link independent rear suspension seesto that. It is undoubtedly a future classic. Engineered by Holden (GM) in Australia andinspired by the original 1969 chrome beast, the new 2+2 coupe is now an option forAmerican muscle car fans here in Oman, just visit OTE or call 800-77007 for moredetails.Checkout that rear end!Here’s a sneak peek at the facelifted 2010 Volvo C30. Some of you may recognise thenew exterior from the Detroit Auto Show last January. The car has gained notoriety for itsunique appearance, particularly its rear, and now the revamped front-end seems to havelifted the design.New body panels,headlights, ahoneycomb grille andcolourful descriptionslike Orange FlameMetallic and Espressoare used to describethe lavishly appointedsports car. The“Cranberry” leatherinterior is certainlyworth a look. ProgramChief Maria Ugglacommented, “Weknow that a large proportion, almost half, of all C30 customers make detailed interiorchoices. They want to decide for themselves what their car should look like and are notinterested in readymade packages. The new C30 gives them a range of fresh, modern stylecues in terms of both colour and fabric to choose between.”Lambo will mambo in FrankfurtSupercar supremacy is usually battled out at the Frankfurt MotorShow, and hopes that Lamborghini’s Reventón would be there toslug it out were all but lost… untilnow. The Reventón coupe, hasbeen described as redefining“style, elegance, and insanity”.Essentially a stealth fighterfor the road, jet-planeinspired carbon fibre bodypanels contrast the plushAlcantara leather inside.A 6.5-litre V12 enginewith 650 HP (478 kW)and 660 Nm (487 lbft)of torque, matedto a six-speed e-geartransmission and standardall-wheel drive, acceleratesthe car to 100 km/h in just 3.4seconds. If you’re brave enough, theroadster will pull you to 340 km/h (211 mph), and if you are wealthyenough to purchase one of only 20 cars to be made, your bankbalance will drop by RO 675,000.34

ZAWAWI LAUNCHES MERC HYBRIDThe Mercedes-Benz S 400 luxury hybrid sedan is now available here in Oman. With the exception of theCalifornian contingent of the US car market, Central Europe has always been at the mercy of the moststringent emissions laws around. Due to that, Mercedes has developed the first luxury hybrid sedan. Featuringan intelligent hybrid-drive system with a lithium-ion battery, a 299 hp engine with 385 Nm of torque and7-speed automatic transmission, the sedan will hit 100 km/h within 7.2 seconds. Stunning design, comfort,and innovation are assured and with consumption figures of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres and just 186 gramsof CO2 emitted, environmental compatibility is also a guarantee.The first luxury hybrid to enter the Omani market, the S-Class also offers ‘ECO start/stop’ that automaticallyswitches the engine off when the car comes to a stop at traffic lights or in traffic jams. Whilst decelerating,kinetic energy is captured via a disc-shaped electric motor fitted between the gearbox and the engine andstored in the lithium-ion battery cleverly located in the engine bay. Boot space is not sacrificed, which meansplenty of room for suitcases and luggage. Great news for environmentally conscious golfers looking for a newcufflink carriage, good work Zawawi for setting the ‘auto eco trend’ here in Oman!Simply RS-istableBy now everyone knows about Audi’s new R8 Spyder, but the carmaker has only just confirmed the droptop will feature a 5.2-litre V10 engine. It produces 525hp and peak torque sits flat at 530Nm. A 6-speedmanual and R Tronic sequential shifter directs power through the quattro all wheel drive system. Rumoursare circulating that the 4.2-litre engine option has been dropped in favour of an electric-powered one. All theusual luxurious appointments are to be found, as in the hardtop, and the blistering performance continuesto defy the logic behind spending a lot more on an ‘Italian cousin’ that is priced far away from the equallycapable German Spyder.

Oh man HE’S GOOD!Oman’s very own speed-freak Ahmad Saidal Harthy has managed to secure himselffifth and sixth position in the 10 th and11 th rounds (respectively) of the FormulaRenault BARC Championship in the UK.The 3.12km Rockingham InternationalCircuit consists of 12 fast turns wherecars can hit a top speed of 220km/h.Commenting on the positions, Al Harthysaid: “Today was very tricky in qualifying,Rockingham is a long circuit and we had very strong gusts of wind which made drivingthe car through the very fast corners unpredictable. I still managed to go faster than Ihave ever been, I believe we are in a strong position for both races tomorrow.”Saudi Team beats Oman,but not without a fightThe Omani juniorfootball squadsuffered defeat atthe hands of SaudiArabia in the AGCCUnder-17 FootballChampionship,played in theUnited Arab Emirates on September 7 th . The Omani Under-17 ‘Boys inRed’ team put up a good fight against their Saudi competitors but couldnot even the score, losing by a solitary goal. Despite the defeat, theOmani team finished the game smiling and accepted the outcome withtrue sportsmanship.Not Russian to LondonRussian-born-American-gymnastand Olympic champion, NastiaLiukin, has chosen not to competeat the world championships takingplace in London next month. Liukinfeels she needs time to regain herform before she is ready to competeagain. “Getting back into the gymand competition has been a majorgoal for me this summer, and I haveworked hard to balance my trainingand obligations. This year has beenwonderful and a whirlwind. With theselection process beginning nextweek, I realised I needed to takesome time to get myself where I needand want to be competitively. The 2012 Olympics in London remainan important goal for me. I have more to accomplish in this sport,”Liukin said.For Peat’s SakeBritain’s Steve Peat, finally breaks the mould by taking gold at theWorld Downhill Mountain Bike title in Canberra, along with four silvermedals in the event. The 35-year-old finished in two minutes 30.33seconds, barely 0.05 seconds ahead of competitor Greg Minnaar. Peatcommented on the tight contest by saying, “I have had such bad luckat the World Championships but today I had an awesome run. I’m theoldest guy out there and I’ve been trying for a long time with a lot ofsecond places, but I felt strong coming into this race. It was prettyemotional putting the jersey on, on the podium knowing I could wearit as World Champion for the next year, I’ve been trying for a long timeand it’s just an unreal feeling.”37

BRAWN and BEAUTYGerman automobile manufacturer, Mercedes, has reportedlypurchased 75 percent of Brawn Racing. The German giant willnow allow its contract with McLaren to expire at the end of 2011.The buyoutis in unionwith its Arabpartners, andsilver-paintedBrackleybuiltcars withr e n o w n e dM e r c e d e sbranding will beseen as of 2010. Nico Rosberg is also going to switch to Brawn in2010 and in keeping with tradition, will be sporting a silver colouredcar, according to reports.Wake upand smell the RossiValentino Rossi increased his lead to 30 points as heripped past competitors to take the checkered flag at theSan Marino MotoGP. Yamaha rider Dani Pedrosa, andhis nearest challenger Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo, followed2.416 seconds behind Rossi, narrowly escaping acollision on the first lap of the race. “After my bad starton the second corner, when I almost clashed with DeAngelis, I pushed as much as I could. I overtook Danibut he [Rossi] was too far forward, but he’s the numberthis weekend because he’s been the fastest in everypractice,” Lorenzo said. Rossi secured his sixth win ofthe season and with four races to go, now has plansof winning a ninth world title. “It was not easy, in thebeginning I had a bad start but I was able to come backon to the pace and it was a perfect race. The peoplewere very amazing - there were a lot of people and itwas an important victory,” Rossi eloquently muttered.

SUDOKUFill in the blank squares so that each row, each column andeach 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9. If you uselogic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.CROSSWORDKJuLetter BoxPlace a letter in the empty boxes in such a way that eachrow across, each column down and each small 9-box squarecontains all of the letters listed above the diagram. Whencompleted, the row indicated will spell out a word or words.39NOT

CHORTLE40

HOROSCOPESAmira K.LEOLet’s face it; life canCANCERGetting lost can really slowTAURUSYou will not be satisfiedSCORPIOYou have to be willing to takebe frustrating at times,things down, and a generalwith staying in a rut justa risk even though there isespecially when things don’t go yourtendency not to ask for directionsnow. It doesn’t matter what means orthe unerring law of Karma which saysway. Take things in your stride, soonhas everyone spinning their wheels.methods you use to shake things upthat for every action there is an equalyou will be in the position whereJust ask around, write down whatto make life more interesting - it mustand opposite reaction. Life wouldthings work expediently, because youyou need to know and push on. Goodbe done. Just get out into the world, itcertainly be dull if we didn’t take riskswill be in charge!luck!is not as scary as you think.from time to time, but tread carefullyPISCESWhat may appear to bebad news this week couldAQUARIUSMake sure the daily routineis fine-tuned and you’llLIBRAIt’s a great period formaking new friends thisthis week in your decision-making.CAPRICORNThe week will see you donactually turn out to be a blessing inbe hearing about it from admirers.week. You may have been shyingyour detective hat as youdisguise. Someone who has beenFinance concerns could bring a flurryaway from getting out, partying andinvestigate matters around you andfeeling incredibly down in the dumpsof monetary activity, perhaps a quickmeeting people, but that’s going totry to get to the bottom of them.suddenly takes on a new attitudefind or mini-crisis, but it passeschange. The movement of the SunResearch uncovers new evidence thatand is all smiles. Surely everything isquickly. Missing home? Don’t worry;is fortuitous for meeting new peopleallows you to develop a better overallgoing to work out fine!your family will be back soon!and developing friendships.picture of work, love, money mattersGEMINIA stroke of genius hits you,probably quite early in theARIESYou are belligerent,argumentative and impatientVIRGOThis is an excellent timeto entice a co-operativeand life in general.SAGITTARIUSStudying new concepts isweek, and you feel so inspired thatnow. Disagreements erupt becauseattitude from your co-workers,favoured; your ability toyou get to work right away. It’s a goodyou aren’t willing to overlook minoremployers or employees dependingunderstand abstract ideas will help intime for you to get others to sign upirritations as you normally do. Juston your status. You may have to playyour desire to grow academically andfor your big project, they will not wantsuck it up and all will be good. Steppeacemaker or matchmaker at thisintellectually. Anything that broadensto miss out on a great opportunity!by step and the mountain won’t seemtime. Whatever it involves, you areyour world appeals to you at this time,too high.bound to bring people together overso go and buy that book you havethe coming days.been yearning to read for months.SOLUTIONSSUDOKU LETTER BOX CROSSWORD41

AMOUAGELaunches First Small Leather Goods CollectionAmouage has launched its first small leather goods collection that translates the House’s distinctive approach to luxury in an entirely new product category.In creating the Collection, Amouage turned to the city of Florence, the birthplace of Italian Renaissance which has been the centre of excellence for the tanning andmaking of the finest leather goods since medieval times. All products are hand-made of the highest quality using the very top grade of calfskin by artisans whoseskills have been passed down throughout many generations. Colours range from rich tones of chocolate and black to a delicate hue of ivory.

EYE CANDYfor Dar Al Atta’a44

Designers:Essa, Royal Rickshaw, Dibaj, Matthew Williamson45