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Transcript of Black & White mag issue 32
Vol.
2 Iss
ue 3
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May 2
1-
June 2
0,
2011
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Hope & Hope & Help Help p32
4 May 21- June 20, 2011
Media renaissanceBy Adarsh Madhavan
Forget a decade back. Even some months back,
one wouldn’t dare write about a small protest march
by the students of the Sultan Qaboos University
(SQU). The local papers never wrote anything
about it. I remember stringing for an agency (many
years ago) and they were always very keen to get
anything on protests. Agencies have a fetish for
such reports and they always had a standard way
of featuring them. If you have read agency reports,
you will find the story being treated in a different
way. For instance, Oman will be referred to as a
‘sleepy country’ being woken up the strident roars
of protests and the like.
REWRITTEN SCRIPT
The reports that I used to send would come back
(in print), totally different. I would not be able to
recognise even one line in the reports that they
would publish because it would be given that
special agency treatment. I wouldn’t be able to
match up to them. Not just in style, but in the sheer
manner in which a line would be changed to have
an almost different meaning and extra power punch!
That is agency writing!
FREEDOM FOR THE MEDIA
But, that is not my point here: look at the media
scene. Especially the English newspapers! For
the first time in the history of the newspapers
here you see almost any and every story being
published, even if it happens to be a crime story
or citizens rallying for reform. This is the true
media renaissance! Where in the world could you
write about angry citizens wanting ministers to
be removed? I once wrote a straight report about
how a powerful man here was rallying to send
an ambassador of his country back home using
political influence and I almost got booted from the
office and from this country. Remember, I was only
reporting on something that was happening. Small,
irrelevant issues that I wrote got me more enemies [email protected]
than I could count. I always used to wonder why.
Maybe, I was fated to suffer for things I never wrote.
IF THIS FREEDOM HAD COME EARLIER
Today, I relish the stories being written by the
newspaper scribes here and at the same time
wonder what it would have been like if this freedom
had come a little earlier.
What if Oman had the same media freedom, which
we are enjoying now, a decade or so back? Yes, but
it does not mean that you can misuse the freedom
and write anything you please. It does not mean
that you criticise everything that moves. It doesn’t
mean that we should call every single person in
an influential post as corrupt and bay for the blood
of those in power. That is not what protests are
all about. That is not what protest journalism is all
about. That is not how the ‘crookie’ crumbles. Those
enjoying the new taste of media freedom should
not attempt to do something that would leave a
bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. But, I guess most
of them at the helm know the borderline of the
freedom they are enjoying and would not think of
straying. Because, why spoil this wonderful freedom,
especially, when it is given on a platter?
PAYOLA
There are also dangers in a free media world. During
my daily reporting days, I came to know of one or two
scribes who used to do unobtrusive type of articles
for small favours given by middle level businessmen/
officials. It all starts innocently though. You might
make a good contact with a source and he might
pretend to be your friend, wooing you to his home
with good food, small presents, little favours and then
when you are hooked on to him, he suddenly tells
you to run a piece on his company/his boss/his wife/
his child. Oh, you are suitably rewarded afterwards.
But, that would be the beginning of your moral
downfall. Not a thing to aspire for, right?
All a
bout
X,
Y &
Z
6 May 21- June 20, 2011
You Don’t Understand…(Issue 31) was a remarkable
article with great depth of knowledge about autism. Black
& White magazine is surely contributing to the cause
through various campaigns (Sudoku being one of them).
The three parents who shared their distress were quite
bothered about less medical facilities and treatment for
autism. I would like to give a suggestion to all parents who
have autistic children – make a move, go out and form a
club of your own where you all could meet once a week
and share experiences. The children can also have a day
out, enjoy and make more friends. I am sure it will help!
Once there is awareness, the situation will be a lot better.
Also, the article focussed on the fact that autistic children
are good with numbers. So, parents please go ahead and
utilise that gift! Kudos!
Charu Pant, Khasab
Daniel Tammet and Sheikh Khalfan Al Esry were nothing
short of a miracle on stage. Their words still ring loud and
clear in my ears, my mind and my heart. Thanks for helping
me witness and be part of a wonderful event (Sudoku
for a cause: autism event held on May 12 at Al Bustan
Palace hotel). I have no words to describe the simple
words that unveiled so many enormous truth(s), which
was given out by Sheikh Khalfan, a man who is known
for his wisdom and ready wit and extensive knowledge
of life and living, and the true story of triumphing over a
dreaded disorder like autism, which was revealed by the
world famous savant (Daniel). The engrossing Sudoku
competition, which followed the illuminating speeches,
was equally impressive and I repeat: such great events
are hard to come by and I sincerely hope that your efforts
make a difference in building more awareness on autism
in Oman. All the best!
Nalini Rajgopal, Seeb
Try to understand autism
An event that made a difference
6 May 21- June 20, 2011
Mail your views and opinions at
I was witness to a very touching scene at the impressive Sudoku for a cause
event by B&W held recently. Having come late, I was sitting at the back seat of
the Oman Auditorium of Al Bustan Palace hotel. During the interval, I heard one
of the members of the organising committee of this event coming and speaking
to a father and a child on the right flank of the auditorium. The organiser was
urging the father to go and sit closer to the stage as there was still some space
there. But the father gently refused the offer and said he could view the event
quite well and he had no problems. When the organiser, who apparently knew
the father well, insisted, the latter quietly told the former: “I actually want to sit in
the front, but my child (he indicated his daughter) is autistic and she can create
quite a noise; it will disturb the proceedings; I am okay here and she can also be
free!” The organiser got the point, patted the energetic kid and went away. I was
quite touched by the whole scene and I also understood that several parents
brought their autistic kids along for the event. Now, that is a great work B&W.
Azeez Mohammed, Qurum
“Please think of your life as a very precious gift from God and you will never
give up on it…” I was struck by these words of Laila Al-Ghabri (Just travelling –
Issue 31). I think her simple column ended on a very positive and inspiring note.
Let us all take a leaf from this piece of inspirational words and apply it to our
own lives. Let us think of our life as a very special and precious gift from God.
Imagine how we treasure any gifts given to us. So, why can’t we treasure and
nurture this unbelievably precious gift from the Almighty?
What is stopping us from taking our life to great and pure heights? What more
do we need? The gift of life is given to us – free. Let us take it and climb on to
greater heights!
Abdul Samad, Al Khuwair
Touching scene
Let us treasure this precious gift
7Black & White
8 May 21- June 20, 2011
Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC
Black & White
Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos
Office location: Hatat House, Office no: 212, II Floor
Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496
Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com
Editorial: [email protected]
Printed at Mazoon, Muscat, Oman
Xclusive
Autism is not a barrier to success or happiness
Autism is a lifelong condition
from which there is no cure and
one has to learn to manage the
condition as much as possible.
Autism is not a barrier to success
or happiness, says Daniel
Tammet
32
Editor-in-chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali
Managing editor Priya Arunkumar
Work editor Adarsh Madhavan
Design & production Beneek Siraj
Photographer Najib Al Balushi
Advt. & marketing Swithun Fernandes
Ali Raisi, Priyanka Sampat
Conte
nts
Bitter Batter
Man of the front seat
He wants the front seat at all
of the shows he attends. He
does not care that there is a
chief guest, guests of honour
and other dignitaries that
automatically obtain the front
seats of any event...
1448
Sleepless and accident prone
Why am I so tired?
The single biggest complaint
doctors receive from female
patients today is fatigue. If you
are getting a healthy seven to
eight hours a night and you’re
still tired, then you need to go for
a check up, local doctors say.
Are most of the male drivers who
commit accidents on the road, sleep
deprived?
58
Cover Photo: Najib Al Balushi
9Black & White
10 May 21- June 20, 2011
Pla
ygro
und
11Black & White
CSR makes good
business sense
Is CSR (corporate
social responsibility)
nothing more
than mere window
dressing?
Martin Neureiter,
Ceo, The CSR
Company, believes
otherwise. Neureiter,
who came on a
lightning visit to the
Sultanate recently to
promote the concept
of CSR, gives us
an entirely different
perspective.
12 May 21- June 20, 2011
Pla
ygro
und
CSR IS ABOUT BUSINESS, NOT ABOUT FEELING GOOD
Neureiter agrees that there are many critics for and against CSR.
Many believe that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of
businesses… “Most of us feel that CSR is about donating funds to the
needy, but, that is charity, not social responsibility.
“Charity is totally a different story. It is widely believed that CSR is all
about giving, but it is not true. Actually, CSR is about good and responsible
business sense. It is a business-driven process. It is a business tool to
guide your corporate to do profitable business and reach sustainability
in the process. The CSR can make a significant contribution towards
sustainability and competitiveness,” Neureiter said, in a brief interaction
with the media at the Chedi recently. Dana Sarhan, who coordinated the
briefing, was also present.
The CSR is a management concept whereby companies integrate social
and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions
with their stakeholders, he said.
“Organisations around the world, as well as their stakeholders, are
becoming increasingly aware of the need for socially responsible
behaviour. And the aim of social responsibility should be to contribute to
sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society.”
But shouldn’t businesses focus on making money instead of spending
funds in the name of CSR? “We are again speaking of corporate
philanthropy, where corporations make donations to charity. Critics here
note that they are giving away their shareholders’ money. But, it should
be understood that this can be done only if they see potential profit in it.
This may be because they want to improve their image by associating
themselves with a cause. Whatever, there is always an underlying
financial motive, so the company benefits more than the charity.”
Neureiter wears many hats. He has headed the Implementation Task
Group of the ISO 26000 standard and is also a member of the Austrian
CSR-Experts group. He is also an adviser to the UAE government, a
supporting expert to the Austrian Standards Institute, a senior partner
at The CSR Company and a consultant to Hyundai and other major
corporates.
ISO 26000 CSR CERTIFICATION
Why ISO certification? “The business world understands certification and
standardisations. Most of them in the corporate world strive to standardise
the processes and CSR being part of the business community requires a
standarised pattern. What does CSR involve? It is all about environmental
management, eco-efficiency, responsible sourcing, stakeholder
engagement, labour standards and working conditions, employee and
community relations, social equity, gender balance, human rights, good
governance, and anti-corruption measures and most importantly it is about
how you make your profit!”
According to Neureiter, a properly implemented CSR concept can bring
along a variety of competitive advantages, such as enhanced access
to capital and markets, increased sales and profits, operational cost
savings, improved productivity and quality, efficient human resource
base, improved brand image and reputation, enhanced customer
loyalty, better decision making and risk management processes. There
are business houses and customers out there in the market who
look at your products in a telescopic manner. Are your products CSR
produced? Is the product developed with child labour or environmentally
destructive processes? How positive are the products? The CSR is
business driven and it will drive your business to profitability in the long
run!”
CSR IN TOURISM
The CSR is a broad subject and is present in all ways and means
from the hardcore business sector to the leisure and other fields too,
Neureiter noted. “I had a funny call one day, from a British tour operator,
who asked about the availability of CO2 neutral hotels in Austria!
"I was absolutely clueless, but I looked around and found that there
were hotels who were eco friendly and CSR right. So, what does it
imply, good CSR is a means to bring in and keep your customers loyal
too. It is about sustaining business and customer relationships. Good
CSR strategies reduce risks linked to any potential and sudden damage
to the company’s reputation and sales. Building a genuine culture of
‘doing the right thing’ within the company offsets these risks.”
INVOLVE LOCAL SOCIETY
“CSR is about running your business positively and creating a
reflection of your own society. It differs country wise and culture wise.
What is right for Oman’s society may not be applicable elsewhere!
Just ask yourself this question: If all healthy people are going to
sit down and plan for the empowerment for the handicapped, how
successful are they going to be? It won’t work. Involve the socially and
physically challenged; integrate them in to the business cult,” Neureiter
said.
THE EFFECTS OF CSR
The perception of an organisation’s social responsibility performance
can influence:
• its reputation
• its ability to attract and retain male and female workers and/or
members, customers, clients or users
• The maintenance of employee‘s morale, commitment and productivity
• The view of investors, donors, sponsors, and the financial community
• its relationship with companies, governments, the media, suppliers,
peers, customers and the community in which it operates.
(Neureiter graduated in law; he was the head of Task Group
Implementation ISO 26000, member of Austrian CSR-Expertsgroup,
lectures at Vienna University and St Gallen Management Institute,
adviser to the Government of the United Arab Emirates, supporting
expert to the Austrian Standards Institute. The CSR Company was
established in Vienna in 2007, and currently has partner offices in
Vienna, Dubai, Kiev, Innsbruck, Bucharest, Sofia, Seoul, and Brisbane.
In a short period of time, the CSR Company has developed an
outstanding reputation and is now recognised as an international player
in the field of CSR)
It is widely
believed that
CSR is all about
giving, but it
is not true.
Actually, CSR
is about good
and responsible
business sense.
It is a business-
driven process.
It is a business
tool to guide
your corporate
to do profitable
business
and reach
sustainability in
the process
14 May 21- June 20, 2011
SLEEPLESS and
ACCIDENT prone
Are most of the male drivers who commit accidents on the road sleep deprived?
Men h
ealt
h
14 May 21- June 20, 2011
15Black & White
Also, it has been found that as people
age, the likelihood of sleep disorders
increases. A good percent of people
65 years old and older live with the
effects of sleep disorders, such as
sleep deprivation symptoms, sleep
apnea and periodic limb movement
disorder.
In older adults, sleep disorders can
lead to serious health consequences.
Hypertension and sleep apnea are
linked, for example, and problems with
breathing during sleep can contribute
to heart problems. Older adults who
take sleep medications or experience
sleep deprivation symptoms may
also be at an increased risk of falls or
accidents.
Weight changes, especially weight
gain, are common sleep deprivation
effects.
There are those who claim that sleep
deprivation can even cause cancer.
Compared to better rested patients,
those who sleep less than six hours
a night are likely to get dangerous
polyps in their colon or rectum.
Polyps–the abnormal growths
detected during a colonoscopy—
can progress to become cancerous
tumors. Studies and tests that were
conducted earlier noted that this is
exactly what happens in about 10
percent of cases. More polyp patients
reported sleeping much less than six
hours, while few said they slept more
than seven, researchers noted.
NO NEED TO PANIC
But please do not panic: This
doesn’t necessarily mean that all sleep
deprived patients are at colon cancer
risk. What it indicates is that people
who don’t sleep much at night might
have the same chance for developing
colorectal cancer as other high-risk
groups, such as people with a close
relative who has been diagnosed with
the disease or those with a diet high in
red meat.
Hope these facts would not have the
reverse effect with people losing more
sleep worrying over this. Ideally, all of
these facts should make you get a little
bit extra dose than six hours. Sweet
dreams.
(Disclaimer: The above medical
information provided is, at best,
of a general nature and cannot
substitute for the advice of a medical
professional -- for instance, a qualified
doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/
chemist, and so on).
THAT MAY SOUND LIKE an easy excuse to hinge on by reckless and careless motorists in town, but studies do note
that driver fatigue contributes to a certain portion of vehicle related accidents annually in any country. Drowsy driving
is one of the most common effects of sleep disorders and sleep deprivation, and basically, one of the most dangerous,
experts note. Driver fatigue has been determined to be the cause of some accidents, but most often this aspect goes
unreported. Sleep deprivation and other sleep disorders can not only have a serious effect on health, it can affect
people badly when on the road. It also spills forth irritation and road rage.
Doctors have always noted that inadequate rest impairs a person’s ability to think, handle stress, maintain a healthy
immune system and control emotions. Sleep disorder effects include mental and physical impairment.
Without adequate rest, the brain’s ability to function can quickly deteriorate. The brain works harder to counteract
sleep deprivation effects, but operates less effectively, and a person’s ability to focus and complete tasks is impaired.
Insufficient rest can even cause hallucinations and contribute to anxiety disorders and other psychiatric problems.
Other possible effects of sleep
deprivation include:
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Irritability
• Slower reaction times.
• Aged are more prone
16 May 21- June 20, 2011
ALPHA MALES ARE NOT just those
who look very confident and have an
animal appeal. They are more than that.
Confidence and appeal is really good,
but only on the superficial front. For,
the non-alpha male does not have what
it takes to confront the real thing. And
when trouble comes a calling, the non-
alpha male might just turn tail and run or
slip away unobtrusively.
Alpha males are those who take the
bull by the horns and win. An alpha
male takes on a real fight when it is
necessary, and only if it is necessary,
but he won’t think twice taking on
someone far bigger/stronger/better-
situated than he is if the matter being
decided is serious. And due to his fierce
drive, he will win, behavioural experts
claim.
Of course, all of that is easier said than
done. But, the tragedy is that today we
are confronted by fake alpha males; the
ones that are loud and aggressive and
worse still, bullies.
BULLY YOU
Bullies are different from alpha males
in every way: “The bully seeks the
limelight and tries to dominate every
scene. He is also known to use loud,
abusive language and would also try
to intimidate the other person. This is
quite often the case. For the bully, it
is all about himself and his successes
because all that he is bothered about is
whether he is impressing people. He is
too worried about keeping an image.”
In stark contrast, alphas don’t need to
impress anyone; why should they? Life
is not about impressing people.
COWARDS
Most bullies are cowards hiding
behind an aggressive façade. Look at
how an alpha male and bully runs into
opposition. The alpha male is always
known to pay attention to what’s going
on; he is alert to ways to make the
things happen the way he wants them
to. He regards the world as a place he
can influence by paying attention and
acting whenever he sees opportunity.
He does this naturally; it doesn’t occur
to him that he can fail once he’s headed
toward his goal. It may take more than
one try, but he won’t give up until he
achieves his goal or else assesses the
situation and decides -- himself -- that
he needs to change what he’s doing in
order to achieve what he wants. Then,
when he’s sure of his course, he’ll try
again and again until he succeeds.
ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
If he makes a mistake, an alpha male
takes note of what he should have
done, learns what he needs to learn
and moves on. Unlike non-alpha males,
he doesn’t go over and over his mistake.
Life has endless possibilities for success
to an alpha male. He loves to win and is
good at it. When he makes a blunder up,
he simply takes note of the lesson to be
learned and goes on. While other males
– Bullies, especially, because they care
so much about their public image -- keep
going over and over their mistake, an
alpha male never wastes time beating
himself up after the fact.
ALPHAS NEVER BETRAY
Here are a few quick takes on the fine
qualities of the alpha male:
• An alpha male never betrays a
member of his pack.
• An alpha male isn’t a liar.
• An alpha male takes responsibility
for his own actions.
• An alpha male always thinks before
he acts.
• An alpha male doesn’t suck up
to anyone. He is the leader.
BULLIES
Men r
ead
Alpha males vs
17Black & White 17Black & White
18 May 21- June 20, 2011
By Adarsh Madhavan
O
ff th
e wall
Am I a 'criminal'?
There is a phrase somewhere that
goes like this: if there was a law
against the thoughts in our heads,
many of us would have long been
executed (for the same).
I agree.
I think I would have been.
I am not sure whether I have a
criminal mind or whether I am
a criminal itself. Maybe, I am
somewhere in between. I don’t know.
But, I am glad that there is no
connection with what I think and
what I do most of the time. Because,
if there was, I would have long
been put in the slammer or would
otherwise be fertilising daffodils, as
they say.
For my thoughts are that heavy
packed with many intent, and not just
criminal alone.
No, it does not mean that I am
plotting to rob a home, or jump upon
someone in some dark alley. Don’t
get confused and drag me to jail,
please. Don’t move court against me
because I am saying that my mind is
filled with criminal intent. I am not that
type. What I meant was something
else, more so about anger, more so
about emotion, more so about want
and needs and desires, unachieved
goals, frustration, pain, the need to
be understood…
More about instant anger, instant
irritation, instant flaring up, instant
intense emotional mood swings,
Off
the w
all
mutterings and thoughts of great
wants and needs…
Someone recently annoyed me
with his blunderingly silly and
irritating statements and I almost
went overboard, springing up
from my diabetes-ridden weary
posture, push and bang him onto
the wall and smash his face (like
someone almost did to me sometime
back, long ago).
He was that annoying. And a flurry
of thoughts went on in my head,
each wild and angrier than ever…
honestly, I am glad when the raging
thoughts in my head don’t connect
with my actions because I have killer
thoughts running in my head so wild,
I guess they all end up massacring
themselves.
The more I think about it though, the
more I am amazed that not even a
miniscule portion of our thoughts are
ever featured outside. What I think I
am maybe, but, what people see or
hear is what I am to them…I am that
what I portray, even though my mind
is busy somewhere and my heart
is…my heart is…well, forget where
my heart is. I have got no use for it
anyway.
Even the ones whom we call ‘straight
forward”, “open”, “frank” etc are
actually tight-lipped about their
inner thoughts... Because that is the
way it is. How can you reveal your
innermost thoughts? That is nigh to
impossible. And if we dare reveal
them, will the world be able to take
it? Will the ones close to you be able
to digest your revelations? There is
a secret world running inside us; in
our brains; in our minds; in our hearts
and most of us take it to the grave
letting only a sliver of our feelings
out. Just imagine if we let all our
feelings out…it would be chaotic.
Yes, it would be truth. And everyone
says that we need to be true.
But, won’t we all drown in a tsunami
of truth? Well, let me speak only
about myself. I don’t want to paint
everyone with the same brush saying
that we have all got something to
hide. It is not about that. We may not
have skeletons in our cupboards,
but, we may truly have some secrets
that we don’t want to reveal to the
world. And when we think about
these secrets, we make sure that we
don’t blurt them out for fear of being
laughed at; or for that matter, for fear
of shocking others.
Or, look at it this way: Imagine
meeting people we don’t like. In our
minds, we would have winced at their
mere sight yet, you have no choice
but to greet them, pass some inane
small talk and try to sneak away. But,
imagine you just stood there and told
them exactly what is on your mind!
You wouldn’t dare!
I think I just know what you are
thinking now…
Let's understand Autism
Thank You Sponsors
Major Sponsors:
Presenter: Indian School Al Ghubra
Co Sponsors:
Social media support:
20 May 21- June 20, 2011
New censorship rating logos to be
unveiled soon
Universal: for all Parental Guidance For 12 years and over For 15 years and over For 18 years and over
An irate Omani father called up the censorship department of the ministry
of information (MOI) sometime back to complain about a movie he had
taken his eight-year old son to. Apparently, it was not a movie for eight-
year olds; some of the scenes were slightly graphic and not suitable for
that age children.
What was wrong there? How was the movie allowed to be played in the
theater?
“There was nothing wrong with the movie. The only problem was that
the father took his son without checking the movie rating – it was clearly
written that it was a 15-rated movie and somehow, the kid slipped into
the theater along with his father. No one is at fault here,” officials of the
censorship department counter.
But, even problems like these are going to be a thing of the past with the
exciting new plans of the censorship department to launch new rating
symbols that are simple, direct and clear, on every movie, games and
audios launched in the market.
This was announced by Abdullah Al Shueili, director, Nasser Abdullah
Nasser Al-Hashami, head of cinema department and Nasser Al Wahaibi,
employee, censorship department (movies, audio/video cassettes,
games), of the MOI, recently.
Om
anw
atc
h
21Black & White
EYE-CATCHING CENSORSHIP RATING LOGOS
“New logos, visually captivating, colourful and communicative will be
introduced in Oman soon. The rating symbols will be displayed at the local
theatres to educate the public and would also be put in every movie, games
and audios covers and poster soon...
We are going to start a nationwide awareness campaign that will educate
and create awareness to the public as well as win them some exciting prizes.
The campaign will be soon launched in the local media and communication
channels,” Abdullah, Nasser Hashami and Nasser Wahaibi jointly told the
Black & White magazine.
The trio also spoke at length about the importance of censorship, especially
in a country like Oman, which takes pride in holding on to its cultural and
traditional values despite the march of modernity.
Abdullah Shueili and Nasser Wahaibi also took the Black & White team to a
preview of an English movie at the Shatti Cinema and also gave as an inkling of how
the censorship department officials went through the whole movie with eagle eyes
and sharp ears and senses to catch anything untoward being propagated in the
movies and anything that would hurt the Omani senses.
Ashraf Mohd. Abdul Majeed Farath, public relations manager, Al Shatti and City
Cinema was also present at the pre-release viewing. “We don’t leave any aspect
out. The movie is viewed thoroughly and we rate it accordingly. We have a mature
viewing audience here, but, each segment is clearly demarcated and rated,”
Abdullah and Nasser said, post viewing of the film, Limitless.
Censorship is not created by morality - it is the product of fear. “A better ratings system is needed, whereby the viewer is aware of the points that will make a movie have an 18 certificate
Abdullah Al Shueili Nasser Al Wahaibi
22 May 21- June 20, 2011
WHY IS CENSORSHIP IMPORTANT?
“Censorship is not about banning, it is about a self inflicted control to contain
the negative impacts of audio visual media on the society. For as long as
theater has existed, there have been critics who are wary of its power to
negatively influence its audience. Theater, movies, games and audios can
have a dangerous impact on citizens, especially children, by establishing a
weak or immoral role-model. The younger generation is today exposed to
technological impacts of the audio visual world,” Abdullah said.
Today’s society now watches and accepts far more graphic depictions than
those of past eras. What was once considered shocking and morally wrong is
now considered mainstream because of the world wide usage of the Internet.
“When we were kids we were not exposed so much as the kids are today,”
Nasser Wahaibi noted.
NOT MUCH AWARENESS OF RATING
Censorship is not created by morality - it is the product of fear. “A better
ratings system is needed, whereby the viewer is aware of the points that will
make a movie have an 18 certificate. “We recently had an angry parent calling
up an audio-video outlet and complaining that they sold dangerous games
to kids. We visited the outlet and found out there was no rating on the game.
Now a game is imported in to the Sultanate through couriers.
And it is those materials that are being sold out to the general public. We
then decided it is time to put in regulations and save the parents the trauma of
exposing under-aged kids to unwanted violence, visual and audio. It is a must
that every responsible parent sees the rating on the movie, game or an audio
CD before they purchase. A voluntary effort can reduce the infiltration of non
rated and offensive audio visuals doing the rounds in the market,” Abdullah
and Nasser Wahaibi said. “Though we all talk about censoring and ratings, a
Theater, movies, games and audios can have a dangerous impact on citizens, especially children, by establishing a weak or immoral role-model
Nasser Al-Hashami
Om
anw
atc
h
23Black & White
lot of awareness is required to clean up the system. We have no say in the
television channels! We all know that it is censored in some sort of way;
television is widely open with regard to many issues, which may not be
suitable for some,” they added.
DO WE PAY ATTENTION TO THESE WARNINGS?
The censorship department officials were also open to the question
whether people actually paid attention to these warnings. “That is a million
dollar question,” they said, but added that they hoped that this new set of
rating logos would be effective enough. “At the censorship department, we
have a very strong desire to help protect the values and morals of society.
And we strive as much as possible to keep it intact by not allowing unwanted
elements to creep in through these movies and games.”
A proper society must carefully monitor what art it permits. People are
naturally impressionable, and if they are exposed to violence, hatred, or
fear, “they’ll feel neither shame nor restraint at imitating these actions”. It
is generally believed since time immemorial that movie directors, games
creators, poets and playwrights should not be allowed to influence children,
because they are unqualified to be teachers of virtue.
Because film was a relatively new art form, it was not initially protected by
the same provisions that protect free speech in books. Just as the stage had
been regulated for thousands of years, censorship boards were set up in
many countries to ensure that films shown or produced there did not violate
their particular ethics. Outraged audiences had demanded censorship when
they were offended by the immoral content of the films or licentious lifestyles
of the actors.
Ashraf Mohd. Abdul Majeed Farath
24 May 21- June 20, 2011
Word
pre
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Summer’s here and soon the sun will be belting us down. Time to start
thinking about the perfume accessories that are appropriate for the
outfit you choose to wear.
Rasasi offers a wide range of options for those seeking a suitable
perfume to match their summer season outings.
Summer with Rasasi
Damas, announced zero credit card charges on gold and diamond
jewellery purchases from all of its 21 stores in Oman starting
May 6. “This is a great advantage for Damas customers, as
most of the retailers will charge you when using credit cards to
purchase jewellery, and this can make a significant impact on the
price when buying jewellery. Since the gold price is increasing,
why pay even more for swiping your credit card? We believe in
giving our customers the best shopping experience, so when you
shop at Damas stores with a credit card, there will be no additional
credit card charges levied,” said Rajesh Govindan, Damas country
manager – Oman.
Contact: 24780036/84
Zero credit card charges on Damas Jewellery in Oman
Mercedes-Benz has launched a new season for its iconic CLS, the four
door coupé that made fashionable jaws drop when it first debuted in 2003,
and quickly established itself as the ultimate must-have style statement for
chic drivers across the Middle East. “Customers across the Middle East and
the globe have rewarded us for our courage in launching a completely new
vehicle concept onto the market,” explains a delighted Frank Bernthaler,
director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant.
“And with its exciting design and refined sportiness, the new edition of the
CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the
competition with our four-door Coupé.”
Mercedes-Benz launches iconic CLS
New English FM station soon
SABCO Media, has confirmed its plans to launch a new English
station, Merge 104.8 in the next few weeks.
Merge 104.8 will reflect the diverse cultures and tastes of Oman’s
population. Reaching different segments of society, the radio
station will offer a mix of music, culture and fun, to deliver rich
content and served with a fresh local flavour.
25Black & White
Khalid bin Mustahail Al Mashani new chairman of BankMuscatShaikh Khalid bin Mustahail Al
Mashani, who served as deputy
chairman for the past 12 years,
has been appointed chairman of
BankMuscat.
Shaikh Khalid possesses astute
leadership skills in financial
management and strategic planning.
He served as deputy chairman of
the bank since March 1999 and is
currently the chairman of the bank’s
risk committee.
Among the varied roles, he is the
deputy chairman of BankMuscat
International, Bahrain. Commenting
on the new appointment, Shaikh
Khalid said: “I am honoured to
be appointed as chairman of
BankMuscat, the leading banking
institution in Oman. My priority is
to fulfill the trust and confidence
reposed in me by the board of
directors, shareholders and all
stakeholders to sustain and
strengthen the leadership position of
the bank.”
The bank’s board of directors
recently approved the financial
results for the first quarter of 2011.
The bank posted net profit of
OMR27.8 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2011 compared to
OMR24.5 million reported during the
same period in 2010, an increase of
13.5 per cent.
Mazda Zoom- Zoom Club has recently tied up with Muscat
Panitball represented by Xtreme Sports LLC’s paintball division.
Located in Shatti Al Qurum, the 45 by 45 metres paintball
field layout is the same as the one used for the World Cup
championship with international standards.
Annurag Chawla, head of marketing and communications, Towell
Auto Centre, says, “It has always been our endeavour to get
closer to our customers through innovative and different ways.
Through this partnership, it is our earnest attempt to encourage
the members of our Zoom-Zoom club to lead a healthy and active
lifestyle vis-à-vis sports and adventurous activities. We will be
organising more fun initiatives of this nature in the future for the
Zoom-Zoom Club members and other Mazda patrons.”
Mazda Zoom-Zoom Club ties up with Muscat Paintball
Oris SA and Williams F1 confirmed the upgrading of their partnership for the
forthcoming Formula One racing season. In addition to the current on-car
locations, the Oris name will be seen also on the F1 drivers’ gloves. Alex
Wurz will join Nico Rosberg as an ambassador for the brand.
At the same time the new Oris Williams Day Date was launched. Its black
dial is made of genuine carbon in pure Formula One style. Even the bezel
serves as a display, with an hour scale from 13 to 24 hours.
As a further feature, the hands and numerals under the scratchproof
sapphire glass shine in dark orange Superluminova. The racing-style rubber
strap reflects the vertical tread of a Formula One car’s tyre. Clearly visible
through the watch’s skeleton back is the red Oris rotor – the mechanical
heart of this powerful watch.
(Oris Williams Day Date was given away to the winner of the Black & White
Sudoku for a cause event by its local dealer Khimji's Watches)
Oris steps up its relationship with WilliamsF1
26 May 21- June 20, 2011
Word
pre
ss
Park Inn Muscat has announced some
special mind, body and soul revitalisation
deals for its clients.
Customers can avail of the hotel’s
health club, which boasts state-of-the-art
equipment as well as sauna and steam
rooms. In addition, they can get a fun
workout at the temperature-controlled
open air pool, swimming in the cool
blue waters or lounging by the poolside,
observing the city drift by below. Members
can choose from the eclectic range of
Swedish and Thai massages, reflex zone
therapy, aroma vitality massage and back
massages.
The gym is open daily from 6.30am to
10pm, while the pool is operational from
7pm to 9pm. During the offer (from May
1 to September 30, 2011), the pool and
Revitalise the mind, body
and soul at Park Inn
gym membership packages per
month are offered at OMR30 per
person, OMR50 for a couple and
OMR60 for a family. For the pool-
only packages, customers are
charged OMR 20 per month with
couple and family memberships
costing OMR30 and OMR40
respectively. The hotel is also
offering special deals on meals
served at its Palm restaurant and
the RBG Grill. “Whatever your
preference, bring a group, because
patrons in groups of four or more
will get a 20 percent discount on
the total food and beverage bill
at both outlets. This offer is valid
from June 1 to July 31, 2011 and is
applicable on lunch and dinner on
the a la carte menu only.
Ramniklal B. Kothary & Co LLC
invited management guru, Dr
Pawan G. Agrawal, from the
world famous organisation called
“Mumbai Dabbawalas” for a
presentation.
The presentation was on supply
chain and logistic management”
which was held at their head office
in Darsait. Almost all employees
from sales, finance and logistics
department were invited to attend
this unique view on supply chain
and logistics. Mumbai Dabbawalas
are the people who provide
logistic services in providing food
containers (Tiffin) to the residents
of Mumbai (India). They deliver
200,000 tiffin boxes per day with
the help of 5,000 employees.
They are doing this service
flawlessly since 1890 and in
time without any IT software or
technological support. Eighty
per cent of the staff cannot
read or write, but they work
flawlessly together. The success
is the ownership attitude of
the employees towards the
organisation. Their annual turnover
is around 72 to 80 crore Indian
rupees (OMR6.9 million).
RBK presentation on supply chain and logistics
The creative team behind the
successful Save Energy Oman
campaign is celebrating after winning
one of the UK’s top accolades at this
year’s Drum Marketing Awards.
Edinburgh based branding agency,
navyblue picked up this sought
after award at a glitzy ceremony in
Manchester, England this month,
in recognition for its creativity in
the hugely successful Save Energy
Oman campaign, which ran from May
to September last year.
They won the ‘Best Cause Related
Marketing Campaign’ category. This
is the first award of its kind for the
energy saving crusaders. Launched
a year ago by Oman’s Electricity
companies lead by Electricity Holding
Company (EHC), Save Energy
Oman campaigned for residents
and businesses in the Sultanate
to reduce the output of their air
conditioning systems during the hot
summer months by simply raising the
temperature to 23 degrees.
Save Energy Oman
‘Bangs the Drum’ for the cause
27Black & White
The evolution of a youthful demographic will lead the way for the property sector as it
rebuilds itself in the AGCC. With 2011 GDP slated to hover around the 5.9 per cent mark
in the AGCC (as compared to 4.5 per cent in 2010 and 0.7 per cent in 2009), the real
estate markets are once again looking at a growth cycle that feels more tangible, less
speculative and is predicated on several drivers that are spurring the climb, according
to a report released this morning by Al Masah Capital, a progressive, Dubai based
alternative investment house. “Perhaps the most vital growth driver is the region’s
expanding population, most of which is young and has the ability to create exponential
investment in the property sector. It is this young, upwardly mobile demographic that has
the potential to dissolve the current fear over high vacancy rates and concerns about
oversupply,” said Shailesh Dash, founder and chief executive of Al Masah Capital.
AGCC Real Estate–back on growth track?
Ross Cormack, chief executive
officer of Nawras, has been named
'Outstanding Leader of the Year' at
the third TMT Finance & Investment
Awards Middle East, held in Dubai.
This accolade for Oman’s customer
friendly communications provider
follows a year in which Nawras
became a public company after the
largest IPO in Oman since 2005
and also began offering broadband
services to corporate and residential
customers. “It is a great honour
for me to represent Nawras at this
prestigious regional event and I am
even more thrilled that as an Omani
company, Nawras has won this
award and been shortlisted in two
other categories,” Cormack said after
receiving his trophy.
“I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to the entire Nawras family
and I share this award with every
member of our team. Together
we promised to enrich the lives
of people in Oman through better
communication services and it is
my privilege to work with so many
dedicated professionals who continue
to share this strong commitment to
our customers.”
Nawras was also shortlisted in the
category of ‘Deal of the Year’, in
recognition of its successful IPO.
Nawras was listed on the Muscat
Securities Market on November 1,
2010 as the fourth largest company
in Oman by market capitalisation,
after only five years. Qtel, Wataniya,
Zain and Viva Kuwait were named in
this category too.
Nawras Ceo named outstanding leader of the year
The OMASCO recorded the largest haul of trophies
in the Panasonic CIMA awards. Teams from across
the Middle East, the CIS and Africa compete for
these awards every year and a total of 11 trophies
were won by OMASCO for 2010.
Overcoming the strong challenge from several
agencies across this wide market, Panasonic Oman
bagged golds for eco related activities, model
showroom, showroom event, plus card event, plus
card sales and plus card membership growth. It was
also awarded silver for top market share and bronze
for agent of the year. In the Technical Olympics,
which tests the technical proficiency of the after-
sales care and the retail teams, the star appreciation
OMASCO sweeps awards at Panasonic CIMA summit
award was conferred to Panasonic air conditioning servicing
for overall customer service. Both Mohamed Badrul Islam
and Jerry Montemayor were awarded individual golds, for
AC and Blu-Ray repair respectively. As George Alexander,
general manager for retail engineering and distribution says,
“The Panasonic Oman team has done us, and the nation,
proud. These awards establish the customer-oriented focus of
OMASCO, reflecting our endeavour to offer the best products
and extend the best services to all our customers.”
28 May 21- June 20, 2011
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Omani women are continuing to foray in the world of fashion.
While some are keen to model, others like Wajiha Al Barkath,
are making the fashion dreams of young Omani ladies come
true with her new boutique, Noor Boutique, near the Shell
filling station in Wadi Kabir.
“For me, this boutique is a dream come true,” Wajiha said,
adding that once she completed her graduation from the
Sultan Qaboos University, she wanted to provide young
Omani ladies with something new and fresh related to
fashion.
The opening of my Noor Boutique has turned this vision into
reality. “Today’s Omani youth is always looking for something
that is unique, and we are here to deliver the goods. Our
evening gowns and tops are beautiful, unique and yet
affordable.
Our jewellery and sandals are something that you won’t find
anywhere. It is always charming to introduce something new,
in designs, styles, and fashion that’s what this boutique aims
to do for its clients,” Wajiha said.
Contact: [email protected]
A special student of the Sri Lankan
School Muscat held a unique
photography exhibition ‘Spirit Within’
at the school premises recently.
Oshadie Senanayake, an 11th grade
science stream student of the school,
has a hearing impairment.
But, this has hardly deterred the
boy’s determination and drive to
excel in the field of photography.
The 64-photographs exhibition not
only drew a big crowd, but it also
showcased a young boy’s silent yet
meaningful journey, which he has
managed to capture through the
lens.
“Oshadie is a special and
unique child, whose non-verbal
communication mode comes from
the deepest trenches of his sensitive
heart,” said Somabandhu Kodikara,
principal, Sri Lankan School.
“He sees beauty in things that others
take for granted and captures the
beauty with his lens and produces
work of art that fascinates the world,”
the principal added.
“Oshadie has earned recognition
as the most talented young
photographer in the community
earning praise and respect from
the young and the old alike,” noted
officials of the Sri Lankan Community
Club, who also promoted the event.
“We identified his ability when he
was just two and so presented him
with a good camera, quite early on.
Not only school activities, but
Oshadie has also covered events,
which has managed to find its
way in local newspapers,” Kumari
Senanayake, his mother said.
Oshadie, who has just appeared for
his London exams, has a collection
of more than 6000 photos.
Noor Boutique opens in Wadi Kabir
‘Spirit Within’ photographic exhibition of Sri Lankan School boy
IDentity MANagementBy Dr CK Anchan
Dr Anchan C.K.
managing director,
World Wide Business House
Identity management is a broad
administrative area that deals with identifying
individuals in a system (such as a country,
a network, or an enterprise) and controlling
their access to resources within that system
by associating user rights and restrictions
with the established identity. The driver
licensing system is a simple example of
identity management: drivers are identified by
their license numbers and user specifications
(such as light vehicle) are linked to the
identifying number.
The identity management landscape has
seen profound changes in the last few years.
In the simple settings establishing one’s
identity was never a problem. Authentication
is a simple task, as everyone knew everyone
else. But in today’s flat world where most
communication happens over the wire, we
deal with people whom we have not seen or
even talked to.
One way to think about identity management
is by imagining an enormous blueprint of an
office building. It shows the rooms into which
each person who works in the building can
enter. The blueprint also shows what kind of
key each person would need to open the door
to get into that room, and what that person
can do once they are there.
Like building security, identity management
is the most essential form of information
protection that agencies use. Yet, it also is
among the information security practices that
are least used or properly implemented.
Identity management is more than simply
permitting a user to log on; it controls what
that user can do, similar to putting boundaries
on where a person can go once in a
building. A systems administrator assigns a
credential of some sort, usually a number, to
a worker. That number allows the employee
or contractor access to the network and
determines what resources can be accessed.
It also can flag the administrator through a
monitoring tool if the user somehow gains
access to forbidden areas, or if the user
is performing actions that may indicate an
attempt to gain entry to prohibited areas.
Identity theft and fraud have been consistently
on the rise in the past years costing billions
to companies and their customers. In fact,
consumer identity has become a major
enterprise asset in some industries where
identity management practices aim to protect.
Defining an identity boils down to specifying
the minimum information that need to be
maintained about a person without disturbing
privacy of the individual
Establishing trust becomes a complex
and difficult proposition. Authorities like
the government, employers, universities,
insurance providers, banks or even the local
retailer have the same problem. Each one of
these entities needs to know different things
about a person to perform their job.
The scope of the identity risk management
profession is broader today and requires
a new and evolving set of skills to properly
manage and safeguard all identities
whether they are created and used for
accessing enterprise systems or collected
as part of business transactions. These and
other external factors such as regulatory
requirements are some of the evolving and
new identity risks that we must collectively
address.
To be continued…
Managem
ent
talk
29Black & White
30 May 21- June 20, 2011
Bizarre. But true. Related by an involved party.
This forty four year old man, married 17 years,
comes home one evening and asks his wife to
get into the car because he wants to take her
for a drive.
It has been a wearying marriage these past
few years, no romance, no warmth and she is
pleasantly surprised.
At one point he stops the car and picks up this
woman. Now he introduces her to the wife as
his girlfriend and explains that the marriage is
over, all washed up and this is the new love of
his life.
The reason I got you into the car, he says, is
because my girlfriend won’t believe I have told
you how I feel so I wanted her to witness it.
Then, since it is all over, he requests his wife to
get out of the car and take a cab home.
I hope that by the time I come in you have left
for your parents, he says, all civilised and cool.
She leaves.
Next morning, as the shock begins to wear
off she realises the house is hers not her
husbands and there is no reason why she
should leave, let him get out.
So she goes back home and tells him to take a
hike. He protests and says, I don’t have a place
to go to, you can stay with your parents, be
reasonable, where will I go?
Male chauvinistic logic at its best. He is actually
upset that she won’t understand his plight.
Out, she says, now.
So he calls his aging parents and complains
that his wife is being a stick in the mud and is
throwing him out and can he come live with
them.
They agree and are quite put out that their
daughter in law is being so uppity.
Look, don’t blame me, this is exactly how the
story goes…and it goes even more wacky.
Now, the husband has a sister who lives
abroad and she is pro the wife so she gets into
the act and tells her brother what a twit he is
and then calls Mum and Dad and ticks them off
too.
Now, the wife goes over to her in laws and
says, look the reason I threw him out was to
make him see sense, you don’t end 17 years of
marriage because he suddenly has a crush on
some girl, as parents you should work towards
saving our marriage not wrecking its chances.
Sorry, say the parents, but after 17 years
we have got our son back and we are not
interested.
So, the parents move out of their house for
sake of son’s comfort and move into foreign
based duaghter’s house since she doesn’t
need it.
Okay, in case you have lost me what we have
is: one wife in her own home. One husband
with new girl in Mum and Dad’s home and Mum
and Dad in daughter’s home and the daughter
is abroad.
Right.?
Now, the Fates, who have ostensibly been
watching this theatre of the absurd decide to
get into the act and the sister’s husband loses
his job abroad and they have to come back
home.
Except that they do not have a house. Stand by
for this bulletin. The wife offers a section of her
house to her sister in law.
So, they arrive and move into the brother’s
former house where the rejected wife lives
alone.
Somewhere around here you’d think the
brother’s love affair falls apart and all repentant
and contrite he comes weeping for forgiveness.
Sister gets her house, girlfriend is cast out and
husband and wife live happily ever after.
No. He is still with his girlfriend. His sister
stays with his wife. Mum and Dad are in their
daughter’s house and everything is right with
the world.
I wonder what they do when they meet for a
family get together?
The modern family…
By Bikram Vohra
Bikram Vohra, internationally-known Gulf based scribe
Sunny s
ide u
p
30 May 21- June 20, 2011
31Black & White
THE SPIRIT WITHIN THEM – MAY IT NEVER DIE
Two people made a major impact in my life recently.
One was Sheikh Khalfan El Esry and the other
Daniel Tammet. The first, is a motivational expert
and speaker, and the other, the celebrity guest at
the Black & White You Play Sudoku Open to all
competition 2011.
Their speeches were not just extraordinary and
out of the world, they were more than that – they
were moving; they brought a lump in the throat of
many who were present at the magnificent Oman
Auditorium of Al Bustan Palace hotel, and it made
all of us think and also open our eyes to a dreaded
disorder called autism.
I always used to say that it is easy to speak about
something and it becomes an entirely different task
when we set about to do something. But, both these
speakers knew exactly what they were speaking,
and both had the ability to move people with words.
This can only happen when the words come straight
from the heart.
On that evening, once again I learnt some words
of wisdom that I had almost forgotten. Speak from
the heart and then the world will listen. And this
was true of these two great souls, both who are as
different as chalk and cheese, but the truth was that
their speeches complemented each other.
While Daniel’s speech lent an insight into the difficult
world of autism that he had traversed on many
years back, Sheikh Khalfan spoke about the need to
integrate the autistic children into the mainstream.
Speak from the heart and then the world will listen. And this was true of these two great souls, both who are as different as chalk and cheese, but the truth was their speeches complemented each other
Mohamed Issa Al ZadjaliEditor-in-chief
In Black...
& White
In B
lack &
Whit
e
Basically, the speeches opened the eyes of all of those
present to the problems faced by an autistic child, his/her
family and also made us understand that we cannot stand as
mute or ignorant observers when our own country’s people
are suffering in this manner.
At the Black & White, we are always on the forefront of social
causes and this autism charity and awareness drive is a
cause that we have adopted because of the sheer need it
presented. If ever we faltered in our path; if ever we needed
some push to continue on in this path, we were given that
essential spark again that evening to light the fire in our
hearts again to move ahead in our drive. I write these few
lines to thank these two stars that brightened up our event
and would also like to humbly bow my head to the spirit
within them – may it never die!
Before I conclude, let me also say that the winners of the
Sudoku for a cause, especially the new Sudoku champion,
Vishwanath, gave a sterling performance. The ladies,
Premlatha and Jade Periera would have surely run off with
the trophy, but for a patient Vishwanath who painstakingly
held on to his nerve till the end and stole the trophy from
under the ladies’ noses. Congratulations Vishwanath;
congratulations to all the winners! See you all next time!
31Black & White
B&
W X
clu
sive
32 May 21- June 20, 2011
AN EARLIER documentary on
the autistic savant Daniel Tammet
shows him being hugged by Kim
Peek, a world famous savant (who is
currently no more). Peek hugs Daniel
and tells him: “Some day you will be
as great as I am!”
Peek’s words could not have been
more prophetic. Daniel is a genius.
Although he is hesitant to display his
usually mind-boggling mathematical
skills, he is the man who could
figure out cube roots quicker than
a calculator and recall Pi to 22514
decimal places.
Besides this, he has written
two novels. The first one, an
autobiography, ‘Born on a Blue Day’,
which sold half a million copies. One
would think that was it, but he startled
everyone again by writing a second
book, 'Embracing the Wide Sky', in
which he goes further than anybody
had imagined possible in explaining
how his mind works, and putting
forward his own theories on how
normal and autistic brains function,
which top scientists have said was
astounding. Besides all this, Daniel
can also paint, mostly the numbers
that adorn his mind.
We were witness to the special
genius of Daniel at the Sudoku for
a cause: autism event at Al Bustan
Palace hotel, recently.
GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Many in the audience were touched
by a video of his life and also his
speech where he spoke of his
childhood. Daniel, who was one
of nine children, got tremendous
support from both his parents and
siblings.
“We were poor. But, the difference
was that my parents offered
unconditional love. And that made a
difference,” Daniel later tells B&W in
an informal chat. “They always made
me feel special. I was the oldest and
I always felt I was special, not only by
my parents, but by my siblings too.”
At four he suffered epileptic
seizures, which he subsequently
outgrew following medical treatment.
He was later diagnosed with
Asperger’s Syndrome.
“Diagnosis helped me to mostly
understand myself; to better manage
my condition. It also gave me the
inspiration to help others with autism
and also their families.
“The basic message that I used
to spread was that: autism is not a
barrier to success or happiness!”
LOVE AFFAIR WITH NUMBERS
Daniel’s love affair with numbers
started young. “When I was a child,
I found it difficult to play with other
Autism is not a barrier to success or happiness
33Black & White
children; I played with numbers.
These numbers became my
friends. In my mind, numbers have
colours, shapes, and some numbers,
especially Pi, a number that is infinite
and has no end.”
PAINTING NUMBER 29 FOR OMAN
Daniel holds the European record
for reciting Pi from memory to 22,
514 digits in five hours and nine
minutes on March 14, 2004. “I recited
this in front of mathematicians from
Oxford University.” Daniel says
he sees numbers. “I can not only
verbally describe these visions, but I
have also created artwork, including
a watercolour painting of Pi.”
In one of the paintings, he painted
the first 20 digits of Pi and the picture
he sees in his head follows these
numbers. “I called the painting the
‘landscape of the Pi! There are only
50 copies in the world and we have
sold these copies all over the world.”
Daniel was generous enough to
donate one of these paintings –
number 29 out of 50 – to the autism
cause in Oman. (*)
29 LOOKS LIKE A WATERFALL
Daniel considers 29 as a “very
beautiful number – because it is
a prime number, which makes it
divisible by itself and one (1).”
He further describes 29 as “round”.
“It has a falling motion, like a
waterfall. It has purple and blue hues
and goes well with the landscape
of Pi!” And the Pi apparently is as
“beautiful as Mona Lisa”.
LEARN TO MANAGE AUTISM
Daniel also spoke quite candidly
about autism: “Autism is a lifelong
condition from which there is no cure.
One has to learn to manage the
condition as much as possible.
“People with high functioning autism
should avoid stress and try and learn
all the necessary social skills to
navigate through life!”
BREAK THE PRISON WALL
“Autism is a condition in which a
person is trapped in his/her own
self. With the right help and the
opportunities, such a person can
escape from the prison and be in
a better position to relate to other
selves.”
Daniel notes that there are some,
who after connecting and being
able to better navigate through the
complex social puzzles, might still go
backwards. “But, this happens only
when they don’t attain the support
they need.”
DON’T SET SELF-IMPOSED LIMITS
Daniel spoke about the impressive
and moving speech made by Sheikh
Khalfan El Esry at the Black &
White sudoku for a cause event
and referred to the comment on
“unconditional love”. “I would say that
it is unconditional love that autistic
children in Oman also need,” he
stressed.
“My parents gave me unconditional
love – and I firmly believe that limits
are often what we have put on
ourselves,” he added.
“We should always hope in the
great possibilities of what life can
give us – life is full of opportunities
and autistic children need hope and
help to realise these possibilities.”
AUTISTIC CHILDREN WILL MAKE
OMAN PROUD ONE DAY
The Muscat Autism Centre
(MAC) has received praise from an
unusually high quarter. The world
famous autistic savant, Daniel
Tammet himself. “I visited the
centre and found their work quite
excellent. The staff there are very
dedicated and professional; serious
and committed to what they do. I
salute the dedication of all the staff,
especially the centre’s director,
Masha'er, whose tireless devotion to
the cause of autism in Oman is an
inspiration to me and many in Oman.
“The children there are full of life
and I think with the right help and
necessary resources, this children
can make a lot of progress and
contribute to the future success of
Omani society.
“I am sure that autistic children
in Oman will also have wonderful
gifts and both the parents and the
educators are able to discover that.
Autistic children in Oman will also
make this country proud!”
(*) The painting, which is currently
with Black & White, is put on auction
and those interested in owning
this special work of art can get
in touch with the Black & White
office – Phone: 24565697; email:
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Supporters
enlightened about
autism in Oman
Post event we were tempted to ask the ‘powers that be’, who supported this cause, as to how they found the event and if such efforts really made a difference. We also
asked these venerable friends of the autism charity event to give their take on CSR in Oman. Here is what they have to say:
An eye opener!
Hassan Shaban,
Chief marketing officer
National Bank of Oman
What was the best part of the Sudoku for a cause: (autism) event?
What about the event did you like the most?
Before this event, most of us knew very little about autism in general,
and in Oman in particular. It has been a shock to most of us to know
that there are so many autistic children in the country.
The audience was also treated to a super show and they were all
praise for the wonderful talent exhibited by the participants of the
Sudoku competition too.
Do you think such efforts can make a difference in bringing more
awareness to the autism cause?
Of course, such events are the best way to throw light on this issue. In
fact, this will help and support the government to encourage its health
service institutions to accept this segment as a group that also needs
professional care.
Should corporate(s) in Oman be more proactive on the CSR front?
What is your take on CSR in Oman?
The CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is an evolution towards
Corporate Sustainability. The CSR is no longer an afterthought or a
mere handout. It is about corporate taking full responsibility towards
environmental issues, economical issues and social issues of our
country and for the betterment of the world at large.
It is about aligning one’s CSR strategy with the business strategy. So
yes, corporate Oman, I believe, is moving away from being reactive
and moving towards thinking and acting more proactively in the
communities where we conduct our businesses.
35Black & White
Fortune we earn is not ours alone
A combo of entertainment, spirit and knowledge
Kiran Asher,
Group Managing Director,
Al Ansari Group of Companies
(Oman/UAE/India)
Hala Srouji,
Corporate Communications Manager,
Renaissance Services SAOG
Best part:
I feel the best part of the event was the presence of Daniel Tammet himself
on the stage. His speech, in particular the words shared about his early life
as a child diagnosed with autism, were touching and something special to the
audience.
Make a difference?
Of course it can. However, a more elaborated awareness reaching to the
common man in the society is required for people in this part of the world to
understand that there are people with special needs that have not even much
heard here so far – autism being one.
Your take on CSR:
I’m of the opinion that CSR is the responsibility of everyone who earn for his/
her livelihood, irrespective of the class to which one belong. The fortune we
earn is not ours alone, it is to be used to pay three debts: to our families,
society and planet.
Best part:
When you look over at your friends and see their jaws dropped and eyes filled
with amazement, and it’s the same expression on the faces of people in the
rows around you, it’s an incredible moment – and that genuinely happened
more than once at the Sudoko for a cause event: from the speech on human
compassion given by Sheikh Khalfan El Esry, to the movie clipping about
Daniel Tammet and the announcement that he was in the crowd, to Daniel’s
touching speech, to watching the sudoko challengers work through the grids
with unbelievable speed, there were many inspiring highlights at this event.
All around it was a combination of entertainment, spirit and new knowledge,
which created a powerful momentum for human connection.
Make a difference?
Certainly, because the sort of human interaction that was present at the event
leaves an impression on the audience that goes beyond articles in papers and
other media. I saw families exchange their stories, hopes and hardships, and
for some audience members they had never heard of a savant, so the event
platform makes a real difference in going beyond the headline.
Your take on CSR:
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is definitely still occurring and it’s not
new for the country’s top businesses as CSR has been applied for decades.
At Renaissance Services the motto under our CSR programme is “genuine,
not just generous” and there is a noticeable shift in how Oman’s companies
are evaluating their CSR investments and moving towards programmes that
are sustainable, create employment and really generate a better quality of life.
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36 May 21- June 20, 2011
It made a difference
Cause and the competition
a great leveller
Farid Al Lawati with Daniel Tammet
Madhu Jesrani,
General Manager,
Khimji’s Watches
Best part:
I was totally impressed by the speeches, especially the
celebrity guest’s speech and that really touching video clip
of Daniel Tammet.
Make a difference?
Yes, all these efforts would help indeed. In addition the
following could add more mileage to convey educational
and awareness information and editorials:
• Leaflets and literature (handouts; Arabic and English)
for mass distribution (particularly to residences): Scientific
information (facts and guidelines for educating the parents)
• Facts and figures on what is the situation in Oman in this
regard
• Progress and success stories
• Convoy – for spreading the message, knowledge,
guidelines and general awareness on availability of
dedicated team (and centre) who would help, plus, perhaps
a helpline…etc
• Involving the ministry of education and ministry of social
development and sharing the knowledge for their internal
day-to-day considerations; especially when dealing with
Best part:
The best part was to see the confluence of a variety of people from various
nationalities congregate for a common cause. Like the Black & White had
said in its pre-event campaigns, it was the Sudoku competition and the
autism cause that brought in various communities without any language
barrier under one roof. The event also helped us understand that although
autism cannot be cured- the best part is that for all those who are autistic,
be it children or adults, the emphasis should be on their strength, rather
than spend too much time correcting their weaknesses.
Make a difference?
Efforts like this can actually make a difference. Moreover, the presence
of geniuses like Daniel Tammet is indeed a blessing. Celebrities like him
encourage such events by their mere presence.
Your take on CSR?
We believe that the most effective way to establish and sustain a successful
business in Oman is to genuinely become a good corporate citizen and
make lasting contributions to the communities that each company operates
in. Organisations need to identify, create and execute cost effective CSR
programmes that have both an immediate and long-term impact on the
societies in which they belong.
students and families with autistic children
• Organising events for autistic children to come
out from their confined places (public events –
sponsorships – speeches …etc)
Your take on CSR:
Yes CSR can add a great value (financially).
37Black & White
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Sudoku for a causeFor those who have missed out on the prelims (held at the Indian School Al Ghubra) and the grand finale of the Black & White You Play Sudoku open to all competition 2011, which was held at the Oman Auditorium of Al Bustan Palace Hotel recently,
here are some glimpses.Photos by Najib Al Balushi
39Black & White
Social media support:
Major Sponsors:
Co Sponsors:
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40 May 21- June 20, 2011
Sudoku final at Al Bustan
41Black & White
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42 May 21- June 20, 2011
43Black & White
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44 May 21- June 20, 2011
45Black & White
Social media support:
Major Sponsors:
Co Sponsors:
From left: Premalatha (Ist Runner Up), Daniel Tammet, Vishwanath (winner), Jade Periera (IInd Runner Up)
46 May 21- June 20, 2011
Daniel Tammet's painting on
Landscape of the Pi Daniel Tammet has created an artwork, a
watercolour painting of Pi. He painted the first 20 digits of Pi. There are only 50 copies of this
painting in the world. This, the 29th painting, was a generous donation by Daniel to the autism cause.
Those interested please call: 98675976
Seyad Farook, ophiologist/
field herpetologist at the
Sultan Qaboos UniversityBy Seyad Farook
I remember a snake biting incident when I was in Sri Lanka many years
ago. A young man, who was known to us, was bitten by a Mole Viper,
a venomous snake. Although he lived to tell his tale, it was a harrowing
story that he presented. The young man dramatised as to how his
pupils dilated and how his face got almost paralysed. But, luckily, quick
intervention saved his life. At that time, I was not sure of what would
happen when such snakes bite, but, now I know. And I also know that
the poor young man was not giving a tall tale about the after effects of
the bite.
An Arabian cobra, the Burrowing asp (Mole Viper) or the False-horned
viper have neurotoxic (nerve-affecting) venom and a bite victim should
be treated promptly. This is a fast-acting venom and it is potentially life-
threatening.
A bite results in a tingling and mildly painful sensation starting at the bite
site and spreading. The eye lids become heavy and the pupils dilate, the
victim has difficulty in breathing and finds it difficult to swallow. Facial
muscles become partially paralysed.
The patient loses balance and is unable to speak properly. Asphyxiation
is the common cause of death in the case of neurotoxic bites due to
paralysis of the diaphragm muscle or heart failure. Neurotoxins affect the
central nervous system, causing major organs or muscles controlled by
those nerves to malfunction.
When you are bitten by a mole viper…
Natu
re's Q
uest
47Black & White
48 May 21- June 20, 2011
He walks into our office like he
owns the place (hello, this is not
John Galt or Howard Roark of Ayn
Rand book’s fame). And, then
he asks for the managing editor.
Unfortunately, managing editor
is out of the office and so, Mr So
& So angrily asks the polite man
who greets him why the managing
editor is always out. She is not
always out, the staff member
responds very pleasantly.
“I will wait 'for her',” the uninvited
guest declares and plonks, again
uninvited, on to a chair and
sat there as though someone
committed a huge crime on him.
Our staff member, goes the extra
mile, offers him tea, which the
latter accepts with a superior
air and then sips the hot and
sweet concoction with shows of
discontent. When he realises
that none of the office members
present were interested in him
and his problems, he decided that
he must indeed seek attention
and then began to berate the
company loudly, punctuated with
how and why the managing editor
was too busy to see him.
“I’ve important things to discuss
with her, but she is always busy –“
he ranted and raved. It reached a
point where the patience ran thin
among the young staff members
who were already gnashing their
teeth and clenching their knuckles
at this unwanted diatribe from a
stranger in their own office and
they would have thrown him out
in the next minute. Thankfully,
the uninvited guest realised that
things were heating up against
him and he quickly slipped out
apparently fuming. Why do
people indulge in such acts which
show themselves in poor light?
Beats us!
He wants the front seat at all of the shows he attends. He does not care
that there is a chief guest, guests of honour and other dignitaries that
automatically obtain the front seats of any event because of their stature
in society. He does not understand and does not want to understand
that. Nope! He is only one man, and he needs only one seat and that
has got to be in the first row. Umhhh, er, sorry Sir, we can’t give you
the front seat Sir, the front seats are all booked for the main dignitaries
and also the sponsors – the ones who paid money for the show and the
ones who are instrumental in making all these shows happen. If they
are mistreated in anyway, then they will just drop us like hot cakes and
we will end up paying for the event from our own pockets…Drop the
plaintive story, he says. He is not in the mood to shed a tear over our
loss. You are inviting me? Yes. Then give me a front seat or forget it.
So we forgot it!
Uninvited guest
Man of the
front seat
Nit
tern
att
er
We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Fi-nally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you some offbeat stuff. Here goes, if you like it, give us the green signal for more; if not, just take it with a pinch of salt. For this fort-night, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:
A lady, who prefers to be anonymous, wrote to us recently about
‘Teacher in detention’ Bitter Batter bit (Issue 31): “I am writing with
reference to your article about the ‘cold shoulder treatment being given
to a teacher’ in the last edition of your magazine. “Teachers are the
roots or the foundation of the society. However, gone are the days
when teachers were deified. In spite of working with a lot of zeal
and dedication, teachers nowadays are sandwiched between the
management, peers and the students. They have to bear the brunt
from both sides. In view of the mentioned case, it is very essential that
the school management listen to both sides of the story. I urge them
to do so at the earliest. The teacher also should be given a patient
ear. Only then, justice can be done. This will not only iron out the bad
elements in the education system, but also encourage the dedicated
teachers to work harder with more confidence. This in turn will help
shape the future of the nation and the world in a better way.”
Give the teacher
a patient hearing
(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on [email protected] or call 99218461)
AJAY ENTERPRISESPO BOX 54, PC 100. TEL : 24815485 FAX : 24815490
E-MAIL: [email protected] website: www.albahja.com
50 May 21- June 20, 2011
Kid
stuff
50 May 21- June 20, 2011
Snails range in size from 30 centimeters to 15 inches in length.They will die if they consume either salt or sugar
51Black & White
The largest land snail recorded weighed only two pounds and was 15 inches
long.
As snails move they leave behind slime.
The average life span of a snail is approximately 15 years. However, it is
believed that some species live up to 25 years depending on their habitat.
Snails are considered to be one of the slowest creatures though on the
entire earth
They are nocturnal animals, which means most of their movements take
place at night.
Snails range in size from 30 centimeters to 15 inches in length.
Snails don’t like the brightness of sunlight, which is why you will find them out
more on cloudy days. If you keep one in an aquarium you want to make sure
that too much sunlight doesn’t filter into the room. This can cause the snail to
stop eating and to spend most of its time inside of the shell.
Snails will die if they consume either salt or sugar. Make sure you don’t offer
these types of items to them when you see them or when you have one in
captivity because their bodies can process these items.
The giant african land snail is known to eat more than 500 different types
of plants.
Snails are very strong and can lift up to 10 times their own body weight in a
vertical position.
It is believed that there are at least 200,000 species of mollusks out there
including snails. Many of them haven’t been found and classified yet.
Snails don’t see very well so they have to rely upon their good sense of smell
to help them find their prey. And, they can't hear.
Tongue twistersSix slimy snails sailed silently
Fun facts about
SNAILSSnails are one of the earliest known types of animals in the world. There is
evidence that they evolved more than 600 million years ago. They are able to
adapt to a variety of living conditions and they don’t require large amounts of food.
They have been able to continually evolve to survive the conditions around them
which many researchers find to be very fascinating.
Here are some facts about snails…
51Black & White
52 May 21- June 20, 2011
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given
numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that
each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.
SOLUTION:By Thomas Snyder
An active week ahead;
your major focus will be on
materialistic matters- gains and
financial security. Attunement to, and
appreciation of, the physical world of
the senses is the focus, and this is
a time to start fresh in terms of how
you arrange your life in order to feel a
sense of value and worthiness.
A hectic week ahead with
lots of social activities. You will be
associated with networking, making
contact, group activities, and income
earned from business.
With the New Moon here, focus is
on making contacts and reaching
out to others in both a social and
professional sense.
It is time to re energise.
Formation of new moon in your sun
sign represents new beginnings.
This is a personally busy time of
year, when you feel energetic and
enthusiastic. It is important now to
focus is on your overall personality
and habits to improve your
confidence in yourself.
A busy two to three weeks
ahead, increasing your sensitivity
to your standing in society and your
goals for constructive progress.
It’s a good time to develop new
business plans and goals, and a
sense of renewal and reinvigoration
with regards to your career goals is a
potential.
This is the period when you
like to take a pause after busy period.
It is also a period of review, letting
go, and recharging one’s spiritual
and, in effect, physical energy.
Focus, now, is on fulfillment through
service, empathy, and awareness of
other’s needs; but it can also be a
time of withdrawal.
Your spirit will grow, explore,
and expand beyond the regular
experiences in life. Make an effort
to initiate new projects or activities
that expand your mind. You may feel
renewed by a new perspective on
your life, something philosophical or
spiritual that you read or learn, or an
adventure that takes you away.
March 21-April 20
June 22-July 23
April 21-May 20
July 24-August 23
May 21-June 21
August 24-September 23
Your starsARIES
CANCER
TAURUS
LEO
GEMINI
VIRGO
Horo
scope
You will be enthusiastic to
fulfill your duties however, obstacles
in communications is experienced.
Holding off on important discussions,
interviews, or contracts is probably
wise right now, as thinking is foggy
and misunderstandings are likely. It is
also possible that your responsibility
may get increased with new project.
Romantic inclinations
are highlighted, as are any kind of
celebratory, playful, and just-for-fun
endeavours.
You will be especially aware of your
need for approval and feedback from
others, deriving pleasure from the
ways your own creativity impact the
world around you.
This is the time when you
may redefine the existing relations
or may enter into a new one. If you
find yourself sensitive to the feeling
of lacking support from partners, this
may be a good time to ask yourself
how companionable you are, and
work on developing yourself in this
area of life.
On a personal,
developmental level, this is a time to
not only listen to what is in your mind,
but to forgive and forget. This is the
time to explore and develop a sense of
inner security. Activities of home and
its surroundings will be highlighted. It’s
an excellent time to come in touch with
your feelings and needs.
A smooth week ahead that
makes you aware of your health or
work schedules. It is possible that
you may make changes in both of
these areas of life to make your
environment smoother than before.
It is also a good time for analysis of
any sort, as critical thinking is now at
its peak.
It is time for learning
something new, feeling at ease
in social situations, taking care
of the details of daily life, and
developing a mental rapport
with others. It is a time when
you will be more aware of your
environment, and when you
experience increased alertness.
September 24-October 22
December 23-January 20
October 23-November 22
January 21-February 19
November 23-December 22
February 20-March 20
LIBRA
CAPRICORN
SCORPIO
AQUARIUS
SAGITTARIUS
PISCES
MARILYN MONROE (BORN NORMA JEANE MORTENSON, JUNE 1, 1926 – AUGUST 5, 1962)
was an American actress, singer and model. Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a
film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt
Jungle and All About Eve were well received. By 1953, Monroe had progressed to leading roles.
She received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like It Hot (1959). In 1999,
Monroe was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. In
the years and decades following her death, Monroe has often been cited as a pop and cultural icon.
AJAY ENTERPRISESPO BOX 54, PC 100. TEL : 24815485 FAX : 24815490
E-MAIL: [email protected] website: www.albahja.com
FREE 20,500 copies (being audited)
Circulation Enquiries: 98675976/24565697Advertisement Enquiries: 97679290/24565697
www.blackandwhiteoman.com
AVAILABLEall over Oman on 7th & 21stof every month
First Free Fortnightly magazine
55Black & White 55Black & White
By Praba Iyer
Praba Iyer is a graduate of the
California Culinary Academy
in San Francisco. She was
the Associate Chef at Greens
Restaurant in Fort Mason, SF.
She teaches custom cooking
classes in the bay area
Cookin
g
55Black & White
A Maizeing CORNNative Americans call it the food of the Gods that created the earth. Yes, corn has an
important place in history. Its origin dates back to 5000 years and takes us to Mexico. Corn
is high in vitamin B and a very good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, zinc and iron. It
helps lower cholesterol and increases digestion. Fresh corn is popping up in all farmers
markets and grocery stores. Corn on the cobb is the favoured snack for my boys. I roast
the corn on the stove, for about five to seven minutes and brush it with butter and sprinkle
salt and pepper. I make an Indian version with lime juice, cayenne and chaat masala for
myself. Yum! Here are some corn recipes you might enjoy!
Ingredients
Corn meal -11/2 cups
Unbleached flour-½ cup
Baking powder-2 tsp
Baking soda-½ tsp
Fresh corn kernels-11/2 cup
Red bell pepper-1/3 cup(chopped
into small squares)
Green chili-1 small (chopped fine)
Cilantro-1/4 cup (chopped)
Buttermilk-2 cups plus 1/3 cup water
Oil-½ cup
Salt-1 tsp
Sugar-1 tsp
This appetiser is tasty and filling and
can be whipped out in the last minute.
Ingredients
Corn meal -½ cup
Unbleached flour-1 cup
Baking soda-1 tsp
Fresh corn kernels -1 cup
Shallots-½ cup (chopped fine)
Red curry paste-¼ tsp (Thai time
brand)
Cilantro-1/3 cup (chopped fine)
Green Onions-1 Tbsp (chopped fine)
Salt -To taste
Sugar-a pinch
Water-½ - 1 cup
Oil -For shallow frying
Method
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and
add fresh corn, shallots, red curry
paste, cilantro and green onions and
add water to make the consistency
of pancake batter. Heat a flat pan on
medium flame and add a tbsp of oil
and spread it all around. Place about
four to five dollops of the batter on
the hot pan and let the fritters cook
for about one to two minutes on
each side, or until golden brown on
both sides. Remove and place it on
a paper towel to remove excess oil.
Serve warm with sour cream and
chives.
The colours and taste of this salsa
are equally vibrant.
Ingredients
Black bean-1 (15 oz) can
Fresh corn kernels-2 cups
Vine ripe tomatoes-1(chopped into
cubes)
Red onion-1 (small, chopped fine)
Green onion-2 (chopped )
Cilantro -½ cup ( chopped fine)
Jalapeno pepper-1 (small, seeded,
chopped)
Cumin powder-1 tsp
Garlic clove-1 (chopped fine)
Lime juice-2 Tbsp
Salt -to taste
Pepper-to taste
Method
Mix all the
ingredients and
refrigerate for a
few hours until
the flavors blend.
Enjoy!
EGGLESS CORN BREAD
CORN FRITTERS
BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALSA
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush
a bread pan with butter. Place all
the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix
well. Add the corn, bell pepper, green
chili, and cilantro and mix.
Whisk the oil, buttermilk and water
together in a separate bowl and then
add the dry ingredients to it. The
mixture should be of cake batter
consistency. Pour the batter into the
bread pan and bake for an hour at
350 degrees. The corn bread is done
when a tooth pick inserted to the
middle comes out clean. Serve it with
a dollop of crème fraiche.
Laila, Omani graduate student of Nizwa University
The queen of everyone’s heart
It is true mother...No one else can be what you have been to us. You are
the queen of everyone’s heart. We all know that loving you is like food for
our souls therefore, we cannot stop loving you. And we are all sure that
paradise is under your feet. So, you deserve to be more than a queen in our
hearts!
I sincerely don’t think we need a single day to show you how much we
love you and care about you. So, forgive me if I say that you are my queen
every single day of my life. However, Mother’s Day (which was celebrated
recently) is like every day to me and the only thing new is that all people
over the world are celebrating this day for their mothers. So, I decided to
say thanks to you in a special way.
However, our true feelings are always in our hearts and we have real
feelings for our mothers. And we pray to God to keep her (our mothers)
beside us because she is the only person that the world seems impossible
to do without. All of us think what we can do to be blessed by our mothers
and there are thousands of answers to this question but there is only way to
do it. That is to pray for her and never ever let her down.
It is really hard to find enough words to say to a mother on such a special
day. But it is not that much hard to give your heart space to say something
that is true, like ‘I love you mom’. Always remember that although there are
thousands of stars in the pretty sky and hundreds of lovely dewdrops to
greet the dawn, we have only ONE MOTHER in this whole wide world.
These lines are not enough to express my gratitude to my dear mother,
who is indeed greater than mere words. This is just a short message to you
sweet mom: I am very proud to be your angel and to belong to such a great
woman. I am so thankful to God to live with you and be blessed enough to
learn from you.
You are the open school of all the seasons for me. And you are the piece
of diamond that I would never let go any day. You are my peaceful shelter
every time I need one and you are the love I have inside my heart. My
prayers are always for you, my sweet mother.
Even when I get old, I will always remember that you are the one, “who ran
to help me when I fell; and would some pretty story tell, or kiss the place to
make it well. My Mother” (Anne Taylor).
By Laila Ibrahim Obaid Al-Gharbi
ing c
urv
e
56 May 21- June 20, 2011
Recently I had a crash course in luxury. That too from a saint who had
relinquished his extremely wealthy lifestyle to become a wandering
saint from city to city with just a single piece of clothing and not a single
possession in the world. So luxury and sainthood…hand in hand…
SAINT IN GUCCI OR LOUIS VUITTON.
He told me that he never has to look after anything in his life, because he
has no possessions, he has no home, but has one house in practically
every city in India, more than what Mukesh Ambani can boast of.
These homes are well maintained and he does not have to worry about
their maintenance; he does not have to even bother with their running
efficiently, he eats only when hungry so no storage, to top it all, his
devotees invite him home and each of them makes about seven to 10
dishes and he always have a feast of 40 to 50 dishes per meal to choose
from.
Wow! Again more than even what the richest can speak about. He never
puts on weight because he walks everywhere, hence no diseases, he
only wears white, which is always in vogue so he’s a fashionista, he
sleeps at sundown so no need to leave a big carbon footprint.
I heard this in amazement and wondered whether I was chasing a
mirage, because he sure is on the right path and he doesn’t have a care
in the world.
He looks fresher and younger than me and is at peace with himself.
So where am I going wrong? I think all of us know the answer we are
running after things that are transitory and stuck in a vicious cycle
of acquisition with little dispensation, our little worlds of meanness,
hierarchy, bossing over the poor and we then get our comeuppance from
someone who has a bigger better deal from someone more powerful.
Look at ahem. Lalit Modi(where is he now?), Shashi Tharoor, the list is
endless...
But I hope we learn and move on to the real luxuries…the loin clothed
saint had got it right.
Luxuries…Bring it on
Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')
By Vandana Shah
It's m
y lif
e
Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, editor of Ex-Files. www.vandanashah.com.
Email me what you’d like to say on [email protected]
Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM
57Black & White
58 May 21- June 20, 2011
shape n
sound
Why am I so
TIRED?The single biggest complaint doctors receive from
female patients today is fatigue. If you are sleep
deprived and having only around five or six hours a
night, then, it is going to catch up with you, but if you
are getting a healthy seven to eight hours a night
and you’re still tired, then you need to go for a check
up, local doctors say.
If you feel symptoms of fatigue for more than two
weeks, even if they are mild, get a blood test. Once
you have ruled out critical concerns and anaemia,
you can begin to make some positive lifestyle
changes that can help reverse fatigue and give you
your energy back.
While occasionally fatigue may be a sign of a
serious illness, experts say most often it’s caused by
a minor problem, with a relatively easy fix.
Let us quickly check if you are anaemic, or
having an underactive thyroid etc:
ANAEMIA
Doctors note that if you are in your reproductive
years, and particularly if you experience heavy
menstrual cycles, have fibroid tumors or uterine
polyps, or if you’ve recently given birth, the blood
loss may have caused you to develop anaemia -- a
leading cause of fatigue in women.
To confirm a diagnosis of anaemia, your physician
will give you a blood test. Treatment, usually
consists of iron supplements if iron deficiency is
the cause, and adding iron-rich foods -- such as
spinach, broccoli, and red meat -- to your diet.
UNDERACTIVE THYROID (HYPOTHYROIDISM)
If you are generally sluggish, run down, and even
a little depressed, chances are that the problem may
be a slow thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland that
sits at the base of your neck and controls your
metabolism, the speed at which your body operates.
Blood tests known as T3 and T4 will detect thyroid
hormones.
CAFFEINE OVERLOAD
Many of us grab a coffee or cola for a quick burst
of energy, but for some women, caffeine can have
the opposite effect. Caffeine is a stimulant, but if you
take too much, the tables can turn and continuous
intake can result in fatigue.
Quick steps to take:
SLEEP
There is nothing like a good night’s sleep in a
dark room to regulate hormonal output, particularly
melatonin. Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep
per night for sleep to have a restorative effect. And
they must get enough deep (REM) sleep, which
is compromised by sleep apnea and other sleep
disorders. School-age children and teenagers need
at least eight to ten hours of sleep.
EMOTIONS AND STRESS
It is quite possible that your fatigue has both a
physical and emotional component. Many of us have
a constant stream of chatter going on in our heads
— a kind of stress implant from our earliest years —
that requires a great deal of subconscious energy to
manage. Learning what your private litany is — be it
chants of self-criticism, despair, anger, grief, shame
or fear — may be the first step toward turning down
its volume and reversing the spiral of fatigue.
DIETARY HABITS
Often the first thing missing in our high-paced
lifestyle is good nutrition. Stress and adrenal fatigue
can lead to binge eating and carb cravings. A
body that is running on the stress hormone cortisol
needs a readily available source of energy, so your
brain sends out craving signals for substances
like nicotine, caffeine or sugar that will head
straight for the bloodstream. But these are only
temporary reinforcements that eventually send your
body crashing down, along with blood sugar and
serotonin levels.
58 May 21- June 20, 2011
59Black & White 59Black & White
60 May 21- June 20, 2011
I AGREE ON ONE FACTOR THOUGH: women
are more likely to express themselves more in
relationships than their male counterparts. But
silent love is also love. Love burns in the heart
of men, but we are not good at expressing
ourselves, that is all.
PILLARS OF SUPPORT
It is worthy to understand that women go
into relationships looking at the man as a pillar
on which they could lean on. But, this may put
in lot of stress in a man who now feels he has
to be the ‘pillar’ no matter what, because that
is the basis on which the relationship stands.
Every man – macho or not – gets a high
when a woman, especially his woman, runs
to him for support. So this means that there
is a constant pressure on the man. But,
imagine if men start showing similar emotion
like women. What if we all start crying and
weeping at the shortest notice? Would you
(women) like it? I wouldn’t think so.
HIDE FEELINGS
So, we hide our feelings, pain and worries so
that you can be comfortable.
When you run to us with problems and
expect us to solve all of them, have you ever
paused for a moment and wondered whether if
he is okay to delay with your problems.
No! You want to be consoled, and you want
consolation right now and you don’t care
whether we are in the right frame of mind to
deal with it.
to womenBy a man
An
OPEN LETTER
Ladies, forgive me for saying this,
but, don’t you think that you are
always getting away with it? Most of the
time you have it quite easy and I would say that it
is the same when it comes to relationships.
Why is it that only your heart bleeds? You think our hearts are
any different? They don’t pump blood? God didn’t make our hearts?
Some miserly mechanic made it? Sorry, no. I believe that our hearts are
in no way different from yours.
And, how can our own male tribe make this mistake of saying that only a
woman’s heart can bleed? That is so biased, and if it were not only female
writers writing this statement, I would have said: “So, like a woman!”
61Black & White
Sorry. You don’t like to hear this, but you
have got to: men are humane beings like
you. Blood run in our veins. We feel pain;
we get hurt and sometimes we feel insecure
too. Yes, there are times when we also get
scared. It doesn’t sound macho, but there
you are.
And that is when we are forced to do
the silent act, well, not an act, but we go
down the silent drain, quietly drowning our
sorrows in whatever we know best to do
and hoping we can sort of numb that pain.
Tears don’t roll down our cheeks, but our
hearts wring in untold agony.
LOVE IS HERE
And when you (women) hurt us, we
also hurt badly. Our heart weeps. But our
tongue, unlike yours, is silent.
We can’t articulate our pain like you do.
You are an expert at that; we are duds at
this, so we go into silence mode.
Yes, that angers you. You go wild, because
silence is insulting and you go on an anger
campaign against us, blind to the fact that
what we need is not criticism, complaints,
comparisons…what we need is a bit of
appreciation for the way we are.
Listen, we are not perfect (and neither
are you) and if you look at relationships like
this, you will realise that the love you seek
is already there. Waiting for you.
Run, it’s a snake; he screamed and sprinted
out in front. All of us ran for our lives.
None of us have ever seen a snake, other
than in a movie; it was a pitch dark and
the path we took to flee, was much more
dangerous than the snake itself!
But, what the heck, my brother was leading
the gang, though he never fancied any sports
or games all his student life, we followed
blindly!
We reached home and while catching our
breath, one of the cousins asked, how big a
snake was it?
No answer...!
The one who called ‘tiger’, stammered
and said pretty long, “it fell on me and was
dangling on my shoulder, reaching my foot!”
We thought he was brave, but as my dad
came in, he told the staff to go up to the place
and check out on the snake.
We followed thrilled in anticipation of seeing a
snake being caught live.
It was an incident that happened during
one of our short vacations we spend with
dad during the summer break. My dad was
posted at one of the remote railway stations
and we joined him at his workplace during
our holidays.
Some four to five staff took up the search,
with lights and weapons, but after a long one
hour search we returned disappointed. No
sign of any snake anywhere.
The night we spend was filled with whispers
of fear and thrill, all about a snake that was
going to gobble us all up!
My brother was bragging that he stamped
on the snake and crushed it with his boots
and we knew he was far away from truth and
equally scared as well.
We slept planning to wake up early and
capture the snake alive the next morning.
Dad did ask us to stay away from the railway
tracks, but in broad sunlight, everything
looked normal and safe. We searched around
till afternoon, and found out a black electrical
cord in the tracks, which looked very similar
to that of our music recorder.
It took us a few minutes to retrace and
come out with the right version. My brother
had taken the music player, along with the
electrical cord attached to it. He had the
player hooked under his arm pit, with the
wire dangling down behind. The wire hit his
legs and in the eerie dark night scenario,
panic caught up with him and his fear played
games with his mind. He stamped the cord
down and threw the player away and ran for
his life. We were chattering away just behind
him and heard only his scream!
We followed suit.
We laughed our vacation away. Till date we
bully him on his snake episode…
The only thing to fear is fear itself, he had
said casually recently explaining to his
kids… he fears for them now. Often we fear
situations that are in no way life-or-death.
When you are in deep sleep, a snake may
glide close to you, but you are not afraid
because you don’t know there is a snake
beside you. On the other hand, when you are
awake, the sight of even an electrical cord or
a coiled piece of rope can fill you with fear,
because you think that the rope is a snake.
He laughs at it today, saying, fear, my dear
is a fear! When you fear, you run, and he
is quite a fearless man today. But in those
childhood days he remained pretty mad.
He sometimes believes it ‘could’ have been
a snake.
What is this fear of fear? The fear of
the future, the fear of losing, the fear of
performing, the fear of hurting, the fear of
acquiring, the fear of establishing, the fear of
future, the fear of old age, the fear of solitude,
the fear of death… ?
Life is going to be a very long run…
Now, what do we do to get a mind without
fear?
By Priya Arunkumar
The fear of fear