MOTHER'S DAY COMPETITION - Y-oman.com

Weekly March 16, 2010
Issue 113
BEHIND
THE LENS
IN IRAQ
MOTHER’S DAY
COMPETITION
Neil Griffiths
MUSIC IN OMAN
Men’s Fairness Cream
Mitsubishi Outlander
Beauty and Kitchen Secrets
Zatoichi, Beastie Boys
EM Foster, Women’s Day
Omanexpo, Omantel/Starbucks WiFi

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Dear Reader,
BBC World presenter Robin Lustig once repeated in
a blog the clever words stated by a wise Ugandan
MP: “An election is no more democracy than a
wedding is a marriage.”
Mother’s Day
EXHIBITION
VENUE: BAREEQ AL SHATTI MALL,
DATE: 17TH MARCH 2010 (TIME: 4PN - 10PM),
18TH MARCH 2010 (TIME: 10AM - 10PM)
With the elections in Iraq dominating the evening
news, here at the Y office, at the copying machine
or over a cup of tea, we continue our great
discussions about the state of affairs in Iraq. It
is a subject of great interest to our photographer
Jerzy Wierzbicki who shared with us his wonderful
photographic account of life in Iraq from his time
there in 2003.
In this issue we share these images with you, to
give you something other than American marines
in military fatigues, chewing gum and superficially
interacting with scared civilians – the footage of
choice for most news stations being bullied by
business oligarchs such as Rupert Murdoch.
In these pages you will find a test drive of Mitsubishi’s
Outlander, the surge in popularity of skin whitening
creams for men, the decline of civilised music here
in Oman, children’s author Neil Griffith, health and
beauty secrets and our usual spin on news and
current affairs from near and far.
T
W
For participation contact: +968 24643896 - 99860545
F
+968 24643884
www.bareeqalshatti.com
Y Team.

This week in
9
Twentyfour Seven
Women’s Day, Omanexpo, Omantel/Starbucks WiFi
13 Check This Out
Sound, DVD, What’s Happening Around Town
6
16
Y-rated:
BEHIND THE
LENS IN IRAQ
22
CULTURE:
Pop Goes the
Weasel
33
24
26 Yin-Yang
Men’s Fairness Cream, Beauty Secrets
Yin-Yang
Mitsubishi Outlander
Spotlight
Neil Griffiths
36 X-tra Time
Manchester United, PDO Golf, Body Builders
40 Chillaxative
Crosswords, Your Stars and Comic Relief
Editor-in-Chief
Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi
Work Editor
Paul McLoughlin
Design & Layout
Jon Hueek
Contributors
Priyanka Sacheti
Tory Garner
Photography
Jerzy Wierzbicki
Editorial Enquiries
info@y-oman.com
Published by SABCO Press,
Publishing & Advertising LLC
Y is a SABCO Media Product.

MARTIALLING THE ARTS
Dear Y,
2 weeks ago I read the article in the Y magazine declaring the Ministry of Sports decision
to block martial arts from being taught to young people of Oman. Last week featured
a response by a Grandmaster of Kung Fu, explaining when children are professionally
instructed in martial arts, confidence, self-esteem and discipline are inspired, reflecting
even in their schoolwork. So why then the growing controversy in Oman?
OMANTEL &
STARBUCKS OFFER
FREE WiFi
In 1974 I began Tae Kwon Do training in Canada at 11 years old under Grandmaster
Joon Jae (J.J.) Lee and my passion later led me to compete in numerous tournaments
and be an official Martial Arts Instructor for women and children. To deny this training
opportunity from our children and communities would be a great misfortune. Surely
the Ministry of Sports is the best national body able to provide the encouragement and
management the young people of Oman need to develop proper discipline and control
of mental and physical skills that comes with martial arts training. The Ministry needs
to take on a pro-active monitoring role to ensure that the sport is being taught under
the direct supervision of qualified professional black belt instructors, supported by an
approved infrastructure, providing easy and safe accessibility and is taught in a friendly
learning environment where injuries are avoided and good conduct and self-discipline is
encouraged and discussed.
Internationally martial arts is accepted as the ‘sport asset of the future’. Our children
depend on and deserve this pro-active approach for their future and well-being. Is there
nothing more we can do to help?
With sincerity and concern,
Y. Salim Abdullah Al Hatmi, Black Belt Instructor
Previous Trainer of Grandmaster J.J. Lee, World I.T.K. Martial Art Federation Founder
www.jjlee-itk.com
INCONSIDERATE PARKING
Dear Y Magazine,
The other day whilst waiting in my car
at the Al Fair in Al Sarooj, I witnessed
two men pull up in a disabled parking
zone and jump out to rush into the
supermarket. They were so brazen
about it, and neither of the gentlemen
seemed to have any physical disability
that would require them to park in a
handicapped space. I felt that in light of them parking across not one but two disabled
spaces, I should take a photograph with my phone and send it in to Y. To make matters
worse, when they returned they stayed in that spot in their car, ate, played loud music
and then proceeded to throw their rubbish out of their car and on the floor!
Is there a law against this? Does anyone crack down on this behaviour? Or is it the sole
responsibility of the stores who own the parking lot?
A concerned citizen
For many Y readers, heading into a Starbucks outlet to read
the latest issue of Y is upheld as sacrosanct. Now you can
access the internet and download the latest issue or any of
our previous issues, whilst enjoying your favourite cuppa,
for free!
In partnership with Omantel, Starbucks has announced free wireless internet access in
all of its stores across the Sultanate. Based on the current leading wireless technology for
mobile computing, high-end mobile phones and PDAs, this service is a wonderful feature
that augments your Starbucks experience.
Huda bint Abdullah Al Habsi, Senior Manager of Product Development of Omantel Corporate
Business Unit said, “We are delighted to partner with Starbucks to provide WiFi Internet
services in all the Starbucks branches in the Sultanate.”
The free service is linked to purchase and there is a one-hour time limitation on the
service. KJH
9

Women First
With the rest of the world
making huge leaps towards
narrowing the gender gap in
the professional world as well
as in society, the Sultanate of
Oman has made a constant
effort to support, empower
and encourage women to leave
their mark and contribute to the
growth of the nation.
Following suit, Ernst & Young Muscat in celebration of Women’s Day organised a gathering at the Crown
Plaza on March 8th. The event saw leading ladies of the local business world, the likes of Rebecca Blake,
Noora Al Nabri, Lara Hansen, Bridgette Ganguly and HH Rawan Al Sayid take to the podium to express
their views and opinions on women in the workforce today and their achievements over the decades.
Opportunity was a rare commodity for women back in the
day. Long viewed as the weaker sex and backed by no
substantial logic whatsoever, women were often ignored by
patriarchal society and deprived of the chance to perform or
even prove their worth. Today, things are very different.
Women are often preferred by most firms and organisations
simply because they have proven to be better communicators,
long-term thinkers and money handlers than most men. It
has also been pointed out that men spend more of their
income on goods for their personal consumption — such
as alcohol and tobacco — than women do. On the contrary,
women tend to spend more on items for their children or
the household.
Otaviano Canuto, Vice President of the World Bank’s Poverty
Reduction and Economic Management Network (PREM) claims that “women usually reinvest a much
higher part of their earnings in their families and communities than men, spreading wealth and creating
a positive impact on future development.”
Only for women
It was the first time I attended an event at the
French Embassy of Oman, and frankly
the architecture of this building - that
immediately caught my attention
– was glorious. It was beautifully
built with fine detail work, and
although the sun was setting
as I walked in, the grandeur of
this building was noticeable. I
bumped into a lovely woman by
the name of Marie Genoud, who
works at the French Embassy.
She explained to me that the
exquisiteness of the architecture was
no coincidence, on the contrary it was a
project that was completed in 1989 by the famous
architect Jean Nouvele.
Her Excellency Malika Berak, the Ambassador of the French
Republic in the Sultanate of Oman, kindly welcomed a group of women into her home. This diverse
group if charming women got together to celebrate ‘International Women’s Day’. The garden was filled
with candles and the sound of Fairuz hung in the background.
The weather was exceptionally beautiful, and as the place filled with lovely ladies. H.E. Dr Rawiya Al
Busaidi, Minister of Higher Education and H.H. Dr Sayyida Mona bint Fahd Al Said, Assistant Vice-
Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University for External Co-operation joined the female members of State
Council and many an Ambassador’s wife.
Ambassador Berak welcomed all the ladies and wished everyone a happy woman’s day, delivering
a speech in both French and Arabic. Mrs. Shakoor Al Ghammari, President of the Omani Women
Association shared her story with the rest of us; the story of how she started and what she
accomplished as an Omani woman. Author Azhar Al Harthy, shared a few paragraphs from her book,
Ms Suha Al Rukeishy, a TV presenter also shared a few words. Mrs Haiba Mohamed, an accomplished
Violinist played some tunes for the women and Mrs. Murielle Salem, Director of the French School
shared a poem with the audience. KF
Celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day turned out a success, encouraging
women in Oman to pursue their
goals and ambitions further without
the fear of being discriminated or
suppressed at work, a practice
looked down upon here in the
Sultanate, and rightly so. We would
like to take this opportunity to wish
all the ladies around the world a
very happy Women’s Day and the
very best in all their endeavours for
the future. CE

Omanexpo Goes Global
Erudite
A Room
with a View
EM Forster
The Grand Hyatt’s Ballroom never looked so good; it was
the unveiling of Omanexpo’s new identity. The launch of
this new look was in line with the 25th year of operations
for the exhibition company. With their no-nonsense, selfexplanatory
new logo that is all about going global, and
armed with a ‘Global Business Platform’ attitude, expect
new trade exhibitions and other high-profile events to
come here to Oman very soon. Such exhibitions are said
to not only benefit the industries Omanexpo works hard to
underline, but also benefit the country as a whole.
Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi got up
on stage for the corporate unveiling and announced, “By
bringing in new players into the market, and by providing a
platform from local and international companies to promote
their products, our company helps keep the wheels of
commerce turning in this age of globalization as well as
rapid economic development in the whole Middle East
region”.
To get your first taste of the new-look Omanexpo, visit
‘Interior & Buildex 2010’ at the Oman Exhibition Centre,
which runs till the 17th of March, where industry leaders
such as the Al-Sulaimi Group, Dosteen Doors & Engineering
Services and Khimji Ramdas Furniture Division will be on
show.
Operating since 1986, expect that this pioneer event
management company to stir things up with a reinvigorated
operation. Muscat will become the future venue
for exhibitors the world over. KF
A salient depiction of the struggles of love
in Edwardian England which parallels a
deeper clash between two very different
ideals, ‘A Room with a View’ is a classic
piece of modern literature which deeply
challenged a society in transition. ‘A
Room with a View’ breaks from the classic
format of plot, telling the story of Lucy
Honeychurch and George Emerson, two
young holidaymakers touring the artistic
sites in Florence, Italy. Accompanied
by their respective family members,
the novel’s main focus is to highlight
the clash between the old fashioned
‘Victorian’ ideals of Lucy’s family and
the radically-inclined and progressive
mindset of George and his father. This
clash is played out through various forms
of symbolism; the Honeychurchs confine
their tours of Florence to what is set out
in their Baedeker guidebook, whereas the
Emersons explore areas undiscovered
by tourists without the aid of any guide.
The approval of medieval art by the
Honeychurch clan falls in contrast to the
Emersons’ appreciation of works from
the Renaissance period, epitomised by an
outwardly and charged approach to art
- as do the two settings, England being
a place of repression and Italy a site of
freedom and sexual awakening. ‘A Room
with a View’ is certainly one of Forster’s
least controversial works, but for its
analysis of ‘old’ and ‘new’
ideals it has
served to be
a relevant
novel for any
age. PM
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN
Megafest 2010
Disco Dandia and Garba Raas – Navratri Celebrations
March 17th and 18th
8pm onwards
Al Falaj Hotel, Le Grande Hall
Mother’s Day Bazaar
March 17th and 18th
4pm-10pm and 10am-10pm respectively
Bareeq Al Shatti
Concours d’Elegance 2010
The Porsche Club’s largest gathering of Porsche vehicles
in Oman.
March 18th
11am to 6pm
Intercontinental Hotel, Palm Gardens
Park Inn’s One Year Anniversary
21st March
To mark the one year anniversary of Park Inn Muscat,
the hotel is offering special discounts:
A 20 percent discount on á la carte lunch and dinner
at RBG grill and buffet lunch and dinner at the Palm
restaurant as well as beverages at both outlets.
Also groove to the tunes of a special DJ at Sama
Terrazza where the same 20 per cent discount
applicable on the a la carte menu and drinks.
Booking in advance is recommended.
Sheik Yusuf Estes
Sheik Yusuf Estes, an Islamic
preacher delivers three
powerful lectures from 24th
to 26th March
Islam relationship
with other heavenly
religions
8pm, 24th March
Sultan Qaboos Grand
Masjid Auditorium
Let us come to the
common terms
8pm, 25th March
Amphitheatre (Qurum
Park)
Why Preachers of
other religions
convert to Islam
8pm, 26th March
Amphitheatre (Qurum
Park)
12 13

Sound
DVD
Zatoichi (2003)
Debuting in the number one spot, 1994 saw three skinny
white guys from Brooklyn dominating the charts. With
their fuzzy and empowering single ‘Sabotage’ The Beastie
Boys called on the help of Director Spike Jonze and the
result was total domination of MTV’s playlist.
The album, however, was far from mainstream. Clever
splicing took oldies but goodies to a new level, with their
twisty and squeaky, relentless rapping etching them
further into a niche spot in the R&B and Hip-hop scene.
The album’s release was timed to coincide with a massive
demonstration against the abuse of human rights in Tibet,
and the exile of the Dalai Lama. In fact the Tibetan
Freedom Concert that attracted over 100,000 people to a
park in San Francisco a few years later was organised by
The Beastie Boys.
Rap is a wonderful thing. It can convey an incredible
amount of information in a relatively short space of time. It is consistently poetic
and purposeful when muttered by the B-boys. Although not as rhythmic and soulful
as west coast rap, the B-boys rarely talk about ‘bustin’ caps’ or ‘tappin’ dat a**’.
Ingenious and insightful
word play and opinion pieces
on society are more their
scene. But this album is not
just glorious because of its
rapping, the musicianship
and instrumentation is what
really sets this album apart
from the rest.
The three rappers are also
musicians, and are joined
by their industry friends
on a selection of seriously groovy pieces. Mix-master Mike cuts and
scratches over the top, but heart-wrenching emotional playing coupled
with ‘phat’ sounds is what really captivates you when you hear this
album. The stand-out instrumental tracks were later compiled onto an
album entitled ‘The In Sound From Way Out’, which is also very much
a ’must-have’ album. But ‘Ill Communication’ is where it all started.
Although each track is a masterpiece, the two compositions that will
stop you in your tracks are ‘Root Down’ and ‘Transitions’, with the latter
so lazy, so funky, so mellifluous and soulful that you’ll walk around for
days with it being the soundtrack for your life, playing around and around
in your head. KJH
He has been described as a modern day Akira Kurosawa; Takeshi Kitano,
also known as ‘Beat’ Takeshi, wrote, directed and starred in this 2003
release.
Zatoichi is the story of a blind samurai coming to the rescue of a small town
harrowed by Yakuza (mafia). Befriending a local farmer, the protagonist
Zatoichi ends up offering his services to two young geisha, who seek
revenge for the murder of their parents.
Taking awards at the
Venice Film Festival,
London Film Festival
and a People’s Choice
award at the Toronto Film
Festival, Takeshi’s film is a
masterpiece of cinema.
There are comic elements
in this otherwise disturbing
tale and Takeshi’s stylistic
long shots of deep emotion
and little action are used
to full effect. The drawn
out dialogue and intensity
of the blind protagonist
go hand-in-hand with
the ancient rituals of Japan and the patience needed to perform them.
The gore scenes are computer-generated and Takeshi Kitano stated the
stylistic approach to gushing blood scenes are intended to be “visually
beautiful.”
Starring Michiyo Okusu, Daigoro Tachibana and Taichi Saotome, the film
is a blistering modern take on the samurai of yesteryear. Peroxide blonde
hair and a funny twist at the end reminds the viewer that this indeed is the
work of a director willing to put his own stamp on things. KJH
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14

OUT OF THE DARK
Paul McLoughlin, Photography by Jerzy Wierzbicki
The sight of Iraqis waving ink-covered index fingers to cameras was a promising
sight for many in the country who have been subjected to seven years of bombings,
shootings, kidnappings and airstrikes. It is a sign that the ballot box is the new form
of resistance for many Iraqis and that expression of sectarian differences now comes
through representation in the national parliament. But the waves of bombings which
preceded the mass turn out show that many are still willing to use violence to achieve
their goals and the scars of sectarian violence are a long way from vanishing. We
look back to Iraq seven years ago in November 2003, after the invasion by coalition
forces but before Iraq spiralled into a world of extreme factionalism and bloodshed.
Our photographer was in Central Iraq during the time and we have the privilege of
unveiling these exclusive pictures to mark seven years since the war in the country
began and see how life in Iraq has irreversibly changed for better and for worse.
A militia man from Mahdi Army
protects the Iman Ali shrine in Najaf.
The Mahdi Army was controlled by
Muqtada Al-Sadr, a Shia religious
leader who fought a brutal war against
Sunni militia and Occupation Forces. A
ceasefire was announced by the group,
which contributed to the stabilisation
of the situation in Iraq. Today they have
entered into the democratic system,
backing the Iraqi National Alliance
party, one of the largest political parties
in Iraq with strong links to Tehran.
Outside Camp Babylon, this family look for work in one of the few
available venues of employment in the town of Jumjuma near the ancient
remains of Babylon. The mother here is waiting outside the security
At the end of 2003, a new Iraqi currency replaced the Iraqi Dinar featuring Saddam Hussein. The man
checkpoint to be allowed access to the camp. Her daughter has a typist
who holds the ‘old’ note was assigned with the responsibility of sending a consignment of ‘new’ Iraqi
qualification from school and is hoping to find a job on the camp to feed
currency to banks in Iraq. Holding the ‘old’ note, which was still valid at the time the photo was taken, is
the family. Thousands of people working with coalition forces were
a Fijian security guard. Behind him remain stacks of bags containing hundreds of thousands of dollars
executed by militia forces accused of collaboration over the past few years.
worth of old Iraqi Dinars he has recently collected.
16 17

A common sight in Al Hillah Souq, this
old man carries his wares to his stall
in the market. Many of the children
surrounding him are orphans who were
employed to carry goods to customers’
homes directly from stalls. It is said that
there are 4.5 million orphans in Iraq,
with over half a million living on the
streets. The souq was crammed with
people, due to it being the main venue
for shopping in the city of Al Hillah in
central Iraq. Due to their popularity,
souqs such as this would later be targets
for bomb attacks by insurgent forces.
Under Saddam Hussein, there were tight
restrictions on the economy due to the
policies of the Baath Party. Once the party
was overthrown, the economic vacuum
created the perfect space for a ‘free
market’ which inevitably saw a thriving
black market open up across Iraq. These
people are selling contraband and clothes
bought from Kuwait which were openly
sold on the streets, many of which had
not been seen in Iraq for years owing to
the embargo.
The ruins of Babylon, one of the
earliest functioning cities in the
history of human civilization.
A coalition army base was close
to the ruins, which went some
way to protect the ancient city
from looters, but was severely
damaged due to the use of
heavy military machinery near
the site. In the camp, foreign
soldiers were given lectures
about the importance of the
site and signs which restricted
access to certain points were
strategically placed around the
ruins. Babylon became hugely
popular with visiting soldiers.
Pilgrims from Central Asia outside the Iman Husayn Mosque
in Karbala, where it is believed that Husayn ibn Ali is buried.
The mosque has been the target for several bomb attacks due
to the shrine being a popular pilgrimage point. Owing to the
popularity of the shrine, the mosque was developed in 2007 to
cater for this influx of foreign, particularly Iranian pilgrims,
who converge on the site every year.
Iraqi ladies passing Imam Ali
Mosque in Najaf. The mosque has
been an important Shi’ite holy
site since the Seventh Century,
believed to be the burial site of
the Fourth Caliph Ali. Since the
fall of Saddam, hotels around the
mosque rapidly sprung up to cater
for the growing number of Iranian
tourists. The mosque has also been
the target for numerous bomb
attacks, including in August 2003
when over 80 people were killed
during a blast after Friday prayers.
18 19

This pelican was the pride of the Iraqi market seller. The bird
was for sale in the souq district of Najaf in the Old Town
which surrounds the Iman Ali Mosque. In this part of the city,
thousands of pigeons were for sale and it proved to be the most
popular part of town. The market section of Iraqi towns was
hugely popular, as it offered merchandise, meat and other food
at a reasonable price and highly localised. It also ensured people
could avoid travelling far from their homes to get vital supplies.
A young boy is initiated into a group of men. This sheep was
slaughtered during the ritual of Eid, and the crowd that witnessed
the sacrifice joined in with the collective ritual by praying. The boy
did not actually slaughter the sheep, but was at close hand to the
slaying and was visibly scared by the proceedings. Once the ritual
was finished, the butcher painted a spot on the forehead of the child
with the sheep’s blood and set him to the front of the group with
knife in hand.
An important burial ground for Shia
Muslims in Najaf, where five million
people from across the world are
believed to have been buried. Wadi us-
Salaam is one of the largest cemeteries
in the world, approximately 3-5
kilometres in size and holds some of
the most revered religious figures in
Shia Islam. When this photo was taken,
convoys of freezer-trucks were entering
the graveyard to bury the remains of
people from Iran and across Iraq.
Young boys working in a brick
factory in Kufa, Central Iraq.
Kufa is another important city
for Shia Muslims and has been
the site of many rebellions
and battles over the centuries.
The young men worked
long hours in an antiquated
factory making mud bricks
using a traditional technique.
Despite the rising demand for
construction and repairs to
existing buildings in the area,
it is very likely that factories
such as this will become
a thing of the past as new
contractors enter the market
from outside Iraq.
20 21

POP MUSIC
and the decline of Muscat’s virtually non-existent music scene.
Think Soda Pop, Snap Crackle Pop, Popsicle, or popular - whatever
your link is with the word, for most people ‘pop’ is a fairly passé
term. Best used to represent the mindset of teenage girls describing
the latest Britney Spears release, pop has been diluted and is now
a term that goes hand in hand with commercialised music lacking
integrity and soul.
Driven by profit, the well-oiled machines behind the pop industry
have abided by their formulaic approach and have successfully
quashed most of the artistic merit out of mainstream music. Many
may argue that this has been going on for a very long time – think
the Monkees – and is not a new direction embraced by only today’s
crowd. Although admittedly the Monkees produced much more
sophisticated music than, lets say, Aqua, their performances lacked
sincerity and targeted 12-year-olds.
Don’t get me wrong; I liked the Monkees, even if they were the first
manufactured boy band that paved the way for the Backstreet Boys
and Westlife. At least when they did it, they were not a formula.
Nowadays, chart topping artists are seldom the brains or talent
behind the music. Carefully crafted songs by writers such as Stock,
Aitkin and Waterman now have their fists firmly up the puppet
assembly line of the pop industry, and tyrants like Simon Cowell
continue to milk the masses for everything they are worth.
From time to time, pop
is reeled in and given a
fine injection of passion.
In the 60s it was electricblues-rock
that defied
convention. In the 70s punk
rockers took another dig
at it. The 80s saw ‘prog’
rockers and ghetto culture
reign supreme, and in the
90s ‘two turntables and a
microphone’ went digital.
Kiran Jay Haslam
Today I jumped in my car on my way to work and surprise surprise, Akon
was on the radio. I thought that the Alvin and the Chipmunks nightmare
had passed us in the late eighties. I was mistaken. At the end of the day
returning home it was on again, and that drove me to write this article. That
and the fact that I am “lonely, Mr. Lonely, I don’t have nobody, to call my own, ooo
weeeeee oooh oooh oooh.”
Here in Oman, we pretty much have no radio station brave enough to face a backlash
from its young listeners. With little or no exposure to great music being part of their
programming, they fail to deliver anything of merit on the fm dial. This lack of bravery is
actually not exclusive to radio; venues offering live music across the Sultanate are geared
up for pop claptrap, too. As an adult, head into any of the five star bars in town and what
you endure can at best be described as an assault on the senses. The majority of musical
decision-making in these hotels is conducted by an F&B manager, who generally follows
the following formula:
Band that can’t really play well but churns out pop drivel + really attractive girl
holding a microphone = lots of punters.
Lots of punters = high sales of overpriced drinks = $ch–$ching!
Over the past 10 years I have been privy to many of these ‘decisive moments’ as a hotel
insider, where the F&B guy goes for the less than average band sporting a pretty front lady.
What is worse for us here in Oman is the total lack of effort by the hotels for this crucial
component that defines a good night out. Most residents of Oman can attest to the fact
that the same bands are ticked over at regular intervals here, so we see and hear the same
stuff by unimaginative and formulaic acts for years on end. The really sad part of all of this
is that usually the bands that make it this far out of their homelands to perform overseas
are very aware of what they are doing, and know that the verbatim regurgitation of bad pop
wouldn’t get them even a free drink back home. Still they continue to carry on because we,
as punters, refuse to push for more.
Hotels pay top dollar for these acts. And ‘act’ is really just about all they can do. There is
a responsibility for an outlet to firstly employ professionals, and secondly, pay people who
have talent and a passion for what they do. The knock-on effect for an outlet in Oman
willing to do that will surely be a great one. Instantly you will pull a crowd, and low and
behold, you will keep them coming back for more! Just look at the cultural events arranged
by H.E. Seiji Morimoto, the Ambassador of Japan; he connects his culture with high quality
acts that anyone in Oman can attend. And they do. His last musical concert at the ABA
auditorium saw a packed house half an hour before the concert was due to start.
So how can we push for more? And is anyone out there really listening? Well, in other parts
of the world, radio – and indeed TV – are very well developed. Perhaps overly developed,
and competition is high. There are so many fm stations all trying to snatch up a listening
audience, and so niche stations with a focus on clever programming have become the
standard. A great example of this can be seen in Australia’s tiny population and courageous
fm scene.
On any given day of the week, not only can you enjoy
various shows in various languages on both radio
and TV, you can also satisfy your taste for country,
rockabilly, jazz, fusion, world beats, deep house, dub,
trance, alternative, R&B, hip-hop or pop. There is a realm of
pre-recorded playlists generated by the
industry giants, however, listeners have the
option to tune in, or more importantly, tune out.
The personality of the jockey on air should also come
out in the mix of music, and with the exception of ‘Faik
On The Mic’ (and Mr. Angry), who indeed does play his
favourite hits, whether old or new, the rest of the on
air personalities seem a little restrained here in Oman.
Maybe it is just to my ears, but I am almost certain their
playlists are dictated by someone sitting very far away from the Middle East.
“If anyone asks you
what kind of music
you play, tell him
‘pop.’ Don’t tell him
‘rock’n’roll’ or they
won’t even let you in
the hotel.” - Buddy Holly
The complacency doesn’t stop there. The majority of corporate events we
attend leave us scratching our heads as to whether anyone at this event is
even listening to the band they hired, or even cares. Bumbling and less than
professional acts that dare to tout their product as ‘jazz’ are rife. They mostly
use that label because they assume they can baffle people into thinking their
plonking around on an instrument is intentional, oh and they can charge more
for the artistry involved in such plonking. It is time that the growing number
of young people in this country start forming bands to show these buffoons
up. It is time that we as patrons voice our frustration at acts that are less than
par playing in the bars and clubs around town. And it is high time that private
entities start making a connection between their CSR initiatives and music.
The world’s three leading academic countries, Japan, Hungary and the
Netherlands, have been running compulsory musical training from an elementary
and middle school level for decades now. In fact Japan has the highest musical
literacy rate in the world, with over 89 percent of the population musically
trained. Academically they fare much better than most countries, too. Studies
have shown that musicians and students who play musical instruments
display a greater aptitude for mathematics, and can socialise and
communicate more effectively. If music makes kids smarter and better
adjusted, shouldn’t it be a prime candidate for any corporation’s social
responsibility programme?
There are indeed efforts by leaders such as Brand Oman, utilising their
Youth Summit for the good of arts and culture in the next generation,
but alone it is not enough. We have seen a wonderful attendance at
street festivals, packed with kids vying for the spotlight on a tiny stage. In fact
the last festival Y attended in the Markaz Al Bahja carpark harboured a wonderful
surprise. James Brown was being blasting out from the speakers at the hand of
a great DJ, with passion and soul in his performance. The crowd loved it.
There is indeed hope, just listen to the kids and nurture their needs. We need
local acts to play at the new Opera House when it opens, but to get there we
need companies to bolster events for young artists. We need antiquated laws
on jam nights to be abolished. We need hotels to focus more on whom they hire
and why they hire them. We need more radio stations, and once they are up
and running we need them to offer an alternative to popular convention, with
conviction.
22

BUSY AS A
SPELLING BEE
Karima Farid
Which countries have you visited in the past year and how
different is storytelling in different countries?
I have been to America, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France,
and Canada and now in Oman. It is interesting how story
telling is different in each country. The humour is different.
For example, in America they love cartoon style books! I
only change in the speed of telling the story depending on
the level of English in the country that I am in.
Once upon a time in a land far away was an extremely nice
man by the name of Neil. Following in the footsteps of his
father, Neil loved telling and reading stories to just about
everyone. He learnt from his own dad from watching and
listening to the way he told the stories. Neil even observed
the way his dad used his hands, his eyes, and of course the
tone of his voice. But before the art of turning a story into an
adventure, Neil’s’ experience with children developed a long
time ago as he was a primary headmaster for many years.
What do kids call you?
They call me Neil, I always encourage it!
Has your passion in reading been lucrative?
Well, research shows that reading in kids is dropping,
probably due to computers and other visuals and that makes
me even more passionate. It motivates me because I really
believe in what I do. I donate to groups that need help and
yes I have been making money but also it is parallel with
what I am doing too to help.
His eyes literally lit up when he said this: “If I can spark a love
of literature in even just one child then I’m a happy man.”
He added: “From numerous studies and my own experience
I know how important good early reading experiences are to
a child’s success in their schooling, and later careers. Story
Sacks were designed to provide these experiences.”
He is indeed the director of UK’s Storysacks National
Support Project and a devoted storyteller. Neil Griffiths, one
of a few people in the world that can easily wander into kids’
hearts… through their ears! All the children and their parents
just loved what he was saying. He was the perfect remedy
for absolutely any child. With Storysacks, children ‘live’ out
the story in a way that they never did before. Actually, I think
whatever story he was reading would be most entertaining
for kids.
The passion in his eyes just shows the enthusiasm he brings
with him. He believes in what he is doing and without a doubt
and as selfless as he is, he easily spreads joy wherever he is. I
met him just before a very exclusive afternoon with the very
lucky kids of ‘Busy Bees’ and because I met him briefly last
year, I was surprised that he remembered me! After all he
was very busy throughout 2009, visiting many countries but
luckily, Oman was the only Arabic one he stopped off at.
Y met with this excellent author and shared that his latest
book was just printed the day before, ‘Albert’s Tuneful
Trunk’, a musical tale with a twist. He was in Oman because
of an invitation from The Sultan School, and Kate Gower
graciously explained briefly that it was certainly not the
first time for him in Oman, and it was in plan for him to visit
Royal Flight, Al-Sahwa School, ABA, British School and
PDO School. These lucky students with their eager parents and teachers were
definitely in for a treat!
Tell me, which is the best story that you ever told?
In terms of the one I sold the most, it was ‘Itchy Bear’ but the one I enjoy the
most was ‘The Journey’. It is a story about a little boy that loses his boat, which
gets washed out by the sea. Now ‘The Journey’ is getting orchestrated by David
Posnett, a music teacher at The Sultan School, to create music that goes along
with the story. I just had 50 story telling sit-downs with kids in Hong Kong, it was
great!
List the best stories that you ever heard as a kid.
Well, I have the three best stories that I loved growing up. ‘Black Beauty’, because
it was about horses and I grew up with horses and used to ride them too. ‘Wind In
The Willows’ because it was adventurous, and also ‘Where The Wild Things Are’.
Did you ever tear while telling a story?
I don’t tend to cry when reading a fiction, but it is not the same when it is about
a person’s life. I did cry at ‘Grandma & Grandpa’s Garden’ and that was a story
about a granddaughter helping her granddad to continue gardening for her
grandma that passed away. Some parents started crying, so I cried too!
What do you think about originality?
I think borrowing is unconscious! I have a story about an elephant who curls its
trunk until it stays that way. Now I really hope that it is original (he says with a
smile! Actually, he is always smiling!), I never copy, but two people are bound to
have the same idea and as history repeats itself, it just gets harder.
What are your hobbies?
I like travelling and playing table tennis. Football is hard for me to keep up with,
and because I have many godchildren who are better at it than me, tennis is the
perfect solution. I love having a good cup of coffee with a group of my friends.
What are your favourite characters?
From my own work, it’s ‘Itchy Bear’. Oh and I also love
‘Kipper’!
Why is it so important for you to support kids to read and
enjoy books?
It is a long job, and everyday new kids are born. In the UK,
today both parents are working, and are spending less time
with their kids, and I think that one of best ways for them to
connect and have a good time is by reading.
What do you think of Jim Henson’s philosophy?
That’s the thing, Jim Henson was just SO original. He wrote
stories that really communicated with children. Today, kids
have new words, and it is up to the person who is reading for
them to just catch instant words that make them
want to listen.
I always loved reading and I’m always eager
to meet authors, too. Just knowing that there
are individuals in Oman that are promoting an
interest in books today, I wish that I had had a
stronger influence growing up and introducing me
to various ways of reading. Thankfully my parents
bought me all the books I needed. Others around
me were not so lucky.
For more information on Neil Griffiths please
visit this website www.cornertolearn.co.uk
24 25

FAIR AND HANDSOME:
MEN USING
FAIRNESS CREAMS
Priyanka Sacheti
When encountering Indian print or electronic media, I am routinely subjected to the sheer
abundance of commercials presenting what has now become a painfully predictable – and
disturbing – narrative: a darker complexioned woman faces rejection either in matters of
love or career, seeks refuge in a fairness cream. Voila! A fortnight or so later, possessed of
paler skin, she becomes a successful career woman or catches the eye of the man of her
dreams – and if the going is especially good, she achieves success on both fronts. The
story arc is patently clear: fairness is not only a physical aspirational ideal but is also
intertwined with matters of success and professional advancement.
The debate regarding fairness creams and women has been long on-going in India,
whether addressing the harmful physical ramifications of using the creams, which
contain dubious lightening agents that perform the bleaching effect or the cultural
perceptions of beauty being only synonymous with fairness. Furthermore, if the
debate here seems India-oriented, it is because of the unprecedented popularity and
consumption of fairness cream products such as ‘Fair and Lovely’ there, as well as
local and international companies seizing to make most of the Indian populace’s desire
to achieve a fair complexion at any cost. Nonetheless, the phenomenon of desiring fair
skin and using bleaching products to achieve that has been seen in other parts of the world,
too.
A leading Indian newsmagazine, Tehelka, observed in a cover story the increasingly similar
appearance of Indians represented in Indian pop-culture, whether it be commercials, soaps or
cinema; now, in addition to women being fair, and therefore beautiful, men too have to be tall,
fair, and handsome. The word, ‘dark’ simply does not fit in this context.
The issue also becomes an interesting exercise in questioning branding techniques used in regard to
marketing men’s fairness creams. In a male fairness cream commercial, one of India’s leading stars,
Shah Rukh Khan, castigates a boy for using a girl’s fairness cream; indeed, why resort to using those
creams when creams specifically designed for the male skin are out there in the market. The agenda
of the branding exercise therefore seeks to legitimize the usage of the cream, so to speak; the added
endorsement of leading Indian male celebrities presumably adds further credence to the matter.
Shah Rukh Khan happened to endorse the first ever male fairness cream, ‘Fair and Handsome’,
which was launched by Emami in mid 2005; it now calls itself the world’s first male fairness
cream and notched up sales of $13 million in 2008, also faring well in the Middle East. Since
then, the male fairness cream market in India has witnessed the arrival of both local and
foreign competitors, each jockeying for their share of the market. According to statistics, men
account for 35 percent of the $200 million fairness cream market in India, a figure that only
looks to grow, thus inviting entry of further companies and products.
It appears that the dramatic changes in the male fairness cream market in India have been
precipitated by the Indian man’s increasing preoccupation with his appearance and the belief
that fair represents attractiveness and beauty. Yet, the moot question for the users of these
fairness creams – women or men – remains: do they actually work? The truth is that the
fairness creams only work upon the upper layer of the skin, creating a temporary bleaching
effect. In this case, beauty is truly only skin deep, a maxim that many Indian women and now
men unconsciously continue to swear by.
THESE GUYS DON’T USE NO
CREAM, ‘G’.
The added dimension of fairness creams specifically catering to men further complicates
the debate. The focus on women’s looks and them being judged by solely physical
criteria now finds a counterpart in men and their own concerns about appearing
well-groomed and attractive; men too seem to be subscribing to the
premise that fair is lovely, or rather handsome in their case,
contributing to their overall persona of being
confident and successful.
26

Beauty Queen SECRETS
Tory Garner
MUST
HAVES
Confessions of a Concealaholic is the new
concealing and brightening kit by Benefit. It includes a
face primer, two concealers, camouflage paste for eyes
and face, eyelid primer, eye brightener, brushes and
step-by-step instructions.
Glamorous sparkling eyes
We had a look at glamorous
complexion last week. Here are a
few tips to help accentuate your
eyes with soft light effects.
For a glamorous contrast, cover the lid with a gloss pen and use a
neutral powder around it. Use loose sparkling powder sparingly; use
a soft brush for a light touch and a hard brush with short bristles for
a more dramatic effect. To add all-over shine, combine your loose
glamour particles with body lotion or nail polish.
For an instant eye opener, add one sparkle
to the centre of the eye lash-line or on the
inner corner of your eye.
We love the new Dior Sérum
De Rouge Luminous Color
Lip Treatment featuring a rich
creamy texture, enriched with
mango butter. The best news
is that is comes with SPF20 –
perfect for sunny Muscat days.
Chloé is the new fragrance by
fashion house Chloé for women
with style. Top notes include
lychee, freesia and pink peony.
This floral spring version of the classic Miss Dior
is a must have this season. Miss Dior Cherie
Eau de Toilette is fruity and floral. Top notes
include orange, jasmine, and freesia.
Helena Rubinstein
Wanted Eyes Palette
Clinique Quick Eyes
Cream Shadow Rock
Violet
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
REQUIRED
Be part of the most dynamic and exciting media company in
Oman! Along with an excellent package, your job will include:
• Managing the day to day functions of the GM's office
• Handling a variety of complex functions, ensuring all key
tasks are implemented within the scope of work required
Prerequisites:
• Attentive to detail and resourceful
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent command of English
Le Khôl Gloss by Lancôme
Interested candicates can email their CVs
to hireme@sabcomedia.com
SABCO Media is a unique cross-platform of communication channels in radio, outdoor and publishing.
28
Telephone: (968) 24426 991 | Fax: (968) 24426 925
www.sabcomedia.com

Kitchen SECRETS Tory Garner
Y’s kitchen deity brings you delicious
and easy recipes from all over the world
and information on fashionable must have kitchen gadgets,
which will make a lasting impression on your guests.
Delicious chicken and
rice noodle soup
(serves 4)
1 whole chicken (1.6 kg)
2 white onions, finely sliced
5cm piece ginger, peeled and sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
6 crushed cardamom pods
3 star anise
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp crisp fried shallots
300g fresh rice noodles
3 spring onions, finely sliced
200g bean shoots (rinsed)
1 red chilly, finely chopped
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 bunch coriander
Wash the chicken and place in water. Bring to boil. Add onions, ginger, cinnamon,
cardamom, star anise, sugar and salt. Simmer for about 45 minutes. Remove
chicken, carve off breasts and set aside. Return remaining chicken to the broth
for another 30 minutes.
Strain the broth and finely slice the meat. Gently reheat strained broth, add fish
sauce and 2 tbsp fried shallots.
Prepare noodles as per instructions and divide between four deep bowls.
Add hot broth to each bowl, arrange the chicken slices on top and scatter with
the remaining fried shallots, spring onions, bean shoots, chilli and coriander.
Serve with lime wedge.
Match and Munch Sandwich Cutters
If your little one’s attention span seems to be getting shorter each lunch time,
how about trying these cool sandwich cutters? You can keep them interested
in eating by trying to solve the puzzle and then tackling that big dilemma:
“Should I eat that piece, or that piece?”
As these cutters are higher than regular
cookie cutters you can slice through two
pieces of bread without flattening the
sandwich. Available for RO 5.8 plus shipping
and handling from www.sweetmadys.com
31

STUFFTory Garner
autoBAHN
Wand TV remote control
It was only a matter of time before a design team went to ride the magic-boywizard
wave. Well, here it is, The Wand TV Remote Control. After a few simple
set-up commands, your wand will be able to perform all the duties of your usual
remote control.
LED light dog leash
This week’s pet gadget is a power generating dog leash.
The device includes a small storage space for doggy
poop bags and LED lights for late night walks. Coiling
and recoiling the leash powers the lights. No batteries
required. The safe leash is expected to go on sale in
about six months.
For information or to order one, please contact
www.fido-fashion.com
Dell Froot Desktop
Available at www.iwantoneofthose.com for RO 29
Gyroscopic Golf
Trainer
Need a gift for your golfing family member or friend?
We recommend the Gyroscopic Golf Trainer, a golf
swing-training club with a built-in gyroscope.
This gadget will ensure you perform a technically
correct swing, encouraging proper wrist alignment
and smooth takeaways. This training device is not to
be used with a ball, is available for left or right-handers
and requires six rechargeable AAA batteries.
Available at www.hammacher.com for RO 77
The Dell Froot Desktop concept means an end to keyboard, mouse and screen. This
design concept by Paulina Carlos may become the future computer. Dell Froot uses a
laser keyboard and screen projection technology. The two built-in projectors are the
virtual keyboard and the screen on the wall. Lets see how long it will take for the Dell
Froot to arrive in stores.
MITSUBISHI
AT AN OUTLANDISHLY LOW PRICE
32
Kiran Jay Haslam

It all started with an attempt to help our dear colleague Rufus out
with his current car purchase dilemma. Let me set the scene. Rufus is
in his mid-to-late 20s, recently married (boohoo all you single ladies),
considers himself somewhat of a go-getter, and has a tight budget to
purchase his first family car.
Sporty by nature, Rufus is keen to buy a vehicle that can go off-road to
just about any of the spots we feature in our Venture section at Y. He
also wants something that is practical, sporty and fun to drive, with his
only limitation really being price. 8,000 rials is his target, or just a tad
over that figure – depending on the features of the car.
A quick call to Sarah Chaplin at Zubair revealed the existence of a very
exciting offer, and opened up our search to a car that is normally priced
well above Rufus’ budget. Mitsubishi is currently offering a brand new
Outlander at a price most won’t want to back away from. We immediately
arranged a test drive and drove away to see just how well this car fits
the requirement.
Comfortably seating five adults, Mitsubishi’s Outlander is a medium
to large sized vehicle with more than competent off-road abilities.
Its hefty 3.0-litre V6 MIVEC engine pumps out 220hp and 276Nm of
torque at 4000rpm. Coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox, there
is ample power on tap to take a fully loaded vehicle off-road and up
a steep embankment with ease. Electronically controlled 4WD means
that you can keep the car in 2WD or click it into 4WD, with the extra
‘LOCK’ function, which makes steep hills, rough roads and getting out
of mud or sand a breeze.
ABS, EBD, ASC, AWC… you down with OPP? Mitsubishi has a safety
control system for just about everything in this car. Traction is always
assured, as is stopping in time. Our test car had shift paddles on the
steering column so that drivers can feel engaged and sporty, tapping
up and down through the gears. Yeah, you down with OPP!
Our test car was fully loaded with leather trim, alloys, trip
computer and a DVD player. The 650W Rockford Fosgate sound
system was immensely powerful. I tested it out with 90.4 fm’s
smooth jazz hour, and a deep low end emanated from the
subwoofer in the back. I am sure onlookers were shocked to see
a guy in an Outlander rockin’ out, but it happened, and I don’t
even like Kenny G!
At the press of a button the seats fold flat and the storage area
opens up. Getting stuff loaded in and taking it out is easy with a
clever tailgate function. In flat position, the tailgate can withstand
a 200kg load; perfect picnic seats, along with costume changing
after a day at the beach or getting all of your dive gear and a
heavy coolbox back into the car before you head home.
The creature comforts are all there, but the tailgate functionality
and electronically controlled flipping seats really stand out as
nifty features.
At this price our Platinum Beige Metallic GLS seemed like a great
buy for those who want an SUV but spend most of their time onroad
commuting through traffic. It is stylish and beneath the shell
is a competent offroader
allowing owners
to enjoy Muscat’s great
outdoors. Recently
Zubair invited us
out to Wahiba Sands
where we put this car
through its paces over
difficult terrain. Given
its ride height and onroad
capabilities the
Outlander performed
well.
If you are intent on
tackling the roughest
wadis out there,
perhaps you are
better off looking to
the Outlander’s bigger
brother, the Pajero,
however, most of us
spend a great deal of time going to and from an office during the week and
trying to have a blast of fun on the weekend. With the Outlander the Rockford
Fosgate and a MIVEC 3.0 litre petrol engine provide the ‘blast’, and the 4x4
system provides the ‘fun’. What say you Rufus?

For details call: 24706004
OMAN MODERN
ELECTRONICS Co.
Clint Derric Egbert, Paul McLoughlin
The bulked and the
beautiful
Perfectly ripped and statuesque,
Omani musclemen Haji Shaaban
and Nasser al Maskri sweated
it out under the limelight of the
Arnold Classic Bodybuilding
championships in Ohio, USA
Learning from the Experts
It appears that a little help from British
Karting pro Kieran Crawley has gone a long
way, putting the Oman Karting team in a
comfortable second and third spot in round
eight of the UAE Junior Rotax Max Challenge
Championship held recently.
Keep the Green Flag Flying High
The rupture between the club and its supporters widened this week at Old Trafford as
Manchester United fans reiterated their opposition to the Glazer family’s corporate
ownership of the club. Angered by chairman Malcolm Glazer’s other enterprises in the USA
borrowing on the back of United and thus drowning the club in debt, the ‘Love United, Hate
Glazer’ campaign organised by supporters has gone into full swing with the reincarnation
of United’s old ‘gold and green’ colours. These are the colours the team wore when they
were known as Newton Heath.
Back to the Green of Scotland
on March 6th, both securing
top honours in their weight
categories – 90kgs and 75kgs
respectively.
Participating in what is believed to be the most prestigious event
for male bodybuilders and going up against 21 of the best bodybuilders
in the world, Haji managed to flex and pose, and flex some
more, wooing his way through the competition to secure gold for
the Sultanate of Oman.
Haji kept to his word of making his country proud and is now
preparing for the Second Asian Beach Games in Muscat and
the World Body Building Championships scheduled to be held in
Azerbaijan – big hopes for a big man, but he’s among Oman’s
greatest hopes for gold in these competitions.
For those wondering who Kieran Crawley
is we are sure you will be aware of one of
his prodigies- Formula 1 champion Lewis
Hamilton, who trained under Crawley before
going professional.
Two days of vigorous practice and thorough
technical training from the professional
karter paid off, as the young Omani brothers
Sanad and Abdullah Al Rawahi, checked in
just seconds behind reigning karting champion Edward Jones in a nail biting race.
Father and team manager Suleiman Al Rawahi commented, “It was very useful for the team
to learn from Kieran Crawley’s extensive technical karting experience. The drivers showed
definite improvement in their driving skills following their time with him.”
The boys echoed their father’s
opinion. Suleiman said, “It is
definitely encouraging for us
to work with Kieran, who has
seen firsthand how someone
like Lewis Hamilton can move
The colours were awash at Old Trafford when Manchester United thrashed AC Milan last
week, a clear statement by supporters to disassociate them from the new corporate-centric
United. The rebellion was given huge backing when ex-United midfielder David Beckham,
now at AC Milan, donned a green and gold scarf given to
him by a supporter at the end of the match and voiced his
love of the club. In another twist to the tale, a consortium
of United-supporting businessmen called the ‘Red Knights’
are seeking to purchase the club from Glazer and have
publically backed the fans very vocal and visual rebellion
against the Glazer family.
This week, leader of the ‘Red Knights’ Jim O’Neil and an ex-United Director asked fans
to participate in a mass boycott of tickets for the 2010-2011 season, promising those
who support the proscribe to the boycott will be given their seats back if a ‘Red Knights’
takeover is finalised. Glazer, it is said, is resisting the takeover hard, insisting that the club
is not for sale, but we’re sure that he is well aware of the saying ‘everyone has their price’,
which is especially apt for an old tycoon like Glazer.
Top golfers in Oman, professionals from both overseas as well as
local talents gathered at the 37th Muscat Open golf competition to
compete for top honours over the weekend. Stiff competition saw
participants like three-times champion Azaan Al Rumhy and last
year’s champ Ali Hameed compete for the prize.
But it was dark horse Ian Morrison who was to gain the attention
of punters as he went on to clinch his first ever Muscat Open win,
scoring an impressive total of 152 points. Ali Hameed secured a
second spot and Sachin Bawa a respectable third place.
“This second day of the Championship was difficult. I felt the
pressure and was a bit frustrated with shots in the water. I thought
I had blown it but finished reasonably strong. After competing in
five Muscat Opens´ it´s truly great to win one. I´ll set the trophy next
to my Oman Open one and hope to be back in Muscat next year to
defend my title, as I´m moving back to Aberdeen in three weeks,”
said the ecstatic Ian Morrison post-match.
from racing karts to Formula 1
cars at a relatively young age. Both Sanad and I achieved personal bests in the Series 8
race following our training with Kieran and we were very happy with our performances. I
am looking forward to the summer when we will meet with him again so that we can further
improve our driving techniques.”
President of the 37th Muscat Open Daniel Byrne believes the
competition had been “truly fantastic” and was “closely fought by
Oman´s best golfers.” He also thanked the sponsors of the event for
their support, the Muscat Open committee and people who helped
in organising the event.
36 37

Y MOTHER’S DAY COMPETITION
In an effort to celebrate the connection we all have with our mums, this special Mother’s Day competition falls in two
parts. Y is giving away fantastic prizes to the winner, partnered by Volkswagen Wattayah Motors – a bag of goodies
and exclusive test drive, Badr Al Samaa – specific medical care for one year, Café Céramique – a day of fun and Oman
Modern Electronics Company – a Sharp LCD TV!
To enter, simply grab your mum’s hand, drag her over to your paper, pens and pencils, and start drawing, today!
The first part is to be completed by Mum, and the second part is over to the kids.
Kids you can even get your brothers or sisters to join in, however, they MUST be
below the age of 14 to enter.
To be eligible to claim the prize, both parts must be submitted at
the same time. Entrants must provide proof of ID, names and ages
of the child and mother, along with contact details.
Remember, the competition is only open for children below the age
of 14 and their mother. Judges decision is final.
Entries close on Friday, 19th March 2010.
Submit your entry via email to prize@y-oman.com
Part 1: For Mum
In 120 words or
less, describe both
the apprehension
and the joy you
felt when you held
your child for the
first time.
Part 2: For the Kids
Draw a picture of your mother and capture your
fondest memory you have of her in your drawing.
Your picture can be any size, shape, colour or form.
You can be as creative and imaginative as you like!
More Than Healthcare ...Humane Care
Oman Modern Electronics Company

—2—
KFWS • MindGym
February 8, 2010
SUDOKU
HOROSCOPE S
Amira K.
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each
column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from
one to nine.
CAPRICORN
December 22 – January 19
PISCES
February 19 – March 20
ARIES
March 21 – April 19
Fate plays a big role in everyone’s
life and even if you don’t believe
in it, there is definitely something
which guides people in a certain
direction. Read the little signs and
believe in your inner instincts; you
will seldom make mistakes then.
AQUARIUS
January 20 – February 18
Life is good, but it is now time to
push it to the next level. Change
might be scary at present, but
getting into the front seat and
taking control of the steering wheel
can give you a sense of new found
power. Bring this into consideration.
Solving life’s mysteries and puzzles
might be your kind of thing right
now, but remember that there is a
big difference with between that
and getting into other people’s
business. Try to be sharp and realize
your limits, as there are other
avenues to explore.
Treat others as you would like to be
treated. Sometimes you may lose
your cool and strike out, but you
have a good heart so try to ignore
all negativities. Once the situation
becomes a bit clearer and calmer
you can begin to plot your next step
in life.
CANCER
June 21 – July 22
LEO
July 23 – August 22
TAURUS
April 20 – May 20
Safety first should be your maxim
for the time being. Remember this
when you are on the road, because
you tend to have a typical Taurus
stubbornness towards getting
your own way not only at home,
but on the road too. Begin to wear
a seatbelt before you start your
journey.
GEMINI
May 21 – June 20
It is getting very exciting at the
moment for you dear Gemini, but
it is of primary importance to
remember that you must balance
your time out equally between
other people. One can never achieve
everything you want in life; so just
remember that the important issues
should be dealt with first.
It is one thing to get your own way
in life and another to get other
people to solve your problems and
expect them to be at your beck and
call! Get your act together and try
and sort out your own problems for
once; then things will fall into place.
Surprisingly, you are managing the
stress which is coming your way
with relative ease. This proves that
you are indeed a person capable
of extraordinary things. You have
passed a big test in life with this,
be proud!
Go Figure
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and righthand
columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order
they are given (that is, form left to right and top to bottom). Use only the
numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of
the nine numbers only once.
VIRGO
August 23 – September 22
LIBRA
September 23 – October 22
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 – December 21
The most important value in a
person is honesty. Try to accomplish
this and you will begin to be liked
and trusted by all! Lying is a terrible
habit so just try to avoid it as you
will likely to get caught out one day
which will destroy your reputation.
You’re stubbornness tends to get
in the way of others, so remember
that your actions could be hurting
other people. Just because you
were hurt once that doesn’t mean
that everyone should across is
a bad person, so remember this
before you begin to lash out!
SCORPIO
October 23 – November 21
Being noisy around the office
doesn’t always do you good. Your
image is ruined and your colleagues
are beginning to be annoyed which
is not good at all. Behave yourself
if you want to be respected in the
work place.
Sometimes you just need to depend
on yourself for everything. Expect
to be alone in certain situations or
circumstances. This shouldn’t put
down your confidence, it happens
to everyone. Just remember that
everyone has to solve problems
alone sometimes.
40

Attractive range of multimedia products.
For details call: 24706004
OMAN MODERN
ELECTRONICS Co.
KFWS • MindGym
CHORTLE
February 8, 2010
e-Oman and ITA
Richard Stallman
The Father of Free Software
KFWS • MindGym
February 15, 2010
42
SOLUTIONS
CROSSWORD
sudoku
go figure
KFWS • MindGym
February 15, 2010
Ryu’s Beat and Wind
from Japanasia
with Kano and Saga
ABA Auditorium

Tara Arctic Expedition
After a fifteen month
scientific research trip
exploring the darkest,
coldest reaches of the
Arctic, the Tara Arctic
Expedition stopped off
in the warm waters of
Oman to raise awareness
of their mission that
tackles the growing
concern over climate
change.