On the ball Can't decipher Trump-speak? Meet Margaret, the computer bot. P4-5 - Gulf Times
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Monday, May 11, 2020
Ramadan 18, 1441 AH
Doha today 280 - 370
Cover
Story
On the ball
Can’t decipher Trump-speak? Meet
Margaret, the computer bot. P4-5
Bollywood Back Page
Jacqueline says lockdown Flying Truth –a story that
made her realise life is short. redefines the value of friendship.
Page 14 Page 16
2 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT
SERIES TO BINGE WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME
PRAYER TIME
Fajr 3.25am
Shorooq (sunrise) 4.52am
Zuhr (noon) 11.30am
Asr (afternoon) 2.58pm
Maghreb (sunset) 6.09pm
Isha (night) 7.39pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency 999
Worldwide Emergency Number 112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 The Expanse be from Mars (MCRN Federation). As news of the attack
Local Directory 180 DIRECTION: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby spreads throughout the system, the incident’s flow-on
International Calls Enquires 150 CAST: Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper threatens to destabilise already tenuous relations between
Hamad International Airport 40106666 SYNOPSIS: Two hundred years in the future, in a fully Earth, Mars and The Belt. Far away from the struggles
Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 colonised solar system, police detective Josephus Miller in deep space, on Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh
Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 (Thomas Jane), who was born in the asteroid belt, is given Aghdashloo), a powerful United Nations executive and
Qatar Airways 44496000 the assignment to find a missing young woman; Julie diplomat, works to prevent war between Earth and Mars
Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Mao (Florence Faivre). Meanwhile, James Holden (Steven by any means. Soon, the 3 find out the missing woman and
Qatar General Electricity and Strait), the first officer of an ice freighter, is witness to the ice freighter’s fate are part of a vast covert conspiracy
Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 an unprovoked attack upon the ship, by craft believed to which threatens all humanity.
Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre 44594050
Qatar News Agency 44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation 44464444
Humanitarian Services Office
(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)
Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372,
40253369
Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364
Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365
Qatar Airways 40253374
uote Unquote
Q
“It does not matter how
slowly you go as long as
you do not stop.”
— Confucius
Community Editor
Goliath represent her in a wrongful death case. After reluctantly
Kamran Rehmat DIRECTION: David E. Kelley, Jonathan Shapiro accepting to take on the case, a series of strange events
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com CAST: Billy Bob Thornton, Tania Raymonde, Nina Arianda befall Billy. Through death threats, harassment, and
Telephone: 44466405 SYNOPSIS: Billy Mcbride is going through a rough trumped up arrests, Billy embarks on obtaining justice, and
Fax: 44350474 patch. He has been fired from the law firm he helped it is one hell of a ride. Additional unique cases eventually
build, his wife has left him, and he’s now a down on his come Billy and Patty’s way, making the ride even more
luck ambulance chaser. A lady (Patty) approaches him to entertaining.
Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 3
BODY & MIND COMMUNITY
Effects of Covid-19 on caregivers
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be even more difficult to be a
caregiver, especially when your loved one has difficulty understanding
some of the necessary changes required to keep her/him, your family safe
up with options for maintaining a
sense of normalcy. That could be
helping her set up weekly phone
calls, or a Skype session with other
grandchildren or friends.
For those who have a greater
level of cognitive impairment, their
behaviour may change as routines
change. Depending on the level of
dementia or neurologic issues, these
patients sometimes can become
confused, or become anxious or
agitated with any change in the home
environment.
As you try to develop a new
routine, it’s important to keep
the environment calm and have
strategies to help alleviate tension.
This will help you, as well, since
patients with chronic neurologic
conditions, such as migraines,
epilepsy and seizures, are especially
susceptible to the effects of stress.
First, make sure you have all
necessary medication on hand both
what you need for daily use and any
rescue medication for migraines or
seizures. Take an inventory of your
medication, and if you see you are
low, consider asking for a three-
month prescription refill so that you
don’t have to call anyone for urgent
refills.
AVOID THE DISCUSSION: For a loved one who has significant dementia or more severe issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and may not be able to process Second, create an emergency
information, it’s best to avoid discussions about Covid-19. action plan. I suggest that you talk to
your neurologist or other health care
Q
provider about a plan. When should
uestion: My mother, you call 911 if your medications do
who has dementia, lives not work? The same is true for your
with my husband and mother. Talk with your family and
me, as well as our two also contact her health care provider
children. As Covid-19 to develop a plan regarding extra
has continued, I am support or when to call 911 if she
now working at home and juggling becomes too difficult to manage.
her care, as well as schooling my Identify opportunities to de-
children. I’m overwhelmed and stress, which will help you reduce
getting migraines more than usual. your risk for migraines. Consider
My mom seems more angry than these tips:
usual and expresses resentment 1. Limit news to twice daily and
about us not allowing her to visit rely on credible sources such as the
with her other grandchildren. Any Centers for Disease Control and
advice to help her and also to reduce Prevention and Mayo Clinic.
my stress level? 2. Make self-care part of your
Answer: Having caregiving daily routine. This includes eating
responsibilities for a loved one with a healthy diet, staying hydrated and
a neurologic issue like Alzheimer’s getting plenty of sleep.
disease, dementia or mild cognitive 3. Exercise. Take a walk outside or
impairment can be challenging on do a more formal routine.
any given day. During the Covid-19 4. Meditate, stretch or practice
pandemic, it can be even more deep breathing.
difficult to be a caregiver, especially 5. Focus on the positive. Find at
when your loved one has difficulty least one thing per day that makes
understanding some of the necessary you smile.
changes required to keep her and CHALLENGING: Social distancing guidelines can be challenging, especially for an older person who is accustomed to Because it’s unclear how long
your family safe. visiting regularly with family and friends. the disruption and uncertainty of
What to say and how to manage Covid-19 will last, you may also
during these uncertain times in the world, there’s no problem significant dementia or more severe changes. Social distancing guidelines want to consider reaching out to
depends on the severity of your loved with having a general discussion issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can be challenging, especially for your health care provider or other
one’s condition. about Covid-19 and reminding her and may not be able to process an older person who is accustomed organisations about additional
If your loved one is processing about what she needs to do, such as information, it’s best to avoid to visiting regularly with family and resources to help manage your
relatively well, that is she has a mild washing her hands and everything discussions about Covid-19. friends. It’s important to recognise caregiving responsibilities and daily
cognitive impairment but is able to that comes with good infection Change is hard on everyone, so and validate your mother’s feelings, life. – Mayo Clinic News Network/
have good conversations and partake control. For a loved one who has try to put a positive spin on routine and then involve her in coming TNS
4 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY COVER STORY
Bot that reads Trump
Today, Margaret better understands Trump’s speech patterns, and more
importantly, better understands Trump — his tics, his tells, his tendencies
and habits — than perhaps many Americans do, writes Noah Bierman
‘
AT WORK: Bill Frischling, CEO of FactSquared, runs the numbers and counts all of President Donald Trump’s Twitter misspellings.
B
ill Frischling’s moment of inspiration and teach it to decipher Trump-speak instead.
came three years ago, when Margaret, Today, Margaret better understands Trump’s
his artificial intelligence bot, tried speech patterns, and more importantly, better
to transcribe a 127-word section of a understands Trump — his tics, his tells, his
speech by President Donald Trump. tendencies and habits — than perhaps many
Margaret can assess The passage, ostensibly commemorating a Americans do.
Margaret — named for a character on the
World War II battle, careened wildly. Trump
when Trump is stressed, shifted verb tenses and subjects without TV series The West Wing who can forge the
measure his calm and warning. Syntax was tortured and conjunctions
collided. He added sub-clause to sub-clause,
president’s signature — doesn’t cheer, jeer or
change the channel. It simply analyses every
even mimic what he parenthetical to parenthetical, preposition to
preposition.
word Trump says, and how he says them,
deploying algorithms to glean insight into the
might say in public By the time Trump mentioned winning for the president’s erratic nature from a database that
fourth time, Margaret crashed. stretches back more than four decades.
before he does “It was still trying to punctuate it like it was Among Margaret’s discoveries: Trump’s ability
English, versus trying to punctuate it like it was to fast-talk through an obvious falsehood is a
Trump,” Frischling recalled. sign that he is unbothered.
— Bill Frischling, coder So Frischling rebooted. He hired a computer
expert with a Ph.D in machine punctuation to
“Most people, when they’re not telling the
truth, are not more comfortable. They’re less
unteach Margaret normal grammar and syntax — comfortable,” said Frischling, 48, a self-taught
Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 5
COVER STORY COMMUNITY
coder who is working from home ad-libbing asides for emphasis, as
in Great Falls, Virginia, during if seeing the material for the first
the pandemic. “He is more time.
comfortable.” And when Trump is really angry?
Margaret can assess when Trump He tends to speak tersely and his
is stressed, measure his calm and oft-waving arms grow still.
even mimic what Trump might say “When he stops making gestures,
in public before he does, Frischling that’s the — watch out,” Frischling
said. Margaret also has a pretty said. “Whatever’s about to happen,
good sense of when Trump is really hang on to your tush.”
angry versus when he’s just putting To illustrate, Frischling runs a
on a show, he added. report from Margaret with fever
To form those conclusions, lines depicting Trump’s stress
Margaret keeps track of Trump’s levels during his coronavirus
pauses, hand gestures, rate of briefing at the White House
speech, the types of adjectives he on April 23, the day Trump
uses, deviations from his usual suggested doctors should consider
vocabulary and the tone in his injecting patients with household
voice, among other factors. disinfectant to kill the virus.
“Every word he says makes The stress lines fluctuate, but
Margaret smarter and allows her the average remains steady until
to make more subtle distinctions,” there’s a sudden spike, just shy of
Frischling said. 52 minutes into the briefing. That’s
Analysing a president’s language when Washington Post reporter
for meaning and consequence Philip Rucker asked Trump if he
obviously is not new. Abraham was irresponsibly hyping unproven
Lincoln spoke only 272 words in science about the impact of heat
his Gettysburg Address, but they and sun on the coronavirus.
spawned a library shelf full of “I’m the president, and you’re
books. fake news!” Trump shot back.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, ups There is little ambiguity,
the means and the metric. Margaret according to Margaret. Trump was
has so far digested more than 11 A GOOD HANDLE: Margaret also has a pretty good sense of when Donald Trump is really angry versus when he’s genuinely angry.
million words of Trump’s speeches, just putting on a show. But often when making similar
tweets, books, rallies, video, and attacks on the “fake news,” Trump
radio and TV clips dating back to artificial intelligence and robotics More time — and better data to say something false, Trump is hardly shaken at all.
1976, when Trump wrote his first lab at the University of Colorado, — would make a stronger bot for speeds up, using filler phrases to “There’s nothing in the voice,
published letter to The New York says almost anyone with a large analysing Trump. get himself going — “First of all,” there’s nothing in the speaking
Times. data set can use AI bots to draw “If you had access to everybody “They’re talking” — as he races patters, there’s nothing in the rate
The database is a go-to resource meaningful conclusions — or to who was talking to him on a given toward cruising velocity, which of speech … that indicates he’s
for journalists, scholars and twist them. day, you’d probably be able to build Frischling calls his “salesman saying anything different from
political operatives. Amazon As a graduate student at MIT in a much more high-fidelity model of mode.” ‘How’s the weather?’” Frischling
taps Margaret for answers about 2016, Hayes built a parody Twitter what he’s going to be talking about “Think of it as steps in drive said.
Trump’s schedule and Twitter bot called @DeepDrumpf that and what his positions are going to and overdrive,” Frischling said. To highlight that point,
habits on millions of voice- imitated Trump’s social media be,” said Hayes. He does not like to label Trump’s Frischling called up a video clip and
activated Alexa devices. Frischling persona through word jumbles: At some level, Margaret finds statements true or false, so he relies report from Margaret from a news
also analyses other politicians’ “We have to make the United Trump predictable. He almost on independent fact-checkers to conference one day after the 2018
rhetoric as well as corporate States. They can’t do it. Because always speaks faster, about 220 cross-check his data. midterm election, which produced
earnings calls for private clients. I’m going to pay for the country.” words per minute, when he is off Trump slows to 111 words a heavy losses for Republicans.
AI thus joins linguists, cognitive The Twitter account gained a script, far faster than the national minute when he is forced to read Trump had a memorable
specialists, armchair psychologists, measure of fame in its brief life, average of about 110 to 150 words from a teleprompter, an act Trump confrontation with CNN reporter
political scientists and others who but Hayes had to block a tweet that per minute. once said should be illegal for Jim Acosta, a favourite foil.
scrutinise Trump’s unorthodox included a threat to unleash violent And unlike most people, who people who run for president. He Trump flashed anger early in the
speaking style, the core of his terrorists against former president slow down and stammer or get usually delivers such prepared exchange. “That’s enough,” he told
political brand. Weeks of nightly Barack Obama. uncomfortable when they are about remarks in a wooden monotone, Acosta as the reporter pressed him
briefings in the coronavirus crisis over immigration.
offered an unadulterated dose, as But when Trump dramatically
he relentlessly claimed success and Margaret has so far digested more than 11 million words of walked off the podium and crossed
brushed off concerns about the
government’s flawed response.
Trump’s speeches, tweets, books, rallies, video, and radio his arms, his stress dropped to
an even level, suggesting he was
Computer scientists say AI can and TV clips dating back to 1976, when Trump wrote his enjoying the clash. The sign of real
anger would be rising stress levels.
detect patterns in troves of data too
complex for the human mind. first published letter to The New York Times Frischling would like to teach
Intelligence experts suspect Margaret to analyse changes in
foreign spy services are combining Trump’s skin tone, but the quality
AI analyses with personality of most of his video is not good
profiles and traditional human- enough.
based methods to profile Trump If Trump’s rhetoric is often
and other world leaders. predictable, his decisions
“At first, I think people were sometimes appear purely random.
totally perplexed” by Trump, said Frischling has studied members
John Sipher, a former CIA agent of Congress for some of his private
for decades who was deployed in clients and believes they tend to
Russia and other countries. “I think forecast when they are about to
now they have a better sense of how make a policy shift, focusing more
to play him.” of their public comments on a given
But the technology is hardly topic and altering their language.
foolproof, and the patterns found Trump talks about so many
through machine learning “are topics, and changes his opinion
often not what we think they so often, that there is hardly a
are,” warned Aleksander Madry, relationship.
a professor at MIT’s Center for “He can say, ‘I think this is the
Deployable Machine Learning. worst’” about a policy proposal,
Some programmers have used Frischling said, “and then quite
bots to produce fake Trump literally sign an executive order 10
speeches, raising red flags about the hours later that approves it.”
ability to create “deep fakes” that Margaret is still working on
could disrupt American politics. understanding that.
Bradley Hayes, who runs the — Los Angeles Times/TNS
6 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY
24 Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award
th
from Pakistan goes to Hasan Manzar
Pardesh, British India. He got
his education till Grade-X from
Hewett Muslim High School/
Inter College, Moradabad, but
after partition and migration
to Pakistan in November, 1947,
he passed his matriculation
examination from Iqbal High
School, Lahore in 1948. He passed
his Intermediate from Foreman
Christian College, Lahore in
1950 and did his first year of B.Sc
from Islamia College Lahore
before pursuing MBBS from King
Edward Medical College Lahore.
He completed his medicine in
1958 and moved to Karachi taking
a job in Central Excise and Land
Customs Hospital, Mauripur.
Subsequently, he worked as a
Surgeon on a Dutch Merchant
Ship. Then, he moved to Saudi
Arabia as a Junior Obstetrician
and Gynaecologist. Later, to Bush,
Africa for a few years and then,
he went to Scotland, earning two
separate postgraduate (DPM)
degrees in Psychiatry from
University of Edinburgh and
Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons, Glasgow. From there,
he went to Malaysia and taught in
the Department of Psychological
Medicine and also carried on
his medical research work, in
Kuala Lumpur. Thereafter, he
returned to Pakistan and settled in
Hyderabad.
Dr Manzar has been writing all
along and had a good number of
stories, half finished, because of
the demands of his profession,
which often left him little or no
time. He credits his mother for his
thirst of books. His father, Syed
Mazhar Hussain, did the same RECOGNITION: Manzar recently received Best Book Award for Ay Falak Na
only on a larger scale. His wife, Dr insaaf at Oxford Literature Festival.
Tahira Manzar, is also very fond
of reading good literature. Manzar (1991 ), Soi Bhook (1997), Ek aur
casts his stories in the realistic Aadmi (1999), Khaak ka Rutba
mode, almost never deviating (2007), Mangal Sootr– Munshi
DEPICTING REALITY: Dr Syed Manzar Hasan casts his stories in the from the traditional geometry of Prem Chand’s last incomplete
realistic mode, almost never deviating from the traditional geometry of plot and structure. Even deep and novel, translated from Hindi
plot and structure. knotty psychological problems (1991), and Prem Chand Ghar mein
have to be made evident on the – Shiv Rani Devi, translated from
D
surface, not to be guessed. In Hindi (1998), Jhijak, a collection
r Syed Manzar Hasan, along with Noorul Husnain, who an interview aired by the Voice of short stories; Samunder mein
(Pen name – Hasan declared winner of 24th Aalmi of America in 1995, Dr Manzar Jang (2001), and Jaan ke Dushman
Manzar), one of Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award from remarked, “My stories are (2004), children’s books; Al-
the eminent fiction India on 14th March by the Indian inspired by ordinary men and Asifa (2006), Dhani Bakhsh ke
writers, has been jury, headed by Professor Dr Gopi women affected by some sorrow, Bete (2008), Waba (2009 ), Maa
declared the winner of 24th Aalmi Chand Narang. happiness or longing. They are Beti (2010), Ber Sheeba ki Ladhki
Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award from The Award function, followed not imagined beings. I mean I’m (2010), Waka – translation of
Pakistan. This was announced by a grand Mushaira, will be held as far away as anyone can get stories from Hindi (2010), Insaan
by Mohamed Atiq, Chairman of in Doha before the year end. from any kind of romanticism. ay insaan (2013), Manzar ke
Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab. The award carries a cash prize Subjects, unless they are firmly khutoot Kamal Azhar ke naam
Manzar was recently of Rs150,000 and a gold medal grounded in objective reality, (2011), Habs, Ay Falak Na –
unanimously selected by an for each winner. The award is leave me cold and I almost never Insaaf, and Sadar e Mumlakat ka
independent jury in a meeting given every year since 1996, to feel motivated to probe them in Khudrau Phool, novels; A Requiem
held in Lahore, Pakistan. The two literary scholars, one from my fiction. It is the real flesh- For The Earth: OUP, Karachi (1998
jury, included Dr Khurshid Rizvi, Pakistan and the other from and-blood people, victims of ), and The End of Human History:
Chairman; Professor Fateh India, for their contribution to oppression and violence, scarred Katha, Delhi (1999), books in
Mohamed Malik, Professor Dr the promotion of Urdu language by pain and injustice that touch English. Dr Khurshid Rizvi, Chairman of
Mazhar Mahmood Shairani and and literature, as a life-time me. And it does not matter where In recognition of his literary Pakistan Award Jury.
Professor Dr Zahid Munir Amer. achievement award. they come from’’. achievements, Manzar has been
Daud Ahmed Malik was the co- Manzar was born on 4th Manzar has authored a number honoured with Academy of Shaikh Ayaz Award and Best
ordinator. March, 1934 in Hapur, a town of books, including Rehai (1981), Letters Award (twice), United Book Award for novel – Ay Falak
Manzar will receive the honour in the district of Meerut, Uttar Nadeedi ( 1983 ), Insaan ka Desh Bank Award, Sindh Government Na- insaaf in Oxford Literature
Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 7
COMMUNITY
GU-Q student represents QF at Clinton Global
Initiative University Meeting on Covid-19
during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Kartikeya, an international student from New Delhi,
was one of a select group of undergraduate and graduate students from around the globe
who were chosen by CGI U to develop ‘Commitments to Action’ — social impact projects that
address pressing challenges on campus or in local and global communities. The programme
offers leadership development, mentorship, skills training, and partnership building to bring
the idea into action.
In response to the ongoing pandemic, Kartikeya modified his original project focused
on assisting local governments in rural India to govern more effectively, to become a
digital platform that provides a 5-week needs assessment and training program aimed at
strengthening local political units and encouraging political participation among youth in India.
“The crisis meant that launching the project on the ground wasn’t going to be possible. But
the pandemic presented another opportunity to make a difference,” said Kartikeya, referring
to the need to support village-level crisis response efforts. “Due to lack of experience or formal
training, many people on the local level don’t have access to resources that are essential to
deal with this unprecedented crisis. It is my hope that the online version of my action plan can
have an impact by connecting local efforts to available resources, in order to improve health
and economic outcomes at the local level.” He hopes to launch the digital programme as soon
as technical issues are finalised.
The former president opened the event by encouraging young leaders to keep asking
themselves questions about what they want to learn and how they can help. At the virtual
meeting, participating students also heard from key government and health leaders, including
US state governors, members of congress, UN special envoys, and scholars and experts in the
medical field.
Virtual breakout sessions over the following days allowed Kartikeya to meet with other CGI U
members working to create impact in South Asia. “It was very helpful to share ideas, to share
Kartikeya Uniyal, a student at QF partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and a best practices, and to seek out areas of collaboration,” he said.
member of the 2020 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), recently took part in the The CGI U meeting at the University of Edinburgh was originally slated to take place in April
virtual convening of the programme, an online event that featured former president of US, 2020 but was postponed to spring 2021. Kartikeya, along with the entire 2020 cohort of the
Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton and focused on ways college students can make a difference programme, will have the opportunity to attend next year’s meeting.
Division B Toastmasters holds Annual Conference virtually
Division B, District 116 of Toastmasters International recently conducted Toastmasters positions, respectively. In Evaluations Contest, Abhishek Chattopadhyay got first position,
Annual Conference (TAC) ‘Eloquence 2020’ virtually. Over 200 members, including which was followed by Tariro Dorcas Matibiri and Sahitya Reddy, with second and third
International Director, Regional Advisors, District 116 leaders and other leaders from all over positions, respectively. The winners in Humorous Contest category, included Sheik Abdul
the world participated in the conference. Kader Malik, first position; Pradnya Umrani, second; and Sushma Harish, third. The first and
Toastmasters Annual Conference (TAC) of Division B is conducted to select the best second place winners from each of the contests will represent Division B at District 116
speakers of Division B to reach the next level, which is the District 116, Toastmasters Annual Annual Conference.
Conference. The contestants had to compete at club level first and then at Area level, to The highlight of Day 1 was keynote speech titled ‘Extraordinary times calls for Extraordinary
compete against each other in Eloquence 2020. Leaders’ by Aletta Rochat, Toastmasters International Director. She joined Eloquence 2020
Riana Pinto, Eloquence Shair, in her opening message applauded Toastmasters for having from South Africa and praised the leaders of Division B for emerging as extraordinary
accepted the challenges posed by Covid 19 and taking advantage of technology to conquer leaders to lead from the front in these extraordinary times.
these challenges. Ravishankar J, Division B Director, declared the conference open. The highlight of Day 2 was the Banner Parade hosted by Bindu Singh, who walked the
Annual contests were conducted in four categories. The winners in Table Topics contest, audience through the uniqueness of each of the 23 clubs under the 6 Areas in Division B.
included Vijaylata Valluri, first position; Christopher Keith Almeida, second; and Asham Raghavan Menon, District 116 Trio – Director, along with Thayalan, Programme Quality
al-Masri, third. Antonio Victor Fumo bagged first position in International Speech Contest Director; Manzoor Moideen, Club Growth Director; Ali Shabbas, Region 11 Advisor; and
category, which was followed by Mallika Nair and Sahitya Reddy with second and third Rajeshwar Sundaresan, former director of District 116, addressed the gathering.
8 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY THE A
Theatre is therapeutic: what writ
Lucy Prebble, Vinay Patel, Rachel De-lahay and Jack Thorne have
all had major success on TV. But what do they particularly love
about writing for theatre, asks Miriam Gillinson
L
ucy Prebble: was real delight in that.
‘Theatre is genuinely I never have to feel self-
therapeutic’ conscious writing for the theatre.
A play in its When I did An Adventure at the
conception is, for me, Bush in 2018, the play spanned 60
uniquely intimate and private. years and three continents. There’s
Eventually it grows to be the no way I’d get that on telly. What’s
opposite of that and blossoms great about theatre is that you can
outwards, but there’s something start with ambitious storytelling
about building it that initially feels right from the off. Theatre is a
delicate, fragile and personal. I little space where you can dream a
think that might have something to little bigger.
do with my childhood; listening to Telly is led by the audience in a
conversations and writing things way that theatre isn’t necessarily.
down, and that being the start of Murdered By My Father was a
me thinking about plays. BBC Three commission. I knew
TV feels a lot less private and the audience would be relatively
there’s a part of me that’s very in young, so I had to write a story
control and adult and managerial I could place in front of them.
with it. I won’t do any TV unless Doctor Who was a similar
I’m exec producing as well, like experience. That’s meant to be
I was in Succession. That means a family show, which obviously
you’re involved in all the major affects the type of stories you can
decisions: casting, locations and tell. You have to try to find the
lots of practical things, which family-friendly way to explore the
I’d never be that interested in partition of India while still being
when writing for theatre. If I go truthful.
to a television meeting I’m more When you go to watch a play, you
armoured. In theatre I feel much tend to be someone who is vaguely
more of a pure artist. interested in theatre – whereas
The creative processes are people can quite casually catch
very different, practically and things on TV. With Murdered By
psychologically. In theatre, a My Father, an imam from Bradford
bunch of people come together, talked about how he used it to talk
discuss a play, then rehearse and to his congregation, and a sixty
perform it in real time. That’s a something woman from Cornwall
very sane thing to do. Filming TV SHOW MAKERS: Clockwise from top left, Rachel De-lahay, Jack Thorne, Vinay Patel and Lucy Prebble. sent me a letter saying the show
is actually quite insane. It’s very reminded her of her dad. That kind
easy to see how you can get lost of reach is amazing but it’s also
and confused in a world where scary, and inherently more intense.
everything is fake, and you repeat The responsibility feels much
the same thing over and over higher when you’re writing for TV.
again. Whereas I think theatre is Theatre is so much about
quite a healthy process. You have a potential. It’s most fulfilling when
narrative that you explore, which it’s really playful. I love the sort
you then go through every night. of theatre that makes me smile
It’s genuinely therapeutic. without realising it: the shows
My favourite moment in theatre that are silly and reach beyond
is the tech. I find it very romantic. themselves, just because they
You’ve got all these people sitting know they can.
in the dark, for 10- or 14-hour
days, trying to build this thing. Rachel De-lahay: ‘It feels
Nobody is at the centre of things. more like your baby’
Everything is egoless. There’s Theatre is a dark room, with
you, the director and the designer, a spotlight, that you get to tell a
sitting in the middle of an empty story in. That feels really easy and
theatre and staring at the stage. tangible. Telly stuff feels more
At that point, all possibilities are formulaic. It’s really fun when you
available. nail it, but definitely a different
rhythm.
Vinay Patel: ‘You can make The difference between them
almost anything happen’ isn’t really about the dialogue. It’s
I came to theatre quite late. about the rhythm of the text, and
I did a master’s in writing and what those scenes are supposed
had massive arguments with my to do to an audience. So if I need
coursemates; I just didn’t see you to feel engaged with someone
the point in theatre. But then I – and I need you to hear what’s
wrote my first play to try to push going on in their head – that could
myself. The way that it made my potentially come out in a chunky
brain work – the fact I could make piece of dialogue in the theatre.
almost anything happen – there Enron by Lucy Prebble at the Noël Coward theatre, London, in 2010. You go on a journey with the actor
Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 9
ARTS COMMUNITY
ters prefer about stage to screen
Fiston Barek and Calvin Demba in Routes by Rachel De-lahay at the Royal Court theatre,
Anjana Vasan and Martins Imhangbe in An Adventure by Vinay Patel at the Bush theatre, London, in 2018. London, in 2013.
Martin Quinn and Rebecca Benson in Let the Right One In at the Royal Court theatre, London, in 2013.
and you watch them on stage kind of everyone’s pulling each other up. into a play when I’m enjoying That’s not how telly works, but you you’re thinking about the bar chat
cracking through the thought. In telly You do go on set when you’re a it. The first play I did with John throw down the gauntlet and say: afterwards, but it’s also much more
a lot of that can be done with facial writer for TV but I’m don’t sit with the Tiffany and Steven Hoggett was let’s see what you can do to sustain about an unspoken communication
expressions. director day in, day out, like I would be Let the Right One In. I started it this. With His Dark Materials, I with the audience. It’s about
In both theatre and television you in a theatre rehearsal. In theatre, it just with someone running through kept saying to myself: remember, getting rid of the rustle and it’s
want to work with people who can feels more like your baby. Although a forest, being strung up by their you’ve got to take a nine-year-old about people sitting forward.
help tell the best story with you. I’ve when I was working on Kiri, I got ankles and having their throat with you. If this show works, the Everyone knows when a play is
just worked on Noughts and Crosses, to watch Sarah Lancashire deliver a cut open. I wrote that knowing it most exciting thing will be when really hitting because the audience
and I was 100% pushing theatre monologue I’d just written – that felt wouldn’t be possible to replicate the telly is switched off and a family suddenly becomes very quiet, stops
people forward and suggesting names. magic. but that Steven and John would do talk about what happened. That’s eating their sweets (except maybe
You’ve seen actors who telly people something very interesting with the thing I try to keep in my head all on Broadway), and suddenly there’s
might not have heard of play lead roles Jack Thorne: ‘When a play that stage direction. Telly can the time: what am I setting up that a real sort of hush. You’re always
in small theatres and shine. It feels like hits, there’s a real hush’ be like that, too. With National sofa conversation to be? striving for that lean-forward
you’re part of a community because I tend to write the impossible Treasure, I wrote a 16-page scene. Theatre’s a bit similar in that moment in theatre. – The Guardian
10 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC
Try This
Ask your helper to turn on
1 a burner and let it get very
hot
The 2
Watch what happens
when your helper
color of sprinkles a few
grains of salt on the
sodium burner
Sunlight and light from
an electric lamp are
made up of many
colors, but some light is
“monochromatic” and
made up of only one
color.
You’ll need
• Salt
• Gas stove
• Adult helper
What happened?
Salt makes small yellow Look outdoors at night for lights
flashes as it burns that make the same color light
That is the color you as the burning salt
see when the
element sodium Those are
takes in energy (heat sodium
from the burner), lights; the
then releases the sodium in
energy as light them takes
Table salt, or in energy
sodium chloride, is from
made up of the electricity
elements sodium and gives it
and chlorine off as light
Source: Peter Macinnis’ Science
Playwiths
Graphic: Helen Lee
McComas, Paul Trap TNSMonday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 11
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY
Drinking green tea may
help treat food allergies
I
f you are a tea lover, there administration of FP strongly
is good news as researchers suppresses the Th2 immune
have revealed that response to food allergies in vivo.
consuming green tea can The food we eat effects the
help combat food allergies. complex cocktail of different
A food allergy occurs when your strains of bacteria in the gut, they
immune system over reacts to a said.
food or a substance in a food. The Drinking green tea increases the
study, published in the journal abundance of FP (Flavonifractor
Frontiers in Immunology, found plautii) which suppresses the Th2
that drinking green tea increases immune response. FP is a strain of
the abundance of gut bacteria that the Clostridia family of bacteria,
helps suppress allergic immune which is known to have effects
responses. on the immune system, notably
For the findings, the research inhibiting inflammation.
team at the Shinshu University According to the study, some
in Japan looked at green tea and clostridia strains show promise of
the abundance of Flavonifractor lowering blood pressure and some
plautii (FP) bacteria found in the are known to be abundant in lean
gut. FP has been reported to be a people and not in heavier people,
part of the catechin metabolism leading researchers to believe they
in the intestines. Catechin is an can be used to regulate weight.
antioxidant found in a variety However, the researchers noted
of foods, including green tea, that more studies are needed to
of which 30 to 42 per cent of look into the safety of FP before it
its dry weight is catechin. The can be used as a probiotic to treat
researchers found that oral allergies. — IANS
Aries
March 21 — April 19
Taurus
April 20 — May 20
Gemini
May 21 — June 20
If you have children, Aries, you could be feeling a bit overworked and Feeling grumpy lately, Taurus? Don’t fret, because your bad mood How hard you have to work to achieve your purposes, Gemini!
overwhelmed. If you don’t have children, perhaps the constraints won’t last. This attitude is unlike you. Co-workers notice your change It’s as though you carry around an overstuffed sandbag and each
and demands of your professional life are weighing heavily on your in personality but still treat you with consideration and respect. You’re step requires a huge effort! This would be a good day to identify
mind. Don’t worry – these feelings shall pass. Expect an opportunity fortunate to be able to draw upon a considerable wealth of kindness the source of the trouble. Ask if you aren’t sabotaging yourself and
to get free of the ties that bind. Even though it will only be a and good karma that you have built up over the years. Your friends and letting your subconscious resist the goals you have so deliberately
temporary respite, take advantage of it! loved ones treat your mood as an aberration, which is exactly what it is. set. You have a deep inner mystery to solve.
Cancer
June 21 — July 22
Leo
July 23 — August 22
Virgo
August 23 — September 22
You could have an urge to invent new things, Cancer. You feel Generally, you come up with the perfect, witty answer one day too You think of yourself as fairly modern in your thinking, don’t you,
compelled to create something in the artistic, technical, or philosophical late. Impulse and intuition take a back seat to your excellent self- Virgo? But have you really been able to reject tradition entirely?
field. If only you’d give yourself enough time to pursue these ideas! control. The day ahead presents one opportunity to let go of the Have you rid yourself of all the outmoded conventions that confined
Today, realise that concentration is the key to accomplishment. Put inhibition that sometimes stymies you. Yield to your instincts a little earlier generations? If not, today you’ll be inspired to revamp your
away periodicals, computers, phones, and other such distractions and and see what happens. A little more socialising wouldn’t hurt, either. role models and lighten your workload. Equality in the home is just
you might well be surprised by the wealth of inspiration. You’re certainly entitled to some fun now and then! as important as equality in the workplace.
Libra
September 23 — October 22
Scorpio
October 23 — November 21
Sagittarius
November 22 — December 21
Your stroll through the universe of lovely possibilities has come to an For a few weeks now you’ve understood that each day brings its This is a day to think about your private life, Sagittarius. Expect to
end, Libra. Now you must come back to Earth and join the rest of us. share of constraints, Scorpio. For example, today you could feel be particularly sensitive to all kinds of demands from those close
You have more hope than most people, like the good Libra that you are. doubts about your physical appearance. Are you questioning your to you. You have the power to create greater harmony at home,
You understand that we need your imagination and courage regarding attractiveness or your ability to make an impression on someone specifically in your relationship. Take stock of everyone’s desires and
the future, especially during these dark times! Today you may have to special? A decision you make at the end of the day will relieve these consider any limitations in fulfilling them. Even if the answers aren’t
make an important professional decision. anxieties. found today, it will be useful to simply ask the questions.
Capricorn
December 22 — January 19
Aquarius
January 20 — February 18
Pisces
February 19 — March 20
Today can be a relaxing day, provided you make the necessary effort There is a lot on your mind today, Aquarius. Over the last three weeks After a few days that were a bit serious, Pisces, today you awake with
to deal with material constraints, Capricorn. You would like nothing you’ve analysed your relationships on a deep and profound level. a light heart and boundless energy! Your capacity for seduction will
better than to spend much of the day planning fun activities for the New people with attractive qualities could be tempting you to make a be at its peak, so why not use it to your advantage? The men and
future. But, alas, demands from your family, friends, or boss force change. But is this a good time in your life to start up friendships? Are women at work, in particular, will yield to your wishes today. Your
you to concentrate on the here and now instead. Still, don’t abandon you willing to accept the upheaval such changes would create? These influence extends to all levels of the organisation. If you’ve been
your wonderfully pleasing ambitions altogether. are worthwhile questions to ask. thinking about asking your boss for a raise, do it today!12 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES
Wordsearch Adam
Pooch Cafe
SOAK SONATA SOJOURN
SOCKET SOARING SOUL
SOLID SOFA SOCCER
SOAPBOX SOPRANO SOLACE
SODA SOBBING SOYA
SOMBRERO SOIREE SOCIAL
SOAPSUDS SORROW SOLDER
SODIUM SOBER
Codeword
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 13
PUZZLES COMMUNITY
Super Cryptic Clues Colouring
Across Down
1 Old transformer St Michael 2 Clean round in Arundel (7)
transformed (9) 3 Lean part of the foot (4)
8 Insulting language from 4 Phone city in Alabama (6)
American imprisoned by Lincoln 5 Saint has restless desire, rolling
(5) in the aisles in these? (8)
9 Group of soldiers ordered to 6 Infant oddly seen in brambles
store kit (7) (4)
10 Current account ideally 7 Big city training more pilots
included (4) (10)
11 Everyone understood air raid 8 Heroic task: cooking
warden’s signal (3,5) vegetables (10)
13 Making better copper band (6) 12 Animal making insect run
14 Leave bit of audio kit after last away (8)
month (6) 15 Those with a boring interest in
17 Rehabilitated con tried paying clothing? (7)
later (2,6) 16 Mum ordered tinsel (6)
19 Lie about endless money (4) 18 Garment initially covering
21 Be unable to contain one’s primate (4)
rage - trudge in river (7) 20 Part of a royal seaport in
22 People from Basra? (5) Portugal (4)
23 Flat on top? He puts one out
(9)
Solution
Answers
Wordsearch Codeword14 GULF TIMES Monday, May 11, 2020
COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD
Jacqueline says
lockdown made her
realise life is short
THANKFUL: Taapsee believes school plays an important
part in shaping up your personality. By Sugandha Rawal
Taapsee on importance of
J
teachers in one’s life acqueline Fernandez has
stumbled upon life-altering
Actress Taapsee Pannu feels her teachers played an realisations amid the
important role in shaping her personality. ongoing lockdown due to the
The actress recently took to Instagram and penned a coronavirus pandemic. The
note expressing gratitude to her teachers. actress says she has realised that life is
“I was visiting Jaipur for an event and I remembered too short, and it is important to make
that my school (ex)vice principal is now Principal in a the most of the time we have in our
school of Jaipur. Couldn’t miss this opportunity to meet hands.
her. What was unexpected was that her entire school came “Honestly, the biggest lesson has
to meet and kids were really sweet and inquisitive about a been that when it comes to humankind
lot of things. we are pretty irrelevant, which means
“School does play an important part in shaping up your that we are extremely blessed to be on
personality and your teachers are the ‘karigars’ moulding this planet because the planet would
the raw stones we all are. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve go on with us or without us. So, we
been a nerdy kid or coz I’m grateful to my teachers for have to be grateful and give back.
letting me shape up all aspects of my personality equally, That’s the realisation – we take Earth
that I keep going back to my childhood time n again,” for granted,” Jacqueline said, while
Taapsee wrote. reflecting upon how the lockdown has
On the film front, Taapsee will be seen in Haseen been a learning period for her.
Dillruba, Rashmi Rocket and Shabaash Mithu in the “(Another lesson is that) life is
coming months. – IANS short. We need to be doing things that
we enjoy doing and love. We should THOUGHTFUL: Jacqueline Fernandez says that for her the biggest lesson has
be spending time with the people we been that when it comes to humankind, we are pretty irrelevant.
love because you are here one day and
gone the next. We really have to make like the serial killer, to prove that her industry with 2009 film Aladin opposite
the most out of life. It is such a lesson. husband is innocent. actor Riteish Deshmukh. The film
These are the two main things I have The film hinges on the question – turned out to be a dud at the box office,
realised during this period,” added the how far would you go for love. but Jacqueline got noticed and went on
actress, who is spending her lockdown Asked how far she would go for the to do films like Housefull 2, Murder 2,
with superstar Salman Khan and people she loves, Jacqueline said: “I Kick, Brothers, Dishoom and Judwaa 2.
others at his farmhouse in Panvel. always think that when it comes to Mrs. Serial Killer also stars Manoj
Amid the shutdown, she is making people you love, you kind of throw Bajpayee and Mohit Raina.
the most of her time by enjoying logic out of the window. But I am Recalling the experience of working
moments like horse-riding, basking in someone who is all about making sure on the thriller, Jacqueline said: “It was
the sun and reading a book – evident that you are doing the right thing. great. They were so patient, kind and
in her recent Instagram posts. “It has to be the right thing. I always very supportive. There was a beautiful
On the work front, she was recently try to put that into perspective. If I feel sense of unity and teamwork, and
seen in Mrs. Serial Killer, which a right thing is being done, then I will you learn so much from working with
CONTEST: Shah Rukh Khan wants people to make scary released on Netflix on May 1. Mrs. probably go to whatever extent I need such amazing actors. It was really a
indoor films. Three winners will get a chance to do a video Serial Killer is directed by Shirish to. I would never harm anyone though beautiful experience.”
call with him. Kunder and produced by his filmmaker for love. I would do anything for love Now, she is looking forward to the
wife Farah Khan. The thriller is about a except harm anyone,” said the actress, release of the song Tere bina with
SRK wants people to spook him! wife, whose husband has been framed who won Miss Sri Lanka beauty Salman, which they have shot amid
and imprisoned for serial murders. pageant in 2006. the lockdown in the farm premises
Ahead of the launch of his upcoming web production, She needs to perform a murder exactly She made her debut in the Indian film itself. – IANS
the horror show Betaal, Shah Rukh Khan recently
announced an interesting task for people amid lockdown.
He wants people to make “scary” indoor films. Three Kolkata has been a and continuity to the past. I
winners will get a chance to do a video call with the balm for my grieving believe nostalgia is a powerful
superstar. heart: Celina stimulant to feel optimistic
Sharing the details about the initiative, SRK took to about the future,” Celina said.
social media and wrote: “Since we’ve all got a bit of time Actress Celina Jaitly, who She added: “Evenings with my
on our hands in quarantine, thought I can get us all to spent a significant part of her life parents at Fort William Army
work a bit... in a fun, creative and spooky way.” in Kolkata, went back to the City Club, shopping adventures
“How about channel the inner filmmaking ghost in us to of Joy to shoot her comeback with my mom, the deja vu-
make a scary indoor film with an element of horror in it.” film Seasons Greetings: A Tribute inflicting iconic architecture,
People can mail their work to teamdigital@redchillies. To Rituporno Ghosh. Self- the Ambassador taxis, the rich
com latest by May 18. The entries will be judged by Betaal confessedly a Bengali by heart, culture, food with friends and,
co-director Patrick Graham, cast members Viineet Kumar she says Kolkata will always hold of course, shooting Season’s
and Aahana Kumra, and Gaurav Verma of Red Chillies a special place in her heart. Greetings: A Tribute To
Entertainment, producers of the show. “For a Bengali by heart who Rituporno Ghosh with (director)
“Ghosts are welcome to send their entries too,” SRK stays away from her beloved Ram Kamal Mukherjee... the list
quipped. Kolkata, the complexities of is never-ending.”
The project is collaboration between SRK’s Red Chillies life and the monotony of daily Season’s Greetings: A Tribute
entertainment, Netflix, SK Global, and Blumhouse routine never take away the To Rituporno Ghosh features
Productions, the banner that is known for its Hollywood resplendence of nostalgia. Shree Ghatak, Lillette Dubey and
horror productions as Paranormal Activity and Kolkata has been a balm for Azhar Khan along with Celia, in
“Insidious”. – IANS my grieving heart adding primary roles. It is streaming on NOSTALGIC: Celina believes nostalgia is a powerful
meaningfulness, connectedness ZEE5. – IANS stimulant to feel optimistic about the future.Monday, May 11, 2020 GULF TIMES 15
HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY
Gyllenhaal shifts focus to 39-year-old star, known for starring in movies
personal life from work like Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain,
Nightcrawler and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal says he has become Gyllenhaal, who has been romantically
less interested in work and more interested in linked to French model Jeanne Cadieu in the
personal life, adding that he hopes to have kids past few years, shared that he “definitely” sees
in the future. kids in his future.
In an interview with British Vogue, the actor, “Yes, of course I do. I definitely do,” he said,
who has been part of showbiz since the last adding: “You get to the end of the show and
two decades, shared that he is now ready to that’s what it’s about. Children. Children and
focus on his personal life, reports etonline.com art.”
“I’m interested in my life, even more so than He continued: “I’m not someone who has
my work. I’ve reached a point in my career ever existed in a space where I’ve really known
where I feel hungry in a different way,” said what’s coming next. But you do have to be
Gyllenhaal, adding: “I’ve seen how much open to it. And there has been no other time in
of my life I’ve neglected as a result of being my life that I can safely say…. My mother and
committed to that work and that idea.” my sister are some of the most extraordinary
“(I’ve) lightened up. Seeing life as something people I know.
that is, you know, fleeting, and the world being “Our vulnerability with each other, our
as it is now. I’ve turned to my family, I’ve ability to communicate about how tough times
turned to my friends and I’ve turned to love. can be is what I’m most proud of in my family.
I’m a little less interested in the work, I would For everything I hope to pass on, that’s the HUNGRY: Jake Gyllenhaal says: “I’ve reached a point in my career where I feel
say, and more interested in that,” said the most important.” – IANS hungry in a different way.”
Documentary shows how Netflix
took on the world – and won
schools, says Keating, who is 56. “Blockbuster came at it from an
By Daniel Neman After the book came out, she MBA point of view – a traditional
had a vague idea to make it into a business point of view: Give the
B
movie – though she had never done consumers an exceptional value,
lockbuster was Goliath. anything like that before, she says. and that will always win the day. It
Netflix was David. But she got lucky when Netflix was a typical war – you go in there,
Now, Netflix is co-founder Marc Randolph called you copy the other guy, spy on them
Goliath, or maybe Zeus. her when they were both in Austin, and then offer everything at a lower
Blockbuster is a little- Texas. price,” she says.
remembered punchline. She had talked to the little- “The Netflix people, that team
How this exceptional reversal known Randolph while writing was very creative. They were really
came to be is the subject of a the book and had mentioned her consumer-focused. The company
new documentary, Netflix vs. the plan to make a film. He said he was was almost a thought problem to
World, made by Gina Keating and available for an interview on film, them. While they were competitive,
directed by Shawn Cauthen. It is if she wanted to have one. The they wanted to make something
now available for streaming on whole documentary grew from that that the customers loved,” she says.
Amazon Prime Video and soon will interview. “The two different cultures were
be available on a number of other “I was very worried that the completely opposite.”
digital platforms. Blockbuster guys wouldn’t talk Keating decided to write the book
Keating chronicled the rivalry to me because it was considered after the last economic downturn,
between Netflix and Blockbuster so disgraceful what happened to which she called a depressing time
as a Los Angeles-based reporter them,” Keating says. to be working at a business-related
for Reuters covering the business But it turned out that several news service. That was why she
side of the entertainment industry. former Blockbuster executives, wanted to tell the Netflix story.
It was 2004 when she started, and including former CEO John “The company has done
the reporter who previously had Antioco, wanted to tell their side of something really amazing. They
the beat told her about a small the story. As the film makes clear, put customers at the centre of
company that she hadn’t even Blockbuster – despite being new to their business model, and they
heard of: Netflix. the online world – had Netflix on succeeded.
The company was renting movies the ropes in the all-important race “Every time there is a national
by mail, the other reporter said, and for online customers. downturn, they are very successful.
he found the concept fascinating. But then, corporate raider Carl They were able to garner quite
Keating learned what she could Icahn took over Blockbuster and an emotional attachment to that
about the company because, unlike engineered Antioco’s resignation. brand.”
almost every other corporation In his place, he hired a former After the 9/11 attacks, the Great
she covered, its executives actually CEO of 7-Eleven, James W. Keyes, Recession and now the current
wanted to talk to reporters and who had no relevant experience coronavirus pandemic, Americans
make their story known, she says. in movies, entertainment or, have turned to Netflix, Keating says.
Keating was there when Netflix significantly, anything digital. And the company has responded
and Blockbuster went toe-to-toe, Blockbuster’s fate was sealed. nimbly, moving the technology
vying for customers to order their “I wanted to show that these quickly forward to respond to the
movies online. When the smoke guys at Blockbuster did not have increased demand.
had cleared and Blockbuster filed any of the same skills that the guys Now, she says, the company
for bankruptcy in 2010, Keating in Silicon Valley (where Netflix is “is globally dominating the
turned the story into a book, headquartered) had, and yet they entertainment industry. … Netflix
Netflixed: The Epic Battle for almost won the war,” Keating says. has completely remade everything
America’s Eyeballs. Keating says the conflict came about how we make and consume
NIMBLE: Netflix has completely remade everything about how we make and The book, which came out in down to a difference in personalities entertainment.” – St. Louis Post-
consume entertainment. 2012, is used in some business and styles. Dispatch/TNSYou can also read
