Sunday Times Magazine

Sunday

Times April 10, 2016

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Of glamour and grace

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‘Waves and war’

Hew Locke’s debut solo exhibition evokes migration and displacement Page 16

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 10, 2016

Times Feature

Acting as a vehicle for self-expression How local actor Leon Cummings became recognised in the theatre arts

Leon Cummings

D

etermined and resilient are just a few words to describe local actor Leon Cummings.

Differently-able, Leon has triumphed challenges to become one of Guyana’s most talented theatrical performers.

Leon was born on September 2, 1989 at the

Georgetown Public Hospital. In the womb, the unbiblical cord wrapped around Leon’s hands, resulting in them not being fully formed.

However, he adeptly maintains use of his fingers and hands.

He grew up on Norton Street, Lodge and attended Enterprise Primary, where he faced much ridicule from fellow students due to his disability, and then on to South Ruimveldt Secondary, where school life was a bit easier.

“In primary school was by far the worst experience I had with people.

There were various groups of bullies that walked home behind me ridiculing me,” he recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

However, in secondary school things got better.

He said it was not as hard as it had been in primary school due to secondary stu-

dents being more mature.

Subsequently, Leon attended the Guyana Technical Institute where he graduated with a Diploma in Commerce.

“I don’t experience shunning or being looked at as something different. I go about my business normally. But for other people who may be blind or who cannot walk, it is very sad because of the lack of accessible resources in Guyana,” he noted.

Leon revealed that his parents never treated him as if he had a disability.

Rather, they encouraged him to pursue his dreams and supported him along the way. His father died four years ago and his mother, Dahlia, continues to support her son, which was instrumental in Leon overcoming challenges.

Additionally, he is thankful to Constance Barker-Welcome who taught him how to use his hands.

Now, Leon is a technical operator at 93.1FM and a notable actor.

“Acting was something I never thought of getting into. It was with the Church of Christ Instrumental that I visited the Theatre Guild

The actor (left) doing what he loves - performing on stage

for the very first time. A cousin of mine is married to the pastor and she encouraged me to perform a poem, “Satan in Heaven” written

by Shellon Benjamin, at the Theatre Guild. The response I received for my performance motivated me to pursue acting,” Leon remembered.

From his debut performance at Theatre Guild, Leon never let up in developing as an actor, and was never embarrassed with being differently-able.

He was twice nominated for Best Supporting Actor during the Theatre Guild Awards, once for “Shoes Blues” during the National Drama Festival and then for “Makantalli”. He pointed out that his focus was not on winning, but being nominated meant he was acknowledged as an actor – something he takes pride in.

Using it as a vehicle of self-expression, Leon said acting has become a medium of presenting his different personalities on stage and meeting people he has fostered lasting friendships with.

Crediting local actors such as Coleen Humphrey, Richard Narine, Mark Luke Edwards, Gerard Gilkes and

Henry Rodney as being his motivators, Leon said he is thankful to all those who have influenced him to become an actor. He made mention of local actress Jennifer Thomas who provided opportunities for him to showcase his talent.

Now the actor said he enjoys “challenging roles that require deep characterization”. Some of the plays he acted in are “Massacura Man”, “To Sir With Love”,

and create my own character’s background/history from what is given and really go all out to be that character. On stage I take a deep breath and say the prayer Jennifer Thomas taught me, and that calms me,” he disclosed.

Leon’s plans to own a business and to become a producer/director.

His encouragement to youths and those who are differently-able is to “believe

Leon at one of his loves

“Watch De Ride 1 & 2”, “Shoes Blues”, “Nothing To Laugh About”, “Makantalli”, “The Encounter Where is Everybody”, “Front Yard”, “Chitra”, and “Pizza Man”.

“I read the script a lot

in yourself and never depend on others for support and pity yourself, but to get up and get”.

“I like winning and that is what keeps me going” he declared.

The actor (right) doing what he loves - performing on stage

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APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

Hosororo United Junior Football Club A team aiming to be the best

F

A few of the players from the Club

ootball is without a nual Amerindian Heritage doubt one of the most Football Tournament in popular games in Georgetown. the world today and likeDelano Valenzuela, popuwise among the people larly called Cappy, served as of Hosororo, Region One team captain for the North (Barima-Waini).

West Secondary School and The excitement and joy for a youth club that went on football brings, the passion to tour Georgetown in 1997, it evokes, the crowd of old where it was known for a faand young it draws when- mous win over the well-esever there is a tournament tablished Western Tigers, or friendly matches held at winning 4-1. the Hosororo playground, is Valenzuela, an active priceless to the community. football player, decided to In an interview with team up with Solomon “to Sunday Times Magazine, have a better organised head coach Gilbert Solomon club structure in place for and assistant coach Delano the juniors”, giving birth Valenzuela of the Hosororo to Hosororo United Junior United Junior Football Football Club.

Club, said matches are more Some of the players often arranged on Sundays would travel to the football so that everyone can attend field on their bicycles, while to cheer for the players.

Solomon would sometimes “Everyone here appreci- transport them in his car ates what we are doing for whenever transportation is these youngsters by guiding them in the right direction when it comes to football, and ultimately in their lives.

The love of football here in Hosororo by the people is unmatched. For every family living in the village, there is either a past or senior or junior player.

Consequently, football is one of the most talked about topics in each family. Trust me, football are in the genes of these families here.

There are so many talented youngsters that have potential Assistant coach Delano Valenzuela to be national play(left) and head coach Gilbert Solomon (Alva Solomon photo) ers, once they continue on this path we are putting them on,” the coaches declared. difficult to get.

Hosororo United Junior The group started with Football Club consists of eight players, but, as of replayers from Hosororo, cent, has grown to 26 playBumbury and Wanaina ers, a number that is inand was started just over creasing every day. two years ago by Gilbert The Club’s aim is to conSolomon, popularly known tinue the rich heritage of as Skell. Solomon is a for- football at Hosororo, which mer and very skilled foot- has produced a host of naballer who later coached tional players, the last of the the North West team rep- lot being Sherwin Solomon resenting Region One on and Elton Brown who both several occasions at the an- represented Camptown FC

with Brown later going on to play for top club Alpha United.

Additionally, the Club plans to provide the “right training” for the current young players in order for them to become “better footballers, true sportsmen and gentlemen and role models to the other youths in the village”.

“In so doing, we are also preparing them to get to that level and standard to be better prepared to represent the club, their respective schools at the Digicel's annual schools football tournament, and grooming them for the future to represent Hosororo senior team, North West team and whichever club they may go on to represent in Georgetown. So far we are progressing in the direction we have in mind,” the coaches mentioned.

The Club training days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, due to the field being shared with the senior team. Training starts at 4pm to 5:30pm, but sometimes extends to 6pm.

Mondays and Wednesdays are training days, while Friday is game day. On Friday, a game is played with coaches Solomon and Valenzuela, a strategy to help provide guidance to the young players.

“Sometimes, we allow the youngsters to play against the senior team to test themselves and trust me, a year or two from now, once we continue on this path, we are going to be a force to reckon with. So far, we are seeing an improved and better display of discipline and sportsmanship from these youngsters, and also their fitness has improved. We cannot use the field all week as the youngsters would love to as it’s the only thing that keeps them occupied and their time better utilised doing what they love, but we make the most of it.

We want to help them excel, not only at football, but also in school.

We want them to be good sons to their parents and to society as a whole, which is why discipline is something we always enforce,” the coaches outlined.

From September 2015 to present, the Club has played four games against Mabaruma Settlement, winning three and drawing the other. Against Wauna, they played six games, winning five of them. The Hosororo squad consists of mostly under 14 players, but footballs clubs from other areas do

not have a competitive under 14 team so the Hosororo United Junior Football Club, on most occasions, competes with older players, mostly under 16 players.

“But we always welcome the challenge to play the bigger guys. On Easter Sunday we played the Wauna under 16 and lost 2-1. We have been attracting more players from other communities recently and, as of now, we have an under 16 team as well to go with the under 14.

We have players from nine years to 16 at present. Most of these players are from the North West Secondary School and the Hosororo Secondary,” the coaches stated.

In the near future, the coaches disclosed that they plan on putting together a younger group from ages seven upwards.

The biggest obstacle, the coaches noted, is transportation. Youths who want to join the Club from other communities has difficulty getting to where the games are played. However, in the interest and love of the game, the Hosororo United Junior Football Club will go to other communities to conduct training sessions with teams there.

Solomon and Valenzuela stated that they put forth

Footballers in action

their utmost best to share their knowledge and experiences with the youths who are passionate about football. They added that they need to develop themselves personally so that they can provide the best training for the youths. Hence, they will be contacting the Guyana Football Federation, the National Sports Commission, Hosororo regional administration and other relevant organisations that would be willing to help the club to be part of coaching clinics and workshops.

“The only way to develop as a team is by playing competitive matches regularly to ascertain our strengths and weaknesses so we can improve and correct same.

We are trying our best to raise funds to go places like Port Kaituma, Moruca and then Georgetown to test ourselves at the respective age groups (the under 14 and under 16). However, these trips are costly as sponsorship is hard to get here. We want our players to face new challenges, to experience new environments and to adopt different playing conditions to ascertain our level of play against more established opponents. In so doing, we would know what areas we need to work on to compete at the highest level,” expressed the coaches.

To contact the coaches, call 692-1869 or 698-0637 or visit Hosororo United Junior Football Club on Facebook.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 10, 2016

Times Feature

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Honouring the life of a Guyanese patriot

Books and other journals by Jagan are available at Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

A chronological outline of Jagan's initial years in politics

T

he Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, which is privately run

by Dr. Cheddi Jagan's family and friends, was declared open March 22, 2000.

The Centre, located at High Street, Kingston, aims to promote research and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of Jagan and his wife, Janet.

Additionally, this will promote research on the history of Guyana's struggle for independence and social justice, the history of Guyana as a whole from the early 1940s to 2009.

The year was 1918, when, on March 22, in a rural village in Guyana, the

remarkable life of an ordinary sugar worker's son began. His name was Cheddi Jagan, and before his time was over he would change the course of his country's history by first struggling to liberate it from British colonial domination, then by waging a 28-year long struggle for the restoration of freedom and democracy, and finally by ascending to the Presidency as Guyana's first democratically elected Head of State.

Alongside Dr. Jagan in all these struggles was his American-born wife, lifelong friend and political partner, Janet, who left the U.S.A. for life in Guyana where

she remained until her death on March 28, 2009.

She was a woman of a number of firsts in her long history of involvement in her adopted country's politics.

She was to reach the pinnacle as first woman Head of State in December 1997, following the death in office of her husband on March 6, after first serving as Prime Minister.

They were the founders of the country's first mass political movement and unquestionably the leading political figures in the history of Guyana for over the last 66 years. Through their tireless efforts, the small country of Guyana experienced a

Pinback buttons from Jagan's political journey on display

wealth of benefits, social advancement and economic prosperity.

As international figures, they are well known for their fight for peace and freedom around the globe.

Dr. Jagan's ideas on debt relief, as well as his proposals for a New Global Human Order, were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 14,

as though he was actually evolving with the given process.

The 1943 to 1949 years, as outlined in the exhibition and described as “Getting in Struggle”, reveal the early Cheddi Jagan – the radical people’s dentist and politician.

“The Third PPP Government, 1961-1964” gives the viewer some idea, some mental picture of what was the reality of the PPP as a “party in government” after it had confronted severe challenges from AngloAmerican imperialism and its local allies.

“The Struggle Continues – 1964-1969” as well as “The 1980s”, all form part of a broader assembly of pictures that depict Jagan in his public role (speaking at the East Coast, Lusignan, GAWU rally for instance), or at the head of a PPP march for the democratisation of the elec-

Jagan's work as the 'People's President' outlined on this banner

2002. As such, he deserves credit as a major figure in modern history.

On March 19, 2009 a photographic exhibition featuring various stages of Jagan’s life, political activities and the struggle of the People’s Progressive Party, which he founded and led for decades, was opened at the National Library, Georgetown.

This exhibition was sponsored by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and all of the prints, mounted on single sheet panels, have been seen by the public on previous occasions.

What is striking about these images, especially for students and others who may know relatively little of the foremost Guyanese “freedom fighter”, is the fact that Jagan always appears

dren and at his desk and office at his residence.

Photographs from the period 1992-1997 “Victory at the 1992 Elections” as well as “Father of the Guyanese Nation” are of a special interest to young people, and these may well irk those who have always ranked the PPP as “communist” and concerned only with personal power.

Viewers can see Dr. Jagan with the Tanzanian ex-President Julius Nyerere and the late Guyanese poet and political activist Martin Carter. There are prints of his speaking to (then) United Nations Secretary General, Boutros Ghali, and also posing for a group photograph with his first Cabinet Ministers appointed after October 5, 1992.

Obviously, those prints over time would require renovating as the monochrome process lasts for about 15 years or at the most two decades. This exhibition provides an excellent insight into how Dr. Cheddi Jagan was involved at the leadership level, the role of photographs in identifying personalities and associations, and most of all the legitimacy of the nation building process coupled to the development of a new national culture.

The informative exhibition is currently displayed at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and is opened for public viewing and research.

There is also a comprehensive showcase of Jagan’s published books and jour-

Monumental moments of the fight for free and fair elections in the early 1970s on display

toral process.

But there are also other scenes showing him relaxing with his family, on holiday with his wife in Egypt, playing with his grandchil-

nals and a few memorabilia, such as pinbacks, on exhibit.

For more information on the exhibition and on the Centre, visit http://jagan.org or call 223-7524.

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APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

From ‘social outcast’ to successful entrepreneur A migrant’s story

By Alteaha Chase

I

was born March 17, 1979.

My mother, Joan LaRose, is a teacher and my father, Ashton Austin, was a mechanic. My childhood was spent surrounded by family and friends. We lived in a large house that was shared by my mother and her three sisters and a friend. My mother and I occupied half of the top flat. We had one bedroom and another room that doubled as our kitchen and family room. Growing up, I knew I was loved by both of my parents and my extended family; however, the words “I love you” were never said.

“You are beautiful” and “I am proud of you” were rarely used.

I attended Stella Maris Primary and then moved on to North Georgetown Secondary school (NGSS). At NGSS, I would gravitate to people like myself; the shy, easy going, introverts.

My mother migrated to the United States from Guyana in 1994 in search of a better life, and in 1996 I followed. I left behind so many people who were instrumental in my youth and with whom I had strong ties.

Everyone I identified with was now miles away. To say the transition was hard is an understatement. It felt more like a transformation. I went from living among family and friends to residing in a two bedroom apartment with my mother and then two-yearold sister in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

I attended John Jay High School and the experience was overwhelming. Instead of being placed in the 12th grade, they placed me in 10th grade. I excelled academically and had the advantage of being ahead of my fellow students in all subject areas, but socially I felt myself shrinking. I was overwhelmed at the size of the school, the class structure and the mere pressure of trying to fit in.

My accent caused some to laugh, my hair was not in

Getting tickles from a pedicure

style and I was not part of the “in” crowd with my storebought clothing. High school can be the turning point for many students and I was a social outcast. Kids made fun of my accent and made me feel like an outsider. I cringed inside at the thought of going to school and what lay ahead of me on any given day.

The toll of being ostracized was becoming too much, and I finally convinced my mother to allow me to take the GED exam. Since academically I never had any problems, I was able to pass the test on my first attempt.

I began working and was able to establish a slight sense of belonging with some friends I was beginning to make.

Over the next few years, more of my family and friends

United States from a foreign country to be better than what it was for me. “Enable, empower and educate” became my mantra from that point on, and I began envisioning my dream of working with young women.

At my mother’s church, Greater AME Zion located on Lenox Avenue in Brooklyn New York, I would start a small youth group where school aged girls would meet to discuss issues they were facing in schools. Our little group only lasted a few sessions, but I was determined to reach more girls.

I enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) where I graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Human Service.

I gained employment at

Interior of the Spa established by Chase

provided therapy to families dealing with school difficulties, child and adolescent problems, marital issues, divorce, bereavement, learning disabilities, family violence, child abuse and incest, and chronic medical illness, including AIDS. I would help family members work collaboratively towards solutions to their problems, and help them to

rience, but I began to notice that the service and environment were not kid-friendly.

As I continued to treat daisy to the occasional salon visit, I found myself complaining about the lack of attention she was given and how fast the services was completed. It was as though her nails and feet were not taken seriously.

In August 2013, I hosted a sleepover for Daisy and

Alteaha and daughter Daisy

began migrating to New York from Guyana. This was comforting because it felt like I belonged. We would sit and reminisce about Guyana and tell our stories about the transition to the United States.

As we talked, we all shared a common thread – the unease and uncertainty we felt when we first moved here.

It was at this time that I decided I wanted the experience of young people, girls in particular, moving to the

Queens Children Guidance Centre as a caseworker, working with at-risk youths and families. My job responsibilities included home visits and providing support and counselling to the families.

I attended Lehman College where I majored in Social Work. In 2004, I graduated <<<magna cum laude>>> and was on the Dean’s List. I was employed at the non-profit agency YAI, as a developmental aide. YAI provides housing, counselling and a vast array of other services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

In 2006, I accepted a position as a social worker assistant with NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). My duties include interacting with clinical staff to provide support services to developmentally disabled individuals who live at home and in residential settings. I advocate for individuals who are disadvantaged and unable to speak up for themselves.

While continuing to work for OPWDD on a modified schedule, I applied and was accepted into the Advanced Standing Program at the Hunter College School of Social Work. I had the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful yearlong internship at Ackerman Institute for Family.

I was a part of the Diversity and Social Work Training Program there, and

This cute little face enjoys a facial

harness and strengthen family resources.

I graduated in 2007 with a Masters and a deep love for and understanding of working and advocating for people that could not do so for themselves. My work was rewarding, but there was always a burning desire within to work with young women migrating to a new place.

In 2008, I gave birth to my most prized possession, a baby girl named Daisy. I envisioned a life for her filled with the things I never had the chance to experience. She would have the opportunity to experience the arts, the ballet and museums.

We do a lot of motherdaughter activities and, on special occasions, I would bring her along to the nail salon where she would be treated to a manicure and pedicure. She loved the expe-

six of her friends. I recruited my younger sister, Crystal, to help. We did manicures, pedicures and chocolate facials, which they all loved. We ate pizza, drank apple cider in champagne glasses, and had girl talk. The girls talked about their plans and how they were going to make the world a better place.

It was a life-changing, fun experience and we had a wonderful time. After the sleepover, I would constantly get calls from the other moms asking when the next sleepover was going to be.

The girls had so much fun that they couldn’t stop talking about it.

Sometime in June 2015, a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that all girls from all walks of life needed to be empowered. Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa & Salon was named after my daugh-

ter and with the vision of the life I have for her. Life lessons begin at a young age and are carried throughout life, so why not start now? In November 2014, the doors of Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa & Salon opened.

Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa is a hidden paradise for girls ages two to 14. Our mission is to pamper, empower and educate young girls, build selfesteem, confidence and create employment. We continue to learn, grow and improve.

Because we are extremely big on community involvement and family, Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa pampered the mothers and grandmothers of The Greater Saint James AME Zion Church for Mother’s Day 2015. We also donated our time and service to pamper all the little girls of Thaddeus Stevens Public School (P.S 81) who made the Honour Roll.

We are currently in talks with the principal and parent coordinator at Granville T. Wood Public School 335 putting together a date and time to pamper all the little girls who attend that school and are currently living in temporary housing such as shelters and foster care.

Additionally, we are currently working on a blueprint for an all-girls six-week summer program. The goal of this program is to provide our girls with an experience they cannot get in the classroom.

The girls will attend ballet, Broadway shows, meet entrepreneurs, and professional women. Our program will also offer etiquette, nutritional and grooming workshop.

We are hoping to launch this program in the summer of 2016.

It is very important for little girls to see that adults that look like them can build, create and manage businesses. I encourage every little princess to work hard, dream big and be determined.

For more information, visit Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa and Salon on Facebook.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 10, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Book World

World Poetry Day 2016

By Petamber Persaud

G

uyana continues to show evidence of its adherence to worthy world trends in literature by observing various events on the literary calendar like World Storytelling Day, World Poetry Day, World Book & Copyright Day, International Literacy Day, among others.

How much of this effort is broadcast worldwide is not that difficult to measure; there is no outside coverage of which I am aware; a sin of omission wherein I hope to effect a bit of change.

However, looking at Guyana’s contribution to world literature from this side, I am proud to say that these commemorations, in the least, help in moulding writers and performers in the tradition of our literary ancestors.

We in Guyana are graced with a proud poetry tradition. When you think of Guyanese poetry, the name Martin Carter instantly comes to mind; this is not exposi- Fred D’Aguiar tion on the poet’s work but suffice it to say, that the poetry of Carter has been translat- ed into many languages, including Spanish, Dutch and recently, Hindi.

Think Guyanese poetry and consider A. J. Seymour’s poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese and Hindi; in Australia, one of his poems is taught in Braille.

Consider one of the first Guyanese poets, Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin who in 1888 won an Empire wide competition for best additional verses to the British National Anthem.

Think Guyanese poets in the Diaspora comprising many who have won international literary recognition including Fred D’Aguiar winning the T. S. Elliot Poetry Prize, Grace Nichols winning the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1983, David Dabydeen in 1984 and John Agard being awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2012.

David Dabydeen Poetry is the mother of Guyanese lit-

erature. The first manifestation came in 1832 when someone writing under the penname ‘Colonist’ published his “Midnight Musings in Demerara” right here in Georgetown; in one sweep, at the very beginning of our literary heritage, everything local.

Poetry has a certain cadence about it; it has a long and eventful journey replete with stories of its rise and fall, its love hate relationship with the public. Poetry has a certain cadence about it frequently reinventing of itself down the ages, moving from orality to written and back to orality and back to written. Poetry has a certain cadence about it rhythm and rhyme and me- Martin Carter ter and musicality and aesthetic and majesty.

Some of these poetry variations were

al day to mark the occasion.

However, in 1999, UNESCO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world to “give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements”.

Guyana’s contribution to World Poetry Day opened with Jada Piggott of Bishops’ High School reading the message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. Interestingly, Ms Bokova applauded “the practitioners, actors, storytellers and all those anonymous voices committed to and through poetry, giving readings in the shadow or in the spotlights, in gardens or streets… [t]he voices that carry poetry help to promote linguistic diversity and freedom of expression. They participate in the global effort towards artistic education and the dissemination of culture”.

Of interest too was the number of school children and students of learning institutions who performed that evening, like Jemima Holmes of Bishops’ High School, performing “Reclaim your crown Guyana”; Mariel Barrow of North Georgetown Primary doing “Choose Life”’;

Grace Nichols

Francis Quamina Farrier

John Agard

portrayed on World Poetry Day 2016 which was celebrated in Guyana on March 31. The actually day is slated as March 21.

It is reported that World Poetry Day has its genesis in one person; a woman, who not only knew of the power of poetry and has tasted its pleasures but also wanted others to be a part of this sacred art.

In 1936, that woman, Tessa Sweezy Webb started honouring poets of Ohio, USA. This vision soon caught the imagination of poetry lovers worldwide. By 1951, fortyone countries were celebrating the works of their poets. Webb used the third Saturday in October for her magnanimous work but by 1951, October 15 was accepted as the ide-

Justin Hamer of F. E. Pollard Primary School doing “Motherland” (Mark Luke Edwards); UG Students of Oral Literature doing “Oral Poetry”; Joashaha Drakes of St. Stanislaus College reading “This is the dark time, my love” (Martin Carter).

Apart from the youths, there were veteran readers and performers, and there was even a poem for the elderly by Francis Quamina Farrier, who is seventy and seven.

These sessions will contribute immensely to a continuing delight and appreciation of literature and will also help in shaping our literature as more and more Guyanese are invested with the appetite to write good poetry.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com Coming soon: “Made in Guyana” a new book by Petamber Persaud.

“Made in Guyana” is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places and events, and on things made in Guyana.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

The Hopetown Chinese settlement

T

he Hopetown settlement at Kamuni Creek (a creek more well-known for the present-day Santa Mission and Santa Aratak villages) began in 1865 as an effort by colonial authorities to induce Chinese indentured labourers to remain in British Guiana after their contracts were up.

With the meagre salaries of the sugar plantations and limited economic opportunities after their indentureship period came to an end, a large number of Chinese workers were thinking of leaving the colony.

Many had heard of the Chinese in Trinidad accumulating wealth from engaging in rice cultivation and commerce there, and saw no prospects for this in British Guiana.

A Christian missionary in British Guiana known as O Tye Kim (Wu-Tai-Kam), recognised the dissatisfaction among them and devised a plan to encourage them to stay.

According to F.O. Low, a “barrister-at-law” writing in the 1911 Timehri Journal, there were two reasons the Chinese migration would have been disastrous for the planters and the colony.

One was that the planters would “have lost a floating supply of free and trained labour, which on account of their being practically no other channels of employment, could be obtained at a nominal rate”; two was that news reaching China of the dissatisfied labour market on the colony would gravely affect labour arriving from that country.

O Tye Kim’s solution was to establish a “Christian Chinese settlement” not only to spread Christianity but also to create a place where the former indentured labourers could work and live independently to accumulate their wealth and improve their future prospects.

He petitioned then Governor Hincks for a free land grant at Camoonie (Kamuni) Creek, and a small loan to establish the settlement

on the left bank of the creek, a tributary of the Demerara River.

Enthusiastic about the idea, Governor Hincks granted the request and the petition was carried in 1865.

Immediately, some 25 settlers were taken to the area, and by the end of the year there were about 70 Chinese settlers. Some historians put the original settlers at 12, with about 170 by year end.

The settlement was named Hopetown in honour of Vice Admiral Sir James Hope who had visited the settlement after he had arrived on the colony just a few days earlier (some historians say he visited in October that year).

The settlers began to cultivate rice, plantains, eddoes and other cash crops, establish poultry and pig farms, while charcoal soon became a major industry, eclipsing agriculture.

Soon the settlement was producing charcoal and shingles to be sold in Georgetown shops. By the following year (1866) it is said that Hopetown was producing about 1700 barrels of charcoal per month.

Reflecting the partial aims of O Tye Kim, a large church was built soon after and was described in 1915 as “a monument to attest the evidence of a once thriving Chinese town”. Little else is known of the church.

The decline of the settlement came soon after. In 1866, just a year after the settlement was created, allegations of improprieties by O Tye Kim arose with regard to the settlement’s accounts and his own financial enterprises. Then in 1867, an inappropriate relationship further reduced his reputation and he is said to have secretly departed the settlement and eventually the colony.

Nothing is known of him since and Hopetown is considered to have degenerated after he left, due to what some historians call a lack of effec-

Inside Promenade Gardens, Middle Street, Georgetown, in the year 1920 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Parliament Buildings, Georgetown, in the year 1960 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

tive administration, as well as the exhaustion of wood from the immediate area for charcoal production; periodic plundering of crops by wild animals and birds, along with flooding.

F.O. Low writes of several (other) reasons for its decline, after speaking with some of its older residents as well as former settlers.

He states that after settlers had accumulated wealth, they moved to the city of Georgetown where work was “less arduous and the profits greater”.

Additionally, he points out, younger generations of Chinese were reluctant to work long and hard in the fields when it was more lucrative to work in the city and eventually “be the owner of his own shop”.

He also points to the fact that the lack of females among the settlers meant that many of the settlement’s males died childless, further reducing the population.

According to “Mission Life; Or Home and Foreign Church A Chinese immigrant family (no date). The Chinese Work, Volume 5” of the 170 per- immigrants are said to have originated mainly from areas sons in 1866, 40 were women such as Hong Kong, Canton, Amoy and Whampoa and 20 were children.

Anglican Church in the Diocese of Guyana.

Low states that he considThen, in 1972, it was agreed by Dr. Alan ered the failure to plant permanent crops as “one of the principle reasons for the decline of John Knight, then Bishop of Guyana, who was also the Archbishop of the West Indies, that the the settlement”.

According to him, that failure stemmed from land should be leased for 99 years to the Chinese the lack of knowledge of the crops suitable for Association.

At its peak in 1874, Hopetown is said to have the lands, the unwillingness to wait for the returns from the crop, along with the lack of indi- a population of about 800 Chinese. By 1891 that vidual land titles to encourage a motivation of number was reduced to 240; by 1901 it had dwindled to 198, mostly the old and infirm. inheritance.

By the time the 1911 census came around, Finally, Low suggests, the Boeraserie Scheme, which began around 1867 to create a the settlement was not mentioned, only the fact reservoir for the agricultural lands of the West that among the settlers along Kamuni Creek, Coast and West Bank Demerara, “was also there were 73 Chinese.

In 1914, blacks, East Indians and mixed largely instrumental in bringing about the decline of the settlement” because it would during races began appearing in Hopetown to make the rainy season allow for flooding of the settle- up about one-third of the population, among 46 pure Chinese. ment’s agricultural lands.

Cecil Clementi, author of “The Chinese in In 1903, according to one source, title to the land at Hopetown was given to the Trustees British Guiana” (1915) proved prophetic when of the Anglican Church at Hopetown, for the he writes at the end of his chapter on Hopetown Chinese immigrants then settled at Hopetown settlement: “Two villages of Aboriginal and such other Chinese as may settle there, and Settlement Indians—Aritak and Santa, eight and a quarter and nine miles respectively from their descendants.

This land was subsequently entrusted the mouth of the creek—appear today to have in 1954 to the Incorporated Trustees of the better prospects of success.”

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Times Travel & Tourism

Explore Warapoka

Living among boulders. Children play between boulders, found throughout the village (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

W

arapoka, located along the Waini River in Region One (Barima/Waini), is a scenic Warrau village strewn with huge granite boulders.

The village, with a population of just over 500 (most of whom are farmers), has a primary school and secondary school, a health centre, solar powered well and a guest house. It is headed by a Toshao.

Throughout the village, towering boulders can be seen.

Village officials have said the “large rocks were placed by nature”, and they welcome “tourists from overseas to investigate”.

Environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins, who visited the village, explained that the granite boulders in the river near the landing in Warapoka have distinctive circular indentations. These, she said, are a result of the Warraus using them over a very long period to sharpen their tools.

Warapoka's landing is strewn with huge granite boulders (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

A section of the village (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

Indentations on boulders caused by Warraus sharpening their tools in a circular motion on the surface (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

Creek into Warapoka (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

For more information on the village, visit Annette & Dave Martins: “Is We Own” on Facebook.

Entrance to Warapoka (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Metabolism and weight loss

M

etabolism describes all the chemical processes that go on continuously inside the body to keep you alive and your organs functioning normally, such as breathing, repairing cells and digesting food.

According to the UK NHS, these chemical processes require energy. The minimum amount of energy your body requires to carry out these chemical processes is called the basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Your BMR accounts for anything between 40 per cent and 70 per cent of your body’s daily energy requirements depending on your age and lifestyle. A ‘slow metabolism’ is more accurately described as a low BMR. Body size, age, gender and genes all play a role in determining your metabolic rate.

Muscle cells require more energy to maintain than fat cells, so people with a higher muscle to fat ratio tend to have a higher BMR. For most people, metabolism slows steadily after age 40.

As we get older, we tend to gain fat and lose muscle. This explains why the BMR tends to decrease with age.

Numerous studies involving thousands of people worldwide have failed to find evidence to support the widely held belief that overweight people must have slower metabolic rates.

In fact, the opposite appears true: overweight people may actually have a higher metabolism than their leaner counterparts, reflecting the energy requirements of maintaining a larger body size.

When we account for differences in body size and composition, there is a remarkable similarity in energy expenditure between individuals.

Research has also shown that people tend to eat more than they think they do. When asked to write down everything they’ve consumed in a day, many people tend to report eating far less than they actually do.

More often than not, the reason you’re putting on weight is not because of a slow metabolism, it’s because you’re eat-

ing and drinking more calories than you’re burning. It may be hard to accept, but staying on top of the number of calories you eat is key to losing weight and keeping it off.

Boosting metabolism

It is claimed that certain foods and drinks can boost your metabolism, including green tea, black coffee, spices and energy drinks. The evidence behind these claims, suggests the UK NHS, is flimsy; the effect on your metabolism is mar-

The most effective ways of burning calories are: 1. Aerobic activity

Aerobic exercise is the most efficient way to burn calories, according to the UK NHS. You should aim to do 150 minutes of aerobic activity, such as walking, cycling and swimming, a week. You can achieve this target by doing 30 minutes five days a week and breaking down your activity sessions in chunks of 10 minutes.

To lose weight, adults aged 19-64 should try to do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week, and make changes to their diet.

2. Strength training

Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, so increasing your muscle mass will help you lose weight. Don’t worry, you don’t need to turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger. Aim to do muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).

Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include lifting weights and high intensity bouts of exercise. Heavy gardening may also do the job.

3. Being active

Be constantly on the move – depending upon your age. Seek your doctor’s, nutritionist’s or trainer’s advice on what activites are right for you at your age, to avoid over-activity that may lead to injuries.

Examples of activities that require moderate effort for most people include walking fast; water aerobics; riding a bike on level ground or with few hills; doubles tennis; pushing a lawn mower; hiking; skateboarding; rollerblading; volleyball; basketball.

Moderate activity will raise your heart rate and make you breathe faster and feel warmer. One way to tell if you’re working at a moderate level is if you can still talk, but you can’t sing the words to a song.

Examples of activities that require vigorous effort for most people include jogging or running; swimming fast; riding a bike fast or on hills; singles tennis; football; rugby; skipping rope; hockey; aerobics; gymnastics; martial arts Vigorous activity makes you breathe hard and fast. If you’re working at this level, you won’t be able to say more than a few words without pausing for breath.

ginal at best, and each person will respond differently to each product.

While you don’t have much control over the speed of your metabolism, you can control how many calories you burn through your level of physical activity. The more active you are, the more calories you burn.

In fact, some people who are said to have a fast metabolism are probably just more active – and maybe more fidgety – than others.

Although you can’t control your age, gender, or genetics, there are other ways to improve your metabolism.

After a session of strength training, muscles are activated all over your body, raising your average daily metabolic rate. Aerobic exercise may not build big muscles, but it can rev up your metabolism in the hours after a workout.

Your body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down.

To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. Also, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain water, rather than pretzels or chips.

Crash diets -- those involving eating fewer than 1,200 (if you’re a woman) or 1,800 (if you’re a man) calories a day -- are bad for anyone hoping to quicken their metabolism.

Although these diets may help you drop pounds, they come at the expense of good nutrition. Plus, it backfires, since you can lose muscle, which in turn slows your metabolism.

Some diseases and conditions can slow a person’s metabolism, such as Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), but more often than not, people’s weight is a matter of consuming more calories than they burn.

However, if you feel that you may have a problem that’s not responding to lifestyle changes, seek medical advice.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 10, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Fashion

Of glamour and grace

D

oyenne of fashion, Sonia Noel has launched some of her most exclusive pieces, which are receiving celebrated recognition from international fashion elites.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Noel said the designs, which range from corporate to red carpet looks, would be featured later this month in the African American Business Magazine.

“I am very honoured to be selected to be featured in this prestigious magazine,” Noel expressed. Some of the pieces featured this week will be part of Noel’s Guyana 50th anniversary collection. Call 226-6554 or 684-8129 for more information on the collection.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

Justin Bieber

J

ustin Drew Bieber, born March 1, 1994, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After a talent manager discovered him through his YouTube videos covering songs in 2007 and signed to RBMG, Bieber released his debut EP, My World, in late 2009. It was certified platinum in the U.S. He became the first artiste to have seven songs from a debut record chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Bieber released his first full-length studio album, My World 2.0, in 2010. It debuted at or near number one in several countries and was certified triple platinum in the U.S. It was preceded by his most successful single to date, “Baby”. Following his debut album, he had his first headlining tour, the My World Tour, released the remix albums My Worlds Acoustic and Never Say Never - The Remixes - and the 3D biopic-concert film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. He released his second studio album, Under the Mistletoe, in November 2011, when it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Bieber released his third studio album, Believe, in 2012. His fourth studio album Purpose was released in November 2015.

Bieber is one of the world’s best-selling music artistes.

On February 12, 2016, Bieber’s first four albums were released on vinyl for the first time. He has won numerous fan-voted awards, including American Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2010 and 2012. In his career, he has received three Grammy nominations, winning one for Best Dance Recording for the song “Where Are U Now” at the 2016 ceremony. He was listed three times by Forbes magazine among the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Bieber became the first artiste to crack 10 billion total video views on Vevo.

Aside from his career as a musician, Bieber has ventured into the worlds of business and philanthropy.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 10, 2016

Times Hollywood

Paul Walker’s daughter Charlie Puth on Selena Gomez dating rumors: ‘We’re just friends’ awarded US$10.1M in crash settlement C

P

aul Walker’s daughter Meadow has struck a deal with the driver of the car in which her father died. The 17-year-old girl was awarded US$10.1 million after a settlement with Roger Rodas’ estate on Friday, April 8.

Meadow’s lawyer Jeffrey Milam issued a statement regarding the settlement with Rodas’ estate, saying, “The amount paid by the estate of Roger Rodas into a trust for Meadow Walker only covers a fraction of what her father would have earned as an international movie star had his life not tragically been cut short.”

“Through his estate, Mr. Rodas, the driver of the car, took partial responsibility for the crash,” he continued, “Meadow’s lawsuit against Porsche AG-a US$13 billion corporation-intends to hold the company responsibly for producing a vehicle that was defective and caused Paul Walker’s death.”

According to Jeffrey,

Meadow will receive approximately US$7.2 million after expenses and attorneys’ fees.

Jeffrey said that the basis of the settlement was that Roger was partly to blame for the fatal accident, although he was “not directing the car through any particularly unsafe maneuvers when it went out of control.”

Meadow is still pressing with her lawsuit against Porsche, claiming various design defects in the racing car caused the crash.

However, a judge recently threw out an almost identi-

cal lawsuit filed by Roger’s widow, saying the design defect claims were unsupportable.

Jeffrey commented on the judge’s ruling, “The issues in the cases are very different. The federal case was filed on behalf of Roger Rodas, who was the driver of the Porsche Carrera GT and was killed instantly upon impact. Meadow’s father, Paul Walker, was a passenger in the car. He survived the crash but was trapped and burned to death because of the vehicle’s defects.” (AceShowbiz)

Nick Jonas says he’s interested in dating Jennifer Lawrence

N

ick Jonas has just revealed that he is willing to date Jennifer Lawrence. While promoting his new single “Close”, the former Jonas Brothers member hinted that “The Hunger Games” actress was lovable and he would be totally ready to share some love with her.

The 23-year-old singer sat with Capital FM’s Roman Kemp and played a game titled “To Bae or Not To Bae”. During the game, the radio host mentioned several names of famous celebrities and Joe had to answer whether or not he would like to date them.

When Roman asked about Jennifer, Nick enthusiastically answered, “To bae for sure. That needs no explanation. We know why.

What’s not to love?”

As Nick and Roman continued the game, the former also showed his interest in dating older women as he opened up about his feelings for Jennifer Lopez. “To bae for sure. She’s kind of like the homie, she’s my friend so it’s kind of weird if I get too specific as to why but

just in general. She’s a great person and I’m happy to call her a friend,” Nick said of the 46-year-old singer.

However, when he was asked about Gigi Hadid, Nick quickly answered, “Not to bae.” It’s obviously because his brother Joe Jonas dated her. (Capital FM)

harlie Puth finally broke his silence and set the record straight on rumors that he once hooked up with Selena Gomez. Stopping by “The Elvis Duran Show”, the 24-year-old singer denied that he had a special relationship with the “Hands to Myself” hitmaker, saying that they’re just “friends.”

At one point during the interview, the “One Call Away” crooner said that he wanted to find his future wife and Elvis Duran automatically asked him about Selena. “We’re friends. I’m not dating Selena Gomez,” Charlie said. “There is nothing to say.”

Though the “See You Again” hitmaker stressed that there’s nothing special between him and Justin Bieber’s ex-girlfriend, it doesn’t mean that he hates her. When the host asked whether or not he wanted to see Selena in the front row

of one of his shows, he said, “I hope so.”

Elvis and other hosts’ investigation didn’t stop there. One of them asked if Charlie ever had a romantic relationship with Meghan Trainor, his “Marvin Gaye” duet partner. Charlie simply replied, “I never dated Meghan Trainor.”

Charlie later joked about ridiculous dating rumors,

saying that “Adele would not go for a bloke like me.”

The singer also recalled a hilarious moment with Elvis when they were at an afterparty in Miami. At the time, the 51-year-old radio host tried to find Charlie a girl “to bang,” but the plan didn’t work because the girl ended up leaving. “I hung out with Shawn Mendes,” Charlie revealed. (AceShowbiz)

Kerry Washington ‘taken aback’ by her heavily photoshopped cover

K

erry Washington is responding to excessive photoshopping of her Adweek cover.

The “Scandal” actress took to Instagram on Tuesday, April 5 to speak out about the picture of herself who “is so different from what I look like when I look in the mirror.”

Kerry wrote alongside the photo, “So...You know me. I’m not one to be quiet about a magazine cover. I always celebrate it when a respected publication invites me to grace their pages. It’s an honor. And a privilege.

And ADWEEK is no exception. I love ADWEEK. It’s a publication I appreciate.

And learn from. I’ve long followed them on Twitter. And when they invited me to do a cover, I was excited and thrilled.”

“And the truth is, I’m still excited. I’m proud of the article. And I like some of the inside images a great deal.

But, I have to be honest...I was taken aback by the cover,” she explained her disappointment of her cover picture. “Look, I’m no stranger to Photoshopping. It happens a lot. In a way, we have become a society of picture adjusters - who doesn’t love

a filter?!? And I don’t always take these adjustments to task but I have had the opportunity to address the impact of my altered image in the past and I think it’s a valuable conversation.”

Kerry said she didn’t look like herself in the cover picture. “Yesterday, however, I just felt weary,” she shared, “It felt strange to look at a picture of myself that is so different from what I look like when I look in the mirror. It’s an unfortunate feeling. That being said. You all have been very kind and supportive.”

The “Django Unchained” actress, however, expressed her satisfaction on the ar-

ticle, “Also, as I’ve said, I’m very proud of the article.

There are a few things we discussed in the interview that were left out. Things that are important to me (like: the importance of strong professional support and my awesome professional team).”

“I’ve been thinking about how to discuss those things with anyone who is interested, in an alternate forum,” she added, “But until then...

Grab this week’s ADWEEK. Read it. I hope you enjoy it.

And thank you for being patient with me while I figured out how to post this in a way that felt both celebratory and honest. XOXOXOX.”

(AceShowbiz)

Beyonce sues over ‘Feyonce’ knockoffs

I

n her 2008 smash hit “Single Ladies,” Beyonce sang of telling a jealous ex-boyfriend that if he had wanted to commit to their relationship, he should have “put a ring on it.”

Now Beyonce is telling a Texas company selling stuff online bearing the name “Feyonce” to put a lid on it.

Beyonce, one of the world’s most famous and influential pop stars, on Tuesday sued to stop the

sale of dozens of shirts, sweaters, tank tops, hoodies and even coffee mugs bearing the “Feyonce” name, which she calls too close to her own trademarked name.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, Beyonce accused Feyonce Inc and three individuals, all from San Antonio, of “brazenly” selling infringing “Feyonce” merchandise at their website.

Among the items is a

US$14.95 mug with the phrase “he put a ring on it,” which Beyonce said was intended to call to mind the lyrics of “Single Ladies.”

Beyonce, 34, who is married to rapper Jay Z and has won Grammy awards as a solo artist and with Destiny’s Child, said the sale of Feyonce knockoffs confuses consumers and causes her irreparable harm, and that the defendants have ignored her requests to stop. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

Kareena Kapoor

K

areena Kapoor, also known by her married name Kareena Kapoor Khan, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. She is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and the younger sister of actress Karisma Kapoor. The actress is the recipient of several awards, including six Filmfare Awards. After making her acting debut in the 2000 war film “Refugee”, Kapoor established herself in Hindi cinema with roles in the historical drama “Aśoka” and the blockbuster melodrama “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (both 2001). She went on to receive Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the 2007 romantic comedy “Jab We Met” and the 2010 drama “We Are Family”, respectively.

Kapoor achieved further success by being featured in the female lead in four of India’s top-grossing productions—the 2009 comedydrama “3 Idiots”, the 2011 romantic drama “Bodyguard”, the 2011 science fiction “Ra. One”, and the 2015 social drama “Bajrangi Bhaijaan”. In addition to film acting, Kapoor is a stage performer and has contributed as a co-author to three books: an autobiographical memoir and two nutrition guides. She has also launched her own clothing line in association with the retail chain Globus. Kapoor has made public appearances to support various philanthropic endeavours and has been actively involved in promoting children’s education and the safety of women. She is currently married to actor Saif Ali Khan.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Times Bollywood

Britain's royal couple to attend fundraiser with Bollywood stars T

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who will start their maiden visit to India on Sunday from Mumbai, will be part of a fundraiser which is expected to be attended by stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The event is being held collectively by three charity organisations: Magic Bus, Doorstep, and India's Childline, to generate funds to support vulnerable children across India.

According to mirror.co.uk, it will be a star-studded affair with Shah Rukh, Aamir, Rishi, Aishwarya, Farhan Akhtar as well as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. However, no confirmation has been issued by the Indian stars.

The international news

platform also stated that the event is being organised by the British Asian Trust, whose members include Syco executive Sonny Takhar who works with Simon Cowell and One Direction.

Takhar said: "It would be remiss of them to go to India and not experience Bollywood culture because it's such an

important part of the cultural fabric of the country. It's fantastic they're going to experience it."

The gala will be held at the Oval Maidan, Churchgate on Sunday will also have a pre-event demonstration session by Magic Bus children at the BPT Grounds, near Byculla Railway Station here.

Matthew Spacie, founder, Magic Bus, shared his gratitude to be associated with an event for the royal couple.

Spacie said: "We are grateful for the Duke and Duchess' support of our mission to ensure education and jobs for all 400,000 children and 9000 youth we work with."

After giving a Bollywood start to their India tour, the royal couple will enjoy a lavish lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. Prince William and Kate will lay a wreath at India Gate and visit Gandhi Smriti during their time in the national capital.

After this, they will visit the Kaziranga National Park in Assam before they go on a visit to Bhutan. They will return to India and visit the Taj Mahal before they leave for Britain. (TOI)

Hrithik Roshan is sharing Kangana’s personal pictures, claims lawyer

I

n yet another twist to the ugly sparring between Bollywood actors Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan, the “Queen” star’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui has sent a letter to the Mumbai police commissioner stating Hrithik has been circulating his client’s personal pictures without her consent.

“My client Kangana Ranaut got calls from sections of media claiming that they have seen certain pictures and emails from my client, which were only exchanged between my client and Hrithik Roshan on his correct email address. Mr Hrithik Roshan sent a notice to my client saying that he will be doing this. He has fully outraged my client’s modesty. He has no business showing any pictures of my client to any third party,” he says.

“These things need to be investigated. I am trying my level best to hold on to my FIR and not file it as it will have a long lasting effect on Hrithik

Roshan’s career. So the only option was to file a complaint with the police and tell them to look into this offence and prevent consequences of it,” he adds.

There has been talk about Kangana sending emails to someone pretending to be Hrithik. However, Siddiqui questions the existence of this imposter and adds that the case has nothing to do with him.

“Whether the imposter stays in any part of the world or if there is even an impos-

ter is not a question. This case is between Hrithik and Kangana. Is Hrithik claiming that he did not receive any emails from my client on his email address? Under law, the burden of truth lies on the person making the allegations.

He has to substantiate it. If he can’t, he cannot have the liberty of making media go on a wild goose chase to find any imposter. There is no case of an imposter at all. And even if there is, it is of no consequence to this case,” he says.

There are reports that

Kangana is not cooperating with the police and has refused to hand over the laptop, on which she allegedly sent emails to Hrithik. However, Siddiqui says that the laptop was never asked for. “First and foremost, if my client was communicating with the imposter through a laptop or a phone, that only my client knows. The imposter was a recipient so actually even he would not know how she has communicated. The question of what my client was using, which laptop and which make was all false. There is no question of my client being pulled up for any laptop. Right now, the police only wants to interview her. The first notice has been withdrawn. These diversionary tactics are nothing but the act of Hrithik Roshan and his team. They are trying to deviate from the subject matter,” he says, adding that they are still waiting for Hrithik to reply to the counter complaint filed by them.

(Hindustan Times)

SRK’s wax statue at Madame Tussauds to step out, dress as ‘Fan’

S

hah Rukh Khan’s wax statue at the famous Madame Tussauds museum in London will be re-dressed as Gaurav, his character in “Fan”.

The wax figure will resemble Gaurav in terms of his clothing and look.

What adds to the fun is that the statue will step out at the iconic London Eye. Interestingly, a scene from the film was also shot at the location.

Talking about the novelty factor in the film produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF), Shah Rukh had earlier said, “If you’re looking for novelty, then you should watch out for Fan. It’s a different kind of film, supposed to be a niche... It’s not meant to be a blockbuster releasing ahead of Christmas.”

Madame Tussauds London’s General Manager,

Edward Fuller, elaborated on the promotional plans, “We have a long and strong relationship with the Indian film industry and our Bollywood figures, especially Shah Rukh Khan’s likeness, are hugely popular with guests. We’re delighted the attraction is featured in Fan and excited to be celebrating the release of the film by redressing Shah Rukh’s figure and taking it to the London Eye for his fans to see and grab a selfie with.”

Avtar Panesar Vice President of YRF International said, “Placing the Madame Tussauds wax figure as a film character at a public place where crowds throng is an exciting opportunity for SRK fans! This is our way of returning the love of the Fan’s that make our films what they are.”

(Hindustan Times)

Sonam Kapoor: ‘My personal life will never make for a newsworthy story’

S

onam Kapoor is known to be someone who likes to speak her mind — whether it is about her career or other issues that affect her. But when it comes to her personal life, the actor adopts a guarded approach.

“Even if I have something happening in my personal life, I won’t talk about it. So, it (her personal life) will never make for a newsworthy story. I will never use it to boost certain things (smiles). I strongly feel that it (talking about one’s personal space) takes away from your private life, and most importantly, the respect you need to give the person you love. Also, I feel it takes away respect from your work too. So, it damages both aspects of your life,” she says.

Sonam, who is currently on a high post the success of “Neerja”, says she won’t talk about her private life

till, maybe, when she decides to get married. “Still, you should never have [too many] conversations about it. I am as it is open and honest. I don’t know how much more openness and honesty is needed,” says the actor.

In fact, Sonam credits her forthright attitude to her parents (father Anil Kapoor and mother Sunita Kapoor). “My father has always let me be. I make a lot of tough decisions — in my personal and professional sphere — and strong statements, which are hard for a father [to understand], especially when he really loves you. So, if you want to be a certain way, take sides and comment on things you believe in, remember that it’s not easy on your parents, as you might end up getting a lot of flak for it. It’s scary for them, but they have never said anything to me,” she says. (Hindustan Times)

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APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending NOW

Gym-wear as daywear

Star of the week

C

elebrities all over are wearing gym-wear as daywear. Leggings, crop tops, hoodies, trainers and joggers are being worn at all hours... with not a bead of sweat in sight.

It’s comfortable fashion at its best, and by no means does it have to look lackluster or scruffy: take ques from favourites such as Kendall Jenner, Rihanna and Gigi Hadid who like to add a designer handbag or a pair of sunnies to elevate the look slightly.

Model Gigi Hadid pairs her gym-wear with an elegant top and handbag for a chic look

Style up gym-wear with a leather jacket Pair with a handbag and sunglasses

Ashmini Ramnauth

Model Kendall Jenner keeps it comfortable in fashionable gym-wear for a more fashionable look

Actress Jessica Alba wore her gym-wear out to do a spot of shopping

The perpetually cool Rihanna wears Puma everything for her look

Eloquent and dazzling Ashmini Ramnauht is currently a contestant in the Miss World Guyana 2016 pageant. The 20-year-old aptly represents Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and is working diligently to cop the Miss World Guyana 2016 crown. A humanitarian, Ashmini uses the pageant’s platform to spread awareness on a topic close to her heart: child neglect. She mentioned it is an issue she feels “very strongly about” and is convinced that “parents and the community at large can help by spending more time with children and offering assistance when needed; also, special organisations can be set up to target the issue”. The beauty said her love for children “comes from deep within”.

Ashmini hails from a single parent home and believes that “there is no excuse for a child to be wandering on the streets in the middle of the night or being hungry”. The Miss World Guyana contestant plans to launch a website and a project aimed at “targeting child neglect in society”. “It is with great hope, and with your prayers, that we can render our help to children who need our love and support,” she expresses. Visit Missosology Guyana on Facebook for updates on the pageant.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 10, 2016

Times Art

‘Waves and war’ Hew Locke’s debut solo exhibition evokes migration and displacement

B

orn in Scotland in 1959, artist Hew Locke grew up in Georgetown, Guyana before returning to Britain for his university education.

Locke’s most recent works are part of his debut solo exhibition, The Wine Dark Sea, with the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, located at L.L.C. 37 West 57th

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat V'

The Wine Dark Sea presents new works by the artist that highlight Locke’s acclaimed sculptures of boats, which occupy an important place in his personal iconography.

“The wine dark sea”

is a description of the Mediterranean used by Greek poet Homer throughout his poem “The Odyssey”.

The phrase is repeated by Derek Walcott in his epic poem “Omeros” set mainly in the Caribbean and refer-

Artist Hew Locke

Locke’s multi-media practice includes large-format installation, painting, sculpture, photography and tapestry and has been called a “mental ‘Moulinex’ or food processor, into which experiences are tossed, mixed around, and transformed into chimerical creations”.

Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY – currently ongoing.

The Anglo-Guyanese artist consistently explores themes of race, colonialism, displacement, the creation of cultures, and the visual codes of power, drawing on a deeply personal visual language.

Intricate details of 'The Wine Dark Sea - boat DD'

between rich and poor.”

Extracts from the catalogue by Zoe Lukov, Director of Exhibitions, Faena Art state: “Waves and war – the same forces of affliction and ambition extolled in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ converge with-

the artist has intervened in and adorned. Hanging from the ceiling at eye-level, these ships are suspended in one continuous current that moves towards the gallery’s windows out onto the bustling cityscape of midtown

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat F' The artist's pieces on display in the gallery

encing characters from “The Iliad”.

This new series of 25 vessels of varied scale and hues are suspended from the ceiling in the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art gallery, creating a flotilla at eye level.

Incorporating contemporary and historically resonant vessels - clippers and cargo ships, battleships and lifeboats - Locke creates a spectacular sculptural environment.

Locke’s work articulates this environment as filled with hope, potential prosperity and gratification, as well as despair, anguish, and suffering. This narrative resonates deeply with the tides of refugees fleeing to the sea from war, oppression, and poverty, but also with those viewers for whom migration and displacement are part of family history.

A ship is a symbolic object; vessel of the soul, means of escape, both safety and danger. According to Locke, “we’re all floating on the same ocean. As a child and young man I sailed the Atlantic. At sea, a twist of fate can send a super-yacht down - it can be an equalizer

'The Wine Dark Sea, Group I'

in a single current that Hew Locke has summoned for his exhibition The Wine Dark Sea…” It adds: "… A master at accumulating and assembling quotidian materials to create art objects that are also uncommon altars and

Manhattan. Floating on this tide are the scraps and treasures of our shared and communal histories that leave indelible prints on our own national narratives even as we erase them from our conscious thoughts…Locke has given us a maritime pro-

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat DD'

shrines to our past, this new installation brings together thirty-four new hand-made and customised model ships from around the world that

cession—at once celebratory and funereal—that is animated by the submarine pulse of history.” (Information from

Carl E. Hazlewood. Hew Locke photos)

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APRIL10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple iPhone sales to reach a billion this year A

pple analysts are predicting that Apple will likely reach 1 billion iPhones sold – even before the iPhone 7 hits stores shelves.

Between the launch of the original iPhone and the end of the 2015 calendar year, Apple to-date has sold a total of 896 billion iPhones.

If sales don’t unexpectedly plummet, it’s widely believed that Apple will sell its 1 billionth iPhone sometime this summer, perhaps as soon as July.

When the iPhone 3Gs was launched in 2008, Apple sold more than 1

million iPhones in just one weekend.

This past September, following the release of

the iPhone 6s, Apple’s sold more than 13 million

Tech BYTE

U

to kali sticks and hand axes. And it also needs to incorporate an intelligent scoring system that can work out which fighter is taking what level of damage in real time, so they can fight with a live "health bar" as if they're in a video game.

The first Lorica armour was made primarily of composites and polycarbonates, and weighed in at 25 kg (55 lb). With safety as first priority in these proof of concepts, mobility took a back seat.

Developing a Lorica MkII was alUWM will allow different weapons systems to face off in full contact battle (Credit: Masanori Udagawa/UWM via GIZMAG)

Fierce (L) vs War Demon in a sword fight at UWM's first underground event in Wellington, NZ (Credit: Masanori Udagawa/UWM via GIZMAG)

mixed martial arts of weapons combat, allowing weapons masters to face off in full-contact battle safely with protection.

It needs to protect against everything from swords and staves

ways a high priority.

The new armour uses a lot more carbon fibre, and it's lighter, cooler and more mobile, as well as being fitted with enhanced scoring sensors.

Styles represented at the “underground” event included HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), Japanese Kenjutsu, Chinese Kung Fu and Mixed Weapons arts.

Weapons included the bokken, long staff, long sword and Kali sticks.

One of the fighters, Shen Meng from Inner Mongolia, China, relished the chance to fully let loose in armed combat.

"After 18 years competing in weapons martial arts combat, this fight ranks as my coolest experience yet. It was awesome to be able to go head-to-head with other practitioners without fear of serious injury to them or myself. I felt completely protected in the Lorica and it gave me the chance to experience weapons combat on a completely different level,” he said.

Steel breaks record for not breaking

A

multidisciplinary team from the University of California at San Diego (UC San Diego), the University of Southern California (USC) and the California Institute of Technology (CIT), has created a new amorphous metal dubbed SAM2X5-630 by using metallic glass matrix composites (MGMC) to replace a number of atoms in standard steel's crystal-like structure.

In effect, this amalgam of

lion the iOS device – a tally that includes the iPad and the iPad Touch – back in November of 2014.

Tech NEWS

Unified Weapons Master tests second-gen combat armour

nified Weapons Master (UWM) is a fascinating new sport that lets martial artists fight full force with a range of different weapons, wearing fully protective armour that keeps score as you fight.

In a recent underground battle event in Wellington, New Zealand, UWM revealed its latest intelligent Lorica armour and pitted six combatants from around the world against each other in full contact weapon combat.

UWM's goal is to become the

iPhones during the initial launch weekend, setting a new record in the process.

Tech website BGR noted that Apple sold its bil-

materials creates a new version of steel that has incredible resilience to shock, and is able to bounce back into shape, rather than bend or tear as ordinary steel can do under high-pressure.

In fact, according to the researchers, the new steel alloy can stand up to pressures of over 12.5 giga-Pascals (more than 1.8 million psi, or about 125,000 atmospheres) without being permanently deformed.

This is the highest recorded elastic limit for any steel alloy.

Engineers at USC tested the alloy by bombarding samples of the material with 34 mm (1.3 in) copper plates fired from a naval powder gun at 500 to 1,300 m/s (1,640 - 4,265 fps). The material deformed slightly on initial impact, but bounced back immediately afterwards.

The results of this research were recently published in the journal Nature.

FBI bought ‘tool’ to hack iPhone

F

BI Director James Comey said Wednesday that the government had purchased "a tool" from a private party in order to unlock the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

"Litigation between the government and Apple over the San Bernardino phone has ended, because the government has purchased, from a private party, a way to get into that phone, 5C, running iOS 9," Comey said.

A CNN Money report stated that law enforcement officials revealed in late March that they had finally cracked the iPhone used by Syed Farook, one of two shooters in the December 2015 California U.S.A. attack that left 14 people dead.

But they did not go into details, other than to say an unnamed third party had provided assistance.

Comey revealed additional information about the source of the tool Wednesday.

"The people we bought this from, I know a fair amount about them, and I have a high degree of confidence that they are very good at protecting it, and their motiva-

FBI Director James Comey at a March hearing in front of Congress over encryption and the government’s efforts to compel Apple to help it hack into an iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters

tions align with ours," he said.

He also revealed that the method used didn't work on other models of iPhones, indicating it had already made attempts using the technique.

"It's a bit of a technological corner case, the world has moved on to [iPhone] sixes," he said during questions at the event. "This doesn't work in sixes, doesn't work in a five 5S. We have a tool that works on a narrow slice of phones," he said.

Security flaws at heart of Panama Papers

T

he front-end computer systems of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers hack, are outdated and riddled with security flaws, analysis has revealed.

Professor Alan Woodward, a computer security expert from Surrey University, told WIRED that Mossack Fonseca's front end seemed "horribly" out of date.

"I can't understand this," Woodward continued. "Take something like Outlook Web Access – if you keep your Exchange Server up to date this just comes along naturally. They seem to have been caught in a time warp. If I were a client of theirs I'd be very concerned that they were communicating using such outdated technology."

Mossack Fonseca's emails were also not encrypted, according to privacy expert Christopher Soghoian who noted the company did not use

the TLS security protocol.

"Given the business they're in, I find it quite surprising that they haven't thought about securing their emails better," Angela Sasse, professor of human-centred technology at University College London, told WIRED. Precisely what vulnerability the attacker used is not known, and Mossack Fonseca has said it is carrying out "an in-depth investigation with experts", while also taking "additional measures" to strengthen its systems.

In a leaked email to customers Mossack Fonseca confirmed an "unauthorised breach" of its email servers. Company partner Ramon Fonseca has since said the leak was not "an inside job" and that the company had been hacked by servers based abroad.

The company did not respond to requests for comment. (Source: Wired.co.uk)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 10, 2016

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe Style your outdoor Cottage pie of the Week

walls and fences

When your outdoor consists of plain concrete or wooden walls and fences, it can make for very bland aesthetics. Recent landscaping trends include brightening these spaces with elements and accents designed to add appeal…

Ingredients 1 lb (453 g) ground beef 2 tbsp. butter, divided 1 large onion, chopped 2 large carrots, cut into ¾-inch pieces 2 tbsp. tomato paste

2 tsp. thyme leaves 1 cup (250 ml) beef stock 1 tbsp. cornstarch ¾ cup (4 oz. or 115 g) frozen peas 1 large potato, very thinly sliced 1 tsp. fine grain sea salt Ground black pepper to taste

Method

Add other elements to the outdoors such as tiles and a wall fountain to brighten up your blank fence or wall Make wall art and a focal point with a decorative trellis on an otherwise bland wall

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a rack in the middle.

Melt one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and carrots, and sauté - stirring every so often - until onion is soft, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper, and stir in tomato paste.

Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 4 minutes.

Add thyme and beef stock and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until it starts to reduce, about 3 minutes.

In a bowl, mix cornstarch with ½ cup of cold water. Add to beef mixture and cook until it thickens, about 2 minutes.

Stir in peas and adjust seasoning, if needed.

Transfer mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Top with potatoes, overlapping slices.

Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and drizzle over the potatoes.

Bake until the potatoes are browned around the edges, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 6

GREATEST COOKING TIPS

Suggested substitutions for alcoholic beverages in recipes: White Wine: Apple juice or carrot juice. Vegetable stock or chicken stock straight or with a little white wine vinegar Red Wine: 1/2 cup of grape juice with 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar. 1/2 cup water and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar. Beef stock or chicken stock straight or with a little red wine vinegar.

NB. Among Muslims, there is a debate on whether vinegar is haram.

Beer: Chicken broth, beef broth, ginger ale.

Champagne: Ginger ale, sparkling grape juice.

Brandy: Apple juice, peach juice, white grape juice, pear juice.

HOME HELP

A vertical garden trellis hides a plain wooden fence and presents a colourful façade for your yard space

Use baking soda as an abrasive to clean baby bath tubs without worrying about harsh chemicals. Baking soda in a baby’s bath water can help alleviate diaper rash, too.

Add one cup of baking soda to your laundry to deodorize and boost the effectiveness of your detergent. It assists with breaking down compounds like grease.

Keep baking soda under the sink to repel cockroaches and ants.

Remove milk odour from baby bottles. Clean bottles as you normally would then add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and fill completely with warm water. Secure the nipple and shake the bottle. Leave overnight.

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APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

How to raise a socially intelligent child

W

JOKES Who's The Boss?

A retiring farmer in preparation for selling his land, needed to rid his farm of animals. So he went to every house in his town.

To the houses where the man is the boss, he gave a horse. To the houses where the woman is the boss, a chicken was given.

He got toward the end of the street and saw a couple outside gardening.

"Who's the boss around here?" he asked.

"I am," said the man.

"I have a black horse and a brown horse," the farmer said, "which one would you like?"

The man thought for a minute and said, "The black one."

"No, no, no, get the brown one." the man's wife said.

"Here's your chicken." said the farmer.

The lawyer and the doctor

A Chinese doctor can't find a job in a hospital in the US, so he opens a clinic and puts a sign outside that reads "GET TREATMENT FOR $20 - IF NOT CURED GET BACK $100."

An American lawyer thinks this is a great opportunity to earn $100 and goes to the clinic.

Lawyer: "I have lost my sense of taste."

Doctor: "Nurse, bring medicine from box No. 22 and put 3 drops in patient's mouth."

Lawyer: "Ugh. This is kerosene."

Doctor: "Congrats, your sense of taste is restored.

Give me $20."

The annoyed lawyer goes back after a few days to recover his money.

Lawyer: "I have lost my memory. I cannot remember anything."

Doctor: "Nurse, bring medicine from box no. 22 and put 3 drops in his mouth."

Lawyer (annoyed): "This is kerosene. You gave this to me last time for restoring my taste."

Doctor: "Congrats. You got your memory back.

Give me $20."

The fuming lawyer pays him, and then comes back a week later determined to get back $100.

Lawyer: "My eyesight has become very weak I can't see at all."

Doctor: "Well, I don't have any medicine for that, so take this $100."

Lawyer (staring at the note): "But this is $20, not $100!!"

Doctor: "Congrats, your eyesight is restored. Give me $20".

hile good grades are important for your child’s future, good social skills are also important to help form a wellrounded child and adult.

We live in a complicated world, made even more so now with the advent of technology leading to instant and global media access.

Children do not know, just instinctively, how to build good relationships with other children in such a culture of shifting rules.

If children have good relationships at home they have a healthy head start, but they still need your help in learning to navigate a complex social world.

1. Foster good social skills from toddlerhood on.

This is one of the most important skill sets your child

will ever develop. It is infinitely more important to her future happiness than helping her develop her intellect.

2. Support his friendships. Honour and rein-

force your child's developing friendships. Talk about them, remember them, and create opportunities to play.

Remember that children get aggravated with each other,

STORY TIME The Story of the Potter

Y

udhishthira was the name of a poor potter who lived in a certain kingdom.

One night, when he was returning after drinking more than he should, he stumbled and fell over some pots. When he got up, he saw blood was oozing out of his forehead. There was a deep cut due to a broken piece of pot.

Poor that he was, he did not go apply any medicine on his wound, which is the reason that the wound did not heal for a long time. After a long time, the wound finally healed by itself, but it left a big scar on his forehead.

Soon afterwards, there was a famine in the country, and he decided to leave his place and travel to another part of the country.

On his way, he joined a group of people, who served at the royal household. Along with them, he started serving at the royal household.

One day, the king noticed

the big scar on his forehead and thought, "This man must be a great warrior. The scar on his forehead is evident that he has received such wound in some battle. He must be very brave."

Thus, the king promoted him as a warrior and he was honoured with a place amongst the best warriors of the kingdom.

The other household workers knew that he was no warrior, and became jealous of the fact that the king favoured him, although he did not deserve it rightly.

Soon after, a battle was impending and the king summoned all his warriors. He wanted to speak to all the great warriors personally and gift them with precious items as an encouragement.

The king addressed the soldiers with encouraging words and inspected the equipment, and weapons, and even the elephants and horses.

just as adults do. It doesn't mean the end of a friendship, necessarily, just that they need help to work through the issues that come up. to be Continued

Reflections

The Arrow and the Song I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The sale

A young man named Chuck bought a horse from a farmer for $250. The farmer agreed to deliver the horse the next day.

The next day, the farmer drove up to Chucks house and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the horse died."

Chuck replied, "Well, then just give me my money back."

The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already."

Chuck said, "Ok, then, just bring me the dead horse."

The farmer asked, "What ya gonna do with him?"

Chuck said, "I'm going to raffle him off."

The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead horse!"

Chuck said, "Sure I can, watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."

A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, "What happened with that dead horse?"

Chuck said, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at five dollars apiece and made a profit of $2495."

The farmer said, "Didn't anyone complain?"

Chuck said, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his five dollars back."

By Grammar G

Remember, ring T

elephomnemonics (coined by Dave Silverman in 1970) or telephone mnemonics is the term given to short words or phrases created from the numbers of a telephone, called phonewords If you look at a phone you may notice for example that the number 2 on the keyboard also has in small capitals the letters ABC. Note too that the numbers 0 and 1 have no alphabetic representative.

Phonewords are often used as an aid for remembering telephone numbers, not just by individuals but also by companies for their customers.

Some companies have already trademarked their phonewords: 1-800-FLOWERS (1-800-356-9377) for a U.S. floral and gourmet foods gift retailer.

With telephone mnemonics, although there are three different letters for each

number, permitting in principle the formation of 2,187 different "words," most of these are likely to be gibberish, points out noted word player Ross Eckler. It is rare to find an actual seven-letter word with a phone number.

This has led to the term “vanity number” or vanity telephone number where persons may (often at considerable expense) request from the telephone company an easily remembered phone number for their business or even their surnames (Eckler’s examples include 564-6766 spelling “Johnson”).

Other U.S. businesses reportedly utilising such a service include 1-800

–EDUCATE for Sylvan Learning, and 1-877-PARKING for a company called Icon Parking Systems.

According to one website offering vanity numbers, having such a number can increase business by 33 per cent.

Can you think of any phonewords of local individuals or businesses?

20 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 10, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

If one small rabbit can dig a warren in nine hours, a medium rabbit can dig a warren in six hours and a large rabbit can dig a warren in four and a half hours, how long will it take one small, one medium and one large rabbit to dig a warren if they all work together? see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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APRIL 10 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Terciopelo The Nile River Facts T

T

he Terciopelo (Bothrops asper) , also known as the Fer-de-Lance snake, is a venomous pit viper species ranging from southern Mexico to northern South America. Juveniles are said to be more venomous than adults.

A nocturnal hunter, the terciopelo emerges at dusk to feed mostly on lizards, insects, centipedes, frogs and other snakes. It is an opportunistic predator as well as an occasional scavenger and is also capable of ambushing prey or following them some distance.

The snake is highly adaptable, often thriving in human habitats, especially those with a high rat population. This is one reason for the high incidence of snake-

bites among human inhabitants of such regions, many have proven fatal without antivenom treatment.

A recent study in Costa Rica found that there is an increase in snakebites during both El Niño and La Niña when temperature increases. This scientists say is because snakes are more active when its warmer.

However, the wild life trade, increasing agricultural mechanisation and overuse of pesticides have had some impact on terciopelo numbers.

The scientific term asper is said to be Latin, meaning "rough" or "harsh". It is used in reference to the upturned dorsal scales of the species.

he Nile River in northwest Africa is the longest river in the world, stretching some 6,825 km (approx. 4,240 miles) through several African countries.

There are two major tributaries that feed the Nile: the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The two join at Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan.

The two major sources of the river are Lake Victoria, which feeds the White Nile branch, and Lake Tana, which feeds the Blue Nile branch.

The Nile River flows from the high mountains in the middle regions of Africa north to the Nile delta and into the Mediterranean Sea. Near the Mediterranean Sea the river splits into two branches, the Rosetta Branch (to the west) and the Damietta (to the east).

In the times of ancient Egypt – one of the countries through which the river flows – around September of each year the Nile would overflow its banks and flood the surrounding area. Today, the Aswan Dam keeps the Nile from flooding modern cities.

Other dams along the river include Roseires Dam, Owen Falls Dam, and Sennar Dam.

HOW TO DRAW AN ELEPHANT

Colouring Fun

please see solution on page 23

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 10, 2016

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APRIL 10, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 23

World Times

Humans change life-giving nutrient into pollutant C oastal dead zones, global warming, excess algae blooms, acid rain, ocean acidification, smog, impaired drinking water quality, an expanding ozone hole and biodiversity loss.

Seemingly diverse problems, but a common thread connects them: human disruption of how a single chemical element, nitrogen, interacts with the environment.

Nitrogen is absolutely crucial to life — an indispensable ingredient of DNA, proteins and essentially all living tissue — yet it also can choke the life out of aquatic ecosystems, destroy trees and sicken people when it shows up in excess at the wrong place, at the wrong time, in the wrong form.

And over the past century, people have released so much of this type of nitrogen — known as reactive nitrogen — that scientists say we’ve passed the limitof what the planet can safely handle.

While many things contribute to the problem — including energy use, urban runoff and sewage — agriculture is the largest source of environmentally damaging nitrogen.

Atmospheric cycle. Representation of the flow of nitrogen through the environment

According to scientists studying this problem, approximately 80 percent of the nitrogen currently used in agriculture (primarily synthetic and other fertilizers, like manure) is lost to the environment at some

Brain Teaser Answer 2 hours.

In one hour, each rabbit can dig 1/9, 1/6, and 1/4.5 of a warren, respectively. To figure out how much the three of them can do in an hour, just add these up (convert to 18ths first): 2/18 + 3/18 + 4/18 = 9/18 = 1/2. Since together they can dig half of a warren per hour, it will take two hours to dig a whole warren.

SUDOKU

point in the food supply chain.

In the U.S., European Union, Japan and likely China and elsewhere, food accounts for more than 75 percent of the average person’s nitrogen footprint (individual contribution to nitrogen pollution), according to University of New Hampshire natural resources and environmental stud-

gen studies and CEO of the Louis Bolk Institute in the Netherlands tells Elizabeth Grossman of Ensia,is that “people don’t connect it to food and food production.”

Part of the difficulty in making people aware of these connections is that they often show up as “disruptions in distant places,”he notes.

What happens on a farm

nitrogen to ammonia, a reactive form that can be used in — and is essential to — plant growth.

While plants need this reactive nitrogen to thrive, if excessive amounts enter the environment, they contribute to a suite of adverse effects.

And ammonia is not the only form of reactive nitrogen; others — nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxides, nitrate and nitrite — can also become serious air and water contaminants and prompt respiratory, cardiovascular and other diseases.

Without human intervention of some sort, the world’s naturally occurring supply of reactive nitrogen essential to plant growth is relatively limited.

But by the beginning of the 20th century it became apparent that there wasn’t going to be enough of this form of nitrogen available to produce the volume of food needed to adequately feed a growing population.

This problem was solved by the invention of synthetic fertilizers that supply plants with nitrogen in a “fixed” form they can use.

KID SUDOKU

Human influences on the nitrogen cycle. Eutrophication is the addition of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers and untreated sewage into an aquatic ecosystem, causing an algae bloom. This depletes the dissolved oxygen level in the water and prevents sunlight from reaching the plants on the waterbed.

CROSSWORD

ies Ph.D. candidate Allison Leach, who is among the scientists working on the Nitrogen Footprint, a project designed to raise awareness of the issue.

And it turns out that meat and other top-of-thefood-chain animal products — those that consume the most resources before they themselves become food — are among the biggest culprits in contributing to excess nitrogen in a form that can be damaging to the environment.

“A big part of the problem,” Jan Willem Erisman, University of Amsterdam professor of integrated nitro-

field can show up as algae many miles downstream and offshore, for example, or show up in groundwater that supplies well water to residents without direct connections to the source of contamination.

The type of nitrogen that makes up a large part of the Earth’s atmosphere is not reactive but inert. For that nitrogen to be used by plants and other organisms, it must be converted into what’s called a “fixed,” or reactive, form.

The main way this happens in nature is through microbes that live in soil and plant roots and convert inert

Agricultural productivity soared.

But the use of these fertilizers has not been very efficient, resulting in the release of large amounts of reactive nitrogen into the environment.

According to Galloway, Leach and colleagues, so much anthropogenic reactive nitrogen has been produced that by 2010, human activity was creating at least five times as much as were natural systems.

These releases, scientists have discovered, can last for decades.

Not only is the nitrous oxide that comes off fertilized fields a potent green-

house gas, but a new study of fertilizer use in the U.S. Midwest shows that excess nitrogen can accumulate in soil and result in decadeslong pollution of surface and groundwater — including drinking water wells —with unsafe levels of nitrates that can lead, for example, to “blue-baby syndrome”, a potentially fatal oxygen depletion disorder that harms infants around the world — among other effects.

Even if fertilizer use were stopped today, the nitrogen pollution would persist for years, writes study co-author Nandita Basu, University of Waterloo professor of earth and environmental sciences and civil and environmental engineering.

Urbanization and growing populations have also added to this burden, but about three-quarters of this reactive nitrogen comes from agriculture.

While raising livestock and poultry has a particularly large nitrogen footprint, another load comes when food is processed.

Still, “the single largest source [of nitrogen pollution] is from cropland,” says Adam Chambers, leader of energy and environmental markets with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

When synthetic fertilizer or manure is applied to agricultural soil but not fully taken up by plants it will enter the environment, either by volatilizing or washing off fields, he explains: When it evaporates, this nitrogen typically enters the atmosphere as nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas; when more fertilizer is applied than plants can use, excess nitrogen runs off with rain and irrigation water.

Certain farming practices and methods exacerbate this runoff, says Valerie Dantoin, who teaches sustainable agriculture at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and with her husband, Rick Adamski, runs an organic dairy farm.

While there are enforceable limits on many nitrogen-based pollutants in the U.S. — including under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act — efforts to decrease nitrogen releases do not currently include specific targets for comprehensive reductions.

Polices in the Netherlands and Denmark that have effectively pushed farmers to implement measures that reduce emissions from manure — through agricultural waste containment and fertilizer application techniques — have succeeded in reducing ammonia releases by 70 percent in the Netherlands and 40 percent in Denmark, helping to significantly reduce overall reactive nitrogen releases. (Source: Humans changed

a life-giving nutrient into a deadly pollutant by Elizabeth Grossman, Ensia, via Business Insider)

24

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 10, 2016

Fun Times

Archie

Discipline and research are encouraged.

Put more time (March 21and effort into personal imApril 19) provements and your relationship with someone special.

Share your feelings and set the stage for romance.

ARIES

A new interest will result TAURUS in inexpensive fun. It's OK to (April 20do things differently. Figure May 20) out what works best for you and carry on.

Follow your gut feeling and GEMINI get involved in something that (May 21promises personal gain or imJune 20)

provement. Romance is featured, and sharing an experience with someone will bring you closer together.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Don't take on responsibilities that don't belong to you. An unexpected change of plans shouldn't stop you from doing your own thing. Stick close to home and nurture what's important to you.

LEO You will be at the top of your game physically, so make your (July 23Aug. 22) actions count. Don't let someone meddle in your affairs. Stay focused and enjoy a competitive challenge.

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Take the path of least resistance. There is no point in arguing or letting your emotions get the better of you. Do what needs to be done and move on.

Enjoy meeting new people LIBRA or visiting places you've never (Sept. 23been before.

A gathering or reOct. 23) union will lead to love and romance. Don't be afraid to initiate personal change.

Peanuts

SCORPIO You'll have some great (Oct. 24- ideas that will help you incorNov. 22) porate something you love to do into the way you earn your living. A discussion with a colleague or someone influential will motivate you.

Keep a low profile. Avoid SAGITTARIUS anyone looking for a fight or (Nov. 23trying to pressure you into Dec. 21) something that isn't in your best interest. Altering your living arrangements will be beneficial.

Calvin and Hobbes

Look after your physical CAPRICORN well-being and make a point (Dec. 22to find healthy alternatives Jan. 19) to any bad habits or routines you've adopted. Be smart and do what's best for you.

AQUARIUS You need to get back to the (Jan. 20- things and people that make Feb. 19) you happy. Spend time with children, family or the one you love. Personal improvements will bring high returns.

PISCES Don't give in to an unrealistic (Feb. 20- plan or individual. Emotions will APRIL 3) surface, causing confusion and

imprudent choices. Don't contribute to something you know little about. Protect against loss.