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Sunday January 15, 2017

Times

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Page 10

Page 2

Farming in the rainforest

Rave Runway Collection

Descendants of the Dragon Page 6

‘The place’ that holds on to traditions Page 8

Hubert Moshett

Page 4

Reflecting on a pioneer of Guyanese art Page 16

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Times Feature

By Kendra Seignoret

O

ne of the interesting things about being able to stay a long time in one place is that you get to be a part of people’s everyday lives.

And in doing so, it is more likely you will see parts of those lives that a ‘lightning strike’ tourist won’t.

While volunteering in Guyana, my group and I met a woman who had a little shop in Pakuri, a

Lokono village, also known as St. Cuthbert’s Mission.

She had a farm, located in the surrounding rainforest.

About two months into our stay, she invited us to see it. I, for one, was delighted to receive the invitation – it was a way of life I knew nothing about and not to mention, it’s a farm in the middle of the rainforest!

The trip to the farm was a mini-epic adventure in itself. Tromping through the rainforest, getting cov-

Trail leading to a farm

ered and almost trapped by sucking mud, keeping an eye out for giant insects, traversing overgrown tracks, struggling to keep up with porters carrying way more things that we were; it almost felt like we were old-time explorers.

After traipsing through the jungle for over an hour, we came to a river, a tributary of the Mahaica River, which itself is a tributary of the Essequibo River.

Here, we were introduced to the traditional dugout canoe. The canoe was about 5ft long and can fit four people and some gear.

It’s quite shallow and it sits low in the water. It is quite the balancing act to climb in and out of the canoe. However, its position in the river meant that it was easy to stick my hand in the dark waters, trailing it behind me as I was ferried deeper into the rainforest. As it fit into my idea of adventure, I loved every minute of it.

Due to its isolated location, the rainforest farm had a fairly developed camping area – a small structure to escape the rain, some benches, hammocks, and a covered cooking area. The farm itself consisted primarily of fruit trees such as paw paw (also known as papaya) and citrus, ground fruits such as pineapple, and vegetables like pumpkin.

Wandering around the farm, it is very evident how labour intensive it is to upkeep without machinery.

They also have to deal with produce destruction by an-

Preparing land for farming

imals and insects as well as possible theft by people.

Since this farm is so spread out among the rainforest trees, much of the farm is unattended most of the time. As such, it is pretty easy for someone to steal what they want – though the farm’s isolation makes the prospect of human theft minimal.

A day at a rainforest farm can be surprisingly relaxing. I stuffed myself with food, I explored the farm and surrounding rainforest, I tried fishing for the first time (stick and string style), and I most definitely lounged in a hammock. I chatted with the farm owner about her idea of making her farm into an eco-lodge as the basics of it were al-

ready there. I personally love the idea.

It was fascinating to see how farming is done when one has no access to fancy tools and equipment. What I also realised was that this is the kind of place where you want to be when the world eventually goes to pot!

At the end of the day, we took the dugout canoe back to the village, slowly paddling our way through the tall trees and dense vegetation, listening to the birds call out to each other.

Guyana is definitely a country that could do well in eco-tourism and this farm is a prime example of this.

Kendra Seignoret considers herself to be a cubi-

A 'bush cook'

Taking the canoe to get to the farm

cle escape artist: she tries to find ways to keep her job (which is in a cubicle) while also trying to escape it as often as possible. When she travels, she's generally that solo female you see wandering with a camera firmly clutched to her face as she traipses around while narrowly avoiding being hit by some form of local transportation. Kendra is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but currently lives in Canada. You can find more of her adventures on her blog Rusty Travel Trunk (www.rustytraveltrunk.com) or on Instagram @rustytraveltrunk (cover photos: A colourful bunch of juicy tomatoes and Fruit trees in the rainforest)

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

Ants abound in South Rupununi

By Dr. Jackson Helms

I

n October to November 2013, WWF-Guianas, Global Wildlife Conservation, the Wapishana community, and students from the University of Guyana launched an expedition — a Biodiversity Assessment Team – to explore the biodiversity of the South Rupununi Savannah.

I had heard a lot about Guyana’s amazing natural heritage, and was honored to participate as one of the team’s ant experts.

The team collected ants from different habitats across the South Rupununi, and brought the specimens back to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. to study.

The South Rupununi is home to the most diverse ant fauna yet documented in Guyana or Suriname. In just a couple weeks of sampling, we collected 175 species from 48 genera. At least 14 species had never been found before in Guyana, and at least 10 had never been collected in the Guianas as a whole (Guyana, Suriname, or French Guiana). A number of other species, perhaps as many as 25 percent of the total, are almost certainly new

Dr. Jackson Helms conducting research on various ant species

to science.

Several species are particularly noteworthy: perhaps the most exciting one we found is the predatory ant Gnamptogenys ammophila in tall grasslands near Kusad Mountain. Until we found it in the Rupununi, this species was only known from one small watershed in Venezuela, 400km away, and hadn’t been collected in over 30 years!

We also found intact populations of army ants, fungusgardeners, termite and millipede hunters, and ants that live inside specialized antplants. The overall picture is a healthy ecosystem with intact predator-prey relation-

Before the survey, Gnamptogenys ammophila, a predator grassland specialist, was known from only a single site in Venezuela (Photo by Emma Hanisch and www.antweb.org)

ships. Many of the ants are also used by the Wapishana community in medicine or in ceremonies.

Among the ants we found were quite a few with painful stings. Large Pachycondyla species, for example, are collected and used

by Wapishana communities in coming of age ceremonies.

Their stings are believed to make boys into good hunters and women into hard workers.

This extreme richness in ant species results from the South Rupununi’s habitat diversity. The area is a mix of grassland, savanna, dry forest, and rainforest, each of which is home to

The South Rupununi’s high habitat diversity, with grassland, savannah, and forest right next to each other, results in extremely high ant diversity (Photo by Dr. Jackson Helms)

a unique community of species. Much of the landscape is also relatively intact, with large blocks of natural habitat uninterrupted by roads or fences.

Unfortunately, new developments threaten the South Rupununi.

Logging, road construction, gold mining, and uncontrolled hunting are a just a few of the challenges facing this priceless landscape.

The South Rupununi is an irreplaceable national treasure. Its unique diversity gives it enormous conservation potential. By pro-

The gliding turtle ant Cephalotes atratus inhabits the canopies of rainforest along the South Rupununi’s edge (Photo by

Emma Hanisch and www.antweb.org)

The sting of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus bauri is used in Wapishana medicine (Photo

by Emma Hanisch and www.antweb.org)

The army ant Labidus coecus was collected from the dry forest located on the slopes of Mount Kusad (Photo by Emma Hanisch and www. antweb.org)

tecting the South Rupununi we would help ensure the survival of thousands of species, many of which occur nowhere else in Guyana or even the world. It would also help preserve the culture and language of the Wapishana community.

Working in the South Rupununi has been one of the most memorable opportunities of my career, and I hope that the people of Guyana give it the protection it deserves.

Dr. Jackson Helms is an ecologist and conservation biologist who special-

izes in ants. Over the past few years he has worked with conservation organizations to conduct biodiversity surveys in threatened areas around the globe, including Uganda, Madagascar, Suriname, Indonesia, and Guyana. Now, he works as Conservation Director for an Indonesian organization, Alam Sehat Lestari, to protect and restore rainforests in Borneo.

To read more on Dr. Helms’ findings, visit http:// marinetomyrmecologist. blogspot.com

4

Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 15, 2017

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Times Feature

T

he book “Guyana – A Decade of Progress (1964-1974)” states that our telephone system is important to the economic, social and political well-being of Guyana. It adds “even if telecommunication could not be considered the engine of economic growth, it may well be the tracks on which the engine runs in the promotion of economic growth”.

Interestingly, one of the fascinating features of the history of telecommunications in Guyana is the telephone directory. According to overseas-based Guyanese historian Clive W. McWatt, “a telephone directory remains a primary source of reference information about people in a community. In spite of the new communications technologies, a printed directory is a collection of information within a book cover designed for easy access and information retrieval. Thus, old directories provide a capsule of data captured at a period time and which can be retrieved in later years”.

Sunday Times Magazine recent-

The service provided 36 lines.

August 1884 – A new Georgetown exchange was constructed at the Mc. Inroy Building located at Lombard and Cornhill Streets; 200 subscriber lines were provided.

May 1889 - First service was commissioned in the New Amsterdam area through a new Exchange providing communications service for 50 subscribers.

1923 - The installation of two Satellite Exchanges in the Belfield and Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, areas.

Also, a new Switchboard with the capacity for 1,000 subscribers was installed in Georgetown.

1928 - The introduction of a hundred-line Strowger Automatic Exchange in the Queenstown area in Georgetown (building still standing).

March 1931- Cable & Wireless Limited took over the Georgetown Radio Station to manage all external radio services for the country.

January 1937 - Telephone and Telegraph regulations were intro-

Guyana Bauxite Company ad and the Yellow Pages

ly visited the National Library where the helpful staff was able to locate telephone directories from 1974-75 and 1977, which are still in excellent condition. For nostalgia, these were ideal.

Apart from an alphabetical name listings, the classified sections of the telephone directories provided a snapshot of commercial and business life in the 1970s; it gives addresses and locations of businesses and companies, many of which no longer exist; and the featured commercial advertisements and graphics tell us something about the social history and commercial advertising of the period.

McWatt said he inherited a “dogeared and worn out” 1977 telephone directory from his mother Margaret, who had a “few selected editions and these were her communication life line with friends and people left behind in Guyana”.

“I still find the old directory (wish I had retained the earlier editions) a unique source of tracking back on ‘who was who’ and ‘who was where’ and ‘what was what’ in Guyana; the old telephone numbers are still in use,” McWatt explained.

According to McWatt, in Guyana, the first directory was produced about 70 years ago.

Historical timeline of telecommunications in Guyana 1875 - Telegraphs lines were first constructed by the Public Works Department.

January 1, 1884 - The first Telephone Exchange in Georgetown.

duced.

1951 - A new system was introduced to give very high frequency (VHF) using radio bearers connecting Atkinson Field with Georgetown together with a radio beacon to provide navigational signals to ships coming into and going out of Georgetown.

1953 - An automatic exchange installed at Mackenzie now Linden, on the Demerara River.

1959 - Telecommunication service extended to Bartica, Vreed-en-Hoop, Anna Regina, Skeldon, Suddie and Mon Repos.

1960 - National Communications System was being installed for the first time. Telephone House was commissioned to accommodate the New System; the new Georgetown Automatic Strowger Exchange initially installed with 5,200 lines; and the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC) was established.

March 1967 - The Guyana Telecommunication Corporation was established by Parliamentary Order No. 11 of 1967.

1972 - The small Electro Mechanical Exchanges (RAX and UAX) were installed in rural areas.

December 16, 1972 – The expansion of Georgetown Exchanges to 12,000 lines; new exchanges installed; Microwave link installed between Georgetown-New Amsterdam (GNNA) and Georgetown-Linden (GN-LN).

1978 - The EDX system was commissioned. This was the first electronic/computerised system and was

used for teleprinter machines only.

Also, for the first time the Northwest District (Matthew’s Ridge) was linked to Georgetown.

1979 - Cable and Wireless, renamed Guyintel, was taken over by the Government; Earth Station commissioned February 23.

1971-1981 - Launch of GYD$24M project designed to achieve Direct Distance Dialling between 26 exchanges.

November 8, 1971 - The inauguration of a Direct Very High link to call Dutch Guiana (Suriname) 24/7. Calls to Suriname were restricted between the hours of 11:30am to 2pm.

Direct Dialling be1973 - tween exchanges. Telephone operators no longer needed to connect persons between exchanges.

February 1980 Electronic Exchanges (ERM) in service in Georgetown with 7,400 lines.

1987 - International Direct Dialling by residential customers started in July 1987. Also, the first computerised telephone operators console was commissioned.

June 18, 1990 - Atlantic TeleNetwork (ATN) signed agreement to acquire 80 percent of GTC. 1991 - Formation of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT).

January 1991 - GTC divested 80 percent to ATN and 20 percent to Government.

March 1991 - First time ever, three female Outside Plant Technicians were employed in the traditional male dominated area.

1992 - First GTT Telephone Directory published. Landline phone cards and cell phone cards were introduced.

October 1992 - Operationalisation of a fully computerized billing system.

1997-1998 - First cell site (TDMA).

September 2004 – The first rural radio telephone was installed (universal access).

October 26, 2004 – GTT launched its first cell site (GSM Service).

November 2004 – GTT launched its roaming service.

December 25, 2007 - The first SIP VoIP international route was commissioned. Also, the first IP international link was established with IDT. 2008 - The second local loop service (WiMAX) was introduced in the Essequibo Region to replace the FWA system.

July 2010 - DSL Emagine Broadband service was introduced.

Also, the Suriname Guyana Submarine Cable System was installed.

2012 - Cellular service taken to Orealla. Also, GPON was introduced with the trial of three GTT employees using the system in West Bank Demerara. 253 XXXX is the code used off the Airspan switch.

2013 - GT&T launched the UG WiFi Network.

August 2014 - The migration of the international carriers from the DMS 300 to the C20 started.

March 2015 – GTT Customer Care Off-Shore Call Center launched in Little Rock, Arkansas.

September 2015 - The first commercial SIP customer off the Genband C20 activated. This is the Giftland Mall project using the number in the 222 7XXX range. This followed on the heels of GTT in house tests, which were done successfully earlier in 2015. (Timeline provided by GTT)

Telephone Directory 1974-75. The cover photo is an aerial view of Umana Yana

Telephone Directory 1977. The cover photo is an aerial view of the 'New Hope Telephone Exchange' on the East Bank of Demerara

Bookers ad in the 1974-75 directory

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH is a US-based Guyanese general cardiologist who views her work as a “privilege to be able to touch someone's soul”

W

ith expertise in preventive cardiovascular medicine as well as managing the most critically ill cardiovascular patients with a range of conditions including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies and vulnerable populations with heart disease such as women and racial/ethnic minorities, MichelleA. Albert is making her homeland proud as she strives to save lives.

Born and raised in Guyana, Michelle had a fairly austere upbringing.

College and Medical Degree from the University of Rochester. She trained in internal medicine at Columbia University, New York, where she served as chief medical resident and instructor in Medicine. She then completed her cardiovascular clinical and research fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as a Masters in Public Health degree with concentrations in Epidemiology and Clinical Effectiveness at Harvard School of Public Health.

Additionally,

David Williams at Harvard School of Public Health, on a grant from the Kellogg Foundation about the adversity and health.

Her own experiences fostered an interest in how social factors such as racial discrimination or job stress can have adverse biological effects. "Some forms of adversity differentially experienced by some racial and ethnic groups are akin to post-traumatic stress disorder," said the doctor. "Psychological stress is a normal part of life, but chronic, persistent stress

Michelle (left) and guest arrive as American Heart Association celebrates the 10th Year of Go Red For Women at The Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Feb. 2014 in New York

The sudden death of her grandfather by cardiac arrest was probably the trigger for her eventual calling to medicine. In grade school, she was good at math, but a fondness for history found her exploring healthcare disparities among people of colour, particularly those in impoverished situations, facing significant life adversity.

Her extensive clinical experience is acquired from her previous roles as core cardiovascular faculty for over a decade at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.

She also served as Vivian Allen Beaumont Endowed Professor and Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Howard University, Washington D.C. Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Haverford

she has completed a one year Brigham Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.

Her research requires highly collaborative networks and seeks to understand and develop novel solutions related to poor educational, quality of life and cardiovascular health outcomes across the lifespan.

Research themes of specific interest include chronic psychological stress, neurocardiology, longevity, cardiovascular risk biomarkers and cardiovascular health outcomes related to vulnerable populations utilizing national datasets.

The doctor is Principal Investigator on a fiveyear RO1 grant entitled, “Cumulative Stress and Cardiovascular Disease in Middle-Aged and Older Women” from the NIH/ NIA. She is Co-Principal Investigator along with Dr.

that is accompanied by a lack of control has a negative impact on health."

Among other problems, chronic stress is associated with hypertension, obesity, inflammation and continual activation of the "fight or flight" response.

Michelle is also investigating how social support and childhood learning opportunities cultivate resilience and the ability to adhere to healthy habits later in life.

"Brain patterning and neurocognitive function is essentially formulated by age 12," she explained.

"Early involvement in activities like music and sports helps young people access different parts of their brain and develop skills for lifelong learning that are also important for practicing self-care. Without such opportunities, it's less likely that at age 35 or 65 they will

have the ‘biological fitness’ to follow through on recommendations such as exercising or taking a daily statin."

Michelle has established the UCSF Centrefor The Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Disease (NURTURE), which examines the biological and social interconnectivity of adversity across the lifespan, from pre-pregnancy into adulthood. The multidisciplinary centre investigates the physiological underpinnings of adversity – for example, how stress affects the brain, and how these changes in turn may affect the heart – and develops interventions to prevent and treat disease.

The centre also trains and mentors researchers interested in how adversity impacts cardiovascular health.

In addition to directing NUTURE, Michelle sees general cardiology patients in clinic and cares for hospitalized CCU patients.

"Taking care of patients, you meet people at their most vulnerable," she said.

"They entrust a lot in you, and it's a privilege to be able to touch someone's soul."

In her free time, Michelle

Dr. Michelle Albert

enjoys spending time by the water, traveling with her husband, Edward, listening and dancing to Beyoncé's

music as well as afternoon tea. (http://guyanesegirlsrock.org)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Descendants of the Dragon

By Petamber Persaud

M

y first encounter with the late Margery Kirkpatrick spawned many more meaningful encounters that were both informative and inspirational.

Informative in that I was able to learn so much more about the Chinese before and after their advent in Guyana.

That information included the real stories behind the official explanations/ stories; much more than a date, January 12, 1853, and the name of a ship, the “Glentanner”. The encounters were inspirational in that I was encouraged and goaded to action to continue my foray into Guyanese history; something started long before I did a course titled‘ An Introduction to Guyanese History’ at the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education, University of Guyana.

So in Mrs. Kirkpatrick I found someone who was talking my language as we moved easily between oral history and written history, comparing notes and exchanging stories. At that time, I was rewriting my historic novel, “Overtures”, set in 1838 when Africans

Cover of “The Way We Were: Memories of a British Guiana Childhood” by Margery Kirkpatrick

and Indians encountered each other for the first time in Guyana.

The novel came out of

a period of intense study of Guyanese history.

Kirkpatrick was also at that time distilling and collating

tones of information on her Chinese heritage with the intent of making her findings public.

Our first encounter was the result of my seeking a suitable candidate to read a piece of literature concerning Chinese in Guyana for ‘The Journey’ – an evening of literature which I was coordinating under the auspices of the National Art Gallery, Castellani House.

The Journey (suspended in 2014) was then an ongoing literary programme designed to sensitize more Guyanese (and non-Guyanese) of the substantial output in the field of literature by our writers, both local and overseas; to expose literature to more persons, especially our young people; to foster an interaction between those who know and those willing to learn about literature; to raise the level of appreciation for such matters; to restore a reading culture by putting the joy back into reading; to encourage more writers to write and to publish,and to encourage scholarship and more research in our literature.

The piece of literature selected was “The Marriage Match”, a short story written by Jan Lo Shinebourne.

At first Kirkpatrick was reluctant; begging off committing to the event,citing reasons that she was busy and that she was not given to public speaking. But I encouraged her to at least read the story – and that did it.

When Margery Kirkpatrick performed that piece at Castellani House, she made an enormous impact. What made her delivery effective was before reading the story, she gave us a history lesson describing the two factions of Chinese in Guyana and how they (dis) regarded each other.

Subsequent encounters led to her book, “From the Middle Kingdom to the New World” published locally in 1993, printed and bound by Guyana National Printers Limited.

But before I read the book, she opened her files (hardcopy and digital) to give me a peek into the exacting and arduous pioneering study of her heritage. On another occasion, she opened her house to me; it was a Guyanese heritage museum. I was in awe beholding such a treasure, observing each artefactaccompanied by seamless commentary flowing from Margery Kirkpatrick; she was in her realm.

Although “From the Middle Kingdom to the New World” is about some “aspects of Chinese Experience in Migration to British Guiana” based mainly on the family tree of the author, Margery Kirkpatrick, the reader is treated to a va-

Margery Kirkpatrick

riety of issues which offered a better appreciation of the whole picture of the evolution of Guyana as a multicultural society.

And as the author in an afterword wrote: “by the time you have finished reading, you should be able to understand the Chinese people, the reason they are industrious and the manner in which they react and think”. In this book, the ancestors are always present.

Kirkpatrick encountered numerous challenges in the writing of “From the Middle Kingdom to the New World”.

It was difficult to follow the lineage of families that were written off in the family bibles for one reason or the other, all of which tell more about the Chinese’s way of life, a private people.

During the Tai P’ing Revolution, false information was given concerning names and place of birth etc.

Later, especially after arrival in Guyana, many names were changed back to their original. Finally, the move to the diaspora was fraught with misinformation, es-

pecially due to the 90-day strike in 1963 and the 60day strike of 1963.

Then there was the publication of “The Way We Were: Memories of a British Guiana Childhood” – an easy yet fascinating read/ work, but more importantly it was the revelation portraying the amount of research and leg work it took to compile such an autobiography set in Guyana of the 1940s and onwards.

Sadly, she then went to join the ancestors,but the legacy of her research on the Descendants of the Dragon will live on in my memory; in our collective memories.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Under production: A compilation of biographies of Indo-Guyanese writers.

Under production: an anthology of Indo-Caribbean poetry.

For further information, please use the above contacts.

Kirkpatrick’s cover of “From the Middle Kingdom to the New World”

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

The Neotropical Research Station

By William Beebe, Director

A

t the request of the Editor of Timehri I take pleasure in presenting a brief resume of the activities during the year 1920 of the Station which the New York Zoological Society has established in British Guiana for the investigation of wild life in jungle and air and water.

This laboratory has found what I hope is its permanent home, at Kartabo, on the point of land at the junction of the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers.

This is the fourth year of the work of the Station, beginning at Kalacoon in 1916, and from the present point of view, the choice of location could hardly have been better.

So exactly balanced between civilization and the jungle is our chosen site, that within a half hour down river at H.M. Penal Settlement, we have the facilities of telegraph, cable and post office, and the triweekly service of the government steamers, bringing us ice, fresh fruit and vegetables, and all the comforts and luxuries which long residence in one place demands.

On the other hand, red baboons, peccaries and all the varied life of the jungle, sometimes come within a few yards of the opposite side of our laboratory.

Historically, the site of the Research Station is probably the most interesting in

the colony. Four hundred yards away is the little island of Kyk-over-al, which for over a century was the capital of Guiana. In the Hakluyt volumes on British Guiana and in Rodway's History are many interesting allusions to “Catharbo.”

In the course of our residence at Kartabo, we have learned that it is possible for persons wholly unused to the tropics and who have never camped out before, to live in comfort and health in double roofed tents, sleeping with the entrance flaps open, without mosquito nets, at the very edge of the jungle and a few feet distant from the river. And this not for a few weeks merely, but for a year at a time, throughout all four seasons — the two rainy and the two dry, which are so remarkably distinct in this district.

The success of these regulation United States army tents has been greater than I could have expected. To go through the heaviest of long rainy seasons without leaking a drop, or to have one's clothing without mould during that period is a record better than many Georgetown houses can boast.

A single lantern keeps vampires at a distance, and mosquitoes and flies are un-

William Beebe (centre) with Paul Howes and Inness Hartley in the laboratory at Kalacoon.

Spelled “Kalakun” in the Guyana Gazette, today it is described as a settlement on the right bank of the Mazaruni River and left bank of the Essequibo River; two miles up (Photo by New York Zoological Society (now known as the Wildlife Conservation Society) Tropical Wild Life in British Guiana by William Beebe, George Inness Hartley, and Paul Griswold Howes, Public Domain, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13297060)

known, while it is a radical refutation of the general idea of the tropics to have to sleep under a blanket every night.

In spite of the presence of perai, electric eels and poisonous sting rays, all of which are found nearby, the entire staff bathes daily, often swimming far out into the river, and we believe that this exercise does much toward keeping us fit. We have learned that the most delicious meat of the Colony is bushmeat, and two Indians provide the accourie, labba, maam, monkeys, marudis, warracabras, bushpigs and deer which make up most of our bill of fare.

As far as actual exploration goes, we can add little of value to the general knowledge of the district. The area in which we work we have carefully mapped, and divided into numbered, one-hundred-foot squares.

But the life of the jungle is so omnipresent and abundant at our very door, we have seldom gone beyond a radius of three miles, while nine- tenths of our investigations are

carried on within a half-mile of our laboratory bungalow.

During the seven months from June to December, 1920, we have welcomed about seventy visitors at the Station, while actual workers on the staff have numbered seventeen.

Some of these investigators with their special problems are as follows: — Bailey — Harvard University: Relation of Ants to certain Plants. Beebe — Columbia University and Zoological Society: General Evolutionary Problems in Ornithology and Ecology […] Emerson — Cornell University: Life History of Kartabo Termites […]

Floyd— University of Glasgow: Parasites of Vertebrata. […] Pope — University of Virginia: Life Histories of Kartabo Fish…

(TO BE CONTINUED) (Source: Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana, Vol. III, August 1921)

'Coconut Walk', Georgetown seawall (1910)

High Street, Georgetown, British Guiana

Kalacoon House at Kalacoon circa 1917, the first research station established in British Guiana by the New York Zoological Society Photo by William Beebe -Tropical Wild Life in British Guiana. New York Zoological Society, 1917

8 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Times Travel & Tourism

Aerial shot of Kwaimatta landscape

K

waimatta is a scenic village in the North Rupununi, Region Nine, where indigenous villagers hold true to their traditions.

Kwaimatta means “the place” and started out as an outstation of Kwaimatta Ranch. A few vaquero (cowboy) families used to reside nearby, and eventually it grew large

Aerial view of North Rupununi, in the vicinity of Kwaimatta

enough to become a satellite of Massara, a village which is also found in North Rupununi.

The village of Kwaimatta is located just six miles from Karanambu Lodge, North Rupununi region. The people in Kwaimatta speak Makushi and welcome visitors to experience their traditional lifestyle.

There is a health post, primary school, village office, teachers’ quarters and a hot meal kitchen in Kwaimatta.

Villagers in Kwaimatta engage in farming, fishing and hunting activities.

Kwaimatta Primary School (Photo by Neketa Forde)

Road to Kwaimatta

Making cassava bread in Kwiamatta (Photo from theadventuresofandreasalvador.blogspot.com)

Rain descends over mountains in Kwaimatta

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Y

our skin is the largest organ in your body and it serves many purposes; one of its major functions is to protect the body from infectious organisms such as parasites, bacteria or viruses that cause disease. It’s your first line of defence in protecting internal tissues from harmful germs.

Other ways skin protects you from disease include its role in alerting the immune system to the presence of harmful organisms, producing and excreting antibacterial substances, and supporting the growth of “healthy” bacteria.

The outermost layer of skin, called the epidermis, acts as a physical barrier between your body and the dirt and bacteria outside.

Healthy skin helps keep bacteria, viruses and fungi on the surface of the skin from causing an infection underneath the skin.

As long as your skin is intact and healthy, bacteria and viruses cannot penetrate the barrier. If your skin is injured, such as from a blister, a splinter, a cut or a burn, bacteria can enter your body and cause an infection.

The inner layer of your skin, called the dermis, contains several different types of cells that protect you from disease.

To help keep your skin moist and healthy, sebaceous glands located in the dermis produce sebum. Sebum is an oily or waxy substance that helps your skin retain moisture and prevent drying out.

The skin must remain moist to stay healthy. Sebum also protects you from harmful bacteria by making your skin slightly acidic, creating an environment in which some harmful bacteria cannot survive.

Recent research has found that our body's dermal fat cells, or adipocytes – the ones just below our skin – may be the first responders against potential invaders.

Richard Gallo, MD, PhD, professor and chief of dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, the study's lead researcher, said: “We now show that the fat stem cells are responsible for protecting us. That was totally unexpected. It was not known that adipocytes could produce antimicrobials, let alone that they make almost as much as a neutrophil.”

Tests showed that human fat cells also produce CAMP (an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) called cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide). Antimicrobial peptides destroy the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, making them very useful for fighting infections.

Cathelicidin has both antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory

properties.

According to Gallo: “too little CAMP and people experience frequent infections.

But too much CAMP is also bad. Evidence suggests excess CAMP can drive autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases like lupus, psoriasis and rosacea.”

Obesity and insulin resistance can alter AMP production. “Defective AMP production by mature adipocytes can occur due to obesity or insulin resistance, resulting in greater susceptibility to infection, but too much cathelicidin may provoke an unhealthy inflammatory response.” Gallo explained.

Your skin also contains Langerhans cells. These Langerhans cells are a very important part of your immune system; if they sense that harmful bacteria have invaded the skin, they release a chemical signal that attracts white blood cells to that area of your body to fight off the infection.

Your skin becomes red and swollen as the chemicals released by your skin's Langerhans cells attract many other immune cells to fight the infection and extra blood to nourish the injured tissues.

Millions and millions of healthy bacteria, called normal flora, colonize the outside of your skin. These bacteria live on your skin and use dead skin cells for their energy. Though normal flora bacteria are not usually harmful, they can cause infections if they enter your body through a wound.

Most of these organisms are considered “healthy”

bacteria because they prevent very harmful bacteria, called pathogens, from growing on your skin. As long as your body is colonized by healthy bacteria, there is very little room for the pathogens to grow.

Good hygiene and taking care of your skin are the best protection against skin infections. Skin infections are common, and they can be serious if not treated properly.

Symptoms of a skin infection may include warmth, tenderness, pain, redness, swelling, itchiness, and drainage of pus or other discharge. An infection – painful, swollen pimples, boils and rashes, for example – can occur at the site of a cut, scratch, abrasion or other rash, or where there is no obvious break in the skin.

Contact a doctor or other healthcare provider if you think you or your child has a skin infection that is spreading, getting worse or does not appear to be healing.

Skin infections and rashes can be caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Allergies and other causes of skin irritation can lead to the same symptoms as a skin infection.

Treatment depends on the kind of skin infection.

Sometimes treatment for infections caused by bacteria requires the use of antibiotics. Infections caused by fungi may be treated with anti-fungal medication.

Treatment may be available for other skin infections as well.

Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, and if the infection has not

improved within a few days, contact your healthcare provider again.

It is always helpful to maintain good wound and skin care by keeping the area clean and dry, washing your hands after caring for the area, carefully disposing of any bandages and by allowing your body to heal.

Some bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause skin infections are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact. Some infections are spread by contact with items that have been touched by other people such as towels shared after bathing, or shared athletic equipment in the gym or on the field.

Some skin infections don’t spread from person to person. They start when normally present bacteria, viruses or fungi get into a cut, scrape or other break in the skin. People who have skin infections should see a healthcare provider if symptoms do not improve.

How to prevent skin infections at home, work, and, for your children, at school

Keep cuts, abrasions, burns and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until they have healed. Watch carefully for any signs of infection.

Avoid sharing personal

items, such as towels, washcloths, toothbrushes and razors. Sharing these items may transfer bacteria, viruses and fungi from one person to another.

Keep yourself and your skin healthy. Avoid getting dry, cracked skin; if your skin becomes too dry, cracks can form that allow bacteria to enter your body.

Contact a doctor or other healthcare provider if you or your child has a skin infection that does not improve.

Wash your hands.

Scratching temporarily relieves the irritation of itchy skin but can damage the skin, sometimes resulting in injury, scarring or infection; seek medication for the itch instead.

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Times Fashion

Designer creatively uses elements from nature to produce fashionable jewellery

D

eborah Mathias of Rave Designs, who is of indigenous heritage, is inspired by her country’s natural beauty and this is evident in her jewellery collections.

Mathias pursued studies at the Fine Art Department of the University of Guyana and at ER Burrowes. She is

Designer Deborah Mathias

known for working with leather, clay and fabric, but is committed to designing and producing jewellery made primarily from local semiprecious stones, natural seeds and recycled materials.

The designer incorporates the use of textures and rich colours in her designs in order to create jewellery that

is “vibrant, environmentally friendly and, most importantly, pleasing to customers”.

The jewellery collection featured this week in Sunday Times Magazine was showcased at the Guyana Fashion Week 2016 runway. (Photos by Keno George)

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Times Hollywood

Four suspects in Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery charged

K

im Kardashian may feel a little more relieved as her Paris robbery investigation shows more progress. Paris authorities arrested 17 people suspected in connection to Kim's jewellery heist on Monday, January 9. And on Thursday, the prosecutors already filed preliminary charges against four suspects for their involvement in the robbery.

The first suspect, 63-year-old Yunice A., was handed a preliminary charge of armed robbery in an organized gang, kidnapping and criminal association. Another suspect, 44-year-old Florus H., was charged with complicity charges in the alleged robbery and kidnapping, as well as a criminal association charge, while 64-year-old Marcus B. was charged with handling stolen goods and criminal association.

The fourth suspect, 27-year-old Gary M., was charged with complicity charges and a preliminary criminal association charge.

Gary was released from custody although he remains under judicial supervision.

Gary is the brother of Kim's Paris chauf-

feur, Michael, who was also arrested by the police, but then released with no criminal charge.

Kim is now enjoying her time in Dubai.

She jetted off to Dubai to attend a beauty tutorial class by her longtime makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic. It marks her first international trip since her Paris robbery.

(AceShowbiz)

M

ariah Carey has gotten her Hollywood Walk of Fame star vandalised following her botched NYE performance.

Police are investigating the person who drew a question mark after the singer's name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame over the weekend.

Someone posted a photo of the vandalism on Instagram and the person was stormed by Mariah's fans. The Lambs flooded the photo with numerous lamb emojis as they said the person who shared the pic should go to prison for even pointing it out.

The vandal seemed to take a jab at Mariah's infamous "I don't know her" comment by drawing the

punctuation mark after her name.

A rep for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce tells TMZ that they called LAPD on Sunday and showed the Instagram posting to the cops. Police are pulling the

surveillance video as they are on hunt for the vandal. The crime is considered felony vandalism. It cost $1,500 to restore the star via Hollywood Historic Trust.

(AceShowbiz)

Jamie Foxx kicked out of restaurant for being too loud

J

amie Foxx was assaulted while having a dinner in the patio area at Catch Restaurant, Los Angeles. According to TMZ, a patron approached his table and

complained to the group for being too loud.

The guy allegedly yelled, "You don't want to mess with me. I'm from New York." A comedian who came with Foxx cussed and fired back, "…I'm from Oakland."

That further angered the complaining guy before he was seen lunging at the actor. Some witnesses said that Foxx fought back, put the random guy in a choke hold and took him down. Both parties were eventually kicked out of the restaurant for creating a disturbance for others.

TMZ reported there were several celebrities, including Jerry Bruckheimer, Cuba Gooding Jr., Michael Bay and Nicole Murphy, who witnessed the violent-involved commotion that night.

The next day, "The Amazing SpiderMan 2" actor was seen attending the premiere of his new action movie "Sleepless" with his co-star Michelle Monaghan. (TMZ)

P

rince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry are taking their mental health campaign to the small screen.

The royal trio are set to take part in a documentary for the BBC leading up to the London Marathon in April, according to reports.

The royals are working with presenter Nick Knowles, who told The Sun, “I’m working on a mental health documentary with the young royals, which should come out around the time of the marathon. I can’t tell you anymore.”

Knowles also worked with William and Harry on the day that they helped renovate homes for injured or sick Armed Forces members on the BBC show DIYSOS in September 2015.

The royals’ Heads Together campaign is the charity partner of the London Marathon in April, and beneficiaries and members of the mental health charities that come under its umbrella are set to run that day.

Next Tuesday, William, Kate and Harry will speak at a briefing to give an update

on the campaign and urge people to continue the conversation about mental health – “with a friend, family member, colleague, or a professional when dealing with a mental health challenge.”

This week, they were praised by a leading mental health expert for their role in bringing the issue forward. Professor Peter Fonagy, chief executive of the charity Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, told PEOPLE that politicians wouldn’t be as open about tackling the issue had it not been for Kate, William and Harry.

“I don’t think the Prime Minister would be where she is if it wasn’t for the royal family’s Heads Together program, which I think was the brainchild of Her Royal Highness,” he said. “She has caused a national shift in terms of the acceptability of mental health as a problem that we all needed to deal with.”

The royals’ office at Kensington Palace and the BBC had no comment on the documentary. (PEOPLE)

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Times Art

Hubert Moshett

H

ubert Moshett was one of the pioneers of Guyanese art in the 1930s. According to “Panorama: A Portrait of Guyana” (2014), Moshett is said to have “enjoyed a long and productive career, painting numerous depictions of the ordinary life of Guyana people, including sugar estates, sawmilling, balata bleeding, market scenes, cabinet-making...”

The artist was born Sept 28, 1901. When the first generation of Guyanese artists formed the British Guiana Arts and Crafts Society in 1931, Moshett was elected committee member, along with his close friend E. R. Burrowes. In the Guianese Art Group, founded in 1944, he was elected first committee member and later secretary. In 1966 he was elected secretary of the Guyana Art Association.

When the Malcara Gallery opened in 1969, the first of its kind in Georgetown where artists’ work were framed, glazed and exhibited, Moshett served on the committee that selected and hung artists’ work. There were

sketching classes not only attended but organised by Moshett for the artists’ community, in the days long before formal art training was available in Georgetown.

Moshett himself never received any formal training.

From 1941 to 1962, he worked with the British Guiana Lithographic Company as co-director of the Art department with his friend Reginald Phang, with whom he collaborated in two major art series.

The British Guiana Lithographic, the predecessor of the Guyana National Printers Limited, was in Moshett’s words the “first colour-printing and photo-lithographic business in British Guiana and the entire West Indies”.

The Lithographic produced the majority of the monthly and annual magazines, such as the Caribia and the Booker Group’s Pepperpot, which, apart from newspapers, were the only mass-circulation media in the days before the expansion of radio or the arrival of television. The look and style of the magazines were of vital importance, and

Moshett was a key figure responsible for the high and sustained quality of work through those years.

At the end of Moshett’s working career, he had compiled a list of more than 160 paintings, most of which are no longer in Guyana. The National Collection has relatively few of his works.

Banks DIH has a series of 24 paintings of “Guyanese Industry” and the National Library has 11 prints of “The Legend of Kaieteur”. Both were executed by Moshett and his friend Reginald Phang.

“Panorama: A Portrait of Guyana” stated that Moshett’s “Waterfront” (1977) “artistically and seriously records an ordinary piece of Guyana life.

Through this exercise, Moshett ennobles this simple facet of Guyana and creates a great piece of art.

The point of view from the water looking inland is unusual. So too is the composition, which includes a large body of water and a diagonal leading in from the right hand side. The distribution of light and dark, the serrated roofline, the min-

'Port Georgetown from Vreed-en-hoop'

gling of colours in the water, the strong drawing on the right hand side, contrasted to the more impressionistic left hand side, all create rhythms and tensions in the painting and help to make it an excellent work of art”.

In Moshett’s “Shrimping” (1972), the publication pointed out that “the life of poverty is starkly presented in this painting of two women searching for shrimp

in a canal to make a meal for their families. The land is painted as dark greenish masses, and the women are painted in the same dark tonality. Only the canal is a bright area across the canvas, reflecting the blue sky. The women, backs to each other, are intent on their work, which is a means of their survival. Moshett manages to capture these women in a moment of their

life – they appear to be totally oblivious of the artist.

While this painting makes a strong social statement, it was not painted as part of a social movement. However, it was painted fairly late in Moshett’s career, since he was among the early Guyanese artists of the 1930s”.

Moshett died in 2003 at the age of 101. (Additional infor-

mation on the artist and photos provided by Castellani House)

Sugar Estate B. G

'Ice cream Vendor' (1946)

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Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple iOs to reach trillion-dollar mark?

A

pple's total sales of iOS-based hardware like the iPhone and iPad, as well as from software like its cut of app sales through its App Store, will reach the cumulative $1 trillion in revenue milestone this year, since the company introduced its first such device, the iPhone, in 2007, Asymco analyst Horace Dediu wrote in a blog post

Tech news

T

on Wednesday.

He estimates that the iPhone, a device he calls "the most successful product of all time," along with the iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, which all use a version of iOS, will combine for $980 billion in cumulative sales by mid2017, around the time of the iPhone's 10th anniversary of availability.

his blog post that some of his data points are estimates.

The report comes just

days after Apple celebrated the 10th anniversary of the

iPhone's unveiling on Jan. 9, 2007.

PC shipments decline 5 years in a row

he PC industry has been declining for years, but it just hit a big milestone.

PC shipments have now declined for 5 years in a row, with between 260 and 270 million

machines shipped during 2016 according to Gartner and IDC. Both firms' estimates vary due to how they count convertibles and other form factors, but the overall message is that the

T

Add another $100 billion in iOS services revenue, including Apple's App Store sales and Apple Music subscriptions, and Apple will pass the trillion-dollar-mark for all iOS-related products.

The calculation does not include Apple's Mac desktops, MacBooks, and accessories, none of which are iOS devices or related products.

Dediu acknowledges in

market has hit five years of decline.

While PC shipments briefly returned to growth in the US earlier this year, neither IDC or Gartner are predicting exactly what will happen to the PC industry. Gartner believes the PC market is stagnated and that “the market driven by PC enthusiasts is not big enough to drive overall market growth.”

IDC on the other hand thinks the PC market is stabilizing. "The fourth quarter results reinforce our expectations for market stabilization, and even some recovery," says IDC’s Loren Loverde. “We have a good opportunity for traditional PC growth in commercial markets, while the consumer segment should also improve as it feels less pressure from slowing phone and tablet markets."

While analysts are cautious about predicting an exact stabilization point for the PC industry, it’s clear that the declines are starting to slow as demand for tablets and smartphones slows down.

Five years ago, in 2011, PCsreacheda peak of around 365 million shipments.

Amazon robot army increasing

he world’s largest e-commerce retailer said it employed 45,000 robots in some 20 fulfilment centres. A 50 percent increase from last year’s holiday season, when the company had some 30,000 robots working alongside 230,000 humans.

robots that now populate Amazon’s warehouses. There are also other kinds of automata, such as arms that carry pallets.

But for now, most of the stowing and picking of items, which require fine motor skills and discernment, is done by human

Tech BYTE

T

he United States Department of Defence on Monday announced a successful demonstration of one of the world's largest micro drone swarms at China Lake in California.

Three F/a-18 Super Hornet combat jets

tion as attack weapons, DoD officials said.

William Roper, who reports to the Defense Secretary as the Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, said the effort was showing promise for possible nearterm combat advantage.

launched 103 mini drones called Perdix in the exercise, which took place in October, 2016.

The Pentagon has been testing swarms of low-cost surveillance and attack drones engineered to jam enemy air defences, blanket areas with small sensors or func-

“They are expendable and fly low as a surveillance asset. You can have a lot of them for a saturation approach. Saturating has an advantage over the thing it has to defend against. Its defender has to take more time and money to defend against it,” Roper said.

Pesticide alternative helps plants protect themselves from disease

A

Amazon’s orange-coloured robots

That’s a bigger headcount than that of the armed forces of the Netherlands, a NATO member, according to World Bank data, Says the Seattle Times.

The bump in Amazon’s robot holdings showcases the company’s love for automation. In 2012 the company bought Kiva Systems, a Boston-area robotics firm that invented the flat, toaster-like warehouse

brains and hands.

Amazon’s experiments with automation extend well beyond the warehouse — into fields like artificial intelligence and computer vision, which have led the company to open a cashier-less store in Seattle. In the U.K., Amazon announced its first delivery via automated drone.

Pentagon battle-tests micro drone swarm

ccording to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, some 20-40 percent of the world's crops are lost to pests and diseases each year.

Scientists have been experimenting with alternatives to conventional pesticides and thanks to a newly developed gene-silencing technique, farmers might be able to strengthen their crops' defence systems without any potential gene-altering fallout.

The study, led by agricultural biotechnologist Neena Mitter at the University of Queensland (UQ), involves the development of BioClay, a spray that makes use of microscopic sheets of clay that contain double-stranded RNA (ribonucleic acid).

This is released when a plant is threatened, triggering a process known as RNA interference (RNAi), a natural process that leads to the plant silencing the genes of the harmful virus.

While commercial RNA sprays do exist on the market, they are targeted at killing insects, not building up a plant's defence.

In addition, the plant-oriented techniques that have been produced in labs so far last only a few days, which is a problem in the real world because most farmers operate on

slim profit margins and would not want to spray their crops so frequently, especially if it is going to cost them.

In their experiments with tobacco plants, Mitter and her team found that a single application of the spray stopped the pepper mild mottle virus from wreaking havoc for 20 days. This is the first time that researchers have been able to achieve such a result.

"Once BioClay is applied, the plant 'thinks' it is being attacked by a disease or pest insect and responds by protecting itself from the targeted pest or disease," explains Mitter. "A single spray of BioClay protects the plant and then degrades, reducing the risk to the environment or human health."

The question now is how long it will take researchers to get BioClay ready for commercial use. One of the biggest hurdles is cost – manufacturing RNA is not cheap.

On the bright side, biotech startups such as Apse are attempting to lower the production costs of RNA for agricultural applications. If successful, this could turn RNA sprays into a much-needed breakthrough for farmers and developing countries that depend on agriculture for trade.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 15, 2017

Times Home & Cooking

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Recipe of the Week Ingredients

F

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste

rom simple, rustic wood, zinc or wire to creatively carved wrought iron, concrete or stone material, yard fencing has become an important aesthetic element in home design. It can be overlooked by homeowners but may be significant in the resale value of the home as well.

Modern concrete construction meets rustic design in many of today’s outdoor fences

5 carrots, chopped 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 1 lb. lean ground beef 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ketchup 3/4 cup beef broth 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Method Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. Mix in butter, finely chopped onion and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until clear. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Next, spread a layer of mashed carrots. Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

S Wrought iron and stone provide luxurious and stylish fencing for your home’s curb appeal

ince the spice cardamom is part of the ginger family, it has many of the properties associated with that plant. But while cardamom has a commanding taste, it doesn't have the strong or powerful edge that is associated with ginger. Make sure that you use it in moderation when you want to accentuate the taste of your main dishes. Cardamom is often recognized as an ingredient for sweets, pastries, and other baked goods. Typically, cardamom is added to both the dough and the filling to ensure that the taste is enjoyed with every single bite.

I

With maintenance and cost always an issue for outdoor fencing, vinyl in its many textures and looks, including wood, brick or stone, can be a pretty and practical solution

f your new shoes are too tight, put the nozzle of your blow dryer into shoe and turn on low. When shoes get warm, stuff with paper or socks to stretch it.

Scrub out a ‘sour’ baby’s bottle a mixture of toothpaste and water.

Thread a needle with ease by dipping the end of the thread into colourless nail polish beforehand.

If you have a small vase where it is hard to reach inside the neck of the vase to clean properly, drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets in the vase half filled with water. Rinse after tablets completely dissolve.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

JOKES Best son hree old ladies are sitting around a table playing bridge and bragging about their sons. “My Freddie,” said Margaret, “Everyone should be so lucky to have a son like my Freddie. Once a week he brings me a huge bouquet of flowers, he’s constantly bringing me out to restaurants to eat, if I so much as hint that I want something the next morning it’s on my doorstep.”

“That’s very nice about your Freddie”, says Gertrude. “But with all due respect, when I think about the way my Sammy takes care of me, it just can’t compare. Every morning as soon as I wake up he greets me with bacon and freshly brewed coffee.

Every lunch he comes over and cooks me a gourmet lunch, and every supper he brings me to his house for supper, he truly treats me like a queen.”

“WELL!” says Barbara “I don’t want to make any of you feel bad or anything, but wait until you hear about my Harry, twice a week he pays someone by the hour just so he can lie on their couch and talk to them; and who do you think he speaks about at those prices?” asks Barbara with a big excited smile, “I’ll tell you who he speaks about! All he speaks about is me!”

T

Government nce upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert.

Cabinet said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Cabinet said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Cabinet said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing his tasks correctly?" So they created the Quality Control Department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Cabinet said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created a time keeper and a payroll officer position. Then hired two people.

Then Cabinet said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people: An administrative officer, assistant administrative officer, and a legal secretary.

Then Cabinet said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $180,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost." So they laid off the night watchman.

O

Kisses ohn was in an accident and his face was badly burned. The doctors couldn't reconstruct his face with John's own skin because he was so skinny.

But his wife said they could use hers.

The doctor decided that the best skin to be used was from her rear. So they took her skin and reconstructed Johns face.

After the surgery he looked better than ever! His entire family was amazed, but none of them ever learned where the skin came from; they assumed it was his own.

One night, John is overcome with emotion so he begins to cry and tells his wife “I love you so much. I'm so grateful for your sacrifice.”

She shrugs and says “Honey, all of the thanks I need comes when your mother kisses you on the cheek.”

J

F

How social media is affecting your parenting

amilies used to be like Las Vegas -- what happened at home, stayed at home. For better or worse, previous generations of parents, and especially mothers, were expected to stay mum about their lives and sum up their daily frustrations with a smile and an “Everything is fine!”

We modern-day parents, however, live in a world of updates and uploads on the minutiae of child rearing for a cast of hundreds, sometimes thousands, which includes everyone from close friends to co-workers to people we've met just once or twice, or not at all.

Not surprisingly, many parents think all this sharing has gotten a little out of hand. In an exclusive Parents survey of more than 2,000 respondents, 79 per cent said other parents overshare on social media -- yet

only 32 per cent of us think we overshare ourselves.

Hmm. Of course, what's too much information in one parent's eyes may not be to another's. For example, 65 per cent of parents think posting a picture of a kid in her underwear is not okay to post, which leaves room for

plenty who think it's no big deal.

What's more, we're only beginning to learn how this “oversharenting” might be affecting children. This is the first generation to be born into the like-happy world of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And it's hard not to notice that chil-

dren as young as 3 or 4 have become strangely adept at posing.

There are those who have mastered a mini version of the so-called sorority squat: knees slightly bent, hands on top, smile perfectly frozen. And plenty more have perfected the sassy arm triangle: hand on hip, elbow jutted out. It's little wonder: children pick up on what their parents like, and Like, from a tender age.

“Kids know, 'When I do something my mom likes or finds funny, she puts it on Instagram,'” says Judith Donath, author of the book “The Social Machine: Designs for Living Online”.

(TO BE CONTINUED) (From: “Parenting in a Fakebook World: How Social Media Is Affecting Your Parenting” by Mackenzie Dawson, Parents Magazine)

STORY TIME

Making a Difference

R

yokan was a Zen teacher of repute.

One day a fisherman saw him walking on the beach soon after a storm. The storm had washed up thousands of starfish on the shore, and they were beginning to dry up. Soon all of them would be dead. Ryokan was picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea.

The fisherman caught up with the teacher and said, “Surely, you cannot hope to throw all these starfish back into the sea? They will die in their thousands here. I’ve seen it happen before.

Your effort will make no difference."

“It will to this one," said Ryokan, throwing back another starfish into the sea. A Zen Tale

By Grammar G.

Acrostic poem An acrostic poemis a poem that holds a word or phrase, usually in its initial letters, although they can appear anywhere in the poem.

It is an ancient form of wordplay, going as far back as biblical writings where acrostics on the Hebrew alphabet can be found.

Nowadays it’s found often in children’s poems such as one found in Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass” where the first letters of each line spell the name of the reallife inspiration for Alice: Alice Pleasance Liddell.

In children’s simple acrostic poems, the word/

phrase/topic or message is usually the title as well, such as the following example: Mom My very Own, dear Mother

As mentioned earlier, some acrostic poems have their words elsewhere other than the initial letters: Poem Pick uP a pen Think of a tOpic Be crEative Use your iMagination Much more complex are double acrostic poems where the words can be found at the beginning and end of the lines: Stroud

by Paul Hansford Set among hills in the midst of five valleys, This peaceful little market town we inhabit Refuses (vociferously!) to be a conformer.

I Am I am: yet what I am none cares or knows, My friends forsake me like a memory lost; I am the self-consumer of my woes, They rise and vanish in oblivious host, Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost; And yet I am, and live with shadows tos’t Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, Into the living sea of waking dreams, Where there is neither sense of life nor joys, But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems; And e'en the dearest - that I loved the best Are strange - nay, rather stranger than the rest.

I long for scenes where man has never trod, A place where woman never smiled or wept; There to abide with my Creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept: Untroubling and untroubled where I lie, The grass below - above the vaulted sky.

Once home of the cloth it gave its name to, Uphill and down again its streets lead you.

Despite its faults it leaves us all charmed.

[Stroud is in Gloucestershire, England]

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JANUARY 15, 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

The letter "o" has been removed from the following words. Can you guess what these words are?

1) utdr 4) nlker 2) bnxius 5) nmatpeia 3) drus 6) ppsitin see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

G

l a s s lizards

upon insects, spiders, snails, frogs, rodents, (Ophisaurus), birds and eggs, also called although they glass snakes, don’t have are a group flexible jaws of reptiles and can’t eat that resemble very large snakes, but prey. are actually Like other lizards.

Like lizards, a glass snakes, they lizard can have a forked detach its tail t o n g u e from its body but unlike when faced snakes, glass with danger. lizards have (The tail is moveable said to be twoeyelids and thirds of its external ear body length) openings.

The tail breaks T h e y into several are found pieces (like Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) all around glass; hence of central and SE North America. the world, the name) including North Africa and SE North America; which continue to wriggle. This confuses the however, they are found in greater numbers in predator and offers the lizard an opportunity Asia – from India to China. Glass lizards prefer for escape. coastal zones, sandy areas and grasslands as Some species of glass lizard give birth to well. live babies, while most species lay eggs. Some Glass lizards are carnivorous: preying species have very rudimentary hind legs.

Math Colour by Number Complete the sums then follow the key to colour

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.

Cumulonimbus clouds

P

ut simply, clouds develop out of the process of changing moisture from a gas to liquid. Moist, warm air rises and expands to condense into small water droplets or ice crystals.

When billions of these droplets come together they become a visible cloud.

As air sinks, its temperature rises and its capacity for holding vapour increases. Then any cloud droplets tend to evaporate and the cloud itself disappears; evaporation changes moisture back from liquid into gas.

High Level (20,000 ft. high (6,000m)) clouds are called cirrus clouds. Cirrus, from Latin cirro, meaning curly or fibrous, says National Geographic.

Midlevel clouds form between 6,500

feet (2,000 meters) and cirrus level.

They are referred to as “alto-” clouds and bear such names as altostratus or altocumulus, depending on their shape.

Low-level clouds lie below 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) and are referred to as stratus clouds. Stratus, from strato, suggesting sheets or layers.

Cumulus clouds are fair-weather clouds. Cumulus comes from cumulo, indicating heaped or piled. When they get big enough to produce thunderstorms, they are called cumulonimbus, from nimbus for “shower”.

By combining other terms, a number of different cloud combinations can be described.

BOUNCER LBW BOWLED YORKER WICKET GOOGLY DUCK SPIN

BATSMAN CAUGHT PITCH OUT TON BYE WIDE EXTRAS

22 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 15, 2017

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

Hairstyles a tribute to African culture

L

isa Farrall of the London Hair Academy is a hairstylist who recently won first place in three categories at The 2016 Black Hair Awards, and was also one of the finalists in the prestigious British Hair Awards 2016.

At the Black Hair Awards, Lisa won Stylist of the Year;

Natural Stylist of the Year, and Weave Stylist of the Year.

Farrall recently released photos on Instagram from her winning collection: The Armour Collection, which has been called a tribute to African culture.

She is described as a freelance hair session stylist to the

stars, a colourist, groomer, extensionist, writer and educator, and has worked in the fashion and entertainment industry for more than ten years.

Black Hair Awards winner for Stylist of the Year 2016

Black Hair Awards winner for Weave Stylist of the Year 2016

Black Hair Awards winner for Natural Stylist of the Year 2016

F

ood and nutrition security are not improving in Latin American – some 34 million people

continue to suffer from malnutrition, 47.7 per cent of children under age 5 suffer from anaemia and 49.8 per

Brain Teaser Answer 1) outdoor 2) obnoxious 3) odorous

4) onlooker 5) onomatopoeia 6) opposition

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

cent, approximately 1.3 million, have chronic malnutrition.

The figures “have not varied ostensibly in the region, they remain the same and are very worrying,” the World Food Program (WFP) regional director for Latin America, the Peruvian Miguel Barreto, told EFE in an interview.

Latin America and the Caribbean produce enough food to satisfy the needs of all their inhabitants, but the basic problem of food insecurity remains the same: the lack of access to nutrients, diets with little variety, high vulnerability to natural disasters and social inequality.

Barreto, aware of the vital importance of reversing this situation, calls for dealing with some “almost daily” problems with public policies and programs aimed at changing eating habits: “Not everyone who escapes extreme poverty is eating better.”

Which means there is no completely direct relation between the reduction of poverty and improving food security among a population, which also requires investing in “nutritional education” and promoting foodstuffs with levels of micronutrients that make up for what is missing in the local diets of the people most vulnerable.

“We must determine what the real problem is before we can solve it,” Barreto said.

Whether Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales can keep his promise to reduce chronic malnutrition in children under age 2 by 10 per cent during his term (2016-2020), Barreto said “it’s pretty complicated,” since results take some 5-10 years to become visible.

The success of countries like Chile, Mexico and Uruguay in solving this problem was achieved by sticking to the plan and its strategies, goals and procedures: “Dealing with malnu-

trition requires a national accord that goes beyond just a presidential term in office.

Some 20 years ago, South African photographer Kevin Carter surprised the world with a picture of a starving Sudanese child being watched closely by a vulture. Critics called it sensationalism but for others it was just an everyday reality that continues to this day.

In Latin America as well.

(Source: Latin America Post)

C

hina is in the process of building the world's highest-altitude ring road in Lhasa, Tibet, the official Weibo of CCTV News reported.

The ring road, (a road that goes around a city or town – usually so that traffic does not have to pass through the centre) with a total length of nearly 100 kilometres, will feature seven tunnels and 27 bridges. Lhasa has an average elevation of more than 3,600 meters.

It is designed with a speed limit of 60 km/h, and it will take travellers less than two hours to circle the city. The road, also known as a beltway, is expected to be completed and open to traffic by June 2017.

Photo shows an effect drawing of the Lhasa ring road. (Photo/official weibo of CCTVNEWS)

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JANUARY 15, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES Don’t let uncertainty (March 21- set in and hold you back. If April 19) you don’t know something, ask questions and verify what you believe to be true.

Discipline and hard work will pay off.

What you get back will TAURUS depend on what you put out.

(April 20- Collaborate, offer assistance May 20) and share your knowledge and experience with people you feel have something to offer you. Romance will brighten up your day.

Carefully inch your way GEMINI from one situation to the next (May 21and you may avoid getting June 20) dragged into an uncomfortable position. Honesty and mindfulness are favored when dealing with domestic matters.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

A day trip will help clear up unfinished business or encourage you to take responsibility for something or someone who has helped you in the past. Romance will enhance your life.

You’ll feel restricted if you have been overspending.

Tally up the damage you incurred and set a plan to lower your overhead. Discipline will help improve your health and financial well-being.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Improve your personal relationships. Plan a family night or make a romantic gesture. Activities that bring you and your loved ones closer together will have an impact on the way you move forward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Listen to what others are saying, but don’t be too quick to participate in a discussion that appeals to your emotional vulnerability. Make decisions based on facts.

Time spent at home will SCORPIO ease your stress and bring (Oct. 24you closer to someone you Nov. 22) love. A personal or physical change you recently made will start to show its benefits.

Emotional situations will SAGITTARIUS be influenced by false infor(Nov. 23mation.

Ask questions and Dec. 21) refrain from making changes based on what others do or say. Trust in facts, not in fiction.

Don’t worry about change CAPRICORN when you should be concen(Dec. 22- trating on your performance Jan. 19) and ability to get things done. Your gut feeling will not mislead you. Romance will improve your life.

Listen, be patient and AQUARIUS consider ways that you can (Jan. 20- help or contribute. Finding Feb. 19) solutions is a much better way to offer help than giving a cash donation.

Don’t sit back stewing PISCES (Feb. 20- over a situation that needs Mar. 20) your attention. If you bring matters out into the open, you will discover that you aren’t alone in wanting to bring about positive change.