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2 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 29, 2016

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Times Feature

Eliza Turn

Breathtaking shot of Unity Park Isahak Basir, CCH

E

liza was the grandson of a freed slave who took control of a former cotton plantation located about seven miles north from Anna Regina, four miles east of Lima Sands and sandwiched by Plantation Dunkel and Paradise in Region Two, Essequibo.

Gafoorman and Sarafraj, who sought asylum in Better Success in 1896 after they were expelled as indentured labourers from Hampton Court Sugar Estate, and Samsundeen Rahim, aged 85 who was a goldsmith of Dunkel and a former chairman of the Dartmouth NDC, knew of Mr. Eliza’s existence.

Eliza was engaged in cattle farming, and had also some wild water buffalos.

The name ‘Eliza Turn’ originated from the former roadway, which had two 90-degree turns, from east to a western direction, while the original cemetery is about half mile at sea.

The ownership of Eliza’s property became duplicated when the son-in-law of Mr. Brassington, who was a lawyer, took on the legal requirement to have the land transport made out in Eliza’s name. However, misfortune struck and the transport came out in the name of a solicitor. Later, the Eliza estate was sold to Pareeram Singh, who had already purchased seven abandoned sugar estates in Essequibo.

The roads along the facade of the estate were very desolate, heavily forested, and became a nightmare for passersby, horse carts and even a few ‘spokes-wheeled’ cars that choose not to pass in that area. The intrusion of sea resulted in the relocation of the cemetery between Paradise and Eliza Turn, where there was a Cruda tree with a huge hollow trunk.

In the period from 1920 to about 1945, passersby related they had witnessed “red fire” in the tree and that a “large black pig” kept moving around the said Cruda tree, which further restricted most transit during the day. The area was isolated, except for hundreds of cattle that ‘overnight’ on the road, Panoramic view of Unity Park

leaving tons of cow faeces that caused many vehicles to slide into the nearby trench. There was an incident in 1953, due to the tons of cow faeces, when two female evangelists of European origin found themselves and their white car in a trench. I assisted in getting the vehicle out the next morning while passing to get to Adventure.

However, for the last two decades, the forested area was inhabited by persons with unsound minds and drug addicts, all of whom terrorised passersby and school children.

After 2015 national elections, new office bearers and a new Regional Executive Officer (REO) was installed in the Regional Democratic Council, and a new approach to change the landscape was adopted.

The REO, in collaboration with the Regional Chairman, identified some projects, which included a facelift for Anna Regina, such as the painting of bridge rails and constructing a few parks in strategic areas. These parks will serve as places of relaxation for the community and a whistle stop for tourists in transit to the Pomeroon. One of the parks at Eliza Turn, its layout and facilitates have the personal attention of the REO Mr. Rupert Hopkinson, a university graduate attached to Region Two. The park can facilitate cultural and civic activities, and visitors can enjoy the fresh Atlantic breeze there. The scattered coconut palm trees with a background of green rice cultivation, aquatic birds and a few historical relics of the last two centuries make this new venture one that should never be overlooked.

The designated name for this historic site is Unity Park, which is appropriate at this juncture in our country since national unity is a priority for nationbuilding and signals liberation from the economic yoke imposed by our former masters. Building a self-reliant and free society brings us together.

All are welcome to visit our beautiful Unity Park! (Photos by Marco Basir)

Park at Eliza Turn

Fishing boats on mudflats of Eliza Turn

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MAY 29, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

W

riting in his book “Twenty-five years in British Guiana”, Henry Kirke observed, “[Horse] Racing is the most popular amusement amongst all classes” and was always well attended by “white, black, coloured, Hindoo, Chinese, Portuguese...” who arrived to enjoy an exciting day of races wherever they were held.

This popularity led to the establishment of a racing course by then Governor of British Guiana, Sir Benjamin D’Urban, a keen horse racing fan, who gave the site in 1829, and after whom the course was named. The formal grant of the land however, was not made until September 15, 1838.

In addition to the D’Urban Race Course – and even before – horse races were also held in several different parts of the colony, including near Capoey Lake in Essequibo; Belfield on the East Coast Demerara; Hague Dam on the West Coast; Wakenaam Island, and the Long Dam beyond the Canje River in Berbice.

The historian James Rodway, in his book “The Story of Georgetown”, mentions that there were many contests on the Kitty course – there is even a story of a racing match between an English mare, backed by ten bags of cotton,

1829 with Sir D’Urban presiding and a Dr McTurk as chairman; a committee was then formed that was tasked to start the club off and organise all races.

The first races to be held at the racecourse were on November 3 and 4, 1829 and there were two meetings each year in May and November, where in addition to a cup valued £50, some £1500 was given in prize money. The Colony Cup was established in the same year, and in 1852 the Durban Course Cup was established.

Describing the atmosphere at the races, Kirke noted, “Gambling, cheating, drinking, and fighting go on in a most cheerful way, and no one seemed the worse for it.”

Excitement, he notes, was always more intense when horses from Barbados and Trinidad arrived to fuel colonial rivalry.

Even though the two days on which the races fell were not official holidays, it appeared that way since most businesses closed their doors. Later, according to Rodway, the course was opened as a promenade on February 1, 1878, and a Militia Band played every Friday for a brief period.

This facilitated the elite who used the course for more leisurely horse riding activi-

Reminiscing about the racecourse almost a century after, Lloyd Luckhoo, a race horse owner and avid horse racing fan, recalled driving down Homestretch Avenue (now a public roadway named after the two furlong and 100 yard homestretch) and looking at the government building which once accommodated the grandstand and commentator’s box of the D’Urban Race Course. Today that building no longer exists, having been destroyed by fire in 2001.

Still, over the years many older folks have reminisced in memoirs, conversations, and newspaper or online articles about the “good old days” of horse racing in “D’Urban Park”, Georgetown. In 2002 Bernard Heydorn (‘The golden age of Georgetown characters 1930-1960’) recalled, “Horse racing at Durban Park would not be complete without the appearance of ‘Pele’ an East Indian man who walked around, dressed up in a suit, smoking two cigarettes at the same time! He gave a running commentary on the races and every other subject imaginable...”

Some of the memorable events would also include the Royal Race Meets of 1920 when the Prince of Wales attended; February 1966 when

Old map of Georgetown shows the location of the D'Urban Race Course (Department of Public Information photo)

and a Virginia horse backed by twenty five bags of coffee, racing from the Block House to the Kitty, (“Cotton” won.)

There were also races held on the Houston and Rome dam, where there was nothing but “banks of turf” with little or no traffic.

The D’Urban Race Course stood on what was to Rodway, “the backlands of the old town of Stabroek,” and which Kirke called “just outside the limits of Georgetown,” then an area of dense bush that had to be cleared away and the surface prepared for racing. At the time money was raised by subscription after the Governor had granted the land.

Kirke described the course as “...an oval, one mile and ninety-six yards in circumference...perfectly flat...with some sharp curves.”

The first meeting for the D’Urban Race Course subscribers was held September 28,

ties during the early hours of the morning and afternoon (5-9 am and 3-6:30 pm). According to Brian L. Moore in his book, ‘Cultural Power, Resistance, and Pluralism: Colonial Guyana, 1838-1900’, a new road, now known as Vlissengen Road, was built from Thomas Lands to Brickdam to accommodate the riders.

Although the horse race meet was staged twice annually, between 1842 and 1845 according to Kirke, (though later historians put it as 1843-1850) races were temporarily halted because of financial difficulties. The grants for the upkeep of the course could not be made, and in 1846 it was actually removed because of the economic hardship brought on by the 1846 Sugar Duties Act. Races would eventually resume by 1851 despite the lack of grants, but was always susceptible to the economic climate afterward.

the Queen visited Guyana just before the country gained its independence (the dilapidated Grand Stand, a victim of the economy, was restored in time for the Royal races when the queen attended), and the Independence Race Meets in May of the same year when the Duke and Duchess of Kent arrived for independence celebrations. The country’s first Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham also attended the independence meetings which ran May 26, 28, and 30.

After attempts at holding Christmas and Easter race meetings failed (Luckhoo blamed this on Guyanese preferring their traditional Christmas and Easter festivities), Sunday meetings were introduced with better success.

Sunday races at D’Urban Park became a tradition from 1967 until the last race meet which Luckhoo traced to Sunday June 6, 1971.

The Duchess of Kent (left) and C. L. Luckhoo (center) upon their arrival before the start of a one-day horse race at D’Urban Park on May 26, 1966

In 1971 the government took over the D’Urban Park race course and converted its existing structures to ministries, offering a lease of land in Timehri to the racing club in its place. Unfortunately however, the location proved to be unsuitable due to its distance from Georgetown, and the club was unable to afford the cost of constructing a new complex there.

Horse racing at D’Urban Park will never return; recent discussions on the area, now

overrun once more with bush and grass, focus on either developing shopping and recreational complexes, or government buildings.

However, most Sundays (depending on whether the road is clear of police patrols) the age-old sport of horse racing returns to the old D’Urban Park race course area in a Guyanese form of chariot races known as horse cart racing.

Horse carts, a common sight in the city where they

are used to transport anything a customer pays for, gather at the head of Homestretch and Vlissengen roads, and after bets are laid with much wrangling, the event, illegal yes, is called, and the clop, clop of horses’ hooves on asphalt can be heard across the fields onto Hadfield Street, prompting the older residents to recall the glorious days of horse racing at, what it’s now called, D’Urban Park (behind the Square of the Revolution).

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Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 29, 2016

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Times Feature

Scenic photo of March sunset in Hague, West Coast Demerara

By Enoek Alves

G

irendra Persaud, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science (Faculty of Natural Sciences) at the University of Guyana, is a gifted photographer on a mission – to preserve “moments and emotions through the still image”. His applauded photos are thought-provoking, stirring up emotions and nostalgia.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Persaud gave tips on being a “good photographer” and why he considers photography as a form of art.

Sunday Times Magazine: What sparked your interest in photography?

Girendra Persaud: As long as I can remember I always had a passion for the camera. In early 2000 I acquired my first digital camera and I began a series of upgrades over the years from point-and-shoot to now professional DSLRs. The spark I guess would be that photography allows you to preserve the moment.

Sunday Times Magazine: Is photography a hobby?

Girendra Persaud: It’s a hobby and a passion.

Professionally, I am a lectur-

er at the University of Guyana, and I am the owner of a web development company called GxMedia (gxmediagy.com) Sunday Times Magazine: What do you enjoy photographing?

Girendra Persaud: Anything of interest – sunsets, sunrises, places, fruits, animals, boats, plants, insects, flowers, birds.

Sunday Times Magazine: What is your focus while taking photos?

Girendra Persaud: My aim is to preserve the moment and the emotions through the still image. I think about how it makes me feel when I look at the frame, and the fact that now I am able to share that feeling with the people who will see the image.

Sunday Times Magazine: Is ‘good’ photography dependent on a camera or an artistic mind?

Girendra Persaud: I believe you have to like what you are doing and have a true passion for it. If there are any other motives, then it is not going to bloom naturally - it would be a steep uphill climb.

Good photography depends more on the artistic mental fac-

et of the person behind the camera. You can have a good camera, but if you don’t know where to point it then your images won’t be good.

I consider photography as an art as it allows me to express what I see through the images.

There are no hard rules – it is an expression, an art.

Sunday Times Magazine: Any projects you are currently working on?

Girendra Persaud: I am working on a personal project of capturing things and places in Guyana. The project started in early 2014, and at the moment, I have over 4,000 high quality digital images. Evidence of my efforts can be found by my daily postings on my personal Facebook page. Just check for my name.

I am also in the process of populating my online portfolio at http://girendrapersaud.zenfolio.com/ People can purchase prints, download, order greeting cards, apparel, specialty and much more. At the moment you will find a healthy selection of images on the website.

Photography is a hobby, one that I like very much, so I’m just enjoying it.

UG lecturer and photographer Girendra Persaud

Photographing the 'joys of childhood' in Yupukari village, Rupununi

Capturing the vibrancy of nature

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MAY 29, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

Zoe Cadore, an overseas professional of Guyanese heritage, proudly represents Guyana at upcoming Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant

J

udith Zoe Cadore is a proud Houstonian of Guyanese and Grenadian descent. The 26-year-old attorney holds a B.A. from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC).

Cadore was crowned Miss Houston in 2013 and represented the city at the Miss Texas Pageant where she received awards for talent, interview and community service. Her many accomplishments include the UHLC Faculty Distinguished Service Award; being published in the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy; and on June 25, 2013 she was recognised

by Mayor Annise Parker and Council-member Larry Green with “Zoe Cadore Day”.

The young professional continues to be active in a variety of service organisations throughout Houston including the Black Heritage Rodeo Committee, the District D Advisory Council and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. She will represent Guyana in the Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant on July 10, 2016.

Cadore’s family is from Georgetown: her grandfather was a gold miner and her grandmother took care of Cadore’s father and his siblings.

She currently works for a civil litigation firm

Proudly representing Guyana

on commercial litigation and Qui Tam cases.

Additionally, she teaches dance and work on political campaigns.

“When I was in high school I volunteered with the Matagorda County Teen Court, an alternative program overseen by a Municipal Court judge, where young offenders were given the opportunity for constructive punishment and sentencing by their peers. The goal of the program was to deter future unlawful behavior and provide students a chance to gain positive experience in the justice system. I was very successful in the program and won several state awards, including best attorney. This experience, along with the movie ‘Legally Blonde’, encouraged me to become a lawyer after years of thinking that I would graduate high school and move to New York to become a Broadway Star. I ultimately graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in drama/dance and political science. I have remained involved in the dance community, choreographing and performing, while simultaneously practicing law,” she explained.

Cadore pointed out that her parents; grandparents; aunt Gail; Congresswomen Barbra Jordan and Sheila J. Lee; Prima Ballerina Lauren Anderson, and her pageant coach/dance teacher Sheila Milner have all deeply influenced the person she is today.

“I’m motivated by my family and the people who

Cadore (left) is passionate about her humanitarian work

have sacrificed for me to have an education and a successful life. I’m also motivated by the determination to always reach new heights. I am excited about my future and the ability to impact lives and change the world through the practice of law,” she noted.

According to the young professional, her biggest accomplishment is passing the Texas Bar Exam.

Her advice to young women: “Do not take for granted the opportunity to receive an education. Always carry yourself with class and grace.

Never let anyone underestimate your beauty, ability or strength. Be authentic, love yourself and love your life. Most importantly, seek God first in everything you do.”

Cadore mentioned she looks forward to traveling the world and focusing on her career. She would like to also move to

Judith Zoe Cadore

Washington D.C. to do “energy policy”, and then return to Houston to start her own firm and continue being a leader in the community.

In her spare time,

Cadore enjoys dancing, choreographing, cooking, swimming, Zumba, cycling, shopping, traveling and public speaking. (http://guyanesegirlsrock. org)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 29, 2016

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

D’Urban Park immortalised in folk tales

By Petamber Persaud

A

s we celebrate the jubilee of our independence, various things at various times during this period are arising, some unexpectedly, to evoke memories and conjure images of the first flag-raising and subsequent independence celebrations.

As I watched the practice sessions for the fireworks blossoming from the new location (D’Urban Park), some stories came to mind, stories written a long time, stories that still resonate with today’s realities.

Two of those stories are from the anthology: The Lure of the Mermaid and other Children’s Stories edited by Janet Jagan, published by Dido Press, UK, 2002. In this book, there are 13 stories written by eleven Guyanese authors.

The second story, “Samaan”, written by Doris Harper-Wills some 50 years ago, is structured to include our folkloric characters like Ole Higue and Baccoo, Ole Man Papee and Fowl Mamma. It is set on D’Urban Park under the huge Samaan Tree from

Doris Harper-Wills

where we, as children, had picnics and watched horse races, especially the end-

ings, as the raging animals stormed down the homestretch (now Homestretch

Avenue, which may be renamed later).

The tree (yes, the tree was not an inanimate character) and folk characters were witnessing Guyana Day celebration, as steel band trampers came all the way from Berbice moving through Demerara on its way to Essequibo, where El Dorado, Nugget King lived.

El Dorado promised the people of Guyana a great fortune if they reached him as one people without quarrelling or fighting among themselves – “you see, these people had of late grown into the habit of bickering over little things and the big things were being left undone. El Dorado felt that this was very bad. It would be nice thought El Dorado if these people would drop their silly notions about their past and start planning for the future”.

The other story was written by Janet Jagan in the 90s and set around the National Cultural Centre, D’Urban Park, about the time of our 13th independence.

That story, “Rima – the Singing Bird”, is a wellcrafted magical tale for children that is entertaining and instructional. It is instructional to both children (inheritors of the legacy we leave) and adults (the custodians of our beautiful ‘Green Land of Guyana’).

The message of the story is about care for the environment and its inhabitants – the birds and bees and the trees…

The story tells of a bird that lived aback the Botanical Gardens, in the vicinity of the National Cultural Centre and Homestretch Avenue and D’Urban Park. Her name was Rima, a bird who lived with thousands of her companions, going through the daily routine of flying to the seashore to feed, and flying back to the gardens to nest and rest. Rima was different from her companions in that she loved music – the music of the sea, the symphony of the sea, music of feeding birds – the clicking of their beaks, the beating of their wings, and the song of the wind. So she was not always on schedule. On many occasions, she would return to her nesting ground sooner than companions in order to listen to the music coming from the Cultural Centre.

One day, she flew across and hid herself on stage, witnessing two children singing and dancing to the music from the piano. After a while, she was able to join in the practice sessions. The children loved her attempts, and encouraged her as her chirps were enlarged and started to harmonize with

Janet Jagan

their voices and the piano music. Eventually, she became part of the act and people flocked the National Cultural Centre to hear her sing.

However, on the 13th anniversary of Guyana’s independence, Rima remembered what happened the previous year – the fireworks exploded near the nesting place of the birds, which were thrown into confusion, many dying from shock and from flying into each other. Three of the birds fell in front of the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces, who was on the balcony of the Centre. Rima did not want this to happen again, so she made a plan. On the day for dress rehearsal, she flew unto the shoulder of the Commander and started to sing like she never sung be-

fore, hoping the man would understand her plea. The man who “loved nature and all its creatures” understood, and immediately ordered the fireworks be removed to another location, away from disturbing nature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: It’s here, and available at Austin’s, the National Library, Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the author, “Made in Guyana” by Petamber Persaud is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places, events and things made in Guyana.

'The Lure of the Mermaid and other Children’s Stories' edited by Janet Jagan

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 29 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

Long-time secrets

The George Greene mystery

I

n 1955, US freelance oil pipeline engineer George Jefferson Greene arrived in British Guiana, to obtain from Guyana a lease for oil from the British government, according to his son John Greene who aged 20 at the time had accompanied him.

Guyana was undergoing political turmoil that included living under the 1953 suspension of the constitution, and independence activisms.

Undeterred by political events however, the Texan capitalised on his geological background – and his task for the British government – to hunt for his own treasure: gold.

Greene was no stranger to treasure hunts or controversy.

In 1953 Greene is said to have taken photos of Noah’s Ark at the top of Mount Ararat while in a helicopter looking for the best route to lay an oil pipeline from Iran to Turkey. Proponents of the ark on Mount Ararat have relied heavily on this to prove their theory. However, John Greene claims that his father was given the photos sometime in the early 1950s. These photos, which a few have since claimed to have seen, are no longer available; why remains part of the mystery.

Then in 1955, though he is said to have spent only a few weeks, Greene was a member of a team accompanied by a reporter for Canadian radio station CBC that arrived at Oak Island’s Mahoney Bayin Nova Scotia, Canada, hunting for the “Money Pit”, a legendary treasure on the island said to be at the bottom of a hole – though no one is sure what the treasure is: Peruvian gold, a pirate’s hoard, ancient manuscripts, Knights Templar treasure…

The pit has frustrated many treasure hunters and claimed several lives. Oak Island legend speaks of a curse on those who attempt to explore its depths, foretell-

George Greene

ing that there are to be seven deaths before its riches are revealed.

It appears to have an ingenious boobytrap – every time anyone digs deep enough, two well-engineered tunnels would flood the main shaft, undoing any digging done and sealing the supposed treasure off under floodwaters.

Greene had earlier also been to Peru, and while little has been said of his activities there except that it was an adventure where no white man had gone before, it had been stated that he believed the Oak Island treasure to be of 16th century Spanish South American origin.

When Greene arrived in British Guiana, he met H. Howard Humphrey, the owner of Hotel Tower where he was staying, and learnt of a mine Humphrey owned that was

closed years earlier as a result of a cave-in that had killed six Chinese miners.

Since almost three decades had passed since the incident, the authorities of the day were agreeable to reopening it and Greene obtained a lease from Humphrey to work the mine. He hired a bulldozer and began digging.

It wasn’t long before he found a vein and his potential treasure. However, running low on supplies, he stopped at Christmas time to return to the city and purchase supplies, planning on returning to the mine a couple of days later.

But in the early morning of Dec. 26, 1962,George Greene was found dead, floating in the Tower Hotel pool.

According to a letter by local priest Fr. McCaffrey, dated Oct. 20, 1972, locally there was no talk of murder or robbery, and the explanations included that he died from a heart attack or was at the balcony of his room, which overlooked the pool, had a cerebral haemorrhage and fell over the rails into the pool. The letter also stated that inves-

was no water in his lungs, while his face bore cuts and scrapes.

It is surmised that sometime in the night he was apparently struck at the back of his head and his body dragged and thrown over the balcony. All his personal belongings, including cash, were undisturbed, although his briefcase was empty, rendering his death even more shadowy. No one seems to know what the contents of the briefcase were.

There may have been two assailants, and he may have known at least one whom he was speaking with while the other struck him from behind. His door was locked from the inside as the manager had to open it from the outside after his body was discovered.

According to Mary Irwin in her book, “The Unsolved Mystery of Noah’s Ark” (2012), somewhere in Guyana a murderer remains at large or went to his death with murder on his conscience.

For the legend of Oak Island to which Greene had promised to return, his demise-

Guyana’s treasure: Mining for gold in Guyana

tigations showed that he was already dead when he went into the water and there were no signs of violence.

A report according to the US medical examiner (his family had his body flown back for burial) stated that Greene died by blunt trauma to the back of his head and there

Bourda Market, circa 1920s (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Department of Agriculture (now Ministry of Agriculture), Vlissengen Road, circa 1930s (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

was the seventh, but some say it has nothing to do with the curse. As for the photos of the ark, though it is believed Greene didn’t bring them to Guyana, having no known reason to do so, they have never been seen since his death more than half a century ago.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 29, 2016

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Times Travel & Tourism

Panoramic view of Honey Pond

H

oney Pond, located in Region Nine, is known for its rich biodiversity.

Teeming with various species of birds, fish and other animals, like the magnificent black caiman, Honey Pond is a highlight location when visiting Karanambu Lodge.

Karanambu encompasses approximately 110-square miles of savannah, marshy ponds, riparian forest, and a 30-mile stretch of the Rupununi River. The Lodge provides guests with the opportunity to experience the wildlife of Karanambu.

Settled in 1927 by Tiny McTurk, Karanambu was once a working cattle ranch and Balata collection station. It is now an eco-tourist destination known as Karanambu Lodge.

With a bird list of over 600 species, Karanambu is a birdwatcher's paradise. The lodge also provides excellent viewing opportunities of giant river otters, giant black cai-

man and giant anteaters.

Karanambu is also the home of Diane McTurk, conservationist and world-renowned expert on giant otters. Diane's legendary hospitality is extended to every guest, even when Diane is not at home.

The Karanambu Trust was set up in 1997 to fulfil Diane's vision of establishing Karanambu as a protected area. Karanambu is a nature lover’s paradise. It is where you will experience untouched natural beauty in this remote corner of South America.

An evening ritual of watching the giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, open at Honey Pond is a memorable experience. The lodge provides this unforgettable experience, along with other trips to view the wildlife at the pond.

Not only will you enjoy an exciting trip to the pond, but you will get to see Diane work with her beloved otters – a mesmerising experience.

A breathtaking shot of the pond (Photo by inyathi on Flickr)

Diane McTurk with her beloved otters at Karanambu Lodge

Smaller black caiman hanging out among the Victoria amazonica lilies (Photo by sjr8545 on Flickr)

Dramatic emergence of a black caiman in the pond (Photo by inyathi on Flickr)

Relax at the rustic, award-wining Karanambu Lodge in the vicinity of Honey Pond

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MAY 29, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Y

ears ago, a physician who suspected heart disease would probably not refer the patient to a gum specialist. The same went for diabetes, pregnancy, or just about any other medical condition. Times have changed. The past 5 to 10 years have seen ballooning interest in possible links between mouth health and body health.

"Physicians are taking a more holistic approach to their patients’ overall health," says Sally Cram, DDS, PC, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. And for good reason. In one recent study, people with serious gum disease were 40 per cent more likely to have a chronic condition on top of it.

periodontitis may be the strongest of all the connections between the mouth and body. Inflammation that starts in the mouth seems to weaken the body’s ability to control blood sugar. People with diabetes have trouble processing sugar because of a lack of insulin, the hormone that converts sugar into energy.

"Periodontal disease further complicates diabetes because the inflammation impairs the body’s ability to utilize insulin," says Pamela McClain, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. To further complicate matters, diabetes and periodontitis have a two-way relationship.

High blood sugar provides ideal conditions for infection to grow, including gum infections. Fortunately

blood vessels," says Cram.

This can increase the risk for heart attack in a number of ways. Inflamed blood vessels allow less blood to travel between the heart and the rest of the body, raising blood pressure. "There’s also a greater risk that fatty plaque will break off the wall of a blood vessel and travel to the heart or the brain, causing a heart attack or stroke," Cram explains.

strict," McClain tells WebMD. This interferes with your gums’ ability to fight infection. Not only that – smoking interferes with treatment; gum surgeries tend to be more complicated and recovery more difficult.

Oral health and pregnancy

Oral health and other conditions

Babies born too early or at a low birth weight often have significant health problems, including lung conditions, heart conditions, and learning disorders. While many factors can contribute to premature or low birth weight deliveries, researchers are looking at the possible role of gum disease.

Infection and inflammation in general seem to interfere with a foetus’ development in the womb.

Though men have periodontitis more often than women do, hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk. For the best chance of a healthy pregnancy, McClain recommends a comprehensive periodontal exam "if you’re pregnant or before you become pregnant to identify whether or not you’re at risk."

Oral health and osteoporosis

Your mouth, the gateway to your body

To understand how the mouth can affect the body, it helps to understand what can go wrong in the first place. Bacteria that build up on teeth make gums prone to infection. The immune system moves in to attack the infection and the gums become inflamed. The inflammation continues unless the infection is brought under control.

Over time, inflammation and the chemicals it releases eat away at the gums and bone structure that hold teeth in place. The result is severe gum disease, known as periodontitis. Inflammation can also cause problems in the rest of the body.

Oral health and diabetes

The working relationship between diabetes and

you can use the gum disease-diabetes relationship to your favour: managing one can help bring the other under control.

Oral health and heart disease

Though the reasons are not fully understood, it’s clear that gum disease and heart disease often go hand in hand. Up to 91 per cent of patients with heart disease have periodontitis, compared to 66 per cent of people with no heart disease.

The two conditions have several risk factors in common, such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and excess weight. And some suspect that periodontitis has a direct role in raising the risk for heart disease as well.

"The theory is that inflammation in the mouth causes inflammation in the

Osteoporosis and periodontitis have an important thing in common, bone loss. The link between the two, however, is controversial. Cram points out that osteoporosis affects the long bones in the arms and legs, whereas gum disease attacks the jawbone.

Others point to the fact that osteoporosis mainly affects women, whereas periodontitis is more common among men.

Though a link has not been well established, some studies have found that women with osteoporosis have gum disease more often than those who do not.

Researchers are testing the theory that inflammation triggered by periodontitis could weaken bone in other parts of the body.

Oral health and smoking

Not smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your mouth and your body. According to the CDC, a smoker’s risk of severe gum disease is three times higher than someone who does not smoke.

"Nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to con-

The impact of oral health on the body is a relatively new area of study.

Some other mouthbody connections under current investigation include: Rheumatoid Arthritis. Treating periodontal disease has been shown to reduce pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Lung Conditions.

Periodontal disease may make pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worse, possibly by

increasing the amount of bacteria in the lungs.

Obesity. Two studies have linked obesity to gum disease. It appears that periodontitis progresses more quickly in the presence of higher body fat.

The bottom line on oral health One thing is clear: the body and mouth are not separate. "Your body can affect your mouth and likewise, your mouth can affect your body," says McClain.

"Taking good care of your teeth and gums can really help you live well longer."

This means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and going for regular dental cleanings and checkups.

Cram stresses the importance of letting your dentist know your full family medical history.

And, she adds, "... if you have periodontal disease, make sure you see your dentist frequently and get it treated promptly, before it progresses to the point where you begin losing teeth or it starts to affect your overall health." (By Joanne Barker. A WebMD Feature reviewed by Steve Drescher, DDS)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 29, 2016

Times Fashion

Designer Rishma Persaud

D

esigner Rishma Persaud is no stranger to the fashion scene, since she has been designing for over 15 years.

Under her label, RP Couture, the designer has been part of numerous fashion events, such as Guyana’s Fashion Week, Carifesta, Miss Guyana Universe, and Style Mission.

Recently, she launched her newest collection “Fusion”, which was displayed at the Fashion Extravaganza show held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in celebration of Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Persaud said she “presented a collection that was inspired by a fusion of traditional styles that meet a modern flare”. Her collection was created using saffron, satin and embroidered materials.

“I felt proud of my new line as it was an expression of all the things that inspire me,” she declared. (Sean Charles photography)

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

Z

achary David Alexander "Zac" Efron, born October 18, 1987, is an American actor, singer, and producer. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s, and rose to prominence for his leading role in the “High School Musical” franchise (2006–08). He went on to star in the musical film “Hairspray” (2007) and the comedy film “17 Again” (2009). He has since appeared in successful films like “New Year's Eve” (2011), “The Lucky One” (2012), “That Awkward Moment” (2014), “Neighbors” (2014), “We Are Your Friends” (2015), “Dirty Grandpa” (2016) and “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” (2016). Efron is currently filming alongside Dwayne Johnson for “Baywatch”, an action/comedy film adaptation of the television series of the same name. The film is currently slated to release in May 2017.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

May 29 , 2016

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

14 Sunday Times Magazine Times Bollywood/Hollywood

B

lasting trolls for body, Bollywood actor Fardeen Khan said he is not ashamed of his body size.

Recently, a picture of the “Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya” star showing his drastic weigh gain went viral. It became a subject of memes on Twitter and Facebook.

The 42-year-old actor, who has been away from the big screen for quite some time now, posted an open letter on Facebook for all the trolls.

“Not ashamed neither shamed. Not offended. Not depressed. Not blind either.

Am I happy? Emphatically!

Infact, living the happiest chapter thus far with lbs to show for it. Happy to have been the weekends entertainment for all you trollers. If you have had enough fun please take the time to look at your own reflection.

If trolling is what makes you

feel better about yourself, you have to seriously think about you future prospects.

My best wishes,” he wrote.

Fardeen thanked his fans and well-wishers for their support. “I can’t thank you enough but it was unnecessary as I am sure you are equally shocked and disappointed. I just want you

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MAY 29, 2016

all to know that after a very long time I am in a great space in my life. All I ask is for you to be happy for me and expect not to be disappointed for long,” he wrote.

The actor last appeared in 2010 film “Dulha Mil Gaya” opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen. (PTI)

Rihanna launches ‘Star Trek’ inspired eyewear R ihanna has once again collaborated with Dior. The "This Is What You Came For" hitmaker just teamed up with the high-end fashion brand to create a line of sunglasses, the label announced on Tuesday, May 24.

The Barbadian singer designed one futuristic, metallic frame which will retail for US$840. The new sunglasses are available in five different colors, silver, pink, blue, green and red. There is also a 24-karat gold-plated edition retailing for US$1,950. The "Rihanna" collection will all be available exclusively in Dior stores in June.

Rihanna revealed that the design was inspired by one of her favorite movie characters, visor-wearing lieutenant Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek". "I've always been obsessed with his eye-

wear, and when I got to Dior and saw all the materials I could play with, it all just came together," RiRi, who is the first ambassador to actually design for the French fashion brand, shared.

She later explained how she created the design with the brand's design team.

"The process was pretty seamless. I spent a day at

Dior with their eyewear design team. I started by looking through all the archives to see what they've done in the past, then got acquainted with all the new materials," she continued. "I literally sat there and drew and drew until I was happy with the design, and the team illustrated it for me right then and there." (AceShowbiz)

Sonam on Ash’s purple lipstick fiasco: ‘She wanted to be discussed’

A

ishwarya Rai Bachchan might say sporting a purple lipstick at Cannes was a call taken by her cosmetic brand, but Sonam Kapoor believes the “Sarbjit” actress opted for the shade because she wanted to be “talked about”.

“The whole idea of fashion and make-up is for people to discuss it and I guess she wanted to be discussed.

She achieved what she wanted to achieve with it, which I think is great,” Sonam said.

Aishwarya, who completed her 15 years at Cannes this year, shocked one and all when she attended screening of a film swearing a purple lip colour. When asked what she felt about Aishwarya’s purple lips outing and the flak it received, Sonam said the actress

should be happy with the attention she got.

When told that Aishwarya has called it L’Oreal’s prerogative, Sonam, 30, quipped, “I don’t think she walked for L’Oreal that day. There was an Amul ad on it, people were discussing it. I think it was great to do it on a 15th year, it’s cool. She was trending everywhere.”

Sonam, who is also one of the celebrity faces of the cosmetic brand, said she liked the colour and felt Aishwarya carried it off with “aplomb”.

When asked if she would ever try a shade like that, the “Neerja” actress said, “I have done purple lipstick in the past, I have even done black for a shoot... People haven’t spoken about me!”

(Hindustan Times)

Shah Rukh Khan ‘not good enough to work internationally’

A

part from being popular in India, Shah Rukh Khan has a huge fan following around the world as well.

Yet, even though other Indian actors like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan are making a mark in Hollywood, Shah Rukh has still not acted in an international film.

“I don’t think I’m good enough,” says SRK, adding, “I have not looked elsewhere.

I’m a patriotic person. I’ve always wanted to do something great for Indian cinema, but not as an actor; that is not greatness. I wanted to work something out, where Indian cinema would gain from what I’ve done, like VFX, etc.”

The 50-year-old also says his shy nature could also be a reason why he has never explored opportunities beyond India. The star, however, applauds those who have managed to make a mark internationally.

“I don’t want to belittle any actor who’s worked in the US. I think they are all fantastic. You expose a lot of your inner fears

when you go to an alien land, and achieve something. Whether it is a big or a small role,” says Shah Rukh, adding that if he ever does an international film, he would make sure that he doesn’t let his fans down.

“In a strange, self-important and self-obsessed way, I feel that I represent India. If I work in an international film, then it has to have some kind of importance, not only for me, but also for the country that has made me the star that I am,” he says. (Hindustan Times)

B

rad Pitt is a real life hero. The 52-year-old actor saved a young

girl from being crushed in a crowd when greeting fans who were waiting to see him

on the set of his new movie "Allied".

The father of six was walking by a group of fans who had gathered to watch the filming of his movie in Grand Canaria, Spain when he noticed the little fan who was nearly crushed against the metal fence. He quickly reached over the metal fence and lifted her up to safety with the help of his bodyguards.

In a video of the incident, Pitt can be seen comforting the young girl, rubbing her head until they lifted her over the fence. Once she's on the other side of the fence, he talked to her until medics arrived. (AceShowbiz)

I

t might be too late for Justin Bieber and Skrillex to say “Sorry.”

The duo has been sued over their No. 1 hit over alleged copyright infringement, according to court documents acquired by EW. Singersongwriter White Hinterland, whose real name is Casey Dienel, claims “Sorry” infringes the copyright of her 2014 song “Ring the Bell.” WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp. and Universal Music are also named in the suit.

“The identical and/or striking similarity of ‘Sorry’ to Plaintiff’s song ‘Ring the Bell’ surpasses the realm of generic coincidence and independent creation,” the complaint reads.

The alleged indiscretion comes in the introduction of both songs, according to the suit: “Ring the Bell” begins with ascending vocal flourishes, which sound similar to those at the top of “Sorry.” The BieberSkrillex collaboration came out in October 2015, more than a year after “Ring the Bell.”

“To write, create, produce, and record the song ‘Sorry,’ the Defendants knowingly and unlawfully copied original, protectable ele-

ments of the musical composition of ‘Ring the Bell’ and unlawfully sampled Plaintiff’s protectable sound recording of ‘Ring the Bell,’” a portion of the lawsuit reads. Dienel’s lawsuit also goes into a music theory explanation of how the two songs compare.

The complaint alleges Dienel’s camp sent out a letter to Bieber’s informing them of infringement — along with a musicology report — but there was no response.

Dienel seeks damages, a declaration of copyright infringement, and an injunction to prevent further alleged copyright infringement of “Ring the Bell.’ (PEOPLE)

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Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending NOW

Star of the week

S

weetheart-neck, completely dousing ourselves in lilac, swooshing around in our finest new ruffles, draped in rich velvet, the Prince Of Wales check and many other trends of yesteryear are back, but with a contemporary twist.

Here are a few ways to wear these chic styles in 2016.

International designers are enamoured with fashion's most romantic shape, the sweetheart. Layer it, accessorise it, or just let it show off that décolletage.

The key fabric to note right now? Velvet. Wear it crushed, coloured or top-to-toe.

A

The Prince Of Wales check is the season’s most surprising comeback.

Also, houndstooth, plaid, tartan and gingham are stylishly worn.

t 20 years old, Kefa Smith is a talented young man who is also a humanitarian. The singer, dancer and actor is an avid churchgoer, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, who is passionate about helping others. Kefa is a member of the President's Youth Award: Republic of Guyana; Come Alive Network Inc.; the Youth Ambassador Program with the US Embassy; and is a volunteer for the US Embassy's Guyana Shines project. In addition to being passionate about volunteerism, Kefa enjoys competing in pageants. He entered the pageant arena when he competed in the first ever Mr. Guyana Talented Teen in 2013 and was victorious, walking away with several prizes including Best Introduction, Best Talent, Best Body, Best Personality Interview and Mr. Congeniality. Continuing on that success streak, Kefa was able to cop the Mr. Guyana International 2016 crown, including awards for Best Talent, Best National Costume and Mr. Congeniality. Kefa's philosophy is: “Become comfortable with being uncomfortable; and be bold.” Guided by that belief, Kefa is focused on pursuing studies in International Relations, as he continues his humanitarian work.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Art

T

he Guyana Women Artists' Association (GWAA) is currently hosting an art sale in the compound of the Sacred Heart Church on Main Street, Georgetown.

The Association is a nongovernmental, non-profit organisation that seeks to encourage and support women’s participation in the field of visual arts.

Formed in September of 1987, GWAA had Marjorie Broodhagen A.A. (1912 – 2000) as its first president and an executive committee, which included Stephanie Correia A.A. (d.2000), Agnes Jones A.A. (d. 2008), and other prominent artists and art educators of that time.

In April of the following year, the Association mounted its first exhibition, in retrospect.

In 1989 a travelling GWAA exhibition was mounted at the National Museum in Barbados, sponsored by the Guyana/ Barbados Association. This exhibition later travelled to England to be part of the St. Albans Annual Caribbean Festival and finally on to the Commonwealth Institute in London.

In 2002 GWAA facilitated an artist’s workshop, which resulted in a mural painting “Pride Of My Ancestors” by 22 participants. This workshop was funded by the IADB, and the mural is now on display at the Guyana Red Cross.

GWAA’s current president is Guyanese artist Aiesha Scotland.

Presently, the members of GWAA have an exceptional display of creative pieces, including hand painted textile; ‘upcycled’ accessories (made from bottles, plastic bags, beads, among other materials); paintings; handmade jewellery; and artistic postcards, in the compound of the Sacred Heart Church.

Some pieces on display were done by Guyanese artist, Anna Correia-Bevaun.

Anna attended Sacred

"Beautiful Bird" (2016) by Anna Correia-Bevaun

Heart Primary School and later St. Rose’s High School.

After finishing school in 1980, she went on to work at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, the New Building Society and Customs House.

She was influenced by the art that was always around her, done by her mother Stephanie Correia, a renowned Guyanese artist, and her brothers. Even though she did not pursue art in high school at the GCE level, she learned about colour mixing from her mother. After her second child was born in 1987, Anna decided to stay home to focus on raising her family.

In 1988, the Anna began her art career as a ceramist under the tutelage of her mother. She began by exploring Amerindian designs she had researched.

Clay was the principle medium of expression for young Correia until she began taking short courses in Design, Batik and

Discharge, Vedic Art and Watercolour Painting (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively).

As her artistic range grew, so did her confidence, and in 2007, Correia copped both second and third place at the Biennial National Watercolour Competition.

Correia would once again perform remarkably, this time winning first and second place at the same competition two years later. The extensive list of exhibitions which she has participated in spans an incredible 16year period.

Since becoming a member of GWAA, Correia has held several posts on the Association’s executive body, including secretary (1996-1999), president (2004-2008) and vice president (2003-2010).

She continues to explore the challenging watercolour medium and her signature pen and ink drawings.

Another artist featured

Ornamental pieces made from 'upcycled' materials

at the art sale is Jennifer Gibson, a Barbadian-born Textile Artist/Designer who has made Guyana her home.

The artist specialises in the Tulus batik technique, which she has been working with for over three decades.

Jennifer has taught textile decorating extensively in Barbados, Suriname and Guyana. She has participated in several fashion and craft shows, exhibitions and expositions across the Caribbean, including Barbados Investment Development Corporation (BIDC) National exhibitions in 1984; 1985 (where she won the Most Outstanding Award and Blue Ribbon); 1987 (bronze medal); and 1989 (first prize).

Additionally, she has participated in a number of regional exhibitions in countries such as Antigua, St Lucia, Jamaica and Suriname (early 90s to mid 2000). Gibson has exhibited in GWAA’s Annual Exhibitions in 2008, 2010, 2011-15, and the Feminition Exhibition at the Guyana National Stadium in 2011.

She was awarded best in the area of Textile (Art Guyana)

by UNESCO in 2012.

“My inspiration and motivation is drawn mainly from nature and experiences. I see art as a personal appreciation of God’s creation, and elevation for my life in general. I hope to showcase the diversity, and variations of the batik art form through my work,” expressed Jennifer.

Textile pieces by Tara Bentinck are also astonishing. In 2002, Tara graduated from the E. R. Burrowes School of Art and was awarded Best Student.

Though her areas of specialty were Ceramics and Textile Designs, Tara is a competent painter, and also has experience using leather as an artistic medium.

She has worked in collaboration with the E. R. Burrowes School of Art and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for eight years (2001-2009) conducting art workshops during the August holidays for both adults and children.

The artist’s creations

Gibson with her textile piece on display

have been showcased at the Side Walk Café, the Sophia Exhibition Complex and several GWAA exhibitions between 2003 and 2007.

The years following her graduation from the art school have heralded a new fascination with fabric, and this has been her main medium of artistic expression since. Tara’s constant exploration of the use of synthetic and natural dyes has produced some impressive functional and decorative fabrics.

“As a fabric designer I enjoy taking a plain fabric and creating an attractive piece. Whether it is design using the method of tiedye, batik, stenciling, hand painting or printing, my as-

piration is to become like the great Chinese fabric designers,” Tara declared.

GWAA continues to seek opportunities that allow participation of its members in the form of exhibitions and other activities, aimed at raising the association’s profile and enhancing the quality of local art production.

The sale starts at 10am to 5pm and will conclude on Monday, May 30. It will be closed today (Sunday, May 29), so visit the Sacred Heart Church on Main Street, Georgetown,tomorrow and support our local women artists.

For more information on the artists, visit https:// gwaa1987.wordpress.com

Handmade decorative dolls

Hand painted glasses

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Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

"Today's verdict that Android makes fair use of Java APIs represents a win for the Android ecosystem, for the Java programming community, and for software developers who rely on open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products," a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

G

oogle has won a major US court battle with software firm Oracle after a jury ruled it did not unfairly appropriate parts of the Java programming language.

Oracle had argued that Google had infringed its copyright and had sought nearly US$9bn (ÂŁ6bn) in damages.

The outcome was eager-

ly awaited by software developers who feared that a victory for Oracle might encourage more such legal actions.

The company says it will appeal against the decision.

Google uses Java in its Android smartphone operating system which powers about 80% of the world's mobile devices.

The company had ar-

D

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, signs on the board during the official opening of the world's first functional 3D printed offices in Dubai

L

that Google developed Android by illegally copying core Java technology to rush into the mobile device market," he said.

"Oracle brought this lawsuit to put a stop to Google's illegal behaviour.

We believe there are numerous grounds for appeal and we plan to bring this case back to the federal circuit on appeal." (BBC)

gued that extending copyright protection to pieces of code called APIs (application programming interfaces) would threaten innovation.

The jury in San Francisco agreed that copyright law allowed "fair use" of the Java elements as they were only a part of a larger system Google had created for a new purpose.

Tech news

Tech BYTE

The legal battle began in 2010 and the two firms first faced each other in court in May 2012. A federal judge ruled against Oracle, but the company then appealed.

After legal wrangling, the case was sent back to court.

Despite Thursday's outcome, Oracle lawyer Dorian Daley said it would pursue the matter further.

"We strongly believe

Dubai says opens world's first functioning 3D-printed office

ubai has opened what it said was the world's first functioning 3D-printed office building, part of a drive by the Gulf's main tourism and business hub to develop technology that cuts costs and saves time.

The printers - used industrially and also on a smaller scale to make digitally designed, three-dimensional objects from plastic - have not been used much for building.

This one used a special mixture of cement, a Dubai government statement said, and reliability tests were done in Britain and China.

The one-storey prototype building, with floorspace of about 250 square meters (2,700 square feet), used a 20-foot (6-metre)by 120-foot by 40-foot printer, the government said.

"This is the first 3D-printed building in the

world, and it's not just a building, it has fully functional offices and staff," the United Arab Emirates Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohamed Al Gergawi, said.

"We believe this is just the beginning. The world will change," he said.

The arc-shaped office, built in 17 days and costing about US$140,000, will be the temporary headquarters of Dubai Future Foundation - the company behind the project - is in the center of the city, near the Dubai International Financial Center.

Gergawi said studies estimated the technique could cut building time by 50-70 percent and labor costs by 50-80 percent. Dubai's strategy was to have 25 percent of the buildings in the emirate printed by 2030, he said. (Reuters)

Prosthetic Foot For Sky-High Heels Steps Out

osing a leg shouldn't mean losing the ability to rock a pair of sky-high gold stilettos, but mass-market prosthetics usually aren't up for the job. A student team from Johns Hopkins University plans to turn that around with their prosthetic foot designed just for heels.

The working prototype took a year to create, and was recently put to the test by amputees.

Appropriately called Prominence, the foot prosthetic is a Johns Hopkins University student design project advised by James K. Gilman, executive director of the Military & Veterans Health Institute and mechanical engineering faculty member Nathan Scott. Five recent grads from the Whiting School of Engineering collaborated with a medical doctor and prosthetic ex-

perts.

Although more than 2,000 American women have lost a foot or leg in military service, prosthetics on the market don't lift higher than two inches, according to the university. And that's just the military stat for women. There are many other potential heel-wearers among people who've had amputations from illness or injury.

Turns out there's a good reason why we haven't seen non-custom functional prosthetics feet for high heels, though. It's super hard to design. The foot has to be strong yet flexible, sturdy but lightweight, adjustable without any special tools, and able to support up to 250 pounds. The team tried out a bunch of approaches that failed including balloonbased and mousetrap springs.

Finally they got it. The prototype weighs less than three pounds and has a footplate made from 28 layers of carbon fiber. Two interlocking aluminum disks with a lever attachment allow the heel height to be adjusted while an offthe-shelf hydraulic unit creates a smooth, flexible gait.

Johns Hopkins junior Alexandra Capellini gave the Prominence prosthetic a try, having lost her right leg from bone cancer as a child.

"It felt stable," she said in a university press release. "An adjustable ankle is useful in contexts even beyond high heels.

Ballet flats, sneakers, boots, and high heels especially, all vary in height, so an adjustable ankle opens up opportunities to wear a variety of shoes."

The team tested their latest

prototype with three amputees and four non-amputees who wore two of the prosthetics at a time with a stilt-like setup. Next, they plan to do another round of pro-

totyping with the goal of making the first mass-market prosthetic that works for high heels. Then the strutting can really start.

(Discovery)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Lighting solutions

I

t is essential that overhead lighting be done correctly to light your home both efficiently and appealingly. If you are renovating it is one of the cheapest ways of transforming a room, but it can also be one area to splurge on. However you choose to light your space, finds some ideas here…

Kickin' OrangeGlazed Chicken

Ingredients

4 (5- to 6-oz.) chicken cutlets 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp. salted butter

1 tbsp. olive oil 1/2 cup orange marmalade 4 tsps. Dijon mustard 1 tsp lemon zest, plus 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Recessed lighting done right. Installing recessed downlights everywherethat often leaves dark spacesis a common mistake design professionals see in many homes

Method

Decorating done right.

Decorating with light fixtures, or choosing fixtures based on how they look rather than their light output, performance, and distribution often results in a waste of energy and less than optimal light output says Houzz

Statement lighting like chandeliers packmore bang for its buck when properly situated, or else you’re only wasting money

Preheat broiler. Sprinkle both sides of cutlets with salt and pepper. Melt butter with oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Cook cutlets in butter mixture until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes on each side.

Tilt pan; add marmalade and next three ingredients to drippings, and stir until combined. Spoon sauce over cutlets.

Broil 8 inches from heat until chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 6 minutes, turning cutlets every minute and basting with pan sauce. Spoon sauce over chicken.

Serves 4

F

resh whole fish has bright bulging eyes and firm flesh. They should be moist but not slimy and have a pleasant sea smell not a fishy smell. If you gently touch a fish fillet it should spring back if it is fresh.

Always soften butter at room temperature. Microwaving butter changes its consistency so you won't achieve a light and fluffy texture when you cream it with sugar and your cake will suffer the consequences.

Follow cooking instructions on the packet, but test close to the end of the recommended cooking time to ensure it's al dente. Remember: long, thin pasta suits delicate sauces; short, thick and ridged pasta suits chunkier sauces.

W

ard off booklice with silica packets. Those little packets of silica you find in packaging of electronics, shoes, nutritional supplements, etc., absorb moisture. Booklice live in the damp fungus and mould that thrives in books. Put silica packets behind the books and anywhere you suspect moisture.

Mix 3/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup bleach to a thick paste for a homemade grout cleaner to clean build-up between tiles. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.Scrub it with your toothbrush to really work the cleaner deeper into the grout.Wait another 5-10 minutes and then rinse the cleaner off of the grout.Remember, grout sometimes turn darker when wet. So if you’re not totally impressed with how sparkling white your grout is right when you finish rinsing it, wait a few hours until it dries.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

W

T

JOKES

eacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?"

Students: "Meat!"

Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?"

Students: "Bacon!"

Teacher: "Great! And what does the cow give you?"

Little Johnny: "Homework!"

A A

teacher asked her students to use the word "beans" in a sentence.

"My father grows beans," said one girl.

"My mother cooks beans," said a boy.

A third student spoke up, "We are all human beans."

policeman pulls a man over for speeding and asks him to get out of the car.

After looking the man over the policeman says, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are bloodshot.

Have you been drinking?"

The man gets indignant and says, "Officer, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are glazed. Have you been eating doughnuts?"

A

hillbilly family's only son saves up money to go to college. After about three years, he comes back home.

They are sitting around the dinner table, when the dad says, ''Well son, you done gone to college, so you must be perty smart. Why don't you speak some math fer' us?''

The son says, ''Ok, Pa, I know Pi R squared.''

After a moment, the dad says, ''Why son, they ain't teached ya nothin'! Pie are round, cornbread are square.''

E

very ten years, the monks in the monastery are allowed to break their vow of silence to speak two words.

Ten years go by and it’s one monk’s first chance. He thinks for a second before saying, “Food bad.”

Ten years later, he says, “Bed hard.”

It’s the big day, a decade later. He gives the head monk a long stare and says, “I quit.”

“I’m not surprised,” the head monk says. “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here.”

hether you refer them to a driving school or teach them yourself, parents play an important role in helping teens practice their driving skills and develop confidence behind the wheel.

Before your first driving session with your teen, sit down together and discuss the significance and responsibility of driving a vehicle. Explain what to expect when driving.Show your son or daughter where the spare tire, lug wrench, and other equipment is kept and how to use it. Make sure all the legal requirements for novice driving are met.

When it comes to driving, experience is an important teacher. The more time young drivers spend building a variety of skills in different road and weather conditions, the more calm and

confident they will feel, and the better they'll be able to react to challenging situations.

An empty parking lot is an ideal place for teens topractice the basics of moving in drive and reverse. On quiet back roads, where there's little traffic, teens can learn basic manoeuvring like turns, maintaining a steady speed, braking and such.

Once teens have mastered those basic skills, they should get some practice driving on bigger, busier roads and highways. There they can practice changing lanes, merging into traffic and driving at appropriate speeds.

They should also learn defensive driving means actively watching for potential problems — like expecting that other drivers might do something that will put road users at great risk.

STORY TIME

The Wooden Doll

By Mrs W. K. Clifford

T

he wooden doll had no peace. My dears, if ever you are a doll, hope to be a rag doll, or a wax doll, or a doll full of sawdust apt to ooze out, or a china doll easy to break— anything in the world rather than a good strong wooden doll with a painted head and movable joints, for that is indeed a sad thing to be.

Many a time the poor wooden doll wished it were a tin train, or a box of soldiers, or a woolly lamb, or anything on earth rather than what it was. It never had any peace; it was taken up and put down at all manners of odd moments, made to go to bed when the children went to bed, to get up when they got up, be bathed

when they were bathed, dressed when they were dressed, taken out in all weathers, stuffed into their satchels when they went to school, left about in corners, dropped on stairs, forgotten, neglected, bumped, banged, broken, glued together,— anything and everything it suffered, until many a time it said sadly enough to its poor little self, "I might as well be a human being at once and be done with it!"

And then it fell to thinking about human beings; what strange creatures they were, always going about, though none carried them save when they were very little; always sleeping and waking, and eating and drinking, and laughing and crying, and talking and walking, and doing this and that and the other, never resting for long together, or seeming as if they could be still for even a single day.

"They are always making a noise," thought the wood-

By Grammar G

By Grammar G

L

et’s look at fun terms and labels of those sometimes weird and quirky ways we can all manipulate our English language.

CONTAINERS and KANGAROOS Some words, called container words, have other words contained within them. What we do to findthese words is known as word deletion since we delete the word inside, leaving the outer word.

Let’s look at a few examples: The container word eyesight has two words within – yes in side eight (EyesIGHT). Try feather: the inside fear (FEAtheR), centimetre: time incentre (CENtimeTRE) or changeless: angel insidechess (CHangelESS).

Container words can be found in familiar short phrases or labels as well. The well-known drink Canada Dry, for instance, contains dad inside canary (CANAdaDRY). They can also include multiple words: Foreshadowing:had, sow, rein and fog (foresHADowing, foreShadOWing, foREshadowINg and FOreshadowinG). Foreshadowing contains what is known as nested words: had inside sow inside rein inside fog.

Yes, it could get more complicated. Like when sentences are used to provide clues in container word puzzles like this one: Hospital residents make knots in trousers (8);Answer – 8 letters: PATIENTS (hospital residents) is the word TIE (knots) inside PANTS (trousers). (PAtieNTS)

Once comfortable with these skills, have your teen practice driving in different conditions such asnight-time driving, driving at dusk and dawn, in rain and at construction/roadworkzones to practice driving in congested traffic.

When a mistake happens, have your teen pull over, if possible, so you can talk calmly about what went wrong and how to avoid repeats.

In any sport, a person can't learn to do everything all at once, and the same goes for driving skills. Remember that it can be hard for new drivers to process multiple things at once while trying to driveso it's important to be patient.

Soon enough, your teen should be ready for his or her all-important driver’s license test.

Then there are kangaroo words. Kangaroo words are words that contain their own synonym(word of similar meaning) within themselves. Some call these new words “joeys” (baby kangaroos). How did these names happen? Well,

en doll; "they are always talking and walking about, a l ways movi n g things and doing things, building up and pulling

down, and making and unmaking for ever and for ever, and never are they quiet. It is lucky that we are not all human beings,

or the world would be worn out in no time, and there would not be a corner left in which to rest a poor doll's head."

since kangaroos carry their babies (smaller forms of themselves) somewhat within themselves, the names kangaroo and joey came about.

Here are a few of the many examples of kangaroos and their joeys in the English language: prematurely/early (prEmAtuReLY), indolent/idle (InDoLEnt), curtail/cut (CUrTail), evacuate/vacate (eVACuATE), respite/rest (RESpiTe) and destruction/ruin (destRUctIoN).

Some kangaroo words can have more than one joey as well. The word feasted contains fed/ eat / ate (FEasteD, fEAsTed and feAsTEd) and perambulate contains the joeys ramble/ amble (peRAMbuLatE, perAMBuLatE).

One debate about a kangaroo and joey pair is what qualifies as one. Some grammarians believe that a joey has to have its letters in order within the kangaroo word (observe/see) and that if all its letters are next to each other it is not a kangaroo and joey pair (crude/rude). Others however, see the latter as also being a kangaroo and joey pair.

Bonus info: somewords contain their antonyms (opposites) within; but there is yet no common term for these kinds of words –like animosity/amity and courteous/curt.

Then there is fabrication, which contains both synonym and antonym: fact/fiction; and feast, which contains eat/fast.

Now try finding some container and kangaroo words (with their joeys). See page 23 for some examples.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 29, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

Here are a few for you to try: 1. Pain - Nil 2. War - Zoned 3. Routing - Tip 4. Shot - Teaming 5. Right – Blight see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

T

he aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is the smallest member of the hyena family and is a specialised hunter.

Aardwolves are insectivores: while at dusk and at night other hyena species hunt or scavenge for meat, aardvarks feed almost exclusively on termites.

An adaptation for its prey, its long tongue is covered in sticky saliva. A single aardwolf is said to be able to

consume up to 300,000 termites in one night. Aardvarks may sometimes also eat maggots and grub.

Aardwolves inhabit open, grassy plains from southern Egypt to central Tanzania in northeast Africa. They also populate southern Africa, ranging from Angola east to Zambia and south to South Africa.

Aardwolf means “earth wolf � in Afrikaans.

FOOD WORD SCRAMBLE

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 please see solution on page 23

Colouring Fun

digits 1 through 9.

MAZE DAZE

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MAY 29, 2016

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For world records, Indian man removes teeth and gets over 500 tattoos

A

n Indian man obsessed with setting Guinness world records got 366 flags tattooed on his body and had all his teeth removed so he could put nearly 500 drinking straws and more than 50 burning candles in his

mouth.

Har Parkash Rishi, who claims to have set more than 20 records, calls himself “Guinness Rishi”.

Born in 1942 in a cine-

ma hall in the capital, New Delhi, Rishi first got into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1990 when, with two friends, he rode a scooter for 1,001 hours.

The passion to get his name in the record book led him to perform some bizarre

acts, including delivering a pizza from New Delhi to San Francisco and gulping a bottle of tomato ketchup in less than four minutes.

He even got his fami-

Answers to Wordplay Borderland: order inside bland (BorderLAND), Painfully: in and full inside pay (paINfully, painFULLy, PAinfullY), False alarm: sea in all inside farm (falSE Alarm, fALse aLarm, False alARM), Regulate/rule (RegULatE), Container/ can/tin (ContAiNer/ conTaINer), Enjoy/joy (enJOY – If you accept this qualifies as a kangaroo and joey pair)

Brain Teaser Answer 1. Pin - Nail 2. Ward - Zone 3. Outing - Trip

4. Hot - Steaming 5. Bright - Light

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

ly involved - his wife Bimla holds a 1991 record for writing the world's shortest will: "All to Son".

While it is the tattoos on his body, more than 500 in all, that brought him fame, Rishi, an auto parts manufacturer by profession, says the toughest one was stuffing the straws in his mouth. " I am the world record holder of 496 straws in my mouth ... For that record, I needed space, I had to remove every tooth so that I could put maximum straws in my mouth," Rishi told Reuters Television before re-enacting the feat on camera.

He is now getting images of global leaders tattooed on his body to add to images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Barack Obama, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement. (Reuters)

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times Feature

Infections resist 'last antibiotic' in US

T

he first case of an infection that resists the antibiotic of last resort - colistin - has been detected in the US. The 48-year old woman from Pennsylvania recovered and the infection was vulnerable to other antibiotics.

However, colistin is hugely symbolic as it is used when other drugs fail and officials warned the world was now reaching "the end of the road" for antibiotics.

Colistin resistance was first discovered in China at the end of 2015.

The study sparked concern around the world, and intensive testing rapidly discovered bugs that can resist colistin in Europe and Asia.

Now data from the US has identified the first case in a patient, who had a urinary-tract infection, as well

as colistin-resistant bacteria in farm animals and meat on supermarket shelves.

It is not clear where the infection came from as the patient had not travelled recently and colistin is not widely used in the US. The DNA that gives bacteria resistance to colistin the mcr-1 gene - can spread rapidly between species.

The concern is that colistin resistance will now hook-up with other forms of antibiotic resistance to create infections that cannot be treated.

Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "The more we look at drug resistance, the more concerned we are.

"The medicine cabinet is empty for some patients, it is the end of the road for antibiotics unless we act ur-

gently."

However, Dr Beth Bell, also from the CDC, said in an interview: "Luckily haven't seen actual bacteria that are resistant to every single antibiotic."

Commenting on the reports Dr Nasia Safdar, from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said: "The results are very concerning.

"It is almost inevitable that more cases will come to light. It's just a matter of how quickly things spread.

With carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, soon after the initial description it became fairly widespread and not just in the US but globally.

"It wouldn't be a stretch to say that we are towards the end of effective antimicrobial therapy for antibiotic resistant bacteria." (BBC)

'Van Gogh' Mummy Found in Spanish Church

A

well preserved mummy which bears an impressive resemblance to Van Gogh's famous self-portrait has been found in an ancient church in Spain.

The individual, whose real name is unknown, is one of 30 mummified bodies that were found during restoration work in the church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the village of Quinto, near Zaragoza.

The burials were unearthed in 2011, when a part of the floor of the church, also known as the "Piquete," was removed to install the heating system.

To the workers' surprise, 30 mummified bodies, some in very good states of preservation, emerged from the partly opened wooden coffins.

All mummified bodies --11 adults and 24 children -- were then stored in a chapel of the church, and there they remained, wrapped in cloths, waiting for examination.

In 2014 a project was finally launched to study and restore the collection exhumed in the church and a lab was created at the site.

"The project is still ongoing. We have begun with five mummies, two adults and three children," Mercedes González, director of the Instituto de Estudios Científicos en Momias in Madrid, told Discovery News.

Mummified naturally thanks to the very dry soil, the bodies date from the late 18th until mid-19th century, based on the clothing of the mummies.

Some male mummies wore monk clothes.

"In Spain it was very common for

Mummies were found when part of the church floor was removed

people to be buried with habits of a religious order. Some of these mummies wear Franciscan habits, but they are not monks," González said.

Actual monks were buried barefoot. The mummies of Quinto wear espadrilles, a kind of shoe typical of the Aragon region.

"They are made of straw and cotton and were used by peasants," González said.

Most mummies still have hair and beards perfectly preserved.

"Hair usually maintains very well in dry environments, especially if there are no insects such as Dermestidae, or skin beetles," González said.

The "Van Gogh" mummy, who might have been in his 40's when he died, is one of such clothed in Franciscan habits, but little is known about him, his

diseases and cause of death.

"We are waiting for the results of histological analysis that were sent to several international institutions in Italy, Korea, Nebraska and Brazil," González said.

She noted that in the region of Aragon, to which Quinto belongs, there were several epidemics. In the 18th century, smallpox and yellow fever ravaged the region, while in the 19th century epidemics of cholera claimed many lives.

González will detail the preliminary results at the World Congress on Mummy Studies which takes place in August in Lima, Peru.

"By that time, we hope we can give a name to the 'Van Gogh' mummy and know more about his life," González said. (Discovery News)

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Fun Times

Archie

Bring about simple, subtle personal or physical changes (March 21in order to feel confident and April 19) effectively present what you have to offer. Celebrate your accomplishments with a loved one.

ARIES

Compare your current poTAURUS sition to what you have done (April 20- in the past. If you reconnect May 20) with a former co-worker, an unusual opportunity will be proposed. Consider forming a partnership.

Compromise to avoid inGEMINI terference, but don't let any(May 21- one take advantage of you.

June 20) Distance yourself from someone using emotional blackmail to get you to engage in questionable or unaffordable activities.

Let your creativity take charge.

You can make posi(June 21tive alterations at home that July 22) will encourage others to drop by for a visit. Expand your interests and embrace change.

CANCER

Don't share financial, legal LEO or contractual information.

(July 23Go about your business and Aug. 22) bring about the changes that will provide greater stability.

Celebrate your achievements with someone you love.

Dilbert

Work-related problems will VIRGO ruin your day if you don't fo(Aug. 23cus on something else. Engage Sept. 22) in an event that will give you plenty to think about regarding future prospects.

Check out entertaining outLIBRA ings with a younger or old(Sept. 23er person in your life. Short Oct. 23) trips or an interesting seminar will lead to positive personal change.

Peanuts

Your intuitive intelligence SCORPIO won't let you down. Whether (Oct. 24- you are networking, trying to Nov. 22) wow a loved one or getting involved in an event to help others, you will receive a good response.

Don't make a snap deciSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- sion if it involves travel or Dec. 21) dealing with institutions or if it affects friends, relatives or neighbors. Focus on personal development, romance and residential updates.

Calvin and Hobbes

Get together with old CAPRICORN friends and focus on memo(Dec. 22- ries that encourage you to reJan. 19) visit a dream you have yet to realize. A change in attitude regarding money will lead to a new beginning.

A residential move or AQUARIUS changes to the way you run (Jan. 20your home or relate to those Feb. 19) you live with will result in greater stability and personal security. Romance is encouraged.

PISCES Think before you act. Use (Feb. 20- your intelligence to guide Mar. 20) you through sticky situations with friends or relatives.

Overreacting will lead to a troubled relationship.