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Maintaining an institution Page 3

Page 2

Keeping Guyana beautiful

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Feature

Keeping Guyana beautiful A love for country and a desire to enhance it inspires Shaam Outar

Looking from the seawall towards a section of the highway where the trees are planted

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love for country and a desire to enhance it have inspired local Guyanese Shaam Outar to plant more than 180 coconut trees along the Ogle/ Industry seawall.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Outar recalled being in awe of scenic locations in different countries he visited and wondered how he could play a part in enhancing his homeland.

“Having went to a beach in Trinidad and Tobago and seeing the coconut trees there, I wondered why Guyana cannot have a similar scenic location. The sea-

wall at Ogle/Industry had deep drains between the wall and the sea dam. A few years ago, these drains were filled with mud/waste and eventually had a stretch of grass.

Every day I passed there I always thought of planting coconut trees, but was afraid of being locked up by the authorities. Then one day I saw some trees planted at the very location, but after weeks I did not notice anything else happening. This motivated me to plant the remaining stretch; however, I was still afraid of the authorities locking me up,” Outar reminisced.

At his expense, Outar

hired workers to assist him in planting the coconut trees along the Ogle/Industry seawall. Instead of being “locked up” for his embellishing initiative, Outar is applauded for his efforts in enhancing the Ogle/Industry seawall that stretches from the Shell Gas Station to the University of Guyana road.

Outar said during the rainy season the area where the trees are located would be flooded, sometimes up to his knees. Consequently, some of the trees would die and he would have to replant. This commendable maintenance work is even supported by people weeding the area who would gather the grass around the coconut trees’ roots, which serves as a fertilizer.

“Another reason for planting the coconut trees, apart from beautifying the area, is to provide some-

thing to eat for the less fortunate. Those trees will bear coconuts and so the less fortunate will get something to eat/drink. I was also happy when I passed the location recently and saw a group of people conducting religious work taking shelter under the coconut trees,” Outar expressed.

Notably, Outar strategically planted the coconut trees approximately 15ft to 20ft apart so that people relaxing at the seawall can tie hammocks on the trees.

“I get great satisfaction from knowing that these coconut trees are benefiting and will benefit people,” he declared.

Outar also revealed that he would like to expand his initiative by planting fruit trees around Georgetown.

He said he recently visited Manaus, a city in Brazil, and saw how the less fortunate benefitted from mango trees planted in that city.

“In Manaus, I saw the less fortunate rush to pick

'Dounce' tree growing among the coconut trees.

Outar said someone apparently ate the fruit and its seed dropped there. He's happy because one day it will bear fruit and people would get to enjoy it

up a fallen mango, which showed me how little some people have. This prompted the idea to plant fruit trees in our city, Georgetown,” Outar explained.

So next time you are travelling up the East Coast road,

Coconut trees seen as people travel along the Ogle-Industry seawall route

stop at the Ogle/Industry seawall and be inspired by Outar’s initiative to do your part in beautifying Guyana.

(Cover photo: Coconut trees along the Ogle-Industry seawall)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

M

Maintaining an institution

otivated by its mission to give back to society, the Ramroop Foundation regularly contributes to Kaashi Dhaam – a landmark facility on the West Coast of Demerara.

Kaashi Dhaam, located at Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara, provides a commodious and serene facility for cremations on the bank of the Atlantic Ocean. The Ramroop Foundation constructed the site for the people of Guyana back in 2007, after which it was opened by then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Formerly known as the Ruimzeight Cremation Site, Kaashi Dhaam (which means “heavenly abode (of Lord Shiva)”) was constructed by the Ramroop Foundation for more than GYD$25 million in 2007.

Over the years, due to coastal erosion, the long used local site was being washed away, leading to government involvement in the earthen works and the replanting of mangrove trees. The site, for what is considered the final act of respect to the body of the departed, had become quite decrepit and the Ramroop Foundation decided to upgrade the facility into a

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at the opening ceremony at Kaashi Dhaam, which featured distinguished representatives within the Hindu community

modern one that would lend dignity to the cremation process.

The original “Kaashi Dhaam” is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for the Hindus in India located on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in the City of Benares and is devoted to

Lord Shiva. For one's ashes to be immersed in the Ganges at Akashi Dham is considered a great blessing.

The Foundation’s latest rehabilitative works on Kaashi Dhaam conducted two months ago, included the construction of a modern walkway leading to the building,

Completed ramp to accomodate those using a wheelchair

Former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo officially opens the site in 2007 in the presence of Ramroop Foundation members and well-wishers

a ramp for those using wheelchairs, repainting the building on the site and upgrading its signage and washroom facilitates.

The Foundation’s chairman, Mr. Ramroop, said he was pleased to be able to provide financial assistance to reconstruct, upgrade and assist with continuous maintenance of Kaashi Dhaam. “I

see it as part of our socioeconomic responsibility to give back to our country and various organizations,” he stated.

Mr. Ramroop expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done at Kaashi Dhaam, which he believes will go a far way in providing comfort and serenity for those using the facilities, where there is also an annu-

al ceremony remembering departed ancestors called "Pirti Paksh".

Expressing gratitude for Kaashi Dhaam’s upgrade by the Ramroop Foundation, Doodnauth Jodhan, also known as “Boonu”, who has been working at the cremation site for a number of years said: “I am very happy with the works by Mr. Ramroop in maintaining the facilities at Kaashi Dhaam. People using the facility are also thankful for this rehabilitation work.

The site is now more comfortable.”

Jodhan, who has been building pyres for cremation and maintaining the site’s surroundings, added, “Kaashi Dhaam is a very important facility not only to nearby communities, but to people who come from afar to use the site. Now people don’t have to stand in the hot sun or pouring rain. Comfortable chairs are provided for people who can now sit and witness the cremations under a sheltered facility.”

Since its inception, the Ramroop Foundation has made financial donations to several charities, religious, educational, sports and cultural organizations, among others. (Cover photo: Kaashi Dhaam)

Finished walkway

Kaashi Dhaam

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Feature

: a global celebration

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Temple in Guyana decorated with diyas (Photo by Kennard Pillay)

iwali is celebrated throughout the world to ward off the darkness and welcome the light into our lives.

Celebrating the triumph of good over evil and spanning five days each autumn, Diwali is considered by some to be the start of the New Year. In 2016, Diwali will be celebrated on October 29 (for South Indians) and October 30 (for North Indians).

In Guyana, this “festival of lights” is believed to have been brought to Guyana in the 1800s by

the first indentured people from India. The celebrations hold special significance: wearing new clothes is a symbol of healthy souls in healthy bodies; the distribution of sweets signifies the importance of serving and sharing, and exchanging greeting cards denotes the goodwill of each other.

Keeping homes illuminated inside and out is a practice meant to illuminate the path for Goddess Lakshmi when she visits.

Suriname, like its neighbour Guyana, celebrates

Hindu temple in Thailand decorated with lights on Diwali

Diwali with much gaiety and in a similar way of lighting diyas (lamps) and sharing sweets. Celebrated this year on Oct. 30, Diwali in Suriname is also a national holiday.

Celebrated under the name Lam Kriyongh during the months of OctoberNovember, Diwali in Thailand is celebrated by lighting diyas made of banana leaves in which candles are placed, along with a coin and incense. These are then set afloat on a river. Diwali celebrations in Thailand are not extravagant: people simply greet each other and wish them happy returns of the day. Similar to Guyana and Suriname, distribution of sweets is a common practice on this day in Thailand.

Also known as Deepavali, a Sanskrit word generally translated as "necklace of lights", Diwali is celebrated in Malaysia by people of all races, not just the Hindus living there. Though it may not be celebrated on a grand scale, Diwali in Malaysia is a time to invite people over to indulge in all the delicious sweets prepared. It is also a holiday in Malaysia and a time to visit and pay hom-

age to the elders. Crackers are banned in Malaysia, so Diwali celebration is enjoyed quietly.

Indians form just about one 1 per cent of the total population in Kenya and Tanzania. However, the influences of this tiny number have considerable economic influence, and they are a well-respected minority.

They also celebrate the major Indian or Hindu festivals of the Hindu solar calendar.

As they have restricted interaction with the locals and do not seek converts, they usually celebrate their festivals the same way India does. The significance, customs and belief related to the festival of light, therefore is almost same like that of India. Illumination, worshipping of god and goddess of wealth and prosperity are some of the common practice. Diwali is declared as a national holiday in Kenya only.

Just as in India, people of Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, celebrate Diwali with elaborate lighting and candle decorations. Taking advantage of the beautiful festival, people reaffirm the bonds of love shared with loved ones by exchanging greetings, sweets and gifts

Diwali celebrations in Malaysia

of love. Diwali also affords the opportunity for people of different faith and communities to come together and live in a spirit of communal harmony.

But Diwali is not just a Hindu festival. It also holds special significance in other religions such as Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

For Buddhists, the spiritual insight of Diwali is the triumph of good over evil as their Emperor Ashoka gave up his violent ways and chose the path of peace and non violence on this day only.

Nepal’s Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali as the returning of light and balance to the world.

For the Sikhs, this is the day when their religious leader Guru Hargobind Ji was able to free himself and other Hindu kings and gurus from the prison of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

After coming out from the Gwalior Fort, the guru and others went to the Golden Temple of Amritsar. So this day is celebrated to commemorate his homecoming.

Even today, the Golden

Temple is decorated in the grandest manner possible on the day of Diwali along with performance of breathtaking fireworks that has made Amritsar one of the top Diwali vacation destinations in India.

Just like the Hindus, Buddhists and the Sikhs, Diwali is a special day in the Jain calendar as well.

This is the day when Lord Mahavira attained Moksh, Nirvana, or eternal bliss.

Mahavira’s attainment of nirvana is seen as a passage from darkness to illumination or the attainment of the ultimate knowledge.

To the Jains, the light of Diwali has another special significance. It signifies the light leaving his body and traveling to heaven, having succeeded in escaping from the trap of rebirth. They will thus illuminate lights to mark this passage, and also to keep the light of his knowledge burning.

Though there may be variations in the celebration of Diwali around the world, one thing remains constant – the coming together to illuminate homes and lives.

Praying in a temple on Diwali in Nairobi, Kenya

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

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ngel Kanhai is a fresh face in the makeup art forum of Guyana. For this Halloween, she has created some scary looks for those who are not into wearing costumes, but still want to look the part.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Angel revealed that her passion for makeup started since she was a teenager. Later, she recalled, it was with the “unconditional support” of her husband that she decided to pursue a career in makeup artistry. This led to the birth of her label, Angel Eyes.

“I have been doing makeup for friends and family since I was in

high school, but I have only started doing makeup as a profession as of April 2016. It gives me satisfaction to know because of makeup I can, not only beautify, but help in developing people’s self-confidence,” the 24-year-old makeup artist said.

Angel studied three courses in makeup artistry, two in glamour makeup and one in theatrical makeup, and continues to do research on new techniques on how she can better her skills.

In working with special effects makeup, Angel can create gender illusions, age illusions, cuts, bruises, scars, missing body parts illusions, burnt skin illusions, fiction-

One of her Halloween looks

Get this look by Angel for Halloween Makeup artist Angel Kanhai

al characters, just to name a few.

For this Halloween, Angel will be showcasing her art at “Makeup and Margaritas” event being held on October 29 at the newest Java Coffee Bar and Bistro location at 80 Duncan Street, Georgetown.

“I will be creating or recreating any makeup look or idea that my clients may have. Come for just a pretty touch up or transform into a bloody monster of gore. There will be live music, Halloween margarita specials and delicious Java Coffee Bar food,” she outlined.

Angel is now focused on hosting makeup classes for anyone who wants to pursue makeup professionally or just wants to learn for personal use.

Besides makeup, Angel is employed with a communication and technology firm, which she credits for helping her develop public speaking skills and other valuable attributes in aiding her to be a competent entrepreneur.

Her advice to youths is to “surround yourself with family and friends who love and support you

unconditionally and never forget to thank God all the way through”.

Her ultimate makeup tip?

Always “blend your eye shadow

Goth makeup

seamlessly”.

For more information on the makeup artist’s work, visit Angel Eyes on Facebook.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Another banquet of books tion that is well practiced and known in the African diaspora” while in Guyana it is there and it is practiced everywhere but it is still underground, and that “undergroundness” is part of the European colonization process which demonized the practice,resulting in its misrepresentation, its ambiguity, its gloomy picture and fear. This “undergroundness”becomes tangible in the novel, “Something buried in the yard”.

The title “Something buried in the yard” signifies this practice is hidden;

By Petamber Persaud

O

ctober 2016 could easily be labelled with the title ‘Book Month of the Year’. Within the space of three weeks, ten books would have surfaced in Guyana, already launched or to be launched at various social spaces around Georgetown.

In fact, October was such a busy month for Guyanese literature that two books were launched on the same day and time at two locations – and another five books are to be launched later in the month on the same date at two different locations.

“From Seedtime to Harvest”, an autobiography of Carmen Jarvis, was launched October 5. The book was aptly titled as Jarvis, who is now in her 90s, has served Guyana in various capacities with distinction as an educator and cultural enabler.

Also on October 5, the book “Guyana: Land of Beauty and Many Waters”, by Dr. Frederick Monderson, was launched.

This book is described as “one of the most stunning pieces of literary and creative photographic artistry to come out of Guyana in recent years…. In many ways, it is a tour de force exposition of significant aspects of the African-Guyanese historical and cultural experience, viz., “Pan-Africanism;” “African Spirituality;” “Righteousness;” “Slave Trade;” “The African Woman;” “March 6, 1957;”...”

Some of Monderson’s other publications include: “Temple of Karnak: The

“the book is asking you to find what is this thing that is buried in the yard”.

“Something buried in the yard” is an intriguing novel in many ways. It is a fictional work that experiments with the form of the novel using the art form of Komfa as its parameters, abandoning the linear structure of a narrative and the “form of a central protagonist”, while employing multiply (omniscient) voices of the ancestors as narrators. All of which were influenced by Wilson Harris’ suggestions to Caribbean writers to “reimagine our forms of expres-

Ric Couchman

Majestic Architecture of Ancient Kemet”; “Ladies in the House”; “Michael Jackson: The Last Dance: How Harlem Remembered Michael Jackson”.

One week later, three books by a single author were launched at Moray House.

Michelle Yaa Asantewa launched “Guyanese Komfa: The Ritual Art of Trance”; a novel, “Something Buried in the Yard”, and “Mama Lou Tales: A folkloric biography of a Guyanese Elder”. The first two books warrant attention in that both of them focus on Komfa. “Guyanese Komfa…”puts the cultural practice under the microscope while the novel shows its cultural values pertaining to its art form and how it could be used to produce literature.

The author, Dr. Asantewa, revealed that these publications came out of the need to “bring vitality and revival to a tradi-

Author Michelle Yaa Asantewa

Book cover of “Guyana: Land of Beauty and Many Waters”, by Dr. Frederick Monderson

Covers of two books by Dr Asantewa

sions to suit our sensibilities”.

However, the novel is basically following a Guyanese family wherein, very early on, one of their children died in spiritual circumstance believed to come about because they failed to keep up the African tradition of doing a drum work – drum “wok” – so they are force to do a ritual to appease the ancestors. It so happened that it fell on the shoulder of one of the children who now lives in UK, having turned her back on tradition, to do this “wok”, resulting in changed lives. The novel is set in 1992, “at a time of the election that ended the 28year rule of the African-led People’s National Congress, and which gained victory for the East Indian-led People’s Progressive Party”.

It would be useful to note that the abovementioned

three books were launched October 12, which is celebrated as African Holocaust Day (Maafa Day).

Other publications by Ansantewa include “Elijah”, a novel, and “The Awakening and other Poems”.

In another few days, five books are slated be launched: one on Frank Narine, and four books of poetry by a single author, Ric Couchman: “A Famine of Tears”; “A Blueprint for a Nihilism”; “Conflagration of Ouranos”, and “3:00 A. M.: More Musings from Outside the Universal”.

All of books mentioned will lend themselves, in one way or the other, to the shaping of Guyanese literature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

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ard work was necessary and the pioneer was prepared for this. Time and diligence (Tijd en Vlyt), diligence (Naarstigheid) Vigilance, constancy (Standvastigheid), little rest (Zelden Rust) were required, but he must Endeavour and Fear Not. In spite of everything (Malgre Tout) rest would come after work (Werken –Rust); labour and land were there (Hand en Veldt), the place was suitable (Bestandigheid), soon it would be like a Beehive.

Going ahead (Vilvoorden) and holding hard (Tenez Ferme) with Reliance he

again”;Remonecour appears to mean a lifting up of the heart and Phoenix a rising from ashes.

Care, trouble and sorrow were sure to come; possibly the name Mara commemorated a bitter experience.

Sorrow, with sorrow, more sorrows and with more and more sorrow or care (Zorg, Metzorg, Meerzorg, Met-enMeerzor) are pathetic utterances; one had a lesson in trouble (Leertzorg).

However, in spite of trouble, by diligence (Zorg en Vliet) he gained hope (Zorg en Hoop) and when successful, tempered pain with pleasure (Zorg en Lust).

a bare cupboard (Tout y Manque), a Hog Stye or a Broke Pot. Such a result is possibly indicated by John Trewern’s Folly. A place of beasts (Huis't Dieren) at first suggests something of the sort, but as it is the name of a place in Holland it probably means a good cattle farm.

Success rewarded Industry, even Good and Better Success; and in the end came benefit (Weldaad), Profit, Prosperity, Triumph, with Felicitie. After all the outcome or result (Uitkomst) was of the greatest importance.

Roadside on a British Guiana sugar plantation (No date) (Conclusion)

British historian James Rodway (1848 -1926) wrote regularly about the colony of British Guiana, from which today we are able to learn of many aspects of our early history. One such is

the story behind the names of the plantations of the day that have now become our towns, villages and neighbourhoods; many others which may also be lost to time and memory. Here is an edited excerpt of his es-

say entitled, “The Names of our Plantations”, published in the Timehri: the journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana (1911).

Labourers on a British Guiana sugar estate (No date)

General Post Office (now Guyana Post Office), British Guiana n.d.

Main Street looking north, British Guiana n.d.

would ultimately overcome (Overwinning); then he might cry Hurrah for strength (Vive la Force!). Of course health (Hygoea) was of great importance. The eye of the master is suggested by Keekhoven (spelt with Q).

In spite of Perseverance there would be vicissitudes (Wissel Valligheid), even a downfall that required restoration (Herstelling) and Retreeve. Everything was uncertain (L' Incertitude), but rest after unrest (Rust en Onrust) would perhaps ensue. A downfall is also suggested by Nog Eens, once more, “try

Nevermind! (Nooitgedacht); was not only the cry of the Dutchman but of the Irishman as well when he said in Gaelic nabocklish (Nabaclis); this is the only distinctly Irish name I can find.

Do not mourn!

(Treurniet); precaution or foresight (Voorzorg), Patience and Fortitude will win, and content (Vergenoegen) follow.

The man who was too Free and Easy,who wanted only pleasure (Lust tot Lust) would probably, especially if he treated his business as a pastime (Tijdverdrijf),end with an empty house and

From these few notes something may be gathered by which a peep into the thoughts of the early planter can be made. He had long and hard struggles with bush and swamp, but there is no name for despair, however painful the experience. A planter some eighty years ago said the white man was up to his eyes in mud and slush every day. Of the many he had known in those days only he was left…Sickness was rampant when the long line of coast was reclaimed from Courida swamp and savannah.

Uitvlugt sugar estate, British Guiana (No date)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 23, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Travel & Tourism

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dventurer, naturalist and angler, Navin L. Roopnarain is on a mission – to be the first Guyanese to catch ten 100lb freshwater fish species.

Navin owns and operates Adventure Guianas, a registered tour company based in Guyana that specializes in nature and adventure travel in addition to sport fishing (100 per cent catch and release), and Adventure Guianas Hotel Toucanna in Lethem, Rupununi.

“I have been travelling and working in the interior of Guyana for the past 15 years. I intend on becoming the first Guyanese to catch ten 100-lbs freshwater fish species. So far, I have caught and released four of the ten species: the Arapaima or Pirarucu, the largest scaled fresh water specie; Lau lau or Piraiba, the largest catfish in South America; Jau Catfish, and the Amazon Redtail Catfish, all of which grow over 100lbs.

These were all caught in the Upper Essequibo River. Now, my aim is to travel to India/Nepal for the Goonch Catfish; U.S. for the Alligator Gar; Asia for Siamese Carp; Italy for the Wells Catfish; Canada for the White Sturgeon; and Thailand for Giant Stingray to achieve this objective,” he outlined in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

An exciting catch – a Payara or Vampire/Dog Fish, which is a feature of the Amazon watershed, is found in rapids and fast flowing waters because of its high oxygen intake. A mature Payara has a pair of fully developed “bottom teeth” (fangs) lying in the jaw, ready to replace a broken tooth.

Jau Catfish

Lau lau or Piraiba, the largest catfish in South America

Navin (right) and his assistant displaying largest scaled freshwater specie, the Arapaima

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Understanding breast cancer

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reast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.

Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. A breast is made up of three main parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. The lobules are the glands that produce milk.

The ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipple. The connective tissue (which consists of fibrous and fatty tissue) surrounds and holds everything together. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules.

Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.

The most common kinds

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of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma, where the cancer cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body; and invasive lobular carcinoma, where cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

There are several other less common kinds of breast cancer, such as Paget’s disease, medullary, mucinous, and inflammatory breast cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a breast disease that may lead to breast cancer. The cancer cells are only in the lining of the ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.

Symptoms

Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all. A person may find out they have breast cancer after a routine mammogram.

Some warning signs of breast cancer include a new lump in the breast or underarm (armpit; a thickening or swelling of part of the breast; irritation or dimpling of breast skin; redness

reast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease.

All women need to be informed by their health care provider about the best screening options for them. When you are told about the benefits and risks and decide with your health care provider what screening test, if any, is right for you, this is called informed and shared decisionmaking.

Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.

Breast cancer screening tests include a mammogram: an X-ray of the breast.

Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer.

It also includes breast Magnetic

or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast, pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area; nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood; any change in the size or the shape of the breast; pain in any area of the breast.

Keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away.

No breast is typical.

What is normal for you may not be normal for another woman. Most women say their breasts feel lumpy or uneven. The way your breasts look and feel can be affected by getting your period, having children, losing or gaining weight, and taking certain medications.

Breasts also tend to change as you age.

Many conditions can cause lumps in the breast, including cancer. But most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions. The two most common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic breast condition and cysts. Fibrocystic condition causes noncancerous changes in the breast that can make them lumpy, tender, and sore. Cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that can develop in the breast.

Resonance Imaging (MRI). A breast MRI uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the breast. MRI is used along with mammograms to screen women who are at high risk for getting breast cancer.

Because breast MRIs may appear abnormal even when there is no cancer, it is not used for women at average risk.

At this time, the best way to find breast cancer is with a mammogram.

A clinical breast exam is an examination by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to feel for lumps or other changes.

Being familiar with how your breasts look and feel can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes in size that may be of concern. These could include changes found during a breast selfexam. You should report any changes that you notice to your doctor or health care provider.

Having a clinical breast exam or doing a breast self-exam has not been found to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer.

(CDC)

Risk factors

Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.

Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors that they know of. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors, but most women do not get breast cancer. If you have breast cancer risk factors, talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk and about screening for breast cancer.

Risk factors include: Getting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.

Genetic mutations.

Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Early menstrual period.

Women who start their periods before age 12 are exposed to hormones longer, raising the risk for breast cancer by a small amount.

Late or no pregnancy.

Having the first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.

Starting menopause after age 55. Like starting one’s period early, being exposed to oestrogen hormones for a longer time later in life also raises the risk of breast cancer.

Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Being overweight or obese after menopause.

Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast can-

cer than those at a normal weight.

Having dense breasts.

Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumours on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.

Using combination hormone therapy. Taking hormones to replace missing oestrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years raises the risk for breast cancer. The hormones that have been shown to increase risk are oestrogen and progestin when taken together.

Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills).

Certain forms of oral contraceptive pills have been found to raise breast cancer risk.

Personal history of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time.

Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Some non-cancerous breast diseases such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk.

Previous treatment using radiation therapy.

Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (like for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women in the United States between

1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage, have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them are also at risk.

Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Research suggests that other factors such as smoking, being exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer, and night shift working also may increase breast cancer risk.

Reducing risk

Many factors over the course of a lifetime can influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older or your family history, but you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health.

This means keeping a healthy weight, exercising regularly (at least four hours a week) and not drinking alcohol, or limiting alcoholic drinks to no more than one per day. Additionally, research shows that lack of night-time sleep can be a risk factor, as is exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer (carcinogens) and chemicals that interfere with the normal function of the body. That includes limiting exposure to radiation from medical imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans if not medically necessary.

If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you. Breastfeed any children you may have, if possible.

If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may be at high risk for getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer.

Talk to your doctor about more ways to lower your risk.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Fashion

Designer Colita Ishmile-Mohamed

D

esigner Colita I shm ile-Moha m ed is popular for her fashionable crochet pieces, which she creates by hand.

Colita’s fascination with crochet started at the age of 12 when she saw a woman selling crocheted baby items.

This motivated Colita to join a two-week training class, where the basics of crochet were taught. In 2003 she ventured off to high school and graduated in 2008.In 2012, Colita started creating crochet pieces, while pursuing studies in accounting and business management.

Through her label, CIM Exotic Designs, the talented designer offers an array of stylish crochet women clothing, bags and accessories, just to name a few.

Apart from designing, Colita is a wife and a mother of a two-year-old son.

She works fulltime as a senior accounts clerk at the Environmental Protection Agency. Much of her leisure time and late hours are spent designing beautiful crochet pieces.

Recently, Colita was a participant in the inaugural Curlfest Exhibition held in Guyana Oct. 9, 2016 at the Promenade Gardens. She is currently preparing for the Exquisitely Handmade Craft show at St. Stanislaus Gardens, Carifesta Ave, Georgetown on Nov. 26, 2016.

For more information on the designer, visit CIM Exotic Designs on Facebook.

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

R

onda Rousey is an American mixed martial artist, judoka, and actress. Rousey was the first U.S. woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo (Bronze), which she won at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She is the former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, as well as the last Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion. She won 12 consecutive MMA fights, six in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), before suffering her first and only loss to Holly Holm; she won 11 of those fights in the first round, nine of them by armbar submission. In 2015, she was the third most searched person on Google. As of March 2016, Rousey is ranked the #2 female bantamweight fighter in the world according to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and #3 by Sherdog. In May 2015, two magazines ranked Rousey as the most "dominant" active athlete. In September 2015, voters in an online ESPN poll selected Rousey as the Best Female Athlete Ever.Later that month, she claimed to be the UFC's highest paid fighter, male or female.Rousey's first feature film role was the 2014 film “The Expendables 3”. In 2015, she had roles in the films “Furious 7” and “Entourage”.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Hollywood

Shailene Woodley pleads not Princess Diana’s guilty in pipeline protest stepmother dies at 87

S

hailene Woodley pleads not guilty on October 19 after she was arrested in North Dakota earlier this month. The "Snowden" actress was a no show during the

hearing. Her lawyer entered the plea on her behalf.

Woodley was detained along with many others for live-streaming the protest against the pipeline construction built at the sacred Standing Rock Sioux land and burial grounds. She was charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass and one count of misdemeanor engaging in a riot.

Maggie Q, Mark Ruffalo and Woodley's "The Fault in Our Stars" co-star Ansel Elgort and author John Green tweeted their support, applauding her for her bravery.

Real-life whistleblower Edward Snowden also came to her defense, tweeting pictures of heavily-armed soldiers who arrested her.

"So @ShaileneWoodley joined the #DAPL protest to defend clean water. It was peaceful, yet police showed up looking like this.

Many arrests," he wrote. (AceShowbiz)

Rihanna supports Hillary Clinton in the best way ever

A

s the U.S. elections draw closer, celebrities are getting all the more vocal with their support. This includes Rihanna, whose t-shirt in support of Hillary Clinton may have just topped them all.

Rih just won at political fashion. The singer stepped out in a t-shirt emblazoned with the face of Hillary Clinton wearing a baseball cap. (Glamour)

R

aine Spencer, stepmother of Princess Diana, has died after a short illness, her family has announced. She was 87.

The death was confirmed by her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth and a Ukip MEP. “Raine, Countess Spencer, died peacefully at her home in London on 21st October, 2016, after a short illness,” the family said in a statement.

Countess Spencer was married to Diana’s father, Earl Spencer, from 1976 until his death in 1992. When she moved into the 16th-century family estate known as Althorp, she became stepmother to then 15-year-old Diana and her 12-year-old brother Charles.

It has been reported that Diana and her brother Charles did not always get along with their stepmother.

Her marriage to Earl

Spencer was the second of three marriages. Her first marriage to the Earl of Dartmouth lasted from 1948 to 1976 and they had four children.Following the death of Diana’s father, she wed Count Jean-Francois de Chambrun in 1993. The couple split three years later.

In a 2015 interview with the U.K. magazine, The Gentlewoman, Raine opened up about her relationship with her stepdaughter.

“Diana was a lovely person,” Raine said. “She had incredibly heavy pressures put upon her, but we ended up huge friends. She used to come and sit on my sofa and tell me her troubles. I’m very happy about that.

“I’m so glad that my poor John, who would have been devastated, died before she did. But what was lovely was that she thanked me at the end for looking after him.”(PEOPLE)

Kerry Washington welcomes bouncing baby boy

K

erry Washington and her husband have welcomed their second child, and it's a baby boy.

Kerry and Nnamdi Asomugha already have a daughter, Isabelle, and are keen to let the 2-year-old live her life out of the public eye.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kerry gushed: "I will say I

feel really, really blessed, I just feel really blessed that I'm kind of living extraordinary dreams come true in my work life and in my personal life."

During her pregnancy, a source said: "Nnamdi would love a boy this time around if it happens! They are so in love with their daughter and can't wait to expand the family." (Glamour)

Sunday Times Magazine 13 OCTOBER 23, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Bollywood

D

ubbed the Indian equivalent of One Direction, SANAM is a pop rock band based in Mumbai. The band, which rose to fame after composing renditions of Bollywood hit songs and uploading them to YouTube, consists of frontman Sanam Puri, Samar Puri on lead guitar and vocals, Venky S on bass guitar and Keshay Dhanrai on drums. SANAM’s YouTube channel, featuring both original and cover songs, boasts over 650,000 subscribers with millions of views. Humble about their fame, the boy band describes their sound as mix of contemporary pop rock with their distinct blend of Omani and Indian musicians. SANAM’s sound is refreshingly different, and this sets them apart from the rest in Indian Indie music scene. The band’s frontman,Sanam Puri, is also the voice behind Bollywood chart busters like “Dhat Teri Ki” And “Ishq Bulaava”. With a string of hits, the band’s original single “Main Hoon” was featured in the Indian release of Hollywood blockbuster, “The Amazing Spiderman 2”.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Bollywood

Hrithik proud Shahid Kapoor Nargis Fakhri: of Deepika for launches his ‘I grew up opening up about clothing line poor’ depression

A B

ollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who fronts a new campaign #EverydayHeroes, which celebrates real life people who have bravely spoken up, overcome prejudices and biases against mental illnesses and sought help, sad he is proud of Deepika Padukone who opened up about her struggle with depression de-

spite her celebrity status.

Hrithik also recently spoke about a phase when he dealt with depression. “I have never suffered clinical depression. But we all know what depression feels like, we all have been there or will experience it at some point in our life. There is no escaping the dark side of life.” (Hindustan Times)

A

fter launching his own clothing line, Bollywood heartthrob Shahid Kapoor is impressing movie buffs on social media with his pictures.

In his recent post, the 35-year-old actor was seen flaunting his rugged look with chiseled body and stylish stubble in a monochromatic picture.

On the work front, Shahid will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama “Padmavati” with Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. (Hindustan Times)

ctor Nargis Fakhri enjoys her work, but says she won’t let it “consume” her life. That explains the recent speculation about her quitting Bollywood for good to be with her family in New York, U.S.A. “For me, life isn’t about what it is for everyone else... like ‘oh career... I have to do this, I have to be married by a certain age’. It is about doing anything new that adds to my knowledge.

Work is only a piece in my life. It doesn’t consume my whole life. I want to take vacations, meet friends, and spend time with family and my mother,” says Nargis.

This realisation dawned on her when recently

someone told her that she wasn’t ambitious enough.

Talking about her priorities in life being different, Nargis says, “I am ambitious about life, about doing different things, meeting new people and being a positive person. My ambition is geared in a different direction so many people don’t understand it. It is not just limited to a professional sphere. Also because I grew up very poor. For me, where I am today, compared to where I came from, is my biggest achievement. I’m so proud of myself.”(Hindustan Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending NOW

I

Star of the week

Nails

n Guyana, Halloween has become a much-celebrated event. It is a time to have fun in showcasing ghoulish or playful costumes. The Halloween trend right now is spooky nail art. This week we feature some festive designs you might want to pair with your costume.

Mummy design

Matte nail design

M

'Bloody' fingerprints Spider web nails

Spooky nails featuring various monsters Skeleton and stripes

eleisa Defreitas is a 19-year-old who is passionate about effecting change in Guyana. She was born in the town of Linden, grew up in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and now resides on the West Coast. Presently, Meleisa is a second year student at the University of Guyana pursuing a degree in business management. Many know Meleisa because of her participation in the Miss Universe Guyana pageants in 2015 and 2016. Although she did not win the crowns, competing in the pageants helped Meleisa to become cognizant of her capabilities, and moulded her into the wellrounded individual she is today. She is also grateful for the lasting friendships she gained from the pageants. Now, the advocate’s main aim is to spread awareness on human trafficking and forced labour, which was her platform in the Miss Universe Guyana pageants. She said these troubling issues have been “swept under the carpetfor far too long”. The aspiring dermatologist is also focused on launching a skin and beauty care product line in the future, which is why she is developing her business management skills now. After completing studies in business management, Meleisa plans on pursuingstudies in dermatology. Her advice for women is to engage in activities that will build self-confidence and to always “walk like you love yourself, talk like you know your worth and dress like you own the world. It is only when you put value to yourself then people will see the value in you.” Meleisa’s philosophy is: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Art

F

rom an early age, Keith Agard was greatly influenced by his high school teacher, E.R. Burrowes, the Guyanese art pioneer. Agard’s love for art motivated him to become a notable Guyanese artist.

Agard lived most of his early years in Campbellville.

For him, living there was like a “haven of creativity, with open cow pastures, wide open spaces to run and play freely, and lots of opportunities for learning.”

“It was all about modern family life in an ancient village setting. All the fami-

each child,” he said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The artist attended St. Ambrose Anglican Primary School at the corner of Third and Light Streets in Albertown. Obliquely opposite the school, in Third Street, was the LCP Hall (League of Coloured People) where veteran artist Philip Moore had his art studio.

Many days on his way from school, Agard would go there to watch Moore work.

Agard was intrigued by the things he saw Moore created out of wood and with

he developed a more serious interest in art. Burrowes encouraged Agard and introduced him to “the real world of art, as far as both painting and sculpture are concerned.”

It was not until 1972, while Agard was working at the Ministry of Works in the architect’s drawing office, one of his sculptures was chosen for the Guyana exhibition at CARIFESTA ’72. That was when the artist finally decided to enter the College of Art in Jamaica, and thereafter began his career in art.

In 1973, Agard enrolled in the Jamaica School of Art

"The Middle Passage"- a mural by Agard at age 16

lies living there were like one big family. We all knew each other and related to each other, caring for each other just as the proverb teaches, as a requirement for raising

paints. However, it was not until Agard reached third or fourth form at Christ Church Secondary School, where Burrowes taught for a short period before his passing, that

and was privileged to have had the experience of working under the guidance of Edna Manley in her private studio, before graduating in 1977. Thereafter, Agard be-

gan a career in teaching, first at the School of Art in Guyana, aptly named after his friend and mentor, E.R. Burrowes. He later became principal of the school and lectured at the University of Guyana simultaneously.

Returning to Jamaica in 1983, he took up a position as lecturer at the Shortwood Teachers’ College, and then at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Agard is a graduate of the Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario. He is presently engaged as principal of the Institute of Arts and Culture, which he co-founded in 2007 with his wife, Dr Nolma Coley-Agard, in their resident community of Mandeville.

As a long standing member of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a valuecreating organization for the promotion of peace through education and culture, the artist is devoted to the path of spiritual re-awakening, in accordance with a philosophy which has its roots in the ancient teachings of the Lotus Sutra.

The historical, aesthetic and cultural context of our Caribbean, out of which Keith Agard as an artist attempts to create and express value, provide the inspiration for his passion to channel and seek harmony with cosmic intelligence, as well as his quest for total brotherhood among all people.

“My goal was always to become a teacher of art, but I discovered during the course of my studies that as a teacher of art it was also necessary to become a competent and proficient artist. But that was not all, as my horizons widened and my intellectual enquiries became more indepth, I became more convinced about the educative potential of art. All of life is about learning, and the best teacher is art. Being an artist means being a student of life. As a student of life one must learn to channel cosmic ideas for the benefit of society. It is the spiritual nature of art that concerns me most – the natural order and flow of the creative energy-forces that govern the underlying currents within all life in the universe. This is the real currency, the true treasure that determines and sustains the extent of our value and worth as living beings. This is what I consider to be the meaning of the art that I produce, regardless of how it may be described,” the artistrevealed.

His artistic endeavours and work in general, could therefore be seen as a testimony of his deep commitment to this pursuit, and also as a contribution to the development of the wellbeing, peace, prosperity and happiness of all people; to the whole of Caribbean society.

Artist Keith Agard with one of his pieces

Portrait of one of the artist's sisters, Dr Joy Mighty

"Celebration of our Temahrian Kingdom of Love, Peace & Happiness"

"Seal of the Noble Temahri"a sculpture

by Agard

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

I

n a federal lawsuit filed this week, Apple asserted that nearly all the iPhones, chargers and cables it surreptitiously purchased from online retailer Amazon were fakes.

“As part of its ongoing brand protection efforts, [Apple] has purchased well over 100 iPhone devices, Apple power products, and Lightning cables sold as genuine by sellers on Amazon.com and delivered through Amazon's 'Fulfilment

by Amazon' program,” Apple's complaint said of a nine-month operation.

"Apple's internal examination and testing for these products revealed almost 90 per

Tech news

P

cent of these products are counterfeit.”

Although Apple did not target Amazon in the lawsuit -- instead, Apple sued Mobile Star, a New Yorkbased former supplier to Amazon -- the retailer came off poorly in the complaint.

Monday's lawsuit took aim at Mobile Star because, after buying a dozen iPhone chargers and cables from Amazon, the etailer told Apple the products had been supplied by

FBI arrests Russian hacker allegedly involved in hacking millions of LinkedIn accounts

olice in the Czech Republic have arrested a Russian hacker for his suspected involvement in a massive 2012 cyber-attack against LinkedIn. LinkedIn had been working with the FBI to track down the individuals responsible for the data breach, which exposed hashed passwords from some 112 million user accounts that were later offered for sale on the "dark web."

LinkedIn initially acknowledged the security breach four years ago, though at the time it didn't say how many people were affected by it. Then this past May, a hacker was found attempting to sell LinkedIn account credentials belonging to 117 million users for 5 bitcoins. Those were the accounts that were compromised back in 2012.

"We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of the FBI in its efforts to locate and capture the parties believed to be responsible for this criminal activity," LinkedIn said in a statement.

With LinkedIn's help, the FBI was able to track down and locate the 27-year-old

suspect who so far has only been identified as Yevgeniy N. He was arrested earlier this month at a restaurant inside a Prague hotel. He's said to have collapsed during the arrest and was rushed to a hospital in the vicinity, though it's not clear what ailment, if any, was discovered.

While the arrest brings the matter one step closer to justice, the Russian government said it will try to block the extradition.

"We don’t accept U.S. policy of imposing its extraterritorial jurisdiction on all countries," Alexei Vladimirovich Kolmakov, a spokesman with the Russian Embassy in Prague, told ABC News. "We insist that the detained Russian citizen is transferred to Russia."

The arrest and subsequent statement came just days after U.S. officials publicly pointed the finger at the Russian government for hacking potentially damaging emails to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, which were released by WikiLeaks.

Tech BYTE

T

Mobile Star.

All 12 of the power-related iPhone products had been advertised by Amazon as genuine Apple gear -- often accompanied by product images copyrighted by Apple -- which sometimes came in packaging that mimicked Apple's or sported bogus Apple serial numbers. But each product purchased was counterfeit.

Apple's complaint went beyond damage to its brand or loss of revenue; instead, it steered toward safety.

Apple said letters sent to Mobile Star in June initially went unanswered, but when the vendor did respond, it claimed it had bought the goods from "reputable suppliers," then refused to divulge any additional information.

The lawsuit asked the federal court to stop Mobile Star and a host of "John Does" from distributing any more fake Apple products, and award Apple up to $2 million per counterfeit mark. (Computerworld)

Toyota begins commercial sales of mini robot

oyota has launched its almost USD $400 Kirobo Mini robot companion in Japan. The 4-inch (10 cm) talking robot called Kirobo Mini, will be sold in Japan from 2017 for ¥39,800 (USD $392).

Toyota claims the robot has the intelligence of a five-year-old and can learn phrases and recognise facial expressions.

The palm-sized robot, with big eyes and red shoes, is small enough to be carried around. It comes equipped with a camera, microphone and Bluetooth, and connects to a smartphone, which needs to be installed with a special software application.

It turns its head toward a voice, although sometimes that function fails as its voice recognition is far from perfect.

Fuminori Kataoka, general manager in charge of the project, said Kirobo did not have the level of comprehension that could be defined as artificial intelligence, and was mainly intended for emotional connection.

Its name “Kirobo” comes from Japanese kibo for “hope”, and English “robot”.

A similar Kirobo was in the news back in 2015 as a robot astronaut that acted as a friend for lonely astronauts in space.

It was since honoured with two Guinness World Record titles for First Companion Robot in Space, and Highest altitude for a robot to have a conversation,

Toyota’s Kirobo Mini

following an 18-month stay on-board the International Space Station.

That 34cm-tall robot astronaut was developed as part of a five-year, joint research project carried out in collaboration with advertising agency Denstu, the University of Tokyo’s Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology, Robo Garage, Toyota Motor Corporation, and JAXA the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

One of the main aims of the project was to test if a robot could provide psychological support to a human subject experiencing severe loneliness – such as an astronaut during an extended stay in space – by acting as their conversational partner.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Crispy Masala Peanuts (Gujarati Sing Bhujia)

Diwali 2016

Decorate your home with traditional brass

B

rass has traditionally been used in India. After gold, the godly images are usually made in silver, bronze and brass. According to the Times of India, brass has come into its own as the metal of the moment, with its usage expanding to other items and accessories.

According to “Hindu Traditions and Beliefs: A Scientific Validity” by Bhojraj Dwivedi, before the advent of steel utensils, brass utensils were commonly used (polished or coated with nickel to avoid poisoning the food) because it is believed that it

has properties to kill germs, so food cooked in brass utensils keep the body free of germs.

In addition, it is a common belief that offering water to the sun (surya arghya) at sunrise washes out one’s sins and it is best if a brass jar ( lota) is used since one can then “see [the] seven coloured spectrum better and clear on its convex edge”, which is also believed to improve eyesight.

This Diwali season, polish your old antiques, or bring home new ones to add a sparkle to your celebrations.

Serve savoury seasonal foods in brass trays on a tabletop decorated with brass accents

Ingredients 1 cup peanuts 2 tbsps. gram flour (chickpea flour) 1 tbsp. rice flour 1/2 tsp. red chili powder 1/2 coriander powder

Method Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl using a little water.Remember add little water and make sure the spices and flour stick to the peanuts uniformly.

Heat the oil in a kadai/wok on medium heat. Fry the peanuts until they turn golden brown.

2 pinches masala (or chaat masala) 1/4 cup water 2 pinches black pepper powder 1 teaspoon oil Salt to taste Oil to fry

When they are done, take them out from the oil and place them on an absorbent paper.At this time these are not very crispy but after cooling to room temperature, the peanuts should be crispy.

Sprinkle some (chaat) masala with dry mint and serve. You can also serve it as a snack with your drinks for house parties.

Serves 3

Sweet Indian doughnut (Badusha/Balushahi)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 cup ghee 1/4 cup chilled yogurt oil for deep frying

Display a collection of brass lamps and lamp holders for positive energy. If you have children, guests or indoor pets, fill with colourful petals instead for safety

Ingredients for garnish 1/4 cup of roughly chopped pistachios Ingredients for sugar syrup 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1 teaspoon of cardamom powder

Method

Like lamps, lanterns embody the season of light. Decorate alongside antique brass kundas with single stem flowers

In a large bowl add in the flour, the salt and a ¼ tsp. of soda. Stir to combine the dry ingredients.

Next add in the ghee to the flour mixture. Using your fingers combine the flour and ghee to make coarse crumbs. Its takes a good one minute to get this texture. Once you get the coarse crumbs texture, add in the yogurt. knead just enough until all the ingredients come together.

Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes After 30 minutes of resting the dough divide the dough into equal portions of a large lemon size, making a dent in the centre with the thumb. Take care not to press too much while shaping them as this can cause cracks in them.

Cover the dough portions with a wet cloth and allow them to rest for another 15 minutes.

Next, preheat the oil for deep frying. Start adding a few balls at a time into the oil and fry them on medium heat. The medium heat helps the balushahis to cook evenly from the inside.

Once you notice that the dough balls come floating up to the surface flip over and fry until the bottom half is darker golden brown. Remember it is important to fry them on medium heat and not high heat so it gets evenly cooked from the inside.

Once both sides are browned well, drain and continue the same with the remaining dough portions and keep them aside.

For the sugar syrup In a sauce pan add in 1/4 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar and a teaspoon of cardamom powder. With heat on medium, stir the mixture well until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, add in the cardamom powder, turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer until you get a single thread consistency – when you touch the sugar syrup between your fingers, you will find it sticky. And when the syrup drips from the spoon it will look a longer drop.

Now dip each of the fried doughs one at a time in the sugar syrup until it gets coated all around and arrange then on a platter.

Continue the same with the remaining fried dough.

Garnish the balushahis (badusha) with pistachios and allow them to rest until the sugar hardens.

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

Diet, exercise and your child

A

Part IV

JOKES

M

Big win

ick, from Dublin, appeared on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and towards the end of the program, he had already won 500,000 euros.

"You've done very well so far," said Chris Tarrant, the show's presenter, "but for a million euros you've only got one life-line left, phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question. Will you go for it?"

"Sure," said Mick. "I'll have a go!"

"Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest? a) Sparrow b) Thrush c) Magpie d) Cuckoo" "I haven't got a clue." said Mick, ''So I'll use last lifeline and phone my friend Paddy back home in Dublin."

Mick called up his mate, and told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.

"Dat's simple,” cried Paddy “it's a cuckoo.”

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Mick hung up the phone and told Chris, "I'll go with cuckoo as my answer."

"Is that your final answer?" asked Chris.

"Dat it is."

There was a long, long pause and then the presenter screamed, "Cuckoo is the correct answer! Mick, you've won 1 million euros!"

The next night, Mick went round to Paddy's to buy him a drink. "Tell me, Paddy? How in Heaven's name did you know it was da Cuckoo that doesn't build its own nest?"

"Because he lives in a clock!"

T

s parents and caregivers, you are critical to establishing the necessary and lifelong habits of healthy eating and exercise in children.

Change their diet: Use healthy, wholesome foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy) that are nutrient-dense when cooking family meals or preparing snacks. Limit consumption of empty calories in the form of sugary, processed, and fast foods.

Use ‘Go, Slow, Whoa’ as a guide: Go foods — low in fat, sugar and calories and nutrient-dense, e.g., fruits and vegetables. Great to eat anytime.

Slow foods — higher in fat, added sugar and calories, e.g., white bread, pancakes, fruit canned in syrup.

Should be eaten less often.

Whoa foods — very high in fat, added sugar and calories while low in nutrients, e.g., candy, soda, French fries. Eat once in a while in small por-

kids — children who dine at regular family mealtimes get better nutrition, perform better in school and bond better with their families. Change their media diet — limit TV time to one to two hours of quality programming per day, monitor internet use and make sure they avoid snacking during TV time. (TO BE CONTINUED)

STORY TIME

The greedy crow

O

nce upon a time there was a fine pigeon who used to live on a nest close to a kitchen. The cooks of the kitchen used to like her very much and often used to feed her grain. She liked the place and her life was fine.

One day a crow saw the pigeon and saw how it was getting wonderful food from the kitchen. Then one day she made friends with the pigeon, and under the pretext of friendship, she somehow made the pigeon

Tax audit for a gambling grandpa

he IRS decides to audit grandpa, and summons him to the IRS office. The auditor was not surprised when grandpa showed up with his attorney.

The auditor said, "Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I'm not sure the IRS finds that believable."

"I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it," says grandpa.

"How about a demonstration?"

The auditor thinks for a moment and said, "Okay. Go ahead."

Grandpa says, "I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye."

The auditor thinks a moment and says, "It's a bet."

Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditor's jaw drops.

Grandpa says, "Now, I'll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye."

Now the auditor can tell grandpa isn't blind, so he takes the bet. Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye.

The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with grandpa's attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous.

"Want to go double or nothing?" Grandpa asks. "I'll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between."

The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there's no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again.

Grandpa stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can't make the stream reach the wastebasket on the other side, so he ends up urinating all over the auditor's desk.

The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. But grandpa's own attorney moans and puts his head in his hands.

"Are you okay?" the auditor asks.

"Not really," says the attorney. "This morning, when grandpa told me he'd been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here and pee all over your desk and that you'd be happy about it!"

tions.

Make sure that calorie intake and portion sizes are matched to your child’s age and activity level.

Find ways to make over family favourites by using healthier ingredients (e.g., more veggies, less fat) or healthier methods of cooking (e.g., grilling or baking instead of frying).

Connect kids to their food by continually introducing them to new types of healthy food and allowing them to participate in food shopping and preparation so that they can understand what goes into their meals and maintain healthy cooking habits as they grow up.

Protect the time you eat with your

share the nest with the crow.

The pigeon then told her that they could spend time together discussing politics, religion etc. but when it came to food, both had their own ways.

So she suggested the crow search for her own food.

But the crow was impatient and the very reason she had made friends with the pigeon was for the food. The crow wanted meat and all the pigeon got was grains from the kitchen.

She could not wait any longer and ultimately decided that she visit the kitchen directly for the food.

Thinking so, it stealthily crept down the chimney into the kitchen. She got the smell of a fish being curried on the pan.

She got greedy and went ahead and tried to get the fish.

But in the process she disturbed a ladle, and created a noise. This alerted the cook who was in the neighbouring room and he caught hold of the crow and killed it.

Moral of the story: Greed numbs intelligence.

By Grammar G.

Life is what we make it Life is a jest; Take the delight of it.

Laughter is best; Sing through the night of it.

Swiftly the tear And the hurt and the ache of it Find us down here; Life must be what we make of it.

Life is a song; Dance to the thrill of it.

Grief's hours are long, And cold is the chill of it.

Joy is man's need; Let us smile for the sake of it.

This be our creed: Life must be what we make of it.

Life is a soul; The virtue and vice of it, Strife for a goal, And man's strength is the price of it.

Your life and mine, The bare bread and the cake of it End in this line: Life must be what we make of it.

--- Edgar A. Guest

Delete the deletions D

eletions are, quite simply, a word created by the deletion of a letter. Deletions are commonly utilised in crosswords, gleaned from the crossword

clues.

There are three basic categories of deletion clues: Beheadings; Curtailments and Internal deletions.

Beheadings occur when the first letter (usually of a word or words in a clue) is taken off or removed: “Pirate after losing his head is angry” (5) gives irate, after the first letter in “pirate” is removed. (the pirate loses his “head letter”, which is ‘P’).

Another example (seemingly pirate -themed): “Beheading being switched for gallows execution” (7) leads to “being switched” becoming “changing” and the beheading of “changing” leaves hanging (or gallows execution).

Curtailments involve the deletion of the last letter of a word. For example, “Fiery bird without a tail” (7) gives flaming (“fiery”) is flamingo (“bird”) without the last letter (“o”), or “tail”.

Internal deletions mean exactly what it says – an interior letter is deleted to find the answer, and a word or phrase becomes another when the interior letter is removed. I.e. “simile” becomes “smile” when the internal “i” is taken out.

Another example is: “Dolt missing third period” (3), which gives the answer dot (“period” another word for dot and “missing third” meaning delete the third letter, which here is “l”).

20 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Sunday Puzzle

If you throw me from the window, I will leave a grieving wife.

Bring me back, but in the door, and You'll see someone giving life!

What am I? see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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OCTOBER 23, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE The Bosporus Strait is just over 2 miles across at its widest point, and about 32km (20 miles) in length

T

he Glasswinged butterfly (Greta oto) earned its name from its 2.2 to 2.4-inch transparent wings.

The tissue between its veins lacks the coloured scales found in other butterflies, giving it its glass-like look.

Adult glasswings migrate great distances, and while they can be found mostly from Central to South America – most abundantly in Mexico, Panama and Columbia – they are also found as far south as Chile and as far north as Florida.

They feed on common plants like Lantana, a shrub with aromatic flowers, and lay their eggs on plants of the nightshade family, which contain alkaloid compounds toxic to humans.

Both adult and caterpillar glasswings are able to store these alkaloid compounds in their body fluids, which are upsetting to birds, making the caterpillars and butterflies unattractive prey.

It’s called mariposa de cristal in Spanish, which means "crystal butterfly".

A

strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.

This waterway is usually navigable and historically plays an important role in commerce and political control of shipping routes.

It may be formed by a fracture in an isthmus, often caused by Tectonic shifts.

The Strait of Gibraltar, the only link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, was formed by Tectonic shift, although this strait is now actually closing, as the African tectonic plate slides

north. It may soon return to being an isthmus.

If fractures in an isthmus are created by human activity, the straits are usually called canals – such as the manmade Suez and Panama canals.

A strait can also be formed by a body of water overflowing land that has subsided or has been eroded. According to the National Geographic, The Bosporus Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, via the Sea of Marmara, was formed this way.

Colouring Fun

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

digits 1 through 9.

Dot to Dot

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

Masking tape U.S. Postal Service honours festival saves endangered of Diwali with ‘Forever’ stamp unborn bird

T

A

The badly damaged egg pictured hatching

baby kiwi was saved after an ingenious nature park worker patched its broken egg shell with masking tape. The egg was found in bad shapeby a Department of Conservation worker, who took it to Claire Travers at the Rainbow Springs Nature Park in New Zealand.

Ms Travers told Newshub: “The shell was broken through to the egg's internal membrane, splitting it so the membrane had collapsed on top of the chick, which is very dangerous.”

There are five recognised species of Kiwi birds, two of which are currently classed

as 'vulnerable', one is endangered and one is critically endangered.

Despite the trauma, the chick eventually hatched.

“Low tech saves the day this little guy had a damaged shell, so we patched it up with a piece of shell from another egg and a bit of masking tape! So pleased it was successful and now we have a very wriggly, fluffy kiwi”, the nature reserve posted on Facebook.

Last year the New Zealand government set aside millions of dollars to save the famous native bird, which has seen a steep decline in population.

Brain Teaser Answer The letter 'n'. wiNdow - widow door - doNor

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

he U.S. Postal Service has commemorated the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali with a Forever stamp. The Wednesday, Oct 5, first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony took place at the Consulate General of India, in New York.

The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional Diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background.

Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT, photographed the Diya. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp and William J. Gicker of Washington, DC, service as the project’s art director.

Following recent reports of the stamp being discontinued however, the USPS has reassured that

it has no plans to do so.

“The Postal Service is excited about celebrating the festival of Diwali on a Forever stamp and has no plans to remove them from sale,” Mark Saunders of the corporate communications division of USPS headquarters, told Indian American Times.

Ranju Batra, an Indian American, spearheaded the Diwali Stamp Project for years.

USPS vice president of mail entry and payment technology Pritha Mehra had said, “We hope these stamps will light up millions of cards and letters as they make their journey through the mailstream.”

Indian Americans first began working for a Diwali stamp 16 years ago, according to MR Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has been involved in the project.

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Fun Times

Archie

ARIES Helping others will put (March 21- you in an interesting position.

April 19) The people you encounter will offer information that will help you improve your life personally and financially.

Offering help will encourTAURUS age favors in return. Your (April 20- hands-on approach will be May 20) welcome, but don't do all the work yourself. Playing the role of a mentor or teacher will have great benefits.

Make plans with a friend, GEMINI loved one or relatives. Getting (May 21- together with allies will give you June 20) an opportunity to sound out your ideas and receive constructive responses.

Stay in the background if CANCER you disagree with what some(June 21- one is saying. It won't be July 22) worth the effort to fight over something you cannot control.

Focus on self-improvement, not on changing others.

Emotions will surface.

LEO Be sure to channel this en(July 23ergy into passion and advenAug. 22) ture and fun times with loved ones. A getaway will do you good.

Dilbert

Ask for help before sucVIRGO (Aug. 23- cumbing to someone trying to Sept. 22) take advantage of you. Know when to say no and whom to call when in need.

You need to improve your LIBRA personal and professional lives.

(Sept. 23- Think about your skills and foOct. 23) cus on mastering them. Strive to think outside of the box.

Own your destiny by preparing for it.

Peanuts

Be careful what you share SCORPIO and with whom. Emotions (Oct. 24- will escalate if you end up in a Nov. 22) compromising position. Stick close to home, and work on personal achievements. Don't fear being unique.

SAGITTARIUS Step into the spotlight and (Nov. 23share your views. It will bring Dec. 21) about a debate that will help you move on to better things, leaving old problems behind.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take note of what everyCAPRICORN one around you is doing, and (Dec. 22- choose not to follow the leader Jan. 19) or get entangled in a situation that is full of melodrama. Opt to do something you enjoy.

Travel or educational purAQUARIUS suits will pay off. Don't wait (Jan. 20for someone to tell you what Feb. 19) you can or cannot do. Make up your mind and follow through with your plans. Show a little backbone.

PISCES Do whatever needs to be (Feb. 20- done without trepidation.

Mar. 20) Relying on someone else to do things for you will result in disappointment. Don't second-guess your decisions or doubt your abilities.