Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

Sunday July 12, 2015

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The Ituni Masonic Page 7 Building Hope Canal

A feat of Guyanese engineering Page 3

2 Times Sunday Magazine

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Feature

The breadfruit tree

B

readfruit is a wellknown edible fruit in Guyana that provides a variety of uses.The breadfruit tree is an almost ubiquitous sight in Guyana. It originated in the South Pacific and spread throughout Oceania as hu-

mans settled the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a member of the Moraceae (fig) family. Its wild ancestor Artocarpus camansi (breadnut) naturally occurs in New Guinea, the

Moluccas (Indonesia), and,it is believed, the Philippines.

Breadfruit is also known by a variety of names around the world, including árbol de pan, fruta de pan, pan or panapen in Spanish; arbre à pain, fruit à pain in French; broodvrucht, broodboom in Dutch; cow, panbwa, pain

introduced to Martinique and Cayenne via Mauritius, which took to the region easily.

These varieties were then spread throughout the Caribbean and to Central and South America, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, the

Breadfruit Recipe Breadfruit Stew 1 lb. lean pork, cubed 1 lb. beef stew meat, cubed ½-cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper 1 lb. smoked ham, cubed ¼ cup garlic, minced 1 medium onion, diced ½ cup parsley, chopped 1 tbsp. cumin

1 tsp. oregano leaves, crushed 1 tsp. ground black pepper 8 oz. can tomato sauce 5 cups water 1 small mature breadfruit, cubed Salt to taste Cooking oil

Method Coat pork and beef with seasoned flour. In a large heated saucepot, add oil and brown the pork and beef. Add the ham and stir all the meats together.

Add garlic, onion, parsley, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt and tomato sauce. Simmer for 1015 minutes.

Add water, bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is tender. Add breadfruit and cook for approximately 45 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. (2007 Kahanu Garden Breadfruit Cookoff 1st Place Winner)

The breadfruit

bois, frutapan and fruta de pan in the Caribbean; fruta pao, pao de massa in Portuguese, and kapiak in Papua New Guinea A few seedless varieties from Polynesia were introduced to the Caribbean in the late 1700s by British and French explorers.

These seedless varietieswere introduced to Jamaica and St. Vincent from Tahiti, and a Tongan variety was

Maldives, the Seychelles, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, northern Australia, and south Florida.

During slavery,Caribbean plantation owners often fed their slaves with breadfruit, since it was abundant, cheap and nutritious.

Requiring little attention or care, many small home and farm gardens in Guyana grew one or more breadfruit trees as a sub-

sistence crop. Others homes may no longer depend on the tree but still keep it in their yards for the occasional breadfruit recipe, shade or for its pleasing appearance.

Breadfruit has a high starch content and is used as a vegetable when mature. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy, with low levels of protein and fat and a moderate glycaemic index. It is a good source of dietary fibre, potassium,

The common coconut

T

he coconut is described as the 'Tree of Heaven' because almost every part of the crop, from the roots, to the bark, to the fruit, has been of some economic value to locals long before the Europeans ever knew about the tree.

Also called "the tree which provides all the necessities of life" in India, and "the tree of a thousand uses" in Malay, the coconut’s

flowers, husk, shell, water, milk, leaves, sap, bud, and the white, fleshy part of the seedthe coconut ‘meat’, are all used up by the inhabitants of the tropics.

Almost everywhere you look in Guyana and the Caribbean you must see a coconut tree. Once there is a yard or an open field, there will be at least one coconut tree standing.

But very few, if any, consider where the coconut came from, taking it for granted that it is ‘native’ to the Caribbean and Guyana.

The actual origin of the coconut is still uncertain, with the term “Botanical Romance” being used derisively in 1910 to describe some claims of the origin of this ordinary fruit.

Some authorities suggest South Asia while others claim that it originated in the part of Gondwanaland that is now South America. Some insist it was carried while others insist on the possibility of dispersal by ocean currents.

Fossil records suggest that New Zealand and parts of India bore

similar ‘coconut-like’ but smaller plants more than 10 million years ago.

According to some scientists, when Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World he did not find coconuts, and the Portuguese travelled the length of Africa to the Cape of Storms (Cape of Good Hope) without finding any. Vasco da Gama had to reach the Indian Ocean in 1498 before "coquos" were recognised.

It was during the age of exploration, or the “Nautical period” that the coconut gained popularity for its numerous beneficial uses to the European seafaring explorers -from providing uncontaminated drinking water

calcium, and magnesium, with small amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and iron. Some varieties contain small amounts of folic acid.

Breadfruit can be used to create many dishes as a main dish, appetizer, dessert, soup or salad.Its milky sap is also used as boat caulking, glue or in other construction materials; breadfruit can also be used in animal feed, insect repellent, fabric and medicine to name a few of its uses.

Tahiti - "After walking under a burning sun, I do not know anything more delicious than the milk of a young cocoanut." Darwin, C. (1839) Voyage of the Beagle. to caulking leaks (ensuring its worldwide distribution and confusing those who ask the "did it float or was it carried?"question).

A letter written in 1836 noted that the coconut was seen as invaluable for extensive cultivation in the African and West Indian colonies, especially for the coconut oil, which burned “smoke-free.”

In 1853, A.R. Wallace, British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist, would write about the coconut palm in the Amazon region, "It is in a foreign land.

It flourishes . . . but no part of it is applied to any useful purpose, the fruit only being consumed as an occasional luxury. In the towns and larger villages where the Portuguese have settled it has been planted, but among the Indians of the interior it is still quite unknown.”

According to one historical account, in 1869 “The King coconut was introduced to Jamaica from Ceylon (via Kew Gardens).

It cannot now be traced.” But it is reported that in 1962 “Brazil had ten million dwarf King Coconut palms, all of which were the offspring since 1942 of two palms that had survived importation from Ceylon in 1925.”

Another account claims that foreign coconut varieties were introduced to the British West Indies in 1921 and 1923.

So the next time you stop at the coconut vendor and ask for coconut water, remember the history of the common coconut.

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Feature

Hope Canal

A

fter much controversy, missed deadlines and delays, the Northern Relief Channel at Hope, or the Hope Canal as it is more commonly known, received its “baptism of water” on June 13, 2015 when, after a period of sustained heavy rainfall, a decision was taken to release water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) via the Northern Relief Channel.

And so began the first official test release of water via the northern relief channel of the Hope-Dochfour outfall.

By the following day, Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth reported the test release a success.

After record levels of rain fell within a 24-hour period, the level of EDWC was considered dangerously high, threatening the structural integrity of the EDWC dam walls.

The agriculture ministry had reported earlier that the water level in the EDWC was 58.25 Georgetown Datum (GD) at Flagstaff, 57.70 GD at Lama, and 54.85 GD at Land of Canaan, which were above the full supply level of 57.50 GD. The height of the conservancy dam is 59 GD. The release of water began at 06:00h, facilitated by workers cutting the embankment to have water flow into the Northern Relief Channel.

According to Wordsworth, this cut near the head regulator was widened at 12:00h to enable a greater flow from the Conservancy into the Hope outfall.

Water was released into the Atlantic Ocean via the eight-door sluice, one of the components of the Hope Canal Project. Water was also released from the EDWC into the Demerara River via the Land of Canaan, Kofi and Cunha relief channels.

However, the Hope Canal was a project that throughout its planning and construction faced bitter opposition and dispute from both politicians and sections of civil society, especially for what was considered its extraordinary expense. It was

tended to the end of August, and then once again extended to December 31, 2013.The deadline was later revised to June 2014.

In March 2015, then agriculture minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy announced that the Hope Canal Project, East Demerara Water Conservancy Northern Relief Channel was to be commissioned late April but meanwhile, the conservancy was ready for immediate use if the need arose.

According to Ramsammy, it was significant that along with consultants, several of the engineers involved in the massive and unique project were young Guyanese engi-

neers, including female engineers, within the ministry.

Showing confidence in Guyanese youth, the minister at the time noted it was part of the ministry’s objective to, “build the capacity for our own engineers so in the future when we do these (projects) we don’t spend a lot of money for expensive consultants.”

At the announcement of its commissioning, Ramsammy noted, “We will always have to re-engineer the dam as time goes by but the majority functioning aspect of the project is completed.” (Cover photo: Discharging water at night June 17, 2015)

Diagram showing the new Hope-Dochfour Relief Canal, the EDWC, and sluice locations (Photo from Managing Flood Risk in Guyana The Conservancy Adaptation Project 2008-2013)

also considered not the best solution for the country’s ever-present flood woes.

Current education minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, formerly opposition shadow minister for agriculture,was reported as saying the project was “an extravagance from the beginning” and that it “was not a project that we [APNU/AFC] believed was at all necessary.”

Nevertheless, the previous PPP/C government embarked on the US$15M (GYD $3.6 billion) Hope Canal, believing that the undertaking, though a major one, would be the answer to the flooding experienced in the Mahaica/ Mahaicony Abary areas during the annual rainy periods.

Following the 2005 floods and in 2008 excessive rainfall resulting in Regions Four and Five experiencing massive floods, then Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, through the NDIA, commenced exploration of the Northern Relief Channel to address the situation.

The NDIA was mandated to establish a plan to undertake the necessary hydrological studies and an Environmental Management Plan.

C E M C O / S R K N Engineering, in association with Mott Mc Donald, was given the consultancy proj-

The cut made near the head regulator of the Hope Canal Project during the test release of water from the EDWC in June

ect to the value of $64 million for a 14-month period.

The contract for the construction of the Hope Canal Project was awarded toCourtney Benn Contracting Services, DIPCON Engineering Service Limited and BK International.

Courtney Benn Contracting Services was tasked with constructing the eight-door sluice, while BK International was assigned with the construction of the three-gated head regulator.

DIPCON was awarded the contract of the $349 million overhead bridge, which the agriculture ministry commissioned Feb.15, 2014.

The ministry also took the responsibility of the excavation of the 10.3 kilometre long earthen channel.

The construction of the 10.3 km long by 30m bed width canal began after several months of discussions and planning with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority leading the project.

Construction on the project began in February 2011 with an estimated 18 months for completion. The deadline for the project was initially set for June 2013, but was subsequently ex-

Residents of Hope and the first set of vehicles take the inaugural trip over the Hope Canal Bridge on Feb.15, 2014

The eight-door sluice at the Hope canal during construction

4

Times Sunday Magazine

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Feature

T

he blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) is a very common small bird in Central and South America, and is a popular resident in gardens in Georgetown.

Adult blue-black grassquits are 10.2 cm (4.0 in) long and weigh 9.3 g (0.33 oz.): the male is glossy blue-black, with a black tail and wings, while the female and fledglings have brown upperparts and dark-streaked buff underparts. The male has the peculiar characteristic of giving a jumping display, often performed for long periods, and a persistent wheezing call.

The photographs here (taken in a Greater Georgetown coastal community in 2007) illustrate the growth of a couple of blue-black grassquits over approximatelythree weeks, from two small eggs with blotches of reddish brown in a small cup nest.

Within about 10 days the eggs become two tiny dark brown lumps of skin (no feathers) with large puffed “skin-pads” in place of eyes (the eyes are still closed) with mouths almost always wide open waiting to receive food from mom or dad.

Within a further few days, feathers

began to appear and their growth quickened, until the tiny home becomes crowded. After about another 10 days from being “naked” baby birds (not certain when they actually hatched) they were ready to leave the nest with their feathers in place.

The penultimate photo of the 20-day mission of recording new life is a fair portrait of the second blue-black grassquit fledging about to leave the safety of his/ her first home (not sure when the first one left).

Later the same day the adult male blue-black grassquit was observed with

2007-06-25 (7.35 am) Incubation period - mother bird with eggs

2007-07-01 (11.32 am) The baby birds are always hungry

2007-07-09 (12.34 pm) Getting stronger and now standing for feed

one of the fledglings, the latter calling for dinner as usual. (Photo Essay: A Bird’s Life Begins by Lennox J Hernandez) Birding, or birdwatching, is a worldwide activity for professionals and amateurs, and several of Guyana’s tourism agencies have focussed on this avenue to boost tourism in the country. Popular areas in Guyana for birdwatching include Georgetown, Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama, the Rupununi and other Essequibo and coastal areas. (Cover photo: Male grassquit and a fledgling)

2007-06-21 (7.53 am) Eggs in nest

2007-07-06 (3.38 pm) Feathers are appearing and twins are growing rapidly

2007-07-10 (2.17 pm) Standing on the nest's edge, last to leave

2007-07-09 (11.03 am) Almost fully feathered and nest becomes small

2007-07-10 (2.33 pm) A protrait before leaving

guyanatimesgy.com

JULY 12, 2015

Times Sunday Magazine 5

Times Women

T

he UK has gained its first-ever female black university leader in Guyana-born Baroness Valerie Amos.

In its most recent statistical report, the UK Equality Challenge Unit found almost 70 per cent of senior academic managers are white males – with nearly 16 per cent of this group at professor level.

In stark contrast, the report found only 2.8 per cent of black and minority ethnic female academics were employed at even professor level.

Now, the 61-year-old senior United Nations official and former Cabinet minister is set to break the mould and take charge

at SOAS, University of London from September, saying she was “honoured” to be joining the university.

“SOAS is a special institution with global recognition for its research and teaching on Asia, Africa and the Middle East, bringing different perspectives to scholarship,” she said.

Since it was founded in 1916, as the School of Oriental Studies, it has forged a global reputation for research and teaching with a focus on the three places as mentioned by Baroness Amos.

The new leader hailed the school’s “vast repository of knowledge and expertise on its specialist re-

gions” and added, “SOAS is uniquely placed to inform and shape current thinking about the religious, political, cultural, security and economic challenges of our world.”

She highlighted what needs to be done at the school now that she will be at the helm and said: “There is an interrelated set of issues which need to be addressed to manage growing complexity and the contradictions of greater global connectivity and greater fragmentation.

“SOAS is a place where I can continue to grow and learn and use the skills, knowledge and experience I have gained over the years.”

Born, March 13, 1954 in Guyana, the Baroness was educated at Bexley Technical High School for Girls (now Townley Grammar School) in southeast London.

She went on to earn a BA in Sociology from the University of Warwick and an MA in Cultural Studies from the University of Birmingham.

She also undertook cultural studies at the University of East Anglia

where she investigated the transition from school to work for black girls.

According to the Britannica encyclopaedia, she worked initially for local governments in London and then from 1989 to 1994 headed the Equal Opportunities Commission.

In August 1997, she was made a life peer,taking the title Baroness Amos, of Brondesbury in the London Borough of Brent, by the new Labour Party government of Tony Blair.

As a member of the House of Lords, Amos served as the government spokesperson for social security, international development, women’s issues, and foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

In May 2003, she was appointed international development secretary, thus becoming the first black woman to serve in a British cabinet.

Following the death of Lord Williams of Mostyn in September 2003, Amos was named leader of the House of Lords, a post she held until 2007. It also made her the first woman of African descent to hold

Baroness Valerie Amos at the 2012 World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda

the post.

She later served as British high commissioner to Australia (2009–10), and in 2010, she became head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

As an advocate of higher education, Baroness Amos is co-founder and Patron of the Amos Bursary, which promotes higher ed-

ucation opportunities for young men of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK. Her charity works involved being the chair of the board of governors at Royal College of Nursing Institute from 1994 to 1998 and one of the directors of Hampstead Theatre.

(Additional information source: The Independent )

Natasha Harper: Breakthrough model

A

familiar face in the Guyana modelling scene, Natasha Harper , who has been modelling since the age of 15, is one of the stars to emerge from Traits Model Management (TMM) Guyana since she was signed on in 2014.

Immediately upon signing with the agency, she was off to locales in the Caribbean for her overseas debut where she was spotted for Mexican-American fashion designer César Galindo’s CZAR collection at the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week Spring/

Summer 2014.

She has also walked for Korto Momolu, runner up designer of Project Runway, Columbia-born designer and celebrity stylist Edwin D’angelo; Perth based Australian fashion designer, Mauricio Alpizar and Senegalese designer Diarra Bousso.

Natasha has also been featured in print editions, gracing the cover of Spanish newspaper El diario New York and a recent 5-page spread for ShaSha Designs in Shabeau Magazine.

6 Times Sunday Magazine

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

‘Where are your heroes, Caribbean?’

By Petamber Persaud

C

aricom Day, for me, was a day of "lil reflection and nuff daydreaming," interrupted by present-day issues: thinking about cricket; and boundaries and borders, and sovereignty and identity and insularity and integration and miscegenation and creole and languages and literature, and Carifesta and Caribbean icons and Caribbean literary giants; and our national song, “Not a blade of grass”, and thinking about a question raised by Dave Martins: “Where are your heroes, Caribbean’?”

Here, I was stuck but just for a while. The answer to that question was within reach, my reach. So I reached for my copy of “Here are your Heroes, Caribbean” by Standhope Williams.

The book is a partial answer to the song because it captures only part of the Caribbean story: that part dealing with the conferral of the ‘Order of the Caribbean Community’ upon awardees for the period of the first conferment (1992) to the fifth conferment (2002).

The partial answer by the book to Martins’ question was

Sir Shridath Ramphal

Mary Eugenia Charles

Dame Nita Barrow

Sir Garfield Sobers

no fault or shortcoming of the author - the book could not and was not designed to record the deeds of the mighty men and women that fall outside the ambit of the award; for instance, the book was not designed to record ‘The Triennial Award for Women’.

What the book does, and does it well at that, is to capture the story of the awardees for the period of the first conferment (1992) to the fifth conferment (2002), amounting to seventeen icons. Moreover, there are many more than that number, perhaps 17 times 17, which was the focus of both

Sir Shridath Ramphal and Dr. Tyrone Ferguson, at the beginning of the book.

Ramphal in his preface says, “It would be invidious to attempt to enumerate individuals who would have surely been members of the Order, had the Order existed in their time, but their contributions were monumental’ like our ‘cultural heroes, writers, poets, singers, dancers, and those who helped create a stage from which their talents could inspire West Indians’.

Ferguson in his foreword bemoans the fact that “too often, we take too much for granted our Caribbean personalities of excellence and world stat-

ure. We fail to constantly tell the tales of our Caribbean heroes’ going on to buttress his words, ‘an indispensible anchor of Caribbean regionalism is the public recognition, acknowledgement, and consciousness of our heroes.”

The book is “a permanent record of a unique group of Caribbean heroes and icons … it is an illustrated guide and informative overview of the lives of the distinguished recipients of the Order of the Caribbean (OCC) Award.”

Those awardees include Shridath Ramphal, William Demas, Derek Walcott, Dame Nita Barrow, Michael Norman Manley, Alistair McIntyre, Philip Telford George, Garfield Sobers, Arthur Robinson, Philip Sherlock, Vere Bird, Slinger Francisco, George Alleyne, George Price, Lloyd Best, Mary Eugenia Charles, and John Compton.

At the end of that list, I kept adding names mainly of a cultural and literary nature biased to my interests.

However“heroes” are bigger than my little list, heroes are bigger than any listing, bigger than books and billboards and street names and building names. Therefore, I called on other resources like the Anthony Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence, and Carifesta honourees and the Noble Prize and the Olympics... and soon a feeling euphoria set in.

As the question was raised by a Guyanese, I returned to home space, looking for records, turning to “Dictionary of Guyanese Biography” by A. J. Seymour, “Grass roots of Guyana” by Betty Lewis, “Stories of the heroes” by P. H. Daly, “The sky’s wild noise”

by Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, news-

papers focusing on special persons locally and in the diaspora; magazines (active and dormant) like GEM, the Guyana Annual, Guyana Inc., Horizons, Guyana Review, and the National Awards, television programmes like “That’s who I am” and “Reflections”, my own television programmes and newspaper columns highlighting the life and work of our literary icons...

“Where are your heroes?...

It’s time to start blowing we own trumpet.” (Said Dave Martins, and all Guyana say....)

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: The Guyana Annual Magazine 2014-2015 issue in now available at Guyenterprise Ltd., Lance Gibbs and Irving Streets, Tel: 226-9874

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Sunday Magazine 7

Times Heritage

E

nglish freemasonry in Guyana is said to have begun with the first English lodge, “Three Friends” in the late 18th century, though there is record that the first Lodge to be established in Guyana was St. Jean de la Reunion.

This Dutch Lodge met, possibly on Fort Island, under a warrant from the National Grand Lodge of the United Provinces (the Netherlands), from 1771.

By 1816, after the colony was united under the British, the first and oldest English masonic temple building was in use at Company Path in Church Street, Georgetown.

However, English Masonic temples are not confined to the Georgetown region only. The third oldest Masonic temple in Guyana can be found on Ferry Street in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Another English Masonic temple in Guyana is located in Linden.

In 1896, Englishman, William Parratt, an engineer with the sugar industry in Berbice, met with sev-

eral doctors, lawyers, civil servants and businessmen, and agreed that another effort be made to re-establish Freemasonry in Berbice Ituni Masonic Temple on Ferry Street, New Amsterdam was acquired in 1904, after the Ituni Lodge was consecrated Sept.

20, 1897 in the upper story of the Berbice Reading Society’s Building in Church Street, New Amsterdam.

The building is also used by the Phoenix Lodge.

At the meeting of the Ituni Lodge in June 1904, a motion was passed that the property at Lot 9 Queenstown, New Amsterdam, with building thereon, be acquired for a Masonic Hall for $1,000.00, and on Sept 30, 1904 was occupied for the first time.

It was immediately renovated “along strict Masonic lines,” and a cottage was erected nearby for the Serving Brother.

It has since become a landmark building with its high tower, timber louvers and stained glass window, along with its delicately con-

structed fretwork. The tower, along with its entrance porch and winding staircase, was added to the building and presented as a gift to the Lodge on St. John’s Day, June 25, 1928.

Renovators have since stayed true to its original design throughout its extensive repairs in the 1990s due to the ravages of weather and time.

The building also includes a unique “disc of the Flaming Star”not found in any other local Lodge building, according to Inderjeet Beharry. Today the Ituni Masonic Temple building remains a fine example of timber architecture and construction in New Amsterdam and indeed Guyana.

The Ituni Masonic Temple is featured in the New Amsterdam Heritage Trail, a 2015 publication by the National Trust of Guyana that hopes to enrich future generations with knowledge of their Guyanese heritage. (Photos courtesy LJ Hernandez) (Cover photo: Ituni Lodge Hall, New Amsterdam (NW view))

Ituni Lodge building (western front view). The name Ituni was suggested as the name of the Lodge by a member after travelling to British Guiana in a steamship of the same name. The vessel was named by its owners after the tributary or creek on the upper reaches of the Berbice River.

Ituni Lodge front detail showing Star of David (“disc of the Flaming Star”)

Stabroek Market 1923

Private residence in New Amsterdam Berbice, circa early 1900s

Serving Brother’s or caretaker's hut (SW of front of hall)

8 Times Sunday Magazine

JULY 12, 2015

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Times Travel & Tourism

T

here are many least explored regions of Guyana, and Maringma Tepui, along the Pakarima Mountain range in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven is one such place.

Also known as Mount Maringma or Mount Marima, with the indigenous community of Wayalayeng at its base,it lies just inside Guyana territory, close to the Guyana-Brazil border.

The flat-topped Maringma Tepui, rising to approximately just over 3,000 feet, harbours several varieties of plant life and small fauna among swamp-like pools and pockets of dwarf forest.

To date it has seen mainly scientific explorers, though its isolation makes it the ideal place for the intrepid explorer.(Photos by Erin Tripp)

Mount Maringma south side A view of Brazil from Maringma tepui

Mount Maringma

At the Maringma Tepui summit

The village of Wayalayeng , in the distance from Mount Maringma

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JULY 12, 2015

Times Sunday Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

O

ur body weight is approximately 60 percent water.

Our body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions.

Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.

The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors, including the climate you live in, how physically active you are, and whether you're experiencing an illness or have any other health problems.

Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate

your body's temperature; it also keeps the tissues in your body moist.

Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and the brain.

In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as a lubricant and cushion for your

joints.

Adequate water intake enables your body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation.

The kidneys and liver use it to help flush out waste, as do your intestines.

Water can also keep you from getting constipated by softening your stools and helping move the food you've eaten through your intestinal tract.

However, it should be noted that there is no evidence to prove that increasing your fluid intake will cure constipation.

Digestion starts with saliva, the basis of which is water. Digestion relies on enzymes that are found in saliva to help break down food and liquid and to dissolve minerals and other nutrients. Proper digestion makes minerals and nutrients more accessible to the body.

Water is also necessary to help you digest soluble fibre. With the help of water, this fibre dissolves easily and benefits your bowel health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass.

There's no hard and fast rule about how much water you need,

and many individuals meet their daily hydration needs by simply drinking water when they're thirsty, according to a report on nutrient recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

In fact, most people who are in good physical health get enough fluids by drinking water and other beverages when they're thirsty, and also by drinking a beverage with each of their meals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you're not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine.

If it's clear, you're in good shape.

If it's dark, you're probably dehydrated. (Everyday Health)

Look radiant and FDA reviewing safety of healthy as you age codeine in children under 18

R

esearchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis recently published a study stating that there are a lot more factors that should go into determining age than how long you’ve been alive. There are plenty of super-simple things you can do to keep your complexion healthy and radiant regardless of what birthday you most recently celebrated.

Use the Right Skin Care Products When shopping for skin care products, there are three powerful ingredients you should look for to maintain youthful-looking

skin. One, check the label for a serum containing antioxidants like vitamin C which will help brighten your skin; two, add retinoids, which increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen renewal, to your routine; and three, start using an alpha hydroxy acid exfoliator to remove the top layer of dead skin cells.

Wear SPF Every Day Whether it’s humid and 90 degrees outside or chilly and rainy, sunscreen is a must no matter what. So add it to your daily routine if you haven’t already, since sun damage not only causes wrinkles, but can leave you vulnerable to skin cancer. “Use at least an SPF 30, but don’t waste your money on anything higher than SPF 50 since there is little evidence that higher SPFs provide more protective benefits,” Andrea Robinson, the former head of beauty for Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford and the author of “Toss the Gloss: Beauty Tips and Tricks for Women 50+” tells Everyday Health.

Take It Easy on the Foundation “Heavy foundation tends to settle on the rough patch-

es or into the lines of the face,” Robinson says. “What is needed as we age is a good transparent moisturizing foundation or tinted moisturizer. Avoid anything with a powder base.” She also suggests using a primer before applying foundation. “A primer makes your foundation roll on more smoothly, filling in lines and pores; minimizes dark circles; and makes all makeup last,” she says.

Step Away From the Glitter Bright, bold eye shadow and products with shimmer and glitter will make wrinkles more noticeable. “These products do not flatter or look attractive on skin or lids that are beginning to show tiny lines or have rough patches,” Robinson says.

“Dark shades combined with lighter neutrals are the most forgiving and youthful choices for the lids.”

And skip liquid liner, which emphasizes the delicate and fine skin surrounding your eyes and opt for a soft pencil liner.

Don’t Forget Your Neck “As you age, the neck loses elasticity faster than anywhere else on your body, taking on the dreaded crepe-y look,” Robinson says. “You should be every bit as diligent and careful about taking care of your neck and décolletage as you are about your face.” To keep this part of your body looking just as young as your face, follow this three-step routine: Moisturize every morning and night, exfoliate once or twice a week with a gentle scrub, and apply sunscreen daily.

Pay Attention to Your Hands, Too Remember to always wear gloves while washing dishes and to moisturize frequently.

“Chemicals and hot water can strip away the protective lipid barrier on your skin, making it susceptible to irritation and dryness,” Robinson says. “Apply a layer of lotion to your hands each time you put on rubber gloves — not only will it protect them, it’ll give you an extra dose of moisture.”

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he FDA is investigating the safety of using medicines containing codeine to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 18, because of the potential for serious problems like slowed or difficult breathing.

Children, especially those who already have breathing problems, may be more prone to these effects, the FDA says in a safety communication.

The agency previously warned about the use of over-thecounter cough and cold products in children under 2 years old.

The FDA will form an advisory committee to examine the safety issues.

In the meantime, parents are advised to stop giving their child codeine-containing medicines -- and seek medical care immediately if they notice any warning signs of slow or shallow breathing, difficult or noisy breathing, confusion, or unusual sleepiness.

The FDA says doctors should use caution when prescribing or recommending cough and cold medications with codeine for children.

Codeine is converted into morphine in the body. In some people, this process happens more quickly than normal, leading to high morphine levels in the blood, and then trouble breathing as a result.

In April 2015, the European Medicines Agency ruled codeine should not be used to treat cough and cold in children younger than 12, and recommended against using it in children and teens ages 12 to 18

who have breathing problems, including asthma.

In 2013, the FDA added a boxed warning about using codeine for pain in children following a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. The action was prompted by reports of serious health problems and deaths. Many of these cases happened in children with obstructive sleep apnoea.

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Times Fashion

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lorals, feathers, super low necklines and super high slits spark the trend for Spring 2016 bridal fashions. Tossing aside convention like the bride tosses her bouquet, designers went for looks that would nevertheless appeal to modern, romantic and classic brides.

Caroline Herrera

Marchesa Zac Posen

Reem Accra

J Mendel

Temperley London

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JULY 12, 2015

andy Orton is a 6ft 5ins (1.96 m) American professional wrestler and actor. Born Randall Keith Orton on April 1, 1980, in Knoxville, Tennessee to legendary wrestler Cowboy Bob Orton, he was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. At age 20, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky.

Nicknamed the Viper, Randy began his wrestling career in Ohio Valley Wrestling then moved back to St Louis when he got out of OVW. He signed on to WWE, where he became a 12-time world champion. He held the WWE (World Heavyweight) Championship eight times and the World Heavyweight Championship four times.He was also the final holder of the World Heavyweight Championship before it was unified with the WWE Championship to create the current WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Along with wrestling, he has been featured in video games, TV series, TV movies and cinema, including his most recently completed “Condemned 2: Desert Prey� (2015).

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Times Sunday Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

12 Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Hollywood

Princess Charlotte receives $200K ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ painting

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lack activists have called for Bill Cosby‘s Hollywood Walk of Fame star to be removed after his 2005 admission to buying drugs to give to women went public this week.

“If they don’t remove that star, we can call it the walk of shame,” one of the activists, Najee Ali, told the AP. “Cosby to black America is an icon, but once an icon figure betrays the trust of the community, we have to withdraw our support and condemn their actions.”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said he and many other prominent black leaders had reserved judgment on the comedian as the accusations piled up late last year, but are no longer on the fence after this week’s revelation, which came from a deposition in his 2005 case against a one-time employee of Temple University.

“We were there, we remained silent — but no more,” Hutchinson said.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president Leron Guble said the organization would not set a precedent in removing a star from the iconic display.

“We have never removed a star from the Walk … Once a star has been added to the Walk,” he said, “it is considered a part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

The star at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue — which the sitcom king received in November 1977 — was vandalized with the word “rapist” after news of the drugging accusations broke late last year.

After the Disney World Resort took down a statue of the star earlier this week, other efforts have been made to eliminate Cosby-

related landmarks.

Seventies TV icon Jimmie “J.J.” Walker spoke out against his friend’s actions. “I believe yes, he did wrong — I’m happy for the women who feel vindicated,” the “Good Times” actor said, comparing Cosby to another fallen star.

It’s a “shame he’s been reduced to the O.J. Simpson of comedy,” Walker said. “Bill is just a great, great talent, but something happened and something snapped … there’s a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde kind of thing.”

Walker said that one tragic instance in the scandal is that the good work Cosby has done in his professional life will be “Etcha-Sketched from humanity.” He added that “after 52 years, [Cosby] doesn’t have a career. That’s sad to me.” (Radar Online)

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rincess Charlotte has been given an amazing, unique piece of artwork featuring Disney's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, in celebration of her recent christening, by one of Prince William and Kate Middleton's close friends.

The 2 meter by 1.3-meter canvas was privately commissioned by "someone very close to the family," and has been created by artist Stephen Cawston, who specializes in reproducing original movie posters by hand. This poster was the original billboard advert for the 1937 movie.

Prince Charles gave his granddaughter

a more modest solid silver photo frame engraved with his insignia and containing a photograph of himself with his grandchildren. Another family member had a special silver christening pin with Charlotte's initials engraved on it.

She also received designer clothes from aunt Pippa Middleton while her nanny, Maria Borrallo, organized the delivery of a specially made christening layette from the Spanish store Irulea. Borrallo also gifted a piece of coral jewellery to Charlotte, a traditional gift at Spanish baptisms.

(UsWeekly)

Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier dies

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elebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian on Thursday said he was pulling the plug on a restaurant at Donald Trump's Washington, D.C., hotel over the Republican presidential candidate's comments about Mexican immigrants.

"The recent statements surrounding Mexican immigrants by Donald Trump do not in any way align with my personal core values," Zakarian, who is chef and partner at The Lambs Club in New York City as well as an author, and host on the Food Network program "The Kitchen", said in a statement.

"In light of this, I am unable to move forward with a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel, slated to open in Washington, D.C.'s Federal Post Office building."

"Zakarian Hospitality

employs many immigrants from nations all over the world, and I look forward to continuing this business culture in my future restaurants," he said. "We are a nation built from immigrants, my family included," said Zakarian, who has appeared on "Chopped" and "Iron Chef America.”

Trump has been criticized across the political spectrum for insensitive comments he made on illegal immigration from Mexico.

Several companies, including NBC Universal, cut ties with Trump after his remarks. Trump has defended his comments. Restaurateur and Chef Jose Andres, a naturalized U.S. citizen who emigrated from Spain, on Wednesday also backed out of a deal to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel. (NBC News)

C

hristian Audigier -- the fashion designer behind the successful clothing lines Ed Hardy and Von Dutch -- has passed away. He was 57.

His long-time publicist, Michele Elyzabeth, told the website LATF USA, "I just heard the news and I am truly devastated. Christian was an incredibly brilliant man. He will be missed."

As TMZ first reported, Audigier was diagnosed with cancer in January. He told us it was MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), the same bone disease "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts was diagnosed with back in 2012.

Audigier has a net worth of nearly $250 million and has worked with Guess, Levi's, Diesel, American Outfitters, Bisou Bisou, and XOXO. His own brands are currently available in over 40 countries. (TMZ)

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ust hours after singer Ariana Grande announced that she was dropping out of a headlining gig at Saturday’s MLB All-Star Game concert in Cincinnati due to a dental emergency, police in Elsinore, California, are investigating the leaked video that appears to show the singer licking donuts in a pastry shop.

A spokesperson for the Riverside County public health office confirmed that the city’s Environmental Health Department is investigating the contents of the video, which show Grande and her reported new boyfriend/backup dancer, Ricky Alvarez, “maliciously” licking the donuts.

The spokesperson said investigators did an inspection of the shop on Wednesday and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department issued a press release confirming their investigation.

“On July 7th, 2015, at 4:30 p.m.

Lake Elsinore Police personnel met with the owner of Wolfee Donuts located in the Lake Elsinore area concerning a report of deliberate food tampering,” read the Sheriff’s statement.

“Lake Elsinore Police detectives

learned Ariana Grande had been a patron of the donut shop on July 4th at approximately 11:30 p.m. While she was in the store, a video depicted her and another male appearing to maliciously lick donuts that were on a display shelf.”

The release said the Lake Elsinore Police Department is working with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health on the investigation and that it was not immediately clear if the “affected donuts were disposed of or sold to another patron.”

A spokesperson for Grande could not be reached for comment at press time about the investigation.

According to one lawyer, California Penal Code section 242 specifies that spitting on another person or their food or similar acts could be considered battery, a misdemeanour punishable by an up-to-$2,000 fine or up to six months in county jail.

A cashier at Wolfee Donuts told the Associated Press that Grande did not purchase any of the treats she allegedly gave a tongue bath to. “She was really rude,” Mayra Solis said. (MTV News)

A lia Bhatt (born 15 March 1993) is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. The daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan, Bhatt first appeared on screen as a child in a minor role in the thriller “Sangharsh” (1999). As an adult, she made her acting debut with Karan Johar's romantic drama “Student of the Year” (2012).Bhatt's portrayal of a teenage girl who develops Stockholm syndrome in Imtiaz Ali's road movie “Highway” (2014) garnered critical acclaim. She won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and also garnered a Best Actress nomination at the same ceremony. She went on to establish herself in Bollywood by starring opposite Arjun Kapoor in the romantic drama “2 States” (2014) and Varun Dhawan in the romantic comedy “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania” (2014).

In addition to acting in films, Bhatt has sung two of her film songs. She participates in stage shows, and has launched her own line of clothing for women.

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Star Times Bollywood

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14 Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Bollywood

Hema Malini sparks outrage by blaming dead child's father for Dausa accident

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ith the release of a film just around the corner, controversies have become the 'call of the day', and there have been many testimonies to this. The latest victim was Salman Khan, whose morphed image is being circulated via social networking sites.

Without wasting any time, Salman Khan's manager went on to file a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell negating the issue.

The image in question was that of a morphed version of a screen grab of a well-known Hindi news channel in which Salman Khan 'goes on record' to say that he does not need the support of Muslims to make his upcoming “Bajrangi Bhaijaan “a hit.

The police officials feel that the image was circulated in light of the argument between Asaduddin Owaisi (Chief of 'All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen') and Salman Khan that had taken place last year.

Speaking about the same, KMM Prasanna (Additional Commissioner of Police- Crime) said that they have received an application from Salman Khan, which they have forwarded to Cyber Crime Cell.

He also added that while the Cyber Cell is investigating the said matter, it would then decide whether to register an FIR. (Bollywood hungama)

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ema Malini has triggered an online furore days after the accident that claimed the life of a four-year-old girl. The actress-politician enraged netizens when she took to Twitter to blame the victim's father for the July 2 crash that took place near Dausa in Rajasthan.

Her tweet read, "My heart goes out to the child who unnecessarily lost her life and the family members who have been injured in the accident. How I wish the girl's father had followed the traffic rules - then this accident could have been averted & the lil one's life safe! (sic)".

Needless to say, the Twitterati lashed out at the 66-year-old MP, stating the child's life could have been saved had she taken her along to the hospital for immediate treatment.

In response to Hema's accusations, the victim's uncle, Giriraj shot back saying, "She is falsely blaming us. The traffic rules say that the speed limit is 60km/hr but her

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eports suggest that Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor, the lead actors of “Bombay Velvet”, have still not been paid for the film.

The film hit the screens on May 15, and received largely mixed to negative reviews from critics. The film failed to impress the view-

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car was speeding at 157 km/hr. She's hurting us further by adding insult to injury." (santabanta)

ers, too, resulting in huge losses for the filmmakers.

The losses, in turn, have taken a toll on the lead actors' pay. While a report in the Asian Age has said that Ranbir Kapoor hasn't been paid the entire amount for his work “Bombay Velvet” yet, Filmfare has pointed out that Anushka Sharma

t least six people on Tuesday stormed the Turner Road bungalow of TV actor Akashdeep Saigal due to a property dispute the family is currently involved in.

According to the actor’s sister-in-law, Meena Saigal, the mob manhandled his elderly mother, and a lady friend who was visiting their home.

According to the report, the mob punched a hole through the boundary wall when they could not storm the front entry gate. "The mob manhandled my children and my mother-in-law Godavari Saigal. They even molested a friend of Akashdeep who was visiting," she told Mumbai Mirror.

Meena alleged that the police were not very helpful. "The incident occurred around 12.30 pm and I kept calling the police control room. However, a PCR patrol van arrived only around 4pm," she said.

Reportedly in January 2013, Akashdeep's brother, Kamal Saigal, was arrested after an Indore-based teacher alleged that the bungalow belonged to his wife's great-grandfather and the former had forged documents and had been living in the property for 30 years. Apparently, the Kamakshi House, the bungalow located on Varde Marg in Bandra

hasn't received her pay, either.

Apparently, the two lead actors have both received just the signing amount of the film, and after “Bombay Velvet” ran into losses, the payment of the actors was relegated the back seat.

“Bombay Velvet”, which has been in production for more than three years, given its grandness, couldn't make much money at the box office. Director Anurag Kashyap had earlier put out a heartfelt message of thanks for his entire cast and crew, for standing by him all through. However, Anushka is really miffed with the production house, reports Filmfare.

A period film which brought alive on celluloid the 60s Bombay, it was lauded for its style and technique, but panned for other things. (indiatoday)

(W) near Gaiety-Galaxy cinema currently holds a market value of 100 crores (approx USD 15.87M).

Meena Saigal alleged that the mob tried to break things in their house and terrorized the family members. It was only when the Saigals' dogs started barking and entered the hall that the mob ran away. Till late in the evening, the Saigals were sitting at the Bandra station.

The police had not filed a complaint till the time of going to press. DCP Satyanarayan Choudhary said: "Two sides want to file a complaint saying the other has taken control of the bungalow. We will take their complaints." (massala.com)

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Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Trends

Trending Now

The backpack trend I n the land of men’s accessories, one boyish accessory has trumped all others: the classic backpack.

"We're finally at a moment where designers are putting some effort behind making backpacks that are functional

Star of the week

but also look great," says ELLE men's market editor Seth Plattner. "Now that there are chic options in leather and nice canvases, I feel just as comfortable wearing one with a suit as I do a T-shirt."

Fendi Fall-Winter 2015-16 Men’s collection

T Soulja Boy 2015 backpack and other matching accessories

revon Abashai Griffith, who can also bowl right arm offspin, is a left-handed batsman, who was the leading rungetter in the TCL Group West Indies Challenge tournament in 2009, scoring 406 runs at an average of 40. The highlight was a century against Leeward Islands Born April 18, 1991 in Guyana , he made his debut for the Guyana Under-19 team, participating in the 2008 regional Under-19 competition, in Barbados. Two fifties indicated batting potential, which was further substantiated when he scored a century in the first match of the 2009 regional Under-19 competition, in Jamaica.

He finished his Under-19 career with a century and 5 fifties, which earned him a place in the West Indies Under-19 team.

Representing the West Indies Under-19 team in the 2010 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, he scored 84 in the first match. He represented the senior Guyana team in List A matches in 2011 and first class matches in 2012. He is currently in the Guyana Amazon Warriors 2015 CPL team.

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JULY 12, 2015

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Times Art

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he National Collection of Guyana located in Castellani House, contains acclaimed artwork, presented in many art genres, by many of Guyana’s most talented artists: well known and not so well known, young and old, resident and non-resident, living and deceased.

According to “Panorama:

A portrait of Guyana”, it contains artwork that “opens a window on the life, activities, landscape, culture, imagination, celebrations, of Guyanese as seen through the eyes of our artists…”

The publication hopes to educate and sensitise the public on Guyanese art and its history.

Merlene Ellis is a well-known Guyanese artist. Her 2006 “A slice of Itiribisi” (Acrylic) is a serene painting of Lake Itiribisi in the Essequibo region, famed for its spectacular natural vistas, that resides proudly in the National Collection. She was recently honoured by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York

Andrew Lyght’s “This is Timehri No. 1” (Oil, 1967) is described as a celebration of our indigenous legacy. As it hangs among the country’s finest paintings in the National Collection, Lyght’s painting intersperses colour around the Timehri’s rock engraving motifs to present a unique expression of these ancient petroglyphs

“Donkey City” (Acrylic, 1984) by Mervyn Wilson displays an interest in ordinary Guyanese people and their lives.

His works are expressed in both painting, i n c l u d i n g watercolour, and multi-media

Victor Davson is a Guyanese artist whose work “Wooden City” (Oil, 1970) is on display at the National Collection of Guyana. “Wooden City” reflects the theme of ethnic, political and social harmony, a common theme pursued by Guyanese artists over the years. Davson currently resides in the USA where he has founded the New Jersey art gallery Aljira

Maggie Dookhun is a member of the Guyana Women’s Artist Association and draughtsperson whose painting “Essequibo River, Ariputa”( Oil, 1998) in the National Collection illustrates her penmanship and realist approach. The painting captures a tense navigation of the treacherous rapids in the Guyana interior. It belongs to paintings of the Guyana interior, a popular subject in the various Guyanese art genres

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Times Tech

US judge throws out million-dollar iTunes award A

federal judge on Tuesday threw out a US$532.9 million

Tech BYTE

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award against Apple Inc. and ordered a new trial but only to damages, in a case

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denied Apple’s request for a new trial on the question of whether the company infringed patent rights.

In the case, Apple had argued that the damages were too high because jurors might have improperly considered the entire market value of the products, rather than distinguishing between patented and unpatented features.

Apple declined to comment on Gilstrap’s decision, but said the case showed why Congress should try to curb litigation by

June 2016: America, Japan face off in giant robot combat

merica has challenged Japan to the world’s first intercontinental giant robot fight in 2016.

“You have a giant robot, we have a giant robot – we have a duty to the science fiction lovers of this world to fight them to the death.” America laid down the challenge; Japan has accepted.

In one year’s time, the two countries will face off on neutral soil for the world’s first international giant robot dual. Two 15-foot-tall steel gundam suits with one or two pilots inside, facing each other in battle.

Robots Megabot and Kuratas would fight to the mechanical death.

The Megabot is 15 feet tall and 12,000 pounds, and Suidobashi’s Kuratas is around 13 feet and 9,000 pounds. The Megabot moves around on a pair of tank-style tracks, where the Kuratas is faster and lighter, and gets around on a set of

Tech BYTE

where a jury found that the iPhone maker’s iTunes software infringed three patents owned by a Texas company.

In his decision, U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in Tyler, Texas, said jurors who on February 24 awarded the damages to Smartflash LLC because of Apple’s wilful infringement might have been given a “skewed” way of calculating the amount Apple should pay when he gave his instructions to the jury.

The judge separately

4 wheels, on wide extending legs that can raise the robot up to get around quickly.

The Megabot requires two pilots, one driver and one gunner to operate its huge arm-mounted paintball cannons, which fire oversized paintballs at over 120 miles per hour, enough to dent car panels.

The Kuratas takes just one pilot, who is treated to a vastly more high-tech augmented reality heads-up display in the cockpit, including an automated target acquisition and tracking interface that keeps its guns trained on an opponent. T The guns in this case include twin Gatling BB cannons that can fire 6,000 BB pellets per minute, and a water cannon-like device that sends floppy missiles out in more or less random directions.

Each team will have 12 months to prepare, and work out a set of rules of engagement that will include weapons fighting as well as hand-tohand melee combat. (Gizmag)

Drone photography contest shows world from unique angles

he blossoming world of drone photography, where vehicles hover with ever-improving camera gear, opening up new perspectives on the world around us, is another exciting reason to put drones in the sky.

Dronestagram, an online hub for photographers, has just held its second annual drone photography competition, and it’s no surprise the judges had no shortage of stunning images from which to choose.

Tech news

This year’s competition attracted more than 5,000 entries from all over the world, snapped by both professional photographers and those just coming to grips with their joysticks.

Two National Geographic photographers teamed up with the folks over at Dronestagram to form the judging panel, which sorted the best from the rest across four different categories. (Gizmag)

Taking out the Places category was a spooky picture taken by a custom-built drone of Maringá, Brazil (Credit: Ricardo Matiello/Dronestagram)

Teen hacker receives suspended sentence

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17-year-old Finnish hacker charged with over 50,000 counts of hacking and other cybercrimes has received a two-year suspended sentence, Finnish news reports said on Wednesday.

The man, identified as Julius Kivimaki, used the nickname “Zeekill” online.

The crimes – committed from late 2012 until September 2013 – included hijacking emails and diverting computer traffic from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States to a Harvard University website, the Hufvudstadsbladet daily reported.

The Espoo District Court took into consideration in its ruling on Tuesday that he was a juvenile at the time.

In addition to the suspended sentence, he was put under probation and his computer and €6,500 (US$7,175) he had in his possession were seized, the report said.

Other charges were related to the use of stolen credit card information for various online purchases, including sparkling wine.

In some cases, he passed on information or acted with other unidentified individuals.

Kivimaki has been linked to hacker group Lizard Squad that in December claimed attacks on online services of gaming consoles Xbox and PlayStation. (The Sun Daily)

Tech news

I

Smartflash and similar companies whose business models depend in part on lawsuits to enforce their patents.

“We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovating,” Apple said.

Smartflash accused Apple in a May 2013 law-

suit of infringing patents for accessing and storing songs, videos and games, enabling the Cupertino, Californiabased company to sell more of its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch products.

Smartflash originally sought damages of $852 million.

IBM claims breakthrough in developing tiny

computer chip

BM says it has achieved a breakthrough in shrinking computer chips, creating a test version of the world’s first semiconductor that shrinks down the circuitry by overcoming what’s been “one of the grand challenges” of the industry.

The microchip industry has long been able to consistently create smaller and more powerful chips, but this has grown increasingly difficult because of physical and technological limits.

IBM’s new chip is the first with transistors that are 7 nanometres. To get to the width of a human hair, you’d need roughly 10,000 of them. Today’s servers are powered by microprocessors that use 22 nanometre or 14 nanometre node chips.

IBM is working with development partners at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

The company last year announced a $3 billion investment over five years to advance chip technology to meet the growing demand that cloud computing, big data, One of the 7nm mobile products and other test chips, created

by IBM/SUNY new technologies are plac(IBM Research) ing on semiconductors.

(San Jose Mercury News)

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

French Doors French doors, also known as French windows, are doors of varying sizes that are composed of panels of glass and often wood. They traditionally (but not always) come in pairs and are hinged, with either an in-swing or out-swing. They’re used as both interior and exterior doors: they often link two rooms, such as an adjacent living and dining room and they commonly provide access to balconies, patios, and gardens.

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/3 cup white sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/3 cup butter, melted 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk 3 eggs 2 tsps vanilla extract 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 tsp all-purpose flour

French doors expand living space by opening out to a patio, balcony, or garden from almost anywhere in the home

An interior French door creates a flow between rooms but can also enable adjoining rooms to be closed off from each other when necessary

Method Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cocoa. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Set crust aside.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk; beat well. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium speed until smooth. Toss 1/3 of the miniature chocolate chips with the 1 teaspoon flour to coat (this keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the cake). Mix into cheese mixture.

Pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle top with remaining chocolate chips.

Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 1 hour. Turn off oven (do not open oven door) and leave the cake in the oven to cool in the oven for another hour.

Remove from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate before removing sides of pan. Keep cake refrigerated until time to serve.

Makes one 9-inch springform pan

GREATEST KITCHEN TIPS

I A French door opening onto a Juliet balcony is a popular design

f you don’t have an oil thermometer when deep-frying, a kernel of popcorn will tell you if the oil is hot enough. Place it in the oil as it heats up and it’ll pop when the oil reaches 350 degrees. That’s just the right temperature for frying anything from fries to donuts to Twinkies.

To make grating ginger easier, freeze ginger first to make it firm and easy to grate.

Coat your cheese grater with non-stick spray for delightfully clean, easy shredding.

To peel a hard-boiled egg, crack it all over, roll under your palm, then use a spoon to get under the skin and peel it. Most often, it’ll come off in one fell swoop.

HOME HELP Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to a load of laundry to brighten whites.

Put a slice of bread in a bag of hard brown sugar and check it a few days later. The brown sugar will soften and become usable (and edible) again.

Rub onions over silverware to remove rust stains.

When cleaning house, give up that hard-to-grip dust rag. Instead, wear an old pair of gloves or socks on your hands for dusting.

Wipe a thin coat of car wax on your stove top and then wipe off with a clean rag.

The layer of wax will keep drips and cooked on bits from sticking to the surface. Just wipe off with a magic eraser.

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Times Sunday Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

Helping your teen resist negative peer pressure

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JOKES

A diner was agitated that the waiter had brought him no spoon with his coffee.

“This coffee,” he said, loud enough for most of the other patrons to hear, “is going to be pretty hot to stir with my fingers.”

The waiter reddened, made a hasty retreat to the kitchen and returned shortly with another cup of coffee.

“This one isn’t so hot, sir,” he beamed.

A man was taking his pregnant (with twins) wife to the hospital when he got into a bad car accident.

Upon regaining consciousness, he finds his brother, a relentless practical joker, sitting bedside.

He asks his brother how his wife is and his brother says, “Don’t worry, everyone is fine. In fact, you have a healthy son and daughter too... but the hospital was in a real hurry with the birth certificates and I had to name the kids, because you and your wife were both unconscious.”

“Oh no,” thought the husband, “what has he done now?”

“Well, what did you name them?” he asks.

His brother says, “I named the little girl Denise.”

The husband says, “Why that’s a very pretty name! What did you come up with for my son?”

“Denephew.”

A ten-year-old boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis, but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enrol their son in a private Catholic school.

After the first day, the boy’s parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, and went right past them straight to his room, where he quietly closed the door.

For nearly two hours, he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.

This pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card.

The boy walked in with his report card -- unopened -- laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room.

Cautiously, his mother opened it, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red “A” under the subject of Math. Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son’s room, thrilled at his remarkable progress.

“Was it the nuns that did it?” the father asked.

The boy only shook his head and said, “No.” “Was it the one-on-one tutoring?

The peer-mentoring?” “No.” “The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?”

“Nope,” said the son. “On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy they nailed to the ‘plus sign,’ I just knew they meant business!”

There was a young executive who was leaving the office of a major corporation late one evening when he found the CEO himself standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

Eager to make a good impression, the young exec introduced himself and asked if he could be of any help.

“Why yes,” said the CEO, holding up the piece of paper. “This is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has gone for the night. Can you make this thing work?”

“Certainly,” said the young executive, happy for a chance to help the boss.

The young man turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

“Excellent, excellent!” said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine. “I’ll need two copies.”

oday’s teens face pressure to engage in a variety of troubling behaviour, ranging from sexting to drinking.

To resist peer pressure, teens need adequate education, skills, and confidence, and as a parent, you need to help your teen make healthy choices and resist peer pressure.

Encourage your teen to be a critical thinker, one who can back up her points with persuasive arguments, and she’ll be more likely to resist peer pressure from others.

Educate your teen on serious issues. Don’t assume your teen understands the dangers of drugs, alcohol, sexting, or sneaking out of the house. Talk about

these issues and present clear warnings about the risks.

Teach your teen assertiveness skills because often, passive teens may be more likely to agree to

whatever the crowd does.

They may join in without considering the potential consequences of their behaviour, or they may be easily victimized by others.

Plan for difficult situa-

STORY TIME

T

Reflections

The Story Tree

he Chaga tribe tells a story of a girl, who went out with her friends to cut grass.

She saw a place where it was growing beautiful and thick, but when she put her foot there, she started to sink into the thick mud underneath.

Her friends tried to catch hold of her hands, but she sink deeper into the mud and disappeared, singing out that the ghosts had taken her and her parents should be told.

The girls ran home and called all the people to the quagmire.

Here a diviner advised that a cow and a sheep must be sacrificed.

When this was done the girl’s

tions. It’s important to give your teen skills to resist peer pressure for everyday life, but it’s also essential to plan for situations that are likely to be difficult. Before sending your teen off to ride in a car with friends for the first time, or prior to agreeing to let your teen go to a party, talk about potential problems your teen may face and how your teen can get out of a situation if necessary.

Whether your teen is offered a drink, or she’s feeling pressured to engage in sexual activity, it’s important to help her practice saying no. Talk about various scenarios your teen is likely to face and discuss the various ways your teen can decline.

Hope

voice was heard again, but eventually it faded away and was silent.

However, on the spot where the girl had sunk, a tree began to grow, which got taller and taller till it reached the sky. As the tree grow, the mud turned into hard soil.

It was a useful tree under which boys would drive their cattle in the heat of the day.

One day, two boys climbed up into the tree, calling to their companions that they were going to the world above.

They never returned.

The tree has since been called the Story-tree. (Story from the Chaga tribe of Africa)

Hope Was but a timid friend; She sat without the grated den, Watching how my fate would tend, Even as selfish-hearted men.

She was cruel in her fear; Through the bars one dreary day, I looked out to see her there, And she turned her face away!

Like a false guard, false watch keeping, Still, in strife, she whispered peace; She would sing while I was weeping; If I listened, she would cease.

False she was, and unrelenting; When my last joys strewed the ground, Even Sorrow saw, repenting, Those sad relics scattered round; Hope, whose whisper would have given Balm to all my frenzied pain, Stretched her wings, and soared to heaven, Went, and ne’er returned again!

Emily Bronte

By Grammar G

Acronyms and Initialisms

Y

ou may have heard of acronyms: those combinations of the first letter of a series of words to form a new word. The word acronym comes for Greek acro (topmost) and onym (name).

Some acronyms have been around a while to seem more like words; for example “laser” (Light Amplification

by Stimulated Emission Radiation) and “radar” (RAdio Detecting And Ranging). Then there is “scuba” (SelfContained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) Initialisms, like acronyms, combine first letters but are not pronounced as a word but rather are learned by their initials.

For example, we know of the FBI, CIA, CID, GRA etc. and more recently “DVD”. Originally, “DVD” stood for digital video disc but that became outdated and it became digital versatile

disc.

There are initialisms and acronyms in Christianity as well: in Latin INRI is the Latin initialism for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum which is “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.

Similarly, the Greek word for “fish” is ICHTHYS, an acronym for the Greek “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour”.

Women also received acronyms and initialisms such as during the

war when there were WACs (Women’s Army Corps) and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) and in sports, there are the male cricketers’ or football players’ WAGs (Wives And Girlfriends).

Acronyms have been borrowed from other languages also. Gestapo comes from German GEheime STAats POlizei meaning “Secret State Police”.

You may use acronyms and initialisms every day without realising it. You may use your PIN (Personal Identification Number) or TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) sometime during the day.

You may have to access the ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) or provide a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

On the other hand, you may buy a vehicle with an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).

20 Times Sunday Magazine

JULY 12, 2015

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Solve the following letter equations 4 = E (E, W, F, A) 4 = S of an O (W, B, P & S) 220= N of S in a P 4 = B o t L (F, T, P, F) see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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Times Sunday Magazine 21

Times Kids

GEOZONE

Creature Corner

Hemispheres

Silky Anteater

T

he Silky Anteater, commonly known as the Pygmy Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is as its name suggests, the smallest of the four anteater species – the smallest anteater in the world.

Pygmy anteaters are found in the thick, tropical forests of Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to Brazil.

Just a little bigger than an adult human’s hand, these nocturnal creatures feed on ants, termites and other insects that it captures with its long sticky tongue.

They are also arboreal (tree dwellers) and use their curved claws to fasten themselves to the trees as they feed and move about, while their prehensile tail provide extra support.

Though the population is not listed as endangered, the main threat to the species is habitat destruction by deforestation.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

please see solution on page 23

G

eographers have divided our Earth into four hemispheres, which in turn have been divided into two sets: the Northern and Southern hemispheres and the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

The Northern Hemisphere contains North America, the northern part of South America, Europe, the northern two-thirds of Africa, and most of Asia. The Southern Hemisphere contains most of South America, one-third of Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and some Asian islands.

There are differences in the climates of the Northern

Find the 7 differences

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

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

and Southern hemispheres because of the Earth’s seasonal tilt toward and away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the warmer summer months are from June through September. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer begins in December and ends in March.

The Earth can also be divided into hemispheres along meridians, or lines of longitude. The prime meridian, or 0 degrees longitude, and the International Date Line, 180 degrees longitude, divide the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres. (Kids Encyclopaedia Britannica)

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By Laurie Triefeldt

PART TWO OF FOUR — COLLECT ALL FOUR AND MAKE A GIANT POSTER Cut and attach to Part Three

Germanic

The people of Germanic descent (the Vikings, Germans, Danes, Dutch, Swedes, Norwegians, Icelanders and English) had a rich history of mythology with a large cast of gods, goddesses, heroes and giants.

Nordic myths

Slavic lore

The Firebird is a popular comingof-age story.

People of Slavic descent (Russians, Serbs, Croats, Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovaks and Poles) did not have a large pantheon of mythical gods.

The mythology of Northern and Eastern Europe is rooted in the pre-Christian religions of Germanic and Slavic peoples.

Odin

Two families According to Germanic myth, there were two god families.

The Aesir were descended from giants and had warlike tendencies. The Aesir were ruled by Odin and lived in the land of Asgard. The Vanir were older gods who lived in Vanaheim. The two god races fought bitterly, but eventually a fragile peace was made, and the two families exchanged valued members to seal the pact.

The world tree

Odin (also known as Woden or Wotan) was king of the Germanic gods and very popular with the Vikings.

Odinʼs throne was a tower called Hlidskjalf. Ravens or eagles were his messengers, and his pet wolves Geri and Freki were always on watch.

Balder was the god of dying and tears, but also of light and purity.

The Slavs believed that a gigantic oak tree held the universe. At its crown was paradise, or Svarga, ruled

by Svarog. The oakʼs trunk was the world of living creatures, or reality (Yav). Hell was found in the oakʼs roots and was ruled

by Chernobog.

Trees have played an important role in the mythology of many cultures.

Characters Belobog was the master of light. He personified goodness, happiness and luck. He brought sunshine, warmth and life.

Due to the trickery of Loki, Balder was killed by his brother Hod. Traditionally, the bodies of heroes were set afire.

Who’s who

Chernobog was the god of evil and darkness. He was known as the god of chaos, night and the dead.

Aegir was the ruler of the sea, a giant and a member of the Vanir family.

Balder belonged to the Aesir family and was the son of Odin and Frigg. He was handsome, gentle, loving, good and the wisest of the Nordic gods.

Dazbog was the sun god who lived in the Palace of the East (a land of eternal summer and plenty). He began each day as an infant and died every evening as an old man.

Aegir

Frey was the god of fertility and fair weather. He ruled over Alfheim, land of light elves. He was the son of Njord and the twin of Freya.

Freya was the goddess of love and war. She cried golden tears and owned a feather coat that allowed her to fly between the worlds.

Frigg was the wife of Odin and the goddess of marriage.

Friday is named after her.

Hel was the goddess of the underworld and was usually depicted as half white and half black. She was the daughter of Loki and the giant Angrboda.

Idun was the goddess of immortality. She was guardian of the apples that kept the gods eternally young.

Loki, the trickster, was the god of mischief and cunning.

Njord was the god of chariots, wind and sea, also known as the giving god.

Odin was the leader of the Aesir. He governed war, poetry, wisdom, healing and death.

Legend says that he sacrificed his eye for wisdom.

Thor, the god of thunder, was the son of Odin and a fierce enemy of giants.

Belobog

Freya always wore a magical necklace that made her more beautiful.

According to legend, it was forged by dwarfs.

Jormungand was the giant serpent son of Loki. He dwelled in all the oceans of the world, where he terrorized sailors.

Baba Yaga was a witch from Slavic myth. She was a maneater and ate her family.

Her house moved about on chicken legs.

Loki

Lada

Mokosh was the goddess of fertility, home and earth. She governed feminine occupations and fate. She was said to have visited homes to perform domestic duties. Hair or fleece was left as an offering to her.

Hors

Idun

Kupala was the goddess of midsummer. The water mother, she was associated with trees, herbs, sorcery and flowers.

Her celebration fell upon the summer solstice, a sacred day honoring the elements of fire and water.

Lada was the goddess of harmony, order and beauty. She was also known as the Lady of the Flowers and was usually depicted as a girl carrying flowers.

Kupala

Thorʼs hammer was was called Mjolnir, a symbol of creativity, fertility and destruction, it always returned to Thor after being thrown.

Hors represented the old sun, becoming smaller as days shorten. He died on the winter solstice, defeated by Chernobog. On December 23, he was resurrected, becoming the new sun, Koleda. Hors was the god of healing and survival.

Perun was known as Pyerun in Russia and Piorun or Perun in Poland. He was the creator god and the god of thunder and lightning.

Perun was the most powerful of Slavic gods. He governed mountains, oak forests, war, lightning and fire. He was associated with weapons of stone and, later, weapons of metal.

Perun

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Times Sunday Magazine 23

World Times

The Philonoist

Was gold always valuable?

I

f you talk to some scholars, the answer is yes.

Others would tell you no. But that would depend on the definition of “valuable”.

For early humans such as the early British tribes of 4,500 years ago, gold jewellery was traded but mainly to foreigners (outlanders) because these tribes saw no real value in what they were trading away. It is perhaps similar to the beads and trinkets Columbus traded with the indigenous peoples further on in history - of little value to the Europeans but prized by the New World inhabitants.

Other early civilizations saw gold in terms of its aesthetic, to decorate themselves with it, but not as a valuable commodity. The Incas called gold the “tears of the sun”.

Some scholars say that for the early indigenous peoples of the New World, salt was more valuable than gold. (In fact, when Columbus arrived, the inhabitants were surprised at his insatiable appetite for their gold, which was then a common item among them.)

Some other early civilizations equated gold with beauty and the gods, and lavished their rulers with the metal. The Irish so revered gold as a sacred metal that they dared not mine their gold themselves as they would have to touch it - something that could bring the wrath of their gods down upon them. So they bought it from the Britons instead.

It was the organized mining of gold in the Middle East that would lead to gold’s value in the ancient world, as these territories began supplying the ancient Egyptian kings and queens with the metal. In ancient Greece, gold was money when measured out.

Then along came the use of gold in coinage around 700 BC, and money was invented.

These were simply stamped lumps of a 63 per cent gold and 27 per cent silver mixture known as ‘electrum.’

It was this concept of “money” (i.e. gold and silver in standard weight and fineness coins) that allowed us to shape our world economies today and make gold valuable.

Zimbabwe community tell of starvation in plea to Mugabe

R

ussia’s Central Elections Commission approved a set of new rules Wednesday for popular bloggers during election campaigns, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

Under the new rules, bloggers with web pages visited by more than 3,000 people a day must restrict any propaganda to the campaign period limits, and post “objective and verifiable information about candidates and parties that doesn’t infringe on candidates’ equality,” the report said.

Local election committees will be responsible for monitoring bloggers based in their area. Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Election Committee, was cited

by Kommersant, as saying that authorities should monitor information posted by bloggers to check whether it is being published in accordance with the laws— and whether it’s true.

Large-scale regional elections are scheduled for September across the country.

(Source: Moscow Times)

Z

The line for water at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi

Brain Teaser Answer 4 = Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air) 4 = Sections of an Orchestra (Woodwind, Brass, Percussion & String) 220= Number of strings in a piano 4 = Bones of the Leg (Fibula, Tibia, Patella, Femur)

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

imbabwe’s TokweMukosi community leaders on Wednesday sent a letter of appeal to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, asking him to intervene and help address their plight at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe.

According to the New Zimbabwe, about 20,000 people were dumped at the ranch in February 2014, after floods ravaged the basin of the Tokwe Mukosi Dam, threating thousands of lives.

However, the victims feel government has forgotten about them and appeals to several senior government officials have yielded no positive results.

In a letter addressed to Mugabe and seen by the news service, community leaders said the villagers are facing starvation.

“We write this urgent appeal to you on behalf of 20,000 victims of the TokweMukorsi floods who have been dumped at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi.

“We are appealing to you directly because many government ministers have re-

peatedly broken their promises to address our concerns.

“Your government has forgotten us. We have no freedom. We feel like people in prison. Your government is treating us like second-class citizens and as if we are people with no rights at all.

“We do not have enough food and we are facing starvation. In the last six months your government has distributed food only twice, giving each family 25kg maizemeal,” read the letter.

The community leaders accused Mugabe and his government of failing to compensate them.

“Your government has forced us to settle on Nuanetsi Ranch but this (place) is not suitable for people to live.

“Despite promises, your government has failed to compensate many of us and allocate each family enough land (at least 5-hectares) for resettlement.

“Instead, each family was allocated 1 hectare plot of land only, on land whose ownership is contested,” the

victims said.

The villagers said they did not have access to clean water while tents that they were given by government are now tattered.

They implored Mugabe to visit the area and ascertain for himself the poor conditions they are living in.

“Your excellency, we ask you to come, as soon as possible, to Nuanetsi Ranch to see for yourself the conditions we are living under,” they appealed.

They also lobbied the president to ensure that they received adequate food, shelter, safe drinking water, access to sanitation and other basic aid.

“If the government is unable to meet our needs it should request donors to assist us.”

They also lobbied the president to fully compensate them and resettle them on adequate and suitable land “where we have secure land tenure and enough resources, including access to water for domestic use and livelihoods.” (Source: New Zimbabwe)

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Times Sunday Magazine

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Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Properly finish whatever (March 21- job you are given. Don’t overJULY 12) look an important detail just because you are in a rush.

Your haste will be for naught if you have to take time to fix things.

Stubbornness will be your TAURUS downfall.

If you don’t feel like (April 20compromising, you should May 20) pursue your own projects.

Disputes are inevitable if you want everything done your way.

A windfall will come your GEMINI (May 21- way via a gift, settlement, winJune 20) ning or rebate. Don’t be too quick to spend. Saving money will put your mind at ease more than purchasing something you don’t need.

Call up someone from the past and reminisce about (JULY 12your favorite moments. Some July 22) past ideas will still hold some attraction for you. Consider reviving an old hobby or goal.

CANCER

LEO Your personal relation(July 23- ships will leave you feeling Aug. 22) lost and confused. Losing your temper over minor issues will cause a rift that you will regret. Think before you speak.

Dilbert

Love and romance will VIRGO go hand-in-hand. Plan some(Aug. 23- thing special that is geared Sept. 22) toward fun and adventure. A day trip to an interesting destination will inspire new beginnings.

LIBRA An interesting propos(Sept. 23- al will come your way. Take Oct. 23) time to consider all the pros and cons before you make a commitment. A trusted friend will offer helpful advice.

Peanuts

Don’t make empty promSCORPIO ises.

You may be flattered if (Oct. 24Nov. 22) someone thinks you can do it all, but be realistic about what you can offer. Taking on too much will result in frustration.

Make sure that you get SAGITTARIUS your responsibilities out of (Nov. 23the way before you move on Dec. 21) to fun and games. The people you live with won’t be happy if you don’t do your share.

Calvin and Hobbes

Look into ways of turning CAPRICORN one of your favorite activities (Dec. 22into a moneymaking venture.

Jan. 19) Your people skills, artistry and intellect are all marketable commodities. Present what you’ve got to offer.

AQUARIUS Keeping secrets from loved (Jan. 20- ones will result in hurt feelFeb. 19) ings. Be honest without accusing or demeaning anyone else. Diplomacy, facts and explanations will be required.

PISCES Social events and group (Feb. 20- gatherings should be on your March 20) agenda. A strong connection with a new acquaintance will lead to future prospects. Plans can be discussed and put into play.