Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 3, 2016

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Times Feature

T

he Tamilians from South India, who had sailed from the port of Madras for the then British Guiana as indentured labourers, were termed “Madrasis”. Of the 239,000 Indian immigrants to British Guiana, less than five percent made up the Madrasis population.

For the British planters, they were the least desirable immigrants of all. They were stereotyped as lazy, aggressive and rebellious. The alleged penchant for heavy drinking, loud drumming

ture practiced in Guyana and more so, in British Guiana. Firstly, they wept at the birth of a child. This was due to the uncertainty of the child’s future. In spite of this belief, they did not hesitate to procreate. Secondly, they rejoiced at the death of a love one.

This was evident in the funeral procession characterised by playing of drums such as the tappu and singing of bhakti esaiyil/kirtanam (devotional songs). The deceased was housed in an arthi on the way to the said-

Goddess Mariamman

The Madrasis’ spiritual belief lies in Goddess Mariamman. Her worship is an essential feature of their culture.

The goddess is very popular in Tamil Nadu. She is believed to be the consort of Lord Shiva who arose to kill the asuras.

‘Mari’ means rain. They pray to Mariamman for rain and avoidance of epidemics.

The marulali (devotee) interprets her will, which is then translated by the pandaram (priest) who does not

The marulali (center), two karagatans and members and devotees join in to praise Devi Mariamman

and especially their love and devotion for their kulla (god) Devi Mariamman, whose worship involved animal sacrifice, evoked that dislike. They were certainly the least keen of all the immigrants on the estates. They preferred to make their living away from the estate by doing rice farming and fishing.

The Madrasis were easily identified as East Indians of dark complexion with curly or kinky hair. They brought with them a diverse and complex culture. Madrasis mostly settled in the Berbice area.

They are four well-known aspects of the Madrasis cul-

ukadu (burial ground/crematorium). These were done to aid the atman’s (soul) peaceful journey in the afterlife.

The Madrasis funeral procession is quite an experience. Thirdly, the older women wear the Madrasi kerchief, which is colourful and depicts the mayil (peacock), which is displayed at the centre of the forehead.

Finally, they introduced to us the spicy, yet palatable milligu tani/mulga tani (pepper water), which is prepared with lentil, meat, preferably goat head, and tamarind juice.

belong to the Brahmin community.

The concept of mother worship has existed since time immemorial. Shakti, as divine mother, is portrayed as Para Shakti/cosmic energy in its dynamic form. Being ullagattil tayaa - the mother of the universe - she is ever ready to heed the call of her devotees.

As such this force manifests as Muthu Mari Amman Muthu (pearl), Mari (rain), Amman (mother) - the mother of rain, that which is more precious than pearls.

The mother is manifested in a form of a woman garbed in yellow and carrying a pot of fermented meal and some

say/worship to the goddess was done backstage by the performers.

Irrespective of which Nadagam was being showcased, the Vinayagar (Lord Ganesh) Nadagam was the first to be performed as he is Nyanamudhalvanay (the one that receives the first honour).

Although the madras dance is dormant, it still remains in the memory of those who have had the opportunity of witnessing it.

Whenever you choose to have sada roti for breakfast or dinner or you choose to simply enjoy some mulga tani, remember the Madrasis and their contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of our nation.

(Text by Deodatt Tillack.

First published in Horizons Magazine 2014)

Nadagam n e e m or stoleaves.

Sada roti and Mulga Tani ries of Lord She fed her Kartike and the devotees with Desangurajan Nadagam, kanji (porridge) and nursed them with neem leaves and a story depicting the life turmeric paste. Her scrip- of and friendship between ture is the Mariamman Desangu, a Hindu king and Thalatu and her worship is his friend Malkan, a Muslim done in the month of Aadi king, were some of the other stories.

(July-August).

Before the Nadagam was She is venerated as the protector and curer of all performed, the Amman pumiseries. The kargum , symbolising her blessing, is carried honouring her as ullagattil tayaa.

Nadagam or Madras dance was once the hallmark of the Madrasis culture. During the 19th century, the Madras dance was dominant until the first decade of the 21st century. The popular Nadagams were the Ramayanam Nadagam (scenes depicting the life of Lord Shri Ramachandra) and the Madurai Veeran Nadagam featuring the Madrasis most beloved kaval deivom/guardian gods.

Young men playing the tappu The Veer Kumaran

Carrying karakam (water pots) to praise the rain goddess

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

Y

oga asanas (simply meaning yoga postures) are more than stretching, as they open energy channels, purify and strengthen the body. They also help to control, focus and clear the mind. A healthy and peaceful body is the starting point for advance practices. This is the purpose of yoga asanas.

In yoga asanas, the body is subjected to different stretches, bends, twists, inversions and strains. Then you try to maintain the posture in a relaxed manner. Various muscles are strengthened and functioning and efficiency of the internal organs is improved.

You try and connect the mind to the body and to increase the awareness of body parts, focusing on stressed joints and muscles, maintaining awareness of the breathing.

One needs a lot of skill in trying to relax

the muscles and different parts under stress during asana practice. This is strengthening of body- mind relationship. Without these three essentials: asana, awareness of body and awareness of breathing, you will not be performing yoga, but only a stretch.

Other benefits of the Yoga poses include increasing flexibility, stamina, strength and endurance of various body parts. Asanas also have positive effect on reproductive system and the excretory system. Most important is asanas balance nervous system and hormones. For more information on yoga classes held at the Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Sanskritik Kendra, call 227-6181.

(Text by Deomattie Seeram. Demonstrations

by Renu Batra, yoga instructor at the Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud Sanskritik Kendra in Prashad Nagar)

Vrikshasana (Tree Pose):

S

tand tall and straight. Shift your weight onto the left leg. Inhale and slowly bend your right leg, and place the sole of the foot onto the inner side of the standing leg. Bring your both arms up and join hands together into Namaste mudra (prayer position). Breathe naturally. Hold for as long as you feel comfortable.

When you are ready to release, exhale bringing your foot back down gently and alternate sides.

Benefits: Develops awareness, balance and concentration. The pose also strengthens legs, ankles and feet, and hips.

B

Veerbhadrasana (Warrior Pose):

egin standing tall and straight. Step feet apart; three feet distance between them. Turn the right foot and the torso to the right and the left foot slightly in. Bend right knee at 90 degree angle so the right thigh is parallel to the floor. Inhale and reach arms above head, palms facing each other, lengthening spine. Gently arch back while gazing upward. Exhale and repeat on left side.

Benefits of this pose include improving balance, strengthening legs, back and arms, opening the chest and shoulders.

Natarajasana (Dancing Shiva Pose): egin standing tall and straight.

Inhale and bend left knee and grasp inside of left foot with left hand. Gently bring right arm up and balance, deepen the backbend. Hold for 5-10 breaths. Exhale and relax. Fix your gaze on something still in front of you. Repeat with the other leg.

Benefits of this posture include strengthening legs and core, improving balance, stretching shoulders and chest and strengthening ankles.

B

B

Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose):

egin standing tall and straight. Step feet apart, having a three feet distance between them. Turn the right foot to the right and the left foot slightly in. Bend right knee at 90 degree angle so the right thigh is parallel to the floor. Inhale and turn your body towards right so your right hand can touch the floor by placing the hand next to the right foot and at the same time left arm is reaching up toward the ceiling in such a way that the left leg, left hip and left arm are in one line. Breathe and hold the positions for 3-6 breaths. Exhale and repeat the same with other leg.

Benefits: Opens the side of the body from feet to fingers, energizes the body and strengthens abdominal, legs, knees and ankles. Additionally, the posture stretches hips, groins and hamstrings.

S

Navasana (Full Boat Pose):

it on the floor with legs stretched out on the floor and our hands on your sides. With your back straight and head in line with the body. Inhale and raise the legs as high as is comfortable. Keep neck and shoulders relaxed. Once you feel balanced, you reach the arms forward up. Hold the pose or as long as you can comfortably. Exhale and relax.

Benefits: Strengthens the abdomen and core, hips and lower back.

L

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose):

ie on the belly with your hands by your side. Exhale and bend your knees and bring the feet towards the buttocks. Hold both ankles with your hands. Inhale; lift your thighs, head, chest and neck up from the floor. Continue to lift, press the shoulder blades together and open the chest. Gaze forward. Exhale and relax.

Benefits of this asana include stretching the ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen and chest, throat and hip. It also strengthens the back muscles and stimulates abdominal organs.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Feature

fore the exchange of vows, the problem began. The itching was very severe.

Apparently the powder was transferred and dispersed to certain discrete parts of the bride’s anatomy. The itching was very noticeable and created an embarrassing scene. The groom, unaware of the problem, and in disgust, disappeared from the altar and the wedding was called off. Guess who was waiting outside the church to console him?

Wedding cake

It was also understood that if you are single and you place a very small piece of wedding cake behind your right ear, you would enhance and accelerate your chances of getting married. A 65-year-old-man, who would remain nameless, attended a well-known Guyanese wedding ceremony. In desperation he applied enormous amounts of wedding cake behind both ears. To make a long story short, he is still single today at 80.

Catching of the bouquet

W

The person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry

hether true or not, there are some Guyanese customs to which couples would adhere, regardless of the consequences: “Don’t look back while going up the aisle”; “jumping the broom”- a West African tradition; “don’t ever let a dog eat your wedding cake”; “don’t sweep one’s foot with a pointer broom prior to marriage”, are just a few.

The following are some true funny stories surrounding weddings in Guyana.

Cow itch powder or

stinging nettle

It is believed that a bride must be attired in: “Something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue”, for good luck, and no bad omen would befall the marriage.

However, at one Guyanese wedding, the bride borrowed a glove from her dear girlfriend, not realizing the friend had a crush on the groom. The friend wilfully laced the glove with “cowitch or stinging nettle” powder – a powder that would induce intense itching. At the wedding ceremony, be-

Jumping the broom

The custom where the person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry is very evident at weddings. Before one wedding reception, the bride made arrangements with her best friend – her maid of honour who was single – to throw the bouquet in her direction. Somehow, the boyfriend of the maid of honour got wind of the plan.

When the bouquet was released from the bride, the boyfriend intercepted and caught the bouquet. The maid of honour was so upset she ranted and raved. One month later, the boyfriend married someone else.

It is customary at a Hindu wedding for the father of the bride to offer a satisfactory dowry to the groom

groom. As long as the groom does not eat, the father has to continue offering possessions. At one such Hindu wedding, the groom was not satisfied with the house and land that were offered.

Not until he was promised a number of cows and sheep did he eventually eat, which showed his acceptance.

After the wedding, he went to collect his dowry but was greeted with a severe beating by the family members.

He then realized that the father-in-law never owned a house or any cattle in his entire life.

Marriage vows

During a wedding ceremony the preacher asked, “Does anyone know why these parties should not be

joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace?”

One member of the wedding party shouted, “The groom is gay.” Without any hesitation the bride blurted out, “So what? I know he is gay; he is always so joyful and happy.”

Rising up first

It is understood that when couples kneel at the altar to exchange their vows, it is thought that whoever gets up first will live longer than the other. In the haste to get up first, the groom accidentally stood on the bride’s dress causing her to fall prostrate at the feet of the pastor.

Pigeons

wedding ceremony to throw rice grains over the married couple for good luck as they leave the church. The groom, clad in a white suit, and the bride, wearing a gorgeous white gown, were greeted with a huge amount of rice grains landing on their heads. Suddenly, a drove of hungry pigeons appeared, stood on their heads, and had a feast. Simultaneously the pigeons decided to release some droppings which landed all over the married couple, leaving a random polka dot design on the white apparel of the couple.

(Text by Edgar Henry. First published in the Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. June 2012 Magazine)

It is normal after the

Dowry

It is customary at a Hindu wedding for the father of the bride to offer a satisfactory dowry to the

It is usual after the wedding ceremony to throw rice over the married couple for good luck as they leave the church

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

P

aulla De Souza has become a name synonymous with beauty - a true connoisseur of makeup artistry. Her interest in the beauty industry began very early in life.

It was therefore no surprise that she pursued a career in fashion and beauty.

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Paulla grew up on the East Bank of Demerara and attended Central Primary School and North Ruimveldt Multilateral before finishing at St John’s College. Years later she travelled to Trinidad to obtain formal training and was schooled at Suzan’s Unisex Salon & Beauty School and New Beginnings Salon & Beauty School.

Paulla believes she was born with a passion for fashion and beauty. In her early years, she was pursuing a career as a cosmetologist and out of curiosity took a few personal makeup classes. This passion led her to the House of Jackie Modelling School where she became part of the school’s agency. It was there that she was encouraged to pursue a course in learning the art of makeup application.

She met her mentor, Jean Inniss, who noticed that she had a natural talent for makeup artistry and voiced that in the first class.

Paulla was guided by this

US-based Guyanese is renowned international makeup artist “angel” whom she thought gave wings to her dream of being one of the best and most sought after artists in the Caribbean and South America.

Though she is more or less selftaught, along the way she was inspired by the work of others, including the late Kevin Aucoin and the great Sam Fine.

Almost immediately, Paulla was embraced by the local industry in Trinidad where, to date, she is based as a freelance makeup artist for several top advertising agencies. She has worked with Trinidadian comediennes Rachel Price, Nicky Crosby, Trinidadian artistes 2Ntrigue and Alison Hinds of Square One, ac-

tress, radio and television personality Natacha Jones, who has been her number one supporter.

Paulla’s 18 years of experience as a freelance makeup artist spans across almost every aspect of the makeup industry to include film, television, fashion, editorial, music videos, press and television ads, theatre, product promotions, corporate, bridal parties. Some of her prominent and notable achievements as a makeup artist include the Barbados Fashion Week working alongside Tyra Bank’s MUA (makeup artist) Valente Fraizer.

In addition, she has made appearances at the Afro Hair & Beauty Show at the Alexander Palace London, Ghana International Trade show held in Accra, St Kitts Fashion Weekend, Barbados Fashion Week, St Kitts Fashion Weekend, just to name a few.

She has also worked as the key makeup artist on Abstract/Bmobile Future Face reality television filmed in Grenada; Bmobile Dance Off Trinidad & Tobago; one of National Geographic’s hit series “Locked Up Abroad”; “The Cool Boys” - a short feature film shown at the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival; “Pan! Our Music Odyssey” - a docu-drama highlighting the history and journey of pan music in Trinidad & Tobago; and one of the longest running television series “Westwood Park” for three seasons; and “Matthews in The Middle”.

The makeup artist’s work is unique and can be immediately identified due to her penchant for not using the masked approach to makeup. Her work is clean, natural, sexy and modern.

She believes that makeup, when applied properly, should enhance a woman’s natural beauty.

The make-up artist’s impeccable skills caught the eye of The Caribbean Fashion Award Committee who twice recognised her as a nominee in the category of Best Caribbean Makeup Artist in 2008 and 2009.

Her work has also been featured several times in and on the cover of Caribbean Beat; Maco Magazine; Abstract Magazine; and Gem Magazine (Guyana).

Black Entertainment Television (BET) in collaboration with Skywriting Magazine (the then Air Jamaica’s in-flight magazine) aired the making of ‘Skywriting Magazine’ and Paulla was the make-up artist on the production.

She also worked on the cover for Ibis Magazine, a Trinidadian publication, featuring Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998.

Paulla has been the principal beauty advisor and makeup artist to Black Up Paris cosmetics sold exclusively at Stechers Fine Gift Stores to the Caribbean since 1945.

She credits her success to her “creator” who blessed her with the talent and a keen eye for detail, and also her years of experience from working in all areas – film,

Paulla at work

television, weddings, music videos, and fashion. She believes her many years of experience working in front of the camera as a model also played a significant part.

Her personal motto is: “Life without Christ is suicide”. She also believes that whatever you want for yourself, you should be willing to give.

Check out Paulla De Souza on Facebook for makeup tips and trends.

(Information from www. guyanesegirlsrock.com)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

The Twelve Noises of Christmas

By Petamber Persaud

C

hrist is the heart of Christmas, and this is celebrated in various ways and in various genres of writing all over the world.

Perhaps the most significant acknowledgments can be found in the world of literature – poetry, song, dramatic and cinematographic arts.

In Guyana, we have long enjoyed and continue to appreciate the artistic offerings originating from outside the country. After a long while, there was a whiff of change in air with Guyana working towards attaining its Independence from Britain.

Then there was a period of awakening. This awakening was accompanied by critical thinking.

This critical thinking bred cynicism and criticism, a period when many Guyanese scoffed at “White Christmas”, “Blue Christmas”, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire/The Christmas Song”, “Twelve Days of Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Let it snow”, “Rudolph the red nose reindeer” etc.

Later, around the 1950s, at a cultural juncture of our history, there was a climate conducive to the creation of music, leading to

"Christmas Day. Rosignol, Guyana,1945," by Vidur

a musical revolution, as it were, where persons were composing mainly due to the fact that the top recording studio in the Caribbean

was located in Robb Street, Georgetown, Guyana. From that recording studio (Al Seales’ GEMS) came a number of evergreen and popu-

lar Christmas songs, inspiring others to write their own poetry and songs celebrating the Lord of Christmas.

While all these things were happening and some of us were enjoying the goodwill of the season, there was one sound of the season that did not seem to have the right ring to it because of varied interpretations and manifestations. Today it may be even more diffi-

from every nook and cranny cometh like a comet the noise of music (most of the time not related to the season), every vehicle becomes a mobile discotheque –let me rephrase that – those mobile discotheques, when in motion, set off the vehicle alarms in a domino effect and, when parked, windows rattle and floorings quake; worse effect if someone is in bed, head resting on pillow,

spiked upwards by noise of Christmas); pregnant women expecting …some bed rest…and the list of the adverse effects of noise goes on and on…

“Silent Night” is the most popular of carols, translated into more than 140 languages. The words, the lyrics and scores of musical arrangements are unendingly beautiful. But the only part of that carol that some of us may enjoy is “With the dawn of redeeming grace", which dawns around January 2 or 3 or whenever the holiday ends at say “Twelve Night”….. which is variably celebrated to suit human partying arrangements like on the 5th, the 6th or the weekend Saturday nearest to what is considered “twelfth night”.

"Silent Night" (German: StilleNacht, heiligeNacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorfbei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. The version sung

by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of alltime. (Wikipedia) Here are some selected lines of that song, hoping we regain the peace and serenity of “Silent Night”: Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm all is bright…

Shepherds quake at the sight…

From poem to carol: “Silent Night” manuscript

cult to be reconciled to the soothing sound of the carol, “Silent Night”. Electronic delivery of music ought to enhance songs but misuse of innovations is signalling the death knell of certain songs.

“Silent Night” (Christmas) in Guyana is the season for stretching the boundaries of noise –

praying for divine intervention to one’s human right to peace and quiet…

There is no “all is calm”; there is no “sleep in heavenly peace”; shepherd[s] are not the only ones quaking. But the people, old people, ill people, people suffering from hypertension (the blood pressure can be

Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace!

With the dawn of redeeming grace Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

I

ndigenous hinterland transport in Guyana has traditionally involved canoes for river travel; in earlier times, the canoe was also used as transport for trade and warfare. Bullock cart, horses or on foot were transport for land travel.

While these remain modes of transportation today in these regions, others now include speedboats, ATVs, bicycles, motorcycles or SUVs, to name a few.

The canoe remains an important mode of transportation for indigenous and nonindigenous Guyanese living in the many remote riverain regions of the country. Many children learn from a very young age to be adept at manoeuvring a canoe.

Where waterways are sometimes the only travel option, in some areas “school canoes” carry some school children to and from school each day in good weather, though motorized vessels are becoming increasingly

popular.

Although it is said that a canoe can generally be made of any kind of wood, the hollowed-out stems of the Ité palm are said to be used to make some canoes; the palm’s stem is also split to make paddles. The Manni tree’s trunks are also said to be used to make some dugout canoes and paddles.

Another tree named is the baramali whose bark, among other trees, is said to be sometimes used as raised flooring in the canoe to prevent wet luggage for its occupants should river or rain water collect in the vessel.

In the book “The Guiana Travels of Robert Schomburgk, 1835-1844” the authors states that the Warraus were famed for their ability to fashion a canoe from a single tree trunk, and were the main suppliers of canoes to coastland indigenous inhabitants and foreigners at the time.

In its footnotes it also

states that the most popular tree for Warrau canoemaking was the “red cedar” then “white cedar”, though there remains some debate over identifying the exact species.

Some historians note that each area may have a different style from another when making their canoe and as a result its makers can be identified this way.

According to Volume 3: 1986-2013 of “Beacons of Excellence: The Edgar Mittleholzer Memorial Lectures” edited and with an introduction by Andrew O. Lindsay, among the Arawaks there are different styles of men’s and women’s canoe paddles: crafted for heavy work, the men’s are large and sturdy while the women’s paddles are smaller and considered “works of art.”

No one can be certain of the introduction of the canoe to human history, though one, made from pine log, has

Traditional (dugout) canoes on display in a local museum

been discovered in China dated to some 8,000 years ago.

Besides China, evidence of the canoe around the world can also be glimpsed from the traditional African term for “paddling” (with a branch): “poling”.

ern construction products but bears traditional building techniques passed down over the ages.

The word “canoe” is said to have come from kenu, a Carib word meaning “dugout”. In addition, the Arawak word kanoa is

Indian History” edited by Bruce E. Johansen Ph.D. and Barry M. Pritzke, “canoe” is derived from the Arawak (Taino) word for “boat”. The Spanish during the time of Columbus’ voyages appropriated the word as “canoa”, to describe the

School students in the interior waiting for transport

Canal, Anna Regina, Essequibo n.d.

Upper Camp Street, Georgetown n.d.

The canoe is said to have originated from the trunks of fallen trees upon which persons perhaps sat astride and with a branch, paddled from one area to another.

These however, had their limitations in rough waters.

Some canoes of the local indigenous were/are made only for the calmer waters of small creeks and rivers. The more seaworthy canoe has its prototype from the nautical vessels of the Carib peoples of the Caribbean, made from large tree trunks dug out, shaped and hollowed to be strong enough for sea travel.

Among the indigenous islanders, seagoing canoes could often carry cargo for trade from one island to another. There are records of early indigenous Guyanese arriving in modern day Trinidad territory in fleets of canoes loaded with vast cargoes of cassava for trade.

Canoes later were made up of “a frame of wooden ribs covered with lightweight bark ...” often held together with natural glue.

In modern times canoe building employs mod-

said to mean “a dugout craft used in calm water”.

According to the “Encyclopedia of American

hollowed- out- log-boat propelled by paddles used by the indigenous groups.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 3, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Travel & Tourism

Explore the rich traditions of Moco Moco, a village located in the Rupununi (Photo by Matt Hallett)

T

he beauty of the Rupununi is vast, unique, fabled and celebrated in arts and literature.

Rupununi, in Region Nine, derives its name from the Rupununi River which runs from the south savannahs, north and eastward where it meets the Essequibo River. The Rupununi River and its tributaries are the mainstay of life for more than 14,000 indigenous people, mainly Makushi and Wapishana, who live in the area.

Discover Rupununi’s magic while visiting the golden savannahs, which melt into deep, green forests, lined with silver creeks. Cattle, cashew nuts, peanuts, cassava and casareep are some of the products from the Rupununi waiting to be enjoyed.

English, Makushi, Wapishana and Portuguese are the languages spoken by its inhabitants.

What makes the Rupununi special is the sweet, scented air, endless horizon and beautiful vistas; the wonderful hospitality and culture of the people, and the breath-taking beauty of the landscape. It is also the land of giants: anteaters, otters, river turtles, giant fish (Arapaima) and Black Caiman. There are also numerous pristine locations to explore.

For a journey of a lifetime witnessing rich culture and biodiversity, ensure the Rupununi is on your 2016 adventure list. (Photos by Rupununi Learners Inc.) (Cover photo: The serenity of 'El Dorado' located in Yupukari, Quatata in Region Nine) Enjoy a relaxing stay at the Caiman Guest House located in Yupukari, Rupununi

One of the most scenic places in the Rupununi is Kamarapa Creek (Photo by Matt Hallett)

The Maparri wilderness of the Rupununi boasts pristine rainforest waiting to be explored

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

S

kipping breakfast can set you up for overeating later in the day.

A healthy morning meal, on the other hand, can give you energy, satisfy your appetite, and set the stage for smart decisions all day long.

“You want to aim for a breakfast that combines good carbs and fibre with some protein," Erica Giovinazzo, MS, RD, a nutritionist at Clay Health Club and Spa, in New York City tells health.com.

Here’s a look at some favourite breakfast foods, along with expert tips for making them even healthier.

Oatmeal Oats contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre that's been shown to help lower cholesterol when eaten regularly; it also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium.

Steel-cut oats, which take about 15 minutes to cook, contain more fibre

than rolled oats or instant varieties, but any type of oatmeal is a healthy choice.

Just avoid the flavoured kinds, which can be packed with sugar. Instead, sweeten your bowl with milk and a bit of honey, and top with fruit and nuts.

Bananas Bananas are one of the best sources of resistant starch, a healthy carbohydrate that keeps you feeling fuller longer.

"Slice it up and add it to cereal or oatmeal," Giovinazzo suggests. "It will add natural sweetness, so you may not need additional sugar."

Thanks to a healthy dose of potassium, an electrolyte that helps lower blood pressure naturally, bananas are a particularly good choice for people with hypertension.

Eggs Once shunned for being high in dietary cholesterol (one yolk contains about 60 per cent of your daily allotment), eggs are now embraced as a healthy source of protein and nutrients like vitamin D. Research has shown that the cholesterol in our food has less of an impact on blood cholesterol than previously thought.

"If, overall, you're choosing lean proteins and not eating a ton of fat and cholesterol, then eggs are a great thing to have in your diet," says Giovinazzo.

The American Heart Association recommends that people with normal cholesterol limit their cholesterol intake to 300 milli-

and it may even help you live longer.

Researchers suspect the combination of caffeine and antioxidants are responsible for many of the observed health benefits.

Of course, loading coffee up with cream and sugar may erase any potential benefits. So skip the fancy flavoured drinks, and stick with skim milk.

Tea Tea has a pretty impressive résumé of health benefits.

Because it has less caffeine, it hydrates you more effectively than coffee, and it's also a rich source of the immunity-boosting antioxidants known as catechins.

All tea (black, green, or white) provides antioxidants, but green tea may be healthiest of all.

Research suggests that drinking five cups a day can increase your body's metabolism and help you lose more weight around the

grams per day.

middle.

Watermelon Watermelon is an excellent way to hydrate in the morning.

What's less well known is this juicy fruit is among the best sources of lycopene—a nutrient found in red fruits and vegetables that's important for vision, heart health, and cancer prevention.

Best of all, watermelon contains just 40 calories per cup.

Orange juice Fresh squeezed OJ is a classic morning beverage.

For even more nutritional benefit, you'll want to opt for a store-bought variety that's fortified with vitamin D. Along with fatty fish and fortified milk, fortified OJ is one of the few dietary sources of the sunshine vitamin, higher levels of which have been linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis, depression, and certain cancers.

Stick with one small glass a day, Giovinazzo advises. Fruit juice is high in calories and sugar, she

Coffee Coffee drinking has been linked to a lower risk of several diseases (such as diabetes and prostate cancer),

says, and shouldn't replace whole fruit in your diet.

Cranberry juice Cranberry juice, which helps limit bacterial growth, is best known for warding off urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The juice also appears to promote cardiovascular health, and preliminary research in Petri dishes suggests that compounds in cranberries can even increase the effectiveness of certain ovarian cancer drugs.

Cranberry juice—not to be confused with cranberry juice cocktail—isn't as sugary as other fruit juices, but its high acidity can sometimes contribute to bladder problems besides UTIs so

stick with small servings.

Cereal "Cereal can be tricky, because there are so many different kinds out there," Giovinazzo says. "Something with at least 5 grams of fibre and less than 5 grams of sugar is probably your best bet."

You'll find this winning combo in many whole-grain or bran cereals (such as shredded wheat), which, as an added bonus, are often fortified with riboflavin, folic acid and other essential nutrients.

Top off your bowl with skim milk and fruit for the complete package: whole grains to fill you up, protein to supply all-day energy, and antioxidants to keep

your immune system humming.

Whole-wheat bread Carbohydrates are a breakfast mainstay, but the type of carbs you choose can make a big difference in the overall health of your meal.

The simple rule to remember is that whole wheat and other whole grains— whether they're found in bread, toast, or English muffins—contain more fibre and nutrients than their white, refined counterparts.

What you put on it matters, as well. "Slathering your toast with butter or jelly just adds empty fat and calories," says Giovinazzo.

"Instead, get some protein by adding an egg or some almond butter."

10 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Fashion

L

ooking to transform your look for the new year? Designer Jason Shurland’s chic designs will do just that. His bespoke pieces are perfect for any occasion or body type.

The designer is known for his unique, statement designs, which have been worn by models and pageant queens/contestants on local and international stages.

Jason Shurland poses with a model wearing one his designs

Shurland is also known for his intricate designs on clothing, artistically incorporating glass, embellished rose petals and 3D butterflies.

Showcasing his artistic side, Shurland’s designs are a testimony of his talent to beautify.

Visit Rockerz on Facebook for more information on Shurland’s collections.

guyanatimesgy.com

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JANUARY 3, 2016

egan Fox is an American actress and model. She began her acting career in 2001, with several minor television and film roles, and played a regular role on the “Hope & Faith” television sitcom. In 2004 she made her film debut in the teen comedy “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”. In 2007 she co-starred as Mikaela Banes in the blockbuster action film “Transformers”, which became her breakout role. Fox reprised her role in the 2009 sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”. Later in 2009 she starred as the eponymous lead in the comedy horror film “Jennifer's Body”.

In 2014 she had a leading role in the movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” as April O'Neil. Fox has appeared in magazines such as Maxim, Rolling Stone and FHM.

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Hollywood

Kanye West nabs GQ's Most Idris Elba honoured with Order of the British Stylish Man of 2015 title Empire by Queen Elizabeth K

I

dris Elba and David Oyelowo couldn't be prouder of their career achievements.

Both of them were among Hollywood actors on Queen Elizabeth II's annual New Year's honors list and recognized with Order of the British Empire titles for their services on the big screen.

"Awards and honours come in all shapes

and sizes and all as significant as the other.

But this is beyond special as it comes from Queen and country, and I couldn't be more proud for receiving this right now," Idris said of the titles in a statement, before adding, " What a year. On me head son!'

The past several months have been excellent to Idris. He earned the order of chivalry of British constitutional monarchy after receiving three SAG nominations just a few weeks ago. He was also announced to receive two Golden Globe nominations.

On the other hand, "Selma" actor David also expressed similar excitement. The title from the monarch was special for David as he began his acting career after receiving a grant from Prince Charles' charity, the Prince's Trust, at the age of 18. "To be honored by the Queen in this way having been aided by her son's charity feels like a beautiful full-circle moment," the 39-year-old actor said in a statement.

The Queen honors British citizens twice a year, around the New Year and on her birthday. The order of chivalry is given to those who make contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations and public service outside the Civil Service. (AceShowbiz)

anye West has been named GQ's Most Stylish Man of 2015 for the second year in a row. The "All of the Lights" rapper's new achievement was partly because his wife Kim Kardashian mobilized her fans on Twitter to vote for him.

On Tuesday morning, December 29, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star tweeted, "Alright guys!!!!! Let's vote for Kanye!!!!" alongside a link to the online voting page. Kim explained, "You can vote unlimited times so keep voting!"

"Ok we broke the polls because its not even letting first time voters vote. lol The system must be down! i think we got this!!!! #GQ #KANYE," tweeted Kim. A few minutes later, she excitedly announced, "YOU DID IT GUYS!!!!! KANYE WON!!! THANK YOU FOR VOTING! #GQ." The magazine even admitted on its website that tweets from Kim and her siblings Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian as well as their mom Kris Jenner "spiked the number of votes cast in West's direction." Kanye won against model Lucky Blue Smith with "the final tally: 520,119 votes for Kanye, 445,073 for Lucky Blue."

The vote aside, the magazine noted that Kanye deserved the title given his contri-

bution to the fashion industry this year.

"From the debut of his Yeezy label at New York Fashion Week back in February to the rollout of Yeezy Boosts throughout the year that instantly sold out, West had a dominant hand in defining how men wanted to look in 2015," wrote the magazine.

The magazine continued, "Plus, West's own wardrobe is studied, tracked, and blogged about with an amount of fervor usually reserved for female stars (like the rapper/designer's own headline-grabbing wife)."

(AceShowbiz)

how she lived … with dignity, strength and honour,” Cole’s son and two sisters said in a statement.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow called her “one of music’s most celebrated and iconic women” and a “highly cherished artist.”

Cole collected a total of nine Grammys during her career, the last coming for traditional pop vocal album for her 2008 standards collection “Still Unforgettable.”

Cole’s entry into the family business of music came at age 6 on her father’s holiday collection “The Christmas Album,” which featured his enduring rendition of “The

Christmas Song.” Natalie and other siblings made appearances on her father’s NBC variety series “The Nat King Cole Show,” which aired in 1956 and 1957.

Her father became the first African-American to topline a primetime network TV variety series, although the show faced challenges in attracting advertisers despite Cole’s popularity as a singer.

Natalie Cole grew up with four siblings in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park area, where some residents were opposed to the idea of having African-American neighbours. Her mother was jazz vocalist Maria Ellington, who sang for a time with Duke Ellington but was no relation to the bandleader.

Natalie Cole battled substance abuse for many years when she was younger, as detailed in her 2000 memoir “Angel on My Shoulder.”

She served a stint in rehab in the early 1980s. She blamed her past drug use for having contracted the liver disease hepatitis C, according to the AP. She is survived by a son, Robert Yancy, and two sisters, Timolin Cole and Casey Cole. Another sister, Carole Cole, died in 2009 and her brother, Nat Kelly Cole, died in 1995.

$34.75M-$35.3M Fri. / 3-day cume: $94M-$95M. Total

cume: $744.8M-$746M Wk 3 (Yahoo)

Bill Cosby plans vigorous defense against indecent assault charges

B

ill Cosby is finally facing criminal charges related to the sexual assault and drugging accusations made by one of the women. Montgomery County prosecutors in Pennsylvania made an announcement about it on Wednesday, December 30 and released the 78-year-old actor's mugshot.

Cosby arrived at a courthouse accompanied by his legal team. He was charged with aggravated indecent assault in connection with an alleged sexual assault in early 2004 involving former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. Aggravated indecent assault is a second degree felony.

"Today, after examination of all the evidence, we are able to seek justice on behalf of the victim," First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a morning press conference, adding "We examined all the evidence and we made this determination because it was the right thing to do."

Constand claimed in 2005 that he invited her to his home in Pennsylvania and made sexual advances on her over time. She said he gave her pills and wine in early 2004 and sexually assaulted her. New information about the case emerged in July, prompting prosecutors to launch an investigation into the allegations before the 12-year statute of limitations to file felony charges expires next month.

Cosby's team has responded to the charges, saying in a statement that they would aggressively fight back. "The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney's office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after

the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county's DA during which this case was made the focal point," Cosby's attorneys said on Wednesday afternoon. "Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law."

Cosby's bail was set at US$1 million and he posted the required 10 percent of the amount on Wednesday. Magisterial District Judge Elizabeth McHugh set a preliminary hearing for January 14.Cosby faces three counts of the indecent assault charge: assault without consent, assault when the complainant is unconscious or unaware that penetration is occurring, and assault when the person impairs the complainant.

(Aceshowbiz)

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&B singer Natalie Cole, whose hits included “This Will Be,” “I Live For Your Love” and “Unforgettable,” a virtual duet that she sang with her late father Nat “King” Cole, has died. The Associated Press reported she died Thursday night at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Cole died of congestive heart failure, and reportedly had experienced complications from a kidney transplant and hepatitis C. She had recently cancelled several concerts and suffered from liver disease.

“Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying

‘Force Awakens’ overtakes ‘Jurassic World’, ‘Titanic’; set to topple ‘Avatar’ all-time domestic record by Monday

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arly Friday PM industry figures show Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” making as much as $35M, raising its cume through 15 days to US$687M. It means that ‘Force Awakens’ flew past the No. 2 and No. 3 all-time domestic grossing titles “Titanic” (US$658.7M) and “Jurassic

World” (US$652.27M) in the same day.

By end of today, Sunday, ‘Force Awakens’’ total is projected to stand between US$744.8M-US$746M, just US$14.5M-US$15.7M short of Avatar‘s all-time domestic record of US$760.5M. Should these figures hold up, this would put ‘Force Awakens’ in a position to

own the all-time crown by end of Monday.

Disney reported Friday morning that ‘Force Awakens’ ended its 2015 with US$652M, just US$271K short of Jurassic World’s cume – which that film took 5-1/2 months to hit.

Since its opening, the Star Wars social media universe has exploded from

667M to 755M. Mark Hamill has added 38K Twitter followers since last Saturday, now counting 793K. Daisy Ridley is adding 20K likes a day on her Facebook page, up to 259K. US weekend industry box office estimates for Jan. 1-3, 2016 as of 11:30PM: 1). Star Wars: The Force Awakens (DIS),

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

K

artik Aaryan is an actor who appears in Bollywood films. He studied engineering, but chose a career in acting. He made his acting debut in 2010 in the romantic comedy “Pyaar Ka Punchnama” and reprised his role in “Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2”. In 2014, Aaryan appeared in the film “Kaanchi: The Unbreakable”.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan: ‘I will retire once I get a National Award’

T

he traders association of Khan Market in the national capital is contemplating legal action against Bollywood star Salman Khan for alleged "trademark infringement" by naming his online shopping portal khanmarketonline.com after the posh South Delhi market.

"We have objection to the name of his portal as Khan Market is a renowned entity known not only in India but across the globe. This portal is misusing our market's name and hence amounts to trademark infringement," said Sanjiv Mehra, president of Khan Market Traders' Association.

"Khan Market is a global brand, people across the globe know it by this name.

Salman Khan should have taken us into confidence before using the market's name for his portal. The courts in Delhi are closed right now.

Meanwhile, we are seeking legal advice on the issue.

We may approach the actor

T

and ask him to change the portal's name. If he doesn't agree then we will take the legal route," he added.

Salman had unveiled the shopping portal on his 50th birthday on December 27.

Though the portal is yet to become operational, potential customers can register on the site. The traders body said that Salman's portal will not only leave shop-

pers confused but also add to the woes of the shopkeepers in the 65-year-old market that has 156 shops and 35 restaurants.

"If his portal announces discount on a product, people will approach us thinking that the discount is being offered by us. It will leave our customers confused and create problems for us," Mehra said. (PTI)

he teaser of Maneesh Sharma’s next, “Fan”, starring Shah Rukh Khan, has already won the hearts of fans across the country.

The king Khan dons a very different appearance in the film as Gaurav, who resembles the film star Aryan (played by SRK ).

Asked whether he hopes to sweep all the awards, Shah Rukh jokingly said, “I am just waiting for the National award as I have decided to retire after getting one.”

Shah Rukh Khan says playing a superstar and his young lookalike admirer in “Fan” was physically draining but a “very interesting and schizophrenic” experience.

Shah Rukh, who finished shooting the Yash Raj film that is currently on its extensive post-production, says it was tough to transform himself into a 24-year-old person every

day with the help of prosthetics.

“Physically, it was extremely challenging to become 24. The prosthetics took about four hours... The guy is a lookalike of someone who he loves. His story is a lot similar like mine. He follows the star as he feels the star is from Delhi and he can also be like his idol some day. But the story is different...

To capture all that was very interesting and schizophrenic. I just hope that I have turned it out just okay,” Shah Rukh said.

The 50-year-old actor is happy that he got the opportunity to play a Delhi-based boy in the film. “I am glad that I got the opportunity to play a Delhi boy. I used to hate it when actors, who are not from Delhi, will play Delhi guys. I used to think why I have not been given the chance to play a Delhi boy as I come from there. I am very happy now. I had forgotten the accent. It’s good to recapture that.”

SRK says as far as the role of superstar Aryan Khanna is concerned, it is a milder version of his public persona. “He is actually very quiet unlike the flamboyance you see of me coming out on my birthday and waving at thousands of people. I don’t do the same in that film. We have never shown the star at shooting. We have never shown his flamboyance. That’s very different. That’s itself is very internalised because that’s how perhaps I am at home, very normal and regular.”

Introducing former model Waluscha De Sousa as female lead, the film will release on April 15 next year. (Hindustan Times)

Priyanka Chopra: ‘Education important “Dilwale” enters list of highest to avoid creating future criminals’

foreign earners in 10 days

S

hah Rukh Khan's” Dilwale”, released Dec. 18, 2015, has entered the list of top 10 foreign earners by collecting US$18.5 million in the first 10 days of release. The movie was released in 1,210 screens abroad.

This puts “Dilwale” at the number seven spot in the top 10 Bollywood movies overseas. Salman Khan’s “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” is at No 2 with us$29 million, followed by “Dhoom 3” (2013) at US28 million. The movie with the highest foreign collections from Bollywood is Aamir Khan’s “PK”, released in Dec. 2014. The film had collected US$47 million overseas.

“Dilwale” was co-produced by Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. and Rohit Shetty.

While the majority of the screens were in traditional markets: North America (the US and Canada), the UK and West Asia, “Dilwale” also released in new territories like Jordan, Spain, Finland, Trinidad and Guyana.

The film is all set to release in Germany, Iraq, Palestine, Peru, Switzerland, Morocco,

Austria and Egypt in the coming weeks.

“Shah Rukh Khan’s popularity in the international circuit makes it possible to explore new territories.

Ideally, around 85-90 per cent of the foreign collection comes from traditional markets. However, in case of Dilwale, we notice the new or non-traditional markets’ contribution at 30-35 per cent. This has helped expand the scope of the international performance for the film,” says Gaurav Verma, Chief Revenue Officer, Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. South East Asian markets like Malaysia and Indonesia are also contributing well to the foreign collection, he adds. The film’s headline song, “Gerua”, was dubbed in Malay to familiarise audiences. It was the top song on iTunes in Malaysia around the release.

E

ducation is an important aspect of avoiding the creation of future criminals, said National Award winning actor Priyanka Chopra, while commenting on the release of the juvenile involved in the 2012 Delhi gang rape.

Priyanka was in Delhi for a Unicef event when she was asked to comment on the Juvenile Justice Bill, which provides for the trial of those between 16 and 18 years of age as adults for heinous offences.

She said that the gravity of the crime still sends shock waves in her mind, and that commenting on the case is a “tricky” slope to walk on. “That is an extremely heinous crime. As a woman, I’m not just appalled and shocked but I am

amazed that children can be capable of something that heinous. Secondly, I believe that investing time on adolescents is very important during their rehabilitation, and educating boys that they should not indignify a woman (sic).”

The juvenile was held with five other men for the brutal rape and murder of the woman paramedical student on December 16, 2012, and was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. He was put in a remand home for three years, and released on Sunday after completing his sentence, amid protests by the parents of the victim and others in the national capital.

“It is a tricky situation when it comes to this case, but I do believe that when dealing with crimes like this, the focus should be on education and rehabilitation of the children so that we don’t create future criminals. And how it is done needs to be taken individually,” she said. (IANS)

Amitabh Bachchan: ‘I should really retire’

A

mitabh Bachchan has just said the unthinkable: That he is contemplating retirement. In a rather depressive post on his blog, Big B gave words to what millions of his fans wish never happens: “I am in state .. I am in state of … I am in state of hallucination .. of an end to the woes of life, of the woes of fever and infection and those harsh tablets that keep us away from any trouble in the near future .. near is good, there can be none else..I speak to much and in monosyllables ..I should really retire.”

The post began with a reflection on diseases and medication: “Drowsy in the drugs that get administered to ease the flow of the cold through the veins

and the body .. they are strange these symptoms .. they be delivered and rusty all along and then with sudden velocity enter within and devastate ..Medications are a deterrent not a cure .. or at times a cure and not a deterrent .. who knows and who cares .. no one does but the body of the sufferer .. alone in the darkness of the hoarse throat and choked nostrils.”

He continued: “Fear not dear brethen and sisteren of the Ef Blog , there is care and help on way and all shall be well by the end of the day tomorrow, or so they say .. they ? Yes they … they are the ones that administer the pill to recovery, the pill to better countenance and the pill to rest well in an ef-

fort to assassinate that evil virus that may have most surreptitiously crept in.”

Having worked in more than 150 films, Amitabh Bachchan has three National Awards (Agneepath, Black and Paa) and fourteen Filmfare awards to his credit. He has also been honoured with Padma Sri (1984), Padma Bhushan (2001) and Padma Vibhushan (2015).

The French government also honoured Amitabh with their highest civilian honour - the Knight of the Legion of Honour - in 2007 for his “exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.

Amitabh has been in the showbiz for five decades.

(Hindustan Times)

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Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends Star of the week

V

ishale Sukram of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne in Berbice, was already known for her mesmerizing performance when she was declared winner of the inaugural E-Networks Emerging Voices singing competition in 2014.Not only is Sukram a talented singer, but also a brilliant performer. In 2014 she made her debut as an actress in the dance and theatrical production Naya Zamana 19. Sukram is said to be one of many who will boost Guyana’s budding music industry.

She continues to share her passion for music as she performs on local and international stages.

(Photo by Amanda Richards) Trending Now

Fashion trends for 2016: Fresh, fun ideas to try in the new year

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rom candy-coloured hair to so-called "ugly" shoes, 2015 was chock full of weird and wacky trends. Below are some trends that are here to stay.

Patchwork patterns – this folksy look has a handcrafted denim feel without veering to too sloppy. It looks great on jeans, shirts, boots and just about any item or fabric. It'll be a winner in the new year!

Babylights or natural-looking highlights are a great way to lighten locks without making a colour commitment. Ask your stylist what best suits you

Stay in touch with your light-hearted side, but add a sophisticated touch with fun (and often funny) clothing pins.

Worn on everything from blazer lapels to denim jackets to solidcoloured snapback hats, this trendy look is on the rise for people from all walks of life.

Ripped and purposely distressed jeans have been all the rage for decades — and there's nothing wrong with a fashionable tear here or there. But in 2015, the look was taken to new levels. Some items were so destroyed, they looked nearly ready to fall apart; out with the old -overly distressed clothes for 2016.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Times Art

Teaching the art of jewellery-making V

annetta Seecharran has been influencing the art and design of jewellery for nearly 20 years.

She focuses on teaching professional jewellery-making techniques in a way that is fun and accessible to beginners and those who want to pursue jewellery as a hobby or as a profession.

Born in Guyana, the London-based jewellery teacher migrated at the age of 11 with her parents to New York. She graduated in 1991 from the prestigious Parsons School of Art with a BA in Product Design.

She later earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Jewellery Design at University of New Paltz in New York State.

During her career as a jewellery designer, her work made it into the permanent art collections of The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The Royal Pump Rooms of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, England; Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, England, and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.

In 1998, Seecharran set up her workshop in London

A statement piece created at her school

The designer's book

where she began to build her reputation as a contemporary jeweller. She currently lectures at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design and Camberwell College of Art in London.

In 2006, she opened the Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery, based in Islington, London, which has already taught more than 1,000 individuals, many of

whom subsequently began practices as makers/designers.

As a leading jeweller and with many years’ experience as an educator, Vannetta is passionate about teaching, and encourages her students to achieve their potential as designer/makers. In addition to teaching professional jewellery making techniques, there is an emphasis on developing individual design ideas. In just a few weeks, students develop a keen eye for jewellery design and begin to formulate their own ideas for jewellery making.

Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery is staffed by highly qualified tutors who bring to the students many years of teaching experience at leading art universities in London and upto-date skills and knowledge of the art and design field.

All tutors are practising designer/makers and exhibi-

Vannetta teaching fold forming: a process to create sculptural forms in jewellery making

tors of their work in the UK and other countries.

On her Facebook page, she mentions: “Courses specialise in silver and beaded jewellery making are all very hands-on, so from the beginning you will be using the tools and creating jewellery pieces. Students learn the basic techniques and skills with which they can progress to become a skilled jeweller and create beautifully designed pieces.

Classes are held in a fully equipped jewellery studio in Central London with specialist equipment for students to make use of.”

In November 2009, Vannetta's first book “The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewellery Making Techniques” was published by Search Press in London and Interweave in the U.S. Her book is the ultimate guide for the experimental jeweller. It offers detailed instructions and clear photographs for working with all kinds of materials – from rubber, resin, glass, leather and paper to plastics, ceramics, textiles, and natural and found objects, these

Jewellery artist Vannetta Seecharran

options, along with precious and non-precious metals, can all be used individually or combined in a mixed-media piece.

Preceded by a helpful introduction offering guidance on essential tools and inspirational advice for self-designed projects, the main section of her book is organised by material or media, providing details on the properties and possibilities for each as well as some inspiring examples of jewellery made using the techniques

described. For the finishing touch, information on various surface textures that can be achieved for each media as well as ideas for various clasps and closures are shared.

Today, Vannetta’s work is sold and exhibited in leading galleries and shows across Europe and North America.

For more information on the artist’s work, visit www. vannettaseecharran.com or Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery on Facebook.

Working with resin to create contemporary pieces

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JANUARY 3, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple Inc. maintains lead in Christmas mobile sales

A

pple Inc. may have sold the most number of mobile devices in the 2015 Christmas season than any other handsets maker, according to Flurry analytics.

The Yahoo! Inc.-owned

per cent of all new devices activated between December 19 and December 25.

In the same period, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.’s devices only accounted for 19.8 per cent

other mobile vendors, the Christmas holiday is an important selling period as mostly gifts drive sales.

It seems that those buying Christmas mobile gifts for friends and relatives fell more in love with Apple’s

Flurry tracks about 780,000 mobile apps and it can tell when a new device gets an app installed on it.

According to Flurry’s findings for Christmas, Apple devices accounted for 49.1

of new device activations.

Microsoft Corporation and Sony Corp (ADR) saw the activation of their devices on the Christmas week decline from last year.

For Apple Inc. and all

handsets than any other alternatives.

Interestingly, it is emerging that as much as Apple and every other smartphone vendor is moving to the large display for-

Tech news

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A

share it scooped in the same period last year. However, considering that the mobile device market is expanding rapidly, the percentage decline in Apple’s share doesn’t necessarily signal weakening grip.

Samsung gained shares of the 2015 Christmas mobile device sales. Its portion of 19.8 per cent of the market improved from $17.7 per cent a year ago. However, Microsoft and Sony all lost share, with Sony actually

falling off the top-five mobile device sellers radar.

Microsoft’s Christmas mobile sales share contracted to 2 per cent from 5.8 per cent last year.

Flurry’s data also continued to show tough environment for tablet sales. It has been said that the popularity of phablets is diminishing interest in tablet devices and Apple Inc. continues to take the heat despite its recent iPad Pro update.

Zuckerberg defends downsized internet for developing world

acebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday defended his company's downsized version of the Internet, called "Free Basics," which is offered in developing nations around the world.

Facebook launched Free Basics, a set of basic Internet services that is offered in more than 30 countries and has garnered some 15 million users over the last year, because everyone should have access to basic Internet services, Zuckerberg maintained.

However, the service has come under some criticism, especially in India, where last week the country's telecommunications industry regulator asked the mobile network set to partner with Facebook on Free Basics to put its efforts on hold.

Among the criticisms of Free Basics is that it stifles innovation by limiting choice, undermines net neutrality by favouring some content providers over others and confines users within a walled garden.

There is a trade-off between net neutrality and allowing more people to access the Internet, acknowledged Jan Dawson, chief analyst at Jackdaw Research.

Although Free Basics has introduced millions of new users to the Internet, doubts linger about Facebook's intentions.

"My assumption with Mark Zuckerberg is everything

Tech BYTE

mat, uptake of regular-size smartphones exceeded that of the so-called phablets.

In Apple’s case, twothird of the handsets it sold in the Christmas week were of the regular size. The larger display iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S line accounted for 12 per cent of its smartphone sales in the period.

However, despite maintaining lead, Apple Inc.’s 49.1 per cent share of Christmas mobile sales was below the 51.3 per cent

he does is a marketing initiative," said John Carroll, a mass communications professor at Boston University.

"If there's some kind of side benefit for other people, that's fine with him," he told TechNewsWorld.

Zuckerberg is all about collecting information and then selling it to marketers, Carroll noted.

"This is a market he's looking at -- the undeveloped world -- that he can gather up and do the same thing with them that he'd done with the other billion Facebook users," he said.

By creating a walled garden, Free Basics advances one of Zuckerberg's goals for Facebook. "One of Zuckerberg's objectives has long been for Facebook to be the Internet for people," Carroll noted.

"With Free Basics, he's going to bring in certain content providers that he picks and chooses. In that way, he creates the entire environment of digital media for all these people who wouldn't otherwise have access," Carroll continued.

Free Basics is a springboard to the Internet for users, Zuckerberg argued.

"Half the people who use Free Basics to go online for the first time pay to access the full Internet within 30 days," he wrote.

There is one thing, though, that even Zuckerberg's critics would agree with him about.

"Internet access has become a critical differentiator in terms of societal development and competitiveness," Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research, told TechNewsWorld.

It also can affect the lives of individuals.

"Lack of access to the Internet can have a negative impact on things people are trying to do to improve their lives in meaningful ways," Aaron Smith, associate director of research at the Pew Research Center, told TechNewsWorld.

Vehicles of 2016

s we start a new year with new possibilities, let's take a look at some vehicle designs over the last 12 months that could have a role to play in shaping the future of transport.

The WalkCar electric rolling pad: Imagine an aluminium pad not much larger than your laptop that can be easily lugged around in your bag, and then when you encounter a stretch of smooth concrete you can whip it out and be zipped along at up to 10 km/h (6.2 mph). Granted that's not a great deal faster than walking speed, but with a builtin battery, small footprint and four tiny wheels, the ultraportable WalkCar from Japan's Cocoa Motors shows what might be achieved with a less-is-more approach.

A motorcycle you can ride straight into a lake and out again: What do you get when you combine a 55-horsepower motorcycle and a small jet ski in the one machine? Probably

a whole lot of fun. The Biski from serial amphibious vehicle maker Alan Gibbs can hit speeds of 129 km/h (80 mph) on land and then when you roll up to shore, switch to jet ski mode in around five seconds to bound across the water at up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

A jetpack you could buy and fly now (well, technically): Our collective pursuit of personal, backpack-powered flight received a nice little nudge in November, when aviator David Mayman circled the Statue of Liberty in his JB-9 jetpack. It burns through fuel at around a gallon (3.8 L) a minute to offer a flight time of over 10 minutes, and though Mayman says he has had multi-million dollar offers for the jetpack and could technically start selling a modified version in the ultralight category tomorrow, he feels a certain responsibility about where it might take overenthusiastic pilots.

The Biski

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Zesty Chicken Meatballs Ingredients

R

ose Quartz and Serenity are worldrenown colour institute Pantone’s, ‘Colour of 2016’. For the first time, two shades make its list.

“Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing

1 lb ground chicken 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 egg, whisked 3 tbsps unseasoned whole-wheat bread crumbs 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp hot paprika 1 tsp onion powder

rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone’s Colour Institute.

Here’s how to incorporate these softer colours in your home this year.

Whether in soft or hard surface material, the pairing of Rose Quartz and Serenity brings calm and relaxation says Pantone

I

1 tsp chopped fresh oregano leaves, about 1 small sprig 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves, about 5 sprigs 1 tsp brown sugar 1 lemon, zested Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp unsalted butter 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Method

n a large bowl, gently mix the chicken, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire, paprika, onion powder, oregano, thyme, brown sugar, lemon zest, 2 healthy pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a bowl.

Form into mini meatballs, slightly smaller than a golf ball; it should make 28 to 30 meatballs.

Warm the butter and oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Transfer the meatballs to the pan and do not disturb for 3 minutes to brown well.

Turn, cooking another 3 minutes without disturbing. Keep cooking until browned and cooked on all sides, but still juicy and plump with a spring to the touch.

Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve atop Collard Green Pesto Linguine, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

GREATEST COOKING TIPS

T Accessorise with the colours: rugs, lamps, pillows, curtains, vases, baskets, dishes or poufs

haw turkeys in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave.

If you just finished cooking meat, don’t slice into it right away.

That will dry it out. Let cooked meat rest for 5 to 10 minutes before doing anything to it. If it’s a roast or something of similar size, wait 20 to 25 minutes.

While we've all been told to marinate meat before cooking, Alex James, Blur bassist turned food writer and cheese maker, says “I find marinades just drip off on to the coals and burn. It’s better to make a dressing and hit your meat with it immediately after cooking. It will suck up all the moisture wonderfully while it’s hot.”

I

A serene living room. “Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times,” says Pantone

HOME HELP

f you have remnants of your casserole stuck to your baking dish, wad a clean piece of foil—maybe one you used to keep a plate of food warm while the rest of dinner cooked—into a ball, then use it with few drops of dishwashing liquid to scrub glass cookware clean.

Lemon juice will work magic on food-stained cutting boards made of light wood or plastic. Slice a lemon in half; squeeze its juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.

Your cutting board will be stain-free and smell lemony fresh.

Wet weather is not good for suede, particularly suede shoes; so if it’s a wet day your suede is better off inside but if you do get caught in an unexpected downpour, allow it to dry naturally.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

How I found the bright side as a widow mom

Now, two and a half years after becoming a widow mom, I can function in the world with other people and actually have a good time Part 1

By Natalie Altieri

JOKES

Zero but no wrong answers tudent answers test questions, gets none right but has no wrong answers: Q1. In which battle did Napoleon die?

- in his last battle

S

Q2. Where was the declaration of independence signed?

- at the bottom of the page Q3. River Ravi flows in which state?

- liquid Q4.If you throw a red stone in a blue sea what it will become?

- stone becomes wet Expert Marksman ne of the best marksmen in the FBI was passing through a small town.

Everywhere he went, he saw evidences of the most amazing shooting. On trees, on walls, and on fences there were numerous bull's-eyes with the bullet hole in dead centre.

The FBI man asked one of the townsmen if he could meet the person responsible for this wonderful marksmanship and the man turned out to be the village idiot.

"This is the best marksmanship I have ever seen," said the FBI man. "How in the world do you do it?"

"Nothing to it," said the idiot. "I shoot first and draw the circles afterward."

O

T

here:

Job Interview Nightmares he following are "actual" post-interview excerpts collected from middle managers who, needless to say, probably did not hire any of the people mentioned

1. "Applicant stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."

2. "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."

3. "A balding candidate abruptly excused himself.

Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."

4. "Applicant asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate."

5. "Applicant announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and French fries in the interviewer's office - wiping the ketchup on her sleeve."

6. "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."

7. "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions."

8. "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office."

9. "At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, he went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."

10. "Applicant pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."

11. "Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."

12. "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's briefcase. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."

13. "A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?"

I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any farther."

Employer Benefits mployed by the human-development centre of a corporation in the Midwest, a woman trained employees in proper dress codes and etiquette.

One day as she was stepping onto the elevator, a man casually dressed in jeans and a golf shirt got on with her.

Thinking of her responsibilities, she scolded, "Dressed a little casually today, aren’t we?"

The man replied, "That’s one benefit of owning the company...."

E

I

was always a planner. So when I got pregnant in December 2011, I made my lists and made sure they happened. My husband and I decided to buy a house. After months of looking, we finally found a house and my mom moved into the downstairs apartment, so she could help us with our baby. Little did I know that four months after my son was born, my husband would die.

So, there I was—a widow mom at age 37, with a mortgage and a newborn son, John, to take care of. I was utterly distraught, but I went straight into survival mode. I went back to work just one week after he died because I had to pay the bills. At work, I was able to put on a smile and talk to people like nothing had happened.

At home, it was a different story.

I was mentally exhausted from being positive all day. I often couldn't leave my bedroom and left most of the parenting to my mother—something I still feel guilty about. One day melted into the next, and I felt as if I couldn't get out from under the black cloud that seemed to be tacked above my head.

After a year or so, I decided I needed to make a change. My son was starting to walk and talk, and I didn't want to him to have a mom who was so depressed. So, I started to go to therapy and think about what I really wanted for both my son and me. It took some time to actually figure out what that was. But I realized that I wanted to be a writer, so I worked on transitioning my career from being a project manager to a copywriter. (To be continued)

STORY TIME

A

The Talkative Turtle

talkative turtle overheard two hunters say that they were planning to catch turtles the very next day.

When the hunters left, the turtle asked two cranes to help him escape.

"Beautiful white birds," he said, "if you hold a long stick between your beaks, I'll close my mouth tightly in the middle of it, and then you can fly up and carry me to safety."

"Good idea," said the cranes. "But, for the plan to succeed, you will have to keep your mouth closed tightly on the stick and you must not say a word!"

The turtle agreed and biting on the middle of a stick held in the beaks of two birds, off he was carried.

When the birds were high in the air

Reflections

O

with the turtle dangling down from the stick, some people on the ground looked up at the strange sight in the sky and said, "What clever birds! They figured out how to carry a turtle!"

The proud, talkative turtle cried out, "It was my idea!" and fell tumbling down to earth. (A Tale from India)

O Me! O Life!

Me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish; Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d; Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me; Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined; The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.

That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.

By Grammar G

Walt Whitman

A copious contribution

S

ixteenth century English playwright William Shakespeare is said to be the most prolific writer to have contributed words to the English language. He is credited with some 1,700 (some say more than 2,000) words drafted into English.

Whether he invented them or was among the first to use them and make them popular, there are literally thousands of words in use today by English speakers, introduced from his many plays and poems.

From words (nouns and verbs) and expressions or phrases – even though he wrote in a far-gone era – his language is familiar to many of us today.

These include: assassination; bedazzled; distasteful; deafening; addiction; dwindle; impartial; eyesore; gossip; lacklustre, and mimic.

Also:hobnob; new-fangled; pale-faced; puking; bandit; well-read; tardy and

sanctimonious.

His contributions to English expressions include: beggar all description; brave new world; fool’s paradise; cold comfort, and heart of gold. He is also said to have introduced: in my mind’s eye; love is blind, and too much of a good thing.

It was from “Macbeth”, Act I, Scene VII that assassination arrived into English – derived from the term “assassin” (coined to describe the violent religious fanatics called the Hashashshin or “Hashish eaters” of 1090,who fuelled themselves with hashish before their murderous sprees).

Bedazzled was introduced in “The Taming of the Shrew”, Act IV, Scene V: “Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, that have been so bedazzled with the sun that everything I look on seemeth green.” – Katherina

20 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 3, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Which one of the following words does not belong with the other six?

Issue Mishap Parachute Ocean Semiconscious Anxious Mansion see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

Great Horned A Owl

GEOZONE

Atmospheric Pressure

tmospheric pressure is the amount of force or pressure exerted by the atmosphere on the objects located

T

he Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) can be found from the Arctic through North and Central America to South America. It is considered one of the most common birds of the Americas, living among

human habitats as well as in the wild.

It is so named for the feather tufts on its head; called "plumicorns" they resemble horns, though to some they look like catlike ears.

Great Horned Owls weigh 2 to 5.5 lbs (1 to 2.5 kg) and are some 18 to 25 in (46 to 63 cm) tall with a 3.3 to 4.8 ft (1 to 1.5 m) wingspan. Females are larger than males.

They are efficient carnivorous nocturnal hunters and eat a wide variety of creatures, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, domestic birds, falcons, as well as other owls. They also eat skunks.

With their amazing digestive system, they sometimes swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate pellets of bone, fur and other unwanted parts of their meal.

within it.

The more pressure there is, the stronger that force will be, or the harder the atmosphere will push against animals, plants, rocks, and the surface of the Earth.

Differences in pressure from one area to another causes air to move about quickly so as to equal out the different pressures. This rushing of air is what we know as wind. Pressure differences also create differences in temperature.

Everything around us is made up of tiny particles called molecules, as the molecules of the atmosphere move around, bumping into objects such as your body, they create a pressure. This pressure is exerted from above, beneath, the sides, and from every direction at once.

When it is pressing down with more force in the area, it is considered a high pressure. When the atmosphere presses in with less force, it is called low pressure.

Word Search Cloud types

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

Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all please see solution on page 23

digits 1 through 9.

altocumulus cirrostratus cumulus noctilucent altostratus cirrus

nacreous stratocumulus cirrocumulus cumulonimbus nimbostratus stratus

22 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 3, 2016

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

World Times

Art takes a lickin’ Animal Selfies of 2015 I

When cows make art

t is said that those who seek beauty will find it everywhere. This is certainly true of Whit Deschner, a writer-turnedart-critic in Baker City, Oregon. Deschner is the creator of Baker City’s annual Great Salt Lick Art Auction, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

Farmers and ranchers from around the region bring in blocks of salt that their livestock have licked into interesting shapes.

The tongue sculptures are judged and auctioned off at a party that brings the whole town together.

If you didn’t know what

you were looking at, it really would be easy to mistake the used salt licks for works of modern art. That’s what got Deschner thinking, back in 2006, while vis-

iting a friend who had left a used-up salt lick in front of his cabin.

"We'd had a couple of beers, and it just started looking more and more like

art to us," Deschner told NPR. "Could be outside a federal building."

The next step was obvious—to Deschner, anyway.

There would have to be an

Brain Teaser Answer Mishap is the misfit.

The other six words, and the three in the title, all contain the 'sh' sound which is spelled in nine different ways.

Ironically, the word which does contain -sh- is not pronounced 'sh'!

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

art contest.

Deschner’s neighbours were understandably sceptical at first. But eight years later, the Great Salt Lick Art Auction has become the party—and the art event— of the year. Despite the seemingly random nature of salt-lick sculpture production, a good-natured competition has arisen among the locals.

A fresh salt lick retails for about US$5, but the finished works of art are auctioned off for much more, between US$200 and US$1000. The auction is also a fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease research, so every sale is a win.

That idea also came from Deschner, who has Parkinson’s disease. He told NPR that living with the degenerative condition has taught him one thing: “You have to follow your folly.”

To date, the auctions have raised tens of thousands of dollars and have inspired a sense of goodnatured weirdness among Baker City residents.

S

elf-portraits with animals, or images even snapped by animals themselves, continued to make social media waves in 2015 says discovery.com.

An elephant at Koh Phangan, Thailand, grabbed the camera of traveller Christian Le Blanc, resulting in this memorable shot that was shared thousands of times in 2015. Le Blanc was feeding the elephant when the photo was made.

Le Blanc told BBC News, "I quickly ran out of bananas and the elephant swiftly reached for my GoPro camera. Luckily it was on a continu-

ous filming setting so the whole thing was captured."

A

series of images taken by a female Celebes crested macaque named "Naturo" date to 2011, but gained a whole new social media life in 2015. That is because in September, PETA filed a lawsuit claiming that Naturo herself holds the rights to the photos that she took using equipment belonging to photographer David John Slater.

2

015 saw the rise of the "quokka selfie."

Quokkas are cat-sized Australian marsupials whose expressive faces and friendly ways have made them perfect subjects for photo close-ups.

In fact, many Twitter and Instagram users report that, instead of running away from people and their cameras, quokkas seem to revel in the attention.

Quokkas are endangered, however, so it is illegal in some locations.

Top 10 scientific discoveries of 2015

T

From the discovery of a new human ancestor to free-flowing water on Mars, scientists were busy in 2015

his year brought the discovery of new human ancestor in South Africa, 211 new species in the Eastern Himalayan, and the first new antibiotic in almost

30 years. As 2015 comes to a close, here is a look back at some of the top scientific breakthroughs, discoveries, and announcements.

1. A new human ancestor: Homo nalendi. In September, scientists announced the discovery of a previously unknown human ancestor, homo nalendi, found in a cave in South Africa. The unearthed fossils represented at least 15 individuals characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied humans. The homo nalendi fossils are the largest collection of a single species found in Africa, adding yet another branch to the human family tree.

CROSSWORD 4

2. CRISPR gene-editing advancements.

3. Hundreds of new species discovered.

4. Free-flowing water on Mars. In September, NASA scientists presented what they said was the strongest evidence yet of the presence of water on Mars: flowing salty streaks of water that vary with the seasons. Scientists were also able to detect the presence of waterlogged molecules, called perchlorates. This discovery makes the presence of living organisms on the planet more likely.

1

5. Cancer-detecting blood test 6. First new antibiotic in 30 years.

7. Map of "epigenome," a second genetic code.

8. Brightest galaxy.

9. A new bionic lens.

10. Changing human leukaemia cells into immune cells.

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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Fun Times

Archie

Keep your eyes and ears open and focus on getting (March 21things done. The more aware April 19) you are of what's going on around you, the easier it will be to negotiate to your advantage later on.

ARIES

You can accomplish plenTAURUS ty if you work steadily toward (April 20your set goal. Laying down a May 20) solid foundation for the upcoming year will ensure your success. You will learn by observing others.

GEMINI Be careful when it comes to (May 21- sharing information. Whether June 20) it's personal or about someone else, your input will result in criticism or blame. Don't address sensitive issues.

Don't take on additional responsibilities.

Focus on (June 21home, family and spending July 22) time with people you care about. A new creative endeavor will develop into a stress reliever as the year unfolds.

CANCER

Dilbert

You'll face opposition if you LEO aren't diplomatic. Don't force (July 23Aug. 22) your ideas on others. Listen and find a way to compromise and use what's offered to your benefit. Romance is encouraged.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Plan to network or sit down with someone you feel can contribute to your plans.

Don't let an emotional situation at home stop you from following through with your professional goals.

If something isn't sitting LIBRA right with you, make a point (Sept. 23to discuss options that will Oct. 23) help you feel more comfortable with the way things are going. Address relationship problems honestly.

Peanuts

Strive to be unique, but SCORPIO also be receptive to new ideas (Oct. 24Nov. 22) and concepts that have the potential to help you push your ambitions to fruition. Call in favors and forge ahead.

Make the changes at home SAGITTARIUS that will allow you greater (Nov. 23freedom to come and go as you Dec. 21) please. Focus on a new and improved you. Implement a health regimen.

Calvin and Hobbes

Choose your battles wiseCAPRICORN ly.

You are best off taking the (Dec. 22initiative and doing the things Jan. 19) that you can handle independently. Keep your life simple and your responsibilities minimal.

Stay focused and busy.

AQUARIUS Take proper care of your (Jan. 20health and do something to Feb. 19) boost your appeal. Control situations rather than letting them manipulate you.

Romance is highlighted.

Stay out of harm's way.

PISCES (Feb. 20- Don't head into a situation March 20) that could limit or discourage you. Strive to be unique, and go after your goals.

Negotiations will go well.