Magazine - Sunday 12, 2019

May 19, 2019

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Ramadaan Kareem

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Feature

Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of learning self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, dur-

ing which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers. Those unable to fast, such as pregnant or nursing women, the sick, or elderly people and children, are exempt from fasting.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on a 12 month lunar year of approx-

imately 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, each lunar month moves 11 days earlier each year. It takes 33 solar years for the lunar months to complete a full cycle and return to the same season. This year, the month long fast of Ramadan began on May 7th, 2019 in Guyana. The month tradi-

tionally begins and ends based on the sighting of the first crescent of the new moon.

During this month, Muslims fast from pre-dawn until sunset, as a means to grow in God-consciousness and moral excellence.

Muslims fast from predawn to sunset, a fast of between 11-16 hours depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days. The fast of Ramadan entails forgoing food and drink, and if married, abstaining from sex during the fasting hours.

For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to train themselves both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts such as gossiping, backbiting, lying or arguing.

Muslims welcome Ramadan as an opportunity for selfreflection, and spiritual improvement. Ramadan is also a highly social time as Muslims invite each other to break fast together and meet for prayers at the mosque.

The ultimate goal of fasting is gaining greater Godconsciousness, in Arabic, taqwa, signifying a state of constant awareness of God. From this awareness a person should gain discipline, self-restraint and a greater incentive to do good and avoid wrong.

In commemoration of the revelation of the Qur’an, Muslim’s holy book, which began during the month of Ramadan, Muslims attempt to read the entire book during Ramadan and gather nightly at mosques to hold special prayers during which the entire Qur’an is recited by the end of the month.

All Muslims who have reached puberty are obliged to fast. However, for people in situations where fasting would be a hardship, they a r e exempted from fasting. This includes any-

one who is sick or traveling; women who are pregnant, nursing, or on their menses; or older people who are too weak or ill to fast. Anyone who is exempted must make up the fast later, except for those who cannot fast due to age or chronic illness.

Instead, they can feed a poor person for every day of fasting they miss.

While children are not required to fast until they reach puberty, it is customary for children beginning around seven years of age to perform limited or symbolic fasting such as fasting half days or on weekends. This trains them gradually and helps to engender a sense of inclusion during the month long observance. Mosques often give special recognition to children who are fasting their first full day or first Ramadan.

A Muslim family usually rises about 5:00 a.m. before the first of dawn and eats a modest, breakfast-like meal called suhoor. After the meal, the family performs the morning prayer, and depending on the circumstances, the family goes back to bed or begins the day.

Particularly during the long summer months, people often take a nap in the late afternoon after work or school. At sunset, family members break the fast with a few dates and water, and depending on the culture, other light foods such as soup, appetizers or fruit.

This is referred to as iftar which means “breaking the fast.”

After performing the sunset prayers, the family eats dinner. Inviting guests to break the fast or going to someone else’s house for iftar is very common in Ramadan.

Many families then go to the mosque for the night prayer and a special R a m a d a n prayer called Tarawih.

A f t e r completi n g

their prayers, the families return home and prepares for the next day. During Tarawih, the prayer leader recites at least one thirtieth of the Qur’an so that by the end of the month the entire Qur’an will have been recited.

Many mosques host daily community dinners where Muslims can break their fast together. This is a great service for students, the poor and anyone who desires a break from cooking. Almost all mosques also host a community dinner on the weekends.

Since Ramadan is a time for Muslims to be especially charitable and fasting helps Muslims feel compassion for the hungry and less fortunate, many mosques hold food drives or fundraisers for charity during Ramadan. Many mosques also host open houses for their friends and neighbors of other faiths to join them for their fast-breaking dinner or iftar at the end of the fasting day.

The Night of Power known as Lailat al-Qadr, is believed to fall on one of the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadan, but is most widely observed on the 27th night of Ramadan.

It is considered the most blessed night in Ramadan because it is believed to be the night in which the Qu’ran was first revealed.

Mosques are open all night as Muslims hold vigils in prayer, Qur’anic recitation, and contemplation.

Breaking the fast with dates is the only strictly traditional culinary custom associated with Ramadan. It is interesting to note the suitability of dates for this purpose as they are a concentrated source of energy and easily digestible. Different Muslim-populated countries have a variety of special dishes and desserts for Ramadan.

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Feature

S

omeone once said “Music is a moral law.

It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

Fittingly, that quote embodies the drive and passion for spreading music that Nawaz Khan possesses.

The fifteen-year-old student of the Al Ghazali Islamic Academy has been singing for over eight years now and is intent on leaving an undeniable legacy. Though still young and untrained, Nawaz’s voice has the ability to move crowds to tears and invoke a sense of selfintrospection.

Though initially taught to sing qaseedas, a form of Islamic poetry, Nawaz is very fond of the soul of qawaalis and envisions a future where he is allowed to make his mark in the music world. When he was 7, Nawaz’s father introduced him to Islamic poetry in the form of qaseeda and he was first taught to sing “nabiyo kay Sardar Muhammad.”

That initial qaseeda would later forge an unbreakable bond with Nawaz’s love for music. However, as he was being taught by his father, Nawaz did not take a liking to the hours of practice so it was initially something he showed little interest in. However, after hearing of Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, Nawaz immediately realised his calling.

He became engrossed in the music that Atif made and started his own journey. He decided to pay more attention to his music and the hours and hours of learning complicated lyrics,

harmonizing and controlling his pitch seemed not enough for him. He was focusing most of his spare time to watching youtube videos and teaching himself the intricacies of the various qaseedas, Sufis and qawwalis.

“Although my father was the person who taught me my first qaseeda and got me in the whole singing thing he is not a singer. In fact, I am the first person in my family that has taken up singing and it is something that I now enjoy.

I cannot see myself doing anything else other than having a career in singing,” he said.

Still a student, everything Nawaz know about singing is what he taught himself. There are times when he would have to choose whether academics or music take precedence and more than often it is the latter. However, he still performs well in school and is somewhat saddened that music does not form part of his academic studies.

“School is good for me and after I finish I plan to take music training. Atif Aslam is my role model and like him, I want to make my

T

he importance of family cannot be underestimated and stems from its significant role, namely the making of an individual who benefits himself and others. This calls for a much longer, deeper and harder period of training.

Taking care of one’s family is an important part of every religious belief since the bond forged by family members runs deeper than any other bond.

While everyone takes care of their family in their own unique way, Punadai Ramdass is no different. The mother of three girls does everything in her power to ensure that their lives are comfortable and that they can follow the teachings of Islam as prescribed by the Holy Qur’an.

Family togetherness during Ramadaan is especially important for parents of young children and adolescents.

Children’s early experiences of Ramadaan informs the feeling and memories they associate with this blessed month throughout their lives.

Creating family traditions to get children excited about and engaged with Islam dur-

Punadai Ramdass (second right) with her husband Manzoor and three children on their way for Eid ul Fitr prayers

ing this month will help them grasp hold of the inexplicable aura of blessings and sacredness that we as adults cherish about Ramadaan.

For Ramdass and her family of four, Ramadaan is a time they use to reflect on the trials

of the past year as well as all they would have accomplished.

They set goals and set about achieving them.

“Ramadaan is where we reflect on everything. It is time for our family to follow the rules of Islam. We are not

bothered about waking up at three in the morning and getting our day started.

We actually look forward to Ramadaan every year,” the matriarch said.

In preparation for Ramadaan, Ramdass and her family would get involved in thoroughly cleaning their house so that the workload is somewhat lighter during the period of fasting. This gives the family the time to become much closer as they would begin and end their fast together, pray together and visit the masjid.

One of the highlights of the family’s time during fasting is looking forward to celebrating Eid ul Fitr and breaking bread with their fellow Muslims.

This Ramadaan is like every other for the family as they reflect and give thanks for everything the Almighty Allah has afforded them.

Now that her eldest daughter is married and have started a family of her own, Ramdass prays imparts that Islamic knowledge to her grandson.

She spends time teaching him the Qur’an and ensure that he follows the rules of Islam.

name known in Bollywood. I know I can accomplish that I will do that because I will work hard to get where I want to be. It is my dream and I will achieve it.”

The devout Muslim was taught the Quran at a very young age and says that he uses it to guide his everyday life. He uses the teachings of the holy book to navigate the challenges he is faced with daily.

Thus far, Nawaz has participated in a number of qaseeda competition both locally and regionally. He has certainly placed his name out there as a force to be reckoned with and someone who is passionate about what he does. He credits his success to his parents Abdul Hamid and Nalima Nesha everyone who has been his supporter from day one.

“Singing is relaxing for me. When I sing I forget everything else and I go to place where it is just me and the music, a place where I am peaceful and happy. I sing from my heart and I am sure people realise that I have the potential to go very far.”

Punadai and her husband Manzoor

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Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

An important Pillar of Islam

T

he five pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam; also arkan al-din, “pillars of religion”) comprise five official acts considered obligatory for all Muslims. The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to faith.

The five pillars are the shahadah (witnessing the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad ), regular observance of the five prescribed daily prayers (salat), paying zakah (almsgiving), fasting (sawm; siyyam) during the month of Ramadan, and performance of the hajj (pilgrimage during the prescribed month) at least once in a lifetime.

The first pillar, the shahadah, consists of two declarations. The first, “There is no god but God,” affirms belief in a single divine reality (tawhid). The second, “Muhammad is the messenger of God,” affirms submission to God via acceptance of His message as revealed to humanity through Muhammad.

This declaration of faith signifies entrance of the believer into the broader community (ummah) of Muslims and is required of converts to Islam.

The second pillar, the five daily prayers, signifies the believer's submission to God and serves as public, physical evidence of the believer's adherence to Islam. Prayers are to be performed just before dawn, at

noon, in midafternoon, just after sunset, and in the evening, between an hour after sunset and midnight.

Prayers are to be made in the direction of Mecca and must be carried out in a state of ritual purity, achieved by either ritual ablutions or a bath. Movements during prayer imitate entrance into the presence of a great ruler (symbolized by the raising of the hands to the ears and proclamation of the glory and majesty of the ruler for all to hear), bowing reverently, and then uttering the opening chapter of the Quran, the Surat al-Fatihah.

Worshipers then utter other Quranic verses while completing the ritual bowing, which is followed by prostration, performed on the knees with both hands on the ground and the forehead touching between them.

Worshipers repeat their glorification of God and prostration three times. The entire cycle of prayer (rakah) is then repeated. After every two cycles and after the third cycle in the sunset prayer, the worshiper sits back on the heels and addresses God with a ritual prayer calling forth God's blessings upon Muhammad.

After completing all cycles of canonical prayer, the worshiper sits back on the heels and recites the shahadah, formally reaffirming the truth of Islam and engag-

ing the worshiper in direct communication with God. Private petitions are then offered. Formal blessings are requested upon Muhammad and Abraham . The prayer ends with an invocation of peace. Every canonical prayer requires between two and four rakahs. In total, seventeen rakahs are performed daily.

The third pillar is the zakah (alms tax), typically paid to a religious official or representative of the Islamic state or to a representative of a local mosque. This amount is traditionally set at one-fortieth, or 2.5 percent, of the value of all liquid assets and income-generating properties owned by the believer. It is used to feed the poor, encourage conversion to Islam, ransom captives, help travelers, support those devoting themselves to God's work, relieve debtors, defend the faith, and any other purpose deemed appropriate. The zakah serves as a reminder of one's broader social responsibilities to the community.

The fourth pillar is observation of the monthlong fast (sawm) of Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar), from sunrise to sunset. The believer is supposed to abstain from food, drink, and sexual activity during the daylight hours, demonstrating affirmation of ethical awareness and serving as a purifying act of sacrifice of one's bodily desires for the sake o f

God. The direct experience of pain and hunger over a prolonged period of time reminds the believer of the pain and hunger experienced by the poor.

The fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca during the first ten days of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Every Muslim who is physically and financially capable of making the trip and performing the prescribed rites is required to make the hajj.

The nine essential rites of the hajj are the putting on of the ihram (unsewn cloth symbolizing the humility and equality of all believers), circumambulation of the Kaaba, standing at the plain of Arafat, spending the night at Muzdalifa, throwing stones at three symbols of Satan, sacrifice of an animal at Mina, repetition of the circumambulation of the Kaaba, drinking of water from the well of Zamzam, and performance of two cycles of prayer at the Station of Abraham.

The hajj can be considered complete without performing all of the required rites, but the pilgrim must pay expiation for the failure to complete them. During the hajj, the pilgrim is to avoid thinking about anything but the remembrance of God and the rites of pilgrimage, since the circumambulation of the Kaaba, like canonical prayer, symbolizes the believer's entrance into the divine presence.

Both Sunnis and Shiis agree on the essential details for carrying out the five pillars. In popular Sufi piety, the five pillars were personally internalized as acts of devotion and spiritual exercises. The shahadah became a constant recollection (dhikr) of God and the obligatory prayers became a life of continuous prayer and meditation.

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Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

M

Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Mecca

ecca is the holiest place for all the Muslims in the world. It is also the largest mosque in the world that covers an area of 356,800sqm. Millions of Muslims visited here for performing Hajj. It is the largest gathering in the world.

Kaaba Mosque, Medina

The first stone of the mosque were placed by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) when he arrived on his emigration from Mecca to Medina.

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Medina

It is the second holiest site in Islam. Masjid-e-Nabawi is situated in Medina. It was built by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). It is a big destination for pilgrims who perform Hajj from Mecca to Medina.

Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem

It is located in the old city of Jerusalem. The mosque is believed to be the second house of worship after the Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca.

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Preserving our literary heritage Educational Leadership:

by

Petamber Persaud

E

d u c a t i o n al Leadership: A Guyanese Perspective, is an adventure into the social fabric, nay, into the essence of Guyana exposing some of its strengths and weaknesses while offering significant solutions to its educational and moral shortcomings; this four-decade adventure, beginning in 1978, was an adventure with all its attendant challenges, setbacks, and pyrrhic victories accompanied by a gracious sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that banished thoughts of surrendering and stemming the adrenaline rush knowing there was more to do, more that can be done, and many other less travelled roads to explore.

In the words of O’Toole, ‘[f] or whatever successes that are shared in these pages, there were as many false starts, obstacles, scenes of disunity and times of deep

discouragement and disillusionment…’. It is useful put all these features together for they provide an insight into why the author labels this adventure ‘a journey of faith’. Faith is ‘the substance of things hoped for’ (Hew. 11.1- KJV). And it took a lot of faith for him to leave his wife of only ten days behind while he headed to Guyana in search of employment and a place to live in order to be reunited with his wife. But his faith was there, strong, grounded in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, blessed by many miracles.

Educational Leadership is not an overtly academic approach to teaching and learning although it incorporates academics as its guiding principles to progress and development rather it is a practical method of walking the walk, very often, hand in hand, as together stakeholders build, block by block, step by step, with faltering steps and false starts, with disil-

lusionments and triumphs functioning as teaching aids, incorporating indigenous wisdom like ‘waan waan dutty buil dam’ and commonsense concept like ‘cut your coat according to your cloth’, thereby transforming ‘despair into hope’.

All of the above would be of little consequence if not supported by moral education. A sound educational leadership rests firmly on sound moral principles. This is demonstrated throughout the book.

The book, Educational Leadership: A Guyanese Perspective by Dr. Brian O’Toole tells a narrative of over forty years of experiment in education, in leadership and in educational leadership, showing also that schools needed leaders and not mere managers. And the book, according to Prof.

Roy McConkey, in his foreword, ‘is about leadership that educates’ focusing on ‘disability, early child educa-

tion, literacy, health promotion, and social problems’ using locally produced teaching aids and examples, all coming together to emphasise that Educational Leadership is ‘practical application of knowledge’.

Central themes of the book could be ‘relationships are more powerful than systems’ and ‘fragmented activities do not produce sustainable development’, each could stand on its own but together they translate into ultimate transformation of individuals and communities.

The book traces the life and work of Brian O’Toole, incorporating the work of his helpmate, Pamela, from 1978 when they arrived in this country to be greeted to two faces of Guyana – ‘a curious mixture of warmth, hospitality, joy, kindness, but also there was a profound sense of hopelessness and despair’. The life and work of the O’Tooles in Guyana include the sojourning and con-

tribution of a few other persons.

Once again, O’Toole exhibits magnanimity with this book by including the reflections of many of the stakeholders emphasising that this is not the story of one man rather it is the story of ‘a number of remarkable people to put faith into action and to begin to articulate some new lines of development’. Some of those names worthy of mention at this juncture include Roy McConkey, Gordon Naylor, Pat Cameron, Jamshid Aidun, and Soma Stout.

This user-friendly book pregnant with inspiring stories of transformed lives and communities is thoughtfully designed and laid out into seven chapters with a foreword, an introduction, an index, references, and further

reading.

Why such a book was not placed into the domain of public long before this date? O’Toole explains that ‘funders wanted action and this took priority over writing’.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s Happening: New Releases: Going home by Milton Bruce, Arshana by Indrani Guyadeen, On watching a lemon sail the sea by Maggie Harris, Antipodal by Terence Roberts, New and collected poems by Ian McDonald, Two young birds by Leonard Marks, A Proud product of Guyana’s Bitter-Sweet Sugar

by Nowrang Persaud.

It’s the month of prayer In which, they stay in silence They begin to pray, by saying 'Bismillah Al Rahman Al Rahim..'

Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

The month begins By the mark of the Moon The heavenly body that glows beautifully Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

Wherever they're They stay steadfast for prayer They pray, whether together or lonely Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

Throughout the day They may be weak or silently pray But in their faces, their eyes gleam Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

Through this fast, They learn a lot Discipline, obedience, humility Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

They fast with zeal For half the day We stand with you, for it, to holily keep Let us all say, Ramadan Kareem!

By Alen Alexander

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Gangrene

G

angrene refers to the death of body tissue due to either a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection. Gangrene commonly affects the extremities, including your toes, fingers and limbs, but it can also occur in your muscles and internal organs.

Your chances of developing gangrene are higher if you have an underlying condition that can damage your blood vessels and affect blood flow, such as diabetes or hardened arteries (atherosclerosis).

Treatments for gangrene include surgery to remove dead tissue, antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The prognosis for recovery is better if gangrene is identified early and treated quickly.

Symptoms

When gangrene affects your skin, signs and symptoms may include: • Skin discoloration — ranging from pale to blue, purple, black, bronze or red, depending on the type of gangrene you have • Swelling or the formation of blisters filled with fluid on the skin • A clear line between healthy and damaged skin • Sudden, severe pain followed by a feeling of numbness • A foul-smelling discharge leaking from a sore • Thin, shiny skin, or skin without hair • Skin that feels cool or cold to the touch If you have a type of gangrene that affects tissues beneath the surface of your skin, such as gas gangrene or internal gangrene, you may notice that: • The affected tissue is swollen and very painful • You're running a low-grade fever and generally feel unwell A condition called septic shock can occur if a bacterial infection that originated in the gangrenous tissue spreads throughout your body. Signs and symptoms of septic shock include: • Low blood pressure • Fever, possibly,

though temperature may also run lower than the normal 96.8 F (36 C) • Rapid heart rate • Lightheadedness • Shortness of breath • Confusion

Types of gangrene

Dry gangrene. Dry gangrene is characterized by dry and shriveled skin ranging in color from brown to purplish blue or black. Dry gangrene may develop slowly. It occurs most commonly in people who have arterial blood vessel disease, such as atherosclerosis, or in people who have diabetes.

Wet gangrene. Gangrene is referred to as "wet" if there's a bacterial infection in the affected tissue.

Swelling, blistering and a wet appearance are common features of wet gangrene.

may make a crackling sound when you press on it because of the gas within the tissue.

Gas gangrene is most commonly caused by infection with the bacterium Clostridium perfringens, which develops in an injury or surgical wound that's depleted of blood supply. The bacterial infection produces toxins that release gas — hence the name "gas" gangrene — and cause tissue death. Like wet gangrene, gas gangrene can be lifethreatening.

Internal gangrene.

Gangrene that affects one or more of your organs, such as your intestines, gallbladder or appendix, is called internal gangrene. This type of gangrene occurs when blood flow to an internal organ is blocked — for example, when your intestines

Men are more often affected, but women can develop this type of gangrene as well.

Fournier's gangrene usually arises due to an infection in the genital area or urinary tract and causes genital pain, tenderness, redness and swelling.

Progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene (Meleney's gangrene). This rare type of gangrene typically occurs after an operation, with painful skin lesions developing one to two weeks after surgery.

Risk factors

Several factors increase your risk of developing gangrene. These include: • Diabetes • Blood vessel disease • Severe injury or surgery

It may develop after a severe burn, frostbite or injury. It often occurs in people with diabetes who unknowingly injure a toe or foot. Wet gangrene needs to be treated immediately because it spreads quickly and can be fatal.

Gas gangrene. Gas gangrene typically affects deep muscle tissue. If you have gas gangrene, the surface of your skin may initially appear normal.

As the condition progresses, your skin may become pale and then evolve to a gray or purplish red color. A bubbly appearance to your skin may become apparent, and the affected skin

bulge through a weakened area of muscle in your abdomen (hernia) and become twisted.

Internal gangrene may cause fever and severe pain.

Left untreated, internal gangrene can be fatal.

Fournier's gangrene.

Fournier's gangrene involves the genital organs.

• Smoking • Obesity • Immunosuppression • Medications or drugs that are injected

Complications

Gangrene can lead to scarring or the need for reconstructive surgery.

Sometimes, the amount of

tissue death is so extensive that a body part, such as your foot, may need to be removed (amputated).

Gangrene that is infected with bacteria can spread quickly to other organs and may be fatal if left untreated.

Prevention

Here are a few suggestions to help you reduce your risk of developing gangrene: Care for your diabetes.

If you have diabetes, make sure you examine your hands and feet daily for cuts, sores and signs of infection, such as redness, swelling or drainage. Ask your doctor to examine your hands and feet at least once a year, and try to maintain control over your blood sugar levels.

Lose weight. Excess pounds not only put you at risk of diabetes but also place pressure on your arteries, constricting blood flow and putting you at risk of infection and slow wound healing.

Don't use tobacco. The chronic use of tobacco products can damage your blood vessels.

Help prevent infections.

Wash any open wounds with a mild soap and water and try to keep them clean and dry until they heal.

Watch out when the temperature drops. Frostbitten skin can lead to gangrene because frostbite reduces blood circulation in an affected area. If you notice that any area of your skin has become pale, hard, cold and numb after prolonged exposure to cold tempera-

tures, call your doctor.

Diagnosis

Tests used to help make a diagnosis of gangrene include: Blood tests. An abnormally elevated white blood cell count often indicates the presence of an infection.

Your doctor might also perform blood tests to look for the presence of certain bacteria or other germs.

Imaging tests. An X-ray, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be used to view interior body structures, such as your internal organs, blood vessels or bones, and assess the extent to which gangrene has spread. These types of tests can also help your doctor see any gas that is present under your skin.

An arteriogram is an imaging test used to visualize your arteries. During this test, dye is injected into your bloodstream and X-ray pictures are taken to determine how well blood is flowing through your arteries. An arteriogram can help your doctor find out whether any of your arteries are blocked.

Surgery. Surgery may be performed to determine the extent to which gangrene has spread within your body.

Fluid or tissue culture.

A culture of the fluid from a blister on your skin may be examined for the bacterium Clostridium perfringens, a common cause of gas gangrene, or your doctor may look at a tissue sample under a microscope for signs of cell death. (Mayo Clinic)

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Make Ramadan 2019 a healthy one with these exceptional Ramadan recipes for your Iftar and Suhoor menu. Get your daily dose of nutrition tips to ensure healthy eating throughout this month and all the way to the magnificent feast on Eid ul Fitr.

Instruction Mix cream cheese and Gorgonzola cheese together in a bowl. Cut a slit into each date so they can be spread flat. Spread cheese mixture into each date; top with a walnut piece.

Ingredients • 3 ounces softened cream cheese • 3 ounces Gorgonzola cheese • Pitted dates • Walnut pieces

Ingredients • • • • •

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

3 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 5 green chilli peppers, finely sliced 1 teaspoon ginger paste 3 whole cardamom seeds 2 whole cloves 1 1/2 (2 inch) cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup water 2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces

2.

3.

4.

Stir in the garlic, green chilies, ginger paste, cardamom seeds, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Cook and stir until the garlic begins to brown, 3 to 5 more minutes.

Mix cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and water into the onion mix-ture. Simmer until most of the water has evaporated and the mixture has thickened.

Stir in beef chuck pieces until coated with spice mixture; simmer over medium-low heat, stir-ring occasionally, until the beef is cooked through and tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

•

• • • • •

• • •

• • • • •

2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1 inch pieces 1/2 teaspoon garam masala salt to taste 2 tablespoons butter, divided 1 onion, chopped 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (optional) 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup water 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-

high heat. Add chopped tomatoes and garlic, stirring occasionally, until liquid has cooked out of the tomatoes. Carefully break eggs over tomatoes without breaking yolks. Lightly season with salt, reduce heat, and cover.

Simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until yolks are fully cooked. Adjust seasoning with salt as needed. Serve with pita pockets.

Persian Rice Ingredients • • • • •

2 cups basmati rice 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 2 tbsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. crushed saffron

Rinse rice three times in water until water runs clear. Place rice in a 4-qt. saucepan and cover with 4 cups water, with an inch of water over top.

Add oil, butter, and salt and let sit for 15 minutes.

Bring to a boil, stirring so the rice doesn’t stick.

Reduce heat to medium-low and cover with a lid wrapped in a dish towel. Cook 45 minutes, or until the bottom of the pot sizzles when the outside is touched with a wet finger. Carefully place the bottom of the pot under running water and let sit 2-3 minutes. Mix saffron with 2

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until the onion has sof-tened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Ingredients

Directions

2.

Instructions

Directions 1.

1 tablespoon olive oil 5 large fresh tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic 6 eggs 4 pita bread rounds

Instructions

1.

2.

3.

4.

Season the lamb with garam masala and salt. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the lamb cubes until browned, stirring constantly.

Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Melt the remaining butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the turmeric, ginger, and garlic.

Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the cayenne and toma-to paste until well blended, then stir in the water. Bring to a simmer and return lamb to the skillet.

Simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, or until lamb is tender.

Stir in the cream and honey. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with cilantro.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

1/4 cup warm water 1 tablespoon sugar 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast 3/4 cup warm milk 3/4 cup plain yogurt 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 1 stick melted butter, for brushing 4 cloves minced garlic Fresh cilantro, to top

Instructions

• In a glass measuring cup, combine the yeast, sugar, and water and let sit until very foamy, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the

Tbsp. warm w a t e r in a small bowl.

Scoop out rice onto serving platter; remove 1⁄2 cup cooked rice and mix with saffron water and sprinkle over platter of rice. Using a metal spatula, carefully loosen crust from the bottom of the pot. Serve crust, or tahdig, alongside rice.

•

•

•

•

flour and salt together in a large bowl and create a well in the center.

Whisk in the warm milk and plain yogurt into the yeast mixture until well-combined.

Pour into the well in the dry ingredients. Stir until a dough is formed, then turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover loosely with a damp kitchen towel. Let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.

Knead briefly into a disc and cut the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.

Heat a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Roll each dough ball out until it is about 1/4 inch thick and approximately 6 inches wide. Brush the dough lightly with butter and place one at a time onto the hot skillet. Cook until large bubbles form on the surface, about 2 minutes. Flip the dough and cook the other side until golden, about 1-2 more minutes. Stack the cooked flat bread on a plate and cover with a towel to keep warm as you cook the remaining pieces.

Add the minced garlic to the remaining melted butter. Loosely cover and microwave for 15 seconds. Brush the warm naan with the garlic butter (scooping out some of the garlic to sit on top) and sprinkle generously with cilantro. Serve warm.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 19, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

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It makes waves Speedily Rosetta Stone rock Tintype hue Medieval strings Bummer of a car Main course Uncouth Galena and cuprite Like rich soil UFO shape Dangerous mosquito CIA files Behind, at sea Ball of yarn Rightful Hindu mystics Invitation addendum FICA number Pipe bends Music collectibles Drink with scones Opposite of haw Tongues do it Harem jewelry Coffee shop lures Druid, e.g.

Winter runner Bro or sis Guys like Hamlet Bonze or friar Washstand item Recurring theme Adams or Brickell Takes a sip Debated Chablis or Port Like owls Deadly snake Lou Grant portrayer Kind of vaccine Orchidlike flower Admit a mistake (2 wds.)

Towered over Fetch Painter -- Neiman SWAT team gear Doubles Skyline feature With, to Maurice Happy -- -- clam Doozie Opposite of “paleo” Action flicks Parking-lot mishap

108 Stacks

110 Intrigue

112 What never to tell (2 wds.)

113 PGA great

115 “Como -- usted?”

116 Donkey features

117 Vacuum tube

118 Bearskin, maybe

120 Comet -- -Bopp

122 Roost sitters

123 Coy expression

124 Coated with flour

128 Really big T’s

129 Vane dir.

130 Koan discipline

131 Um cousins

132 Counting-rhyme start

133 “-- the season to...”

135 Ketch cousin

137 Wrote bad checks

139 Freud topic

140 Addresses for ladies

142 Mantra chants

144 Dauntless 148 Hesitate

150 The Big - 153 Sponge

155 Voice-mail prompt

156 -- marbles (Parthenon pieces)

157 Drops syllables

158 More peculiar

159 Blows it

160 Outmoded jacket

161 Pluck

162 Forest

163 Give off fumes

DOWN

1 Galumph

2 Mark’s successor

3 AAA suggestions

4 Unkempt

5 Asserts

6 “Will it play in --?”

7 Gather together

8 Web suffix

9 “Orinoco Flow” singer

10 Wins against

11 Wheel buy (2 wds.)

12 Good name for a cook?

13 Orbit segments

14 Scallions’ kin

15 Brewer of pop

16 Flip through

17 Before, to bards

18 Splash about

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- CLAIMED (CLAIMED: KLAME’D: Demanded, asked for or took as one’s own or one’s due.)

Average mark 43 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 59 or more words in CLAIMED? TODAY’S WORD -- CLAIMED calm came camel clad claim clam clime lace lade laic laid lame lead lice lied

lime aced acid acme aide ailed aimed amice amid iced idea ideal idle mace made

maid mail male malice mead meal medal media medial medic medical meld mica mice mild

mile email dace dale dame deal decal decimal declaim deli dial dice diel dime

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

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Tristan’s beloved Impose taxes Specks Worry too much Rustic lodgings German “bugs” Less rosy Crazy bone Encumbered Madrid art gallery Kind of boom Tender Ms. Sommer of films Trinket Kipling novel Powwow Thing, in Tijuana -- ex machina Occupies, as a post Tear to pieces Squabbles Mooring site Longstanding fights Prefix for pod Glossy fabrics

69 To the point

70 Beads on grass

73 Lobbied for

75 Cliff debris

77 “Bolero” composer

81 Mi. above sea level

82 Olive in the comics

84 Take back

85 Carpet nails

86 Above the horizon

87 Foolish, plus

91 Crater edge

92 Gin-fizz flavor

93 Grammar

94 Flammable gas

95 Sofa ends 96 Compete

99 Opulent

102 The woman’s

103 Split to join

104 Jockey

105 Prophets

107 Running late 109 Dawdle

111 So-so grades

114 Really liked

117 119 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 130 134 136 137 138 140 141 143 145 146 147 149 151 152 154

Train restaurant -- -- grip!

NASA counterpart Rudder Four-legged hunters Excavate further Entertain Sufficient Tiara Insulted wittily Look amused Further downhill Pal, slangily Keep from doing Waiter’s offering Kebab holder Flat-bottomed boat Pumice feature Concerning (2 wds.)

Anchor’s place Term of respect L.A. summer zone Electric swimmer Hubbub See Solution on page 12

Eid Al-Fitr Word Search

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 19, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech The UK gets its first official 5G launch date

imposes restrictions on live-streaming

O

n Tuesday, Facebook announced that it would start restricting who can live stream video on the platform following the white nationalist terrorist attacks in New Zealand only a few months ago.

According to the blog post, Facebook said that it would be applying what it called a “one strike” policy to Facebook Live that would ban users who violate the platform’s community standards once from using the live-streaming service for set periods of time. This applies to content posted elsewhere on the website, not just streamed on Facebook Live. If a user were to post a harmful link on their profile, like content which leads to a terrorist website, they would be banned from live-streaming as well.

These new restrictions also apply to Facebook’s Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy that was introduced earlier this month and led to right-wing personalities like Paul Nehlen, Alex Jones, and Milo Yiannopoulos being banned from both Facebook and Instagram.

“Our goal is to minimize risk of abuse on Live while enabling people to use Live in a positive way every day,” Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice president of integrity said in a blog post.

Rosen said that Facebook hopes to expand these restrictions to other parts of the platform in the future. Soon, these same users who violate Facebook’s Community Standards will be banned from creating ads as well.

The decision to impose restrictions on Facebook Live comes after a white nationalist terrorist entered mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand and live-streamed the attack on the platform. After the shootings, Facebook was hotly criticized for allowing the individual to stream and for not removing copies of the video at a fast enough pace.

“Following the horrific terrorist attacks in New Zealand, we’ve been reviewing what more we can do to limit our services from being used to cause harm or spread hate,” Rosen said.

Facebook also announced that it would be partnering with more researchers and universities to improve the platform’s “image and video analysis technology.” Rosen wrote that these partnerships are valued at around $7.5 million. (The Verge)

Lenovo shows off the world’s first

‘foldable PC’

F

olding phones are already being pitched as the next big wave of tech, and whether or not that turns out to be true, the industry has no plans to stop there. Lenovo has just announced what it says is the world’s first “foldable PC:” a prototype ThinkPad that iterates the foldable tech we’ve already seen from phones on a much bigger scale.

It’s not just a cool tech demo, either: Lenovo has been developing this for over three years and has plans to launch a finished device in 2020 as part of its premium ThinkPad X1 brand. The goal here is a premium product that will be a laptop-class device, not an accessory or secondary computer like a tablet might be.

Cool factor aside, though, why build a folding PC? The answer is largely por-

tability. Conceptually, it’s the opposite of what most of the foldable phones out there are trying to do. There, companies like Samsung and Huawei are trying to take a device the size of a regular phone and make them bigger. But the idea behind the folding ThinkPad is to take a full-sized PC and make it smaller.

The result is a 13.3-inch 4:3 2K OLED display that can fold up to about the size of a hardcover book (we don’t have the exact weight yet, but Lenovo says it’s less than two pounds, which is about as much as a hardcover copy of one of the larger Harry Potter books). That’s already enough to put it on the lighter side of the portable computer spectrum, but the size savings are really when you fold it in half, making it dramatically smaller than a regular laptop. (The Verge)

V

odafone has announced that its 5G network will go live on July 3rd, making it the first UK carrier to set a hard date for the launch of its next-gen mobile network. The service will be available in seven cities at first, and Vodafone plans to release four handsets and one home router on its network in the coming months. The operator says that prices for its 5G plans will be the same as their 4G equivalents, and will announce the new price plans next week.

Vodafone is the first of the UK’s four major operators to announce a specific date, but its 5G network might not be the first to actually arrive. EE has said that it plans to launch its 5G network this summer, without a firm date. Meanwhile, Three will launch its network in the second half of this year, while O2’s network will be available before the end of the year.

At launch, Vodafone’s 5G network will be available in seven cities; Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London. By the end of the year, the operator plans to add 12 more cities — Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, Stokeon-Trent, Warrington and Wolverhampton — for a total of 19 cities. Outside of the UK,

Vodafone will offer 5G roaming across Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Four 5G phones will be available for the new network soon.

The first of these, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G, will go on sale starting next week, while the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) and Samsung S10 5G will be available to preorder later this month.

Vodafone also says that Huawei’s 5G foldable handset, the Huawei Mate X, will be available this summer, and that a 5G home router called the 5G Gigacube will also be available. Pricing of these handsets and router is due to be announced next week, and they will initially be available to use on 4G networks before the July 3rd switch on date.

A July launch for Vodafone’s network means the UK’s first next-gen mobile network could arrive months after the US. Verizon’s 5G network was switched on in the beginning of April in parts of Chicago and Minneapolis, but at the time we found that coverage was very limited when we tried it for ourselves. There was also only one 5G device available at the time. Verizon also chose to charge $10 extra for 5G over 4G, while Vodafone customers will get access to the new network at no extra charge.

So while the UK has had to wait longer than the US for its first 5G network, at launch it will be available in more cities, with more devices, and at no extra cost over 4G. (The Verge)

Update WhatsApp now to avoid spyware installation from a single missed call A vulnerability discovered in Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging app is being exploited to inject commercial spyware onto Android and iOS phones by simply calling the target, reports The Financial Times.

The spyware, developed by Israel’s secretive NSO group, can be installed without trace and without the target answering the call, according to security researchers and confirmed by WhatsApp. Once installed, the spyware can turn on a phone’s camera and mic, scan emails and messages, and collect the user’s location data. WhatsApp is urging its 1.5 billion global users to update the app immediately to close the security hole.

“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,” said WhatsApp in a statement.

Facebook issued a security advisory on Monday apparently in relation to the WhatsApp vulnerability. “A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of SRTCP packets sent to a target phone number,” according to the advisory. The vulnerability exists in the following versions of WhatsApp:

WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134 WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44 WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51 WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51 WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348 WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15

The vulnerability discovered in early May, was targeted as recently as Sunday when a UK-based human rights lawyer was attacked by NSO’s flagship Pegasus program, according to researchers at Citizens Lab. The attack was blocked by WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is investigating the situation but is so far unable to estimate the number of phones successfully targeted by the exploit, said a source speaking to the FT. “This attack has all the hallmarks of a private company known to work with governments to deliver spyware that reportedly takes over the functions of mobile phone operating systems,” said WhatsApp in a statement provided to The Financial Times. “We have briefed a number of human rights organizations to share the information we can, and to work with them to notify civil society.”

NSO says it sells Pegasus to governments and law enforcement agencies to help fight terrorism and crime. But that hasn’t stopped the company’s spyware from being used by countries, organizations, and individuals undeterred by human rights concerns. In 2016, NSO spyware was implicated in an attack on Emirati human rights activist named Ahmed Mansoor. In 2018, NSO’s spyware was aimed at prominent TV journalist Carmen Aristegui and 11 others while investigating a scandal involving the Mexican President.

Researchers claim that NSO’s powerful spyware has been used by as many as 45 countries to aid in the persecution of dissidents, journalists, and other innocent civilians. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 19, 2019

Bollywood/Hollywood Crossword Solution

B

ollywood actor John Abraham, who was rumoured to be headlining the sequel to Aamir Khan’s hit Sarfarosh, will not be a part of the new project, fresh reports suggested Wednesday.

John had announced last year that he will step into Aamir’s shoes for the sequel. Director John Mathew Matthan, who directed the first film, is also helming the new one. The 1999 film also starred Sonali Bendre and Naseeruddin Shah in important roles.

A Mid Day report quoted a source as saying, “The actor was in touch with Matthan

over the past several months as he was developing the script. The two were said to be co-producing the film.

However, the economics of the project is not working out, which is why it hasn’t gone on floors yet. On his part, John has committed to other films.

He is currently shooting for Anees Bazmee’s Pagalpanti.

From July, he will start work on Rensil D’Silva’s yet-untitled drama revolving around bike racing.”

Abraham’s spokesperson confirmed John won’t be a part of Sarfarosh sequel and told the tabloid, “We were

in discussion with John Matthan for Sarfarosh 2.

But things didn’t work out. We wish the best for the project.”

John had earlier said, “I was more than happy, and then I decided to produce it, too. I had a lot of faith in John. However, I didn’t chat with Aamir. John and he have been talking. I am sure he’s got Aamir’s blessings to do this. Aamir is someone I am deeply fond of, and I’m a big fan of his. It’s an honour to be stepping into a role that has such a big history.”

Claiming he never fi-

nalised any actor, director Matthan told Mid Day, “I never confirmed that John is doing my film, nor did I mention any other actor’s name to the media. I am not aware of what he has said. We were in negotiation, but, as of now, nothing has materialised. I am currently giving the finishing touches to the script. Only once we sign someone will I be able to comment on the casting.” (Hindustan Times)

S

elena Gomez blasted social media as “terrible for my generation” during an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival — and urged young people to unplug for a while if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

The 26-year-old singer and actress — who boasts more than 150 million followers on Instagram and about 57.6 million on Twitter — made the comments during a press conference for “The Dead Don’t Die,” a new zombie comedy in which she plays the leading role.

“For my generation specifically, social media has been terrible,” Gomez said, according to a report in the Guardian. “I understand that it’s amazing to use as a platform but it does scare me when you see how exposed these young girls and boys are. I think it’s dangerous for sure.”

She told reporters that it’s “impossible” to make social media safe at this point.

“I’m grateful I have a platform,” Gomez added.

“I don’t do a lot of pointless pictures. For me, I like to be intentional with it. I see these young girls … I’ll meet them at meet-and-greets, and they’re just devastated by bullying and not having a voice.”

“I would be careful and allow yourself some time limits of when you should use it,” the songstress added. (Page Six)

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 19, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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may 19, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

Go over your financial, legal and medical papers, (March 21and make sure you have evApril 19) erything in order. Before you give one thing up, have something ready to put in its place.

ARIES

Get together with friends TAURUS or relatives to share your feel(April 20- ings. You’ll be offered advice May 20) that will affect how you move forward. Make romance a priority.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

Your emotions will be tested. Don’t let the actions of others bother you. You’ll get further ahead if you mind your own business and walk away from disruptive situations.

What you have to offer will put you in a good posi(June 21- tion. If you do your part, an July 22) unexpected opportunity will lead to a personal change that will improve your life.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

You may not like what someone does, but you are best off not interfering. Don’t believe everything you hear or trust someone trying to sell you something. Concentrate on personal growth.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Visit friends or sign up for something that is educational or geared toward selfimprovement. A partnership will grow if you share your thoughts. Romance is on the rise.

Think about your former LIBRA and current associates. Don’t (Sept. 23give someone the benefit of the Oct. 23) doubt if they’ve let you down before.

Peanuts

Invest in yourself and your SCORPIO goals. Relationships are fea(Oct. 24- tured, and discussing your inNov. 22) tentions with others will help solidify your plans. Romance is in the stars.

Walk away from unsetSAGITTARIUS tled situations. Exaggerating (Nov. 23Dec. 21) will only make matters worse.

Concentrate on your own emotional well-being and on making personal improvements.

Say no to excessive behavior.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

Make change happen.

Consider the improvements you can make at home that will be more conducive to family fun, romancing a loved one or a new business venture.

Look at what you can acAQUARIUS complish, and walk away (Jan. 20- from stagnant or no-win Feb. 19) situations. How you spend your time and direct your energy will determine how much you achieve.

You’ll be pulled in two difPISCES (Feb. 20- ferent directions: one of selfMar. 20) destruction and one of personal and self-improvement.

Don’t slip into bad habits, even if someone you care about tempts you.