Sunday Magazine Febuary 2, 2014

Sunday

Times February 2, 2014

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Aamir Khan joins campaign against domestic violence See story on page 14

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Year of the Horse promises good health, prosperity Page 2

A Master Recital

Jared Peroune is a pianist and rising opera artiste whose recitals have already graced several hallowed halls Page 3

2 Times Sunday Magazine

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February 2, 2014

Times Feature

L

egend has it that in ancient times Buddha asked for all the animals to meet him on the Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality.

This year on Jan. 31, the Chinese community worldwide celebrated the Year of the Horse. Those born in this year are said to possess ingenious communicating techniques and want to be in the limelight in their community.

The Chinese New Year is an annual celebration marking the start of the new year according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

The Chinese New Year always falls in the months of January or February. The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a 12-year cycle, each year relating to an animal sign. The animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the lunar month, this year it started on Jan. 31, and continue until the 15th, when the moon is the brightest.

Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year in pre-modern times signalled to farmers in

ity.

“It is customary for various Chinese families, friends and businesses to get together for a grand dinner to kick start the New Year. The dishes are quite different from what you would usually have during the year. At the dinner there is a large variety of everything which signifies that persons will have abundance for the year. It is mainly for the Chinese community and is held today, Sunday. Additionally, the Chinese arrival to Guyana coincides the same time with the New Year, so the association would normally arrange a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument at Winsor Forest,” she explained.

Then there is the highly anticipated Chinese New Year fair, which would be held at National Park on Feb. 9. Choo stated that the event begins at 2:00 p.m., with an extravagant cultural show at 5:30 p.m.

She said too that the event is a great opportunity for persons to experience Chinese culture. Delectable Chinese dishes and creative crafts would be on sale, and persons have a chance to

Performing the 'lion dance' in a previous celebration of the Chinese New Year

China to begin preparation for the sowing of their fields.

At the Chinese New Year, people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” concealed in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which, according to legend, can drive away

bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

In Guyana, everyone joins in to celebrate the

Having fun with lanterns at a past celebration held at National Park

Chinese New Year at a grand fair, usually held at the National Park tarmac.

The climax of that event is the launch of lanterns into the evening sky. In China, the New Year atmosphere is brought to an anti-climax 15 days away when the Festival of Lanterns sets in.

It is an occasion of lantern shows and folk dances. One typical food enjoyed around this time is the Tang Yuandumplings made of sweet rice rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spice fillings.

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year season and afterwards life goes on as per normal.

Another tradition is the lighting of firecrackers.

These are an important element and are traditionally let off to frighten away

ghosts so the New Year could start free of them.

Legend has it that long ago there was a monster that terrorised people. However, it was afraid of loud noises, bright lights and the colour red. At midnight on the last day of the old year, these things are used to frighten away the monster for the whole year.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Anyin Choo, executive member of the Chinese Association of Guyana, outlined that locally there are a series of events planned for the New Year.

The Year of the Horse, Choo mentioned, promises abundant health and energy. A special treat around this time are the dumplingshaped like Yuanbao, gold coins representing prosper-

win prizes at intervals during the fair. Tickets can be bought prior to the event or at the venue.

When the launching of lanterns begins, everyone gathers to light and send them off in unison into the evening sky. Although there were certain incidents that occurred at last year’s event, Choo pointed out the lantern event will still happen but with caution. Vendors will give instructions on how to safely send off the lanterns.

“We also have planned to visit some children’s homes and orphanages to make donations,” she disclosed.

The Chinese New Year has been celebrated for 3,000 years. Festivities include the lion and dragon dances and parades with traditional costumes.

Dumplings shaped like Yuanbao signifying prosperity

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February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine

3

Times Focus

INSIDE Jared Peroune is a pianist and rising opera artiste whose Julia Kanhai: recitals have already graced several hallowed halls ‘Writing is

T

here is certain calm when listening to maestro pianist, U.S.-based Guyanese Jared Peroune. As his fingers lithely orchestrate the keyboard, Jared creates enchanting melodies.

Growing up in Georgetown, Jared emigrated to the U.S. in 1994. There he was able to fully pursue his studies in music. He received his degree in Piano Performance from Barry University in 2006, his Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Miami in 2012, and is anticipating graduating from the University of Miami with his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, also in Collaborative Piano.

He made his debut public performance when he was 16.

Quickly becoming an established accompanist and chamber musician, Jared has collaborated with a number of vocalists and instrumentalists throughout South Florida. He

Pianist Jared Peroune

In the spirit of collaboration, Jared is an active chorus singer with choruses that have performed a wide range of choral works at noted halls, including the Arsht Centre in Miami, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

“Music was always some-

lows us to combine among many things, physical and artistic personal attributes more than any other field,” he explained.

He has played both as a soloist, chamber musician, vocal accompanist, or part of orchestra in a number of places and private engagements.

One most recent performance was as a pianist for Carmina Burana at the Arsht Centre in Miami. The Centre is one of the biggest, if the not the biggest (in size and calibre), venue in Miami.

“I have been able to play with chamber groups, orchestra, choirs, instrumentalists, and vocalists. My many engagements have given me the chance to expand my horizons a little and explore voice as well. In the past decade, I have been able to perform roles in fully staged operas as well. Inside of school and out, the pursuit is the same.

I wish to learn all that I can,

an impromptu recital at the Dewer's studio. It was a relatively short program given I was not prepared to play anything during that trip and did not carry any music. I hope to return with a more substantial program in the near future,” Jared noted.

He considers himself as a “simple person”. For relaxation, he enjoys going to the movies. It is an opportunity to remove himself briefly from reality. He also likes to spend quality time with friends and family.

Jared believes that many things in music are a “great big puzzle.” He loves puzzles, something he thinks he inherited from his father. Piecing together certain things is “great fun” for Jared.

He has had the great fortune to work with individuals who have taken a particular interest in his development and have watched him grow from student to colleague. He

a cathartic experience’

Pg 5

Star of the Week

Pg 7

Stylish Pg 10 Accessories delight on catwalk Miley Cyrus to Justin Bieber: ‘Pay people to make sure you don't get in trouble’ Pg 12

A means of selfexpression Pg 21

Testing out pianos at the Steinway and Sons Gallery in New York

has been heard in concerts and recitals throughout Florida and in his hometown, Guyana.

Aside from his work as a keyboardist, Jared is a rising artist in opera. His singing has been heard in more than a decade of fully staged productions at Colony Theatre on Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County Auditorium, Gusman Centre, and in Fort Pierce, with a cameo appearance in “La bohème” with Treasure Coast Opera; all in conjunction with the South Beach Chamber Ensemble, Alhambra Orchestra, and Frost Symphony Orchestra, to name a few.

He has also sung in productions with Amici dell’arte, the Hispanic-American Lyric Theatre, and Pro-Arte Grateli.

thing I feel I had an aptitude for; but I owe my first true inspiration to the music teacher I had in elementary school.

There were many things about her I admired that were not solely music related, but because she was the music teacher, that stuck with me most. She, of course, was a keyboardist,” he recalled in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

He chose music because he takes pleasure in working with others. “In music, everyone involved has to be invested equally to make things work the best they can. That kind of collaboration surely exists in many other fields, but music al-

from all those who know far more than I. During my last trip to Guyana, my aunt set up

credits them for showing him many possibilities that can exist if he is true to his gifts.

The pianist is convinced that if he uses his talents in an honourable way, they will take him where he needs to be. He believes that we are all destined for certain things, and he looks forward to continuing to let his unfold.

A youth himself, Jared shared his views on how young people like himself should help themselves grow: “Youth is something that goes faster than we think. With each year that passes, the length of time of each of those years is shorter than the year before. My advice would be to be honest with yourself in every moment such that no moment is wasted. Examine the decisions you make and ask yourself if those choices will lead you to where you wish to be and to do the things you wish to do.

Doubt and uncertainty are a part of life and a part of growing and evolving as a person, but being untrue to yourself is far more of a crime. On a more personal level, be kind always. I can't stress that enough. There is nothing more valuable or nothing that reflects your self-worth more than how you treat others.”

4

Times Sunday Magazine

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February 2, 2014

Times Feature

Mitsy (front center) teaching stretching techniques

F

using fitness with fun is what Mitsy Munroe, founder of BraZumba, firmly believes in. Through her dance programme, she aims to revolutionize the fitness industry in Guyana.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Mitsy, 20, said she started BraZumba with her sister and a friend, but it later expanded into a fitness rave.

“It was basically a dance group, but then we saw drastic change in our weight.

We were drastically losing pounds doing the dances, and that was when I decided to do it as a fitness programme. I personally experienced the benefits of it as I was overweight,” she recalled.

BraZumba’s fitness programme mixes Brazilian and Latin dances to create a perfect workout. Dance styles include baile funk, reggaeton, samba, salsa and belly dancing.

“Currently there are

Having fun

about 25 women who are housewives and career women who want to get fit but do not want to lift weights. My programme is mainly cardio.

I have women from 16 to almost 60. They have fun with each other and devote a lot of energy into the exercises.

The dance styles are ideal for persons who do not want a muscular look. My aim is to bring something different to the fitness industry, and I wanted it to be fun; and through BraZumba I achieve

this. During my workout you have do many ‘sexy’ dance moves like ‘twerking’ which works your legs and butt.

I try to help women develop their self-esteem and get them out of their conservative zone, all the while getting fit,” she explained.

Mitsy invests much of her time choreographing fitness/dance programmes and doing research in order to develop her techniques to achieve desired results.

“I am motivated when I

see the women in my classes having fun. They even told me that they look forward to my classes more than anything else, and this inspires me to keep doing what I so love,” she revealed.

Her next addition to her programme is pole dance fitness for upper and lower body strength.

“When people hear about pole dance fitness they think strippers. I can assure you it is nothing like that. Pole dance fitness is an excellent

exercise technique to help women keep fit – and can also helps spice things up in their relationships. I also welcome men to try it out BraZumba, not only will they get fit but will learn some dance moves,” she declared.

BraZumba classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information on Mitsy’s fitness programme, call 614-8452 or 647-4400.

‘No limitation to development’ Local barber Ceon Blair blends his talents to create unique furniture and a unique experience at his barbershop

I

ntrigued by the beauty of Guyana’s local woods, Ceon Blair, a barbering pioneer, has handcrafted a series of functional furniture displayed in his barbershop, with the aim of building appreciation for local products.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Ceon said he was inspired by his mother, a hairdresser, to get into the business of beautifying people. He has been a barber for more than 14 years, and is now focused on using his career to promote Guyana’s local products and artistic talents.

“I saw how passionate she was about hairdressing and decided to pursue barbering. I was also a model, and this built my apprecia-

Enjoy a game of checkers while waiting

tion for beautiful and classy things. I am now the owner of the D-Crib Barbershop in South Ruimveldt. I gave it that name because I wanted it to reflect somewhere posh where persons can experience a more executive feel-

ing,” he revealed.

In high school, Ceon enjoyed woodworking, which gave him the necessary skills to get into furniture making. After honing his skills, he became a joiner and started making luxury

bed frames.

“I started making beds and then included other functional items such as chairs, tables, clothing racks and much more. I wanted to create an outstanding barbershop, never before seen in Guyana. I appreciate classy things and I wanted to reflect that in my business. Also, being an artistic person, I wanted to showcase that in my shop,” Ceon pointed out.

In the barbershop, Ceon displays his collection of beautiful and inventive furniture made strictly from local wood. He mentioned even the sponge is local. For waiting clients, there is a section where they can enjoy a game of checkers. The shop provides a relaxing ambience where clients can also indulge in Ceon’s healthy smoothies and sandwiches.

“I always do research on eating healthy, and wanted to bring that to my shop. I now offer a variety of healthy sandwiches and smoothies. Expanding my abilities shows there is no limitation to development.

If you are passionate about something then you will work to make it successful. Those from abroad who visit my shop commend me for setting high standards in my business, and are impressed with my innovative woodwork. This motivates me to keep on developing my

The innovative and functional handmade barber chair made by Ceon

talents,” Ceon disclosed.

The main attraction in Ceon’s barbershop is the chair he made by hand using only local woods and sponge.

It is equipped with all the necessary outlets as the imported chairs, and is very comfortable. He said he decided to construct the chair to encourage others to utilise their talents to develop themselves.

“My talent comes naturally. Persons are amazed at how creative the barber chair is. I think a lot of Guyanese have great talent and the resources to explore it. I think also that if people can appreciate the locally manufactured prod-

ucts then we can be able to develop our local arts and crafts industry. These products are durable products that will last a lifetime and add elegance to your home,” he stated.

Ceon plans to open a showroom that would sell only furniture made from local woods. In addition, he is passionate about giving back, and plans on collaborating with a local business to pamper women on Valentine’s Day. He is saddened by reports of women being abused and wants to show his appreciation for them.

For more information call 621-8055.

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February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 5

Times Women

W

anting to raise awareness on sexual abuse and to help victims on the road to recovery, author Julia Kanhai pens an emotional journey of rape, revenge and religion.

Julia started writing poems at the age of eight, and participated in impromptu speaking and elocution competitions in high school. In 2003, she earned a distinction in Literature at CXC and was awarded Best Literary Student. By 2008, she graduated from the University of Guyana with a degree, and has been lecturing English there since.

She recently became a published author when her first book was released in the U.S. Already scoring numerous hits on Google, “Backslider” by Terry K. (the author’s pen name) is a fictional novel inspired by true events, and is set in New Jersey and New York.

It tells the story of a pastor’s daughter who is trying to assert her independence especially in her personal life. On her first date she is drugged and raped by someone posing as a Christian bachelor but is really a serial rapist.

In a quest for revenge, she commits a few crimes of her own but eventually decides between drowning in her pain and resurfacing to face her ‘God’.

“The book vividly describes the trauma, denial, depression and doubts a victim experiences, as well as baby steps one can take to

Author Julia Kanhai

regaining their own trust. It breaks my heart every time I hear about another man, woman or child in Guyana who is victimized sexually.

One feels ever more paralyzed when it is someone you know who has been brutalized, as was the case for me.

I wanted to do something more for them than just listen and comfort: I wanted to help them to find their voice.

And so my book is dedicated to the one whose voice was never heard and is intended for adult readers only,” the author noted in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

The writer explained that the reason she released the book in the U.S. and not

in Guyana is because she wanted to introduce herself to the world. The book was released in America, Australia and England.

“Because of the strong influence that the American culture has on ours, I felt that if I could be successful in the U.S. then I would be accepted by the Guyanese community both here and overseas. Also I hope that, as a country, we can learn to respect the time, work and labour of artists both abroad and local. Regardless of economic factors, some amount of copyright laws that protect our authors, musicians, artists, dramatists etc. need to be established because it is the ethical thing to do.

It is my contention that piracy in Guyana is rampant and at times even endorsed, so for this reason I asked my publishers not to market my book here,” she revealed.

Currently, the writer is preparing her next manuscript titled “Dream Guy”. It is a sequel to “Backslider”, and tells the story of a girl who is plagued by dreams that serve to warn and guide her. But then she meets the man of her dreams – both literally and metaphorically – but goes downhill from there.

“Writing is definitely a cathartic experience for me.

My confidence is also tremendously boosted and I find myself penning things I would probably never say,” she declared.

At the moment, copies of “Backslider” can be ordered from her website: sbprabooks.com/terryk/ or from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online bookstores. In the months to come, she will host an official book launch locally, as well as book readings and signings where copies will also be sold.

The novel's book cover

6 Times Sunday Magazine

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February 2, 2014

Times Book World

Black History Month The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

make a difference... and Bob was moved...

‘Redemption Song’

Part I

PP Literally moved by what was happening in Trench Town, celebrating the situation in the song “Trenchtown”...

By Petamber Persaud

(Extract of a conversation with Ras Leon Saul and I-Mykal, Georgetown, Guyana, 2013. Ras Saul is a cultural activist, playwright and television presenter; I-Mykal is a musician.)

You [I-Mykal] mention Marcus Garvey and I know that Garvey, did not only talk the talk, he walked the talk by creating businesses to raise consciousness and the standard of living of his people...

PP Bob Marley is alive....

I-Mykal & Ras Leon Saul (in chorus) Jah Rastafari...

PP It is said that he died on May 11, 1981...

I-Mykal & Ras Leon Saul (in chorus) Bob lives...

PP He was born on February 8, 1945, and it is said that he died on May 11, 1981. But many of us know that he lives in the mind and heart of the people in Guyana and in the Caribbean and in the mind and heart of people all over the world.

The influence of his music is extensive and the impact is immeasurable because of how he tackled issues of redemption and repatriation. Marley is known as the ambassador of reggae and Rastafari, taking the music

Ras Saul

and message to a worldwide audience. How was he able to transcend boundaries?

I-Mykal T h r o u g h the powers of music transforming people. When he speaks of people, he never meant one type of people he meant all people who are oppressed in one way or the other. His love for music was great and it was this love that connected to the people – you may not like what he says but it is the reality, you may not accept his message because it may be offensive to you-but fact is

I-Mykal

fact.

PP It is said that you cannot keep a good man down; you can’t keep a good artist down.

Ras Saul As an extension to answering that question [how was he able to reach a worldwide audience], I would want to say apart from destiny, and a divine plan for Bob, it had also to do with preparation on Bob’s part. Because, if he had not prepared himself to be excellent; if he had not prepared himself for ex-

cellence in his art form, he would not have gotten the opportunity when it presented itself. For example, when he went to England, and met Chris Blackwell of Island Records that connection clicked – the fact that he was ready and a system was in place to produce and distribute the music. One level was divine, the other was strictly commercial and those things helped Bob greatly to succeed.

PP I’d like us to focus for a while on something you [Ras Saul] said: when we fail to prepare, we also fail to grab the opportunity when it comes; we the art-

was to break through and the time was ripe - the oppressive nature of the times gave Bob the breakthrough.

There was self conviction, so he was singing for a causedespite the cost and consequence. That is what made Bob stand out.

PP What Bob’s message?

influenced

Ras Saul That influence came from within himself, a deep spirituality; not siding with white, not siding with black [referring to his black/white heritage] but siding with the spiritual.

Timing is important.

Bob developed through the

Ras Saul Marcus is seen as John the Baptist to Bob Marley. But back to his roots and his preparation – coming out of Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, growing up in the hills, within nature helped to balance him when he went into the ghetto, Trench Town, Kingston, watching the degradation, deprivation and discrimination and the other injustices, all those things gave him a different outlook to life, telling him that he had to be working and singing on behalf of the people, to raise their consciousness...

I-Mykal Bob took up their cause putting it in an art form...

Ras Saul He used the vehicle to touch the masses – music, a universal language. Bob was a poet – he was sparse and yet voluminous; one line said so

Bob Marley (Feb. 8, 1945- May 11, 1981)

ists, the artistes, the songwriters, the poets, ...we complain all the time over the absence of opportunities but we fail to prepare ourselves to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes.

I-Mykal I’d want to put it a different way - preparation do not always meet opportunity; what I mean is that there were big singers in Jamaica at the time like Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff and others, but their approach to the issues were different so they never really exploded like Bob. We need to look at it this way: that Bob’s purpose

years, but for me he took off about the time when His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, mystic, departed this life and a spirit went into Bob ...soon after, he sang “Jah Lives”, and that to me was when-boom- he took off. He was doing music with a purpose, it was music to move a people forward...

I-Mykal P o si ti v e . . . we must not forget there were people in Jamaica like Marcus Garvey and Leonard Howell who were instrumental in motivating Bob mentally; there were people on the forefront trying to

much....

PP “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”

(TO BE CONTINUED) Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: • "An Introduction to Guyanese Literature" is now available from the author at the above contacts, Austin’s Book Service (2267350) and at the National Library (226-2690).

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February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 7

Times Feature

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Clinton Duncan

Star of the week

Entrepreneur

By Vahnu Manikchand

F

rom a very young age, Clinton Duncan realized that he wanted to be in the fashion entertainment industry – a dream he has fulfilled very early in his life.

At the age of just 21, he is a professional make-up artist, events planner and consultant.

“From doing that, I thought, 'You know what' I can probably make something of what I’m doing because I am very creative’.”

Duncan has worked on many big stages like Guyana Fashion Week, Suriname Fashion Week, Bartica Regatta and CARIFESTA. At the moment, however, he is working on something bigger: launching a fashion magazine.

“I know a lot of young people in the fashion industry, and we came together and decided that we should do this...the idea is to get everyone in one place, or have one person be a link for them because they don’t have a building of their own; so I thought I can do something that will benefit us.”

The magazine is expected to be out in March and will be a monthly edition thereafter. Duncan said that he used to act, and one of the things that stuck with him is make-up because his mother is a makeup artist.

“Whenever she would be doing people's makeup, I would secretly be taking mental notes and practice on my friends, and people started telling me I was good and started hiring me to do their makeup.”

Three years ago, he decided to get qualified in this field so he did a course through the Commonwealth Youth Programme and has since been pretty comfortable with his decision.

During his high school days, Duncan wanted to become a doctor and was an overachiever in his studies and extracurricular activities. However this changed when he was 15-years-old and was encouraged to participate in a designer’s competition. Duncan noted that this was where everything changed as he realised that he had a passion for fashion industry, but not in designing.

After completing CXC, Duncan went on to CAPE, studying science; however after the first year he decided to call it quits with that and do law, something which he enjoys. Currently he is a second year law student at the University of Guyana.

Duncan said that he wants to focus his law career in the direction of copyright laws and entertainment law, since his passion is in arts and entertainment.

“People have this perception that persons do art because they are not good in their academics, but that’s not so. It’s a personal thing that I want so I can have something to supplement my art.”

With his magazine launch a few weeks away, that is Duncan’s main focus right now as he foresees it being international.

“The idea is to push it as far as possible whether regionally or internationally. While we have a lot of magazines, there are not youth friendly, and with our magazine, it will be complied by young people.”

Duncan believes that for someone to fulfil their dreams, they need to take a step towards fulfilling it.

“If you want something, just get up and do it. This has been in me for a very long time, and the mistake I made was waiting thinking that an opportunity will come up. There is never really a right time, so you just have to get up and put your talent to work.”

R

ichard Shaw, inspired by the cadence of music, is most happy when he is on stage showcasing his talents as a dancer. He developed a passion for the art form at a tender age, and over the years has excelled as a talented dancer to become one of Guyana’s famous performers. Although he started dancing professionally about a year ago, Richard has shown that with hard work nothing is impossible. Due to his expert dance techniques, he was invited to join local dance company Ishara Dance Troupe. He has been performing mostly Bollywood dance moves, both locally and abroad. Through the dance group, the poised dancer enjoys opportunities to excel as a young professional. He also finds joy in giving back through the numerous charity efforts of the dance group. Dancing balances Richard’s life and is a therapeutic way of him relieving stress and keep fit. Other than dancing, Richard works at Demerara Bank and hopes to pursue studies in banking and finance. His advice to youths is to be determined to achieve goals in life despite challenges.

8 Times Sunday Magazine

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February 2, 2014

Times Kids Page

Did you know?

T

he Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is native to the dry, mountainous regions of South America that include Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. Some Guanacos live in the Atacama Desert, where in some areas it has not rained for more than 50 years They inhabit grasslands and shrub lands from sea level to 4,000m. As herbivores, they eat grasses, leaves and buds. They can also go without water for long periods.

Guanacos have long been hunted for their meat and fur. They are believed to be the ancestor to the now domesticated llamas and alpacas, which are important as beasts of burden and for their fur.

Guanacos have had their numbers drastically reduced due to human pressures of habitat encroachment, habitat destruction, and hunting.

In addition, climate change is also blamed for decreases in population size and range.

T

he guanaco has been known to clock speeds of 56km (35 miles) per

hour.

To survive the low oxygen levels found at high altitudes, their blood is rich in red blood cells. A teaspoon of guanaco blood contains about 68 million red blood cells, four times that of a human.

The guanaco can spit up to six feet away, and rarely misses its target.

WORD WISE CROSSWORD WORDS ENDING WITH 窶連RY The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

please see solution on page 22

Colouring Fun Down 1. The annual return of the

day on which any

notable event took place, or is Across celebrated 1. Not usual, regular or ordinary 2. The two hundredth anniversary, 2. established by common usage; conventional;

or its celebration habitual 3. Expressive of regard or praise 3. A register of daily events or transactions 4. Real or imagined limit or extent 4. The Arabian camel, having one hump

of territory, separation 5. A nest or habitation of wasps 5. Place where bees are kept please see solution on page 22

FUN FACTS

T

he name coconut is said to have been derived from 16th century Portuguese sailors who thought the three small holes on the coconut shell resembled the human face so dubbed the fruit "coco" meaning "grinning face, grin, or grimace". The word nut was added in English later on.

Technically the coconut fruit is a drupe (a fruit with a thin outer skin, soft pulpy middle, and hard stony central part that encloses a seed) not a nut.

Typical drupes include peaches, plums, and cherries.

COCONUT The white, fleshy part of the coconut seed is called coconut meat. Copra is the term used for the dried meat. This can be processed to produce coconut oil used in cooking, in soaps, cosmetics, hair-oil, and massage oil.

The fibre of the husk is called coir and is used or making ropes, mats, brushes, sacks, caulking for boats, and as stuffing for mattresses.

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 9

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Laurie Triefeldt

PART ONE OF FOUR — COLLECT ALL FOUR AND MAKE A GIANT POSTER

SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION

Annual observance Black History Month is celebrated in the United States and Canada in February. The United Kingdom observes Black History Month in October.

The idea of honoring the accomplishments of African-Americans began with Negro History Week in 1926. Before this time, AfricanAmericans had largely been ignored by the history books and the education system. The observance became known as Black History Week in the early 1970s.

In 1976, February became Black History Month.

End of freedom The first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619. Slaves were used as labor on plantations.

Most slaves worked in the fields, where they endured long, hot hours, often under the eye of brutal overseers.

Africa

Slaves were taken from this region.

Harriet Tubman (c. 1820–1913) has gone down in history as one of the most well-known conductors on the Underground Railroad. After escaping slavery, she dedicated her life to helping other runaway slaves find their way north to freedom.

During the Civil War, Tubman volunteered as a Union spy and scout. She personally helped more than 300 fugitives find their way north.

Harriet’s nickname was “Moses.”

In general, black slaves were thought to be subhuman and inferior to whites.

Shackles

People who wanted to abolish slavery were called abolitionists.

The antislavery movement in the United States began in the late 1600s, when Pennsylvania Quakers took a moral stand against slavery. The abolitionist movement was at its height in the 1800s.

The railroad The Underground Railroad was made up of free blacks and whites who aided escaped slaves with food, clothing, guides, information on safe routes and places to hide.

Aided by a secret network of “stations” and “conductors,” thousands of blacks escaped slavery.

Fugitives Most runaways were men between the ages of 16 and 35.

These fugitives usually traveled (alone or in small groups) at night, guided by the North Star. Most headed to the Northern states and Canada, where slavery was illegal.

But runaways also headed for the Western Territories, Mexico and the Caribbean.

As many as 20 million Africans were brought to the Americas by ship. Slave ships were large cargo ships converted for the purpose of transporting slaves. Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. The people were chained together and packed so tightly they could barely move. Food was in short supply, and sanitary conditions were appalling. Many slaves committed suicide or died of disease before the journey ended.

When Lincoln was elected president, the slave-holding states in the South declared that they were leaving the Union and forming their own nation, the Confederate States of America. The U.S. federal government (the Union) considered this an act of treason.

The war began on April 12,1861, when Confederate forces attacked and took control of Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862, freeing all slaves living in states that were fighting the Union. This document fell short of banning slavery throughout the United States.

When the South was defeated in 1865, Congress passed three amendments to the Constitution.

The 13th Amendment banned slavery, the 14th protected the rights of blacks as citizens, and the 15th gave blacks the right to vote.

Frederick Douglass (c. 1818–1895) is one of the most famous leaders of the abolitionist movement. Douglass was born a slave in Maryland. He escaped in 1838. A brilliant speaker, he toured the North with a series of antislavery lectures. Douglass established an antislavery newspaper called the North Star in Rochester, N.Y., which he edited for 17 years. He also served as an adviser to President Lincoln during the Civil War.

How would you feel?

Seceding states Union states

In 1793, the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (today’s Ontario), John Graves Simcoe, presented a bill to abolish slavery. When that bill became law, Canada became a place of freedom. Canada declared that any blacks who came to Canada would be free citizens.

Canada also refused to return runaway slaves to their Southern masters or to allow American slave hunters into the country. A slave could be free in the Northern states, but there was the risk of recapture and a return to slavery.

For this reason, many fugitives headed for Canada. It is estimated that more than 30,000 blacks emigrated to Canada through the Underground Railroad between 1830 and 1865. Most settled in the Great Lakes region.

The Civil War

Cotton plant

House slaves tended to have better food and clothing and often developed close relationships with their owners.

Abolitionists

Handbill advertising a slave auction in Charleston, S.C., in 1769.

The African-American experience is full of great accomplishments and sacrifices. There is much to celebrate among these people, past and present, from overcoming slavery, social and civil injustice to the nurturing of bright minds and great talents.

Safe in Canada

Border states

Seven states declared secession before Lincoln took office: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina seceded after the war began.

Confederate states VT NH ME

MN WI

NY

MI IO IL KS

MO AR

TX

LA

IN KY TN

MS AL

PA

OH

WV VA NC SC GA FL

MA RI CT NJ DE MD

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was the 16th President of the United States. Prior to becoming president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln spoke against the spread of slavery and proposed antislavery laws for new U.S. territories.

Can you imagine life as a slave?

How would you feel if you were forced to work with only the bare minimum of food, clothing and shelter? You would not be allowed to learn to read or write. If you got sick, no doctor would be called.

Your parents or siblings might be sold far away, and you would never see them again. Your owner could punish you as often and as severely as he liked. Can you imagine having no rights or freedoms, being treated like a beast of burden rather than a human being? To understand how wrong slavery is, you only have to imagine it happening to you.

10 Times Sunday Magazine

February 2, 2014

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Times Fashion

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ccessories are a must to complete an outfit, and designer Sean Carrington knows this well. He recently launched Afro-Caraibe, his most stylish collection of handmade bags and leather slippers.

The designer specialises in leather craft, and caters for

men and women. His stylish accessories were a highlight at Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) 2013. They also received positive reviews from veteran designers.

Additionally, Sean had the privilege to accessorise designer and GFW founder Sonia Noel’s gents’ collections.

Sean has been designing for more than 15 years and has mastered his craft. His designs are displayed at various exhibitions in Guyana and the Caribbean.

For more information on this collection call 226-3099 or visit Guyana Fashion Week on Facebook.

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

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ouglas Booth, born July 1992, is an English actor. He was born in London, England, the son of Vivien (De Cala), an artist, and Simon Booth, who works in shipping. He first came to public attention following his performance as Boy George in the BBC Two film “Worried About the Boy” (2010). He also starred in the BBC adaptations of “Great Expectations” and “Christopher and His Kind” (both 2011). In 2013, Booth starred in Carlo Carlei's film adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet”. In 2014, he will appear in Darren Aronofsky's “Noah”, the Wachowskis' “Jupiter Ascending” and Lone Scherfig's “Posh”.

12 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Hollywood

Miley Cyrus to Justin Bieber: ‘Pay people Snooki ‘was never an alcoholic’ to make sure you don't get in trouble’ S

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o Miley Cyrus mugshot yet! The 21-year-old "We Can't Stop" singer has managed to stay out of jail -so far -- despite her headline-making partying ways.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 30, Cyrus shared advice to recently arrested Justin Bieber on how to stay out of trouble.

"You've got a lot of money. Pay people to make sure you don't get in trouble and party at your house," the former Disney star said. "Buy a house, and add a club to it."

Last week, Bieber, 19, was arrested in Miami, Fla., and charged with DUI, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license. On Jan. 30, the Canadian singer was also charged with assault in connection with an alleged incident involved a limo driver in Toronto last December.

While Bieber and Cyrus are both making headlines these days for their scandalous behavior, Cyrus says there's a big difference between the two of them.

"It's funny because today, I was looking at -- my

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indsay Lohan apparently has lost an expensive fur piece.

The "Mean Girls" star reportedly was at 1Oak club in New York on January 29 when the incident happened. According to TMZ, she entered the establishment wearing a two-piece coat which is worth about US$75,000.

When Lohan left the place, she only wore a piece of the coat. She then went back to col-

fans put all these people's mugshots up, and they were like, 'I don't see a Miley mugshot yet!' I get the most flak of anybody. I'm not doing anything illegal! I'm doing a lot of s--t . . . Oops, sorry!" the "Wrecking Ball" singer said, apologizing for cursing on TV. "But I'm not doing anything illegal! So that's all right. Everything I do is legal in California."

(According to Bieber's preliminary toxicology report from his arrest via TMZ, the teen pop singer tested posi-

tive for marijuana and prescription medication.)

For now, it seems like Bieber may be taking Cyrus' advice to stay home.

After turning himself in at the Toronto police station on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Bieber's dad, Jeremey Bieber, tweeted that his son had returned home to Ontario, Canada. "Safe and sound #homesweethome," Jeremy captioned a photo of Bieber sleeping next to his younger brother Jaxon, 4.

(US Magazine)

lect the other piece, but she could not find it anywhere. Lohan reportedly asked everyone on her table to check whether they knew where it was or if the fur was with them. The report also alleges that the only person who could not be reached was a Seattle Seahawk player who was also at the table.

The star of "The Canyons" ironically took another person's mink coat at the same club in 2008.

The coat's owner, Maria Markova, said Lohan kept her coat for two weeks and then decided to sue the star. Markova additionally said that she saw Lohan wearing the coat in a magazine photo shoot. The coat was then sent back to Markova without explanation.

Lohan will next be seen on a documentary series which chronicle her days since her release from a rehab stint. (AceShowbiz)

nooki may have been known for her wild antics on “Jersey Shore”, but the reality star says she was “never an alcoholic.”

The TV star sat down with the ladies on “The View” on Thursday, Jan. 30, and explained how her partying ways have changed since she became a mom to son Lorenzo. Specifically, a night out on the town a month after she gave birth included a several drunken kisses with some of her gal pals.

"He was pissed," the 26-year-old told the ladies about fiancé Jionni LaValle.

She continued, "He wanted to break up with me. I was a party girl, I went crazy, I went back to that. It was just a different transition. I was a party girl, that's what I did, I loved going out and going crazy and then the first time I went out after I had Lorenzo, I kind of went back to that and then after I'm like, 'Oh, no. I can't do this anymore.'"

When Sherri Shepherd asked the pintsized “Dancing With the Stars” alum if being a mother helped center her, Snooki explained that it "woke her up."

"It's like girl check yourself," she explained. "You can't do this anymore. You gotta wake up."

But when Barbara Walters inquired as to whether she quit cold turkey, Snooki to

S

hakira has finally unveiled the full music video for her collaboration with Rihanna, "Can't Remember to Forget You". The Joseph Kahndirected clip gives glimpses at the two superstars sing-

felt compelled to say she wasn't ever addicted to anything.

"I mean, I never was an alcoholic," she added. "I wasn't really addicted to cigarettes, it wasn't a problem, so I kind of dropped it like that," as she snapped her fingers. "Thank god." (E! Online)

ing while flaunting their enviable curves in bodybaring outfits.

At first, Shakira is featured writhing around and dancing in a bed placed in a big mansion. She later moves to a striped bed and

takes a dip in a pool before Rihanna enters the house and walks around in allblack.

Both Shakira and Rihanna smoke some cigars, cozy up to each other and do a steamy, synchronized dance on the walls.

The coach of "The Voice" then transforms into a rocker, playing the guitar and the drums.

"Can't Remember to Forget You" was co-produced by John Hill and Kid Harpoon. "This song 'Can't Remember to Forget You' combines both the reggae and the rock spirit, that's why I thought Rihanna was perfect. She was the other half of this," Shakira recently talked about the song and working with Rihanna on it.

The track will appear in the Latin singer's self-titled new album, "Shakira", which is due out on March 25. (AceShowbiz)

Demi Lovato not engaged

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emi Lovato is not engaged to actor Wilmer Valderrama despite reports claiming otherwise. A representative has confirmed that there is no engagement. Another source additionally explained to Gossip Cop of the singer's ring, "It's not an engagement ring."

The "Neon Lights" singer recently uploaded an Instagram photo which sparked the engagement rumor. In the photo, she can be seen wearing sunglasses and black outfit, holding a coffee cup. Some fans, meanwhile, noticed that she wore a ring on her ring fin-

ger while the photo was taken.

On Thursday, January 30, the former judge on "The X Factor (US)" posted a sweet photo collage of her and the actor on Instagram to wish him a happy birthday. "To the funniest, most inspiring, incredible man I know.. @WilmerValderrama - thank you for helping me get through my darkest moments.. You truly are a light to this world and to my life.. Happy Birthday!!!" she captioned the photo.

Valderrama turns 34 on that day.

Valderrama then replied the message on Twitter. "@

ddlovato who needs presents when the gift of you is real to us all.. Thank you for the blessing of knowing you," he wrote.

Lovato is now gearing up for her "Neon Lights" tour which will kick off on February 9. In addition to dying her hair pink, she shared a sneak peek of what fans might expect from the show. In a photo uploaded on January 28, the singer can be seen sporting a costume similar to warriors'. "Can't wait to surprise you all on my #NEONLIGHTSTOUR here's a sneak peek," she captioned the snap.

(AceShowbiz)

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ara Loren is a Pakistani actress and model who appears in Lollywood and Bollywood films. Loren made her film debut in the 2010 Pooja Bhatt's romantic thriller film “Kajraare”, a box office flop but her performance won wide critical acclaim. Loren garnered recognition from her item number “Jano Janam Janeman” in “Saltanat”.

She achieved further commercial success for her role of seductress Nisha in the 2013 controversial film “Murder 3”. The following year she starred in Yasir Nawaz's box-office success “Anjuman”. The actress went on to win the Tarang Housefull Awards—Best Actress in Leading Role. In addition to acting, she is active in humanitarian work, has a number of endorsement deals and is regarded as one of the most popular actresses in Pakistan.

guyanatimesgy.com February 2, 2014

Star Times Bollywood

Times Sunday Magazine 13

14 Times Sunday Magazine

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February 2, 2014

Times Bollywood

Madhuri Dixit trained in ancient martial arts for ‘Gulaab Gang’

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ctor Aamir Khan believes that men have to change first to combat violence against women. Domestic violence, he said, shows “cowardice” and is not acceptable. The actor recently sent a video message to endorse the cause of the One Billion Rising campaign, a movement to end violence against women, said a statement.

“I believe that to combat violence against women, we men will first have to change.

Raising our hand to strike a woman does not increase our masculinity. Instead, it shows cowardice,” Aamir said in the video.

The campaign was proactive last year as well and organised many street plays to promote awareness of violence against women.

“Last year on 14 February, about one billion people in 207 countries rose, sang and danced to this demand. But gang rapes, molestations, dowry deaths, abuse and many more such violence against women have continued,” said Kamla Bhasin, who is the campaign leader for South Asia.

“We are not going to let that drag us down. On 14 Feb 2014 one billion women, men and children everywhere will rise, protest, dance, and demand justice,” she added.

This year too, campaigners, activists, NGOs, schools, colleges, artists and citizens across India have created plans for flash mobs, street plays, signature campaigns, public events, combating violence against women in the public and private spaces.

Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha (SMS), a non-profit organisation that works towards the holistic development of women and chil-

dren, will organise local awareness campaign, street-corner plays, flash-mob dance and short film screenings.

Azaad Foundation, which runs the only-women driver cabs, will also organise a street play and a car rally across Delhi.

(Hindustan Times)

adhuri Dixit has trained in ancient martial arts for the stunt sequences in “Gulaab Gang”.

The actress's trainer Kanishka Sharma, who choreographed her stunts in the film, said Dixit made the sequences look effortless.

"I extensively trained Madhuri for a month in Shaolin Kung Fu, besides stick training, Shaolin joint locking, Kali knife, short stick and of course, close combat," he told IANS. "I remember a scene where Madhuri had to twist a man's arm and kick him hard. I rehearsed with her for a few hours before the shot, but was a little apprehensive.

"Later, I was shocked at how comfortably she pulled it off. She makes all my otherwise-tiring action look effortless on screen."

Sharma explained that he wanted to ensure that the sequences were aesthetic as well as realistic. "It couldn't be as gritty as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, neither could it be as suave as The Matrix."

“Gulaab Gang” is inspired by the true story of a group of women activists in the Bundelkhand region. Juhi Chawla plays a politician in the film, while Dixit's character stands up against injustice.

The two stars recently joined forces to launch the BELIEVE campaign, which celebrates the heroism of women.

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ishwarya Rai Bachchan has made it to the fourth po-

“Gulaab Gang” is scheduled for release on March 7, a day before International Women's Day. (IANS)

sition in a recent poll of the world's most beautiful women. Conducted by

local court recently rejected actor Salman Khan’s plea to club two cases against him lodged under the Arms Act and the Wildlife Act and directed him to continue recording his statement in connection with the first case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (Rural) Chandra Kala Jain rejected Khan’s plea to club the two cases and listed the matter for hearing on March 10 for defence to produce evidence.

The actor had requested the court to club the two cases, one under Arms Act and the other related to poaching of blackbucks in Kankani on the intervening night of October 1, 1998, on the ground that both are related to each other.

In his statement in the court, Khan said he had no arms with him in Jodhpur and they were in Mumbai.

“I had called for those arms from Mumbai to Jodhpur only after the Forest Department asked me,” he said.

The actor also told the court that he had not indulged in poaching and that the investigation officer and forest officer had fabricated a case against him.

After recording his statements, the court

Hollywood Buzz, the survey saw participation from more than four million people, who selected the most intelligent, desirable and successful women of 201314. Aishwarya was only beaten by Monica Belluci, Kate Upton and Angelina Jolie.

Commenting on this Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said, "The results of this poll by Hollywood Buzz were brought to my notice by my well-wishers. Believe it or not…I must admit it's overwhelming to hear that over 4 million people across the globe have voted and listed me amongst their top choices." (Times of India)

deferred the matter to March 10.

Earlier, Khan had moved an application in the court pleading to club the two cases (arms act and wildlife act) and carry out the hearing of both of them together, staying the recording of statement of accused in the Arms Act case.

In his application, he had argued that the matter under the Arms Act had reached the stage of recording statement, whereas the same was yet to begin in the poaching case, in which the arms in question had been allegedly used by him.

“So, he had pleaded from the court to club both the cases for future hearing and stay the accused statement recording until the other matter of poaching reached the same stage,” public prosecutor Upendra Sharma said.

Khan’s counsel Hastimal Sarswat said, “Our plea was that if the verdict of the arms case comes earlier, it may affect the proceedings of this case under Wildlife Act as both are related to each other.

“So, we wanted the statement recording in this case to be deferred but the court disallowed our application,” Saraswat said.

(Indian Express)

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine

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16 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Home & Cooking

Mixed Vegetables with Coconut Sauce (Aviyal) Ingredients

C

hoosing a house design with so many plans out there can be a daunting task if you don’t have an idea of what you want: how many floors, bedrooms, baths; house style, design with climate in mind etc.

However, just looking through different home plans can help you decide what kind of home you would like to build. Here are a few house plans that might start you thinking...

2 medium boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into 2- by 1/4-inch sticks (about 2 cups) 2 medium carrots, cut into 2- by 1/4-inch sticks (about 2 cups) 1 small fresh green chilli, slit lengthwise with stem end intact 1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes 1/8 tsp ground turmeric 1 3/4 cups water, divided Method Bring potatoes, carrots, chilli, red pepper flakes, turmeric, 1 cup water, and salt to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot, then simmer briskly, uncovered, until vegetables are almost tender, about 5 minutes.

Add squash and peas and simmer 1 minute more.

Meanwhile, blend coconut, cumin, cayenne, and remaining 3/4 cup water in a blender or food processor to a medium-fine

paste.

Add coconut mixture to vegetable mixture along with yogurt. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and flavours have blended, 12 to 15 minutes. If mixture becomes too thick to simmer, add more water.

Serve garnished with curry leaves or drizzled with coconut oil, if desired.

Chile can be removed during cooking when aviyal is spicy enough for your taste.

Chinese Egg Tarts

Modern mix sloping roof home design (Kerala Home Design)

2 tablespoons cold water Filling 250ml water 150g caster sugar 3 eggs 100ml evaporated milk 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients Pastry 250g plain flour 1 pinch salt 140g butter, diced 4 tbsp icing sugar 1 egg

Mediterranean home design (eplans.com)

1 1/4 tsp salt 1 medium squash, peeled and cut into 2by 1/4-inch sticks (about 2 cups) 1/2 cup frozen peas 1 cup grated dried unsweetened coconut 1 tsp ground cumin 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1 cup plain yogurt (not Greek-style) 1 tbsp coconut oil (optional) Curry leaves (optional)

Method Preheat oven to 200 C / Gas mark 6.

In a large bowl, mix flour and salt together. Rub in butter with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the cold water. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture to form soft dough. Wrap with cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Roll each half out to 3mm thickness. Using an 8.5cm fluted round cutter, cut out 22 rounds. Press dough into lightly greased 7cm tart tins.

In a saucepan over low heat, stir water and sugar until sugar dissolves.

Measure 280ml of the resulting syrup and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, evaporated milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Strain

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into reserved syrup and mix well. Pour into prepared tart cases.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is set.

Makes 22

Greatest Cooking Tips

on-stick cookware can be used to reduce the need for cooking oil.

When browning vegetables, put them in a hot pan then spray with oil, rather than adding the oil first to the pan. This reduces the amount of oil that vegetables absorb during cooking.

Herbs are delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes.

Herbs such as coriander, ginger, garlic, chilli and lemongrass are especially complimentary in vegetable-based stir-fry recipes.

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Modern sloped roof design with veranda (Kerala Home Design)

Home Help

great use for those too-flimsy disposables: Use paper plates between stacked non-stick cookware to keep it scratch-free when stored.

Stash an old shower curtain in your car's trunk to line it when carting potentially messy plants, picnic coolers or rain gear.

Slip soda can tabs over a hanger’s ‘handle’ and double your closet space as it allows you to keep paired outfits together by attaching another hanger on the other space of the tab.

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 17

Times Sunday Puzzle

Can you figure out which well known oxymoron these clues and letters represent?

E.g. Question: Initial facsimile (OC) Answer: Original copy 1) Occupation festivity (WP) 2) Adore detest (LH) 3) Enterprise informal (BC) 4) Uptight tranquillity (TC) 5) Fresh archetype (NC) see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

18 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Creative Writing

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s we have said, Anansi grew more and more conceited and arrogant.

In fact, God became so annoyed by Anansi's boast that he had "tricked" God in the episode of the sun and the moon that he was seriously considering removing his patronage from Anansi.

Anansi lived in the same African village, as the Chameleon.

Anansi was rich and owned the finest fields in the area, while the Chameleon was poor and worked hard in his meagre fields to make ends meet. However,

one year rain fell on Chameleon's fields, which were now abundant with beautiful crops. To teach Anansi a lesson, God let no rain fell on Anansi's land and the crops dried up, and dust blew everywhere.

Anansi then resolved to take Chameleon's fields for himself. Anansi first tried to buy the fields, but Chameleon refused to sell. Anansi offered more and more in exchange, but

Chameleon still held on to the land. Early one morning, Anansi walked boldly down the road to Chameleon's fields and began harvesting the crops.

When Chameleon saw this, he became very angry and chased Anansi away. When a chameleon walks, it leaves no tracks; it is virtually impossible to tell where a chameleon has been. Knowing this, Anansi took Chameleon to the tribal court to sue for possession of the fields.

The chief asked Chameleon to prove that the fields were his; Chameleon had no proof to offer. Anansi, on the other hand, took the chief to Chameleon's fields, showing the many footprints on the road. These were

Anansi's footprints, and the chief awarded the fields to Anansi right then and there.

Although the court decision gave the land to Anansi, God has a higher justice than that which the courts mete out.

Chameleon dug a deep, deep hole and put a roof on it. From the outside, the hole looked tiny. But, in fact, Chameleon had dug a vast cavern under-ground.

Then the Chameleon took some vines and some flies and made a cloak. When the sun hits flies, they shine a variety of colours, but they are still flies.

Chameleon went down the road wearing this cloak of flies and vines when he encountered Anansi.

Anansi's first words to Chameleon were, "Hello, my friend. I hope that there are no hard feelings between us." Anansi saw what appeared to be a beautiful cloak and offered to buy it.

Chameleon pretended to be magnanimous and told Anansi that the cloak would be his if only Anansi filled Chameleon's "little hole" with food.

Anansi readily agreed,

bragging that he would fill it twice over. Anansi then took the cloak to the chief who had acted as judge in the lawsuit, and gave the cloak to the chief as a gift. The chief admired the cloak and thanked him profusely.

Anansi worked day and night to fill Chameleon's hole with food and still the hole was not full. He worked weeks and still the hole was not full. After a while Anansi realized that Chameleon had tricked him.

In the meantime, the chief was walking down the road wearing the cloak of flies. One day the vines broke and the flies buzzed off in every direction, leaving the chief naked and livid with anger at Anansi.

The chief grew angrier with each step he took, for he began to see the conceit and arrogance of Anansi. When the chief found Anansi, he ordered him not only to return Chameleon's property but to give Chameleon the best of his own fields as well.

As soon as Chameleon took possession of Anansi's best field, it rained on that field for the first time in months, and now Chameleon was the richest in village.

The moral of the story? Conceit and arrogance, just as humbleness and hard work, has rewards, each in its own way.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Persaud who tied the knot on Sunday 26th January, 2014. Best wishes for a long and happy marriage are coming from the management and staff of Queens Atlantic Investment Group of Companies.

Send your creative writing to sundaymagazine@guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine19

Times World

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As China's capitalist economy has soared and the ultra-wealthy look for ways to spend, polo calls to the nation's 'new nobility'

ext to buffet tables groaning with spare ribs and stir-fried noodles, the Buenos Aires Marching Band — splendid in red, white and blue regalia — tuned up for its halftime performance at the Snow Polo World Cup 2014.

Elsewhere in the clubhouse, a shiny, white, life-size horse mannequin stood harnessed to a redand-gold carriage straight out of a Cinderella storybook. At the wine bar showcasing bottles from France and Napa Valley's Sloan Estate, a quartet of foreigners belted out "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)."

Upstairs, VIPs, including the ambassadors from Chile and Argentina, sipped Champagne and grazed on foie gras, Peking duck and Spanish jamon. Outside, on a polo field covered with manmade snow, Team England was riding to victory over Chile in

Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club Hotel. In front of the hotel features a horse-themed fountain

The Polo Club offers an exotic diversion for China's wealthy

semi-finals of the 10-day, 12-team tournament.

"I was really surprised to come here the first time and find all this," said Guillermo Terrera, an Argentine who suited up for the three-man Hong Kong China squad (alongside another Argentine and a Brit). "The organization is first-class."

Though China's association with the sport can be traced back more than a millennium, it fell out of favour for centuries, and there were no polo venues on the mainland a decade ago.

As the country's capitalist economy has soared and the nation has cast off Mao-era proscriptions against bourgeois pursuits, about half a dozen polo clubs have opened in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.

After taking up hobbies like golf and sports cars, China's one percent-ers are looking for new exotic diversions, and places like the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club are happy to oblige — for a price.

Basic memberships to the club — where "the new nobility gathers," according to the brochure — start at $165,000. Or, if you've got

plenty to spare, just buy a mansion in the luxury community next door (built by the same developer) and you'll be invited into the elite ranks gratis.

"Be sure to visit the pavilion on your way out and see the wonderful villas here at Fortune Heights!" the polo announcer boomed during a break in the action.

The developer behind Fortune

Heights, the Hong Kong-based Goldin Group — a conglomerate with businesses including consumer electronics, financial services and vineyards, including Sloan — is peddling turnkey entree into a new aristocratic realm, no need to fly all the way to West Sussex. All homeowners are granted membership in what the brochure calls "China's largest and most prestigious polo club."

Interior of the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club

"Our product, in one word, is lifestyle. We sell lifestyle," said Harvey Lee, a UC Berkeley graduate who is vice chairman of Goldin Real Estate Financial Holdings.

"What we want to do is sell to the tip of the wealth pyramid. That is our target client. So that's why you see polo, wine and real estate development like this. This is the common link."

John Fisher, a Brit who serves as year-round director of stable operations at the Tianjin club, says that although there are challenges in bringing polo to China — such as animal welfare protocols and language barriers — the sport has a bright future in the nation.

"What they're doing here is amazing," said Fisher, who played on the Hong Kong China team at the recent tournament.

"Everything here is bigger and better."

The club plans to host three other polo events this year, including a summer inter-varsity tournament with teams from U.S. and British schools, including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge.

So far, the club has more ponies (200) than members (about 60), and is buying 80 more horses

from abroad this year (much to the delight of the ambassador from Argentina). The club will eventually boast three fields as well as an indoor arena, where even the specially engineered sand is imported from Britain.

If it sounds like a major outlay, it's a drop in the bucket considering the $10 billion that Lee said Goldin is spending on the entire Tianjin development. Besides the homes, the polo club and a 167-room private hotel for club members, the company is building 10 office towers and a 117-story, 1,958-foot skyscraper (the thirdtallest in China), due to be completed by 2016.

Even locals who have no hope of affording a home at Fortune Heights seem taken with the idea of a polo mecca in their midst.

"In this country, there's nothing else like this place," said Ma Cengkun, a retired engineer from Tianjin who has become well acquainted with the sport after having been invited to several events by a friend who works at the complex.

"Before, this was just some kind of farmland," said Ma, dressed smartly in a blue beret and black leather jacket for the final day of the World Cup, where Team England beat the Hong Kong China squad. "The atmosphere here is really nice."

Sara Jane Ho, founder of the high-end Beijing finishing school Institute Sarita, took a group of 50 to Tianjin in mid-January to learn more.

After their afternoon in VIP seats, Ho said, several of the women expressed interest in Tianjin's summer polo camp for their children.

"Now that Chinese people are rich, they are trying to adopt a high measure of quality of life.

They are holding themselves to higher standards," she said. "They also want to earn the respect of other people around the world."

(Source: Snow Polo a High-End Diversion for China's Rich, by Julie Makinen, LA Times. Reporting from Tianjin, China. Jan 28, 2014)

20 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Tech

Interactive map charts 550,000 mile-long network of underwater cables that carry world's web traffic

B

uried deep beneath the world's oceans and seas is a network of underwater cables silently connecting even the remotest parts of the world to the web.

In fact, almost 95 percent of the internet we use every day is carried between coun-

T

3.

tries through these fragile two-inch thick lines - and there is now more than half a million miles of cable underwater.

Washington-based firm TeleGeography has plotted all of these cables on an interactive map to reveal who owns the networks, their

landing points and how far these cables can stretch.

In 2006, submarine cables carried just one per cent of traffic - and increase of 94 percent in just eight years, according to official figures from the International Cable Protection Committee.

Since 2012, the amount

of submarine cables has almost doubled from 150 to the current figure of 285.

Of this 285, 263 cables are currently in use, while 22 are set to be in use by the end of 2015. When a cable is laid but not in use it is called a 'dark' cable, but once in use it becomes 'lit'.

SUBMARINE NETWORK IN NUMBERS

he longest cable is called SEAME-WE 3 or South-East Asia Middle East - Western Europe

It has 39 landing points (the average network has between 10 and 15) across Europe, Asia and Africa.

It covers 24,000 miles and is run

by France Telecom, China Telecom and Singtel.

The Flores-Corbo Cable System is the shortest and connects the islands of Corval, Faial, Flores and Graciosa near Portugal.

It covers 425 miles (685km) in the North Atlantic Ocean and is owned

by Viatel.

The total network covers in excess of 550,000 miles.

In 2006, submarine cables carried just one per cent of traffic, they now account for around 95 per cent.

There are now 285 cables - 263 are in service and 22 are due to be in use by 2015.

The Submarine Cable Map, pictured, from Washington-based TeleGeography, has been updated for 2014 and features a total of 285 cable networks.

Of this 285, 263 are currently in service, while 22 should be in use by the end of 2015. It was based on data from Global Bandwidth Research

TeleGeography’s interactive Submarine Cable Map was created using data from Global Bandwidth Research.

It shows active and planned submarine cable systems and their landing stations.

Selecting a cable on the map, or from the submarine cable list, reveals details of the cable’s name, ready-forservice (RFS) date, length, owners, website, and landing points.

A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between landbased stations. It is laid by specially designed ships that can carry thousands of miles of coiled cable in their holds and can lay it as it travels across the ocean.

There is only a limited amount of space for cable on land, and this makes the space expensive to rent, and highly competitive.

Since 1850 engineers and telecom companies, instead, have been taking advantage of the vast land beneath the oceans to lay cables.

The first cables were used to send telegraphy traffic. Since then the cables have been used to send telephone traffic, and most recently data traffic.

Many of the modern cables are made of fibre optic, to increase the size and

speed at which the information can be sent, and are only two inches thick.

Trial cables were laid in 1842 in New York harbour and were insulated with tarred hemp and rubber.

Nowadays, cables are protected using polyethylene.

Traditionally the cables were owned by service providers, yet websites have also started buying submarine cables to control their networks.

For example, Google is part of the consortium that manages the Southeast Asia-Japan cable, and Facebook is part of the consortium that manages the Asia Pacific Gateway.

Reports in December stated that by owning private networks the companies can stop governments from being able to track what they get up to.

As of 2010, submarine cables link all the world's continents except Antarctica.

Cables can be broken by fishing trawlers, anchors, earthquakes, turbidity currents, and even shark bites.

If cables need to fixed, a repair ship will drop a buoy in the location of the break and a submersible is sent down to repair them.

(Information provided by Global Tech)

WHAT ARE SUBMARINE CABLES?

A

submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations.

It is laid by specially designed ships that can carry thousands of miles of coiled cable in their holds and can lay it as it travels across the ocean.

The first commercial cables were laid in 1850 to send telegraphy traffic. Since then the cables have been used to send telephone traffic, and most recently data traffic.

Many of the modern cables are made of fibre optic.

Trial cables were laid in 1842 in New York harbour and were insulated with tarred hemp and rubber. Nowadays, cables are protected using polyethylene.

Traditionally the cables were owned by service providers, yet websites have also started buying submarine cables to control their networks including Google and Facebook.

Tech Byte

A

lthough the technological advances and proliferation of drones has accelerated over the past decade, 2013 was the year that the technology really entered the public consciousness.

Aerial drones been around in one form or another since World War I, but it hasn’t really been until the last decade that they’ve really taken off, so to speak. Where they were once restricted to a spot of battlefield reconnaissance, in addition to military applications, drones are now used for everything from agriculture to oil prospecting, and by everyone from rescue workers to real estate agents.

Here are some of Gizmag’s pick of the top drone stories of 2013.

Drone helps save a man’s life On May 9, at 12:20 am, the Saskatoon RCMP received a report of a single-vehicle rollover in the countryside at near-freezing temperatures. Though the car was found, the driver, who was lightly clad and had lost his shoes in the accident, was nowhere to be seen.

An air ambulance helicopter was called in and the crew used a night vision system to conduct a larger aerial search. When that also proved fruitless, the RCMP brought in the detachment’s forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera-equipped Draganflyer X4-ES quadcopter.

Sent to the area, the X4-ES was able to pinpoint the driver’s heat signature, allowing emergency services to re-

cover the now unconscious man before he suffered what could have been fatal exposure.

Amazon's Prime Air We knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Once quadcopters were able to lift more than their own weight, they’d soon be put to work delivering everything from junk food to defibrillators.

Now Amazon has got into the act with CEO Jeff Bezos revealing plans for Prime Air (an extension of Amazon Prime which guarantees two-day shipping) in a 60 Minutes interview that would use drones to airlift purchases to customers who really can’t wait.

However, the biggest stumbling block is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Amazon hopes to get legal clearance for the service by 2015, but that could be a tad

Amazon Octocopter

optimistic. In the wake of the 60 Minutes story, the FAA released a statement saying: "So far, only a single commercial UAS operator has been approved to operate, and it is in the Arctic. UAS operators must abide by local, state and federal privacy laws.

Over the next several years the FAA will establish regulations and standards for the safe integration of remote piloted UAS to meet increased demand. Autonomous UAS operation is not currently allowed in the United States."

Skyjack And finally, we have the clearest proof of the arrival of the drone age with the super villain’s quadcopter, Skyjack: a drone designed to hijack other drones and take control of them. Hacker Samy Kamkar took a Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, customized it with a Raspberry Pi, a USB battery, and two wireless adapters, and then uploaded his software into it.

The result is a drone that seeks out the wireless command signals of other drones, overrides them, and then turns them into “zombie drones” under the control of Skyjack’s pilot on the ground.

What the effect of Skyjack and its descendants will have on the drone future, only time will tell, but if you’re waiting for you Amazon delivery coming, only to see it veer off at the last minute to join a drone armada bent on world domination, you can’t say we didn’t see it coming. (Check out GIZMAG for the full list of drones of 2013)

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 21

Times Art

Artist Carlus Savory

I

nspired by nature, Carlus Savory is a relatively new artist, making a name for himself within the local art industry.

The artist was born and raised in Coomacka Mines, a small village in Linden where pristine nature abounds just outside his front door. Inspired by nature, Carlus uses his paintings as a medium to build appreciation for the rich biodiversity he witnesses everyday he steps out his house. Additionally, he is inspired by veteran artists, like the late Phillip Moore, and tries to emulate them in producing quality work.

After completing high school, Carlus attended

Painting done on fabric

"Guyana Paradise" (2012)

Burrowes School of Art where he further developed his talent as a well-rounded artist.

“I graduated from the institution in 2010. There, I was able to learn a lot on all aspects of art. In high school, I was into architecture, and that built my appreciation for art and motivated me to pursue studies in it. Now art is a passion and I try everyday to develop myself as an artist,” he stated in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine .

The visual artist said his talents are hereditary: his entire family is artistic, and he lately found out that veteran Guyanese artist Ron Savory is a distant relative.

Art for Carlus is a mean of self-expression. He enjoys painting about nature including landscapes, animals and lakes. His most recent obsession, which he has made a career out of, is an-

imation. Carlus described animation as a “different level of art which pushes an artist to think out the box.”

Notably, although a young artist, Carlus has proven many wrong, showing that art can be a rewarding career.

“Persons would tell me that I cannot make a career out of art, but when you are passionate about something you do not think like that. I have made a career out of it because I did not stick to just one aspect of art. I do animation for advertisements, I still paint, and I work with local art group Bravo Arts.

If you really love something you will work extra hard to make it successful,” Carlus declared.

He explained he thoroughly enjoys the art process because of its unpredictable end result. Initially, Carlus would start painting with just one image in mind then that is developed into more images which he cohesively puts together.

“In the end when I look at it I am amazed at what was conceptualised. The process is exciting and it motivates me to keep on improving my

Carlus performing a capoeira move

work,” Carlus pointed out.

His debut exhibition was at the National Drawing Competition Exhibition held at Castellani House. He entered three pieces of his most notable work and received positive reviews.

Exploring all aspects of art is what Carlus enjoys.

One such aspect is capoeiraa Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance,

acrobatics and music.

“I love to dance, that is why I joined capoeira. I started when I was 17. My tutor at Burrowes was involved in capoeira and invited me to join. It is an art form, and I love being involved in all aspects of art,” he expressed.

For his future, Carlus would like to further his studies in art abroad and

continue to develop himself as an artist.

He advises fellow young artists: “If you’re passionate about something then vigorously pursue it, no matter what, do not give up. If you really love something you will find a way to make it happen.”

For more information on the artist’s work call 6153775.

22 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Heritage

Guyana’s literary heritage

A

bdhur Rahman Slade Hopkinson was a Guyanese poet and actor who was born in New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana in 1934. His mother was a nurse and his father a lawyer. He lived a middleclass life in New Amsterdam until his father died and his mother later moved the family, comprising Slade and his sister, to Barbados.

In Barbados, Slade attended Harrison College, at the time an all-boys school, considered among the most prestigious in the West Indies. In 1952 he received a scholarship to attend the University College of the West Indies where he would meet future famed Caribbean literary figures Derek Walcott and Mervyn Morris, also students then.

A year later, Hopkinson received his BA, and a Dip. Ed in 1956.

During his time at university he was very active in theatre: acting in and directing Caribbean and Shakespeare plays and other western classics like “King Lear” and “Oedipus”.

Hopkinson published his first book in 1954 at age 20, “The Four and Other Poems”; followed by plays entitled, “The Blood of a Family” (1957) “Fall of a Chief” (1965), “The Onliest Fisherman” (1967), “Spawning of Eel” (1968), rewritten as “Sala”, and “The

“Snowscape with Signature” (1993)

Long Vacation”.

He went to work in Jamaica after university, first as a teacher then weekly newspaper editor and government information officer. In Jamaica he married and had several children. One, Nalo Hopkinson, is now a respected novelist in her own right, noted for her first novel, “Brown Girl in the Ring” (1998); another, Keita Hopkinson is an established artist in Jamaica.

In 1962 Hopkinson moved to Trinidad with his family where he joined Derek Walcott’s Trinidad

Theatre Workshop. He became a Muslim in 1964 and changed his name to Muhammed AbdhurRahman Slade Hopkinson.

After receiving a Rockefeller Scholarship, he attended Yale Drama School from 1965 – 66 then returned to Guyana to lecture at the University of Guyana from 1966 – 1968.

He returned to Trinidad after his stint at UG, but by 1970, differences between himself and Walcott led to Hopkinson forming the Caribbean Theatre Guild that same year. His own

acting career was cut short by kidney failure in 1970, which by 1973 saw him taking regular dialysis treatments.

Then in 1976 the Guyana government published two of his collections of poetry, “The Madwoman of Papine”, which is described as containing his “secular poems ranging over his Caribbean experiences”; and “The Friend”, considered “his religious and philosophical poems, written in the process of discovering the teachings of the Sufis.”

In Guyana he was said to be active in a local literary group called “Anira” comprising famed Guyanese poet Martin Carter, Sydney Singh and Jan Carew, among others.

His illness did not stop him from working in the Caribbean, and beyond: he worked for a while with the Jamaica Tourist Board then became Guyanese ViceConsul to Canada before returning to the classroom as teacher in Toronto, Canada, and classroom assistant at the end of his working career.

Despite taking longterm disability leave after suffering from cancer of the kidneys, he continued writing for journals and anthologies, and completed what would become his final collection, “Snowscape with Signature”, a selection of po-

Preserving our heritage through pictures

Abdhur Rahman Slade Hopkinson (1934-1993)

ems written between 19521992.

Sadly, Abdhur Rahman Slade Hopkinson died just before the 1993 publication of “Snowscape with Signature”, and has since seemed to have faded from the memories of Guyanese literature.

Despite his lack of recognition – there is little of

his biography to be found – Hopkinson’s poetry has been praised by many critics and reviewers over the years. As one reviewer notes of his final collection: “Hopkinson’s poems are tightly disciplined...his imagination also ranges at will, and his capacity to surprise makes every one of his poems worth reading.”

WORD WISE CROSSWORD ACROSS Extraordinary Customary Diary Dromedary Vespiary

DOWN Anniversary Bicentenary Complementary Boundary Apiary

Brain Teaser Answer ANSWER 1) Work party 2) Love hate

SUDOKU

3) Business casual 4) Tense calm 5) New classic

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. Early 20th Century, Georgetown, British Guiana

guyanatimesgy.com

February 2, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 23

Times Travel & Tourism

A

picturesque destination, the village of Kurukabaru, located near the North Pakaraimas in Region Eight, is ideal for tourists who want to explore untouched nature in Guyana.

With a population of 4,500 persons, it is some 3,000 feet above sea level. Kurukabaru is higher than Paramakatoi, and is, in fact, the highest settlement in Guyana.

The wind at Kurukabaru is said to howl continuously, and the nights there are extremely cold. Even the hardiest hinterland dwellers greatly respect the cold temperature at Kurukabaru, especially at nights.

In deference to this aspect of life on this highland plateau, some have renamed the village “Coldkabaru�.

(Photos by Michelle Kalamandeen. Visit Michelle Kalamandeen Photography on Facebook to see more wonderful photos of beautiful Guyana)

Aerial view of Kurukabaru village

Catholic church showing in the background

Returning home after a hard day of farming

Trail leading to the village

Benab before entering the village

24

Times Sunday Magazine

February 2, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Last Laugh

By Melvin Durai

I

f you want an adventure in India, don't go to the beach. Just go to New Delhi and get on a bus. Hold on tight. Say your prayers. Prepare for the ride of your life.

If you're lucky, you'll survive your trip around the capital with nary a scratch. But if you're unlucky ... well, at least your life ended in an adventurous way.

Every time you ride a bus in Delhi, you're taking a chance. Your driver may not know what he's doing. And he may not know what he's seeing. Yes, the poor chap may be almost BLIND. You'd be safer with a monkey at the wheel.

Well, perhaps that's an exaggeration.

Perhaps I should be fair to the drivers: You'd be safer with a TRAINED monkey at the wheel.

A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Driver and Training Research found that nearly a quarter of Delhi's public bus drivers lack basic driving skills and hundreds of them have vision problems.

Now you know why so many buses end up with their wheels in the air. Even after such accidents, some drivers are still shifting gears, wondering why their buses won't go up such steep hills.

"Of the 9,500 drivers tested since the start of the year, more than 23 percent were found wanting in driving skills and in understanding of traffic rules,'' R.K. Parimoo, head of the driver institute, told Reuters.

Drivers lacking driving skills? I know what you're thinking: Whom did they pay to become public bus drivers? George Fernandes? [Former Indian defence minister forced to resign after a bribery scandal, though later cleared from that one, and another scandal afterwards] About 500 of the drivers suffered from either defective near vision or distant vision, Parimoo added. Another 25 suffered from co-

lour blindness, while five had irreparable vision damage.

Drivers with vision problems? I know what you're thinking: Whom did they pay to become public bus drivers? George Fernandes?

Such findings may seem shocking to you, but perhaps you shouldn't be too upset. After all, isn't it commendable that the transportation authorities believe so strongly in employing people with disabilities?

People with vision problems need jobs, too, and what better way to keep them occupied than to make them drive a huge vehicle around a crowded city. Besides, they can always rely on their other senses, particularly their sense of smell.

"Ah, I can smell Ram Lal's samoosas. We must be near the market!"

Of course, allowing such drivers on the roads can lead to terrible accidents. Out of more than 800 deaths on Delhi roads so far this year, 115 involved city public buses, according to Reuters. And who knows how many of those accidents were caused by drivers with rather large blind spots.

It doesn't help, of course, that some buses carry more people than you'd find at a railway station. The bus may have a capacity of 100 people, but you'll still find 150 aboard, not to mention the group of "almost riders" who are hanging on outside. A few of the luckier "almost riders" may have even found themselves comfortable seats -- on the roof.

Who needs a double-decker bus when people are so adventurous?

It's a pity people can't do the same with planes. The Air India flight from Mumbai to New York would be fully booked, especially on the outside.

"This is your captain speaking. We will be landing in New York's JFK Airport in five minutes. Passengers inside the plane, please wear your seat belts. All other passengers please hang on tight. And whatever you do, stay away from the landing gear."

Medical checkups Due to a job transfer, Brian moved from his hometown to New York City. Being that he had a very comprehensive health history, he brought along all of his medical paperwork, when it came time for his first check up with his new Doctor.

After browsing through the extensive medical history, the Doctor stared at Brian for a few moments and said, “Well there’s one thing I can say for certain, you sure look better in person than you do on paper!”

When you’re gone Edward was lying on his deathbed and the family was taking turns spending time with him. As he was speaking to his young granddaughter Emily, Edward suddenly smelled an all too familiar smell. Why it was his favourite – apple pie!

His wife Sandy must have been baking it for him to enjoy this one last time.

“Emily dear,” asked Edward. “Would you please go ask grandma for a slice of that Apple Pie? It’s smells so delicious!”

Emily ran off to fulfil her dying grandfather’s last wish. A moment later, Emily returned empty handed.

“Where’s my pie?” questioned Edward.

“Grandma said it’s not for now,” responded Emily, “it’s for the funeral.”

Granddad’s ethics “So, Jimmy”, said Grandpa, as they stood on line at the local grocery store. ”What did you learn in school today?”

“To tell you the truth”, answered young Jimmy, “I’m not exactly sure”. “My teacher was going on and on about something called ethics, and I still don’t know what she was talking about!” Jimmy replied.

“Ah, ethics” responded Grandpa, “very important indeed. Well, let’s say the cashier gives me back too much change, ethics would be whether I keep the change for myself, or if I give it back to Grandma!”

The Honest One The city miser was on his death bed, as his last request he asked to be alone with his lawyer, doctor, and priest. “I know I am going to die” he said ” and I would like to take my money with me, so I am going to give each of you $150,000 and I want you to each make sure the money gets in the coffin.”

It was a few days after the funeral when the priest, overflowing with guilt, finally confided to the other two that he only put $100,000 back.

“I’m glad you brought it up” said the doctor, “because I have also been feeling guilty, I only put $80,000 back.”

“You people should be ashamed of yourselves” stormed the lawyer “stealing money like that! Am I the only honest person here? Here look at this,” he said, pulling out his check book, “look I wrote out a check for the full $150,000!”

Who’s the Boss?

A man was married to a woman whose commands to her husband were as sharp as the bite of a barracuda. It wasn’t so much that he was a coward, or too timid to talk back, but you know how it is…let’s keep peace in the family.

One day the wife invited a group from the local women’s club to her house for tea and discussions. To make sure that her husband did not interrupt the goings-on, she ordered him into the closet and sternly told him to stay there until the last lady had left.

During their bridge game, the ladies of the club spoke of the authority they wielded over respective husbands. Not to be outdone, the hostess informed the others that not only had she ordered her husband into the closet, but she could order him to come out, at will.

“I’ll prove it,” she boasted.

“Bob!” she commanded, “come out of that closet!”

No response.

“Bob!” she called in a louder voice, “come out of that closet this instant!”

Nothing.

“Bob!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, “I order you to get out of that closet this instant!”

“No, I won’t!” came her husband’s muffled cry from inside the closet. “I’ll show you who is boss in this house!”

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