Sunday magazine 6 11 2017

June 11, 2017

Star Times Hollywood:

Rihanna responds to body-shaming article See story on page 12

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Emblazoned with messages of unity, US-based Guyanese artist Derek Browne aims to bring together people via his art

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 11, 2017

Times Feature

I

t is said that the Guianas are considered the first to plant coffee on the continent of South America, with the Dutch introducing it on their Dutch Guiana territories before the French and later British. According to some accounts, the Guianas were the first territories in the New World to cultivate and export coffee.

George Hanneman Bennett in his book, “An Illustrated History of British Guiana” wrote that coffee was cultivated on the colony since 1721 after it was introduced from what is now Surinam. Inland and coastland plantations were laid out by the Dutch, where it was often cultivated alongside sugar, indigo and cocoa.

By the time of Bennett’s 1866 book, explorers were regularly discovering long abandoned Dutch coffee plantations in such places like “Ooropocary, some 120 miles up the Essequibo River”.

Eventually, for a period, both coffee and sugar plantations would dot the colony’s coastland before sugar became the main export,

and coffee estates were sold, abandoned or converted to sugar plantations.

William H. Ukers writes in “All about Coffee” (1922) that the plants were brought

tivation continued to increase. Exports amounted to 10,845,000 pounds in 1803; and to more than 22,000,000 pounds in 1810, he notes.

Then there was a decline,

In 1849 British Guiana exported only 109,600 pounds.

In 1842, the London Gazette recorded that the coffee plantations Java and Recht-door-Zee, Uitkourst,

1922 coffee map of the world. Inset shows areas of coffee cultivation along the Guianas coasts at the time

first into Dutch Guiana, but there was no planting in what was at the time British

By Ramona Luthi

I

Guiana (then a Dutch colony) until 1752.

Twenty-six years later, 6,041,000 pounds were sent to Amsterdam from the two ports of Demerara

n an effort to improve daily shopping experiences and promote local businesses, Guyanese inventor Larry Morgan is set to launch his debut app, MatrixShopping.

and Berbice, and after the colony fell into the hands of the English in 1796, cul-

The 36-year-old Berbice resident’s aim is to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to promote their businesses and for buyers to shop hassle-free.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Morgan mentioned that via his app, which can be accessed worldwide,

and the production in 1828 was 8,893,500 pounds and 3,308,000 pounds in 1836.

and Bourdeaux in Canal, No. 1 were up sale, while in 1844, Two Brothers and an

he hopes to “transform how Guyana does business, as we need to catch up when it comes to technology”.

Morgan pointed out that while the app has not yet been officially launched and is currently in a testing phase, it is being used by many.

“The app is on the Google Play Store and people are using it. We have received positive feedback. We plan on rolling out more exciting features of the app before the end of the year,” he stated.

When the MatrixShopping app is officially launched, main features such as niche markets and a forum connecting entrepreneurs and customers countrywide will be available. Additionally, Morgan plans to establish an online transportation service and develop a social media platform.

“Normally people upload items in Facebook groups and try to sell them that way. But with our ‘formula’, you will be able to reach a bigger audience, therefore giving you a better chance of selling your items or services,” Morgan explained.

Morgan described the app as a “space

estate called Mes Delices on the West Bank of Demerara were two other coffee plantations for sale.

Writing in 1922, Ukers notes that for a long period there was little production, and practically no exportation. Exports in 1907, for instance, amounted to only 160 pounds.

With the next year, however, a revival of exportation began, and continued to increase. In 1908, exports were 88,700 pounds, and by 1912 had increased to 144,845 pounds.

Despite a decline in 1913, exports reached 238,767 pounds in 1914; in 1916, 501,183 pounds and in 1917 reached 267,344 pounds.

But coffee export never again reached the volume of the early-mid 19th century, and eventually ceased altogether.

Even at the time Bennett writes of the colony’s coffee plantations, he noted that there were few estates remaining, and coffee cultivation halted by “hostile tariffs”, while labour was too expensive to be profitable.

MatrixShopping app creator, Larry Morgan

for buyers and sellers to communicate quickly, as well as allow them to speak directly to the creator of the platform to make recommendations, if need be”.

Interestingly, being in the tech field was not Morgan’s initial career plan.

However, his ambition to be successful led him on such a path. Now, his mission is to not only to be successful, but to do his part in the development of his country.

“This free app not only helps businesses to grow, but also the country in general. It also simplifies lives in that it offers customers a convenient and safe place to shop,” Morgan pointed out.

The Matrix Shopping app is now available for download on the Google Play Store.

A screenshot of the Matrixshopping app

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 11, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

W

Michael Yearwood at Ogle

Yearwood at pilot training in Trinidad

hile Guyana is noted for its brain drain, 23-year-old Michael Yearwood is one of the few young people who is enthusiastic about returning to live and work in his homeland.

Pursuing his commercial pilot license in Trinidad, Yearwood, who is also an award-winning University of the West Indies (UWI) graduate, is already looking for opportunities in Guyana.

“I love Guyana and I have always planned on coming back someday,” Yearwood stated in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, emphasizing his desire to significantly contribute to his homeland, instead of pursuing opportunities abroad.

Yearwood resides in Freeport, Trinidad, but was born in Georgetown.

His parents divorced when Yearwood was just threeyears-old. His mother later remarried, and the family subsequently migrated to Canada when Yearwood was eight. After living there for about seven years, the family returned to the Caribbean, but settled in

Trinidad, where Yearwood advanced his education.

Some of his fondest memories of Guyana were spent on a Pomeroon farm owned by his grandparents, Jumrattan and the late John Dennis Gildharie of Jacklow. And when his 82-year-old grandmother was at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, to welcome him on his inaugural flight to Guyana in May 2017.

The pilot usually flies throughout Trinidad, to Tobago and Grenada, and while training in the United States earlier last year, he flew to several states.

The young man holds a Private Pilot License (PPL) with Instrument Rating Add on from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA-TT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAAUSA).

He secured the TTCA license while training parttime at the BRIKO Flight School in Trinidad during his final year studying at UWI. He later secured the FAA license at the American Flyers Flight School in Ft. Lauderdale.

He is now in the final stages of commercial pilot training at the Aerial World Services Limited in Trinidad.

UWI Awardee

Last year, Yearwood graduated from UWI with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Major) with Biology (Minor) and Analytical Chemistry (Minor). He was awarded the Cheryl Bowles Prize for the Best Final Year Student Project in Analytical Chemistry. His research was based on the cancer-causing parabens in hand sanitizers.

Previously, he completed a two-year CAPE Diploma.

“My plan includes obtaining a job as soon as I am qualified, and to pursue higher ratings on as many different types of aircraft as possible. I dream of one day being the Captain of an Airbus A380 which is the largest Commercial aircraft carrier,” Yearwood said.

The talented young man was inspired to become a pilot while in his final year at UWI, when his mother related a conversation she had with a T&T Air Guard.

“I enrolled at BRIKO

With his grandmother, Jumrattan Gildharie, at Ogle Airport

Flight School under one condition: I had to maintain good grades and finish my BSc. at UWI or my parents threatened to stop paying for flight school,” Yearwood recalled.

‘Be positive’

When not flying, Yearwood enjoys playing guitar and keyboard. He also continues to volunteer, which he has been doing since high school.

“I was taught to be humble, kind and generous.

Giving monetarily and volunteering my time to helping others is a part of me.

I especially love teaching and sharing knowledge,” Yearwood noted.

He has on several occasions participated in charitable events benefiting children and young people.

“My mom is my biggest role model. She is the epitome of positivity. From growing up on a farm in the Pomeroon River to becoming the woman she is today, mom taught me that

you can achieve anything in life by working hard, being humble and positive,” Yearwood expressed.

His advice for other young people: “Let your parents guide you. They have maturity, experience and wisdom. Also, read, any and everything. Young people need to know that we all have the ability to achieve anything we set our minds to. But, be prepared to do the necessary work, and be patient. Most importantly, put God first.”

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 11, 2017

Times Feature

Alex Arjoon is a patriot on a mission to showcase the beauty of Guyana and promote a ‘green’ economy

F

Alex capturing the beauty of Guyana's interior

ounded in March 2017, Reel Guyana, founded by Alex Arjoon, core business is primarily the acquisition of high quality raw video footage of the natural environment and rich culture throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. This footage will be available to

the national, regional and international markets.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, the 24-year-old talks about what he hopes to accomplish via his company.

Sunday Magazine (SM): What prompted you to start Reel Guyana?

Alex Arjoon (AA):

Throughout my childhood, my mom always made sure we were aware of the environment and the consequences our actions have on the environment. This was a frequent life lesson that many Guyanese are just not exposed to. Today, with the implication of the Green State Development Strategy, there are lots of factors that focus on environmental protection. However, Guyanese don't quite understand these implications or why it's such an important feature.

Reel Guyana allows them to be exposed to parts of our beautiful landscapes, which not many people have traversed, and shows them what we have and why it should be protected as we continue to develop as a nation.

SM: What do you hope to accomplish via Reel Guyana?

AA: I hope to use the company as a platform to

Deep in Guyana's jungle

voice positive messages to the public; use it to shine a light on the beautiful parts of our culture, which many have taken for granted; and to use it as a means to help solidify the Guyanese identity, which I believe has not yet been fully understood or defined.

SM: How do you overcome challenges?

AA: Every day I face challenges in life, most not being work related. I think in dealing with any type of adversity in life it's important to understand what's important to you. For me, it's my family. At the end of the day, the world could be falling apart and things can seem helpless, but knowing my family is behind me let's me know that things are going to be okay.

SM: What’s Reel Guyana’s contribution to the Green State Development Strategy?

AA: I think it definitely touches on many key concepts the Green State Development Strategy has.

Obviously, environment is Exploring Guyana's savannahs

a big one, but we also have done work with education for sustainable development, so that ties in as well.

The company is proud to have been of service to the Ministry of Education with the development of an Education for Sustainable Development series, as its long term goal is to establish itself as a major production house that can effect real change, starting with youths.

SM: What’s your advice for youths who may want to pursue a similar path?

AA: I guess this profession is one where you have to constantly be thinking of concepts with meaningful messages. Sometimes that doesn't always goes as planned, but it's really important to collaborate. I believe most people have something to offer, and something that can push me and make me better.

You can have all the talent or ability in the world, but without the hunger to keep improving, you've automatically set a limit on your po-

tential. I think collaboration and sharing of ideas can essentially be in a number of other aspects, not just video production.

SM: What are your future plans for Reel Guyana?

AA: I just want to be able to make a living doing what I love and knowing that I’m contributing to my country.

Nothing surpasses my love for Guyana and Guyanese people, even though things can become difficult here.

But more than anything, I want to be an example for people like me who are just trying to find their way in the world. I want to let them know that it's okay to think outside the box and do or be something that doesn't conform to what's traditionally expected. We are such an amazing group of people and need to love ourselves a little more.

Reel Guyana had its launch at the Timehri Environmental Film Festival and would like to thank Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund and Iwokrama for their support.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 11, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

Times Women

Alisha “Sasha Melody” Hamid

A

lisha Hamid, popularly known by her stage name ‘Sasha Melody’, is an international recording artiste who hails from a musical background. Her passion for music began since she was just three years old.

Alisha is the first in her family to be born in the U.S. She credits her parents, natives from Guyana, as her influence for pursuing music at an early age. Her father, who liked to DJ in his spare time, would play soca music from renowned artistes such as Byron Lee, Arrow and Sparrow, which is how she discovered her love for soca music.

“I come from a musical family. My grandfather is a pastor in Brooklyn, NY. At the age of three, I began singing on the church stage where my grandmother would play the organ and sing backup vocals for me, and my uncles would play the guitar - forming a family band,” the 31-yearold recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

In school, Alisha sang in the Monarch High School Concert Choir and began acting and vocal training at the Academy of Performing Arts School in Denver, Colorado at The Academy of Art. In 2000 Alisha competed in the World Championships of Performing Arts where she was awarded three gold medals - one each for singing, acting and spokes modelling. These achievements landed her a role on the first nationally syndicated show in television history – Soul Train, hosted by Hollywood actor Shemar Moore. For three years Alisha remained on the show, which was filmed at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 17, Alisha graduated from high school as a junior and was accepted in Five Towns College, New York. While in school, Alisha was an intern at Universal Music Group, Atlantic Records, and VP Records. Before her 21st birthday, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (Music Business).

In 2006, Alisha recorded “Whinin School”, “Fyah” and “Music”, which were all produced by Jason Lee (former band member of Atlantik), also the person who gave her the name ‘Sasha Melody’.

By 2008, the singer had performed in various cities in California, Louisiana, Florida and New York. Additionally, she appeared as a dancer in the music video for T.C., featuring Capelton called ‘Bounce’.

In 2013, Sasha Melody recorded “Land of Soca” in Trinidad, which was released for the 2014 carnival season.

The award-winning artiste’s multiple hits include “Ah want ah whina”, “Get on

With Shemar Moore on the hit show, Soul Train

Performing in Trinidad

Bad”, “Fiya”, and “Whinin Away”, featuring soca artiste Ronnie Homer.

Outlining her future plans, Alisha said she aims to “put out more music; shoot a music video; and expand the Sasha Melody brand in other countries”.

Though not born in Guyana, the talented artiste proudly identifies herself as a

“Guyanese”. Notably, Alisha cherishes her Guyanese parents and heritage, which laid the foundation for her successful music career.

For more information on the artiste, visit Sasha Melody (Official Fan Page) on Facebook; @sashamelody1 on Twitter; and Sashamelody1 on Instagram.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 11, 2017

Times Book World

By Petamber Persaud

Promoting Our National Patrimony

T

he book has some inherent and generic functions. However, additional roles are sometimes thrust upon it, expanding its ambit and increasing its benefits.

Increasingly, the book is being used to mark certain occasions like significant anniversaries and milestones, both public and private.

At a recent ceremony to mark the 51st Independence Anniversary of Guyana, three publications were (officially) released, namely: “National Bibliography of Guyana 1966-2016”, “50 Nations Builders” and “50 Creative Icons of Guyana”.

These books were produced to mark Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence in 2016. The last two books, in which I was directly involved, were attempts to inspire and encourage further research in order to acknowledge the contribution of our creative icons and nation builders to the development of Guyana.

Each book has its basic objective (s). For instance, according to Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry, “50 Nation Builders of Guyana” is “to pay homage to a number of outstanding stalwarts”, to ensure that we do not forget or do not show a lack of appreciation for the “rich legacy our progenitors have left for us to enjoy”, and it is hoped that “this book will awaken in all of us a sense of commitment as to what we can do to build on the legacy left by our ancestors”.

The scope and limitation of the book were outlined by its editor, Alim Hosein, in his introduction.

Mr Hosein says the book gives “a concise account that will provide some idea about the efforts and achievements of these nation builders”. He acknowledges the book’s limitations by stating “to make any list of nation builders is to invite controversy, especially when the list contains

only fifty of them”, and that there are many other “lessvisible nation builders” and unsung heroes.

The sister book, “50 Creative Icons”, is to elicit national pride by showcasing our creative men and women and “their invaluable, if often unacknowledged contribution to Guyana’s development”.

Minister Henry, states that the creative icons are not only regarded for their “beautiful works of art or exciting entertainment, but because they take us to different levels of thinking, stimulating reflection and change”.

The book’s editor, Mr Hosein, puts the contribution of creative icons in proper perspective: “Many persons regard songs, dances, novels, poems, plays and the like as mere entertainment… but not worth much more than this… However, the Arts and our creative people do make a major contribution to nationbuilding, and they are as

important as public figures, business people and other such persons… Indeed, it can be argued that our artists preceded our politicians, businessmen and others in the creation of the Guyanese nation.”

The editor also acknowledges the shortcoming of such a publication, saying this book “is not intended to be a definitive compendium of creative Guyana” and therefore a list was appended to encourage the seeking out of others to be accorded some sort of recognition.

The “National Bibliography of Guyana” was a very ambitious and commendable production despite a few lapses.

The foreword, written

by Ms Debra Lowe, gives a background to the compilation and eventual completion and publication of the current ‘National Bibliography’. Ms Lowe writes that the compilation of this National Bibliography “has a long

history which began on the 9th October 1945 when His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gordon Lethem K. C. M. G. appointed a Committee for the purpose of ‘compiling and publishing a Bibliography of British Guiana’”.

Almost five decades later, Dr James Rose enters the picture during his tenure as Chairman of the National Library and ViceChancellor of the University of Guyana making overtures to the National Trust and the Department of Culture to complete the Bibliography. Eventually, the project gained impetus as part of plans for the celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence when “the idea… was presented to the National Commemoration commission as a marquee Jubilee Project and it was readily embraced”. Subsequently, in 2015 a new committee was formed, leading to the document that is now in the public’s domain.

The foreword also explains why the Library of Congress Classification was chosen in preference to the exiting Dewey Decimal Classification.

A National Bibliography is important for many reasons, but primarily, in this instance, showcases government’s policy, and public and private interest towards our literary output.

Included on the printed programme of this event was a fourth book, “Guyana at 50”, edited by Arif Ali. It is touted as “the premium 50th commemorative publication that captures the essence of all things Guyanese” (more on this in a subsequent article).

All of the above books are important to our national patrimony in preserving, promoting and disseminating the country’s unique heritage.

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

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 11, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

T

ime changes everything, and some things are forgotten, some remembered, and new memories made.

This week, Times Heritage looks back at

Guyanese historical architecture, decayed by neglect, dismantled to make way for modern development, or tragically destroyed and now lost to the passage of time.

Sacred Heart Church in 2004 before it was completely destroyed by fire.

In 2015, a rebuilt Sacred Heart Church was officially opened to the public

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, once located on Brickdam, foundation stone was laid April 21, 1868 by Governor Hincks. It was consecrated August 25, 1878. The remarkable feat of timber craftsmanship was designed by celebrated architect, Cesar Castellani. On March 7, 1913 it was destroyed by fire. The Brickdam Cathedral a stone edifice, replaced the structure.

Park Hotel, circa 1900s

Park Hotel

Sacred Heart Church

In 1860, the construction of the Sacred Heart Church commenced to accommodate the vast numbers of Roman Catholics in British Guiana. Once designed in a rectangular shape, the original building measured 30.5m x 9.1m. An eastern façade, which became the main façade, was designed by architect Cesar Castellani and erected in 1872. This church, once situated on Main Street, Georgetown, was destroyed by fire in 2004.

The Park Hotel was built during the 1900s and was owned by the Kissoon family. Its colonial architecture, evident in the use of timber, Demerara shutters and its veranda, was common at that time. Once located in Main Street in the heart of the city of Georgetown, this landmark hotel was destroyed by fire in May 2000.

The St. Barnabas' Church before it was demolished in 2011 (Photo by Amanda Richards)

Remains of the old New Amsterdam Hospital (Photo was taken in 2010

by Amanda Richards)

St. Barnabas Church

New Amsterdam Hospital

The old New Amsterdam Hospital, once located in Region Six, Berbice, in the town of New Amsterdam, was one of Guyana’s outstanding historical buildings. It was built in 1844 and designed by renowned architect Cesar Castellani, and described as a “timber architectural masterpiece”. The building was declared unfit to function as the primary hospital of the region and it was left abandoned where it collapsed over time due to constant vandalism and deterioration.

The Alms House was renamed the Palms

The Anglican Church of St. Barnabas, where it once stood at Regent Street and Orange Walk, Bourda, opened as a rather small building in 1884. It was consecrated in 1938. The St. Barnabas Church with its flying buttresses and massive towers was sold and later demolished in 2011.

Guyana’s historical architecture, indigenous languages and various customs and cultures of our diverse ethnicities are just as susceptible to time since they all need to be maintained or remembered in order to survive over time. Looking back at sites, places and cultures past, whether recently or long ago, could be either a nostalgic experience or a deliberate rejection of a long ago ideal or way of life.

(Cover photo showing New Amsterdam hospital as it once looked in the 50s - a beautiful and impressive structure)

Alms House

The architectural design of the original Alms House, in Brickdam, was again the ingenuity of architect, Cesar Castellani. It was completed in 1878. Since its original construction, other structures have been added in the complex to accommodate its growing population of the elderly and disabled. The Alms House was renamed the Palms but the nature and objectives of the institution remained the same. Over time the original Alms House slowly deteriorated and was later demolished.

Main Street, Georgetown (1924)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 11, 2017

Times Travel & Tourism

C

henapou is a small, remote village on the banks of the Potaro, Region Eight, about a two-hour journey by speedboat upriver from Kaieteur Falls.

The residents in the village are from the Patamona nation who still uphold their heritage, such as speaking in their indigenous dialect, although English is also spoken. Their way of life is dependent on the forest and the river, with a considerable amount of their diet consisting of different forms of root vegetables, such as cassava.

The Chenapou Primary School is a small school situated in the heart of the village.

Children hanging out at the creek

Chenapou Primary School

Paddling a dugout canoe in Chenapou

guyanatimesgy.com

June 11 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

10 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 11, 2017

Times Fashion

G

uyanese designer Keisha Edwards is currently making waves in the fashion industry with her latest bridal collection, ‘Unconventional Wedding Gowns’.

Under her label, ShaSha Designs, the designer recently launched her second bridal collection catering for those brides who prefer an “unconventional” look on their big day.

“Modern brides don’t want to wear the traditional white gowns.

This collection is for the ‘unconventional’ bride. The collection also caters for those brides who want to wear their gowns after the wedding,” Keisha explained in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Check out ShaSha Designs on Facebook for more information on the collection. (Model and MUA: Renee Chester. Photos by Infinity Photography)

Designer Keisha Edwards

Sunday Times Magazine 11 JUNE 11, 2017

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Star Times Hollywood

R

amón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1977), known by his stage name Daddy Yankee, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, rapper, actor and record producer. Ramón is popularly known as the “King of Reggaetón” by music critics, and fans alike. In 2004, he released his internationally acclaimed single “Gasolina”, which is credited with introducing Reggaeton to audiences worldwide, and making the music genre a global phenomenon. Since then, he has sold over 18 million albums. Ramón’s album, Barrio Fino, made history when it became the top selling Latin music album of the decade (2000-2009). On April 28, 2016, he was awarded the Industry Leader Award during the 2016 Latin Billboard Awards. In 2017, Ramón, in collaboration with Latin pop singer Luis Fonsi, released the hit single “Despacito”. It became the first song primarily in Spanish to hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since “Macarena (song)” in 1996. The single gained global success due to Justin Bieber lending his voice to the remix version of the song.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 11, 2017

Times Hollywood

Rihanna responds to Selena Gomez praises Justin Bieber’s performance body-shaming article S

R

ihanna has responded to a blogger who body-shamed her in true Rihanna fashion.

She posted a meme of Gucci Mane, showing his weight loss since 2007.

The original article,

which appeared on sports website Barstool Sports, said she looked like "she's in a sumo suit".

Rihanna's fans also came to her defence, with the writer of the article claiming he is now being "cyber-bullied".

Up until now, Rihanna had not responded to the article or the tweet, both of which have been taken down.

But fans think her most recent Instagram post is finally her "clapping back".

The meme is two topless photos of rapper Gucci Mane, captioned with: "If you can't handle me at my 2007 Gucci Mane, you don't deserve me at my 2017 Gucci Mane."

This comes after the writer of the post, Chris 'Spags' Spagnuolo, claimed he was being "cyber-bullied" by her fans.

He posted some of tweets which had been sent to him in response of the article.

(BBC Newsbeat)

elena Gomez has praised ex Justin Bieber's moving performance at the One Love Manchester concert.

Speaking to radio station SiriusXM, Selena commented: "I thought Justin did great."

She continued: "It was really beautiful."

The 24-year-old had only good things to say about the entire event, stating: "Everyone did such a beautiful job. It was so gorgeous. I loved how grand he ended it."

Selena and Justin dated on and off between 2011 and 2014. Both singers have written songs that many believe are about each other. Selena's recent song “Bad Liar” could even be interpreted as an ode to JB. She is now dating The Weeknd.

(Glamour)

Taylor Swift and Spotify end feud T

aylor Swift has seemingly ended her long standing feud with Spotify by announcing all of her music will become available on the platform. it all started in 2014 when Taylor removed all of her music from Spotify.

Speaking of her decision, Taylor told Yahoo: "If I had streamed the new album, it's impossible to try to speculate what would have happened. But all I can say is that music is changing so quickly, and the landscape of the music industry itself is changing so quickly, that everything new, like Spotify, all feels to me a bit like a grand experiment.

And I'm not willing to contribute my life's work to an experiment that I don't feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music."

Now, she’s announcing her music will be available to stream.

The star is putting her music back onto

all streaming services in order to celebrate her ‘1989’ album selling 10 million albums worldwide. (Glamour)

T

he 39-year-old rapper is believed to have expressed his wish of having more children with Kim Kardashian during their family trip to the Bahamas.

After going through a very tough year, Kanye realizes that his family is his priority and wants to focus

on them. "Kanye loves his family so much and really wants more kids," a source tells HollywoodLife.com.

Although it will be good for the couple to have more children, they still have to consider Kim's health condition. "He definitely brought it up on the trip. Kim would love to [have more children]

as well in a perfect world, but the reality is that pregnancy is so hard on her it may not happen," the source continues.

Kim recently confessed that she "has been begging Khloe Kardashian to be [her] surrogate" because conceiving naturally "is not looking good for her."

Earlier this year, Kim underwent a surgery to repair her uterus.

Last week, Kanye and Kim jetted off to the Bahamas as an early celebration for Kanye's 40th birthday on June 8. They were said to have an amazing time there. "Kim, Kanye and their kids are having an amazing time together on vacation," a source revealed.

"Kanye is finally feeling happy, healthy and pleased to be able to take everyone to a private island oasis for some much needed family time," the source said. "Persevering the tough times together - the health scares and the robbery - cemented their bond as a family and as a married couple."

(AceShowbiz)

Jerry Seinfeld refuses to hug Kesha

J

erry Seinfeld snubbed Kesha and the awkward moment was caught on camera. The singer approached the 63-yearold comedian when he was

being interviewed and she asked for a hug, but he said "no" repeatedly.

The incident happened at National Night of Laughter in Washington,

D.C. "I'm Kesha, I love you so much!" she said, to which he responded, "Oh, thanks." She then asked, "Can I give you a hug?"

When he replied with a "no thanks," she pleaded, "Please? A little one." But he was still unmoved, "No thanks."

Kesha looked disappointed as she walked away. Seinfeld apparently had no clue who she was. "I don't know who that was!" he told the interviewer.

When he was told it was Kesha, the comedian looked taken aback. "Oh, Ok. Well, I wish her the best," he said while turning around, trying to spot her among the guests. (AceShowbiz)

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 11, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

A

myra Dastur, born May 7, 1993, is an Indian film actress.

She made her Bollywood debut in “Issaq”, opposite Prateik Babbar. She started her career as a model at the age of 16. She was seen in Mukesh Bhatt's sci-fi thriller “Mr. X” alongside Emraan Hashmi. Amyra had also acted in the Tamil movie, “Anegan”, for which she was awarded the SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress Tamil. The actress’ first international project, “Kung Fu Yoga” (released in February 2017), saw her starring alongside Jackie Chan. Amyra will soon be seen in “ K a a l a g a n d i ”, starring Saif Ali Khan.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan Jacqueline graces won’t attend ‘Cosmopolitan’ cover IIFA in July J

S

hah Rukh Khan will miss this year’s IIFA awards, which is scheduled to take place in New York. His production “Jab Harry Met Sejal”, directed by Imtiaz Ali, is the reason. The film is schedule to be released in August and the star will remain busy with its promotion leading up to its release.

Shah Rukh plays a Punjabi tour guide while Anushka Sharma plays a Gujarati girl in the film, which has been extensively shot in Budapest, Punjab and Prague.

There is yet another reason for SRK skipping the film: his son Aryan injured

his nose while playing football in school and is in need of a surgery. Soon after the awards, the actor would have to travel and he doesn’t want two trips so close to each other.

“Shah Rukh’s son Aryan broke his nose while playing football at school. Aryan is already on medication, but the doctors have advised him to undergo surgery. SRK will be travelling abroad for that. It has been scheduled around the same time as the award function, and his priorities are very clear. The concerned father will obviously prefer being by his son’s side,” DNA quoted a source as saying. (DNA)

acqueline Fernandez has gotten candid over ‘besties, boy trouble and Bieber’ for “Cosmopolitan”.

The 31-year-old actor oozes hotness in the June issue of “Cosmopolitan” magazine, flaunting her toned tummy.

She has given perfect body goals with her pose on the cover.

Jacqueline is seen in a pair of denims and denim jacket with an orange corset top. Adding on to her look was her voluminous curly hair and glowing makeup.

The magazine posted the picture on its Instagram handle and wrote alongside, “It’s here! Meet our gorgeous June cover star @ jacquelinef143 as she talks about besties, boy troubles and Bieber in this month’s Cosmo.”

On the work front, Jacqueline will be next seen in her upcoming movie “A Gentleman” along

with Siddharth Malhotra directed by Krishna DK

and Raj Nidimoru. “A Gentleman” will tentatively

release on August 25, 2017.

(Hindustan Times)

Ranbir Kapoor: ‘Katrina is a machine of super hits’

B

ollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has said Katrina Kaif is a “big star”, who delivers super hit films time and again. He would even like to make a film “only for her” in the future as a producer.

“I think Katrina is a machine of super hit films. In the future, when I will produce a film, I would like to make a film only for her,” Ranbir said to the actress at a promotional event.

Katrina replied: “Thank you very much.”

The actors have also shared screen space in films “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani” and “Raajneeti”.

Ranbir, who is currently busy shooting for a biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt - directed

by Rajkumar Hirani - feels safe and blessed to have a

wide range of films in the pipeline.

“Last few years weren’t that good at the box office, but even then I’ve got the opportunity to work with Raju sir, Anurag Basu and

Ayan Mukerji. I feel very fortunate and blessed. They are putting their vision in a film and gifting it to me.

So, I really hope that I can repay that with my talent,” said Ranbir. (IANS)

Dimple Kapadia turns 60

D

imple Kapadia is elegance and beauty personified. The yesteryears actor, who shot to instant fame with her debut film “Bobby” (1973) opposite Rishi Kapoor, turned 60 on Thursday. And even at 60, Dimple can give young stars a run for their money.

Many might not know that Dimple was

16 when she was launched by legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor in the film, but soon after she made her debut in “Bobby”, she tied the knot with actor Rajesh Khanna and took a sabbatical from acting for as long as a decade.

She married Khanna six months before the release of her debut film “Bobby” and then retired from the industry to raise her daughters Twinkle and Rinkie.

In 1984, the actor made a comeback to films with “Zakhmi Sher”, which was followed by a string of successful films that made Dimple one of the leading heroines of the ‘80s.

Having played lead roles, Dimple moved on to portraying supporting characters and in the recent times, her performance in films such as “Dil Chahta Hai” (2001), “Patiala House” (2011), “Cocktail” (2012), “Finding Fanny” (2014) and “Welcome Back” (2015) were much appreciated by fans and critics alike. (Hindustan Times)

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Sunday Times Magazine 15

Times Trends

Star of the week

S

teven Bagot is an athletic, charismatic and talented individual. In 2010, the Berbice resident won the Guyana Model Search competition, the same year his teaching career began. Since copping the Guyana Model Search crown, Steven has modelled for several Guyana Fashion Weekend events. Other than modelling, Steven’s passion includes educating young minds. The primary school teacher is currently pursuing a Degree in Education.

Interestingly, Steven is an ardent churchgoer and a musician for his church in Berbice.

His other interests include public speaking, classical violin music, dancing, drawing and playing volley ball. Steven lives by the adage: “If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands.” His advice to youths is: “Never give up; great things take time.”

Trending Now

Feather brows

W

hile not as glam as false lashes or as eye-catching as red lips, eyebrows are incredibly expressive. Finding the right shape can change your whole life or at least your whole face like the most recent trend, ‘feather brows’.

Stella Sironin, a makeup artist from Helsinki, Finland, accidentally started the trend when a friend of hers randomly brushed her eyebrows in a ‘feather’ design.

She posted the photo online “for fun”. To her surprise, feather brows became an instant trend among makeup artists.

Here are a few trending feather brow styles to try - if you’re the daring type.

Lightly 'feathered' eyebrows

Plain feather brows with dramatic eyeshadow for a trendy look

A peacock feather design

Feather brows with glitter

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Art

E

mblazoned with messages of unity and hope, US-based Guyanese artist Derek Browne aims to bring together people of all creeds and ethnicities via his art.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Browne pointed out that through his art he would like to “show humanity that unity and order can be attained in this chaotic world that we live in...” adding that, “aesthetic order is the objective” in all his art.

Derek Browne was born in the village of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, but grew up in Georgetown where he attended Smith Church Congregational and Bedford Methodist Primary

schools. He also attended Central High School where he had begun his formal education in art, and from there went on to the Burrowes School of Art, which was located in Eccles, East Bank Demerara at that time. Browne later migrated to the U.S. and is currently residing in Queens, New York.

Recalling his initial interests in the arts, Browne stated, “As far back as I can remember, I had begun showing interest in drawing and playing musical instruments. During the course of going to primary and secondary schools to be educated, all I ever thought about was becoming an artist and musician. So I guess by na-

ture, I was born an artist.”

The artist’s first major painting was titled “Carambola in Season”. It was a picturesque painting featuring a few bunches of ripe five-finger fruits with leaves hanging from branches. It was an image captured from a tree growing in his backyard. This artwork was one of two that shared the first prize in painting at the National Exhibition of Visual Art held at the Umana Yana in 1981.

This painting is now part of the National Collection at Castellani House, located on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

Browne described much of his artworks as “pictorial designs”, as they maybe

"A Tropical Scene" (acrylic paints on stretched canvas).

A commissioned piece for a client's private collection

floral, abstract, posters, or things from nature.

“I also like landscapes. I am not really a figure painter. I have gotten a few com-

missions for these and have sold some of my art,” he disclosed.

Another notable piece of Browne’s collection is “Market Splendour”. This artwork was the only first prize winner at the National Exhibition of Visual Art in 1982. That painting is also now part of the National Collection. “‘Market Splendour’ is a digital rendering of the artwork that won first prize in painting in 1982 at the National Exhibition of Visual Arts held in Georgetown, Guyana. It features familiar market scenes in Georgetown. I was able to reconstruct the composition and add colour digitally using the computer program DrawPlus. The original artwork was done in oil paints and was large in size, approaching 6ft in height,” the artist outlined.

His thought-provoking “Oneness Under The Sun” painting features “hands of varying skin complexions protruding out of the ground and making the peace sign”. Browne explained the hands in the artwork are actually modelled after his own.

“This artwork’s theme is

intended to denounce and dismiss the labels that are applied to groups of people according to skin colour, which are causing divisiveness and strife amongst the human race. One such label is ‘people of colour’, which singles out a certain group of people as only being of colour, when in fact all humans walking on this earth are of colour no matter how light or dark the skin is. As a person who deals with colour almost on a daily basis, I don’t see a person as ‘white’ or ‘black’. We are all of colour!” the artist declared.

Browne described himself as a “designer” because when executing an artwork, he allows himself to be guided by the principles of design.

Other than art, Browne loves music. His main instrument is the guitar.

Additionally, he is an avid gardener and creates scenic landscapes.

When asked about his inspiration, Browne said in “the fine arts he is not inspired by humans, but feels divine inspiration”. (Cover photo: "Oneness Under The Sun" (2016). Acrylic on bristol board)

"A Bunch Of Carambola" (2007). Coloured pencil

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Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Most interesting new features in iOS 11

W

hen iOS 11, the new, free iPhone/ iPad OS upgrade comes later this year, you won’t gain any big-ticket feature. Instead, you’ll get a whole lot of tiny nips and tucks. They seem to fall into five categories: Nice Tweaks, Storage Help, iPad Exclusives, Playing CatchUp, Fixing Bad Design.

Nice Tweaks

A new voice for Siri - The new male and female voices sound much more like actual people.

One-handed typing There’s a new keyboard that scoots closer to one side, for easier one-handed typing.

Do not disturb while driving - This optional feature sounds like a really good one. When the phone detects that you’re driving—because it’s connected to your phone’s Bluetooth, or because the phone detects motion—it prevents any notifications (alert messages from your apps) from showing up to distract you. If someone texts you, they get an autoresponse like, “I’m driving.

I’ll see your message when I get where I’m going.” (You can designate certain people as VIPs; if they text the word “urgent” to you, their messages break through the

Tech news

I

blockade.)

up PDFs just by starting to write on them. A new feature lets you snap a document with the iPad’s camera, which straightens and crops the page so that you can sign it or annotate it. Handwriting in the Notes app is now searchable, and you can make drawings within any Note or email message.

Storage Help

Running out of room on the iPhone is a chronic problem.

Apple has a few features designed to help: Camera app.

Apple is adopting new file formats for photos (HEIF, or High Efficiency Image Format) and videos (H265 or High Efficiency Video Codec), which look the same as they did before but consume only the half the space. (When you export to someone else, they convert to standard formats.)

Messages in iCloud.

When you sign into any new Mac, iPhone, or iPad with your iCloud credentials, your entire texting history gets downloaded automatically. (As it is now, when you sign in on a new machine, you can’t see the Message transcript histories.) Saving the Messages history online also saves disk space on your Mac. Storage optimization.

The idea: As your phone begins to run out of space, your oldest files are quietly and automatically stored online,

Playing Catch-Up

leaving Download icons in their places on your phone, so that you can retrieve them if you need them.

Fixing Bad Design

Some of the changes repair the damage Apple made to itself in iOS 10. For example: Redesigned apps drawer in Messages - All the stuff they added to Messages last year (stickers, apps, live drawing) cluttered up the design and wound up getting ignored by lots of people. The new design is cleaner. (Excerpted from Yahoo)

iPad Exclusives

Many of the biggest changes in iOS 11 are available only on the iPad. A file manager - A new app called Files lets you work with (and search) files and folders, just as you do on the Mac or PC. It even shows your Box and Dropbox files.

Pencil features - If you’ve bought Apple’s stylus, you can tap the Lock screen and

India launches 'monster' rocket

ndia's space agency has successfully launched its heaviest rocket.

The 640-tonne rocket blasted off from a launching site off the Bay of Bengal in Sriharikota.

As one website put it, "it's been a big day for India". The rocket will reduce the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) reliance on European vehicles to launch heavy satellites.

The coverage of the launch has been euphoric, and often colourful, with websites comparing the rocket to the weight of 200 elephants, or five jumbo jets.

Such comparisons highlight the importance of the launch for the country, which is aggressively competing to get a bigger share of the global commercial satellite launch market.

India has so far relied on other countries to send heavy satellites into space, which is expensive and a drain on Isro's budget.

The GSLV Mark III can carry put a payload weighing more than three tonnes into the high altitude orbit occupied by the spacecraft that relay TV, telephone calls and broadband connections.

But it's far from being the world's heaviest rocket because Nasa's Saturn V,

start taking notes right away. You can mark-

With every new OS from Google ( G O O G , GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), or Apple, there’s a set of “us, too!” features that keeps them

all competitive. This time around, it’s: Lane guidance - When you’re driving, Maps now lets you know which lane to be in for your next turn, just as Google Maps does.

which was used between 1967 and 1973, still holds that record, with total mass at lift-off about four times that of India's GSLV Mark III. The NDTV website says the rocket is as heavy as five Jumbo jets. And the weight matters because communication satellites are quite heavy.

Experts say the rocket gives India more flexibility in launching different kinds of satellites.

"We were able to send [satellites weighing] up to two tonnes previously. This is a double quantum jump for India," Ajay Lele from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses told the AFP news agency.

Isro hopes that the rocket, called the "monster" by one newspaper, will be able to carry an astronaut to space by 2024.

India wants to become the fourth country after the US, China and Russia to send a person into space.

Experts say the successful launch will give impetus to India's indigenous space programme.

The launch follows Isro's other recent achievements, including a mission to Mars, and the launch of more than 100 satellites in a single mission earlier in the year. (BBC)

Tech BYTE

R

Computers trained to spot fake online profiles

esearchers have trained computers to spot social media users who pose as somebody else - a practice known as catfishing.

They say their algorithms can identify users who lie about their gender, with more than 90% accuracy.

Most dating website users say they have encountered at least one fake profile, according to consumer group Which?

And the number of people defrauded by dating scams reached a record high in 2016.

Analysing data from 5,000 verified public profiles manually checked by employees on adult content site Pornhub, the algorithms learned how men and women of different ages interacted with others, how they commented on posts and their style of writing.

That allowed them to trawl the rest of the website in search of those lying about their gender and their age.

The study suggested almost 40% of the site's users lied about their age and 25% lied about their gender, with women more likely

to deceive than men.

Dr Walid Magdy, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics, said: "Adult websites are populated by users who claim to be other than who they are, so these are a perfect testing ground for techniques that identify catfishes."

"What was interesting was that it seems that for many the reason for lying was to get more friends and subscribers."

Dr Magdy said the algorithms, developed by computer scientists at Edinburgh University, in collaboration with Lancaster University, Queen Mary University, London and King's College, London, could "lead to useful tools to flag dishonest users and keep social networks of all kinds safe".

"It has many applications such as people who fake accounts on Twitter for political reasons or for children who fake accounts to access adult websites," he said.

The study will be presented at a conference in Australia on the future of social networks. (BBC)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Decorating With Floor and Table Lamps

N

ot only are lamps essential to a well-lit room, but they also make a big impact on a home's overall look and feel. Illuminate your space and amplify your style with these tips for choosing the right floor and table lamps for your home.

If you're going for a modern or contemporary look, think simple and streamlined when selecting lamps. Currently in vogue, slim bases and drum-shaped shades can add height and drama to a space without overpowering its other decor.

By Jehan Powell

Ingredients 3 cups plain mashed potato 1 tsp crushed garlic ½ tsp chopped parsley ¼ tsp black pepper ½ tsp salt

½ cup cheddar cheese (you can also use montery jack) 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk 1 cup flour 1 ½ cup panko Oil

Method

In a large bowl mix mashed potato, garlic, parsley, black pepper, salt and cheese. Next add egg yolk then mix well. Then, beat the 2 whole eggs in a bowl and set aside.

Add flour to a plate and add panko bread crumbs to another plate. Use a spoon to scoop up about 3 tablespoon of the potato and using your hands roll into balls.

Gently roll the ball in the flour and coat evenly; shake off excess. Next dip the flour coated ball into the egg and coat evenly. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Next roll into the panko bread crumbs then place on a baking pan. Repeat this process. Place the potato balls in the fridge for 30 minutes so that it can become firm.

Place enough oil, about 4-5 inches deep, in a heavy bottom pot over medium heat. You want the oil to be deep enough to cover the balls. When the oil is hot, remove the balls from the fridge and fry in small batches. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Once the balls are brown, place on a plate lined with paper towel to drain the excess oil. Repeat this process until all of the balls are cooked.

Serve warm. (www.jehancancook.com)

Greatest Cooking Tips

Shades with a tapered shape tend to blend well with traditional decor. Pair an antique ceramic lamp with colourful Indian textiles and a Chinese wall hanging for a look that's both worldly and classic.

Acidity, salt and horseradish bring out full flavours in food.

Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta; it will keep the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta.

For safety, put a wine cork on the tip of a knife before putting the knife in a drawer.

When you’re going to sauté garlic, slice it rather than mincing it — it's less likely to burn that way.

Home Help

If you need to add colour or texture to a room, an interesting lampshade will add just the boost you are looking for. Look for a shade with a bold pattern, an interesting texture or decorative touches like beads or tassels.

Pick a cloudy day to clean windows. Direct sun makes the cleaner dry too quickly, leaving streaks behind.

It's tempting to toss armfuls of wet clothes straight into the dryer in as few moves as possible. Twists in your T-shirts and bulky clumps of damp dresses might exit the dryer the exact same way — mussed and wrinkly. So give each item a quick shake before it hits the dryer.

Cloudy drinking glasses? All you have to do is soak your cups/ glasses for five minutes in white vinegar. Since it's acetic, it will dissolve the minerals in a snap. If stubborn spots still persist, gently rub them off with baking soda. Then rinse the glasses by hand and dry them with a lint-free towel before drinking out of them again.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

Things a Pediatrician Wishes You'd Stop Doing P

JOKES

Frog prince An 80 year-old woman was walking down the main street in her hometown one evening when she heard a low voice say, "Hey lady."

She looked around to see who was talking but upon seeing nobody there she shrugged it all off and continued walking. Before she got another five feet, she heard the same voice, only a little louder, say, "Hey lady!"

She once again looked around and didn't see anybody, but when she went to walk again she saw a frog sitting at her feet looking at her.

The frog then opened his mouth and said, "Could you please help me?"

The elderly woman was shocked at first but picked up the little frog and asked him what he needed. The frog proceeded to tell the woman that he was actually a handsome young prince that had been turned into a frog. All the lady had to do was to kiss the frog on the lips and he would turn back into a handsome prince, and would then be eternally grateful to the woman.

Well, the woman thought for a moment and then quietly slipped the frog into her purse. As she was walking away she quietly muttered, "At my age I'll have more fun with a talking frog."

Lump A carpet layer had worked all day installing wall-to-wall carpeting.

When he noticed a lump under the carpet in the middle of the living room he felt his shirt pocket for his mints, they were gone.

He was not about to pull the carpet back up, so he went outside for a two-by-four. Stamping down mints with it would be easy. Once the lump was smoothed, the man gathered up his tools and carried them to his truck.

Then two things happened simultaneously. He saw his mints on the seat of the truck, and over his shoulder he heard the voice of the woman who owned the house.

"Have you seen anything of my parakeet?" she asked.

Flattered minister A pastor was leaving his area and was saying farewell to his congregation at the Church doors for the last time. He shook the hand of an elderly lady as she walked out. She said, "Your successor won't be as good as you."

"Nonsense,” said the pastor, in a flattered tone.

"No, really", said the old lady, "I've been here under five different ministers, and each new one has been worse than the last."

My dad's better than your dad Three young boys were walking on the sidewalk arguing over whose daddy was the greatest.

One said, "My dad is the greatest because he is the president of the town bank."

The second boy said, "That is pretty good, but my daddy owns two grocery stores in town!"

The third boy said, "That's nothing, my dad is a preacher, and he owns hell. He came home last night and told my mom that the Church Board gave it to him!"

Gifted hamster A guy goes into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender says, “No way. I don't think you can pay for it.”

The guy says, "You're right. I don't have any money, but if I show you something you haven't seen before, will you give me a drink?"

The bartender says, "Only if what you show me ain't risqué."

"Deal!" says the guy, and reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a hamster. He puts the hamster on the bar and it runs to the end of the bar, climbs down the bar, runs across the room, up the piano, jumps on the key board and starts playing a tune. And the hamster is really good.

The bartender says, "You're right. I've never seen anything like that before. That hamster is truly good on the piano."

The guy downs the drink and asks the bartender for another.

"Money or another miracle, or else no drink,” says the bartender.

The guy reaches into his coat again and pulls out a frog. He puts the frog on the bar, and the frog starts to sing. He has a marvellous voice and great pitch. A fine singer.

A stranger from the other end of the bar runs over to the guy and offers him $300 for the frog. The guy says, "It's a deal."

He takes the three hundred and gives the stranger the frog. The stranger runs out of the bar.

The bartender says to the guy, "Are you some kind of nut? You sold a singing frog for $300? It must have been worth millions. You must be crazy."

"Not so,” says the guy. "The hamster is also a ventriloquist."

arenting doesn't come with a handbook, so unsuspecting moms and dads are left to figure out a lot on their own. Go-to sources of advice - friends, the internet, parents - might not have the most reliable, upto-date info. Then when you get to the pediatrician's office, you’re either too stressed, rushed or embarrassed to ask questions. Doctors are great at telling you what to do, but even they might be hesitant to be upfront with parents about what not to do.

Below are tips/advice by paediatricians on things parents should stop doing, now.

1. Stop looking to the internet for medical advice When you're freaked out about your child's symptoms, the first place to turn is usually Dr. Google. And while trusted sites like the American Academy of Pediatrics can have useful info, it's still impossible to diagnose your kid over the internet. Instead, take your concerns to your doctor.

2. Stop going to the ER for everything “Except for extreme emergencies, getting a phone call in to your physician's office gives time for the child to calm and the family to make assessments, and for us to determine if there's an alternative place we can have you seen,” Dr. Bill Bush, M.D., pediatrician-in-chief at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says. An urgent care facility or the pediatrician's office the next day may be better options.

3. Stop requesting anti-

biotics It's natural to want your kids to get better as soon as possible, but Dr. Bush says antibiotics aren't always the answer. "There are times when it's absolutely appropriate to give the antibiotic when they have a bacterial infection, but for the majority of the patients we see with viral illnesses, it's not," he says.

"Colds and coughs don't need an antibiotic, they just need time to heal." Plus, giving antibiotics too often can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are then harder to fight off.

4. Stop refusing vaccinations and demanding alternative vaccine schedules Ironically, just as some parents rush to medicine, others are scared by vaccines.

Even if parents agree vaccines are a good thing, they're concerned about giving many at the same time. "Very solid evidence exists that immunizations prevent many deadly and debilitating childhood diseases," Dr. Bush says.

"The FDA requires any new combination of vaccines to prove equal effectiveness as if they were given on separate dates so we're not overwhelming the immune system." The

problem with delaying vaccines, especially with babies, is children then go unprotected for longer. "When you start spreading them out, you put more kids at risk," he says.

5. Stop allowing unlimited screen time Dr. Bush says to make sure your kids have outdoor play for exercise, and face-toface interaction for social development. "Life's about interacting with other people, so encourage children to play with their friends in person instead of texting or playing video games online," he says.

6. Stop blaming your child's cold on being outside This is one myth that just won't die. But your kid is not going to catch a cold by going jacket-less for the 10-second walk to the car, so it's probably not worth fighting that battle. "Viral illnesses such as colds come from the spread of germs—kids touching everything and then they touch their eyes, nose, and mouth," Dr. Bush says.

7. Stop skipping wellchild visits We all lead busy lives, and when it comes time for what we consider "non-essential" appointments, it's easy to let them pass by. But Dr.

Bush says that's a mistake.

"If we switch from providing sick care to well care, we can do a better job of preventing or managing certain diseases," he says. This includes hearing and vision problems, heart murmurs, blood pressure elevations, kids who are failing to grow and spines that may be developing scoliosis. Plus, the visits give you and your child a chance to feel more comfortable with your doctor, so you'll be more likely to discuss any concerns in the future.

8. Stop using Q-tips to clean your child's ears You may think you're helping your child's hygiene, but you're really just pushing wax further into the ears.

"Kids will come in sometimes with ear pain or decreased hearing because their ears are just so packed with wax from the Q-tip not bringing it out, but pushing it back," Dr. Bush says. Instead, allow some water to get into your child's ears at bath time, because the moisture should help wax naturally work itself out.

9. Stop freaking out about your child's temperature It can be alarming when your child develops a fever, but once they are out of the newborn stage when it may be dangerous, it's just something else to report to your doctor. "It's a symptom like a runny nose, cough, or pain, part of the collection of information that helps us make decisions on what's the appropriate diagnosis and treatment," Dr. Bush says. "It's very rare that a fever alarms us." (www.parents.com)

STORY TIME

The Farmer and the Stork

A

stork of a very simple and trusting nature had been asked by a carefree party of cranes to visit a field that had been newly planted in order to steal from the farmer.

But the party’s cheerfulness was short-lived when all the birds became entangled in the meshes of the farmer's net.

The stork begged the

farmer to spare him.

“Please let me go,” he pleaded.

“I belong to the stork family who you know are honest and birds of good character.

Besides, I did not know the cranes were

going to steal.”

“You may be a very good bird,” answered the farmer, “but I caught you with the thieving cranes and you will have to share the same punishment with them.”

Moral of the story: You are judged by the company you keep. (An Aesop's fable)

The Indian Maid, Demararie The Indian maid who lightly trips, The Dryad of the Guava grove, The zone of Venus round her hips, And graced with youth, and blessed in love!

Gold rings adorn her nose and arms, And leaves of beads veil naked charms.

Or if she quits the golden wood, Pierced by the scorching solar beam, She plunges in the cooler flood, And swims the Naiad of the stream: Adores the god in ev'ry air And smiles the maid without a care.

Or if more distant creeks invite To fish, to fowl, or seek her love, She paddles the canoe upright, Where Christian maids would fear to move; On some fair tree her hammock swings, Nor envies she the beds of

kings.

Like other belles of other shores, She daubs her limbs, her face, her hair.

Rauccoo and launa¹ stop the pores Against mosquitoes and the air.

But these, I trust, nor spoil her skin, They're to defend - not lure to sin.

A beauteous bronze she stands confessed, Venus nor Hebe more complete; With various feathers tricked and dressed, Perfumed with Tonkay² flow'rs most sweet!

And when she moves, her mien and grace Prove her the goddess of the place!

Edward Thompson (October 27, 1781) ¹ Paints used by the Indians; the first red, the latter black. ² Tonkay tree, one of the largest of the creation. It bears a sweet flower, which sets in a bean, and smells like new hay.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 11, 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

T

wo definitions for two different words will be given. These words will differ only by their vowels.

To change a word, both adding a vowel and changing a vowel is allowed, as long as the consonants are the same and in the same order. For example: A sticky product of trees to a type of dried fruit.

Answer: Resin to raisin. Now try these:

1. A black bird to a chasm 2. Round object to a fee 3. Part of the body below the leg to a great achievement see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Kids

Brazilian Rainbow Boa

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he Brazilian rainbow boa is a mediumsized terrestrial boa that is native to the Amazon River basin. It is named for its iridescent skin that refracts light and creates a rainbow-coloured effect.

Brazilian rainbow boas are brown or reddish brown snakes with three parallel black stripes on the top of the head and large black rings down the back that give the appearance of dorsal blotches. The round lateral blotches are black with an orange or reddish crescent across the top. There is a great deal of variation in colour and marking among this species.

These boas are a medium sized, roundbodied terrestrial boa and range from 4 to 6

Spot the Difference Can you spot 10 differences between the pictures?

feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) in length. The head is not particularly large, but it is distinctly wider than the neck.

The Brazilian rainbow boa is found in the Amazon River basin, coastal Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and southern Venezuela. A primarily terrestrial boa, the Brazilian rainbow boa lives in humid woodland forests and can sometimes be found in open savannahs.

In the wild, their diet consists of rodents, birds and possibly some forms of aquatic life and lizards. Like other boas, the Brazilian rainbow boa is non-venomous. To capture and consume meals, they ambush and constrict their prey.

Maze Daze

Find the correct way from start to finish.

The Pantanal

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Please see solution on page 23

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.

ith a total area of almost 195,000 square kilometres (or 75,000 square miles), the Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world. The vast majority of it is in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil, but it also extends into Mato Grosso and the separate countries of Paraguay and Bolivia, which neighbour Brazil.

As such a vast tropical wetland, the Pantanal is a very precious resource of Brazil, home to an array of plant and animal species. In fact, up to 12 subregional ecosystems have been identified within the Pantanal, each of which has its own unique identity and characteristics.

Because about 80% of the wetlands are submerged during the wet season, the species there include aquatic ones, making it an even more diverse and fascinating destination to consider. The water can rise by up to five metres during the wet season.

Notably, during warmer seasons, the nights in the Pantanal can become crisp and cold.

The biomes within the Pantanal (which include semi-arid woodland, tropical Amazonian rainforest and savannah) are

home to approximately 3,500 known plant species, with more discovered and identified by scientists on a regular basis.

Because some of the wetlands suffer from drought during the dry seasons, certain vegetation experience waterstress.

A plethora of animal species can be found in the Pantanal. There is estimated to be about 1,000 bird species, 300 mammals and 9,000 invertebrates, in addition to countless fascinating insects and other species. Some of the very rare and/or endangered animal species include: Marsh Deer; Giant River Otter; Hyacinth Macaw; Crowned Solitary Eagle; Jaguar; Maned Wolf; Bush Dog; Capybara; South American Tapir; Giant Anteater; and the Yacare Caiman.

The Pantanal’s dry season extends from April to October of each year. During this time, it is possible to access the region by road.

During the wet season, however, visitors may be forced to enter only by aeroplane. Because this area is popular amongst tourists, there is ample accommodation available, as well as organised tours and activities.

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

Eating in front of a mirror makes meals taste better, say scientists

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ating in front of a mirror makes meals taste better, a new study suggests.

Previous studies have found that people rate food as more flavoursome and, eat bigger portions, when they dine with company, a phenomenon known as ‘the social facilitation of eating.’

But researchers at Nagoya University in Japan wanted to find out whether the effect could be recreated by simply using a mirror, to trick the brain into thinking another person was present.

"We wanted to find out what the minimum requirement is for the social facilitation of eating," said lead author Dr Ryuzaburo Nakata.

"Does another person have to actually be physically present, or is information suggesting the presence of others sufficient?"

For the experiment, 16 adults aged between 65 and 74, were invited to eat salted or caramel popcorn for 90 seconds and then rate their enjoyment when sitting alone, in front of a mirror, or watching a monitor showing a video of them eating.

The researchers found that people eating alone reported food as tasting better, and ate more of it, when they could see themselves reflected in a mirror, compared with when they ate in front of a monitor. Eating in front of a mirror improved sweetness

Brain Teaser Answer 1. Raven to ravine 2. Ball to bill 3. Foot to feat SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

by 25 per cent, goodness by 21 per cent and quality by 12 per cent.

In a further experiment, when the researchers replaced the mirror with photos of the volunteers eating, they discovered that the volunteers still experienced an increase in the appeal of food and ate more.

The researchers are hoping that the findings could help lonely older people enjoy their food more and eat larger portions.

"Studies have shown that for older adults, enjoying food is associated with quality of life, and frequently eating alone is associated with depression and loss of appetite," added corresponding author Dr Nobuyuki Kawai.

"Our findings therefore suggest a possible approach to improving the appeal of food, and quality of life, for older people who do not have company when they eat for example, those who have suffered loss or are far away from their loved ones."

The research was published in the journal Physiology & Behaviour.

(Telegraph)

n 81-year-old who set up an all-woman rubbish collection team in her village in Lebanon now has a stream of visitors asking how she did it. For nine months in 2015 and 2016 rubbish piled up on the streets of the capital, Beirut, and even now a lack of landfill sites means some of the city's waste is being thrown in the sea.

Zeinab Mokalled has shown that when government fails, do-it-yourself local initiatives can work.

"There used to be dirt everywhere and the kids were filthy," Zeinab Mokalled tells me.

She is remembering the 1980s and 90s, when Israel occupied part of the south of the country for 15 years, and waste collection came to a halt in her village, Arabsalim.

As the years went by, it piled up, and Mokalled went to the regional governor to ask for help.

"Why do you care? We are not Paris," he told her.

"I knew that day that I had to take it upon myself," she says.

Mokalled called on the women of the village to help, not the men - partly because she wanted to empower them, and partly because she thought they would do a better job.

It would also have been up to the women to sort the recycling, and probably to put out the rubbish. So Zeinab needed volunteers to go door-to-door to get the message to the women in every house - and for this job, in a Lebanese Muslim community in the mid1990s, men would have been inappropriate.

They had no equipment, and no infrastructure. So how to begin?

Mokalled's friend Khadija Farhat bought a lorry out of her own pocket. Mokalled herself turned her back garden into a storage area for recyclable waste.

It didn't seem likely that the 10,000 villagers would pay to have their rubbish collected, so the volunteers paid for it themselves. Nineteen years later they still do, each of 46 members putting in about US$40 each year.

"Household recycling was the best way forward," says Mokalled, who named the organisation Call of the Earth.

To begin with, they recycled glass, paper and plastic. Recently they started collecting

electronic waste and have employed a researcher to find the best way of making compost in the hot and dry conditions of southern Lebanon.

The only help the waste collectors received from the local authorities, after three years' work, was a gift of 300 plastic bins and a piece of land, which enabled Mokalled to get her garden back.

At the same time they started renting a lorry to work alongside Farhat's, and hired a male driver - though they continued to accompany him to ensure he was not alone when approaching women.

After 10 years they received a grant from the Italian embassy to build a warehouse, which is where Mokalled now receives visitors - schoolchildren, students and activists - who come to study how Call of the Earth works. And the numbers have increased since the closure of Beirut's main landfill site in 2015 led waste to pile up around the city, and the surrounding area of Mount Lebanon.

As well as ensuring that Arabsalim is clean and tidy, Mokalled also found time to study for a PhD in Arabic studies, which was awarded at the age of 70.

"Planting the idea in people's minds that caring for the earth is our responsibility in this part of the world. Whether we do it or not, our politicians won't care. It's down to us.

"If everyone does what we did in Arabsalim, there'd be no rubbish problem anywhere in Lebanon." (BBC)

Tenants stranded upstairs after landlord removes stairs CROSSWORD

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he residents of an apartment complex in the US state of Georgia were shocked when they tried to leave home - only to find they were stuck, as their stairs had been removed.

The emergency services were eventually summoned to help free residents of Maple Walk Apartments in Decatur who lived above the ground floor.

Tenants had found notices on their doors saying they would have no access to the stairs until this Thursday.

“They gave us no notice. No nothing.

They were already taking the stairs down when we got the notice this morning,” resident Shawnta Tiller told WSB-TV. “This is crazy. How can you cut off access to the stairs and everybody's in their apartments?” added neighbor Andre Williams.

Some residents had received a letter last week saying that the stairs needed emergency repairs, and that tenants would be reimbursed for hotel costs for the time they'd be required to move out.

However, they say that the stairs were abruptly removed on Monday morning, with no prior warning having been given.

The stranded residents were eventually freed when local reporter Sophia Choi called in firefighters to help.

Workmen told Choi that work on the stairs will be completed before the end of the week. (Telegraph)

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Sunday Times Magazine

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Fun Times

Archie

Don’t let emotional issues cloud your vision or cause a (March 21temper tantrum. Go with the April 19) flow and channel your energy into something that will help you make physical improvements.

ARIES

High energy will help you

TAURUS accomplish your goals. Making (April 20- travel plans or spending time May 20) with friends or family is encouraged. Attending a retreat or self-help group will be enlightening. Romance is favored.

Don’t leave anything to GEMINI chance. Take care of finan(MAY 28- cial, legal or health issues June 20) that could pose a problem if left unattended. Use your negotiating skills judiciously.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Devote your copious energy to helping others, planning a fun family outing or making romantic plans that will secure an important relationship. Live for today.

Get your personal business in order. Your delusions regarding your worth or health need to be addressed. It’s time to make some changes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You’ll stand out at a social event for your unique way of doing things. Your actions will be remembered, whereas your words are likely to get you into trouble.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Look for unusual ways to alter your current living situation. It will help you find the peace you need during a time that is hectic and unforgiving. Use your intelligence to avoid a dispute.

Taking a day trip or SCORPIO spending time with a friend, (Oct. 24relative or loved one will Nov. 22) help you make an important decision about how you live your life.

Look at the past as well as SAGITTARIUS the future. Consider what you (Nov. 23must do to head in your deDec. 21) sired direction. Added discipline will help you reach your goal.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep a low profile. Avoid CAPRICORN getting involved with people (Dec. 22- or projects that are too deJan. 19) manding. Take time to enjoy your home, family and favorite activities.

Get involved in projects

AQUARIUS that address issues that con(Jan. 20- cern you. The people you enFeb. 19) counter will offer unexpected

favors that will help you get ahead. Personal changes are featured.

Emotional energy should PISCES (Feb. 20- be spent wisely. Focus on Mar. 20) your love life, home and family. The gestures you make to help others will ensure that you build solid and secure relationships.