Sunday magazine 5 june 2016

Sunday

Times June 5, 2016

Star Times Hollywood

'Property Brothers' star avoids charges in bar incident See story on page 11

Magazine

Enjoy Kurupukari Falls Page 8

The making of Creole Rock

Page 2

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Feature

G

avin Mendoncais a young Guyanese who aims to revolutionise the music industry with his creation of a new genre of music, Creole Rock.

In 2011, Gavin, who is signed to Kross Kolor Records, found his calling: punk rock. As one of

Gavin performing on stage

a very few ‘punk rockers’ in Guyana, he has made a name for himself in the local rock community as well as on the national scene.

Since January 2014, Gavin, better known as the ‘Creole Punk’, is the host of his self-produced radio show, Radio Rock ‘n’

Roll, bringing rock music to a wider audience. Gavin has also represented “Guyanese rock ‘n’ roll” in Trinidad, and four times in Suriname at rock music events. Additionally, Gavin is the bassist of local heavy metal band Feed The Flames.

A composer, Gavin has

written songs that are patriotic and tell a story about being a Guyanese musician. Some of these are “City By De Tides” (a song about his hometown); “The Great Rebellion” (a song about Cuffy and the 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion); and the 2015 Christmas hit, “Cause Is Christmas (in Guyana)”.

The 24-year-old aims to fuse Guyanese culture, which he considers “truly unique”, with rock ‘n’ roll while creating an entirely new sub-genre of rock music – Creole Rock.

“After years of performing, mostly covers to my favourite songs, I realised that I wanted to be more than just a rock musician I wanted to be a Guyanese rock musician. I wanted my Guyanese identity to be represented through my music. I know that my voice, that the Guyanese dialect, is one of the most unique in the world, and I am very proud of my native tongue. I wanted to make music that reflects Guyanese culture, and our voice is what we use to tell the story of what being Guyanese is all about. So, I coined the term ‘Creole Rock’, which is rock music from a very Guyanese perspective. When people hear my music, they must know that it is a

Guyanese vocalist, relating Guyanese experiences,” Gavin said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Inspired by the likes of Eze Rockcliffe, Dave Martins and Eddy Grant, Gavin has golden dreams to become one of the greatest Guyanese musicians not for the fortune or fame - but to contribute to the preservation of Guyanese culture through his music, much like the aforementioned artistes.

“Creole Rock is the direct result of me applying my native tongue to rock music. My aim is to accomplish a few things via my music: for my music to stand out on an international market - when someone listens to my music, they must know that it is the voice of a proud Guyanese; to encourage other local artistes and performers to embrace their Guyanese identity some more; and most importantly - to inspire young people to follow their dreams and never give up,” Gavin outlined.

Gavin’s debut album, “Creole Rock: The Beginning”, is the first of a series of Creole Rock albums that aim to tell a story of what being a Guyanese is all about, while completely embrac-

'Creole Rock - The Beginning' cover

ing our culture. It was produced by Burchmore Simon of Kross Kolor Records.

“Our folk songs are such an important part to who we are. Nowadays, folk songs are being placed in the background due to American and other forms of pop culture, and are at risk of being lost to time. ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning” features popular folk songs such as ‘Bamboo Fya’, ‘Small Days’ and ‘Ganjamani’ all done in the style of Creole Rock. The album also features covers of hits by Dave Martins and Eddy Grant, paying homage to the two greats. Four original songs are also on the album, including ‘City By De Tides’ and ‘The Great Rebellion’. A very patriotic bonus instrumental closes off the album, which features Gavin Singh, Emilio Martins and Nicholas Chung of Feed The Flames,” he revealed.

The album is currently on sale for GYD$1,500 and is available at Zoon, Chetson's, Howard's Restaurant at 68 Old Road, Eccles, and Chester's Fried Chicken (Vreed-en-Hoop).It can also be found online at Amazon, CD Baby, iTunes and KrossKolor.com

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

L

ocal television has seen its fair share of comedy shows, which,to be frank,eventually become boring after a while.

Jokes get stale, comedians get monotonous, and viewers just tune out. However, a group of talented Guyanese actors/comedians are giving a facelift to the local comedy scene.

The group is called The Re-Actors and was birthed out of an effort that actor/comedian Randolph Critchlow spearheaded in 2013.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Critchlow said he wrote a few skits for the Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam, contacted actors for the show, and after the performance, the group decided to stay together and have been acting at various venues around the country ever since.

According to Critchlow, the group hopes to produce world class comedy that will last through the ages and put Guyana on the global map.

The name ‘Re-Actors’ was put forward by actor/comedian Mark Kazim and was coined by Malcolm DeFreitas of the Theatre Guild. He always lamented in his acting classes that

“actors donot act they react”.

Critchlow mentioned that ideas for skits are usually “birthed out of brainstorming sessions with the entire crew”. The skits are also generated from individual efforts from various members. Critchlow has written the majority of the skits thus far.

The Re-Actors group members are Randolph Critchlow, TashandraInniss, Mark Luke-Edwards, Mark Kazim, Leon Cummings and Sean Thompson.

The ‘Bare Rickaticks’ show on E-Networks (E1) is currently a hit comedy show done by The Re-Actors. The show, usually lasting about half hour, is exactly what the name says, “bare rickaticks” – jokes that make your stomach hurts.

Critchlow, who has been involved in theatre for ten years, said he wanted to produce quality comedy and become an household name – something he has accomplished with the ‘Bare Rickaticks’ show.

“As an actor, I invest my life. There are many times you have to neglect family time when doing a production. In giving it my all, I prepare for a role by embodying the character as

The Re-Actors

Having fun

much as possible, even insisting that everyone call me by the character’s name,” Critchlow disclosed.

Besides the skits for ‘Bare Rickaticks’, Critchlow has written and/or directed “Let it Shine” 2013 (Best Production National Drama Fest 2013), “Saving Grace” 2012 (3rd place National Drama Fest 2012), “Behind the Covers”(2nd place National Drama Fest 2013), “Ricochet” 2014, and “All or Nothing” 2015.

The other comedians have several years of acting experience, and pointed out to this publication that “local talents are not well respected, not being paid well, sometimes even getting paid is a challenge”, however they continue to bring to their fans their best in spreading laughter via their shows.

Critchlow outlined future plans for The Re-Actors include a Caribbean tour, continue the ‘Bare Rickaticks’ show on E-Networks, a yearend stage show at NCC, and host a National Comedy

Skit Competition early next year.

Season 2 of the ‘Bare Rickaticks’ show is currently

being produced, and will be aired on E1 in a few weeks.

A scene from one of their skits

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Feature

mental protection.

As part of its regulatory functions, the Agency enforces the Act (No. 11, 1996) and its amendments and the Environmental Protection Regulations (2000), to ensure that measures for en-

T

is conducted by three technical divisions, namely, the Environmental Management, Natural resources Management, Education and Information and Training.

The Administration Division

mals “are a precious commodity that must be sustainably managed and protected from illegal trade,” says the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “I urge people and governments everywhere to

Environmental camps give youths firsthand experience on what it takes in safeguarding the environment

oday, June 5, World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide under the theme “Go Wild for Life”. In Guyana, it is celebrated under the theme, “Fight against the Illegal Trade in Wildlife”. Notably, on this day, in 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Guyana

prevention and control of pollution, assessment of the impact of economic development on the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The Agency’s work enables Guyana to contribute to global and national environmental protection and conservation. As part

Agency is to “take measures necessary for effective protection and management of the natural environment, coordination of conservation programmes, sustainable use of natural resources, assessment of the impact of development activities on the environment and the integration of appropriate en-

Educating youths on preserving the environment

was established.

The Environmental Protection Act mandates the Agency to oversee the effective management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment. It also requires that the Agency takes the necessary measures to ensure the

of its work the Agency implements education, regulation and enforcement programmes and uses partnership and collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of its interventions.

The mission of the Environmental Protection

vironmental provisions into development planning”.

The functions of the Agency are stated in the Part II 4 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act. These can be classified broadly as being regulatory, coordinating, and the promoting of public participation in environ-

EPA staff members work diligently in a past cleanup campaign on the Seawall

vironmental protection are integrated into development activities.

The Agency also coordinates the sustainable use and conservation of Guyana’s natural resources.

Both the coordinating and regulatory functions of the Agency are complex, spanning a range of inter-connected issues and requiring collaboration with private, public sector and non-governmental organizations.

In carrying out its function to promote the participation of the public in the process of integrating environmental concerns in the planning for sustainable development the Agency provides information to the public on environmental development projects, issues and problems. The public is also made aware of the procedures and processes that are followed in permitting developments and investigating infringements of the Act. The work of the Agency

of the Agency provides the required administrative support to the technical Divisions and equips them with the tools required to conduct the work of the Agency.

June 5, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Environmental Protection Act. For World Environment Day, the EPA and the Ministry of Natural Resources hosted several activities.

In recognition of its achievements, the EPA will host an award ceremony and dinner as it reflects on the significant contributions it has made to Guyana’s environmental sustainability.

The objectives of World Environment Day 2016 is to highlight the illegal trade in wildlife, promote zero tolerance of this practice, and calls on everyone to accept a role in protecting endangered and threatened species.

These plants and ani-

overcome indifference, combat greed and act to preserve our natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations.”

In recognition of the important role of youth in wildlife and environmental preservation, the Ministry of Natural Resources, in a statement, said it chose to emphasize youth participation to create greater awareness about issues relating to wildlife and the environment through this year’s activities. The Ministry considers it an imperative to plant seeds of empowerment and awareness now so that they can germinate and bear fruit as youth mature into adults. The Ministry also encourages all Guyanese to get involved in preserving Guyana’s wildlife and environment, our national patrimony for the benefit of future generations.

For more information on the activities of the EPA, visit www.epaguyana.org

The Giant Mora of the Iwokrama Forest O

ften when people explore the rainforest, there is much interest in the birds and other rain forest animals.

But the world of plants is equally enchanting and Guyana’s forest with an excess of 8,000 plant species, present a haven for plant lovers.

One such encounter if you visit the Iwokrama Forest is the imposing Mora Tree (Moraexcelsa). This species is an icon of the Mora Forest type, which can be found along creeks and rivers, and is adapted to the seasonal flooding experienced. The large kidney bean-like seeds are endowed with an airspace which allows floatation for dispersal. The large spreading buttresses are impressive to many tourists and often present a nice scene for photographs.

This tree is an emergent so it towers over many of the other forest species making it easy to identify. During the year the species shed some of their leaves (semi decidu-

ous) and as new leaves emerge, they exhibit a red colour giving a touch of an autumn experience. This is ecologically important as the red coloration is caused by a chemical called anthocyanin, and it protects the young leaves against insect attack.

It is a very heavy and dense wood and is suitable for heavy construction work, jetties and foreshore work. The wood is also suitable for both traditional and mosaic flooring.

You can see the Mora tree on several trails in the Iwokrama Forest including around the Iwokrama River lodge and also on the Turtle Mountain Hike.

After a 20 minute boat ride downstream from the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, you will enter a magnificent Mora Forest, one of the many forest types you can see in Guyana. This is the beginning of the Turtle Mountain Hike. continued on page 5

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

M

aureen Bunyan is an Emmy Award winning anchor of Guyanese and Aruban heritage. Her parents moved from Guyana to Aruba in the 1930s, where Maureen was born.

The eldest of three daughters, Maureen migrated with her family to the United States when she was

just eleven years old, after her father, Arthur Bunyan, accepted a job with a company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Her mother Wilhelmina was a nurse.

Maureen began her career in news at The Milwaukee Journal, where she worked as a free-lancer while in college. She began in broadcasting in 1970

As a young broadcaster

at WGBH-TV, the public broadcasting station in Boston. She moved to New York to work at WCBS-TV News and in 1973 joined the then WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV) where she was a lead news anchor and reporter, covering major local, national and international stories. Maureen is a leader in her profession and an outspoken advocate for women and minorities in the newsroom.

She is known as a leader in the newsroom, and an advocate for women and minorities in journalism. She is a founder of the International Women’s Media Foundation which serves women in the media in 100 countries.

She is also a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) where she was inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame in January of 2014.

Maureen has been honoured with numerous professional and community service awards including being named “Washingtonian of the Year” in 1992.

Additionally, she was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” of the Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, “The Silver Circle” of the National

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the Broadcast Pioneers Club of Washington. She has been awarded seven local Emmys, and the “Ted Yates Award,” given by NATAS to Washington, DC news broadcasters who are leaders in the profession. She was named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists and she received the annual “Immigrant Achievement Award” from the American Immigration Law Foundation in 2002.

She also played the role of a TV report in the 1997 movie, Murder at 1600.

In June of 2014, Maureen was knighted and inducted into The Order of Orange-Nassau, a Dutch order of chivalry. The Order of Orange-Nassau is a chivalric honour given to those who deserve recognition for exemplary contributions to society. She was inducted her longstanding commitment to build and strengthen ties between Aruba and the United States.

Over the years, Maureen has used her extensive network and experience as a journalist to mentor young Arubans, and create educational opportunities with

Accepting an award for being a 'history maker'

the Aruban Ministry of Education and American universities such as Harvard University. Her lifelong commitment and work have contributed to the benefit of Aruba’s social and cultural development.

Maureen has an extensive record of service to the community. She is a board member of the International Women’s Media Foundation.

She also serves on the National Advisory Board of the Casey Journalism Center on Children & Families;

the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital Women’s Advisory Board, the Advisory Committee of Women in Film & Video and is a board member of Women of Washington.

Maureen attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Columbia University School of Journalism and holds a Master’s Degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. (http://guyanesegirlsrock.org)

The Giant Mora of the Iwokrama...

through various forest types and past large rock formations to the almost 300 metre (984 feet to be exact) summit for a breathtaking relaxing view of the Iwokrama Forest and Essequibo River. Often, guests are treated to Spider and Howler monkeys crawling around the tree tops and Scarlet and other macaws in magnificent flight displays over the undulating forest canopy. One bird often spotted from the Summit and sought after by seasoned bird watchers is the Orange Breasted Falcon.

To learn more call the Iwokrama office on (592) 2251504; email at tourism@iwokrama.org; visit http://iwokramariverlodge.com or www.iwokramacanopywalkway.com (Photos and text by Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar)

The Iwokrama forest experiences seasonal flooding typical of this forest type which is most often supported by an alluvium type soil. If you look carefully you will see water marks on the trees that hint at the level that the river can rise to during the long May-June rains, sometimes to 20 feet or more.

At the beginning of the tour, you will pass through the Turtle Mountain Campsite where many researchers, university students and tourists, who desire a more intimate experience with the forest, would stay.

This trail offers the chance to experience many birds such as the Plumbeous Pigeon, Screaming Piha (a small bird with a beautiful call), Bat Falcon, Cocoi Heron, Little Blue Heron, Ring Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Great

Scenic Turtle Mountain trail

Black-Hawk, Red-Rumped Cacique, Anhinga, Neotropical Cormorant, Yellow-billed Tern,White-throated Toucan, Golden-headed Manakin, Green-backed Trogan, Ringed Woodpecker, Spangled Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Plumbeous Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Black curassow, Great Jacamar, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Red and Black Grossbeak, Red and Green Macaws and occasionally the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock.

The beautiful one and half hour hike takes our guests Mora germinating

from page 4

Mora seedling

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Part II

By Petamber Persaud

(“Welcome to Guyana” is a new series focusing on books written in such a way as to invite non-Guyanese to explore and discover this land of many wonders and to reawaken interest in Guyanese to the glories of this country via its geography, history, culture, architecture, economic bounties, and its potential….This series is dedicated to our 50th Independence Anniversary)

W

ith the discovery that scores of Guyanese books carry the same title “Welcome to Guyana”, I have decided to share some of my findings with you. This groundswell of goodwill was triggered by theevents of this particular juncture of our history.

In part one, I opened the conversation by sharing a list of some of those “welcoming”titles and some books on books for further reading,including “Bibliography of Literature from Guyana” by Robert E. McDowell, published

by Sable Publishing Corp.

Arlington, 1975; “The Making of Guyanese Literature” by A. J. Seymour, published in 1978; “Bibliography of Guyana and Guyanese Writers” by Lal Balkaran 2015; and “An Introduction to Guyanese Literature” by Petamber Persaud 2014.

I now extend the conversation by introducing you to a re-

cent publication of mine: “Made in Guyana”.

It was not by design but the publication of my book, “Made in Guyana” comes at afavourable time to buttress my declarationthat one of the better ways to learn about (and appreciate a country) is through its literature.

One of the best ways to learn a bit more about (and appreciate)the fulsomeness of Guyana is through her literature. And this tiny book will take some of you on an adventure of discovery, and a trip of nostalgia and reconnection for others.

For example, you will discover that the famous Bourda is the only ground in the world where cricket is played below sea level and that Guyana is home to some of the oldest rock formations in the world. And for that nostalgic moment you could try “Limacol”– the freshness of a breeze in a bottle or a few proverbs like “yuh can suck cane an’ blow whistle same time”;“bush gat ears and dutty gat tongue” and “empty gun shoot guilty man”.

“Made in Guyana”will open Guyana to Guyanese and nonGuyanese from different perspectives evincing the wow factor from any reader as the book gives up its content and intent. This pocket book is for easy handling and easy referencing as it fits in your pocket or purse. Further, it opens vertically so that images and information hits you full in the mind and heart.

“Made in Guyana” is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and related images of people, placesand events, and of things made in Guyana.“Made in Guyana”, Vol. 1, is to whet the appetite, stir national pride and inspire more scholarship on Guyana.

The book is aimed at a general audience from school children to academics and is aimed as stated above to effect one of or all of three objects.

It is divided into broad categories like “products/innovations”, “people”, “places”, “events”, “world events”, and “prehistoric Guyana” among others…for instance under the heading “products/innovations”, “people”, “places/landmarks”, “events”, “literature”, “culture”, “festivals”, “myths, legends and folklore”, “science”, “religion” and “prehistoric” among others.

The blurb, as all blurbs are designed, captures the content in an intriguing way: (here’s a reproduction of part of that blurb).

Did you know…? …that the most famous and most valuable stamp in the world was made in Guyana …that Guyana is home to El Dorado …that Guyana is home to the Berbice Chair, the Demerara Shutters, Limacol and Whizz… …that the bauxite of Guyana was instrumental in the allies” victory at WWII …that Guyana is the birthplace of Eddie Grant, Shakira

Cover of “Made in Guyana”

Baksh, Rohan Kanhai, Edgar Mittelholzer, Sir Shridath Ramphall and Norman Beaton …that Guyana is home to Kaieteur, the world’s highest one-drop waterfall and the world’s largest wooden building …that Guyana is home to the arapaima, the world’s largest freshwater fish

…that Mount Roraima is the most famous Tepui in the world …that it was a Guyanese who taught taxidermy to Charles Darwin The publication of my book, “Made in Guyana”, comes at an opportune time to buttress my work to promote Guyanese Literature and the value of

such a literature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: “Made in Guyana” is now available at bookstores, the National Library, and hotels.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 5 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

A

ccording to a March 31, 1851 census there were some 7,168 African immigrants residing in Demerara, Essequibo and Berbiceon the colony of British Guiana. Of these, 2,728 were living in Berbice, including in New Amsterdam. Two thousand, four hundred and five resided in Demerara, including Georgetown, and 2,035

regions still involved in the slave trade. These “Liberated Africans” were principally young people and children.

In 1840, labour demand was high after emancipation, and British authorities sought to also encourage African immigration to British Guiana. It was also a way for the British government avoiding indefinite upkeep of the Liberated

could not resume. Not long afterhowever, migration declined, partly as news reached Africa of the depressing conditions of life on the colony; partly as a result of few African women being encouraged to migrate, which discouraged male migrants, and partly due to discouragement by resident African missionaries and employers.

Loading steamer at Georgetown docks (ND)

lived in Essequibo.

While many are said to have voluntarily arrived on the colony from Sierra Leone and the Kroo (Kru) Coast, now in modern day Liberia and Ivory Coast, many others arrived after being rescued from the slave ships of other

Africans when they arrived on the colony, freed from slave ships.

African migrants began legally migrating to the West Indies, where, by 1841, new rules and systems were subsequently put in place to ensure the African slave trade

The male Kru Coast migrants however, known as the Kru, were accustomed to working overseas if necessary, as it was a way of accumulating wealth, especially for marriage. Kru women remained behind to tend to crops and family.

Georgetown (Stabroek Market), circa 1960s-70s (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Immigration Depot circa 19th century

By the time the 19th century had arrived, Kru traditional economic activities had declined and it became a custom to migrate to find work, usuallyas stevedores, returning to their families or to begin a family when they felt they had enough money.

In Kru society, after puberty a male may be apprenticed to what was called a headman who was responsible for finding him work abroad and to whom the migrant would have to give some of his earnings when he returned to Africa.

He also had to give a portion to his village chief and his father.

Arriving in British Guiana the Kru were sent to West Bank Demerara and other Demerara plantations as well as plantations on the East Coast of Berbice. There they mainly worked on the sugar cane punts, moving around the plantation as needed.

British Guiana had the most Kru migrants in the West Indies. One of the reasons many are said to have chosen to remain in British Guiana was that they did not stagnate working on punts but found the opportunity for advancement in other arenas; so much so that Kru authorities back in Africa became concerned about their non-return.

The Kru migrants saved their earnings to purchase land in the villages and had children with Guianese women; although some eventually returned to Kru Coast, it was often only for their sons’ initiation ceremony.

This caused even more con-

cern among their native villagers so that two African princes arrived in British Guiana in 1845 and 1853 respectively to see first-hand their living conditions,after which one prince expressed the fear that the Kru would not want to return.

Among the Liberated Africans,many were considered “uncivilized” so the colonial authorities would put them in the care of elderly black “matrons” who would be responsible for ensuring they learnt the ways of the colony and the Christian religion.

Many of these chaperones still retained enough knowledge of their native language to com-

municate with their charges.

The Liberated Africans were indentured for a year, or until they turned 18, working in the plantation fields alongside the Creoles and other indentured immigrants of the colony.

According to “Demerara after fifteen years of slavery” (1853), by the mid-1800s most of the “old Africans” (those who had arrived during the British slave trade) were at least 50 -60 years old – even if they had arrived as children – since the slave trade had been abolished in 1807. They were dying fast: from more than 15,000 in 1841 to just over 7,000 by the 1851 census.

Yoruba farmer in his yam patch circa 1919

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 5, 2016

Times Travel & Tourism

Kurupukari Falls (Photo by Peggy Rehm on Flickr)

L

ocated in Region Nine on the banks of the mighty Essequibo River, the Kurupukari Falls is a natural wonder.It is a series of rapids, which provide a vital water supply for the village of Fairview.

At the Falls, there are boulders with ancient markings called petroglyphs. Fishing and swimming are just a few activities to enjoy at the Falls. (Cover photo: Canoe moored at the bank of the Falls (Photo by jcdl. On Flickr)

Petroglyphs on rocks at the Falls (Photo by Peggy Rehm on Flickr)

Picturesque view of the Essequibo river where the Falls is located (Photo by jcdl. On Flickr)

Water cascades through boulders (Photo by Peggy Rehm on Flickr)

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

T

he kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. According to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, every day the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid.

The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of the bladder.

The bladder stores urine.

The muscles of the bladder wall remain relaxed while the bladder fills with urine. As the bladder fills to capacity, signals sent to the brain tell a person to find a toilet soon.

When the bladder empties, urine flows out of the body through a tube called the urethra, located at the bottom of the bladder.

The kidneys prevent the build-up of wastes and extra fluid in the body, keep levels of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and phosphate stable; make hormones that help regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells and help bones stay strong.

Each kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. The nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule.

The nephrons work through a two-step process.

The glomerulus lets fluid and waste products pass through it; however, it prevents blood cells and large molecules, mostly proteins, from passing. The filtered fluid then passes through the tubule, which sends needed minerals back to the bloodstream and removes wastes.

Kidney disease

Kidney disease means that the kidneys are damaged and can't filter blood like they should. This damage can cause wastes to build up in the body. It can also cause other problems that can harm your health.

For most people, kidney damage occurs slowly over

S

Healthy kidneys

many years, often due to diabetes or high blood pressure.

This is called chronic kidney disease.

When someone has a sudden change in kidney function—because of illness, or injury, or have taken certain medications—this is called acute kidney injury. This can occur in a person with normal kidneys or in someone who already has kidney problems.

The main risk factors for developing kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure,Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease, and a family history of kidney failure.Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease.

Early kidney disease has no signs or symptoms. In fact it is also known as a "silent disease" because there are often no physical symptoms.

You may not feel any different until your kidney disease is very advanced. Blood and urine tests are the only way

Children and Kidney Disease

ome diseases and conditions put children at risk for kidney disease.

Just like for adults, a urine test is used to check for kidney disease before symptoms appear.

Infections or other health problems can cause kidney disease. When a child has kidney disease, the kidneys may not work normally. This may lead to high blood pressure or a harmful build-up of wastes in the body.

Your child may be at risk for kidney disease if he or sheis overweight, has pain in the back, side, or lower belly; complains of burning or pain when urinating, has changes in the urine, or often wets his

to know if you have kidney disease.

Ablood test checks your glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which tells how well your kidneys are filtering.

A urine test checks for protein in your urine.

Kidney disease can be treated if detected early.

The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can get treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure.

Treatment may include taking medicines called ACE inhibitors or ARBs to manage high blood pressure and keep your kidneys healthier longer. Treating kidney disease may also help prevent heart disease.

The disease usually does not go away.Instead, it may get worse over time and can lead to kidney failure. If the kidneys fail, treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary.

Kidney disease can also

or her pants; has unexplained fever; has swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs; wakes up with swollen eyelids, becomes dehydrated often or has a family member with kidney disease Other conditions that may put your child at increased risk for kidney disease includeSGA (small for gestational age) or born premature; a growth disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, rickets (soft bones caused by too little vitamin D); other conditions that run in families, such as polycystic kidney disease, Alport Syndrome, or heart disease.

Kidney disease has many possible causes. The first step is to learn the cause of the kidney disease. Medicine and other treatments usually can't undo the damage that has been done, but they may help prevent more harm.

lead to other health conditions including heart disease. In fact, people with kidney disease are more likely to have a stroke or heart attack.

The steps you take to keep your kidneys healthy help the rest of your body too.The most important steps you can take to keep your kidneys healthy are to get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease and manage your diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease if you have.

Keep your blood pressure at the target set by your health care provider. For most people, the blood pressure target is less than 140/90 mm Hg. This can delay or prevent kidney failure.

If you have diabetes, control your blood glucose level. Keep your cholesterol levels in the target range. If you have diabetes, get checked every year.

Take medicines the way your provider tells you to.

Certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs may protect your kidneys. Ask your health care provider for more information.

Cut back on salt. Aim for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day and choose foods that are healthy for your heart: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods.

Limit your alcohol intake and be more physically active.Lose weight if you are overweight.

If you smoke, take steps to quit. Cigarette smoking can make kidney damage worse.

Cleveland Clinic suggests that you use caution with supplements and herbal remedies. Excessive amounts of certain vitamin supplements and some herbal extracts may be harmful to your kidneys.

Talk to your doctor about any vitamins and herbs you plan to take.

Don’t overdo it when taking over-the-counter medications. Common non-prescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAID’s) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period. If you have healthy kidneys and use these medicines for occasional pain, they probably don’t pose a risk but if you take them for chronic pain or arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about monitoring your kidney function or finding alternative ways to control your pain.

Hydrate, but don’t overdo it. While it’s always a good idea to drink enough water, drinking more than the typical four to six glasses a day probably won’t help your kidneys do their job any better.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 5, 2016

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Times Fashion

Designer Ulynie DeNobrega

F

ree-spirited, euphoricand always ready for new experiences, designer Ulynie DeNobrega believes “fashion is an expression of the soul”.

The designer believes too that everyone can be stylish, including children. Her latest line of children’s wear was well-received at the launch of the Guyana Fashion Week 2016 on May 20.

“I’m a mother of two gorgeous girls and wife to a hardworking husband. Coming from Essequibo, a county of beauty and splendour, I always knew I had a flare for the exotic, the sensational, and a deep passion for the allure of the soul.

Fashion, for me, is more than an outward display of lovely clothing and designs.

I believe fashion is an expression of the soul; a representation of the enthralling fascination that comes from within,” expressed Ulynie in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

For more information on the collection featured this week, call 2263099.

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Times Hollywood

'Property Brothers' star avoids charges in bar incident A

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amar Odom's family and friends believe he's back on hard drugs -- and tell celebrity news website TMZthat they recently confronted the NBA star and questioned him about crack pipes in his home.

Odom's history with crack is well-documented -- but people close to him thought he'd been scared straight after he overdosed at a Nevada brothel back in October.

But multiple sources close to Odom -- hoping to get through to the NBA star -- tell us he's been acting very strange lately. His friends are convinced he's off the wagon, and for the last few weeks they've been trying to get through to him.

So, a group of people went to his home to convince him to enter rehab -- but Odom scoffed ... telling the group he doesn't need any help. It sounds just like the failed intervention attempt from 2013.

During the confrontation, which took place at Odom's home in Calabasas, we're told his friends noticed drug paraphernalia scattered all over the place ... in-

cluding crack pipes, baggies and roaches.

We're told the fear is that Odom believes he's invincible -- as evidenced by the fact he's been hitting bars and drinking while still re-

covering from the damage he suffered from the overdose.

TMZ reached out to Odom for comment –but report that they have gotten no word backso far.

'American Idol' producer sues season 11 winner Phillip Phillips

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hillip Phillips is being sued by 19 Entertainment for US$6 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The production company is behind the longstanding Fox series American Idol, which launched the singer's career back in 2012.

According to THR, 19 Entertainment claims that Phillips, 25, owes them money for refusing to abide by the contract that he signed after winning season 11 of the singing competition. The contract stated that the company would oversee management, recording, publishing and merchandising.

Additionally, 19 Entertainment alleges that nearly $1 million of the money owed is being withheld by the star. (The company filed for bankruptcy in April.)

Phillips and 19 Entertainment producers haven't seen eye-to-eye for months. Back in January, the "Home" singer filed court documents claiming that the company "manipulated" him into accepting gigs that benefited them more than his career.

"I am very grateful for the opportunities provided to me through appearing on American Idol," Phillips said in a statement at the time. "The value that the fans and the show have given to my career is not lost on me. However, I have not felt that I have been free to conduct my career in a way that I am comfortable with. I look forward to being able to make my own choices about my career and to being able to make great music and play it for my fans."(UsWeekly)

uthorities say no charges will be filed against one of the twin brother stars of HGTV's "Property Brothers" following an incident at a North Dakota bar.

According to a police report, Jonathan Scott repeatedly refused to leave the Fargo bar at closing time early on the morning of April 24. A bar staffer told police that Scott said, "do you know who I am?" when asked to hand over his drink.

Security camera footage shows Scott resisting bar staff while being escorted out. The video shows Scott returning before being physically removed again.

Scott reported the encounter to police and told them he had been put in a chokehold.

Fargo City Attorney Erik Johnson tells The Associated Press there's not enough evidence to establish a crime.

The Daily Herald reported that Scott's publicist hasn't returned a request for comment. According to

Access Hollywood, a spokeswoman for Scott says "he

simply tried to diffuse a situation between other people."

dren.

Not surprisingly, Katie doesn't want her daughter to have anything to do with the Church.

As a result, Scientologist leader David Miscavige reportedly gave Cruise all of the justification that he needed to cut off contact with his daughter.

“Tom eats, breathes and

sleeps Scientology,” one insider states.

“He’s disconnected from Katie, and then de facto from Suri, because of her connection to Katie. He hasn’t seen her since she was 7.”

Cruise has yet to respond to claims that he has abandoned Suri and is no longer a part of his daughter's life.

T

om Cruise is reportedly inching close to the three-year mark of not seeing his daughter, with no apparent plans to break his shameful streak of negligent parenting, says thehollywoodgossip.com.

Sources say Cruise justifies his abandonment of Suri through Scientologist directives that require Church members to cut ties with those who have abandoned the faith (known in CoS jargon as "suppressive persons").

Cruise refused all contact with ex-wife Katie Holmes immediately after she left the Church, and sources say he gradually distanced himself from Suri until he reached the point of having zero contact with his with his youngest daughter.

“They used to Skype and text, but that trailed off drastically,” one insider tells In Touch.“He uses his film commitments as an excuse, but the truth is that doesn’t hold much weight with Suri anymore.”

Many who were formerly close to Cruise speculate that he was eager to remove Holmes from his life, and his relationship with Suri was simply collateral damage.

It seems there was a time when Cruise wanted 10-year-old Suri to be "reformed" by attending a school for Scientologist chil-

12 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 5 , 2016

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Bollywood

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan celebrate 43rd wedding anniversary

B

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ongues have been wagging in Bollywood about Shilpa Shetty and husband, Raj Kundra, not living together.

Raj reportedly explained the development recently, saying, "I think this rumour started when Shilpa was complaining to her friends that I have been working so hard that I hardly had any time to spend with her. I have been working on this huge deal almost 20 hours a day from my office in Matunga and haven't had any time to breathe, eat or sleep! I just go home for a shower and change."

In fact, Raj is planning a surprise for Shilpa on her 41st birthday (June 8) this year. "We celebrated it (her last birthday) in Montenegro with all our family and friends, so this year will be just Shilpa and me. I will whisk her off somewhere for just one night. And of

o l l y w o o d ' s S h a h en sh ah , Amitabh Bachchan and Guddi aka Jaya Bachchan, celebrated their 43 years of togetherness on June 3.

The B-Town flooded Big B's social media account with wishes. The 73-yearold actor took to Twitter to thank all his friends and fans. He wrote, "It shall be impossible to thank all that wish us for our wedding Anniversary … but thank you all."

The couple, who got married on June 3, 1973, has been seen together in the movies like “ChupkeChupke”, “Abhimaan”, “Silsila”, “Zanjeer” and “KabhiKhushiKabhiGham”.

Amitabh and Jaya's son Abhishek also posted a pic-

course, it will be a surprise again," he revealed, adding, "Shilpa is my princess so I

have to look after her well."

(TOI)

New York Times calls Lata Mangeshkar 'A so-called playback singer'

W

ith a career spanning over seven decades, with over 25,000 solo songs sung in about 20 different Indian languages, Lata Mangeskhar is a legend who also holds the Guinness Book world record for being the most recorded artist in history so far.

So when Indian comedian Tanmay Bhat of AIB fame made fun of the respected artist recently with a series of videos on Twitter, there was a severe backlash against the comedian, to the extent of some demanding his arrest.

However, what is more shocking is that a well-known newspaper like the New York Times, while reporting on the controversy, called Lataji a “so-called playback singer of Bollywood films whose career dates to the 1940s”.

Ellen Barry, the South Asia bureau chief of The New York Times, later clarified that the “so-called” reference in the story was not a “commentary” but used for “non-Indian readers” unfamiliar with the term “playback singer”. “A note on “so-called”: Used here for non-Indian readers unfamiliar w term “playback singer.” In no way a commentary,” Barry tweeted.

The article’s co-writer, Suhasini Raj, quoted the dictionary: “’So-called: used to introduce a new word or phrase that is not yet known by many people’.” (masala.com)

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Among his notable roles were in movies like "Kyaa Kool Hain Hum" series, don Kabira's sidekick in "Baadshah", "Raja Hindustani", "Hello Brother", "Hera Pheri", "Phir Hera Pheri", "BhagamBhaag", "Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare", "PyaarKiya To Darna Kya", "Loha" and "Ishq". (Mumbai Mirror)

in Kareena Khan –Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor “Ki and Ka”. Amitabh Bachchan will next be seen in Te3n.

(Indiatoday)

Apple to soon appoint SRK brand ambassador?

A

pple CEO Tim Cook visited Mumbai last month and word is that the company has appointed none other than the country’s heartthrob, Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador.

The formal announcement will be made when Apple launches new iPhones in India later this year, which would be around October.Apple generally launches iPhones around September in the United States of America.

Apple has many brand ambassadors like these worldwide, like Brazilian-born soccer player Neymar, or NBA player Steph Curry in the USA. Tim Cook was invited to the dinner party hosted by Shah Rukh Khan when he visited Mumbai. Apart from his, many Bollywood names had graced the occasion with their presence. (storypick.com)

Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh off on holiday to undisclosed location

Comedian Razak Khan R dies after cardiac arrest

ell-known Bollywood comedian Razak Khan, who played comic roles in around a 100 movies in the past 25 years, passed away here following a heart attack, a family member said.

His brother Shehzad Khan made the announcement in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning triggering a wave of condolences on social networking sites.

Khan suffered a massive heart attack around 12.30 a.m. on Wednesday and was rushed to Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, where he was pronounced dead on admission.

Tall, thin and lanky, with a hippie style haircut, Razak Khan was first seen in "Roop Ki Rani, ChoronKa Raja" in 1993, and later appeared in comic roles in many movies.

More than his real name, his screen character names -- Lucky Chikna, Keshav, Manikchand, Fainku, BabuBisleri, Popatwala -- became his trademark as he enacted memorable comic scenes besides some of the biggest actors.

ture on Instagram wishing the two on their 43rd anniversary.

The pair was last seen on the silver screen together

umoured lovebirds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are all set to take time off their busy schedules to unwind and spend quality time with each other. The two have been away for a long time and are apparently heading to an undisclosed location and will be joined by their families.

Says a source, "Deepika returned to the country on Wednesday night after filming a special number for Raabta in Budapest.

Ranveer's shoot of Befikre in Paris too is expected to wrap up soon. The two thought it would be a good idea to go for a vacation together."

It is said that it's going to be a short trip, as both Deepika and Ranveer have to resume work.

Last year the alleged lovebirds were in Maldives

to ring in the New Year and later the actress's mother and sister joined them.

However, this time around the actor's family too is going to travel with them.

While Deepika's spokesperson denies the buzz, Ranveer'sspokerperson simply says, "No comment."

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending Now

Star of the week

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here’s nothing worse than breaking out your favourite sandals only to realise you forgot to trim your toenails. This problem is finally solved, thanks to Belle Maison, a Japanese website that makes pre-nail polished tights.

The tights are similar to the toe socks, except with an upgrade: each toe hole has nail art painted where your toenail should be. They’re every lazy girl’s new best friend, basically eliminating the need to ever do your nails or shave again.

Tights range from Disney-themed designs to polka-dots to flowers and watercolour.

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orn December 10, 1991, Tennicia De Freitas is one of the youngest female recording and performing artistes in Guyana. Her childhood days were not so easy since she never knew her father at that time, and her mother worked diligently to take care of her and her younger brother. Tennicia spent all of her nursery and primary school years in her home village of Kuru-Kururu, where she still resides, and started dancing and singing. She later graduated from the primary level and went on to Christ Church Secondary School in the city in 2003 where her life took a vast turn after trying her luck at singing at a Father’s Day service at her home church. In 2003, she won her first talent competition. Consequently, she was signed on to Kross Kolor Records, a local recording company which she is grateful to for its “many years of guidance and teachings”. In 2004, she released her first single, “You like the Way”. In 2006, she was crowned the winner of the Children’s Mashramani Calypso competition, a title she retained for three consecutive years (2006-08). To date, Tennicia is an undefeated two times Junior Calypso Monarch (2010-12). Notably, she was awarded the Guyana Cultural Association’s Youth Award (New York) for her outstanding contribution to Guyanese culture. Not only has the singer performed countrywide, but also in Barbados, Suriname, French Guiana and Tobago. With an aim of becoming a well-rounded performer, Tennicia currently holds certificates in music theory (grades 2 and 3) from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music. Additionally, she is a member of the Parkside Steel Ensemble and the Classique Dance Company.

Tennicia is currently an independent artist. She believes that “losing is not failing, but should be a stepping stone for greater achievements”.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Art

A beautiful painting on textile

V

iewing the creative, distinct work of Jennifer Gibson is enthralling, but listening to how passionate she is for what she does is even more mesmerizing.

Gibson is a Barbadian-born textile artist/designer, who specializes in the Tulus batik technique. She has been working with this cycle for over three decades. Gibson has taught textile decorating extensively in Barbados, Suriname and Guyana (her adopted home). She has participated in several fashion and craft shows, exhibitions and expositions across the Caribbean, including Barbados Investment Development Corporation (BIDC) National exhibitions in 1984, 1985 (where she copped the Most Outstanding award and Blue Ribbon), in 1987 (bronze medal), and 1989 (1st prize).

Additionally, she has participated in a number of regional exhibitions in countries such as Antigua, St Lucia, Jamaica

Artistic work done on textile

Decorative upcycled pieces

'Upcycled' necklaces and earrings

and Suriname (early 1990s to mid-2000).

A member of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association (GWAA), Gibson has exhibited in the organisation’s annual exhibitions in 2008, 2010, 2011-15, and the Feminition Exhibition at the Guyana National Stadium in 2011. Notably, she was awarded “best in the area of textile” (Art Guyana) by UNESCO in 2012.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Gibson revealed that when she first visited Guyana, in 1996, she knew it was where she wanted to be.

“I think this is where God wants me to be in this point in my life. Guyana is blessed with many resources. This is the first place I ever wanted to leave Barbados to come and stay. Offers have been made to me to live in other Caribbean countries, but this is the only country I wanted to be in. I saw the rich potential and felt motivated,” the

Treasures made from 'trash'

quality or value than the original.

“I call it from trash to treasure. I use plastic bags, shells, seeds, plastic bottles and other materials considered waste and make them into treasures. I am planning to sketch designs and have Ingrid use them to make upcycled pieces,” Gibson outlined.

Added to her “natural knack” for being creative, Gibson has years of experience working for a batik company in Barbados.

The artist pointed out that her “inspiration and motivation is drawn mainly from nature and experiences”, as she sees art as a “personal appreciation for God’s creation and elevation for [her] life in general”.

Gibson showcasing “Everybody tells me how a hand painted different my work is. I love to pillowcase be distinct. That is why I urge young artists to be different artist declared. and carve a niche for yourself. Don’t expect As a child, Gibson said she always loved overnight success. Follow your heart and to draw. Initially, her mother did not ap- dreams, and always put God first in everyprove of her drawings as most of it was thing,” she encouraged. down on Gibson’s school books, resulting in For more information on the artist, call her receiving “lashes” from her mother.

617-9149 or check out Jennifer Gibson on “My mother would always give me lash- Facebook. es because my books would be filled with drawings. I got her to stop be"Two Faced"cause I drew her a thoughtbeating me,” she provoking recalled. piece Gibson noted that she loves fabric painting, incorporating various techniques in creating artistic pieces. Currently, in collaboration with colleague Ingrid Overton, Gibson’s current passion is ‘upcycling’, which is to reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple, India disagree on sourcing rule Board (FIPB).

Apple needs to procure 30 per cent of components locally if it wants to sell through its own retail stores. The idea behind this norm was to create jobs in the country.

Apple has no immediate plans to manufacture devices in India or buy parts from vendors in the country, the Economic Times reported.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who was in India on a maid-

A

pple won't set up stores in India if a 30 per cent sourcing rule stays. The 30 per cent sourc-

Tech news

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ing commitment is stipulated under India’s rules for foreign investment in singlebrand retail.

the Ministry of Finance to exempt Apple from 30 percent local sourcing norms on foreign direct investment (FDI) in single brand retail.

At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in the sector. But beyond 49 per cent, permission from the FIPB is a must.

However, the minister said that she was not in favour of Apple selling refurbished second hand phones in the country.

Apple had applied for an exclusion but this was denied by India’s Foreign Investment Promotion

Yahoo releases National Security Letters after FBI drops gag order

n June 1, Yahoo publicly announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) previously

Tech BYTE

M

en visit in May, had said that the company seeks to capitalize on the market’s prospects and revive its growth.

He had also expressed a desire to import refurbished iPhones to India in order to make such phones available at an affordable price to Indian consumers.

Meanwhile, India’s Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that her ministry will again try and initiate discussions with

icrosoft has provided details on its Magic Mirror project, including instructions on how you can build your own, on Microsoft's GitHub repository.

The concept of a smart mirror has been around for a while, but none of them have really materialized into a real product yet. Microsoft joined the fray at its Build conference in March demoing its own Magic Mirror. It has now explained the tricks behind the concept, and provided those who don't mind a little DIY work with the tools to build their own.

Microsoft's design uses an LCD display behind a plane of one-way mirrored glass. In this way, someone can see their reflection as well as the underlying display thanks to a stark, whiteon-black contrast ratio and neat typeface.

The mirror displays information like

issued national security letters to obtain information, and the company published these letters.

This marks the first time a company has been able to address and release national security letters (NSL) because these demands have come with a gag order to prevent it from doing so in the past. However, Yahoo is now able to go public with the letters because of changes made to the USA Freedom Act. As part of the USA Freedom Act, the FBI must now review gag orders when an investigation that involved a NSL closes or when it has been three years in an open case. At this point the gag order is lifted, as in the Yahoo case.

This means the FBI has officially given Yahoo the green light to address these letters, although private information remains censored.

"Specifically, we produced the name, address and length of service for each of the accounts identified in two of the NSLs, and no information in response to the third NSL as the specified account did not exist in our system," the company writes. "Each NSL included a non-disclosure provision that prevented Yahoo from previously notifying its users or the public of their exis-

tence."

Two of the national security letters were sent from an FBI agent from the Dallas, Texas bureau's office, whereas the other was sent from Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to the letters, the FBI now knows not only the account numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers and length of service of the specified accounts, but it also has the activity logs and activity/transaction records. The logs can include the user's IP address they used at this name, and the transaction records reveal billing information and credit card info.

The FBI knows the sender and recipient address on each email, which means they know who the specific users were communicating with. Yahoo also had to turn over screen names associated with the account, URL related to the account, hardware-related information such as ISDN or DSL data and names of upstream and downstream providers.

Yahoo releasing the national security letters allows for more discussion regarding NSLs and the demands for user data.

(Tech Times)

Microsoft’s Magic Mirror the time, date, weather, stocks and traffic through an interface that's designed to be unobtrusive while you fix your hair.

The important details go up the top, the less urgent stuff down below, and apart from a greeting that quickly disappears, the main space of the mirror is left for your face – it still needs to function as a normal mirror, after all.

It can even scan and recognize your face to bring up your profile, complete with a customized layout of the information you've deemed important. With multiple profiles, the mirror can be personalized for every member of the household.

Behind the scenes, the Magic Mirror is powered by a Raspberry Pi 3 running a Hosted Web App on Windows 10 IoT Core, making it more or less a consumer-level project – assuming that consumer has a little technical know-how.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 5, 2016

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

1 loaf French bread 1 lb. lean ground beef 2 tbsp. finely chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 1 tsp minced garlic 1 can cream of celery (or chicken or mushroom) soup 2 tbsp. milk 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper, to taste 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 tbsp. chopped parsley (optional)

Method

3D wall décor comes in a variety of styles such as panels, tiles, decals and sculptures

M

ost homes usually display a two-dimensional painting or photo, while some may have vacation mementos such as hats or costumes framed and mounted. 3D wall décor is another way to decorate the walls of any room, adding that modern touch to your home.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Slice the French bread in half, lengthwise, so you have two equal pieces. Scoop out the bread in the centre of each piece. Place bread in a large bowl and tear into small chunks. Set the two halves of French bread onto a large baking sheet. Set aside.

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet, over medium-high heat. Drain any grease. Add the celery and garlic to skillet. Cook a few minutes until celery is tender. Add soup, milk and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and cook mixture until heated; another 5 minutes or so.

Add the beef mixture to the bread in the large bowl. Stir to combine. Pour mixture into the centre of one half of the French bread. Spread out evenly. Top the mixture with the shredded cheese. Top with the other half of bread.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Serves 6.

GREATEST COOKING TIPS

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team an egg instead of boiling: Place 1 inch of water into a pot. Insert steamer basket into that same pot. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Add desired number of eggs into the steamer, cover and cook for 6 minutes (soft-boiled) or for 11 minutes (hard-boiled). Immediately remove and place eggs into a bowl of ice-cold water. Steaming and putting the eggs in hot water ensure they cook evenly. Transferring them directly to an ice cold soak ensures they peel easily.

DIY 3D wall décor is a popular and inexpensive choice for homeowners

K

HOME HELP

eep pets out of the garden by sprinkling a mixture of coffee grounds and orange peels in the area.

Give chandeliers a quick cleaning with a blow-dryer (set on low) or a feather duster. For tougher jobs, fill a spray bottle with one part vodka to five parts water, spritz on fixtures and blow-dry.

The lightweight wall decor is easy to mount and rearrange as needed

Shine brass using just a dab of Worcestershire sauce or ketchup. Squeeze the condiment onto a cloth, rub the item, then rinse with water and dry with a towel.

To remove ring around the collar, draw over the stain with a piece of white chalk. Let it soak up the grease for a few minutes, then dust off excess chalk and launder as usual.

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

How to meet all a child’s needs, but not all he wants

JOKES Not exactly the same thing… he Sunday School teacher was describing that when Lot's wife looked back at Sodom she turned into a pillar of salt, when Bobby interrupted. "My mommy looked back once while she was driving," he announced, "and she turned into a telephone pole."

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Actual announcements from church bulletins his afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" – come early and listen to our choir practice.

Miss Charlene Mason sang, "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

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Theories of Science according to kids hen they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions.

To most people solutions mean finding the answers. But to chemists solutions are things that are still all mixed up.

Thunder is a rich source of loudness.

Isotherms and isobars are even more important than their names sound.

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Oh those headlines!

EW HOUSING FOR ELDERLY NOT YET DEAD GENETIC ENGINEERING SPLITS SCIENTISTS EYE DROPS OFF SHELF TEACHER STRIKES IDLE KIDS SQUAD HELPS DOG BITE VICTIM TWO SOVIET SHIPS COLLIDE, ONE DIES

N

Actual excuse notes teachers received lease eckuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33.

Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.

Please excuse my son's tardiness. I forgot to wake him up and I did not find him till I started making the beds.

I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I don't know what size she wear.

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hat do your children really need from you? Love, guidance, shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and an education.Everything else is a want, a luxury: video games, iPods, cell phones, and the latest fashion— whatever new item their friends have.

Db. Connie Dawson, coauthor of “How Much Is Enough”, writes: When parents give children too much stuff that costs money, do things for children that they can do for themselves, do not expect children to do chores, do not have good rules and let children run the family, parents are overindulging.

Here are some other signs of overindulgence:

1. Giving them things or experiences that are not appropriate for their age or

STORY TIME

The Monkey and the Pea

T

he King of Benares was out on a hunting trip with his wise counsellor.

They stopped to feed their horses some peas.

Suddenly a young monkey darted down a tree and scooped a huge handful of peas out of the feeding trough.

Halfway back up the tree one pea fell from the monkey's furry hands and, in a desperate attempt

to catch it, the monkey dropped all the peas he was carrying.

Peas scattered on the ground and the horses ate them. The monkey climbed back up the tree emptyhanded and sat sadly on a branch.

The King and his wise counsellor watched this episode with amusement.

The counsellor chuckled, "Great King, when far too greedy you be, remember that monkey and the pea."

(A Tale from India)

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Found in the classified ads…

REE PUPPIES! 1/2 COCKER SPANIEL, 1/2 SNEAKY NEIGHBOR'S DOG NICE PARACHUTE: NEVER OPENED - USED ONCE GEORGIA PEACHES - CALIFORNIA GROWN - 89 cents lb.

TIRED OF WORKING FOR ONLY $9.75 PER HOUR? WE OFFER PROFIT SHARING AND FLEXIBLE HOURS. STARTING PAY: $7 -- $9 / HOUR.

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Student’s exam answers 3O is hot water, and CO3 is cold water" "When you smell an oderless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide" "Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars."

"The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of Indiana."

"Momentum: What you give a person when they are going away."

"Vacumm: A large, empty space where the pope lives."

"When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breath, you expire."

"H

their interests: Allowing a 5-year-old to dress like a pop star.

Allowing a 12-year-old to watch an R-rated movie.

2. Giving things to meet the adult’s needs, not the child’s: A parent giving his or her children “the best of the best” in order to make the parent look successful.

3. Neglecting to teach children the life skills they need to survive in the “real” world beyond their home: Tying shoes and dressing 4-year-olds who are perfectly capable of dressing themselves.

Doing the laundry for teenagers who are more than capable and need to learn to do it for themselves.(TO BE CONTINUED)

By Grammar G

Wellerism

W

ellerisms revolve around a quotation or a cliché, or sometimes a proverb, misapplied with comical effect.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a Wellerism as: “A form of humorous comparison in which a familiar saying or proverb is identified with something said by a person in a specified but inapposite (out of place) situation.”

A Tom Swiftieis a variant of a Wellerism: its adverb is used for comic effect: “Let's dig up that body,” said Tom gravely – (if you can remember that wordplay feature…)

The term Wellerism comes from the character Sam Weller, in Charles Dickens’ novel “Pickwick Papers”, who would often apply a proverb or quote in

his own way that was comical.

“I think I see your drift; and if I do see your drift, it's my 'pinion that you're a-comin' it a great deal too strong, as the mailcoachman said to the snowstorm, ven it overtook him” Sam Weller, Pickwick Papers.

'It's a great deal more in your way than mine, as the gen'l'm'n on the right side o' the garden vall said to the man on the wrong un, ven the mad bull vos a-comin' up the lane' Sam Weller, Pickwick Papers.

More recent examples include:

Start Where You Stand

Start where you stand and never mind the past, The past won't help you in beginning new, If you have left it all behind at last Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through; This is another chapter in the book, This is another race that you have planned, Don't give the vanished days a backward look, Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats If you can start anew and win success, The future is your time, and time is fleet And there is much of work and strain and stress; Forget the buried woes and dead despairs, Here is a brand new trial right at hand, The future is for him who does and dares, Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid, To-day's the thing, tomorrow soon will be; Get in the fight and face it unafraid, And leave the past to ancient history; What has been, has been; yesterday is dead And by it you are neither blessed nor banned, Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead, Start where you stand.

- Berton Braley

shoes.

“Everyone to his own taste,” SamWeller the woman said as she kissed her character cow. from Charles “We'd better rehearse this,” Dickens’ “The Pickwick Papers”, said the undertaker after the coffin had fallen out of the vehicle. illustrated by Kyd “My business is looking good,” (Joseph Clayton Clarke) 1889 said the model.

“Remarkable,” said the teach"I stand corrected" said er, trying out her new dry-erase the man in the orthopaedic board.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 5, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

See if you can figure out the words in this "pyramid" using the hints given below. Each new word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus a new letter.

1) First letter of the English alphabet 2) Present; attending 3) Loves picnics 4) A small biter 5) Pro ballplayers have one 6) An attracting object 7) An article of clothing see solution 8) A heated debate on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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June 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

T

he kodkod (Leopardus guigna), is the smallest wildcat—smaller than the average house cat – in South America. Also known as the guigna, or Chilean cat, it weighs between 1.5 and 3 kg (3.30 – 6.61 lbs) and is 40 to 52 cm (15.75 to 20.47 in) long, with tail length between 19 and 25 cm (7.48 - 9.84 in).

It is native only to the Valdivian forest regions of Argentina and Chile, ranging from 50 to 2,500 m (164.04 to 8,202.1ft) elevations. Kodkods are arboreal (tree-dwelling) and will climb when trying to find shelter, for safety, or an ideal lookout place to find prey.

They are said more likely to be nocturnal in areas populated by humans and diurnal in more wild areas, and prey mainly upon small rodents, reptiles, birds, and large insects.

While Kodkods may help to control rodent populations, because they sometime prey on domestic poultry they often come into direct conflict with humans.

Along with humans killing them to protect their farm animals and for their fur, domestic dogs also prey on kodkods. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation also add to their declining numbers.

Colouring Fun

Araucaria araucana trees in Conguillío National Park, Chile

T

he Valdivian temperate forest is a narrow strip of forest in the countries of Chile and Argentina of South America; mostly in Chile, between the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the southern Andes Mountains to the east. One of the world’s five major temperate rainforests, it is the only temperate forest in South America.

Temperate refers to temperature and is said to mean “not to extremes”. It is never really hot like a tropical rainforest or really cold, like a Siberian forest, though it does get much rain, and has four seasons.

There are four main types of forest ecosystems in the Valdivian ecoregion: deciduous forests; “laurel-leaved forests”, characterized by a variety of broadleaf evergreen trees; Patagonian Andean forests and Northern Patagonian forests.

The Valdivian forests are home to species of animals and plants found naturally nowhere else in the world, including the continent’s smallest wild cat and evergreen trees such as the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) of the Patagonian Andean forests.

Find the Odd One Out

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

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

digits 1 through 9.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 5, 2016

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JUNE 5, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times Feature

Wealthy Russians ordering Scientist wears polar bear iPhone grave memorials costume, muskoxen charge

A

n engraving company in Siberia is offering 'iTombstones' so people can be buried with their mobiles.They can even feature engravings of a selfie of the dearly-departed.

Designer Pavel Kalyuk says his iPhoneshaped headstone memorials are the latest death accessory.

“We began to make monuments just to attract attention," he said.

But after presenting his work at a funeral exhibition in Novosibirsk, orders came in for the unusual gravestones.

Example of memorials people are flocking to order

Is Facebook listening in on you via your phone?

A

ccording to tech website DigitalSpy, while Facebook has openly admitted it uses your phone's microphone to "identify the things you're listening to or watching, based on the music and TV matches we're able to identify," a new report has posed a theory that the social media giant could be listening in to every word you utter.

Kelli Burns, a professor of Mass Communications at University of South Florida,

Brain Teaser Answer 1) A 2) At 3) Ant 4) Gnat

5) Agent 6) Magnet 7) Garment 8) Argument

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

conducted a test where she enabled the microphone feature and talked openly about her desire to go on a holiday.

"I'm really interested in going on an African safari.

I think it'd be wonderful to ride in one of those jeeps," she stated, phone in hand.

According to the report, the results of this open conversation were pretty shocking, with Burns’ Facebook timeline swiftly offering up a story in her News Feed about safaris, as well as an ad for a car.

"I don't think that people realise how much Facebook is tracking every move we're making online," she told NBC - although she did also add: "I'm still not so sure this isn't just coincidence. I don't think Facebook is really listening to our conversations."

But Facebook has strenuously denied suggestions it uses audio from your phone to target ads - or any kind of content that you see on the site.

"Facebook does not use microphone audio to inform advertising or News Feed stories in any way," a spokesperson told Digital Spy. "Businesses are able to serve relevant ads based on people's interests and other demographic information, but not through audio collection."

I

One of the muskoxen charges the scientists (discoverynews)

t isn't every day that a researcher dons a polar bear costume in the name of science, but a unique study now taking place on Wrangel Island in the Arctic calls for it. And another thing: The researchers in costume must stand in front of angry muskoxen to see how the large horned mammals react.

In addition to gauging muskoxen responses to "predators," the scientists are using a technique called photogrammetry to photograph the head sizes of young muskoxen, to measure their annual growth. This

information is then related to different climatic variables.

The reason for the study -- funded by the Trust for Mutual Understanding and the National Park Service's Shared Beringian Heritage Program -- is that melting sea ice, driven by climate change, is forcing more polar bears to hunt on land instead of on ice, as the bears generally do. The fast changing predator-prey dynamics on the island raise concern since the changes are unprecedented.

The wrecked sculpture

A

constructed LEGO figure worth more than 100,000 yuan, (US$20,000) was pushed over and destroyed by a young child within an hour of the opening of a LEGO Expo in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China on Sunday.

The intricate model of Nick Wilde, the anthropomorphic fox from Disney's “Zootopia”, was almost human-size. Mr. Zhao, the artist who made the figure, had

spent three days and nights carefully constructing it.

Photos shared by Zhao on Chinese social network Sina Weibo show the completed version of the sculpture and the pieces strewn about the floor after it was destroyed.

But Mr. Zhao accepted the parents' apology for the actions of their son, thought to be four or five years old, without requesting compensation. “The child did not in-

tend to break it,” he insisted.

Others on social media were not so forgiving, sparking a netwide debate about appropriate behaviour among children.Parenting skills also came into focus, coming just after a gorilla had to be killed to save a child who entered its zoo enclosure, and a couple whose child is missing after they had put him out of the car for bad behaviour while on a trip to a national park.

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june 5, 2016

Fun Times

Archie

Getting together with old friends will be enlightening (March 21and will encourage you to April 19) make changes that will add to your security. Romance is in the stars, and decisions about your future can be made.

ARIES

Look for a way to use your TAURUS expertise to help others with(April 20out making monetary contriMay 20) butions. Getting involved is one thing, but paying for others’ mistakes is not the answer.

Difficulties will surface if GEMINI (May 21- you take on too much, overJune 20) spend or indulge emotionally or physically. Uncertainty must not be an excuse to fall back into old habits. Treat yourself well.

Do what suits you best.

You’ll come up with a great (June 21solution if you use your imagiJuly 22) nation and bounce your ideas off of someone equally as creative and concerned.

CANCER

LEO Your help will be welcomed.

You’ll discover the (July 23Aug. 22) best way to utilize your skills, bring about positive changes and make money. Celebrate with someone you love.

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Take part in something you believe in. Keep a close watch on the actions of people in charge. Don’t be afraid to disclose information if it will help a cause.

You can do anything you LIBRA put your mind to. Plan some(Sept. 23thing special for a loved one Oct. 23) or do something that will improve your appearance or emotional outlook.

Peanuts

SCORPIO Opportunity will come from a (Oct. 24- good partnership. Nurture what Nov. 22) you have with someone. Plan a special evening or work toward improving your surroundings or community. It might be time to start planning a vacation as well.

Know what you are up SAGITTARIUS against before you challenge (Nov. 23someone. The outcome will Dec. 21) not be satisfactory if you make assumptions or neglect to find out the facts. Protect against loss.

Calvin and Hobbes

Get involved in activities CAPRICORN that you can enjoy with some(Dec. 22one you love. Physical activity Jan. 19) will inspire you to take on a new project or cause that will improve your lifestyle.

AQUARIUS Your home should be your (Jan. 20- focus and your refuge today.

Feb. 19) Make personal changes that will bring you closer to the ones you love. Romance is featured and encouraged.

PISCES You’ll be taken advantage (Feb. 20- of if you are too accommodatAPRIL 17) ing. Walk away from anyone putting demands or pressure on you. A problem while traveling or with personal documentation is apparent.