Sunday times magazine jan 7, 2018

January 7, 2018

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29-year-old claims Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is his mother Page 14

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Inside

Rupununi Petroglyphs: A brief photographic survey

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Guyana Premier continues to empower Page 3

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Feature

image can be easier seen.

Unfortunately, decay of these prehistoric artefacts is becoming more rapid and is of great concern to the national heritage.

Weathering is a dominant cause of decay in most cases, whilst in some cases the rock being in a water body poses a challenge for conservation. In contempo-

rary times the greatest challenge however, is the damage caused by persons who have no care for such heritage items.

Fairview (North Rupununi) - The petroglyphs are on the bank of the river (Essequibo) in the Iwokrama reserve. Again, because of the erosion by water, these petroglyphs are becoming less distinct. A number of rocks are marked, one is depicted here.

By Lennox J Hernandez

P

etroglyphs are picture-writing images (pictograms - a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase; or logograms - a sign or character representing a word or phrase) created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading. Petroglyphs are found worldwide and the term is usually used in the context of prehistoric peoples.

Guyana has its own petroglyphs and these are strong evidence of human

presence here as much as 7,000 years ago (our Indigenous peoples). The late Dr Denis Williams (1923-1998) is still our greatest exponent on this subject, culminating in his posthumous publication, “Prehistoric Guiana”.

Williams defined three types of petroglyphs in Guyana: the Enumerative or Aishalton type; the Fish Trap type; and the Timehri type. Later, he discovered what he determined was a sub-type of the Enumerative Type which he named the

Cuneiform Type.

Simply put, the Enumerative Type gives an account of prehistoric events, while the Fish Trap type is associated with a severe drought in South America about 4,000 years ago – this particular petroglyph represents types of fish traps, indicating the type of fish that are found in a nearby pond.

These photographs depict a few of the Rupununi petroglyphs. The markings on the rocks are highlighted with white chalk so the

Aishalton - Because of the shape of the rock itself and the markings made on the surface, this rock is known as the Alligator (the name “Caiman” would be correct).

Rupunau - According to the villagers, the petroglyphs on this rock signify the journey of people by water, similar to the Aishalton rock. It also enumerates the animals which lived in the rivers such as turtles, snakes and fishes. The rock is about 1.7 metres (5 ft 5 ins) high.

Sand Creek - The Petroglyphs are on the bed of the Minisaruwau River, a tributary of the Rupununi River, and are easily seen in the dry season, but not so easily depicted because of erosion over the centuries.

C

acique Accounting College is an ACCA gold approved tuition learning partner (ALP) preparing students for the FIA/CAT and ACCA qualifications. For more than a decade, the College’s well-experienced, dedicated and qualified lecture team has been working to ensure that its students gain the cutting edge in their career development by providing a bridge of direct contact with the world of accounting. As a result, Cacique’s graduates are chartered accountants and accounting support practitioners working in almost every sector of business across Guyana.

A career in accountancy offers you a good salary, global job opportunities, job security, respect and success. To prepare you for these opportunities, Cacique guarantees tuition for all the FIA, CAT and ACCA papers. Over the years, some of Cacique’s lecturers have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Awards by the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants body.

Cacique is also an ACCA Computer Base Exam Centre which allows students the ease of writing their exams in a com-

fortable environment. With its conducive study environment, Cacique provides career guidance, counseling and encourages networking.

Programmes offered include Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting – ACCA; Intermediate Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting – ACCA; Diploma in Accounting and Business – ACCA; Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business – ACCA; A BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University; ACCA Professional Qualification; Global MBA - ACCA and Oxford Brookes.

If you are desirous of pursuing a career in accountancy for 2018, Cacique Accounting College is right for you. Its new term is commencing this week. To learn all about your path to success, an information session will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 5pm. To book your seat, kindly call 227-1180/226-7407or visit Cacique’s office at 161 Pike & Alexander Streets Kitty, Georgetown (opposite Bounty Supermarket).

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

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Feature

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uyana Premier is a young company, but one that is surely making its mark in communities. Led by its mission to empower youths and communities, Guyana Premier believes that “the key to true empowerment is through selfelevation and making the most of one's education at a tender age is essential to this since good buildings are built on strong foundations”.

That belief is what the energetic team at Guyana Premier lives by and is what motivates them to want to give back to society.

In July 2017, the marketing brand held its annual ‘Back to School Drive’, providing supplies to 250 underprivileged children living in rural Guyana. Later in October 2017, it was Guyana Premier who claimed the runner up position in The ScotiaBank Vision Achiever Live Business Pitch Competition.

In December 2017, Guyana Premier reached out once more in keeping with their promise to empower youths and enhance education by hosting their first annual ‘Medical/Dental Outreach and Christmas Cheer’. On December 16, 2017 the team of young entrepreneurs and volunteers journeyed to East Berbice to bring much-needed medical and dental care to the children in specific areas. Also in keeping with

the Christmas season, the children present were treated to a ‘Christmas Cheer’, which involved a packed programme with food and gifts.

The team took to Belvedere Primary School where 70 children were identified as coming from particularly disadvantaged homes in the community and invited to be a part of the day’s activities.

Their families were also allowed to join as a few activities planned were family oriented.

A team of three doctors were present and were able to talk to the children and their parents, after which they were provided with essential medical and dental supplies. In addition to this, the mothers who were present were given the opportunity to learn more about the various forms of cancer and the importance of early screening thanks to the presence of Bibi Sheonarine and the Sar&B Foundation. Free pap smears were also provided to those who were willing to be screened for cervical cancer.

What’s better than learning about your health and how to take care of yourself? Having a little fun while doing it of course, which was exactly what the children were treated to. As soon as they had finished with the doctors, all of the children came together for an afternoon of cheer and merry making.

Children display gifts received from Guyana Premier

Snacks were aplenty and it was evident from the glee in the children’s faces that they were truly grateful. After lunch, there was a brief talent show, and gifts were finally distributed to all of the children present. There was not a sad face in the room that afternoon.

When asked what prompted him and his team to want to give back, chief operations officer of Guyana Premier, Dave Lalltoo said, “It was a promise that we just had to keep and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

A few members of Guyana Premier spreading Christmas cheer last year

The team, consisting of Guyana Premier’s Marketing Executive, Omesh Balmacoon, its Events Coordinator, Yohlanda Kerr and its volunteers, Oslene Bailey, Dr. Joshua Ramah, Dr. Sara Scott, Dr. Afua Alder were all joy on the day as well as they interacted with the parents and children.

The team also expressed much gratitude from a number of businesses without whose support none of the activities would have been possible. These included: ScotiaBank

Guyana, Java Coffee Bar, Branderz Guyana, Shermol Cleaner Services, Hallmark Guyana, C&L Construction Company, The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop, New GPC, Vish Pharmacy and Bibi’s Halal Corner and the Guyana Medical Relief.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dave mentioned that for 2018, Guyana Premier will be targeting 1,000 underprivileged children for its ‘Annual Back to School Drive’, which also entails a ‘summer’ workshop for 250 children. The main

aim is to enhance art and craft, while at the same time empowering children to be creative.

“Also another big thing is Guyana Premier will be partnering with Sar & B Nonprofit Foundation and Gicing Hope Foundation to do fundraisers in order to offer free pap smear and cancer screening to Guyanese especially in disadvantaged communities. This will be done continuously,” Dave noted.

For more information, visit Guyana Premier on Facebook.

One of the volunteer doctors works to create a better society via Guyana Premier

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Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Feature

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emories of British Guiana, specifically from 1959 to 1961, are forever cherished in timeless photos by

Philip Llyn-Jones, a contactor from England who came to work here in Guyana. The photos tell of a time when Georgetown was a “Garden

City” and people enjoyed the simplicity of life.

Llyn-Jones’s daughter Pauline Grimshaw generously shares his photos with

Sunday Times Magazine.

In an interview with this publication, Grimshaw recalled that her father worked for a small British

British Guyana Fire Brigade (left) next to Stabroek Market

construction company near London; he was a quantity surveyor. The company he worked for in London was contracted by Sprostons Ltd of Georgetown (she presumes) to help with the aluminium smelter construction, which may have been completed in March 1961.

“We would have arrived approximately two years before that, in 1959. On completion of the work we went back to England where my father spent the rest of his working life. My mum, dad, my younger brother and I came to British Guiana. My father enjoyed the experience of living and working in another country. He had been overseas during World War 2 and he worked in the merchant navy immediately after the war for about two years. He loved the bush and borrowing a Land Rover sometimes at weekends to explore. He also liked the river and the RH Carr,” Grimshaw recollected.

Grimshaw and her family lived at Watooka. She had her first trip on the RH Carr (a British-built steamboat) when she was eight years old. Her father had taken several photos of the steamboat as it worked on the river.

“I was eight years old when we arrived and ten years old when we returned

to England. I went to a Canadian school in Watooka, now part of Linden. We travelled on the RH Carr from Georgetown down to Linden (which we called Mackenzie) as there was no road then,” Grimshaw reminisced.

While in British Guiana, Grimshaw enjoyed travelling on the RH Carr.

Although she cannot remember much about the steamboat, she relies on her father’s photos to help jog her memory.

Reminiscing on life in British Guiana, Grimshaw said she remembers the “tropical flowers, swimming, kiskadee birds, the sun, blue sky, fabulous clouds, the bauxite trains behind our house and the Cannonball trees”.

Grimshaw returned to Guyana with her husband, John, and took many photos of the now derelict RH Carr on the Demerara River in Linden, which have sparked interest overseas to “save and preserve” the vessel.

Philip Llyn-Jones died in 2005 at the age of 85.

Grimshaw remembers her father to be a “keen photographer” who even developed and printed his own photographs (though not while he was in British Guiana).

(Cover photo : Stabroek Market, circa 1950s-1960s)

RH Carr and canoe on the Demerara River, McKenzie

RH Carr midstream

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

Women’s Wednesdays Guyana

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o m e n ’ s Wednesdays Guyana (WWG) is a weekly web-based broadcast in which conversations surrounding the experiences of women are done. The conversations often bridge the gaps between race, class, gender, and sexuality and how they all relate to the Guyanese experience.

WWG was born out of the formation of a Caribbean alliance of activists. This alliance came about following the Life in Leggings Regional Caribbean March. WWG’s host, Akola Thompson, was the organiser for the Guyanese leg. Guyana participated in this march along with eight other Caribbean countries united in the fight against sexual harass-

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ment and violence. Out of the alliances formed, activists from across the Caribbean began collaboration with each other and sought sustainable ways to do their civil society work.

Bahamian rights activist, Alicia Wallace last year began a monthlybased broadcast called ‘Women's Wednesdays Bahamas’.

Recognising the importance and need of such platforms in Guyana, Akola contacted Alicia and shortly after began the creation of ‘Women's Wednesdays Guyana’.

Currently, WWG is streamed live from its Facebook page. The reason for having a live programme, according to Akola, is so that viewers are able to ask ques-

t a time when many cultural forces continue to stand in the way of women pursuing careers in the science and technology fields, Dr. Shabana Amanda Ali is proving to be a great role model for young female scientists.

A self-professed “multidimensional student of life”, her work speaks volumes of her level of commitment to the field of research science.

After witnessing the decline of her grandmother’s health due to osteoarthritis, Ali decided to dedicate her career to finding a solution for the debilitating disease.

In an interview with Ali

Women's Wednesdays Guyana host Akola Thompson (right) and founder of Equality Bahamas and Women's Wednesdays Bahamas, Alicia Wallace

done by Guyanese Girls Rock, Ali talks about her background, passion for research, and the significant contribution she is making to the STEM field.

Ali said her family moved to Canada from Guyana when she was the age of two. She has since returned to Guyana twice, where she still has relatives and the house where her father was raised.

Currently residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Ali completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto in 2007. She then pursued a PhD in Medical Science, also at the University of Toronto. After completing her PhD in 2014, Ali completed her first Postdoctoral Fellowship at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She is currently pursuing a second Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Shabana Amanda Ali

tions in real time and have them answered.

However, WWG is currently looking into other more effective ways of streaming and maintaining its programme due to several constraints and glitches within the current working model.

“While we only began our broadcasts in October 2017, the response to it has been exceptional and a bit surprising.

Many are happy to have a platform where they can learn and discuss issues that are too often considered ‘taboo’. So far we've covered several hot-button topics such as gender-based violence, abortion, postpartum depression, rape and sexual health and pleasure.

The topics discussed on Women's Wednesdays are

at the University Health Network in Toronto.

“I am a scientist pursuing research in arthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints that causes pain and disability. My approach to research is unique since I have a background in both basic science (analyzing genetically modified mice) and applied research (conducting interviews with arthritis patients). I have dedicated the past 10 years of my career to discovering the underlying causes and potential treatments for osteoarthritis,” she noted.

Her inspiration behind pursuing her field is due to her passion for knowledge. A career in research has allowed Ali to maintain a persistent quest for knowledge. She is excited to go to work each day knowing she will learn something new, that she is surrounded by extremely talented people, and that her research might improve the care of arthritis patients.

“I chose to focus my research on arthritis because I watched the toll this disease took on my grandmother. Suffering from arthritis for over 40 years now, she has lost much of her function and independence.

Unfortunately there is no cure for osteoarthritis and this truly motivates me to do what I do – improve the way in which arthritis care is delivered in order to prevent others from having to go through what my grandmother goes through daily,” the doctor recalled.

Ali has received multiple awards over the course of her studies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Kirkley Postdoctoral Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Health Research and Innovation in 2015 at Western University. She has also received over $100,000 in competitive awards and scholarship in support of

not meant to be limiting and as such vary widely,” Akola explained in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

As an activist and advocate, Akola said her job usually deals with her having to provide information. However, audiences are often limited, so the messages resound in an echo chamber.

Platforms, such as WWG, give activists a direct link to a larger audience.

Akola’s hope is to build WWG into an easily accessible information hub for Guyanese men and women at home and in the diaspora.

For more information, visit Women's Wednesdays Guyana on Facebook.

her research over the past 10 years.

The award-winning scientist’s longterm goal is to have an independent research programme with an interdisciplinary focus on arthritis. She plans to use her unique skillset to bridge gaps between basic science and applied research in order to improve translation of research findings from laboratories and clinics into communities. Ali believes that the breadth of experience she brings to her work, from both her professional and personal life, gives her the capability and motivation to achieve this goal.

In addition to her research, Ali is an active volunteer with the Arthritis Society in Toronto. She also recently authored a scientific article titled: “Evaluating the design and reporting of pragmatic trials in osteoarthritis research, published in Rheumatology, Volume 1, Issue 1”.

Her encouragement to youths is: “I would share with others some truly valuable advice that was once shared with me (by a random older woman sitting at the table beside me in a food court) – don’t be discouraged. When you encounter people (or even your inner voice) telling you that what you’re trying to do can’t be done, use it as motivation to prove them (or yourself) wrong. Work hard, stay focused, and surround yourself with people who inspire you to be your best self. Be positive and collegial with everyone you encounter, because in science as with many careers, your network will help you succeed.”

You can follow Dr. Ali’s journey on twitter @Amandality as she continues to make huge strides in her research to find a cure for osteoarthritis.

For the full interview with Dr. Ali, visit http://guyanesegirlsrock.com

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Literary Corner

Preserving our literary heritage by Petamber Persaud

For the Love of Books, Part Two parts of and, by extension, the world’s heritage.

West Indian history and literature” by Frank Birbalsingh

Sister Noel Menezes with her book, 'Guyana and the Wider World' (GINA photo)

Part one of this article featured the following books: ‘The Indentured Servants from Bengal to Bush Lot to Belize’ by Karan Chand, ‘Karma Curry’ by Jerry K. Durbeej, ‘Stories set in two Countries’ by Madan M. Gopal, ‘Red Coconut: Bridging the Racial Divide’

by Habeeb Alli, ‘Junta: The Coup is On’ by Ken Puddicombe and ‘Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry’

by Petamber Persaud.

for art and entertainment, stimulating the imagination and improving memory, a source of inspiration, among other usages. And the book has lived up to expectations even in its new forms and formats.

Below are some of the books that crossed my desk during 2017:

We, lovers of literature, can say goodbye to 2017 – the year marking the centennial end to indentureship and the second year of International Decade for People of African Descent with satisfaction, knowing that some of the books published in this year will follow us into 2018 while others will stay with us decades beyond.

From its inception, the book was treated with respect, even with awe, for man valued the book very highly with regards to its potential as a tool of education and instruction, as a repository for storage and retrieval of information, as a custodian of traditions and languages, as a forum

This book contains 43 aspects of European/Guyanese heritage showcasing the influence on and contribution to the country via the Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, French and British through specialist scholarships on architecture, language, religion, foods and beverages, discovery and exploration, flora and fauna, history of wars and colonisation, sugar and slavery and a cursory mention to indentureship.

The book was a collaborative effort among three entities, namely, the European Union, National Trust of Guyana and the Guyana Heritage Society, all of which are deeply involved in the safeguarding particular

Aspects of EuropeanGuyanese Heritage” compiled and edited by the Guyana Heritage Society et al.

This very useful document contains 88 reviews of books by eighty-one authors, of which more than one-third are women writers. The themes explored are wide-ranging with farreaching effects, coming from way back in the past and reaching into the present, including exploitation, incoherence and innovation, psychological mimicry, identity, universal transience, emigration and the diaspora, divisions in race, colour and class, independence and its aftermath.

And the scope of coverage/scholarship extends to numerous countries, all with varying cultural, social issues and political backgrounds, even though all of these countries share a commonality in sugar, slavery, indentureship and colonialism.

Guyana and the Wider World”

by Sister Noel Menezes

This is a collection of articles written and addresses made by Sis. Menezes covering a variety of interests, including education, religion, indigenous issues, Portuguese in Guyana, short histories of educational institutions and a few biographies.

Sr. Menezes is the author of several books including Goodall's “Sketches of Amerindian Tribes”, “British Policy towards the Amerindians in British Guiana, 1803-1873”, “The Amerindians and the Europeans”, “Amerindian Life in Guyana”, “Scenes from the History of the Portuguese in Guyana”, “The Portuguese of Guyana: A Study in Culture and Conflict”.

“The Guyanese Culture - Fusion or Diffusion?”

by Rudy Insanally

This is another insightful scholarship by a career dip-

lomat with panache for languages. The book attempts to trace the evolution of Guyanese culture from the days of colonialism and slavery to the present time.

“National Bibliography of Guyana” by the Ministry of Education/GOG

The “National Bibliography of Guyana” is 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 Vice-Chancellor 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.

please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Over GYD$1,000,000 in prize money up for grabs in the 2018 issue of The Guyana Annual. New closing date for entries to the various competitions is January 15, 2018. For further information go to The Guyana Annual on Facebook or email: theguyanaannual@gmail.com

“Mahaica Belle Rings”

by Collette Jones-Chin

Although this book is a memoir, set during the 1970s, in Mahaica – a rural village in Guyana – it is written in such a way redirecting our attention to social issues still traumatis-

The Cat, the Rooster and the Young Mouse

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very young mouse made his first trip out of the hole and into the world. He returned to tell his mother of the wonderful creatures he saw.

"Oh, Mother," said the mouse, "I saw some curious animals.

There was one beautiful animal with fluffy fur and a long winding tail. She made such a tender vibrating noise. I saw another animal, a terrible looking monster. He had raw meat on his head and on his chin that wiggled and shook as he walked. He spread out his sides and cried with such a powerful and frightening wail, that I scurried away in fear, without even talking to the kind beautiful animal.

Mother Mouse smiled, "My dear, that horrible creature was a harmless bird, but that beautiful animal with the fluffy fur was a mouse-eating cat. You are lucky she did not have you for dinner."

Moral of the story: Do not trust outward appearances.

(An Aesop fable)

Notice to Readers

ing and influencing us in the 21st century. Some of those issues include racial animosity and racial harmony, the role of the family, community spirit in action, growing pains, dealing with sickness and death, the influence of superstition, the use of storytelling and folklore, overcoming fear, reaching for the stars - to be precise, parents and guardians steering their charges in that direction.

Responses to this author

If you have a poem and/or short story you would like to publish on our Literary Corner page, please email to guyanatimes@gmail.com. Kindly include your correct name and a contact number in your email. If you have any questions, please call 223-7230 or 223-7231.

Bare Night Without Comfort In a bare night without comfort stood like an infant hearing a drum: Shadows and green grass spinning but clutched at a world without nearing Like dark ball rising from nothing hurling curse at me and full of scorn: Bare night without comfort stood like an infant hearing a drum.

On a Child Killed By a Motor Car Child, a moment of love ago you danced in the eye of the woman who made you. When another moment like the innocent wheat that made the loaf of bread she sent you for in this field of the heart's ploughed land you were threshed!

Poems by Martin Carter

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

Pouring water from the Krishna River B y I ndrawattie N atram

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rowing up, I had travel to many places in the Caribbean and North America, but one country that has always been captivating to me is India. Colourful and diverse, India is definitely a must-see destination – one I was fortunate enough to cross off on my bucket list.

With a population of approximately 1.3 billion people, this country needs to be experienced with all the senses. The spice-filled air when entering the markets, tasting the myriads of flavours of Indian cuisines or admiring the neat tealeaves filled hillsides, my time in India was truly a magnificent experience.

I was given one of the most golden and prestigious opportunity through the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India 44th Know India Programme.

The programme’s main objective is to familiar-

ise the Indian Diaspora youth, age group 18-30 who have contributed positively to the development of their country, with the land of their ancestors. The programme provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations, experiences and to bond with contemporary India.

The 44th Know India Programme saw 40 participants from nine countries, namely Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, Myanmar, Guyana, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa and Suriname.

The first and last phase began with participants exploring the capital city, Delhi, by visiting historical monuments, religious locations, universities, NGOs, industrial sites, cultural training institutions, and learning the art of Yoga.

Delhi, which is considered the soul of India, can be easily differentiated from other states due to

its usual hustle and bustle. On arriving in India, the lights of the city were enthralling. My tours included visiting the Jama Mosque – which was built in the 17th century and is known to be one of the largest and wellknown mosques in India.

The mosque is flanked by Red Fort on one side and the old city of Chandni Chowk on the other.

Other interesting places visited were Red Fort, Raj Ghat (which lies on the banks of the River Yamuna), Humayun's tomb, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan (The President House), Akashardham Temple, National Museum, Laxminaryan Temple and the Lotus Temple.

One of the locations

I felt more privileged to be at is the Akshardham temple. The architectural design is indescribable.

The Hindu temple complex displayed millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality and architecture. The Akshardham experience was truly an enlightening journey through India's glorious art, values and contributions to the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind.

Taj Mahal

I then visited Agra, a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Agra was truly inspirational. It is home of one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal symboliz-

The India Gate

es the love of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is adorned with white marble cladded with the finest example of the Mughal architect, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles.

Andhra Pradesh

At theTaj Mahal

The second phase of the trip was a visit to Andhra Pradesh, one of the 29 states of India.

There I was able to experience the different cultures in Viyayawada, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.

Visiting this state was monumental for me because it is where my ancestors came from and resided. Andhra Pradesh has major cultural landmarks including Triumala Venkateswara Temple, an ornate hilltop shrine to Hindu Vishu.

Its beaches are pristine and the people were hospitable. The team on arrival were greeted to tassa drumming and draped with fresh rose garlands.

My visits also included Telegana, one of the largest states in south India known for its hospitality and multicultural and pluralistic society; Hyderabad, the capital city and the fifth largest city in India; and some wonders such as Char Minar, Faluknama Palace, Chowmahalla Palace, Qutub Shahi Tomb, Golcoda Fort, Warangal Fort and Thousand pillar temple.

With its phenomenal, ancient buildings, history, delectable cuisines, India was an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. Blessed with natural beauty and biological diversity, India has much to offer tourists, students and those who are seeking to connect with their ancestry.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 7, 2018

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Travel and Tourism

Aerial view of Saddle Mountain Ranch (Photo from www.bushmasters.com)

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ocated three hours south of the border town of Lethem, through rivers and remote land, lies Saddle Mountain.

Saddle Mountain is the backdrop to a Guyanese-owned working cattle ranch.

Days at Saddle Mountain Ranch are spent riding horses, rounding up cattle and relaxing while taking in the fresh, sweet air of the savannah. There is also a small creek nearby for a cool dip.

Though there isn't any electricity, phone or mobile coverage, and things are quite baSaddle Mountain Ranch

Breathtaking landscape of Saddle Mountain

sic at the ranch, a small solar-charged battery provides lights in the evening, and a water pump in a well provides running water to the house.

Visitors of the ranch can also climb Saddle Mountain, a tough, but short climb. The view from the top really puts it in perspective how in the middle of nowhere the ranch really is.

For birdwatchers, a trek to the mountain might provide an opportunity to see the fourinch Red Siskin bird.

Saddle Mountain is said to be culturally and spiritually significant to the people living in its vicinity (Photo from mike.teczno.com)

Scenic view of the mountain

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Health

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f you need an alarm to get up in the morning, you're probably not getting enough sleep. Ditch the alarm clock and make getting enough sleep one of your New Year's resolutions.

Your memory, waistline and even your employer may thank you for it.

Lack of sleep leads to junk food Our brains use sleep time to sort through our experiences. We "clean up" and get rid of information connec-

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

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

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

Oatmeal Oats contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre that's been shown to help lower cholesterol when eaten reg-

ularly; it also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium.

Steel-cut oats, which take about 15 minutes to cook, contain more fibre than rolled oats or instant varieties, but any type of oatmeal is a healthy choice.

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

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

tions we don't need from the day just gone.

Getting enough sleep also ensures we are safe to drive on the roads and less likely to make costly mistakes at work and home.

Being awake for longer than 17 hours impairs your ability to think clearly as much as having a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05.

After 24 hours awake, your ability to perform cognitive tasks is as poor as if you had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10.

Getting enough sleep may also be helpful for managing our food intake.

The body's response to eating food changes when sleep is restricted; as little as one week of restricted sleep is associated with glucose (sugar) levels approaching pre-diabetic levels.

fuller longer.

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

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

morning.

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

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

Coffee Coffee drinking has been linked to a lower risk of several diseases (such as diabetes and prostate cancer), and it may even help you live longer.

Eggs Once shunned for being high in dietary cholesterol (one yolk contains about 60 per cent of your daily allotment), eggs are now embraced as a healthy source of protein and nutrients like vitamin D.

Research has shown that the cholesterol in our food has less of an impact on blood cholesterol than previously thought.

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

The American Heart Association recommends that people with normal cholesterol limit their cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams per day.

Watermelon Watermelon is an excellent way to hydrate in the

How much sleep do we need?

The American Sleep Foundation recommends adults aged between 18 and 64 get between seven and

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

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

Tea Tea has a pretty impressive résumé of health benefits.

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

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

Research suggests that

nine hours of sleep a night, while older adults should aim for seven to eight hours.

Your ideal sleep duration will be unique to you and fall somewhere within the recommended range. To find out how much sleep you need, try a week-long experiment and modified sleep regime: Cut back on how much you are doing during the week, particularly in the evening, to give yourself time to wind down Put away the technology.

A tech ban in the bedroom might be the best start Create a dark sleeping space Get rid of the alarm clock so your body has the chance to tell you how much sleep you need Keep a week-long diary of your sleep times and daytime energy levels to get a feel for how much sleep feels good the next day You might find you need to sleep longer than usual for the first couple of nights.

But remember, this is an ex-

ercise to work out how sleep can help you feel good rather than a test to see how much sleep you "must" or "can" get as this pressure may not help with sleeping well.

You might feel a little groggy the next morning which is normal, but you should wake up — and get up — when you feel wellrested.

By seeing where you sit on the sleep spectrum, you can work out the bed and wake times that best suit your needs.

ary as other fruit juices, but its high acidity can sometimes contribute to bladder problems besides UTIs so stick with small servings.

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

You'll find this win-

tein to supply all-day energy, and antioxidants to keep your immune system humming.

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

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

ning combo in many wholegrain or bran cereals (such as shredded wheat), which as an added bonus are often fortified with riboflavin, folic acid, and other essential nutrients.Top off your bowl with skim milk and fruit for the complete package: whole grains to fill you up, pro-

nutrients than their white, refined counterparts.

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

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

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

Orange juice Fresh squeezed OJ is a classic morning beverage.

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

of osteoporosis, depression, and certain cancers.

Stick with one small glass a day, Giovinazzo advises. Fruit juice is high in calories and sugar, she says, and shouldn't replace whole fruit in your diet.

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

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

Cranberry juice—not to be confused with cranberry juice cocktail—isn't as sug-

10 Sunday Times Magazine Fashion

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antone announced that purple will reign as the colour of the year in 2018 — specifically, the shade Ultra Violet, which comes from the melding of blue and red.

"It’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today," Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, told The New York Times.

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Pantone hopes the blue and red can become a more harmonious purple.

"It’s also the most complex of all colours because it takes two shades that are seemingly diametrically opposed — blue and red — and brings them together to create something new," added Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone's executive director.

The announcement

will certainly please Prince fans, who favoured the shade throughout his career.

Pantone honoured "The Purple One" in August with a custom hue called "Love Symbol #2." Prince died in April 2016.

Ultra Violet follows 2017's Pantone colour of the year, Pantone 15-0343, aka "greenery," a spring shade that represented hope

and closeness with nature. which Pantone, dubs itself "the global colour authority," began naming colours of the year starting in the new millennium, searching the world for trending colours in everything from cosmetics to cars.

"We wanted to pick something that brings hope and an uplifting message,'' Eiseman told The Times.

colour that stands for hope, discovery, limitlessness, and reflection, we’re ready to display ultra violet (purple) throughout 2018. Here are a few ways to incorporate into your wardrobe.

For guys, the easiest way to wear purple is to use it sparingly as an accent – wearing it head-totoe just screams Batman villain. It teams extremely well with beige, grey and shades of blue, from sky and duck egg to cobalt and teal.

Colour pairing guidelines for guys: Similar colours (easiest to pair): blue violets and mauves.

Contrasting colours (harder to pair): reds and greens.

Complementary colours (hardest to pair): yellows.

Recommended: navy, grey, white and beige.

Bored of the trousers you wear to work every other day? These purple paperbag pants are just perfect.

Tassel earrings were a huge accessories trend in 2017, and their popularity shows no sign of fading for 2018 (especially if in they're in ultra violet).

Embellished with shimmering gold, bronze, and silver sequins that create a leaf motif, let this satin pouch swing from the sleeve of an evening gown.

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Recipe of the week

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

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

Home Trends to Say Goodbye to in 2018

Open shelves are perhaps one of the most impractical trends yet. Who has that many beautiful, colour-coordinated dishes to display? Who is dusting around all those jars, tumblers and artfully stacked bowls? What about sticky kitchen grease that accumulates on everything? Though these shelves give an open and airy feeling to your kitchen, glass cabinet doors are better alternatives for displaying lovely kitchen items.

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

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

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

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

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

White walls are super versatile, but they just look too stark. Try instead deep, colours that make spaces look inviting and cozy.

Greatest Cooking Tips Add oil, vinegar, herbs and spices to the dregs of a mayo jar and shake.

You'll get instant creamy salad dressing and the jar will be clean so you can recycle it.

Every time you open the door, warm air floods into your fridge. If there’s a lot of empty space, that air hangs out for a while, giving food-spoiling bacteria a chance to take hold. Fill that empty space with containers of water to avoid wild temperature swings. You’ll also save energy because your fridge won’t have to work so hard to maintain the ideal temperature of 35 - 38 degrees F. Hide garlic and onions in holey paper bags. They’ll stay fresh for at least two months without moulding.

There's no need to fill your entire house with plants. Unless you're a super plant parent, ain't nobody got time for that.

Home Help

Use a shoe organiser to store your cleaners. In your laundry room, just hang a shoe organiser on the door and store all your cleaners in the pockets for an organised look.

If someone vomits on your sofa, don’t panic. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and take a spatula or spoon, generously spreading it onto the affected area (be sure to hold your breath or you might vomit too). Let it dry overnight and you’ll be able to easily vacuum or wipe the whole thing up. Also works for urine and carpets.

Use apple peels to remove stains from your aluminium pots and pans.

Use baby oil to polish stainless steel. It's natural and inexpensive.

Just because you like houseplants and textural fabrics does not mean you have to go completely boho in your home. Instead, blend aesthetics in a way that feels personal and timeless.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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Puzzles

Crossword

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ACROSS Elvis' hometown Rose-petal oil Postgame discussion Peril Thrilled to the max Pry open Luau greeting Kassel's river Stock feeder Happy-go-lucky (3 wds.)

Lox purveyor Diet target Filled with fizz "-- No Way to Treat a Lady" Alloy components "En garde" weapon In judge's garb Portico Discounts Chill out Hirt and Gore Airport arrivals It may be scarlet Drizzling Sluggish Quick with a quip Be able to DJ's supply Geologic formation Tearooms Screenwriter James -Whizzes Chair's mallet Switch positions Blackhawk rival Tijuana kid Foreign film ender Hires a lawyer Fence stake Duds Garden green Ringo or Bart Brick worker Freud, to himself Await judgment Branch, often "Ugh!" Upper-left key Makes public Steamers' routes Enjoy a hot tub -- Nui (Easter Island) Motto Throng Length measure Bird or person Diver's hazard Marquette's title Make waterproof Persuading Gorbachev's domain Wassailer's tune Cab driver Vocalist -- Sumac Onetime telecom giant Be apprehensive

101 Prowl

102 High mountains

104 Royal emblems

107 Zoo enclosure

108 Ms. Zadora

109 Clean the slate

113 Sends again

114 Periscope sites

115 Formation flier

117 By word of mouth

118 Disentangle, in football

119 Farm unit 120 Hollered

122 Belly dance lute

123 Fritz's possessive

124 Black-eyed Susans

127 Public esteem

129 Hideous monster

130 Carnivore's delight (hyph.)

131 Committee

132 Van Gogh painting

133 Grass stalk 134 Tendon

135 Contest submission

136 Hemingway or Borgnine

DOWN

1 Hold your horses?

2 Not ready

3 Drive forward

4 -- de cologne

5 Links org.

6 Last box to check

7 Genially

8 Viennese desserts 9 Cornered

10 Zipped through

11 1930s util. program

12 Contacts a ship

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13 Helen, in Spanish

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14 Film, as of dust

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15 Sighs of relief

63 16 Installments

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17 Kind of sale (2 wds.)

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18 Form a thought 67 19 Merchant

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20 -- Kringle (var.)

70 27 Well-groomed 71

31 Chestnuts and bays

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34 Auction site

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36 Listener's need 75

38 "Blume in Love" lead

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39 Loan figures

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41 Craft knife (hyph.)

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43 Feliciano or Ferrer

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44 Squabbles

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46 Passports, etc.

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47 Name in jeans

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48 Thin cookie

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49 Dry-climate plants

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50 Impromptu (2 wds.)

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51 Close friends?

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53 Rider's handhold

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54 Trial venue

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55 Younger Guthrie of folk music

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56 Tailless pet (2 wds.)

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57 Drei minus zwei

Maze

U.K. part Mac rivals Apply gold leaf Wingding Groupies Lip, slangily Cram Razor-sharp Walkman brand Dactyl Middle Ages quaff Request earnestly Fray Susannah of films Devoted, as time Mooch Lab medium Director Mervyn -Polio vaccine inventor Fix, as an election Dallas sch.

-- Alamos Catcher under Stengel "Ick!" Car pedal Helen of Troy's lover Puffs along Bern's river

94 Ms. Thurman 96 Gathers

98 Baker's buy

100 Lament loudly

101 Brand name

102 Sanctimoniously

103 Bygone B'way notice

104 Break a promise 105 Realm

106 Made up time

107 Teen deadline

108 More hard up

110 Wake up

111 112 113 114 115 116 119 120 121 125 126 128

Browns lightly Heir, often Unfounded report Movie part 1814 treaty site A bit creepy Unknown auth.

Long-necked bird Earl -- Biggers "Shogun" apparel Unbar, in poetry Lapel ornament See Solution on Pg 13

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- MEDICATED (MEDICATED: MED-ih-kateed: Treated with medicine.)

Average mark 50 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 67 or more words in MEDICATED? mace made maid mate mead meat media mediate medic meet mete mica mice mite edema edict edit emetic emit dace dame date dead

decade deceit decide decimate dedicate deed deem deet deice demit diadem dice didact died diet dime iced idea ideate item caddie cadet came

cede cite aced acid acme acted addict adit admit aide aided aimed amice amid tame team teed teem tide tied time

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed.

3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

Mark Zuckerberg says fixing Facebook is his ‘personal challenge’ for 2018

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ark Zuckerberg says that Facebook has “a lot of work to do” when it comes to harassment, election interference, and making sure that it’s a meaningful platform to be on. So he’s making it his “personal challenge” for 2018 to “focus on fixing these important issues,” the Facebook co-founder and CEO wrote on his own Facebook page early Thursday.

Zuckerberg has given himself a personal challenge every year since 2009, but they’re usually more along the lines of “meet new people” or “read more books.” This year’s challenge comes from a very different place — and carries more of the gravity that’s expected from the top executive of such an influential company.

Facebook has grown more willing to accept its role as a central distributor of information over the past year, though this acceptance has come in phases; and Zuckerberg’s announcement today suggests the company is increasingly ready to address its many shortcomings in that role.

“We won’t prevent all mistakes or abuse, but we currently make too many errors enforcing our policies and preventing misuse of our tools,” Zuckerberg writes. “If we’re successful this year then we’ll end 2018 on a

much better trajectory.”

This is an important point for Zuckerberg to acknowledge. While Facebook often approaches issues like harassment with good intentions, they frequently go awry when its guidelines are misapplied — banning people who shouldn’t be banned, or allowing people to stay who are clearly acting inappropriately. It’s clear this is a systemic issue.

Facebook isn’t immediately announcing any changes to the product itself, but Zuckerberg acknowledges the company’s problems with more bluntness than he has used to date. He even points out the growing distrust of major tech companies and the immense power companies like Facebook have gained.

“A lot of us got into technology because we believe it can be a decentralizing force that puts more power in people’s hands ...

With the rise of a small number of big tech companies — and governments using technology to watch their citizens — many people now believe technology only centralizes power rather than decentralizes it,” he writes.

Zuckerberg says encryption and cryptocurrency are two “important counter-trends” that put power back in people’s hands. He writes that he’s interested in studying their impact and “how best to use them in our services.” This probably doesn’t mean that a FaceCoin ICO will launch in 2018, but don’t count it out either.

Much of this sounds like musing on Zuckerberg’s part. It’s impossible to imagine Facebook giving up its immensely profitable role as the central hub for online communication in favor of some idealistic, decentralized network out of its control, but Zuckerberg’s acknowledgement of the fears and concerns of his users is at least a foundation on which it can hopefully start to address those problems with more vigor. (The Verge)

Apple confirms all Mac and iOS devices are affected by Meltdown and Spectre bugs

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pple confirmed on Thursday that all Mac and iOS devices are affected by the Meltdown and Spectre CPU flaws that have roiled the computing industry for the past 24 hours, resulting in a race to patch operating systems and cloud computing infrastructure at the highest levels. “‘All Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are no known exploits impacting customers at this time,” the company writes in a blog post. “Since exploiting many of these issues requires a malicious app to

Fitbit invests in small patch to track blood sugar for diabetics

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itbit has made its first-ever start-up investment, putting more than US$6 million into an enterprise called Sano, which is developing a coin-sized patch that tracks blood sugar levels to help control diabetes.

Building blood-sugar tracking into a future device could dramatically increase the market for Fitbit devices since more than 100 million Americans are now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fitbit has recently suffered declining sales: It sold 3.6 million devices in the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from 5.3 million a year earlier.

Apple is known to have a research team working on a noninvasive glucose reader, as CNBC first reported in April. The New York Times in December reported that the

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be loaded on your Mac or iOS device, we recommend downloading software only from trusted sources such as

Crossword Solution

the App Store.”

Apple was one of the last remaining holdouts to speak up about Meltdown and Spectre, although it was already widely believed Apple devices were affected due to the company’s use of components from chip manufactures like Intel and ARM. Apple says that it has already mitigated some of the potential negative consequences of Meltdown, which is the Intel-specific exploit, with patches to iOS (11.2), macOS (10.13.2), and tvOS (11.2).

The company says it plans to issue patches for Safari on macOS and iOS to better help devices defend against Spectre, which is more easily exploitable and affects devices using chips from Intel, AMD, and ARM. Apple Watch devices are not affected by Meltdown in any way, the company confirms.

(The Verge)

ohnson & Johnson-owned Neutrogena knows you buy a lot of its skincare products – it’s the number one facial skincare brand in the US, and at least $1 billion of J&J’s quarterly sales came from its beauty segment in the third quarter reported last fall. Now it wants you to buy even more Neutrogena, with the help of a skinscanning gadget and app.

The company announced recently a hardware product called SkinScanner that attaches to the upper portion of a smartphone and, using a combo of sensors, is supposed to give users the kind of magnified image of their facial skin that you usually see in before-and-after pics in ads. The scanner wirelessly syncs up with a mobile app, called Skin360, which will show a person’s skin health over time and suggest they improve their skin.

With Neutrogena products, naturally.

The Neutrogena SkinScanner will be formally unveiled next week at the annual CES in Las Vegas. It’s the latest in a series of connected beauty products that have been shown off at CES in recent years; and is part of a larger attempt by traditional consumer product goods companies to adopt digital strategies that appeal to younger, tech-savvy customers.

It’s also the latest in a series of beauty products that promises self-betterment through a Bluetooth attachment to a specific brand.

The SkinScanner product was made in

Fitbit CEO James Park

project was authorized by late Apple CEO Steve Jobs while embroiled in a personal battle with diabetes, and current CEO Tim Cook has been seen testing a personal glucose monitor.

The Apple Watch is Fitbit's most formidable competitor.

Fitbit CEO James Park confirmed the Sano deal this week to CNBC. The investment is part of a larger financing round that Sano expects to close in coming months.

"This fits into our strategy of looking beyond the device and thinking more about (health) solutions," said Park. "I think the complete solution comes in the form of having some monitoring solution that is coupled with a display, and a wearable that can give you the interventions at the right moment," he said. (Excerpted from CNBC)

partnership with a New York-based company called Fitskin. It’s a tool that slides onto the top of your iPhone and uses 12 LED lights and a 30x magnification lens to capture an up-close image of your skin. It also has a moisture sensor, around the rim of the lens. You open the app, press the device right onto your face, and take a series of images. Glamour shots these are not: these are close-up readings of your skin’s moisture levels, wrinkles, and pore size.

Using machine learning, the app compares your skin to other users in your age range. It then assigns a score, up to 100, for each of these three categories. Below that, the app shows a blue “Improve” button, which leads you to a Neutrogena store. This is where that nudge happens; it might suggest, for example, that you use a Neutrogena sunscreen, or cleanser, or a product with retinol or hyaluronic acid.

Right now the SkinScanner is entirely focused on aesthetics. It won’t attempt to treat acne, or detect signs of melanoma, which would require Johnson & Johnson to get FDA approval of the device. SkinScanner also only works on iPhones, and for now, will only point users towards Neutrogena products, though at some point it may expand to include products from some of Johnson & Johnson’s 19 other beauty brands.

The Neutrogena SkinScanner will start shipping in the US later this year and will cost US$50.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 7, 2018

Bollywood/Hollywood

T

here's always a certain curiosity that surrounds Bollywood's

kids.

How they look, what they wear, where they party, paparazzi are always on the lookout to catch a glimpse of them.

Thanks to them and the internet, Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan's daughter Aaradhya is no stranger to the world.

But now a 29-year old man from Andhra Pradesh has claimed that Aaradhya isn't the only child of Aishwarya.

Sangeeth Kumar, in his bizarre claim, says he was born to Aishwarya six years before she bagged the Miss World crown in 1994.

"I was born to her by IVF in London in 1988. I was brought up in Chodavaram from age three to 27. I was with my grandmother Brinda Krishnaraj Rai's family at the age of one and two in Mumbai. My grandfather Krishnaraj Rai died in April 2017, and my uncle's name in Aditya Rai,” Sangeet told media.

Hailing from Vishakhapatnam, Kumar

said that he was born in 1988 in London through IVF and was allegedly raised for two years by Aishwarya's parents Vrinda Rai and Krishnaraj Rai. With no documents to prove his bizarre claims (because according to him his relatives destroyed them all), Kumar goes on to say that Aishwarya and Abhishek have separated and now his "mother" lives separately.

"My mother got married in 2007 with Abhishek Bachchan and she is separated, living alone. I want my mom to come and live with me in Mangaluru. It’s already 27 years since I separated from my family, I miss her a lot.

"I’m getting enormous headache and anger at my native place, most of my relatives have manipulated things since childhood, otherwise I would have come back to my mother before itself with clear information.

Due to lack of information, I could not come to my mother, so now I got all clarity," he concluded. (Yahoo)

Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna featured together on magazine cover

T

he power couple of Bollywood - superstar Akshay Kumar and actress Twinkle Khanna - have raised the temperatures with their latest photoshoot for Hello Magazine. The magazine shared the cover of their latest issue on their official Instagram page.

Akshay Kumar was seen wearing a grey turtleneck while Twinkle Khanna gazed into his eyes and was seen wearing a simple black top.

The issue talks about “New Beginnings: Twinkle and Akshay” on their latest project and their passion to create a change.

Twinkle recently celebrated her 43rd birthday. Meanwhile, on the work front, Akshay Kumar is all set with his biggest release this year – “Padman”, hitting the theatres on January 26.

Directed by R Balki and produced by Twinkle Khanna, “Padman” is based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, who brought a revolution by introducing a lowcost sanitary napkin machine for rural women who do not have access to menstrual hy-

A

giene products.

The movie also stars Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. (Hindustan Times)

fter a record-breaking track in India, the talented Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” continues to prosper in China too. It’s the first film to garner overseas collections at parity with domestic markets and in fact, has been one of the most successful and biggest hits in China.

The film stars Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and Zaira Wasim.

According to reports the blockbuster-hit flick ranked number one in an annual survey conducted by the IMDB in China.

The Aamir Khan-starrer not only witnessed an exceptional theatrical run in India and China, but also did amazingly well in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan and many other countries.

The movie was released on December 23, 2016. It was directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and is based on the life of Indian wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. The movie revolves around how Phogat trains his daughters Geeta and Babita to become the world-class wrestlers. (The Express Tribune)

M

argot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn in David Ayer's "Suicide Squad" was met with praises, and she has continuously gushed over taking on the role of the pig-tailed villainess.

However, the Aussie actress apparently has one regret about playing the character, as she told The Hollywood Reporter that she received death threats following the release of the film in 2016.

"You're about to be in a comic book film; now here's the worst-case scenario of how big and scary it can get," she said. "There's just all this stuff you learn along

the way, like, when you get those death threats, it's [smart] to have a security team do a background check on whoever sent them to see if there is any past history of violence because you'll need to know whether you need security to go to certain events."

"And every time you do a background check, it's going to cost $2000," the 27-yearold actress and producer told the publication, before adding, "so take that into consideration when you're getting yourself into this."

"And it's like, 'OK, that's a different kind of career,'" Robbie said. "Because then

you need to always do a job that can financially support that lifestyle; you can't just do indie films for the rest of your life because that film back there changed everything and now you have to be able to afford security," she explained. "I just wish someone had explained a lot of those things to me early on. I wouldn't have resented the position I found myself in because I would've known what I was getting myself into."

Of playing Harley Quinn, Robbie said, "I didn't get enough of her!" She gushed, "I was like, 'I need to keep playing her!' I love her so much."

Robbie is set to reprise the role of the baseball batwielding antihero in "Suicide Squad 2" and two other films, an untitled Joker and Harley Quinn project and "Gotham City Sirens". The actress recently revealed that she's also developing a completely new Harley Quinn movie that's separate from the three mentioned movies. (AceShowbiz)

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ick Cannon recently announced that he and Chris Brown will star in an upcoming women's basketball film titled “She Ball”, which Cannon is also set to write and direct.

Twitter immediately pointed out the irony of the male stars headline a supposedly pro-female film, and dragged Cannon in particular for casting Brown, who has a history of domestic violence against his girlfriends.

Now, Cannon is doubling down in response to the anger, and it's clear this movie is off to a bad start.

Upon learning of Chris Brown's involvement in the film, many have taken to social media to express their disapproval of Cannon's choice, referencing Brown's past confirmed domestic violence case with ex Rihanna

as the reasoning for him being undeserving of the role.

TMZ has since caught up with the comedian at LAX where he openly defended the singer and stressed that he believes there is a double standard with Black men and the media.

"What about Sean Penn?

They ever hate on his past?" he asked the paparazzo.

Here, Cannon is referenc-

ing the long-running accusations made against actor Sean Penn where he reportedly attacked his ex-wife, Madonna, with a baseball bat in 1987. She has since denied the accusations. "[There's] definitely a double standard," he continued. "They want to turn a Black man into a monster anytime they can." (BET)

‘Game Of Thrones’ final season confirmed for 2019

A

fter months of speculation, HBO has finally confirmed that the last season of “Game Of Thrones” won’t be airing until 2019.

Although it had been thought the series would take a year off from the airwaves this year, it hadn’t officially been confirmed by the network. However they’ve now officially announced that it’ll be 2019 for the eighth and final season, which is only six episodes long. They also confirmed that David Benioff and DB Weiss will be among directors for the forthcoming series, along with David Nutter and Miguel Sapochnik. Season 8 writers, meanwhile, will be Benioff, Weiss, Bryan Cogman and Dave Hill.

Ben Crompton, who plays Night’s Watch brother Eddison Tollett in the HBO series, is cur-

rently filming the eighth season and revealed how there’s still a fair amount of shooting left on the project. Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Ben said: ‘We’re currently filming. I think the shoot goes on probably till next year. ‘Even though there’s only six episodes, there’s a lot to shoot because it’s the last one. We’re going out with a bang.’

(Metro)

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 7, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 7, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES Don't limit what you can (March 21- do. Look for alternative ways April 19) to combat any obstacle you face. Intelligence will win in the end. Think, strategize and come up with a game plan.

Share your interests with TAURUS someone special. Stick to (April 20- a set budget to avoid feelMay 20) ing stressed out at the end of the day. A gathering with friends or relatives will be informative.

GEMINI (May 28June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Refuse to let anyone stand in your way. Consider the source of any suggestions offered to you. Be kind, but don't give in to emotional manipulation. Use intelligence to fight back.

Be careful not to sign up for too much. Temper your emotions and listen to the advice given you. Taking what's done or said the wrong way will cause uncertainty and confusion.

Look inward and question your motives and even your goals. Focusing on personal growth while taking a closer look at what is and isn't possible will help determine your next move.

Don't overspend on home improvements. Get additional quotes if you don't like the estimate that someone gives you. Take control of your finances and live within your means.

LIBRA Make changes at home (Sept. 23- that will suit your needs and Oct. 23) help you achieve your dreams.

Preparation and organization will help you overcome any obstacles that stand in your way.

Peanuts

Participate in events that SCORPIO will improve your environ(Oct. 24- ment or help a cause you beNov. 22) lieve in. Your intuitive input will make a difference and change the way you help others in the future.

Give your professional SAGITTARIUS and financial progress a close (Nov. 23look.

Consider if you are doDec. 21) ing what makes you happy or if advancement is possible.

Assess your affairs and make changes.

CAPRICORN Don't give in to persuasion (Dec. 22- or emotional tactics. You can Jan. 19) only do so much without damaging your mental, physical and financial health.

Calvin and Hobbes AQUARIUS Being a good listener will (Jan. 20- help you get a better hanFeb. 19) dle on what's required or expected of you to improve a stressful situation. Be open to suggestions.

PISCES Be willing to listen to sage (Feb. 20- advice from someone older or Mar. 20) more experienced. Home and personal improvements are encouraged. Review pending financial, medical and legal matters.