Times sunday magazine april 9, 2017

Sunday April 9, 2017

Times

Star Times Hollywood:

Drake lands major role on British TV show See story on page 12

Magazine

Toe rings:

Page 3

An ancient adornment with healing properties Page 5

FREE DISTRIBUTION

Page 16

Page 8

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Feature

By Ashraf Dabie

O

ver the years, sports have been limited to activities involving physical exertion and skill, but the field is now being revolutionised thanks to a dynamic group of sports enthusiasts called The Xercise.

Business, academics and social cohesion are just a few aspects of life that can now be encompassed under the umbrella of what once was exclusively the battle of the fittest.

To celebrate these developments, the United Nation designated April 6 as the day to highlight the achievements of sport, particularly acknowledging the contributions made by the games, as well as the players, towards the accomplishment of the much talked about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The United Nation recognises sport as a vehicle for change, given that it has proven to be a cost effective and flexible tool in promoting peace and development objectives. Since the inception of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, sport has played a vital role in enhancing each of the eight goals, a fact which has been recognised in numerous resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

In the Declaration of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sport's role in social progress is further acknowledged: “Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.”

This year, Guyana joined in the celebration of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with organisations partnering to improve the efforts undertaken in previous years.

The Xercise, a local sport organisation, celebrated International Day of Sport by hosting an entire day of activities on April 6. The nongovernmental organisation started the day off by celebrating sport and its role in social cohesion by visiting three schools across Georgetown.

Students of Queen’s College, St. Stanislaus College and Stella Maris Primary benefited from interactive sessions where the various aspects of sport were highlighted, as well as the ways in which the variety of games contribute to peace across the world.

Students of Queen's College support the activities of The Xercise

Founder of The Xercise and former national youth cricketer, Royston Alkins, was at the forefront of the day’s activities as he led the school sessions as well as the other events throughout the day.

During the sessions, Alkins highlighted the connection between sport and social development, pointing out its various contributions to society, which are often overlooked. The roles of sport in accomplishing the SDGs, as well as ways in which peace can be achieved, were all underlined. Sport and health as

a mode of expression, an avenue for employment, a means of exercising collaboration, leadership and team work, as well as method of developing young minds, both on and off the fields, were all emphasised in the former cricketer’s address.

Representing the National Sport Commission was the Assistant Director of Sport, Brian Smith, who pointed out the importance of sports in Guyana and addressed avenues that are available within the field.

“We recognise that it is important for young athletes/ students to be in tuned with understanding that sport is integral to their development and not just going down the academic line, but there are

avenues that exists in sport as well,” Smith noted.

Sport psychology, medicine and biomechanics are just some of the opportunities existing in sports, but, according to the Assistant Director, they are “underexposed and persons should definitely take advantage of these new prospects”.

Also participating in the activities was reigning Miss World Guyana, Nuriyyih Gerrard, along with renowned local squash player, Nicolette Fernandes.

The beauty queen used the opportunity to explain the wide horizons available through sport, alluding to her platform mental health, to which she remains dedicated.

On the other hand, Fernandes

goals by applying the necessary strategies and methods needed to be successful in whatever field they choose to pursue.

The Xercise continued the commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace by hosting a T20 cricket match later in the day. The match featured The Xercise XI and Demerara Cricket Club XI at the Demerara Cricket Club, during which the host team emerged victorious. The sports organisation also honoured local sportsmen in a brief presentation ceremony for their significant contributions to sport and social development. The list of honourees includes Hilbert Foster (cricket), Stanely Ming (motor

Members of The Xercise with honourees With students of Stella Maris school

shared her journey and experience as a sports ambassador of Guyana, pointing out that academics and sports can be adequately paired.

Fernandes, in an emotional revelation, revisited the obstacles which stood in the way of realising her dream of being a professional squash player.

Restrictions from parents and reservations from teachers were some of the hurdles she overcame by what Fernandes deemed the effective cliché, “hard work and dedication”.

Moreover, the squash champion pointed out that expertise is gradually developed and not achieved overnight.

With that, she urged the students to chase after their

racing), Gordon Brathwaithe (football), Lavern Frazer (netball) and Fizal Khan (football).

The day of activities, themed “Giving athletes a say, peace in play”, along with the other initiatives undertaken by The Xercise, are all in keeping with the UN mission towards the accomplishment of Sustainable Development by 2030.

The Xercise is a non-profitable initiative that seeks to enhance the involvement of Guyanese athletes in multitiered activism within society. The organisation, which has been in existence for two years, is aimed at developing the capacity of athletes both on and off the field.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

S

unday Times Magazine features this week a series of stamps celebrating “cricket, lovely cricket”.

As the country currently hosts a series of cricket matches at the National Stadium, Providence, it

history.

These stamps were submitted by Ann Wood, USbased Guyanese founder of the Guyana Philatelic Society (GPS).

GPS aims to create greater interest and activity in the study of British

t o

w h e r e t h e y c a n connect via exh i b i -

i c

books, n a m e just a f e w .

T h e Society

also off e r s philateladvice from its

2007 Cricket World Cup, West Indies • Scott 3981-83 1968 Visit of the Marylebone Cricket Club to the West Indies • Scott 36-38

1995 Sobers congratulates Brian Lara on setting world record • Scott 2908-11

is an appropriate time to feature these stamps highlighting memorable timelines and personalities of Guyana’s cricket

Guiana and Guyana stamps and postal history.

It is a source of information for British Guiana and Guyana collectors,

1988 Orchids from Reichenbachia by Sanders stamps overprinted “Cricket / Jubilee” in a booklet • Scott 1939

tions and group meetings, and by using the Society’s social media internet sites being developed.

With these tools, GPS facilitates a collectors exchange or the buying and selling of stamps by its members. This includes all philatelic materials, envelopes, collections,

experts and conduct appraisals of single stamps or collections of stamps from Guyana.

The purpose of GPS is to provide up-to-date information on Guyana stamps; assist collectors to build bigger and better collections by providing greater opportunities to obtain philatelic material;

and educate the youths of Guyana on stamp collecting.

Ann related that the Society was started in 2012 as a non-profit organization based in California, U.S.A. “I started out by holding a small stamp show with displays of British Guiana stamps at the Sleepin’ Hotel in Brickdam. I was pleasantly surprised at

2000 100th Test Match at Lord’s Ground • Scott 3487-89

the attendance and interest in stamp collecting. It seemed like everyone that came was a collector during a period of their life or knew someone that was a stamp collector. Needless to say during that show, I felt compelled to start a stamp club to renew the interest and provide support for collectors in Guyana, thus GPS started. In 2013, I contacted the former Postmaster General, Mr. Henry Dundas, about exhibiting at GPO in Georgetown, since the Philatelic Bureau is located there. He gladly welcomed us and we have been exhibiting at GPO regularly since then,” Ann recalled.

For more information on the Society, visit https://guyanastamps.com

2011 Tenth World Cricket Cup Championships, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh • Scott 4070

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Feature

F

ormer Secretary-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and veteran educator, Carmen Jarvis, C.C.H, A.A, who died last week, was a distinguished Guyanese who lived a life of excellence and service to her country.

In her years of teaching, Jarvis was employed at Queen’s College before being appointed as Headmistress of Bishop’s High School, where she served for 27 years.

In 1979, she was offered the post of Secretary-General of the Guyana National Commission of UNESCO, which she accepted. During her tenure there, she attended and participated in every General Conference between 1980 and 2003 and has made meaningful interventions in ev-

T

he eight delegates who are vying for the crown in the 2017 Bartica Regatta Pageant visited First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, at her office at State House where they discussed, among other things, their plans to use the pageant to bring awareness on environmental issues.

This year, in keeping with President David Granger’s push to make Bartica a ‘green’ model town, the delegates have been tasked by the Bartica Regatta Committee with promoting projects aimed at helping to transform the town into an environmentally friendly place.

The delegates, during the meeting, told the First Lady

ery Commission, even in cases where she was the sole delegate from Guyana. She was one of the longest serving and most respected individuals to hold the post of Secretary-General and was awarded the Aristotle Medal by UNESCO. Jarvis was also responsible for Guyana being elected on the Executive Board of UNESCO twice, from 1983 to 1987 and from 1993 to 1997.

She played an integral role in Guyana once being elected to the Man and the Biosphere International Council and several times to the Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

In 1983, she was appointed the first woman Chairman of the National Library Committee. She also served the Council of

about their projects and also discussed their platforms, which range from suicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Mrs Granger used the opportunity to speak to the young girls on the importance of self-confidence, education and using their platform to be role models to young girls in their community.

Gabriela Chapman, one of the delegates, in an invited comment, said that all of the delegates are thankful for the advice provided by the First Lady and noted that they are leaving the meeting feeling even more empowered in their journey.

Carmen Jarvis

the University of Guyana for some 14 years.

In 1981, she was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement for long and outstanding service in Education and Social Work. In 1998, Jarvis was awarded a second national award, this time, the Cacique’s Crown of Honour for her outstanding service in education and social work.

In October 2016, an autobiography entitled “From Seedtime to Harvest” was launched at the Georgetown Club for the 91-year-old.

The book’s title was adopted from the lyrics of Bishop’s High School’s song.

Today, her home-going service was held at First Congregational Church, Atlanta, US. Her remains will be cremated and returned to Guyana.

Beauties with a ‘green’ agenda

Delegates of the 2017 Bartica Regatta Pageant with First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger (centre)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

F

or centuries, toe rings have been worn by women and girls in India. In many Indian cultures, toe rings are part of the wedding ceremony and are a symbol of marriage.

Toe rings are called 'Bichiya' in Hindi, 'Mettelu' in Telugu, 'Metti' in Tamil, 'Kalungura' in Kannada, 'Jodavi' in Marathi.

The tradition of wearing toe rings carries tremendous social significance for married women in India.

Toe rings have been a part of the Indian culture since the Ramayana times. There has been a mention of Sita (spouse of the god Rama), when abducted by Ravana (a demon king), threw her toe ring in the way so that lord Rama could find her.

From the Ramayana times until now, toe rings have not only been a part of married women’s jewellery boxes, but are worn by men for healing purposes or to “augment masculine vigour”.

According to scientific studies, wearing toe rings have some health benefits. Reflexologists treatgynaecological problems by massaging the second toe.

(Reflexology is the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and areas on the feet,

hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe that these reflex points correspond to different body

the husband puts the toe ring on his wife’s second toe of both feet during the wedding ceremo-

folklore of varying date and origin), it is said that “all our life force runs to our toes”. There

The groom places the toe ring on the bride's feet to solemnise the marriage

organs and systems, and that pressing them has a beneficial effect on the person's health.)

In different Indian cultures,

ny.

In Ayurveda or in Puranas(Sanskrit sacred writings on Hindu mythology and

is a belief that the wearing of toe rings pressed on certain nerves, which are connected to the reproductive system, helps

in keeping the system balanced and healthy. Additionally, it is believed that the menstrual cycle course is regularised by wearing the rings on both feet. It is said that a particular nerve from the second toe connects to the uterus and passes to the heart; hence wearing a toe ring on this toe strengthens the uterus. Consequently, this is believed to increase chances of getting pregnant.

A few years ago, archaeologists found two ancient Egyptian skeletons, dating back more than 3,300 years, were each buried with a toe ring made of copper alloy. A gold toe ring was also found on a mummy named Hornedjitef, a priest at Karnak, more than 2,200 years ago. The mummy, which resides at the British Museum, has a “thick gold ring on the big toe of his left foot”, writes anthropologist Joyce Filer in her book “The Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy” (British Museum Press, 2003).Whether the Egyptians wore it for adornment or for some other purpose is still unknown.

In Guyana, women wear toe rings for decorative purposes; but as outlined above, wearing these go way beyond decoration.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

E

xtract of interview with Ian Randle of Ian Randle Publishers who has been awarded the Order of Distinction [Jamaica] and has received the Prince Claus Award [the Netherlands] and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from the University of the West Indies for his contribution to Caribbean publishing.

IR: …As publishers we have to adapt – not to see technology as a threat, and even in our own business we have used technology to our advantage.

PP: Share with us how you have used technology to your advantage.

IR: Technology has helped us to make books faster, cheaper and more accessible.

PP: …better publicity and marketing.

IR: Yes. But what it hasn’t done is to encourage people to read more and that is the challenge we face these days.

Recent reports coming out of the UK and especially the one coming out just before the London Book Fair, which is happening right now, is a very encour-

Ian Randle

aging one; it says, for the second year running the sale of printed text books is starting to rise again.

PP: …that would give you a good feeling.

IR: Oh yes, while the sale of e-readers is declining. One explanation is that, and this is the really encouraging part, parents of children who think their children are spending too much time on the screen are now buying them books and children are once again being introduced to print at an early stage. That is one of the most encouraging things I’ve heard in a very long time.

PP: This is giving me goosebumps! This March 2017 marks 15 years since

I’ve launched out with various efforts/projects (including the first and only show ‘Literature On Television’ on local airwaves) to encourage reading, put the joy back into reading, and more importantly to read our own literature.

And you said earlier that the best persons to write about the Caribbean are the people of the Caribbean, which brings to mind something that Eric Williams said eons ago; he said that we are the best persons to write our history.

IR: If we don’t write about ourselves, then we would have other people interpreting, defining…

PP: …defining, limiting.

IR: …defining and limiting who we are. And one of the themes I am going to strike in my talk later is that I think that there had been, since colonial times, a deliberate conspiracy to consign us as colonials or ex-colonials to the permanent position of hewers of wood and drawers of water; that we are not seen as capable of having an intellect, an intellectual tradition, capable of having

Randle (left) and Ivelaw Griffith, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, sign the agreement to establish the University of Guyana Press

creative and intellectual thought.

PP: How far have we come!

IR: And I am talking here now of how the developed world sees us and their attempts in very practical terms to control who has knowledge, who creates knowledge, who publishes knowledge and shares knowledge. That is one area no matter what advances we have made in other fields – we could have been more successful as scientists, researchers, even sending people up into space – the one area the ex-colonial powers have kept to themselves is to ensure they control the production of knowledge.

And we know in the 21st century that knowledge is power and that is why I hold the publishing of our people’s writings and the creation of books as absolutely vital. And that’s the message I’m bringing late in life.

PP: Not too late; it’s never too late.Book publishing is not smooth sailing on the Caribbean seas; there have been highs and lows. Where do you want to start?

IR: The lows, I’d say.

And the lows include the disappointment of not having or unable to increase the readership in this region. In Jamaica, where I came from, I use to say that the average readership for a new book is whether it is a novel or whatever is 750 (copies), and I’m sure that hasn’t changed much, certainly not upwards.

We have built our business on selling outside the region of the Caribbean.

The kinds of books we are producing – scholarly books, mainly – had we relied on the Caribbean market, we would have gone busted years ago.

Basically this is our mantra: when we say Ian

Randle Publishers, we say from the Caribbean to the world.

So that would be the lows that we don’t have many more people reading.

PP: In Guyana, it is difficult to distribute 300 copies of one title, even though I have had better successes with my books.

IR: This is typical right across the region, except in Cuba – that is a different story, a different environment altogether.

PP: In Cuba, it is books and more books in every nook and cranny, literally every nook and cranny.

Now for the highs?

IR: The highs have to do with the recognition, the recognition that one has made a breakthrough and I think I can say without fear of contradiction that we are now probably the leading publisher of books about the Caribbean, anywhere in the world.

We might not be doing it at the pace that we would like to do it, but when you think about books for and about the Caribbean, your first thought would be Ian Randle Publishers.

PP: Talking about pace – the scholarly works you handle are not things you could rush.

IR: That’s one way in which the technology has helped, certainly in the front end processes.

Editing obviously that cannot be speeded up all that much because all the techniques and skills needed to edit books are the same as there were 500 years ago.

What has changed is the business of formatting, typesetting, design and layout - which can be done very quickly now. Also with print on demand, which is one of the most advantageous things happening in the last 10 to 15 years, is now you can produce large books in small numbers and small quantities and

literally print on demand, and that has changed the whole face of publishing.

Further, what electronic publishing has also done is to get rid of the burden and problem of cross-border trading. So the whole business of shipping - say shipping a book to Australia or to England,which takes time and then problems at customs - we can now eliminate all of those things by simply uploading a file to a printer in England, which will print in real time. In other words, you could upload/download the file overnight and it can be delivered the next day.

In fact, there is something call an espresso book machine.

PP: Whoa, slow down.

IR: I know! There is so much happening.

PP: ...lots of innovations. So the book is alive and kicking.

IR: The book is alive and kicking. The latest statistics show that more books are being produced in smaller numbers for each title, and each title may be selling less but hasn’t slowed down the pace of new titles being produced!

PP: What’s next for Ian Randle Publishers?

IR: The most exciting thing happening is that we are entering a partnership with University of Guyana where we would create an imprint within the structure of Ian Randle Publishers to create a University of Guyana Press.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s Happening: It’s here, “Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry”. Look out for the launch date. Please make contact at the above number or email for additional information.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

By Peter Halder

T

he year 1913 was propitious for British Guiana. Sir Walter Egerton was the British governor. For the first time, the head of the British sovereign appeared on British Guiana

(Suriname) was published.

The population of the colony reached some 300,000 and the population of Georgetown was 58,000. The Amerindian population was 13,000. Sugar, known as ‘Demerara Crystal’, continued to be the major export.

there were two major, mysterious fires in Georgetown.

On March 7, the Brickdam Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the premier Catholic Church in the colony, was burnt to the ground. At the time, the Cathedral was highly regarded for its struc-

Lombard Street, British Guiana

postage stamps.

The first map showing the Corentyne River as the boundary between British Guiana and Dutch Guiana

In 1913, the first airplane flight was launched by George Schmidt.

But the year was also one of mystery. In that year alone,

tural beauty and fine edifice.

There were two versions about the cause of the fire.

One was that a plumber was using a blowtorch near the top

of the great tower of the church when something went wrong and the building went up in flames.

Another version was that a workman, a Frenchman named Bencher Cornelle, innocently left a coal pot burning in the tower while repairing it and the result was an inferno.

The fire was a great shock to the people of Georgetown since the Cathedral was regarded as a national landmark. It was also the main place of worship for Catholics. The Church was packed to capacity on Sundays.

The other fire occurred in December at a time when the people were deeply engaged in preparations for the Christmas season.

On Monday, December 22, just three days before Christmas, at around 8:25 hours, there was a loud and violent explosion in the western section of Georgetown. The “thunderous and deafening noise,” so it was related, was heard not only in the capital but on the East Coast,

Postcard showing R. C. Cathedral Tower on fire on March 7, 1913

ter pressure. By the time

the fire had vented its rage, Bugle Sawmill was no more.

Psaila’s Store, Hope Sawmill, Bugle Building, Bettencourt’s Sawmill and the Demarara Company warehouse with 67,000 bags of sugar were all burnt.

Several days after, when the police and fire brigade inspected what was left of ChinA-Yong’s place of business, they found a secret underground cellar. The authorities believed it was an opium den.

Opium smoking was a serious problem in British Guiana at that time.The year 1913 turned out to be propitious, mysterious and maybe just another instance of misfortune for the unlucky number 13. (https://guyanathenandnow.wordpress.com)

Five cent stamp, British Guiana 1913

The Assembly Buildings on fire in 1945

The Georgetown Public Buildings circa 1924 (Courtesy of British Empire Wimberley 1924)

East Bank and West Bank Demarara.

The explosion took place at Chin-A-Yong’s shop on Lombard Street. There, according to reports, fireworks were being manufactured in a vault. The “little bombs” were a delight for little boys to throw around on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The explosion blew Chin-A-Yong’s business place sky high and was followed by a massive conflagration. It also killed 20 persons and injured many others. The raging fire also almost destroyed all of Lombard Street. A swift breeze from the northeast turned the raging fire into a firestorm. News reports stated that valiant work was done by the fire brigade, the police, the artillery, the militia and volunteers, but their efforts were retarded by low wa-

Lighthouse and Signaling Station (1913)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Travel & Tourism

Boat landing on the Potaro River near Waratuk Falls in Guyana

B

elow Kaieteur Falls lies the lustrous Waratuk Falls, along the Potaro River, where the Kaieteur National Park begins.

Journeying to Waratuk Falls includes travelling upstream to Amatuk Falls, where tourists can take a quick dip in refreshing river water

and enjoy the sound of water gushing down the falls.

The adventure continues as a scenic boat ride takes you further on the river journey to the campsite at Waratuk Falls.

At Waratuk, tourists get to relax in the fresh, flowing waters while enjoying nature at its best.

Scenic landscape in the vicinity of Waratuk

Inside the Potaro gorge below Waratuk Falls Ranger's station at Waratuk (Photo by Nicholas Laughlin)

Waratuk Falls rapids (Photo by Nicholas Laughlin)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Y

ou already know how important it is to wash your hands, but did you know your drying style matters, too? "Wet or damp hands that have just been washed can still carry bacteria and viruses that won't be removed until hands are thoroughly dried," says Mark Wilcox, MD, coauthor of a recent

dry your hands—and fast— but Wilcox's study found that jet-air dryers spread more than four times as many microbes through the air as regular warm-air dryers. "Due to the design, high-velocity air blows bacteria upward—which may hit your face," says Wilcox.

C

Dry With Caution Paper Towels

dry and end up wiping them on their pants—which only moves bacteria to their clothes."

Best Bet Paper Towels While paper towels are

not the most environmentally friendly solution, they spread 27 times fewer microbes than a jet-air dryer. Until the design flaws in electric dryers are remedied, paper towels are the cleanest option.

hicken nuggets may be a hit with kids and some adults, but for the most part, their nutritional value is minimal, says an investigation by Consumer Reports Health in the US. What’s more, many brands make claims that are misleading, using terms like “whole grain,” “all natural,” or “organic” - which makes some people think of the little chicke n bites as

cause to avoid nuggets, but there probably are better food choices. If you are going to eat them, we are trying to tell you which ones have the best taste in terms of nutrition.”

Kids who gobbled nuggets from fast-food restaurants said their food tasted very good, but the items, tested at Consumer Reports’ headquarters, rated fair for nutrition.

The publication urges consumers to read

healthy dinner choices, Consumer Reports Health says.

But whether storebought or purchased from fast-food establishments, chicken nuggets pack a wallop of fat and sodium.

Williams tells WebMD that Consumer Reports Health isn’t recommending that parents stop eating nuggets or feeding them to their kids because that wouldn’t be realistic.

“The reality is, many parents and kids eat nuggets,” she says. “I wouldn’t say what we found is a

health claims on packaging, saying nuggets aren’t the best option for most people.

“Busy parents who are trying to get dinner on the table really do have their work cut out for them,” Williams says. “You want to feed the kids something they’ll like — and kids do like chicken nuggets — but you don’t want to overwhelm them with fat and sodium. The best you can do is keep an eye on those labels and try to round out the meal with some fruits and vegetables.”

Warm-Air Dryers

study in the Journal of Hospital Infection that tested three popular drying methods. Which was the germiest?

Germ Central Jet-Air Dryers They're guaranteed to

Warm-Air Dryers Because these machines blow air with less intensity than jet dryers, fewer airborne germs will circulate.

But there's often a bigger problem, says Wilcox: "A lot of people get impatient waiting for their hands to

Jet-Air Dryers

Healthy Relationships

M

aking time ― even just a few minutes ― to connect with your partner before the chaos of the day sets in can make a big difference in your relationship. Here’s what the happiest couples do daily, according to Huffpost readers and marriage experts.

1. They make eye contact.

“We brush our teeth together.

For those few minutes we look into each other’s eyes. We touch each other, a hand on the waist, hand on the cheek, head on the chest.” ― reader Brandi W. 2. They cuddle.

“My husband leaves for work before I can even imagine getting up and being a fully functional human being. So every morning after he’s gotten ready, he climbs back in bed and pulls me in close.

And that five minutes, being close to one another, breath by breath, it’s the best way to start our day.” ― Meg Conley, marriage blogger 3. They try to get up around the same time when they can.

“Too many couples have two completely different morning routines and often barely see or speak to each other in the morning. I know of many partners who don’t even get up before their significant other is out of the house for the day ― and it’s not because he leaves at 4 a.m. or because she

worked a swing shift. They just sleep late. As a couple, they don’t make it important to connect at the beginning of the day.” ― Dr. Kurt Smith, therapist who spe-

on the love seat. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, we have our coffee and talk about plans for the day and watch the birds.” ― reader Steve T.

wake up so he always says goodbye with a kiss on my head. It’s not about me needing the affection but more so knowing he is thinking of me before he heads to

cializes in counseling for men 4. They enjoy a cup of coffee or tea together. “My wife and I have breakfast together sitting on the front porch, side by side

5. They kiss goodbye.

“It so important to us that we always show affection before one of us leaves. Usually he leaves for work an hour before I

work.” ― reader Rebecca C. 6. They put down their devices.

“Even if we only have five to 10 minutes before one or the oth-

er of us has to rush out the door or get on the phone, we sit down to have tea. No phones or iPads allowed. No claiming we don’t have time. Maybe we talk about something coming up in our day or something in the news. Maybe we just sit quietly. With life being as crazy busy as it is, it’s a way to slow down and connect before we launch into the day.” ― Winifred M. Reilly, marriage and family therapist 7. They divvy up the morning chores.

“Getting the kids up, ready and off to school every morning can be a real chore. Nothing says that this has to be the mom’s job, but frequently it is ― or at least the majority of it. Couples who are happier share these kinds of family and parental responsibilities. Working as a team in the morning builds connection and relationship happiness that carries through the day.” ― Dr. Kurt Smith 8. They smile, no matter how tired they are.

“Mornings can be hectic for most people but it’s important to be able to at least smile at your partner. Even when trying to get ready and out the door, many happy couples find it natural to give a quick smile when interacting with their partner.” ― Dr. Marie Land, psychologist

10 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Fashion

Ghodess Wear

Designer Godlyn Lyte

G

odlyn Lyte, also known as Ghodess, is a 20-yearold Guyanese-born clothing designer, visual artist and jewellery designer.

Growing up in a creative home with an artistic mother sparked her passion for all things artsy.

However, Godlyn never thought about pursuing a career with her talents, until she migrated to the US. It was when Godlyn moved from Florida to New Yorkand received a surprising amount of support from her high school peers and teachers that she realised she had a chance of making it in the fashion world.

After becoming overwhelmed with the city life, Godlyn returned to Guyana to rebuild her foundation and pursue her fashion career. Seeing “Guyana's beauty” again allowed her to create at her current best.

The image of the black dress featured today was hand-painted by Godlyn; the beading on the red dress was hand-sewn; and the belt, as well as the darker red thread, was crocheted – showcasing the designer’s creative aptitude.

With an abundance of inspiration and determination, Godlyn pushes to make her mark among Guyana's best.

Follow the designer on Instagram @ghodesswear or visit Ghodess Wear on Facebook for more information.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

N

icole Scherzinger is an American singer, dancer, actress and television personality.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she performed in various singing competitions and musicals before joining American rock band Days of the New as a backing vocalist. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the burlesque troupe turned-recording act, the Pussycat Dolls, becoming one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. During their hiatus, Scherzinger planned to embark on her solo career with Her Name is Nicole, but it was later shelved after four singles failed to impact the charts significantly. Following the disbandment of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger became a judge for two seasons of “The Sing-Off” and in 2010 won the tenth season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

Throughout a career spanning over 13 years, she has had three UK number one singles, sold over 16 million albums and over 37 million singles worldwide.Having sold 16 million records as a solo artist, and a further 54 million with Pussycat Dolls,Scherzinger is one of the highest-selling female singers of all time. She is also an Ambassador for UNICEF and a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and is involved in charitable activities.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Hollywood

D

rake is arguably the biggest name in music right now, but that hasn't stopped him finding time to land a major TV role.

The rapper will reportedly star in British drama “Topboy” after buying the rights to the show.

Based around the lives of East London street gangs, it debuted in 2011 but was dropped by Channel 4 after two series. Now Topboy's number one fan has saved the day and series three will air on Netflix next year.

Ashley Walters who plays Dushane says: “We met up

to start talking about the show and we are working out a role for him. He loves acting, of course he wanted a part. He’s going to be really hands on and is getting stuck into it.”

Drake has previously starred as Jimmy Brooks on “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, made several small film appearances and put on an unforgettable performance in the music video for "Hotline Bling".

(Glamour)

T

he 23-year-old, who's kept a low profile since One Direction announced their hiatus, spoke about his love life on Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 show and revealed he hasn't "dated in a long time".

The singer said he hasn't been concentrating on finding love because he's been too busy with projects, namely filming his first movie, “Dunkirk”. He said: "I haven’t dated in a long

time really because I went away to do the movie then did the album so I haven’t in a while. I have a couple of candles left still though."

He's previously been linked to Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift and Caroline Flack but time out from the dating scene obviously made him reflect on his Lothario days. He confessed his previous approach to dating was "wrong" and "weird".

(Glamour)

Taylor Swift’s Beverly Hills mansion is officially a historic city landmark

T

aylor Swift is officially historic. Well, at least her Beverly Hills mansion is.

Last week, the five-member Beverly Hills City Council approved Swift’s request to designate her home in Los Angeles as a historic city landmark. It was a swift and unanimous vote.

Swift bought the 11,000-square-foot, four-bedroom estate from the heirs of Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn — cofounder of Goldwyn Pictures, which later became MGM — in 2015 for $25 million, according to property records. The house, originally built in 1934, sits just behind the Beverly Hills Hotel.

“I think this is a true community gem and really so thrilled that this will be landmarked and preserved,” Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse said while thanking Swift and her team for restoring the home, according to Mansion Global.

Historic features of the home include a tennis court, pool, a curved patio sitting area and stepped terraces, which have all gone virtually untouched since the 1930s.

According to Curbed LA, the mansion allegedly hosted a plethora of Hollywood elite including Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Frank Capra.

Beyond the outdoor amenities, the home also includes a library, card room, a home theater with 35mm projection, and staff lodging.

“Really when this project’s done, hopefully this year sometime soon, it’s going to be really spectacular,” Monique Schenk, an architect working on the project, said at the city council meeting. “We’ve preserved and maintained a lot of the elements and those that were deteriorating, we’ve replicated.”

But Swift’s property rehabs don’t stop in Beverly Hills. Swift, who also owns

K

aty Perry is gorgeous, obviously, but even she can get insecure at times. After posting a series of unflattering (but very funny) photos on her Instagram, she decided she needed a confidence boost, so Google "Katy Perry hot" to find a decent picture, and that she did.

The photo was from a 2011 shoot for Rolling Stone.

“Was feeling insecure about my last two posts so...” she wrote.

On April Fool’s Day she posted a picture of herself from the Nineties, announcing that it was to be her fourth album cover. (Glamour)

property in Westerly, Rhode Island, New York City, and Nashville, is also in the midst of renovating the Tribeca penthouse she purchased from director Peter Jackson in 2014. However, that renovation didn’t start out as smoothly as her Beverly Hills transition.

In 2015, beloved actor Sir Ian McKellen revealed he had been living in the Tribeca loft before Swift kicked him out. Joking with the Daily Star, McKellen said: “Taylor Swift, when I was living in Peter Jackson’s apartment in New York, bought it while I was there and I was thrown out of the apartment a month before I wanted to leave.” (People)

Mariah Carey films video for new music with Busta Rhymes

A

fter the global success of single "I Know What You Want" back in 2002, Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes re-team up for a new song. Although the track hasn't been released, the pair are reportedly filming a music video for the track.

In some photos obtained by ThatGrapeJuice.net, Mariah is wearing a red form-fitting leather dress while Busta goes all black in black T-shirt, jeans and hoodie as they film a scene on the set. It looks like they

really want to recreate their previous success by taking "I Know What You Want" music video director, Chris Robinson, along the ride.

In early March, there was a snippet of the song shared by producer DJ Suss One. In the short Snapchat clip, the new music can be heard in the background as Busta lipsyncs some lines. The upbeat music does sound catchy and promising. "New Busta & Mariah Coming Soon!!" so read the caption.

Busta is currently busy

making onstage performances with A Tribe Called Quest to promote the group's latest album "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service". The 44-year-old actor/musician was featured on some tracks, one of them is "Dis Generation". The captivating black-and white video for the track was released on March 30.

Meanwhile, in February, Mariah joined forces with YG and Remy Ma on a remix of her song, "I Don't".

(AceShowbiz)

Brad Pitt's mom is begging Jennifer Aniston to help her son

B

rad Pitt's mother Jane Pitt is reportedly begging Jennifer Aniston to help his son. Rumor has it, Jane recently called Jennifer and asked her to keep in touch with Brad amid his ongoing divorce and custody battle against Angelina Jolie.

"Jane knows Jen's remarried [to actor Justin Theroux], but she believes she and Brad were meant to be together," an insider tells Radar Online, "She would love them to get back together-she loves Jen like a daughter and always will."

Jane, however, is well aware that there's almost no chance Brad and Jennifer will ever reunite at this

point.

The insider explains, "Jane's devastated at the state her son's in, he is just not doing well right now, and she's begged Jen to please take him under her wing and help him get back on his feet. Despite the terrible way Brad treated her, Jane and Jen have never lost contact."

According to the insider, Jennifer "has been in touch with Brad." The insider adds, "While she'll never go back to him, there's definitely been a lift on the no-contact rule from her inner circle." (AceShowbiz)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

A

yushmann Khurrana is an Indian film actor and singer, who started his career as a television anchor. In 2012, Khurrana made his film debut in the romantic comedy,“Vicky Donor”.

Khurrana went on to receive many accolades for his performance, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He won all the debut awards for “Vicky Donor” – his most successful film. The actor will soon be seen in Akshay Roy's romance drama “Meri Pyaari Bindu” opposite Parineeti Chopra.Khurrana holds a master's degree in Mass Communication from School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, in Chandigarh.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Bollywood

Akshay Kumar wins National Award for

T

his year belongs to actor Akshay Kumar.

While his movies are setting the cash register ringing at the box office, the actor himself has won the National award for Best actor for “Rustom”, a film loosely based on Nanavati case.

The 64th National Film Awards for the films released in 2016 were declared on Friday. “Of course, 2016 has been fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for more... I guess there was more (referring to the award)... I don’t think anything can top this National Award win,” he says.

While other winners are busy planning parties, the busiest actor is busy shooting his next. He said: “It is great news. National Film awards are the most presti-

gious awards in the country.

It is a moment of pride for sure. The first reaction, honestly, was if this was a late April Fool’s joke (laughs)!

Actually, I am still trying to process this win, it is a mix of many emotions - surprise, happiness and, most prominently, gratitude to the jury, makers of the film, my parents and of course the beloved fans.”

However, he likes to wear his success lightly. All he would say about his stardom is that likes to “be honest with his work and would give it his best to people who trust him” with their money and love. “Neither have I ever made a call to anyone to win an award nor have given money or done favours for it,” says the actor in his signature candour.

Emraan Hashmi: ‘Alia Bhatt has tremendously grown as an actor’

In the past, he has shared that he often gets offers from organisers of award shows telling him that “if you perform at the show, they can give half the money and an award as well”.

But the actor, says, “I tell them that they can give me complete payment and keep their awards with them. The love and support that I get from my fans is more important.”

The actor, who is married to author Twinkle Khanna, daughter of veteran actors Dimple Kapadia and (late) Rajesh Khanna, often jokes that his wife tells him that her parents are National award winners, but he doesn’t get awards. Well, looks like Twinkle will have to think of a new one liner.

(Hindustan Times)

I

n Bollywood, the Bhatts have always been a name to reckon with.

The family is filled with actors, directors and producers. The latest addition to the name of producers is Emraan Hashmi.

The actor, who made his debut in Vikram Bhatt’s directorial “Footpath” in 2003, is gearing up to turn pro-

ducer with his own banner named after him.

“As an actor, your contribution to a film is limited.

But as a producer, I will get to nurture a project from the seed of the idea to its final outcome. I am taking baby steps now but I am sure that eventually, I will discover a lot. So far, it’s all been good so no complaints. Also, as a producer, I know that no matter what the outcome, I have been in absolute control and responsible for the product,” the “Azhar” actor says.

There has also been talk of his debut production film, “Captain Nawab” getting delayed but Emraan refutes all such talk. “I never announced the date of the film going on floors so where does talk of it getting delayed arise at all? I want to be sure of the content I put out and don’t mind the film getting delayed by even a year, if the scripts demands that,” he says.

Speaking on Alia Bhatt,

he said: “Oh, she is amazing. She has tremendously grown as an actor and deserves all the praise coming her way. She is truly very talented. However, I haven’t been able to see her films except for Student of the year, which I gave her my feedback for. But I will soon catch up on her work.”

(Hindustan Times)

Aamir Khan refuses to release ‘Dangal’ in Pakistan without national anthem

L

ast year, theatre owners and exhibitors in Pakistan temporarily stopped screening Indian films after Pakistani artistes and technicians were banned by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) from in India.

The controversial move was taken in the wake of political tension between India and Pakistan, post the Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) attacks in September.

However, earlier this year, Pakistan lifted the ban on Indian films and began

screening them in the country. And a few days ago, local distributors from the neighbouring nation apparently requested for “Dangal” (2016) to be released there.

Aamir Khan and the film’s team were “absolutely okay” with that, especially since

Pakistani audiences have always loved Hindi films and Indian actors.

However, Hindustan Times has learnt that the release of the film couldn’t go through when a “surprising” demand came in from the other side of the border. A source says, “When the film went to the Pakistan censor board, they were fine with it except for two particular scenes towards the end — one in which the Indian flag is shown and another in which the Indian national anthem is played after Geeta Phogat (played by Fatima Sana Shaikh) wins the gold medal. The

Pakistan censors wanted the scenes to be edited out before they gave Dangal the green signal,” says an insider.

But Aamir — who is also the producer of the film — felt that the “demand for the two cuts was surprising, because the film isn’t jingoistic in nature”. The source says, “It’s a sportsbased biopic with no direct or indirect

(Hindustan Times)

M

egastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was supposed to launch a book by film archivist P.K. Nair here on Thursday, couldn’t turn up as he is suffering from high fever.

However at the book launch by the Film Heritage Foundation, the country’s only non-government film archive, the other invited celebrities such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shyam Benegal and Vidhu Vinod Chopra were present and did the honours.

Big B, who had to cancel his appearance at the last moment, sent a letter of apology to the organisers which the foundation’s founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur shared with the media.

reference to Pakistan. The film only highlights India’s nationalistic sentiment, so what is the reason to chop off those scenes?”

Aamir then decided that the film would not be released in Pakistan. “Dangal” is the Hindi movie industry’s biggest blockbuster at the Indian box office. “It will result in an economic loss, as Pakistan is an important international territory vis-à-vis money, but he isn’t willing to edit the scenes in question.

He is aware that not releasing the film could lead to piracy, but he is sure about what he won’t do,” adds the source.

Aamir’s spokesperson confirmed the news without divulging further details.

The letter read: “I have suddenly and quite unexpectedly developed a high fever. I regret profusely that I shall be unable to attend your event this evening. A shame really because I was looking forward to it. As a country we have shied away from the lux-

ury of documentation... leave alone its restoration and preservation - for films at least!

“What you and your foundation have initiated is indeed a most selfless, but very important and necessary element, so assiduously worked upon by Mr Nair. I send my best wishes on the launch of your book on him and do stand by my commitment to be of service to this noble cause.

Your idea of constructing an Institute, the design for which I have greatly appreciated, is most laudable and one that I hope shall receive patronage not just from the film fraternity but indeed from the City of Mumbai - the Film Capital of the Nation.” (IANS)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Feature

Trending NOW

Star of the week

Pair jeans with a turtle neck for a vintage look

Keep it simple with a t-shirt and tailored jacket, however you can add some statement accessories

I

The fringed version is a more casual approach to this trend

f you’ve been wanting a new way to wear denim, look no further than a silhouette that has been trending everywhere: extreme flared jeans.

This new style is nothing like those ’70s bell-bottoms you’ve probably tried before.

Instead, the jeans are fitted to the knee but then they fountain out below. Much like the bell-sleeve top that swept the fashion scene

Stick to a monochrome look to keep the focus on cool, structural pieces

recently, this new denim style adds a little bit of drama to any outfit.

Stick to a simple T-shirt and tailored jacket to keep the focus on the über-flares.

Or, pair a structural top with the jeans to make a big statement.

What’s great with this new style is that they’re dramatic, fashion-forward, and most importantly, they’re just fun.

Iman Jaisingh is a 21-year-old advocate who is passionate about spreading awareness on mental health issues. Iman currently resides in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., where she is completing her third year at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania pursuing studies in psychology. Iman competed in the Miss Universe Guyana 2016 pageant, and although she did not win, Iman was able to use the platform given to her via the pageant to spread mental health awareness to secondary school children in Guyana. The advocate believes that informing our younger generations about mental health issues will help to decrease suicides in Guyana.

In the future, Iman plans on obtaining her doctorate to become a psychiatrist.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Art

A

ward-winning, overseas-based Guyanese artist Walter Gobin is inspired by “people in everyday walk of life”.

Gobin hails from Grove on the East Bank of Demerara and lived in Mahaica, East Coast of Demerara, for a number of years.

He taught art in Guyana at Bartica, Buxton, Mahaicony, Mahaica, and then in the Bahamas. His career as an art teacher took him to Bahamas, where he lived and painted for two decades before finally settling in Canada. Although now retired from teaching, Gobin divides his time with photography, drawing, painting sceneries and portraits.

He also actively participates in exhibitions in Canada, Guyana and The Bahamas.

“The spark was lit for art at Central High School in Sixth Form by Mr. John

"Jaguar in Repose"

Criswick, who also nurtured some well-known Guyanese artists such as Angold Thompson. Art was my main area of study at Teachers’ Training College. I then continued with practicing art on my own and reading every art book I could find,” he recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

After refining his artistic talent, Gobin took part in several national exhibitions, and self-produced a series of colouring books on Guyana, which are also printed and sold locally.

Some of the artist’s exhibitions include a one-man show in Freeport, Bahamas (2011); he has participated in annual group shows in Freeport for the past 15 years. Also, the Bahamas National Exhibition; in Canada at Guyana Day sponsored by Guyana Consulate, Brampton's Beaux Arts;

"The Fishermen (Bahamas)"

Newcomers Award in Guyana while in college, and at several national exhibitions in Guyana, even while in high school.

Notably, Gobin has won several awards, including gold medals for entries in the National Drawing Competition 2008 and 2015.

Now he hopes that his retirement will give him the chance to pursue several art projects. He would like to “reboot” his colouring books; paint and draw using a variety of media (oil paints, oil pastels, chalk pastels, pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, scratchboard); invest more in his photography; work on doing an exhibition at Castellani House (Guyana); cartooning; continue with volleyball, table tennis and tai chi; and continue to build/add on his resource materials.

“I love to paint people with fascinating range of colours

on their faces and people in everyday walk of life. Also, I like to capture the beauty of various sceneries (where I can add or delete), places and nature. I get my inspiration from everything: people in their daily goings-on, sceneries, nature, shapes, colours, light, reflections, shadows – they all give me a perspective on my art,” the artist expressed.

Gobin believes that talent plays a major role in being an artist, but that the artist still needs to work diligently and practice constantly in order to hone his/her talent.

His advice to young artists is to “work to improve your skills, attend art classes and practice regularly.

Experiment with various materials and ideas. Build your resource materials from early on. Enter competitions and not be afraid of ‘hard knocks’. Visit exhibitions.

Perseverance and hard work can payoff in this tough art market”.

For more info on the artist, visit http://waltergobin. weebly.com (Cover photo: "Washing in the Creek")

Artist Walter Gobin

"School Days". Pastels

"Parika by the River"

Books compiled and illustrated by the artist

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Handy iPhone tips to use on a regular basis

Selecting multiple photos In the stock Photos app, it’s possible to select multiple photos at the same time by dragging your finger across each thumbnail. This feature, which appeared in some early versions of iOS, was recently brought back in later versions of the software.

3D Touch to quickly switch between apps

Tech BYTE

C

3D Touch-enabled iPhones can quickly switch between the two most recent apps by performing a 3D Touch gesture on the left side of the screen and swiping to the right.

Request Desktop Site A long press on the refresh button in Safari’s address bar will reveal a Request Desktop Site option. If the web page features separate mobile and

desktop versions, this will try to force the browser to request the desktop version.

App Store refresh By tapping on any of the tabs at the bottom of the App Store app 10 times, you can force the app to refresh.

You can use this trick to force a refresh when the App Store fails to display the latest app updates.

Print to PDF from non-3D Touch device

Heavyweight Freight Bots Could Replace the Forklift

alifornia-based Fetch Robotics has unveiled two burly new warehouse robots that can carry up to around 3,300 pounds of cargo while operating autonomously for up to nine hours on a single charge.

Warehouse robots are nothing new — Amazon is really into them, for instance — but the burly Freight 500 and Freight 1500 machines represent a significant step for this emerging technology. With the advent of these heavyweight machines, the job of forklift operator may be next one on the robotic chopping block.

But then there are the safety concerns.

When you've got autonomous bots rolling around the workplace with a ton-anda-half of payload stacked up, people tend to get nervous.

Fetch's new heavyweight contenders were announced this week at the ProMat 2017 trade show in Chicago, billed as the “premier showcase of material handling, supply chain, and logistics solutions in North America.”

The two new robots are essentially bigger cousins of Fetch's existing Freight bot, designed to replace handtrucks or trolleys in warehouse settings. The Freight bot is programmed to follow around human workers like a kind of mechanical porter, using real-time motion tracking and obstacle avoidance to avoid collisions.

While the original Freight bot could

only carry 220-pound loads, the new robots can support as much as 3,300 pounds.

This allows warehouse workers to handle a much wider range of containers, up to and including full-size pallets that otherwise require a forklift and driver.

The Freight 500 is designed for medium-sized loads. It can fit through standard-width doorways and hallways, for instance. The Freight 1500 is for serious warehouse settings where pallets get moved around regularly. All Freight bot are shorties, just 14 inches off the ground, assembled with the requisite hardware for heavy duty lifting. But with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), it's really the software that counts.

Freight bots use laser-based LIDAR sensors and 3D cameras to constantly assess their environment. This is where the safety element comes in. Integrated mapping software combines the long-range laser system with the short-range 3D cameras to provide imaging in all directions.

The Freight bots not only navigate around stationary objects, they can assess the trajectory of moving objects — people or other robots — and use machine learning algorithms to determine the safest course of action.

Depending on the task, the new toughguy Freight bots can be programmed to run preset routes, follow a human worker through a given facility, or navigate their own route to a destination. Additional front and back standard video cameras can be outfitted with supplementary safety or security applications. When they're not carrying loads, Fetch bots can patrol your facility as mechanized security sentries.

Fetch Robotics is just one of several AMR companies aiming to fundamentally change the way warehouse logistics will operate in the 21st century. While exact pricing isn't yet available, the new Freight models will likely be in the five-figures range. Considering that they don't need lunch breaks, or health care coverage, they're likely to be an increasingly popular option for management. (Discovery News)

By performing a simple two-finger pinch on the print preview, you can view the PDF-formatted version of the content you’re viewing, and share the PDF using the share sheet.

Wake to Apple Music If you’re subscribed to Apple Music, you can set an alarm in the stock Clock app to wake you to any song on the service. When editing an alarm in the Clock app, tap the Sound panel and choose Pick a song to choose music from your Apple Music library. Keep in mind that you must have the desired song saved to your library before you can set it as an

Tech news

F

alarm.

Rearrange the share sheet A long press and drag on any of the icons in the share sheet will allow you to arrange the items to your liking. You can also long press eligible items and tap the Hide pop-up that appears to make them disappear.

Renaming folders There are several ways to rename folders on the iPhone’s Home screen. The quickest way is to use a 3D Touch gesture on the folder and select Rename.

Markup screenshots and photos In the Photos app, se-

lect a photo and tap the Edit button to enter editing mode. From there, tap the ellipses button to reveal the Photo Editor options and select Markup. Markup allows you to annotate photos and screenshots with text, shapes, and more.

Filter email in the Mail app Quickly filtering Mail via the filter button in the Mail app is one of the best new additions found in iOS 10. By wielding the filter button, you can quickly drill down to specific mail rules that allow you to take a more focused glance at your email inbox. (https://9to5mac.com)

Singapore scientists teleport lemonade over the internet

ancy a world where you can drink something cool and instantly share it with all your friends? That could happen sooner than you think.

Researchers just need to iron out the kinks.

Scientists at the Keio-NUS CUTE centre -- which stands for Japan's Keio University and the National University of Singapore Connective Ubiquitous Technology for Embodiments -- have figured out how to detect the taste and colour of lemonade and send it over to a specially made tumbler filled with plain water.

The tumbler uses an LED light to mimic the colour of the lemonade, while metal strips embedded at the top of the cup transmit the taste to your tongue while you drink the now sour-tasting water.

It's not at the water-into-wine level just yet, in case you're wondering.

"We chose lemonade because sourness is one of the sensations we can simulate using an electric current," said Nimensha Ranasinghe, one of the four members of the project and a research fellow at NUS. He added that the simulations are not just limited to that taste. It's also possi-

ble to simulate sweet, salty or bitter flavours.

The project, which the researchers began more heavily promoting in late March, isn't just about replicating the taste.

It's also an experiment to see if it's possible to "create new experiences like communicating with beverages or transferring of experiences remotely," said Ranasinghe.

Using electrical currents to stimulate flavours isn't really new. Scientists such as Ranasinghe have been working on digital tastes for a while now. And he's not alone. There are other teams in Japan and the U.S. also working on tricking your tongue into tasting flavours.

The technology works by using first dipping a sensor stick embedded with a pH level and colour sensor into the actual drink, and then transmitting the data to the aforesaid tumbler. Electrolytes then stimulate your taste buds. You don't really need to actually drink the water to do so. Simply sticking your tongue on the dual metal strips automatically transmit the taste to your tongue. The electrical current, measured in microamps, isn't be enough to shock you or cause you pain.

Ranasinghe said commercialization of the project will take some time because the team is also working on transmitting smells to make the experience even more realistic. There are plans to make a spoon for use in hospitals for patients who need to decrease the amount of salt in their food but still want the taste. (CNET)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

By Jehan Powell

Ingredients

C

omplete your room with stunning window treatments. Modern panels, over-the-top draperies or streamlined shades — find inspiration from these treatments that work best for your space.

¼ cup dark soy sauce ¼ tsp five-spice powder ¼ tsp red pepper flakes ½ tsp black pepper 3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp minced ginger 1 ½ tbsp crushed garlic 2 ½ lbs chicken wings pieces

Method Make the marinade by mixing soy sauce, five-spice powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, brown sugar, ginger and garlic.

Place the wings in a bowl and pour the marinade over and mix to coat well. Marinate in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place wings on a large baking sheet pan making sure that the pieces aren’t touching. Discard excess marinade. Place into preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Remove wings from pan as soon as it comes out of the oven, serve warm. (www.jehancancook.com) Layer a mixture of curtains to create an updated design. Pair vibrant striped sheers with deep pink panels for a bright and contemporary bedroom

E

Greatest Cooking Tips

asy tip for grating cheese: Simply spray the cheese grater with cooking spray before grating! The "grease" makes the cheese glide easily across the grates with less effort. This is key for mozzarella and other softer cheeses.

Ginger can be tricky to peel with all its bumps and irregularities.

Rather than using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, reach for the spoon. Scrape it against the skin and it'll come right off, following every contour and minimizing waste.

To slice avocados, split them in half, remove the pit by whacking it with the heel of your knife and twisting it out, then slice it directly in the skin using the tip of a paring knife or chef's knife. When you then scoop it out with a spoon, you'll have slices ready to go, with less mess than trying to fiddle with slippery peeled avocado a cutting board.

The empty half of an egg shell is the best tool to extract stubborn bits of cracked shells that have ended up in the bowl.

A grommet heading, rings inserted into the top of the curtain fabric, is a contemporary and clean solution for hanging drapes.

Make a bold statement with black and white stripes

Create a contemporary look for a living room with sleek panels hung close to the wall. Hidden hardware gives the window treatments a streamlined look

Y

Home Help

ou know what to do when the grease gets on your shirt, but unfortunately kitchens can have other types of fabrics that can't be tossed in the wash. For un-washable fabrics, like rugs, chair cushions and carpets, mix 1 part salt with 4 parts rubbing alcohol. Use a cloth to rub the solution hard into the stain until it lifts away. After the grease is gone and your solution dries, vacuum up the excess salt and use a damp cloth to wipe away any salt marks left behind.

For tough, caked-on grease stains like those you find hardened to the stove and the inside of the oven or stuck to baking dishes after an overnight in the sink, spray vinegar directly on the stain and let it soak in for about five minutes. The acidic vinegar will help dissolve and soften the tough, crunchy part (mostly a food-grease mixture), making it easier to scrub away with a soft sponge.

One way to disinfect a kitchen sponge is to heat it in the microwave -- but be sure to do it safely, and never microwave a sponge containing metal!

While most germs can only survive about 30 seconds in the microwave, you'll need to nuke your kitchen sponge for two minutes at full power to eliminate E. coli. Before you hit "start," be sure to saturate your sponge with water, since a dry sponge may catch fire. Look out for a burst of steam when you open the microwave door, and let the sponge cool before you remove it -- it will be very hot! You may want to use tongs to pick it up.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

E

JOKES

T

here was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Pretty soon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.

The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here you have to come with us."

The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.

The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.

An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.

Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.

Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks him, "Why didn't you save me?"

God replied, "You dummy! I tried. I sent three boats after you!"

L

ittle Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served.

When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.

“Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.” Said his mother “I don’t have to,” The boy replied.

“Of course, you do,” his mother insisted. “We say a prayer before eating, at our house” “That’s our house,” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!

“A

s team leader of the Police Tactics and Rescue Unit, I directed officers late one night to strategic positions around a building where a dangerous suspect was

hiding.

Believing the culprit to be on the roof, I decided to have an officer shine his flashlight in that direction on my command.

At just the right moment, I whispered to him, "Okay, throw a light on the roof."

The officer hurled his flashlight to the top of the building.”

C

an't eat beef... mad cow Can't eat chicken... bird flu Can't eat eggs... again, bird flu Can't eat pork...fears that it won’t be properly cooked Can't eat fish...heavy metals in the water has poisoned their bodies Can't eat fruits and veggies... insecticides and herbicides Hmm… I believe that leaves chocolate!

A

ll of the farmers in a small town had gathered at the town hall to discuss some important farming issues.

About midway through the meeting, a wife of one of the farmers stood up and spoke her piece.

One of the farmers, attempting to show the woman to be ignorant on the subject of farming, stands up and says, "What does she know about anything? I would like to ask her if she knows how many toes a pig has. Well, lady?"

Quick as a flash, the woman replies, "Take off your boots sir, and count them yourself!"

“W

hen a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it."

A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom." "Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store."

A

businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money.

By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church.The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention..."

very parent wants to raise smart kids and ensure that they meet their fullest potential. These steps will show you how to assist in your child's brain development and increase his intelligence.

Show your child love and attention. From the moment they come into the world, they should feel loved. This can consist of holding an infant, playing with a toddler or giving a hug to your preschooler.

All ages benefit from these kinds of interactions, and they are important for developing intelligence.

Communicate with your child from day one.

Children who have had someone consistently talking to them develop higher IQs and stronger language skills. This can be as simple as

talking to your child about what you are doing at that moment or even just what you see. It doesn't matter if they don't understand you. Their brains are

receiving messages.

Limit screen time. When a child watches too much television the

amount of time they spend on other activities, such as reading or creating art, decreases. Monitor how much television your child is watching and set age appropriate rules for watching.

Read to your child often and place books where your child can access them. Select a regular time each day to read to them and make it a priority.

Teach healthy habits. Get your children involved with ageappropriate physical activities and feed them a balanced diet.

Making their bodies strong and giving them nutritious food will give them the necessary energy they need to absorb information.

Set a good example.

Children learn by watching and will model their behaviour to the people they see most. Let your child see you reading, getting physical activity and eating right and your child will follow your lead.

STORY TIME

By Abigail Buckley

L

ong ago, when the Great Spirit lived among our ancestors, there lived an extended family. This family consisted of seven children, the mother, father and a selfish grandmother whose role was to look after the children during the day, while the parents were toiling in the farm to support the family.

Although the parents were comfortable and happy with the grandmother taking charge of the children, the latter were being ill-treated everyday by their grandmother; she would hide the ripe bananas in a basket, suspended to the roof.

When the parents returned in the evenings, the children complained about it. Day after day, the children reported to their parents that their granny did not want to share the bananas with them.

Every time they would ask for a banana from the basket, she would say that it was not ripe yet and too green to eat.

This went on for some time. The mother was sensible to what the children were saying and every night she would try to figure out what was happening.

But the father did not agree and for only answer, he would tell the children that they were telling lies. Seeing that the children were not successful, the granny would smile maliciously.

One day, as the parents were in the farm, the oldest child decided to check inside the basket to see if the bananas

A

witticism is a clever saying or observation that usually involves a clever turn of phrase or a play on words (pun).

Here are two examples of witticisms. The first is by Mark Twain, 19th century American novelist and humorist: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

What makes this statement witty? Twain takes a simple proverb – “don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today” - and puts a twist on it.

It's simple and pithy, pointing out our natural propensity to

were ripe and ready to eat. Finding they were, she quickly went to tell the others and they decided to talk to their granny to see if she would change her mind. To their surprise, however, the granny shouted very loudly: “No! You can’t have it!”, and the children felt really bad.

The children then started to call upon the Great Spirit by chanting and signing to lead it to their house. Their chants were heard by the Great Spirit and, having reached the house, he felt really sorry for the situation of these children. He decided to teach the mean granny what love is by turning them into stars of the sky. And so he did, as the children were chanting and singing in a circle, the oldest sister having the baby on her lap, they were being moved by the Great Spirit.

When the parents came back home, they heard the children’s chant and saw them rising above the tree. They could not believe it and started to question each other as to what was happening.

The mother shouted at the children: “Come back, come back, come back!

Where are you all heading and who has done this to you? Please tell me and please come back to us, we love you all

procrastinate.

Here's another that is reprinted in the text. It is by Mae West, American actress of the 1930s and 1940s, famous for her risqué remarks: “I was as pure as the driven snow—but I drifted.”

In this example, Mae West is making a clever and amusing play on words. Snow piles up in drifts, but the verb "to drift" also means to go astray, to go down the wrong path. The first part means that she was pure and innocent, and the second part means that she strayed from that path. The play on words makes this witticism memorable.

so much, oh please don’t leave us here.”

But it was too late; the Great Spirit was now in control. So the mother started questioning the granny what she had done to the children. The granny was so tired of crying and calling for the children that she could not really explain. She continued to weep what a greedy granny she had been. The mother then blamed the father for not taking what the children were telling them seriously, and to the granny she said that she would never again see any grandchildren.

Soon, the children were so high that the parents could not see them distinctly anymore. They went higher and higher and turned into shining stars in the sky. And to this day they can still be seen. Our ancestors made a song about this event and it is passed on from generation to generation. (The embroidery of the ‘Seven Stars’ was done by Walterine Barthlomew, Massara Village. Story published on www.pantaniblog.org)

How are witticisms different from aphorisms or adages? The latter are little moral sayings.

They express a truth or an observation, but they generally lack the clever linguistic twists.

For example, "A stitch in time saves nine" and "The early bird catches the worm" are aphorisms, but not witticisms.

Armed with these definitions and analysis, you can now read this list of witticisms and have a good understanding of why they are classified in this way.

"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the

catalogue—"No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." (Eleanor Roosevelt) "Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now with to withdraw that remark."

(Mark Twain) "What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce." (Mark Twain) "Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP." (Joe Namath) "I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it." (W. C. Fields)

20 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Sunday Puzzle

W

hen you curtail a word, you remove the last letter and still have a valid word. You will be given clues for the two words, longer word first. Example: Begin - Heavenly body. Answer: Start - Star.

1. Bend out of shape - Armed conflict 2. Muscle contraction -Pack to capacity 3. Pass over; omit - Glide on snow 4. Wet - Large water barrier 5. Marsh; bog - Moved through water see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Aquatic caecilian

C

aecilians are long-bodied, limbless amphibians that look similar to earthworms because of segmental rings around their body.

Although they are not exactly amphibianlooking, their bones, teeth, fat bodies and other structures show that they are related to salamanders and frogs. Their skin is slimy and smooth in adults and their colour is dark gray. Adults' eyes are often small and useless.

To compensate for their eyes, a sensory organ in the form of a tentacle lies on the upper jaw behind the nostril that carries chemical messages.

Like all amphibians, caecilians breathe primarily through their skin but will occasionally come to the surface to breathe air through their lungs.

Aquatic caecilians grow to reach lengths of 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 centimeters).

Most caecilians are burrowing, terrestrial animals; however, the rubber eels in the

Please see solution on page 23

Amazonia exhibit are aquatic and are found in Columbia and Venezuela, mainly in lowland rivers and streams. Rubber eels burrow in sand and leaf litter.

Most caecilians have two rows of teeth on the upper jaw and one or two on the lower jaw. They are carnivorous and feed on insect larvae, worms and small fish. After a slow approach, they quickly seize their prey. Their teeth are peg-like and used to grip and tear off chunks of their prey. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, caecilians are fed earthworms.

Occasionally, they will be given raw shrimp strips and squid tentacles.

In the wild, aquatic caecilians live between 4 and 5 years, but are known to live longer in human care. The caecilians in Amazonia at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are adults that are over 10 years old.

Caecilians are usually used as bait for fishing and are eaten by fish.

T

he beautiful Uyuni salt flats (or Salar de Uyuni) is the world’s largest salt flat. It is located in the Department of Potosi in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, at 3.650 meters above sea level.

Some 40,000 years ago, the area was part of Lake Minchin, a giant prehistoric lake. When the lake dried, it left behind two modern lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni. The Uyuni Salt Flats is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt of which less

than 25,000 tons is extracted annually.

Amazingly, the flat, white landscape causes optical illusions and reflects colours. There's even a hotel made almost entirely of salt!

Every November, the Uyuni salt flats is also the breeding grounds for three species of South American flamingos – Chilean, James’s and Andean. La Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) located on the salt flat and full of giant cactuses is named this way as the ‘island’ has the shape of a fish. It is the only sign of life for miles.

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

1. Black 2. Red 3. Yellow 4. Green 5. Orange

22 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

Scientists launch campaign to Japanese castle seeks lord and lady for one night restore Pluto to the planet club

A

A

guesthouse company in Japan is offering one couple a chance to experience a night as lord and lady of Hirado Castle, in an attempt to attract tourists to the area, The Mainichi website reports.

Couples applying for the chance to do so have to comprise a man and woman and be at least 20 years old. The winners not only get to stay the night in the castle tower, they will be guarded by city officials dressed as

ninjas and met by 30 volunteers dressed in full armour. They will also be served a dinner made from local ingredients, the website says.

The current Hirado Castle in Nagasaki Prefecture was built in the 1960s. It currently houses a museum of artefacts from the local Matsura clan, who first built a fortress on the site in 1599 and ruled the area for two and a half centuries. (BBC)

Malaysians warned over eating dumped chicken wings

R

oast chicken wings are a popular street food in Malaysia, but residents of the town of Sibu

are likely to be steering c l e a r

4. Damp - Dam 5. Swamp - Swam

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

said the paper's lead author, Kirby Runyon, a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University.

Runyon said he and other planetary scientists are more interested in a planet's physical characteristics, such as its shape and whether it has mountains, oceans and an atmosphere.

"If you're interested in the actual intrinsic properties of a world, then the IAU definition is worthless," he said by phone.

Runyon and colleagues argue that the IAU does not have the authority to set the definition of a planet.

"There’s a teachable moment here for the public in terms of scientific literacy and in terms of how scientists do science," Runyon added. "And that is not by saying, 'Let's agree on one

thing.' That's not science at all."

Runyon's group advocates for a sub-classification system, similar to biology's hierarchal method.

This approach would categorize Earth's moon as a type of planet.

That idea irks California Institute of Technology astronomer Mike Brown, who discovered the Kuiper Belt object that cast Pluto out of the planet club.

"It really takes blinders to not look at the solar system and see the profound differences between the eight planets in their stately circular orbits and then the millions and millions of tiny bodies flitting in and out between the planets and being tossed around by them,� he wrote in an email. (Reuters)

Study shows Brazil has the greatest number of tree species

Brain Teaser Answer 1. Warp - War 2. Cramp - Cram 3. Skip - Ski

team of scientists seeking to restore Pluto to planethood launched a campaign recently to broaden the astronomical classifications which led to its demotion to a "dwarf planet" a decade ago.

Six scientists from institutions across the United States argued that Pluto deserves to be a full planet, along with some 110 other bodies in the solar system, including Earth's moon.

In a paper presented at an international planetary science conference at The Woodlands, Texas, the scientists explained that geological properties, such as shape and surface features, should determine what constitutes a planet.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union, struggling with how to classify a newly discovered icy body beyond Pluto, adopted a definition for a planet based on characteristics that include clearing other objects from its orbital path.

Pluto and its newfound kin in the solar system's distant Kuiper Belt region were reclassified as dwarf planets, along with Ceres, the biggest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The decision left the solar system with eight planets.

But this definition sidelines the research interests of most planetary scientists,

of them for a while, The Borneo Post reports.

Customs officers last week disposed of more than 80 tonnes of frozen chicken wings they had seized, by burying them in an area near the town.

Soon after, however, news of the disposal spread on social media and was quickly followed by videos and images of people digging up the dumped food, and reports that the chicken was being sold cheaply in local markets.

The New Straits Times said the wings were now being dug up again to be sent to a landfill. The trade ministry has warned it will take stern action against those who sold the discarded wings, and local authorities have urged people not to consume the chicken wings they dug up "as we do not know their source and quality", the Malay Mail Online reported.

On social media, many people have voiced their anger over the careless way the food was disposed of, as well as over the waste of food in one of the poorest states in the country. (BBC)

T

here are 60,065 species of trees in the world, according to a comprehensive study of the world's plants.

Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) compiled the tree list by using data gathered from its network of 500 member organisations.

It hopes the list will be used as a tool to identify rare and threatened species in need of immediate action to prevent them becoming extinct.

Details of the study appear in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.

The data revealed that Brazil was the nation with the greatest number of tree species, home to 8,715 varieties.

Apart from the polar regions, which have no trees, the near-Arctic region of North America had the fewest number of species, with less than 1,400.

Another fact to emerge from the data was that more than half of the species (58%) were only found in one country, suggesting that they were vulnerable to potential

threats, such as deforestation from extreme weather events or human activity.

About 300 species have been identified as critically endangered as they had fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild.

BGCI identified a species that was on the edge of extinction as a result of overharvesting. Karomia gigas is found in a remote part of Tanzania. At the end of 2016, a team of scientists found a single population of just six trees.

They recruited local people to guard the trees and to notify them when the trees produced seeds.

The plan is for the seeds to be propagated in Tanzanian botanical gardens, allowing the species to be re-introduced back into the wild at a later date.

BGCI said that it did not expect the number of trees on its Global Tree Search list to remain static as about 2,000 plants were newly subscribed each year. It would be updating the list whenever a new species was named. (BBC)

24

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Take better care of your health and well-being.

(March 21Refuse to let anyone mess April 19) with you or your plans. Use your knowledge and skills for your own gain, not to indulge someone else’s dream.

ARIES

Learn as you go if you TAURUS want to master new skills (April 20- and accomplish your goals.

May 20) Day trips and discussions will give you greater insight into personal and financial growth.

Don’t limit what you can GEMINI do just to spare someone ea(May 21ger to take advantage of you.

June 20) Be honest and do whatever you must to ensure that you get what you want.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Avoid emotional confrontations. Someone will want too much or show indulgent traits that will make you feel uncomfortable. Put distance between you and someone you feel is menacing.

Don’t hesitate if someone asks you to work overtime.

Anything you can do to get ahead will not go to waste.

You’ll make new allies if you pitch in and help.

Be careful when handling other people’s money, possessions or personal paperwork.

A sudden change in the way someone treats you should lead to questions, not anger.

Find out where you stand.

LIBRA Refuse to let peer pressure (Sept. 23- suck you into something. Make Oct. 23) choices that encourage success and advancement. Take a course or apply for an internship. Walk away from emotional manipulation.

Peanuts

Taking a day trip is enSCORPIO (Oct. 24- couraged, along with spendNov. 22) ing time with people who inspire you to forge ahead.

Make a promise to someone you love. Romance will enhance your life.

Problems while traveling SAGITTARIUS or dealing with people from (Nov. 23different backgrounds can be Dec. 21) expected. Make sure you have all your paperwork in order before you depart. Moderation is encouraged.

Calvin and Hobbes

A secret meeting with CAPRICORN someone from your past will (Dec. 22- lead to trouble. Rely on comJan. 19) mon sense and don’t jeopardize what you have worked so hard to build. Be forthright and avoid temptation.

Personal relationships AQUARIUS will need to be reassessed.

(Jan. 20- Consider what everyone is Feb. 19) bringing to the table and work toward greater equality. Partnerships depend on balance, honesty and communication.

Problems will surface if PISCES (Feb. 20- you let someone from your Mar. 20) past meddle in your personal affairs. Stay on top of any situation you face, and handle loved ones with care.