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Times December 14, 2014

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History of Promenade Gardens Bandstand Coconut Oil: Separating the Page 15 truth from the myths

2 Times Sunday Magazine

December 14, 2014

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Focus

Visually impaired saxophonist Roy Stewart speaks about his debut album, ‘Miracle’

H

is abundance in faith and undying perseverance has afforded Roy “Sweet Sax” Stewart, a visually impaired saxophonist, a chance to create a ‘Miracle’ - an inspirational gospel album.

“The way the album started was actually a miracle,” Stewart said, explaining the events that led to the composition of the album in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Stewart, who has macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease that causes vision loss in the centre of his field of vision, began his quest with no capital, immense talent and a substantial amount of faith.

Seeking sponsorship, Stewart approached a friend who recommended he contact Bonny Alves of SSignal Productions. Alves later invited Stewart to a meeting where he would then agree to record Stewart’s album

free of cost.

“I played for him and he immediately said let's record,” Stewart recalled.

According to Stewart, he has been surrounded by miracles all his life.

“My birth was a miracle,” he disclosed, referring to a complication at birth which resulted in his mother’s caesarean section. Playing the saxophone so expertly, life’s journey, and the fact that he is visually impaired, for Stewart these are all miracles in his life.

“God has blessed me remarkably with this gift, through this instrument… [and now] here we have this album, ‘Miracle’,” Stewart said.

‘Miracle’ is a pre-recorded album (meaning the songs belong to others), with 10 inspirational and gospel songs.

“It is not an original album, but an adopted one.

There are songs like In Heavens Eyes, Just for me, Strength is Perfect…with

well-known artist such as CeCe Winans and Donnie McClurkin,” Stewart outlined.

Always interested in music, even from a tender age, when he would strip coconut branches with a friend to use as a flute, Stewart inherited a love for music from his family. “My mother’s family were all musicians; keyboardist, guitarist, singers…” However, his love for wind instruments came from his father who was a trumpeter.

As a young musician Stewart started playing the recorder in church, until he met Lawrence Dutch, his friend who plays “an excellent saxophone”. Never thinking he would become a saxophonist himself, Stewart would later wash dishes to purchase a second-hand saxophone.

For the last six years, Stewart has played the saxophone, mesmerising his audience with the sweet melody of an alto saxo-

phone. He has played at numerous functions: at the National Cultural Centre, in Linden, Berbice and Essequibo.

It was his fans who would then convince him to launch an album, after Stewart constantly received inquiries for recorded copies of him playing.

“Persons kept asking when I would bring out an album, and the Lord was on my side so I did it. I plan to become like Kenny G, my favourite saxophonist. I want to walk in his shoes and be a world renowned saxophonist. I plan to have a next album

by God’s grace. ‘Miracle’ was done with an alto sax- Stewart performing on the saxophone ophone and I want the you are dreaming, positive- persevered and was able to next to be done with a soprano saxophone (the saxo- ly of course, seek advice, launch his album, ‘Miracle’.

“When something great phone Kenny G uses),” the help and pursue it with your all,” he encouraged his is about to happen, chalsaxophonist declared. lenges are always expectA motivated young man, fans.

Amid all the challenged,” he pointed out. even in times of trouble For more information on Stewart is determined to es in his life, including his press forward. “Don’t let disability and recent evic- Stewart’s album, call 604the dream die…whatever tion, Roy Anthony Stewart 2893.

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Times Sunday Magazine

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Feature

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youth organisation that aims to improve the quality of life across Guyana by enhancing educational and economic opportunities, Youths For Guyana (YFG) mentor, educate and advocate for health, the environment, and economic development.

YFG’s members and volunteers serve as a strong role model for youths in today’s society. According to the organisation’s executive director, Orin Phillips, through volunteerism YFG enhances and sustains a spirit of aiding others.

“Through volunteerism we can enhance and sus-

Children engrossed in painting at YFG's camp

tain the spirit of [aid] in Guyana by fostering collaboration and networking; promoting professional development through volunteerism,” Phillips told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

With the fundamental principle that “youths could make a difference no matter how small”, YFG seeks to significantly impact the development of youths in Guyana, identify, engage and sustain youths in positive activities, while maintaining close links and collaborating with organisations that seek to do the same.

Reaching over 80 members, YFG mainly engages

in cultural enrichment programmes that increase its members’ perspective, awareness and appreciation for others, as well as positive and collaborative ventures.

YFG’s members have worked on numerous programmes and projects on youth empowerment and volunteerism, most of which are continuous. These activities include YFG’s Annual Summer Programme (where a camp is hosted for 90 children ages 5 to 17) and Christmas Day for Kids (where YFG volunteers spend Christmas with orphans giving gifts and playing games the entire day).

Some of Youths For Guyana members

Additionally, there is the YFG 1000 Project, an initiative where 1,000 of a particular item is raised and are later distributed to persons in need, community centres and charitable or non-profit organisations.

“We’ve recently concluded our 1000 Books Project where we were able to get a donation of 1,400 books which were donated to various organisations and initiatives. The most recent was 200 books donated to Global Shapers Georgetown’s

Save the Libraries initiative,” noted Phillips.

Following the book drive, the next 1000 Project will be focused on clothing. YFG has an ongoing project, the Guyana Shines Project in collaboration with the United States Embassy, with partners such as ExxonMobil, Caribbean Containers and Republic Bank.

“Our main intention is to have the youths of Guyana become role models for their respective communities. This

is achieved through creative initiatives to foster growth and youth empowerment from the grassroots level onwards,” Phillips explained.

The Youths For Guyana was formed by Tony Lindo and Orin Phillips, among others, after the last general elections with the realisation that “youths are devoted to being change agents” in their communities.

For more information, visit Youths For Guyana on Facebook.

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 5

Times Women

“T

o accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe,” said Anatole France, a French poet, journalist, and novelist who died in 1924.

Today these words are echoed in the many accomplishments of Guyanese women abroad, who are also excellently representing their homeland.

One such person is Sharon Clarke who was recently elected a Civil Court Judge in Brooklyn, US. Clarke was born in Guyana to a Barbadian father and a Guyanese mother. She was raised in Guyana and Barbados, and her family moved to Brooklyn when she was 13. Her parents instilled in her and her siblings the value of education and a great work ethic from a young age. Her aunt inspired her to give back to the community through volunteering and helped her understand that we have an obligation to play an active role in our community. She fondly recalls receiving her first award for volunteer work from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office while in junior high school. Clarke recently volunteered at the United States Supreme Court as a Lecturer in Supreme Court History.

Clarke is an attorney with over 20 years of legal experience. She has been a zealous advocate for equal access to justice her entire career.

She is the founder and CEO of Central Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. She has also volunteered as a Mediator for The Brooklyn Mediation Center and currently serves as an Arbitrator in Civil Court – Small Claims Part in Brooklyn.

Clarke’s legal career began by representing the indigent at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Division in Queens, NY. Her work also includes representing the City of New York as Counsel in the Office of Corporation Counsel and she has also served as Deputy General Counsel at the NYS Division of Human Rights.

The judge was selected to participate on the Matrimonial Access to Justice Task Force in 2004 with then Chief Justice Judith Kaye. She served on Governor Paterson’s New York Hate Crimes Task Force

Civil Court Judge Sharon Clarke

in 2009, the New York State Government Cyber Security Task Force and on a New York State Executive Committee to review hiring practices of police departments statewide.

Clarke holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government. She earned her Juris Doctor degree at City University of New York Law School, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College.

She remains committed to serving the residents of Brooklyn.

Then there is Dr Oneeka Williams, a Harvard Medical School graduate who ranks among the top urologic surgeons in the United States.

Williams was born and raised in Guyana and moved with her family to Barbados at the age of 10. From an early age, her science teacher mother and journalist father instilled in her a love for the sciences and writing.

According to the author, her childhood was filled with the joys of discovery and exploration, as her science teacher, her mother, took every opportunity to expose Williams and her siblings to the wonders of

Doctor and author, Oneeka Williams poses with one of her books

science. On the other hand, her father shared his passion for writing and Williams grew up writing poetry for every occasion including birthdays, holidays and family reunions.

Williams’s professional journey includes an undergraduate degree in Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University, graduate degrees in public health and medicine at Harvard Medical School, and surgical training at leading academic medical centres including Massachusetts General Hospital and The Lahey Clinic.

Through her volunteer work in the community and as a teacher and mentor, Williams is committed to inspiring all children, and especially girls, towards a greater interest in science, a positive attitude, and the pursuit of excellence in all their endeavours. To further her advocacy of literacy and science education, she is authoring a series of children’s books.

As founder and president of Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo, Williams has developed a mechanism to engage children in the joys of science at an early age. Her belief is that by planting the seeds of curiosity,

incorporating science content into an entertainment platform and delivering the message in the form of a powerful, confident girl character, she

will create early imprinting of what is possible thus dispelling the common childhood belief, that scientists are ‘old, white men with spectacles’.

To further her advocacy of literacy and science education, she is authoring a series of children’s books. Her first children’s book was Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Mission to Pluto and her second Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Meteorite Mission were both published in 2013.

Williams is currently a practicing surgeon at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston and is an assistant clinical professor of urology at Tufts University School of Medicine. She lives just outside Boston with her husband, Dr. Charles Leon Anderson, Jr., a neonatalist, hospital management specialist and corporate executive and their son, Mark.

The Guyanese author’s book series was featured in the section “10 Things We’re Talking About” in the June 2014 issue of Essence Magazine. The headline was “Changing the Ratio” and was about the low representation of Black characters in children’s books published in 2013. In October, Williams received the 2014 Science Club for Girls Catalyst Award from the Science Club for Girls (SCFG). She was one of three individual recipients of its annual Catalyst Awards.

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Book World

Custodians of Books

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

A Tribute to Gillian Thompson

By Petamber Persaud

W

hen the National Library designed and executed a number of activities in an ongoing celebration of the work of the late and former Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson, the institution was honouring a person who made a difference to the community, to Guyana, to the region and the world.

Thompson died in a road accident on Christmas Eve of 2013.

She died on duty while on the way distributing gifts to staffers, colleagues and friends. Such a caring person she was - adding a personal touch to her administration of goodwill. Thompson died while planning many future events, for instance, she died in the midst of planning the commemoration of the birth centenary of AJ Seymour. Interestingly, all the activities concerning the above were well received especially the ‘See More Poetry’ festival which was a resounding success.

Now fittingly, one of the activities to commemorate her contribution is a road safety essay writing competition.

Another suitable activity in tribute to Thompson was the renaming of part of the library’s children literature which is now the Gillian Thompson Young Adult Collection. The following is part of what I said at the renaming ceremony, which was attended other librarians and custodians of books: Guyana would be a better place to live if there were more persons like Gillian Thompson, who loved to work with young adults. Young

Thompson happily and readily helped children

adults are at a critical age of their development – at this stage they are most receptive and also most vulnerable. Gillian Thompson used that information to tap into that potential, that dynamo of human resources in order to make the bigger picture better.

Guyana would be a better place to live if there were more persons like Gillian Thompson, someone who knew the value of literacy and reading. She knew how critical reading is to the development of a rounded human and her efforts are not unfounded, if we take the time assess her legacy.

Guyana would be a better place to live if there were more per-

sons like Gillian Thompson who showed the dedication, commitment and persistency to reach out to others. She was a caring person, equipping others with the tool to fish instead of spoon feeding them, helping others help themselves.

Guyana would be a better place to live if there were more persons like Gillian Thompson who exhibited the tenacity to plan and work her plan, and to see projects to the expected results.

Guyana would be a better place to live if we had more persons like Gillian Thompson who was a person not given to many words and she did not waste words instead, she was more attuned to getting

things done. She was also a woman of action but she was rarely seen in the forefront instead she excelled best at directing the show from the background.

So it is easy to see why we are dedicating this area to Gillian Thompson.

During her tenure as Chief Librarian, Thompson had opened new vistas for the institution.

Some of those innovations included taking the library to institutionalised homes of senior citizens and allowing inmates of correctional facilities to be part of the reading competitions. She even took literacy to the roads by outfitting floats for Mashramani. Another signal

initiative of hers was ‘A Dip into Literature’ introducing literature to students moving from primary to secondary school.

To put the above into perspective, it would be useful to know more about Ms Thompson. She read for a degree in English at the University of Guyana and later she studied library science at the University of the West Indies.

She served the National Library in various capacities starting as a Junior Library Assistant in 1991, working her way to the top as chief librarian in 2006. She served the library for over two decades, nine of those years as chief librarian. All the while exhibiting a passion for libraries and working tirelessly to enhance the delivery of a high standard of library services.

She was a member of the Guyana Library Association and a member of the Management Committee of the Guyana Prize for Literature. Her other interests included reading, listening to music, cooking, church activities especially teaching Sunday School.

Gillian Thompson was soft spoken, demure, unassuming but dynamic. Above all, she was a consummate professional.

Responses to this author: telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s Happening: • Coming soon: ‘Love in the time of technology’ poems by Sasenarine Persaud. This is Persaud’s seventh book of poetry.

• ‘An Introduction to Guyanese Literature’ by Petamber Persaud is available from the National Library, Austin Book Service and the author.

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 7

Times Feature

The Thing about Aging

Star of the week

How movies make being old a horrible stage of life – especially for women

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ook at many movies, and the theme of old people looking to recover or relive their youth is often a major premise. Many box office successes feature the youthful (usually a beautiful young girl) against the old (usually an ugly older woman). The latter bitterly envies the former and laments the loss of youthful good looks and vitality.

Most persons can offhandedly name a film they have seen where the older (or mature as they call it too) woman is almost maniacally trying to regain her youthful good looks by subjecting the young girl to many troubles. She ultimately fails and mourns her fate of being old. “Snow White and the Huntsman” is one example. The old queen, who was brought up believing that youth and good looks were the only way to leave poverty behind and gain wealth, becomes an evil being obsessed with remaining young and beautiful. Such “age battles” add to society’s derision of old

women.

Recall even the famed Broadway musical “Cats” treating the aged woman (a cat called Grizabella) as the scorned and mocked outcast after a time of popular youthful beauty. The aged man meanwhile, (Old Deuteronomy was this cat’s noble name) was respected and celebrated for his wisdom and experience. Grizabella’s only salvation was to be “reborn” (i.e. young again).

Older women are often judged by their looks while an older man’s character often determines his status in society – onscreen and off. Old men too are ridiculed, most often for their lack of sexual prowess.

Comedies are well known for mocking and satirizing aging. Movies where older women fall for young men make for great comedy. However, in other movies, it often makes a good story when the older (leading) man’s love interest in the film is a young girl.

Some films place older women in small or supporting roles, stereotyped as meddling mothers, doting grandmothers or the weird unmarried aunt. Older men continue with youthful or worldly leading roles and, of course, win the affections of their beautiful young co-stars.

Additionally, older female stars often have their wrinkles air brushed on movie posters. Unlike the older men who get to keep their “distinguished” greys and wrinkles.

What is even more extreme is that movies often deliberately cast younger women as older women, despite the many very talented older actresses available. Sally Field acting as mother to Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump” immediately comes to mind. She is just 10 years older than Hanks. In an upcoming movie, Susan Sarandon is cast as grandmother to a young actress – even though Sarandon is only 24 years older. In the movies, a young-looking mother or grandmother is more preferable than a real-aged one.

Such actions further advance the cinema notion of age that passes into society as “the way things are”, making the idea of old age a distressing one – especially for women – to try to delay at all costs.

Sadly, this is not about to change – in movies or among a society brought up on movies.

B

adminton prodigy Narayan Ramdhani was born on 3 June 1998. The 16-year-old is currently a student of Marian Academy in Grade Eleven (Form 5). Ramdhani has been playing badminton from the tender age of three, as his father and coach, who was an ex-national player, runs the number one badminton club in Guyana called Yonex Badminton Club. During the young badminton player’s career, Ramdhani has won all of his age group matches locally from the Under-11 to the Under-19 from the age of seven to present. He is currently the number one player for Guyana for both seniors and juniors in badminton. Ramdhani has represented and won medals for his country at many international tournaments in Suriname, Peru, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.

His most recent tournament, the Caribbean Regional Badminton Championship, he gained two silver medals in Singles and Doubles, and in the Inter-Guiana Games he gained two gold medals in Singles and Doubles. Ramdhani’s current world ranking will get to a higher level with more international tournaments he will be attending as the years go by and this will only continue to get better. Ramdhani is focused on improving his training and skill ability in this sport, becoming a top professional badminton player. His advice to youths is to get involved in a sport as it is good for mental and physical strength. Additionally, he noted that education is important as it opens doors to scholarships, which secures youths’ future and success in life. In order for Ramdhani to achieve his goal in badminton, financing will be required for him to be exposed to more international training facilities and matches which will greatly enhance his performance. For more information, check out Yonex Badminton Club(Guyana) on Facebook.

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Kids Page

Mongoose

Creature Corner

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ongooses, Herpestidae, are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia, the Iberian Peninsula and Guyana. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops.

Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-footlong (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose; these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts.

They normally have brown or gray grizzled fur, and a number of species sport striped coats or ringed tails.

Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. (National Geographic)

Did you know?

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ummified mongooses and images of the species have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book.

Their average life span in captivity is 20 years.

In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds.

However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss.

Connect the Dots 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.

Maze Daze

Spot the Differences

please see solution on page 22

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 9

DECK THE HALLS

By Laurie Triefeldt

Way back when

Bringing light and color into the home during the darkest days of winter is an ancient tradition. Decorating for the holidays is a way to express the joy of the season and, for many, a way to rekindle fond memories. The smell of fresh evergreens and the twinkle of an old ornament can bring a smile to the grumpiest of holiday grumpsters.

Like many Christmas traditions, bringing greenery and berries into the home is rooted in ancient preChristian customs. Evergreens, ivy, holly and mistletoe were used to help celebrate the winter solstice. Evergreens were a symbol of strength and new growth, and were thought to bring good luck.

In Colonial America, the settlers did not have many luxuries and relied on nature’s bounty to decorate their homes for Christmas.

Garlands, wreaths and boughs of holly, ivy and mountain laurel were accented with pine cones and berries.

Mistletoe Mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen with white berries that grows on trees. In Europe, mistletoe was credited with the ability to cure many illnesses, including infertility. It was also thought to ward off bad luck and be a remedy for poison (even though mistletoe berries are poisonous to many small animals).

During the holiday season, mistletoe is usually hung in doorways, and it is traditional to steal a kiss under the mistletoe ball. This kissing tradition is thought to be rooted in an ancient Norse myth.

In 19th-century England, Queen Victoria felt that kissing under the mistletoe might encourage loose morals, so she decreed that, after each kiss, a berry should be plucked from the mistletoe. When the berries ran out, so did the kisses.

Holly Holly was also thought to have magical powers that could ward off evil and drive demons away.

For Christians, the prickly leaves came to represent Jesus’ crown of thorns, and the berries became a symbol of the blood he shed at the crucifixion.

Make it yourself

Making your own ornaments is a lot of fun, and there are many ways to do it. You can string a popcorn garland or make a paper chain.

You can paint on paper and cut out a special ornament. You can sew or glue a fabric-and-lace ornament. You can knit an ornament!

Many craft stores sell empty, clear plastic balls that you can fill with holiday themed items — maybe even some glittery snow! Your handmade ornament may just turn into a family heirloom to be treasured for years to come.

The pickle There are many stories about the glass pickle ornament. Traditionally, the pickle is hidden on the Christmas tree.

Whoever finds the pickle is assured of good luck in the coming year. Another story says that the child who finds the pickle is the smartest in the family and should be rewarded with an extra gift.

Lighting candles during the ancient winter solstice celebrations was a way to remember that the light and longer days of spring would soon arrive.

For Christians in the Middle Ages, a large candle was used in ceremonies to represent the star of Bethlehem. Despite the very real danger of fire, candles were used to decorate Christmas trees before the electric light was invented.

Candles are also used during Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Light. Kwanzaa is another winter celebration in which candles play a special role.

Christmas trees The Christmas tree can be traced back to medieval Germany and the “Paradise Tree.” This evergreen tree was decorated with apples and used in a play about Adam and Eve. The play was usually performed on December 24.

Hanging stockings How the tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace mantle began has been lost to time. The Norse god Odin and his flying horse Sleipnir may be responsible. According to legend, children would put carrots, straw and even sugar in their boots as food for Odin’s flying horse. In gratitude, Odin would replace the stocking stuffers of children with candies and other treats.

Candles

Many 17th-century Christmas trees were decorated with wafers, candies, fruits, nuts, paper flowers and cookies.

Glass ornaments In the early 1600s, a glassmaker in the small town of Lauscha, Germany, began to make glass baubles that became popular Christmas tree decorations.

The first American-made glass ornaments were created by William DeMuth in New York in 1870. A year later, the Woolworth shops began to sell imported glass ornaments.

Germany was the leading maker for many years, but after World War II, other countries began to produce glass ornaments.

Christmas trees did not gain popularity in North America until the mid-19th century.

Wax ornaments In the 1500s, German homemakers began using beeswax from their honeycombs to make Christmas ornaments.

They would pour the wax into cookie molds.

Tinsel

Tinsel as a Christmas tree decoration was introduced in Germany in the early 1600s. Tinsel was originally made with pure silver.

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DECEMBER 14, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Fashion

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Designer Andy Cummings

ecently, designer Andy Cummings aptly represented Guyana on the regional runway at the prestigious fashion event Mission Catwalk in Jamaica.

“I was very honoured when I was called by Mission Catwalk to be a part of Season 4 of the high fashion edition in Jamaica, and most of all to represent my country. I must say thanks to god for my creativeness, which I credit for sending me into the top three.

The other two designers were from Jamaica and Barbados. Throughout the entire Season 4 there were eight episodes, of which I won one of them – Episode 4. To be in the line-up with super talented designers was one of my

dreams. I believe there is something special about how artists perceive the world and we should let others see us for who we truly are. I must say thanks to everyone who supported me from Guyana throughout the entire season,” expressed the designer in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Cummings graduated from the Burrowes School of Art in 2012 with a major in Ceramics and minor in Textiles. He was awarded best graduating student and best ceramic student for his year.

In that same year, he won the Guyana Model Search/Designers Portfolio, which gave him the opportunity to be fashion partner with veteran

Guyanese designer Sonia Noel.

In 2013, Cummings was voted most promising young designer.

The designer’s dreams, which he is working feverishly to make a reality, are to pursue a fashion degree from an accredited university and to work for an international fashion company with the aim of one day operating his own establishment.

The designs featured this week are some of Cumming’s chic pieces he created as part of his fashion assignments for Mission Catwalk.

To contact the designer, call 615-5673 or 672-2243 or email a.acummings68@yahoo.com

A

ndrew Roy, popularly known as Drew, (born 16 May 1986) is an American actor. Roy was raised in Clanton, Alabama, US. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Roy appeared in mostly independent film projects from 2006 to 2013, with roles such as Robin in the "Robin" movie. In 2009, he played Griffin in the television series iCarly. He has also guest starred in episodes of Hannah Montana as Jesse, Miley's love interest, and on Lincoln Heights. In 2010, he portrayed thoroughbred horse farm owner Seth Hancock in the film Secretariat. He is currently seen in Falling Skies, a science fiction post-apocalyptic dramatic television series created by Robert Rodat and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

guyanatimesgy.com DECEMBER 14, 2014

Star Times Hollywood

Times Sunday Magazine 11

12 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Hollywood

Beyonce talks fame, marriage, love Selena Gomez confirms she's single in short movie 'Yours and Mine' S

B

eyonce Knowles releases a short film called "Yours and Mine" to celebrate the oneyear anniversary of her self-titled visual album. It features montage of music videos from the album with commentary from her.

She shares her thoughts on fame, marriage, and love among other things.

"I sometimes wish I could be anonymous walking down the street like everyone else. Before I was famous I was the girl on the hill with a guitar. I was the girl that just wanted a beautiful view of the beach. Now that I'm famous it's really, really difficult to do very simple things," she said.

"I think it's the hardest thing to give up, but my

mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim, never make excuses, never expect anyone else to provide me things that I know I can provide for myself. I have dreams and I feel like I have a power to actually make those dreams become a reality. When you're famous, no one looks at you as a human anymore. You become property of the public. There's nothing real about it."

One of the most-decorated and best-selling female singers in the world, she added, "If I accomplished all of these things and had no one to share it with, it would be worth nothing. You know, you need something real in order for any of this stuff to matter. You have to have

something that is forever, something that's invisible."

"People feel like they lose something when they get married, but it doesn't have to be that way. There's nothing more exciting about having a witness to your life," Jay-Z's wife said. "I always considered myself a feminist, although I was always afraid of that word, because people put so much on it, when honestly, it's very simple: It's just someone who believes in equality for men and women."

"Men and women balance each other out, and we have to get to a point where we are comfortable with appreciating each other. I have a lot of empathy for men and the pressures that they go through and the cultures that have been created, especially for African American men. I have the same empathy for women and the pressures we go through - the woman has to provide so many things for their children."

The mother of one went on, "Happiness comes from you. No one else can make you happy. You make you happy. And one thing that's for sure: The love I have for the music, my husband, for my child - it's something that will last far beyond my life." (AceShowbiz)

Lil Wayne hints he's no longer representing Cash Money

L

il Wayne hints he's really done with Cash Money Records. A week after launching a Twitter rant and expressing desire to leave the record label, the rapper appeared to address the beef again in a cryptic Twitter post he sent out on Thursday, December 11.

"YM! That's it. Nothing else," he wrote.

With the post, Weezy may be saying that his imprint Young Money, which also hous-

es big rap acts like Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga, is no longer a part of Cash Money.

Wayne's problem with Cash Money began after the label's boss Birdman decided to postpone the release of his album "Tha Carter V". "To all my fans, I want u to know that my album won't and hasn't been released bekuz Baby & Cash Money Rec. refuse to release it. This is not my fault. I am truly and deeply sorry to all my fans but most of all to myself and my family for putting us in this situation," he began his rant last week before adding, "I want off this label and nothing to do with these people but unfortunately it ain't that easy."

During a live gig in N.Y. on the next day, he confirmed the problem between him and his label on the stage. "I was supposed to drop my new album December 9, but due to technical difficulties I'm...in a bad situation," he told the crowd. "But I will be out of this soon and I do it for y'all..." (AceShowbiz)

J.K. Rowling will release 12 new Harry Potter stories for Christmas

H

ogwarts Christmas cheer! J.K. Rowling isn't delivering Ron Weasley-inspired sweaters to her muggle readers this holiday season, but she may write about the itchy buggers! The British author released her first (out of 12!) new Harry Potter stories on Pottermore.com on Friday, Dec. 12 -- and it's hard to decipher!

Each new passage will come with a riddle to solve and will center on some of Rowling's most beloved characters. Rumor has it that a story based on Draco Malfoy will be part of the

collection.

Rowling pulled at fans' heartstrings for her first story about childhood friends Severus Snape and Potter's

mum, Lily Evans. "Look carefully enough and you'll discover new J.K. Rowling writing, shedding light on the dilapidated town of Cokeworth, once home to Lily Potter and a certain Potions professor," the site reads.

The riddle? "In a house on Spinner's End a meeting takes place. A mother begs help for her son, tears on her face. Agreeing to help though he doesn't how how, which potions master performs an unbreakable vow?"

For more, head to Pottermore.com.

(US Magazine)

elena Gomez gushed over her off-again boyfriend Justin Bieber in an interview with Norwegian radio station NRJ on Thursday, December 11. When asked about her relationship with Justin, Selena replied, "I definitely have so much respect and love for him."

The 22-year-old songstress continued, "And going in the studio is just very therapeutic... It was my way of having it be a message more to people in general. People everywhere feel this feeling, and they should understand when anybody goes through that. They just can't help what they want and [who] they love."

Asked whether she's currently dating anyone, Selena said, "No, I'm not, actually." The radio host then asked her if she used dating applications like Tinder.

"Oh, goodness no!" she replied and laughed. "I don't even know how to work it, to be honest."

Selena was also questioned about Justin's new platinum blonde hair, which he debuted last week.

"That's for him. I'll let him answer all that," she responded.

Last month, Selena

opened up about her relationship with Justin in an interview with Ryan Seacrest. "I think the biggest problem I had this year - even with [Justin] and on his side - is identity... I was trying to figure out what I'm doing, and that was the first time I was constantly being kicked down for doing that."

(AceShowbiz)

'Magic Mushroom' found growing in Buckingham Palace gardens

A

mushroom with hallucinogenic properties has been found growing at Buckingham Palace but no one suspects Queen Elizabeth II of cultivating the magic mushroom.

The Amanita muscaria was found growing wild in the extensive palace gar-

dens during preparations for a television show.

The mushroom's hallucinogenic properties have long been known and it has commonly been used in rituals.

Palace officials said Friday there are several hundred species of mushrooms growing in the palace

gardens, including a number of naturally occurring Amanita muscaria.

The mushroom can be beneficial to trees but can be poisonous to humans.

Officials say mushrooms from the garden are not used in the palace kitchens.

(PEOPLE)

some throwback photos of Justin and Sammy.

During an interview with Peta2 back in 2009, Justin revealed that Sammy became his "friend" after he moved to a city where he didn't know anyone. Sammy appeared in Justin's concert movie "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never".

Earlier this month, another Justin dog named Karma was allegedly

thrown off second-story balcony by his father Jeremy Bieber. Karma's trainer Trevor Dvernichuk told TMZ that Jeremy initially asked him to take Karma and not bring it back until it was socialized but he later allegedly told police that the dog was stolen.

Trevor said he would return Karma back after he got payment for his services. (AceShowbiz)

Justin Bieber mourns death of his dog Sammy

J

ustin Bieber is mourning the death of his family's longtime dog Sammy. The "Never Say Never" singer took to Instagram on Thursday night, December 11 to share a throwback picture of him and Sammy.

In the photo, younger Justin, who wore a blue tee and blue snapback, was smiling widely as he held the brown-and-white pooch.

He wrote alongside the photo, "R.i.p Sammy. You were the best puppy ever," along with several sad emoticons. #RIPSammy has been trending on Twitter since Justin posted the photo.

A fan tweeted, "I'm so sorry @justinbieber we love you and are here for you! #RIPSammy." Another fan wrote, "Having a dog myself makes me feel even more for Justin and how sad he must be right now, i can't even imagine :( #ripsammy."

Other Twitter users shared

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

K

ashish Singh is an Indian actress and a model.

Singh has appeared in a couple of regional films and is on the verge of making her Bollywood debut. She was featured on the covers of Filmfare Magazine, Femina (May 2014) and Stuff (magazine, March 2014). Singh completed her acting course from Anupam Kher’s acting academy, Actor Prepares. In July 2012, she was featured in the promotional song of the super-hit Punjabi movie, Carry on Jatta, with Gippy Grewal. Her next assignment was an appearance in a mainstream song for the Punjabi movie Viyah 70 Km.

14 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Bollywood

Aamir Khan Kajol: 'It's impossible to remake condemns a phenomenon like DDLJ' Delhi cab rape

K

A

amir Khan has spoken out to condemn the latest rape to shock India.

A 25-year-old woman was reportedly raped by an Uber driver on December 5 after she took the cab at around 9.30pm in Delhi.

The actor, who highlights social injustice through his TV show Satyamev Jayate, told IANS: "What has happened in Delhi is really unfortunate. Each time I read something like this, my heart bleeds. It is really sad.

"If we want the rate of such incidents to come down, then one of the important things we need to do is (facilitate) a high rate of conviction.

In the cases of crime against women or children, the first thing we have to do is to have fast track courts.

"We have to give top priority to the security of women

and children."

Other Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor have condemned the spate of crimes committed against women and children that have shocked the world.

Farhan Akhtar also launched the MARD campaign promoting gender equality in India. (IANS)

ajol believes that Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge should never be remade.

The actress played Simran in the 1995 film directed by Aditya Chopra, which became a landmark film in Indian cinema history and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Asked whether the film should ever be remade, Kajol told The Hindustan Times: "I think you can never remake a phenomenon."

Describing her personal highlights from the film, she explained: "It's more about my memories attached to the movie rather than specific scenes. So when I'm watching the movie, it's like watching flashback after flashback — remembering what actually happened around that time. We had an absolute blast shooting it."

Commenting on her experience of working with Shah Rukh Khan, who

went on to superstardom, she said that there was never any sense that anyone was the bigger star.

"At that time, we were not so concerned about who is big and who is small. In our heads, it was never like that, and it still isn't. We were all confident people, and none of us were intimidated by anybody. We didn't think we were less than anybody."

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge has been running at the Maratha Mandir in Mumbai since October 20, 1995.

The late filmmaker and producer Yash Chopra described the project as a "phenomenon that defies explanation''.

Releasing a new trailer, Yash Raj Films recently announced plans to celebrate the film's unprecedented success. (Digital Spy)

Roger Federer 'eager to watch Aamir Khan's PK'

R

oger Federer has reportedly said he is eager to see Aamir Khan's PK. The international tennis legend was said to be enthralled by the first poster for PK and told the actor he will watch the movie, IANS reports.

Aamir Khan's spokesperson said in a statement: "When Roger met Aamir, he first spoke about the poster of PK. He was very excited to know the idea behind the poster and told Aamir he would be watching the film when it releases."

Federer is in India as part of the ongoing International Premier Tennis League tournament.

He previously joined Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sania Mirza, Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh for a friendly match.

Federer and Djokovic also played an exhibition match in the first-of-its-kind series, organised by Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi. (IANS)

P

aris Hilton met Salman Khan during a private trip to India on December 9.

The socialite was performing at a private party in Pune for the birthday of businessman Balaji Rao.

Posting a picture of herself with the star on Twitter she wrote: "#GoodTimes in India with my friend @ BeingSalmanKhan."

Mika Singh, who was also a guest at the party, reportedly gave the 33-yearold the khanda necklace that he was wearing.

The singer posted a picture of himself with Hilton and Khan on Twitter.

The hotel heiress met Hrithik Roshan in Hong Kong a few weeks ago and expressed an interest in working with the Krissh in a Bollywood film. (Digital Spy)

Dilip Kumar recovers from pneumonia

T

he legendary actor was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital for pneumonia earlier this week, but is now said to be recovering well.

His close family friend Udaya Tara Nayar and biographer told NDTV Movies: "I met him and he is fine now. He has been responding to the treatment very well."

Kumar will be discharged in time to celebrate his 92nd birthday.

"We do have plans to get him back home before his birthday. Doctor will do his checkup tomorrow [Thursday] morning and he

will be discharged by tomorrow afternoon.

He should be back home by 1pm or 2pm," Nayar added.

"As far his birthday plans are concerned, it will be a quiet celebration only with his close friends."

The actor has battled a number of health scares in recent years, including a silent heart attack last September.

He was most recently the victim of an online death hoax, which his Shakti co-star Amitabh Bachchan revealed were baseless rumours. (Digital Spy)

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine

15

Times Healthy Living

Key Supplements You Should Be Taking

T

o clear up any confusion regarding supplements, follow this rule of thumb: As a baseline regimen, avoid taking more than five different supplements per day. By doing so, you could risk potential negative pill interactions, so always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist first.

To help simply your regimen, listed below are the three supplements that popular TV host Dr. Oz deems absolutely essential for everyone to take: a multivitamin, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium with magnesium. Anything else should be customized according to your gender, age or health goals such as weight loss, improved memory, or stress relief.

A Multivitamin

While ideally the majority of your nutrients should come from a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, a multivitamin makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. A multi ensures that you get all the essential vitamins and minerals recommended for each day, keeping your engine running smooth and adding protection against chronic illnesses such as breast cancer, colon cancer and heart disease.

The typical multivitamin contains about 10 vitamins and 10 minerals including vitamins A, C, D, E, K and minerals such as potassium and zinc. Make sure your multi contains iodine, a mineral that is sometimes omitted by certain manufacturers and is important for your heart, thyroid, brain and other vital organs.

When purchasing your multivitamins, look for bottles labeled 100 percent Daily Value (DV). In addition, avoid mega doses, such as supplements containing 500 percent DV, taking into account that you'll also be absorbing vitamins and minerals from foods you eat.

Lastly, be sure to split your multivitamin into two doses. Take half in the morning, and half at night since your body can only absorb

so many vitamins at a given time.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids/Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are the superstar fats that boost your brain, protect your heart and arteries, fight wrinkles, lubricate your joints and more. There are 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids: • Alpha-linelenic acid (ALA) found walnuts, flaxseeds, and olive oil • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found primarily in fish oil • Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) also found in fish oil Not all omega-3 or fish oil supplements are alike. The important thing to remember when buying one is to look for one that contains 600mg of DHA. (You may need to take more than one pill to get this dose). DHA is the fatty acid that comprises a large portion of brain tissue. Not only does DHA support brain functions, but it also improves how the brain stores and uses energy. It has also been shown to be a good depression fighter.

Take this supplement at breakfast time.

To keep fish oil lasting longer and prevent spoiling, store it in the fridge.

Calcium With Magnesium

Without calcium in your diet, the body will rob this nutrient from your bones, which weakens your bones. Calcium combined with magnesium not only supports your bones, but also keeps your teeth and muscles healthy.

It's important to take these minerals together since calcium alone can cause constipation, whereas magnesium will prevent this side effect.

Choose a supplement that contains 600mg of calcium with 400mg of magnesium and take once a day. Remember to always drink with a full glass of water. Do not take this supplement within 1-2 hours of taking your multivitamin since calcium can block the body from absorbing other nutrients. (www.oprah.com)

By Zenica Dabichan

M

alaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from person to person by the Anopheles mosquito. There were 31,601 confirmed cases of malaria in Guyana for the year 2012 according to the World Malaria Report 2013.

Guyana has three different types of the parasite: Plasmodium vivax, malariae and falciparum. Persons get infected mainly in the hinterland regions of the country.

After an infected mosquito bite, the parasite enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver where they multiply and then enter the red blood cells. The red blood cells are destroyed as the parasite continues to multiply.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria is suspected in any person who visited an area where the disease is common and shows the following symptoms: • Fever • Chills and sweating • Headache • Muscle pains • Vomiting and diarrhoea Complications of malaria include:

• Infection of the brain (cerebral malaria) • Destruction of red blood cells (anaemia) • Kidney failure • Liver failure • Internal bleeding Seek medical help immediately if you develop symptoms of malaria during or after a visit to an area where the disease is found, even if it is several weeks, months or a year after you return from travelling. A blood test will be carried out to confirm whether or not you are infected. If you have malaria, treatment will be started

straight away.

Preventing Malaria

• Speak to your doctor if you are planning to visit an area where there is a malaria risk. It may be recommended that you take antimalarial tablets to prevent infection.

• Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent; wear clothing that covers your arms and legs and using an insecticide-treated mosquito net.

• Seek immediate medical advice if you develop malaria symptoms.

A

2013 report from Harvard Law School and the Natural Resources Defense Council states confusion over food dating has led 91 percent of Americans to throw away food prematurely.

Here are five items you shouldn't be so quick to toss.

I

Eggs holes to allow air to circulate), and they'll still be good to eat three weeks later.

Deli Meat Pay no attention to the "Sell By" date on your carton—it's meant to help retailers manage turnover and isn't a measure of freshness. Eggs should keep for three to five weeks in the refrigerator.

Cereal

You can keep unopened packages of sandwich meat in your fridge for two weeks—even if the "Sell By" date has come and gone.

Bread

Ignore the "Best By" or "Sell By" date.

Placing your loaf in the fridge can extend freshness by two weeks.

Boxes typically come printed with a "Best Before" date, but it's a conservative estimate set by manufacturers for peak quality. Those Cheerios can stay fresh for up to three months if you refold the inner bag tightly.

Apples

Store your favorite reds in the fridge (place them in a plastic bag; poke a few

n the past, the United States Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organisation and the International College of Nutrition were among leading institutions that warned against the consumption of coconut oil, mainly because of its high level of saturated fat.

In the 1970s and even in the 1980s, it was argued that the high levels of lauric acid present in coconut oil had damaging health effects. At the time there were strenuous attempts to convince the world that there were no scientific or logic evidence to prove that coconut oil speeds metabolism, promotes weight loss, cures Alzheimer’s disease, improves brain function or improves heart health. In fact, some health officials and food scientists had argued that there was no existing evidence to prove that “virgin” coconut oil is any less damaging to your heart than other varieties.

But as time elapsed, the world has come to know the truth about coconut oil and its healing properties. Today, it is a well established fact coconut is very nutritious; with more than 90% saturated fat, it has antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Additionally it has antioxidant properties and aids in the absorption of other minerals.

As mentioned earlier, during the 1970s, critics attempted to discredit coconut oil due the high presence of lauric acid but what they failed to address, is the fact that lauric acid is found in abundance in human breast milk and converts to a substance called monolaurin in the body. Monolaurin has been shown to be useful in increasing immunity and fighting viruses and disease. Similarly the lauric acid found in coconut in combination with oregano oil has even been found more effective in fighting the staph bacteria than antibiotics. It must be noted that lauric acid helps to prevent some cancers. In coconut oil, there is more than 40% lauric acid present; the richest source naturally available.

When it was proven that coconut oil is good for deceases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, critics argued that there was a risk for heart disease because the oil is a saturated fat. But epidemiological studies have cleared this misconception, stating clearly that saturated fat has never been proven to cause heart disease. The benefits of a highfat ketogenic diet in curing epilepsy was first developed at the Mayo Clinic in the 1920s and used extensively at the John Hopkins Hospital. This high-fat diet rich in saturated fats has been documented as curing epilepsy in children where other drugs failed.

Another myth is that only virgin coconut oil is healthy while refined coconut oil is bad for human consumption or use. But the truth is all coconut oil is healthy.

Now that you have the facts on coconut oil, be sure to read next week’s edition on producers of coconut oil in Guyana.

16 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Home & Cooking

Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Decorating Tips for Shelves and Bookcases Transform bland bookcases and wall shelves into stunning displays with these top-shelf decorating tips.

Ingredients: 2 sticks salted butter, slightly softened 1 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar 1 whole egg 2 teaspoons vanilla 2-1/2 cups flour Method: Cream softened butter with powdered sugar. Add egg and vanilla and mix to combine.

Add dry ingredients and mix together until dough comes together. Place plastic wrap on surface of dough and refrigerate for 2 hours.

In the meantime, unwrap candies and place them in a plastic bag. Beat with a mallet until finely crushed, leaving larger chunks if desired.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Roll cookie dough in walnut-sized pieces and place on a cookie sheet. Gently press balls flat with a plain, smooth surface. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, being careful not to burn.

Cookies will remain the same general size and shape after they bake. Remove from oven and place cookies on a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely.

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt 4 ounces, weight (4 squares) white baking chocolate Large handful of red or green peppermints

Place crushed candies in bowl. Melt chocolate in the microwave. Dip cooled cookies into the chocolate, coating half the cookie. Immediately sprinkle crushed peppermints over both sides of the almond bark. Gently set on parchment paper or other non-stick surface and allow to cool before serving.

Apple, Orange and Ginger Punch

Show Off Your Collections Whether you collect birdcages or buttons, sculpture or shells, transferware or teacups, any collection you love deserves pride of place in your home. Anything looks better as a collection. The different sizes, shapes and colours play off each other, and grouping a collection together gives it emphasis. Gather up your treasures around the house and mass them for a stunning display.

Ingredients: 2 cups apple juice, chilled 1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled 2 cups dry ginger ale, chilled 3 cups lemonade, chilled 2/3 cup vodka Ice cubes, to serve Forget Symmetry and Be Odd Rather than a matching set of mirroring objects, go for asymmetrical arrangements of three, five or seven objects, setting them off-centre to add a subtle element of surprise. Odd numbers are usually the most interesting. Instead of symmetry, what you're aiming for is balance. Even if you have two matching items, like a pair of beautiful urns, put them on the diagonal rather than directly opposite each other.

Method: Combine apple juice, orange juice, dry ginger ale and lemonade in a large jug. Add vodka, strawberries and ice. Serve.

Pizza Deviled Eggs

Ingredients: 12 hardboiled eggs, peeled 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend Method: Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Slip out yolks into small bowl; mash with fork.

Stir mayonnaise and cheese into yolks until smooth and creamy. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Fill whites with egg yolk mixture, heaping it lightly. Press several mini pepperoni slices onto the top of each egg.

Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.

Salt Pepper 1/4 cup mini pepperoni pieces

GREATEST KITCHEN TIPS

There is nothing more frustrating than getting halfway through a recipe and realising your eggs are supposed to be room temperature. If you forget to take the eggs out an hour before you start cooking (Because, really, who ever remembers to do that?), just put the eggs in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes and you’ll be good to go!

Turn leftover mashed potatoes into croquettes. Form cold mashed potatoes into little balls, dip in beaten egg, coat in bread crumbs, and sautĂŠ or deep-fry. You can also mix in your favourite meat.

Instead of tossing out stale bread, cut it into small rounds and freeze. Toasted, it makes a cheap, tasty substitute for fancy crackers.

Make store-bought cake frosting go twice as far: Whip the icing with your electric mixer and let air plump it up.

HOME HELP

Arrange Books by Colour If you have a large collection of books, consider arranging them by colour for instant bookshelf pizazz. The rainbow-hued display can be quite dramatic, although it can also make hunting down a specific tome a bit of a chore. Try removing the dust jackets on your hardbacks, too, especially for vintage books with interesting spines or luxe cover material.

Try this to erase the scent of yesterday's broiled fish: In a saucepan, mix 3 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 cup of water, and boil for several minutes. Vinegar is acidic and odours are alkaline, so the former will neutralise the latter.

Sprinkle salt on fresh oven spills to make them easier to wipe up, and keep lingering odours to a minimum.

Shower Door Soap Buildup: Use a plastic scrubbie or a microfiber cloth dipped in white household vinegar to wipe down the doors, or squeeze cheap shampoo on a plastic scrubber and rub over the area to help dissolve the film. Let sit for a few minutes, then use a squeegee to clean off the residue. Keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar handy and apply when you start to see a haze.

Foggy Bathroom Mirrors: Rub shaving cream or shampoo on the mirror, then wipe it clean.

The mirror will not fog up! For those who shave at the sink, the old standby still holds: Grab a hair dryer (turned on high) and aim it at the mirror; the surface will clear up in no time.

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 17

Times Sunday Puzzle

What same three letters fit into the following five combinations to form 5 words?

E___P ___CK S___SH LI___D TE___LA see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

18 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Creative Writing

The Oak and the Reeds A

giant oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender reeds.

When the wind blew, the great oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.

"You have reason to complain. The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest," the oak said proudly.

"Do not worry about us," replied the reeds. "The winds do not harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But the end is coming."

As the reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out

Windrush Child Behind you Windrush child palm trees wave goodbye

of the north. The oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding reeds bowed low. The

T

wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying reeds.

The Goose and the Golden Egg

here was once a countryman who possessed the most wonderful goose you can imagine, for every day when he visited the nest, the goose had laid a beautiful, glittering, golden egg.

The countryman took the eggs to market and soon began to get rich.

But it was not long before he grew impatient with the goose because she gave him only a single golden egg a day. He was not getting rich fast

T

he peacock, they say, did not at first have the beautiful feathers in which he now takes so much pride. These, Juno, whose favourite he was, granted to him one day when he begged her for a train of feathers to distinguish him from the other birds. Then, decked in his finery, gleaming with emerald, gold, purple, and azure, he strutted proudly among the birds.

All regarded him with envy.

Even the most beautiful pheasant could see that his beauty was surpassed.

Presently the peacock

Moral of the story: Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.

enough.

Then one day, after he had finished counting his money, the idea came to him that he could get all the golden eggs at once by killing the goose and cutting it open. But when the deed was done, not a single golden egg did he find, and his precious goose was dead.

Moral of the story: Those who have plenty want more and so lose all they have.

above you Windrush child seabirds asking why around you Windrush child blue water rolling by beside you Windrush child your Windrush mum and dad think of storytime yard and mango mornings and new beginnings doors closing and opening will things turn out right?

At least the ship will arrive in midsummer light and you Windrush child think of grandmother telling you don't forget to write and with one last hug walk good walk good and the sea's wheel carries on spinning and from that place England you tell her in a letter of your Windrush adventure

saw an eagle soaring high up in the blue sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do. Lifting his wings he tried to rise from the ground. But the weight of his magnificent train held him down. Instead of flying up to greet the first rays of the morning sun or to bathe in the rosy light among the floating clouds at sunset, he would have to walk the ground more encumbered and oppressed than any common barnyard fowl.

Moral of the story: Do not sacrifice your freedom for the sake of pomp and show.

stepping in a big ship not knowing how long the journey or that you're stepping into history bringing your Caribbean eye to another horizon grandmother's words your shining beacon learning how to fly the kite of your dreams in an English sky Windrush child walking good walking good in a mind-opening meeting of snow and sun John Agard

Send your creative writing to sundaymagazine@guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine19

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Turn your thoughts to the (March 21- future. Don’t get distraught April 19) if your savings account isn’t as full as you would like. Put more effort into stabilizing your financial position.

Home and family should TAURUS be your concern and focus to(April 20day.

Spending time with the May 20) ones you love will help to relieve your stress and bring you greater peace of mind.

Slow down and enjoy the GEMINI (May 21- moment. Overwork will wear June 20) you down and lead to minor mishaps or illness. Don’t give in to demands being made on you. Learn to say no.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Dilbert

Be a team player. Whether you are dealing with friends or colleagues, you must be approachable and accommodating if you want to get ahead.

Emotional outbursts and ultimatums will lead nowhere fast.

LEO There are plenty of people (July 23- who can help you move ahead.

Aug. 22) It’s up to you to find and cultivate the most influential folks by discussing your intentions and your attributes.

Your plans will fall flat VIRGO if you have to explain each (Aug. 23step of your agenda to people Sept. 22) who don’t share your vision.

Patience will be required if you need help reaching your goals.

LIBRA Traveling and socializing (Sept. 23- are highlighted, so get out Oct. 23) and have fun. An unexpected change will turn out in your favor, enabling you to follow through with your plans.

Peanuts

Protect your possessions SCORPIO and your cash. Don’t re(Oct. 24Nov. 22) veal too much personal information to a new acquaintance. Someone you thought you could trust will lead you astray or disappoint you.

SAGITTARIUS Doing too much for others (Nov. 23- will prove to be overwhelmDec. 21) ing and exhausting. Consider your health and don’t feel guilty if you need to take some time out for rest and recuperation.

Calvin and Hobbes

CAPRICORN Enjoy some light enter(Dec. 22- tainment today. Make plans Jan. 19) to spend time with family or friends. Happy memories will be formed when you share games or hobbies with those you care about most.

Adding extra skills to your AQUARIUS resume will improve your (Jan. 20job prospects.

Investigate loFeb. 19) cal centers and sign up for something that interests you.

Economic seminars will prove beneficial.

PISCES A communication break(Feb. 20- down will result in hurt feelMarch 20) ings. Be clear about your intentions and expectations when dealing with others. A mishap can end up being emotionally costly.

20 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Tech

A

fully operational Apple 1 computer has been sold at auction for $365,000 (£230,000).

It is the only machine known to have been personally sold by Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, from a garage in California in 1976.

Fewer than 50 Apple 1 computers are now believed

Tech BYTE

A

F

Computer - now referred to as the Apple 1 - was handmade by Steve Wozniak, an engineer who co-founded Apple, with Jobs, in the 1970s. When new, the machines sold for $666.66.

To finance the building of the machines, Jobs sold his VW van, while Wozniak sold a calculator for $500. (BBC)

Wristband turns your arm into a touch screen

small tech company out of France recently unveiled the Cicret Bracelet, a kind of smart bracelet that projects a touchscreen onto your arm. Video of the gadget has gone viral in recent days as technophiles ponder the idea of a smart phone minus the phone.

The device works by way of a tiny embedded projector and a series of proximity sensors. Similar to the tech behind projected keyboards, the Cicret system detects the location and movement of your fingers, essentially turning the surface of your skin into a touchscreen. You can tap, swipe and pinch as you would normally, according to the design team.

The Cicret Bracelet is designed to run a standalone version of Android, or it can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Built-in Wi-Fi provides connectivity, and there’s a micro USB port as well. Cicret also makes the Cicret App,

Tech BYTE

to be in existence.

Yet despite its rarity, the machine was sold at way below auction house Christie's estimate of $400,000-$600,000.

In October, the Henry Ford organization paid $905,000 for one of the computers.

The original Apple

a security program that provides anonymity and encryption options for mobile devices.

The Cicret Bracelet isn’t ready for prime time yet, however. It’s still in prototype phase and the design team is raising seed money via the Cicret website. But the video and online materials suggest that the technology is in place. Cicret

co-founder Guillaume Pommier told Gizmag that the company expects to have the Cicret to market in about a year and a half, with a price point of around US$400.

If the technology proves viable, it seems like the kind of idea plenty of other companies will be interested in. Let the arms race begin. (Discovery)

Pizza Menu Reads Your Mind

or reasons science can’t explain, children love bad, basic pizza -- cheese and maybe pepperoni -- ardently and exclusively.

Industry giant Pizza Hut is testing a new system in the U.K. that uses eyetracking technology to de-

termine what toppings you really want -- even if you don’t. Billed as “the world’s first subconscious menu,” the system monitors which items your eyes linger over on the menu, then suggests a custom-made pie.

It works like this: The menu is actually a tablet

computer with a special built-in camera that measures your eye movements by way of infrared light. As you browse the onscreen menu of 20 different topping icons, the system registers which images you look at the most and/or the longest.

“The menu then uses a powerful mathematical algorithm to identify, from 4,896 possible ingredient combinations, the customer’s perfect pizza,” according to the press materials.

The digital menu suggests your custom pizza -- in exactly 2.5 seconds, no less -then asks you to OK the selections.

The technology itself isn’t new. Eye-tracking systems have been in use for years. But the company behind the menu, Tobii Technology, claims that the system can actually read your subconscious to create the pizza you want -- even if you haven’t consciously decided yet. (Excerpted from Discovery)

Tech news

F

Facebook thinking about 'dislike' function – Zuckerberg

acebook is thinking about adding a way to "dislike" posts on its site, founder Mark Zuckerberg has said.

Speaking at a Q&A session in California, he said it was one of the most requested features the social network receives from its users.

He said the site would need to find a way to make sure it did not become a way to demean people's posts.

According to Facebook's own figures, 4.5 billion "likes" are generated every day.

"One of things we've thought about for quite a while is what's the right way to make it so that people can easily express a broader range of emotions," Mark Zuckerberg told an audience at Facebook's headquarters.

"A lot of times people share things on Facebook that are sad moments in their lives. Often people tell us that they don't feel comfortable pressing 'like' because 'like' isn't the appropriate sentiment.

"Some people have asked for a dislike button because they want to say, 'That thing isn't good.' That's not something that we think is good for the world.

"The thing that I think is very valuable is that there are more sentiments that people want to express."

Tech news

I

Fake likes

Facebook's Like button has been criticised as being a method by which the social network collects data on its users' browsing habits.

The system has also come under fire due to a high volume of "fake likes" - when the popularity of a brand or piece of content is inflated artificially.

Facebook has moved to combat the trade of so-called "like farming" - businesses that, for a price, will provide a huge number of likes quickly. This will be via automated robots, or by a network of humans paid a tiny sum for each click.

(Excerpted from BBC)

Instagram now bigger than Twitter

nstagram has told BBC’s Newsbeat it has the potential to "change the world" as it announced it has overtaken Twitter with 300 million users.

The company's CEO Kevin Systrom described the milestone as "exciting" and said the company would "continue to grow".

Twitter claims to have 284 million users accessing the network each month.

Facebook, which boasts 1.35 billion monthly active users, bought Instagram in 2012.

Speaking to Newsbeat ahead of the announcement, Kevin Systrom said: "Instagram is about seeing a live pulse of the world right now, it's not just

about taking a photo of a cute baby or a cute dog."

Instagram is also introducing verified accounts similar to the blue tick symbols used by Facebook and Twitter.

Newsbeat understands regular users who have been impersonated could be verified, alongside celebrities, sports stars and brands.

"We want to be all about authentic users and you making sure that you know you're following real people not bots, not spam accounts, not fake accounts."

Mr Systrom added.

In an attempt to get rid of fake accounts or those breaking the company's rules, Instagram said it

is deleting "spammy" accounts.

The company has warned that some users may find they have fewer followers as a result.

Instagram's co-founder hinted the company would soon be adding new features based around specific events.

"You're literally getting a view of what's happening in the world right now.”

Since it was set up by co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in October 2010, Instagram has grown rapidly.

In February 2013, the company announced it had reached 100 million active monthly users.

Recently Instagram introduced advertising, with "sponsored posts" allowing brands to reach the app's growing number of users.

Although some users were not happy about seeing adverts on Instagram, he said that adverts were needed to allow the company to grow and cope with its increasing size. (Excerpted from BBC)

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 21

Times Art

Karran Sahadeo

By Karran Sahadeo

I

Untitled (Demerara) 2014 - My daily transport

Untitled (Earth) 2014 - A feeling we all know

started to embrace photography after I took it as an elective during my Bachelors degree. It was there I learned the technical aspects of the art. During that time my photography consisted of cityscapes, sunsets, and all of the other cliché “pretty pictures”. There was no substance.

A few years after my BFA degree, I decided to pursue a Masters in Fine Art degree, but this time with photography as the focus.

It was during this time that I truly began to understand what photography was and how much weight it carried as an art.

After a few personal bouts, I began focusing on myself and the people in my lives.

My artistic practice focused on memories and how technologies, such as cameras and smartphone apps, can not only aid our memories, but also distort it. I began taking photographs in which I would reimagine memories from my loved ones, stage them, and make photographs.

These dark and moody photographs referenced the harsh lighting that could be seen in Caravaggio’s or Rembrandt’s paintings. They were painstakingly composed with every single thing found in the photograph playing an enormous role in the overall stories. I used the language of films to create a dramatic

Untitled (Green) 2014 - My other daily transport

Untitled (Blue) 2014 - The town my father grew up in looking onto the island my mother did

environment, which were complete works of fiction.

My current photographic series revolves around my return to Guyana and seeing a country that I do not recognise, but I know a lot about from stories told by my parents and grandparents.

I left Guyana when I was 4 years old and I do not have much of a recollection of my time here. The photographs I began taking represented my understanding of Guyana; that of someone who has lived outside its borders for the majority of their life.

They became representations of the tension between Guyanese traditions as I knew them: primarily firsthand as a part of an expatriated family, and the traditions as they exist within Guyana.

The images that make up the beginning of this project may be overlooked as nothing special to some, but for me they represent something much more than ordinary.

They represent a way of life that was once lost and is now being rediscovered. Except the rediscovery is exposing a lot of internal questions of what it means to be Guyanese.

As I continue to take photographs in Guyana, my focus is shifting slightly to the characters I come across on a daily basis, the people that create the image of this country, and the ones who keep the country running but will never get the credit for it.

My future as a photographer includes more education and research. I feel that unless you have an intention or reasoning behind your images, they are nothing more than “pretty pictures”.

Pictures anyone could take.

It is that intention that separates the artists from the craftsman.

Untitled (Ground Zero) 2009 - Downtown Jesrsey City has one of the best views of the Financial District of New York City

Untitled (Kitchen) 2013 - Cooking over a video call

Untitled (Light) 2013 - Staged photograph of my subject being frightened by a sudden light

22 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Heritage

History of Promenade Gardens Bandstand

T

Scenic walkway to get to the Bandstand (Photo by Nigel Durrant)

here are many sites, monuments and structures in Guyana that tell us of our rich history.

One of these is the bandstand at the Promenade Gardens.

In 1851, after funding was obtained, steps began to transform the site into a garden which was completed in

1853; seats were constructed for the public in 1859.

Occupying one city block, with its main entrance located on Middle Street in Cummingsburg, the Promenade Gardens was designed by a Trinidadian botanist.

The Bandstand situat-

ed within the Gardens was erected in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Completed in 1897, it is considered the oldest bandstand of three in the city.

A well-known monument in the Garden is the Mahatma Ghandi monu-

ment in honour of the international icon of peace and advocator of non-violence.

Along with several fountains and an arched walkway, a recent construction in the Gardens is the Arya Samaj Monument erected in 2011.

It has been suggested that the Promenade Gardens at one time boasted the largest range of wild orchids in the Caribbean before it fell into disrepair during the 80s and 90s. The site was rehabilitated in 2006 and the Bandstand refurbished by Republic Bank in 2009.

In its earlier years the Promenade Gardens was used for several civic functions including entertainment from music bands; today, after refurbishment, it remains the site of many public and private events including the popular annual Inner Wheel Club’s Easter Hat Show, weddings, and fashion photo shoots to name a few. (Cover photo: Current Bandstand in Promenade Gardens. Photo by Amanda Richards)

Promenade Gardens bandstand early 1900s

High Street, Georgetown, British Guiana (Photo by J Siza)

Photo taken in 2010 of the Bandstand (Photo by Raval Seojattan)

Brain Teaser Answer QUI. EQUIP QUICK

SQUISH LIQUID TEQUILA

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

Main Street looking south, Georgetown, British Guiana (Photo by J Siza)

CROSSWORD

guyanatimesgy.com

December 14, 2014

Times Sunday Magazine 23

Times Travel & Tourism

Guyana Times Sunday Magazine features this week breathtaking views of Chiung Falls, located in Kato, Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni),

by Guyanese photographer Michael C Lam. To see more of Lam’s scenic photos of Guyana visit www.TheMichaelLamCollection.com Cascading Chiung Falls

Vista of the gorge

Chiung Falls' rapids

Distant view of Chiung Falls

24

Times Sunday Magazine

December 14, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Last Laugh

They may sound absurd, but they're all completely real—and shockingly common.

A Familiar Patient

A weeping woman bursts into her hypnotherapist’s office and declares, “Doctor, I have been faithful to my husband for 15 years, but yesterday I broke that trust and had an affair! The guilt is killing me. I just want to forget that it ever happened!”

The hypnotherapist shakes his head. “Not again …”

A Grizzly Conversion

Genuphobia If you had your way, it would be trousers and maxi skirts for everyone! Genuphobia is the fear of knees.

A priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So they each go into the woods, find a bear, and attempt to convert it.

Later they get together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the Catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his First Communion.”

“I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and preached God’s holy word.

The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.”

They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the circumcision.”

Better Late Than Never

After waiting two hours for her date, Sarah concluded she’d been stood up. So she changed into pajamas, made some popcorn, and flopped down in front of the TV. Then the doorbell rang—it was her date. He took one look at Sarah and gasped.

“You’re still not ready?”

Honour Among Thieves Arachibutyrophobia Do you avoid PB&J sandwiches? You may suffer Arachibutyrophobia—the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.

Linonophobia Would you sooner go nude than sew up a hole in your clothes? You may suffer linonophobia: the fear of string.

A mother complained to my wife, a schoolteacher, that other students were stealing her daughter’s pencils.

“It’s not the money—it’s the principle,” she insisted. “My husband took those pencils from work.”

Who Taught You That?

“Give me a sentence about a public servant,” the teacher instructed her secondgrade student.

“The fireman came down the ladder pregnant,” he answered.

“Umm … Do you know what pregnant means?”

“Yes,” said the boy. “It means carrying a child.”

Fishing

Teacher: Why can’t freshwater fish live in salt water?

Student: The salt would give them high blood pressure.

Geliophobia This phobia is no joke...Geliophobia is the fear of laughter.

Phobophobia Does anxiety make you anxious? If yes, you likely have Phobophobia: the fear of fear itself. Seek professional therapy, or a beach chair in the Bahamas.

Smart in Some Areas

Toward the end of the school year, the sixth-grade teachers decide which of their students should be accelerated in certain subjects in the seventh grade. When a child is chosen, his parents are notified. When one boy was accelerated in science and math, his mother wrote to the teacher: "I think this is quite an honour for someone who just tried to make two quarts of lemonade in a one-quart pitcher!"

Oh, and It Doesn’t Have Arms or Legs

A woman called the Colorado State Division of Wildlife regarding a snake in her backyard. “Can you tell me what kind it is?” she asked.

“Can you describe it?” John asked.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s long and thin.”

The Right Diagnosis

A man tells his doctor that he’s incapable of doing all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination is over, he says, “Okay, Doctor. In plain English—what’s wrong with me?”

“Well, in plain English,” says the doctor, “you’re just lazy.”

The man nods. “Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife.”

Conspiracy Theory

At a clearance sale, the wife of a federal district-court judge found the perfect green tie to match one of her husband’s sport jackets. Soon after, while the couple was relaxing at a resort complex to get his mind off a complicated cocaine-conspiracy case, he noticed a small, round disc sewn into the tie. The judge showed it to a local FBI agent, who was equally suspicious that it might be a "bug" planted by the conspiracy defendants.

The agent sent the device to FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., for analysis. Two weeks later, the judge phoned Washington to find out the results of their tests.

"We’re not sure where the disc came from," the FBI told him, "but we discovered that when you press it, it plays ‘Jingle Bells.’ " Xanthophobia It's not all sunshine if you have this weird phobia: Xanthophobia is the fear of the color yellow.

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