Crews work on roadway to help affected residents TRINIDAD (TG) -- Crews from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure began work on part of the collapsed La Horquette Valley Road, Sunday. Minister of Works, Emmanuel George, who was preparing to tour Petit Valley Sunday evening to assess clean-up work, spoke about the La Horquette road damage. He said the ministry “was trying to put a temporary roadway in place, hopefully for affected residents to be able to go in and out of the area by car, since they could only do so by walking.”
George said he mobilised ministers early on Saturday since he knew there would be damage after he saw roads covered in water when he went out for his 4 am morning exercise. The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has confirmed that water supplies were restored to ten northern water treatment plants, the Westvale Park booster station and to a broken western distribution main in La Horquette. Diego Martin Central MP Amery Browne said one third of his constituency was affected. He said he drove around with a team in the last two days distributing relief supplies donated by businesses and the PNM Youth League members. Browne added: “We’re still discovering households not yet reported such as a Gopaul Avenue house covered in mud, occupied by an elderly couple, who had to stay in the house overnight with no relief. I plead with the Government to ensure people get help urgently.
Flood victim Sheldon Chunu, left, is assisted in cleaning the inside of his home at Crystal Stream, Diego Martin, Sunday
“Over the years CEPEP was very instrumental in providing instant relief in these disasters. But there’s no CEPEP in Diego Martin and they had to bring contractors in from outside. “Annual weather patterns are increasingly worse, so we need to ensure things are in place to avert problems.” Browne who said there was a lot of human suffering “out there” with the situation, detailed some “horror” stories of average homeowners affected by the flooding.
The Global Youth Coalition (GYA) group was seeking meals from Prestige Holdings to give affected families in Glencoe, Petit Valley, Rich Plain and La Puerta yesterday. An email from the group said it would work with the regional corporation and Gary Griffith to distribute the meals. Griffith, however, is in London and returns Monday. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management said affected Diego Martin residents can contact the regional corporation.
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Six women in top 10 for Independence Calypso final TRINIDAD (TG) -- Six women are among the ten calypsonians chosen to compete in the final of the Lord Brynner National Independence Calypso Competition to be staged at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain on August 25 from 8 pm. Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington), Michelle Henry, Kizzy Ruiz, Karene Asche, Karen Eccles-Thomas and Heather McIntosh qualified from the semifinal round of competition staged at Palm’s Club, San Fernando, on Saturday night. The male qualifiers are Chucky (Roderick Gordon), King Luta (Morel Peters), Duane O’Connor and Brian London. Produced by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (Tuco) in collaboration with the Ministry of The Arts and Multiculturalism, the event received solid public support, as a full house of patrons came out to listen to contributions from the 25 singers who had advanced from the two preliminary rounds of competition held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-ofSpain on July 14 and 15. The fashionably-clad female finalists delivered outstanding performances of their work which, in general, contained strong lyrics married to beautiful melodies. Sandra sang about the Red White and Black, Michelle Henry took a look at Our National Watchwords, Kizzy Ruiz vowed T&T Forever, Karene Asche liked Cascadoo. Karen Eckles-Thomas promised I Will Reciprocate, and Heather McIntosh offered The Reason.
Ashley, Born of Romanian and Spanish descent, and hails from Brad-
ford. You may recognize Ashley from one of our previous editions, but this time she’s appearing with some bragging rights...
The men, also fashionably attired, were not to be outdone, however, as Chucky’s Bear With Me was well received, as was Luta’s Fifty Fifty. Reigning calypso monarch Duane O’Connor’s contention was there Unity In Independence, and Brian London affirmed This Is My Land.
The good news emerging from the Olympics in London earlier in the day was capitalised on as several contestants updated verses in their songs to record the medal achievements of the Trinidad and Tobago athletes at the Games. In addition, many on the playbill made use of elaborate props in presenting their work. Popular bards who did not make the cut were former national calypso monarchs Kurt Allen (50 Not Out) and Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna) (Team T&T), as well as The Original DeFosto Himself (Winston Scarborough) (An Oath To Her), Devon Seale (Snap Shots) and Black Sage (Phillip Murray) (Red White And Black). Winner of the competition will take home a cash prize of $500,000. Second place is worth $250,000 and third $150,000. Fourth to tenth placings will receive $50,000 each. Musical accompaniment was provided by Errol Ince and the Melody Makers, while Damien Melville performed the duties of show host. Making a guest appearance was Lady Adana (Marsha Charles).
Bolt considers Australian cricket offer
Ashley will be representing Canada for the Miss World Supermodel Pageant competition coming up in November in Fiji. This beauty is destined for big things! We wish her all the best in the upcoming competition! You could be our next editions “TC Girl”! To enter, send your photo and a brief description to info@torontocaribbean.com
AUSTRALIA (AP) -- Olympic sprint star Usain Bolt has told Australian media he is considering an offer from former Test legspinner Shane Warne to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia’s Big Bash League next season. The Melbourne Stars franchise, for which Warne is the marquee player, confirmed they have opened negotiations with Bolt through his management company.
Bolt, who defended his 100 and 200 metres titles in London to take his Olympics gold medal tally to six, played junior cricket in Jamaica and has expressed a love for the sport. He told Australia’s Channel Nine that “if I get the chance I will definitely try because I know it’s going to be a lot of fun. I don’t know how good I am. I will probably have to get a lot of practice in.”
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 3
Education ministry condemns Linden school fire ever, can argue that to burn bridges, block roads and burn schools constitute peaceful protest. Every peace loving person and citizen who recognises education as a necessary tool for poverty alleviation must condemn the burning of schools immediately. There can be no ifs and buts and conditions. This is wrong, will affect our innocent children, will create grave hardship for all involved, and must be unreservedly condemned. GUYANA (DW) -- The Ministry of Education on Sunday condemned the early morning burning of the One Mile Primary School at Linden, Region 10 saying the act has now presented numerous challenges for parents, children and the education sector. Below is the statement issued by Minister Priya Manickchand. “The Ministry of Education condemns in the strongest possible language the burning of the One Mile Primary School at Linden. The school is the largest primary school in Region 10 and is home to more than 830 of Guyana’s children. Peaceful protest and freedom to assemble is enshrined in our Constitution and must not only be allowed but encouraged in any democracy. This government upholds that principle. No person in their right mind, how-
It will be challenging for the Ministry to place the more than said 830 children into schools that are already filled. It will certainly be challenging on the pockets of their poor parents to find transportation and other money to send these now school-less children to other schools given that the one closest to their home has been burnt to the ground. It will be challenging on the other schools which will now be forced to take in these children. All the schools taking in and the children attending will certainly suffer as they will be accommodating far beyond their capacity and hence teaching far below their maximum. Linden has the most trained teachers in Guyana with 93% of the primary level trained but, even so, now instead of the schools focusing on quality delivery they will now have to focus on mass and on counteracting the challenges posed by increased numbers. So in effect much more than the
said 830 One Mile Primary kids will suffer. As we know schools are not built overnight, so this is a most tragic circumstance that will prevail for as long as the children are forced to attend these other schools. We will stand with our education officers, headteachers and teachers, parents and students throughout what will surely be a most difficult period We are failing at the Ministry to understand how to burn a school could be determined to be an effective way to protest reform for the payment of electricity rates. We believe that the people of Linden are being used by the politicians who do not so much care about Lindeners as they do about advancing their own wild and undemocratic agendas. To burn a school is to remove the most necessary tool of poverty alleviation. To have burnt One Mile Primary is to attempt to condemn all the children attending that school to a life of poverty. We call on all right thinking members of society, political leaders, religious leaders, business people, ordinary Guyanese, to join us in condemnation of this most heinous act. We call on the Lindeners to let sense prevail. Guard the future of your children jealously and reject all efforts whose only consequence can be to doom you and your children to a life of dire poverty and hardship.”
Tewarie blames ‘years of bad practice’ for flooding Tewarie says the flooding which hit the north-western peninsula was exacerbated by “years of bad practice.” He made this comment in light of Saturday’s rains which resulted in collapsed bridges at La Horquette Valley Road.
TRINIDAD (TG) -- Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development Dr Bhoe
Interviewed on Saturday, Tewarie said: “Many of the islands, fortunately, are spared the storms even during the most critical periods. But we cannot escape the rains that come with it. The situation was exacerbated by years of bad practice. Bad habits can help turn excessive rains into crisis.” He made reference to a concerted effort to stop the development of the hills and the denudation of forest cover. Tewarie added: “There is a build-up of river systems. Inadequate attention was paid. There must be holistic ap-
proach to drainage.” Zeroing on short-term interventions, Tewarie said: “We need to address the human cost of what happened. The effects would be felt over the next few days. We need to manage it. We need to give relief and comfort to those who are terribly affected by the floods.” Moving to long-term interventions, Tewarie said there was need for comprehensive programmes which link the management of flooding with irrigation for agriculture, clearing of drainage systems, rehabilitation of rivers, development of water retention and water capture capability. “We have taken precautions in the Northern Range. We have taken decisions to curb indiscriminate quarrying,” Tewarie added.
T&T must also prepare for earthquakes TRINIDAD (TG) -- Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing says T&T should begin to seriously prepare for other types of natural disasters—especially earthquakes. He made the comment in response to Saturday’s deluge which left a trail of destruction in western Trinidad. Lee Sing said: “It is a most unfortunate experience we have had with Mother Nature. “When we got up, we (T&T) did not think we would have to deal with such a disaster. We lost two lives. We should start to build buildings that would withstand natural disasters of all types...especially earthquakes.” He added: “We should demand the appro-
advantage.” Zeroing on the flooding, Lee Sing said it was absolutely necessary to return to “retro fitting or rather re-engineering in terms of drainage.”
priate work be done to get buildings ready for earthquakes. “We should have scientific people with the knowledge and skills to go into people’s homes and do what is necessary to refit the buildings. We should be prepared should such a disaster occur. We must take yesterday’s trials and use it to our best
It was mandatory since the drains were tasked to accommodate an additional volume of water from heavy rains. Lee Sing said the Port-of-Spain City Corporation worked in tandem with the Diego Martin Regional Corporation. He said: “We were able to assess what we had to do in the Port-of-Spain City Corporation. We were able to immediately assign the greater amount of our resources to the Diego Martin Corporation. We assigned 60 per cent of manpower and resources.”
PAGE 4 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
PPP accuses Online, Social Media sites of pushing racism GUYANA (DW) -- The Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) on Saturday lashed out at Demerara Waves and well-known television journalist Gordon Moseley for content on the Internet, accusing the two of stoking racial division and fuelling unrest in Linden. The ruling party’s blame-game followed similar sentiments by the Office of the President against Benschop Radio and Demerara Waves, specifically charging them with being responsible for renewed tensions on Friday. “This racist campaign which has now been brought to a head with person’s openly advocating violence against a particular ethnic group has also been aided and prodded along by the racially insensitive comments and apparent advocacy by some senior members in the private media. No more so was this more evident than on the Demerara Waves Media Site operated by former President of the Guyana Press Association Denis Chabrol, where someone in the comments section of a story was allowed to make a post calling for attacks against a particular ethnic group in Guyana. The racially divisive Face book posts of current President of the Guyana Press Association Gordon Moseley regarding the Linden situation is also most revealing,” the PPP said in a statement. The PPP-aligned Indian Arrival Committee has levelled an almost identical accusation
those persons to reprisals,” said the GPA which is affiliated to the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM). The GPA publicly told the Guyanese leader and his party that GPA “takes this dubious ploy of yours seriously and will inform Regional and International Press groups about this latest development.” against Demerara Waves, though no one has ever contacted this media house beforehand expressing concern. The IAC had also not sent its press release to Denerara Waves. Demerara Waves shall not be responding to those accusations at this time. In a Facebook reaction, Moseley said “Now I would like Romel Roopnarine and his $400,000 per month salary to point to the racially divisive posts that I have been making on Facebook. I honestly don’t have time to waste with unqualified ostriches like him who think the best way to deal with an issue is to blame the media and turn to the issue of race. Race would only serve in his best interest.” The PPP also similarly attacked the Corporate Communications Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board, Imran Khan and Alliance For Change Executive Member, Tarron Khemraj, charging that they used “a most derogatory and racist term.” In the case of Khan, the PPP said it was used to “describe the ethnicity of a Minister of Government on
Facebook.” Khemraj, the party said, used the “same derogatory term in lashing out at the ethnicity of persons who attended an overseas engagement which involved members of the PPP/C Government.”
The GPA labelled the PPP’s position as “threats” and “baseless accusations” against members of the private media and try to intimidate private and independent journalists and media workers.
Khan, in a brief reaction to several local media houses, said he was unsurprised by this “latest vile attack against me by the PPP” aimed at intimidating him.
According to the media organisation, the PPP’s “cowardly rhetoric” lacked any “shred of supporting evidence.”
“The campaign being an obvious effort to intimidate me is as a result of my association with the AFC and speaking out via social media and the internet against the regime’s unjust rule,” said Khan. He vowed not to be cowed by such attacks that date back to before the November 28, 2012 general and regional elections. “I stand resolute and will not be cowed by these and other attacks of the minority PPP as I join with the majority of Guyanese in the struggle for a just and equal Guyana,” added Khan. The University of Guyana and University of the West Indies graduate in Mass Communications noted that the PPP’s “campaign of fear intensified” last November with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, writing to the West Indies Cricket Board “in what was a clear politically motivated attack against me. It has continued since.” The PPP voiced concern about what it said was the increasing resort by a few supporters and officials linked to the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity to spread race hate messages and calls for violence against particular groups in Guyana. “The vicious racist rhetoric and open racist attacks against persons perceived to not be in support of the ongoing violence and destruction in the mining community of Linden is most shocking. These views are especially being promulgated on social networking sites such as Face book and Twitter and social media sites,” the party added. The Guyana Press Association (GPA) cautioned the Guyana Government and the Peoples Progressive Party against making media workers obvious targets of harm. “We put the Guyana Government and the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic and any other party that may be thinking of making threats, on notice that they will be held accountable should any harm come to any journalist whether in the state or private media, because of this latest threat and other threats made by Government and Party functionaries. The personal attack against journalists is a well known and detestable way to build an enemy that does not exist and may expose
The GPA said the ruling party and by extension the Government must know also that the media will not cower to this latest attempt at scare-mongering, intimidation and harassment of the media that has come to characterize the last decade and a half of its time in office. The PPP said it remained proud of its record of “significant strides” in uniting Guyanese who are still bearing the scars of past haunting events. “Every single perception which we have worked to dispel and all the gains we have made in racial harmony is now at stake because of the misguided and reckless actions of a few,” he said. The almost one-month old unrest in Linden stemmed originally from concerns by Lindeners about an increase in electricity tariffs. Despite calls by Opposition Leader, David Granger for a meeting with President Donald Ramotar, no talks were held on the subject until after the July 18 clash between protesters and police that left three people dead and several others injured. After days of negotiations Region 10 representatives and President Ramotar and team have agreed to the Terms of Reference of a bipartisan team to examine the feasibility of a tariff increase and the electricity sector in general. Government and the opposition have also agreed to hold a Commission of Inquiry into July 18 disturbances in which a government building was destroyed by fire. Other government properties were burnt on August 10 and 11 in fresh violence that erupted after the Joint Services said police fired teargas on a group of arsonists who had set fire to the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge. The blaze was doused by fire fighters and the bridge remains passable. The teargas apparently irritated nearby residents, forcing them to flee their homes in the early hours of Friday. That fuelled anger among residents in both Wismar and Linden, eventually resulting in more fires. The security forces have since regained control of major roads and bridges in Mackenzie, resulting in the smooth flow of traffic. Wismar, however, remained in control of the protesters.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 5
Grenada PM congratulates Bolt people of Jamaica, following the country’s performance at the Olympics. “On behalf of the Government and people of Grenada, I congratulate Usain Bolt on his outstanding and legendary achievement, in becoming the first man in the history of the Olympics to successfully defend his double sprint title – the 100 and 200 metres, at the London Olympics. “We embrace them all as our very own, in the same spirit that the region has embraced Kirani James,” said Thomas. JAMAICA (JO) -- Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas says Jamaica’s Usain Bolt is a Caribbean inspiration and described his performance in the 2012 London Olympics as “legendary.” “As a Caribbean man, Usain is an inspiration to Caribbean people everywhere. He has made us all proud. We salute him, his compatriots and all Caribbean athletes who participated in the Olympics,” said Thomas. His comment is contained in a congratulatory message to the Government and
At the same time Thomas welcomed calls from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to greater recognise James, who became the first person from Grenada and the OECS to win an Olympic gold medal. Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves praised James for his performance while Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer called on LIAT to name an aircraft in honour of the Olympic Gold medalist in the 400 metres.
Friend kills moneylender in South TRINIDAD (TG) -- Moments before his death, moneylender Kevon Mark identified his killer. It was a name that shocked his family because it was someone Mark considered a friend. The shooting occurred around 5.45 pm on Saturday, after Mark, 28, of King Street, Princes Town, went to the home of a soca star at Kandhan Street, Rio Claro. Police said while at the house Mark received a call and was told to walk out to a nearby track to collect the cash he was owed. After Mark left the soca star’s house the sound of gunfire was heard and Mark was seen crawling out of the track. He was bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds to the back. As he slumped Mark called the name of his killer. A call was made to the Emergency Health Service ambulance and Mark was taken to the Rio Claro Health Facility where he died. Meanwhile, Mark’s uncle Norman West, described him as a generous person who
was always “happy go lucky.” West said he last spoke to Mark on Thursday. “He eat here and drink here. I begged him to stay but he told me that he had some money to collect from some people,” West said. He added that Mark had no enemies and always ensured that he provided for his three children—Kaiheem Dyer, six, Kamayah Mark, two and Jaiheem Mark, aged one. All three children have separate mothers. West said Mark was heavily into the lending business but was uncertain who wanted him dead. Up to late yesterday, officers were searching for a suspect. Statements were taken from several of Mark’s relatives and friends. A close relative said Mark had runnings with the law and often wore a lot of gold and diamond jewelery. He said Mark had $80,000 in his pocket at the time of his death. He also said Mark was shot more than seven times in his back. Cpl Vinod Sobie of the South Eastern Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.
PAGE 6 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Yoga for Arthritis
Geeta Maraj Contributor Arthritis is literally translated as ‘joint inflammation’ and is a disorder, which affects the joints and surrounding tissues. It is commonly classified by pain, swelling or stiffness of the joints. While there are over 100 variations of arthritic pain, the term tends to be used to describe all bony conditions where inflammation and pain are evident. According to Public Health Canada, there are over 4.2 million Canadians (16%) from the age of 15 and older who suffer from this disease. This number is expected to increase to approximately 7 million (20%) by 2031. But take heed, yoga has the ability to help alleviate some of the aches and stiffness brought on by this disorder. With committed practice, yoga can help arthritic sufferers live more comfortably. I have been teaching students exercises, which help to cope with arthritic pain for over 10 years as a qualified yoga therapist. I have seen first hand how students who suffer from this disease are able to
weight bear again and live more productive lives. I have seen students walk with less assistance of walking sticks and become more flexible. Similarly, I have seen students who turn to yoga for help grow more confident that there is relief to the usual aches and pain brought on by this disease. Yoga asanas (postures) helps by making the joints more flexible through stretching and simple weight bearing exercises. The slow controlled physical movements help to improve blood circulation. Along with an understanding of breathing exercises, and a healthy diet, toxins are removed from the body, causing the joints to ache less and become more flexible. Joint aches of any form brings on the tendency to move the limbs and joints less, but this creates a vicious cycle, as by moving the joints less, the pain is exacerbated. Here are a few basic stretches, which can help in relieving arthritic pain: Aching wrists: Sit in a comfortable position, with your spine erect, make a fist with your hands and rotate your wrists slowly in a clockwise direction, then rotate your wrists in an anticlockwise direction. Be sure to not hold your breath if
you are feeling any pain but breathe in as you begin the exercise and continue to breathe long deep breaths as you perform the exercise. You can do one hand at a time, or do both hands at the same time, depending on your level of pain and flexibility. Knuckle pain: It is best to do this exercise at a desk or at the dining table. Bend your fingers as you would to make a claw shape with your hands. Then keeping your fingers bent weight bear with each finger, one at a time on the desk. This is similar to pretending to type but holding down the keys for a prolonged time. You can do this routine, one finger at a time, or all the fingers at the same time. Neck pain: Sit in a comfortable position with your spine upright, keeping your body still, move only your head to the far left, as you breathe in. Try to look as far left as possible. Hold the position there while breathing normally. Then bring your head back to the centre position (looking straight ahead) and proceed to move your head to the far right, as you breathe in. Hold the position for a few seconds again while breathing normally, and then bring your head back to the centre position.
Knee pain: Stand facing the wall, about 2 feet away. Place both hands against the wall so that you can be supported and be balanced. As you breathe in, slowly bend one knee, gradually taking your foot off the ground, and eventually barely touching only the tip of your toes onto the ground - as if you are about to tip toe. This keeps most of your weight on one leg only. Hold the position for a few seconds, as you continue to breathe normally. Then straighten up that leg and repeat with the other leg. Ankle Pain: Sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect, preferably in a firm chair with good back support (not a recliner or soft sofa). Stretch one leg outward, and as you breathe in, slowly rotate your ankle in a clockwise direction. Then rotate your ankle in an anticlockwise direction, remembering to keep breathing and do not hold your breath. All the above exercises can be performed from 1 to 10 times or more as you build up strength and resilience in your joints and muscles. Remember to always perform each exercise very slowly and do not rush the movements. It is the slow movement, coordinated with your breath, which helps your muscles to become more flexible. In so doing, this helps your joints to become more lubricated as synovial fluid is released during the exercises allowing for smoother motion.
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Windies ready for start against India West Indies Under-19s will enter the 2012 International Cricket Council’s Under-19 World Cup tournament on a high following two confidenceboosting victories in the official warm-up matches. The Windies beat Australia and Namibia in the warm-ups earlier this week and will have their first taste of competition action against India today at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was among the runs and other good batting performances came from vice captain John Campbell, Sunil Ambris and Anthony Alleyne. The bowling has been on the ball with big fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, left-arm seamer Jerome Jones and follow speedster Marquino Mindley in good form. “I believe the squad is really confident, highly motivated and really looking to play some good cricket and bring back the World Cup home for the first time. Yes, I believe we can win, we just need to believe in ourselves and go out there, play as a team and to our full potential. We are capable,” skipper Brathwaite said. “We have good players in all departments. We have an experienced batting line-up and a solid group of fast bowlers. Also, we have some very good allrounders who we can move up and down the order according to the state of the match.” West Indies placed third in the last World Cup in New Zealand two years ago. They have been drawn in Group C in this tournament, which also includes two-time winners India, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea. “We expect to play good cricket and if we do, we expect to advance to the second round and beyond, but we will not underestimate the opponents. Cricket is a great game and you have to be at your best at all times no matter who you play against. We have to go
Rain brings Florida matches to watery end
out there and play every game hard,” Brathwaite said. Brathwaite is the most experienced member of the team with nine Test matches under his belt. He is expected to open the batting with his left-handed partner Campbell. The other opener in the squad is Keiron Joseph, a small right-hander. The middle-order is strong with left-handers Alleyne and Akeal Hosein; stylish right-hander Kavem Hodge; as well as reserve wicket-keeper Ambris and first-choice keeper Seven Katwaroo. The team includes two fast-bowling allrounders —the hard-hitting Kyle Mayers and the hardworking Justin Greaves. There are also three specialist quick bowlers—Mindley, left-armer Jones, and Beaton, the loose-limbed six-footer. The squad is rounded off with two specialist spinners —Amir Khan, who bowls leg-breaks and googlies; and the ambidextrous Derone Davis, who bowls left-arm orthodox. “John Campbell, he will be great with the bat at the top order the order in his aggressive style and also bowls very handy off-spin. Kyle Mayers is very important in the middle order because he is a batsman who can hit the ball a long way and also bowls a very tidy medium pace,” Brathwaite said. “Ronsford Beaton, he has pace and once he gets it right on those Australian pitches he will be a force to be reckoned with. Derone Davis, he is a livewire in the outfield and always gives 110 percent—sort of like a Dwayne Bravo. He can field extremely well, bowls a very tight left-arm spin and will be crucial in the middle order as well.” Brathwaite added: “I firmly believe we are strong in both our batting and bowling, but above all we have good camaraderie among the players and we have great support staff. We have players who can win matches with bat and ball.”
played. Nevertheless, national captain Denesh Ramdin said the trip was worth it, and the players were able to get in some much needed practice. “The guys were able to work together and this was great indeed. They are gelling nicely, and as we look to find the right combination for the Champions League, tournaments like these are important.”
Persistent rain on Saturday evening forced the abandonment of the second T20 cricket clash between T&T and Jamaica at the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale, USA. T&T won the two-match series after beating the Jamaicans by 67 runs in the first game on Friday. The series was organised to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Independence of both countries 1-0. The rain subsided around 7pm, but the lightning indicators on the ground were flashing and according to law here in Fort Lauderdale, no outdoor sporting activity can occur under such conditions. At 8pm the umpires called off the game, handing T&T the series. Prior to the game being called off, manager of the team Omar Khan called a team meeting informing the players of Keshorn Walcott’s achievement of winning gold in the javelin event at the 2012 Olympics in London, and there was raptuous applause from the players. According to Khan they had planned to go out and beat Jamaica in celebration if the game was
Ramdin said it was unfortunate the weather robbed the team of the last match. “We really wanted to perform for the fans up here but we have no control of the elements and just have to accept it.” Chairman of the national selection committee, Dudnath Ramkessoon, said it was a good opportunity for some of the young players to make their claim for selection and although the second game was washed out, there are still a number of matches to come before they settle on the final team. “We still have a number of games coming up back at home and in Barbados, so we will get to see a lot from the pool of players before making our final choices. “We are however unable to make the proposed trip to St Lucia to play against the Windward Islands but we will have something in place to keep the players busy during that time
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PAGE 10 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Caribbean Pot: 5 Spice chicken on the grill
Chris De La Rosa Contributor Ingredients 4 lbs chicken (I used thighs) 1/2 lime, juiced 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 3 cloves garlic crushed 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (no seeds) 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon 5-spice powder 2 scallions chopped Wash and trim of excess skin and fat off the chicken pieces, then wash and drain dry. Then chop the scotch bonnet pepper and scallion very fine and crush your garlic as smooth as you can. I used my mortar and pestle for the garlic and with the help of a pinch of salt.. I had a smooth garlic paste. Remember when working with scotch bonnet peppers to wear gloves, wash your hands with soap and don’t use the seeds if you’re concerned about raw heat. The seeds and white area surrounding the seeds is most deadly when it comes to hot peppers. Basically all you have to do now is pour everything, including the chicken pieces into a zip lock bag (get a strong freezer bag, so
you don’t have leakage). Seal and massage by moving around with your hands. Be sure to get everything mixed properly. Now try to get as much air as you can out of the bag and quickly seal it. By removing all the air, you’ll help to infuse the chicken pieces with that lovely marinade. Place the bag in the fridge for at least 3 hours.. but 5 hours would be best if you had the time. Take the bag with the marinating chicken out of the fridge so it comes back to room temperature. If you don’t have a grill/bbq, you can do this recipe in the oven. Preheat at 375F, place the chicken on a wire rack on a baking tray (so it’s not sitting in it’s own fat as it cooks) and cook for about 40-45 minutes. You may need to turn on your broiler for the last 5 minutes for it to develop that lovely golden colour. Grill between 375 and 400F and placed the chicken pieces with the skin side up to start. Basically all you’re doing now is grilling as you would normally grill your chicken. So flip every 4-5 minutes (be sure to look of for flare-ups when it’s skin side down) and cook for about 25-30 minutes or until you achieve the way you like. Indirect grilling works best here, to cook the chicken slowly so it’s moist when it’s done grilling Do allow the chicken pieces to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving so the meat relaxes back and you get that true juiciness from the 5 spice marinade.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 11
Natural Shea butter
Trish Browning Contributor Shea butter is an ivory-colored, fatty substance extracted from golf ball-sized nuts that grow on the Karite nut trees. These trees grow naturally in the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. They have been the pride of African people for numerous centuries. Shea trees are commercial assets that provide African women with a daily bread for their families. In Africa, karite nut butter has been used to cure horrible skin diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis. It has also been used to eliminate dandruff, stretch marks, acne scars and burns among other skin problems. In the past few years the word about the benefits of shea butter has spread beyond Africa. It is no longer rare to find skin and beauty products that contain karite butter in the United States. Just to enlighten you more, shea butter is classified among complex fats and it contains varied proportions of fatty acids like linolenic, oleic, linoleic and stearic among others.
The fatty acids found in the shea butter keep the skin moisturized, soft and beautiful. These fatty acids also enhance the skin elasticity, making the wrinkles and faint lines undetectable. Because of its high fat concentration, shea butter is used in the manufacture of bathing soaps, lotions, anti-wrinkle creams, lip balms, hair oils, massage oils and other beauty items. The skin that is protected with shea butter cannot be damaged by free radicals or other environmental triggers. This fatty substance is also known to contain essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, D and E. The three types of vitamins are found mainly in the unrefined shea butter. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant known to protect skin cells against damage. All grades can be used to soothe and cure skin irritations like allergies, insect bites, sunburn marks, dry, peeling skin and acne blemishes. Prior to the purchase, you must know the kind of transformation you want from the karite butter beauty products. If you want shea butter for removal of stretch marks and wrinkles, the West African kind is the best because it contains high amounts of Vitamin A. If you want to boost the firmness of your skin muscles, you need to buy a product that contains Vitamin E. To ensure that your skin receives enough Vitamin D, without being burned by the sun’s rays, you should buy a sunscreen that contains adequate shea butter.
It’s not about your weight! fat. Your fat cells will shrink as your body becomes more toned. Fat cells will take up less space, and your body will get tighter and smaller.
Monique Bartlett Contributor The thing about losing weight is that it’s really not about your weight at all. If you weighed an extra ten or fifteen pounds but that weight came from lean muscle your body would be tighter, and leaner all over and wearing smaller dress sizes. Let me explain this in more detail. Muscle is denser than fat, so it takes up less space, but weighs more. Put a pound of muscle, and a pound of fat side-by-side, you will see that the fat takes up more space than the muscle. So if you are gaining muscle, you may actually go up in pounds, but your dress sizes will shrink. Most people seem to be so concerned about what the scale says but in reality, but don’t understand the properties of lean muscle versus fat. The size of your clothes is going to be one of your best tools to measure how much you are losing, and how much your fat cells are shrinking. Your pants will get looser around your belly, hips, thighs, and butt. That’s much more accurate than measuring your weight on the scale. The beauty of it is, as you are building muscle, you are speeding up your metabolism, and that is going to stop your body from storing
Think about this. When you go on a starvation diet, or a food deprived cleanse, you are telling your body that food is in shortage. Muscle cells require a lot of your body’s energy to keep them alive, and because your body recognizes there is now a food shortage, it’s going to get rid of these energy cells as fast as possible. This will cause you to lose muscle mass. You will watch the numbers on the scale go down, but it is getting rid of the lean muscle instead of fat. You can actually be deceived into thinking starvation diets work faster and better than healthy, natural fat loss techniques because you will lose a lot of weight quickly, especially in the beginning. Remember, that’s because muscle weighs more than fat, but it takes up less space. No matter how long you’ve been a crash cleanser or a yo-yo dieter, you can stop your body from storing fat, and train your body to store lean, muscle that will make your body shrink. I know this because I’ve been through this journey. I dropped ten sizes about ten years ago. I went from a size 14 to a size 4. I’m not saying this to brag, but rather to inspire you, and share the success with you. I beat the scale addiction, and I finally figured out how to do this the 100% natural and healthy way. Don’t let past failures discourage you. Once you figure out how to beat the scale, you’ll succeed in your weight loss journey. Let a tape measure be your friend, and get rid of the scale
I think I have bad breath, what can I do? Dr. Matthew S Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin
Contributor Bad breath is one of those embarrassing issues people try to avoid talking about, and if you think you are suffering from bad breath, or to give it its proper name, halitosis, then you’ll probably need to ask good friend or family member to tell you the horrid truth. But what causes this common condition? - Bad breath is caused by bacteria building up in your mouth, and this can create areas of inflammation and infection, and the bacteria can give off noxious gases. These gases can frequently smell sulphurous, or even worse. - It is estimated around 80% of bad breath is caused by some kind of disease or inflammation in the oral cavity. For instance, if you suffer from gum disease then bad breath is often one of the symptoms. Similarly dental decay and cavities can create bad breath as these conditions are created by bacteria attacking the surface of the teeth. - If you fail to brush or floss thoroughly, then particles of food can become trapped in between your teeth, and they’ll gradually rot and will begin to emit foul smells. - Failing to clean a denture properly can also result in bad breath, as it will be covered in particles of old and rotting food as well as plaque bacteria. Bad breath can also be caused by certain medical conditions, including diabetes, bronchitis, respiratory tract infections as well as acid reflux. It’s essential to see your dentist to have the cause of your bad breath correctly diagnosed, as if they cannot find the reason you may need to see your physician. If there is no medical reason, then there are certain things you can do to help to lessen bad breath, and which may help you avoid developing halitosis in the first place. Good oral hygiene is essential for great breath Good oral hygiene is the key to having sweet breath, and you should be brushing your
teeth at least twice a day and flossing oncea-day. It’s essential to brush for at least 2 minutes each time, and to cover all the tooth surfaces. It can help to use mouthwash, but it’s best to choose one which contains antibacterial agents designed to help fight bad breath rather than one designed merely to freshen breath. Gently brushing your tongue or using a specially designed tongue scraper will help remove even more bacteria. It is also essential to see your dentist at regular intervals, preferably every six months. Your dentist will be able to check your oral hygiene is up to scratch and you aren’t missing any areas when brushing and flossing. Professional dental cleaning will help remove all the calculus which can build up on teeth, and this should help give you better breath. Pay attention to your diet Your diet definitely has an effect on your breath, and if you are fond of spicy foods and garlic and onions, then you may need to cut back a little. This is because food is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream before being expelled through the lungs as you breathe. If you’re on a diet and then you may suffer from bad breath, especially if it’s low in carbohydrates or calories. Healthy habits for sweeter breath Choosing a healthy, balanced diet will help sweeten your breath, as will snacking on watery fruits and vegetables such as celery, raw carrots or apples. It can help to drink a lot of water, especially after you have eaten, as this will help wash away harmful bacteria and food debris. If you’re an avid coffee drinker, then try to cut down a little, or switch to healthier alternatives such as green or herbal tea. Smoking is a classic reason for bad breath, and of course there are numerous other health reasons for quitting this habit. Alcohol can also give you bad breath, as it gradually dehydrates you leading to a dry mouth. If you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, then chewing sugar free gum can help. This is because it stimulates the flow of saliva, helping to wash away excess bacteria and food debris. If you choose a gum which contains xylitol then it can help to prevent cavities as it fights plaque bacteria.
PAGE 12 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Immigration matters: : Super Visa for parents & grandparents
Marva Kollar Contributor Since your arrival in Canada, you have been separated from parents; homesick and saving to sponsor your Parent or Grandparent (the Parent) to reunite in Canada. Your Authorized Representative now advised that effect November 5, 2011, there has been a 2-year “temporary pause” on sponsorship of Parent, also referred to as Phase I Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification which plans to “increase the number of Parents accepted as permanent residents, from nearly 15,500 admissions in 2010 to 25,000 in 2012”. This will also facilitate faster processing for approximately 160,000 applications in backlog. The Super Visa is second Action Plan. Essentially a temporary resident visa (visitors’ visa), and a new category of immigration, it is valid for 10 years, allows Parent to enter and remain in Canada for up to two years without applying for an extension and it has been said that the overall success rate is over 80 per cent. Super Visa anticipated processing time of eight weeks compared to waiting up to eight years for a Decision
on Permanent Residence applications, is incredible!
To qualify for Super Visa, applicants must meet existing visa requirements as well as:
nate future sponsorship of Parent for many Canadians.
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents also called Host Families, ecstatic about the new immigration rules must first meet the criteria includes showing proof of relationship, financial security, and buying private Canadian medical insurance policy package to cover hospitalization, health care, and return home country. The insurance must be valid for a minimum of 1-year with a minimum coverage of Ca$100,000 before Host Families can qualify for the family reunion in Canada.
•Undergo medical examination and be medically admissible to Canada; and •Show proof of Canadian medical insurance. According to Statistics Canada, the top ten source countries obtaining Permanent Residence in Canada through parental sponsorship between 2005 – 2010 are: India, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Romania, Iran, Ukraine, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Israel and Haiti.
While the medical insurance policy now protects Canadian healthcare system from an overwhelming demand of the aging foreign nationals, it is widely believed that this test may create hardship to intended sponsors whose majority siblings migrated to countries other than Canada. Intended sponsors can make a difference to the fourth and final stage of this Action Plan by contacting their Member of Parliament and get involved with the ongoing “multi-cities consultation”.
Some immigration critics now claim that the Super Visa is priced out of reach, carries a high rate of refusal for Host Families who are unable to meet the national average income level of over $45,000 for a family of four, prove family ties in Canada and still unable to sponsor their Parent for another 16 months. Excluding application, medical and travel costs below are some of the most cost effective medical insurance package for Super Visa applicants without health issues on August 11, 2012 available from Omotoso Alimni, Licenced Insurance Agent:
Currently in the third stage of the Action Plan is the national consultation to address new Parent sponsorship after the temporary pause. Many fear that the proposed adoption of Australia’s immigration “balance of family” test whereby a Parent would have “from half to the majority of their children living permanently in Canada” will elimi-
The real success of Super Visa will be known by virtue of Statistics Canada data, financial impact to labour force due to increase homesick absenteeism, cultural differences and changes in lifestyle. After all, your “little child” is all grown up and has found their own identity in Canada’s multicultural society.
Age Single Applicant Applicant & Spouse 55
$1,717
$,3434
60
$2,020
$4,040
65
$2,503
$5,006
Should you lead or manage your company? The answer is both lead AND manage! manager but understand they are two different roles.
JG Francoeur Contributor Whether you’re a manager or a leader, the one thing you require for either is respect from your team. There are two ways of having your team’s respect. You can either earn it, or demand it. Demanding it, if you have some type of formal authority, has long been used in the past. For example, a manager will demand that his staff respect him or her. This method of demanding respect is not a good longterm solution, nor does it usually work effectively in today’s world.
Here is a quick summary of the distinct differences between being a manager and being a leader: Managers do things right - Leaders do the right things. Managers accept the status quo - Leaders challenge the status quo. Managers ensure processes are in place and operating properly - Leaders create and articulate a vision. Managers focus on the tactical and the short term - Leaders focus on the strategic and longer term. Managers tell subordinates what to do and how to do it Leaders set a direction, obtain buy-in from others, and allow the “how to” to be developed by those handling the implementation. In short, managers are planners and controllers, who produce a degree of predictability and order. Leaders, on the other hand, establish direction, align people, motivate, inspire, and empower.
Leaders today know that you must earn the respect of your team.
The result is that leaders earn the respect of their staff through these actions and, simultaneously, produce change.
Leading from the top basically means, “walking your talk” and “doing what you say.” Good leaders today earn respect from their employees by being consistent in both words and actions. They also earn respect by focusing on the things that leaders should be doing, and allowing their managers to do the things that they should be doing (we will talk more about this later). If you don’t have a manager, then you need to be leader and
Good leaders are not dictatorial and standoffish, but rather are seen to be a part of the team. As Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu described it centuries ago, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists. Not so good when people obey him and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say we did it ourselves.”
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Your Horoscope - August 15th 2012 Aries Horoscope (March 21-April 20): A family circumstance, a relationship impasse, or a legal or financial matter has been dragging on for some time now. As of mid next week, a major blank fills in, and once it does you’ll move on to a much faster go. Watch for news, an important conversation, or an official communiqué to set new wheels in motion. Sign the contract, make the commitment. Taurus Horoscope (April 21May 21): For the past two-ish years, you have been getting your fill of hands-on training in the school of life and love. All this time, you’ve been swimming in the deep end of the pool. Tuesday/Wednesday marks a definitive breakthrough or break-free regarding a work, health, legal, or relationship situation. The stars now position you at a fresh starting gate. Everything fast-tracks from here. Gemini Horoscope (May 23June 20): Whether a joyous occasion, a monumental battle hard-won, or a combination of both, congratulations are in order. You have wagered and gained, perhaps more than you fully appreciate right now. Regarding the heart-and-soul journey, an inheritance, a legacy, a career, a personal, or a financial milestone, mid next week marks a fulfillment-and-reward threshold. It’s an auspicious time to launch a new initiative. Cancer Horoscope (June 21July 20): It’s on stew or brew now and building plenty of steam. By mid next week, a dilemma, conflict, necessity, or circumstance will reach a climactic breaking point. From here, you’ll move past the point of no return and into your brand-new reality. The future holds great promise, and it’s already racing ahead. Log on and commit your all. Leo Horoscope (July 21-Aug. 22): You are progressively gaining a better fix on yourself. At the same time, you’re getting better clued-in to what the immediate and long-range future offers. Mid next week brings you to a significant, official, and/or liberating finish line. From this point, the guesswork diminishes while clarity and confirmation sharpen. A fresh opportunity cycle begins. Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23Sept. 22): While doubt and uncertainty can linger yet, next week’s stars aim to make your choices crystal clear. For now, stay alert and watch for circumstances to set the stage for you. Once the line is crossed, an agreement is reached, or a contract is signed, it’ll be time to forget yesterday’s marathon and to actively invest your all in this gifted
fresh start. Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23Oct. 22): From the middle of May to the end of July, a consciousness, plan, or life direction has been crystallizing into a ripe-and-ready stage. It’s been a matter of aligning several components into one. As of mid next week, Mars conjunct Saturn drops the last piece into place. From here, there should prove to be an easier and faster progression. Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When it comes to loved ones, there’s only so much you can do for them and only so much you can control. The same goes for your own personal expectations. What counts the most is for you to know your heart. Mid next week places you at the end or the start of a vacation, job, or project. Your new adventure holds great promise. Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): Savour the moment—the journey is just as amazing as the destination. By mid next week, you’ll be on to something new and today will already be a thing of the past. It’s a time of significant goodbyes, hellos, and threshold crossings. Keep on the lookout for your next best thing. You’ll know it by that undeniable fits-like-aglove feel. Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): Things can’t keep dragging on in the same way, nor do you want them to. Mid next week’s pressure-and-release stars bring a relationship, financial, or career conflict to a decisive head. Try not to let raw emotions wear you down. Once you are over the hump, the liberation will feel exhilarating. Dump the pain, love the gain. Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18): So much is coming together for you. Over the next week, your future will crystallize in no uncertain terms. The significance of your actions, words, choices, contracts, undertakings, or tests can be daunting, but you have never been more ready and the time is especially ripe. This is not a trial run; it’s your life. Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20): Over the next week, you’ll cross the threshold from living with the potential to living with the reality. You may have waited a long time for this moment to arrive, but now that it has come, you’ll quickly acclimatize to the fast-track trajectory. Legal, financial, or karmic in nature, a binding contract cements the long-term. Life and life’s challenges get easier from here. Work and health are on the upswing now.
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How Vaughan’s By-election can help us Summer Auto Maintenance Checklist reign in the 407 ETR Get ready for those road trips! the tread depth on your tires take one minute. While you’re at it, you should check your tire pressure, too.
Tammy Flores Contributor Premier McGunity has called By-elections in Kitchener Waterloo & Vaughan for September 6th, 2012. February 2011, City of Vaughan Mayor, Michael Di Biase, put forth a motion to have the Province work with the 407 ETR to find alternative ways to earn revenue other than raising tolls. Mayor Di Biase’s view was that high rates were a cause for congestion. I agree with Mayor Di Biase. I have been trying to raise awareness to this problem for a while now. The amount of vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT’s) increases every year, but the ridership on the 407 ETR doesn’t. The 407 ETR boasts a rise in ridership of 1% in the 2nd quarter of this year, but when you compare the rise in VKT’s to the rise in ridership on the 407, the 407 is not handling the amount of traffic it should. As I wrote in a previous article, Highway 407 was originally built to relieve traffic congestion and there is enough anecdotal evidence that would suggest it’s not being used to its fullest potential. Think about it. You have a Private entity whose model is to
raise tolls to lower traffic volumes on a vital piece of infrastructure that was planned for over 50 years, to relieve the forecasted traffic congestion we are now experiencing. Kevin Sack, the 407 ETR’s VP of Communications and Government Relations contradicts himself when he says, “ We know if you don’t control congestion through tolls you will have a much more serious set of circumstances where the highway will be congested and not used.” This is a contradiction because if you have “congestion” on highway 407... it is being well used in my opinion. Although The 407 ETR wants to provide customers with a fast, safe and reliable trip by controlling congestion, that is not what the needs of the Province are. The concessions agreement and the Highway 407 Act allows the Province to reset the terms of the deal with the 407 ETR (and its privatesector owners) without penalty subject to certain conditions. This reset would allow the Province to address concerns that motorists have with ever-escalating toll rates and poor customer service.
You’ve got the car loaded and you’re ready for a summer road trip. You may be prepared, but are you up to date on your summer auto maintenance? Sure, auto maintenance is the last thing on your mind, but it’ll jump to the front pretty quickly if you’re on the side of the road. Spend an afternoon on some simple auto maintenance procedures and you’ll thank yourself in the end. Radiator Flush: The coolant in your radiator doesn’t last forever. Over time it can break down and start to corrode the inside of your radiator. This can lead to cooling problems and radiator repair. A radiator flush once a year is cheap insurance against radiator repairs. Replace Your Air Filter: You should replace your air filter twice a year, so now’s a good time to get that 5-minute job out of the way. Tire Checks: Summer traveling could mean driving in the rain. The tread on your tires must be adequate for rainy weather or you could end up in a ditch, or worse. Checking
Replace Your Windshield Wipers: Winter weather can be brutal to your windshield wipers, making them almost useless if you get caught in a summer rain shower. Replace them at the beginning of the summer and you won’t have to worry. Inspect Your Brakes: It’s a good idea to inspect your brakes twice a year just to be sure everything is up t snuff. Car safety should always be a top priority. Go ahead and check your brake fluid while you’re at it. Check Your Battery: Corrosion is very likely to build up during winter weather driving. Check your battery posts and cables to ensure you’ll have no starting problems. Check Your Headlights: Sometimes you don’t notice that you have a bulb out. Now’s a good time to take a look to see if you need to replace a headlight bulb. Not only is it unsafe to drive with one headlight, you can get a ticket! Remember that car safety begins with you. It also ends with you, since you’re the one driving the car. That means not doing anything stupid like speeding or driving drunk. Do all of us a favor and skip those dangerous activities.