Friday, October 5, 2018
art books design film fashion music food entertainment gardening
Weekend
FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL Pages 20 & 21
Future of fashion Local designer takes on Mission Catwalk
pages 8 & 9
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 5, 2018
music
TV show to support local artists goes international
Judah Tha Lion and Ordain Moss
Ordain Moss with singer Patrice Murrell
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
I
nstead of expressing disappointment in the lack of support given to Bahamians artists here at home, musician Ordain Moss decided to do something about the state of things. Whenever a local artist released a new song she would purchase the single, make a public post about it on her social media pages, adding information on where the track could be purchased. This simple act turned into Ordain interviewing various artists and sharing what she learned about them and their music with her followers. That was the genesis for her web show “Support an Artist Friday”, which will now air internationally. As Ordain puts it, the show was “created by an artist for artists.”
Reggae star Sizzla Kalonji with Ordain Moss
“If we all come together and support each other we can all obtain the success we deserve.” It’s main goal is to not only actively support independent artists, but also to encourage the public to do the same. “If we all come together and support each other we can all obtain the success we deserve. We all need support, so why not start by giving some?,” she said. The show started off as a single weekly Facebook and Instagram post
and grew into a fully produced web and TV show which received thousands of views, eventually more than 20,000 people on a weekly basis. Each episode is 20 minutes in long, leaving sufficient space to fit into a 30-minute time slot. “I created the show to find more ways to support artists. Another main purpose for the show was to create fan behaviour, which was one of things I noticed we lacked in this country,” said Ordain. “With the show now having landed distribution deals in several countries around the world, including the United States, Canada and in the Caribbean, this represents a major milestone. I am really excited and nervous because this comes with a lot more responsibility. We have to make sure our production is at a certain level.” Since the show will be distributed internationally Ordain said she will now be interviewing musicians from all
over the world, bringing awareness to their craft. “So it won’t just be Bahamian artists anymore. We will be featuring artists from all over the region,” she said. The show currently has four humour-packed segments, but it’s flexible approach to production is what keeps it constantly fresh and unique. “What I like about the show is that we can change formatting easily. We have a segment where we interview the artist and then put them in the hot seat where we ask them some weird and interesting questions,” she said. “The vision and plan for ‘Support an Artist Friday’ (#SAAF) is much larger than the web and TV show. The brand has extended to providing a stage for artists, allowing them to take advantage of open expression, possible paid performances, as well as increase their experience and exposure.”
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Friday, October 5, 2018
Inside Weekend
My perfect Bahamian weekend Duquesa Dean Life coach
metal. I particularly love watching the waves crash onto the shore. The sound soothes my soul and I feel so connected to the creator and like one with the universe.”
Q: What is the one thing that you can’t live without?
Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?
Interview 4-5 A Bahamian marine biologist wins one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards Food 7 ‘EAT’ your way through Atlantis with a new culinary showcase Fashion 8 - 10 A model-turned-designer takes on ‘Mission Catwalk’, plus new handbag brand has the ‘sincere’ touch Entertainment 11 - 12 Ride through Nassau on a party bike and enjoy a reimagined Wine & Art Festival Music 13 Soca kings Kes dazzle hundreds at Nassau concert Art 14 -15 The E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival comes Baha Mar’s The Current, showcasing winning art pieces from all over the country Film 17 Lady Gaga dazzles in ‘A Star in Born’ and Tom Hardy confuses in ‘Venom’ Design 18 Learn the difference between laminate, veneer and solid wood furniture Gardening 19 Jack Hardy prepares for a new growing season Science 20 - 21 What’s next for commercial space travel? Literary Lives 22 - 23 A pioneer of the Romantic novel History 24 Exciting discoveries in Portugal and Egypt Forgotten Facts 25 Visiting the islands at the end of the 19th century Puzzles 26 Animals 27 Kim Aranha on the world’s first animal advocate, plus Pet of the Week
“Sunday lunch for sure. Saturday is my only option for a late sleep in the morning and even those are rare. Sunday lunch is a time for family, refuelling and rejuvenating. It’s is a scared day for me, not just as a worship day, but a day totally devoted to my family.”
Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik? “Yes, I know I may be called a dud or boring. I am not much of a drinker. My friends laugh at me when I suggest a cocktail hour. That usually means they will get ‘sweet’ and I will be the
“I haven’t found that one thing yet. Wait...air condition! I hate feeling of sweat rolling down anywhere on me. A/C is no longer optional. It’s a necessity.”
Q: Weekend away, where would you go? sober one. I have an occasional glass of red wine...but I’m usually the one at my gatherings with the glass of water.”
Q: Beach or sofa?
“Beach of course! The ocean draws me to it like a strong magnet draws
“An island in the Bahamas. Some of my faves are Abaco, Long Island and Eleuthera. I love the quiet and serenity I find on those getaways. The beautiful waters, the kind and hospitable people who go above and beyond to meet my needs, and the having the beach all to myself is awesome.”
Things 2 Do this weekend Friday
• “Much Ado About Nothing” Time: 8pm - 10.30pm Venue: Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts Shakespeare in Paradise presents the Bard’s classic comedy about love and wit, featuring a feisty heroine and her equally opinionated suitor. • Salsa Night Time: 9pm Venue: Studio Café, Compass Point Studios Come and learn some bachata, merengue and salsa steps with Maydi. The event is free of charge. • Rum, Rock & Reggae Night Time: 9pm Venue: Bistro Underground Bahamas Judah Tha Lion sings his heart out, Bill gets crazy on his guitar, while Jonathan is serious about that base, Kevin beats those drums, and Lazano gives his all on the keyboard.
Saturday
• Walk for the Cure 2018 Time: 6.30am Venue: Goodman’s Bay CIBC FirstCaribbean hosts its annual walk to fight cancer. Long route: Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre to Sandals and
back. Short route: Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre to the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort and back. Other activities include a warm-up and cool-down, a raffle, a kiddie corner and mini health fair. • The Drunken Labyrinth Time: 12noon - 2am Venue: Fort Charlotte Hosted Khing Kloud and Maradona, this is a new entertainment concept for young and old. The rules of the game are simple: navigate your way through the maze slightly intoxicated. If you make it through the maze in the allotted time, you win. Inside, there will be mini games. Tickets are $10. • Paint The Lanes Pink Shopping Experience Time: 4pm - 8pm (continues on Sunday) Venue: Mario’s Bowling & Family Entertainment Palace Score a strike against breast cancer as you enjoy a very pink shopping extravaganza featuring over 70 vendors. • Junkanoo Throwback Party Time: 5pm - midnight Venue: Junkanoo World, Horseshoe Drive Celebrate Bahamian culture, music, art, food and Junkanoo. Entry is $5 before 9pm; $10 after. There will be a Junkanoo
rush-out, live music, children’s activities, and more. • DJ Irie at Bond Nightclub Time: 11pm Venue: SLS Baha Mar Celebrate National Heroes Day with Miami’s celebrity disc jockey, DJ Irie
Sunday
• The Blessing of the Animals Time: 5pm Venue: St Christopher’s Church, Lyford Cay SEE PAGE 27 • Shakespeare in Paradise’ “Short Tales” Time: 6pm Venue: Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts A pair of women plot to seduce a faithful husband. A maintenance court case takes a surprising turn. And a radio DJ gives his boss a lesson in community spirit. Ten short plays by ten new authors. A Shakespeare in Paradise first. • The Sunday Cool Down Heroes Edition Time: 7pm - 1am Venue: Balmoral Club Enjoy a pre-holiday party with Tingum Dem Band and DJ AI. Dance the night away without having to worry about work the next day.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
interview She has just been awarded a prestigious international prize for providing a new take on worldwide environmental work, and now this marine biologist and lionfish expert tells Cara Hunt how bringing her expertise to the sponging industry is next on her agenda.
Nicola Smith
N
icola Smith has turned a lifelong love of science into a career researching how to conserve and improve the environment. And just recently, the doctoral candidate made history when she received the prestigious 12th annual Bullitt Environmental Prize which will allow her to do post-graduate research on sponges in the Bahamas. “I grew up in Nassau and I went to Queen’s College and then to St Augustine’s and the Haversal College in Canada,” Nicola told Tribune Weekend. “I have always liked science
and all through high school I thought that I would become a doctor because that is what most people with an interest in science do.” However, after an internship at Doctors Hospital, Nicola quickly changed her mind. “I was participating in the STEP programme while I was at the College of the Bahamas, which is a programme where you shadow several doctors in several different areas over the period of a month. My first rotation was in surgery and I couldn’t deal with it, and then I was there when they did a catheter and I realised that I couldn’t handle that either. I just
Last dive of the summer research season can’t deal with blood and so I realised that medicine is just not the field that I need to be in.” Instead, Nicola found another way to channel her love of science. “While I was at the College of the Bahamas I had a mentor, Katherine Sullivan Sealy, who was a marine biologist, and that was the first time that I saw someone who lived in the Bahamas able to make a living in the field,” she explained. “She was very instrumental in my decision to become a biologist,” she said. Nicola went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in both Zoology and English, a Master of Science in
Zoology from the University of British Columbia, and is currently a PhD candidate at the Simon Fraser University in Biological Science. Once she started her studies, Nicola developed a keen interest in biological invasions, conservation, coral reef ecology and tropical fisheries. Her passion led her to investigate the invasion of the lionfish in Bahamian waters. It was a theme she chose for both her masters and PhD work. Her research has led her to become an expert in the field and she has published several papers on the subject and given professional presentations at a number of prestigious
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Friday, October 5, 2018
Measuring groupers caught during recreational fishing in the Bahamas.
conferences, including the Commonwealth Science Conference and at the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution. She was a speaker and panellist at the 32nd Committee on Fisheries, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, where she spoke about recreational catch data on behalf of the Bahamas. Nicola has also served as the experiment coordinator for the Bahamas Lionfish Control Pilot Project for the Bahamian government and as an environmental officer for the Bahamas Environmental Science and Technology Commission (BEST). “I have to say that when I was was doing my research people were so helpful. Whether it be just letting me have access to their boats so I could go out do research (she is a certified scuba driver) or the government providing me
with summer students to be my research assistants. My degrees were a community effort,” she said. Nicola is wrapping up her doctorate work and is excited about the work the Bullitt Prize will allow her to begin early next year. The award recognises people from from varied backgrounds who have demonstrated the ability to become powerful environmental leaders. The goal of the programme is to help broaden and diversify the leadership of the global environmental movement. “Marine environments face multiple threats, yet 2.6 billion people depend on the ocean for their primary source of protein,” said Denis Hayes, CEO of the Bullitt Foundation and first national organiser of Earth Day in 1970. “Nicola’s research on un-reported fish catches and invasive marine
Tagging lionfish
“I think it is so important that the people leading the way in environmental issues are the people who actually live in that environment.” species has implications far beyond her home waters in the Bahamas.” The Bullitt Environmental Prize is awarded to people who bring new perspectives to environmental work.
As the only person of AfroCaribbean descent in her PhD programme, and in most other professional settings, Nicola has helped organise groups on diversity and inclusion during marine biology events in order to overcome a sense of isolation and marginalisation. “Fishing is a way of life in the Bahamas, and in many places around the world, including nearby coastal communities around the Salish Sea,” she said. “These places are heavily dependent on healthy marine environments for their cultural and economic survival.” “I think it is so important that the people leading the way in environmental issues are the people who actually live in that environment. I want to help diversify the
image of a marine biologist/ environmentalist.” Nicola plans to use her funds she receives from the Bullitt Prize to research the sponging industry, its past and the prognosis for its future in the Bahamas. It is an issue she has always had a strong interest in and she is thrilled to be able to explore sponges in a more in depth way. “Part of the appeal of the Bullitt Prize is that a lot of grants direct your area of study, but this grant allows you to research the area of your choice,” she explained. Winners of the Bullitt Environmental Prize receive $100,000 over two years to advance their work. The fellowship will allow Nicola to pursue post-doctoral research in marine conservation ecology, with a focus on past interactions between humans and marine environments to understand their social, ecological and economic impacts. Past winners of the Bullitt Environmental Prize include a soil carbon researcher, a wildlife conservation leader trying to reduce conflict between wolves and ranchers, a veterinarian with a doctorate in public health who studies zoonotic diseases, a researcher focused on climate change adaptation, and an advocate for organic food security.
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section
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Friday, October 5, 2018
food
‘EAT’ your way through Atlantis
Fourteen restaurants at Atlantis will be serving up their newest dishes.
New concept to showcase resort’s restaurants
A
s part of its “Bahamas at Heart” evolution, Atlantis has tasked its culinary team with creating a six-week restaurant showcase called “EAT: Extraordinary Taste @Atlantis”. The event is designed to give guests and residents an opportunity to preview some of the resort’s newest dishes with
specially-curated chef tasting menus at 14 of the resort’s restaurants. The EAT showcase, which started October 1 and will run until November 11, features casual and signature three and four-course meal options on prix fixe menus. Additionally, this new concept will introduce two special events for consumers. EAT at Marina Village will take place this Saturday and offer an extravaganza of food, beer, wine and spirit samples featuring Junkanoo and other live Bahamian music and local artists and artisans, while the EAT with CVNE Spanish Wines special dinner will take place at the Ocean Club Golf Course Clubhouse on Saturday, October 20, in collaboration with the CVNE wine makers from Spain. Participating restaurants include Fish by José Andrés at The Cove, Nobu, Bahamian Club, Todd English’s Olives, Frankie Gone Bananas at
Bimini Road, Pirate Republic Taproom, Carmine’s, The Village Burger Shack, Seafire Steakhouse, Marina Pizzeria, Murray’s Deli, Casa D’Angelo, Chop Stix and the Ocean Club Golf Course Clubhouse “EAT, Extraordinary Taste @ Atlantis is truly a showcase of all the work the team has put in over the past 12 months to reinvigorate and enhance the food and beverage offerings across the property,” said Sean O’Connell, Atlantis’ general manager and vice president of Culinary. “We are very excited to share more of our food and beverage offerings with our visitors and residents who may not always get the chance to dine at the participating restaurants. By creating these prix fixe menus at affordable price points, we are able to provide patrons with a wider range of choices that meets their personal needs. It adds a bit of variety to the norm and lets them more easily enjoy
our ever-evolving menus which feature some new and exciting dishes,” said Bryan O’Shields, senior vice president of Food and Beverage. “Each EAT menu was carefully and thoughtfully designed by teams of Chefs from across the resort and also suggests beverage pairings to enhance the diner’s culinary experience and marriage of flavours,” added Vice President of Food and Beverage Michael MacDonnell. “Atlantis is proud to highlight and celebrate our extraordinary culinary team, which consists of the best and brightest chefs from the Bahamas and around the world. From Fish by José Andrés to Nobu and Frankie Gone Bananas at Bimini Road, we invite you to experience taste at our tables,” said Atlantis Vice President of Specialty Restaurants Charles Colebrooke. For more information about the EAT programme, visit www.atlantisbahamas.com/EAT.
08 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 5, 2018
fashion
Bahamian designer puts
her talent to the test
Kejuana Beneby takes on ‘Mission Catwalk’ By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
B
ahamian model-turneddesigner Kejuana Beneby is ready to be the future face of Caribbean fashion. And to stake her claim, she is currently competing in season six of the hit reality TV show “Mission Catwalk”, based in Kingston, Jamaica. Kejuana is so serious about her fashion that she even quit her day job to pursue her dreams full-time. Currently on a break from filming and back in Nassau, Kejuana talked to Tribune Weekend about what it means to her to be part of a show which has helped boost the careers of fellow Bahamian designers David Rolle and
Theodore Elyett, the latter who won season three of “Mission Catwalk”. Inspired by the popular US TV competition show “Project Runway”, “Mission Catwalk” this year premiered with 12 designers from around the Caribbean on Saturday, September 22. Episodes air this and every Saturday at 8.30pm on Cable 12. Kejuana describes the competition as intense, but an overall rewarding learning experience. “The filming process can be gruesome, sometimes 12 to 14 hour days, maybe one or two breaks. With each challenge you are given a mission: you go to a local fabric store on the island, back to the sewing room to sew within a time frame, and onto the runway,” she said. Her favourite aspect of the show, she said, is being in an environment full of like-minded individuals. To share a
space with other young designers who are as passionate as she is, is a pleasure. “When you are in your own work room, you’re relaxed, yes, but when you are working amongst so much talent you draw information from that energy. Aside from that, it was really fun. I travelled to Jamaica and was there for about three weeks,” she said. Kejuana began her foray into the fashion industry several years ago, working as a model. Her transition from model to designer was facilitated by her move from Grand Bahama to New Providence. “I am self-taught, so I bought a sewing machine. And I think one of the first things I made were a pair of pants. I had a favourite pair of pants that I wanted, but the issue for me was that I was too tall – I am six foot. My issue whenever I bought pants was that they would always be too short. So I had
Model-turned-designer Kejuana Beneby these pair of pants that I turned inside out and figured out how they were made. I went ahead and made the same pair of pants, just longer and just the way I liked them. That was my ‘aha’ moment and I knew I could do this,” said Kejuana. She believes many people who decide to follow their dreams sabotage themselves because they are too afraid of really putting themselves and their work out there. “For me this wasn’t really a calculated move; it was a risk. I had no market to target, it was just more of my fashion that I wanted to capitalise on. There are a lot of times persons are talented and don’t capitalise on their gifts, and I felt like this was my way to make use of my craft,” she said.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
“Easy breezy” resort wear by Kejuana Beneby As a model, Kejuana had made friends with photographers, designers and other creatives. And these were the people who she decided to show her work to first. The positive feedback she received encouraged her move ahead with her designs, which she describes as “easy breezy resort wear pieces” – “mainly because we live in the tropics and it is just easier to have that selling point for something you
can wear everyday, all year around,” she said. “I do swimsuits, cover-ups, ready-towear tops and pants. As of late, I have gotten in to pieces for special occasions such as weddings, dinners and banquets. Right now it is just custom pieces.” While she waits for filming for “Mission Catwalk” to resume, Kejuana continues to practice and perfect her craft, which will hopefully allow her
to grab this season’s first place for the Bahamas. “As a designer, when you do work so personally and put it out there for persons to criticise, it is a tough process. And that was the reason I was apprehensive about designing in the first place, because you don’t know how it is going to be received, but at the same time you can’t hold back. It is a lot of pressure. But when you produce something and you see your
work on a model or a mannequin you feel proud,” she said. “There were reservations, but going on and actually doing it, just the fact that I actually did something for what I feel is a gift of mine, is fulfilling. I would encourage anyone to express themselves through their gifts.” Supporters can follow the designer and her “Mission Catwalk” journey on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/kejuanabeneby/.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
fashion
Standing
out with
sincerity
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
W
henever Rejean Bosh feels inspired, she reaches for her needle and thread to create a one-of-a-kind handbag which helps support a worthy cause. The former beauty queen said she knew she was a true “fashionista” from an early age. And compliments she received over the years whenever she mixed and matched her outfits and accessories gave her the encouragement she needed to go after her fashion dreams. “Being the former Miss Bahamas Grand 2017 and always being in the public eye, it is important that you dress as well as you speak. During my reign I was styled by a fashion designer, Navado Dawkins, which has really evolved my sense of fashion into what it is now,” Rejean told Tribune Weekend. And her fashion sense isn’t the only thing that is evolving; her brand, Ré Sincere, is also expanding. The homebased handbag company was launched earlier this year. Rejean describes it as “a unique collection designed to accentuate any occasion.” Each handbag she creates is made with needlepoint stitching and the sincere touch, the young designer said. “Needlepoint was just a hobby for me and now I can look at it as a lucrative business. This was a craft that I learned five years ago when I was in school which made me feel pretty empowered. It is amazing to see how much it has developed since then. I am constantly inspired to create because I love the idea of being the CEO of Rè Sincere; this is an amazing title to have,” she said.
“Rè Sincere is simply defined as me giving my authentic self in everything that I create. The way that I think is my art. It is genuine in my thoughts and ideas. Ten percent of the profit goes towards a charitable entity for every bag that is purchased.” Rejean recently showcased her bags for the very first time at a local modelling competition called “The Next Face”. This opportunity, she said, really inspired her to establish her identity as a designer and take her business to the next level. “I have gotten amazing feedback from clients, friends and family who have been so supportive of my journey. Even if it is constructive criticism on how I can improve my craft, I take it all in because I want to always give the best quality in what I create,” she said. “What I like most about fashion is how diverse it is. When I dress the part it definitely sparks something in me, that I am fierce and confident. It is such a great way to express yourself; to give someone an impression of your personality without even saying anything. My style is distinctive and I love standing out.” She believes Rè Sincere is well on its way to making appearances on international stages and platforms. Her goal for the brand is to empower women from all walks of life, cultures and races. “Because I am inspired by people, places and colours, creating bags that women can use to represent their own country is going to open doors for endless possibilities for the brand in the future. Rè Sincere has a lot in store and this is just the beginning. This year I am creating bags that represent different countries. My networking circle is constantly growing and I am looking forward to collaborating with a lot of Bahamian entrepreneurs, as I feel it is important to not only empower yourself but to empower others along the way,” said Rejean.
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entertainment
‘The Next Face’ goes to the
races
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
PHOTOS/HIRAM C PHOTOGRAPHY
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ike the popular “America’s Next Top Model” hosted by Tyra Banks, the Bahamas’ very own “The Next Face” serves up all the excitement fashion lovers and reality TV fans could want. From creative photo shoots, to unique challenges and a nail-biting elimination process, the competition show has it all. Created by Bahamian fashion enthusiast and lifestyle photographer Shawn Hanna (who is also a Tribune staff photographer), “The Next Face” last week wrapped up another successful season. At the finale, held at the BHRA Motorsports Park under the theme “A Race To The Finish”, Saucha Rolle beat out 10 other contestants to come out on top. “When I started in 2014 it was simply just a vision at first. I really didn’t have anything in mind, I just knew I had to bring something to the table in Nassau that wasn’t pageantry. I felt like ‘The Next Face’ was a great way to do this, showcasing young women on a different platform that wasn’t so stuck on the way they looked,” said Shawn. He said he became even further inspired for this project after attending New York Fashion Week twice. He describes ‘The Next Face’ as a competition for molding and giving aspiring local models a ‘starter kit’. “Even when I am selecting my cast, I don’t select girls that may have been heavily involved in modelling, more so fresh faces. I think it is very beneficial for that reason, as it gives them a taste of what the modelling industry is all about. They get to see what production is like, what being on a photo shoot is like, what being backstage and on stage of a fashion show is like. It prepares them for that New York Fashion Week experience. Most of our past girls, they go on and you start seeing them
in campaigns and shooting with other photographers, things they wouldn’t be doing if they didn’t get the opportunity to experience ‘The Next Face’,” said Shawn. At last week’s finale, motorbikes, four wheelers and race tracks made for an interesting backdrop for the last photo shoot. Talking about the inspiration for the concept, Shawn said:
“Originally, when I was first thinking of a finale I had envisioned a runway over a pool and have the runway wet, like a Bali kind of vibe going on. Leading up to the end of filming we started to realise it was a bit too much and expensive, so we were going to do something simple, but I don’t know what simple is when it comes to fashion. So we threw around more
ideas and finally decided on something concrete with the theme ‘Race to the Finish’.” Shawn said he wanted to keep everything literal, which is why the show was held on the actual race track. “I know people looked at the flyer and probably thought, ‘Are they really gonna have a fashion show there?’ But the thing is, if you don’t have that creative mind set you can’t see beyond just regular venues. I loved the momentum behind it all though,” he said. Maria Hall, journalism student and co-director of ‘The Next Face’, said the show offered great networking opportunities and gave her a great first-hand experience of the entertainment and fashion industries. “I assisted Shawn behind the scenes with the scripting and the layout. This is my second year on the show. I am really hands-on with the girls in keeping them in order and abreast with what’s going on and what they need. We try to accommodate them and try our best to work with their schedules. We started shooting in June and since then we have been meeting twice a week, with the girls being eliminated once a week. They have a challenge that includes working with a designer and a guest photographer. Their photos are critiqued and an elimination is done. We had 11 girls this season. The process would repeat itself until we are down to our three girls at the end of July for the finale fashion show,” said Ms Hall.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
entertainment
New party bike company kicks into gear By RIEL MAJOR
T
wo young and innovative businessmen are exposing the Bahamas to a new, fun and exciting way of touring Nassau: peddling on a massive
party bike. Pedal Paradise, according to its owners Blair Major and Dirk Watson, provides a safe and delightful eco-friendly touring experience to both visitors and locals. “Our main target is the tourist, so they can tour the Bahamas differently than doing it in the taxis and the horse and carriage,” said Mr Major. The Pedal Paradise tour start sand ends at Junkanoo Beach. Tourists will be able to see Rawson Square, Arawak Cay, Fort Charlotte and the Queen’s Staircase. The party bike can accommodate up to 15 passengers, has a stereo sound system, adjustable seats, a misting system to keep
Owners Blair Major and Dirk Watson aboard their party bike.
passengers cool, and a electric motor to assist with pedalling uphill and turning corners. Pedal Paradise charges $30 per person for those ages 12 to 17, and $45 for those 18 and above. A tour lasts for the duration of an hour and a half. Group tours are also available, and the Pedal Paradise owners encourage people to rent the party bike for special occasions such as birthdays, family outings, engagements, graduations, engagements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties. “It costs $600 to rent the entire bike,” said Mr Major. “(We) offer water and soft drinks, but people can bring their own alcohol if they like.” The two owners, both 25 years old, have high hopes for the success their new and unique venture. “We have been on the road for about two weeks now and we’ve seen good reactions. Everyone tried to hit us up and said they want to give this a try,” said.
BNT reimagines Wine & Art GOOD food, great wine and art will take centre stage on October 27 and 28 at the annual BNT Wine & Art Festival. The event, now in its 28th year, has been reimagined by organisers to provide two days of creativity, cuisine, and of course, wine and art, all set against the backdrop of the garden oasis that is the Retreat Garden on Village Road, one of 32 national parks managed by the Bahamas National Trust. “This year we really wanted to up the ante for our guests and provide an even better experience than they’ve come to expect from Wine & Art,” said BNT Executive Director Eric Carey, “and we’re doing that with the help of an amazing team of sponsors including our new title sponsor, Commonwealth Brewery.” Now the premier sponsor of the event, the company joins an already expansive cadre of corporate sponsors who have supported the festival for nearly three decades. Commonwealth Brewery, known country wide under the banner of 700 Wines & Spirits, will be further supported by the likes of the Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas Waste,
Guests sample products from Commonwealth Brewery after a press conference to announce the Wine & Art Festival 2018. Scotia Bank, Sherwin Williams, and others. “We are excited to be on board with so many amazing entities for this truly re-imagined event,” said CBL Brand Manager Therese Demeritte. “This is the start of what we believe will be a beautiful, long and successful
partnership with the BNT and we’re looking forward to it.” Over a two-day period, the grounds of The Retreat will be transformed to accommodate a beer garden, a champagne lounge, and a variety of tasting stations featuring more 50 wines from around the world.
Each of this year’s wine selections will also be paired with a culinary creation by Chef of the Year Jamal Small and scores of other chefs. “We’re focusing a lot on wide education this year as well,” said Chef Small, “teaching wine drinkers what wines pair best with what meals so they can get the best out of their wine and food options”. The event will feature 30 Bahamian artists showcasing their works for festival patrons. The cadre of artists includes some stalwart favourites as well as newer entrants. For the second consecutive year, the festival will feature ParticiPAINT, an interactive art experience created by 3rilogy which comprises ‘Celebrity Artist’ Jamal Rolle, Airbrush Junkie Stephan Legend and salt artist extraordinaire Allan Pacino Wallace. ParticiPAINT will allow patrons to unleash their inner Picasso on canvases placed around the festival grounds. The annual festival provides significant funding for the BNT, a non-profit organisation charged with managing the national parks of the Bahamas.
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music
Soca kings Kes bring fusion of cultures to Nassau By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
H
undreds of soca lovers danced the night away last Saturday as the Caribbean band Kes performed on Pompey Square for Presidente’s summer campaign. Lead singer Kees Dieffenthaller, of Trinidad and Tobago, made it clear during a media meet and greet the night before that the concert that they would perform come “rain or shine”. “It doesn’t really matter. Every audience we play for and exchange energy with, we always want to have a good time,” he said. Pompey Square was transformed by Presidente and Fresh Entertainment to accommodate the band’s high-energy performance. Kes was joined on stage by local performers Wendi and Dyson Knight. Though singer Kees has performed in the Bahamas before, he described this concert as an introduction for his band and their music. “People here know who we are but we want to keep creating that awareness as it relates to our music. I always
through our music. We always love to bring the positive vibes.” During the concert, Kes performed their top hits, including “Fallin”, “Wotless”, “Hello”, and covered popular dancehall and reggae hits. Kes leader singer Kees Dief“Any project that brings music fenthaller and people together I want to be look forward to coming back to places a part of. I love being apart of and getting more people to know who shows that bring different styles we are. This is still an introduction to together,” said Kees. Bahamas,” he said. Presidente Summer is a promo“I was hoping to be here a little longer tion campaign taking place around to see what is going on in the music the Caribbean featuring some of scene locally. Our mission is connectthe region’s top acts and DJs. ing cultures and connecting the world
Tina Turner show comes to Broadway NEW YORK (AP) — Move over, Donna Summer, Carole King and Cher. There’s another diva heading to Broadway — Tina Turner. Producers of “Tina” said Wednesday that a new musical based on the life of the legendary artist will land on the Great White Way in the fall of 2019. Performances dates, casting and all further details will be announced in the coming months. “Tina” made its world premiere in London in April. It
has a story by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins and is directed by Phyllida Lloyd. It includes the songs “Private Dancer,” ‘‘River Deep, Mountain High,” ‘‘Better Be Good to Me” and “Proud Mary.” It will continue a trend in jukebox musical biographies, a list that also includes the recent shows “On Your Feet!” and “Jersey Boys.” MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer
Tina Turner promotes the launch of the musical ‘Tina’ in London. (Photo/Vianney Le Caer/ Invision/AP)
Wendi and Dyson Knight take the stage
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Friday, October 5, 2018
celebrity The Weekend Fashion Report Fall premieres
SPLIT
SPLIT
SPLIT
FAIL
HIT
Danai Gurira ”The Walking Dead”
Lady Gaga ”A Star is Born”
Mandy Moore ”This is Us”
Yara Shahidi ”Smallfoot”
Karin says: “Very avant-garde. I think I like it. It’s definitely more fashion-forward than we usually see at TV show premieres. And I like the sort of fuzzy zebra print, except I guess you could get a dizzy looking at it too long.” Cara says: “Oh wow, I don’t know to be honest. My first thought was that she looks like she is wearing a thunder cloud costume for one of those little school plays. And also I think she needed more of a statement earring. But kudos for rocking something so different.”
Karin says: “In theory I like this sexier version of Queen Elizabeth I’s Tudor style gown. The ruff works, the skirt is lovely. It’s the bodice that’s the problem. It’s just too tight, and like a corset of yesteryear, looks like it’s squeezing her to death.” Cara says: “Wow, it reminds me of a Disney princess, Renaissance fair AND ice dance...what a mismatch! And it really is squishing her boobs. I love me some Gaga, but this is not one of her best looks.”
Cynthia Erivo ”Bad Times at the El Royale”
Karin says: “Now, this really looks like material from a leftover couch cover was used to stitch up a dress real quick. You can even see the separate makeshift panel at her waist. It’s not attractive in the least. And it looks heavy and hot to boot.” Cara says: “This is such an unfortunate choice. The colour and the style do absolutely nothing for her. It makes her look so straight up and down; it’s just unflattering all around.”
Karin says: “I’m not 100 percent sold on the boxy shoulders, but otherwise this is a fresh, cute little dress. I love the different shades of blue and her picking up the tiny bit of yellow with her shoes for a pop of colour. And blue and yellow, of course, always look great together.” Cara says: “It’s a cute youthful dress. I like it a lot. Such fun tiered and frilly details on the hem and sleeves! My one gripe is that while I love the shoes, I hate them with this dress.”
Karin says: “I think the dress is fine, and seems to match the style and colour scheme of the movie perfectly. I’m just not thrilled with the spaghetti straps. It makes it look like a leotard dress and not a red carpet gown. Also, I’m not feeling the hair.” Cara says: “This dress is so pretty. I love these tulle princess ball gowns. And of course I am here for the red details on the dress. I am truly getting a dark Snow White vibe from this for some reason.”
PHOTOS BY CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
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film
review
‘Venom’ is a manic muddle VENOM RUNNING TIME: 112 MINS
“V
enom,” starring Tom Hardy as a TV investigative journalist whose body is invaded by an alien organism, is a destabilising mix of intentional and unintentional comedy that for better and worse returns the superhero movie to its natural state: camp.
SONY PICTURES VIA AP
What makes Ruben Fleischer’s first instalment in the Sony universe of Marvel characters such an oddity is that it seems perpetually unsure of just how far it wants to teeter into ridiculousness. It’s an incoherent mess of tones, acting styles and visual effects. And yet it’s kind of a hoot. Having that feeling of “What the hell is this thing?” is an underrated quality in movies — good or bad ones — and it’s even more captivating when the movie, itself, seems to have thrown up its hands in exasperation.
Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a motorcycling San Francisco reporter who loses his lawyer fiancée (Michelle Williams) when he steals a tip from her work email. His exposé of a powerful industrialist with maniacal aspirations for saving humanity, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) goes up in flames, and he’s sent packing. But a whistleblower in Drake’s lab contacts Brock and brings him in to reveal what’s going on: Drake has obtained an extraterrestrial parasite — a gummy, writhing black blob — and
review
‘A Star Is Born’ is dizzyingly wonderful A STAR IS BORN RUNNING TIME: 135 MINS
IT’S hard not to go into “A Star Is Born “ without a lot of prejudgments. Even if you haven’t seen the other three versions, the mere fact that they exist is enough to make anyone scoff at the fact that Hollywood keeps dusting off this well-worn story about fame
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and love and addiction. And then you throw in the fact that it was made by a first-time director, who also happens to be a movie star, no less, and the whole thing seems even more dubious. Leave that all at the door, though, because “A Star Is Born,” is simply terrific — a big-scale cinematic delight that will have the masses singing, swooning and sobbing along with it. It’s quite a feat from Bradley Cooper, who directed, co-wrote, produced and stars in the film. Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a massively popular
singer-songwriter whose path intersects with an unknown and overlooked talent named Ally (a magnificent Lady Gaga) and the two become entangled as his star fades and hers rises. Cooper puts the viewer right with Jackson as he takes the stage at a big festival. His routine, you imagine, doesn’t alter that much: Pop the pills. Drink the drink. Take the hat off. Play. Sing. Exit stage left to drink some more. Only this night, he ends up somewhere a little off his regular path, at a drag bar where Ally, in full Edith
he’s conducting human trials with it. The potential scientific benefit of this is a little iffy, but in practice, it means one person after another is led into a chamber where the organism takes over their body and quickly kills it. Just as in the “Spider-Man” comics, from which Venom originates, the movie is predicated on what can go wrong in a lab. Brock proves a surprisingly good host for the alien creature which turns out to be much more sentient than your average blob. From inside Brock, it can not only form a slimy black exoskeleton and in a flash spawn spindly appendages. It can also in a deep growl tell Brock “Hungry!” ‘‘Let’s eat his brains!” or, when in a less violent mood, dispatch relationship advice. Brock and Venom turn out to be quite compatible and one of the odder Dr Jekyll and Hyde routines you’re likely to see. “Venom” never achieves symbiosis, or anything like it. But the film’s off-kilter schizophrenia gives it a madcap appeal. JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer
Piaf costume, wakes him out of his ambling stupor with “La Vie En Rose.” And with a star-making close-up of Ally, Jackson, and the audience, falls in love. Cooper and Gaga have incredible chemistry, the kind that makes you believe that two strangers would know in a night that they’re made for each other. Before you know it, he’s asking her to come up on stage with him to sing her song, “Shallow,” which someone films, puts on YouTube and creates a viral sensation. The first hour of “A Star Is Born” is downright electrifying — funny, exciting, sexy and wholly lived-in. “A Star Is Born” is that rare film that makes you actually feel part of a world, and not just like an observer on the other side of a screen. But like all good things, the engine of that first hour only gets the film so far, and the second half has its shortcomings. However, the actors and the filmmaking hold up “A Star Is Born” where the story cannot. LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer
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design
Laminate, veneer and solid wood furniture:
What’s the difference?
By A MONIQUE GRAHAM
F
urniture in your home is a reflection of your personality and image, but why should the office be any different? After pondering and analysing, you have decided that it is time to revamp your office furniture. You have done your due diligence with researching what is available in the market of office furniture, you have now realised that equipping your space with the right furniture can involve a delicate balance of choosing options that are durable, stylish, affordable and reflect the image you are trying to portray. So you have narrowed down your options between solid wood, solid wood core, solid wood particle board, veneer and laminate. While real wood makes for beautiful furniture, and you might love the timeless look it displays, the cost could be well beyond your budget. However, while laminate furniture is more affordable, you may be left wondering if it comes with the level of durability you will need. There are so many choices and I have found that there are often misconceptions about the differences. I have compiled a comprehensive guide to assist you in making the right decision on which furniture material is best for your environment. Veneer is technically thin layers of hardwood in odd numbers that are turned perpendicular to one another and compressed creating a layer, usually thinner than 1/8 of an inch. Typically, veneer is bonded, or glued with adhesive, to a cheaper surface that is hidden below. A less expensive wood or particle board can often be found underneath. This practice allows furniture makers to design and build beautiful pieces at a lower cost. Wood veneer has a richer and more varied
look. Since more effort goes into crafting a veneer top, they are usually priced higher than laminate alternatives. Wood veneer is softer and more susceptible to scratches and dents when compared to laminate, so I would recommend using desk pads and coasters to protect the surface. Laminate is made with synthetic materials that is thermally fused with a low or high pressure to a wood core, hence you have high and low pressure laminates. In some cases, it is made to look like wood grain by using a method that is similar to printing. When Laminate made its debut into the market, it had a shiny finish. As it is a man-made product, this means that it is stronger and that it tends
A Monique Graham
to be heat and scratch-resistant, making laminate easier to care for than real wood or veneer. For this reason, you don’t need to be as careful with laminates as you do with veneers. It’s also much easier to produce laminate products, so the price of laminate furniture is usually economical, making it the more budget-friendly choice. One downfall of laminate is that, since it’s a manufactured surface, you will not get the natural variations and depth of true wood grains that you see with authentic wood veneer; however, the colour possibilities are endless. Solid wood is unlike laminate. Wood can be revitalised – a benefit that man-made materials cannot claim. Authentic wood furniture can be sanded, stained, varnished, treated and painted. Some woods are pliable and show wear, such as worn corners and edges, after many years of use. Others are called hardwoods and have a more durable lifespan. I believe that wood’s naturalness, warmth and aspirational appeal, enable it to speak to multiple generations. Perhaps because of its aesthetic beauty or the common assumption that wood is expensive, wood furniture speaks to aspiration, and success which, that man-made materials are hard-pressed to deliver. Although, wood furniture is more costly , and intrinsically speaks to this value. So what decision should you make? Consider which of these benefits is more important to you when making your decision for your space. Remember, making the right selections during the out fit process, is about your taste, budget, and style. Your office furniture can not only last for years to come, but will also provide your workplace with style, comfort and character, sending a message to your team that resonates “we are investing in you.” If you’re in need of further assistance, Style Office Solutions is located on East Bay Street
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science
A decade of commercial
space travel – what’s next?
(THE CONVERSATION) – In many industries, a decade is barely enough time to cause dramatic change unless something disruptive comes along – a new technology, business model or service design. The space industry has recently been enjoying all three. But 10 years ago, none of those innovations were guaranteed. In fact, on September 28, 2008, an entire company watched and hoped as their flagship product attempted a final launch after three failures. With cash running low, this was the last shot. Over 21,000 kilogrammes of kerosene and liquid oxygen ignited and powered two booster stages off the launchpad. When that Falcon 1 rocket successfully reached orbit and the company secured a subsequent contract with NASA, SpaceX had survived its ‘startup dip’. That milestone – the first privately developed liquid-fuelled rocket to reach orbit – ignited a new space industry that is changing our world, on this planet and beyond. What has happened in the intervening years, and what does it mean going forward? While scientists are busy developing new technologies that address the countless technical problems of space, there is another segment of researchers, including myself, studying the business angle and the operations issues facing this new industry. In a recent paper, my colleague Christopher Tang and I investigate the questions firms need to answer in order to create a sustainable space industry and make it possible for humans to establish extraterrestrial bases, mine asteroids and extend space travel – all while governments play an increasingly smaller role in funding space enterprises. We believe these business solutions may hold the less-glamorous key to unlocking the galaxy. The new global space industry When the Soviet Union launched their Sputnik programme, putting a satellite in orbit in 1957, they kicked off a race to space fuelled by international competition and Cold War
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy fears. The Soviet Union and the United States played the primary roles, stringing together a series of “firsts” for the record books. The first chapter of the space race culminated with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing which required massive public investment, on the order of US$25.4 billion, almost $200 billion in today’s dollars. Competition characterised this early portion of space history. Eventually, that evolved into collaboration, with the International Space Station being a stellar example, as governments worked toward shared goals. Now, we’ve entered a new phase – openness – with private, commercial companies leading the way. The industry for spacecraft and satellite launches is becoming more commercialised, due, in part, to shrinking government budgets. According
“...the course seems set: exploring farther away from home, whether that’s the moon, asteroids or Mars.”
to a report from the investment firm Space Angels, a record 120 venture capital firms invested over $3.9 billion in private space enterprises last year. The space industry is also becoming global, no longer dominated by the Cold War rivals, the United States and USSR. In 2018 to date, there have been 72 orbital launches, an average of two per week, from launch pads in China, Russia, India, Japan, French Guinea, New Zealand and the US. The uptick in orbital launches of actual rockets as well as spacecraft launches, which includes satellites and probes launched from space, coincides with this openness over the past decade. More governments, firms and even amateurs engage in various spacecraft launches than ever before. With more entities involved, innovation
Friday, October 5, 2018
has flourished. As Roberson notes in Digital Trends, “Private, commercial spaceflight. Even lunar exploration, mining, and colonisation – it’s suddenly all on the table, making the race for space today more vital than it has felt in years.” One can see this vitality plainly in the news. On September 21, Japan announced that two of its unmanned rovers, dubbed Minerva-II-1, had landed on a small, distant asteroid. For perspective, the scale of this landing is similar to hitting a six-centimetre target from 20,000 kilometres away. And earlier this year, people around the world watched in awe as SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched and – more impressively – returned its two boosters to a landing pad in a synchronised ballet of epic proportions. Challenges and opportunities Amidst the growth of capital, firms and knowledge, both researchers and practitioners must figure out how entities should manage their daily operations, organise their supply chain and develop sustainable operations in space. This is complicated by the hurdles space poses: distance, gravity, inhospitable environments and information scarcity. One of the greatest challenges involves actually getting the things people want in space, into space. Manufacturing everything on Earth and then launching it with rockets is expensive and restrictive. A company called Made In Space is taking a different approach by maintaining an additive manufacturing facility on the International Space Station and 3D printing right in space. Tools, spare parts and medical devices for the crew can all be created on demand. The benefits include more flexibility and better inventory management on the space station. In addition, certain products can be produced better in space than on Earth, such as pure optical fibre. How should companies determine the value of manufacturing in space? Where should capacity be built and how should it be scaled up? The figure below breaks up the origin and destination of goods between Earth and space and arranges products into quadrants. Humans have mastered the lower left quadrant, made on Earth – for use on Earth. Moving clockwise from there, each quadrant introduces new challenges, for which we have less and less expertise.
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Threats from space junk The movie “Gravity” opens with a Russian satellite exploding, which sets off a chain reaction of destruction thanks to debris hitting a space shuttle, the Hubble telescope, and part of the International Space Station. The sequence, while not perfectly plausible as written, is a very real phenomenon. In fact, in 2013, a Russian satellite disintegrated when it was hit with fragments from a Chinese satellite that exploded in 2007. Known as the Kessler effect, the danger from the 500,000-plus pieces of space debris has already gotten some attention in public policy circles. How should one prevent, reduce or mitigate this risk? Quantifying the environmental impact of the space industry and addressing sustainThe International Space Station able operations is still to come. What’s next? It’s true that space is becoming just another place to do business. There are companies that will handle the logistics of getting your destined-for-space module on board a rocket; there are companies that will fly those rockets to the International Space Station; and there are others that can make a replacement part once there. What comes next? In one sense, it’s anybody’s guess, but all signs point to this new industry forging ahead. A new breakthrough could alter the speed, but the course seems set: exploring farther away from home, whether that’s the moon, asteroids or Mars. It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, SpaceX Japan’s Minerva-II-1 rovers made history this year by landing on the surface of launches were yet to be successful. an asteroid for the first time. Today, a vibrant private sector consists of scores of companies working on everything from commercial spacecraft and rocket propulsion to space mining frozen as ice on planets and moons, I first became interested in this parand food production. The next step is and rare elements like helium-3 for ticular problem as I listened to a panel working to solidify the business pracenergy are embedded in the crust of of robotics experts discuss building the moon. If we brought that particular tices and mature the industry. a colony on Mars (in our third quadStanding in a large hall at the isotope back to Earth, we could elimirant). You can’t build the structures on University of Pittsburgh as part of the nate our dependence on fossil fuels. Earth and easily send them to Mars, White House Frontiers Conference, As demonstrated by the recent so you must manufacture there. But I see the future. Wrapped around my putting human builders in that extreme Minerva-II-1 asteroid landing, people head are state-of-the-art virtual reality are acquiring the technical know-how environment is equally problematic. goggles. I’m looking at the surface of to locate and navigate to these materiEssentially, an entirely new mode of Mars. Every detail is immediate and als. But extraction and transport are production using robots and autocrisp. This is not just a video game or open questions. mation in an advance envoy may be an aimless exercise. The scientific comHow do these cases change the ecorequired. munity has poured resources into such nomics in the space industry? Already, efforts because exploration is preceded companies like Planetary Resources, Resources in space by information. And who knows, Moon Express, Deep Space Industries, You might wonder where one and Asterank are organising to address maybe 10 years from now, someone gets the materials for manufacturwill be standing on the actual surface these opportunities. And scholars are ing in space, but there is actually an of Mars. beginning to outline how to navigate abundance of resources: Metals for Joel Wooten questions of property rights, exploitamanufacturing can be found within University of South Carolina tion and partnerships. asteroids, water for rocket fuel is
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Friday, October 5, 2018
literary lives – r d blackmore
The ‘last Victorian’
– a pioneer of the Romantic novel Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about one of the most famous English novelists of the second half of the 19th century who pioneered the fiction movement with vivid descriptions of the West Country.
R D Blackmore (1825 - 1900)
R
ichard Doddridge Blackmore – often referred to as the “last Victorian” – was born on June 7, 1825 at Longworth in Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire). His father John Blackmore was curate-in-charge of the parish. His mother died of typhus a few months after he was born. His father then moved to Bushey in Hertfordshire before returning to his native Devon. The young Blackmore spent much of his childhood in pastoral Exmoor, and along the Badgworthy Water, which
St Mary’s Church in Oare, where Lorna Doone was shot on her wedding day by the wicked Carver Doone.
he immortalised in his classic “Lorna Doone”. In 1837, Blackmore was sent to Blundell’s School in Tiverton. He was bullied at school, but excelled in classic studies, later winning a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1847. His first attempt at a novel, “The Maid of Sker”, was not completed until many years later, and eventually published in 1872. It is a three-volume novel set in the late 18th century in which it unravels the mystery of a foundling child washed ashore on the coast of Glamorgan. Blackmore considered “The Maid of Sker” to be his best novel even though “Lorna Doone”, published in 1869, was the book that vaulted him to fame. Blackmore spent some time as a tutor after leaving Oxford, but then decided instead on a career in law. He entered the Middle Temple in1849 and was called to the Bar in 1852. However, being quite frail, he was not able to continue practising law and instead accepted the post of classics master at Wellesley House Grammar School in Twickenham. He moved from London to 25 Lower Teddington Road, Hampton Wick, where he lived for three years. In 1853, he married Lucy Maguire at Trinity Church in Holborn. They never had any children but had a very happy marriage. In September 1857, Blackmore’s uncle, the Rev H H Knight, rector of Neath, died, leaving the young Blackmore enough money for him to buy a 16-acre plot of land at Teddington – a quiet, friendly suburb on the River Thames in south west London. Here he built his house, completed in 1860, in which he lived for the rest of his life. In his grounds Blackmore turned 11 acres into the production of fruit and vegetables and surrounded this market garden with high walls not only to aid the ripening of fruit, but also to keep out thieves. Despite his knowledge of horticulture, his was not a lucrative enterprise, except in his supply of pears to Covent Garden. Sadly, the quiet rural atmosphere of Teddington was disturbed by a claim made on Blackmore’s property by the London
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Friday, October 5, 2018
and South Western Railway Company. Blackmore won his fight against their claim but failed to prevent the building of a railway station directly opposite his house. R D Blackmore began his literary career by publishing collections of poetry before trying his hand at writing novels. “Clara Vaughan” was written in 1853 and published anonymously in 1864. It is the story of an eponymous heroine, an only child, whose father is mysteriously murdered when she is a young girl. As a young woman she sets out to uncover the identity of her father’s killer, and for this reason the novel is often classified as being among the very first detective novels in English. In addition to this overarching theme, there were several subplots involving family secrets, romances, and questions of family inheritance. Blackmore’s second novel, “Cradock Nowell: A Tale of the New Forest”, was a three-volume novel, set in the New Forest in Hampshire and London, published in 1866. It follows the fortunes of Cradock Nowell who is thrown out of his family home by his father following the suspicious death of Cradock’s twin brother Clayton. Blackmore adopted the name of “Cradock Nowell” from a former owner of Nottage Court in Glamorgan – the house where Blackmore spent some of his childhood. It is in this second novel that Blackmore used his evocative descriptions of landscape, the seasons, and the weather, which would prove to be characteristic of his next novel “Lorna Doone”. There have always been questions as to how R D Blackmore got his story of Lorna Doone. Richard Blackmore, the great-great-grandfather of Richard Doddridge Blackmore, was born in 1665 and died in 1744. He lived within nine miles of the Doone Valley when the Doones lived there. The greatgrandson of Richard Blackmore was the Reverend John Blackmore, rector of Oare from 1809-1842. He was a noted antiquarian and thus his interest in the Lorna Doone story. He would certainly have talked about this to his grandson, R D Blackmore, from family records handed down from Richard Blackmore. It was a riveting story. Blackmore based his novel “Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor” on a group of historical characters set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset – particularly around Badgworthy Water and the East Lyn Valley in Exmoor. Although Blackmore claimed that his book was a romance
Original painting by William Wontner of Lorna Doone
The 1893 edition of the novel
A map of Blackmore Country, Exmoor rather than an historical novel, there is no doubt that his work is founded on old accounts that actually happened in the 17th century. Several people living in North Devon and Western Somerset remember being told of a band of ruthless robbers from Scotland who terrorised the farms and villages around Exmoor. And of a beautiful young girl, also from Scotland, who had been held hostage by the robbers and who hoped to regain their lost lands in her marriage to their eldest son. Any son of Exmoor chancing on this volume cannot fail to bring to mind the nursery tales of his childhood. The savage deeds of the outlaw Doones in the depth of Badgworthy
Forest. The beauty of the hapless maid brought up in the midst of them. The plain John Ridd’s Herculean power, and (memory’s too congenial food) the exploits of Tom Faggus. In shaping this old tale, the writer neither dares, nor desires, to claim for it the dignity, nor cumber it with, the difficulty of an historical novel. Yet he thinks that the outlines are more warmly coloured and quickened than a reader would expect to find in what is called a legend. Whatever the historical origins of the story, Blackmore incorporated real events and places in his third novel which became his best known and most successful, and established him not only in the front rank of British novelists but also as a pioneer of the
new Romantic movement in English fiction. Originally published in 1869 as a three-volume form, it only achieved its overwhelming popularity when it was re-published in a single volume edition. “Lorna Doone” has never been out of print since that date, and continues to be among the best loved English Romantic stories – much admired by Thomas Hardy and later by Robert Louis Stevenson. Blackmore followed Sir Walter Scott in setting his character against a significant historical background and, by his own account, relied on a “phonologic” style for his characters’ speech, emphasising their accents and word formation. Dialogues and dialects became a powerful character of all Blackmore’s future works. R D Blackmore continued writing and living in Teddington. “The Maid of Sker” was published three years after “Lorna Doone” in 1872, and this was followed by “Alice Lorraine” (1875); “Cripps the Carrier” (1876); “Erema” (1877); “Mary Anerley” (1880); “Christowell” (1882); “Sir Thomas Upmore” (1884); “Springhaven” (1887); “Kit and Kitty” (1890); “Perlycross” (1894); “Fringilla” (1895), and “Tales from a Telling House”, or “Slain by the Doones: Four short stories” (1895). However, none of his following books achieved anything like the popularity of “Lorna Doone”. Sadly, his wife’s health began to deteriorate and she died in January 1888 – after which Blackmore was looked after by his wife’s nieces, Eva and Adalgisa PintoLeite. He lived a quiet life, wedded to his garden and fruit growing in the summer, and his book writing in winter. He died on January 20, 1900 and was buried next to his wife in Teddington Cemetery. He was 74 years old. Four years after his death, a memorial to him was established at Exeter Cathedral – the result of a campaign by his good friends Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, and James Barrie. A reduced copy of the memorial was also established in the Church of St Mary, Oare in Somerset, where the heroine of his much loved novel, Lorna Doone, was shot on her wedding day by the wicked Carver Doone. NEXT WEEK: A four-part series on ‘The Fortune Hunters’, which explores the rich history of the dazzling women who have found glamour and wealth in the arms of billionaires. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of “The Last Colonial”.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
history
400-year-old shipwreck found off Portugal coast
L
ISBON, Portugal (AP) — Archaeologists in Portugal say they have discovered off Lisbon a 400-year-old shipwreck they describe as the most important underwater find in the country for two decades. The municipal council of Cascais, a town near Lisbon, said Monday the Portuguese ship was involved in the hugely lucrative spice trade between Portugal and India. Pepper corns, cowry shells used in the slave trade and
bronze artillery pieces litter the wreck site. The council said in a statement the wreck was found last month during dredging at the mouth of the River Tagus, on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. Preliminary excavations have also found porcelain dating from the period of China’s Wanli Emperor in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The find came during an offshore Divers investigate the centuries-old shipwreck. The vessel is believed to have mapping project compiling an invensunk near Lisbon after returning from India with spices. tory of wrecks.
Archaeologists discover ‘massive’ ancient building in Egypt CAIRO (AP) — Egypt says archaeologists have discovered a “massive” ancient building in the town of Mit Rahina, 12 miles south of Cairo. The Antiquities Ministry said archaeologists also uncovered an attached building that includes a large Roman bath and a chamber likely for religious rituals. Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, says the building is likely part of the residential block of the area, which was the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. Memphis, founded around 3,100 BC, was home to Menes, the king who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Egypt hopes such discoveries will spur tourism, partially driven by antiquities sightseeing, which was hit hard by political turmoil following the 2011 uprising.
A basin in a chamber that was likely used for religious rituals.
CREDIT: PHOTOS/EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES VIA AP
A large Roman bath and a chamber likely for religious rituals, that was recently discovered in the town of Mit Rahina, 12 miles south of Cairo, Egypt.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
history
Visiting San Salvador, Long Cay and Inagua at the end of the 19th century Forgotten facts | Paul C Aranha
I
am constantly being asked how I remember all the things I write in this column. The answer is that I don’t remember everything, but my library and my files are getting more and more extensive, much of it supplied by friends who know my appetite for all things Bahamian. Just recently, Eric Wiberg (author of so many books about the Bahamas) sent me an article about the Bahamas which he found in the December 1889 edition of an American publication called Scribner’s Magazine. The author, Edgar Mayhew Bacon, came to the Bahamas by steamer, calling at San Salvador, Long Cay (Fortune Island) and Inagua. Describing the arrival at San Salvador he wrote: “The fleet of small boats that swarmed out to meet us; the crowds of eager people – almost the whole population – that congregated A RARE depiction of Long Cay (Fortune Islands) in 1889. at the edge of the clear water; the palm-fringed land, sloping down to a scattered settlement of thatch dwellings that bordered the brilliant beach . . . Asked when last a steamer had stopped at San Salvador, the Commissioner responded, ‘Lord bless you, boy, we haven’t had a steamer stop here for two years’,” yet at that time, at least a half-dozen steamship passed close to the island every month. This reminds me of the day when the assistant lightkeeper’s wife had given birth to a son at San Salvador and the keeper allowed flags to be hoisted in celebration. The captain of a passing steamer saw flags he did not recognise, and when he identified them in the ship’s flag manual he was alarmed by the meaning of one of those flags: “We BAHAMIANS racing to a wrecked ship, intent on salvage and shedding excess garhave been invaded. Send help.” With no radio on board, the captain ments as they run. waited until he reached Crooked stormed ashore at San Salvador, where Bacon suggested that it would be Island, where there was a telegraph they were joyously welcomed by the easy to open regular contact between station. He sent a telegram to the entire population of the island, who the outside world and a people police in Nassau and a contingent of armed Nassau policemen eventually had no idea that they needed rescuing. who were waiting and hoping that
somebody, or something will somehow, at some time, move their way, but he detected a general apathy that is incomprehensible to the average American, describing it as a “geographical condition which is either an advantage or a disadvantage, as one inclines to view it. If it is good to keep old manners and customs hermetically sealed, so that the nineteenth can hold, near its heart, a bit of the eighteenth . . .” He goes on to say, “There is still a suspicious flavour of earlier piratical occupancy in the zest with which a Bahamian welcomes a shipwreck.” On the other hand, “larceny is rare in the islands. The inhabitants are seldom thieves, and the jails are usually empty. . . There is a rather good story, which is told of the Inagua jail which, common report claims, is haunted . . . after the prison was erected, it stood for some time empty . . . until a sailor committed an offence and was incarcerated. . . shortly after midnight a terrible outcry was heard in the building.” The sailor had seen the ghost and was almost dead with terror. Bacon described “wrecking” as a not-unimportant industry, for men, women and children will abandon whatever they might be doing to throng to the scene of a shipwreck, divesting themselves of superfluous clothing as they run. The wreckers “are as skillful in their work as the New York Fire Department are in theirs.” Perhaps one of the most-repeated stories of wrecking tells of a minister at the pulpit who sees a ship run aground then tells his congregation to close their eyes and bow their heads in silent prayer, all of which they all did, until someone opened his eyes and discovered that the minister was already way ahead of everyone, in a race to be first at the wreck. • For questions and comments, e-mail islandairman@gmail.com
26 | The Tribune | Weekend
Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
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Down 1 Lets it break to a point that could be dangerous (8) 2 Sets aside Tom’s battle scars? (8) 3 Farm product from the vale (4) 5 Attractive perch on top of the world (8,4) 6 A step up the ladder (4) 7 Tremble a tiny bit (6) 8 An even chance the matador will try to avoid (4-2) 11 It occurs to one later that this is the time to act (12) 15 Frank impression (5) 16 It may be in banks or in circulation (5) 18 Publicly expose a lightweight under study (8) 19 A brief way to encourage a high-priced swimmer (8) 21 Edible seed for vegetable and fruit (6) 22 Its lead decreases and it often draws (6) 26 What a snake may use in a fit of anger (4) 27 Albert shortly gets to be a singer (4)
Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Hoard, 4 Marshal, 8 Goo, 9 Turbulent, 10 History, 11 Drawn, 13 Trivia, 15 Uphold, 18 Basic, 19 Digress, 21 Attribute, 23 Air, 24 Dialect, 25 Today. Down: 1 High-hat, 2 Acoustics, 3 Ditto, 4 Martyr, 5 Roundup, 6 Hue, 7 Let on, 12 Aforesaid, 14 Incline, 16 Destroy, 17 Adjust, 18 Brand, 20 Greet, 22 Tea.
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EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Splendid (6) 4 Nevertheless (5,3) 9 Cause (6) 10 Profoundly sorry (8) 12 Trodden track (4) 13 Loud eager cry (5) 14 Urgent entreaty (4) 17 Unconventional behaviour (12) 20 On only short-term basis (4,3,2,3) 23 Appear threateningly (4) 24 To estimate (5) 25 Outlet (4) 28 A precious metal (8) 29 Younger (6) 30 Ancestral line (8) 31 Swiss city (6)
Down 1 Shell fragments (8) 2 Professional business (8) 3 Space (4) 5 For nothing (4,2,6) 6 Of heroic proportions (4) 7 Ancient (3-3) 8 Deadly (6) 11 Less than was paid for (5,7) 15 Cross (5) 16 Condition (5) 18 Glue (8) 19 Uncontrolled excitement (8) 21 Mistake (4-2) 22 Country of east Europe (6) 26 Resound (4) 27 Ponder (4)
*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390
Full solution
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The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, October 5, 2018
animals
St Francis, the world’s
first animal advocate Animal matters | KIM ARANHA
St Francis preaching to the birds (1295-1300)
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n 1181, a remarkable man was born in the then unremarkable town of Assisi in the duchy of Spoleto (Umbria) in Italy. He was born to a wealthy family of successful cloth merchants and grew up surrounded by love and the finer things of 12th century life. Well educated in mathematics, poetry and music, he was able to read and write, and he attended a school run by the Church of San Giorgio of Assisi. Francesco (born Giovanni di Bernadore) was a nickname given to him by his loving father who did not expect him to attend college, but rather to join him f in the family’s cloth trade. Francesco enjoyed his youth as many do today; delighting in good food, good times with friends, singing and dancing. Things have not changed much over the past 1,000 years in this regard. Francesco led the coveted life of a wealthy young man of his time.
PET OF THE WEEK
Shine bright like a diamond By The Bahamas Humane Society
B
lack Diamond here! Reporting for Pet of the Week duty! I hope you haven’t been thinking that the Bahamas Humane Society has only dogs for adoption.
But at the age of 20, his life took a dramatic turn when he was taken prisoner during a battle against Perugia some 15.5 miles. Throughout his one year of imprisonment he suffered terribly, and during frequent bouts of sickness experienced several religious experiences. Upon being released, he returned home, selling his horse and clothing from his fathers shop in order to give the money to the priest of San Donato. His father was furious with him and took him to see the bishop to try and bring his son back to his senses. The story goes that Francesco removed all his clothes and handed them to his father, standing naked before the bishop who quickly covered the young man with his cape. Francesco then announced that he only recognised his father in heaven and no longer his terrestrial father and from that day forward lived without money or family ties.
There are many cats and kittens available as well, and I am one of them!
I’m male, about a year old, and I’m enjoying the kittenry here, but I would love to have my own home to settle into. I’m happy to snuggle with you while you watch TV and I promise I won’t be climbing the curtains, though you might find me in a high spot on occasion. We cats do love to survey all our realm from above! You can come in and meet me or call 323-5138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday,
This is the story of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the creator of the Franciscan order of monks. He lived his simple life happily, singing and telling the story of Christ, but also speaking of his love for nature and animals. He spoke to the birds and fed them; he spoke to animals as if they were indeed his friends. He would speak of Brother Sun and Sister Moon, relating to nature in a basic and real way. He had an understanding and respect for nature that was exemplary and that nearly 1,000 later we celebrate in awe. I was fortunate to visit the town of Assisi and to stand in the cave where he lived. There is a spiritual peace that envelops you when you stand in such a humble dwelling. I felt that I was touched by something very special as I stood there in silence, reflecting on the man who quite possibly was the world’s first animal advocate and environmentalist. St Francis turned his back on all his worldly goods to follow a path of devotion. He loved all things that God created and cast aside material things. Two years after his death, at age 44 in 1226, he was canonised (made a saint) by Pope Gregory lV. We have all read stories about St Francis and seen artist depictions of him, both paintings and statues. They usually show him with birds perched on his arms and animals at his feet. For those of us who are advocates for and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. I look forward to making your acquaintance! Coming up: The annual Blessing of the Animals will be held on Sunday, October 7, at 5pm at St Christopher’s Anglican Church in Lyford Cay. The Halloween Jewellery Sale will be held at the BHS Thrift Shop on Saturday, October 20, from 10am to 2pm. A large selection of items and a wide range of prices make this the best jewellery sale on the island. Shop early for Christmas, and maybe find something shiny for yourself as well.
animals, he represents hope and love for God’s creatures. He understood the significance that all animals, great and small, were created by the Lord. St Christopher’s Church in Lyford Cay, is the only church in New Providence that holds a Blessing of the Animals every year to celebrate St Francis. This year, the service will be held on Sunday, October 7, at 5pm. All animals are welcome. It is not a long service because some of the animals can get a little antsy. Archdeacon Keith Cartwright conducts the service; all the animals are blessed and are sprinkled with holy water. It is invariably my privilege to give an address to the congregation. Sometimes I might be drowned out by a few howls or woofs from the pews, but usually the animals are remarkably well behaved, sitting beside their humans as if they honestly understand the significance of this special service dedicated to them and them alone, and after all, why not? Can animals not sense things and presences that we are no longer able to experience because we have become so civilised that we have lost those special powers to feel and understand things that cannot be explained? The Bahamas Humane Society is very proud to team up with St Christopher’s Church and to be part of this unique service, and we extend an invitation to all animal owners and lovers to come out and enjoy this special event this coming Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO/PATRICIA VAZQUEZ
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 5, 2018
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