TheIntellectualMagazine - Issue 7

JUNE 2017 

R 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

Knollys Tunnel 

Photo Documentary of 

Chad Lue Choy 

Anxiety And Polka Dots 

The Art Of Sailing 

A Scandinavian Tour In 

September? 

The Intellectual Magazine (Issue 7).indd 1 

6/15/2017 10:28:12 PM

5 

7 

8 

11 

The Stigma Associated With Mental Illness 

Anxiety & Polkadots 

The Art Of Sailing 

Footprints Of DNA Through Time 

19 

Call it what you will....sensitive plant, humble 

plant, shameplant, touch-me-not or by its 

scientific name “Mimosa Pudica”, this weedlike 

plant which can ravage lawns, is also 

quite a curiosity item for adults and children 

alike! Its leaves are highly sensitive to touch 

which make them appear quite magical when 

the open leaves slowly close on being touched 

or shaken. Scientists think this is a possible 

defense mechanism from heribvores or even 

to dislodge harmful insects. It certainly lends 

to the awe and wonder of the plant world! 

12 

15 

17 

18 

20 

Photo Documentary Of Chad Lue Choy 

A Scandinavian Tour In September? 


A Walk Through Princeton University 

15 

08 

E D I T O R I A L T E A M 

Dr. Shirin Haque, PhD 

Editor-in-Chief 

19 

An Insight Into Chiropratic 

Deva Sharma 

Architectural Consultant 

Yuddhistra Sharma 

Creative Design & Production 

Maritza Francis 

IT Support & Webpage Development 

Sharmin Haque 

Chicago Office, Illinois, USA 

12 

20 

22 

24 

Music To The Ears 

Anatomy Of An Oiled Pelican 

The Intellectual Survey 

ON THE COVER 

The architecture at Princeton 

University’s main campus in Princeton, 

NJ, USA, is breathtakingly charming. 

This photo captures the intricate 

design of one of the many arches that 

grace the campus. Here, the arch looks 

warped. Not surprising, considering 

the one who realized time-space 

warping once walked these corridors. 

See page 18 

“ 

As an architect you 

design for the present 

with an awareness of the 

past for a future which is 

essentially unknown. 

– Norman Foster 

“ 

This is a publication of Deva Sharma Architect and Associates 

Copyright 2017 Deva Sharma Architects and Associates. All rights reserved. 


6/15/2017 10:29:50 PM

From The Editor 

Dear Intellectually curious folks, 

We are back this issue with a regular edition after a well celebrated STEM issue dedicated to the STEM conference in Cayman Island in January 

2017. The world is a fast changing place these days and many topics such as politics and economics have deliberately not been the purview of 

our publication. They, nonetheless impact on what we are passionate about - art, science and architecture. It is thus impossible to ignore such. 

“Earth day” on April 22nd marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. From time to time, we have 

had intellectuals write in our magazine on the importance of the environment and sustaining it for humanity. We did a small piece when we too 

celebrated the adoption by consensus of the Paris Agreement on climate change in December 2015. We were excited when Astronaut Piers Sellers 

was happy to share his vision with us in The Intellectual magazine issue March 2016 on climate change. 

This year Earth Day became a platform for “March for Science” in 192 countries and over 600 cities around the world. As a scientist, I could not 

believe the day had come when we were marching for science - a journey of some thousand years to bring us to the space age we are in and the 

technology that goes with it that we take for granted. How many intellectuals and scientists like Giordano Bruno, Galileo and Lavoisier paid heavy, 

heavy prices of liberty and life so that we could question and doubt in freedom as we do today leading to the runaway success science has had? 

I naively thought the days of fighting for knowledge and truth and scientific investigation were long past. Yet, here we were all over the world 

marching for science - as it was said....”It is time for scientists, science enthusiasts, and concerned citizens to come together to make ourselves 

heard.” (#marchforscience official website). Make ourselves heard. How did we end up here? 

The Paris Agreement was hailed as a powerful step forward in caring for our planet earth - the only home we have now, but just recently the USA 

pulled out of it. These are extraordinary times. My editorial team consultant and advisor has always reminded me our mandate in The Intellectual 

magazine of celebrating all things of art, science and architecture - and the “anti-mandate” which is to always stay away from topics of politics 

and religion. If you are reading this, then rest assured that nothing exists in isolation....that for science, art and architecture to flourish, needs the 

willpower of not just the people, but governments. 

I will take my ‘buff ’ (Trini lingo for ‘scolding’). 

Cogito, ergo sum. 

Dr. Shirin Haque 

Editor-in-Chief 

R 

webpage: the-intellectual-magazine.com 

email: the.intellectual.magazine@gmail.com 

CONTACT: (868) 353 - 8755 

- http://theintellectualmagazine.blog.com 

The opinions in the articles in The Intellectual reflect the authors’ points of view. Total or partial reproduction of the contents of this magazine without the express 

authorization of the editor is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the contents of the advertisements published in this magazine. 

FOLLOW US: 

- www.facebook.com/theintellectual 

- TheIntellectualMag@TheIntellectMag 

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6/15/2017 10:30:03 PM

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6/15/2017 10:30:24 PM

The Stigma Associated with 

Mental Illness 

Presently there are attitudes from people within society that view the various symptoms of mental 

illness as overwhelming and uncomfortable. People feel uncomfortable in admitting that they are 

suffering with symptoms of mental illness, as they are unsure of how others around them will react 

and in turn, treat them. Many people are hesitant to share about their experiences or to visit a 

mental health professional due to the stigma associated with being diagnosed with a mental health 

condition. For many, they go untreated throughout their lives and live with these symptoms that can 

be addressed through therapeutic interventions, practices and in some cases medication. 

The attitudes and beliefs about mental illness from society 

frequently nurture stigmas and discrimination towards 

people with mental health problems. These negative 

reactions towards people are common when others are brave 

enough to acknowledge that they have a mental health issue. 

The more that we talk about our symptoms and share about 

our experiences, the less taboo that they become and others feel 

comfortable in sharing knowing that many people are experiencing 

or have experienced symptoms similar to them. 

For some sharing about their stories or their mental 

health can lead to various forms of discrimination and being left 

out by their social circles, the places in which they work and from 

others in society. This is unfortunate as people should be embraced 

and shown care by those that they trust and be guided towards 

people or professionals who will be able to assist them. There is 

a lack of knowledge as to where people can go for help and a lack 

of affordable resources that people can make use of. For many it is 

difficult to seek help as they may not know where to get the help or 

may not have the financial means to do so. 

Mental illness is seen by some as a weakness when 

in reality there are many factors that play a role in this. There 

are genetic and environmental factors that can contribute to 

a person’s mental state. Many of the mental health conditions 

can be traced back through families when a genogram is 

completed. A genogram is a way in which therapists can gain 

information about a client’s family and background through 

discussion and drawing of a chart similar to a family tree. 

This allows for therapists to see patterns within the family and 

to see connections through different generations and how the 

environment the person grows up in and their experiences play a 

role in the persons overall wellbeing. 

If we were to compare mental illness to physical illness 

we would see that there are many similarities. Many times people 

are not ashamed of physical illnesses and diseases that they are 

diagnosed with however, when it comes to mental health they 

are more secretive and in denial. Mental health can be as equally 

debilitating as physical health as it can be more difficult to identify 

and can lead to a physical breakdown of the body from stress or 

the inability to care for oneself and perform basic ADLs (activities 

of daily living) such as showering, eating and grooming oneself. 

When someone is physically ill, many times people offer help and 

recommend for the person to rest and get better however when it 

comes to mental health people think that it will go away on it’s own 

or that people can change their perspective and way of looking at 

the problem and everything will magically get fixed. 

It is important that we address these stigmas within 

society and foster new ways of thinking so that over time we 

can have a society that understands mental health and sees the 

importance of self-care and the wellbeing of the overall person 

both mentally and physically. To people who are experiencing 

mental health conditions and issues, you are not alone. There are 

resources available to help you, guide you and support you. Until 

we view mental health differently and more like physical health, 

these stigmas will continue to exist within society. 

Stephanie Sabga 

MS, MHC, MFT, NCC 

Mental Health Counselor, Marriage and 

Family Therapist and Nationally Certified 

Counselor. 

Stephanie Sabga is a Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family 

Therapist based in Woodbrook, Trinidad and Tobago where she has a private 

practice. She attended the University of Tampa where she obtained a Bachelors 

Degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminology and then went on to complete 

her Dual Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Marital, Couple and 

Family Therapy at Barry University. After completion of her studies and while 

working in the USA at an Addiction and Co-occuring Disorders Treatment 

Center, she became certified in the US as a Nationally Certified Counselor 

and remains a member of the American Counseling Association and of Chi 

Sigma Iota (the National Honors Society for Counseling). She practices CBT 

(Cognitive Behavior Therapy) techniques with her clients. 

www.the-intellectual-magazine.com 

5 


6/15/2017 10:30:33 PM



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6/15/2017 10:30:51 PM

Photo credit: Jmhullot via Wikimedia Commons 

Photo credit: Mark Thompson via Wikimedia Commons 

The Genius of Yayoi Kusama 

Yayoi Kusama turned 88 years old this 

year and is one of the most famous 

Japanese artists. She continues to 

produce her art with same fervour as ever. 

One of her pieces fetched the highest ever 

price for a female living artist in 2008 when, 

Christie's New York sold a work by her for 

$5.1 million. She has been plagued by severe 

anxiety disorder all her life and for the past 40 

years she has lived in a psychiatric hospital by 

choice in Japan, with her studio a short walk 

away. Kusama has often said, "If it were not for 

art, I would have killed myself a long time ago." 

Anxiety 

& 

Polka Dots 

Polka dots, pumpkins and infinity 

mirrors define her art and sculptures. Polka 

dots derive from her hallucinations and her 

earliest recorded art from age ten, shows a 

woman in a kimono covered in polka dots. 

Polka dots represent the sun and the moon 

and are a way to infinity she has said. The 

infinity rooms represent a cosmic room with 

mirrors and lights. Her exhibitions travel the 

world and have some of the highest visitor 

numbers. She has received Japan’s highest 

award for art, and is the first woman to receive 

such. 

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6/15/2017 10:31:23 PM

“ 

The Art of 

SAILING 

Andrew Lewis is Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic 

Sailor and he shares his thoughts with TheIntellectual 

Magazine on the Art Of Sailing. 

Like everything in life, there is an 

art to being good at something,or 

just simply making it work 

“ 

TRI 

By combining the force on the sail and the force on 

the keel or dagger board, we see that the sideway 

forces are cancelled out and the total force on the 

sailboat is only in the forward direction (see arrow). The 

result is that the boat moves forward and some sailboats 

can even move faster than the wind itself. 

← 

direction of travel 

keel 

sail 

There are many ways to tweak your sail boat to get that 

extra speed. The boat I compete in, which is the Laser, is a 

one design class which means all the boats are made from 

the same design. Rules don’t allow you to manufacture the 

boat on your own, and as such, eligible boats must come 

from an approved supplier. 

All Lasers are made in three 

factories around the world, making them 

all pretty much the same. Some sailors 

may be able to afford boats that are more 

expensive with a modified design. This 

gives them an unfair advantage. I love 

sailing one design boats because it shows 

the true skill of the sailor, and does not 

depend on your financial means to build 

the fastest boat. 

My ultimate love for sailing 

comes from the fact that the boats I have 

sailed most of my life require a lot of 

physical strength and endurance, while 

still calling for lots of technical and 

tactical skills. In order to be selected as 

one of the 49 athletes in the world that 

get to compete in the Olympics in the 

Laser class, you must give your life to 

perfecting the Art of Laser Sailing. 

When you think about the 

technique involved and all the factors 

needed to make the boat move forward, 

it is something to admire. This is why I 

call it an art. The skill of the athlete plus 

the conditions in the sea must work 

together to achieve speed and success. I 

continue to work hard to perfect this art, 

and know that one day it will help me 

achieve my olympic gold for Trinidad & 

Tobago. 



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6/15/2017 10:32:36 PM

Footprints of 

DNA 

through time 

Tabassum Khatoon 

I decided to take part in the hype and get my ancestry DNA 

done. I had a good idea of where I should be from – India. Being of 

Muslim background I anticipated some small part of me must come 

from Persia and Saudi Arabia as we had always been taught that our 

ancestry lineage could be traced all the way back to the prophet due to 

the title “Syed” the men in the family carried. Below is my result. 

Ancestry DNA testing is all the rage now 

It is the latest cool thing to know about ourselves these days, right 

alongside knowing our height, weight and blood type. Just a decade 

ago, the cost of such testing made it prohibitive but now many 

companies are offering a mail in option of a sample of saliva to decode 

your past and heritage - for a mere $100 USD thereabouts. It has become 

all the rage. For a bit more money, you can also get a medical report giving 

the genetic probability of you developing some disease or condition. In 

next few years, it is anticipated that that the sale of these DNA testing 

kits could become a 60 Billion dollar industry. The market is there. Free 

enterprise is the vehicle. Yet this is not just a facial cream or vitamin that 

has had the food and drug administration approval. There is science and 

statistics, yes statistics, involved behind the report that one receives from 

a DNA Ancestry company. It is worrisome whether consumers truly 

understand the error margins and uncertainties in the results they receive. 

The advertising for such testing shows confident and smiling consumers 

expressing pleasant surprise at what their DNA results revealed. What you 

do not see in the advertisements is when persons get an unpleasant shock 

as to their ancestry heritage. It is after all, an emotionally laden topic to be 

determining where we come from and what groups we belong to. 

Any surprises? 

Well, my results indicated that 88% of my DNA could be 

traced to India and 5% from East Asia. Zero percent from Persia or 

Middle East and the 5% from East Asia was certainly a surprise. Low 

confidence regions got even more exotic with 3% from Central Asia and 

4% from Polynesia. This is all based on the database of the company and 

I think it is time to run this same test through other companies and see 

if there are variances at all! 

How does this change my life? 

Hardly. It caused a lot of discussion in my family on the 

history and the movements of people over thousands of years in that 

part of the world. Suddenly most people who I shared my results with 

were keenly interested to do their own. I was giving the company free 

advertising! I wondered if perhaps the DNA results should come with 

a disclaimer “Use cautiously. For entertainment purposes only” – until 

the general public truly understands the computer algorithms and 

statistics used to produce the report and the associated uncertainties. 


11 


6/15/2017 10:32:48 PM

Photo 

Documentary 

Of 

Chad Lue Choy 

Chad Lue Choy is a graduate of Queen’s University in Canada, 

with a degree in electrical engineering. For over 20 years, 

he worked in the manufacturing sector, managing people, 

designing processes, and planning strategies. Two years ago, after 

much soul searching, he walked away from corporate life to pursue 

his passion for photography. 

These days, Chad can be found creating commercial 

images for business clients and entrepreneurs. His extensive 

corporate background, technical training, and customer care 

experience give him a unique perspective on his new career. “There 

are so many photographers out there making photographs” he says, 

“but remember, commercial photography is more than just making 

pretty photos, it’s about finding solutions for your clients.” 

When he is not shooting images for business customers, he 

spends his time working on a range of personal photo documentary 

projects. He considers such projects critical in honing his photography 

skills and developing his personal style. At present these projects 

include traditional carnival culture, indigenous martial arts and 

landscapes from around the world. But whether he is driving solo 

across North America or on a weekend road trip with friends, the 

goal is always the same - to create engaging visual stories. 

“I have been fortunate enough to 

travel to many places over the years, 

but I have grown to realize that some of 

the most amazing stories are unfolding 

right here in our own back yard.” 



6/15/2017 10:33:06 PM

To work with Chad or to collaborate 

on projects, contact him through 

social media or his website. 

@cluechoy 

www.chadluechoy.com 


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6/15/2017 10:33:38 PM


14 



6/15/2017 10:33:40 PM

A Scandinavian tour 

in September? 

Why not! 

‘It’s the perfect time to 

visit if you’re on a budget’ 

It’s the end of summer and the Scandinavian landscape 

is relentlessly stunning. Norway, in fact, offers the most 

picturesque of views and dare I say one of the most 

mesmerising places I’ve visited. The “Norway in a nutshell 

tour” takes you on an inconceivable journey that transforms 

your senses. It’s almost as though you are on set of the 

making of a nature documentary. 


From Oslo, you travel on the 

scenic Bergen railway and the breathtaking 

Flam railway, each stop offers 

postcard views, as cliché as it may sound. 

From there, you take a fjord cruise, “the 

narrow, dramatic and UNESCO-protected 

Nærøyfjord”. A word of caution though, 

be prepared to keep repeating the word 

“wow”. 

Since you are already in Oslo, you 

might as well take advantage of your location 

and visit neighbouring countries. A four capital 

tour is highly recommended. Whether you are 

riding a bike through the streets of Copenhagen, 

visiting the Ice Bar in Stockholm or enjoying the 

food at Helsinki Square, each city, amazing in its 

own right, will leave you satisfied. If there could 

be one word to sum up this trip, surely it would 

be “legendary”. 

For me, the desire to “explore” 

was non-existent before 2014. Somehow I 

got stuck, without realising it, in a cycle that 

society stipulates we must follow. It was not 

until my stay in Japan that my outlook on life 

drastically changed. There were so many unique 

experiences contributing to this, good and bad. 

One of which was finding myself alone at a 

train station on a very quiet Sunday afternoon, 

most of my colleagues decided to stay in the 

dorm, fearful we won’t make it back before 

the stipulated time. Literally alone, awaiting a 

seemingly distant train, so many thoughts, fear 

turned into eagerness. At the end of that night; 

the train did come, I travelled to another city 

where I saw our steelpan being played, meet 

strangers who are now friends, enjoyed new 

food and yes, I missed my curfew. I would not 

have changed a thing, travelling is a passion. 

About the Author: 

Fadil Sahajad is a dedicated 

Laboratory Technician attached to the 

University of the West Indies, St. Augustine 

Campus. He has a passion for photography 

as evidenced by his wedding and nature 

shots. 

His new passion is travelling to 

other countries and he attributes this new 

found passion to his stay in Japan while he 

was on a training scholarship. 

Iceland, Peru, Panama, Cuba 

and the Grand Canyon are some of the 

places he has visited. Mr. Sahajad hopes 

to continue his travels and also pursue 

graduate research in Solar Photovoltaic 

Power Generation at his University. 

15 


6/15/2017 10:33:44 PM


Knollys Tunnel is located in Tabaquite, near Rio Claro. 

It is a heritage to a past in Trinidad when trains were 

a mode of transportation. It was officially opened on 

20th August 1898. This sadly literally came to a close 

on 30th August 1965, same day that the last train train 

to San Fernando made its final journey. Much to the 

disappointment of the locals, the Rio Claro line from 

the Jerningham junction, with Knollys tunnel was 

also closed. Knollys Tunnel is 660 feet in length and 

is the longest tunnel in the Caribbean region. Upon 

its closure over the decades, it became overgrown 

and somewhat forgotten. However, in 1991 it was 

reopened as a national heritage site - a reminder of the 

dynamic and evolving past of the people of Trinidad 

and Tobago - a time when trains ruled over buses. 

Photocredit: The Intellectual Team 

Photocredit: The Intellectual Team 



6/15/2017 10:33:47 PM

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BOOK REVIEW 

An Intellectual Read? 

Mind – A JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF BEING HUMAN 

Daniel Siegel (2017) 

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, New York 

Daniel Siegel’s earlier book “Mindsight: The new science of personal 

transformation” (2010) was mind blowing, excuse the pun. 

It led the reader into a journey into neuroscience 

through case studies in therapy as a 

psychiatrist. Therefore, there was great anticipation 

to dive into his latest book “Mind 

– a journey into the heart of being human” 

(2017). When standards are set high as the 

“Mindsight” had established, one expects to 

meet or exceed that. This book builds on 

the last one actually on the notion of what, 

where and when of the mind and extends it 

further to encompass kindness and compassion 

for complete integration. It is actually a 

personal journey of discovery through time 

and reads almost like an autobiography. The author does mention 

that he addresses what the mind is in a direct and immersive way. 

If one has read the prior book, there is much repetition which is 

why it became important to start this book review by mentioning 

“Mindsight”. One of the major differences in this book “Mind – a 

journey into the heart of being” is that there is a lot of photography 

throughout the book in black and white. Somehow it is difficult to 

see how that enriches the reading because 

you can tell they are great photos but being 

surrounded in this digital era of amazing 

photography in lilting colour, this seemed 

to have missed the mark in this book. The 

purpose of the pictures was also not clear. 

Most books if using black and white photography 

would have them on high quality 

glossy paper but in this book they appear on 

the normal pages, thus giving them a faded 

and low quality appearance. This book 

makes difficult reading as well. So, while 

“Mindsight” was gripping, Daniel Siegel’s 

latest book “Mind” kept slipping. This book gets a threestar 

rating. 


17 


6/15/2017 10:34:33 PM

A walk 

through 

Princeton University 

As a graduate student in the US, I have had my 

fair share of addiction to campus-life. The 

long and perilous journey of doctoral studies 

tends to make university campus a comfort zone for 

you, a place that both, gives and absorbs all your stress. 

The serenity of a college campus, its intellectual legacy, 

the diversity of its student and faculty bodies, and 

the always-happening activities on its premises, all 

contribute to this bubble of heaven. During my stay in 

the US as a graduate student, I have visited and seen 

a handful of campuses; I have seldom seen any that 

is more picturesque than the Princeton University 

campus. It was last year during my brief stay in upstate 

Pennsylvania for a research internship that my wife 

and I decided to visit the Princeton campus, just for 

the sake of it. The thought that people like John Nash 

and Albert Einstein had walked those corridors was 

enough of a motivation. The campus is located in 

Princeton, NJ, about an hour's drive from where we 

lived. The goal was to mainly visit the art museum 

on campus. Once there though, the campus was 

mesmerizing enough to let the museum be forgotten. 

The rest of the day was spent walking through the 

campus, taking photos, and admiring its beauty. 

Princeton boasts one of the oldest campuses 

in the nation; it claims to be more than 265 years old. 

The idyllic campus covers some 500 acres of land, 

consisting of clear ponds and fountains, buzzing 

restaurants, cobblestone streets, a magnanimous 

chapel, some breathtaking architecture, and historic 

sculptures - including one by Pablo Picasso and one of 

Albert Einstein. The architecture consists of modern, 

post-modern, Gothic, as well as Romanesque designs. 

Lately however, Gothic architecture has come to 

dominate the others. Recent addition of modern 

architecture has invited some criticism from alumni 

and architects who believe in maintaining the old 

architectural aura of the campus. This particular arch 

in the photo is located close to the famous Alexander 

Hall, the only concert hall on the campus. The arch 

graces a busy part of the campus and is markedly 

beautiful. Geometric art speaks of craftsmanship that 

focuses on symmetry and balance. Nearby is the art 

museum that is worth visiting. It boasts a collection 

of Greek and Roman artifacts, along with a collection 

from the early renaissance period. Chinese and Latin 

art also graces the museum among others. Overall, 

the Princeton University campus is a must-visit if one 

is visiting the American north-east. Academic talks 

and student activities happen all around the year. The 

campus food is amazing, and the architecture itself is 

beautiful enough to keep you engaged. 

Syed Zeeshan Rizvi is a researcher and 

engineer. He completed his undergraduate 

degree from his native Pakistan, and 

recently graduated with his Ph.D. in 

Electrical Engineering from The University 

of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA. His 

area of research is in Control Systems, 

System Identification, and Modeling. He 

has worked as a researcher and lecturer 

in the past, and is currently working as a 

research engineer and scientist at Corning 

Incorporated in upstate New York. Besides 

research, he loves reading books on varied 

topics, hiking the Finger Lakes region and 

photo-blogging from time to time. 

Some of his photos can be found at: 

www.instagram.com/zeeshan.r.s/ 



6/15/2017 10:34:39 PM

An Insight Into 

Chiropractic 

Chiropractic is the science of locating vertebrae and other bones that are not moving 

properly and putting them back into proper movement. This reduces the impact of the 

offending structure on the nervous system. If the nervous system is impaired, it can 

cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. 

How does chiropractic work? 

Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to 

be healthy. When under the proper control of the nervous system, all 

the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease 

and ill health. The chiropractic approach to health is to locate and help 

remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy. 

What are chiropractors looking at when 

they examine you? 

Chiropractors are looking at abnormal motion or position 

of spinal bones. Physical trauma such as improper lifting, car 

accidents, repetitive motions, and poor sleeping habits can cause 

spinal problems. Emotional stress and mechanical imbalances are 

common culprits too. 

Chiropractors are also looking at abnormal nervous system 

function. Improper motion or position of spinal bones can rub, 

irritate or pinch delicate nerves. This can impair the function of 

the tissues, organs and systems controlled by these nerves. 

Chiropractors are looking at abnormal muscle 

function. Muscles supporting the spine can weaken 

and atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. 

Unfortunately, scar tissue and adhesions penetrate 

these malfunctioning muscles, changing their 

elasticity. 

Chiropractors are looking at abnormal soft tissue 

function. Disks, ligaments, and other soft tissues 

can malfunction too. These important soft tissues 

have a poor blood supply, so proper healing often 

requires continued care even after the relief of obvious 

symptoms. 

Chiropractors are also looking at abnormal 

function of the spine and body. The body responds 

with bone spurs and spinal decay, fusing malfunctioning 

spinal joints. Degenerative changes can be seen in other 

organs and tissues that have been deprived of normal 

nervous control. 

What conditions do chiropractors treat? 

Chiropractors treat numerous conditions including various causes 

of neck pain, back pain, whiplash, headaches, jaw pain, frozen shoulder, 

tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip dysfunction, knee sprain/strain, 

twisted ankles, fallen arches, tendonitis, and sprain/strain injuries. These are 

among the more prevalent conditions treated by chiropractors. 

How do chiropractors go about treating 

these various conditions? 

Chiropractors use one or more of the following techniques: joint 

mobilization, fascial release (connective tissue), massage, electrical muscle 

stimulation, ultrasound therapy, heat, ice, nutritional advice, stretches and 

exercise. 

Dr. Brian Phelps (D.C) 

is a Chiropractor with 

two offices in Trinidad. 

He completed his 

training at Parker 

College of Chiropractic, 

in Dallas, Texas and has 

been practicing since 

1999. 

Spinal & Extremity Chiropractic Clinic 

31 Sorzano Street 

Arima, Trinidad 

Tel: 1 (868) 667-5374 

• Patients who get involved and assume personal responsibility for recovering 

their health, seem to get better results. 

• The way to achieve the results millions of chiropractic patients have enjoyed 

is to keep your appointments. 

• Improper lifting can invite a relapse. Keep your back straight and the load 

close to your body as you lift with your legs. 

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY 

• Use caution when bending or working overhead. Avoid sudden twists and 

turns. 

• Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process. Use a mattress 

that offers firm support, and avoid sleeping on your stomach. 

• During the healing process proper nutrition is more important than ever. 

• Share your chiropractic experience with others. 


19 


6/15/2017 10:35:52 PM

TM 

T h e I n t e l l e c t u a l 

Music M 

To T The T 

EarsE 

Sameer Alladin pursued his BSc. in 

Psychology at The University of the 

West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine 

Campus, graduating in 2012. He then 

completed his Masters in Music Theory 

at the University of Bristol, United 

Kingdom, alongside private lessons in 

violin which allowed him to complete the 

Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music 

(LRSM) in violin performance. He is 

currently a part-time lecturer in music 

at UWI, teaching violin and conducting 

the newly formed UWI Arts Sinfonia. 

He also teaches at the Charles Brunner 

Music School and privately. Significant 

achievements for him were being named 

Faculty Valedictorian when graduating 

from UWI, and being the National Youth 

Award for Performing Arts in 2012. 

When did you first get interested in music and decided you 

would pursue this as a career? 

I had music classes since I was in Primary school but I was never particularly interested. 

I started to take music seriously when I chose it as a subject in Form 4. It’s interesting that soon after 

starting to take music seriously, a part of me just knew this was what I wanted to do, but I often felt 

behind because I started it quite late (age 15 years) and I thought of classical music as something 

you need to start much earlier. It wasn’t until I completed my BSc. in Psychology that I decided that 

I was going to pursue music as my main career. Until this point, I was somewhat undecided, but 

then I couldn’t deny that music is really what made me happiest. I vacillated for a while between 

becoming an academic/research oriented musician or someone engaged in practical musicmaking, 

but now I’m very much determined to become a professional orchestral conductor. 

What are some of the personal highlights of your career? 

There are several things that stand out for me so far. I recently attended a Conducting 

Masterclass in London, which was an incredible experience and made me feel a lot more 

confident as a Conductor. There are a few moments that I have seen some of my students, 

particularly children, really enjoy learning music – knowing that you have done something to 

make them enjoy what they are doing and see them smile is incredibly rewarding! 

Did you find it difficult pursuing classical 

music in the land of Carnival and Soca? 

In my earlier days of studying music, I 

didn’t feel it was that difficult. I found my niche and 

I was largely in a supportive environment for music 

in my secondary school as well as my orchestral 

experience with the Trinidad and Tobago Youth 

Philharmonic. Right now, as I’m on the other side 

being the teacher, there are some difficulties, but it’s 

not specific to being in the land of Carnival and Soca. 

I think the challenges faced as a classical musician 

here are the same as anyone doing something that’s 

different from the cultural norm, especially when 

the global context leads more to commercialization 

and what can make money, rather than quality. 

However, one big challenge that is idiosyncratic to 

classical music is that we have to raise awareness that 

classical music in the 21st century is not a mark of 

elitism nor is it related to European imperialism (as 

some people think) – it’s something for everyone! 



6/15/2017 10:36:01 PM

ON THE MOVE 

“ 

This world is but 

a canvas to our 

imagination 

Henry David Thoreau 

“ 

What would you advise someone wanting to follow in 

your footsteps in Trinidad and Tobago? 

There’s a few things I’d say, and I can’t say any one of these 

is more important than the other: 

1. Be very open to learning and to taking feedback from others with 

an open mind. This is really quite essential, and I honestly think that 

modesty is one value that is most lacking today. 

2. Keep your standards high by always listening to a wide variety 

of good recordings (thanks goodness there’s YouTube now!) and 

reading widely on subjects in music (for instance, even though I 

focus a lot on conducting, violin, and music theory, I still read widely 

in music history, psychology of music, even things in philosophy and 

cultural studies). 

3. Never forget that being a good musician is directly related to being 

a good human being. As I was recently told by a conducting teacher, 

we must have good values if we want to bring out good values from 

those with whom we work. 

What drives you to achieve all you have? 

Well, I do feel I have quite a long way to go still, so I won’t 

say I have that much right now! But, I think what drives me is my 

love for beauty in sound and the ability to connect with something 

that, even though is a human endeavour, feels like a super-human 

experience. There’s something that’s so divine about music that is 

played well and played with honesty of intention – it transports you 

to a place beyond that of everyday experience. 

B -usiness L -eadership A -wareness C -harity 

LOCATION: 

Upstairs the male locker rooms, 

Student Activity Centre, 

U.W.I. St Augustine. 

EMAIL: B-sheep@hotmail.com 

CONTACT: 868-678-4403 

868-798-6304 

Special event services available. 

Co-operate, Groomsmen etc. 

BLAC Sheep Barbering 

@Blacsheepbarbers 

Anything else you would like to add? 

I would actually like to quote one of my favourite violinists, 

Julia Fischer. She said that it’s important that the career is always 

about the music, and not about the other things such as fame or 

money. She said, 

“One should choose to become a musician because one believes 

that the world needs music and without music, the emotional 

life of human beings is going to die. Everything else will 

come with dedication and hard work.” 


21 


6/15/2017 10:36:55 PM

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Anatomy 

of an 

Oiled Pelican 

The recent containment breach 

of a storage tank resulted in 

a reported 330 barrels of oil 

being released into the natural 

environment. Some of this found 

its way into the Guaracara River 

and the Gulf of Paria. Pelicans, 

cormorants, sea gulls and other 

marine creatures were affected 

by the spill. 



6/15/2017 10:37:22 PM

PHOTO CREDIT - Chad Lue Choy 

PHOTO CREDIT - Chad Lue Choy 

PHOTO CREDIT - Sarita Rampersad 

PHOTO CREDIT - Sarita Rampersad 

It’s 9 PM on a hot, humid Caribbean 

night and 4 birds have just arrived at 

the clean-up centre in large, plastic 

pet carriers having endured the 60 km 

drive from the spill site. By this time 

they have been captive for between 60 

to 90 minutes. Surprisingly, some are 

still feisty - biting and fighting - as they 

are removed from the cages. Others are 

listless and more easily handled. All are 

covered in thick, sticky, tarry oil. One 

can be easily forgiven for thinking the 

oil here is similar to the consistency of 

cooking oil, or maybe even a quart of 

10W-40 engine oil. But it’s not. 

Through disposable green 

nitrile gloves, the oil covered birds 

feel like they have been sprayed with a 

rubber coating, the texture reminiscent 

of the liners found in some pick-up trays, 

but only tackier; like the way lacquer 

paint feels when it’s just starting to dry. 

The thick, sticky sludge is on the head, 

body and wings, around and in the eyes 

and nostrils, and on webbed feet. It’s 

also inside the mouth, coating the throat 

pouch, around the glottis and the nasal 

slit, and in the worse affected, all the way 

down the throat. When covered in oil, 

the birds instinctively begin to preen; 

excessively and compulsively, even at 

the expense of feeding. This leads to 

dehydration and even starvation. As 

they preen, they also ingest the toxic 

oil which results in organ damage and a 

slow, agonizing death. 

The first step in the cleaning 

process is banding the bird’s beak to 

prevent further preening and ingesting 

more oil. Depending on the condition 

of the bird, eye drops are applied and 

rectal rehydration may be administered. 

Next, liberal amounts of baby oil are 

applied and massaged into the feathers. 

This seems counter intuitive but the 

baby oil (mineral oil) begins the process 

of softening the sludge. Cotton swabs 

are used to clean the sensitive areas 

around the eyes, eyelids, nostrils and in 

the mouth, beak, pouch and throat. Care 

must be taken to ensure no residue or 

debris enters the glottis/trachea which 

could lead to choking and death. Paper 

towels are then used to “pluck” the oily 

residue off the feathers. This process of 

baby oil and paper towels is repeated 

continuously over the next 3-4 hours 

until the residue on the paper towels 

is no longer black but a light brown. 

At this stage the washing can begin. 

Sinks of warm water are prepared and Dawn 

dishwashing liquid is applied directly on the 

birds. The Dawn must be meticulously massaged 

and rubbed into the plumage before rinsing. This 

process is repeated 4-5 times until the water runs 

clear and may take as long as 90 minutes. They are 

initially towel dried and then finished using an 

electric hair dryer set on low. Thawed herrings are 

offered to the birds to encourage them to feed post 

cleaning. Finally, the birds are put to bed in cages 

fitted with electric heating pads. 

The authors of this article (Sarita 

Rampersad & Chad Lue Choy) 

would like to recognize and 

thank Wildlife Orphanage and 

Rehabilitation Centre (WORC), 

Wildlife and Environmental 

Protection of Trinidad and Tobago 

(WEPTT), the Forestry Division 

of the Ministry of Agriculture, the 

Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard 

and all the faceless, nameless 

volunteers who generously 

donated products and their time to 

the clean up and release effort. 


23 


6/15/2017 10:37:40 PM

The Intellectual Survey 

If you needed a transplant, 

would you accept an organ 

grown in a pig? 

30% 

MAYBE 

21% 

NO 

49% 

YES 

Scientists have been able to grow mouse organs in rats and similar techniques can be used to grow human organs in pigs. 

This can address the problem of dire shortage of organs for transplant in humans. Our survey shows that majority of our 

readers (49%) are willing to accept an organ grown in a pig while just about 30% are cautious of this potential technology. A 

little over 21% definitely do not want to have a pig as an organ donor. The technology is still a little way off as tests continue 

surrounded with ethical issues and concerns if the human DNA can affect the pig’s brain and boost their intelligence level. 

Our Next Intellectual Question is: 

Would you live in a 3-D printed house? 

Take part in our surveys on our website: 


ADVERTISE WITH US! 

WHETHER YOU ARE 

A WELL ESTABLISHED 

BUSINESS OR JUST 

STARTING, 

ADVERTISE WITH US! 

Contact us 

for customized 

packages 

Science is not 

only a disciple 

of reason but 

also one of 

romance and 

passion. 

Stephen Hawking 

R 

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6/15/2017 10:38:26 PM

TheIntellectualMagazine - Issue 7

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