Features

There There

Tommy Orange

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018

Pp. 294

Tommy Orange’s writing is fresh, original and on the cutting edge of questions of identity and collective memory. While most Native American literature focuses on life in rural areas or reservations, Orange’s novel zooms in on the urban population, specifically those living in Oakland, California, many of whom are originally Cheyenne who migrated from Oklahoma. In his view, “Being Indian has never been about returning to the land. The land is everywhere or nowhere.” (p. 11) 

The book’s title is inspired by the words of Gertrude Stein who grew up in Oakland. Returning after many years, she commented that there had been so much change “that the there of her childhood, the there there, was gone, there was no there there any more… “ (pp. 38-39)

Her sentiments express the experience of Native people all across the country. 

In the prologue, Orange dispels a number of American myths, such as the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday, and goes on to recount some of the more gruesome atrocities inflicted on Native Americans by the white settlers. It is noticeable that he and his characters call themselves “Indian” at least as often as they use the term “Native American”, perhaps in acknowledgement of the extent to which their modern identity has been shaped by their encounter with the European-settler society which coined the term “Indian”. As Orange writes, “We’ve been defined by everyone else and continue to be slandered despite easy-to-look-up-on-the-internet facts about the realities of our history and current state as a people.” (p. 7)

Seen in this light, “There There” is an attempt at self-definition. It is also an attempt at healing: “The wound that was made when white people came and took all that they took has never healed… All these stories that we haven’t been telling all this time, that we haven’t been listening to, are just part of what we need to heal.” (p. 137)

The stories Orange relates are by turn funny, tragic, heart-warming and disturbing, but always mind-opening. In relatively short successive chapters, Orange introduces a set of quirky but believable characters. It is their diversity and commonalities which contribute to a new definition of urban Native American identity, but Orange does not spell it out in so many words. The reader has to stay alert. 

Among many fascinating characters, there is street-wise Tony, born with foetal alcohol syndrome—“it’s the way history lands on a face”--who gets involved with a local gang due to his trade of selling marijuana. (p. 16)

There is Dene who aspires to make a movie documenting Indian stories that are not pathetic as in the past, but full of passion and rage. There are half-sisters Opal Bear Shield and Jacqui Red Feather whose mother took them to the big Native American gathering at Alcatraz which aimed to unite people but led to the break-up of their family. There is Edwin, an aspiring writer who has a degree in Native American literature but seems immobilised by his obesity and not knowing who his father is. There is Orvil who takes up Indian dancing as a teenager despite his grandmother’s having discouraged all things Indian. Finally, as if to remind that it is not only Native Americans whose lives get destroyed by the system, Orange includes Edwin’s mother’s boyfriend, a Vietnam vet who returned half-crazy from the war but received no support.

There are many other characters to add to the diversity that being Indian includes. All are poor; most have trouble landing a fulfilling job. Most of the young feel let down by adults. Some are half-white; all have been raised by relatives but none in a “model” American family by both their biological mother and father. Some have been raised in awareness of their native American culture, others not. Some of their stories are intertwined, and they will eventually all head for the annual Big Oakland Pow Wow, each with his or her own motivation. There will be surprises, discoveries of kinship and reunions, as well as final separations.

Orange’s novel seems intended to crack the paradox of authenticity as articulated by Edwin: “The problem with Indigenous art in general is that it’s stuck in the past. The catch, or double bind, about the whole thing is this: If it isn’t pulling from tradition, how is it Indigenous? And if it is stuck in tradition, in the past, how can it be relevant to other Indigenous people living now, how can it be modern?” (p. 77)

The story also debunks the long-held myth that there is a special relationship between Indians and alcohol. As one character says, “We all been through a lot we don’t understand in a world made to either break us or make us so hard we can’t break even when it’s what we need most to do.” (p. 112)

In this situation, alcohol is just what is cheap and easily available to ease the pain and misery of a life out of control.

Orange’s prose is raw, but his portrayal of his urban Indian characters is gentle and compassionate. His stories reassert that no culture is monolithic and that a people’s history should include not only their memories but their dreams, whether fulfilled or not.

Veterinarian

When our furry friends become pregnant, changes to their bodies and behaviour can be challenging. Not sure what to expect now that your pet is going to be a mama? Do not worry…breath, relax and read on!

During this period, special attention should be given to the mother-to-be. Although not common, some animals might experience nausea, appetite changes and vomiting. Behavioural changes are also seen as some pets will seek more attention and care from the owner while others might become more moody and easily irritated by people or other pets at home. 

Your pregnant pet needs a lot of love and care and remember that during pregnancy, the caloric intake is increased so you will need to increase the amount of food given to your pet. Also make sure that the mother-to-be is in top medical condition and up to date with her preventative care, such as vaccinations and dewormings, essential for the good health of the future kittens or puppies.

Pregnancy testing

If you know or suspect that your pet is pregnant, schedule regular appointments with your veterinarian for confirmation and follow up. Ultrasound examination can detect pregnancy and foetal viability. Ultrasonography is best performed at 25 to 35 days of pregnancy as “false-negative” results can be seen in earlier stage. Foetal heart beat is seen during ultrasonography, but it is usually hard to detect the exact number of litter by this method. Foetal bone formation or ossification starts around day 28 of pregnancy but is not detected by radiography (X-ray) until day 42-45. Radiography at this time is not teratogenic and will not harm the litter. It is recommended to do late gestational radiography to determine the number of puppies or kittens.

Making pregnancy comfortable

It is important to support your pet’s needs during pregnancy and to make its duration a less stressful event. Once you confirm that your pet is pregnant, follow with your veterinarian for the medical part and make sure to:

• Provide a comfortable place to rest. Know your pet’s preference, if she likes softer or harder bedding, more active or relaxed life style. Some pets will want a quieter environment so you might need to isolate other pets from the mother-to-be

• Keep a reasonable level of activity, both physical and mental

• Closely monitor appetite and do not forget to increase the amount of caloric intake during pregnancy stages. Pets benefit from additional vitamin and mineral supplements so consult your veterinarian for the optimal needs of your pregnant dog or cat. During late pregnancy, it is better to decrease the amount of food per meal and to give more frequent meals as the distended abdomen can cause discomfort to your pet

• Observe for any abnormal discharge that originates from the vaginal cavity as this can indicate problems with the pregnancy 

• If there is anything that just feels wrong or out of routine, immediately contact your veterinarian

Preparing for the big day

When the date approaches, your pet will start preparing to give birth. She will choose the location where she will give birth at, a behaviour called ‘’nesting’’. Dogs and cats usually tend to choose quiet and hidden places. Add some comfortable bedding such as towels, and blankets and try to keep your interference with the mother to a minimum.

Three stages 

of labour in pets

• Stage I lasts 12–24 hours. In this stage the uterine contractions begin to increase in frequency and strength without visible abdominal contractions. Cervix dilates and vaginal discharge, if present, is clear. Most pets will become restless during this stage, panting and sometimes vomiting

• Stage II involves visible abdominal contractions. Puppies or kittens are delivered during this stage. The average duration between each puppy or kitten should not last more than two hours. Depending on litter size, this stage can last from one hour up to more than 24 hours. The mother continues to nest between deliveries and will nurse and groom kittens/puppies intermittently

• Stage III is the phase where the placenta is expelled. In pets, this stage is concurrent with stage II. Shortly after the delivery of each foetus, its placenta is delivered as well. During normal labour, all foetuses and placentae are delivered vaginally. Always count the number of puppies/kittens and their placentae. If they are not the same, placental retention is present which needs medical attention

When to contact your veterinarian

• Your pet goes beyond her proposed due date

• Stage I labour has not progressed to Stage II labour after 24 hours

• The first kitten/puppy has not been delivered after 1 hour of active labour

• It has been more than two hours without another kitten/puppy being delivered

• Vaginal discharge is green or involves large amounts of blood between deliveries

• Your pet is in apparent distress or pain or is disoriented

• Kittens/puppies are stillborn or are alive but seem weak or not nursing normally

• You know that there are more kittens/puppies on the way but the mother appears to be exhausted and labour seems to have stopped

Difficulty giving birth (Dystocia) can be a serious problem for both the mother and puppies/kittens. Knowing the normal birth process helps you identify potential problems. In case dystocia is confirmed and its type identified (foetal vs maternal dystocia), appropriate medical attention must be given. This includes giving medications to support the overall status of the mother, medications to help with the uterine contractions or surgical intervention to deliver the puppies/kittens. 

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

WASHINGTON — All Ryan Kramer had to do was to swab his cheek and embark on nine days of genealogical research to identify his biological father, a man who thought he would remain anonymous when he donated his sperm and never took a DNA test himself.

The year was 2005, when consumer DNA tests were in their infancy. Kramer was 15.

Thirteen years later, the explosion of individual DNA test kits has opened the floodgates for people who were born from sperm or egg donations. Increasing numbers of people are using the technology to uncover the identities of their donors.

In the growing field of assisted reproduction, donors used to be guaranteed anonymity.

But things have changed, according to genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, founder of DNADetectives.

“It would be naive to think that a person could donate sperm or eggs and stay anonymous in the United States,” said Moore. “It isn’t going to happen.”

Now, even if they never send their own DNA to a consumer ancestry site, donors can be identified indirectly by their genetic proximity to a distant cousin who took a DNA test.

With at least 10 million people having taken a DNA test in the United States alone, probability alone suggests that nearly all the population could be linked somehow to one of the registered profiles online.

“Disclosure will occur at some point in time. And I think that’s just an inevitable consequence,” said Peter Schlegel, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

“And I would be shocked if that was not part of the standard discussion in the next five years.”

Finding his donor

The site that sold Kramer his DNA kit found two men in its database whose genome resemblance meant they shared a common ancestor with Kramer, dating back to the 17th century.

Kramer and his single mother, Wendy, consulted public records in Los Angeles. They knew the donor’s date of birth — the only biographical information given out by the sperm bank — and wanted to see if anyone matched the unusual last name of the two men found.

Bingo. They found their match.

Kramer contacted the man, who said he was “thrilled” to hear from him. The two have stayed in regular contact ever since.

“He was the very first donor conceived person to find his donor through DNA testing,” said Wendy Kramer, who founded the Donor Sibling Registry in 2003. Now it has 60,000 members.

Extended family

The four DNA websites that offer match services — Ancestry, 23andMe, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage — today have so many users that it is rare for someone not to find at least one distant relative.

From that second or third degree cousin, traditional genealogy tools can be employed to rebuild a family tree up to the shared ancestor, such as vital records, death notices and obituaries, census records, or newspaper archives.

Then, the possible donor can often be nailed down by elimination based on sex, age and location. The more public records there are, the faster the search.

Thanks to DNA sites, Kramer has found eight half brothers or sisters since 2017 — five of those just this summer. 

In all, he has found 16 half siblings since 2005.

“It’s a reality that I could be continuing to find half siblings every couple of months or every year for the rest of my life, which is wild,” said Kramer.

“But it feels kind of normal to me.”

Kramer, who is 28 and a product manager at Google’s life sciences company Verily in San Francisco, said the “experience has been overwhelmingly positive”.

“I consider these people like extended family members.”

Banned in France

Between 2015 and 2017, sales of DNA test kits boomed in the United States and allowed websites to build a critical mass of DNA profiles.

It was around that time when Erin Jackson learned she had been conceived with donor sperm.

She immediately tested her DNA and up popped a half-brother.

“The resemblance was undeniable,” said Jackson, a 38-year-old freelance writer.

Then, based on the name of a second cousin discovered on the site, and after some substantial genealogical research, she and her husband managed to trace the ancestry down to the donor.

Once contacted, he asked her not to write again.

Jackson says she hopes the end of anonymity will force sperm banks to limit the number of children born to the same donor.

“Having less anonymous donors is a good thing,” she said.

In the US, there are no restrictions. In Britain, a maximum is set at 10 families per donor.

The US case points to a future where anonymity laws in other countries regarding egg and sperm donations may become moot.

France, for instance, is now debating whether to end anonymity for donations. The law is currently strict there, and consumer DNA tests are banned. 

But it is not hard to get around the ban and in theory it would only take a few hundred thousand profiles to start to get matches. 

It is already the case in Britain and, to a lesser extent, in The Netherlands, Moore said.

Obese children may be less likely to meet a set of five markers for childhood flourishing that include academic and emotional skills, a new analysis of US survey data suggests. 

Those markers include completing homework, caring about academics, finishing tasks, staying calm when challenged and showing interest in learning, according to the study authors who presented their results on November 3 at the American Academy of Paediatrics annual conference in Orlando, Florida. 

“We often think of childhood obesity as a problem of the future,” the study’s lead author told Reuters Health. “Now that we know childhood obesity is linked with poor coping skills and school performance, the time to act is now. I hope parents, schools, and physicians can unite and concentrate our efforts to help these at-risk children reach their maximum potential,” Dr Natasha Gill of Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, said by e-mail. 

The researchers analysed parent-reported data on nearly 23,000 children ages 10 to 17 who took part in the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health. The researchers took family, neighbourhood and economic factors into account, as well as children’s sleep habits, digital media exposure and any diagnosis of depression. 

They found that only about 29 per cent of obese children hit all five indicators of flourishing, compared with 38 per cent of overweight kids and 41 per cent of children at a normal weight. 

Looking at each of the five markers individually, obese children were also less likely than other kids to meet all except completing homework. 

The findings may imply that obesity puts children at risk for other problems besides failing to meet the five flourishing markers. 

“Just like increased exposure to adverse childhood events has been associated with negative outcomes, new studies suggest that youth who display less positive attitudes are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours and avoid health-enhancing behaviours,” Gills said. 

 “After doing this study, I feel like I can now educate about the urgency of preventing and treating obesity because it could affect a child’s day-to-day life, their development, relationships, school performance and coping skills.” 

If modified candid photos of birthday parties or of gentle family pictures are not a problem and will not make you lose sleep over their authenticity, there is a certain number of photo types that can be serious reason for trouble; even legal trouble, if altered or tampered with.

These are, for instance: diplomas, contracts, financial statements and proof of payments, scans of any kind of legal or identity documents, and so forth. Even portrait photography must be verified as originals sometime.

Data theft, identity theft, files corruption and hacking are far from being your only digital woes. Files that are altered and modified without you being aware of that are an even worse curse. So much visual information is exchanged digitally across the web today that checking the authenticity of a document has almost become an obsession — a nightmare for some.

Whereas this applies to a variety of documents, from pdf to text, the most flagrant cases of digital document alteration is beyond any doubt that of photos. The word “photo” is to take in its extended meaning here, which includes scanned documents of all kinds. Indeed, these end up as photos in a certain way, and therefore can be post-processed (i.e. altered or modified) at will.

The wide availability and the extraordinary quality of photo touch up software have made it very easy to modify the original shot or scan, and at the same time very difficult for the untrained eye to tell the altered copy from the original. In most cases it is simply impossible.

The notion of a digital signature to authenticate a document was theoretically introduced circa 1980, and actual digital signatures have been available and used for a little more than ten years now, mainly in e-mails, especially since such digital messages have been accepted as legal ones. The first to use such authentication systems were, understandably those working in the high finance world and those in the intelligence services.

On a wide scale however, and for the layman or the private consumer, digital signatures remain rarely used and often constitute a rather complex, somewhat cryptic process.

French IT startup KeeeX has recently come up with a software application named Photo Proof. It lets you generate “Certified Pictures”. And yes, the system is meant to be used by the masses not by IT experts only. With Photo Proof any tampering with a photo, for whatever reason, justified or not, for better or for worse, is impossible. Or at least you can tell if what you are looking at is the original or an altered copy.

The system uses a set of digital parameters to achieve its goal. Once taken, the photo is “timestamped and anchored on the Blockchain. The proofs are saved inside the file, as an invisible seal, and will be shared with the picture. The recipient of the picture can check its integrity, authenticity, location, date, author online”. So yes, here comes Blockchain technology again! Photo Proof certainly puts it to good use.

KeeeX has already made Photo Proof available on Google Play and Apple Store and the app is highly rated by those users who have downloaded it. The company claims it wants to let the population “trust digital again”.

Those addicted to personal photo touch up software take heart. Because certifying photos and digitally authenticating the original shots remain personal choices and are nothing mandatory, it will still be possible to make yourself (or someone else) look thinner, taller or younger on a photograph. However, you might find it harder from now on to convince the receiving party that the photo is an unaltered original, given the wide and easy availability of photo authentication software applications.

More than half of the US children may not be getting the recommended amount of physical activity and doctors can help by making exercise one of the “vital signs” assessed in routine health checks, researchers say. 

“We need to start asking children and their parents questions about physical activity on a routine basis. Exercise guidelines for families should be specific, and education about what counts as ‘moderate to vigorous physical activity’ should be included,” said the lead author of a study presented November 3 at the American Academy of Paediatrics annual conference in Orlando, Florida. 

Julie Young, an athletic trainer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Division of Sports Medicine in Dublin, Ohio and her colleagues reviewed electronic medical records of 7,822 children ages five to 18 in their hospital’s paediatric sports medicine clinic, who were asked about their physical activity by their doctors. One of the researchers’ goals was to understand whether kids were meeting physical activity guidelines. 

They found that 5 per cent of the children were completely inactive, registering zero minutes of exercise per week. Nearly 50 per cent were not active enough to meet guidelines, exercising less than the recommended 420 minutes per week. The remaining 45 per cent of patients were sufficiently active, exercising more than 420 minutes per week. 

Further questioning revealed that even the group getting sufficient physical activity still fell short in one sense. Only about 12 per cent of the active kids, or 5.2 per cent of the total study group, got the recommended 60 minutes of activity each day, while the rest were getting longer bouts of activity on fewer days per week. Exercising longer and for fewer days puts these kids at risk for burnout or repetitive injury, the researchers said in a statement. 

Other notable findings include further evidence that boys exercise more than girls. The boys in this study averaged 61 minutes more exercise per week than girls, and as a result were 39 per cent more likely to meet the guidelines. 

The difference in activity levels between boys and girls was mostly a result of the number of days per week kids participated in physical activity, Young noted. 

Another insight from the study is that physical activity appears to increase with age, with younger kids reporting the least exercise. 

“While paediatricians often ask if children are physically active, many don’t ask specifically if children are meeting current exercise guidelines of 60 minutes on daily physical activity,” Young told Reuters Health in an e-mail. 

“There are vast benefits of physical activity,” she added. “Children who are physically active are more likely to be active as adults — lifelong [physical activity] can decrease risks of common diseases.” 

“To me, the important finding is that older kids are more active,” said Dr William Phillips, who was not involved in the study. “This may be due to the greater availability of school related sports programs which may be less costly than many of the ‘private’ sports leagues/programmes that younger children participate in,” said Phillips, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. 

 “Defining a child’s activity level as a ‘vital sign’ is a great way to emphasise its importance,” Phillips said. 

The problem with the garment industry is that they charge you for their label. What is a label? It is this rectangular tag that is sewn onto any piece of clothing that you buy, usually at the back of a dress/shirt or the waistband of the pants/shorts — the two most sensitive places in any individual’s body.

Why do they do that? In practical terms, it marks the ownership of the product, like granting copyright to the apparel, so to speak. But in actual fact, it is to irritate the buyer.

It is almost as if all the fashion houses share a private joke at our expense, literally and figuratively. They persuade us to part with humungous sums of our money and then make us wear outfits that constantly keep reminding us of our folly. Through these prickly little stickers that scratch the back of the neck and waist, that is.

It is not easy to get rid of them, let me tell you. If you have not observed it before, turn the collar of your shirt and examine it right now. You will notice that the bit of cloth, with one end stitched in and the other hanging free, is made of a thicker material than the rest of it. It is also sewed up with extra strong thread. There is no point pulling it too because it never comes off. The buttons, bows and the other embellishments in the blouse might, but the label? Never!

Therefore, in order to dispense with them, one has to cut them off, and that is what is tragic. One pays an exorbitant price for a particular ensemble because of the branded name that is marked on its label, but before wearing it, one is compelled to immediately remove the same. If one does not do so, before long, a severe skin rash definitely appears on the skin because of the irritating chafing of the harsh label, I mean. 

So, the first thing one must do after purchasing a dress is to detach its price tag — however strong the urge is to boast about it, it is simply not polite to publicly display the cost of any item. Immediately after that one should start working on removing the label. This is not as easy as it sounds because, like I mentioned earlier, extra strong thread is utilised to stitch it into the fabric. 

I have tried using the pointy end of safety pins and sewing needles to pull out the stitching but it does not budge from its place. My fingertips have got bloodied in the process but more often than not, the sturdy labels have held on.

Subsequently I bought a pair of tiny clippers for this purpose. These are shaped like shears but have extra sharp edges around them. However, they work like a double-edged sword because if one is not careful whilst using them, the material around the label may get nicked too. And for someone who is incompetent with needlework, that is a doomsday-like scenario scenario. 

Recently I borrowed a shirt from my daughter’s wardrobe. Within minutes of wearing it, the label started pricking my neck.

“Why are you frowning?” asked my husband.

I ignored him. 

“Such a pain in the neck!” I muttered. 

“This shirt is biting me,” I growled loudly. 

“Is it barking as well?” my spouse joked.

“At this precise moment, I can do both,” I threatened.

“Let me get the scissors,” he announced, backing off.

WASHINGTON — What is next for the smartphone, which has become the hottest-selling consumer device around the world in just over a decade?

Even as top makers like Apple and Samsung unveil new handsets with new features and improved performance, smartphone sales have flattened with most major markets largely saturated.

The next catalyst for smartphones could be the possibilities offered by the forthcoming 5G, or fifth generation wireless networks, new form factors or advances in virtual and augmented reality.

But some analysts contend that something entirely different may supplant the smartphone.

Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb said in her annual report on technology trends that 2018 “marks the beginning of the end of traditional smartphones” and sees a transition to a new era of computing and connected devices based on voice, gesture and touch.

“The transition from smartphones to smart wearables and invisible interfaces — earbuds that have biometric sensors and speakers; rings and bracelets that sense motion; smart glasses that record and display information — will forever change how we experience the physical world,” Webb writes.

Other analysts say the smartphone is not disappearing anytime soon, even if the market is pausing.

“The smartphone is not going away, but it might change its shape and form factor,” said David McQueen, an analyst on connected devices for ABI Research. “The smartphone market still has legs for many years to come.”

McQueen said in a recent report that the mobile industry is evolving to devices with more immersive touch-less experiences, fuelled by artificial intelligence, mixed reality and gesture control. New devices may also see improved biometrics such as face recognition and changes such as foldable screens.

Driving innovation

ABI Research says that “Google and Amazon will lead and drive innovation around smartphones and related ecosystems over the next five to six years” because of their strength in these emerging technologies.

Global smartphone sales are expected to decline 0.7 per cent in 2018 to 1.455 billion units, according to research firm IDC. But IDC sees the overall smartphone market to slowly pick up again and reach 1.646 billion units by 2022.

“We still believe the smartphone market has some healthy growth in the years to come, although finding and competing in those markets and segments is increasingly more challenging,” said IDC analyst Ryan Reith.

In the United States, 91 per cent of adults under 50 use a smartphone and 95 per cent of teens have access to one, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Europe had some 465 million mobile subscriptions at the end of 2017, representing 85 per cent of the population, with more than two-thirds of the devices smartphones, according to the mobile operators association GMSA.

Bob O’Donnell, founder of Technalysis Research, said smartphone sales have slowed in the US and some other developed markets as a result of the end of carrier subsidies.

“Because people are paying full price for their phones they are holding on to them longer,” O’Donnell said.

The market may get a boost in 2019 from 5G and a likely appearance of the first devices with foldable or bendable displays, according to O’Donnell.

“People have been talking about [foldable screens] for some time and I think we may finally see the first ones next year,” he said.

“It will be interesting because it opens up the possibility of a larger screen in a smaller device.”

Getting even ‘smarter’

O’Donnell contends that smartphones are still preferred by consumers despite the arrival of new devices like smart speakers from Amazon and Google.

But he said the next innovations are likely to be devices that are even “smarter” than the current generation of handsets, with artificial intelligence that is built in.

“If you have AI chips that are embedded in the device, you will be able to do a lot of things without a network connection,” O’Donnell said.

The analyst said the competition among tech firms is now centring around the smart digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri and others.

This is becoming a “battle of power over platforms that could influence the smartphone market,” according to O’Donnell, who noted that some things may change if the dominant player becomes Amazon, which makes a range of devices but not smartphones.

He it remains unclear what kind of device consumers will want, but that “at the end of the day is it going to look a lot like a smartphone”.

LOS ANGELES — “The Grinch” proved it is never too early for some holiday cheer as the animated family flick stole the weekend box office with $67.6 million from 4,141 locations, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported on Monday.

Illumination and Universal’s adaptation of the Seuss holiday tale now ranks as the best start for a Christmas film. Fellow new offerings “Overlord” and “The Girl In the Spider’s Web” were not as gleeful, with mediocre debuts of $10 million and $8 million, respectively.

Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the animated green grouch in “The Grinch”, which cost the studio $75 million to make. While it trails the start of Illumination’s latest Dr Seuss story “The Lorax” ($70 million), “The Grinch” should benefit from the holiday corridor.

Though critics gave “Grinch” a mediocre 55 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes — with many noting the second big-screen adaptation did not add much to the original 1966 TV special — audiences, for the most part, embraced the movie and gave it an A- CinemaScore. Opening weekend crowds were 53 per cent female and 29 per cent under the age of 12.

Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr gave a nod to the film’s witty and snarky advertising campaign that played on the Grinch’s cynical humour for buoying opening numbers.

“Our marketing was eye-catching and unique,” Orr said. “It took full advantage of the character. It was purposeful because we knew we had a big property.” Newcomers “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” and “Overlord” were not able to best “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Fox’s Queen biopic showed staying power with a solid $31.2 million in its sophomore frame, representing a drop of just 41 per cent. That brings its 10-day domestic total just shy of $100 million.

Paramount’s “Overlord”, produced by J.J. Abrams, was able to nab third place, opening with opened with $10.2 million from 2,859 theatres.

It has not been all Yuletide joy at the box office. In fourth, Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” slipped over 50 per cent in its second weekend with $10.1 million to bring its domestic total to a disappointing $35 million. The studio is banking on its overseas run to justify the family film’s pricey $125 million budget. Globally, “Nutcracker” has made $96.7 million, including $61.4 million from international.

Another seasonal film, Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”, placed fourth, at $10.1 million. It stars Mackenzie Foy as a young girl who travels to a magic land in search of a key to unlock a gift from her late mother. Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman also star.

Fifth spot went to Warner Bros’s “A Star Is Born,” which earned $8.1 million in its sixth week out. Bradley Cooper, in his directorial debut, plays a hard-drinking musician who has a star-crossed love affair with a talented young singer played by Lady Gaga.

While “Spider’s Web’s” $7.8 million debut was in line with the studio’s projection and not too far behind the start of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s” ($12.7 million), the second film in the Millennium series does not look like it will have the same legs as David Fincher’s original film. Fede Alvarez directed “Spider’s Web,” which was budgeted at $43 million. Co-produced by Columbia, MGM, and New Regency, it cost significantly less to make than “Dragon Tattoo”, however, that film played strong throughout the holiday season and went on to earn a huge $102 million stateside and $230 million worldwide.

“Nobody’s Fool” ($6.6 million), “Venom” ($4.9 million), “Halloween” ($4 million) and “The Hate U Give” ($2.1 million) rounded out the top 10.

Among arthouse releases, Sony’s “The Front Runner” with Hugh Jackman launched in four locations on Tuesday to coincide with the midterm elections and picked up just $76,000 through Sunday.