WTF????? HALLE BERRY BETTER TAKE OFF THOSE SILLY AZZ PANTS . . . BEFORE SHE ENDS UP TRIPPING AND FALLING ON HER FACE!!!

UK visa. It has got even tougher over the last month for Caribbean and other non-Europeans to get into Britain. Since April 6, the Home Office has also been conducting a review of a number of its application forms. The review comes less than a month after the Home Office increased fees for all those applying to study, visit, work or stay in the United Kingdom (UK). This review follows recent announcements that seven Caribbean countries are being reviewed with a view to imposing visa requirements on them. The Home Office also says applicants submitting an application on or after April 6 must visit the relevant section of its website to check that they have the right form and payment at the new fee level for the different types of application. The changes are mounting alongside February's announcement that foreign students from outside Europe wanting to come to the UK to study will be required to meet stricter entry criteria. The new regulations will ensure that students studying below degree level have a limited ability to work in the UK and that their dependants cannot work there at all. That move came on the heels of a raft of changes which are being viewed in some quarters as a vigourous attempt by the UK to keep Caribbean nationals outside its borders. RJR News has been reliably informed that Caribbean HighCommissioners are disgruntled with the developments. One High Commissioner who wished not to be named said current amendments and pending changes will have grave consequences for the social and economic sectors of the Caribbean islands. Celia Markey-Grandison, Jamaica/UK Diaspora Advisory Board member, said some of the measures seem set on placing Caribbean nationals at a disadvantage. She said the changes will have serious implications for the Caribbean and it is important that the UK Border Agency fully engages the countries to be affected by the proposed visa restrictions. Ms Markey-Grandison added that Caribbean governments need to be a significant part of the consultation and decision making process, so that the process is inclusive.

-- Edited by jubalson on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 07:39:17 PM

FELLOW entertainers may not benefit from the group of five whose visas were recently revoked, as the entire industry has been tainted, said booking agencies.

Top artistes with US visas now include Capleton, Tarrus Riley, Elephant Man, Assassin, Chino, Voicemail, and Sean Paul, however, US promoters may avoid these and other local deejays altogether due to the risk of subsequent revocations.

"Who is to say that they book an artiste today and two days before the concert they lose their visa. So, they may look at performers from other Caribbean countries or rap artistes," said Carlette DeLeon, administrative director at Headline Entertainment, the island's largest booking agency.

"I do not look at it as who will benefit, because the industry will suffer... the entire industry will lose out. Even if other artistes have visas, we have no guarantee," she adding that the five entertainers should jointly contest the revocation at the US embassy.

There is concern that the visa revocation may spread beyond the US into other key markets which would affect managers including Shane Brown, whose artiste Busy Signal has already lost access to the US in previous years.

"It affects everybody, it's like when an artiste shoots *****boy it affects all the industry," he said of the blacklisting of dancehall music as anti-gay and its negative effect on securing bookings.

"People are not sure what caused it, whether it was X or Y, but if it was tax -elated then it will affect other territories like the UK and Canada because Canada is even more strict than the US in that respect."

Brown, who also owns Jukeboxx booking agency, guided Busy Signal to create music which appeals to the markets of Europe, Japan and Africa in order to compensate for the loss of the US market.

"And it has paid off for him. You have to make music more appealing that goes to the wider cross-section beyond the ethnic market of the US," he said, adding that strong singing melodies and reggae rhythms will increase international appeal.

Up to print, Splash was unable to contact Solid Agency, which is the booking agency for three of the five artistes whose visas were revoked.

Last week top dancehall deejays Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, along with veteran selector, Ricky Trooper, had their visas revoked by the US Embassy. Airlines were advised not to board the artistes as their visas were in the process of being revoked. The artistes themselves claim they had no knowledge that such a move was afoot and the US embassy offered no comment following the incident.

Other artistes -- including Sizzla -- have had their visas previously revoked, whilst Buju Banton is currently imprisoned awaiting trial in the US.

Rank and file members of the Police Force are said to be in a militant mood ahead of Friday afternoon's expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum served on the Government. The Police Federation has given the Ministry of Finance until 5 o'clock to indicate when outstanding wages owed to its members will be paid. It is not yet known what action will be taken by police personnel if there is no positive response from the Ministry. Despite an appeal Thursday by Finance Minister Audley Shaw for public sector workers to be reasonable with their wage demands on the cash-strapped Government, Chairman of the Federation Sergeant Raymond Wilson says the ultimatum still stands. The Federation had given the Golding administration until last week to say if it would honour outstanding wage and fringe benefits for the 2008 to 2010 contract period.     The deadline expired on March 31 and the Federation says the response sent by the Government was unacceptable as it failed to give a payment schedule.

With the recent cancellation of the visas of several prominent Jamaican performers, international reggae star and SoBe/Danger Zone recording artiste Jah Cure has been inspired to pen the visa blues and record the track Save Yourself.

It was 12:05 am on April 1, 2010, so Jah Cure naturally assumed the Internet news he was reading about the United States cancelling the visas of several top Jamaican dancehall artistes was an April Fools Day joke.

I couldnt believe that the Jamaican government or the US government would violate the privacy rights of citizens and publish their legal names, their birth dates, their actual Jamaican passport numbers and their US Visa Control numbers, I did not believe it, he said.

While sitting in his living room, Jah Cure said he began to hear the words of his idol Bob Marley singing: Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up for Your rights. Cure immediately felt inspired and compelled to go on record, so he headed straight to the studio and recorded Save Yourself as his message to Jamaica and all Caribbean nations.

Jah Cure urges his Jamaican and Caribbean brethren to save themselves, to save their countries, to save their economies, to save their families, and to save their children. A line of the song is telling: We must save ourselves we must save ourselves from Babylon.

JAMAICA has been placed at the top of a list of no go
destinations for gays according to a press release issued by
Cheapflights UK, a travel agency website.

Believe it or not, there are still several places in this modern world
where being gay is actually illegal and can result in abuse and even
arrest in some cases, the release stated.

The list is of no go destinations completed by Fiji, Poland, Nicaragua
and Mauritius.

Buggery is against the law in Jamaica and is punishable by a sentence of
no more than 10 years at hard labour.

Despite reports from local and international gay groups that gays are
persecuted in Jamaica, police blotters indicate that the majority of
murders involving gays are the result of lovers quarrels and not
homophobic attacks.

The website listed the top five destinations that are welcoming to gays
as the US cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Amsterdam
in Holland and Provincetown in Massachusetts.

-- Edited by KrYsIs on Thursday 8th of April 2010 09:26:02 AM

Kingston, JA/New York, NY (Ms. RAINE INC): Digital production and distribution channel 21st Hapilos, is pleased to announce that Dancehall smash hit single "Clarks" is now available on iTunes. "Clarks," the latest street anthem from international Dancehall star Vybz Kartel featuring Popcaan and Vanessa Bling (Gaza Slim), is one of the fastest rising Dancehall songs, debuting on local charts in Jamaica within a week of hitting the airwaves, and debuting on mainstream American radio two weeks later.

Produced by independent labels CR203 and Adidjahiem/Notnice Records, "Clarks," now in its 3rd week of rotation, has already hit mainstream American radio, making its debut on NY's #1 station for urban music, HOT97 97.1FM earlier this week.

The song, which pays homage to popular British shoe brand, Clarks, has caught on like wildfire throughout the Caribbean, and is fast finding footing in North America. American R&B sensation Omarion recently quoted Vybz Kartel on Twitter, tweeting "Clarks" song lyrics "waah gwan Popcaan," while legendary Hip Hop dj and radio personality Mr. Cee heavily endorsed "Clarks" on Hot97, encouraging listeners to purchase the single on iTunes.

"Clarks" is one of the fastest rising singles in Dancehall right now," states 21st Hapilos executive vice president and Dancehall industry veteran Johnny Wonder. "It's important that Dancehall be accessible worldwide, particularly on iTunes and other digital music outlets. 21st Hapilos is running an extensive marketing campaign, to prove to naysayers that Dancehall can and does sell."

"Clarks" is the fastest hitting song I've seen hit the dancehall in quite a while," states producer/radio personality Shaun 'Chrome' Chabal, creator of the Mad Collab riddim (rhythm) that "Clarks" was voiced on. "From the first play on the radio to the online sales; the impact it has had on the Dancehall and mainstream audience, this song will no doubt prove to be a Dancehall classic," he says, ending with "Clarks" lyrics "weh yuh get da new Clarks deh pawdie?"

International Dancehall Star Vybz Kartel

"I anticipated it would be a hit, because to Jamaicans, Clarks is not just a brand of shoes, it's part of our culture," explains Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer, CEO of Adidjaheim Records. "I was paying tribute to my large collection of Clarks, and it just took off."

NOT HIM TOO!!! RAPPER SOULJA BOY GETS AN ILLUMINATI TATTOO!! (PICS)MediaTakeOut.com just got an EXCLUSIVE pic of rapper Soulja Boy's new back tat. It's of a pyramid with the top removed.

That symbol is the OFFICIAL designation of the illuminati. It could just be a coincidence . . . but dude did seem to come up from OUT OF NOWHERE!!!!

You knew that Death Row CEO Marion SUGE Knight was broke, but now it appears that his PARENTS are in trouble. According to some OFFICIAL documents that we obtained, Suge Knights parents are getting their home FORECLOSED.

Here's what happened. Suge's parents took out an Adjustable Rate Loan on their home in September 2006 (They owned the property since 1969 and it was FREE AND CLEAR of a mortgage before 2006). The money was ALLEGEDLY used to help their son with his legal troubles. By March 2009, they started defaulting on payments. 

And it gets worse. The bank already tried to foreclose on the home, and even set up a date to auction the house off. Luckily for the Knight's, the minimum bid amount was to be much too great for the area and so it did not sell.

The bank is working on setting up another auction date.

Oh, and in case youre wondering, the home is located in Compton, CA

Shout out to one of our FAB READERS, who supplied us with MOST of the research!!!

No Bail For Bounty Killer Dancehall star Bounty Killer will have to remain behind bars for another week. Bounty Killer whose real name is Rodney Price was denied bail by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey when he appeared before the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Wednesday. The deejay is accused of physically assaulting his girlfriend during a domestic dispute. The 38-year old artiste was arrested on Monday at his East Avenue Apartment in St. Andrew on allegations that he assaulted Kadeen Baker during a domestic dispute.    It is reported that on March 25, Kadeen Baker told Bounty Killa, who she had a three year relationship with, that the romance was over as she had found a new boyfriend. The deejay reacted badly to the news and reportedly attacked the woman. She reported the matter to the Constant Spring Police Station and following investigations a warrant was issued for the deejay's arrest. It is reported that while the police were processing the entertainer on a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, he called Ms. Baker and threatened her life in the presence of the cops. In court on Wednesday, investigator told Senior Magistrate Pusey that Ms Baker's friends and relatives have been pressing her not to proceed with the case against the artiste. They told the court that because of the pressure, the complainant had expressed a reluctance to sign a statement regarding an alleged threat on her life by deejay. This did not sit well with Senior Magistrate Pusey who questioned Ms. Baker about the claims. She appeared to have second thoughts about the case and told the magistrate that that was the first time that she was hit by the artiste in their three year relationship. Ms Pusey warned the complainant that she should not waste the time of the police or the court if she is backing out of the case. Mr. Pryce's attorney, Linda Wright, told the Senior Magistrate Pusey that her client disputes the allegations and that he is prepared to go to trial. Magistrate shows no mercy However, the senior magistrate was not moved by the application and rejected the bail application.  She said her decision is based on the fact that Bounty Killer has a case in the Gun Court for assault and illegal possession of a firearm. She also noted that it was while he was out on bail on that matter that he is alleged to have committed this case of assault. The magistrate also pointed to other cases in which the artiste was accused of physically assaulting his girlfriends. Ms Pusey said she was also disturbed over the allegation that he threatened the complainant while in the precincts of a police station. She was also critical of Bounty Killer's alleged actions and declared that she was not swayed by his public persona.         Bounty Killer is to return to court on April 14.

Despite rumours that his United States visa has been revoked, deejay/selector Tony Matterhorn says he is still unsure of his status.

"As far as mi know, mi nuh know if it gone," Matterhorn stated yesterday via a telephone conversation while in England.

He said he had been hearing the rumour since last week when the US visas of Mavado, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Aidonia and Ricky Trooper were revoked.

Last week, documents obtained from the Fraud Prevention Arm of the United States Embassy in Kingston, which stated that: "The Embassy of the United States in Kingston, Jamaica, is in the process of revoking the visas of the following citizens of Jamaica. The people mentioned here currently hold a US visa that we have not yet been able to physically cancel. Do not allow these passengers to board any flights bound for the United States in reliance on this visa."

However, Matterhorn says, "Mi nuh have nutten official (from the US Embassy). Dem nuh contact me. Probably if dem a try contact mi, mi nuh know 'cause mi nuh deh a Jamaica. So, mi nuh know fi a fact. Mi just deh a England and a hear seh it gone."

told via messenger

The selector said many people told him via BlackBerry Messenger yesterday morning that his visa had been revoked.

"A just people a tell mi. Somebody a tell mi seh it come pon news but mi nuh know how truthful the story be. If it gone or it nuh gone, my life still goes on. As far as mi know, it still inna mi passport," Matterhorn told said.

There were also speculations that Matterhorn was turned back at the Miami International Airport on Wednesday, but Matterhorn said there was no truth to that rumour. He said he had been in England since early yesterday morning. He also said that he will be in the country for another couple of weeks. His next scheduled visit to the US is later this month.

A 27-year-old pregnant woman accused of stabbing her child's father in the eye with a kitchen knife, was remanded in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Keneisha Russell, a Kingston 14 resident, is charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Allegations are that on March 23, she and the complainant were at home having discussions about the baby. It is alleged that the accused got angry when the man told her he was unable to give her the money she had requested. She reportedly began to curse and told him that she was breaking up with him.

 

grabbed a knife

The court heard that Russell became enraged, grabbed a knife and began stabbing the complainant, who held on to her. She continued stabbing, so he ran outside. It is alleged that the accused stabbed at the complainant another time and it was when he felt the pain that he realised that he had been stabbed.

The complainant had a bandage over his right eye yesterday. He said the eye was completely removed. He also revealed that he had spent three days in the hospital. The complainant, who was sitting at the back of the court, asked someone to touch the accused, who seemingly found it hard to look at him as she turned away quickly and then burst into tears.

The medical report detailing the complainant's injuries was not yet on file so the matter was set to be mentioned again on April 12.

Just one day before the staging of 'The Official and Original Water Party', set to be held at the Sagicor Parking lot tomorrow, many Jamaicans are still upset at the promoters' decision to host the event in light of the current drought.

The Water Party, usually held around carnival season, is an event where patrons are doused with water spraying from a truck at the location.

This year, however, patrons are not too enthused with the idea of the party, since severe water restrictions have been placed on many communities all over the island. Most of the island's catchment facilities are well below capacity because of a lack of rainfall. Many, including the founders of a group on the social networking siteFacebook, believe the promoters of the event are unconscionable.

 

 

 

The group, named 'No water at wata party. We are in a damn drought', has 119 members. The description section of the group's page says, "We are currently at a point where most of Kingston is unable to get water for more than two hours a day. With this said, it is very irresponsible of the promoters and the sponsors of this event 'WATA PARTY' to be throwing away this commodity for the sake of frolicking. I call on the promoters to think beyond their pockets and sponsors to think beyond sales! Remember, water is life."

 

One member of the group also aired his disagreement through a wall post stating, "Why should hundreds of gallons of water be made available for a few to frolic in while a large portion have challenges using it for day to day uses? That's a show of disrespect to our fellow man."

 

In a release issued yesterday, the promoters of the event sought to reassure customers that they were very much concerned about the water shortage and had made adjustments to the event accordingly. The release said, "We were cognisant of the difficulties facing the NWC and residents of the corporate area and as such, recognized from early that we would have to shift the focus from a heavy dependency on water."

 

The promoters also advised that they had, "gone out of town and purchased water from a private source owned by Matrix Engineering so as not to impact upon the NWC sources. So while there may be a reduction in the amount of water, patrons can rest assured that this won't be negatively impacting on our present water crisis."

 

Corporate Public Relations Manager at the National Water Commission, Charles Buchanan, said while the NWC had no control over the use of other sources, he did not believe the use of water for a party was appropriate.

 

He said, "The prohibition notice only applies to NWC resources, but I can see why persons would be annoyed (by the party). It's a psychological thing."

(CNN) -- Manchester United will be without Wayne Rooney for Sunday's English Premier League clash with Blackburn, but manager Alex Ferguson expects the England striker to return from injury next weekend.

Rooney made a shock comeback in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, but had to go off with an hour to play after aggravating his ankle problem as United crashed out of Europe's top club tournament on away goals.

Ferguson believes the injury is not serious and that Rooney will be fit for second-placed United's clash with local rivals Manchester City next Saturday.

"I don't think it's as serious as we said when he got the injury the first time, but I think he'll be ready for the City game," the Scot told reporters on Friday. "We've got more time to work on it, anyway. Other than that, everyone else is fit."

Ferguson said he was ready to put faith in Dimitar Berbatov for the short trip to North-West rivals Blackburn, despite keeping the Bulgarian forward on the bench until the final 10 minutes of the 3-2 win against Bayern.

"Yes, I still trust him," Ferguson said. "He is a good player and there is absolutely no reason why we should doubt that.

"Dimitar has done well in a lot of games recently but we prefer to play with one striker. When we got the man sent off on Wednesday there was no need to bring a striker on because all we were trying to do was go over the line in terms of defending."

Ferguson hinted that he will rotate his squad as United seek to win and move a point above leaders Chelsea, who take on Aston Villa in the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday.

"Given the nature of the game on Wednesday and the energy spent, we have to address the situation of freshness," he said. "We've got a a squad to use -- we have the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville and we also have John O'Shea back now.

"He came on against Bayern and did 30 minutes' work -- it's good to get him back because he's such a versatile player for us."

Reggae music still has the power to inspire people through its messages of spirituality, social consciousness and upliftment. It is one of the few remaining art forms that attacks the reigning social order and status quo by dealing with topics that hit close to home for the majority of people such as crime, corruption and violence.

 

Reggae's power has never been more evident than on the hit Crime Stop riddim by super-talented producer Adrian Hanson of Donsome Records where several different artistes produce stirring social commentary that tackles subjects such as poverty, crime, violence and the spiritual bankruptcy afflicting Jamaica.

Adrian Hanson, chief executive officer of the US-based Donsome Records, has scored a major international hit record with Gyptian's Mama Bawl song on the Crime Stop riddim.

"Well this Crime Stop riddim is one of the biggest riddims for 2010. I've been able to get it on every radio station and online magazine in Europe and all over the world, especially on satellite radio. If you just go to youtube.com, you will see what I'm talking about, it's getting major buzz, it is surprising and incredible," he said.

The singles on the Crime Stop riddim include Influential's 'The Summary', reggae's incendiary new kid on the block, I Octane chants down Babylon with Lost Our Way, and the super-talented I Wayne chimes in with 'Famine and Drought'.

"I would say that Mama Bawl by Gyptian is the biggest song so far. The Mama Bawl track has a video that has been doing well all over the world. The video was premiered on ER and after that it has been featured on many online magazine like The Fader Magazine , United Reggae Magazine , and sites like dancehall.mobi , hot97svg, and one876entertainment.com," he said.

Donsome said that the buzz is building on the other singles such as Famine and Drought by I-Wayne and Lost Our Way by I-Octane.

"Those songs are going very good because the famine and drought situation a gwaan a way in Jamaica and all over the world right now and a it I-Wayne a sing about. I Octane a tell we how much the people dem lost dem way thats way we have so much killing in Jamaica and the world," he said.

Hanson also singled out new artiste Influential whose song dubbed The Summary is a "summation of all the corruption that is going on...he is aking when will it end".

"All these things point to the social conditions and challenges facing the people of Jamaica hence the name, Crime Stop riddim," he said.

Hanson said that the buzz generated by the singles, especially Gyptian's breakout hit which is popping up on playlists on major urban radio stations, has caused a spike in the sales of the riddim on downloadable sites.

"The sales have been tremendous, this is one of my biggest sellers to date," he said.

Hanson is now in the studios working on a new project which will be release this Summer.

"The work continues and the hits will keep coming," he said.

You can bet your house on it.

Conscious singer and talented song-writer, Duane Stephenson recently concluded the filming of his new music video, Money Love, and according to the artiste, he is quite pleased with the project.

The single of the same name has been getting its fair share of love from radio and has been warmly embraced by reggae/dancehall fans. With the positive feedback that Duane and his team have been receiving, they took the decision to proceed with a music video which will certainly drive the popularity of Money Love.

The video shoot, which took place two weeks ago, was done at various locations including the Polo Lounge at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Cable Hut Beach at Bull Bay and also at Donald Sinclair's wholesale on Tower Street in Downtown Kingston.

"We had a lot of fun working on this project," Duane recalls. "The vibes were right, the actors and directors were in tune and everybody understood their role, so that enabled things to run smoothly," said the singer who has been penning lyrics since the age of 14.

Duane, who has written for artistes such as Luciano, Morgan Heritage and most notable Jah Cure, for whom he wrote and produced the mega-hit, True Reflections, is known for becoming totally absorbed in his work, almost to the exclusion of everything else. He just concluded work on his follow-up to his blockbuster debut album, August Town, a VP Records project.

Money Love is one of the singles from the new album and, the title is self-explanatory. "Endless songs have been written about money and love," Duane says, adding with a shake of his head, "and this is just my contribution to a topic that will always evoke a lot of emotion."

The video, which was directed by Brian Roberts of Honest Illusions Media, with assistance from Rohan Miller and Asha, is in the final stages of production and will have its premiere next week.

It's hard not to notice the battle on the US album charts between seasoned R&B crooner Usher and newcomer Justin Bieber.

Sixteen-year-old Bieber released his sophomore album My World 2.0 a week before Usher's Raymond vs Raymond collection. Bieber's disc moved some 283,000 copies in its first full week at retail to take over the number one spot on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Usher's Raymond vs Raymond removed Justin disc from the number one spot with a whopping 329,000 copies sold. But while Usher is the king of the hill this week, the party just might come to an abrupt end. According to early statistics, Bieber could retain the number one spot based on projections that the album could move between 100,000 to 115,000 copies next week.

Bieber is the youngest solo male recording artiste to score a number one album on the Billboard 200, since Little Stevie Wonder pulled the hat trick at age 13 in 1963 with the album Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 year old Genius.

Raymond vs Raymond is Usher's third album to reach the number one spot on the Billboard 200. His previous chart topping titles were 2008's Here I Stand (which moved 443,000 copies in its first week); and 2004's Confessions.

Bieber is currently riding the charts with the singles Baby featuring Ludacris, Never Let You Go, and U Smile. Usher on the other hand has littered the R&B and pop charts with the singles Lil Freak featuring new rap 'it girl' Nicki Minaj; Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) featuring rapper Plies; and There Goes My Baby. His new single OMG featuring will.i.am debuted at number 14 on the Hot 100 singles chart a week ago.

Ironically, Usher is the executive producer for Bieber's album My World 2.0.

With the recent cancellation of the Visas of several prominent Jamaican performers, international reggae star and SoBe/Danger Zone recording artiste Jah Cure has been inspired to pen the visa blues and record the track Save Yourself.

TAMEKA CALLS USHER'S NEW GIRL UGLY . . . SAYS SHE'S A B*TCH . . . AND A WH*RE!!! MediaTakeOut.com learned that R&B singer Usher's ex-wife Tameka Raymond is on a WARPATH - to put Usher's new girlfriend Grace ON BLAST!!!

Here's what happened. Yesterday one of MediaTakeOut.com's readers began making very SLICK comments towards Tameka via Twitter. The MTOer said something to the effect of -We like Usher better with Grace than with you.

Well that was all Tameka needed to hear. She then went on the below tirade against Usher's new GF:

Grace is NEVER prettyF*CK Grace, she's his hidden side b*tch wh*re
Grace can run but can't hide
WOWZERS!!!

YUCK!!! LOOK AT THE NASTINESS INSIDE ACTRESS KERRY WASHINGTON'S EARS!

Today In History 


Today is Friday, April 9, the 99th day of 2010. There are 266 days left in the year.

On April 9, 1959, NASA announced the selection of America's first seven astronauts: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald Slayton.

In 1682, French explorer Robert de La Salle claimed the Mississippi River Basin for France.

In 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

In 1939, singer Marian Anderson performed a concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. after she was denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 1940, during World War II, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway.

In 1942, American and Philippine defenders on Bataan capitulated to Japanese forces; the surrender was followed by the notorious Bataan Death March which claimed thousands of lives.

In 1947, a series of tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas claimed 181 lives.

In 1959, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright died in Phoenix, Ariz., at age 91.

In 1960, the Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals for the second year in a row by defeating the St. Louis Hawks 122-103 in Game 7.

In 1965, the newly built Astrodome in Houston featured its first baseball game, an exhibition between the Astros and the New York Yankees. (The Astros won, 2-1, in 12 innings.)

In 1983, the space shuttle Challenger ended its first mission with a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Ten years ago: President Eduard Shevardnadze (sheh-vahrd-NAHD'-zeh) won a second term as leader of Georgia; Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori (foo-jee-MOHR'-ee) fell just shy of the majority needed to avoid a runoff for an unprecedented third term. Vijay Singh (VEE'-jay sing) won the Masters, closing with a 3-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over Ernie Els.

Five years ago: Britain's Prince Charles married longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles, who took the title Duchess of Cornwall. Tens of thousands of supporters of a militant Shiite (SHEE'-eyet) cleric filled central Baghdad's streets, demanding that American soldiers go home. A day after the funeral for Pope John Paul II, cardinals began an intense period of silence and prayer before their conclave to choose the next pope. Feminist author Andrea Dworkin died in Washington, D.C. at age 58.

One year ago: North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament appointed Kim Jong Il to a third term as the nation's leader. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, and two others were killed in car crash by a suspected drunken driver. (Andrew Thomas Gallo, charged with three counts of second-degree murder, is awaiting trial.)

Today's Birthdays: Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner is 84. Naturalist Jim Fowler is 78. Actor Jean-Paul Belmondo is 77. Actress Michael Learned is 71. Country singer Margo Smith is 68. Country singer Hal Ketchum is 57. Actor Dennis Quaid is 56. Humorist Jimmy Tingle is 55. World Golf Hall of Famer Severiano Ballesteros is 53. Country musician Dave Innis (Restless Heart) is 51. Actress-sports reporter Lisa Guerrero is 46. Actor Mark Pellegrino is 45. Actress-model Paulina Porizkova is 45. Actress Cynthia Nixon is 44. Rock singer Kevin Martin (Candlebox) is 41. Rock singer Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) is 33. Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam is 31. Rock musician Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes) is 30. Actor Ryan Northcott is 30. Actor Jay Baruchel is 28. Actor-singer Jesse McCartney is 23. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jazmine Sullivan is 23. Actress Kristen Stewart is 20. Actress Elle Fanning is 12.

Thought for Today: "The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness. People who wait around for life to supply their satisfaction usually find boredom instead." -- William C. Menninger, American scientist, physician, engineer (1899-1966). (AP)

If you have, you're not alone. Either due to bizarre sexual fetishes or just plain boredom, men have gotten caught screwing anything and everything. Some of which don't even seem possible. Take for instance...

It says something about relations between the UK and America when the Telegraph publishes the headline: "American Caught Having Sex With Picnic Table." Seriously, does it matter where the guy was from? So what if one guy's pursuit of happiness took the form of sticking his schlong inside the umbrella hole of a picnic table. Do not such things transcend borders?

After all, isn't this the sort of thing that could happen to anybody? Maybe a girl had been there just moments ago, and rolled away at the last minute. Maybe it was dark.

These would all be reasonable suppositions if the story didn't say that the guy boned the picnic table on four separate occasions, and for hours on end. How do we know that? This would be thanks to the neighbor who secretly taped it each time ... also for hours on end.

Seriously.

Now, filming it the first time is understandable. You just want to have evidence for when the cops say, "There is no way some guy is ****ing a table." But somewhere after the second time, the overall impression you givr off goes from "disgusted" to "intrigued" to "DAMMIT IT'S ALMOST MIDNIGHT! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU TABLE DEFILING STALLION! LOOK AT IT, JUST BEGGING FOR YOUR MIGHTY LANCE OF FLESH!"

"If my dick was a carpenter, this is the table it would design."

But eventually the neighbor did turn the tapes over to the police, who arrested the perpetrator and presumably drew straws over which poor bastard was going to watch the hours of evidence. The man was charged with felony counts of public indecency because his frolic with the world's most vulnerable four-legged beast happened near an elementary school.

We're guessing this made for some long, awkward conversations between fourth graders and their parents.

A Sioux Falls, South Dakota man was arrested when a neighbor came home and had the following thought train barrel down the center of his mind, "Hmm, there appears to be a 60-year-old man in my backyard in a trench coat and panty hose, holding a camcorder. Perhaps he's a pervert."

After the man was arrested, police found hours of tape that were kind of like that haunted video from The Ring, only instead of killing you, it just permanently negates the possibility of an erection for the remainder of your adult life. Police say the tapes included two years' worth of the man defiling street signs.

Two goddamn years. And that's just the ones he was taping, who knows how many street signs he ****ed and got away with it. This proves once and for all the forensics and crime scene work you see on CSI is a big load of bull%&%*.

The man's escapades didn't end there, either. His collection included video of himself in an all leather S&M outfit while grinding against a door frame, instantly making it twice as awkward as any other S&M film ever made.

By the way, this is the guy we're talking about.

There was also video of him masturbating in front of traffic while wearing a mask, waving a gun at people while naked and digging a hole to literally **** the ground. That has to be the pinnacle of messed up boning, right? Screwing the earth itself? Well we can say that he's not the first guy to get caught doing it, so maybe it's a thing. Who are we to judge?

A man from southwest Scotland apparently decided, while looking at his bike, that he wanted to ride it all night long, and in ways that would make Lance Armstrong weep tears of pure terror.

This, presumably, was not a problem for anyone until the night that two cleaning ladies for a local hostel walked in on a sight far more horrifying than anything Eli Roth could come up with: The 51-year-old Scottish man, with trou fully dropped, was "riding" a bike in a way that God never intended.

It has 10 speeds, all of them are sexy as hell.

Oh, and did we mention that he stopped, knowing he was caught in one of the most awkward situations ever, acknowledged the cleaners in the room, and then continued gettin' it on? Whether that is dedication, determination or retardation, it was probably backed with the thoughts and hopes that today would be the day he would get lucky and finally have that M-F-F-Bike orgy he always longed for.

It didn't take long for them to call the cops, who booked his ass on charges of sexual breach of the peace, which we assume is Europe-speak for making everyone at the station say "What the ****?" and "Holy %&%* eww!" He ended up pulling a page out of the celebrity "I ****ed up big time" book and chalked it up to alcohol instead of that funny feeling he got in his pants when he saw a tricycle when he was a child.

In fairness, this bike is totally asking for it.

The man's little Tour de France got him three years probation and placement on the sex offenders list, presumably with the note "****ed bike" next to it.

DID SHE JUST SAY SHE AIN'T ATTRACTED TO PENIS?

CELEBRITIES ARE DESCRIBED AS THE VOICE OF THE PPL, ROLE MODELS TO KIDS AND ASPIRING TALENTS, THE FACE OF A CULTURE. BUT ARE THE CELEBRITIES WHAT WE SEE THEM AS? DO THEY SAY THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY? YOUR DRESS CODE IS A MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT THEY POTRAY, BUT BEHIND ALL THE GLAMOUR, ARE THEY THE SAME?


BOUNTY KILLER, BEENIE MAN,MAVADO AND VYBZ KARTEL ARE SEEN AS LEADERS, THEY PROVIDE OPPURTUNITIES FOR THE PPL AROUND THEM WHO LIVE IN POVERTY STRICT AREAS, AMERICANS WUD CALL THEM"HOOD HEROES"...THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PPL.THE YOUNG GENERATION LOOK UP TO THESE ARTISTS......BOUNTY KILLER PREACHES WHAT THE POOR PPL WANT HIM TO SAY, HOWEVER HOW DOES IT LOOK WHEN  HE'S ARRESTED FOR BEATING A PREGNANT GIRL....SEE WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE DO A HUNDRED GOOD AND DI ONE AND TWO BAD OVERSHADOW UR SUCESS........A NEXT EXAMPLE.....LOOK AT MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, A MAN WHO COULD BE DESCRIBE  AS THE NEXT MUHAMMED ALI AND JOE FRAZIER...SOME SEE HIM AS EVEN BETTER....HE WAS A FORCE TO RECON WITH, BUT CONTROVERSY DESTROYED HIS CAREER AND THE STORY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST

THE POINT BEHIND ALL THESE LONG BORING THINGS IM TYPING IS THAT PPL NEED TO LOOK AT THESE GUYS AS NORMAL PPL ....THEY MAKE MISTAKES LIKE ALL OF US...BUT NO MAN IS PERFECT AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE PPL....WE HAVE TOO MUCH EXPECTATIONS AND HIGH HOPES IN THESE CELEBRITIES. WE PICK THEM UP AND THROW THEM AWAY AT THE END OF THE DAY

GIVE THEM A CHANCE PPL

YOW A WEH UNNU A DEAL WID PON THE ZONE??? 

AWWWWWWWW!!! NEW PICS RELEASED OF LIL WAYNE'S SON . . . NAMED WEEZY JR . . . AND LIL MAN IS ADORABLE!!!!

-- Edited by Dj Quiva on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 11:41:09 PM

jwonder21 on twitter:

"no more tune post 2 twitter facebook mediazone. my list will be gone thru with a magnify glass & cut down 2 djs that only play pon the radio"

"and if i send to my list and see the product leak i will take off people by the dozens"

WOLMER'S REPEATS HISTORY

Boys break 54-year Championships drought

BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior Staff Reporter - Jamaica Observer

WOLMER'S Boys' ended their 54-year drought yesterday, gaining their 12th hold on the coveted Mortimer Geddes Trophy as the 100th staging of the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys' Athletics Championships ended at the National Stadium.

Wolmers' clinched the title by virtue of finishing ahead of Calabar in the 38th and last race of the Championships, the 4x400 metre relay. Both teams were locked on 198.5 points after 37 finals.

However, the maroon-and-gold-clad boys, who are coached by a panel of four -- Christopher Harley, David Riley, Gregg Scott and Lamar Brown -- clocked 3 minutes 17.06 seconds to place second in the mile relay and take 10 points.

They won by seven points because Calabar, who were seeking their 22nd hold on the trophy, could only muster seventh place for three points in the 4x400m to end with 201.5 points.

The Heroes Circle-based school, which won the first staging of the Championships back in 1910 at Sabina Park, also won the title in 1915, 1917, 1924, 1927, 1929, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1949 and 1956.

David Riley, who spoke on behalf of the coaching staff, was elated that they had pulled off the victory despite a number of mishaps over the four days of competition.

"It is remarkable, but we talked to the guys and we asked them to step it up a bit and they really performed better than we expected... today," Riley told the Sunday Observer.

"They just were exceptional in terms of performance and they really came out and did what they were prepared to do and even exceeded some of our expectations. I think we have a great team," Riley added.

Kingston College (KC), who were seeking a record 32nd title, had to settle for third place with 192 points. The top five was completed by Jamaica College (JC), 153, and St Jago, 110 points.

Holmwood scored 273.33 to win their eight consecutive hold on the Girls' trophy ahead of Edwin Allen 258 points in second.

The Wolmer's victory charge was led by Dwayne Extol, who won the 400m, placed second in the 400m hurdles, second in the 200m and clocked 47.89secs on anchor in the 4x400 relay to secure the title.

Julian Forte and Odeane Skeene were also instrumental as they won two individual gold medals in the Class One and Two 100m and 200m, and shared in the 4x400m silver medal.

The turning point for Wolmer's came in Class One 110 hurdles when Calabar's favourite Deuce Carter, who was a clear three metres ahead of the field, crashed into the ninth flight of hurdle, then was disqualified.

Calabar's other athlete, Jerome Myers, who had a poor start, stopped after clearing the fourth hurdle and walked off the track.

As a result of Carter's mishap, Kamal Fuller of Wolmer's won in 14.17secs, ahead of KC's Lemmar Wilson, 14.47, and Kevaughn Allen of Wolmer's, 14.50.

Wolmers' also secured gold in the Class Two 110 hurdles courtesy of Yanick Hart, who posted 13.95 into a negative wind (-2.4 m/s). Omar Graham of Manchester took silver in 14.35 ahead of Kemar Williams of Calabar, 14.48.

The Class Three 100 hurdles was captured by JC's Mason in 13.53secs, despite a massive head wind of (-3.7 m/s). Okeen Williams of St Elizabeth Technical, 13.71, and Hackeem Lewis of Wolmer's, 13.75, rounded out the medals.

Calabar's failed charge came mainly from the field events as the Michael Clarke-coached outfit dominated the throws, winning the Class One and Two discus and shot put events, where Wolmer's had no finalists.

However, things did not go as planned on the track for Calabar, as many of their medal favourites either underperformed or suffered mishaps in their events.

Chad Wright secured his second gold medal with a record heave of 18.22 metres (6kg) in the Class One shot put. The mark ensured that Wright automatically qualified for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, this summer.

The IAAF World Junior standard in 18.00m.

Oshane Chamber of Calabar heaved the discus 50.75m to win Class Two in a new record. Chamber topped the old mark of 48.77m set by JC's Shariff Small in 2004 by 1.98 metres.

Chadwick DaCosta of KC secured silver with 50.13m ahead of Calabar's Fredrick Dacres, 49.42m.

Anchored by Ricardo Powell, who failed to make the 200m and 400m finals, Calabar won the Class One 4x100 relay in 40.97secs. Powell, whose right knee was heavily strapped, produced a scintillating leg to overall his Camperdown opponent, who had a five-metre lead after collecting his baton first. Camperdown stopped the clock at 41.04 ahead of St George's College, 41.28.

Walker of JC won a third gold medal after anchoring the Dark Blues to a victory in the Class Three 4x100m in a record 43.04secs. The previous mark of 43.26 was established by St George's in 2009.

St Jago (43.43secs) and Wolmer's (43.74secs) completed the podium places.

The Class One high jump was won by KC's Johnathan Reid in 2.10m, followed by St Jago's Machel Baker with a clearance of 2.05m. It was a three-way tie for third between Kemarki Absolam of St George's College, Ramone Bailey of Wolmers' and St Jago's David Hall, who all cleared 2.00m.

Ashani Wright of JC cleared 2.00m to win the Class Two equivalent ahead of Calabar's Demar Robinson and Jason Lewis who both cleared 1.95 to tie for second.

Wright, who celebrated his 18th birthday with a record 39.86m to win the Class One Discus on Thursday, won the shot put ahead of his teammate Ashinia Miller 17.72m and Emmanuel Chinedu AfamOnyia of Munro College 16.56.

Rohan Walker of Jamaica College became only the third Class Three athlete in the history of Champs after record holder Ali Watson (49.63secs) of Calabar and Darrion Bent (49.80secs) to post a sub-50 time to win the 400m. Running in lane six, Walker rushed into a commanding lead at the 300m mark and held on for victory, in a credible 49.97secs. Ivan Henry of St Jago took the silver in 50.83 ahead of Jordon James of Wolmer's with 51.14. Walker of JC returned three hours later to pull off an upset victory in the Class Three 200m in 22.30secs. St Jago's Keavaughn Rattray, who established a new meet record of 22.07 in semi-final action on Friday, had to settle for the silver in 22.60secs. Tyler Mason of JC, who had earlier won the 100m hurdles, took the bronze in 23.12secs.

The Class Two equivalent went to Lennox Williams of Manchester in 48.25secs, followed by Demar Levy of St Elizabeth Technical 49.19 and Omari McDonald of St Jago 49.24secs.

Running from lane eight, Dwayne Extol of Wolmer's lead from the gun-to-tape, to win the Class One 400m in 47.43 secs ahead of the Vere technical pair of Demar Murray 47.53 and Jermaine Gayle 47.61 secs.

The gold was Extol's second medal of the Championships, having placed second in the 400m hurdles on Friday with 51.67secs. He copped a third individual medal in the 200m, clocking 21.38secs for silver.

However Extol, who led up to 170 metres, willfully slowed down to allow his teammate Julian Forte to win in 21.32 secs.

It was Forte's second gold medal of the Championships, having posted 10.49 to take the 100m title on Friday.

"We had a deal that the person who came off the corner first should win and Dwayne just held up his end of the bargain," Forte told the Sunday Observer.

Brandon Tomlinson of Manchester collected the bronze with 21.57.

The Class Two equivalent was also won by a Wolmerian, as Odeane Skeene, running in lane six, took control of the race after 110 metres and held off a strong challenge from Munro College's Delano Williams (21.47) and Bridgeport's Jazeel Murphy (21.48) in the last 10 metres, to win in 21.40secs.

Murphy, who has been nursing a right hamstring injury, was stretchered of the track. He attempted to stop after 180 metres while cl**tching the leg and grimacing in pain.

Skeene, who had also won the Class Two 100m in 10.46secs on Friday, was elated about his double gold medal performances.

"I'm very happy to have been able to win two gold medals," Skeene said, noting that he had hoped to run faster in the 200m.

National Junior 1500 metres record-holder Kemoy Campbell of Bellefield High returned one of the top performances of the meet, chopping 14.85 seconds of his own 5000m record.

He lapped the entire field to clock 14 mins 18.55secs. The old mark was 14:33.43.

Andre Housey of Holmwood (15:55.56) and Oraine Wint of Balaclava (15:58.08) were second and third, respectively.

On Friday, the NACAC Cross Country junior Champion posted a record 3 minutes 45.54 seconds to take gold in the 1500m.

Kevin White of Holmwood produced a sprint finish to win the Class One 800m in a creditable 1 minute 51.45secs ahead of the KC pair of Donohue Williams(1:52.51mins) and Johwayne Hebert (1:53.15mins).

In Class Two, Brian Smith of Clarendon College won in 1 mins 55.55, followed by Oshane Turner of Petersfield (1:55.69 mins) and Foga Road's Kevon Robinson (1:56.42).

The Class Three 800m went to Shavanes Robinson of Titchfield in 2 mins 07.11, adding to his 1500m gold (4:25.67mins) on Friday. Norman Pittersgill of Calabar was second in the same time, while Chad Miller was third in 2:07.45.

The sprint medley relay (400m, 200m, 200m, 800m) was won by St Jago in 3 mins 34.01 ahead of William Knibb (3:34.06) and Wolmers' (3:34.21).

-- Edited by I-CO on Sunday 28th of March 2010 02:47:26 PM

A Jamaican judge in St Lucia has been shot and injured by gunmen in that country.

The Gleaner/Power 106 News has learnt that the female judge was accosted by two masked men this morning as she was getting into her car.

The men reportedly shot her in the leg.

The incident happened around 7.30 a.m. in the community of Marisule, about 4 miles from the capital Castries.

The judge has been admitted to hospital but her condition is not yet known.

Investigators have also not yet established a motive for the shooting.

Well have more on this developing story in later newscasts.

NEW TAT!!!! RAPPER LIL WAYNE GOT ONE LAST TAT BEFORE GETTING LOCKED UP . . . AND IT WAS ON HIS FACE!!! (PICS INSIDE)

Kartel more popular than Mavado online

 

By Steven Jackson Observer writer

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Gully and Gaza rivalry, when taken online, shows that Vybz Kartel has usurped Mavado's popularity, up to September based on Internet search data.

Kartel has been increasing his lead since April this year following Mavado's dominance in 2008. Kartel has extended his lead, getting a boost in summer, and is actually clipping Sizzla's popularity. Sizzla was much more popular internationally than both artistes.

Internet users in Jamaica, France and Germany are searching twice as much for Kartel than Mavado with a 10 to 4 ratio

Internet searches worldwide show that for every 10 persons searching for Kartel, seven searched for Mavado, up to September based on data from Google Trends, which compares the search traffic for each artiste over time.

Internet users in Jamaica, France and Germany are searching twice as much for Kartel than Mavado with a 10 to 4 ratio. In the US and UK, that disparity dwindles to a ratio of 10 to 8 in Kartel's favour. There is no data for Japan, which is a popular reggae destination.

Mavado, however, leads in profile views on popular music website MySpace, at 2.3 million to Kartel's 1.2 million.

Both artistes have been at loggerheads since Kartel split the Bounty Killer-led Alliance prior to 2007. Mavado is now the Alliance's front-man.

Mavado's Range Rover was shot-up on Tuesday, which should increase his online searches going foward. The artiste has been at the centre of several controversies in his Cassava Piece home-town. The community is often referred to as the 'Gully Side'. According to the police, the community is divided into factions and is currently tense. It follows the fire b****ing of Kartel's Honda motor car in August last year. Kartel, however, stated that it was "electrical problems" which sparked the fire. The police have promised thorough investigations on both incidents.

( l - r ) Mavado, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer

With the United States visa of several artistes being revoked, promoters of reggae and dancehall events in the United States are very worried.

Only last week, the Fraud Prevention Arm of the United States Embassy in Kingston, in a document obtained by THE STAR, said the visas of Bounty Killer, Mavado, Beenie Man, Aidonia and selector Ricky Trooper were in the process of being cancelled. This only adds to the list of top local artistes, including Busy Signal and Vybz Kartel, who no longer hold US visas.

The news shocked many people in the reggae/dancehall industry, especially promoters in the US who regularly host shows with these artistes.

Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Media, said he is concerned about the future of his event, Irie Jamboree, and other events that are held in New York.

"As a promoter, I am very concerned, very nervous. I am very unsure of the future promotions of reggae events in the New York area. This is a very sad day in the history of reggae. About 85 per cent of the people named for revocation were acts we were in negotiations with.," he said.

Adding, "The promotion (of Irie Jamboree) would not be effective if we don't confirm artistes early. If we don't have anything confirmed, we can't promote," he said of the event that is scheduled for September.

not pleased

"I am hoping that it will be resolved as soon as possible. We need to find a way to fix our industry that we started."

Clarke said the timing was especially bad for his counterpart in Florida, Jabba, who will be hosting Best of the Best in May.

While he remains optimistic, Clarke said he is not pleased with the situation and how it will affect everyone.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of revenue for anybody in this music fraternity," he said noting that a lot of people depend on these entertainers for their survival.

In the meantime, he said promoters will have to find alternatives for events like using sound systems.

An alternative is what G City, of Road Block Radio in New Jersey, said one of his associates will have to find if he is to host his show this week, as the two headliners were Bounty Killer and Beenie Man.

"They are basically fishing around to try and find a substitution," he said.

With his event, New Jersey Fest scheduled for August, G City is also in a tight spot.

"It is gonna affect us tremendously. This is a big setback for the concert community in the tri-state area. We wish all the artistes a speedy recovery 'cause of course it's a damage right now. That's gonna be a big blow for the dancehall/reggae scene. Summer time is when they put in a lot of their work," he told THE STAR.

Dave Rodney, a media and events marketing consultant, said the timing was especially bad.

"It is not good news at all. It comes at a bad time. It comes when tours are being prepared for the summer season," said Rodney, who has worked with events like Irie Jamboree, World Creole Music Festival, New Jersey Reggae Fest and Sweet Auburn Spring Festival.

"The economy is still bad, so concert promoters had already been hurting in terms of trying to bring out maximum numbers. If there are more cancellations, it will be a big blow for the reggae concert circuit."

Rodney said people are already spending less of their income on entertainment. In addition, he said it is hard to get sponsorship for events in the very challenging economy.

"It really makes the tour circuit very challenging. It paints a grim situation for reggae," he told THE STAR.

REMEMBER BUDDHA FROM I LOVE NEW YORK . . . WELL HE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! (PICS OF HIS LOVELY FIANCE INSIDE)The entire staff at MediaTakeOut.com would like to wish Ezra "Buddha" Masters and his fiance Xenia Haitu a congratulations!!! The two met on the set of a TV show and now are set to get married this summer.

Every Ass-anal fan should be embar****ed to say Gunners ever again....hahahaha....Messi @ dem seeeeet deh

WHAT A CUTIE!!! SOUL SINGER JILL SCOTT'S BABY SON IS SOOOOO ADORABLE!!!

Today In History 


Today is Thursday, April 8, the 98th day of 2010. There are 267 days left in the year.

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking Babe Ruth's record.

In 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and his expedition began exploring the Florida coastline.

In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for direct popular election of United States senators (as opposed to appointment by state legislatures), was ratified.

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act, which provided money for programs such as the Works Progress Administration.

In 1946, the League of Nations assembled in Geneva for its final session.

In 1952, President Harry S. Truman seized the steel industry to avert a nationwide strike. (The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that Truman had overstepped his authority.)

In 1970, the Senate rejected President Richard M. Nixon's nomination of G. Harold Carswell to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1973, artist Pablo Picasso died at his home near Mougins, France, at age 91.

In 1988, TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart resigned from the Assemblies of God after he was defrocked for rejecting an order from the church's national leaders to stop preaching for a year amid reports he'd consorted with a prostitute.

In 1990, Ryan White, the teenage AIDS patient whose battle for acceptance gained national attention, died in Indianapolis at age 18.

In 1994, Kurt Cobain, singer and guitarist for the grunge band Nirvana, was found dead in Seattle from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was 27.

Ten years ago: The Central Intelligence Agency confirmed that personnel action had been taken following the mistaken bombing of the Chinese embassy during the NATO war against Yugoslavia; one employee was reportedly fired. Oscar-winning actress Claire Trevor died in Newport Beach, Calif. at age 90.

Five years ago: With presidents and kings looking on, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square sang, applauded and chanted for the Catholic Church to declare John Paul II a saint as the pope was laid to rest.

One year ago: Somali pirates hijacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama; although the crew was able to retake the cargo ship, the captain was taken captive by the raiders and held aboard a lifeboat. (Richard Phillips was rescued five days later by Navy SEAL snipers who shot three of the pirates dead.) A Russian spacecraft carrying a crew of three, including U.S. billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi, landed safely in Kazakhstan. David "Pop" Winans Sr., patriarch of the award-winning Winans gospel music family, died in Nashville, Tenn. at age 74.

Today's Birthdays: Former first lady Betty Ford is 92. Comedian Shecky Greene is 84. Actor-turned-diplomat John Gavin is 79. Author and investigative reporter Seymour Hersh is 73. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is 72. Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek is 70. "Mouseketeer" Darlene Gillespie is 69. Singer J.J. Jackson is 69. Singer Peggy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 69. Songwriter-producer Leon Huff is 68. Actor Hywel Bennett is 66. Actor Stuart Pankin is 64. Rock musician Steve Howe (Yes) is 63. Former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay is 63. Movie director John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love") is 61. Rock musician Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad) is 59. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter is 56. Actor John Schneider is 50. Rock musician Izzy Stradlin is 48. Singer Julian Lennon is 47. Rock singer-musician Donita Sparks is 47. Rapper Biz Markie is 46. Actress Robin Wright Penn is 44. Actress Patricia Arquette is 42. Rock singer Craig Honeycutt (Everything) is 40. Rock musician Darren Jessee is 39. Actress Emma Caulfield is 37. Actress Katee Sackhoff is 30. Actor Taylor Kitsch is 29. Rock singer-musician Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend) is 26. Actor Taran Noah Smith is 26. Actress Kirsten Storms is 26.

Thought for Today: "The truth is always something that is told, not something that is known. If there were no speaking or writing, there would be no truth about anything." -- Susan Sontag, American author and critic (1933-2004). (AP)

PPL WILL READ THIS AND SAY......PUN THATS IT, ur a flipping ediaat, WAH DO U??

 BUT IN MY OPINION AND THIS THEORY MAY SOUND CRAZY, ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO ARE AFFILIATED AND SUPPORTED/VOTED FOR THE JAMAICA LABOUR PARTY WILL OR HAS BEEN DENIED VISA......AND VISAS CANCELLED

I THINK THAT THE U.S EMBASSY CHECK THE CENSUS TO SEE WHO VOTED FOR WHAT AND THAT DETERMINES UR FATE IN THE COUNTRY OF THE U.S

I KNOW SOME WILL FIND THIS THEORY TOTALLY RIDICULOUS, BUT JUST THINK ABOUT IT

A loose-tongued cabbie from Falmouth, Trelawny, who is alleged to have performed oral sex on a schoolgirl and later boasted about the act with friends, has found himself on the wrong side of the law after the incident reached the ears of the police.

Information reaching THE STAR is that the man was picked up and charged last week after the minor's parents made a report to the police.

A police source from the parish said that "apparently the taxi man had performed oral sex on the girl and he went back to tell other people about it, surprisingly".

sexual exploits

The source continued: "The minor then heard that the cabbie was telling their business, she got upset and so she told her parents about what had happened." The report was then made to the police.

THE STAR understands that the driver was arrested afterwards. Subsequent to that, two others who were implicated in similar cases of illegal sexual exploits with minors, were also arrested and charged. All three men are expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Residents from Falmouth have also said that since the arrest of the three men last week, some six other cabbies have been missing in action, a rumour that the police said they heard as well.

"It's the talk on the street and in the taxis," the police source said. "People are saying that about six of the taxi men on the Falmouth route have left town since the arrest because of alleged involvement with minors and fearing they too would be caught, we don't know if this is the case though."

THE STAR was told that the taxi men usually take the minors, sometimes as young as 14-year-old, to a beach in Falmouth known as "Durwood" where the sexual acts would be carried out. However, in recent times increased police presence in that area has resulted in the sex seekers finding havens elsewhere.

The source said that the police would be doing further investigations into the matters and would not be letting any law-breaking cabbies off the hook.

Gunmen kill driver, passenger in Papine

GUNMEN late yesterday ambushed a taxi on Tavern Drive in Papine, St Andrew, killing its driver and a male passenger.

Police identified the dead taxi operator as Dwayne Douglas, but said they had still not ascertained the identity of the other man, who they believe was armed.

The incident, which occurred about 6:00 pm, sent shock waves throughout the community.

"We cannot say what exactly happened but based on how everything look, it appears they came for the passenger," a policeman from the Major Investigation Taskforce speculated.

"There were about eight or nine spent shells outside the car and a similar number inside. This suggests that someone inside the vehicle was firing at the persons outside as well," added the cop who noted, however, that no weapon was taken from the scene.

The policeman said it appeared that no other passenger was in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Yesterday, even as nightfall drew closer, dozens of puzzled residents waited near the crime scene to get word from the police as to what had occurred.

None said they knew any of the dead persons.

THE taxi operator who is accused of abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl, then burying her after believing he had strangled her to death, has been slapped with five criminal charges including attempted murder.

The Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse yesterday said the man, Garsha Wilson, a resident of St Andrew, was questioned in the presence of his lawyer on Monday and also charged with abduction, cruelty to a child and malicious destruction of property.

He is to face the court on Friday.

The police said Wilson was held last week after a report was made to the St Andrew North police.

The police alleged that Wilson, who is believed to be a friend of the youngster, had two weeks ago abducted her while she was at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre.

They alleged that he took the little girl to a home in Smokey Vale, St Andrew, where he raped her and then later tried to strangle her until she became unconscious. Believing that she was dead, the man allegedly buried her in a shallow grave.

However, the little girl later recovered, clawed her way out of the grave and made a report to her family who then informed the police.

Officers investigating the case said they are examining the possibility of a link to other cases, including that of Ananda Dean -- the 11-year-old girl who was abducted in 2008 and her headless body dumped in Belvedere, St Andrew.

OPPOSITION Senator KD Knight yesterday urged the Government to take steps to try West Kingston strongman Christopher Dudus Coke on Jamaican soil, since it is reluctant to extradite him to the United States to face alleged drug-and-gun trafficking charges. There is the possibility of prosecuting the person locally. If there is the evidence and you dont want to send the person abroad and the evidence was gathered here in accordance with the Interception of Communications Act, then prosecute the person here you dont have to extradite the person, he said.

Knight, an attorney-at-law and national security minister under the former Peoples National Party administration, was speaking during a luncheon of the Lions Club of Kingston at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston

The senator, who expressed concern that Jamaicans could suffer because of the Governments handling of the Dudus issue, said he did not think it was right to leave the issue hanging.

Said Knight: Ministers and prime ministers come and go a dime a dozen but we are custodians, we are trustees and we must ensure that we do that thing that is inimical to the development of Jamaica.

Knight who said his comments were not to be seen in the light of him taking a swipe at Justice Minister and Attorney General Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who has responsibility for dispensing with extradition requests said it could not be denied that extraditions are a political thing.

Its an executive act. The political directorate has the first and last say. The minister responsible for extraditions has to issue an authority to proceed before any extradition request can go to the court, he noted. In this respect, he pointed out that the statute which was passed in the 1980s by the Jamaica Labour Party, which was in power at the time, only to be withdrawn and passed by the PNP administration in the 1990s clearly sets out the powers of the minister and the powers of the courts.

The lines may be regarded as blurred in this sense; if a court after hearing the matter decides the person ought to be extradited, the minister still has the jurisdiction to say I am not sending this person.

There are details a minister doesnt go into. A minister doesnt go into admissibility of evidence, thats for the courts and therefore when I hear that an extradition is being reviewed on the basis that the evidence has been illegally obtained I think thats a usurpation of the functions of the Court, Knight argued.

This extradition request at hand has been badly handled and it has given the impression to the public that it is being dealt with on a partisan basis and thats wrong, he continued.

The Opposition senator, at the same time, suggested that the Bruce Golding administration review the areas of the statute it was finding difficult to live with.

Perhaps its time for us to look at the Extradition Act with a view to seeing if there are areas to be amended. If the policy makers who are the legislators are unhappy with aspects of it, they have the jurisdiction to change it. I think there are some areas we should look to amend, he said.

Knight also recommended that the policymakers invite the Jamaican Bar Association to outline the areas where it is thought amendments should be made and then relook at the statute rather than behaving in this way.

The Jamaican Government and the United States have been at cross purposes since August last year when the US Government requested that Coke be extradited to face charges for crimes he allegedly committed there.

But the Government has been holding out, arguing that the electronic evidence against Coke was gathered in breach of Jamaican law. The administration has held that the communication was illegally passed on to US authorities by a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who worked in the intercept facility in Kingston.

Government has, however, come under severe pressure from several organisations and individuals for its decision, with several people calling its action partisan.

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) -- Thailand declared a state of emergency in its capital yesterday after protesters stormed parliament and ministers were airlifted to safety in an escalation of weeks of mass anti-government rallies.

Lawmakers fled and several senior government figures were rescued by military helicopter after red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra forced their way into the country's parliamentary compound briefly.

BANGKOK, Thailand Thailand's Member of Parliament Varong Dejkijvikrom of the Democrat Party (right) holds the ladder for an unidentified woman official as they flee the Parliament before anti-government protesters storm the building yesterday. (Photo: AP)

In an effort to contain the crisis, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invoked emergency rule, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military, in Bangkok and surrounding areas."The state of emergency aims to resolve the situation and bring a return to normal," Abhisit told a nationally televised news conference.

He said the mass rallies were unconstitutional and had tarnished the country's image, eroding investor confidence.

It is the fourth time since 2008 that emergency law has been declared in the capital because of political turmoil.

Thousands of protesters flouted the decree, waving flags and cheering as their leaders railed against Abhisit's government from their rally stage close to a cl**tch of luxury hotels and giant shopping malls.

"We have to prepare for another war. If the military comes you should not panic -- just stay put," Reds leader Veera Musikapong told protesters.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have refused to leave the city's main commercial district, where they have been since Saturday, disrupting traffic and causing major stores to shut.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban urged people with relatives rallying in banned areas "to tell them to leave immediately", adding that authorities would provide transportation for demonstrators from outside Bangkok.

Security forces have so far refrained from using force to disperse the red-clad movement, who are mostly from Thailand's rural poor and vowed to keep up their demonstrations despite the emergency decree.

The Red Shirts say the government is illegitimate because it came to power with army backing through a parliamentary vote in December 2008 after a court decision ousted Thaksin's allies from power.

"I am not afraid. The government can do whatever they want. I will not run away. I'll be here until we win," said Siri Sukcharoen, a 43-year-old masseuse from the eastern province of Prachinburi.

Abhisit left a cabinet meeting at parliament when he learnt that the Reds were approaching, moving to military barracks in the city's northern outskirts, where he has mostly been based since the protests began mid-March.

CAP... BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Member of Parliament Varong Dejkijvikrom of the Democrat Party (right) holds the ladder for an unidentified woman official as they flee the Parliament before anti-government protesters storm the building yesterday. (Photo: AP)

Whitney Houston's troubled comeback has been dealt another blow after the singer was forced to cancel more dates on her European tour on doctor's orders.

The US singer was believed to be in a private hospital today in Paris being treated for nose and throat problems.

Her record label confirmed the 46-year-old was unable to make her two gigs in Manchester on April 8 and April 9, plus her Glasgow concert on April 11.

It comes on top of her postponing her Paris concert yesterday (Tuesday), delaying the European leg of a world tour that received a rocky reception in Asia and Australia.

RCA Label Group, part of Sony Music Entertainment, said in a statement: "Doctors visited Whitney late last night in Paris and confirmed that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection."

"Upon medical advice Whitney has been advised that she cannot perform to allow her time to recover." French media reported on Wednesday that she had been admitted to hospital suffering from throat and respiratory system infections.

The American Hospital in Paris, a private hospital, which treats many prominent individuals, said it could not comment on any patient issues.

Her Manchester gigs have been rescheduled for June 16 and 17 while her Glasgow show is now planned for May 1.

According to Sony, Houston is next set to perform on April 13 in Birmingham, England.

 

Last night, several rumours raced all over the blogosphere that something had happened to reggae star Buju Banton while in prison. We will not repeat the rumour here, but thankfully, that nasty rumour was not true but may have been triggered by news that Banton's trial date has been postponed for another week.


The trial had been set to begin in a Tampa, Florida court next Monday, April 12, but according to Banton's attorney, David Markus, that date was no longer suitable.

This is the second postponement of the trial which was originally set to begin in March.

Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is accused of intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine at Sarasota in Tampa.

He was arrested at his Tamarac home in South Florida by Federal agents in December last year and has been in custody ever since.

The agents claim to have footage showing the artist tasting cocaine in a Federally controlled warehouse.

Last month,  reports from the prison officials rubbished claims that Banton had lost 40 pounds and was being denied vegetarian meals. A US judge refused Markus' request for a prison transfer and said prison records showed that the artist had gained 11 pounds since his detention and that he had purchased supplies of chicken, tuna and mackerel at the prison commissary.

While Apple stores had long lines at 9 a.m. to buy the iPad and a number of locations sold out in a matter of minutes, other stores outside of Apple's "typical tech urban strongholds" saw crowds dissipate relatively quickly.

Profiling the iPad launch on Saturday, The Wall Street Journal noted that hundreds of fans gathered around the Apple flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York City. But the excitement was reportedly short-lived at a Best Buy in North Carolina.

"Traffic was thin by about 10:30 a.m. at the Apple desk of a suburban Charlotte, N.C., outlet of Best Buy Inc., the other major retailer stocking the device," the report said. "Store manager Andrew Rochelle said three people were waiting in line when he got to the store at 7 a.m. and by opening time at 10 a.m., the store had handed out about half of its 60 right-to-buy tickets."

The Journal also said the scene was "muted" at the Apple store in Northpark Mall in Dallas, Tex.

"While some who showed up early had to wait several hours to get into the store, by 10:15 there was no one standing in line and workers were putting away the metal poles that had kept earlier crowds in order," the report said.

The newspaper suggested that crowds were "tempered" by the fact that Apple offered online preorders starting March 12, and the hardware was shipped directly to consumers for free on launch date. It also speculated that some could be waiting for the 3G-capable iPad, due to be released later this month.

Separately, AppleInsider received reports of stores selling out quickly after opening, and limited supply in certain locations. One Best Buy in San Francisco had very small quantities of iPads for Saturday's launch.

Calculations for preorders for the iPad have suggested Apple sold 120,000 on the first day alone. Analyst Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray has forecast that Apple will sell out of its initial supply on launch weekend, which he has predicted will be between 200,000 and 300,000.