Forum: News & Topical Issues
The Washington Post wrote on Tuesday that Bush made more than 100 such appointments, tapping associates to non-confirmable, obscure posts such as the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the US-Russia Polar Bear Commissions.
Former White House senior aides, Fred F. Fielding, Emmet T. Flood, William A. Burck and Daniel M. Price were all assigned to an obscure World Bank agency called the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
The jobs which last for six years are lucrative enough to pay up to USD 3,000 a day with all other expenses.
Roughly half of the jobs that Bush filled after Obama's election were given to donors who gave USD 1.9 million to Republicans since 2003. Additional seats went to "old hands" at previous Republican presidencies, such as that of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
"It's a way for an outgoing president to have some ongoing influence, however modest, after he's gone," said Thomas E. Mann, a Brookings Institution scholar. "It also shows you that a lot of people just like positions, names, titles and affiliations, especially if it came from a presidential appointment."
US Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy has urged the establishment of a "truth commission" to probe the misdeeds of Bush administration.
The artiste is not only pleading with his fellow entertainers to unify against the ban implemented by the Broadcasting Commission, but he is also enlisted the assistance of his lawyer, Michael E. Deans, in an attempt to get a judicial review.
"Whether yuh seh 'Gaza' or 'Gully', you need to stand up against the commission. The artistes need to lobby for dancehall and reggae music and for people's freedom of choice," he said.
The deejay further said: "The ban is dangerous to the culture of the dancehall. Soon, the next step might be that we can't do social commentary songs, weed songs, songs about the inconsistency of government. I believe what they are doing is bordering on intellectual slavery and dictatorship with traces of communism."
When THE STAR spoke to Deans, he said he was looking into Kartel's legal options.
Intelligent person
"Vybz Kartel is a very deep, introspective and intelligent person who is concerned about his freedom of speech and is outraged and rightfully so."
Kartel came under public scrutiny recently because of the content of his collaboration with Spice, Rampin' Shop. The song is said to be sexually explicit and has been publicly bashed by a number of persons, including a newspaper columnist.
Following these attacks the Broadcasting Commission announced its latest stance against 'daggering and bleeped songs' last Friday.
This move, however, is not one that Kartel will easily accept. "This (the ban) is not a stand against music but dancehall music, and in effect, ghetto people who are fighting for their livelihood. If you listen to the radio, all you're hearing is hip-hop music which 90 per cent are all edited versions of the original. It's a double standard if Candy Shop, Lollipop and I Kissed A Girl can be played so, too, can songs like Rampin' Shop, it's a straight double standard."
He called on the fans of dancehall music to call the Broadcasting Commission to lodge complaints against other forms of music with violent and sexual content in soca and hip hop. And if all this fails, "...we ask Jamaicans to boycott radio," he said.
Kartel is accepting petitions against the ban at cmillsy@yahoo.com or they can be sent to the studio of the Portmore Empire at 14 Kirk Avenue, Havendale.
Nas has big plans far beyond just recording an album with Marley saying, ..we tryin' to build some schools in Africa with this one, and trying to build empowerment. We're tryin' to show love and stuff with this album. So, the record's... all about really the 'hood and Africa also as well. That's coming out real soon."
Artist like Nas really just communicates better through their lyrics cuz everything else just sounds disjointed. I wonder if it will be a two disc like Outkast did. Nas needs something to revive his career and Jr. Gong might be the one to help, especially if Stephen Marley is producing.
Woman Pushed in Front of Moving Train For Not Giving Sexual Favor
Chicago rapists have sunk to a new low as theyve resorted to pushing a woman, who refused to do sexual things, in front of a moving train:
A woman was pushed into the path of a Metra train last night by a man who forced her onto a South Side train platform and demanded a sex act, a Metra spokesman said. The woman was hospitalized in serious condition.
It was not known if the attack was related to a series of robberies of women and a sexual assault near another South Side Metra station, but the descriptions of the assailants appeared to differ.
In the Thursday night attack, the 33-year-old woman was walking in the street in the area of the station at 75th Street and South Chicago Avenue about 11:30 p.m. when a man approached her, implied he had a weapon and forced her onto the train platform, said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.
He demanded a sex act, he said, and when she refused he pushed her into the path of an inbound Metra Electric train.
The assailant was described as black, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet, 200 to 220 pounds with a heavy build, black curly hair and a full beard. He was wearing blue jeans and a tan plaid jacket.
The woman, who was not identified, was being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A hospital spokesman had no information, but police said her injuries did not appear life threatening. Detectives were interviewing her this morning.
[The train] was slowing as it was coming into the station, so it wasnt zooming through, Gillis said.
He described the station where the incident occurred as a flag station, where an engineer will stop a train if someone waiting for it, or if someone abroad the train requests to get off. Gillis said the engineer noticed that the platform was occupied [with at least one person], but he did not know if the engineer noticed the victim.
Trains were delayed following the incident, Gillis said.
Kartel Lashes Out At Prinicpal
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Soulja boy seh bow wow get f**k by his body guard (was dat rumor real all along lol)
RELIGIOUS LEADERS Calls For All Jamaicans To BE ARMED WITH GUNS!!!........Ediat!!!!!!
WASHINGTON, USA (AP) - President Barack Obama is still getting used to some details of his new life, including the fact he has to duck when boarding his presidential helicopter.
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| WASHINGTON, USA - President Barack Obama waves and learns the door on Marine One is much shorter than he is, and bumps his head slightly, yesterday, as he leaves for a trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland and then onto Elkhart, Indiana to hold a town hall meeting on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. (Photo: AP) |
The six-foot-one-inch (1.83-metre) Obama bumped his head yesterday when boarding Marine One on the White House's south lawn. He misjudged the doorway and banged his head on the low edge.
It was Obama's fifth flight aboard the helicopter, which ferried him to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He then flew on Air Force One to Indiana to promote an economic stimulus package that Congress is weighing.
He was ailing for some time.
Dr. Denbow, who was a consultant cardiologist, had been a senior lecturer in medicine at the University of the West Indies since 1986.
In April last year, he was awarded the Order of Distinction in recognition of his commitment to the field of medicine.
Throughout his career, Dr Denbow devised creative solutions to promote medical research and improve the quality of patient care in Jamaica.
RIHANNA HELPING COPS BUILD CASE AGAINST CHRIS BROWN
TMZ is now using the world "horrific" to describe Rihanna's injuries, which are still listed as contusions on both sides of her face, swelling, bruising, a split lip and a *lo**y nose. Chris also must've gotten both fist-y and chewy -- her arms and fingers are riddled with bite marks. Ick.
Eyewitnesses are now leaking out of the woodwork and talking to cops, too. One says the two fought so loudly amidst the multi-million dollar homes in L.A.'s swank Hanc**k Park neighborhood, that the "screaming" woke on of the residents who called 911, not Rihanna.
Everyone also seems to be saying jealousy was the culprit of the now *lo**y, infamous, career damaging fight. Both were giving each the evil eye and accusing one another of infidelity. Of Rihanna dancing and flirting with other guys, a "pal" says:
"Both of them are young and prone to jealousy."
Wow. Well if that isn't an understatement we don't know what is.
Latest on the Chris Brown, Rihanna scandal is that Chris Brown reason for beating the hell out of Rihanna is that she gave him herpes. This has been the talk of the town in the cyber world. However, if this rumor is true - who gave Rihanna the infection? Some of the worlds famous blogs reported that Rihanna got the STD from Beyonces loving husband Jay Z. The Gather reports the saga saying: Rihanna evidently contracted herpes from another rapper and gave it to Brown.the gossip website also reported that the rapper in question is Jay-Z. I bet Beyonce is loving this!
Is the rumor false?
According to Right Celebrity, the wild rumors appear to have no basis in provable fact. People cite unnamed sources and rumor feeds rumor. Therefore, Right Celebrity believes that Rihanna did not give Chris Brown herpes or any other STD, and we hope this articles sets the record straight. The true facts of the case will become known in time so lets all wait for them.
Man accidentally shoots self while paying for lunch
A man trying to pay for lunch in a hospital cafeteria managed to shoot himself by accident instead. Luckily for him, he was already in a hospital.
The man, identified as 59-year-old Steve Tapp, somehow put a bullet through his right thigh while reaching into his pocket to pay in the cafeteria of Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colorado.
Authorities said that Tapp was visiting a relative at the hospital on Tuesday when he shot himself. Security guards responding to the incident confiscated the gun, and Tapp was treated at the hospital.
He now potentially faces charges of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
Guns are not allowed in the Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, although it has been pointed out that there are no signs at the hospital stating the 'no guns' rule. Because that's obviously something you need to have a sign for.
OBEAH OILS TO HOLD JOBS - Scared workers spend big to remain employed
Harsh economic conditions and thousands of job cuts islandwide are forcing employees to invest heavily in obeah.
Investigation by THE WEEKEND STAR has revealed that many workers are forking out their last shilling in an effort to 'secure' their jobs by purchasing black magic baths, sprays and lotions.
These items come in a package and cost just about $3,000.
Acting under the guise of a worried employee at risk of losing his job, THE WEEKEND STAR contacted a popular drug store in downtown Kingston and asked about availability of any 'oil of luck'.
"Wi have all kind a oil, man," the sales representative said.
Brown liquid
However, upon asking if there were any 'special' oils which could help in saving a job, THE WEEKEND STAR was urged to visit the store as such discussions could not be held over the phone.
With that said, we headed for the store and was directed to a sales representative who quickly gathered three items, a small bottle of 'Steady Work' lotion, a 'Spirit Of Good Luck' spray and another bottle containing a brown liquid.
She then noted that the items should be used in c****ination and gave the directions for use.
The brown liquid is to be used as a bath aid before using the spray and the lotion.
But the instructions were not done, "Read Psalms 77 wid it to," the sales representative added.
The investigation would mean nothing if we had not questioned her on the frequency of such sales.
"Yea man, whole heap a people a buy dem, whole heap," she replied when asked.
As she walked away, she was also overheard saying, "Di work tink a gwaan really bad though."
Inquisitive customer
While leaving the store, one seemingly inquisitive customer asked us the reason for the purchase of the items. "Look here a di ting dem fi help save work yu buy don't?" an elderly woman questioned.
After a brief conversation during which she questioned the 'power' of the items, she spoke of her plans to buy the package for her granddaughter.
"Mi nuh too sure bout dem ting ya eno, but mi ago get a likkle change and buy dem fi mi grand pickney cause she inna one good work and mi nuh waa she lose it, suh mi willing fi try anything fi help," she said with a smile on her face.
Western end
When THE WEEKEND STAR spoke to Dr King, a popular 'bush doctor' from Malcolm Heights, Hanover, he said that countless people on the island's western end were forking out money to save their job as well.
"Memba dat mi on de north coast so a nuff hotel worker come check mi fi a bath fi keep dem work," he said. "Mi jus mek dem get de tings like 'Compliance Oil', 'Commanding Oil', 'Must Oil' and so on, then mi add my stuff and mix and consecrate dem then gi dem di bath."
Dr King claimed that other workers, including hospital employees and a few members of the police force, have visited his 'office' and were willing to take the bath.
He said that the overall cost for bath could run from $3,000 up, a fee that clients willingly paid in order to save their jobs in these days when redundancies are so frequent.
With that said, we headed for the store and was directed to a sales representative who quickly gathered three items, a small bottle of 'Steady Work' lotion, a 'Spirit Of Good Luck' spray and another bottle containing a brown liquid.
She then noted that the items should be used in
c****ination and gave the directions for use.
Dwight Nelson, a minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, said this is an option the Government is considering.
Senator Nelson made the announcement yesterday during a meeting of the Public Sector Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Monitoring Committee.
In a statement from the ministry last night, Senator Nelson was quoted as saying the Government is not ruling out redundancies, wage freezes or layoffs.
As a result, he wants more dialogue with the unions representing public sector workers to prepare civil servants for possible displacement.
This is not good news for civil servants whose earnings are already restricted because of an agreement between the Government and their bargaining units.
The agreement, called the Public Sector MOU is in its third year and the Government could be looking towards a fourth this year.
The finance ministry said during yesterdays meeting, Senator Nelson and Trade Union representatives reiterated that public sector workers should be encouraged to capitalise on every available avenue under the MOU.
Through the MOU, individuals are able to access training and re-training under the Tertiary Employee Assistance Revolving Loan Programme.
The finance and public service ministry said this would help public sector workers to survive and thrive in a slow economic environment.
Senator Nelson, who has responsibility for the public sector said before the Government decides on the future of civil servants, there will be talks with respective trade unions.
Already thousands of people in the private sector have lost their jobs, as companies seek ways to cut their cost amid the global economic crisis.
Bossip just received the real story of Chris Brown and Rihannas fight from a highly placed source in the Chris Brown legal camp:
They were in the car leaving the Clive Davis party. While Chris was driving, he got a phone call from a young lady. Our source tells us that Rihanna knew that Chris had been messing around with this particular girl and she has, as of late, been the reason for many of their heated arguments. Rihanna got a glimpse of the phone, saw the name and number and immediately recognized who it was. She went ballistic and began to beat the sh*t out of Chris (while driving). She was so uncontrollable, that Chris began to fight back in self defense, which ensued the fight. Rihannas rage stemmed from Chris questionable fidelity in the last few months.
US president pitches stimulus plan in hard-hit Indiana city pt 2
The public appearances come as Obama plunges into a difficult challenge early in his leadership, struggling to get a divided Congress to agree on his economic recovery package while pitching a new plan to ease loans to US consumers and businesses.
"We can't afford to wait. We can't wait to see and hope for the best," Obama said in Elkhart, a community reeling from job losses. "We can't posture and bicker and resort to the same failed ideas that got us in into this mess in the first place."
The Senate's $827 billion stimulus legislation seems assured narrow passage by Tuesday. Harder work for Obama and the Democrats comes in the days ahead, when the House and Senate attempt to reconcile differences in their two versions.
Obama and Democratic Party leaders had hoped to have a bill ready for the president's signature by February 16 - a deadline that grows more challenging by the day.
"You know, look, it's not perfect," the president conceded. "But it is the right size, it is the right scope. Broadly speaking, it has the right priorities to create jobs that will jump-start our economy and transform the economy for the 21st century."
At the Treasury Department, Secretary Timothy Geithner delayed the unveiling of a new bailout framework for financial institutions from yesterday to today to let the administration focus on the stimulus legislation.
US president pitches stimulus plan in hard-hit Indiana city pt 1
ELKHART, Indiana (AP) - President Barack Obama made a campaign-style pitch for his massive economic stimulus plan, travelling yesterday to a hard-hit industrial city in hopes of winning support for a package that has become the first big test since taking office.
Obama participated in a town hall-style meeting in Elkhart, Indiana, and plans to hold another one today in Fort Myers, Florida, and one Thursday in Peoria, Illinois. All are cities that are suffering particularly hard times.
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A pastor who pleaded guilty to bigamy was on Friday given a suspended sentence and a very stern warning from Supreme Court Judge Paulette Williams while the 'new wife' wept uncontrollably in court.
Everton Thompson, 51, of Yallahs, St Thomas, admitted in the St Thomas Circuit Court that he had married Alma Brown in December 2008, while he was still married and living with his wife Pauline Reece-Thompson.
The court was told that Thompson was a member of a Nazarene Church and over the years, he has been promoted through several leadership positions until he became a pastor.
Four children
Thompson was first married in 1980 and the union produced four children. However, he met Brown at a graduation in 2001 and on December 2008, got married to her in Portmore, St Catherine. He told his new wife that because he worked in St Thomas, he would have to spend time there, but when he was in Kingston, he would spend time with her.
Thompson's infidelity was revealed when Brown telephoned him and a woman answered. She asked for her husband and when the first wife questioned her, she discovered that her husband had a new wife.
The two women agreed to report the matter to the police and Thompson was arrested and charged with bigamy.
When the parties appeared in court Friday, the legal wife asked the judge to make an order for Thompson to support her and the children of the marriage because he earned good money from his job as a pest controller. She said she had taken the matter to the Family Court.
Reece-Thompson told the court that the incident had caused her a lot of pain and embarra**ment. She said they still lived in the same house but she no longer had an intimate relationship with Thompson.
She disclosed that on the day that the accused is said to have got married to the second wife, he got dressed at the matrimonial home and returned that night and slept with her.
Brown broke down in court, cried bitterly and had to be consoled. She described Thompson as a "wicked man" and said he did not tell her that he was married.
Serious offence
Defence lawyer Melrose Reid, in applying for leniency for Thompson, told the court that although the offence was a serious one, she was asking the judge not to send him to prison. She said it was not as if he had murdered someone or committed a gun offence.
The judge, in sentencing Thompson, told him that he had emotionally murdered two women. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment but the sentence was suspended for three years. The judge warned Thompson that if he was found guilty of any offence within the next three years, he would be taken back before the court and sent to prison to serve the two-year prison term.
The judge asked Thompson's lawyer to assist Brown to dissolve the marriage because it was not legal.
MediaTakeOut.com spoke with one insider who claims that R&B singer Rihanna has another side to her that the public has never seen. The insider, who is of Caribbean-descent, explained, Rihanna is a typical hot-*lo**ed Caribbean girl, she doesnt play games One time she was angry at Chris and she [struck] him in the back of his head. I dont think she was playing either. The insider continued, Shes also very jealous. She checks his phone like crazy and keeps him on lock.
But Rihannas not the only one with anger management problems. As MediaTakeOut.com reported to you last year, Chris Brown isnt afraid to let his fists fly either. As the below photos show, last year Chris Brown got into a brutal brawl at a German nightclub.
And theres more. MediaTakeOut.com reported to you in 2007 that a South African woman claimed that Chris Brown manhandled her. Heres an excerpt of that report:
According to a number of witnesses who spoke with MediaTakeOut.com, Chris Brown ran into [South African] actress Khanyi Mbau at the launch of The Real Goboza - a South African weekly entertainment show. And it was during that meeting that all the drama ensued.
Khanyi claims that during a conversation with Chris, the R&B singer grabbed her by the arm in an aggressive manner and asked that she go with him to his hotel room. The South African actress explains, "I tried to pull away but his grip was just too tight.
That's when, according to the lovely actress, her manager came charging to the rescue. Mbau tells, "Malcolm [my manager] had to pull me away from Chris."
Finally, MediaTakeOut.com can also report that many people close to Chris were uneasy with his volatile relationship with Rihanna including Chris mother. Tells one insider, Chris mother didnt like Rihanna for Chris. She felt that their relationship was too serious and she worried that things could end badly.
Unfortunately, she couldnt have been more right.
If you live in Killa Cali be ready Fe move to ratted!! it a go mad!! Jus Now!! 57,000 prisoner
U.S. judges seek massive California prisoner release
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) Federal judges on Monday tentatively ordered California to release tens of thousands of inmates, up to a third of all prisoners, in the next three years to stop dangerous overcrowding.
As many as 57,000 could be let go if the current population were cut by the maximum percentage considered by a three-judge panel. Judges said the move could be done without threatening public safety -- and might improve a public safety hazard.
The state immediately said it would appeal the final ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trend-setting California, the Golden State, has an immense prison system responsible for nearly 170,000 inmates, and their care has become a major political and budget issue as officials weigh multibillion costs of improved facilities against death and illness behind bars.
State officials say new doctors, nurses and prison rules have improved care and cut the dangers of living behind bars.
Meanwhile California is staggering through budget crisis as its real estate market has collapsed and unemployment has spiked.
The three judges specifically said they planned to order the system, swollen to about double its capacity last year, to cut down to 120 percent to 145 percent of capacity within two to three years. They did not give a target headcount.
APPEAL VOWED
California already houses some inmates out of state. Its main in-state prisons and camps had more than 157,000 prisoners, or 188 percent of capacity, as of the end of January, according to state figures, and a cut to 120 percent of capacity would mean letting go about 57,000 prisoners.
"They've told the state, 'You're going to lose,'" said Alison Hardy, a lawyer with Berkeley, California-based Prison Law Office, which with other attorneys represented plaintiffs who had sued the state over overcrowding in its prisons.
Attorney General Jerry Brown, the former governor, said he would appeal the final ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This order, the latest intrusion by the federal judiciary into California's prison system, is a blunt instrument that does not recognize the imperatives of public safety, nor the challenges of incarcerating criminals, many of whom are deeply disturbed," he said in a statement.
"There is no doubt that there is room for improvement. But significant progress has been made and is continuing to be made at a cost of billions," he added.
The three judges made the tentative ruling in a bid to get the opposing sides to work together, and they offered a court-appointed settlement referee to aid in discussions.
They did not say when the final ruling would be made but were clear that they considered the system still in trouble despite progress, with inadequate medical facilities and prisoners three to a cell, increasing spread of disease.
"There is no relief other than a prisoner release order that can remedy the constitutionally inadequate medical and mental health care," the panel led by Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt, wrote.
"The state has a number of options, including reform of the earned credit and parole systems, that would serve to reduce the population of the prison to whatever percentage is ultimately determined to be appropriate without adversely affecting public safety," the judges wrote.
The panel ordered the state to consult with the prisoners' lawyers to consider what actions to take.
(Reporting by Jim Christie and Peter Henderson; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Copyright İ 2009 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Zip FM has confirmed that vivacious morning host, Nikki Z, has been relieved of her duties.
Speculation was rife that the disc jock had been fired after a longer-than-normal suspension took her from the airwaves on December 11 last year. Nikki Z, whose real name is Nicole Duhaney, in late December that as far as she knew she was still employed to the station.
Marketing manager at Irie FM and Zip FM, Brian Schmidt, confirmed the reports last night.
Nikki Z was suspended after playing Munga Honourable's Ride It on December 4. The song reportedly contained expletives and had not been approved for play during her early-morning time slot.
The disc jock hosted the show, which airs Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., for just over two and a half years. She was suspended in September of last year for making a similar error.
Efforts to contact Nikki Z were unsuccesful. 
Mr Vegas - File photos
"Ban them all" seems to be the cry from the dancehall community. Dancehall artistes believe that the recent ban by the Broadcasting Commission on all 'daggerin' songs and songs that require bleeping unfairly targets dancehall music.
With the ban of certain songs from radio, television and cable, some members of the entertainment fraternity are lashing out at what they view as the commission's bias.
Nothing better to do
In a statement from singjay Mr Vegas, who first used the daggerin' phrase in the song Hot Wuk, he noted, "I think the Broadcasting Commission has nothing better to do with their time. More than 50 per cent of the songs which are played on radio have some form of editing. So what is radio gonna sound like? Maybe we should just get one national station and call it Love 102."
He continued: "What they are doing is killing the creativity. It's no different when a R&B song says 'I'll make love to you like you want me to', than when a Jamaican says 'bend ova'; it's just the way we speak...talking about sex doesn't mean it has to be lewd and so many of our artistes have proven that. And simply because something is edited doesn't mean a curse word was there. Sometimes as artistes we realise the word may be too coarse for radio, but fit for the dance, so the word is edited."
At a press conference held at the Knutsford Court hotel yesterday, the Broadcasting Commission used the opportunity to further explain the new policies which were implemented last Friday. According to the commission's executive director, Cordell Green, the new policies are not an attack on dancehall. He instead views the new policies as a 'watermark' for further initiatives that will be employed. He also said the commission would be scrutinising other genres of music and events such as soca and carnival.
It's not OK
Renegade
Meanwhile, Renegade, of the duo RDX, believes that there is nothing wrong with cleaning up the music, but says it should be applied to all genres. He told THE STAR, "I think this is an attack by the Broadcasting Commission on dancehall, because they have not stopped just any sexual music, but 'daggerin' songs, which is a dancehall slang and practice. Songs such as I Kissed A Girl are not banned, so according to them if you say it in patois it's not OK, but if you say it in English it's OK. It's about Jamaicans attacking Jamaicans and Jamaican music."
Musician, Tarrus Riley, also agreed that all forms of music should be included in the purging process.
"If dem can play Candy Shop from 50 Cent then you can play Rampin' Shop. Artistes should be able to express themselves freely, express their art freely but you must just be responsible for what you do. There is different music for different people and artistes should be free to create music, is just that some music isn't suited for radio. If dancehall songs can't be played on radio then some hip-hop can't be played, either."
Jamaican dancehall/reggae singer Barbee who is presently overseas promoting her chart riding single Love You Anyway will be back in Jamaica before February 5, to attend the prestigious EME Awards as she was nominated in the category for Vocalist of The Year (Female).
Love You Anyway is Barbees first solo successful single which seems to be heading for the #1 spot on several charts, both on the local and international scene.
Barbee seems to be locking the streets as her single is now #4 on the Stampede Street Chart, which is Jamaicas #1 premiere source of knowing whats hot in the streets. The single is also doing well on the New York/South Florida Charts and has recently entered several reggae charts in Canada.Barbee will also be performing at the EME Awards on Thursday, February 5 at the Gardens of the Pegasus, doing her beautiful chart riding song Love You Anyway.
First, it was a monkey in Mount Rosser. Now it is a male hog in St. Thomas which is attracting superstitious Jamaicans by the droves, most of them willing to shell out as much as $4,000 to ride the hog in an attempt to boost their economic earnings, acquire visas or cure afflictions of the heart.
Members of the community say the hog has special powers and is possessed by a demon. Once you ride the hog for a long enough time, you will be able to acquire the powers of divination, fortune telling and other psychic abilities.
Ah nuff people ah ride the hog. Most of the people who do it come from market and dem a try get more money and prosperity and sell more goods, one man, a resident of the community for over 40 years, told XtraNews.
ah dem wear old sneakers.According to residents, the trek to get to the hog is not an easy one because he is kept in a large pen buried deep in the bushes of the community. The intrepid at heart, who fear poverty and deprivation more than a possibly fatal hog bite, apparently need an old pair of sneakers to navigate the muddy, filthy conditions of the pen.
A woman used to love to threaten to ride the hog whenever she was in argument with any other women from the community. She used to say mi ride the hog one time already and mi will ride it again, said a Portmore resident.
While hog-riding has not yet been sanctioned as an Olympic sport, Jamaicans, it seems, are not averse to the idea.
Ride the hog? one man questioned, laughing. Da one de new to me. Ah the first time mi a hear it, but anything possible since the monkey dead at Mount Rosser.
Years ago, there was a scurrilous rumour that Jamaicans, especially women, were willing to perform sex acts with a monkey in the community of Mount Rosser, St. Catherine.
The monkey supposed to dead now, one higgler mused. So now the hog ah do it.
In local culture, obeah workers often use a bullfrog with a padlock attached to its mouth as a charm to silence potential witnesses who are set to testify against their clients.
It works, when dem put the bullfrog wid the padlock inna the courthouse, people fraid fi testify. A couple years ago, it work pon a police inna the Falmouth courthouse. The police was a traffic cop who ride bike, one day him go fi testify inna one case and him coulden talk and him knock out inna the courthouse and the man beat the case, one Falmouth resident told XtraNews.
The Broadcasting Commission yesterday included soca music in its ban on the airing of music with sexually explicit lyrics as debate on the regulatory agency's prohibition of lewd dancehall songs grew in intensity with accusations that the commission's action was one-sided and smacked of hypocrisy.
At the same time, Broadcasting Commission Chairman Dr Hopeton Dunn told journalists at a news conference that the agency had made recommendations to the Government to make amendments to the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulation in a bid to clean up the music being played on the airwaves.
"The commission has made a number of recommendations to Government to amend the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulation. These we consider to be urgent and we will be making the necessary representation for these amendments and reforms to be taken to Parliament at an early date for consideration," Dr Dunn said at the press conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
"These include requirements around playlists and music sheets; vetting and approval of songs by station managers prior to transmission by DJs; non-transmission of songs that condone or encourage hostility or violence; the encouragement or glamourising of use of illegal drugs or misuse of alcohol,"
he added.
Additionally, Dr Dunn said the commission will be recommending the repeal of the existing Broadcasting and Radio Redufusion Act of 1946 and will propose a model act that will deal with regulating the airwaves.
rihanna get herpes from jayz an give it to chris brown raasscloothh
Latest on the Chris Brown, Rihanna scandal is thatChris Brown reason for beating the hell out ofRihanna is that she gave him herpes. This has been the talk of the town in the cyber world. However, if this rumor is true - who gave Rihanna the infection? Some of the worlds famous blogs reported that Rihanna got the STD from Beyoncesloving husband Jay Z.
The Gather reports the saga saying: Rihanna evidently contracted herpes from another rapper and gave it to Brown.the gossip website also reported that the rapper in question is Jay-Z. I bet Beyonce is loving this!
Is the rumor false?
According to Right Celebrity, the wild rumors appear to have no basis in provable fact. People cite unnamed sources and rumor feeds rumor. Therefore, Right Celebrity believes that Rihanna did not give Chris Brown herpes or any other STD, and we hope this articles sets the record straight. The true facts of the case will become known in time so lets all wait for them.
June 12, 1972. Kingston, Jamaica. Trenchtown rocks once more, as Miss Ivy bears her last son, Rodney Basil Price, into its surrounds. Jamaica balances on the edge of another *lo**y chapter, as war is about to be waged on its streets in the name of politics.
One of nine children, Rodneys destiny would be irrevocably shaped by the landscapes of inner-city Kingston, where tribalism and poverty battle for the morals of the hungry and the desperate.
Leaving Trenchtown soon after, Miss Ivy relocates her family to Riverton City, a community founded on the Kingston City dump. Once known as Dungle, the sprawling rubbish heap is a vital resource to many of its inhabitants.
Clothed just by tear-up-batty pants, Rodney would sneak out late at night to hear the music thundering from speaker boxes strung up in the community, belonging to the sound system owned by his Father, affectionately known as Breezer.
I used to just grab the mic and vibe up the place with my arguments and slangs! remembers Bounty of the beginning. I never had any lyrics of my own. Once I went to take the microphone at a talent show in Riverton. I intended to DJ, but I just opened my mouth and began to sing Junior Reids Woman Make Your Waistline Roll! Even though it didnt work out how I planned it, the crowd were hyped by it so I decided to build my own lyrics.
Rodneys first lyrics strained over a raw, monotone melody, but the topic mapped out the conscious vein that wouldpulse through his music in the years ahead; a map that would lead his people to crown him the Poor Peoples Governor. When I was a yute I lived down in the gully, inna mi tear-up pants people used to laugh after me he chanted. Young Rodney had become the Bounty Hunter.
Rodneys preteen years saw another family relocation, a little further along Kingstons Spanish Town Rd, to the housing scheme of Seaview Gardens, where neighbourhoods are divided into areas such as Shotgun and Vietnam. Jamaicas recent history has been littered by politically-motivated gunplay, and in the mid-80s gunshot regularly cracked across the political divide between warring factions operating in the locale.
One scorchingly-hot afternoon, whilst walking home from school with friends, a barrage of those careless bullets were traded through the air, ripping through Rodneys young flesh in the crossfire. He had become a victim of tribal war, aged 14. All I was thinking about in the hospital was vengeance, he relays intensely. All I wanted to do was kill who tried to kill me. I was meditating pure revenge. In the days he spent in hospital recovering, the aspiring Bounty Hunter came to a forceful conclusion: Since mi get shot it was time to let them do the hunting and time for me do the killing. And so the Bounty Killer was born.
Hard time stylee would not go away, the harsh reality of ghetto economics ruling out the completion of a school education for Rodney. He often had to utilise the hustlin abilities instilled in him by his elder brother Ballie Ballie, to help provide food for the family table. Mama had the opportunity to go a foreign (abroad) many many times, but she decided to stay here with her children, he says with fondness. Not everybody would do that, considering the difficulties we faced back then.
Bounty has always held his mother, Miss Ivy, in the highest esteem, maintaining Mama has been the most positive influence in his life; his one true role model. Livicating musical odes to Mama has been a constant element throughout Bountys career - more recently with Pot of Gold, done in collaboration with Richie Stephens, and of course the classic Mama.
Whilst continuing to hustle wall plates and figurines with Ballie Ballie, Rodney and fellow Seaview-ites (and future Scare Dem Crew members) Nitty Kutchie and Boom Dandemite increased their efforts to break into the world of Reggae. They began venturing further afield, to dances and shows staged in the cool interior and rolling verdancy of the Jamaican countryside. The positive response they received further encouraged their burgeoning talents. Take the one-way-in-one-way-out road from Seaview Gardens, cut across Spanish Town Rd and you will end up in Kingston 11 - Waterhouse. Waterhouse is another area of Kingston that is rarely mentioned in the media without the disenfranchising prefix of troubled inner-city community, but its a part of the planet blessed with an Almighty shower of musical talent. At the hub of the Reggae revolution in the 80s and early 90s was record producer King Jammy, whose 1985 timeless Sleng-Teng riddim heralded the arrival of digital Dancehall.
By the time young Bounty arrived at King Jammys, Boom Dandimite had already begun to garner moderate success from the studio. The fact that Boom had a tune playing on the radio was all the inspiration Bounty needed. Day after day, month after month, the crew would make that journey up to the St Lucia Rd recording studio, awaiting the chance to jump on the next riddim being formulated in the Jammys sound lab. Bounty and his crew would be designing lyrics and constructing their flow into the early hours, often having to borrow bicycles from Waterhouse allies to return safely to Seaview under cover of darkness.
It was Bountys vocal jack-in-the-box rhyming intros that first drew attention - initially from sound system operators and then from the thousands of Dancehall fans around the world listening to the audio tapes of live sessions, intrigued by the unique voice-pattern introducing custom-built songs played by sound systems like Metromedia and Bodyguard. Bountys sound system clash classic - Dub Fi Dub - changed the way in which sound system selectors approached their task. Bountys impact on sound system culture has been immeasurable.
When the time came to voice at Jammys, Bounty opted for a song that reflected his life experiences; Coppershot was the self-explanatory title, but at that time King Jammy was trying to steer his label clear of songs that paid homage to guns, and passed on the record. However, Uncle T - Jammys brother - realised the potential and quickly ushered Bounty under his own wing. Coppershot was heard by New York-based Johnny Wonder, a pivotal figure in North American Dancehall Reggae, who went crazy when he heard it, instantly recognising the potential of its hardcore appeal to the urban markets Stateside. Ironically Coppershot became an underground hit in New York before taking off in Jamaica. Its popularity ensured that Bounty is forever endeared to the Boroughs of New York.
Spy Fi Die, Guns Out, Lodge and more uncompromising releases followed, each increasing the velocity and reach of Bountys profile. They kicked off an all-out attack thats yet to cease, with the subsequent release of hundreds of singles. Bounty left the Jammys camp in 1995 and formed his own Scare Dem Productions and Priceless Records labels.
Sting 1993 - another huge annual December stage show held
| Bounty in a killing mood at Sting 93. |
in Jamaica - confirmed Bounty Killer as the heir to Ninjamans throne in the lyrical-battling theatre of war. Bounty verbally assassinated fellow Jamaican recording superstar Beenie Man, who ironically hails from the Waterhouse area. In the build-up to the show, Bounty Killer was not amused by fellow DJ Beenie Mans acts of lyrical piracy, at a time when they were both just taking hold of the cut-throat world of Dancehall. Bounty stormed the Sting stage during Beenie Mans performance and lyrically assassinated him. Countless other deejays have since attempted to turn over the Killer in a lyrical clash and as Killer puts it, they try hard but just die hard.
Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have had an on-off feud throughout the last decade - a feud that has often erupted without warning. Recognising the negative impact it was having on the music and the nations youth, the two decided to sign a peace treaty in the mid 90s. Their relationship today veers unsteadily along that line of peace, with Beenie Man sporadically trying to unsuccessfully goad Bounty into a clash. As recently as February of 2002, Beenie Man found himself in the role of troublemaker once again, this time travelling many miles to try and hi-jack a stage show starring Bounty Killer. It ended abruptly and embarrassingly for Beenie Man, who was summarily booed and bottled off stage by patrons.
That 1993 clash instigated the elevation of Bounty Killers status to Lord of the Warriors - of the rudeboys, the thugs, the shottas. To this day Bounty remains one of the few voices of reason they will listen to, often compelling them to put down the gun.
The soundtrack of the last 11 years is peppered with Bounty Killer anthems that have singled him out to be a true voice unto the voiceless of Jamaica. Songs of redemption such as Defend the Poor, Mama, Book, Book, Book, Babylon System and Down in the Ghetto afforded him the undivided affection and attention of a nation too often governed by mis-leaders. The Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga, wanted to utilise Bountys 1996 revolutionary cry Fed Up, as part of his election campaign theatrics, a request that was furiously squashed by Bountys legal team. Today, whilst many Dancehall artists chase and try to reflect the American Dream, focusing on Bling Blinging, Bounty Killer stands steadfast in his conviction to defend what he believes is right for his people. This is not
Jamerica, he demonstrates. Were sending the wrong message to our people. Theyre singing about ice when poor people dont even have a fridge.
Bounty Killers seminal 1996 double album, My Xperience, took the world by storm, harvesting unprecedented success for a modern Dancehall album. My Xperience spent 6 months at number 1 on the Reggae Billboard chart, and two months on the Billboard Top Albums chart. While Reggae artists like Bob Marley and Shabba Ranks have had their albums crossed over into Rock/Pop markets, My Xperience has the unique distinction of being one of the only Reggae albums ever to break into and strongly influence the Hip Hop community. Bounty Killers collaborations with Busta Rhymes, the Fugees, Wu-Tung Clan and Jeru the Damaja set the benchmark against which all other Hip Hop/Reggae hybrid records are measured. Bountys 1998 effort Next Millennium reinforced his ability to kick it with Hip-Hopsters, with joints featuring Wyclef, the Coco Bruvas, Mobb Deep and other topline rappers.
Bounty Killer has navigated the globe with his musical Xperience, touring the world with his uniquely engaging and explosive stage performance. Whether the listener is Japanese, Nigerian, Colombian or European, Bountys point-blank message transcends barriers of race, culture and language. Controversy has shadowed Bounty Killers career since he first fired Coppershot back in 92, intensifying over the years. His lyrical content has often been too-close-to-the-bone for polluticians trying to conceal truths and rights from those theyre supposed to serve. The reactionary government of Jamaica banned such songs of freedom from Bounty as Fed Up, Cant Believe Mi Eyes, Look and Anytime. Newspapers and radio talkshows are often flooded with debates over Bountys lyrical content. The last three of those songs were penned in conjunction with Dancehall producer Dave Kelly - a singer/songwriter partnership permanently etched into the annals of music history, not just Reggae. Renowned as a sagacious and intensely perceptive orator, Bounty Killer can just as easily hold an audience with his reasonings as he can with his musical performances. Whenever televised interviews are aired - somewhat rare as Bounty has often spurned the media - they grip the nation. One Jamaican TV station had to recently repeat an in-depth interview with him, due to unprecedented public demand.
Always eager to absorb and broaden his Xperience, Bounty Killer also embarked on a career as a promoter a few years back, annually hosting two huge shows in Jamaica. Every June the party season kicks off in the island with the staging of Its A Party, held to celebrate the birthday of Rodney Basil Pryce. Whilst that show regularly attracts in excess of 6,000 patrons, its the gargantuan December 26 bash that draws the crowd in overwhelming numbers. Over the last 5 years Saddle to the East has grown to become the largest event in the Jamaican festive season, relegating many of the long-established shows. After dealing with so many promoters myself, reasons Bounty, I wanted to know what its like from their point of view. The stress and pressure, the risks, the rewards - the whole nine yards.
Bounty does a lot of work for charitable causes and ensures that a large percentage of the profits from those shows are donated to worthy causes, especially those concerned with young people and children. Cash and equipment donations to inner-city schools paved the way for scholarship funds, ensuring that youngsters from economically deprived areas can get the education that should be their right. 16 kids are currently in school thanks to Bountys scholarship.
Always with his beloved Jamaicas interests at heart, Bounty sub-titled the 2000 edition of Saddle to the East with the slogan Bring Back the Love, intending to unite his colleagues in the industry, plagued by rivalry and hate, thus setting an example to the nation, itself in need of solidarity.
Classic Dancehall gal tunes - such as Maniac, Request, Cellular Phone, Living Dangerously, Cry For Lie For, Benz and Bimmer, Follow Mi Arrow, More Gal and countless others have also kept the ladies vociferously happy throughout Bounty Killers career.
Fiercely private, Bounty Killer is a devoted Father, though he is as yet unmarried. Some men are all about the leg and the thigh, he illustrates. But Im not just looking for a beautiful woman, I want a beautiful lady. When I find someone with the qualities of Miss Ivy I might consider it, but Im a thug youth and that aint gonna be easy to happen.
After a decade at the forefront of Dancehall and Reggae, 2001 saw Bountys career get stronger on the international scene. After recording in Jamaica with US band No Doubt, the Sly & Robbie-produced Hey Baby became the bands first single from Rocksteady, No Doubts triple-platinum set. Hey Baby soared up singles charts across the globe - peaking at number 5 on Billboard, debuting at number 2 in the UK and garnering lofty chart positions from Germany to Australia. The Hey Baby video reached number 3 on MTVs daily TRL Countdown and remained the number 1 video on VH1s Top 20 video chart for three weeks. Performing with No Doubt at the 2002 Super Bowl and on Top of the Pops have been among the many highlights of Bountys career. Bounty became the first Jamaican artiste to win an MTV Music Video Award (2 in fact!) wit Hey Baby. The critically acclaimed song also won a Grammy in 2003 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. The collaboration paved the way for the success that Dancehall is now experiencing.
Hip Hop Uber-Producer Swizz Beatz approached Bounty in 2002 to collaborate with him on Guilty, the lead single from GHETTO STORIES, Swizzs debut album for Dreamworks. The chemistry was undeniable and Swizz was eager for bounty to join him on his new imprint, Full Surface Records.
With the Summer 2002 release of Ghetto Dictionary Volume I: The Art of War and Volume II: The Mystery, Bounty made a statement about his hardcore approach to his music. Released simultaneously, the two albums contain over 40 tracks that represent ghetto life in its rawest form. Volume II: The Mystery was given 4 stars by Rolling Stone and went on to be nominated for the 2002 Reggae Grammy. One of the tracks, Sufferah, was also included in Rolling Stones Top 10 Hip Hop songs of 2002.
The Mighty, the Notorious, the Furious Bounty Killer..........
Rihanna identified as woman in Chris Brown assault probe
Pop superstar Rihanna has been identified as the woman who was allegedly battered by teen heart-throb singer Chris Brown. Rihanna has suffered a broken jawbone and contusions to the top of her head, unnamed sources reportedly said.
Brown's ad campaign with Wrigley was suspended Monday until his criminal case is resolved. Brown was released after posting US$50,000 bail. The Los Angeles Times, citing law-enforcement officials familiar with the case and other sources, reported that Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was the woman who told police that Brown hurt her the night before the Grammy Awards. Both artistes were no-show.
Police said Brown and an unidentified woman began arguing while riding in a car following a pre-Grammy party Saturday.
Several celebrity websites such as TMZ.com, Radaronline.com, Us Weekly and People, citing sources neither named nor characterised, also reported that Rihanna was the woman involved.
Do you think this ute is a sell out jamaican?Read it Zone
Its on a blog site for Obama's first 100's days in office
To tell the truth I agree dat the country need fi change but this ute mek Ja sound like a *lo**claat basket case and dis mek me vex BUT mi want kno wah di zone tnk if u tink dis ute is a sell out
http://blogs.america.gov/campaign/2009/01/21/day-2-what-should-obama%E2%80%99s-top-priorities-be/
Friday's decision by the Broadcasting Commission to immediately ban all songs about daggering and all songs that have beeps from local radio and television stations, has received mixed reactions from the public.
While some believe that such a move was long overdue, there are others who think the move is somewhat hypocritical as controversial songs from other genres have remained untouched.
Poor parenting
Danila Thorpe, 25, told THE STAR that artistes should have the right to freely express themselves. She said deejays should not be held responsible for poor parenting and believes that the ban is not needed. "Parents should do more to monitor the things their kids watch and explain things to their kids. The state should not be undertaking this role. You can't control everything that is in society. Kids have to be exposed to both good and bad," she said. "Daggering is the least of our problems. It's just a cultural expression. If they want to protect our children, why don't they promote sex Ed? Banning it from radio and TV is not banning it from their ears."
Pique dem curiosity
Others, however, agree that songs of a certain nature should be banned and stay banned. Lucian Robertson* is one such person. She told THE STAR, "I agree 200 per cent. Kids don't need to be hearing that stuff. First of all, it only pique dem curiosity. You have five-year-olds and six-year-olds giving each other oral sex and daggering and all these things. It's not like seh is only grown folks know what the song talking bout. Di bleep ones deserve to be banned too because you can already infer what is under the bleep."
Tyria Moses* believes that the daggering debate is another example of the double standard approach that is taken to many things in society. She said, "It's foolishness, even though (my daughter) is singing the songs like it's something good, so I am kinda two-sided. But I have a problem with the double standard. What happen to the carnival songs? 'Two sapodilla and a nine-inch banana'? Society nah seh nutt'n bout dat?"
"Ban them all" seems to be the cry from the dancehall community. Dancehall artistes believe that the recent ban by the Broadcasting Commission on all 'daggerin' songs and songs that require bleeping unfairly targets dancehall music.
With the ban of certain songs from radio, television and cable, some members of the entertainment fraternity are lashing out at what they view as the commission's bias.
Nothing better to do
In a statement from singjay Mr Vegas, who first used the daggerin' phrase in the song Hot Wuk, he noted, "I think the Broadcasting Commission has nothing better to do with their time. More than 50 per cent of the songs which are played on radio have some form of editing. So what is radio gonna sound like? Maybe we should just get one national station and call it Love 102."
He continued: "What they are doing is killing the creativity. It's no different when a R&B song says 'I'll make love to you like you want me to', than when a Jamaican says 'bend ova'; it's just the way we speak...talking about sex doesn't mean it has to be lewd and so many of our artistes have proven that. And simply because something is edited doesn't mean a curse word was there. Sometimes as artistes we realise the word may be too coarse for radio, but fit for the dance, so the word is edited."
At a press conference held at the Knutsford Court hotel yesterday, the Broadcasting Commission used the opportunity to further explain the new policies which were implemented last Friday. According to the commission's executive director, Cordell Green, the new policies are not an attack on dancehall. He instead views the new policies as a 'watermark' for further initiatives that will be employed. He also said the commission would be scrutinising other genres of music and events such as soca and carnival.
The artiste, whose real name is Winston Rodney, won the award for Jah Is Real, which was done on his Burning Music Production. He won the Best Reggae Album award in 1999 for Calling Rastafari.
"I am feeling great and I have been feeling good about the whole thing," Burning Spear told THE STAR.
"Finally, someone identify with what I am doing. Jah Is Real is dealing with quality. I know that it is a good album and the people who voted for it know that it is a good album. I am feeling happy and nice about the whole thing."
Significant
The other nominees in the category were Elephant Man, Sly and Robbie, Heavy D, Shaggy and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Burning Spear said this win was more significant than his previous one, because this was the first time an artiste with an independent reggae label had won the category.
"This is setting a strong standard in the reggae category. Show them that you don't have to go through a record company. This is a wake-up call for others who want to do things for themselves," said Burning Spear, who was just arriving at his home in New York yesterday from Los Angeles, where the Grammy Awards were held.
History
He said perhaps the most exciting part of the event was seeing some of the best-known foundation artistes in United States history. He saw acts such as Al Green, Paul McCartney and B.B. King.
This was Burning Spear's 12th nomination. Other albums he had been nominated for are Resistance, People of the World, Live in Paris Zenith '88, Mek We Dweet, The World Should Know, Rasta Business, Appointment with His Majesty, Calling Rastafari, Free Man, Our Music and The Burning Spear Experience.
Dancehall artiste Kiprich was one of the prime performers on RJR's Cross Country Invasion road tour, which occupied the streets of Kingston and Portmore, St Catherine, last Friday.
The Star of the Month and several other crowd favourites were superb, as they partnered fantastically and made every stop a worthwhile one for those who witnessed it.
When THE STAR caught up with the group at Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston, the excitement was in full flow and the streets were blocked.
Kiprich, who told the females to "have no behaviour", wasted no time when he went onstage. His act, which was preceded by performances from Cameal Davis, Chino and Laden, electrified the fans and some females attempted to pull the lyricist off the stage.
Impressive performances
Other impressive performances came from Romain Virgo, Nesbeth, Stacious, Goddy Goddy and the talented women of Dance Xpressions.
The Star of the Month said he was pleased with the support of the crowd.
"Yea man! I love the support from the crowd," said the lyricist, whose real name is Marlon Plunkett.
The next two stops were Greater Portmore and Naggo Head. But the energy from the previous stops was nothing compared to the final stop at Portmore Mall.
MCs Jerry D, Miss Kitty and MC Teddy kept the crowd engaged with their sharp humour.
Kiprich closed the show in fine style with some of his popular songs geared towards females, the country's most pressing issues, and relationship problems in general.
Will YOU BE lonely this Valentine's Day? Do you need a little cheering up?
STAR of the Month, the energetic and humorous Kiprich, is willing and waiting to cook a romantic meal for one lucky woman this month. All you have to do is write to him about your most embarra**ing or heartbreaking moment in love. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and you must send in your story, in no more than 100 words, between Thursday, February 5 and Thursday, February 12.
Meanwhile, Renegade, of the duo RDX, believes that there is nothing wrong with cleaning up the music, but says it should be applied to all genres. He told THE STAR, "I think this is an attack by the Broadcasting Commission on dancehall, because they have not stopped just any sexual music, but 'daggerin' songs, which is a dancehall slang and practice. Songs such as I Kissed A Girl are not banned, so according to them if you say it in patois it's not OK, but if you say it in English it's OK. It's about Jamaicans attacking Jamaicans and Jamaican music."
Musician, Tarrus Riley, also agreed that all forms of music should be included in the purging process.
"If dem can play Candy Shop from 50 Cent then you can play Rampin' Shop. Artistes should be able to express themselves freely, express their art freely but you must just be responsible for what you do. There is different music for different people and artistes should be free to create music, is just that some music isn't suited for radio. If dancehall songs can't be played on radio then some hip-hop can't be played, either
Who was featured on the Song "dutty gun" with movado, JUNIOR REID or MYKAL ROSE?
Wealthy people are rude...now I understand why so many people have a problem with me. How rude are you?
A flashy handbag or Armani suit can signal a person's wealth, but so can their body language, according to a new study. People of higher socioeconomic status are more rude when conversing with others.
Psychologists Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley, videotaped pairs of undergraduate students who were strangers to one another, during one-on-one interviews. In total, 100 undergraduate students participated.
The researchers then looked for certain gestures that indicate level of interest in the other person during one-minute slices of each conversation.
They found that students whose parents were from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds engaged in more of what he called "impolite" behaviors, such as grooming, doodling and fidgeting. Lower SES students showed more "I'm interested" gestures, including laughter and raising of the eyebrows
The higher SES students fidgeted with nearby objects for an average of two seconds, while those from lower SES backgrounds almost never fidgeted during the 60-second clips. Upper SES students also groomed themselves for short stints while lower SES students didn't. Rather, the lower SES students nodded their heads, laughed and raised their eyebrows an average of one to two seconds more than their upper SES counterparts.
"We're talking seconds here, but that is a pretty big difference when you consider that we coded one minute of interaction time," Kraus told LiveScience. "So how many times a day are you nodding if you're lower socioeconomic status?"
Slack song ban - Kartel's 'Rampin' Shop' among explicit lyrics outlawed
The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, the watchdog over the island's electronic media, yesterday banned radio and television stations from airing songs with content deemed explicitly sexual and violent, even if concealed by bleeps.
All dancehall songs which qualify as 'daggering' content - the rapidly emerging culture of quasi-erotic dances and music - will also be outlawed from the airwaves, the commission also said.
The ban, which takes effect immediately, does not affect content recorded on CDs and DVDs.
"There shall not be transmitted through radio or television, any recording, live song or music video which promotes the act of 'daggering' or which makes reference to, or is otherwise suggestive of 'daggering'," said Hopeton Dunn, commission chairman, in a release last night.
"There shall not be transmitted through radio or television or cable services, any audio recording, song or music video which employs editing techniques or bleeping of its original lyrical content," Dunn continued.
Widespread criticism
The Broadcasting Commission's tough stance coincides with widespread criticism of the chart-topping hit, Rampin' Shop, a song laden with sexually explicit content and inferences. The song is performed by deejays Vybz Kartel and Spice.
Debate was stirred when Esther Tyson, a Sunday Gleaner columnist, lambasted media managers for giving dancehall artistes a platform to "corrupt the psyche of Jamaican children".
"We must work together to stop enriching people like Vybz Kartel who create filth and are then paid when they release it on the public.
"The corporate giants in this nation who are promoting such filth need to come into the schools and see what is happening to the minds of the young," wrote Tyson, principal of the co-ed school, Ardenne High.
The Broadcasting Commission has come under pressure in recent months as complaints mounted, particularly in print media, that the organisation should ramp up its policing of the airwaves and sanction stations which breach the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) last night told The Gleaner that it was in support of the move by the Broadcasting Commission to ban the airing of songs with extensive bleeping.
"We believe that there should be a distinction between creative production for consumption or enjoyment in the dancehall vs the public airwaves," said PAJ President Byron Buckley.
"We are against the current futile practice of bleeping out distasteful sections of a song on air when, in fact, the explicit content is widely available elsewhere."
Gary Allen, chairman of the Media Association of Jamaica, the umbrella representing both print and broadcast management, said entertainment-centred stations would likely suffer most from the new directive.
"The entertainment stations will have a struggle as they will not be able to compete with the different entertainment tools such as CDs and iPods. But they still have to be mindful that it's a directive from the commission that has the authority without media houses questioning it," he told The Gleaner last night.
Prison unrest - Juveniles create chaos at Fort Augusta women's facility - Warder stabbed, another doused with urine, fae
Two correctional officers had to seek medical attention last evening as a weeklong protest by juveniles at the Fort Augusta women's prison in St Catherine escalated.
It is reported that a female officer was stabbed on her hand by one of the irate juveniles. Earlier, another officer was reportedly doused with faeces and urine by other juveniles. She was treated at the Spanish Town Hospital.
Very serious
Up to press time last night, neither the acting commissioner of corrections, June Jarrett, nor the deputy commissioner of custody, Shirley Johnson, could be reached for comment.
However, the chairman of the Jamaica Federation of Correctional Officers, Maurice Jones, said the situation had become very serious.
"The juveniles are throwing faeces and urine on the officers," he said, adding that the senior superintendent of the Fort Augusta prison was among several correctional officers doused over the past week.
According to Jones, the chaos started after a group of female juveniles was transferred from the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Facility to Fort Augusta because of security reasons.
Constant uproar
Last night, as Jones related his concerns to the The Gleaner/Power 106 News, there was constant uproar from the prison. He said the juveniles were refusing to go into their dorms. According to Jones, some of the juveniles had even stripped off their clothes to make it difficult for the officers to restrain them.
Jones said the young inmates who had formed a clique were demanding to speak with Jarrett.
However, Jones said, to make matters worse, adult inmates, incensed by the behaviour of the juveniles, had also started to protest.
Jones said the adult inmates were demanding that the juveniles be removed from Fort Augusta.
'Got Milk?' Ends Their CHRIS BROWN CAMPAIGN, Crooner's Songs Pulled Off Cleveland Radio Station (2/10/09)*-*
Endorsement fallouts continue to mount for Chris Brown as The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) has announced it will no longer feature the singer in its famous 'Got Milk?' campaigns as he faces assault charges.
Brown turned himself into Los Angeles police Sunday night (February 8) after police sought him for assaulting Rihanna during a dispute earlier in the day. He is currently out on $50,000 bail and is expected to appear in court on March 5th.
Rihanna is currently cooperating with Los Angeles police who are building a domestic violence case against Brown. Police have revealed that Rihanna suffered bruises and a scratch to her face from their dispute and received medical attention at a local hospital.
According to Reuters, MilkPEP announced their disassociation from Brown via statement today (February 10).
"The Milk Mustache campaign is taking the allegations against Chris Brown very seriously," the statement read. "We are very proud and protective of the image of the Milk Mustache campaign and the responsible message it sends to teens.
MilkPEP is the second company to halt campaigns featuring Brown since the assault allegations arose. Chewing gum giant Wrigley suspended its advertising campaigns featuring Brown yesterday (February 9).
Also adding on to Brown's issues, Cleveland radio station KISS 96.5 has pulled the crooner's songs from its playlist in reaction to the allegations.
"After the alleged incident the phones exploded,"said KISS 96.5 radio personality Java Joel via a press release. "It's all that people wanted to talk about. They were outraged at this alleged behavior and wondered why we were continuing to support his music. I agreed and immediately pulled all Chris Brown songs from my show until this thing shakes out in the legal system."
Friday's decision by the Broadcasting Commission to immediately ban all songs about daggering and all songs that have beeps from local radio and television stations, has received mixed reactions from the public.
While some believe that such a move was long overdue, there are others who think the move is somewhat hypocritical as controversial songs from other genres have remained untouched.
Poor parenting
Danila Thorpe, 25, told THE STAR that artistes should have the right to freely express themselves. She said deejays should not be held responsible for poor parenting and believes that the ban is not needed. "Parents should do more to monitor the things their kids watch and explain things to their kids. The state should not be undertaking this role. You can't control everything that is in society. Kids have to be exposed to both good and bad," she said. "Daggering is the least of our problems. It's just a cultural expression. If they want to protect our children, why don't they promote sex Ed? Banning it from radio and TV is not banning it from their ears."
Pique dem curiosity
Others, however, agree that songs of a certain nature should be banned and stay banned. Lucian Robertson* is one such person. She told THE STAR, "I agree 200 per cent. Kids don't need to be hearing that stuff. First of all, it only pique dem curiosity. You have five-year-olds and six-year-olds giving each other oral sex and daggering and all these things. It's not like seh is only grown folks know what the song talking bout. Di bleep ones deserve to be banned too because you can already infer what is under the bleep."
Tyria Moses* believes that the daggering debate is another example of the double standard approach that is taken to many things in society. She said, "It's foolishness, even though (my daughter) is singing the songs like it's something good, so I am kinda two-sided. But I have a problem with the double standard. What happen to the carnival songs? 'Two sapodilla and a nine-inch banana'? Society nah seh nutt'n bout dat?"
09 May 2008 | by Abena, Freelance Writer
It is I, Abena, and mi come fi sort oonu out fi the weekend. Mi no eat my rice when it hot so right now, mi ah gwaan wait pon God fi grant me my vengeance pon some dutty people who ah gwaan like dem waan come mash up mi life. But like Shakespeare said, "heat not a furnace for your foe so hot, that it do singe yourself." Yea, ah wah? Mi know Shakespeare, mi go university, mi is not no normal gal, mi have fi education and all these things, yea. Later, mi haffi touch the road right now go pick up a new blouse fi go Quad this weekend. Kisses.
MAVADO AND BOUNTY ARE NEIGHBOURS
Well, mi run the investigation and mi get fi find out say Mavado plan fi live right beside him Godfather up inna the Norbook area. Him affi go sing out him belly fi build the house though because Killa retaining wall alone cost over $10 million. How some artiste inna the Monster Empire ah hype and Killa wall cost more dan dem whole house?
BARBEE LOOKED HOT AT IRAWMA
Barbee5.jpgHow Nikki Z ah talk say Barbee never look hot at IRAWMA? Because she and D'Angel dem a friend. New York, Miami, Jamaica, no mek she fool yu, Barbee did ah happen. The floral dress complimented her skin tone beautifully and say what you want, Barbee knows how to light up a room. She has got presence. Mi get a picture wid her in a limo and she have a slight look like Beyonce, gwaan Barbee, mad dem.
LENA IS BACK IN THE ISLAND
Somebody caan tell Lena British fi slow down? Sust a send the money-green Range Rover on the road. She ah gangsta driver from morning, memba how she used to step inna the belly of the Benz jeep she used to drive? Well, yu dun know say the big man soon forward, so Lena British, just gwaan hold the faith, yu money tall like twenty skyscraper.
P***Y SPLASH INNA WATERHOUSE SELL OFF
How P***y Splash so nice this week? Mi over de last night, and mi see all mi friend dem who mi no see long time, big up Mumma Latty, yu a de real woman, that's why the big man nuh stop mad over yu, yea! Anyways, right now, this ah the hottest session inna Kingston, full ex-rated, all assets on display, nothing no hideyou can see who shave, who cornrow and who caan afford fi buy a razor and all these things.
THE PEOPLE WAAN FI KNOW
When Milk father ah come back a yard? Mi hear say her money woes dem soon sort out because Big Errol have it like that. Pampered lifestyle, spa weekends and all these things. Milk, yu ting ah go sort out, ah now dem ah go hate yuh.
When Carlos Hill abd Cash Plus ah go pay the people dem? Some people owe me some money and dem ah use the Cash Plus Crash excuse. Mi nah buy it. Send on di money money!
How D'Angel feel when Barbee bredda go up and collect the award and say zagga zow? Is like the family adopt Beenie doan?
If is really ZJ Liquid car park up over Daytona ah night time from wah day ya? Gwaan Liquid, mi see say yu nah ramp wid dem.
When will Einstein surface again? Question everybody ah ask is if him face heal up yet from the box him get wid him owna chain. Mi hear say the link dem whale up him face. How the people dem so heated?
Who the hell is Munchie British? Mi see a post about this girl and mi ask two questions, but nobody nuh know her. Anyway, tek yu forward 'cause see it de, mi ah call yu name.
BIG UP
Big up ZJ Liquid, the new riddim Infrared ah go hard. Big up Tye Tye, mi see the maturity and the wisdom on your face from wah day ya, or maybe ah just the babyfather stress weh de pon yu. Anyway, yu dun know, just tek care of Scott Michael Thompson (the name boasy doan) and take extra special care of Simone McFarla
A pastor who pleaded guilty to bigamy was on Friday given a suspended sentence and a very stern warning from Supreme Court Judge Paulette Williams while the 'new wife' wept uncontrollably in court.
Everton Thompson, 51, of Yallahs, St Thomas, admitted in the St Thomas Circuit Court that he had married Alma Brown in December 2008, while he was still married and living with his wife Pauline Reece-Thompson.
The court was told that Thompson was a member of a Nazarene Church and over the years, he has been promoted through several leadership positions until he became a pastor.
Four children
Thompson was first married in 1980 and the union produced four children. However, he met Brown at a graduation in 2001 and on December 2008, got married to her in Portmore, St Catherine. He told his new wife that because he worked in St Thomas, he would have to spend time there, but when he was in Kingston, he would spend time with her.
Thompson's infidelity was revealed when Brown telephoned him and a woman answered. She asked for her husband and when the first wife questioned her, she discovered that her husband had a new wife.
The two women agreed to report the matter to the police and Thompson was arrested and charged with bigamy.
When the parties appeared in court Friday, the legal wife asked the judge to make an order for Thompson to support her and the children of the marriage because he earned good money from his job as a pest controller. She said she had taken the matter to the Family Court.
Reece-Thompson told the court that the incident had caused her a lot of pain and embarra**ment. She said they still lived in the same house but she no longer had an intimate relationship with Thompson.
She disclosed that on the day that the accused is said to have got married to the second wife, he got dressed at the matrimonial home and returned that night and slept with her.
Brown broke down in court, cried bitterly and had to be consoled. She described Thompson as a "wicked man" and said he did not tell her that he was married.
Serious offence
Defence lawyer Melrose Reid, in applying for leniency for Thompson, told the court that although the offence was a serious one, she was asking the judge not to send him to prison. She said it was not as if he had murdered someone or committed a gun offence.
The judge, in sentencing Thompson, told him that he had emotionally murdered two women. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment but the sentence was suspended for three years. The judge warned Thompson that if he was found guilty of any offence within the next three years, he would be taken back before the court and sent to prison to serve the two-year prison term.
The judge asked Thompson's lawyer to assist Brown to dissolve the marriage because it was not legal.which kru is better FRASECA orT-BALIST or TALIBAN KRU FROM C-BAR
They are 25 year old Gerald Thomas and Andre Mair both of a Kingston 6 address.
The Port Antonio police said Thomas and Mair were among 16 persons from Kingston who were on a beach trip to the parish.
Four of them reportedly swam beyond the boundary line, which marks the end of the area persons are allowed to swim.
The police said the men got into difficulties due to the rough condition of the sea.
According to the police one of the men managed to swim back to shore while another was rescued by a lifeguard.
However, a search by members of the coast guard and a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter for the others had to be called off late yesterday evening because of high wind and poor visibility.
Police said that the ammunition was found during a search of a premises, carried out at 2:40 pm.
The Intellectual Property Crime Unit at the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) reports that more than 150,000 DVDs were seized and 120 arrests made last year.
This represents a dramatic rise over 2007, when the police recovered 30,000 DVDs and made 21 arrests.
OCID said 70 percent of the persons arrested were convicted and ordered to pay fines or given custodial sentences.
Head of the Intellectual Property Crime Unit, Detective Sergeant Leroy Faulknor, said persons charged under the Copyright Act face a maximum fine of $100,000 or up to two years imprisonment.
He also said violent gangsters used the trade to fund their activities and to purchase guns and drugs.
Sergeant Faulknor is urging persons to desist from supporting the sale of illegal DVDs as it often leads to other unlawful practices and encourages gang related activities.
THE GRAMMY AWARDEES....LIL WAYNE RECEIVED 4 OUT OF HIS 8 NOMINATIONS...[KRAZILY INSANE]
Album of the Year: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer (Rounder)
Rap Album: "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer; track from "Continuum" (Columbia)
Record of the Year: "Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Rock Album: "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," Coldplay (Capitol)
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay), track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs)
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "Stay," Sugarland, track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury)
Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson
Best New Artist: Adele
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," by Coldplay, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters
Record of the Year: "Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from: "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost
Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Chasing Pavements," Adele, track from "19" (Columbia/XL)
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Still Unforgettable," Natalie Cole (DMI Records)
Pop Vocal Album: "Rockferry," Duffy (Mercury)
Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War," Eagles, track from "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Company)
Pop Instrumental Album: "Jingle All the Way," Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (Rounder)
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay, track from "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Capitol Records)
Alternative Music Album: "In Rainbows," Radiohead (TBD Records)
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Gravity," John Mayer, track from "Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles" (Columbia)
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "Sex on Fire," Kings of Leon (RCA Records)
Hard Rock Performance: "Wax Simulacra," The Mars Volta (Universal Motown)
Metal Performance: "My Apocalypse," Metallica, track from "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.)
Rock Instrumental Performance: "Peaches En Regalia," Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai and Napoleon Murphy Brock (Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment)
Rock Song: "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen), track from "Magic" (Columbia; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen)
Rap Solo Performance: "A Milli," Lil Wayne, track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Swagga Like Us," Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne (Roc-A-Fella/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "American Boy," Estelle featuring Kanye West, track from "Shine" (Homeschool/Atlantic )
Rap Song: "Lollipop," Dwayne Carter, Darius Harrison, James Scheffer, Stephen Garrett and Rex Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major), track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown; Publishers: Young Money Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Herbalicious Music/Blackfountain Music/EMI-April Music, JimiPub Music/EMI Blackwood, Three Nails and A Crown Publishing/Roynet Music)
Country Song: "Stay," Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland), track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing)
Country Album: "Troubadour," George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Female Country Vocal Performance: "Last Name," Carrie Underwood, track from "Carnival Ride" (19/Arista/Arista Nashville)
Male Country Vocal Performance: "Letter to Me," Brad Paisley, track from "5th Gear" (Arista Nashville)
Country Collaboration With Vocals: "Killing the Blues," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluster Pluck," Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner (Arista Nashville)
R&B Song: "Miss Independent," Mikkel S.
Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo), track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound; Publishers: Pen in the Ground Publishing, Universal Music-Z Tunes)
Contemporary R&B Album: "Growing Pains," Mary J. Blige (Geffen)
Female R&B Vocal Solo: "Superwoman," Alicia Keys, track from "As I Am" (J Records)
Male R&B Vocal Solo: "Miss Independent," Ne-Yo, track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound)
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "Stay With Me (By the Sea)," Al Green featuring John Legend , track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note Records)
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "You've Got the Love I Need," Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note Records)
Urban/Alternative Performance: "Be OK," Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am, track from "I Am" (Def Jam)
Reggae Album: "Jah Is Real," Burning Spear (Burning Music Production)Gospel Performance: "Get Up," Mary Mary; track from "The Sound" (Columbia)Gospel Song: "Help Me Believe," Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin); track from "The Fight of My Life" (Fo Yo Soul Ent./Z****a Gospel; Publishers: Universal Music-Z Songs/Kerrion Publishing)
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Thy Kingdom Come," CeCe Winans (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel)
Southern, Country, Bluegra** Gospel: "Lovin' Life," Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group)
Traditional Gospel Album: "Down in New Orleans," The Blind Boys of Alabama (Time Life)
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "The Fight of My Life," Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Z****a Gospel)
For the full list please see link below...
http://music.msn.com/grammy/features/winners/list/?ptid=093461ac-e929-492a-bd1d-32e0643886e3&mpc=1
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donovan
6 February 2009, 12:43 EST (#)
I think that Mr obama as president of the most powerful nation and country in the world, should pay and give more attention to its own backyard, the Caribbean, the Caribbean has been neglected by the bush administration and this has cause tremendous impications for all Caribbean states, the most important one the US needs to pay attention to is Jamaica, the US president needs to force the Jamaican government to fully and properly govern the country, as the world knows Jamaica has the highest crime rate in the Americas, and is a very poor country, over the pat six years 6,799 persons including 2,935 babies as young as 1month old were murdered in Jamaica the crime rate was the highest in the world in 2006 and continues to grow every single day, unemployment has risen and inflation at its highest at 22.9% this cannot continue, please mr Obama help Jamaica and the caribbean we need the US without the US we will rot and die please help us America empire of the world. president Obama please change the immigration laws that the bush administration as put on jamaica, it is very hard to get a visitors visa here and i would like to migrate to the United States but dont have the money and dont know how to approach this, if amrica wants peace in the world, then the country must establish its self as friendly and create employment for its citizens and foreigners alike, please make the migrating process easier please i know in my heart the president obama will do all that i ask and much much much more, thank you and god bless the United States of America the best country and nation in the whole world