Goddy Goddy came under fire from some Christians for using the song 'Chakka Chi Chi' in the Courts commercial.

The reggae gospel industry is now under scrutiny, following recent incidents that have caused the public to view the artistes in a negative light.

Only last week, the police reported that gospel deejay Kassim 'Moses' Grant was involved in an incident with a family member. During the dispute, he was reported to have pulled an illegal firearm and fired shots at the family member, before running off. Moses was later found dead under a bridge at Mammee River in St Andrew.

And, another gospel couple, deejay Calvin 'Prodigal Son' Whilby and his estranged wife, Joan, have been going through a much-publicised divorce. This is an issue that is commonly frowned on in the Christian community.

These and other factors have caused some people to question the gospel artistes' faith.

"People had their views about us before this happen and a lot of people will point more fingers but I would encourage them not to do so," gospel artiste Omari told The STAR.

He said Christians, like sinners, have their flaws.

"Over the years, the church has always been portrayed as perfect, but we have our flaws too and we have to try and work it out with God. Instead of judging, people should encourage and try to motivate us. It is never my duty to judge; my duty is to try and correct. Judgement belongs to father God," said Omari. "The gospel music fraternity a get blows from here and there but we still stand up strong."

Waiting on the truth

Goddy Goddy also agreed that the industry is under pressure as a result of the recent happenings.

"People will always be people and once something negative happens it will affect us 'cause people have this stigma weh dem use one fi label all. We should not be too quick to be judgmental, we are not perfect," Goddy Goddy told The STAR.

"People see me on the road daily and ask me what happen, especially with Moses. But knowing Moses as a person, I don't know how the story match up with his lifestyle. I am just waiting on the truth to come out."

Craig C, who faced his share of bashing for doing a Kingston Beer advertisement last year, said he did not know how the reggae gospel community would be viewed by onlookers.

However, "it's just a call for every artiste, including myself, to get in line and do weh we supposed to do, because it really look bad right now," Craig C said.

Nonetheless, he said gospel artistes, like everyone else, are humans. And, he is still optimistic, as he believes these negative incidents will encourage the gospel artistes to do the right things.

Left: Gospel Artiste Prodigal Son. Right: Omari

Selector Boom Boom has denied rumours that members of the Alliance were beaten at Fancy Thursday.

Rumours have been circulating that the Alliance members, including Mavado, were beaten at the event, which was held at La Roose, Portmore, last Thursday. It was being said that the group threw bottles at a selector for playing too many Vybz Kartel songs.

Boom Boom said these allegations were completely false.

"All yuh hear dem a seh Alliance get beat up, Mavado get beat up, Boom Boom get beat up and Foota (Hype). Nutten nuh go so," Boom Boom told The STAR.

"Mi hear seh it deh pon website and all dem things deh, but nutten nuh go so. A just rumours man."

Boom Boom said he played at the event after Foota Hype and Stereo Passion.

He said the Portmore-based Young Guns sound system went on stage next and played a few Vybz Kartel clash-like songs. He said people started booing. It was reported that a fan from the crowd threw a Red Bull tin on to the stage while the sound system was playing.

Further reports are that the gates to the venue were closed and there was a stand-off between several men.

It is alleged that the man who threw the can was a member of Mavado's entourage. Boom Boom, however, denied this. "Wi nuh know him; him nuh come wid we. At that time, the selector put down the mic and seh 'Wah dat fa?'" The promoter get the yute and reason it out," said Boom Boom, who added that they were leaving at the time of the incident.

However, he said, they stayed a while longer to party.

The FAA has just informed TMZ they have opened an investigation into the helicopter pilot who had his eyes on a woman's breast rather than the skies.


The investigation was launched after we published the story earlier today about David Martz, who piloted a chopper with porn star Puma Swede on board back in 2007. As we reported, the FAA received an email asking for an investigation with the photos attached, but did nothing because they couldn't determine if the chopper was in the air or on the ground. It's obvious from the pictures (notice the horizon and the air speed dial at 60 knots) the chopper is in the air, and Martz himself confirmed he was 300 - 400 feet above the ground.

Better late than never, FAA. Martz has had his license revoked twice and suspended another two times for reckless flying and other misdeeds.

Just last Sunday, cops say Martz buzzed an LAPD chopper. The LAPD felt Martz may have been drinking and ordered him to land. When they found him at the Van Nuys Airport 10 minutes after landing, he was already drinking vodka. That incident is also being investigated by the FAA.

Martz is still flying.

Meet Suraya Brown the little girl who is baffling doctors by refusing to grow.

The brown-eyed youngster is now 14-months-old and should weigh at least 20lb. Yet she is still the size of a newborn baby, tipping the scales at just over 7lb and a mere 19in.

Suraya has been examined by a whole team of specialists including paediatricians, nutritionists, geneticists and hormone experts.

But doctors say they still have no idea why she wont grow describing her condition as a real conundrum.

Read more

A man has died after his mobile phone exploded, severing a major artery in his neck, according to reports.

The man, thought to be a shop assistant in his twenties at a computer shop in Guangzhou, China, died after he put a new battery in his phone. It was believed that he may have just finished charging the battery and had put the phone in his breast pocket when it exploded.

According to the local Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News, the accident happened on January 30 at 7.30pm. An employee at the shop told Chinese media that she heard a loud bang and saw her colleague lying on the floor of the shop in a pool of *lo**. The employee said the victim had recently changed the battery in his mobile phone.

Chinese authorities have yet to determine the make and model of the phone and its battery. Some reports indicated the store was a Lenovo shop, but it was thought that this might be because the shop advertised Lenovo computer products. Police were investigating whether the phone and battery were counterfeit.

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Da Boss!! We make money maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan..

The man all tek her shopping,lol jah kno

do You Believe We Evolve From Apes Like scientist Says?


A mean i read a lot a things n watch tv n dem seh man evolve from ape n all kinda bullshit so what unnu think? I grew up hearing about two people Adam & Eve, i know scientist nuh believe in god. whats ur thought the matter?


I know this nuh mek sense to nuff a unnu still but a so me pree deep more time zi me!

The battle between telecommunications companies, LIME and Digicel has intensified and is now heading for the Supreme Court.

Digicel, yesterday applied to the Supreme Court of Jamaica for an order to be made against LIME for contempt of court.

This latest move is in response to what Digicel claims is LIME's decision to ignore a court order it obtained on January 28. Among other things, the injunction ordered LIME to stop making use of confidential Digicel data that was reportedly given to LIME by Claro through unethical and unlawful means.

According to the release, less than 24 hours after the injunction was granted, LIME, it is alleged, once again made use of Digicel's confidential data in an affidavit filed on January 29.

Helga McIntyre, legal and regulatory manager for Digicel Jamaica, in the release, stated, "C&W/LIME has gone too far in now, choosing to exhibit a flagrant disregard and disrespect for our court system in Jamaica. The law is there for a reason and C&W/LIME is not above it - contrary to what it might think."

In an statement sent on January 29, LIME, in response to the allegations, said, "LIME considers statements made by Digicel in a news release (dated January 28, 2009) to be highly defamatory and to constitute a deliberate attempt to damage LIME's reputation, suggesting as it does, collusion between LIME and Claro and publicly referring to LIME's exercise of its legal rights as "unethical" and "illegal" behaviour on LIME's part. "LIME has, at all times, acted ethically and legally and has been open and transparent with all matters regarding its proceedings against Digicel."

Just last month, LIME accused Digicel of blocking calls from its customers in the Caribbean to all Digicel customers in Jamaica. Digicel, however, denied the accusations.

 

Along with his new ventures, 50 Cent has announced his intentions of launching a line of dietary supplements and the G-Unit head explained how all the business growth has caused him to have Diddy-like habits.

The G-Unit leader recently spoke about his hip-hop mogul growth.

"When [my career] blew up, I developed the Diddy syndrome. That's where this jacket came from," Fitty recently laughed, rubbing his dapper velvet blazer. "As soon as you develop the Diddy syndrome, you put a little more grease in your hair, and soon enough, you're selling cologne...Right now, I'm interested in dietary supplements. I'll be coming up with something very soon." (New York Daily News)

Both 50 and Diddy have been in Forbes's Top Hip-Hop Cash Kings list in recent years.

The new king of hip-hop wealth banked $100 million after taxes on one deal alone when his stake in VitaminWater's parent, Glacéau, was bought by Coca-Cola as part of a $4.1 billion deal. 50's portfolio also includes the popular G-Unit clothing line and record label, plus films, videogames and a slew of platinum albums, including last year's Curtis. (Forbes)

50 previously unveiled his film production company venture at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this month.

He said Cheetah Vision had already bought eight scripts. "They are all different types of movies that I bought the rights to, and we're developing projects. You will see different things from me in the future," he said. (Reuters)

The rapper is currently prepping the company's first production with Nicolas Cage.

The first to be produced would be The Dance. "He plays the founder of a boxing program, and I play a fighter who goes to state prison," 50 said. "I don't think [the economy] will affect me as much as it will the other people that are out there because I'm not afraid to finance some of these things myself if I have to."

Just for a few days after a memorable Sting clash, industry insiders are already planning another clash between the two artists. The Chief Executive Officer Isaiah Laing of Supreme Promotions Says "The argument is unsettled, we could arrange a rematch as soon as February if both parties agree to it.

 

However, other promoters are reportedly interested in organizing and bankrolling a clash between the two. They believe the sting promoters botched there chance and relish the opportunity to arrange another one, this time with rigidly enforced guidelines and rules of engagement. 

"What Happened at Sting was not how it was to be, the rules were violated. Mavado's entourage was allowed onstage, and it was conducted on a band with a clear bias. You need a neutral band, and clear rules of engagement. No artiste is allowed to exit the stage until the winner is decided. I am shocked that Liang did such a poor job," one infamous dancehall promoter said.

"Rumours in the streets are circulating that Vybz Kartel could appear on a stage show with Mavado and simply step upon him, setting the sequel in motion. The first opportunity like that for such a plot twist could be at Reggae Campfire show in St. Catherine.

The Organizer clearly stated that "Kartel is not book for the show; therefore there will be no clash with Mavado". Many people are saying the clash was a draw, and that Kartel had definite edge until he deejayed the 'Weh Dat Fah' tune invoked the ire of the audience.

However, rabid fans on both sides continue to support the individual champions. Mavado's fans believe that he won because he was able to mount an effective comeback, while Kartel's fans contended that Mavado exited the stage and sabotaged the clash by pulling his bandsmen with the exception of the keyboardist.

Yohann Dawes, one of the principals behind the video cable station, HYPE TV believed that neither artiste won, but the sting concert was a VICTORY for the dancehall genre.

"I think that dancehall won, a lot of naysayers from Corporate Jamaica expected a night of mayhem and it did not happen. For the two top DJs to go at it onstage with no *lo**shed is great. It was not the best, I Believe that Stitchie and San was the best, but represented the official passing of the baton to Mavado and Kartel. They are the new face of dancehall." Dawes said.

-- Edited by mark john at 14:48, 2009-02-03

Louisa Malcolm has a smoke along March Pen Road in Spanish Town. New legislation could outlaw smoking in public places and spaces later this year. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The Ministry of Health is ratcheting up pressure on organisations to ban smoking in public spaces and will be lobbying for the enactment of comprehensive legislation during the first quarter of the new fiscal year.

Eva Lewis-Fuller, director of health promotion and protection at the Ministry of Health, said limiting smoking privileges in both public and private business places would help protect non-smokers from second- and third-hand effects.

"Cabinet has considered it and agreed in principle for the law to be imposed. However, additional work needs to be done, such as getting responses from other agencies and analysis of the economic impact it would bring," Lewis-Fuller told The Gleaner.

Health implications

Though there is no anti-smoking ban on the books in Jamaica, Lewis-Fuller said restrictions were in place in some government buildings, including health ministry facilities.

"We brought the initiative to other government entities, but not all accepted it, because it's based on the administration of the organisation," she said.

"Smoking can cause a lot of health implications and so with the help of various organisations, we stand to protect the nation," Lewis-Fuller added.

Some of the main smoking-related medical complications are lung cancer, asthma irritation, and increased risk of heart disease. Based on studies, 80 to 90 per cent of lung cancer and 30 per cent of heart disease cases have been linked to smoking.

Tough stances

Internationally, more doors have been closing on persons who want to light up, as governments have taken tough stances to dictate smoking behaviour, even inside private enterprises. An increasing number of countries have made it illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces. Among these are the United Kingdom, India, Australia and Canada, which passed legislation in 2007.

In recent years, various anti-smoking lobbyists have put pressure on the Jamaican Government to snuff out the practice in public places. So far, the campaigners have gained some concessions, such as increased taxation on tobacco products, more health education programmes and labelling of tobacco products with larger warnings.

Ellen Campbell Grizzle, director of information and research at the National Council on Drug Abuse, stated that the initiative would promote healthier lifestyles across the island, adding that tobacco was a gateway drug that led to addiction to other types of substances.

"Persons will struggle to adhere, as they are addicted to the second most-abused substance in the country, but it will improve over time," Grizzle stated.

Positive move

In the meantime, Paul Scott, pulmonologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, advised that enforcing a law against smoking in public spaces would be a positive move in decreasing the risk of health conditions associated with the habit.

"Smoking has a lot of disadvantages and it's dangerous, even when you only inhale it, so banning it from these areas would be necessary," argued Scott.

He further stated that smoking has been the biggest cause of lung cancer.

"A vast majority of lung cancer cases are as a result of smoking so the law would be a preventative method," said the lung specialist.

A number of residents in Ensom City, St Catherine, are living in fear following a series of robberies by a group of gunmen targeting the area.

The latest robbery occurred on Thursday at a shop in the once quiet area. THE STAR learnt that about 8 p.m., four men went to the establishment. While the attendant served a customer, one of the thugs pulled a gun and robbed the shop. They escaped along the bank of Rio Cobre river with the cash.

Robbed children

Reports reaching THE STAR are that the robbers are so desperate that they have even held up and robbed children of their pocket money. Two weeks ago a group of footballers were also held up and robbed of their money and cellphones.

"Yes a top phone dem want. The other day a man and his girlfriend was walking, the gunman dem call him and him run lef di oman. When dem tek har 'flashlight phone' dem just dash it weh and say dem no want no ediot phone," remarked a resident.

A senior police officer at the Spanish Town Police Station said that they are aware of some of the incidents and they are working on strategies to tackle them. The police however are asking that the residents assist by formally reporting the cas

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) spent much of yesterday trying to control a fire at the Riverton Ciy dump. According to head of the NSWMA, Joan Gordon-Webley, the fire started shortly after midday. It engulfed sections of the rear of the dump and was still raging late into yesterday evening. Some residents of the nearby Riverton Meadows community were worried about the health risks posed by the thick smoke, while the entire area stretching back to Patrick Gardens experienced heavy smoke and soot-related inconveniences.

Gordon-Webley was unable to say definitively how the fire started, but hinted that the blaze was "very suspicious".
"The fire started towards the back end which gave it time to burn before we could get to it," she said. "It is also quite suspicious because we have a huge landfill and for it to start over an edge, so to speak, it is just a little bit worrying."

Gordon-Webley assured that trucks were transporting cover material to affected areas up to late yesterday, bringing the fire under some control. Here a herd of cows moves away from the fire and heavy smoke .

Taking entrepreneurial steps one at a time, dancehall artiste Tanya Stephens is hoping to breathe some new life into Ocho Rios and it's not through music. The singjay recently opened her first restaurant H2O in the Coconut Grove Shopping Centre in Ocho Rios.

Joking that it was her addiction to food and alcohol that drove her into starting her own restaurant where she could have both daily, H2O officially opened its doors to customers on New Year's weekend.

Mixed cuisine

Although she doesn't actually cook at the restaurant, Stephens brings her own spice and twist to the mixed cuisine on the menu.

Having grown up and currently living in the Ocho Rios vicinity, the tourist resort town was the ideal spot for Stephens to begin making one of many strides outside of music.The motivation came from wanting to show that I had more ability than music and that I had a choice of things to do, plus I really am addicted to food. Right now, I'm my biggest customer, I eat there every day."

With H2O being a little known secret outside of Ocho Rios, Stephens is approaching the restaurant like she does her music, wanting to perfect her craft before presenting it fully to the public. Despite the lack of publicity, the restaurant is still doing well attracting a mix of locals and tourists.

Special guest

Another feature attracting persons to the restaurant besides the food is the weekly Saturday Night Jams where artistes perform live. Shying away from using dancehall acts, singers such as Sophia Squire, Jeffrey Star and Inga Stewart have all performed there already, although one day Stephens herself might give a special guest performance.

Outside of making moves in business ventures, Stephens is currently working on her third album titled Infallible. She said, "The next album Infallible should be out in a few months, the title is a little play on words, cause I'm not saying that I'm infallible cause I'm not. Persons can expect what I'm expecting from me which is an improvement from what I've done before, nothing less ... I do what I feel like and I try to spark discussion."

Currently, Stephens has a song and video out that is doing well, it is titled Heart of Stone, a collaboration with Othniel 'Taddy P' Campbell.

 Blak Ryno attacks Munga

Three social scientists have weighed in on the gun debate, arguing that allowing Jamaicans to arm themselves could open the way to more murders and mayhem.

According to Sociologist Clement Branch, who heads the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica is "close to having a culture of violence and more guns, more opportunities to arm oneself is likely to reinforce that culture of violence rather than take it in the other direction".

"Most of the violence in Jamaica is inter-community and inter-gang violence and these people are really well armed so that the availability of more guns will simply escalate that situation," he told the Observer.

He said interpersonal violence could also worsen.
"There is a fair amount of interpersonal violence and more than that, there is a substantial amount of interpersonal conflict and what this proposal will do in the short run, I think, is increase the deadly consequences of interpersonal conflict and violence," Branch said. "So that before this proposal can become effective, I think that the police and the judicial system would be undermined by the share volume of incidents and cases dealing with interpersonal and personal violence."

Anthropologist Dr Herbert Gayle agreed.

"We don't have a culture of violence yet. A lot of us still rely on the rule of law and so forth, but if we get to the point where everybody gets a gun - with our attitude and our romanticism of violence - it is not going to be successful," he told the Observer. "Look at how we treat the term 'man a bad man', just for fun. And think of how much violence is a part of our masculine identity."

The increased violence, he argued, would result in increased cost to the state.

"We are spending three billion dollars at the primary hospitals - which accounts for 12 per cent of the budget of the Ministry of Health - on just injuries alone. That does not include health centres or type-two hospitals. Now imagine if everybody have gun," he said.

Psychologist Dr Pearnel Bell also shared the view that easier access to gun permits would do more harm than good, given the psychological risks.

"I am just imagining that father who accidentally killed his daughter. Psychologically, there are concrete problems for a family in that way," said Bell, in reference to the case of teenager Pia Phillips who was accidentally shot and killed by her father last year while attempting to rescue her and other family members from gunmen who held them up at their gate.
She said there is also a risk to the society at large.

"The risk becomes greater if everybody is going to be armed," she told the Observer.

"And we have a country of people, they are going to end up in a state of paranoia, looking for danger everywhere. All sorts of anxiety disorders and things could (erupt) out in the country," she said, adding that even when armed, many people are indecisive at that moment of flight or fright.
Research has shown that the presence of guns in the home increases the risk of homicides.

"Rather than confer protection, guns kept in the home are associated with an increase in the risk of homicide by a family member or intimate acquaintance," said Arthur L Kellerman and Frederick P Rivara et al in their study "Gun Ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home", which was published in the October 1993 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.

-- Edited by MZJ at 11:29, 2009-02-03

A peanut processing plant in Texas run by the same company blamed for a national salmonella outbreak operated for years uninspected and unlicensed by government health officials, The Associated Press has learned.

The Peanut Corp. of America plant in Plainview never was inspected until after the company fell under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to Texas health records obtained by AP.

Once inspectors learned about the Texas plant, they found no sign of salmonella there. But new details about that plant including how it could have operated unlicensed for nearly four years raise questions about the adequacy of government efforts to keep the nation's food supply safe. Texas is among states where the FDA relies on state inspectors to oversee food safety.

The Windalco Kirkvine bauxite plant in Manchester as seen in this September 2004 photo. - File

West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco) is to cut the positions of another 250 temporary employees over the next two months as it moves to suspend operations at its Kirkvine plant in Manchester and Ewarton in St Catherine.

However, Windalco said it would be retaining the approximately 850 permanent employees during the temporary shutdown.

"Given the declining global demand for alumina and Windalco's position as a high-cost producer, we are forced to temporarily suspend our production," Windalco Managing Director, Andrew Currie, announced in a statement yesterday.

He said this was the only economically appropriate measure.

The development comes days after Prime Minister Bruce Golding met with a top executive of UC RUSAL, which owns Windalco, to discuss the future of the company's operations in Jamaica.

However. Mining and Tele-communications Minister Derrick Smith said the Government was negotiating with UC RUSAL to delay the temporary closure of Windalco.

At the same time, Smith said he was not surprised by the decision to close WINDALCO in light of the state of the bauxite/alumina industry.

The news of the impending closure took the chairman of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, Dr Carlton Davis, by surprise.

He told The Gleaner/Power106 News that the move would have significantly adverse implications for the national economy but more so for the communities in which the plants are located.

Davis also raised concerns that the suspension of operations at WINDALCO at this time could mean the eventual permanent closure of at least one of its plants and he believe the one at Kirkvine might be the victim, since it is older and more vulnerable.

The likelihood of a temporary closure leading to a permanent shut down was first expressed by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga on the Power 106FM talk show, Independent Talk last week.

"He may be right," Davis said yesterday. "But I think we would not be giving up without a fight."

At the same time, the JBI head is worried that Jamaica might lose some of the highly-qualified workers in the bauxite/alumina sector like chemists and engineers because of the uncertainty about their continued employment.

"Sooner or later, what people do is to look at their other options and we may never get them back," Davis said while proposing that the Government embark on an initiative to start a registry of the country's qualified workers.

Amid the development yesterday, Vincent Morrison, president of the National Workers Union, said the union was disappointed that it had not been informed of the decision to suspend operations at WINDALCO before it was made public.

Morrison also said the union was not comforted by the Government that it was doing everything possible to keep the plant open.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday lashed out at lawmakers who booted him from office, calling his removal a "hijacking."

The Illinois Senate unanimously convicted Blagojevich on Thursday of abuse of power, making him the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment.

"I view what happened on Thursday as a hijacking by a legislature that removed a governor and prevented that governor from proving his innocence by denying me the right to bring witnesses in," Blagojevich said on NBC's "Today" show.

Neither the prosecution nor the defense was allowed to summon any witnesses whose testimony might interfere with an ongoing federal criminal case. But Blagojevich did not ask to call any witnesses, and did not participate in the trial other than delivering his own closing statement.

"It was an unlawful and improper impeachment. So I don't view myself at all as being shamed or disgraced," he said. "They did a disservice to the people of Illinois."

Blagojevich still faces federal corruption charges including allegations he tried to profit from selling President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich has repeatedly maintained his innocence. When asked Tuesday if he ever tried to profit from the appointment, he replied: "flat-out, unequivocally no way. No."

The former governor also said he was eager to have his day in court.

"This is America, and I still believe this is a place where, as it's written in the Bible the truth will set you free. I'm clinging to the truth and embracing the truth, I'll ride the truth, and I'll clear my name."

Blagojevich also was to appear Tuesday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Fox's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" and CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman."

There were fireworks yesterday at the trial of the man accused of the murder of 64-year-old Ambassador Peter King, resulting in Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh calling on defence lawyer Berry Bryan to be courteous to the court.

"I have no intention of controlling the prosecution witness," Bryan responded when the judge told him that he was causing hearsay to be admitted into evidence.

"It is your court, you have the right to gag me. You have the right to control me," he added.

The judge, who was obviously upset, remarked: "I have never disturbed you. You speak while I am speaking, I don't know why you embark on this course."

The judge made it clear that she expected Bryan to be courteous to her because she had always been courteous to him.

The exchange took place when Bryan was cross-examining a witness. Prosecutor Caroline Hay had objected to the line of questioning and indicated that Bryan was seeking to put hearsay into evidence.

Sheldon Pusey, 26, has been on trial in the Home Circuit Court since January 19 for King's murder. King was chopped and stabbed several times in his home at 11A Waterloo Road, St Andrew, on March 19 or 20, 2006.

A prosecution witness testified yesterday that in 2005, he saw Pusey at King's house.

He said that on the afternoon of March 19, 2006, he saw Pusey at King's house.

Cross-examined the witness admitted that he was a homosexual, but he said he had never had a sexual relationship with King. Three witnesses have so far testified to seeing Pusey at King's house on March 19, 2006.

The slaying of JonBenet Ramsey will be investigated as a cold case with all evidence and actions taken 12 years ago reviewed anew, the police chief said Monday as the department resumed a probe for which it had long been criticized.

Chief Mark Beckner said new technology gives investigators tools they didn't have a decade ago; the 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant was found bludgeoned and strangled in the basement of her Boulder home in 1996.

Police had transferred the probe to the district attorney's office six years ago amid criticism of how the case was handled.

"We'd love to solve this case for JonBenet so she can rest in peace," Beckner said at a news conference announcing the shift.

Police will handle the investigation as a cold case, "reviewing everything that's been done, the evidence that's been collected, trying to determine where do we go from here," he said.

L. Lin Wood, an attorney for JonBenet's father, John Ramsey, said the decision was a "positive sign in terms of my hope that the Boulder Police Department will take not only a new review in terms of a cold case review, but that it will go in this time with an objective review."

Wood and Ramsey have been critical of previous police efforts, saying they unfairly focused on the family and ignored other evidence.

Patsy Ramsey, JonBenet's mother and John Ramsey's wife, died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer.

Levy

Faced with a soft energy market, Jamaica Broilers Group has ceased production at its ethanol plant.

However, Christopher Levy, the new president and CEO, says it is a temporary measure to last less than two months.

"Being as how the markets are - the crops in Brazil and the soft market in the United States - we have stopped for a month and a half," said Levy.

"This is how the operation runs; it is routine for us, and we are just using the time to do some maintenance work."

The plant will ramp up again in March, he told The Gleaner, adding that the next servicing will likely happen in December.

In the meantime, the workers remain on the payroll.

"All the workers remain employed and are still at work during this period," said Levy. "No one will be affected."

He said, too, that the second ethanol plant under development will be completed this February.

Levy's ascension to Broilers' top job became effective Sunday. He succeeds his father, Robert Levy, who in turn has replaced R. Danny Williams as chairman of the board.

The new CEO, up to his promotion, was directly in charge of the ethanol operation, JB Ethanol Limited, a responsibility now expected to be passed to brother, Stephen Levy.

JB Ethanol's 60-million gallon plant at Port Esquivel was commissioned in July 2007. It produces fuel-grade ethanol from hydrous or wet ethanol for duty-free export to the United States under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

Ethanol in the short period has come to rival poultry as the top revenue earner in the group.

In its six-month financial period ending November 1, 2008, sales of the biofuel reached $5 billion, compared to $4.55 billion for poultry. Total sales amounted to $13 billion.

The Broilers President sidestepped questions on the impact on earnings from the temporary closure but, based on earnings to November, a six-week closure would be equivalent to more than $1.2 billion in sales.

"Right now it is not suitable to sell ethanol in this market, so we will hold off on our sales," said Levy. "We are working on various initiatives, but we don't want to sell right now because the market is soft."

The ethanol plant, he said, has a different maintenance schedule than other manufacturing operations whose equipment can be serviced in periods where the machinery is idle.

"It is not like an ordinary factory that stops at nights and can be maintained at that time," said Levy.

"When we start again in March, we will not stop until about December."

A little baby girl has just made her entrance into to the world via Erykah Badus oft-used birth canal:

My first child, my daughter, was born at 1:30 p.m. exactly. Its the happiest day of my life, Jay wrote in a text

He also gave updates before, and during labor. Getting closer. She says she feels like shes ready to push, he wrote, before updating a couple hours later with I see the head. Full of hair.

According to Erykah, it was a home birth. She used no pain killers, and the labor took around five hours to complete.

I cant believe its over, she wrote.

While the name is yet to be confirmed, Erykah wrote in a text that the babys name is Twitty Milk.

The couples relationship has been relatively low-key. However, last year, the two were the subject of criticism by fans over Badus relationship history. In addition to the new baby, Badu also has children with rappers Andre 3000 of Outkast, and west coast rapper The D.O.C.

Despite the negativity, the two seem happy.

Congrats to Erykah, our eccentric friend, and Jay, Erykahs most recent victim.  Those goodies take no prisoners, yall.  Industry fellas better start reading their memos.

Stop Order on 'Rampin Shop' - Ne-Yo's publishing company writes Kartel

Kartel and Spice perforning Rampin Shop at Island Explosion held at the Country Club, May Pen, Clarendon on Wednesday, December 24, 2008. - file

The current version of Vybz Kartel and Spice's Rampin Shop has been ordered to be destroyed and pulled from all radio stations, television stations and the Internet by EMI Music Publishing. Plans are in motion for the song to be re-mixed and re-mastered so it can be played on air again.

When the STAR spoke to Vybz Kartel yesterday he explained that he had received an e-mail from EMI Music Publishing stating that Rampin Shop infringes on the copyright license of Miss Independent by Ne-Yo. Rampin Shop was released towards the end of 2008 and is currently on a remade version of the Miss Independent rhythm, the song while immensely popular in Jamaica has not been officially released to the International market. While Ne-Yo is officially signed to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the copyright license for the composition of the Ne-Yo song is licensed by EMI Music Publishing for composers Shaffer Smith, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen.

Kartel forwarded the e-mail from EMI to the STAR in which it stated, "'Ramping Shop' by Vybz Kartel and Spice infringes the copyright in 'Miss Independent' (Smith/Hermansen/Eriksen). Clearance of this use of 'Miss Independent' has not been sought or obtained and I am informed that clearance will not be forthcoming. Accordingly 'Ramping Shop' cannot be released or exploited in any way. Please confirm your acknowledgement and acceptance of this, and that you will arrange that (i) all recordings of the infringing track will be re-called and destroyed and that no further copies will be issued, and (ii) that the audio and/or video

will be taken down immediately from all Internet sites."

According to Kartel the current version of the song will not be used and to solve the problem a re-mix of the song is currently being done. He said, "the remix will sound like dancehall, just like what Ne-Yo's people did when they made Miss Independent ... Notnice and I will be doing the remix today (yesterday) so listen out for it by Friday when it is mixed and mastered."

Yo King and Queens dem always bum rush de party shut we down lock we up dis place open for 4yrs and de Gov't na even know but dem make money and posin people
Me say leave us alone and make we party in peace!
Dat me say!!! Blessings!!

A man who blinded a woman in an acid attack after she spurned his marriage proposals has been sentenced to the same punishment, in a literal application of Iran's sharia eye-for-an-eye laws.

In a highly unusual judgment, Tehran province criminal court ordered Majid Movahedi, 27, to be blinded in both eyes from drops of acid in response to a plea from his victim, Ameneh Bahrami.

The punishment is legal under the sharia code of qisas, which allows retribution for violent crimes. The court also ordered Movahedi to pay compensation to the victim.

Bahrami was left horrifically disfigured after Movahedi threw a jar of acid in her face as she walked home from work in a busy Tehran neighbourhood in October 2004. She had previously complained to police about being threatened and hara**ed by Movahedi, who she had known while they were both university students, but had been told no action could be taken.

Since the attack, Bahrami has undergone 17 operations, some by surgeons in Spain, in an unsuccessful attempt to reconstruct her face. Her injuries led to the loss of one eye and left her blind in the other. The Iranian government has paid £22,500 towards her treatment.

Testifying in Movahedi's presence, she told the court that she wanted "to inflict the same life on him that he inflicted on me". Asked by the judge if she wanted Movahedi's face to be splashed with acid, she replied: "That is impossible and horrific. Just drip 20 drops of acid in his eyes so he can realise what pain I am undergoing."

Bahrami, an electronics graduate who worked for a medical engineering company before the attack, said Movahedi's family had asked her to marry him several times, but she had refused. Movahedi later threatened to kill her, she said, after saying that he had built his dreams around her.

Moments before the attack, she sensed she was being followed and tried to get away. But Movahedi caught up with her and stepped in front of her, before throwing acid in her face, leaving her screaming in pain.

Sir Vivian Richards (second left) has the full attention of Mark McKenzie (left), managing director, Red Stripe; Ambassador Courtney Walsh (centre); Errol Simms (second right), head of management studies at the University of the West Indies; and Noel DaCosta, director - corporate relations at Diageo Caribbean, during a press conference at Cuddy'z in New Kingston. Diageo is the distributor of Johnnie Walker. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Drinking and driving is a significant problem that continues to persist in the Caribbean. According to a survey conducted last month, the most worrying statistic is that 54 per cent of all males questioned admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol on one or more occasions every week.

Statistics gathered also indicated that 59 per cent of those same males surveyed said they were very concerned about the issue of drink-driving and stricter law enforcement was the way to go.

These results were announced by Dr Errol Simms, head of management studies at the University of the West Indies, during the launch of the Johnnie Walker 'Know Your Boundaries' responsible drinking campaign at Cuddy'z, New Kingston, yesterday.

Not surprising

"The fact that over half the men surveyed said they drive after drinking every week is a worrying statistic, but not an altogether surprising one," Simms said. "In most of the countries throughout the Caribbean, the public-transport network is not extensive enough to get people home safely at nights, which leaves them no choice."

The survey was conducted to assess the latest consumer attitudes towards alcohol consumption and drink-driving with males and females between the ages of 18 and 50. Persons questioned ranged across five countries in the Caribbean including Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad.

In Jamaica, 90 per cent of those questioned admitted to drink-driving despite persons being aware of and concerned about the issue. This occurrence was less prevalent among women, who account for 34 per cent in the Caribbean and 74 per cent in Jamaica.

Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards, in collaboration with Johnnie Walker, created the questionnaire, supervised the execution and analysed the results of the survey.

"When I got involved with Johnnie Walker, I felt it was a wonderful enough campaign for me to be associated with," Richards said. "One of the main points we want to drum home is the issue of drink-driving in our region and the various ways in which we are about to tackle this particular situation."

AP  In this July 11, 2007 file photo, an unidentified shopper leaves a Liz Claiborne store in Riverhead, 

According to TMZ.com:

Some dude who is accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl allegedly tried to kill himself by driving his van off a ledge in Colorado. And it almost worked...

In what has to be one of the craziest twists of fate ever, the perp's van caught a ledge -- and a search and rescue team got to the guy before karma did.

Dude went to the hospital, but as soon as he gets out, cops say he'll be immediately arrested.

Wonder if he can keep the soap from dropping too....

TOKYO (Reuters) - A blaze broke out at a fire station in Japan this week after a firefighter left a cooking stove burning as crew members left the station to respond to emergency calls.

Most of the duty staffers were out on a call when their colleague, alone at the station and cooking dinner for the crew, was himself called out.

In his haste to respond to the call, he forgot to turn the stove off, said Seiji Hori, a Nagoya City Fire Department official. Ten fire trucks from other stations put out the fire, Hori added.

"We are an institute that should be in a position to educate people about fire, so we are extremely sorry that such an incident happened," Hori said, adding that they would consider ordering-in for dinner from now on.

RESPECTING' THE OFFICE.... Former Bush White House chief of staff Andrew Card complained to right-wing talk-show host Michael Medved that President Obama is insufficiently respectful of the presidency. Apparently, one demonstrates respect for the presidency by their choice of attire:

"...I found that Ronald Reagan and both President Bushes treated the Oval Office with tremendous respect. They treated the Office of the Presidency with tremendous respect. And some of that respect was reflected in how they expected people to behave, how they expected them to dress when they walked into the symbol of freedom for the world, the Oval Office. And yes, I'm disappointed to see the casual, laissez faire, short sleeves, no shirt and tie, no jacket, kind of locker room experience that seems to be taking place in this White House and the Oval Office."

"Locker-room experience." Card wasn't kidding.

I think there are two general angles to this. The first is that Obama isn't especially concerned about the formality of one's clothing. He was photographed at his desk wearing a shirt and tie, and some of the political establishment gasped because he was seen sans jacket. (Obama, a Hawaii native, reportedly prefers a warm office. David Axelrod said, "You could grow orchids in there.") Suits are common on weekdays, but the president issued an informal edict for "business casual" on weekends. That, apparently, means slacks and a buttoned-down shirt.

Read more

Iraq: Woman arrested for recruiting female b****ers



BAGHDAD A woman suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide b****ers has been arrested, the Iraqi military said Tuesday, dealing a major blow to one of the most effective forms of attacks in Iraq.

The woman, who was identified as Samira Ahmed Jassim or by her nickname "Umm al-Mumineen," was shown confessing in a video played for reporters at a press conference in Baghdad.

Dressed in an all-encompassing black Islamic robe, she described how she would persuade the women to be b****ers, then escort them to an orchard for insurgent training and finally pick them up and lead them to their targets.

She said she was acting on behalf of insurgents based in the volatile Diyala province, north of Baghdad.

Iraqi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said the suspect had recruited more than 80 women willing to carry out attacks and had admitted masterminding 28 b****ings in different areas.

The number of b****ings carried out by women has spiked even as overall violence has declined, and U.S. commanders have warned insurgents are actively trying to find more recruits.

At least 36 female suicide b****ers attempted or successfully carried out 32 suicide attacks last year, compared with eight in 2007, according to U.S. military figures.

The military said it couldn't provide information on the number of female suicide b****ers so far this year. But there was at least one a woman who blew herself up in the midst of Iranian pilgrims in Baghdad, killing more than three dozen people on Jan. 4.

The use of female suicide b****ers is part of a shift in insurgent tactics to avoid detection at U.S.-Iraqi military checkpoints that have become ubiquitous in Iraq as part of increased security measures.

Iraqi women often are allowed to pass through male-guarded checkpoints without being searched, and they traditionally wear flowing black robes that make it easier to hide explosives belts.

To counter the threat, the U.S. military has stepped up efforts to recruit women for the Iraqi security forces.

Jassim, whose nickname means "the mother of believers," was arrested by Iraqi security forces acting on tips on Jan. 21 and is allegedly linked to the Ansar al-Sunnah insurgent group, al-Moussawi said.

The spokesman would not say where Jassim was arrested because the investigation was ongoing. But he said the recruits had been from Baghdad and Diyala province. He also said she had contact with a pair of recently detained insurgent brothers.

In the video, Jassim said she had to talk to one elderly woman several times before persuading her to blow herself up at a bus station.

It also took Jassim two weeks to recruit another woman who was a teacher and had problems with her husband and his family, according to the confession. The woman eventually attacked members of government-backed Sunni groups in Diyala province, the suspect said.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have pinned hopes on Saturday's provincial elections to more equitably distribute power among Iraq's fractured ethnic and sectarian groups and staunch support for the Sunni-led insurgency.

Official results from the vote for 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces haven't been released, but early returns have begun to trickle out. That has sparked a series of complaints from political groups that feel they've been cheated.

The Iraqi military lifted a curfew in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province a day after tribal sheiks sent gunmen into the streets claiming the Shiite-led government stole votes in last weekend's elections.

Iraqi commander Maj. Gen. Murdhi Mishhin says a vehicle ban was lifted Tuesday morning and no violence has been reported.

U.S. officials have said the test of the election was whether the public perceived a fair outcome.

But tribal groups known as Awakening Councils claim there was fraud by a rival Sunni party. The sheiks believe they should have power because of their contribution in routing al-Qaida.

Sunni Arab lawmaker Osama al-Nujaifi, meanwhile, claimed that his nationalist party has won a majority of votes in Mosul and the surrounding Ninevah province, where ethnic tensions are running high.

The Kurds disputed the claim by the Sunni National Hadba Gathering, saying it was too early to claim victory because official results haven't been released.

U.S. commanders say the insurgency remains a potent force in Mosul, Iraq's third largest city 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, in part because the majority Sunni Arab population believes it has been poorly served by a local government dominated by Kurds.

Sunnis largely boycotted the last provincial polls in January 2005, allowing Kurds to gain control of the council.

Al-Nujaifi said the group known as al-Hadba, which opposes Kurdish influence and the U.S. military in Iraq, won 60 percent of the vote for the 37-seat council based on information from his pollwatchers.

The Kurdish list which previously dominated the council after the Sunnis boycotted 2005 elections got less than 20 percent, he said.

The rival Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, which is part of the government's national ruling coalition, received less than 10 percent of the vote, followed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Coalition of the State of Law and the Turkomen Front, he said.

Provincial elections were not held in the three semiautonomous Kurdish provinces because lawmakers said separate legislation was needed before a date could be set for the vote.

A senior lawmaker, however, said Kurds will elect a new parliament for their oil-rich semiautonomous region in Iraq on May 19.

Adnan al-Mufti, the current parliamentary speaker, said the minimum age for candidates for the 111-seat National Assembly was lowered from 30 to 25 "to give young people and women a larger chance for representation."

___

Associated Press writer Yahya Barzanji in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, contributed to this report.

Various Puffy drones were asked to comment on trifling wheffah supreme Aubrey ODays upcoming Playboy exposure:

When MTV News caught up with several of Aubrey ODays former Making the Band castmates, we had to know: What do they think of the ousted Danity Kane members upcoming Playboy shoot? The responses varied, but they all cracked a smile when the topic came up.

The guys of Day26 expressed only love and excitement for ODays photo shoot. Im going to get that issue, Will Taylor said. Much love to her. Aint no hard feelings.

The groups resident prankster, Robert Curry, joked that he had already seen the Playboy spread. Im just playing! he laughed. Big up to Aubrey, and may she be blessed in everything she does. Its sad things ended the way they did, but Aubrey, we still love you. I still love you.

Im gonna be the first person to pick it up, Brian Angel added. Tell me when it debuts. Playboy, I support you and Aubrey. I wanna see it! The only guy apprehensive about responding to the news was Qwanell Que Mosley: Next question!

Meanwhile, Aubreys former bandmate Dawn Richard was a little more unsure about the whole thing. Um, congratulations? I dont know what to say to that, Richard told MTV News. When someone says, Yo, she posed for Playboy. Thats great.

Richard did find one positive thing to say about the whole endeavor: I mean, she has a great body, so yay. I cant tell somebody what their career move is. Maybe thats what they wanted their career to be.

But just because shes OK with ODay posing for Playboy doesnt mean shell be the next former DK member to grace the magazines pages.

Would I do that right now? My mom would beat me, Richard said. I dont judge. Its like, whatever. I dont judge people. Im not going to give it more time than that. I think people give it too much time, actually.

Well, Dawn says that ish now, but her tune may change up real quick once the checks stop coming in. Buy we got to give it up to Aubrey for makin that paper, despite getting the boot from DK. She was nothing but a ho with a microphone in the first place.

WARNING: THIS AUDIO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

You may remember that Christian Bale went nuts on the set of "Terminator Salvation" a few months back, threatening to stop production and beat some serious ass.



The incident was audiotaped, and it's amazing. It happened on the set after a director of photography accidentally ruined a scene by walking onto the set. Bale lost it, screaming, yelling and threatening to quit if the bosses didn't fire the dude.

Film execs sent the tape to the insurance company that insured the film in case Bale bailed.

We don't know who gave him permission, but Bobby Brown has somehow been allowed to procreate again -- as evidence here by his glowing, knocked-up girlfriend Alicia Etheridge.

There is a high chance a majority of the States within the United States of America could file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. There is currently 46 states with high budget deficits, Arizona being one of them.
In fact, Jan Brewer, the newly appointed Governor of Arizona has a major crisis on her hands, one that Arizona and national media isnt covering. The alarming news is the State of Arizona has 90 to 120 days before they completely run out of money. After that, all bills and tax refunds owed to the citizens will go unpaid.

Before Janet Napolitano left for her new Homeland secretary position, she had a stand-off with Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin. The AZ Treasurer forewarned Napolitano about Arizonas financial crisis, but she refused to heed his words.

With neighboring California on the verge of bankruptcy this year, many States will follow in their steps.

Many States are already scurrying to cut unwanted costs, cut State-funded programs, raise taxes, not issue tax refunds to their citizens, and borrow money just to survive in 2009. Unfortunately, many banks the same banks the Fed bailed out are refusing to loan money to the States and their Treasury agencies.
The article, State Budget Troubles Worsen, at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities website is an excellent piece to read. It shows where each State currently stands in these challening economic times, and you see 46 of the 50 States are clearly in the financial red.

Swiss police revealed yesterday (January 27) that they discovered a large local marijuana plantation while using Google Earth.

According to The Associated Press, police revealed that they stumbled across the plantation while investigating two farmers suspected of operating a drug ring.

The plantation measured almost two acres and was hidden inside a field of corn.

The plantations discovery led to the arrest of 16 people. 1.2 tons of marijuana was seized as well as cash and valuables worth $780,000.

Tanya Opens New Restaurant

Water is life and maybe that's what singjay Tanya Stephens hopes to breathe into Ocho Rios through her newly opened restaurant H2O located in the Coconut Grove shopping complex. Opened at the start of the New Year the restaurant is already receiving some good clientele, but as Tanya will tell you thats not a coincidence. A lot of planning and care went into the menu, choosing the chef for the establishment and the entertainment package. According to Tanya the restaurant will be receiving the same kind of treatment she gives her albums, Real good food and no wasted stuff! A fast growing feature of the restaurant is weekly Saturday Night Flow a jam session with a live band and a special guest artiste in the house. Since its opening singers such as Jeffrey Star, Sophia Squire and Ocho Rios based musicians and artistes have passed through. Running the restaurant wasnt exactly on Tanyas mind, but she the singer had a philosophical explanation for it, Most of the time we complain about the things we cant find not realising that we have the capacity to create what we are looking for. Rising talents will get a chance not only enjoy well prepared meals, but to also show what they can do. All they have to do is leave a CD and a contact number...and they could be the one entertaining the guests, Stephens said. This Saturday Digicel Rising Star finalist Inga Stewart will be H2Os special guest. We have embedded a shot of the H2O bar below for your viewing pleasure (see image below)

The police in Westmoreland recently responded to a call of disturbance in Sheffield in the parish. On their arrival however, all they found was an elderly man in need of some 'action' from his 'unwilling' wife.

According to Detective Corporal Gregory McDyess of the Area One Police, residents of the community reported of hearing strange sounds at the house of the elderly couple.

On arrival of the police team, an obviously 'heated' 70-year-old man simply declared, "Is not a fight eno, is jus beg mi a beg mi wife some sex."

Detective McDyess told THE STAR that the police did not doubt the man's claim, as he was clad only in a pair of underpants.

She was sweating

The 70-year-old man's claim would become even more obvious when the police saw his 60-year-old wife.

"His wife looked as if she was in a tussle, the neck of her T-shirt was stretched out, her hair was a mess and she was sweating," explained Detective McDyess.

The police say when the wife was asked if everything was fine, she replied, "Him waa fight because mi seh mi not in di mood."

The wife's response ignited laughter among concerned neighbours who had gathered to see what was taking place.

Detective McDyess also noted that the state of the house suggested that the two were indeed in a tussle as several pieces of furniture looked out of place while a broken glass was seen on the kitchen floor.

At this point, the wife was quick to interject and said, "No badda carry none a wi go station, mi neva get hurt, me will calm him dung."

With that said, Detective Mcdyess said the police left, but not without giving a stern warning to the couple, urging them, especially the husband, to be careful.

Rootz Underground to 'surface' new album

Reggae history will be created on Saturday May 17 2007 as Rootz Underground, the best Jamaican band to surface since Morgan Heritage, officially launches their debut album 'Movement' in Jamaica at the Ashanti Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant at Hope Gardens. The 'Movement' album has already received several superb reviews and is shaping up to become a cult sensation in the United States.

"Movement is a promising beginning from a seriously talented band; it boasts a strong, dry sound that recalls the early Mango albums of Steel Pulse." Hailed Billboard.com

The Broward County New Times (Florida) stated: "The group's music thumps with rebel bass lines and thought-provoking lyrics, not just of yesteryear, but rather it transcends time, a key ingredient of the sound they've been creating in the eight years since the band first formed."

Conscious Choice Magazine raved: "While this Kingston, Jamaica-based collective may be termed "reggae rock," they take the best elements of both to compile what is arguably one of the most impressive debuts of recent times. Over the course of 73 minutes they infuse electric guitars and other jazz-based instruments (saxophones, keys) into the obvious necessity of reggae tradition: the low end. It's not surprising, however, when your bassist is nicknamed 'Babylon Headache'."

"Retrospective tracks fuse with Introspective singles to form a myriad of diverse sounds and topics that anyone with half a brain can appreciate"...."Rootz Underground's 'Movement' will make reggae aficionados out of the occasional reggae listener" Right On! Magazine

Jamrock Magazine observed: "Kingston's Rootz Underground album is leading the latest development in the ongoing roots reggae revival-the return of the self sufficient band"

"The band delivers a well crafted balance of easy skanking and reverent passion that's well worth the wait" Global Rhythm magazine

"I wanted to run and wake the town and tell the people that Reggae musicreal reggae music, the kind that is a throwback to reggae ambassadors such as Tosh, Marley and Burning Spear, lives on in this six-member band". Where Itz At Magazine

Despite the many accolades Rootz Underground remains humble:  "Were are happy that the world accepts and understands our music and is willing to join the Movement". - Charles, Rootz Underground Lead Guitar.

The 19-track album was produced by Wayne Armond, Bobby Digital, Dean Fraser and Rory Gilligan and is being distributed internationally by the Riverstone Records label. Movement! features some of Rootz Underground's best known songs such as the smash hit Victims Of The System, cult favourite Herb Fields, and the hard hitting Hammer. There are also several new treats such as When I Go and Corners Of My Mind to name a few.

Rootz Underground will indeed continue their revolutionary reggae Movement! on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the Ashanti Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant at Hope Gardens. For a low entrance fee of J$800 / J$500 (with Student I.D) fans will able to attend the launch at 9PM.  There will also be an option for patrons to pay J$1500 which will include a copy of the album.  The launch will feature a live performance by the band themselves.

A male teacher of the Spot Valley High School in St. James is now battling for life in hospital after he was attacked by relatives of a grade nine male student yesterday.
A male colleague who came to his assistance was also attacked; he was treated and released yesterday.
The Western Mirror understands that the incident took place in the afternoon as the teacher conducted his class.
Principal, Dorrett Chambers, in a telephone interview with this newspaper, revealed that another teacher had reprimanded a student for a particular matter. The student sneaked out of the class and managed to call relatives.
Mrs. Chambers added that the boys mother got wind of what had happened and rushed to the school. She went to the office where she was being spoken to by officials.
While the concerned mother was in the office, three males, who are said to be the boys relatives came onto the school compound, went to a class that was in session. The men said good afternoon to the teacher and he responded.
He was then surprised from behind as the knifemen inflicted several stab wounds on the teacher, who then collapsed. A male colleague who heard the commotion rushed to his assistance and was cut in the abdomen. The three men then fled the scene.
The men were rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where the teacher who was cut in the abdomen was treated and released while the other was undergoing surgery up to press time.
Principal Chambers noted that neither of the teachers had come in contact with the student. Teachers and other staff members expressed hurt over the situation. She said that the teacher, who is now battling for life, is one who would give his all on the job.