A man accused of killing three members of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's family in Chicago has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and home invasion.

William Balfour entered his plea Tuesday at Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago. Before doing so, he nodded to members of his family in the courtroom.

Balfour is the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson. He's accused of killing the women's mother, brother and Julia Hudson's seven-year-old son in October.

Balfour is being held without bail. He is next due in court January 27.

Jennifer Hudson is expected to sing the national anthem at the NFL football Super Bowl on February 1.

It has been rumored that Jeffery Hype a member of the Vybz Kartel-led Portmore Empire is now sporting a tattoo on his neck with Vybz Kartels name. Question: is this rumor slowly becoming a reality? Over the weekend, Vybz Kartel and Mavado exchanged heated words at Champions In Action. During Vybz Kartels performance, he mentioned that, a pure fish live inna di gully, - The moment Mavado entered the stage the audience erupted like a volcano. During the middle of his performance, he stated that Jeffery Hype tattooed Vybz Kartels name on his neck - homosexual behavior that. OutAroad.com tried multiple times to get in touch with Jeffery Hype but was not successful. According to a source close to the Empire, Yow its just a rumor, Jeffery nuh have Kartels name on his neck, dem things deh cannot happen inna di Empire. "But it is a fact that Jeffery Hype do has a Tattoo of Kartel's face on his hand," the source told

April 15, 2008. Now that Young Buck's out of G-Unit, he's going to have to come up with $200,000.

A few months back MediaTakeOut.com was the first news source in the world to tell you that Buck was assaulted and had his jewelry and his 2007 Bentley taken by a notorious Memphis, TN gangster whom Buck owed money. (see out report here)

At the time, we reported that before Buck was able to get his jewels and luxury car back - he had to give the TN gangster $200K. Well MediaTakeOut.com has EXCLUSIVELY learned that it was 50 Cent loaned Buck the money for him to get his items back from the hood repo man.

And for months 50 never asked for a penny of it back.

But now that Buck is out of G-Unit, MediaTakeOut.com has learned that 50 wants his $200K back - with interest. The G-Unit head went on Houston's top rated Madd Hatta Morning Show on 97.9 The Box and all but admitted he paid Buck's hood debt. He told the show's hosts, "If you wanna get to talking about finances, [Young Buck] owes me $200,000 ... . And this is personal stuff when I loaned him. He was in a space where he needed that."

-- Edited by Shem at 19:42, 2009-01-07

NEW YORK Lil Kim was a big part of the Notorious B.I.G.'s life, but she's not happy about the way she's portrayed in the new biopic about the late rapper.

The Notorious B.I.G. was Lil Kim's mentor and was also romantically linked to the rapper. Their sometimes rocky relationship is depicted in the new movie "Notorious," but Lil Kim doesn't think it's very accurate.

In a statement, she said: "The film studio and producers involved were more concerned about painting me as a 'character' to create a more interesting story line instead of a person with talent, self-respect and who was able to achieve her own career success through hard work."

She added: "Even though my relationship with Big was at times very difficult and complicated (as with most relationships we have all experienced at one time or another), it was also genuine and built on great admiration and love for each other. Regardless of the many lies in the movie and false portrayal of me to help carry a story line through, I will still continue to carry his legacy through my hard work and music."

But Wallace's mother, Voletta Wallace, dismissed Lil Kim's criticisms of the movie in an interview on Monday.

"This is not a Lil Kim movie," she said. "This is a Christopher Wallace movie. It has nothing to do with Lil Kim. If she's disappointed and upset, that is her problem."

At the film's New York premiere last week, "Notorious" screenwriter Cheo Hodari Coker said he understands why Lil Kim might not like the film, but added: "I think that Naturi (Naughton) did a great job playing Kim. I think people are going to be a lot more sympathetic towards (Lil Kim) after seeing the movie."

Wayne Barrow Biggie's former manager and a producer on the movie expressed less patience with Kim's attitude.

"Our job as producers ... was to deliver for three individuals. That's his mom and his two children. Everybody else: Stand in line, buy a ticket and enjoy the show."

"Notorious" chronicles the life and untimely death of the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot to death in 1997 and remains one of rap's most important figures. It opens in theaters this Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090114/...people_lil_kim

Information given to police by witnesses led them to the recent arrest of a suspect in the shooting death of Black Roses Crew member, Ice.

According to The Star, the suspect, whose name has not yet been released by police, has not yet been officially charged, He was taken into custody on last Saturday. He has however been identified as a labourer from the Waltham Park Road area.

Ice, whose real name is David Alexander Smith, died from gun shot wounds inflicted on him just after he left a bar on Newark Avenue in Kingston where he went to buy cigarettes on Boxing Day.

Investigations are continuing and police have further revealed that it appeared as if the dancers car had been in an accident.

The suspect already had a shooting charge pending for another case and a condition of his bail was to report to police regularly. While reporting recently, he was held by police, following information that linked him to a robbery and further to the murder of Ice.

Reports disclosed that the suspect had been implicated in a case of aggravated robbery. While the suspect was at the police station, the robbery complainant and victim, who was also there, noticed a watch on the suspects arm that he identified as his.

The labourer was detained and interviewed. Police investigators felt justified in holding him following the interview. Reports say he will be interviewed further and then charged shortly.

Getting to the bottom of the violent demise of Ice is inevitable and his fans are anxious to put closure to the entire situation. The beloved dancer was the creator of the dance, Gully Creeper made popular at the Beijing Olympics by Usain Bolt, who did the dance after his historical win.

Big Anticipation for Mavado Album in March 09

Its now more or less official that one of the most anticipated album in the history of dancehall will be released on March 3, 2009. The album entitled "Mr. Brooks ... a better tomorrow" to be released on the vp records label will be Mavado's second album.. . with his first being "ganster for Life: the symphony of David Brooks" released in 2006 is said to be in the top 25 Reggae Billboard chart sales... and still counting..

.. if the first album did so well we can anticipate that this one will do very well on the charts ... with the popular track "I'm so special" peaking at #52 on the top 100 Billboard singles recently.
The album also has number of tracks produced by Steven Mcgregor and includes tracks like "Overcome", "So Blessed" and "Dont worry" produced by Daseca
Mavado since his first albums got a lot of great reviews from a number of major music magazines and institutions, click to see some of the big articles and ratings the Gully God g0t :
Fader
Rollin Stone
Billboard
MTV
Spin

Bwoy.. Mavado im looking forward to a billboard top 10 this year.. and perhaps a big number one some where.. we know next year your name should be among my list of who should take the grammy joining the likes of Junior Gong Marley, Beenie Man etc..

plz let me no what you think bout this.... bless up 

Entertainers David 'Mavado' Brooks and Adidjah 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer were served with summonses by the police to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court for breaches of the Town and Community Act.

The two entertainers were summoned by the police following their performances at the 25th staging of the Sting show on December 26, at Jamworld, Portmore, St Catherine.

The men have been accused of uttering expletives and using threatening words to describe each other.

After viewing a tape of the event the police prepared the summonses for both artistes.

Operations Officer for St Catherine South, Deputy Superintendent of police Clive Blair, said that the police will not tolerate any level of 'bad behaviour'.

He further said "We are going to do our jobs to the book and it doesn't matter whom the person is. If they go against the law, then they will have to answer in court. And this is what happened in Mr Palmer and Mr Brooks' case."

David Brooks was served with his summons while doing a video shoot in St Andrew on Wednesday, while Palmer was served at his home on Thursday. Brooks will appear in court on January 20 and Palmer will appear on January 27.

Lottery scammers in Montego Bay, St James, are digging deep into their pockets to pay local 'witch doctors' to protect them against evil forces rumoured to be plaguing their colleagues.

Some scammers are said to be paying as much as $600,000 to get rid of DeLaurence spells, THE STAR has learnt.

The streets of Montego Bay are buzzing with talk that the scammers, who have made millions from conning persons out of their money, are now being haunted or even killed by duppies and spells said to have been 'sent' by those affected by their operations.

Some scammers are said to be having thousands of dollars mysteriously becoming ablaze in their pockets, short spells of insanity and having visitations from 'foreign duppies'.

 

Pretty white girl

In one report from a resident, a scammer is said to have fainted after people complimented him for travelling around with a "pretty white girl" on the back of his motorcycle. The scammer, however, had no knowledge that the girl was riding around with him.

One witch doctor with whom THE STAR spoke on the condition of anonymity said the scammers have been paying between $200,000 and $600,000 to protect them against the spells.

"Mi work wid de majority a dem man deh. Some top man inna de scam link mi fi mi 'seal dem up'. Anywhere mi deh, dem find mi," he said. He further said that the price of the job varied according to the type of seal the scammers were seeking.

"All $500,000 or so they have to pay sometimes because you have different seals. You have the seven seals and then the 21 seals, so it vary."

 

READ MORE

WASHINGTON Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of power as America's first black president on Tuesday, saying the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In frigid temperatures, an exuberant crowd of more than a million packed the National Mall and parade route to celebrate Obama's inauguration in a high-noon ceremony. They filled the National Mall, stretching from the inaugural platform at the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

With 11 million Americans out of work and trillions of dollars lost in the stock market's tumble, Obama emphasized that his biggest challenge is to repair the tattered economy left behind by outgoing President George W. Bush.

"Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions that time has surely passed," Obama said in an undisguised shot at Bush administration policies. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America."

The dawn of the new Democratic era with Obama allies in charge of both houses of Congress ends eight years of Republican control of the White House by Bush, who leaves Washington as one of the nation's most unpopular and divisive presidents, the architect of two unfinished wars and the man in charge at a time of economic calamity that swept away many Americans' jobs, savings and homes.

Obama's election was cheered around the world as a sign that America will be more embracing, more open to change. "To the Muslim world," Obama said, "we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."

Still, he bluntly warned, "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Two years after beginning his improbable quest as a little-known, first-term Illinois senator with a foreign-sounding name, Obama moved into the Oval Office as the nation's fourth youngest president, at 47, and the first African-American, a barrier-breaking achievement believed impossible by generations of minorities.

He said it was a moment to recall "that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

Obama called for a political truce in Washington to end "the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

He said that all Americans have roles in rebuilding the nation by renewing the traditions of hard work, honesty and fair play, tolerance, loyalty and patriotism.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility, a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

With the economy in a long and deepening recession, Obama said it was time for swift and bold action to create new jobs and lay a foundation for growth. Congressional Democrats have readied an $825 billion stimulus plan of tax cuts and spending for roads, bridges, schools, electric grids and other projects.

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works," the new president said.

A mighty chorus of cheers erupted as Obama stepped to the inaugural platform, a midday sun warming the crowd that had waited for hours in the cold. There were some boos when Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney came onto the platform.

In his remarks, Obama took stock of the nation's sobering problems.

"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood," he said.

"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age," Obama said. "Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."

It was the first change of administrations since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Crowds filled the Mall for a distant glimpse of the proceedings or just, in the words of many, simply "to be here." Washington's subway system was jammed and two downtown stations were closed when a woman was struck by a subway train.

Bush following tradition left a note for Obama in the top drawer of his desk in the Oval Office.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the theme of the message which Bush wrote on Monday was similar to what he has said since election night: that Obama is about to begin a "fabulous new chapter" in the United States, and that he wishes him well.

The unfinished business of the Bush administration thrusts an enormous burden onto the new administration, though polls show Americans are confident Obama is on track to succeed. He has cautioned that improvements will take time and that things will get worse before they get better.

Culminating four days of celebration, the nation's 56th inauguration day began for Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden with a traditional morning worship service at St. John's Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House. Bells pealed from the historic church's tower as Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived five minutes behind schedule.

The festivities won't end until well after midnight, with dancing and partying at 10 inaugural balls.

By custom, Obama and his wife, and Biden and his wife, Jill, went directly from church to the White House for coffee with Bush and his wife, Laura. Michelle Obama brought a gift for the outgoing first lady in a white box decorated with a red ribbon.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Obama and Bush climbed into a heavily armored Cadillac limousine to share a ride to the Capitol for the transfer of power, an event flashed around the world in television and radio broadcasts, p*o*dcasts and Internet streaming. On Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney pulled a muscle in his back, leaving him in a wheelchair for the inauguration.

Just after noon, Obama stepped forward on the West Front of the Capitol to lay his left hand on the same Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration in 1861. The 35-word oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, has been uttered by every president since George Washington. Obama was one of 22 Democratic senators to vote against Roberts' confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005.

The son of a white, Kansas-born mother and a black, Kenya-born father, Obama decided to use his full name in the swearing-in ceremony.

To the dismay of liberals, Obama invited conservative evangelical pastor Rick Warren an opponent of gay rights to give the inaugural invocation.

About a dozen members of Obama's Cabinet and top appointees were ready for Senate confirmation Tuesday, provided no objections were raised. But Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas indicated he would block a move to immediately confirm Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Still, she is expected to be approved in a roll call vote Wednesday.

More than 10,000 people from all 50 states including bands and military units were assembled to follow Obama and Biden from the Capitol on the 1.5-mile inaugural parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, concluding at a bulletproof reviewing stand in front of the White House. Security was unprecedented. Most bridges into Washington and about 3.5 square miles of downtown were closed.

Among the VIPs at the Capitol was pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero of last week's US Airways crash into the Hudson River.

Obama's inauguration represents a time of renewal and optimism for a nation gripped by fear and anxiety. Stark numbers tell the story of an economic debacle unrivaled since the 1930s:

_Eleven million people have lost their jobs, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.2 percent, a 16-year high.

_One in 10 U.S. homeowners is delinquent on mortgage payments or in arrears.

_The Dow Jones industrial average fell by 33.8 percent in 2008, the worst decline since 1931, and stocks lost $10 trillion in value between October 2007 and November 2008.

Obama and congressional Democrats are working on an $825 billion economic recovery bill that would provide an enormous infusion of public spending and tax cuts. Obama also will have at his disposal the remaining $350 billion in the federal financial bailout fund. His goal is to save or create 3 million jobs and put banks back in the job of lending to customers.

In an appeal for bipartisanship, Obama honored defeated Republican presidential rival John McCain at a dinner Monday night. "There are few Americans who understand this need for common purpose and common effort better than John McCain," Obama said.

Young and untested, Obama is a man of enormous confidence and electrifying oratorical skills. Hopes for Obama are extremely high, suggesting that Americans are willing to give him a long honeymoon to strengthen the economy and lift the financial gloom.

On Wednesday, his first working day in office, Obama is expected to redeem his campaign promise to begin the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq under a 16-month timetable. Aides said he would summon the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Oval Office and order that the pullout commence. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_rdp

Attached Thumbnails
  

http://www.cnn.com/video/fb/facebook.html?stream=stream1

-- Edited by RiddimRyder at 10:02, 2009-01-20

It seldom occurs when an album is created with all the songs being a hit. So if you're in the mood for conscious, uplifting, cultural messages and positive vibes then "Get It In Your Mind" by Bushman is the album for you.

This album features singers Richie B and Prince Jabba, as well as, producers such as: Fabon Francis, Kabs, Negus-esh, Dwayne Bacchas, Christopher Pearce, Tramaine Allen, Michael Williams, Togetherness Records, Rawl Productions, Dwight Duncan, Stephen Gibbs, Denovan Germaine, Glen Brown and Royal Braithwaite.

Born Dwight Duncan, in the village of Spring Garden, St. Thomas, Bushman attended the Lysson All Age School, where his music teacher noticed his potential for music and nurtured him during his developing stages. Dwight then went on to Yallas High School where he continued to shine musically as a member of the school choir, participating in numerous school concerts. During his teenage years he became the selector for Black Star Line sound-system and then known as Junior Melody he took part in several singing competitions and talent searches in and around St. Thomas. Gaining a strong local fan base Junior Melody began to sing dub plates for local sound-systems. The rave reviews from the sound selectors and the people of his community encouraged Junior Melody to take his talent to the next level, the studios of Kingston Jamaica, the place to be if he wanted to make a name for himself in the reggae business.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mjjzjtj2mhi

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmzduyn5n4j

well for me if i really like the girl and she good anthing i think i would . on the real still but wat about you ppl would u date a girl who as false teeth . for the girls would u date a guy with false teeth?????????

Outstanding Sting performances have been resulting in more income for Merciless and Kiprich.

At the show, which was held on December 26 at Jamworld in Portmore, the two artistes gave performances that people talked about long after the event.

Both got 'forwards' that were almost as loud as those Mavado and Vybz Kartel received during the clash.

But their performances were quite noteworthy because the two have been somewhat absent from music for a while.

So far, Merciless says he has been booked for at least 20 shows in the Caribbean and Europe.

"A whole lot a thing a happen since Sting. Nuff calls mi a get fi shows and all dem things deh," Merciless told The STAR.

"The performance weh mi give a Sting lead up to all a dem bookings weh mi a get right now. Mi give thanks to Sting 'cause (Isaiah) Laing neva haffi book mi, so mi appreciate that."

Kiprich has also been basking in all the glory after demolishing Monster Empire with his strong Sting performance.

Kiprich

"I have been crazy busy after Sting, whole heap a calls from United States, Ireland and mi even have a tour a come up in Europe any time now. A whole heap a dem a come man," said Kiprich while noting that he should be recording with

DASECA and Big Ship in the coming weeks.

"Di performance at Sting did open a new page, it lift up di thing pon a level. Most a di people dem weh call a talk bout di

performance at Sting. This Sting was the biggest Sting and people from all over the world see it, even online."

With the shows coming in, Merciless says he is needed in the music because he is a vital element.

"Di people dem need mi inna dancehall. Weh day when mi gone di business lean sideways 'cause di corner post did missing," Merciless said.

In addition to the many shows, Merciless' Sting performance is being followed by songs titled Christian Girl and No Man. In addition, an album will be released in March.

Along with recording many new songs, Kiprich will also be making new music videos in February.

Rick Ross Departs From Slip-N-Slide, Promises Diss Track On New Album That Will Cause 'Problems'

Thursday, 15 January 2009 11:11

Rick Ross recently revealed that he has cut ties with his long-time label Slip-N-Slide Records and he will be releasing his next effort via his own imprint, Maybach Music Group. Ross' upcoming third solo album is titled Deeper Than Rap and the rapper revealed he will be releasing two singles off the projects in the coming weeks, "Mafia Music" and "I'm The Magnificent" featuring R&B crooner John Legend. Ross divulged to MTV that "Mafia Music will cause a stir because he targets certain individuals on the song. "[Mafia Music] is gonna cause a lot of problems," Ross explained. "It's a scathing four-and-half-minute nonstop flow, me being autobiographical about my life and my come-up and my triumph. Of course, I had to address a few things, I had to address a few people. I love it. The thing is, some people are gonna be - um - they're gonna be f---ed up. That's the best way I can put it." Deeper Than Rap is slated to hit shelves in April

The new Notorious B.I.G. flick has at least one critic -- a freshly shot movie-goer.

A man took at least one bullet to the abdomen during the screening. Jamal Woolard, who plays Biggie in the film, was at the Greensboro, NC theater when shots were fired but escaped without injury.

Cops won't say if the shooting is related to the film.

The way we see it... even the fake Biggie isn't safe. Watch out fake Tupac, you're next.

While "Notorious" is a solid biopic of the life of East Coast rapper Christopher Wallace (better known as Biggie Smalls or Notorious B.I.G. because of his girth), the movie suffers ultimately by its one-sided, fawning portrait of the talented rapper, who was shot and killed at the age of 24 in 1997.

The movie unravels near the end of its two-hour running time, as it seems as Wallace is trying to complete all of the items on a bucket list before his death: reconcile with his mother, take responsibility for his children, whisper sweet nothings to all of the women he has ever wronged (and there are plenty of them). Revealing his death isn't giving away the ending, because the first moments of the film reveal that he has been shot

and killed.

The movie's too-tidy ending doesn't satisfy because the audience is unable to see the catalyst of what really turned Wallace from an egotistical womanizer into the Man of the Year. The producers of the film -- including his mother and music producer Sean "P. Diddy" C****s, the latter whom owes his career to Wallace -- obviously and successfully aim to lionize Wallace.

What the extremely R-rated film does well is trace Wallace's life as a child abandoned by his father through his ascent to the top of the music world. Jamal Woolard portrays Wallace from the age of 17 to his death. He does a serviceable job of expressing the flaws in Wallace's character and his early attraction to the mean streets during his days as a drug dealer, but Derek Luke as the charismatic (and, obviously, angelic, considering who produced the movie) C****s and Anthony Mackie as rapper Tupac Shakur steal every scene they are in with their oversized personalities.

What's compelling about "Notorious" is the surprisingly deft way screenwriters illustrate the origins and context of the East Coast vs. West Coast rap conflict that the movie uses to explain the tit-for-tat deaths of Shakur and Wallace. While the movie places all of the blame on Shakur and his mentor Suge Knight for instigating the violent rivalry, the animosity that develops provides an interesting arc.

The film also does a good job of delineating the difference between West Coast (exemplified by Shakur) rappers and East Coast (personified by Wallace) rappers in the first place, with the West Coast producing hard-edged gangsta rap while C****s and Wallace crafted a more melodic, radio-friendly style of rap, which continues with such contemporary rappers as T.I., Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne.

"Notorious" is for the most part enjoyable because of the B.I.G.-heavy soundtrack that revives the spirit of the early 1990s. But in the end, placing the fictional character of Notorious B.I.G. on a sycophantic pedestal makes the film the kind of sentimental trifle that the real-life Wallace abhorred.

Curtis strikes out at Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Oprah in his new album:

50 Cent has hit out at rival Kanye West - accusing his fellow rapper of going soft. [50 Cent] called out West for ditching rap in favor of soppy love songs on his new album 808s and Heartbreak and even suggests the Stronger star is gay.

50 is so incensed that a hardman rapper is singing ballads he was moved to parody West in song. Heartless Monster on Fiddys new album, Before I Self-destruct, due out in spring - rips into Kanyes love song Heartless.

It includes the taunts, Its the return of the heartless monster/I should give you n***s a whole R&B record/808s and my hearts broken/I hate all these f***ers with the rainbow colors on.

A source added, Everyone is surprised at how seriously Kanye is taking his new music. He doesnt care what people think. 50 said he would hang up his mic last time Kanye beat him to the top spot. But hes come back with a new album and hopes to reclaim Kanyes crown.

Part II - Fugg-a-Mugg gets at Weezy & Oprah:

50 Cent Dares Lil Wayne To Respond To New Dis Record, Play This On The Radio. 50 Cent obviously isnt waiting for Lil Wayne to explain. But the G-Units commander-in-chief is keeping an ear out for a response from the New Orleans native. 50 disses Wayne, Oprah Winfrey and apparently Kanye West in a new record called Play This on the Radio.

First they said that f-ts hot, then they let that junkie shine, 50 raps to lead off the record. Gave him all the fin trophies, tell me, where the f is mine?

As the song closes out, 50 threatens Wayne. Im on your heels, Mr. Carter. I heard you. You want me to die ugly? OK. Dont end up on the list, na. Be a missing person like Camron, like Ja [Rule], like [Fat] Joe. Who wants some?

50 called into DJ Whoo Kids satellite radio show on Saturday and alluded that the first part of his rap was aimed at Kanye West, and confirmed that the second part was aimed at Lil Wayne. Fif explained his latest barbs at Weezy were in response to a record called Louisianimal that landed on mixtapes in November. (The song debuted on a mixtape by the Empire, whom Wayne has repeatedly admonished in public for bootlegging his dated material.)

On the record, Lil Wayne threw a light but obvious jab at 50, saying, All about a dollar, f two quarters/ Bh, Ill pour syrup in that vitamin water/ I hope you die ugly, and tonight will be gorgeous.

When he said it, I dont know if it was old or new material, 50 explained to Whoo Kid. But because he didnt say anything [to clarify the timing of the song], I take it that he meant for it to be out there right now. When that hit the street and you dont hear him say, That was old Em dont got time for you, period. I will mop the streets with your a.

50 told Whoo Kid that a response to Play This on the Radio would be a foolhardy effort on Weezys behalf. If he says something back, Im gonna drop the b**** on his a, 50 warned. Its gonna be hard for me to get off him. Hes a talented artist, Fif continued, but if you put him in a space when were in direct competition, my consistency will break his neck.

Also during the interview, 50 talked about the shot he takes at Oprah Winfrey in Play This on the Radio (I dont wanna chit-chat on your sofa/ I aint Jay-Z, f you Oprah), accusing Winfrey yet again of being prejudiced against hip-hop. 50 Cents next LP, Before I Self Destruct, is slated for an early February release.

This new jawn is bound to be wack if all hes got going for him is a few tired insults on people who have way more substance and/or staying power than his thug ass. SMH.

Dwayne Wades whoring ways has infected his wife with a STD, according to court records. This divorce is getting very bumpy(no pun intended)

Heating up: Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wades divorce from wife Siohvaughn, his high school sweetheart. In legal papers, she alleges he abandoned his children, committed adultery, and infected her with an unspecified sexually transmitted disease. She wants the names of all of his sexual partners during their six-year marriage. Dwyane petitioned for the divorce last May in Cook County, Ill. They wed in Chicago on May 18, 2002. Dwyanes Windy City attorney, James Pritikin, issued a statement: These malicious allegations are absolutely false and we look forward to the opportunity to dispute them in court.

Dwyane turns 27 on Saturday. He and Siohvaughn, 27, have two boys, Zaire, a first-grader who will be 7 next month, and Zion, 1. Siohvaughn moved back to Chicago with the kids last year. Dwyanes Heat salary is $14,410,581, according to published reports. He hauls in millions more from major endorsements such as Gatorade and Converse. He has a dozen vehicles, including four Cadillacs, four Mercedes-Benzes and a Maybach, court papers say.

The All-Star has been romantically linked to actress Gabrielle Union, 36, once married to former Jacksonville Jaguar Chris Howard.

From Siohvaughns pleading: Dwyane has dissipated substantial sums of marital property including . . . buying his mother a $2 million church; placing substantial sums of money in an account with another woman; providing numerous friends and family members with unfettered access to accounts with hundreds of thousands of dollars of marital funds from which they made substantial withdrawals

Meanwhile, she says, he cut her off financially.
Dwyane, named a Father of the Year in 2007 by the National Fathers Day Committee, has gone months without seeing his boys, Siohvaughn says. His failure to spend time with them . . . has resulted in the children at times being afraid of him; in fact, Zion . . . does not recognize or know Dwyane. She wants sole custody, and support. She also says she has suffered grievous physical, emotional and mental injury from the STD, diagnosed in the fall of 07. (The infection is not HIV or a killer thing, sources say.) Dwyane and his paramour or paramours are liable, she alleges. Dwyane must disclose the identity of all of his sexual partners during the parties marriage, says her counter-petition, prepared by attorney Michael J. Berger of Chicago. Siohvaughn has another Chicago lawyer, Dorene Marcus. Says Pritikin: It is sad that an obviously angry and bitter woman will go to any lengths to publicly damage Mr. Wade. Siohvaughn speaks the truth, Marcus insists. A persons public persona does not necessarily reflect his behavior in private, Marcus adds. Mrs. Wade is prepared to prove everything she alleges. And, medical records dont lie.

Damn, Gabrielle Union, and Star Jones, are probably on their way to the clinic as we type. SMH

SUPPOSE YOU ARE TO DRIVE YOUR MOM AN GIRLFRIEND TO WORK ONE DAY...WHO WOULD U PUT IN THE FRONT SEAT???

UR MOM OR GIRLFRIEND???

-- Edited by MZJ at 19:08, 2009-01-15

-- Edited by jepomaxxx at 19:42, 2009-01-15

THUGS who doused a girl with caustic soda after gang-raping her have escaped with insultingly low jail terms, it was claimed last night. The 16-year-old victim, who has a mental age of eight, nearly died from the effects of the powerful drain cleaner. But the laughing teenagers some of whom filmed the rape on mobiles as she begged for mercy ran off, leaving her screaming in agony. Yesterday three of her attackers the only members of the ten-strong gang to be convicted were jailed for a total of 23 years. However each will only serve HALF the sentences minus the amount of time spent on remand. That means none will spend more than FOUR YEARS in jail. Kathryn Stone OBE, chief executive of charity VOICE UK, said: These sentences dont come close to reflecting the brutality and horror. They send completely the wrong message. The girl still badly disfigured despite repeated surgery was lured to an empty house in Tottenham, North London, before being repeatedly raped by the gang, some wearing hoods. Ruined She still suffers nightmares and panic attacks. Judge Shaun Lyons told Wood Green Crown Court: Her life changed irretrievably. In her eyes and her mothers her life was ruined. It is doubtful what form her life will take and whether she can operate fully as a young woman. Rogel McMorris, 18, from Stockwell, South London, who threw the caustic soda, was sentenced to nine years but will serve just over four. Advertisement Rapist Jason Brew, 19, who got six years, will do two and a half years. Hector Muaimba, 20, will serve just over three years of an eight-year term for rape and an unrelated robbery. this is so sick whats wrong with people today ???

Friday, 16 January 2009 10:18

The assets of Death Row Records were auctioned off for $18 million to WIDEawake Entertainment Group yesterday (January 15). According to Billboard, the assets included master recordings by Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. Lara Lavi, the founder and CEO of WIDEawake, revealed that a significant amount of the assets they acquired were unreleased material by 2Pac, Dr. Dre and various other artists that were affiliated with the label. "Theres probably more that hasnt seen the light of day than has, Lavi said. WIDEawake is based Ontario, Canada.  Lavi revealed that she has been talking to companies in the U.S. to distribute Death Rows catalog. She also divulged that she will be working closely with Tupac's estate to release the late rapper's work. We have some ideas, Lavi said. Were very respectful of Death Rows legacy". Suge Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, lost control of the label after filing for bankruptcy in 2006.  The label was put up for auction last summer but a potential buyer, Global Music Group, failed to cl ose the sale.

Da pilot ya bad!!!



Must fix ya now...

-- Edited by djthin at 17:25, 2009-01-18

Why is there so much poor quality file been shared.
I understand there is promo files which are not full quality but why people bother uploading music at low kps?
So much stuff i download I can really ever play, there is stuff that is so poor quality I wouldn't even put it on the radio which is compress heavily anyway.

So much good music & so usless. It doesn't sound good in my car stereo.

Maybe some people never grew up hearing full good quality analog music. Maybe some people lazy cos they can upload more things in a day.
Maybe some people just dont know they doing it.
Maybe some people trying to save hard drive space?

People when you rip a cd to Itunes the default setting is 160kps. You need to change this option to minimum 192 & 256 better & 320 the best.
Windows Media is also a lower quality default setting... change it up.

Sharing poor quality files is like STD's keep em to ya self. I certainly don't want them.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. Police said an elderly woman in Palm Beach County crashed into a man on a scooter and then kept driving to make her hair appointment. Boynton Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said a 77-year-old woman was arrested Thursday for leaving the scene of an injury crash.

The man suffered abrasions all over his body. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police said the woman was turning right when she pulled into the path of an oncoming scooter that had the right of way. The scooter collided with her silver Toyota, vaulting the man off the scooter, onto the windshield and then onto the roadway.

Police spotted her car after she had her hair appointment.

STROKE:Remember the 1st Three Letters.... S.T..R.
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
  (i.e. It is sunny out today)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.

 If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number  immediatelyand describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. Authorities are looking for a shoplifter who was run over twice by her getaway car after stealing $1,200 worth of designer purses from a Cape Coral store. A T.J. Maxx security guard told police she saw a woman stuff six designer Dooney & Bourke purses into her pants Tuesday morning and walk out of the store. The guard said she was confronting the woman when a car pulled up.

A report said the shoplifter tried to get into the vehicle but fell out and was run over by the car. She then got up and jumped onto the hood of the car. As the car was driving away, the report said the woman fell off and was run over again. On her third attempt, she finally made it into the vehicle.

Police are using the car's license plate and a check the woman dropped to track her down.

US football star and actor OJ Simpson has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon.

Describing Simpson, 61, as arrogant and ignorant, District Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence was overwhelming.

Simpson made an emotional appeal prior to sentencing at the Las Vegas court, saying he was "sorry" and "confused".

His accomplice, Clarence Stewart, was also sentenced to 15 years after the two were convicted on 12 charges.

The charges related to the robbery and holding of two sports memorabilia dealers at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007.

In 1995, Simpson was acquitted of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in what was dubbed "the trial of the century".

'Trial of the century'

Simpson and Stewart had seized the memorabilia dealers in an attempt to reclaim items linked to the former National Football League star's sporting career, which Simpson claimed still belonged to him.

More:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7767556.stm

JACKSON, Ohio - Police say a 4-year-old boy in southern Ohio shot his babysitter because the sitter accidentally stepped on his foot. Police said 18-year-old Nathan Beavers and several other teenagers were babysitting several young children in a mobile home in Jackson on Sunday when the shooting occurred.

Witnesses told police the 4-year-old retrieved the shotgun from a bedroom closet and shot Beavers. Police said the child was angry because Beavers accidentally stepped on his foot.

Beavers was hospitalized with minor pellet wounds to his arm and side.Police say another teen was also injured with shotgun pellets.

Jackson County Sheriff John Shashteen said authorities are investigating the shooting. The child has not been charged.

 

By the time the MTV Movie Awards come around, there won't be any one left alive who's actually seen the film "Notorious."

Just one day after a guy was gunned down at a premiere of the film about Notorious B.I.G., four men were stabbed at a NY nightclub following an unofficial after party for the flick. 

During the stab-fest at the Djumbala Club, a 21-year-old man sustained multiple stab wounds and is listed in critical condition, while the three others remain stable.

Fox Searchlight denies any connection to the party


-- Edited by B4LIFE at 12:28, 2009-01-18

-- Edited by B4LIFE at 13:13, 2009-01-18

January 10, 2009. MediaTakeOut.com just caught wind that some sicko on death row in Texas plucked out his eye and then ate it. We cant feel to bad for him though. The man viciously stabbed and killed his ex-girlfriend and her 1 year old daughter.

Heres the report:

A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems pulled out his only good eye, authorities said Friday.

Andre Thomas told officers he ate it.

Thomas, 25, was arrested for the fatal stabbings of his estranged wife, their young son and her 13-month-old daughter in March 2004. Their hearts also had been ripped out. He was convicted and condemned for the infant's death.

While in the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, Thomas similarly had plucked out his right eye before his trial later in 2004. A judge subsequently ruled he was competent to stand trial.

A death-row officer at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice found Thomas in his cell with *lo** on his face and had him taken to the unit infirmary.

"Thomas said he pulled out his eye and subsequently ingested it," agency spokesman Jason Clark said Friday.

Thomas was treated at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler after the Dec. 9 incident. Then he was transferred and remains at the Jester Unit, a prison psychiatric facility southwest of Houston.

He deserves to have someone pluck out his other eye before he gets the needle

STUNNED doctors discovered a woman complaining of stomach ache had been carrying her unborn child for 60 YEARS. Huang Yijun, 92, of Huangjiaotan, southern China, was told by medics in 1948 that her child had died in the w****. Doctors demanded £100 to remove it, so she walked away. She said: "It was a huge sum at the time - more than the whole family earned in several years so I did nothing and ignored it. First But the secret emerged when Huang hurt her stomach and went to hospital for a scan. Dr Liu Anbin at Qingshen hospital said: "I couldnt believe my eyes when I discovered she had a baby in her belly. Ive been a doctor for more than 40 years and its the first time I have seen something like this." Now medics are carrying out further tests to see if Huang needs an operation to remove the baby. Consultant Xu Xianming, director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at the hospital, said: "Normally a dead foetus would decay. Its very rare that Huang can be so healthy."

The worm can also spread via USB flash drives.

A worm that spreads through low security networks, memory sticks, and PCs without the latest security updates is posing a growing threat to users.

The malicious program, known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido was first discovered in October 2008.

Although Microsoft released a patch, it has gone on to infect 3.5m machines.

Experts warn this figure could be far higher and say users should have up-to-date anti-virus software and install Microsoft's MS08-067 patch.

Right now, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of [infected]unique IP addresses Toni Koivunen, F-Secure

According to Microsoft, the worm works by searching for a Windows executable file called "services.exe" and then becomes part of that code.

It then copies itself into the Windows system folder as a random file of a type known as a "dll". It gives itself a 5-8 character name, such as piftoc.dll, and then modifies the Registry, which lists key Windows settings, to run the infected dll file as a service.

Once the worm is up and running, it creates an HTTP server, resets a machine's System Restore point (making it far harder to recover the infected system) and then downloads files from the hacker's web site.

INFECTED IPs WORLDWIDE China 38,277 Brazil 34,814 Russia 24,526 India 16,497 Ukraine 14,767 Italy 13,115 Argentina 11,675 Korea 11,117 Romania 8,861 United States 3,958 United Kingdom 1,789 Source: F-Secure

Most malware uses one of a handful of sites to download files from, making them fairly easy to locate, target, and shut down.

But Conficker does things differently.

Anti-virus firm F-Secure says that the worm uses a complicated algorithm to generate hundreds of different domain names every day, such as mphtfrxs.net, imctaef.cc, and hcweu.org. Only one of these will actually be the site used to download the hackers' files. On the face of it, tracing this one site is almost impossible.

Speaking to the BBC, Kaspersky Lab's security analyst, Eddy Willems, said that a new strain of the worm was complicating matters.

"There was a new variant released less than two weeks ago and that's the one causing most of the problems," said Mr Willems

"The replication methods are quite good. It's using multiple mechanisms, including USB sticks, so if someone got an infection from one company and then takes his USB stick to another firm, it could infect that network too. It also downloads lots of content and creating new variants though this mechanism."

"Of course, the real problem is that people haven't patched their software. If people do patch their software, they should have little to worry about," he added.

Technicians have reverse engineered the worm so they can predict one of the possible domain names. This does not help them pinpoint those who created Downadup, but it does give them the ability to see how many machines are infected.

"Right now, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of unique IP addresses connecting to the domains we've registered," F-Secure's Toni Kovunen said in a statement.

"We can see them, but we can't disinfect them - that would be seen as unauthorised use."

Microsoft says that the malware has infected computers in many different parts of the world, with machines in China, Brazil, Russia, and India having the highest number of victims.

An Ontario Superior Court judge has ordered a Toronto man to continue paying child support even though a DNA test shows he is not the biological father of his ex-wife's twins.

In her ruling, Madam Justice Katherine van Rensburg decided that even though Pasqualino Cornelio did not father twins now 16 with Anciolina Cornelio, he must continue to pay child support because "he was the only father the twins knew during the course of the marriage."

Pasqualino began paying child support in 1998, after the couple separated. 

In 2002, the two agreed to joint custody, when they also settled that he would continue to provide monetary support.

But after Anciolina asked for an increase in payments and a reduction in the time he spent with the children, Pasqualino demanded a DNA test.

When the results showed Pasqualino was not the father, he asked to be excused from paying child support and demanded he be reimbursed for tens of thousands of dollars that he had paid in the past.

He claimed that their 2002 agreement failed to disclose that Anciolina had an affair while they were married, calling it an act of fraud or misrepresentation.

But according to van Rensburg, it should not be a question of whether he is the biological parent, but rather whether he was considered a parent by definition.

"Cornelio denies knowledge of who the twins' biological father might be," van Rensburg said. 

"In fact, she claims to have no memory of an extramarital affair preceding their birth, which she attributes to the medication she was taking at the time."

In the end, van Rensburg ruled in favour of Anciolina.

"The relationship that developed from the time of their birth was the natural relationship between a parent and his children," she said.

"The fact of that relationship even if it has now become strained is sufficient to require Mr. Cornelio to continue to contribute toward the children's material needs."

Because Anciolina can't remember the affair, she claims she has no idea who the twins' father is.

The judge concluded that the children should not suffer because of the parents' wrongdoings.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/563571

GREENFIELD, Calif. Police have arrested a Greenfield man for allegedly arranging to sell his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, 100 cases of beer and several cases of meat.

Police said they only learned of the deal after the 36-year-old man went to them to get his daughter back because payment wasn't made as promised. The man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of human trafficking.

Officers also arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of statutory rape. Investigators believe the girl went willingly with the man, but she's under California's legal age of consent and can't legally marry.

Police say arranged marriages involving underage girls have become a problem in this small Central Coast farming community.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/...kj2qjSY DW7oF

The plane crashed near Milton, Florida, close to several homes

A US businessman suspected of faking his own death in a plane crash is in custody after he was found alive at a Florida camping ground.

Marcus Schrenker, accused of stealing millions from investors, was treated in hospital for self-inflicted cuts.

He was semi-conscious and apparently resisting first aid when found.

It is thought he parachuted out of his company aeroplane after making a fake distress call, leaving the plane to crash in north-western Florida.

The Indiana businessman was arrested on Tuesday night at a campsite in Quincy, northern Florida.

Police officer Frank Chiumento said Mr Schrenker had a self-inflicted gash to his left wrist and a puncture wound near his elbow.

Both were thought to be self-inflicted but investigations were continuing, he told ABC's Good Morning America programme.

He was quoted by Associated Press as saying the wrist injury which was "very serious at the time," and required medical attention as he was "bleeding profusely."

Mr Chiumento told ABC that Mr Schrenker was drifting in and out of consciousness and spoke to police as they tried to help him.

"He muttered 'die' at one time, as if to say that he didn't want the first aid that we were rendering to him."

The 38-year-old, who had already been ordered by a court to pay out $533,500 (£366,500), faces a possible jail sentence if found guilty on charges of securities fraud.

His wife, Michelle, has filed for divorce, saying that Marcus Schrenker was having an affair.

Stashed motorbike

Mr Schrenker was the only person aboard a single engine Piper plane that took off for Florida on Sunday from Anderson, Indiana.

When the authorities received a distress call from the pilot as he flew over Alabama, a rescue operation was launched.

Two military planes were scrambled and they found Mr Schrenker's plane flying on autopilot, with its door open and no sign of the pilot.

The plane then crashed in a swampy area near Milton, Florida, close to several homes.

But investigators said the wreckage showed no signs of *lo** or a smashed windshield.

The Indiana businessman is thought to have sped off on a motorcycle he had hidden in the pine barrens of central Alabama.

A man with Mr Schrenker's identification apparently checked into a hotel in Alabama after the crash, telling police he had been in a canoeing accident, before being seen running away into nearby woods.

Investigators believe Mr Schrenker's plan was to let the plane crash into the Gulf of Mexico, but the plane ran out of fuel first.

Police search

The Indiana Department of Insurance filed a complaint against Mr Schrenker last January on behalf of seven investors who claimed he cost them more than $250,000 because he never told them they would face high fees to switch annuities.

Authorities say Mr Schrenker was desperate to avoid a prison sentence

A hearing in the case was scheduled for next week.

On Tuesday, prosecutors alleged Mr Schrenker had been advising clients even though his licence expired on 31 December.

A judge ordered him to be arrested on financial fraud charges.

Authorities in Indiana have been probing Mr Schrenker's financial management businesses - Heritage Wealth Management Inc, Heritage Insurance Services Inc and Icon Wealth Management - for possible securities violations, said Jim Gavin, spokesman for Indiana's secretary of state.

Officers searched Mr Schrenker's home on 31 December looking for computers, notes, photographs and other documents related to those companies, said Mr Gavin.

On Friday, two days before the crash, a federal judge in Maryland issued a $533,500 judgment against Heritage Wealth Management Inc, in favour of a life insurance company.

IT was as though the heavens wept that Thursday night, sounding an ominous warning of things to come.

The rain was the perfect foil for nearly a dozen men crammed in a tiny pub in Kilancholly, St Mary, to watch a cricket match between Pakistan and the West Indies.

The 'Grand Jury' is happy Jeffery Perry has been sentenced to hang for the January 2005 murders of his three young cousins. (Photos: Lionel Rookwood)

But it was not the scores which made the night - which will perhaps haunt them forever - memorable. It was the fact that 34-year-old Jeffery Perry had watched and cheered along with them, before slinking out into the wet, dark night to slaughter his three cousins - Shadice Williams, 4; Dwayne Davidson, 15; and Suann Gordon, 13. A few metres down the road, the children's mother was attending a church service, blissfully unaware that her world was about to crumble.

After murdering the children, Perry returned to the pub to give the 'cricket fans' the gruesome news. He wept pretentiously as he spun his tale of how he had found the children slaughtered.

As if in testament to that rainy night, it began drizzling yesterday as the Sunday Observer returned to the very pub Perry had left that fateful day on January 28, 2005 to murder his three young cousins. On Friday, Perry was sentenced to hang for the murders and the community was still in a jubilant mood.

The house where the innocent three lost their lives.

Some of the 2005 'cricket fans' were in the pub, but this time they were paying dominoes, enjoying an early morning smoke and holding a grand jury of their own. They were happy with Friday's verdict.

"Wi feel bad bout it. A heng him did fi heng instant. Wi juss a seh di judge shoulda order instant henging. Him nuffi si nutten name sunlight," the owner of the shop told the Sunday Observer.

"Wi sorry dem nevah carry him come meck wi kill him. Dem shoulda meck wi torture him. Wi woulda teck out him fingernail today an him toenail tomorrow," he continued.

"Di night him was here wid wi watching a match between Pakistan and West Indies. An then him lef, 'an wi nevah know seh a dat him gone do. A him come back come tell wi wah happen and him a cry more dan di parents dem," another chimed in.

The men said if Perry had not confessed, they would to this day be clueless as he had returned to the murder scene and even helped to put the children in the vehicle that took them to hospital.

"It happen a Thursday night, wi can't forget that Thursday night, rain did a fall to," another said.

"Him really suprise most of di man dem inna di district, him nuh deserve fi live; if a him relative him do so den what him would do wi," he continued.

In fact, most residents in Kilancholly district, nestled in the verdant hills of St Mary, were in favour of the death by hanging sentence handed down on Friday, enough even though they had never imagined that one of their own would be the first to be sentenced to death after Parliament voted late last year to retain the death penalty.

So happy were they with Friday's judgement, that they clanged pot covers and celebrated inside the community. At the same time, they noted that the magnitude of Perry's crime was not only too much but also too close for comfort.

"Him shoulda sentence from long time, a shoulda last night him hang, or today," Sylvia Bailey, the children's aunt, told the Sunday Observer from her backyard, where she can look out at the graves of the three children located a few metres from her house.

Speaking in low, pained tones, Bailey said Perry gave no indication he harboured 'such wicked thoughts'. His act, Bailey said, had changed the community forever; driving her sister Sonia, the mother of the children, to St Ann to live pursued by memories of that night nearly four years ago.

Sonia, who spoke to the Sunday Observer by phone, said she had missed all the newscasts reporting the verdict, but said she was satisfied with the decision.

"He deserves death, he has killed innocent people, so why not?"
"It is painful. Today I would have a 20-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter," she added, noting that only one of her children - her then two-year-old son - had escaped Perry's onslaught.
"He talks about it," she said, although she is unsure if it is from his own memories or from what he has been told.

"He (Perry) looks innocent but he will kill anybody, they should not let him escape," she said firmly.

For Junior, a carpenter from that district, rage is still simmering.
"That pretty devil? That pretty devil you talking bout? I was a friend of Dwayne (15-year-old boy), the youth father an mi a family. Di community don't want him (Perry) get no leniency because what him do was cruel," he told the Sunday Observer.

Junior has an even closer relationship with that night.

"Right now is the same house (where the murders occurred) mi live, di *lo** still on the walls," he said. "Mi hear seh him ago appeal the verdict, but appeal the verdict an' do what? What yuh sow you reap. If him come back here him dead," Junior said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Just metres away another resident, who gave his name as Stella, told the Sunday Observer that even though he became a member of the community just three months ago he had formed his opinion.

"Mi a stranger an mi come an hear, but man like dat fi dead. Look how him kill him own family dat him eat an drink with. If dem start hanging a mawnin a fi him neck fuss fi pap 'cause if him come back yah him dead. When mi hear yessideh, a pure joy. A pure pot covah yu hear roun yah," added Stella, who is ironically also a tenant of the death house.

Scores of other residents expressed similar sentiments.

"Wi get justice; him kill the likkle youth them," said one male resident who did not wish to be named. According to the man, Perry had an uncanny preference for the company of youngsters, especially girls. He claimed that Perry had even molested a female member of his family, but said it was covered up by his relatives.

He also said it was not the first time Perry had killed, but said this had also been disputed by family members. This time, however, he said the truth had surfaced as told by Perry, who confessed that on the night in question he stripped down to his underpants and socks and entered the children's home through a window while they slept and hacked them to death.

Overtime, it seems the residents of the little hilltop district might even have spun their own legends of the man they said was always neatly dressed and to all intents and purposes appeared sane.

"Him always have someting inna a bottle a sip, mi nuh know if a *lo**. A pure horror movie him watch, an him have some whole heap a book weh him did a read," one man said above the buzz of conversation which took over the little board building.
It was six against one.

Six argued that the man who had undergone several psychiatric assessments was neither mad nor unfit to plead as his lawyers had at one time said, while one man claimed that Perry's unstable mental condition was hereditary.

"Him evil," another countered, adding, "di man a serial killer, di man nuh no mad man".

While they could find no agreement on that matter, all agreed that Perry should hang; and soon.

 

 

WITH THE clock racing towards the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States (US), Jamaicans and others around the Caribbean are still looking at the possible impact of America's first African-American leader on the region.

And while it is widely accepted that the election of Barack Obama will not lead to an open bag of goodies across the region, the fire continues to burn that the Caribbean will make it on to the radar of the new president.

"Persons expecting special favours for the region will be disappointed," university professor Trevor Munroe told The Sunday Gleaner.

US policy has fluctuated

It is widely accepted that US policy towards Jamaica and the wider Caribbean has fluctuated between disinterest and obsession over the years.

The policy has been based on a collection of reasons, including security (protecting its borders), ideology (keeping out communism), politics and economics.

Over the last eight years, outgoing president George W. Bush has emphasised all of the above, providing millions of dollars for drug interdiction, interfering in Haiti's domestic politics, maintaining the embargo on Cuba while paying little regard to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Now it is Obama's time to bat, but officials of the US State Department have already made it clear that there will be no major change in policy.

Late last year, Charles Shapiro, US State Department senior coordinator for the Western Hemisphere Affairs Free Trade Task Force, declared that the new president would offer continuity in American policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean.

Addressing the Americas Competitive Forum in Atlanta, Shapiro said the US vision for the region would remain one of "more prosperous, stable countries, with inclusive, representative democracies with open economies delivering the benefits of good governance to their citizens".

America's 'third border'

That underscored the position of the Obama camp in the lead-up to last year's presidential election, which seemed to recognise the importance of America's 'third border'.

Dan Restrepo, a foreign-policy adviser for the Obama camp, had declared: "Obama wants to see a 100 per cent debt cancellation for the world's heavily indebted, poor countries, including all such countries in the Caribbean."

Restrepo added that the issues of crime and security were of major concern for the Democrat. It was also promised that Obama would "restore funding for drug-control programmes that were cut by the George W. Bush administration" and would "put an end to the illegal gun trade in the south".

That is welcome news for Munroe, who believes that with the Caribbean as the US 'third border', Obama must make new and substantial commitments to help deal with criminal organisations which transit drugs through the region and feed criminal gangs, which makes the Caribbean the region with the highest murder rate in the world.

"After 9/11 2001, the US transferred a great many of its security assets from the Caribbean to the Middle East, in search of terrorists, and they forget that some of these criminal enterprises that we have can mutate and morph into terrorists too," Munroe added.

Needs to avoid major mistake

For Munroe, the new president needs to avoid one major mistake of his predecessors:

"Obama needs to move expeditiously to normalise relations with Cuba. Ten (US) presidents have maintained the embargo, which the world has repeatedly condemned through the General Assembly of the United Nations," Munroe said.

He wants Obama to dust off and re-examine the Caribbean Basin Initiative, implemented by former president, Ronald Reagan, and the Free Trade Area of the Americas, which was put on the front burner by the Bill Clinton administration.

Obama will assist

Local businessman Dr Lloyd Cole is confident that Obama will assist the region and he has not identified any single policy for the soon-to-be-installed president to rethink.

"I believe that Obama is shrewd and energetic and will bring a lot to the US, the region and the world.

"Obama should emulate the best of the great US presidents, such as (Abraham) Lincoln, (John F.) Kennedy and (Bill) Clinton," Dr Cole added.

Kennedy introduced a bold US$10-billion foreign-aid programme to Latin America in 1961.

The programme, 'Alliance For Progress', was aimed at fostering development, supporting social and land reforms and reinforcing democracy in the region.

High marks for Carter

Another former US president, Jimmy Carter, also received high marks from regional scholars for his efforts to promote democracy and his launch of the Caribbean Group for Cooperation in Economic Development.

The change in policies towards the Caribbean Basin, from Carter to Ronald Reagan, was dramatic.

While Carter started with an interest to promote democracy then shifted to national security, Reagan moved in the opposite direction.

Reagan adopted a very confrontational approach to Grenada during that country's internal revolution and, in 1983, he joined with Jamaica and five other countries to invade the island.

Promoting democracy

However, Reagan's administration also fashioned the Caribbean Basin Initiative and institutions to promote democracy.

George H.W. Bush adopted a less-ideological and belligerent approach to that of his predecessor, but still, his administration intervened in Panama in 1989.

The Bill Clinton administration, which replaced Bush, intervened in Haiti in 1994, however, it appeared very willing to listen to regional concerns.

In fact, Clinton was the only president in the last few years to travel to the region to meet with CARICOM leaders. That occurred in Barbados in 1997.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Three white men are held without bail after a hearing in federal court in Springfield on charges they torched a predominantly black church hours after Barack Obama was elected president.

Authorities say Benjamin Haskell, Michael Jacques and Thomas Gleason - all Springfield men in their 20s - initially denied involvement then blamed each other for the idea to burn down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ.

A judge continued the hearing until Wednesday and said he is considering setting $100,000 bail with electronic monitoring for the men.

The Nov. 5 fire at the church, which was under construction, destroyed the building with $2 million in damage.

The men were charged Friday in a criminal complaint with violating a civil rights conspiracy statute that makes it illegal to injure, threaten or intimidate anyone from exercising their civil rights. No pleas were entered at Friday's hearing.

Peru's top court has ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk on the job, a decision that was criticized by the government on Wednesday for setting a dangerous precedent.

The Constitutional Tribunal ordered that Pablo Cayo be given his job back as a janitor for the municipality of Chorrillos, which fired him for being intoxicated at work.

The firing was excessive because even though Cayo was drunk, he did not offend or hurt anybody, Fernando Calle, one of the justices, said on Wednesday.

Calle said the court would not revise its decision, despite complaints from the government.

"It's not a good idea to relax rules at workplaces," said Labor Minister Jorge Villasante.

Celso Becerra, the administrative chief of Chorrillos, a suburb of Lima, denounced the ruling.

"We've fired four workers for showing up drunk, and two of them were drivers," he said. "How can we allow a drunk to work who might run somebody over?"

Lil Wayne's track Lollipop was the most legally downloaded single

Ninety-five per cent of music downloaded online is illegal, a report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has said.

The global music trade body said this is its biggest challenge as artists and record companies miss out on payments.

There has, however, been a 25% rise since last year with downloads now accounting for a fifth of all recorded music sales.

The IFPI said worldwide music market revenues shrank by 7% last year.

Steady growth

This was blamed on falling CD sales, while the increase in digital sales failed to make up for this.

The IFPI, which represents 1,400 companies in 72 countries, estimated more than 40 billion music files were illegally shared in 2008.

There were 1.4 billion single tracks legally downloaded in 2008, with the top-selling digital single, Lil Wayne's Lollipop, selling 9.1 million copies.

There is a momentous debate going on about the environment on which our business, and all the people working in it, depends John Kennedy, IFPI

BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said that despite the launch of many legal download services, customers still seemed to prefer to get their music free online.

The report revealed that the digital music business has grown steadily during the past six years.

In 2008, it grew by an estimated 25% and is now worth $3.7bn (£2.5bn)

Music fans in the UK downloaded 110 million single tracks in 2008 and bought 10.3 million digital albums - accounting for 7.7% of the market.

John Kennedy, chairman and chief executive of IFPI, said the industry had changed its approach to doing business.

He said: "There is a momentous debate going on about the environment on which our business, and all the people working in it, depends.

"Governments are beginning to accept that, in the debate over 'free content' and engaging ISPs in protecting intellectual property rights, doing nothing is not an option if there is to be a future for commercial digital content."

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, said: "We are worried by the recording industry's desire to clamp down on illicit file sharers.

"We need to see how much better these companies do by getting their services right before governments start pushing drastic and draconian laws forward."

He added: "Growing online sales show the recording industry can win against illicit file sharing.

"If companies go further and offer the same sort of experience as P2P then they will win new revenues, and reduce copyright infringement, which we would welcome."

Besides Bob Marley music, for me the happiest reggae track is:

Inner Circle - Sweat (A La La La La Long)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kfTuNdku3A



tell me yours!
 

i like this album, this bredda have the art of storytelling....plus the lyrics hard.....new material....nothing we never heard b4.....i wud buy this original cd...even tho he's not my artist.....but he earn my respect for this

-- Edited by gamepun at 08:18, 2008-11-21

"A Puerto Rican man has been granted his wish to remain standing even in death.

A funeral home used a special embalming treatment to keep the corpse of 24-year-old Angel Pantoja Medina standing upright for his three-day wake."

Read more...

 

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Unemployment is becoming a serious problem in Jamaica and to underscore the current situation, 600 persons recently turned up to apply for 10 vacancies at the Captain's Bakery and Grill in St Andrew.

In a recent story in the Jamaica Gleaner entitled We want work, the newspaper reported that the cry for jobs has been echoing across the island.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles. JIS Photo

"You have a job can give me? one frustrated woman asked the Gleaner reporters, while others offered to do any sort of job that was available.

The Gleaner report stated that that thousands more Jamaicans had lost their jobs in the past 12 months and indications that the worsening global economic crisis could cause many others to be sent home.

The government, which was elected in 2007 with a promise to create "jobs, jobs and more jobs", has said that it is pulling out all the stops to find new job opportunities.

The Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles has announced that his Ministry will be switching its focus from industrial disputes to human-resource development.

According to Charles, the government will spend approximately J$90 million (US$1 million) to train and place Jamaicans in jobs locally and in the wider western hemisphere.