Forum: News & Topical Issues
COMING OUT???? QUEEN LATIFAH'S NEW ALBUM IS RUMORED TO BE CALLED 'THE L WORD'!!!
September 14, 2008. Could Queen Latifah be finally ready to come out of the closet. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the Queen claims she's hard at work on a new album.
What's the name of the new album, you ask. According to the Queen, she's considering naming it "The L Word."
Test for Idiocy!!!!!! SO YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE SMART!!!!! TRY THESE WHILE U GUESS AGAIN
Let's find out just how clever you really are....
Ready? GO!!!
First Question:
You are participating in a race.. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
absolutel! y wrong! If you overtake the second person, you take his place, so you are second!
Try not to screw up next time..
Now answer the second question,
butdon't take as much time as you took for the first one,OK?
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
You're not very good at this, are you?
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your headonly.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take1000 and add40 to it. Now add another1000. Now add30.
Add another1000. Now add20. Now add another1000
Now add10. What is the total?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?
Maybe you'll get the last question right....
...Maybe.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the ! name of the fifth daughter?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you Answer Nunu?
NO! Of course it isn't.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again!
Okay, now the bonus round:
I may have sent this one before. I! 'm never sure.
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By
imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully
expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is
done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of
sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?
It's really very simple.... Like you!
I am an American who visited Jamaica twice within the last two years. I befriended three people last year, one woman and two men. The two men started asking me for money. I was so turned off because they acted as if I was supposed to send money at their request. I quickly changed my phone number. The woman didn't start hinting for money until a storm blew off her roof. I sent her money to help with food for herself and her children.
This year, I went to Jamaica and met two guys. One asked me to send him $100 for clothes, I declined. The other guy told me, since he was going through hard times, he felt I have the money to help him, but I just didn't send it. When we met, he said he had a girlfriend but it was nothing serious, they were "just hanging out".
Feel guilty
I feel like he was trying to get over her by making me feel guilty for not helping him pay his rent, bills, etc. I have sent money twice to help him with gas, food etc in the past. I feel as though they think I am Bank of America, and I am tired of it.
I know we all go through hard times, but to make someone feel guilty for not helping him pay his bills is not right. Why he is out of work is another story.
I am supposed to go back to Jamaica and I am not sure is a good idea. The men I have met in Jamaica have given the 'good' ones a bad name. I know all men are not the same. I assume they took me as an easy target. If I had the money, I would give it to the homeless, but I have to eat and pay bills too.
L.K., Michigan, USA
-- Edited by MZJA at 23:37, 2008-09-14
???? WOULD U PARTICIPATE IN A REALITY TV SHOW ????
???? WOULD U PARTICIPATE IN A REALITY TV SHOW ????
WHICH 1 AND Y ????
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Inmate Jack Alderman faces lethal injection in Jackson at 7 p.m. Tuesday for killing his wife in 1974.
Barbara Jean Alderman's family says it will be justice for her, but they will always live with the circumstances of her death.
Her older sister, Rhetta Braddy of Rincon, says Alderman's execution will not end the family's pain.
Barbara Alderman was 20 when she was killed Sept. 21, 1974.
Jack Alderman, now 57, initially was convicted and sentenced to die on June 15, 1975. An appeal led to a death sentence again in 1984.
Corrections spokesman Paul Czachowski says Alderman will remain in his cell until he moves to a holding cell next to the death chamber Tuesday afternoon.
HAVE U EVER MEET A NICE GURL WEH JUST WAH SLEEP WID YUH AND DATS IT, EVEN DOH U NUH WANT HER BUT U NEVER EXPECT HER FI JUST f**k U ONE TIME AND NOT EVEN CALL U AGAIN...
I am 31 years old and I have been with my boyfriend for three years. We have a 20-month-old son and we have been living together for the past year. I love him with all my heart and I hope to marry him next year, but the problem that I am having is I find myself not sexually attracted to him like I was before.
I think that it has to do with the oral contraceptive that I am currently taking. Before I started taking it, I only needed to see him and I was turned on, but now I try everything not to be with him like that. I know it is frustrating for him as a man and I know that he won't cheat on me, but you never know. I don't want to lose him because of this. He is a very good man and I know that he really loves me.
Please, pastor, give me your advice on what you think about this situation and may God continue to bless you.
K.B., Ontario, Canada
Dear K.B.,
I suggest that you go and see a sex therapist. You both are living together and your child is 20 months old. It is not unusual for a woman who just had a child to lose interest in sex for a few months. But 20 months is a very long time. I wonder if you have your interest elsewhere. Is it that you are not interested in sex at all or not interested in having sex with your man? A sex therapist should be able to help you. Please ask your child's father to accompany you.
Pastor
-- Edited by MZJA at 23:42, 2008-09-14
FELLAS, IS IT JUST ME, OR DOES SEX FEEL DI BEST IN DI MORNING??
-- Edited by MZJA at 23:45, 2008-09-14
??????? WHO BADDA - BLAK RYNO OR BRAMMA DI BOMMA ???????
UR VIEWS........
-- Edited by BOOOOOOOOOM at 11:21, 2008-09-15
MI SEH MR.WACKY!
Man Released Early From Previous Sentence
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- An ex-con released early from prison after a change in the sentencing guidelines for cocaine possession has been charged with rape.
The change in guidelines affects thousands of inmates across the country. In Jacksonville, 81 inmates were released early this year because of the change; but in St. Johns County some are concerned about just one.
James Gilmore, 30, was released from prison earlier this year after his term was reduced. However, five month after being released from federal prison, the ex-con was accused of raping a 13-year-old St. Johns County girl.
Some said they believe Gilmore should have never been released early from prison.
"Given the time he was arrested and convicted, he should still be sitting in federal prison at this point in time," said St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Chuck Mulligan.
According to records from St. Johns County, Gilmore's criminal record includes several arrests for violent crimes. Gilmore was sentenced to spend 12˝ years in prison for trafficking cocaine, but a change in the federal sentencing guidelines allowed him to be released after serving 10 years.
"About 40 percent of our docket was drug-related cases. Of those, probably 75-80 percent were crack cocaine related," said former federal prosecutor Curtis Fallgatter.
Congress passed the change in the federal sentencing guidelines. The guidelines used to state that anyone arrested with crack cocaine would face a longer sentence than someone caught with powder cocaine. However, now the sentences are now equal, and criminals who were sentenced using the old guideline, like Gilmore, have the opportunity to have their time in prison reduced.
"It's a decade in jail. That's a long time so taking off two and a half years is not much proportionately to the sentence he got. But, they had no choice. Congress and the guideline commission said that's the law and they followed it," Fallgatter said.
"Obviously, if he were still locked up, it wouldn't have occurred. We also understand the facts that the federal justice system had to make some adjustments. In doing that, it sent this individual back home," Mulligan said.
Gilmore is being held in the St. Johns County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Kartel
Massive! What a gwaan? Oonu alright? Mi a tell yuh say mi sick out fi di whole week! Raga yuh know say a you mek mi sick out doh? Mi heart bleed when mi see yuh a cut di cake wid Sadie! Whaapen to our love? It doomed eeh? Me married an yuh a pose an cut cake! Ah bwoy. Big up di whole a mi progressive fren dem! STAR team, INK massive, Kaboom, Mucho Mucho, Witch, TAE, we so bright an hot till some a dem a melt wid bad mind! As Kaboom always a sing, 'We so special like creamy crackaz!'Local want we, overseas want we. Unstoppable we say fi 2000 an great! Massive, suss time. Link mi pon hotgalcherry@hotmail.com.
A WHICH TAPE ALL DEM DEH A TALK BOUT?
Look here, oonu lef di previously-known-as-host alone! Nobaddy nevah did a talk bout she lass week. Mi mek mi talk bout a NEXXX media girl who seem to love tek it roun 'deh' so and people a email me bout lass year news, bout if she have a nexx tape. Nobaddy nuh bizniz wid she enuh, cause if she really decide fi come out wid a nexx tape, muchless one wid she a tek it from di 'wrong angle', a fi har bizniz. But hear mi now, my yout wid DI TAPE wha mi a talk bout wid deh media woman yah, whe mi copy deh? Stop di foolishness.
BLING MIND YUH POP, POP, POP A *lo** VESSEL!
Bling Dawg
Bling mi sexy fren, Kaboom tell mi say she an di boss see yuh wha day yah an yuh a ask, how mi deal wid yuh Popcorn song wid Chi Ching so? Mi say when dem call mi, mi laugh till mi nearly choke. Wha yuh mean yuh a come from Sumfest an nearly run offa di road when yuh read di suss wha say 'a di wuss song from Madusa and LA Lewis' own? Hush, but a true. Di song fool beyond human comprehension! People really hear yuh inna studio a record dat an deh cheer yuh on? Mi a tell yuh, wid frens like those, yuh nuh need not a enemy to backfoot! My yute, hear wha mi a say, yuh see when yuh a mek a song nexx time, sen it to mi before it release an mi will tell yuh di truth if a local hit, or international hit, or if ah juss...(yuh guess mi lass word? Lol).
MAVADO YUH CYAAN DRIVE OR WHA?
Mavado
My yute, when yuh drive tru di gate fi go eena di Usain press conference suppose yuh did run back pon di company car? Mi backfoot! Massive, mi say one piece a destruction nearly tek place juss fi drive een a di venue! Di INK see wi life flash before wi very eye bout 6 time straight! Mi say di man first of all mek a sudden stop inna him Range so mi nuh know if some kind of STOP sign did fi pop out a di back an tell we fi stop couple feet away, plus sponge fi mek wi bounce off, but it nevah happen, so him need fi fix deh feature deh! Den massive, a pon a slight slope wi deh enuh and to di average driver, a nuh nuttin. But apparently fi di gangster a did too much! Loeth and beholdeth, we see di man a start run back eena di car! Mi say mi nuh know wha Mucho Mucho nevah do: she scream, she blow horn, she tek out fog horn, she light torch, she buss clappaz! Di man vehicle still a run back! Mi haffi say mi backfoot, suppose a did standard whe him haffi bakkle wid, cl**tch, brake an gas fi cum offa di likkle slope? Wi wudda crush out like nasty tile! Den when him fi park, di man swing een an park inna twoooo parking space. My yute is eider yuh cyan drive or di *la*hmin Range Rover dem faulty an dem a some sort of Septicon an have a mind of dem own like wha come inna Transformers yaw man. Look pon Ele an fi him lass week! A sign yaw man.
IS A PSYCHO NURSE OR WHA?
A sign yaw man! Massive, mi nuh know if oonu memba bout two months ago when mi talk bout di mad nurse who lif up har clothes and show har boss har back when dem a cuss? Well, anyway, dem fiyah di woman, but she mussi nevah know say dat a come. Anyway, sum ting happen an she go dung a di office an dem tell her say dem a try reach har how long now an dem have di letter bout har firing fi gi har. Di woman decide seh she naw tek di letter an she naw lef di wuk. She nuh do a ting more dan go mek appointment wid di politician fi sort out di ting. When di man hear wha gwaan di man haffi tell har say a she fiyah herself so him cyan mek dem tek har back. Mi say massive! Di woman puddung a piece of bawling dung a di bizniz place, likkle most dem haffi shut it dung because of di voicequake. Di politician feel sorry fi har an say she muss come back di nexx day; but oonu nuh know wha? Nuh Gustav come? Mi nuh know if she get back one nex appointment or wha. A waste a time as far as me concerned. Hear mi now, yuh see when oonu have oonu good wuk, oonu tek heed an lef out di hype unless oonu have a back up plan.
MI WAAH FI KNOW:
L. A. Lewis
L.A. Lewis yuh tink yuh smart don't? Yuh tink mi nuh know say a true Chi Ching tek ova an have yuh job; yeah, deh same job, wha nobaddy nuh know wha oonu be; we juss a hear oonu name! Bout $37, 000 fi come een a launch party! Anyway, di INK a roll een an wi name de pon di RSVP list. Massive, oonu know mi deh whe di suss deh.
Kartel, a wha dis pon yuh again? Smaddy can evah inna drama so? My yute, nuh yuh sing bout 33 degree of masonry. Dem people deh usually untouchable inna society, so mi nuh know. Massive, mi gone!
Lady Saw turns up for her interview with Splash in a cutesy, little-girl-looking sunflower yellow top, complete with ruffles on the sleeve, form-fitting pants, a sleek bob and an attitude that just charms you into totally forgetting the purpose of her visit - she wasn't here for 'girl talk', she was actually here for work.
So, in between chatting, (a bit of gossip) and quite a few laughs, we did manage to get in some updates on her career, at least enough to write an article. It was really quite funny, however, to hear how she woke up one morning to see her Hummer, which is at least four feet off the ground, sunk way below sea level. Her precious dogs, "who eat everything, from shoes to clothes to sheet off the line", walked under and chewed the underside of the vehicle all the way down to inflating panel, releasing all the air and causing the big bad Hummer, with MUMA inscribed on the licence plate, to just get flat. Now it's costing a bundle to repair, but will she get rid of any of her 23 dogs? "I did give them some big lick and them run around the back for the whole day, but no, I love them too much. All when I'm on tour I call home and speak to them. I tell them to put the phone to their ears and ask 'did they feed you' and they answer 'ruff, ruff'," Saw told Splash with a laugh.
Okay, anecdotes asides, Marion 'Lady Saw' Hall is fully focused on her career. No longer signed to VP Records, having delivered her contractual obligations and opting not to sign a new deal, Saw is ready to "get back out with some new stuff now". She is busy working on a new album with a slew of reggae/dancehall's most respected producers. Among them are Sly and Robbie, Jazzy T, Scatta, Baby G, Ward 21 and of course, her personal producer, John John.
"I will also be doing some of the production myself," she disclosed.
Quite pleased with the progress of the project so far, Lady Saw highlighted a few of the tracks on the yet-untitled album. "Belvedere Heights by Ward 21 has a nice groove and it has been selected as one of two songs that we will be shooting a music video for soon. The other song is Baby Take Your Time, produced by Scatta. It is a very sexy song, you are going to love it," she promises.
With bubbly enthusiasm, she gushes about her "big belly song", which was inspired by a friend. "I was with a friend and a guy said to her 'go way, yuh belly big like' and her reply was, 'but a nuh mi belly him a look, a mi .' and it just gave me a vibe," Lady Saw said amidst laughter.
 |
| SAW... is preparing for her European tour |
Dedicated to all the fluffy women, it boasts - No slim gal no more dan you/Fat it a nuh no crime . - and above all else, it's really funny. Saw has been performing it on stage and the response, she says, "is mad".
"It just mad. When you see the fat woman dem get down, you just have to big them up because this is their song," she declared.
Another project which had been taking a chunk of her time was her autobiography, but that has been put on hold, as this Gemini girl was "getting too emotional". On the surface, it may be a bit difficult to imagine dancehall's hardcore Muma getting all teary-eyed and emotional, but the truth is that Saw is the original softy. "Everybody in my family have me as the idiot," she said as a matter of fact. "I can't say no. All if my nephews want anything, Sister will tell them 'go ask you idiot auntie'," she stated, with a shrug of acceptance.
The book, however, will be finished . one day.
In between getting the album out, she is preparing for her European tour, which kicks off in July. "I love performing in Europe. I tend to do more singing rather than deejaying. There's a song that I did when my mother passed and whenever I sing it, people, black and white come and tell you how the songs has affected them and comforted them.
Sometimes I wonder if it's really me they are talking about," Saw shared, revealing an wonderful ego defeciency.
A friend of US artiste Remy Ma, Saw's interview took place the same day it was announced that Remy was sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a friend. "I'm sorry for her, and she has a really nice son," Saw commented, even as she got a cell call from a mutual friend in the States about the situation. "Yes, I heard. When I come up we'll go and visit her," she calmed the person.
"It's so important for us to think before we act," she said with a half sigh as she hung up her phone.
According to reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), ten men were arrested included a suspended cop who acts in the capacity of bodyguard for the deejay. Kartel is currently in lock up and is still being interrogated after being taken into custody yesterday evening. When asked, we were told that his arrest stems from being a suspect in the killing of a popular figure in the crime underworld of Portmore two weeks ago. Since the murder the entertainer has been receiving several death threats from men aligned to the deceased. Unfortunately his legal woes doesn't end there, further checks by our team have revealed that his Havendale premises which is zoned for residential purposes is now being investigated by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) to find out if the artiste had applied for special permission to use the premises for commercial activities. |
KID SLAPS HIS MAMA IN THE FACE ON VIDEO!!! on DR Phil
-- Edited by alligcold at 11:02, 2008-06-04
Matt Brown resigned just three days after being sworn in as police minister of New South Wales state, which includes Sydney.
"I'm a human being and I made a mistake and I am going to cop the consequences," Brown told reporters. "I am not wanting to duck or weave this issue. As you can imagine this is a pretty tough day for me.""
Even though all the detainees were released, Kartel was kept in holding until late in the afternoon, while the other men were allowed to walk free. Those released includes his bodyguard, presently on suspension from the Police Force, a popular producer and a few other close members of his inner circle.
Prior to being released Kartel while under heavy security guard was moved several times between the Gun Court and Horizon Adult facility, which proved a very teeth pulling experience for one of his lawyers. Mr. Michael Deans, the deejay's legal counsel has accused the local lawmen of disrespectful behaviour when he tried to visit his client earlier this week. However yesterday under the guidance of renown attorney-at-law, Ms.Valerie Neita-Robertson the deejay was interrogated and later released.
Kartel's arrest stems from a two part raid carried out on Wednesday by a Police, Military Joint Task Force at his recording studio and home in upper St. Andrew (separate locations). Where he and several men were picked up and taken into custody after he was allegedly named as a suspect in the recent murder of a popular figure in the crime underworld of Portmore.
Efforts by 876radio.com to reach the deejay for a comment proved futile, but sources close to the entertainer said they are elated that he has been set free.
For once the thugs in two downtown Kingston communities are using their 'powers' for good.
Thugs from Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, have found a unique way to encourage students from their communities to do well.
'Orders' have been given that children are not to be seen on the streets any time after 8 p.m. If they are seen and are not able to give a 'valid' excuse, a beating is imposed.
THE WEEKEND STAR learnt about the development while visiting Denham Town earlier this week. A resident, Carol Allen, was heard questioning the whereabouts of her six-year-old daughter. "A afta eight now. Mi naw go look fi har eno. A want di man dem si har an drop some lick pon har yu si," Allen said.
Subsequent checks revealed that information about the 'curfew' was relayed to residents sometime last week just before the start of the new school year. Since its inception parents have stated that they have no problem with it and are complying.
"... Not a ting nuh wrong, as long as dem nuh beat dem fi mash dem up too bad ... . It help more than anything else cause di school pickney dem kno' seh dem fi stay off a road when a school time an do some schoolwork," said Marvin Shepherd, a resident of Tivoli Gardens and a father of two high school students.
Pickaxe stick
So far, the residents say that there have been no cases of children being beaten as the curfew is being adhered to.
"When dem man yah set order a nuh joke ting so di kids affi tek it serious and dem know... Nobody nuh get 'regulate' yet ... cause di man seh is a pick axe stick dem ago use pon anybody who violate," Shepherd explained.
Embrace the move
One of the thugs chosen to help enforce the curfew also testified about its effectiveness.
"Wi done send out di word, so any pickney who think seh dem too big fi follow it or feel seh dem uncle or big bredda or whoever a thug suh wi naw go trouble dem, mek a sad mistake ... If dem cyaa gi wi nuh proper talk as to why dem deh pon di road late, lick ago drop inna dem skin," he said.
The police say they are aware of the curfew activities and have even heard of it in Sunlight Street, in the Maxfield area.
Head of operations for the Kingston Western Division, Deputy Superintendent Aurthur Brown, told the WEEKEND STAR that the police have embraced the move.
"I've heard of it and it's something we don't mind as we don't want the kids on the streets after certain hours," DSP Brown said.
A corporal at the Denham Town Police Station noted, however, that the instructions might not only serve to motivate the children to do well in school, but also to protect them as the community is involved in a conflict.
"We have heard of the encouragement part of it, but there is also a current war between men from Denham Town and men from Rema, so we think it also serves to protect them," the corporal said.
FOR ALL THE SWITZERLAND GYALZ *1ST SWISS DANCEHALL QUEEN CONTEST*
witness in the murder of carlton grant jr(spragga benz son).
Spanish Town
Former national footballer Onandi Lowe, was freed of drug charges in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Two other persons were also freed with Lowe. They are Jermaine Ellis and Sophia Stewart.
A third accused, Damien Perry, pleaded guilty to being armed with offensive weapon, while Orlando Isaacs pleaded guilty to possession of and dealing in ganja.
Found in motor car
On December 23, 2007, Lowe and the others were picked up by police along the Spanish Town bypass after a quantity of ganja was found in a motor car being driven by the former national striker.
The court learnt that on the day in question around noon, members of the Island Special Constabulary Force stopped a Honda motor car. During a search, several small parcels of ganja were found near the car's steering wheel. A knife was also found. They were all charged with possession and dealing in ganja.
Lowe, Stewart, Ellis and Perry had all maintained their innocence through the many court appearances, while Isaacs had indicated from early that the drug belonged to him.
When the case was first mentioned, the crown refused that plea. But when the matter came before Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Green on Monday, she freed Lowe and the other accused
It was the second time that Lowe had been freed of drug charges. He was arrested on similar charges years ago, but was later freed.
Vybz Kartel - file
The police are extremely tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the arrest of popular deejay Vybz Kartel.
A number of high-ranking police officers contacted by THE STAR yesterday refused to comment on the investigations.
However, director of communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Karl Angell, revealed that the police began interrogating the deejay yesterday.
He also revealed that Kartel, whose real name is Adidjah Palmer, is still in custody after being held on Wednesday during one of two raids carried out by members of the Joint Task Force.
When contacted, his attorney, Valerie Neita-Robertson also declined to comment. Kartel was picked up on Wednesday at his studio at 14 Kirk Avenue, Havendale, St. Andrew. A second raid was conducted at his house on Hacienda Way in Norbrook, also in St Andrew.
At least nine persons were detained during the raids including a policeman who was reportedly working as the deejay's bodyguard.
Before his recent arrest Kartel had previous brushes with the law. In 2004 he was arrested for an on-stage fight with fellow deejay Ninja Man at the Sting stage show.
In February a photograph with Kartel and fellow deejay, Sheldon 'Aidonia' Lawrence, began circulating. It showed them posing with what appeared to be high-powered weapons. Shortly after that Operation Kingfish issued a statement requesting a meeting with them.
No criminal charges were however laid against them.
Scholar says Caribbean neighbours bring down house prices
CAMBRIDGE ACADEMIC George Steiner has caused uproar after stating that he did not want Jamaican neighbours.
The 79-year-old university Fellow said having Jamaicans as his neighbours would be a nightmare because they play reggae all day.
Steiner claims racism is inherent in everyone and that racial tolerance is merely skin deep.
"It's very easy to sit here in this room and say 'racism is horrible," Steiner said from his house in Cambridge, where he has been an Extraordinary Fellow at Churchill College since 1969.
"But ask me the same thing if a Jamaican family moved next door with six children and they play reggae and rock music all day.
Or if an estate agent comes to my house and tells me that because a Jamaican family has moved next door the value of my property has fallen through the floor. Ask me then!"
While Steiners views have been defended by many of his fellow scholars, the comments were met with anger in the black community.
Celia Grandison-Markey, advisory board member from Jamaica Diaspora UK said.
We totally reject the characterisation of Jamaicans reflected in his comments, while we recognise his own need to be educated about people, his regrettable lack of discernment and his readiness to generalise and stereotype.
The Voice was inundated with complaints from furious readers regarding Steiner remarks.
Simmone Frazier said: ?To suggest that all Jamaicans are selfish, while disturbing their neighbours with loud rock and reggae music, with a large brood of children in tow, if that is not racism, what is?
Asked if he regretted what he said, Steiner said: "No I do not."
Beenie and Barbee's - "Give it up" still in the # 1 spot
By Richie B - host of "HOT MIX" on HOT 102 FM
TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 1 13 Give It Up-Beenie Man feat Barbee-357 Records (2wks@#1) NM
02 2 17 Wine Pon It/Talk To Me-Munga- Casper Productions(1wk@#1) NM
03 3 12 Conscience-Cham- Don Corleon NM
04 4 15 The Days-Busy Signal-Daseca (4wks@#1) NM
05 6 12 What I'm Gonna Do-Bugle-Daseca U-1
06 5 9 Bubble Like Soup-Timber-Lee- Ward 21 (pp#5) D-1
07 9 8 Nah Go A Jail-Busy Signal-Jam 2 U-2
08 8 7 Dem A Sissy-Assassin-Don Corleon NM
09 7 13 Love Is Wicked-Brick & Lace-180 Entertainment (pp#5) D-2
10 11 6 Tell Dem Don't Follow-Buju Banton-Heart of Love U-1
11 14 5 Me and My Dogs-Mavado- Baby G U-3
12 10 12 Take My Place-Munga-Don Corleon(pp#6) D-2
13 17 3 Everybody Dance-RDX -Apt 19 U-4
14 12 5 No Man-TOK-Don Corleon (pp#12) D-2
15 16 6 Crab Inna Barrel -Shane-O-Iceman U-1
16 13 18 Bounce Along-Miss Triniti feat Edee-Unseen Lab(pp#5)D-3
17 15 27 Tease Her-Anthony B-Trinity 7 Records (2wks@#1) D-2
18 19 3 Pick It Up & Drop It - Sean Paul-Birchill Records U-1
19 18 24 Back It Up -Beenie Man-357 Records (5wks@#1) D-1
20 - New Squeeze Har- Mavado-H20
Break Time At St. George's College (North Street) It a Go Madd
Event: Break Time (The All High Schools Social)
Date: October 10th, 2008
Venue: St. George's College (North Street)
Music: Darkcide, Elementary Ent., Chromatic & Liquidity Disco.
Admission: $150 [presold] $300 [gate]
Hosted By: Chi Ching Ching.
Come and represent your school....
JUTC's marketing and sales manager, Lenworth Simms, says this venture forms part of ongoing efforts to represent the JUTC brand as an efficient professional company that satisfies its customers.
"We are always looking at ways to improve the system and filling the empty seats that are on the buses, says Simms. "It is not fair for a commuter to be waiting on a specific bus, if other buses may be passing by with empty seats that could have been filled with this commuter."
The changes were received gratefully as commuters were happy with the increased number of transfer routes.
A sex scandal involving sex,drugs and off shore drilling!!!!
Oil brokers sex scandal may affect drilling debate By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 36 minutes ago
A scandal involving sex, drugs and uh, offshore oil drilling.
It's a strange mix, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for those in Congress pressing to expand oil and gas development off America's beaches while trying to stave off an election-year rush by Democrats to impose new taxes and royalties on the oil industry.
An Interior Department investigation describing a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by workers at the agency that issues offshore drilling leases and collects royalties hit lawmakers Wednesday just as they prepared for votes next week on expanding offshore drilling.
"On the eve of Congress starting this big debate you've got a horror story of mismanagement and misconduct in programs that are going to be a key part of the discussion," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in an interview, adding that it can't help but influence the debate.
The two-year, $5.3 million investigation by Interior's inspector general found workers at the Minerals Management Service's royalty collection office in Denver partying, having sex, using drugs and accepting gifts and ski trips and golf outings from energy company representatives with whom they did government business.
The investigations exposed "a culture of ethical failure" and an agency rife with conflicts of interest, Inspector General Earl E. Devaney said.
Between 2002 and 2006, 19 oil marketers nearly a third of the Denver office staff received gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies, including Chevron Corp., Shell, Hess Corp. and Denver-based Gary-Williams Energy Corp., the investigators found.
"Employees frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and natural gas company representatives" who referred to some of the government workers as the "MMS Chicks."
The director of the royalty program had a consulting job on the side for a company that paid him $30,000 for marketing its services to various oil and gas companies, the report said.
MMS Director Randall Luthi said in an interview the agency was taking the report "extremely seriously" and would weigh taking appropriate action in coming months.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne in a statement released Thursday vowed to take swift action, saying that he was "outraged by the immoral behavior, illegal activities and appalling misconduct of several former and long-serving career employees."
"We must and we will eliminate any remaining negative elements in the Minerals Management Service," Kempthorne said.
But the impact in Congress, where lawmakers are debating an expansion of the offshore oil and gas leasing program by allowing drilling in areas long off limits, was immediate.
"This is why we must not allow Big Oil's agenda to be jammed through Congress," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who strongly opposes any expansion of offshore drilling, especially closer to Florida. He said the report "shows the oil industry holds shocking sway over the administration and even key federal employees."
"This IG report has it all sex, drugs and the Bush administration officials once again in cahoots with Big Oil," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., whose Joint Economic Committee released a report last year claiming the Minerals Management Service has failed to collect millions of dollars in oil royalties.
Republicans and Democrats promised further scrutiny of the Interior Department agency which last year handled $4.3 billion in royalty-in-kind payments from energy companies drilling on federal lands. Under the program oil companies give the government oil in lieu of cash and the MMS office in turn sells the oil on the open market.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the IG report "raises very serious questions" about the royalty collection process, something especially troublesome "given the potential for expanded domestic drilling." He said some basic reforms in the royalty-in-kind program should be included in drilling legislation.
Wyden said the program should be suspended to "clean house" at the federal agency and "bring back the process of rigorous audits and accountability."
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, planned a hearing on the investigation next week. Two of the committee's key Republicans Reps. Tom Davis of Virginia and Darrell Issa of California criticized Waxman for not pursuing an investigation into the royalty program earlier.
But Republicans rejected suggestions that the scandal makes the need for more offshore oil and gas any less urgent.
House Democrats on Wednesday offered a broader drilling proposal than they had floated previously. It would lift all moratoria on drilling 100 miles from shore and allow energy development beyond 50 miles from the coast if a state agrees. Waters closer than 50 miles would continue to be protected.
The drilling measure is part of a broader energy package that also would roll back tax breaks for the largest oil companies and require them to pay additional royalties, with the money to be used to spur renewable energy programs and conservation.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., called it "a strong bill that will increase responsible drilling and invest in renewable energy" and said those criticizing it would "rather have a political issue."
But House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, accused the Democrats of "trying to pull a hoax on the American people." He said the plan would result "in little or no new American energy production" because states would share no royalties and have little financial incentives to allow drilling.
The Senate, meanwhile, is expected next week to take up several drilling proposals, including one that would open waters off the Atlantic from Virginia to Georgia and the eastern Gulf off Florida to drilling but keep the bans in place elsewhere. That plan also would allow for a 50-mile coastal buffer.
___
Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this report.
___
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I have said this time and time again washington is no different from deh hood just dem wear suits!! LOL
in munga song say him do him own ting when him want.... "dem call mi name fi get a forward"
anybody know if a anyting????
-- Edited by the doc at 21:10, 2008-09-10
T.O. draws our first overly-sensitive celebration penalty
Terrell Owens scored on a deep ball in what's looking like a fun and competitive Browns/Cowboys game. Owens was fairly open and the touchdown looked easy ... but then he made the ensuing kickoff more difficult for his special teams unit. After scoring, Owens walked back towards the goal line, shaking and loosening his legs. He got down on a knee, lifted up into a sprinter's stance, pretended to burst out of the gates, and that was it. A mild tribute to Usain Bolt, and he jogged off the field. No props, no delaying the game, no taunting anyone. Just 15-yards of joy-*u*king yellow laundry. Wade Phillips argued vehemently (or at least, as vehemently as the cuddly old fellow can), but to no avail. He didn't say a word to Owens, though.
-- Edited by alligcold at 08:32, 2008-09-08
k17 exlusive Bolt trains withe real madrid....mhadddd spanish giantssss....sickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Monday's main STAR story about the policeman who has alleged that he was assaulted by Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) members is very striking.
This is not just because he claims his hand was broken, that he was hit with a rifle butt and slapped, but also his reaction.
As he told THE STAR, "While all a dis a gwaan mi si dung pon mi gun and a think if mi fi rise it eno ... mi kno seh di three a wi woulda dead."
If a policeman can think this way, how does a civilian feel when he or she meets upon the very strong arm of the law in circumstances which are less than what is prescribed as the correct treatment of the public by police officers?
Time and again, through this newspaper, and other media, incidents of alleged police abuse surface, with the injured party determined to report it to the Complaints Authority, and afterwards it tends to simply fade away without any favourable resolution.
We can only hope that this time around, as a policeman is involved, the matter will be pursued and the allegations investigated thoroughly with some definite conclusion.
With the rank and file of the police force increasingly made up of youngsters fresh out of school, we note the injured policeman's deepest injury - not to his body, but to his pride.
And we ask again. If a lawman can feel this way, how does a civilian who has allegedly been 'bwayed up' by a 'bway' feels?
I can't seem to understand why it is that a country that is so keen on being marketed as a tourist destination is so poor on basic customer service when it comes to serving its own people. It is so frustrating to me as an outgoing consumer to be greeted with such ambivalence in the marketplace. Nuff people jus don't know how to treat customers right!
So many people complain about not being able to find a 'work' yet when one is bestowed upon them, they make an ass of themselves and turn out to be more of a liability than an asset. When dealing with customers it is imperative that you leave your problems at the door and pick them back up when yuh a go home.
At some restaurants or business entities the blatant disregard for customer care and service is alarming. Not even a "good morning" yuh can get or "how may I help you Sir or Madam". I have been in stores and not one store attendant even quint pon mi and wen mi start help mi self one a dem a come open har bung shell pon mi, so yuh know mi jus talk the tings and bring har down to size.
Fast-food chains
Lets not even talk about fast-food chains because I really don't know what fast about taking 10 years to serve chicken and fries or burger and worst when you do get the food yuh teeth dem dun drop out because of the hunger and the food cold like puppy nose.
Prejudice is also another poisonous ingredient which continues to flaw customer care and service in Jamaica. If you are not seemingly of a Caucasian lineage and yuh no have the 'uptown' look, is like yuh nuh deserve proper service.
I have not a problem with those types of persons being properly served but it should be the general mission of the store to treat all customers well, no matter your class, colour or creed.
'Dutty' attitude
Sometime weh can bun mi a how some a them ugly and tan bad and ave the nerve fi a gi dutty attitude weh most times uncall fah. I'm quite aware that some customers can be rude and even verbally abusive but at that time an entity should have measures to deal with scoundrels like those because after all nobody wants to be disrespected. Separate and a part from that, nuff a dem need fi cum off the front line and be put on toilet duty cause dem nuh ready.
Have fi seh big up to managers like Kevin Farquharson of Sunset Jamaica Grande who keeps the standard of good customer service alive by quickly ameliorating negative situations to ensure that the customer feels justified, appreciated and taken care of. My thing is, if we don't treat our own people well and ensure that customers go away feeling satisfied, it is going to be a gargantuan task to treat others well.
At the end of the day one should take pride in his job and do it with a smile because you never know how far up the ladder of success that smile can take you or how that bad attitude can sink you.
Russia threatens to target US missile shield sites!!!!!
Policeman left with broken hand after COPS BEAT COP
A BADLY burned body was discovered today on a course at one of the worlds most famous golf clubs.
The body was found on the Buddon course at Carnoustie Golf Club in Angus early this morning.
All golf courses at Carnoustie, which regularly hosts the British Open championships, were closed while detectives and forensics officers examined the scene.
A police cordon was put around the 11th tee and a white tent placed over the body where cops carried out their examinations.
Mr McMillan said around 20 officers were working on the case and appealed for any concerned members of the public to get in touch.
He said: This is clearly a suspicious incident which we are treating very seriously.
Once this individual is identified we can start to piece together what has happened.
The force said officers were alerted to the scene after the body was spotted early this morning.
Tayside Police appealed for anyone in the area this morning to contact them.
Carnoustie Golf Club is one the of the oldest in the world.
It was formally established in 1842, but evidence of golf being played there dates back to the 1500s.
Its famous Championship course last played host to the Open last year, when Irishman Padraig Harrington was the winner.
USAIN BOLT TO TRAIN WITH HIS FAVOURITE SPANISH TEAM REAL MADRID [KRAZILY INSANE]
From three gold medals to 31 league titles and nine European Cups, then, as Bolt expressed his sincere ambition to train with his favourite football club - Spanish champions Real Madrid - while the Olympics were still in progress.
The story then went quiet, but after being asked about Madrid again, the eccentric sprinter had a fairly startling revelation for the sporting world, revealing he had indeed been offered to train with Bernd Schuster's side. "I have been invited to train with them, and be assured that I will go," he said.
Being an avid fan of los Merengues, the 6'5 fans' favourite expressed particular affection for one of Madrid's slowest players, Ruud van Nistelrooy, whom he describes as "one of the best strikers in history."
"I have followed van Nistelrooy since he was at Manchester United, and I know that he's a magnificent kind of player," he said.
While confirmation of an accepted offer has now been made public, no date has yet been agreed for when Bolt will join up with los Blancos.
see original story here
Can you cry under water?
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?
Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did cured ham actually have?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like, every two hours?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
Why do doctors leave the room while! you change?
They're going to see you naked anyway.
Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs!
If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not so easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.
EATING FRUITS & Other Interesting Facts
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
* IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!
* FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.
Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Greying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits like orange and lemon are acidic because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did a research on this matter.
If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT From the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat Cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.
Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you Should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must Let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.
You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body.
Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will Be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI: Tiny but mighty.
This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre . Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away?
Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit.
Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, *lo** vessels-clogging free radicals.
ORANGE: Sweetest medicine.
Taking 2 -4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON: Coolest Thirst Quencher Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for Vitamin C.
They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is Also rich in fibre, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
Drinking Cold water after meal = Cancer! Can u believe this??
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you .
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.
Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be Absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.
Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to Drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks
HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!)
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this...It could save your life!!
Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're driving home . Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home.
Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.
'HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE':
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and Very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.
A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze The heart and keep the *lo** circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.
In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many Other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!! '
If one book can help you master Vista, this is it. Fred Langa, former editor-in-chief of Byte Magazine
These two know more about Windows than Microsoft does. Chris Pirillo, editor of Lockergnome.com
Go beyond Microsofts Help guide and discover the true secrets of Windows Vista that are essential to power users. Written by two of the most recognized Windows authorities, this resource provides you with numerous tips, tricks, and undocumented features that arent available anywhere else. Youll find extensive screenshots, tables, and illustrations that clearly show how to achieve optimal performance, fix desktop problems, and take advantage of the robust features of Windows Vista.
Easyshare:
SARAH PALIN TO DI WORLD Know who ur voting for
What you think about this?THIS WAS SENT TO ME FROM ONE OF MY WHITE FRIENDS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
A summary of Sarah Palen from someone close to her family
More on Sarah Palin:
Anne Kilkenny is a Democrat who sent this September 1st message to her cousin Kim, a Republican, who passed it along saying
Anne is my cousin from Wasilla Alaska. Anne is very active in civic affairs and has known GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin for over 15 years. While Anne is a lifelong Democrat, I find that her insights ring true, and to me, a little scary. KIM
A friend sent this along, with permission to send it around in email form, and so I do.
From: Anne Kilkenny <annekilkenny@hotmail.com>
Date: September 1, 2008 12:20:01 AM PDT
Subject: re: SARAH PALIN
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
Thanks,
Anne
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration tha n about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because o f the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced property taxes and increased a sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual hara**ment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bitten them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiative that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.
There must be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there are a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
"Hockey mom": true for a few years
"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
"NRA supporter": absolutely true
social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconstitutional).
pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
political maverick: not at all
gutsy: absolutely!
open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.
Anne Kilkenny
annekilkenny@hotmail.com
August 31, 2008
Nationwide News Network reported that the deejay had been arrested, and the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) was tightlipped and one representative even told a reporter that he "could neither confirm or deny the incident". [spoiler]
Vybz Kartel / Crop Over Riddim / Portmore Empire Strikes Back
Kanye West Attacks Paparazzi! "Police Help Me" [Footage Of Kanye Wailin' Out On Them]
Sarah Palin Pics. She could be the next VP of the US
Vybz Kartel Arrested
| 876radio.com has just received some breaking news that Portmore Empire's front man Vybz Kartel, his bodyguard and several other men were arrested minutes ago at a popular recording studio in upper St. Andrew. It's alleged that they were picked up by the Police and taken to an undisclosed location after an illegal firearm was found on the premises. Details surrounding the arrest are sketchy at this time and we're not sure if any formal charges have been laid against them. However efforts by our team to contact sources close to the deejay proved futile but we will keep you posted as the story unveils. This has been another exclusive brought to you first by the good folks |
-- Edited by Thug Lord at 10:37, 2008-09-11
On August 22, Assassin performed to a sold out crowd at the Club Element in New York, where he unleashed hit after hit, and received resounding applause for hit songs "Wha Do Dem Guy Deh" and "Almighty Protect". His next stop was the Toronto International Caribbean Music Festival in Toronto, Canada and then at the Rumours Night Club, also located in Toronto, where he performed hits like "Dem A Sissy" along with other songs from his extensive catalogue. "The vibe in Canada is different the people were more laidback while, New York almost seemed like an extension of Kingston," quoted Assassin when asked about performing in Canada versus performing in New York. The tour continued with performances at Hot 97 Reggae On The Tip in New York, the Heardone Complex in New Jersey, and The Atrium in Atlanta, Georgia. Assassin also made a guest appearance at the recently staged Irie Jamboree, when he was called on stage by Elephant Man and performed to over 36,000 patrons receiving a huge "forward" from the massive crowd for "Wha Do Dem Guy Deh." "I did a cameo appearance on Elephant Man's set and the response to 'Wha Do Dem Guy Deh,' was excellent. I was very appreciative of the crowd's response." The Deejay also performed at Mister Cee's 8th Annual Pre Labour Day Parade Bashment in New York, the Philly Summer Fest in Philadelphia and C-Pac in Brooklyn. Assassin is currently working on shooting a music video for his latest hit single "Same Thing Again." He has also just recorded his most recent single on Boardhouse Records latest production, the "Clean Sweep" riddim to be released soon. Assassin continues to promote his weekly event Girls Gone Wild Tuezdayz at Weekendz, the event was re-launched with a bang on August 19th, and is sponsored by Monster Energy Drink. |
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