Several persons protes-ted the arrest of Tesha Miller, the alleged leader of the 'Clansman' gang, in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Saturday.

Miller was reportedly arrested in Portmore, St Catherine, by police on Friday night after breaching his bail bond which stated that he was not to leave his premises after a certain time of the day.

When THE STAR visited Waterloo Lane, persons were seen with placards, some marked, 'Free the don now' and 'Wi need Tesha to be free now, im no do nothing'.

The protesting residents, mostly women, claimed that Miller had not done anything to be arrested. They said he went to report to the police as a condition of his bail, when he was arrested. The protesters said they need their leader to be released.

The St Catherine North police confirmed that Miller is in their custody and say they are investigating a matter about which they would like to talk to him.

The Clansman gang is said to be aligned to the People's National Party. Miller is successor to the late Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett.

New Zealand Viewers Tuned In To Rugby, Got Porn Instead

Rugby is a game known for it's full-body contact.

But viewers in New Zealand got more than they bargained for when they tuned in to watch Gra**roots Rugby Sunday afternoon.

Prime Television is a free-to-air kiwi television station that was to air the rugby show, but apparently got their signals crossed.

Instead of the sporting program they played four minutes of hard-core pornography.

What the sports fans saw, a movie entitled Desperate Black Wives 2, was intended for an adult pay-per-view channel called Spice.

Rival networks in the area reported that parents were outraged, some claiming that their children's innocence was lost in the mix-up.

A spokesman for the station blames the slip-up on an error in the "distribution process."

if there r lawmen out there 2 investigate and apprehend these wrong doers, they shud b called in 2 investigate the members of mediazoneja.com, cuz there r a lot of them in our presence (not all may, b just a few).

I think the artist them need to start writing some more commercial song thats going to appeal to a bigger audience.......Not just songs thats can only be played in the dancehall or only in jamaica.......but songs that can be played on BET and MTV. I also think there is alot of great riddim thats going to waste.....like we dont need no overseas producer......steven and them other producer is making alot of hot riddim,its just the artist them need to start writing better material Thats just my opinion!......what yall think?

Desmond McKenzie, Mayor of Kingston claims that he is 'marked for death'. According to him he discovered that his name was on a hit list. This information was revealed at the Jamaica Labour Party Area One Council meeting in Bull Bay on Sunday.

McKenzie claimed his name was among several on a list of public officials. But the Mayor is not cowering in fear as he boldly stated, "As far as I am concerned, I will never allow anybody, whether real or imaginary, to derail the work I am doing,"

"The only persons who can stop me from doing my work is the voters in the corporate area. I am not afraid," he said.

The Mayor made this disclosure as he was lamenting the murder of a public official, Jamaica Urban Transit Company Chairman, Douglas Chambers, just over a week ago.

yuh see donia now evrybody inna jamaica rate him an thing but him naah to mek nuh money yuh zeet cuz if it tek we weh a talk patois form we born all 3 day fi catch him tune dem how d americans an dem ppl deh ago undertsnd wen a dem really help artist make money cause jamaican ppl nuh buy album innuh dem burn dhat..........so either jamiacan ppl affi go start buy or donia affi go start sing clearer an slower which mi think naah go fit him

A RED-faced lover had to be cut free by fire-fighters after locking himself into a metal chastity belt then losing the key.

The crew spent nearly an hour using three high-powered machines to saw through the sex toy as the man passed out.

He had rung 999 after trying on the belt  , while his girlfriend was out.

Crew boss Brennan Healey said: He was very embarra**ed.

-- Edited by littlemisslinkz at 16:10, 2008-07-07

A YOUNG mother fell 100ft to her death after allegedly being pushed by her boyfriend during a violent row.

Ashley Reynolds, 23, suffered massive head injuries and broken bones after plunging from a block of flats.

Neighbours heard shouting coming from an eighth-floor flat before the 3am tragedy yesterday.

The mum of three screamed in terror as she fell to her death in Millwall, East London.

Detectives arrived at the Midship Point complex on the Isle of Dogs and arrested boyfriend Terry, in his 40s.

He was in custody last night at an East London police station.

It is thought Ms Reynolds had been seeing the married man while he was separated from his wife. Her children are believed to be aged five, three and a few months old. He is thought to have a daughter of his own.

The Reynolds family were last night devastated over the death. A pal said: Its a terrible tragedy. She was a bubbly girl and kind to everyone.

She adored her kids. We just want to know what has happened to her.

Scotland Yard said: We were called to reports of a female falling to her death from the eighth floor of a block of flats in Millwall at 2.56am on Sunday.

The woman, in her early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command have arrested a man in his 40s. He is in custody at an East London police station.

-- Edited by littlemisslinkz at 03:56, 2008-07-07

-- Edited by littlemisslinkz at 04:03, 2008-07-07

THIS is the dramatic moment an armed cop stopped an innocent passenger at gunpoint.

The man was ordered off the train and told to lie on the platform - as the police shooter stood over him.

Shocked passengers watched as the man was then frog-marched into a toilet where he was searched and interrogated.

He was released minutes later without charge after it became clear they had apprehended entirely the wrong man.

The armed officers were called to Bournemouth railway station in Dorset to arrest a suspect.

An officer travelling on the train wrongly identified the 21-year-old passenger as being a wanted man and tipped off colleagues.

Dorset police confirmed the man was detained by mistake and he was now being offered appropriate support.

A MAN died today after being repeatedly stabbed.

Officers were called to an address in Durrants Road, Bethnal Green, east London, in the early hours.

The man, in his early 20s, was found with stab wounds to his chest and arm.

Paramedics took him by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

A second man, also in his early 20s, was taken to hospital suffering from head injuries.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the second man was arrested in connection with the incident after being discharged from hospital.

He is in custody at an east London police station. It is believed the two men knew each other

I am a 20-year-old Jamaican male now studying architecture in the USA. All my life I have lived what most people call 'the perfect life.' I wouldn't say that I come from a rich family, but I can afford to buy things that are not necessary. I played football and even played for my high school and, also, I have had sex with numerous girls.

Pastor, I have a big problem. I am also attracted to other guys. I know it's an abomination to be having these feelings, but I can't help myself. Back home, I have had occasional sex with a guy, but we weren't together because I'm still in the closet. At times I hate myself for the way I feel and have thoughts of committing suicide, but I know that that is an even dumber thing to do. Apart from the guy that I have been with, no one else knows about my secret. I am very afraid to go to counselling because I don't want to admit to anyone that I'm bisexual. I don't know how to get rid of these feelings.

Pastor, could you please give me your advice?

A.C., New Jersey, USA

Dear A.C.,

I suggest that you put away pride and call a Christian psychologist and make an appointment to see him/her.

If you did not have a desire to change, you wouldn't have written. You are living in New Jersey. I am sure there are many psychologists there. May God help you to change your lifestyle!

Pastor

Vigilante justice was handed down in Salt Spring, St James, late Saturday night, when a man was beheaded after being accused of murdering a woman and her daughter hours earlier.

Albert 'Riot' Clarke, 44, ex-convict of Buck-Toe Lane in Salt Spring, was being sought by residents since 6 a.m. Saturday, after the bodies of Sasha Rose-Ann Houston, 28, and her eight-year-old daughter Whitney Rose-Ann Nelson were found that morning.

"About 11:45 Saturday night mi hear two shots fire and cars driving fast up and down the road. Mi hear when one driver stop and say but mi #$$@# see dem cut off 'Riot' head and put it a di crossroad," one resident related.

Clarke was spotted in neighbouring 'Go Peas Lane' where he was set upon and chopped. His head was severed and brought to the entrance of his community where it was left in the middle of the road.

Residents had been strongly speculating that he was responsible for the bizarre murders of Miss Houston and her daughter. The child's father resides in the U.S. She was his only child.

A passer-by was walking along a dirt track in Buck-Toe-Lane Saturday when he spotted Miss Houston lying face down. He raised an alarm and scores of neighbours who converged at the scene shortly after, discovered that the woman's torso had several chop wounds.

The residents became curious as to the whereabouts of her child. They went in search of her at the house where she was found with her throat slashed. Miss Houston was said to be a close friend of Clarke's family.

Clarke was a known troublemaker in the community, and was accused of a number of sexual assaults against women. Three weeks ago, he was accused of raping a woman in Green Pond (a neighbouring district) and was being sought by men.

Mandela Removed From U.S. Terrorist List

July 3rd, 2008

The 90-year-old ex-president of South Africa has been unwelcome for many years

Following a national outcry which even included comments of outrage from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the United States government will finally remove former South African President Nelson Mandelas from a U.S. terrorism watch list. The international icon and Nobel Peace Prize winners treatment by the U.S. government urged lawmakers to introduce a bill to take him off the list. President Bush signed the bill Tuesday. He had no place on our governments terror watch list, and Im pleased to see this bill finally become law, said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. Mandela, the former head of the African National Congress, was the jailed for 24 years during the heyday of apartheid, the South African regimes longtime system of racial separation that was brutally enforced by the White minority government for 46 years. South African dubbed the apartheid-fighting ANC a terrorist group. Thus ANC members were denied U.S. visas, without special permission. Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and, four years later, apartheid officially crumbled, but the leaders name remained on the U.S. terrorist watch list. Under the new bill, both the State Department and Homeland Security Department have the power to dissolve the restrictions against Mandela and fellow ANC members. What it will do is make sure that there arent any extra hoops for either a distinguished individual, like former President Mandela, or other members of the African National Congress to get a U.S. visa, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

Jail time for drug exporter

A man held trying to export almost three pounds of ganja to Antigua was sentenced to 30 days in prison.

Clifton Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export ganja when the matter was mentioned in the Corporate Area Resident Mag-istrate's Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Bailey checked in to board a flight to Antigua at the Norman Manley International Airport and ganja was found in two containers in his luggage. He was arrested and charged. The ganja found weighed two and 3/4 lb.

He was fined $4,000 or three months for possession, admonished and discharged for dealing in ganja and fined $14,000 or three months for taking steps to export ganja. In addition, he was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment at hard labour.

MURDER cops were last night holding the teenage girl they believe lured knife victim Shakilus Townsend to his death in a honeytrap.

The 16-year-old was among five suspects arrested over the stabbing of Shakilus, killed by a mob after being tricked to a spot near a church.

Detectives were also questioning three teenage boys aged 16, 17 and 18 and a 22-year-old man.

They were arrested after a tip-off from someone disgusted by the slaughter.

 

 

 

One suspect was picked up late on Saturday and the rest were seized in a swoop early yesterday morning.

A police source said: The arrests are significant. They are all good arrests.

Shakilus, 16, was a knife-wielding gang member himself, but was said to have been trying to break free of the violent lifestyle when he was killed.

 

His teenage temptress, wearing a floral dress, had texted and phoned his mobile and then arranged to meet Shakilus in Thornton Heath, South London.

But when Shakilus arrived at the spot ten miles from his home patch in Deptford he was surrounded by a masked gang who attacked him with blades and baseball bats.

One eyewitness said the savage attack lasted AN HOUR.

Horrified mum-of-four Sharon Simpson said: They were chasing him in the gardens outside my flat. They cornered him and beat him to the ground.

They were kicking him, punching him and whacking him with a baseball bat. It was vicious. It must have gone on for about an hour.

I went outside and told them to leave him alone but they just ignored me. They could have killed me too.

Weapons

Furious friends of Shakilus yesterday threatened to take their revenge on the honeytrap girl.

An internet page set up in memory of the tragic youngster had a message from a pal called YungahJkid.

It read: Remember u set up Shak you bitch. and he luved yooooh. You iz f****d.

Shakilus can be seen on the Bebo page brandishing weapons and making gang signs. In one picture he peers into the camera lens while holding a four-inch knife.

 

In another he is seen in a hoody holding a gun and making gang symbols with his fingers.

Other photos on the site show him pretending to fire two guns while grinning at the camera.

Mob pals have hailed him as a fallen soldier.

Another message also in text slang and from a girl pal said: Theres no point of people saying u were this good boy because we no u werent but you were trying to change and i no this.

Then in a threat to the honeytrap girl she added: That chick is a snake . . . bbe i swear if i ever find out who she is. . .

Gang rivals hit back by hijacking the Gone Too Soon site and adding their own menacing messages.

One said: Well you got what you deserve, I hope its nice and hot where you are.

Another called Shakilus gun-wielding scum adding: Live by the sword, die by the sword."

And one said simply: Rot in hell, gangster boy.

The spot where Shakilus died, in a communal doorway, was packed with floral tributes yesterday.

One, from the youngsters girlfriend, also indicated he was trying to get out of the gang culture.

The girl, named Ashanah, wrote: The thing that is hurting most is knowing that you were changing.

But as everybody says, The good die young. Even though you had your share of problems, you should never had gone.

Ashanah also wrote: I love you. I cant believe I will never see your cheeky grin again. I loved being your girlfriend. I will always have a place for you in my heart.

 

The family of fellow knife victim Ben Kinsella stabbed to death on a night out in North London also left flowers along with a message of condolence to Shakiluss grieving relatives.

They wrote: Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

God bless. From the parents and family of Ben Kinsella.

Two candles were yesterday also lit in Shakiluss memory by his devastated father Derek, stepmother and two sisters.

They led a group of 50 relatives and friends in a dignified vigil.

And they laid a bouquet bearing a poignant message in the hope it will spare other families the grief they are suffering. It said simply: Put down your knives.

ANGRY AMY WINEHOUSE lashed out at a fan outside her home after claiming he pinched her bottom.

Amy, 24, threw a punch at the man as he tried to take her photo. A source said: Amy had her bottom pinched and blamed the fan taking her picture.

She just lashed out and clumped him. He laughed it off. Amy struck out as she arrived at her flat in Camden, North London, late on Saturday.

It was the second time in a week the singer attacked a fan. During her performance at Glastonbury she punched a man in the front row for touching her beehive hairdo.

T-PAIN FOR SUMFEST

James May's agent denies he has made a pay ultimatum

SUNDAY AM: Sources tell me that very early North American numbers show that Sony Pictures' No. 1 Hancock scored another box office bounce from Friday to Saturday -- +35% -- to make $25 million or close to it in domestic gross from 3,965 theaters. So the PG-13 Will Smith dark comedy should finish its first 3-day weekend right around $64 mil with a total 5 1/2-day Independent Day holiday cume of $105 mil even though the pic received spotty reviews (only 33% positive on Rotten Tomatoes) and only so-so buzz. But Will Smith has traditionally owned the July 4th long weekend based on the past performance of his movies which opened on that holiday like Independence Day, Men In Black, and Men In Black 2. All went on to earn $442+M in worldwide gross. Because of that impressive track record from the one actor whom Hollywood considers able to reliably open a movie these days., Sony feels Hancock's franchise hopes are alive because "there is a huge disconnect between audiences and critics when you have big numbers added to the world's most bankable movie star." In second place, Disney/Pixar's Wall-E keeps piling up the dough, making $13.5M Saturday from 3,992 venues for a $33M weekend and new cume of $127.6M. Meanwhile, Picturehouse made a huge mistake by only platforming Kit Kittredge: An American Girl on July 2oth, a week before Wall-E opened, and then waiting for a July 2nd wider release after the Disney/Pixar toon was already a blockbuster. The studio foolishly thought its well-reviewed G-rated pic could counter-program Hancock with kid favorite Abigail Breslin, and also Will Smith's 7-year-old daughter Willow. (Prompting Smith to tell her her, "Daddy loves you sweetie, but I gots to stomp you at the box office."). As an insider explained, "They had the right date all along: the momentum was there, the reviews were there, and Wall-E was not! But then Picturehouse put Kit Kittredge down in the middle of freeway. Suicide." Even with a big kid matinee bump, the pic was only #8 with $1.3M Saturday from 1,843 runs for what should be just a Friday-Saturday-Sunday of $3.3M and cume of $6M. At No. 3, Universal's Wanted earned another $8.1M Saturday for the Angelina Jolie-James McAvoy actioner to make $19.5M for the 3-day weekend and a cume of $89.6M. The 4th slot went to Warner Bros' Get Smart with $4.6M Saturday for a $11M weekend and $98M cume. And No. 5 was DreamWorks Animation/Paramount's Kung Fu Panda squeezed another $3M Saturday for a $7.5M FSS and new cume of $193.3M. Overall, the holiday weekend total of $155M was down 8% from last year's $170M. SATURDAY AM: #1 Sony Pictures' Hancock received the bounce it needed, up 9% from Thursday, to make $18.8 million on Fourth of July Friday from 3,965 theaters. That gives the PG-13 dramedy $60.1M from its first 3 1/2 days. The studio expects a 3-day weekend in the low $60sM to put Hancock "comfortably over 100" for the 5 days -- somewhere between $102M-$105M. Other films: #2 Disney/Pixar's Wall-E made $9.1M Friday (-61% from its opening day) from 3,992 venues. It should make $38M for FSS and a cume of $133M. #3 Universal's Wanted $5.3M (-72% from its opening) Friday in 3,185 runs, $22M FSS, cume $92M. #4 Warner Bros' Get Smart $3M Friday from 3,574 plays, $12M FSS, cume $98M. #5 DreamWorks Animation/Paramount's Kung Fu Panda $2M Friday in 3,347 theaters, $8M FSS, cume $194M. #6 Universal's The Incredible Hulk $1.2M Friday from 3,043 venues, $5M FSS, cume $125M. #7 Paramount's Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull $1.1M Friday in 2,192 plays, $4.7M FSS, cume $307M. #8 Picturehouse's Kit Kittredge: An American Girl made $857K on Fourth Of July in 1,843 theaters, $3.3M FSS, cume $6M. #9 HBO Films/New Line/Warner Bros' Sex And The City $630M Friday from 1,275 theaters, $2.4M FSS, cume $145M. #10 Sony's You Don't Mess With The Zohan, $475M Friday from 1,731 venues, $1.9M FSS, cume $94.7M. FRIDAY AM: Sony Pictures' Hancock keeps adding to its domestic box office dough. It made $17.1 million from 3,965 theaters for Thursday, down only 2% from its Wednesday opening., bringing its 2 1/2 day total (including Tuesday's evening shows) to $41.3M. THURSDAY AM: Sony Pictures now has a hefty $24.2 million total domestic gross in 1 1/2 days for its dramedy Hancock starring Will Smith and directed by Peter Berg: $6.8M Tuesday (from two evening shows starting at 7 PM at 3,680 North American theaters) and $17.3M Wednesday (from its full run in 3,965 venues for its official opening). The studio still has its sights set on the Will Smith dramedy earning more than $100M but $115M seems out of reach. Although the poorly reviewed film is doing big business overseas, there's some doubt now whether this can still be Sony's next franchise (or Will Smith's ... remember Warner Bros' Wild Wild West?)

Anthony Gibbons, a member of the Arnett Gardens Football Club, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday to answer charges of robbery with aggravation.

The court was told that on June 25, the complainant was held up along Studio One Boulevard and robbed of his motor car and a cellular phone by three men. Two of the men escaped and Gibbons, 26, who the court was told plays for Arnett Gardens, was reportedly found with the phone in his possession.

His lawyer, however, strongly denied the allegations and told the court that the car did not belong to the complainant. He said the complainant was lent the car and some money, but was delaying returning the car. The complainant reportedly met with some men to have discussions and the car was taken. Gibbons' lawyer said the complainant then made a false report that the car had been stolen. He said the documents proving the car belonged to the complainant were fraudulent.

Gibbons was denied bail and was ordered to have his fingerprints taken.

i here that back down in de west flow has been giving packages free you just carry your TRN & IDEE what do think they are doing

* Competes with: Lexus RX 400h
* Looks like: A regular Escalade with the word HYBRID plastered all over it
* Drivetrain: 2-Mode Hybrid system with 332 hp 6.0-liter V-8 engine and electric motor
* Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

There is one thing that holds a lot of people back from buying a big, bold SUV like the Cadillac Escalade: They dont want to be a pariah for hurting the environment. The new 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is the third full-size hybrid SUV from GM, following the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon which go on sale later this year.

The Escalade has a bigger engine, though, which not only has the assistance of a hybrid powertrain, but also features active fuel management so that when the SUV is cruising at highway speeds four of the eight cylinders shut off. Along with the regenerative braking system and other fuel-saving technologies, GM says the mileage for the hybrid Escalade will improve by 50% over its gas counterpart. That means the Escalade should get 18 mpg, up from 12, using the new EPA estimates. The government hasn't given official numbers yet, but we'd expect the Escalade to follow the other 2-mode SUVs which have highway mileage identical to the gasoline-only versions. That would mean the Escalade's would likely stay close to the 18 and 19 mpg for AWD and 2WD models respectively.

The Escalade will start from a dead stop, and drive at low speeds, entirely on electric power. It will also roll on 22-inch wheels.

Well have more photos of the Escalade Hybrid later today. Until then, tell us if you think this is a good idea for Cadillac.

-- Edited by pengo at 12:56, 2007-11-17

Trinidad and Tobago too rich for aid says US President By Claudia Liburd Trinidad Reporter SKNVibes.com President of the United States, George Bush PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad- IN a recent letter from United States President George Bush to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Bush classified Trinidad and Tobago as a high income country thus ending its access to preferential trade. Under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) developing countries are granted access to preferential trade through exemption from the formalized rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the letter dated June 30, President Bush noted that Trinidad and Tobago has become too rich to qualify for duty free access for exports. Section 502(e) of the 1974 Act, provides that the President shall terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP if the President determines that such country has become a high income country as defined by the official statistics of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Termination is effective on January 1 of the second year following the year in which such determination is made. I have determined that Trinidad and Tobago has become a high income country, and I am terminating the designation of that country as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP, effective January 1, 2010, said Bush. However, according to local Trade and Industry Minister Dr. Lenny Saith the termination will not drastically affect the nations export sector and will only influence approximately 2 per cent of local exports. Local economists say that once a country has moved up from low income status it no longer becomes eligible for certain preferential aids from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. With respect to Trinidad, Jwala Rambarran Managing Director of CAP-M Research and local economist has noted there is now more focus on differing forms of financing such as investment in the energy sector rather than dependence on foreign aid

-- Edited by ladyvane18 at 07:27, 2008-07-05

July 06, 2008. You thought it couldnt happen . MediaTakeOut.com just learned EXCLUSIVELY that last week rappers 50 Cent and The Game met at a secret location in New York to discuss future business dealings. According to a G-Unit insider, the meeting was meant to gauge whether the two artists could work together on future projects and whether The Game would consider rejoining the G-Unit. The insider told MediaTakeOut.com, [The meeting] went well. No one has committed to anything, but I wouldnt be at all surprised if Game was on 50s next album [which is scheduled for release later this year]. We really hope they can work this out. Hip hop needs this.

TMZ: "This Woman Owns Suge Knight's Ass" By Rahim, 06-25-2008 , 06:27 PM As reported on TMZ.com, the former beautician and president of Global Music Group, Susan Berg is now the new owner of Death Row Records after she paid $24 million to buy the notorious record label due to a judge ruling yesterday (June 24). Susan now owns all of Tha Row's assets, including 20 unreleased tracks that were recorded in 1996 by the late Tupac Shakur. Marion "Suge" Knight has not made any comments on this recent court order.

Who Am I?: The Untold Story of Beenie Man

Sunday, July 06, 2008

(This is the first excerpt from the soon-to-be-launched book on dancehall superstar Beenie Man, entitled Who Am I?: The Untold Story of Beenie Man (Great House, Kingston, Jamaica). Over the following weeks, Sunday Entertainment will give our readers excerpts from this biography written by journalist Milton Wray.)

Beenie Man... biography soon to be released

"Open the b@&&^ c@#%* car!" barked one of the gunmen, his hand steadily holding his pistol. He pointed the gun directly at her pregnant abdomen. Jacqueline was frightened, and with trembling fingers she fumbled with the car key until she managed to insert it into the keyhole and unlock the door of her Honda. It was approaching late evening. The shopping plazas in Half-Way-Tree were still teeming with shoppers, but no one seemed to notice.

She had come to the shops to fill her prescription for the iron tablets, recommended by her prenatal caregivers. Just minutes before, she had made her purchase, with no premonitions, no warning of the danger that awaited her in the parking lot, where the hoodlums had been lurking.

"Woman, go inna de r@&& c@#%* car and drive!" one of the gunmen demanded. Jackie winced at his shiny, silver-looking gun. "Okay, okay, don't shoot," she begged nervously, stiffly sliding into the driver's seat of the car. The man with the silver-looking gun slid in beside her, while his accomplice opened the back door and frantically ducked.

"Drive!" the gunman ordered menacingly, his gun trained on her belly. She felt she had invited this upon herself. She had always worn too much jewellery. She loved jewellery. After all, she owned her own store and chose the finest and richest pieces for herself, even when she was dressed casually. She never gave enough thought to the possibility of being targeted. But it was her jewellery that had attracted these thugs now, and they didn't care that she was pregnant.

Her heart was pounding violently, her knees weak as she steered out of the parking lot. A million questions raced through her mind. If they wanted her jewellery, they could have snatched the necklaces, watch and bracelets and disappeared. They clearly were not after her jewellery. So what exactly did they want? Were they assassins sent to extinguish her for some foul reason of which she was unaware? Who would be behind such a sinister plot? She checked the mirror for the face of the man in the back, but it was unfamiliar. Neither was she familiar with the face beside her. Both were just featureless masses of danger. She had to be brave. She was certain she was quivering, but she had to be brave. "What unnu want?" she stammered, as the car headed down busy Half-Way-Tree Road.

"Just shut yu mouth and drive the car," snapped the one in the back. Jackie could see his face in her mirror now. He was as ugly as his voice. The other one, the one with the silver-looking gun, was younger.

She thought of Beenie Man. He would be devastated by her death. They were living together now, sharing a life as they prepared for the arrival of their newborn, the bundle of joy that would seal their bond. With one hand on the steering wheel, she brought her free hand to her tummy. Her baby.

If she should be killed, her baby would die too. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was now three months pregnant and the outlines were obvious, but these brutes didn't care. She would be wasting her time trying to beg for her baby's life.

She remained silent. The only voices were their gruff, demanding barks, directing her to drive here and there, to turn left, turn right, drive faster. They ordered her to Three Miles, then on to Seaview Gardens, the volatile ghetto settlement off Spanish Town Road. Her mind was like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. How could she possibly escape this drive to death? She wanted to jump from the car, or at least shout to some passerby. But their guns were permanently trained on her. She couldn't risk it. She could not fight back because she would be easily outmanoeuvered, she knew. There was no question about it - she would be instantly shot dead. There was nothing she could do. The only power she possessed was words.

"Mi not going too far into Seaview Gardens," she said. At that moment, without warning, Silver Gun slammed the butt of his pistol against the side of her head, sending pain slicing through her skull.

She cl**tched the painful area with one hand, fighting to control the car with the other. The car swerved frightfully, but she quickly steadied it in time.

Ugly reached over and smacked her restrainedly across one cheek, and her watery eyes broke their banks, streaming tears down her cheeks.

"Shut yu mout' gal, before mi shoot yu," Ugly growled.

Jackie knew she had to be strong. Her life could not end like this, not at the hands of these rascals who lived for nothing. She bit her lip and wiped tears from her face with her free hand, fighting hard to calm herself and concentrate. She had to concentrate.

From Seaview Gardens, they directed her up Penwood Road to Waterhouse. Waterhouse. Beenie Man was from Waterhouse. Did this have anything to do with him? She was not sure. So what exactly were they searching for? Why were they forcing her to wander around aimlessly? Her hands on the steering wheel were sweaty and numb, her eyes blurry and swollen, her head pounding. But she followed every directive.

After a series of acerbic barks, "Turn left, turn right, stop yah so, drive now gyal", it finally occurred to her - they were trying to find the ideal place to slaughter her and hide her lifeless body so she would never be found.

She was exhausted, hungry, faint and feeling worthless. By now it was late evening and the first signs of darkness were beginning to descend over the city, casting a ghostly pall over the slums through which she was being directed. She had been driving around for almost an hour, obeying the commands of men from hell who now held sway over her future. What if she refused to drive any further? What if she simply depressed the brake pedal this very minute and refused to budge? She quickly perished the thought. It would be equivalent to suicide. But what choice did she have now? She was going to die anyway, and her baby was going to die too.
Oh, her baby.

Traffic was light as the two captains of her fate directed her through Waterhouse and on to Patrick City, then Maxfield Avenue. When she drove onto the lower section of Maxfield Avenue, she was pointed down a deserted cul de sac that curled like a deadly snake off the feared thoroughfare.

It was a narrow and short dead-end road, lifeless and eerily silent, with only mounds of green shrubbery on both sides. Jackie feebly navigated the car down the gravely path, driving slowly, emptied now of all her strength.

"Stop yah so gyal!" Silver Gun suddenly sneered.

Jackie immediately depressed her brake pedal and brought the car to a stop near a clump of brush that had grown out into the roadway. It must have seemed the middle of nowhere, this spot where her life was supposed to end. Her baby would never live to see his father's face. How would he recover when he learnt that he had lost his child to invisible murderers that only she had seen? With her dead, the unthinking scoundrels would be unidentifiable.

"No noise." Ugly said menacingly as he reached over, switched the engine off, and removed the ignition key.

"Mek wi give this gal something fi remember," he suggested to his accomplice.

Jackie shivered at the thought of being raped. Surreptitiously, she checked all three mirrors, hoping for a sign of someone, something.

"Hey gyal, yu know how much people we kill and throw over deh so?" Silver Gun bragged threateningly, pointing to an overgrown empty lot across the road that she hadn't noticed before.

"Wha'yu have inna yu bag, gyal?!" snapped Silver Gun.

Jackie was too weak to speak.

He grabbed her leather handbag and emptied out its contents, dumping everything on the back seat, including coins and her ATM card. "Wha' de number fi dis?" he asked, holding the banking card.

She weakly muttered a fake sequence of numbers, and he found pen and paper among the stuff from her handbag, scribbled down the false PIN, then pocketed the ATM card.

"When we done wid yu, we ah go want the car," Ugly spat, handing her a few of the coins from her handbag. "Pay yu bus fare with this. and don't go to the police.!" he warned sternly.

Just then, he was cut off by the sound of oncoming voices. Jackie replayed the words that stood out most in her mind: "when we done wid yu."

What exactly were they planning to do to her? If it was what she was thinking, then they might as well just shoot her that minute. She would never allow them to do as they pleased with her pregnant body. She would rather die.

The oncoming voices were becoming more discernable, bearing down now.

"Some people ah come," Silver Gun said in a subdued tone, looking about anxiously. Jackie checked her rearview mirror and saw a small group of people approaching from the mouth of the cul de sac. She knew it was her last hope. She could not allow the passersby to leave her here to die. But what exactly would she do to get their attention and to alert them to her danger? She had to be extra careful because she could place them all in grave danger too, she was aware. Her captors had guns and surely were not afraid to use them. Both Ugly and Silver Gun fell silent.

As the group of passersby appeared ominously close, from a cursory glance, based on their attire, Jackie could tell that the people in the group were returning from an evening of worship. The Lord had sent them to deliver her.

They were engaged in lively chatter. Jackie's mind was racing. How could she attract their attention without getting her stomach blown to bits? She had to do something before it was too late.
At that moment, one of her captors - she didn't care which one - uttered a line of foul expletives. Then, "Make we leave this place," said the voice of Ugly.

Silver Gun turned to Jackie. "Get out!" he ordered, and Jackie opened her door. She feebly wobbled from her car. Ugly slid over into the driver's seat, slammed the door shut and sped away.

***

Beenie Man was outraged. He was furious and confounded. Who would want to harm Jacqueline? She was a perfect soul, with not a shred of ill will to her being. But two nincompoops had obviously mistaken her for someone else. She was three months pregnant. Couldn't they tell, or was it that they simply didn't care who they targeted? She must have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

She had arrived home crying uncontrollably. And as she related the harrowing nightmare at the edge of hysteria and disorientation, Beenie had been livid. And when she had been through relating her ordeal, he realised that in the midst of the distress, there was still reason to be thankful. Because Jackie was still alive, and that single fact was most precious.

His whys, wherefores and hows were numerous, and she shared every infinite detail. Beenie was as hurt as she was, but he had to be strong for her. He accompanied her to the police station where she gave a formal statement. Not much could be expected from the police, they both knew. Her car would never be recovered and her assailants would never be caught, but it was all they could do.

The major concern now was the child she was carrying. After they left the police station, they both went to a nearby doctor's office. The checks revealed no evident immediate physical harm. But they both knew that the deep, gruesome scars that had been inflicted by her tormenters were invisible to the naked eye. The wounds were buried beneath the surface.

It was one month later, during a regular prenatal visit, that the abnormalities were finally discovered. And her caregivers referred her for immediate medical attention.

When the referral was followed through, their suspicions were confirmed. The visit would be the first of many over the ensuing two months, as doctors desperately attempted to rectify what had gone wrong. But the distress she had survived had been much too severe for her fragile unborn child. And every attempt at corrective measures would fail to reverse the complications.

Two months later, when Jackie was seven months pregnant, in their wisdom, her doctors finally came to the decision that it had to be now or never. And Jacqueline agreed to the C-section.

And when her little girl was delivered, nothing else mattered. It was a magical moment. The doctors said Moses and Jackie's baby would be fine. Their daughter was adorable. They named her Ashley-Jade.

Over the past few months, teen sensation Soulja Boy had been embroiled in verbal spats with veteran MCs the GZA and Ice-T.
However, the young rapper found unlikely support in two superstars: 50 Cent and Kanye West.

Basically comments were made (by Ice-T) and I had to defend myself, Soulja Boy explained to the media. The GZA had said something about me one time and 50 jumped it in. And this time it was Ice-T and Kanye jumped in it. Its the new Hip-Hop sticking together and I love it.

Look how many people came out with records last year: Party Like a Rockstar, A Bay Bay, Wipe Me Down, Soulja Boy reasoned. He (Ice-T) chose me because out of all those records mine was the biggest one. And [it was] not just the record but me individually.

After the disrespectful remarks made by both sides on each others musical contributions to Hip-Hop, which are significant, Soulja Boy also welcomes closure to the unnecessary animosity.
Its over with for me, Soulja Boy stated emphatically.

finally!!!



Last month Ice-T also officially ended the feud on his part.

-- Edited by titus at 22:04, 2008-07-06

Last Summer it was Munga Honourable; this year Serani and Konshens are the new artistes creating waves in the dancehall for the season.

With songs such as Stinkin Rich, No Games and She Loves Me, Serani is making his mark in the dancehall industry. He has been on the dancehall scene since late last year when he collaborated with Mavado on Dying and with Bugle on Doh.

According to Ice of ZIP FM, Serani is one of the best and most consistent new artistes.

Serani, Serani and Serani

"Serani, Serani and Serani. That's the top three. He is the most consistent for a young artiste. Him tune dem always a shot," Ice told THE STAR.

He said there are other artistes like Bugle, Konshens, Laden and D Major who help to make up the top 10 on his list of noteworthy new artistes.

"Dem have tune weh a shot inna dance and pon radio. Yuh tune can play forever on radio but unless it really buss inna di streets ,it nuh really buss," ZJ Ice said.

For Kurt Riley of Fame FM, Serani and Konshens are the two hottest new artistes.

youthful vibe

He says Serani has a youthful vibe in his music while Konshens brings some level of self-awareness as he sings about the power of music and following one's dreams.

"On playlists around the world those two artistes are getting a lot of love," said Riley while noting that their songs are in heavy rotation in Japan, England, Hawaii, Trinidad, Barbados and the United States of America.

Serani was not noted as one of the hottest new artistes by Producer Stampede, creator of Stampede Street Charts, but Konshens was one of his favourites. He said Tyrical who sings Ghetto Prayer is also getting a lot of airplay.

"People a tek on to him now and Winner a get likkle play. When people start talk bout yuh, yuh see seh yuh a gwaan wid a ting," he said.

While their eyes are on the artistes that are doing well in the hard core dancehall market, Selector Jigsy of Dangerzone said singjay I-Octane is poised for great things this summer.

"The message weh him a send through him music different. Other new artistes a do song weh too commercial. Weh him a seh a sum'n fi di youth dem listen to," he told THE STAR.

He also said the artistes who are doing well now will be the highlight of the summer.

"Summer soon done enuh so if yuh naah put out the music dem now weh can hit de people, a December wi a talk bout. But de song dem weh dem a put out naah last more than two months," said Jigsy

SOCCER superstar Cristiano Ronaldo DOES want to stay at Man United, his big sister revealed last night.

Boutique owner Elma Aveiro said the Old Trafford idol had told family and friends he would resist the temptation to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have offered to break the bank to sign him.

The Portuguese heros heart belonged to the Red Devils, she said.

Elma added: Cristiano wants to keep playing at Manchester United. Real Madrid keep making very strong advances for him. There is a lot of speculation in the newspapers all the time about where he will go and what he is doing.

 

But we know who he really is and what he is really up to. He wants to stay at United.

The 34-year-old added: As long as he is happy where he plays, we dont mind where he is. We are a very close, simple family and we are very happy we have a brother like him.

Elma spoke to The Sun at her upmarket CR7 shop in Funchal, Madeira, which Ronaldo bought for her two years ago.

She said: Lots of people come into the shop asking about whether hes going, but I dont know for sure. He tells me he likes Manchester United and everybody here wants him to stay there.

A long-time family friend, who did not want to be named, said: Cristiano likes to play for Manchester United.

He has a private plane to get to see his mother or his girlfriend so it is not a problem for him to stay in Manchester.

Ronaldo, 23, and girlfriend Nereida Gallardo, 24, have been soaking up the sun in Italy.

-- Edited by ladyvane18 at 06:37, 2008-07-05

WHOEVER thought the quality of roots-reggae died in 1981 with Bob Marley, has another guess coming. The music - which some thought was at death's door - is on the rebound, according to the June 21 issue of Billboard Magazine. The decline, wrote Patricia Meschino in an article headlined 'Movement of the People', began with the increased dominance of computerised dancehall beats, which caused authentic reggae rhythms to be relegated to obscurity. She, however, saw saxophonist Dean Fraser as instrumental in this revival. Fraser produced Tarrus Riley's Parables, Duane Stephenson's From August Town, and Luciano's Jah is My Navigator, three of the strongest albums recorded in Jamaica during the last two years. Producer and songwriter Mikey Bennett also shares this optimistic view and sees the music regaining its former status. "It is a wonderful time for roots- rock reggae music," said the man who penned Maxi Priest and Shabba's mega-hit, House Call. "Music goes through cycles and presently, roots is flourishing." Female singers Etana Bennett lauded female artistes for carrying the mantle as well. "We're especially blessed with a wide selection of female singers; for the first time you see the females in the spotlight," Bennett said. In the Billboard article, Fraser names Etana and Queen Ifrica as females rooted "in the struggle" of restoring the music to its former place in the international market. Another hurdle roots-reggae faces, according to Meschino, is the scant commercial airplay the music receives. She, however, credits the band Rootz Underground for its creativity in creating a download link to its music. Bennett sees this as critical for the music's longevity and has seen some strides in this regard. "Radio, producers and selectors have become more open to playing roots music and this is beneficial for the business, as it allows the audience to appreciate the music," he said. Billboard proclaims six albums that heralded the roots-reggae resurgence. This includes Parables by Tarrus Riley, Movement by Rootz Underground, The Strong One from Etana, Diedem by Taj Weekes and Adowa, From August Town by Duane Stephenson, and Mission In Progress by Morgan Heritage.

Co Co Tea to release Yes We Can album this summer

Co Co Tea will be putting out a new album titled Yes We Can named after his latest single, a song which implore people of all nations and races to unite and live in peace in order to have a better world.

The album was produced by Co Co Tea aka Calvin Scott on his Roaring Lion/Dancehall Jam Jam label. According to the singer it will have 12-15 tracks and will feature songs such as his big international hit Barrack Obama a tribute to the American on his presidential campaign.

He has also reunited with Shabba Ranks for a song titled Time Is Real. Co Co Tea in the 1990's had 2 big collaborations with Shabba in Pirates and Who She Love. He also has collaborations with Marcia Griffiths, President Brown, Cutty Ranks and El General. As well as a make over of Hoace Andy's song, She Is My Baby.

Co Co Tea speaking to YardFlex spoke highly about the album. "It is a one in a million CD." he said with his trade mark smile. "It is a mixture of Lovers Rock and authentic reggae music. I had famous musicians working on it, like members of the Prophecy Band, Dean Frazer and his harmonizers, Kirk and Bowie, Teetamus, Lymie Murray. It has an international appeal and I am expecting it to do very well."

A Detroit man who claimed he was assaulted by Eminem at a local strip club two years ago has reportedly filed an assault and battery lawsuit against the rapper.

In 2006, Miad Jarbou told Detroit police that Eminem sucker-punched him in the bathroom of a strip club called Cheetah's.

Jarbou claimed that him and a friend approached Eminem who was standing at a urinal to greet him but were turned away by the rapper's bodyguard.

Jarbou claimed that as he was trying to explain to the bodyguard that they wanted to meet Eminem, the rapper stepped back from urinal and punched him.

Jarbou would drop the charges a few days after filing the complaint but according to The Detroit News, Jarbou filed a lawsuit against Eminem on Thursday (July 3) at the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Jarbou claims the incident has made him undergo physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, ongoing serious injuries requiring medical treatment and embarra**ment, humiliation, medical expenses, wage loss and other economic and non-economic damages.

Jarbou is seeking $25,000 in damages.

http://www.zshare.net/video/1465274261b51baa/

Who's the top artist when it comes to writting songs and laying dem down on wax and i would judge a artist based on versitility, style, concept ect.

-- Edited by kolonji at 12:21, 2008-07-04

-- Edited by kolonji at 12:32, 2008-07-04

WIMBLEDON, England - Venus Williams beat sister Serena 7-5, 6-4 Saturday for her fifth Wimbledon title and seventh Grand Slam championship.

This was Venus' first victory over her younger sibling in a Grand Slam final since the 2001 U.S. Open, and it evened their career record at 8-8.

"I can't believe that it's five," Venus said. "But when you're in the final against Serena Williams, five seems too far away. ... She played so awesome, it was really a task to beat her."

Venus came from 3-1 down in the first set to turn around the match, breaking Serena four times while dropping serve twice in a final that produced breathtaking tennis despite swirling wind.

This was more than a matchup between siblings; it was a contest between two of the hardest-hitting, most athletic players in the world at the top of their game.

Venus broke to finish the match, with Serena hitting a backhand wide on the second match point. The sisters embraced at the net, and Venus kept her celebrations in check as she twirled and waved to the Centre Court crowd.

Venus accepted the winner's trophy -- a sterling silver salver aptly named the Venus Rosewater dish -- from the Duke of Kent.

"It's so rewarding to perform here," Venus said. "Every time I come back I know I have the chance to play well and make history. My first job is big sister and I take that very seriously."

Watching from the players' box was the sisters' mother, Oracene. Their father, Richard, had flown back to the United States because he can't stand to watch his daughters play each other.

Referring to the mixed feelings of her family about who to support, Venus said, "It's hard for all of them, but I like to think they want me to win."

The 26-year-old Serena accepted her runner-up trophy and paid tribute to her 28-year-old sister.

"I'm so happy that at least one of us was able to win," Serena said. "She's played great this year. We're just glad to be in the finals again."

The sisters were set to return later to Centre Court to play for the women's doubles title, joining forces to face Lisa Raymond of the U.S. and Samantha Stosur of Australia in the final.

"Serena deserves to win something, so I'll try even harder for that," said Venus, who collected a winner's check of $1.49 million.

Venus, appearing in her seventh Wimbledon final, avenged her two losses to Serena in the 2002 and 2003 title matches and stopped her sister from winning her ninth Grand Slam.

Many all-Williams finals have been awkward affairs that didn't live up to expectations, with the sisters having trouble playing their best. But this final featured long, corner-to-corner rallies, booming serves and winning shots flashing all over the court.


"It was so not easy," Serena said. "Every time I tried to hit a shot, the wind would blow it."

source:http://nbcsports.msnbc.com

today mi hear about the garbage truck what mow down some people one of the ladies was pregnant 5 months and the garbage truck kill har and injurie few more that were standing there tell mi know a wha du dat de bredda de him must tink se a dova him de.

Beenie Man one of Jamaica's longest reigning dancehall artiste continues to top international and local charts, Beenie seems to have a never ending hold of the top spot. The 'Doc' scorching single 'Wine Gal' is in the #1 spot on the New York Top 30 Reggae singles chart also copping the #2 position on South Florida's Top 20 singles chart, it has also allowed him to gain his first #1 single for this year locally on the Hype TV's Top 20 singles chart which it kept hold for six weeks also spent three weeks on top of the Richie B's Jamaica Music Countdown Chart and RE TV Dancehall chart which is still maintaining a hold in the top ten position on all three charts locally. Speaking of local charts, his hot new single 'Gimme Likkle' that was recorded on for Born So Records is enjoying heavy rotations on the air and creating havoc in the dancehalls and ripping its way up the charts. The single has debuted at #17 position on Richie B's chart; it also sits at #15 on RE TV Dancehall chart and currently takes up the #7 spot on the Hype TV Top 20 singles chart after five weeks. Local and international patrons can definitely look out to see him performing this summer which is gearing to be a hectic yet spectacular one for the entertainer who is booked to appear on several top events for July, such as Portland Jerk Festival on July 6, Reggae Sumfest July 17 among others. He is also expected to embark on a European tour in August right after his own show dubbed 'Beenie Man Summer Sizzle' on August 6 to be held at Jamalco Sports Complex in Halse Hall, Clarendon.

Caribbean hardest hit by food, energy prices Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno mentioned the importance of the partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to extend the benefits of IDB programmes in response to food and oil shocks to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). (Photo: Chasquionline.com) ST JOHN'S, Antigua, July 4, 2008 - Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno has reported that rising food and oil prices are hitting the Caribbean more than any other region in the Western Hemisphere. He was among the speakers at the four-day 29th Annual Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference which ends today. According to IDB estimates, the average negative net impact of high oil and food prices on the trade balance for Caribbean countries, except Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, is 5.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to four per cent of GDP in the Central American countries. "Oil and gas exporting Trinidad and Tobago is benefitting from higher fossil fuel prices, while in Guyana the negative impact of high oil prices is partially offset by higher export prices for commodities such as rice, bauxite and gold," the IDB said. IDB analyses show that the effects of high oil prices exceed those related to food in most of the Caribbean. Mr Moreno has therefore offered regional leaders support from the IDB's Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) initiative, noting that a grant for Guyana related to bio-fuels is already in execution. He also mentioned the importance of the partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to extend the benefits of IDB programmes in response to food and oil shocks to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). "This support will follow the grants already under preparation with the CDB for disaster risk mitigation and managing for results in the OECS," the IDB said. Mr Moreno added that the IDB and the CDB are studying ways of reducing food prices in the region through an in-depth assessment of cost structures - transport, logistics, taxes and tariffs - and options for strengthening regional food production clusters. The two bodies are also designing a programme in support of private sector development and competitiveness in areas such as access to finance, trade facilitation and trade negotiation capacity, innovation and value chain integration.

The Fraud Squad is investi-gating several reports from Western Union customers who claim that their remittances have gone missing.

The customers all say that when they went to the Western Union branches, operated locally by GraceKennedy Remittance Services (GKRS), they were told that the funds had already been 'issued'.

Maria Jackson, a customer, said US$600 was sent to her from New York, United States, on May 24. However, her visits to three Western Union locations only led to her being told that the transaction was not on the system.

"I went to the Pavilion Mall branch the Tuesday after the money was sent and the Super Plus supermarket branch in Half-Way Tree later that day and they both told me that the money was not there," Jackson said.

She also visited a branch in New Kingston before deciding to call the sender. " ... I called the sender in New York and told her that I was not getting the money. So, she went to the Western Union office in New York that she sent it from and they told her that information on their system shows that a 'Maria Jackson' had collected the money that morning. That person was not me."

In the case of Jenna, over TT$4,000 was sent to her on April 30. She said, however, that she was not able to retrieve the money until May 22, as her passport, her source of identification, was being renewed.

She said since then she has made several checks at various outlets to no avail. "I had the control number and everything but they kept telling me that they were not seeing the transfer so I called the sender in Trinidad and told him," she said. "He went to the office he sent it from over there and they told him that their system shows that the money was collected in Jamaica on May 16 at 12:30 pm. At this time, my passport was not returned to me, so I could not have been the one who collected it."

The situation was similar in the case of Kerry, whose transaction was coming from New York. Several attempts to retrieve the cash were unsuccessful and the sending office overseas told the sender that records showed that the cash was picked up the same day it was sent.

All three persons said they have reported the episodes to the local Western Union headquarters and the Fraud Squad, both of which are conducting investigations.

Noel Greenland, the vice-president of marketing and product development at GKRS, said he knew of only one incident of such sort. "We process hundreds of thousands of cases on a monthly basis - a case of this is an isolated case and one that is investigated thoroughly," he said. "Western Union is safe, it is secure, it works."

Greenland said that he could not divulge any information regarding the investigation and whether it is something that had been referred to the Fraud Squad.

In the meantime, the Fraud Squad say its investigations are ongoing.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=kr1O917o4jI]

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=7WIkrQu0-v0]

What do you think of the new wave of technology?

-- Edited by titus at 10:55, 2008-07-01

POLICE marksmen shot dead a cow claiming it posed "a danger to the public".

They said the animal was acting in a very aggressive manner after it escaped onto a busy road.

A motorist spotted the cow on the A9 near Dunblane at around 8.30am this morning and raised the alarm.

A group of people tried to capture the beast, which was being taken to an agricultural show.

But it jumped the barrier of the A9 and made its way into a nearby garden where it was contained.

The area was cordoned off and armed police and a vet went to the scene, but the animal could not be calmed down and had to be destroyed.

Superintendent Davie Flynn said: The animal was loose and was acting in a very aggressive manner.

There was a risk that a member of the public could have been seriously hurt.

After several attempts by the owner to calm the animal down, it jumped into nearby gardens in Montrose Way.

We were left with no option but to humanely destroy the animal. At all times the safety of the public was out priority.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PKndk7vu-E

This week, we explore the mystery of tantric sex. Tantric sex originated in India some 3,000 years ago.

The word 'tantric' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tantra', which means to manifest, to expand, to show and to weave.

Tantric sex is said to expand consciousness and to weave together the polarities of male (represented by the Hindu god, Shiva) and female (embodied by the Hindu goddess, Shakti) into a harmonious whole. Tantra emerged as a rebellion against organised religion, which held that sexuality should be rejected in order to reach enlightenment.

Tantra challenged the ascetic beliefs (to abstain from worldly pleasures and comfort) of that time, and proposed that sexuality was a doorway to the divine. It also propounded that earthly pleasures, such as eating, dancing and creative expressions, were sacred acts.

Making love is seen as a gift from God. So there is no repression or guilt attached to sex. It teaches that when a man approaches his beloved, he should have a sacred feeling, as if entering a temple.

Tantra teaches lovers how to extend the peak of their sexual ecstasy so that women and men can experience several orgasms in a single sexual encounter.

Tantric intimacy exercises

The tantric tradition emphasises preparation for lovemaking. Erotic rituals focus on exchanging pleasures, awakening the senses and allowing couples to communicate deeply, physically and emotionally.

The following exercises will help you reconnect with your body and with your partner in a special way. As you move through these steps, do not focus on intercourse as the ultimate goal. Simply enjoy, giving and receiving pleasure using sensual touch and words of love.

Plan a sexual rendezvous. At least once per week, set aside an hour or more of uninterrupted time to be together.

Create a temple of love. Whether you meet in your bedroom, living room or another space in your house, creating a sacred space for each other will help you relax and set the mood. You can transform any room into a temple of love using candles, fresh flowers, erotic art, finger foods and tantalising aromas.

Dress provocatively. Experiment with clothing or accessories that make you feel sexy and excite your partner.

Use ritual to develop intimacy. Begin your journey with a ritual. Feed each other aphrodisiac foods or share a glass of wine in the nude. Some couples enjoy bathing together in order to connect with each other.

Sensual massage is also an excellent way to fuse your energies. I also recommend that you read poetry to each other, dance, play, listen to music, etc. Use this time to communicate, sharing what you admire most about each other.

Harmonise your breathing. Breathing is an important concept for tantric practitioners. Partners should learn to concentrate and synchronise their breathing, with the male and female taking alternate breaths.

Try this exercise: Sit quietly, cross-legged, facing each other. Rest your hands on your knees with your palms facing up. As you gaze into your partner's eyes, take soft, but deep breaths. Keep your eyes open, gazing beyond the eyes, into your partner's soul. Sustained eye contact is essential for building intimacy. Practise this exercise until you can sustain eye contact and harmonise breathing for about 10 minutes.

Try to spend several weeks practising tantric intimacy exercises without necessarily engaging in intercourse. Then, you may move into the next exercise.

Erotic touch

This pleasurable practice will help you become better lovers. Guide your partner as you take turns stimulating each other. Describe exactly how you would like to be touched. Share your desires in an encouraging way, making requests in a clear and loving manner.

Once you become comfortable with this process, you may wish to create a 'pleasure chest'. Include whatever excites you and your partner - a feather, marital aids, massage oil, blindfold, soft fabric, erotica and love notes to each other, etc.

Explore new and creative ways to awaken each other's minds and bodies. Then, you will be ready for tantric lovemaking.

Tantric lovemaking

As you make the transition into sex, the idea is to maintain a state of sexual ecstasy for as long as possible. Tantric lovemaking is not result-oriented, but rather timeless and unstructured.

Maintain a deep level of intimacy. Continue to gaze into each other's eyes as much as possible. It has been said that a woman's most powerful sex organ lies between her ears. Since desire can be inhibited by fear, guilt, stress, etc, women often need to concentrate on feelings rather than thinking when making love.

Help each other feel loved and desired.

Keep it slow. A long, slow build-up helps men control orgasm and enhance women's arousal. Gently stimulate the erogenous zones. Commence slow unhurried intercourse. According to tantric teacher, Robert Frey, the longer you linger in this process of building energy, the longer men can resist ejaculation and the woman's response will be more intense.

Bring your attention back to your breathing. Resist the urge to breathe quickly. Instead, take long, slow, deep breaths from the belly and exhale gradually. You may match your breathing to that of your partner, or try breathing alternately - as you inhale, your partner exhales. This moves energy back and forth and connects you to your lover.

Vary your positions. Different sex positions add to sexual pleasure and balance male and female energies.

Mini-orgasms in men. Male initiates are taught the four phases of sexual activity. Phase one is arousal; phase two is realised when the male approaches orgasm. Phase three is orgasm itself and phase four is ejaculation.

By learning to distinguish between the

July 06, 2008. Interscope lost another artist. MediaTakeOut.com just caught wind that rapper Busta Rhymes was dropped from the label over the weekend. Word on the street is that Busta Bus was popping off at the mouth with Interscope head Jimmy Iovine. And that a heated conversation the Interscope boss sent word to Busta that his services were no longer needed. Another casualty of the fluttering music biz

Sex, lies and murders? Career prostitute says she killed two pimps in the US and an alleged robber in Kingston

BY TYRONE S REID Sunday Observer staff reporter reidt@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, July 06, 2008

SHE says she has killed three men - two pimps and an alleged robber. She snapped their necks.

The 41-year-old sex worker, who did not wish to be named, admits that at least one of the incidents was "self-defence".

The woman, who has a black belt in karate told the Sunday Observer that she has been a prostitute for about two decades.

According to her, the fighting skills she attained have come in handy on countless occasions as she has had to defend herself against attackers and "persons trying to take advantage of me".

"I had to kill two pimps who mess with me and my money when I was working in the US. I broke their necks and ran away," she told the Sunday Observer.

"When I returned to Jamaica four years ago, I was working on a street corner in downtown, Kingston and a young fellow tried to rob me by grabbing my bag, so I hold him and break his neck too. The police came afterwards, but I didn't get in any trouble because it was self-defence," she said, very matter-of-factly.

Checks with the Central Kingston Police to prove the veracity of her tale were unsuccessful as the officers said they could find no record of the incident.

When the Sunday Observer encountered her two weeks ago, she was awaiting 'customers' in New Kingston. During a 20-minute interview by the street side, she recounted her life story for the Sunday Observer in chilling details - touching on the childhood abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, running away from home in Kingston at age 15; hooking up with a pimp by age 20 and travelling the country and the region, selling her body for years to come.

She says she has to sell her body to support herself and survive.

"It's been the only thing I could ever really depend on to get money to take care of myself. I love sex and I love getting paid for it," she said in a thick American accent.

She was dressed in a revealing black blouse, a pair of purple tights and expensive-looking satin pumps. Her lips are rose red, her make-up is flawless and her cream-milk complexion appears to glow on the dimly-lit street.

"It's been over 20 years now, and I still enjoy the experience. I have not only worked in Jamaica. I have worked in St Kitts, Trinidad and in the US, where the money is very good," she confides.

Her colourful story also includes stints off the street - at a time when she was encouraged by acquaintances and well-wishers to turn over a new leaf.

"A friend I knew back in the day took me off the road for me to start my life over when I was about 30 or so. I tried it for a while but I was miserable because things weren't going my way. No proper living and working arrangements had been made for me, so I just decided to come back out on the streets where I know money is guaranteed to at least buy some food," she said, her eyes watching the cars which slowly drove by.

But she is quick to point out that these days, 'business' is slow in New Kingston.

"It's not good. It's very poco-poco. The men are not coming out like they used to," she told the Sunday Observer. "Nowadays, I mostly get older men for customers, and only a few young men. It's not good at all."

Despite the dangers she has encountered in the past and her personal struggles, she says she doesn't see an end to her 'career' anytime soon, even as her 42nd birthday draws closer.

"As long as I have this body and men want me, I will continue what I am doing. I don't have another job. I don't have a man to support me. This is all I have. This is who I am. This is me."

2 mahhd!!!!!!! funny!!!!!!!!! shoow!!!!!!!!!!!!! which one unuh prefer???

-- Edited by $~Eclipse~$ at 01:46, 2008-07-04

-- Edited by $~Eclipse~$ at 01:51, 2008-07-04

19-year-old p2p botnet pioneer agrees to plead guilty

The author of a Trojan that broke new ground by incorporating peer-to-peer technology into botnet design has agreed to plead guilty to secretly infecting thousands of victims' machines so that he could steal their personal data and launch attacks on websites.

Jason Michael Milmont, 19, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, admitted to creating the so-called Nugache Worm, a Trojan that spread through AOL instant messenger and modified Limewire installation programs. Once clicked on, the malware made unwitting users part of a botnet, which Milmont used to steal user names, passwords and account numbers of those who were infected.

Nugache was being circulated as early as early 2006 and spawned one of the first botnets to use a decentralized system to send instructions to drones, according to security researcher Dave Dittrich. Rather than relying on a single command and control channel, the z****ie network used a peer-to-peer mechanism to communicate. Such technology fundamentally changed the cybercrime landscape by making it much harder to shut down botnets. (Later botnets such as Storm went on to use a different method to thwart shut down. So-called fast flux technology used DNS records to obscure where central command-and-control channels were located.)

Over time, Milmont added new features to Nugache. A graphical user interface made it easy to access infected machines from his home server. It allowed him to issue a command to a single machine, which would then transmit the command to other machines, until it had spread through the entire network. The program contained a keylogger and was also capable of sniffing sensitive information stored in Internet Explorer to spare users the hassle of having to remember passwords for online banks and other sensitive websites.

The software was invisible to the Windows task manager in versions NT, XP and 2000. At any given time, Milmont had anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 machines under his control.

According to a plea agreement signed by Milmont, he used his botnet to launch distributed denial-of-service attacks against an unnamed online business located in the Los Angeles area. The agreement went on to document the way he used personal information he lifted from his victims to fatten his wallet.

After sending a command that instructed infected machines to transmit captured passwords and other information, he would order items online and take control of victims' accounts by changing the addresses and other details that were associated with them. In April 2007, for example, he used stolen credit card information to make a $1,422 purchase from Hinsite Global Technologies and had items shipped to a vacant residence in the Cheyenne area.

To prevent victims from discovering his scheme, Milmont replaced phone numbers associated with compromised accounts with Skype numbers he created and purchased using credit card data he had harvested from his botnet.

Milmont faces a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He's also agreed to pay almost $74,000 in restitution. Milmont has agreed to appear in federal court in Cheyenne, where he will plead guilty to one felony charge. The case was brought in Los Angeles and was investigated by the FBI. ®