Sonia Pottinger, who blazed a trail as reggae's most successful female music producer, died Wednesday evening at her St Andrew home. She was 79 years old.

David Plummer, the youngest of Pottinger's four children, told The Gleaner that his mother had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in recent years. He did not say if it caused her death.

Pottinger had considerable success in the late 1960s with her Tip Top, High Note and Gay Feet labels. She produced Errol Dunkley's debut album,

Presenting Errol Dunkley, and hit songs by vocal groups like The Melodians (Swing and Dine), The Gaylads (Hard to Confess) and Guns Fever by The Silvertones.

In 1974, Pottinger bought the Treasure Isle catalogue and operations of pioneer producer Arthur 'Duke' Reid. She had even more success in the era of roots-reggae, producing chart-toppers by Marcia Griffiths (Hurting Inside and Stepping Out of Babylon) and Culture (Natty Never Get Weary).

Errol Brown, Reid's nephew, was engineer for many of Pottinger's productions in the 1970s. He said she was no pushover in the studio.

Respect

"She loved the music ... loved it too much," Brown said. "She knew what she wanted in the studio, and had a lot of respect for the musicians."

Musicologist and sound-system operator, Winston 'Merritone' Blake, said Pottinger was a sharp businesswoman in a male-dominated field.

"She did her thing differently. She was always very dignified," Blake said.

Pottinger is the latest death in local music. Singers Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott and Gregory Isaacs, two giants of lovers rock reggae, died in July and October, respectively.

Sonia Pottinger is survived by three of her children: Sharon, Ronette and David as well as 11 grandchildren.

'She knew what she wanted in the studio, and had a lot of respect for the musicians.'

Haven't heard of Kye Allums -- formerly Kay-Kay -- yet? You will soon.

The NCAA athlete, who is currently a junior shooting guard on the George Washington University women's basketball team, recently decided to reveal that he is transgender. 

In other words, Kye was born a girl, and a biological female, but has always identified as being male on the inside. Now he has come out to his team -- and the world.

G.W. has been supportive, as have his team members. But because of his status as a Division I athlete, there are strict rules on what he can and can't do about his transition from one gender to another. No testosterone therapy until he graduates, for example.

And please, he says, do call him "he."

Kye's is a precedent-setting admission, sure, but what we really wanted to know was this: How did he first know he was transgender? What does he wish people would understand about that? And where did he find the courage to come out?

After the jump, we chat with an athlete with serious courage.

Lemondrop: How did you first know you were transgender?
Kye Allums: I haven't always known. It started after high school, my freshman year of college when I moved away from home, and I had to start thinking about myself and what I wanted. 

Were there signs growing up that you were different from other girls?
Well, for me, I liked playing football -- all the things that the guys would do. But I would also get teddy bears and I would make my sisters play house with me. I baked cookies with my mom. I never really thought I had to pick either/or.

What made you decide to break the news to your team now?
I was sick of feeling like I had to hide everything. It was getting to the point where it was affecting basketball, and I couldn't focus. I needed to say, "This is me," and I said it. I feel like the world is off of my shoulders now.

Who was the first person you told?
One of my good friends on the team. She thought it was a joke at first. Then, when I started to say, no, no -- and to get serious about it, she got on board. Now she's the first person to correct someone if they screw up. 

Meaning calling you "she" instead of "he." Do people do that a lot?
Yeah, it happens a lot. As long as people acknowledge that they made a mistake, then I'm fine with it. And people acknowledge it all the time!

How's your family reacting?
My mom said that she still loved me, and she didn't understand, but she's going to try ... My dad? That's a different story, but he said he loves me. They're supportive. 

You're going to keep playing for the women's team until you graduate, but you can't undergo hormone therapy until then. What are your long-term plans?
Long term, I plan on becoming a male 100 percent, with hormones and surgery and all that. 

Read More About Kye Allums and Other Athletes Who've Broken the Mold

I definitely want to go to school for architecture and be a personal trainer and have a couple of businesses. 

In other words, you're a real slacker. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about being transgender?
That maybe I have both body parts, from a male and a woman. Or that I am a man on a woman's team. Or that I was born male. My sex is female, because I was born a biological female, and my gender is male.

Some people have alleged that it's not fair that you're playing on a women's team. That maybe you should try out for the men's team now. What do you say to them?
Of course it's fair! I'm just saying how I feel. It doesn't change who I am. If I said, "I feel tired today," then should I not play on a women's team?

How did you learn about what it means to be transgender?
I took a class [at G.W.] on gender in general. I wrote papers on transgender athletes. I wrote about a motocross athlete, male-to-female, who was competing and then she stopped competing because people said it wasn't fair that she used to be a he, even though she didn't take hormones or anything.

I wrote about the Olympics and how some players were competing without taking hormones -- a male-to-female competing with other women -- and they hadn't done anything! There were no rules yet. And they wound up having to give their medals back because people said they were cheating. 

And I went online and found support groups for people who felt the same things that I did. 

What is it that you wish people would understand about how you feel?
Nobody chooses to feel a certain way. Just because my body is like this doesn't mean that I don't have the right to want to play against other people.

I feel like I want to compete with these people around me. Nobody should have the right to tell anybody that that's not right. 

Do you think you'll keep competing in sports after college?
I love sports to death, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

What about dating? Once you've had the surgery, will you be a straight male, who dates girls?
I don't like labels. I don't like labeling myself. I'm just me.

A man carrying a child while wading across a flooded street during the passing

of Hurricane Tomas in Leogane, Haiti, yesterday. (AP Picture)

 

MIAMI Hurricane Tomas, now downgraded to a tropical storm was moving away from the Turks and Caicos Islands on today after swamping coastal towns and killing at least seven people in Haiti.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Tomas was 70 miles of Grand Turk Island with sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (mph).

It said that the centre of the storm was moving away from the Turks and Caicos Islands into the open Atlantic.

Relatively speaking, Haiti has escaped the danger, we have to continue to be vigilant, President Rene Preval said, noting however that you can end up surviving the storms, but dying of cholera.

A cholera outbreak in haiti has killed 442 people and infected nearly 6 000 in the last three weeks. The disease is spread through contaminated food and water and can spread quickly in floodwaters.

Civil Protection director, Alta Jean-Baptiste, said four people died in the south-western province of Grande Anse, two in South province and one at Belle Anse in South-East province as a result of the storm.

Scattered flooding was reported in the coastal towns of Les Cayes, Jacmel and Leogane.

In the capital Port-au-Prince, where hundreds of thousands of homeless people live in camps following the January 12 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 and left at least 1.3 million others homeless, huddled under rain-drenched tent and tarpaulin shelters in muddy encampments.

"So far, we seem to have escaped the worst. We've been fortunate it will not be the catastrophic damage we had predicted for Port au Prince," said Nigel Fisher, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti.

The Royal Navy ship HMS Manchester and a supply vessel, Wave Ruler, were due to arrive off the coast of the Turks and Caicos on Saturday morning.

"There is no doubt that Tomas should be taken seriously," said Governor of the British Overseas Territory, Gordon Wetherell.

NHC said that Tomas would lose strength on Saturday night after passing through the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas carrying winds of around 75mph.

Are "Igloos" a Solution To Haiti's Housing Crisis? A Canadian Entrepreneur Believes So. He Has Designed the Structure & Is Now In Haiti Ready to Build. What Do You Think?

The long road out of Haiti's capital twists and turns through misery as it climbs the hill toward Pétionville.

There are collapsed houses here and there, as well as the tent city that Sean Penn has been running for months on the grounds of a former country club. Wherever space allows, little roadside workshops are churning out wooden furniture and metal chairs in the hopes that, one day, they'll find buyers with homes to furnish.

And then it hits you. About halfway up the hill, there's a sight so curious, so unexpectedly foreign, that it takes a moment to register. On the roof of a one-storey concrete house sits a fibreglass igloo, its exterior painted, oddly enough, in the traditional colours of camouflage.

With 1.3 million people still living in tents and now enduring the heavy rains of Hurricane Tomas, Haiti remains in desperate need of proper housing.

This, Canadian Ken Laughren now hopes to resolve, at least in part, with said igloo.

Nine feet tall at its peak, the model dome on display measures 18 feet by 25 feet. It would normally come in white. The price tag: around $6,000.

In the concrete building underneath, a spartan sales office has been assembled, and while no actual sales have yet been clinched, Laughren remains hopeful.

The dome, after all, is the product of Laughren's self-professed mid-life crisis, in which he decided not to buy a red Corvette and instead headed to his wood shop in Kelowna, B.C., to start fashioning the necessary moulds.

I felt this was the answer to mankind's needs, Laughren says.

Canadian Super Igloos Inc. was duly birthed, now with a Haitian offshoot. Laughren has brought in the necessary moulds, tools and raw materials and has a standby staff of locals ready to launch production.

As it happens, this is not a rare sentiment. Since the earthquake, hundreds of international companies have descended on Haiti with just as many ideas on how to house the people now living in makeshift shelters.

 

Twenty-six year-old Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia finished first at the ING New York City marathon today, running the twenty-six miles in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 14 seconds in his marathon debut. Shalane Flanagan, making a marathon debut as well, became the first American woman in two decades to finish second. Kenyan Moses Kigen Kipkosgei finished third. World record-holder Haile Gebrselassie dropped out of the race with a right knee injury on the Queensboro Bridge, and when good sport Gebremariam encouraged the similarly-named Gebrselassie to keep going, Gebrselassie said, "I can't. You have to reach them," before announcing his retirement.

Meanwhile, Chilean miner Edison Pena reportedly "walked for a majority of the second half, suffering from gimpy knees and aching feet, but jogged the final bit in Central Park to the finish line." His unofficial time was 4:50:51, but, still, he finished!

In a recent Gleaner article, Bob Marley Vibrations: Legal Notes, attorney Andrea Scarlett-Lozer, who specializes in commercial and intellectual property rights, analyzes the ongoing legal battle over property rights in the Marley estate. She stresses that the Marley case underscores the importance for artists to ensure that contracts involving copyright are fair and provide an accurate reflection of the scope of the rights that the artist intends to transfer. See full article here (with link below):

On September 13, 2010 the US District Court of New York held that Bob Marley's estate does not own the rights to five (5) of Bob Marley's most popular albums, namely: "Catch a Fire", "Burnin", "Natty Dread", "Rastaman Vibrations" and "Exodus". The court held that these works belong to United Music Group ("UMG"). UMG acquired the rights from Island Records, the entity for which Bob Marley had done the recordings in 1973 and 1977. The court held that Bob Marley's estate did not succeed in a claim against UMG for intentionally withholding royalties, failing to consult with them on key licensing decisions, including the use of Marley's music as "ringtones" on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile phones.

The legal basis on which the court made this finding is that the recordings were done for Island Records under a "work for hire" arrangement, as defined in United States copyright law. Each of the agreements provided that the sound recordings were the "absolute property" of Island Records. Under United States copyright law, "work for hire" means that the work is done under an employment contract, or in other words as "wage labour". Copyright in the product of this kind of arrangement belongs to the employer and not the employee. This is to be contrasted with commissioned work where the creator of the work is an independent contractor and his work is not automatically assigned to the person who ordered the work. It would be required that the ownership of the copyright be the subject of an express arrangement between the parties.

In Jamaica, the Copyright Act makes no distinction between "work for hire" arrangements and commissioned work arrangements. The Act provides that copyright belongs to the author of the work. The effect of this is that there is no automatic assignment of work done by an employee to an employer. In the case of Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited v Grace Kennedy Remittance Services Limited and Paul Lowe the Supreme Court of Jamaica held that the customary inference is that a licence (permission to use) and not an assignment (or transfer) will be implied for the benefit of the person who commissioned the work unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary.

The effect of the Jamaican legal situation is that an artiste may be entitled to the economic benefits associated with copyright in his work unless he entered into an agreement in which he transferred those benefits to a record company or producer. However, based on the Paymaster case, the artiste's rights may be limited by an implied licence to the person who ordered his work. From all indications, a local court may have come to a similar ruling in the Bob Marley case because of the express words in the contracts which stated that the sound recordings were the "absolute property" of Island Records.

The Bob Marley case underscores the importance of an artiste ensuring that contracts involving his copyright are fair and provides an accurate reflection of the scope of the rights that he/she intended to transfer. Based on general principles of copyright law, as well as the Paymaster case, it is of paramount importance for artistes to enter into written contracts in order to properly protect their interests. Informal arrangements can prove to be a loss leader in the long run, and sometimes almost immediately. The artiste should also bear in mind that copyright in musical works subsists for approximately fifty (50) years from the year of death of the author, and agreements should reflect long term planning and not just short term gains.

What is the most thing you fear in this world?

Well I'm Scared of heights.

-- Edited by Mediazone Badman on Sunday 31st of October 2010 06:18:16 PM

Noticeable on itunes reggae chart this week is CeCile's 'Woot Woot' doing fairly well placing (technically) second to Gyptian as the 'Recent Jamaican Artiste' on the chart. The Don Corleon influence on J Boog material has resulted in a feeding frenzy by the fans he has two pieces on there. Serani's "No Games" is like staple on the chart and is expected to remain there even longer than his latest entry "Skip to my Luu" under both VP Records and Rockstone Media/Phase One copyright. Seanizzle's production "I'm Drinking Red Bull" with Beenie Man and Fambo sits pretty at number 39 on the charts....and its climbing. The Marley family usually represent well, and need to be represented these days on their own label. As with the case with Vybz Kartel straight jeans and Fitted copping out at number 100, the track copyright says Adeijaheim/Notnice although it was produced by Russian from Head Concussion.

1. Hold You (Hold Yuh) - Gyptian
11. Waiting On the Rain - J Boog
23. Let's Do It Again - J Boog
25. Nah Let Go - Gyptian
26. Woot Woot - CeCile
32. No Games - Serani
39. I'm Drinking / Rum & Red Bull - Beenie Man & Fambo
50. Like I See It (Club) - Jah Cure, Rick Ross & Mavado
58. Skip to Ma Luu (feat. Ding Dong) - Serani
60. Skip to My Luu - Serani
62. Romping Shop (Raw Version) - Vybz Kartel & Spice
67. Shake It (feat. Lady Saw) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
92. Two Places - Shaggy & Hezron
96. I Love You Too (feat. Rita Marley & Cedella Marley) - Ziggy Marley
98. My Generation - Nas, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Lil Wayne & Joss Stone
100. Straight Jeans and Fitted (Raw) - Vybz Kartel

Timothy West was acquitted yesterday of raping a Queens woman he later contacted by text. The jury "didn't believe her story because there were no signs of forced entry" into her home, said one male panelist.

A convict busted after he texted the woman he was accused of raping to ask her for a date was acquitted of all charges yesterday.

Timothy West, 26, embraced his lawyer, Mihea Kim, as jurors found him not guilty in Queens Supreme Court of four counts of rape, predatory sexual assault, burglary and robbery.

An irate Judge Richard Buchter snapped at them, "Cut that out. It's not appropriate in the courtroom."

The surprising verdict -- which the jury reached in less than a day -- came after Pamela Arias testified in horrifying detail that West terrorized her for more than three hours and then apologized and asked her out.


Arias was not in the courtroom yesterday and was unaware of the verdict for several hours.

Her mother said last night, "I can't believe it. I can't believe it. What happened with all the proof? It's crazy to let him walk because of that one detail."

The mom said the reason there was no forced entry was because she had left a window unlocked.

The not-guilty vote came despite the panel's listening to a taped phone conversation in which Arias accused West of raping her, and he apologized.

Although acquitted, West wasn't able to walk out of the courtroom a free man.

He was immediately put on a bus headed back to prison to complete a seven-year sentence for burglary in a different case.

That provides no consolation to Arias, who has been in therapy.

"She's going to school, but it's hard because she's always nervous someone is following her," the mom said.

West had been accused of breaking into Arias' home in Ozone Park at about 1 a.m. March 20, 2009.

The gutsy waitress last week testified that West, whom she had never seen before, entered through a kitchen window, grabbed a butcher knife and walked up the stairs to her bedroom.

She said she didn't scream because she feared what West would do to her brother and mother, who were sleeping down the hall.

She claimed that as her ordeal was ending, West asked her if "maybe we could still be friends."
Arias, 21, agreed only to his request for her cellphone number in the hope that it would lead to his arrest, she testified.

Cops were with her later that day when she got a text from an unknown number that said,"call me."

When she called, three detectives listened in.

"I've never seen you before, and you just walk up to my house . . . and you raped me!" said Arias, according to the recording of the call. West said he was sorry.

They arranged to meet at a doughnut shop and cops busted him there. NyPost

Blak Ryno recently had a mishap along Waltham Park Road resulting in bruises and perhaps had what could be described as a near death experience. Due to this incident Ryno was not able to honour his European tour as scheduled. The SingJ has had his head examined since the incident and was determined to be on the recovery. It was reported that Ryno apologised to his fans on the European circuit for the shows were originally scheduled to start November 23. The new tour is tentatively set for February 2011.
Ryno who is still somewhat suffering from not only his recent scars from the Bike accident last month but also the severing of ties from his old affiliate Portmore Empire.. it can heard in one of his latest production called Seh Dem A Friend
check out the clip

'Dudus' gets November 16 court date

Appeared to be in good spirits

 

NEW YORK, United States former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke will return to a Manhattan court on November 16 to continue his trial on drugs and gun running charges.

Observer correspondent Harold Bailey, who covered today's court appearance, said the former Tivoli Gardens strongman appeared to be in good spirits.

Coke's legal team has been bolstered by the inclusion of attorneys Steven Rosen and Frank Dodatto.

He was arrested on June 23 along the Mandela Highway after being on the lam for almost a month.

More than 70 persons, including a Jamaica Defence Force soldier and two policemen, were killed during civil unrest which was staged by gangsters who swore allegiance to Coke.

Coke is facing a long sentence if found guilty of the charges laid against him. His assets can also be seized.

He is reportedly been held under maximum security conditions and spends most of his days locked in a cramped cell.

-- Edited by DUGGYFRESH on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 07:20:54 PM

THIS IS RUN BY SOMEONE NAMED KASEXODUS,HE GOES ON ADDI'S TWITTER N THEN POST WHAT HE HAS ON THE FAKE ADDI FACEBOOK FANPAGE,BEWARE SENDING NUMBERS OR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS BECAUSE THIS BOY IS A KARTEL PRETENDER >>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Addi-DiTeacha/106028372791283?ref=mf

Serial dater Diddy can dish it out but he sure cant take it, as rumor has it hes been threatening to kill his baby mama Kim Porters special friend.

According to carltonjordan.com, Diddy is so obsessed with actor Jackie Longs relationship with Kim Porter that hes made death threats to him. Apparently Diddy has made several phone calls to Jackie saying he will erase him off the face of the earth and he is going to have Jackie killed!

 

Jackie Long isnt taking Diddys threats lightly and is filing a police report, supposedly Jackie is going to handle this in the courts and not in the streets!

 

Apparently Jackie and Kim have been seen all over town, partying together and attending red carpets but supposedly theyre just friends with benefits.

Hmmm Diddy flying into a jealous rage over Kim Porter moving on??? That sounds highly possible especially because weve heard the sordid details of Diddys run-in with the late Shakir Stewart when he tried stepping to his girl.

 

But Jackie Long? Esquire? Youre gonna kill Esquire Diddy? Esquire isnt a new face around the Porter household. Hes very cool with Kims oldest son Quincy and has even been publicly photographed with the twins.

Diddy recently posted a video on Facebook of him having Diddy Daycare with his daughter Chance. If you didnt know, Chance was conceived while Diddy was still in a relationship with Kim Porter, who he has twins DLila and Jessie with.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

 

Above: Diddy,Kim Porter and their twin girls DLila Star and Jessie James,were spotted shopping at Kitson Kids in Los Angeles. Were hearing that Kim has moved on with her life, but its nice to see them out as a family.

SPOTTED: Diddy's OTHER Baby Mama Sarah Chapman Beaches It Up In Miami

 

Press Release From President of Besiktas Sports Club Yildirim Dimiroren
Posted by Ultimate Pros 24 Hours Ago

Distinguished Press members and participants:
First of all I would like to welcome you all and express my pleasure for being here as the President of Besiktas Sports Club - one of Europe's biggest sports club to sign with one of the best ever basketball players, Allen Iverson. I would like to underline once more Besiktas is a big and strong club, having a history of 107 years with 14 sports branches and nearly 20 million supporters both in Turkey and all around the world. For all branches, Besiktas has one goal, and that is Championship! Allen again, this season, for basketball, we have started out for the Championship. Now we're transferring one of the best basketball players in the world. The only aim of Besiktas, with Allen Iverson, is definitely the championship in Turkey and in Europe. We at Besiktas believe that a player as Allen Iverson, who won top scorer of NBA four times and MVP title two times, will bring the championship title to the team. I personally believe that especially after seeing the enthusiasm and the excitement of Besiktas fans, he will make a huge contribution on the way to championship.
I must also add that not only Besiktas fans but also as all sport lovers in Turkey; we are waiting for Allen Iverson with great excitement.
As you all know, after Turkey won the silver basketball cup in 2010, the interest and the respect in basketball have been increased. The fact that a basketball star like Allen Iverson, will be playing for Turkey,and especially for Besiktas, I believe will accelerate and strengthen Turkish basketball as a whole. Currently, we have five Turkish players playing in the NBA.
I'm sure Allen Iverson will love Istanbul and Besiktas very much and will be very happy with us. We are very proud of transferring such a huge name. With Iverson's transfer, the fans and followers of Besiktas, not only in the USA or Turkey, but all around the world, will grow in numbers. From now on, the world of basketball will be watching Besiktas. Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the board members especially Seref Yalcin, for their great efforts in achieving this transfer.
This year, the Besiktas Board concluded transfers of world famous soccer stars, like Quaresma and Guti. As a final note, today is the 87th establishment of the Turkish republic. Our joy is doubled by Iverson's transfer on this republic day. Happy Republic Day and welcome Allen Iverson.

NOW EITHER SHYNE HAS TAKEN ALL LEAVE OF HIS SENSES......... OR HIM REALIZE SEH A DI JEW DEM HOLD DI BIG BUCKS A MERIKA......

Kartel was dissed again, which is nothing new these days, but what is strange about this one is that the artiste who did it didn't ID himself which we found quite weird as all artiste does want some popularity, in the song he refers to himself as name. Then we are left to speculate that this guy is not in for the fame he is apparently upset that Vybz Kartel has made false statements in his songs and is intended to make a correction and made it clear that it is not a counteraction. The artiste expressed disgust at Kartel's negative impacts on the music industry, from the shirt, the skin to the signing of the compassionate act contract.
Check out the tune..


-- Edited by SVG on Saturday 6th of November 2010 12:52:42 PM

 

On 'Dancing With the Stars,' Brandy admitted she hasn't been intimate with a man for six years -- now she tells Life & Style why.

"I haven't been with a man seriously and in love in six years. And, honestly, I tend to abstain if I'm not in a relationship," Brandy says.

Although it hasn't actually been a full six years, the singer says, "It's been a long time. We're talking years."

Brandy has tried getting back in the dating game, though. "I actually went on a blind date a couple months ago that was very interesting but nothing serious."

There was a time when Brandy had a thing for rapper Flo Rida. "I was very interested in him. I mean, how can you not be -- he's very attractive. But there was just something about us that didn't click."

Last week, Howard Stern took major issue with Brandy's 'Dancing' partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy getting a little too ... comfortable, we'll say, with the singer.

"This guy is yelling at her, giving her the business about how she has to work harder," Stern said. "She's being a good sport about it, pretending like this actually matters if they're dancing the f***ing samba correctly. All of the sudden, while he's training her he starts smacking her on the ass."

"This guy is training a woman, a black woman," a perturbed Stern added. "You know when a man walks by a woman and makes a sound like she's a fine horse? He's smacking her on the ass like she's his personal property, like back in the slave days. I was astounded they were showing this on TV."

President Obama and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel are lifetime members of the same gay bath house in uptown Chicago, according to informed sources in Chicagos gay community, as well as veteran political sources in the city.

[.....................]

Obama began frequenting Mans Country in the mid-1990s, during the time he transitioned from a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School to his election as an Illinois State Senator in 1996. Emanuel, reportedly joined Mans Country after he left the Clinton White House and moved back to Chicago in 1998, joining the investment firm of Wasserstein Perella and maintaining his membership during his 2002 campaign for the U.S. 5th District House seat vacated by Rod Blagojevich, who was elected governor.

The Chicago gay community is aware that Obama often made contacts with younger men at his famous pick-up basketball games. It was at these pick up matches where Obama first met Emanuel.

SOURCE

After letting down the nation, England striker Wayne Rooney has gone up in smoke.

An effigy of the 24-year-old Rooney was burned on Saturday as part of annual bonfire celebrations in England, where he was still blamed for underperforming at the World Cup.

England crashed out of South Africa 2010 in the second round and Rooney was forced to apologize after one match for shouting into a TV camera: "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what loyal support is."

Some fans haven't forgiven him - especially Manchester United followers who saw their star striker last month threaten to leave the club, blaming its lack of ambition before signing a new five-year deal.

He was already dealing with the fallout from allegations he cheated on his wife with a prostitute.

Several hundred people watched the effigy in a United jersey burn in the southern English town of Edenbridge on Saturday.

Towns across Britain light bonfires and set off fireworks every year to commemorate the failure of a Nov. 5 plot to blow up parliament and King James I in 1605.

Bonfires are traditionally topped with an effigy of conspirator Guy Fawkes but have been decorated with contemporary figures over recent years.

Source;http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/england/story/wayne-rooney-burned-in-effigy-in-southern-england

-- Edited by gamepun ( Mod ) on Monday 1st of November 2010 01:37:03 PM

http://soundcloud.com/selectaslr/twins-of-twins-live-interveiw-on-the-release-of-new-stir-it-up-volume-nine/s-jboZD

A wake (nine night) was held for Gregory Isaacs in London on Tuesday night. There were no indication of any of his wives were present, but chances are at least one them would be. It has been more or less confirmed that Gregory Isaacs apparently had two wives with one being Jamaican, "the original wife" since the early 1980's and the other wife is his recent spouse who is of British origin. His first wive lives in Jamaica did not have any children for him but took care of ten out of twelve children that Gregory had with various women. Even though the marriage frizzled it appeared that no official divorce came through. There appear to be no serious talk of claims to estate as yet however it is matter time before the wives would have to "face the music".
Present at the wake were the likes of Dennis Alcapone and Singer A.J. Franklyn who had great praises for the late great singer.
There will be a memorial service in London next week after which the body will be flown to Jamaica on Thursday the 11th for a state funeral and burial according to reports.

THE judge in the Buju Banton case has rejected the prosecution's appeal against a previous ruling that approved Banton's hiring of two security companies to ensure he stick to the conditions of his house arrest.

Banton has therefore been cleared to take up his bail bond.He will stand trial again in February, after his legal team requested a change of date out of a desire for the artiste to spend time with his family this Christmas.

Banton was originally set for retrial in December, after a mistrial was declared in September when jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

"Buju really wants to spend some time with his family before the next trial," lead attorney Oscar David Markus told the Observer. "Hopefully this will give him a little breather before round two."

The motion was granted by United States District Judge James Moody. A specific date for the retrial was not set. After clearing this hurdle, Banton will have to seek bond in the immigration court in order to be released, as his entertainment visa was revoked following his arrest.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is accused of conspiring to buy five kilogrammes of cocaine from an undercover officer in Sarasota, Florida. He was arrested last December after the arrest of two other men, Ian Thomas and James Mack, who later pleaded guilty. They will be sentenced this month.

The artiste was charged along with the men for possession of a firearm during the furtherance of a crime. The gun was actually in Mack's possession.

Banton was granted US$250,000 bail last month but wrangling between his legal team and the prosecution is preventing him from taking up the bail, which would see him being placed under immediate house arrest.

As part of the conditions, Banton can only leave home to purchase medication, attend court and see his attorney. Banton will also have to wear an electronic tracking device.

CARIBBEAN nationals have started a campaign to boycott Trinidad and Tobago products after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessars statement that whatever assistance is to be provided to islands affected by Hurricane Tomas, must result in some benefit to TT nationals.

According to a Jamaican news website, the comments have drawn condemnation of some members of the region who on social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, FeverEyes.Com and through BlackBerry broadcasted messages urging a boycott of TT products. 

The website said the broadcast message stated, Join me and many of my friends in the buy nothing made in Trinidad and Tobago campaign. 

When Newsday visited the Facebook community news page, On The Ground News Report, there were several comments critisicing the PMs statement and suggesting the boycott. One member of the group, Gracie Thompson-Daniel said: When America does it no one complains, Trinidad does it and everyone wants to boycott. 

Marlon Gillette said: I am seriously distressed and disappointed by such a statement. however, Trinidad has the right to determine who they help. It really is Caricoms job to help its members that are in need after a natural disaster. I am not surprised by this statement nonetheless, I think Trinidad has always seen themselves as better than the rest of Caricom. According to Go-Jamaica, not everyone was in agreement with the boycott. Law student Marc Ramsay whose note An Open Letter to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has received attention on Facebook said that a boycott was not practical. 

While I am equally distressed and appalled by her call for reciprocal aid arrangements with our Caribbean neighbours affected by Hurricane Tomas, I implore you not to see revenge as the way forward. I encourage you to see this as a wake-up call for our region, he said. 

As young people we now see first hand the deeply embedded attitudes and sentiments held by many of those who govern us. This is not the time to lash out in a way that would affect our brothers and sisters in Trinidad and Tobago who depend on export revenue to feed their families. On the contrary, this is a call for us as young people to use our power to change the system, he continued.

I saw this story circulating about former B2k member Raz B claiming he was sexually molested while in the group by his ex-manager and cousin Chris Stokes, and fellow singer Marques Houston.

I really havn't paid much attention, because from what I understood Raz made these same allegations before, but retracted them.

But this has taken an even more bizarre turn.

In Raz's latest interview was with radio personalty Charlamane Da God. Da God's co-host Jason Lee asked Raz if Bow Wow was involved in any of this given he was friends with the group members at the time.

"There were rumors allegedly that [former B2K member] Fizz was with Bow Wow," Lee said.

"Bow Wow used to always come to the house in Diamond Bar," Raz-B confirmed "I've always seen some weird sh*t before."

Bow Wow heard about this and was heated to say the least. He took to his twitter account to go off.

"That last tweet is for the radio n**** who brought my name up tryna start sumn in an interview. @cthagod you my n**** but ya man is a b****," Bow Wow tweeted

The whole situation sounds crazy. Looks like they are trying to drag more people's names into it to make it more sensational than it already was.

Bagga Brown hospitalized with cancer

YardFlex understands that Popular entertainment and television Bagga Brown, of TVJs Weh Yuh Seh is now a patient at the Medical Associates hospital where he is being treated for cancer.

A *la*hd drive is also underway and Bagas family are appealing to all those who can to go and give a donation for him at the *la*hd bank.


Yardflex adds its prayers to those of Bagga family, friends and close associates. Bagga, keep strong.

Oprah Winfrey may not get a Christmas card from Michael Jackson's family this year ... because she's airing the tell-all interview with MJ's children back-to-back with a special on child molestation.


Oprah's big interview with MJ's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- is scheduled to air next Monday ... but according to Oprah's website, the talk show host is airing a show the Friday before entitled "200 Adult Men Who Were Molested Come Forward." 

Interestingly ... the Jacksons had beef with Oprah over her programming decisions back in 2005 ... when she did a show on pedophilia during jury deliberations in Michael Jackson's molestation trial.

A rep for Oprah's production company tells TMZ, "There is no connection whatsoever between the two shows. This is purely coincidental."

Video after the break..

It went down at subway in duc. Check out this fool being tasered.. ah!

http://soundcloud.com/selectaslr/twins-of-twins-live-interveiw-on-the-release-of-new-stir-it-up-volume-nine/s-jboZD






-- Edited by dj slr on Thursday 4th of November 2010 06:28:40 AM

Hurricane Tomas is lashing earthquake-ravaged Haiti with high winds and rain, and forecasters have warned of flooding and dangerous conditions.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the center of the storm is expected to pass west of Haiti on Friday. 

Forecasters warn that Tomas, with winds of 135 kilometers per hour, could dump up to 25 centimeters of rain in some areas, triggering life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. But the country is not expected to suffer a direct hit.

 

Government officials are urging residents in at-risk zones to seek emergency shelter, and aid groups have been working all week to move the survivors of January's earthquake to safety. But some residents in the sprawling tent camps in Port-au-Prince have remained, fearing they will lose all their possessions if they leave, or will be barred from returning to the makeshift camps.

The massive quake displaced more than a million people.

U.N. health officials warn that polluted flood waters and unsanitary conditions from the storm are likely to worsen Haiti's cholera outbreak, which already has killed more than 440 people.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Haiti, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos islands, and the province of Guantanamo, Cuba. 

Aid groups are stockpiling supplies across the nation. The U.N. has asked the international community for emergency aid, saying a half-million people could be affected by the storm.

The U.S. Navy has sent the USS Iwo Jima to Haiti to help provide humanitarian support. The ship carries medical experts, engineers and helicopters.

The much anticipated album of newly completed recordings from Michael Jackson entitled MICHAEL will be released onDecember 14 by Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson. Tomorrow, an exclusive teaser for the project will appear on www.michaeljackson.com; on Monday, November 8th the world premiere of Breaking News, a full track from the album, will stream on the site for one week only.

The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album; unbeknownst to many fans around the world Michael Jackson was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friends home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators. Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise MICHAEL, fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked and a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition.

Breaking News, a never heard before song by Michael that appears on the new album was recorded in New Jersey in 2007 and recently brought to completion. Fans can begin pre-ordering the album on www.michaeljackson.com in the next 24 hours.

The attached image of the album cover of MICHAEL was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009. In the oil painting, Kadir who is known for story telling through his art takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jacksons life.

Stay tuned for the worldwide launch of the official first single from MICHAEL later this month.
www.michaeljackson.com

ZJ Liquid - Contributed

1. Addictive: Sevad (Freeze Production) This song is from upcoming artiste Sevad produced by DJ Freeze. Sevad meets a girl in a club who he has got addicted to because of her sensuous and teasing vibe. Sevad brings a refreshing sound and delivery to the production. This track is guaranteed to work and is definitely fresh!

2. Say A Prayer: J.Bez (Jam2 Production) this artiste is 13 years old and doing his first professional recording. For a 13-year-old to deliver a song like this is remarkable. The song is well put together and motivating. The vocals are unbelievable and far beyond what you would expect an act this young to deliver.

3. Like It: Timberlee (Jam2 production) Timberlee delivers her usual provocative vibe on this track. The beats lend a fun vibe to the song. This is a great track that should do well for Christmas. This is a unique style that is much like what we are used to from this artiste.

4. Every Avenue: Blak Ryno (Sam Diggy) This is a happy song from Blak Ryno that should do well in the party. Ryno sings about getting a good vibe from the ladies no matter where he goes.

5. Jah Protect: Sizzla featuring Louie Rankin (Jam2 Production). Sizzla 'blesses' up the youths in his own words. Louie Rankin (from the movie Shottas) does a cool intro and adds flavour to the song.

6. What's My Name: Rihanna featuring Drake (Def Jam) This song is about Rihanna and Drake making love. Rihanna tells Drake how good she is in bed and challenges Drake to take her to the next level. It has a catchy hook and is a very sexy song. This will definitely be a favourite for the ladies this Christmas.

FRESH TO DEATH RIDDIMS

Xmas - Don Corleon Production.

Sexy Back - Birchill Production

Illa - Black Shadow Records

Double Dose - Live Up Records

Ska - Jam2 Production

Gyal Farm - Keep Left Records

STILL FRESH

Make A Move - Camar and

Sean Paul

Victory riddim - Payday production

Bad Suh - Tami Chynn

Clean And Fresh - Munga

Half A Bread riddim - Equinoxx

FRESH UPDATES

Look out for Red Stripe Bold 'Wet' on December 3, 2010 - ZJ Liquid's birthday party. It's gonna be fresh!

Remember to take a picture with you and ZJ Liquid and email to zjliquidh2o@yahoo.com for your chance to appear on this page!

FRESH TALK

TAN DEH DEH! Pioneered by Streets Entertainment which is the 2010 version of "Yuh can stay dey", which is an expression of a warning or caution.

Listen to ZJ Liquid, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 p.m. -6 p.m., and Sundays; 6 p.m. -10 p.m., to hear these FRESH TO DEATH rhythms and songs.

Source;http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20101103/ent/ent3.html

LW	TW	artist / album		label	power index	% change
--	1	TAYLOR SWIFT		BIG MACHINE	1,044,477	--
		SPEAK NOW
1	2	SUGARLAND		MERCURY NASHVILLE	86,912	-58%
		INCREDIBLE MACHINE
2	3	KINGS OF LEON		RCA/RMG	65,166	-65%
		COME AROUND SUNDOWN
5	4	LIL WAYNE		CASH MONEY/UNIV MOTOWN	43,201	-32%
		I AM NOT A HUMAN BEING
8	5	EMINEM		SHADY/AFTERMATH/INT	37,757	-11%
		RECOVERY
3	6	ELTON JOHN & LEON RUSSEL		DECCA	33,238	-57%
		UNION
6	7	GLEE CAST		COLUMBIA	31,012	-35%
		ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW
--	8	MICHAEL BUBLE		REPRISE	27,188	--
		HOLLYWOOD: THE DELUXE EP
4	9	ROD STEWART		J RECORDS/RMG	27,162	-64%
		FLY ME TO THE MOON
9	10	DARIUS RUCKER		CAPITOL NASHVILLE/EMI	26,481	-28%
		CHARLESTON, SC 1966
13	11	THE BAND PERRY		UNIV REPUBLIC NASHVILLE	23,338	-10%
		THE BAND PERRY
14	12	KENNY CHESNEY		BNA/RCA NASHVILLE	22,781	-11%
		HEMINGWAY'S WHISKEY
17	13	TREY SONGZ		ATLANTIC	22,197	+1%
		PASSION PAIN & PLEASURE
10	14	THIRD DAY		PROVIDENT/REUNION	21,992	-37%
		MOVE
16	15	ZAC BROWN BAND		ATLANTIC	21,940	-12%
		YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE
15	16	BIG TIME RUSH		NICKELODOEN	20,086	-20%
		B.T.R.
22	17	KATY PERRY		CAPITOL/EMI	19,755	+2%
		TEENAGE DREAM
12	18	HANNAH MONTANA FOREVER		WALT DISNEY	19,350	-29%
		SOUNDTRACK
23	19	JUSTIN BIEBER		ISLAND/IDJMG	19,321	+5%
		MY WORLD 2.0
7	20	SHAKIRA		EPIC	19,239	-58%
		SALE EL SOL
20	21	MUMFORD & SONS		GLASSNOTE	18,324	-9%
		SIGH NO MORE
18	22	SELENA GOMEZ & THE SCENE		HOLLYWOOD	18,136	-11%
		A YEAR WITHOUT RAIN
19	23	TOBY KEITH		SHOW DOG	17,884	-11%
		BULLETS IN THE GUN
21	24	LINKIN PARK		WARNER BROS.	17,716	-11%
		A THOUSAND SUNS
25	25	NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 35		CAPITOL/EMI	17,340	+6%
		VARIOUS ARTISTS
29	26	LADY ANTEBELLUM		CAPITOL NASHVILLE/EMI	16,740	+20%
		NEED YOU NOW
--	27	MICHAEL BUBLE		REPRISE	16,169	--
		CRAZY LOVE
24	28	BRUNO MARS		NEW ELEKTRA	13,358	-20%
		DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS
30	29	MAROON 5		A&M/OCTONE	12,659	-2%
		HANDS ALL OVER
--	30	SENSES FAIL		VAGRANT	12,498	--
		FIRE
31	31	SANTANA		ARISTA/RMG	11,239	-8%
		GUITAR HEAVEN: GREATEST GUITAR
43	32	LADY GAGA		INTERSCOPE	10,495	+11%
		FAME
45	33	MIRANDA LAMBERT		COLUMBIA NASHVILLE	10,385	+18%
		REVOLUTION
37	34	WAKA FLOCKA FLAME		ASYLUM/WB	9,879	-11%
		FLOCKAVELI
40	35	BILLY CURRINGTON		MERCURY NASHVILLE	9,726	0%
		ENJOY YOURSELF
--	36	TAYLOR SWIFT		BIG MACHINE	9,667	--
		FEARLESS
33	37	JAMEY JOHNSON		MERCURY NASHVILLE	9,604	-19%
		GUITAR SONG
42	38	RICK ROSS		DEF JAM/IDJ	9,316	-2%
		TEFLON DON
39	39	DRAKE		YM/CASH MONEY/UNIV MOTOWN	9,108	-11%
		THANK ME LATER
35	40	LADY ANTEBELLUM		CAPITOL NASHVILLE/EMI	9,100	-19%
		MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
49	41	ZAC BROWN BAND		ATLANTIC	8,997	+10%
		FOUNDATION
44	42	FANTASIA		J RECORDS/RMG	8,704	-4%
		BACK TO ME
38	43	ERIC CLAPTON		REPRISE	8,663	-16%
		CLAPTON
41	44	DISTURBED		REPRISE	8,459	-12%
		ASYLUM
11	45	BOB DYLAN		COLUMBIA	8,239	-72%
		WITMARK DEMOS: BOOTLEG SERIES V9
--	46	KEM		UNIVERSAL MOTOWN	7,755	--
		INTIMACY
32	47	JOHN LEGEND WITH THE ROOTS		COLUMBIA	7,623	-36%
		WAKE UP
--	48	SARA BAREILLES		EPIC	7,487	--
		KALEIDOSCOPE HEART
47	49	FLORENCE + THE MACHINE		UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC	7,391	-14%
		LUNGS
27	50	BLACK KEYS		NONESUCH	7,331	-53%

Kiprich - File

 

KipRich, the undisputed king of 'nuh behaviour' is at it again. This time with his latest track, Cyaan Get Brown (Cake Soap), produced by Birch-Hill Records, for which a video was filmed this weekend.

The video which will be directed by Terminal 4 and shot downtown, Kingston and Waterhouse, St Andrew, will be something fans can expect to be humorous says KipRich.

"They should know how I am already. If something is on my mind I will put it in a track and sometimes it comes off humorous, but at the same time people know I always talk about real issues affecting real people. KipRich has always been someone to just say di things as plain as day; remember a me say 'nuh behaviour' unuh, so this song and video addressing bleaching, muchless wid cake soap, are no different," says KipRich, whose correct name is Marlon Plunkett.

KipRich is known for his previous tracks, Telephone Ting, The Letter, Baby Mama Drama, Mad Inna Di Club and more.

Vistaprint Jamaica will build its $2-billion call-centre by year-end to support the doubling of its workforce to 800 by 2015.

The investment will likely propel the local operation to higher prominence as a large employer within the island. The new call-centre facility slated for Montego Bay will be 92,000 square feet located on 11 acres of land purchased by the group.

"Construction is expected to start in December or January and is to be finished within one year," Roger Williams the local managing director told the Business Observer yesterday. "We expect to increase the workforce to 800 over the next three to five years."

Currently located in the Montego Bay freezone, it has been receiving increased customer calls based on the growth the parent company whose revenues have jumped by 51 percent in 2008 to 36 per cent in 2009 to 28 per cent in 2010. Vistaprint which is listed on the US Nasdaq exchange offers printed marketing materials, promotional products and marketing services such as copywriting, design, websites and postcard mailing.

"Based on the growth of the business over the last seven years and the ability of the operation to deliver quality service required by Vistaprint it was seen as prudent to invest in our own building," he said about the investment.

Source:http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/2-b-call-centre-to-be-built-by-year-end_8114297

Second student stabbed in less than 24 hours

A male student of the Marcus Garvey Technical high School in St Ann's Bay is now in critical condition in hospital after he was stabbed during a fracas on the school compound this morning.

Two other male students have also been injured and are in serious condition. One was reportedly chopped on his leg.

The students were injured after a melee broke out and knives and machetes were brought into play. The incident happened minutes before 11:00 am.

The incident has caused a disruption of classes at the school and police are maintaining a presence to head off any further outbreak of violence.

The latest round of violence between students comes less than 24 hours after a student of the St Andrew College was stabbed and killed near the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew.

He has been identified as 16-year-old Shaquille Nelson, also called Top Notch, of Golden Spring in St Andrew.

Police say two men chased Nelson onto a Toyota Coaster bus and stabbed him several times in the chest. He died later in hospital.

AS we go through the after effects of Halloween, this week we leave you with some famous superstitions and myths, whether they bring bad luck or good luck.

1 Black cats have long been believed to be a supernatural omen since the witch hunts of the middle ages when cats were thought to be connected to evil. Since then, it has been considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.

2 An ancient myth was that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. A broken mirror represented the soul being astray from your body. To break the spell of misfortune, you must wait seven hours (one for each year of bad luck) before picking up the broken pieces, and bury them outside in the moonlight.

3 In the days before the gallows, criminals were hung from the top rung of a ladder and their spirits were believed to linger underneath. Common folklore has it to be bad luck to walk beneath an open ladder and pass through the triangle of evil ghosts and spirits.

4 If an owl looks in your window or if you see one in the daylight bad luck and death will follow you.

5 At one time salt was a rare commodity and thought to have magical powers. It was unfortunate to spill salt and said to foretell family disarray and death. To ward off bad luck, throw a pinch over your shoulder and all will be well.

6 Sparrows are thought to carry the souls of the dead and it is believed to bring bad luck if you kill one.

7 The fear of the number 13 is still common today, and avoided in many different ways. Some buildings still do not have an official 13th floor and many people avoid driving or going anywhere on Friday the 13th.

8 Clover is believed to protect humans and animals from evil spells and it is thought to be good luck to find a four leaf clover, particularly for the Irish.

9 Lucky charms are thought to ward off bad luck and bring good luck. You must carry the rabbit's foot on a chain around your neck, or in your left back pocket. The older it gets, the more good luck it brings.

10 Two people are to pull apart a dried breastbone (known as the wishbone) of a turkey or chicken and the one who is left with the longer end will have their wish come true.

Source;http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/teenage/10-things-I-bet-you-never-knew_8104711

Someday, millions of Americans will be drinking their own urine, says Robert Roy Britt, managing editor of LiveScience.com, a news site that prides itself on the provocative approach it takes to science.

In a recent commentary for the site, Britt, based in arid Phoenix, said that because of imminent drought in the West, many people will have to rely on treated sewage -- containing human waste -- for their drinking water.

"We now have too many people living in places where we don't have fresh water," Britt told AOL News.

As an example, Britt cited the Phoenix area, which gets its drinking water from a remote body of reservoirs, including Lake Mead, which sits more than 230 miles away.

He suggested that Phoenix and other cities throughout the Southwest may soon go the way of Orange County, Calif., which does exactly what he's foretold it recycles wastewater into tap water.

That's right. From the toilet bowl to the punch bowl, so to speak.

Of course, the trip isn't without its stops. Orange County takes "highly treated" sewer water and sends it through various filtration and purification processes, until the final product exceeds the standards for most drinking water. The water is then seeped back into the aquifer, where it blends with natural water that eventually makes it to the tap.

While the treatment takes only about 45 minutes, the water can sit in the ground for up to two years, according to Jason Dadakis, director of health and regulatory affairs for the Orange County Water District.

"Some people think it's piping sewage straight to your tap," Dadakis told AOL News, "but it's a little more complex than that. We're using an advanced purification technique that provides the best quality available for replenishing Orange County's groundwater base."

The method, called the Groundwater Replenishment System, or GWRS, went online in January 2008 and currently turns 96 million gallons of wastewater into 70 million gallons of recycled water daily, for an efficiency rate of nearly 75 percent.

Dadakis emphasizes that Orange County is doing something positive for the environment by reusing wastewater that would otherwise get dumped into the Pacific Ocean.

"We're letting drinkable water go out into the ocean every day," he said. "Southern California alone dumps 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater into the Pacific every day."

There is talk of expanding GWRS output to 100 million gallons per day, or enough water to supply 850,000 residents for a year.

"Some people are already drinking their own pee and don't know it," said Britt, referring to the people of Orange County.

And if the GWRS expands, that will almost certainly be true.