Cross Dressing In Comedy is Uncreative & Insipid

I don't care who agree or disagree with me on this but I think cross dressing of any sort is disdainful and Not Funny.  Therefore quote and quote comedy which employ this cheap excuse for humour is just not good enough for my taste or creative enough to get my attention much less my dollar.

Now most of the advocates will chide me for discrimination but before you press that button dig into your intelligence if there is any, and try to understand the point I am making.

 Cross dressing has no place in comedy because it is a cheap misguided escape from real humour.  I've seen many comedies from TV series to live shows, From Charlie chaplain to Richard Prior to Russel Peters and there is too many things to do besides cross dressing. I am especially peeved at the shows with men acting like women in a sexually suggestive manner. Anybody who employ it is only hiding behind a closet of incompetence and god knows what else.  Get up off your lazy asses and create proper material.

It is a shame that this has become so mainstream.  So much so that big men and women, families, leaders and the likes who are supposed to maintain high values haven't even noticed it.  They shrug the very idea that it is unsavory and unhealthy for the kids of the future.  There is a deep seated conspiracy purported by the mass media to pollute the very values that society was to be built on.  It has become so poisoned that even the producers and presenters have failed to see the debauchery in it.

It irks me to see people who are supposed to be the intelligent thinkers, the protector of our values sit down and break their standards like cowards  falling prey to the masters of evil.  Society has been so eroded that we hardly know the difference between what is good for general family and what is subtly infiltrating the young minds of our children.

We have slowly become a nation of Sadom and a generation of vipers while our leaders play like reckless pipers.  And I'm not only talking about politicians and government;  I'm talking about our church leaders and teachers - the vowed protectors of our values.

Preachers have become complacent indulging in the lavish lifestyles and idolatry which they should be condemning.  Standards have fallen so low that the church is now seen as a business first as the most successful churches are the ones that win the market share, the appeal, the allure and the prestige.  Churches with ABM's and safety deposit boxes like green pasture leading sheep to the foxes.   Meanwhile the numbers dwindle in the genuinely honest institutions.  This shortsightedness is sickening.

Before I stray too much from the main point I want to denounce all comedy that use cross dressing as an excuse for humour.  Men dressed as women or acting as women in an effort to evoke humour is misguided and insipid and should not be a part of mainstream media or for general family viewing.  You will never get me or my children to watch Madea or Bashment granny.

Writers need to get more creative and stop playing on the ignorance of the youths.  It is disingenuous...

Done talk!!!

Dancehall is dead

Anybody who says Dancehall is the same as it was nine months ago is lying.  No disrespect to Potential Kid but when the number one song is "A Yah so nice" we have a lot of work to do.  No doubt it is a fresh new style and the symbolism and vibe of the song catch on at home but it doesn't scale to the Dancehall loving corners like Trinidad, Ghana, Tokyo or Berlin.   Something is missing and we are going to explore it a little.

I'm not an advocate of Dancehall music in all its forms and flavours but I do appreciate and enjoy key aspects of the music - If anything, its ability to arrest the pop culture of millions of youth not just in Jamaica and the Caribbean but as far as Harare and Lagos.  It is a movement that has the potential to do more in terms of influence than any politician could dream of.  If only content could be shaped towards the positive side.  Hip-hop had a similar allure in the 90's but Dancehall really took off with the rise of the Gaza Empire.

Love him or hate him, nobody can deny the creativity of Vybz Kartel.  He developed an almost cult following during his reign at the apex of Dancehall music.  He really changed the game through his antics and daring personality.  Vybz Kartel has pushed the boundaries of the art form to the point where popular acts who used to dominate the game have become irrelevant - at least until they can redesign their act.

While we wait for the re-incarnation, I believe Magnum Kings and Queens of the Dancehall is doing a great job to unearth talents.  The government needs to do more however, because we have seen the value slipped away to more savvy exponents in the business who milk the industry without much benefit to Jamaica.  Folks who don't even speak English making dancehall music - not that English is the language of dancehall anyway

We need to be more serious about intellectual property, management of talent and copyright as well as professional development of artists.  For a country which is built on natural resources (including the people and beautiful landscape) culture and entertainment we should have many institutes dedicated to developing it.  No matter how many artist we produce, once the quality is good there will be demand for them. So why not guarantee the quality through policy?

The government should provide the vision by way of policy and put things in place that will irk out all the talents and potential talents from the bowels of poverty, help them to develop their professionalism and their craft and make it a real industry.  There is no limit to the number of entertainment professionals provided that the quality is good and given our history we have a guaranteed market for our popular products - both reggae and Dancehall.  I have seen artist who couldn't even spell their name now giving great interviews and starting charities to help other youths. 

Dancehall is in a vegetative state but there is hope if we can seize the opportunity quickly.  We need a Defibrillator.  Artists have become too lazy, too comfortable and that remains the root of the problem.

Jamaica's Discrimination in the Caribbean?

I make no apologies in stating that Jamaica is the Pearl of the Caribbean. Put us anywhere, heaven or hell and we will stand out.  There is an immutable pride in all Jamaicans that more often than not create some of the problems we experience when we travel outside the island.  Many folks don't understand it and misinterpret it for arrogance and sometimes ignorance albeit rooted in ignorance.  Has Jamaica isolated itself in the Caribbean through our very nature?  Do we face discrimination because of envy ("badmine") or is it justified?

Some folks in the Caribbean don't like to admit it, but Jamaica is definitely the heartbeat of the region controlling everything that's both good and bad - except for money (debatable).  Jamaica, No Problem.  Reminds me of the popular song by the great Reggae singer Buju Banton: "Everything weh gwaan a Foreign a di yardie get the blame" .   We have built up a reputation for attracting attention, for creativity and originality, a reputation for building reputations - leading and not following, rebellious by name and nature.

These are the characteristics that separates us in the region and the world and could be the reason why we are targets of oppression - but we will explore that a bit further before making any conclusions.  To answer the questions I do not believe we have isolated ourselves in the region because the majority of people love Jamaica and Jamaicans.  I can attest to that through my own experiences because I have friends from every Island and have traveled to over seven (7) countries in the region.  The interesting thing in all this is that everybody has or wants a piece of Jamaica - From the music in Trinidad to the food in Barbados and BVI down to the very speech in Antigua & Barbuda.  Even my Colombian friend laments about the Jamaican influence on their Northern Coast - From Santa Marta to Cartagena.  Therefore it is not our nature that isolates us, because it remains the glue that binds us to the Caribbean and the world. 

For those of us who would have followed recent developments in Caribbean Diplomacy, my second question should have more answers than I'm prepared to decipher.  It makes for interesting debate given the worrying trend that has been developing.  From a neutral perspective it does appear a bit dodgy although Jamaicans are not strangers to discrimination in the wider region (ie, North America, UK).  The US which is partly responsible for creating the monster is at the apex of this endemic discrimination.  Jamaicans are more sure to go to heaven than they are to get a Visa to the US.  England has taken up the same attitude as well.  It is no coincidence that Queen Elizabeth sent Harry for her Diamond Jubilee especially in this our 50th year of independence.  The Honorable Portia Simpson Miller wants to "bun out di Queen", figuratively of course - no translation needed.  I believe this is the popular sentiment, after all the PM quote on quote represents "people power".  

For those not familiar with the Caribbean diplomatic landscape we site the incident where a Jamaican woman allegedly underwent insertion search in Barbados.  This was probably not the only case as other women have since alleged similar experiences.   I would like to throw the Chris Gayle incident into the mix as well because it is perceived that he was in the predicament because of his strong will and unrelenting attitude.  He, like all Jamaicans believe in his right to an opinion and demands respect in as much as he is expected to give.  So his career was put on hold - or was it?  That certainly didn't stop him doing what he loves as Gayle was playing cricket all over the world from Bangladesh to Australia to Zimbabwe to Trinidad - Typical Jamaican right?  Rebel with/without a cause?

I'll continue with the most recent case in the news where six(6) Jamaicans have reportedly been detained for over a week after they were refused entry into the Trinidad.  While I make no judgement on the case or draw any conclusions, it does highlight a wider issue which we have failed to deal with properly in CARICOM.  I don't know the circumstances under which they were detained but the very word "detained" does spark a bit of problems for me.  

The government of Trinidad & Tobago as a sovereign state does have the right to refuse entry to anyone, but proper arrangements should be in place for cases where people are denied such.  We have failed in diplomacy and as a Caribbean community (CARICOM), to engender a true community spirit.  It makes terrible PR irrespective of the circumstances why they were not able to catch a flight back immediately.  We have to take better care of our Caribbean nationals.  Let's say for argument sake the folks are innocent of any crime or intent to commit any offenses. Why should they face detention if they have done no wrong?

I am all too aware of the complete picture scape with the drug wars and the bad reputation that Jamaicans have created.  It upsets me to have to deal with the fact that a handful of bad apples spoil the experience for the majority of us.  It is however not an excuse for discrimination at any level.  Every country - Barbados, Suriname, Trinidad, Grenada, USA, England, Mexico, you name it, have their own basket of bad apples.  Cutting down the whole orchard seem to me like an incompetent attempt to tackle difficult problems.  It does take years to heal.

CARICOM is important for all of us.  I grew up reading VS Naipaul, Walcott, Selvon, Rhone.  I was inspired by Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Walsh and Curtley Ambrose.  Ato Boldon was my idol, Chanderpaul my role model.  I dream about the Pitons of St. Lucia and the Waitikubuli trails of Dominica - even while I find solace in the Sommerset falls in the East of Jamaica.  These are the treasures we ought to share.  We should educate our Caribbean youth with wisdom and understanding of themselves and our cultures.  Our history should shape our future as we become masters of our own destiny.  Away with the brainwash education filled with lies and divisive tactics employed by our colonial masters.  We don't have to tear down each other to grow.

To my Caribbean neighbours, let us emancipate ourselves from mental slavery - educate our children to love, share and embrace different cultures. Let us get away from the oral myth that has traverse generations.  Step outside the realm of pseudo-nationalism and experience first hand what a joy it is to share in the authentic Jamaican spirit.  The same vibes that gave us "jammin", "Redemption Songs", "Summer Time" and much more.

And to all Jamaicans: please, realize that we are ambassadors for our beloved Jamaica Land We Love.  We should strive to make Marcus Garvey proud through our decorum, kindness and our attitude towards our neighbours.  We are a hard working people and we know how to smile even in the greatest struggles.  This is what makes us Jamaicans.

"One Love, One Heart.....Let's get together and feel alright"  R.N.M

WI Cricket is dead

intro

The words "West Indies" for at least half a century has been synonymous with the WI Cricket team.  So much so that we have had spin off names such as "Worst Indies" when they perform poorly and the conjunction of the name to "Westindies" in our verbal communications.

There is no denying how much Cricket has helped to develop the region but the current state of affairs is reversing much of this progress.  As with all failed models, it is time to disband the WI Cricket Board and start a new model of governance in our regional cricket. 

What was meant to unite us as a region is now dividing us more; what was meant to develop us as a people is now breaking us down.  With all the "educated fellows" that purport to have their hearts and minds in the Game and in the interest of regional development and integration, we have still failed to realize a sense of pride and loyalty to this system.

Proposal

I am proposing that the WI Cricket Board be scrapped and the three/four main cricketing territories form independent boards while the Eastern Caribbean block form a union with a new name or retention of the West Indies name.  In the case of Guyana, they will have the option to join the EC block or alternatively satisfy the requirements for a full international status.  This is a similar situation with Barbados and only because of the population sizes.  The Bahamas and other territories falling outside the EC geographical region would also play through the union unless they meet the requirements for full international status.   

The Requirements

At top of the requirements should be the number of professional players registered(30), local league structure and feeder systems in place as well as the availability of at least two grounds to host international matches.  In addition to that, qualified/certified coaches and officials should be at a minimum and at least six months of competition at the local levels.

Structure

Given the nature of Test Cricket and its waning appeal, full international structure would account for Limited Overs Games (T20, ODI's) while additional requirements would be implemented for test status according to the ICC guidelines.  This is no different from the current structure where teams such as Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - relatively fringe teams - have been subjected to certain pre-requisites to determine their Test status.  They do however, along with Ireland, Kenya, Canada, Holland and a host of other countries play Limited over games internationally, including the world cups.  The popularity of T20 has been influencing the growth of the game and the Future is the shorter form of the game. 

 rationale

Test cricket is a niche form of the game that does not even have a world championship and therefore should not be used as a definitive factor in deciding the faith of states that want to participate autonomously.  Opening up the territories will only grow the game of cricket and give more world class players the opportunity to represent their countries and make a living for themselves and family.  

The current structure of WI Cricket in particular has stifled hundreds of players who are on par with the best in the world but because of reasons belying their talent or ability they are lost in the "wilderness of WI Cricket".  Classic examples include Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Powel, Franklyn Rose, Corey Collymore, Tino Best with hundreds of others who have just lost hope.

WI Cricket has been failing since the 90's despite turning out great stars like Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose and Chris Gayle.  These guys have made their names within a system that was fruitless.  They were the rose among the thorns where the thorns have failed to recede.  Today we see great talent and bright young men being stifled by these thorns because the visionaries have had their eyes plucked out by the very thorns they have nurtured - The WICB.   

Lets take Brian Lara for example, arguably the best Batsman ever.  Put Brian in an Indian team or an Australian team where he would have gotten more games, more respect and a better system;  Maybe he would be still playing today - who knows?  My point is that great talent needs even better management and the system has to be fair and transparent. 

Now, take Chris Gayle as my second example.  The most exciting player to watch - no apologies for that- He was put in the wilderness of the WICB for being frank and standing up for what he believe in.  When Lawrence Rowe went to South Africa in the apartheid era we chide him, when Bob Beamon protested at the Olympics we hail him.  Different people are motivated by different things and playing cricket is at the apex of Chris Gayle's heart and you take that away from him because of some puerile grudge you break not just his heart but the hearts of an entire people.  

The Jamaican Prime Minister The Honorable Portia Simpson Miller made a statement in Gayle's defense but has attracted criticism from you guest it - The WICB.   The PM has since defended her statement and pledged to stand by it.  She has been endorsed by a number of local organizations.

Every man has a right to his opinion and my opinion is that we scrap the WICB and break away into autonomous teams.  This will do better for regional integration if only to stop the regional division and gross injustices that puts a dagger in our hearts, like the thorns that have obscured our vision.  We have been stagnant for too long with our conservative and cowardly fiber and until we learn to evolve and move on we will forever be left behind by the rest of the world.  

This current model only works when the WI team wins and this is a preposterous gamble and the annoying cliche "turn the corner" can never happen if we have no driver - worse yet no steering wheel (vision).  This is 2012 and the WICB is still operating in 1982.  That is THIRTY (30) YEARS outdated.   

EVOLVE OR DISSOLVE!!

    

Wearing BRAS Causing BREAST CANCER?

By the time you're finished reading this post your Bra will be off.  This is a riveting account of a phenomenon that will leave heads turning and Jaws dropping.  Could the wearing of Bra's predispose women to breast cancer?

I begin by asking a few critical questions to focus on your Bra wearing habits:  

•  Do you wear Bra for the entire day including at home and when you go to bed?
• Do you wear very tight Bras?
• How do you select the right Bra for you?a
• what is your main reason for wearing a Bra? 
• Are there any instances in your daily routine where you could avoid wearing Bras?

Breast cancer is no joking matter and we need to pay more than just lip service to tackling the problems created by this onerous disease.  It is one of the biggest killer among women during the last two decades. The WHO Fact Sheet No 334 (Nov 2009) states that:

Breast cancer is the leading cancer killer among women aged 20–59 years in high-income countries.

Most of the research done only point to the risk factors for breast cancer because to date we do not know what causes the disease.  Risk factors of course are things that affect your chance of getting the disease. Among the risk factors listed are smoking, drinking, and diet which links to things a person does. Others, like a person's age, race, or family history, can't be changed. 

There is an almost endless list of  risk factors some which came out of scientific studies on cancer of the breast. I would like to look at the risk factors that arise through lifestyle choices a bit. According to cancer.org Some of the breast cancer risk and lifestyle choices include:

• Not having children or having them later in life
• Recent use of birth control pills
• Using hormone therapy after menopause
• Not breast-feeding
• Being overweight or obese
• Alcohol
• Lack of exercise

And Some Risk factors that have not been proven: 

• Diet and vitamin intake
• Antiperspirants and bras
• Induced abortions
• Breast implants  

Their statement on Antiperspirant and bras reads: 

Antiperspirants and bras: Internet e-mail rumors have suggested that underarm antiperspirants can cause breast cancer. There is very little evidence to support this idea. A large study of breast cancer causes found no increase in breast cancer in women who used antiperspirants. Also, there is no evidence to support the idea that bras cause breast cancer.

In my humble opinion cancer is a money issue and I know you start to label me already but I will remain resolute on this point.  Curing cancer will sink thousands of industries and result in the lost of billions of dollars.  So my point is that with all the genius we boast in science and technology the directive to cure cancer just don't exist. As it relates to the cause, If I tell you I would have to kill you.  

I would love to believe the experts, except that millions of people like Linda McCartney who have been  religious vegetarians and exercise- freaks have also  been unfortunate in suffering breast cancer.  There are many other women who did everything in the book and still suffer from breast cancer. 

Perhaps the most convincing argument to the main risk factors lie in the Antiperspirants and bras column.  I have my suspiscions about the anti-perspirant and being a chemist I have examined the ingredients in these products and I wasn't too happy.  Since then I have stopped using it.  Of course the empire could not have a moratorium on the beloved "Antiperspirant" because it would kill a bunch of industries.  You be the judge of it however, after all it's your body and your mind. 

In the 'Bra and Breast Cancer Study' in the United States , It was discovered that women with breast cancer had a history of sporting tighter and longer bra-wearing  than did the women who had not (yet) developed the disease. This brings me back to the earlier questions.

The study further went on to show that In fact, virtually the entire cancer group wore bras over 12 hours. When a woman wears a tight bra, she subjects her breasts to pressure, closing off the lymphatic  pathway from the breast to the nodes. This causes fluid built-up swelling, tenderness and cyst formation. Toxins must be flushed out via the  lymphatic system. However, a bra-constricted breast cannot adequately perform this cleansing process, resulting in toxin accumulation in the breast. 

This issue was first brought to mainstream through the book Dressed to kill. Here is an excerpt from a review of the book Dressed to Kill:

Dressed to Kill is a book by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer that proposes a link between bras and breast cancer. According to the authors, the restrictive nature of a brassiere inhibits the lymphatic system. The book's claim that bras cause breast cancer has been dismissed by the medical and scientific communities; the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the National Institutes of Health have all concluded that there is no link between bra use and breast cancer.


In their book, Singer and Grismaijer argue that bra-wearing may be a major cause of breast cancer because of the purported effect of the bra on lymphatic circulation. Their interpretation is that constriction from tightly worn bras inhibits the proper functioning of the lymphatic system and leads to a buildup of fluid within the breast tissue. In addition, they state carcinogenic substances that we take into our bodies through petrochemically polluted food, air and water course throughout the body, including the breast tissue, and need to be flushed from the tissues by the lymphatic system. Hence, bra-induced constriction of the breast lymphatic vessels, according to the authors, concentrates these toxins within the breast tissue, which may ultimately lead to cancer.


The book generated controversy which the authors attributed the greed of the fashion and medical industries: "The bra industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. And billions of dollars are spent each year researching and treating this disease. Ironically, ending breast cancer can cause financial hardship for many people." To dismiss critics of their work, they claim the mainstream medical organizations all denied the link between smoking and lung cancer for decades after the initial research was published.

However you want to construct your opinion on the issue it does make sense to highlight these possibilities.  Women wear Bras for different occasions, reasons and lengths of time but I'm sure there is no need to wear a Bra 24/7.  Even if the claim is wrong you have nothing to lose from reducing your potential risk.   Better safe than sorry.


I have not made any scientific claim or endorse any opponents or proponents but I believe there is some link between Breast cancer and the wearing of Bras.  I will continue to follow the research and keep you informed.  


To all my friends and loved ones who are predisposed or suffering from Breast Cancer please stay strong and continue to take steps to reduce your risk.  For the concerned men, you can do something by helping your partner or family members to make the right lifestyle choices. You may also support one of the trusted Breast Cancer awareness charities:
http://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/
http://www.breastcancer.org/
 http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
  
BIBLIOGRAPHY: 
http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer 
http://www.who.int/cancer/detection/breastcancer/en/

Discovery Panel by OJB SOlutions 
Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved

Your Hotmail Account Was Hacked?

A few days ago I was walking with a friend when she got a call.  Her friend was asking her what the hell she doing on MSN messenger. Her display picture was something Hugh Hefner would be proud of - an exotic depiction of legs wide open.  

Immediately she rushed home to find that even her display name was changed and she had lost control of her account to some pilferer parading as her and chatting with her friends.

Luckily she was able to change her password and account name to lock out the intruder - or did she?

This raises the question I have been asking for a few years now:  Is my email safe?  What can you do to guarantee that your online accounts are safe?

Well, I have bad news for you because the fact is you are never 100% safe from intrusion.  Email and other online accounts work by storing your information remotely (remote server) and you therefore have to traverse the WWW (internet) to access and use these services.  Apart from the built in safety features, including HTTPS (a secure layer/connection) use for logging into accounts you do not have much protection from the technically savvy hacker especially if you do not understand the mechanism yourself. 

There is some hope however, and it sits with you taking the necessary steps to reduce your exposure to intrusion.  Below we have outlined a prescription (source: windows live Hotmail help) for the case where you have been breached.

What should I do if my account has been hacked?

If your account has been compromised—or hacked—it means that someone stole your password and might be using your account to access your personal information or send spam. To recover your account and prevent it from being hacked again, follow these steps.

1. Install an antivirus program on your computer

Most hackers get your password through malware (malicious software) that's been installed on your computer without your knowledge (for example, when you download a new screen saver or toolbar). It’s important to clear your computer of viruses or malware before you change your password. That way, the hackers won’t get your new password.

After you install an antivirus program, set up the program to get updates and scan your computer on a regular basis. If you're running Windows, you can download and install Microsoft Security Essentials for free.

2. Change your password

After you install an antivirus program, try to sign in to your account.

    If you can still sign in to your account, you should change your password right away.

    If you can’t change your password, try to reset your password.

3. Prevent your account from being hacked in the future

You can take the following actions to keep your account safe and make it easier to recover if it’s ever compromised again.

Create a strong password for your Hotmail account

    Make it at least eight characters long.

    Don't use your user name, real name, or company name.

    Don't use complete words.

Make it significantly different from previous passwords and don’t use the same password for all of your accounts.

Include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (such as !, #, *).

Make sure your operating system has the latest updates
Most operating systems have free software updates to enhance security and performance. Because updates are important for keeping your computer safe, we strongly recommend that you set up your computer to get these updates automatically.

You can easily set up your computer to get the latest updates automatically for Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
Never reply to emails asking for your Hotmail password

Email providers should never ask for your password in email, so never reply to emails asking for any personal information (even if they claim to be from Hotmail, Windows Live, or Microsoft).
Be careful signing in to your Hotmail account from public computers or unsecured wireless networks

If you often use public computers or unsecured wireless connections, consider changing your account to always use HTTPS. To start using HTTPS, change your settings. You can also request a single-use code to use when you need to sign in from a public computer. This is a good option if you just use public computers every now and then. 

Make your account easier to recover in the future

Password reset information can make it easier to recover your account if someone else takes control of it. Because this information is used for your safety, it's a good idea to add as much password reset information as you can. Learn more about why it's a good idea to add password reset information.

To add password reset information

Go to the Windows Live Account overview webpage, and then sign in with your Windows Live ID.

Under Password reset information, click Add next to Email, Mobile phone, Trusted PC, or Question, and then follow the on-screen instructions to add the password reset information to your account.

Prevention is always better than prescription so avoid getting your accounts breached.  The implications can be very grave and you will do not need to know the consequences of losing your account or other private information online.