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.

MY FUNNY VALENTINE

When I was young I used to think that Valentines Day was for crazy people who kept shooting arrows at apples on their heads.  They either get squeezed or end up dead.  But that was a silly thought based on what I was taught. 

My literal sense was apparently dense, but my imagination remained intense.

Newton was rumored to like apples and I read Newton quite a bit.  Not to mention the Greek mythology and all this cupid stuff.  So I put the pieces together before it fell apart.

Several years later I still don't get Valentines despite all the historical basis, which I will not get into.  Somehow I just think it was created by the capitalist (USA) to boost the sales of flowers and chocolate.  Thanks to Cadbury and Hershey's we now have to do 8 Hours of workout every week; And trust me, that jogging makes me weak.

I can empathize with the lover s however and although I'm a rebel without a cause I still have  to support those who believe in valentines day.  Speaking of which, is this a kind of religion for some of us?  At least among the women species.  I swear my friends are crazy the way they treat valentines day.  Only Christmas, Easter, Divali or Eid gets this much attention. 

In Trinidad where we play Russian roulette with holidays, Valentines day is almost a public holiday because no work happens after 12.  The offices are painted in Red and brown from the ceiling to the ground while the men are nowhere to be found.  Oh lord help these cheap men.

I cannot begin to remonstrate about these cheap men who find it hard to buy a rose for their women.  its a crying shame how tactless you have to be.  you know how much this day mean to her and you instead coming up with stupid excuses that you don't need valentines day to do stuff for her.  Wake up brother, do it everyday but for god sake do it today.  Take her out, buy her some chocolate or ice-cream, tell her you love her but don't play the fool. 

I've always wanted an ugly girl for my valentine but unfortunately I kept ending up with the pretty ones.  Pretty girls are too much trouble I tell you.  Everybody wants to buy them gifts just because they're pretty and not because they deserve it.  I don't mean to be bashful or anything, I just mean that there are varying levels of attractiveness in women and I love them all.  True beauty is within and some of the pretty girls getting gifts are so unattractive if you get my drift.  

My Funny valentine

My funny valentine is the best gift a man could dream of.  

Looking at her and hearing her speak bring smiles to my face like a mountains peak.  

She makes me want to dance, laugh and make a vow, because she is my then and my now.  

My funny valentine brings humor with her senses and she appreciate my intentions. 

She takes away sadness with the joy of candles; 

like a rose among roses in whispers of love. 

The fragrance, the taste, the musical embrace, is an endless moment of amazing grace;

And the happy days impregnate my mind, and keep me hooked to my funny valentine

WHY DOES IT HURT SO BAD?

I woke up with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart.  The night was so surreal and CNN didn't make it any better the way they milked this story. Whitney Houston is a legendary talent who will outlive her years. 

I know she had problems and her career has declined considerably.  I don't know her personally yet I feel like I've lost something special. And I had to ask myself:

Why does it hurt so bad?  Why do I feel so sad?

The reason why it hurt so bad is because I grew up with Whitney.  She was that golden voice in my ear even when the radio goes off.  Her talent and presence was majestic and she is indomitable when you consider her vocal control.  She always seem to innovate at every moment through her performances.  You always felt that even if she makes a mistake you would never notice and if the drummer didn't turn up she could still give you the best show of your life.

Her legacy I believe is timeless and while she is physically dead, she will continue to outlive her years.  I frankly believe that she lost her talent years ago but we failed to accept it.  We were always clamoring for some kind of come back, waiting, hoping praying for a return. She wanted to turn things around too and she tried her best.

The reality however was not to be and this must have been the greatest pressure on the beloved star.  The burden of expectation often drive us to the brink of death.  It is not an easy thing to deal with when you build your life around something and have to leave it behind.  I can't even imagine how devastating this have been for her.  

As it were with singers, there is no end except to the death.  With Whitney however the challenge was far bigger than she could handle.  She battled with so many demons that only God could have come down and help her.

The problem with addiction is the fact that it presents itself as the solution yet remains the problem.  It is therefore an endless cycle that has no visible end.  It takes a miracle to overcome a strong addiction and it takes more than belief; it takes a whole transformation of the order of a rebirth.  We wish her addiction to music was stronger than any other addiction.

While we still don't know the cause of her death and certainly don't want to speculate we have to give thanks for what she has contributed to the millions of lives she has inspired with her gift.  I believe that her honor is preserved and she will remain in our hearts for the positive aspects she has projected.  I hate to see her in a bad light and my greatest memory of Whitney is summarized in her performance of the National Anthem at the super bowl 1991.  

I am not from the USA, but that performance made me feel a sense of pride in being human.  It outshines the greatest artistic display ever produced by man and sets her apart as one of the greatest artist of all time.

Long live the legend WHITNEY HOUSTON.  

RIP

ZIP INNA MI EARS

When we speak about Jamaican mainstream entertainment we can't do so without reference to the popular radio station ZIP 103 FM.  ZIP has become a household name in Jamaican entertainment and has changed the game so much so that even the radio pioneers are playing catch up. 

 In Movado's own words, "ketch-up Dem a play me a Peppa" best describes what Zip 103 FM has been doing.  And the popular talk around town is:

"ZIP Inna mi ears" which translates to "ZIP in my ears", meaning I am always listening to ZIP FM

Of course this rapid growth in popularity has also attracted the nuts and bolts of mass media.  I'm talking about advertisers.  Critics have argued that Zip has become a victim of their own popularity finding displeasure among a number of fans because of too much advertisements. 

Has Zip 103 FM dropped the ball on entertainment?  Have they missed the balance of music and ads that will keep both their listeners and shareholders happy?

Jamaica Election Debate Update

With the huge question of why the Debates will cost just under $20 million to run, many Jamaicans are occupying their minds with even bigger questions.  One such question is when will the debates happen and how will it impact the two parties going into the General Elections on December 29th. 

How many debates? when does it start?  Who will face off?  What is the format?  

Well, we have the answers to most if not all those questions and barring any last minute changes we should have a very exciting showdown in a matter of days.  

What we didn't know about the Jamaica Election Date

So Prime Minister Andrew Holness last night rang the bell which revealed the date of the Jamaica General Elections.  As we now know the date of the polls is Thursday December 29th preceded by nomination day on Monday the 12th.  

What we didn't know however is the reason behind him delaying the announcement until last night.  In his delivery at the mass meeting of the JLP in Mandeville he intimated that the addition and approval of the over 41,000 new names to the voters list was paramount to his decision.  He wanted to give those voters an opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

In addition to that he considered the Christmas celebrations in his decision, pointing out that he wanted people to take a break for the holidays and then hit the road again around the 28th.

Meanwhile the speculations and predictions were not very far off and It can be said that not many were surprised by the announcement. 

According to Section 21 of the Representation of the People's Act (ROPA), subsection 2:

"The day on which the poll for the taking of votes of the electors is to be held in case a poll is necessary, shall not be less than 16 days or more than 23 days after the day appointed as nomination day."

In addition to that,  

"The day appointed as nomination day pursuant to Subsection One, (of the Act) shall be at least five clear days after announcement of an election."

Therefore election day is hinged on the date of nomination and the nomination day is to be within a certain time frame of the announcement.  Subsection 1 of Section 22 of ROPA recounts that:

"Nomination day shall be such day other than a public holiday as may be appointed by the minister by notice in the Gazette, not being more than seven days after publication of the notice."

So we see folks, the political pundits do have something to work with and even the uninitiated among us could sense that the date was within that window between Christmas and the middle of January.  This will be Jamaica's 16th General Elections since Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944. 

The Leader of the PNP has asserted that her team is ready and so is the Electorial Office of Jamaica. This will make for an interesting battle as the charming and passionate Portia Simpson-Miller asserted that she is confident and prepared for any challenge.

The coming weeks of course will see the two sides debating the issues affecting the country and according to Mr. Holness the real campaign will be initiated soon.  His rhetoric was strong on policy and the appeal was targeted to the uncommitted voters.  It remains to be seen however how the manifestos will shape leading up to the December 29 polls.

I want to implore you again that we are all Jamaicans and irrespective of which party we support we are "ONE BLOOD", as my friend Junior Reid puts it.  And I will leave you with another appeal to practice tolerance in the name of Jamaica:  "Jamaica Land We Love".  

When Jamaica suffer we all suffer, when Jamaica excel we all excel and we are all proud to be Jamaicans.  Why can't we unite as we do when Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown take the track or when the Reggae Boyz unleash their swagger?  Are we so illiterate and blind to see that there is nothing to gain from instability of our country?  

While we mark the date of the General Elections in our calendar and the X in our minds (beside the Head or Bell) let us think on these things. Loyalty to Jamaica is first in our hearts.

One Love Jamaica

KEY REFERENCES:  

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLES ACT (PDF FILE)  

ELECTORIAL OFFICE OF JAMAICA 

 

Election Date Jamaica

We are now entering the "silly season" so called because of the associated senseless and careless behavior that is often associated with general Elections in Jamaica.  Coupled with the fact that it coincide with the "festive season" is like a double whammy, as they would say in the USA.  The Peoples National Party (PNP) challenge the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for the right to lead the project to build Jamaica.

This is the perfect storm for the political pundits and the practitioners will hope to play on the excitement that is common at this time of year. Is it double trouble that elections are looming at Christmas time?  will it put a damper on the lucrative Christmas buzz we have grown to know and love?

Frankly, I do not believe that the elections will be held before Christmas this year and the strongest indicator of that is in the apparent indecisiveness by the newly appointed prime minister, Andrew Holness.  While not being the most exciting speaker, Mr. Holness has demonstrated a certain thoroughness and rationality in his approach to governance.  He seems to bring a change to the whole idea of political appeasement which is common among politicians - known for their flattery and evasive strategies.

What Christmas means to me

For most people in the Caribbean Christmas has always been synonymous with festivities.  Much the same for many other parts of the world including the Americas, Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia.  Christmas of course is symbolic to the christian religion from which it derives its name and of such it is a time for Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ.  Without going into the history and philosophy of the concept we  can safely say it is one of the most active seasons of the year globally.  International trade, travel and exchange peak around Christmas time.  So much so that in many regions it is commonly called the holiday season or the festive season.

The strategic placement near the end of the year might have had a great deal to do with this as the New Year celebrations tie right into the mix.  Therefore it is a cascading experience which begins towards the end of November maybe around the time that Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States.

For most Americans it is a great time to shop, enjoy good food and socialize with family.  Of course it encompass the winter months which makes the whole experience characterized by a cold weather on the outside which require inside heating by the fireplace or electrical for most modern homes.  This is exactly the case in Canada and most Northern European Cities.

In the Caribbean where the sunshine and warm weather is in abundance it gets a fraction cooler but not to a significant level to call for house heating.  Instead the vibes and warmth of the people and the buzz in the streets, shopping malls, markets are big indicators that something special is happening.  Even in tough economic times we almost always recognize the rise in excitement and activities.

Christmas mean different things to different people but for me Christmas is a time to reflect on the year that is coming to an end.  What have I done throughout the year to make a difference in the world around me and the lives of the people I encounter?  Christmas for me is a time for giving and sharing with family, friends and loved ones. It is an opportunity to put a smile on the faces of disadvantaged people and to give some time to a worthwhile causes.

Many people are suffering from hopelessness and lack of opportunities.  If you have the ability to help someone to find hope do not hesitate.  Giving is not just about material things or money.  Your time is the most valuable resource and if you don't have much to give you can give your time.  Share your skills, share your story, bless the heart of a stranger with your wisdom.  There is enough in the world for everyone to live in love and peace and if you can help one or two people to pick themselves up you will be very proud.

The reason why people are so mean and selfish today is that we do not know what we have, so we do not know what to give or how to give.  Even the beggar in the streets have something to give.  If you do not believe me try and do what he does for a day.   The point is their is value in everything good and bad you just have to know how and where to find the value.  If I begin to list what I can do I have over a hundred skills, and If I can teach my brother one new skill that could change his life forever that would be the best gift I could ever give, better than a new toy. 

I am not an expert on religion but I have to conclude that the true meaning of Christmas is Christ.   Christ is the best gift to us and Christmas is about the gift that keeps on giving.  Irrespective of who you are or where you're from, love is unmistakable and therefore the extent of your celebration of Christmas should be focused around honoring the love.  The love of Christ - love for each other.  According to the great poet James Whitcomb Riley, "To attain the highest good of true man and womanhood, Simply do your honest best; God with joy will do the rest." 

Compliments of the Season!!!

North Korea Exposed

Call it what you will, but when we mention North Korea everybody gets a thrill - some of us , a chill.  For many, North Korea is synonymous with a hereditary dictatorship surrounded by a cult like following around the "Great Leader" Kim Il-Sung and the "Dear Leader"  Kim Jong-Il, the man at the helm today.  

Something very interesting caught my eyes today though.  I have never seen anything like this before, and trust me I have seen and done a lot in my time. What I saw really opened my eyes to North Koreans as a people and the history of Korea as a whole. I am left with more questions than answers however and my interest in discovering more is peaked.  

World Cup 2010 Review

Congratulations to Spain on winning the World cup.   What can I say about that final match.  It was a real chess match I tell you, like a scene from the Gladiator or better yet 300.  Spain as I said in my preview had the better team and the experience of playing together paid dividends in the end.  Spain played total football and held the narrow edge.
 
The referee was the obvious star of the match and not totally by his own doing because if he played to the events on the pitch we might have finish the game with about 20 players.  He and his team did a fair job and I cannot blame him for the state of play because life goes on after world cup and especially with these professionals they ought to be protected. 
So for my awards I will name Argentina as the most entertaining team to watch.  This is followed closely by Spain and Ghana.

The best defensive team goes to Portugal while the most efficient goes to Germany.   Player of the Tournament goes to Pique while player of the finals is Jesus.   The worst team to watch is Greece and the most disappointing team was France.  Goal of the tournament goes to Micon while the best assist to Felipe Melo.  Mr. Melo also gets the most indisciplined player and the X-factor in the tournament.
South Africa 2010 was good because of the professionalism by the hosts.  It was incident free for the most part and the quality of the facilities were top rate.  The vuvuzelas were tempered nicely after the first round and that was commendable.  In the end it was true to form because the best team in the world won.
OJB

Michael Jackson is Not Dead

The legend never die not as long as there’s a sky.  Michael is the consommate professional, meticulous and incredible.  He has made an indellible mark on the history of entertainment taking music into a whole new dimension with his unique style. 

Despite his troubled personal life and personality his music and his genius will outlive him because his art is immortal, his ideas are undying and his legacy is infinite. 

Long live Micahael Jackson,

The King of Pop. 

Michael Jackson is not dead!!!

Obama on Iran

There have been many arguments for and against Obama’s response to the Iranian crisis.  The opponents’ main argument is that the president is soft and does not have the situation under control.  Those in support of his actions believes that he has taken a measured approach.

Well I have to agree with the latter because anything other than a measured approach to this situation will be playing into the hands of the Iranian pundits.  Even before anybody from the West got directtly involved they were been touted as being instigators of the protests.

Illusionary tactics by the iranian authorities should be carefully screutinized because it  undermines the sufferings and suppression of the peoples voice.
I hope this matter will be resolved in a civil and just manner without the loss of lives or civility.