Build your own MythTV PC. 
You don't do stuff like this to cut corners. You do it because you want what you wantand because it's fun. And a personalized MythTV is so much more than a PVR. You can c****ine HDTV, DVD, all kinds of music, radio, photos, even a plug-in videophone module. All you need is a little Linux know-how, assorted software components and plug-ins, an adventurous nature, and this book to tell you how it all goes together. Voil¨¤the entertainment hub of your dreams. 

Learn to do all this and much more: 


Choose HD capture cards and sound drivers. 
Install and configure MythTV. 
Build your program guides. 
Use xine to add DVD menu support. 
Pass raw digital streams to an external decoder. 
Do cool things with your remote control. 
Hack your own themes. 
Export MythTV .nuv recordings to other formats. 
A companion Web site provides even more of the know-how you need.

 

         1858276511258.zip - 4.72MB

THE National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) yesterday closed the Riverton landfill after a massive fire, believed to have been caused by the seeping of methane gas from rotting garbage, broke out at a section of the dump.

At least nine fire trucks were called in to smother the raging flames which began early Monday morning and were fanned by strong winds in the area.
Riverton City landfill workers brave stifling smoke in a section of the dump yesterday as they carry out their duties. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood) 


"During these hotter periods, methane gas coming from underneath the garbage will ignite in sections of the dump that are not covered with dirt and sand," explained manager of the Riverton landfill, Winston Wilson.

"We have also had some tremendous wind so that has added to the spread of the fire," he added.

Yesterday, worried Riverton City residents said fires at the landfill had become an all too regular incident. They, however, said they had little options to deal with the problem.

"What we must do? We can't do anything about it. Is long time this going on for and all we have to do is just watch it and do the necessary things that it don't affect we," said a female resident, cl**tching her three-month-old baby as a thick cloud of smoke from the dump hovered in the distance behind her.

"Is here we live. We just have to deal with it every time it catch fire," another female resident interjected, while pointing to a closed window on her house.

Yesterday, as the NSWMA response team and firefighters worked hard to control the blaze, some workers criticised them in hushed tones, saying their efforts were not enough.

"This fire cannot out with fire trucks alone. If you don't have tractors and trucks coming in with dirt to dump on the fire, then this thing could go on for weeks or even months and everybody knows that. Even the boss them that are here with you today know that," said one worker who claimed he had been working at the dump for years.

"We need the proper resources, we do not have any functional equipment working with on the dump to fight this fire and persons in authority just don't want to spend the money to deal with the matter," he added.

50 says he do a milli in his first week for he's next solo album, but his G-Unit album doesn't break a 100k, and worst still Weezy returns to the top spot as well. Weezys fourth week of sales take The Carter III to 1.75million sold.

WEEZY GO, WEEZY COME

Lil Wayne Returns to #1, Coldplay, Camp Rock Trail; G-Unit, John Mayer Debut

July 8, 2008

Lil is still big.

Cash Money/Universal Motown rap star Lil Wayne returns to the top of the HITS Album sales chart after two week with Tha Carter III, which recaptures #1, scoring 153k in sales.

Thats enough to leapfrog it past Capitol Music Groups Coldplay album, which dips to #2 after two weeks at #1, with 150k in sales.

Disneys Camp Rock continues strong at #3 with another 115k.

i guess lil wayne terminated them on sight

Memin Pinguin, a comic book that has sold millions on newsstands in Mexico and Latin America, features a character that is meant to be Cuban. HOUSTON -- A popular Mexican comic book seen by some as racist will no longer be available at Wal-Mart.

But many feel the character plays to racist stereotypes.

This is poking fun at the physical features of an entire people. Making them look buffoonish (and) portraying the young (black) kid as stupid, said local activist Quanell X. Whenever they are beating him, they are referring to him as Negro. Even here when he is being punched, slapped (he is called) Negro. This is a disgrace.

Wal-Mart told 11 News Wednesday that they plan to take the comic book off their shelves immediately.

The retailer released a statement Wednesday about the decision to remove the comic.

Wal-Mart received a customer complaint regarding the availability of the Memin book, based on a cartoon character popular in Mexico, and recently made available in Wal-Mart stores as part of a series of Spanish-language titles.  Because we take customer concerns seriously, we have decided to no longer distribute this product in our stores and are in the process of removing existing copies from store shelves.

Wal-Mart carries a wide array of products that reflect the wants and needs of Hispanic customers.  And we understand that Memin is a popular figure in Mexico.  However, given the sensitivity to the negative image Memin can portray to some, we felt that it was best to no longer carry the item in our stores.  We apologize to those customers who may have been offended by the books images, the statement read.

The serial was originally published in the 1960s, but was recently re-issued and stocked at the retail chain.

This latest incident was not the first time the comic has stirred up controversy.

The character spurred debate in 2005 when the Mexican government issued a stamp commemorating Memin. At the time, many U.S. activists and political figures called the character racist.

The Mexican government protested the characterizations, asserting that Americans simply do not understand Memins cultural significance in Mexico.

st thomas

A man police labelled as armed and dangerous, has been prowling a few residential communities in St Thomas.

The man has so far been seen in Prospect, York and South Haven, all middle-class subdivisions with a growing number of returning residents.

He has committed a number of break-ins especially at residences with senior citizens who are unable to chase or easily recognise his presence.

One 71-year-old resident in South Haven told police that when the man broke into his house and he confronted him, the thief told him that he knew that he lived alone.

The man who is armed with a work belt with a variety of tools lining his waist, also carries a machete in a sling across his back.

Reputed 'Clansman' gang leader Tesha Miller is still the boss, residents of De la Vega City in Spanish Town, St Catherine, say.

Members of the community, which is home to the gang, were yesterday rocked by reports that the police took a cellphone from Miller's rectum on Sunday.

On Monday night, the Consta-bulary Communication Network issued a release stating that in addition to the find,Vaseline and a cellular charger were also found in Miller's cell at the Horizon Remand Centre. Miller was taken into custody for allegedly breaching his bail bond on a murder charge.

"Mi frighten when mi si di paper. Mi naw lie, nuttin can go so!" responded one resident in obvious disbelief when questioned by THE STAR.

Unbecoming of Miller

Residents nevertheless are claiming that such a report is very unbecoming of Miller.

"Wi nuh know bout dat, dat nuh sound like fi him style. Dem man deh roll roun' wi so wi know how him roll, suh wi nuh know bout dem behaviour deh," said a resident.

Also, they are further theorising that this is merely a move to get out their leader and as a result, will not affect their community.

When asked if the reports would affect other members of the Clansman gang, one influential member of the community said, "Wi nuh too tek dat no way cause wi know seh nuttin nuh go so. A same so dem plot and get out Marcus Garvey an dem man deh."

He then added: "a plot di police dem a plot fi get di man off a di road. Nuttin nuh go so; a plant dem plant dat pon him. wi nuh believe. When a man back against di wall, dem do anything fi get him out."

Wrong court

Miller appeared in the Gun Court section of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday and returns tomorrow.

His lawyer, Everton Bird, argued that Miller was before the wrong court and, therefore, that court had no jurisdiction in the case. He said Miller was arrested and charged in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and under the Bail Act, Miller should have been taken to the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court.

Bird also argued that Miller was charged with the wrong offence because he did not abscond bail. He said Miller's next court date was July 31 and Miller was taken into custody last week Friday. He said Miller had allegedly breached one of the conditions of his bail.

The prosecution is opposing bail. A decision will be made tomorrow as to whether a preliminary inquiry will be held in the murder cases or they will be sent to the Home Circuit Court for trial.

JORGE SAINZ
The Associated Press

PAMPLONA, Spain Charging bulls plowed into piles of fallen thrillseekers Wednesday, goring an American and injuring at least one other person during the annual run through the streets of Pamplona.

On the third day of the San Fermin festival, the six half-ton fighting bulls accompanied by steer stayed in a tight pack for much of the run, which makes the sprint safer.

But pile-ups of fallen runners formed at several points, and bulls plowed into at least one of them and ran over others. One man in sneakers, running shorts and a tank-top bumped into the side of bull making a sharp turn and was thrown into the air.

The Spanish Red Cross said one bull gored a 22-year-old man from California and left him with a 12-cm (5-inch) gash in his right buttock. He underwent surgery and his life is not in danger, the organization said in a statement that corrected an earlier report that the man had been gored in the abdomen. His name and hometown were not released.

A Greek man suffered a facial injury when run over by bulls, the Red Cross said.

One bull got separated late in the course, turned back toward the starting point several times and charged at people. At times it just stopped and stared at people looking on from behind a wooden fence.

Herders with sticks tugged on the animal's tail to turn it around and eventually guided it into the bullring where the half-mile (850-meter) run ends.

Andy Firestone, an 18-year-old American, called his first run at Pamplona "the most incredible experience of my life. I was afraid, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.''

Australian Hugh Fontayn, 19, called it "a rush of Adrenalin. I'll definitely do it again.''

The runs to the city bullring take place at 8 a.m. daily and are the highlight of a centuries-old festival that became world famous with Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises.''

Professional matadors fight, and invariably kill, the bulls each afternoon of the festival.

Of 18 runners who were hurt in the first two days of this year's festival, six remained in the hospital on Wednesday, the Red Cross said.

Fourteen runners have died in the running of the bulls since record-keeping began in 1924.

The last fatality from a goring was a 22-year-old American, Matthew Tassio, in 1995. In 2003, a 63-year-old Pamplona native, Fermin Etxeberri, was trampled in the head by a bull and died after spending several months in a coma.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old Irishman died after falling from an ancient wall that encircles the old quarter of Pamplona.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Bell Mobility (TSX: BCE) and Telus Mobility (TSX: T) will start charging wireless customers that do not subscribe to a text message bundle as part of their calling plan 15 cents per incoming text message later this summer.

Bell customers will start paying the new charge on Aug. 8, while Telus customers will not see the new charge until Aug. 24. Previously incoming text messages were free.

Wireless users who subscribe to a text message bundle as part of their calling plan will not be affected by the change, both companies said Tuesday.

Rogers Wireless (TSX: RCI.B) does not currently charge for incoming text messages.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw says the Government is renegotiating the forward-sales alumina agreement between the Jamalco Alumina Company and the overseas-based Glencore. 

Shaw told reporters yesterday that the country was in more trouble because of what he called the bad alumina contract the previous government inked with Glencore.

The finance minister said that under the agreement, the People's National Party (PNP) government advanced the collection of earnings for alumina, but, based on the terms of the contract, alumina was now being supplied to Glencore far below market rate.

In fact, Shaw said so bad was the contract that the rate at which the product was now being supplied was even below the actual production cost.

According to Shaw, when the former administration entered the forward-sales alumina agreement, it made no allowance for any increase in energy or production costs.

Since then, Shaw said the value of alumina has spiked and Jamaica has not been able to benefit because it is locked into the contract until 2012. 

Energy cost 

"In the period since that agreement was entered into, you have the energy cost more than doubling and you have the demand coming from India and China that has caused the price to shoot up," he said.

Shaw said this has prompted Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the minister with responsibility for energy to intervene in the matter.

Yesterday, a senior official in the bauxite sector told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that the attempt to renegotiate the forward-sales contract with Glencore was far advanced.

He argued, however, that Shaw's comments at this time were unfortunate because they could affect the process.

The Government was able to collect advance earnings from Jamalco's alumina sales to Glencore because it was part-owner of the local company.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran test-fired a long-range missile on Wednesday in response to what it says are threats from Israel and the United States, Iranian officials said.

"We want to tell the world that those who conduct their foreign policy by using the language of threat against Iran have to know that our finger is always on the trigger and we have hundreds and even thousands of missiles ready to be fired against predetermined targets," Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard ground forces, said on state TV.

"We will chase the enemies on the ground and in the sky and we are able react strongly to enemy's threats in shortest possible time."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps test-fired a Shahab-3 missile and several other missiles during war games in the Persian Gulf called the Great Prophet III, according to Iran's state-run media and a U.S. military source.

William Burns, a senior U.S. State Department official, said Iran is "as serious ... a problem as any we face today."

The exercise comes a month after Israel conducted a military drill in the eastern Mediterranean involving dozens of warplanes, and the latest Iranian activities prompted concern from Israel and condemnation from the United States.

Iran occasionally tests missiles, but this firing comes amid international tensions over its nuclear aspirations.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said "the war game was aimed at improving the c****at readiness of Iran's armed forces. The 2,000-kilometers-range Shahab-3 missiles were tested to demonstrate Iran's capability in hitting its enemies accurately at the early stages of their probable attacks against the Islamic Republic."

The agency added: "Domestic and foreign political and military analysts believe that Shahab-3 is able to reach targets in the occupied lands in case of the Zionist regime's probable attacks against Iran's nuclear sites."

Iran's Press TV said the military "successfully test-fired new long and mid-range missiles." It mentioned the Shahab 3, "which can hit any target within a range of 2,000km." It said the missile was equipped with a one-ton conventional warhead.

"Nine highly advanced missiles with improved accuracy were simultaneously tested including the Zelzal and Fateh missiles with ranges of 400km and 170km respectively."

Press TV said troops were also involved in the maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz areas.

A U.S. military official with knowledge of the testing counted the firing of seven missiles, one Shahab-3 and six shorter-range ballistic missiles. The testing took place over land, the official said.

The official, who noted that these kinds of tests had occurred before and were not unexpected, said the tests were tracked by U.S. intelligence.

Another military source said another Iranian exercise is under way inside the Persian Gulf with surface ships and submarines.

World powers, who suspect Iran is intent on building nuclear weapons, have offered economic and other incentives in exchange for the suspension of its enrichment program.

Iran, which says its nuclear program is strictly to produce energy, defends its right to proceed with enrichment.

There are worldwide worries that Israel, which is concerned by Iran's plans, is pondering a unilateral strike.

Israel's recent aerial military exercise was in part an effort to send a message that it has the capability to attack Iran's nuclear program.

The distance involved in the exercise was roughly the same as would be involved in a possible strike on the Iranian nuclear fuel plant at Natanz, a U.S. military official said.

In 1981, Israel attacked a nuclear facility in Iraq. Israel also struck a site in Syria that some say was a nuclear reactor under construction.

One Israeli Cabinet member, Shaul Mofaz, recently said it "will attack" Iran if the nuclear program was not halted.

Last week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Gen. Mohammed Ali-Jaafari, said any strike against Iran's nuclear facilities would be regarded a the beginning of war.

At the same time, Iranian leaders are discounting the possibility of war. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Malaysia this week for a conference, told reporters Iran was trying to prevent a confrontation.

"We are making all-out efforts to expand peace and security in the world. You should not be concerned about a new war," he said on Tuesday.

Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said it did not want conflict with Iran.

"But the Iranian nuclear program and the Iranian ballistic missile program must be of concern for the entire International community," Regev said.

The White House reacted strongly to the Iranian test-firing.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: "Iran's development of ballistic missiles is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."

Johndroe mentioned that the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany "are committed to a diplomatic path, and have offered Iran a generous package of incentives if they will suspend their uranium enrichment activities."

"They should also refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world. The Iranians should stop the development of ballistic missiles, which could be used as a delivery vehicle for a potential nuclear weapon, immediately."

Dear Pastor,

I'm a 24-year-old woman who has a man who's 29 years old. He's a dancer. He travels and performs in New York, Canada, etc. However, I met him in Jamaica while I was on vacation. It has been two months. Anyway, I care about him. I have deep feelings for him. He told me the second time I met him that if I was serious, he would be serious. Since then, I have been showing him that I'm serious and up to now, he has not shown me that he is serious.

BUSY

Everytime I call him, he's busy. He's either doing something or he's about to do something. Honestly, I get so frustrated and upset because he tells me that he loves me and I'm his woman, yet he doesn't find time for me when I call him. Furthermore, I know he has other women, but he denies having any. He's a popular dancer and he has three kids. He tours a lot. I know that he has to have someone in one of those countries. Pastor, please help me. I need your fatherly advice. I need to know if he cares for me.

R., Toronto, Canada.

The worst of times But 61% of Jamaicans polled blame high oil prices

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Exactly three of every four persons questioned for the latest Observer/Don Anderson Polls have indicated that things in the country have got worse over the last few months.

However, just over 60 per cent of respondents blame spiralling oil prices for increases in the cost of living.

According to Anderson, who conducted the poll between June 25 and July 2 among 1,000 persons islandwide, "the general view among Jamaicans of all socio-economic groups is that things are hard at the moment". However, it does not appear that they are prepared to lay the blame at the feet of the Government.

Anderson said that when his team from Market Research Services Ltd asked people what they thought was the cause of their present economic hardship and the rising costs of many food items, the large majority - 61 per cent - pointed to the global issue of the price of oil.

World oil prices have been rising steadily for some months now, reaching a high of US$146 a barrel last week. However, yesterday, the Associated Press reported that crude prices tumbled by US$5.33 to settle at US$136.04 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Yesterday's decline followed a US$3.92 slide on Monday.

But even though those interviewed by Anderson recognise the impact of the high oil prices on Jamaica, some respondents - 18 per cent - blame the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government for the current problems that the country faces, said Anderson.

Six per cent of respondents also blamed the previous People's National Party (PNP) Government for the present crisis, while four per cent "blame it on a rapacious private sector hiking the prices of goods outside of reason and artificially therefore creating the pressure on the economy and on their lives".

The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent, found that over 93 per cent of persons who voted PNP in last September's general elections feel that things in the country have got worse since then. But this view, Anderson said, is shared by over 54 per cent of those who voted JLP.

"Just 13 per cent feel that things have got better over the last few months, and these are largely persons who voted for the JLP in September," said Anderson.

He said that three main factors were cited by those who feel that things have got worse.

"Topping this list is the state of the economy, which has seen significant increases in the cost of living," said the pollster. "Fifty-nine per cent blame the worsening situation in the country on this. Thirty-five per cent blame it on crime and violence and 17 per cent on the high level of unemployment."

The people who have said that things have got better mainly point to the fulfilment of promises by the Government of such things as free education and health care and efforts by the administration to restore the economy and reduce levels of corruption in the society.

Of the persons interviewed, 59 per cent felt that their personal situation has deteriorated since last September, said the pollster.

"Whilst this view was largely held by persons who voted for the PNP last time, a significant number - 37 per cent - of JLP supporters also feel this way," said Anderson.

"Thirteen per cent feel that their own personal situation has improved over the period since last September, and these are largely persons who supported the JLP last time," said Anderson.

When the interviewers asked respondents to state their reasons for saying that their personal situation had got worse over the period, 67 per cent cited the high cost of living and their inability to buy food.
"This was the largest single answer and clearly points to the extreme difficulties that people are experiencing generally in seeking to make ends meet," said Anderson.

"Eighteen per cent also pointed to the absence of jobs as a big causal factor, whilst five per cent listed the increase in crime and violence as one of the factors," added Anderson.

Respondents who said their personal situation has improved, point to the new health care and educational benefits as the principal reasons. They also gave other things such as getting a job, the availability of things they never had before and a feeling of general optimism as indicators of this improvement in their personal situation.

 

Alleged informer told nothing, police say

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

POLICE on Monday said a shopkeeper who was allegedly murdered because he was believed to have given them information about the killers of former Jamaica Urban Transit Company chairman, Douglas Chambers, was very uncooperative and gave them no statement.

The dead man, Howard Bryan, was killed on Saturday after three gunmen barged into his home at New Nursery in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town and shot him several times as he slept.

But Deputy Superintendent Derrick Champagnie of the Spanish Town police said Bryan, who is also called 'Icofree', and who operated a small shop in front of the bus depot where Douglas was killed on Michael Manley Boulevard, gave them no information.

Bryan was one of several persons who were outside the bus depot when two armed men approached Douglas and started shooting. Police questioned several persons on the scene in the aftermath of the murder.

"The man was very hostile to the police when he was approached. He gave us nothing,' Champagnie told the Observer.

New Nursery, also known as 'Fish Ground', is a known Klansman gang enclave and is the area where Chambers' attackers fled after shooting him.

The area has been tense since Saturday. In fact, when the Observer sought to get information on Monday, the residents were unwilling to talk about the incident.

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life," a female resident said Monday.

Police were also tight-lipped about the progress of the homicide investigation, but Champagnie renewed an appeal for persons who witnessed Chambers' killing to assist the police in their probe.

"The investigations are moving smoothly and we are again appealing for people to come in with information," Champagnie said.

Chambers was killed as he took a break from meeting with union officials concerning job cuts at the bus company. Despite receiving death threats weeks before, Chambers was said to have refused an offer of state security.

A reward of $500,000 has been posted for information leading to the capture of his killers.

The family of a Jamaican woman who died after being left unattended on the floor of the psychiatric ward at Kings County Hospital Centre (KCHC) in Brooklyn has slapped the public-run hospital and the City of New York with a US$25-million (J$1.8 billion) lawsuit. 

Tecia Harrison, the eldest child of the deceased, Esmin Green, filed the wrongful death notice yesterday. She is being represented by prominent civil rights attorney Sandford 'Sandy' Rubenstein, a highly regarded figure in New York's Caribbean immigrant community.

Rubenstein has been at the forefront of major personal injury and civil-rights lawsuits in the city, where he sprang to prominence alongside the late Johnie Cochran as the legal counsel for Abner Louima, the Haitian immigrant who was sodomised by New York City police personnel in 1997.

He recently represented the victims in the Sean Bell-lawsuit against the police department after Bell was shot dead by the police on his wedding day in 2006.

In an interview at his downtown Brooklyn law office yesterday, Rubenstein said what was important to Green's family was getting justice for their loved one. 

Acts of neglect 

"What this means is whoever was responsible for the acts of neglect, as well as the acts of cover-up, should be held criminally liable under our system of justice," he said. "What's important is that they get change, so that what happened to their mom never happens again to anyone else."

He said while it had taken Green's tragic death to bring some much-needed reform at Kings County, this was only the beginning.

The family's lawsuit comes even as the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office and the City Department of Investigations continue their probes into allegations that hospital staffers changed Esmin Green's medical chart after she died. The medical record indicates that the sick woman was sitting quietly in the waiting room at 6:20 a.m. on June 19, the day she died. The security camera recording activities in the waiting room contradicted this claim, showing that Green had long fallen off her chair and was still lying on the floor at 6:20 a.m., finally receiving attention some-20 minutes later.

"It's clear from the timeline that exists that records were falsified with regard to what happened," Rubenstein noted.

Harrison, Green's 31-year-old daughter, at first said she would not view the tape showing her mother's final moments, but yesterday looked at snippets of it at her lawyer's office.

"I had to see what my mother went through, although I couldn't face all of it," she told The Gleaner.

"It was heartbreaking, horrifying. A piece of me died when I saw my mother fall on the floor," she added.

Green's body has been flown home to Jamaica, where the funeral will take place on Sunday at Point Hill, St Catherine.

IT takes all of us as one. The crime and corruption cant continue. What can we do to stop it?

-- Edited by KINGK at 14:29, 2008-07-09

This month our series "Reggae Around the World" we interview DJ Tokiya from Black Assassin Sound System in Japan. The have been playing reggae at night clubs, dances and on the radio in Japan for over 15 years.


Question: How are you involved in Reggae?

I play reggae music at the various clubs in Japan and select music for the radio station. Also I create MIX CD for sale.


Question: What is the reggae scene like there?

The situation has improved every year. REGGAE becomes popular in Japan . Nowadays, many foreign artists come and perform in Japan . Also many Japanese SOUNDSYSEM, the reggae artists, and the reggae band started to coming out in Japan . If the physical distance between Japan and Jamaica is much closer, reggae music would be much more popular in Japan .

Question: What first drew your attention to Reggae?

It was the reggae RIDDIM. It was undertaken that my impact in SLENG TENG RIDDIM.

Question: What was the first Reggae song you ever heard?

It was the mighty diamonds I need a roof.

Question: Who and what are your influences?
Bob Marley, Stone Love and Killamanjaro,


Question: What style of reggae is played often in your country? [Dancehall, Lovers
Rock, Conscious etc.] What style do the majority of fans seem to prefer?
DANCEHALL is the mainstream. There is a scene for ROOTS ROCK and LOVERS ROCK, too.

Not only Jamaican reggae but also Japanese style reggae often plays at the clubs.


Question: Was the fact that Reggae is English and Patois a barrier?

The language barrier used to be a large one however I find it is not much problem now.

Question: Is Reggae mainstream and is it played on the radio there? Videos on TV?

REGGAE is taken up in media of Japan . DAVILLE is one of the famous REGGAE artists in Japan . Recently the radio stations have been playing, SEAN KINGSTON. Some of the reggae artists show up on cable channels such as MTV Japan, but so much on national networks.

Question: How is Reggae influencing your culture?

I studied the black culture and the history through REGGAE. ( africa ,jah,haile selassie,etc). REGGAE asks when I do what way of life ..good...

Question: If someone traveled to visit your home and wanted to hear reggae music what would they have to do?

They can go to one our dances. Visit my website for dances in Japan: http://www.myspace.com/tokiyas


Question: How would you describe your country's reggae sound and development?

Japanese reggae sound became far more different from Jamaican style. Reggae music in Japan takes its own way of creating Japanese sound. Many Japanese reggae artists are trying to get more popularity by singing in Japanese and closing the gap between reggae and Pop music.


Question: What are some of the names of the popular local artist? Who would be the
top 5 artists?
Rankin Taxi, Ackee & Saltfish, Pushim, Ryo The Skywalker, Chop Stick


Question: How did you get interested in Reggae?

I first heard the reggae music from the radio. That melody inspired me when I was young.

Ive been involved in Japanese reggae scene for more than 15 years.

Question: Who is your favorite Reggae Artist?
Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Super Cat, Ninjaman


Question: Where do you think Reggae will be in 10 years time? And in Your country?
I am sure REGGAE will be much popular in Japan .


Question: Do you think there is anything preventing Reggae from flourishing for you
and your fellow artists there?
NO,,,,,but GANJA is illegal in Japan .




Question: In some countries you might see people wearing a Jamaican-style hat

With fake dreadlocks attached when they attend reggae concerts and other events. Do you
see anything that you see in your country?


YES,,,,,sadly

Question: Have you ever been to Jamaica ?

YES, many times! Love it! I usually go to Jamaica to create dub plate

Question: Do you have many/any Jamaican people living there?
YES, nuff Jamaican deh yah

Question: Do you eat Jamaican food? Like what?
YES, I cook Jerk chicken for myself sometime.
Question: Any final words for the visitors at Jamaicans.com

Here is what Illseed has to say...

SPEAKING OF G-UNIT


50 Cent and his crew put some stuff on his site about Interscope possibly sabotaging his album with Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. Now, I have some source within Interscope and they gave some indication of what has transpired from within. First, from what I understand,what 50 charged is true: there was a shortage of T.O.S. albums available. A lot of stores did not even receive T.O.S. or got very few copies. Big retails stores like Best Buy did not even display T.O.S with the new releases, from what I heard.


Now, there is a complimentary layer to this. From what I hear, the big dogs at Interscope are getting tired of their inability to manage 50 Cent. He dissed them and they are tired of him speaking out against them, from what I have been told. On top of it all, they got very upset allegedly when the G-Unit general launched thisis50.com and started putting free music on there along with the music videos to boot.


In case you didn't know, G-Unit pushed about 96,043 units. The crazy thing is 50 has way more people than that as members of his community.

Clarendon's most wanted

Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter

The Clarendon Police yesterday released the names of 10 men whom they they have fingered in connection with various crimes committed in the parish.

The police are also reporting a reward of $80, 000 for the capture of each of the men, who are wanted for crimes which include murder, shooting with intent and robbery.

The names of the men are: (not in any specific order)

1. Martin 'Foggy' Shand, 26, of New Longsville. He is wanted for murder and shooting with intent.

2. Anthony 'Heavy Man' Scott, 20, of an Effortville address. He is wanted for murder.

3. Kent 'Bigga' Powell of Solomon Lane in York Town. He is wanted for shooting with intent.

4. Garfield Augustus, wanted for murder.

5. Alphanso Powell or 'Anthony Powel' or 'Peenie Paul', wanted for shooting with intent and robbery.

6. Monsel Dyer of Mocho, wanted for murder.

7. Alton Gordon of Bunkers Hill. He is wanted for three counts of shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm.

8. Solomon Williams of Canaan Heights wanted for absconding bail and shooting with intent.

9. Andrew 'Rocka' Smith, wanted for murder.

10. A man known only as 'Rup Rup' who is wanted for murder.

Deputy Superintendent Patrick Murdoch, head of operations for the division noted that the men are considered armed and dangerous, as such the police are appealing to citizens who know of the men's whereabouts, not to approach them but to alert the police.

In recent times, Clarendon has been marred by a spate of gruesome and violent attacks.

The police believe that these men, once behind bars will bring some level of peacefulness back to the parish.

50 Cent said he'd hang up his mic if Kanye West's new album outsold his. He might have spoken too soon.

Critics are raving about West's Graduation - and its already sold 200,000 more units than Fiddy's Curtis since yesterday's same-day release in the US.

The hip-hop egomaniacs were pitted against each other when, last month, Fiddy said on <i>sohh.com: </i>

"If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer (perform) music. I'll write music and work with my other artists but I won't put out any more solo albums."

Associated Press said on the strength of the albums, West could claim a "landslide victory."

"... Graduation still sound like a logical step forward. Yet Curtis sounds like Fiddy is standing in place ... Fiddy's outsized c**ckiness sounds like a comfortable artist repeating himself, afraid to tinker with his winning formulas."

Ryan Dombal, from Pitchfork, gave Fiddy just 4.9 stars out of 10.

"in direct opposition to Kanye's fearless, risk-taking, Graduation, 50's new album is a blatant rehash - a bottom-line sequel that insults the same audience it mildlessly panders to."

Respected sie HiphopDX said: "50 cent may be a superstar, but Curtis is pedestrian."

But critics heaped praise on West's Graduation.

Rolling Stone gave the album 4.5 stars out of five, saying: "This is an album that you first like, then love."

HiphopDX echoed the sentiment.

"Kanye has created another must-have album that will continuously bump on your CD players and mp3's for months to come."

Security forces vow to keep the peace in Spanish Town

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

THE police and the military were out in large numbers in Spanish Town yesterday and promised to remain there today to prevent further unrest in the old capital, as the reputed leader of the Klansman gang, Tesha Miller, remains in police custody for another day.

MILLER. to know Thursday if he will be granted bail

On Saturday, a day after the arrest of the reputed gang leader, activities in Spanish Town came to a halt as members of the notorious Klansman gang, protesting Miller's arrest, set up burning roadblocks in several sections of the town and ordered businesses to close.

Yesterday, the police vowed that normal commercial activities must be allowed to continue in Spanish Town and warned that they would be employing a zero-tolerance approach, and would come down hard on anyone caught setting up roadblocks.

"We are here on the ground in the community and we will not be tolerating any planned protest from the residents here," Deputy Superintendent Anthony Castelle told the Observer last night.

"This is something that we will not be tolerating again; the police in Spanish Town are here along with members of the military and other officers from other divisions and we are keenly monitoring the area," added Castelle.

Miller was arrested on Friday when the police went to his home during curfew hours imposed by the court, but found he was not there. He was arrested for violating his bail conditions. When last granted bail, Miller was ordered to stay at home between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am each day.

He appeared in the Gun Court section of the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court yesterday, where he was remanded until Thursday, when the court is to rule on whether or not his bail should be revoked.

The prosecution told Resident Magistrate Valerie Edwards that given Miller's history of disobeying his bail conditions, his $300,000 bond should be revoked.

Miller's attorney, Everton Bird, argued that his client was taken into custody by the police on July 4 after going to the Spanish Town Police Station to report, as part of his current bail conditions. He said Miller was informed that he was being sought by police officers from the St Catherine South Police Division, and was arrested. Bird said his client was taken to the St Catherine South divisional headquarters in Greater Portmore, and then to the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston.

Miller has been charged with the April 7, 2004 murder of Robert Haughton, as well a triple murder on January 14, 2005 on Cresser Lane in Braeton, St Catherine.

Meanwhile, police were yesterday still trying to determine how a cellular telephone, which they said was found concealed in Miller's rectum, a telephone charger and petroleum jelly got into Miller's cell on Monday. The contraband was allegedly found when police searched the cell.

Crime and corruption Jamaicans highlight country's two major ills

Observer/Don Anderson Poll Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Almost 60 per cent of Jamaicans believe that the country's biggest problem today is crime and violence, while significantly more people see corruption as a major ill affecting the island, the latest Observer/Don Anderson Poll
has shown.

According to the data, gathered between June 25 and July 2, of the 1,000 people interviewed islandwide, a huge 57 per cent point to crime and violence as the main thing wrong with the country at this time.

"This is a view shared by all groups within the population and indeed by persons who voted for one or the other of the political parties," said Anderson, whose team from Market Research Services Ltd conducted the survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.

In most polls conducted in the island over the past eight years at least, crime and violence has topped the list of major concerns among Jamaicans.

And each year, with crime, especially murders, escalating, those concerns have grown into frantic calls for the Government to implement tough measures to address the problem.

Just last week, a grouping of the island's private sector bodies called on legislators to amend laws "to deal with the special nuances of our current wave of criminal activity".
The group suggested that the Government:

. Implement mandatory imprisonment on conviction for any gun-related crime, including illegal possession of firearms, for a minimum of 15 years. Persons so accused should be denied bail and their cases fast-tracked through the court system.

. Introduce a three-strikes law for all repeat dangerous offenders. Anyone convicted three times of a serious crime - including robbery, wounding, rape, or unlawful possession of firearms - should be jailed for a minimum of 25 years without the possibility of parole.

. Implement video evidence to record witness testimonies and allow such to be used in evidence, supported by a video link for cross-examination purposes.

. Amend the Fingerprint Act in order that fingerprints, photographs and DNA samples (mouth swab) are taken from all persons arrested or charged with a criminal offence.

. Formulate, share and achieve buy-in of a comprehensive and structured plan to fight crime, incorporating short, medium and long-term solutions and use the 2006 "Road Map to a Safe and Secure Jamaica", a study done by a team led by current Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan, on how to deal with the crime problem, as the main reference point.

The call by the private sector grouping came after statistics released by the police showed that 199 murders were reported in May alone, an increase of 95 per cent over the same month last year. It also followed on news that more than 700 murders were committed in the first five months of this year.

Anderson, in his analysis of the poll findings, said that there was "an increasing feeling amongst all demographic groups within the population that Jamaica is not safe".

In addition to crime and violence, the pollsters also found that 21 per cent of respondents were clear that there was too much corruption in the country. This compares to 5.4 per cent of those who held the same view last year June when Anderson conducted a poll for the Observer.

Anderson said that it is a factor that consistently emerges when the question 'What is the main thing wrong with Jamaica today'? is asked.

Other factors raised by respondents to the question were the attendant state of the economy, and the high prices of food and other basic items.

But amidst the gloom of crime, violence, corruption and high food prices, the pollsters found that sports and music were regarded as major positives for the country.

Said Anderson: "There is a view that has been held for sometime, without being scientifically substantiated, that the value of the contribution of sports to the positive image of Jamaica is not widely appreciated or indeed generally understood.

"The poll shows that the performance of our sporting personalities and our teams is seen as the single most positive thing that people living here associate with their country."

According to the poll, 31 per cent of respondents said that our sporting persons are the single most positive thing that they can think of that they would associate with Jamaica and say that this is good about the country.

"Our notoriety for our music, pioneered by the late and legendary Bob Marley, is seen as the second strong positive that they associate with the country," said Anderson. "Twenty per cent overall feel that this is what is good about the country."

Anderson said that while a number of other factors were mentioned, such as our rivers, the general beauty of the island and the education system, "these two beacons - our sporting persons and our music stand out as strong and positive pegs on which brand Jamaica can be effectively marketed to the world".

A confrontation is brewing between local and Haitian exotic dancers, who have been getting increased attention from patrons at several night clubs in the island.

On a visit to a number of exotic nightclubs, THE STAR learnt that the local exotic dancers are not pleased that the Haitians have been taking away their customers and offering their services at cheaper rates. While a local dancer charges about $2,000 to dance for the night, a Haitian will accept as little as $700 for the same duties.

One club operator told THE STAR that since the Haitian women have been at his club, his business has improved. He pointed to a 100 per cent increase in the number of people, who visited the club. But these women, are not being welcomed by the Jamaican women. "Nuh Haitian gal caan come tek ova mi Jamaican turf," one exotic dancer told THE STAR.

She also cursed the men, who patronised the Haitians saying that they would not gain anything from these women and Jamaican dancers are still the better ones. "Mek dem gwaan cause nobody nuh betta dan yardie," she said.

Mounting tension

Although both groups have not had any physical confrontations, the tension between the two continue to mount as, at some of the clubs, the Jamaican dancers have refused to perform on the same stage with the Haitians.

In a story yesterday, The Sunday Gleaner, reported that the Haitian women, received more attention from the men than the locals. According to the article, on a visit to a nightclub, the news team observed that the local dancers were the first to go on stage, and despite a variety of sensual acts, they failed to create an impact on the capacity crowd. However, when the Haitian dancers went on stage, the crowd loved the gyrating, teasing and stunts they used while trying to dance to the reggae music. Although the Haitians found it difficult moving around in high heels, the crowd still loved them.

THE STAR understands that the Haitians, some of whom were brought here as part of the guns for drug trade, and some who paid US$1,600 ($113,600) to be brought to Jamaican, have been in clubs in St Ann, Portland and St Catherine for the past five weeks.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds, head of Operation Kingfish, which has been investigating the guns for drugs trade between Haiti and Jamaica confirmed that Haitian women have been coming into the island as part of the trade. However he said he could not confirm that some of them were actually working in exotic clubs or in other jobs. He said that the police were interested in making sure that those Haitians that are here came legally. He is also urging Jamaicans, who have seen foreign nationals living in their communities and are not sure if they are here legally, to contact the police who will verify their status.

It is obvious that Mavado is special to his fans and maybe that is the reason he sang the song Im So Special. The Gangsta For Life has emerged on top of OutAroad.com Summer Ruler poll. Mavado, who is the stronghold of the Alliance, copped more votes than the likes of Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man.

From a tally of over 200 votes received via our comments and email responses, Mavado walked away with 36% of the votes, while it was a tie between Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel who both got 31%. The remaining two per cent was split between Elephant Man, Assassin and Busy Signal and Aidonia who were not on the list.

Serani and Bugle did get a little love from our voters, but no one saw them as potential Summer Rulers. There was concern that Busy Signal was left off the list and several persons queried his absence. Surprisingly persons left comments saying Aidonia should have been on the list, however, we left him off because he is now lacking momentum on the airwaves.

Tesha Miller, the reputed leader of the Clansman gang, could be charged with possession of contraband after the police took a cellphone from his butt yesterday.

Miller, who is currently incarcerated at the Horizon Remand Centre, was initially arrested after he was alleged to have breached the conditions of his bail.

THE STAR was told that a search of the accused man's cell was organised after police believed he had a cellphone in his possession. The police theorised that he had been using the device to contact his cronies.

An initial search of his cell found one cellphone; however, as the police were about to leave, another device rang.

Gloves used

This led to a further search and after c****ing the cell thoroughly again, it was discovered that the device was inside the accused man's body. Gloves were said to have been requested, and the phone retrieved from the man's body.

In a release last night, the Constabulary Communication Network said the phone was was found in Miller's rectum.

The police also found a cellular charger and Vaseline in the cell. The call record on Miller's phone is currently being processed by the police in order to ascertain who he had been in contact with since he was taken into custody. Prior to his latest incarceration, the accused man was out on bail and as a condition of the agreement, was required to be at home. THE STAR learnt that the police had visited his home on several occasions only to find that he was not there. He was subsequently arrested.

He was charged with four counts of murder and three counts of shooting in 2005, but fled the island for the United States. He was deported to Jamaica last year by United States authorities and later convicted for absconding bail, for which he served nine months in prison.

Reason #1: Saying "yes" to you means saying "no" to the rest of the worldReason #2: Women in magazines and on TV look so perfectReason #3: I'm not ready to give up guys' night out (i.e., my fraternity days)Reason #4: Relationships shouldn't require so much workReason #5: I'm not sure if the things that bother me about you are deal-breakers

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
Joh n F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head 

Now it gets really weird. 

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln .

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln , was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln , was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939. 

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln ' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

Some Wierd shit huh?

PRIME Minister Bruce Golding says the Government will be implementing more rigid measures to tackle the country's high rate of crime.

Jamaica House, in a statement issued after meeting with representatives from several Government agencies and international development partners yesterday, said new legislative measures and actions to tackle the country's crime problems would be outlined in Parliament next week.

"We are going to get tough. We might offend the sensitivity of certain groups but the security of the country cannot be compromised," the Jamaica House statement quoted the prime minister.

Golding said the new measures were necessary and needed to be quickly implemented in order to be effective.

"We have a crime problem that's the second highest in the world and so we need a strong, decisive national security strategy," said Golding.

So far, almost 800 persons have been murdered since the start of the year, although the monthly murder toll has decreased since May when 199 persons were killed.

-- Edited by JamaicanShem at 19:20, 2008-07-10

Baby Tash, Tellah - file photos

One of the winners of the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, Tashon 'Baby Tash' Williams has been receiving threatening phone calls since winning the talent competition.

A popular entertainment website reported that "Magnum has pulled an about turn in promoting the lyrical battle (clash), after Baby Tash claimed to have been receiving death threats concerning the lyrical battle".

And while it is being suggested that Tellah or her supporters are threatening Baby Tash, Tellah denies this saying, "no threat or anything like dat, mi not even know dat gal numba".

No clash

Tellah says in the last stages of the competition Baby Tash did a song aimed at her called Repeat Verse. So, she decided to do a song on the road shows that would defend her name. However, she said she would not perform the song as part of a clash.

"What cause de problem is that wherever mi go, mi get forward an' she nah get none. A my career mi a tek up in hand, dem cyaan stop my ting," she said while noting that she is booked for the Little Ochie Seafood Festival and Manchester Fiesta.

However, in an interview with THE STAR, Baby Tash said the threatening phone calls had nothing to do with the clash between herself and Tellah. She also said that Magnum did not discontinue the possible clash because of the phone calls.

Baby Tash says she received the calls a week after the end of the competition, after which they stopped and began again the week of the Portland roadshow.

Baby Tash said, "basically they're saying they're gonna mash mi up. Mi shouldn't win the competition and what they gonna do to me. On the Monday before the Portland roadshow they called like 2:15 a.m. saying 'don't come to the next Magnum show 'cause we gonna throw a Magnum bottle in yuh face'." Since the Portland show the calls have stopped.

Baby Tash received the calls from a private number. A female caller whom she described as 'loud, vulgar and boisterous' made the threats.

Baby Tash said, "sometimes they call, call and call and I won't answer. At one point they even left a voice message. If they continue to call, I ask someone else to answer it. When I answer it, I don't respond I just listen to them cuss until they're done."

Baby Tash says when she first began getting the calls she first spoke with the Magnum officials who then spoke with all the contestants, who denied making any disparaging calls to the new dancehall queen. When the artiste received the calls before the Portland show Magnum put extra security at the show to ensure her safety.

Not stressed out

Despite the seriousness of the situation Baby Tash says she will not let the situation 'stress her out'. "God carried me through this. Bad mind people can't stop me. Not everyone loves you, but you have to be positive." After the competition Tash says the response from Jamaica has been a positive one and she has never received negative responses otherwise.

However, the rivalry of the two former contestants has transcended the competition. A clash was being promoted between the two artistes but Magnum has abandoned the showdown.

According to Baby Tash, Magnum stopped the clash because it moved from being something fun and purely lyrical to being personal.

When contacted, Gary Dixon, brand manager of Magnum, said that the clash was welcomed at first.

Creative clash

"For the creativity of the show, we didn't see the lyrical rivalry as being a problem, but when we met with them (Baby Tash and Tellah) together, we realised that it was much more personal and we scrapped the idea because this was not the direction that we wanted the competition to go. It was to the point where we had to seperate them for the road shows."

The show's executive producer Mark Kenny declined to comment on the matter as he says, "nobody spoke to me about that matter, but I'll call and talk to her (Baby Tash)."

In the face of mounting criticism and the 'Artiste Ban' domino effect currently sweeping CARICOM, Dancehall bad boy Mavado seems to be steadfast in keeping his career afloat. Mavado who recently performed in Dominica surprised everyone by delivering a squeaky clean set, free of profanity and any incidents of violence. According to Val Cuffy the event promoter, "Mavado delievered a very professional set and proved all his detractors wrong to the point that he even had the patrons singing every line of his songs" "Hopefully St Vincent, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad and all the other CARICOM countries will let sense and fairness prevail and allow Mavado to perform in those islands where he has thousands of fans." - He added Even though many were petitioning for a ban on the artiste, Dominica's Tourism Minister Ian Douglas Friday said a ban on Mavado would not be in keeping with the spirit of CARICOM, adding that he is a CARICOM national and has not yet committed any offence in Dominica.

Ne-yo"LLoyd Maywether"



Chris Brown


-- Edited by Demitri at 12:05, 2008-07-04

Riverton landfill closed following massive fire

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

THE National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) yesterday closed the Riverton landfill after a massive fire, believed to have been caused by the seeping of methane gas from rotting garbage, broke out at a section of the dump.

At least nine fire trucks were called in to smother the raging flames which began early Monday morning and were fanned by strong winds in the area.

Riverton City landfill workers brave stifling smoke in a section of the dump yesterday as they carry out their duties. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)

"During these hotter periods, methane gas coming from underneath the garbage will ignite in sections of the dump that are not covered with dirt and sand," explained manager of the Riverton landfill, Winston Wilson.

"We have also had some tremendous wind so that has added to the spread of the fire," he added.

Yesterday, worried Riverton City residents said fires at the landfill had become an all too regular incident. They, however, said they had little options to deal with the problem.

"What we must do? We can't do anything about it. Is long time this going on for and all we have to do is just watch it and do the necessary things that it don't affect we," said a female resident, cl**tching her three-month-old baby as a thick cloud of smoke from the dump hovered in the distance behind her.

"Is here we live. We just have to deal with it every time it catch fire," another female resident interjected, while pointing to a closed window on her house.

Yesterday, as the NSWMA response team and firefighters worked hard to control the blaze, some workers criticised them in hushed tones, saying their efforts were not enough.

"This fire cannot out with fire trucks alone. If you don't have tractors and trucks coming in with dirt to dump on the fire, then this thing could go on for weeks or even months and everybody knows that. Even the boss them that are here with you today know that," said one worker who claimed he had been working at the dump for years.

"We need the proper resources, we do not have any functional equipment working with on the dump to fight this fire and persons in authority just don't want to spend the money to deal with the matter," he added.

Always stepping away from the norm, Nas has signed a new deal with athletic apparel company Fila. With the deal, Fila will help financially for Nas' print and TV campaign plus support his upcoming tour for his new Untitled album (due out on July 15th). In return, Nas will wear Fila products and co-create a line of clothing that uses fashions from the 80s.

"My best friend Will and I loved Fila," Nas told Billboard. "It represented prestige and everything that was cool to us. When Will passed, we buried him in a black Fila sweat suit, so doing a deal with them has a lot of significance for me." Fila's president, John Epstein, added "One of my executives spotted Nas shopping in our Manhattan store and struck up a conversation with him," Epstein says. "Nas isn't interested in selling out. He's interested in being true, and that fits with our brand."

I think there are some major factors that contribute to crime and no it's not the artist or music.

This is a list of things I think contribute to crime now in Jamaica.

1) High food prices
2) High gas prices
3) No creation of jobs
4) No raise in salary across the board
5) A change in government but no change in proverty
6) Police interest in none violent things such as a party (e.g. locking off parties in areas in which noise is not a problem)
7) Luxery tax (moto vehicle tax, cigarette tax, cellphone tax etc)
8) Cutting back of constrution works (under this government less development will happen and is happening)
9) No investment plans
10) Gang war

What do you all think ?

Jim Wilkes
Dan Robson
Staff Reporters

A Milton man has been arrested after an apparent act of road rage left a man dead on Highway 401 early yesterday.

Wayne Winsor, 39, faces criminal charges in relation to the death of the unnamed man.

Police said the man swerved to avoid a car after its driver slammed on his brakes in front of him.

He died instantly when he was ejected from his SUV and crushed as it rolled several times, shortly after 5 a.m. on the highway's eastbound lanes, just past James Snow Parkway in Milton.

"There was clear evidence in this scenario that the road rage was ongoing and poured out onto the 401," said Staff Sgt. Scott Lawson of the Ontario Provincial Police.

He said a black Yukon SUV and a burgundy Pontiac Grand Prix were jockeying prior to entering the highway.

"The vehicles sped east until the car pulled in front of the SUV and slammed on its brakes," Lawson explained.

The SUV swerved to avoid the car, struck the centre concrete guardrail and careened down the highway, rolling over and over before it came to a stop 300 metres away.

It came to rest on three wheels, the fourth buckled underneath. Its windshield was smashed and the roof was scarred from sliding down the highway.

"It was a violent impact," Lawson said. "The results were tragic."

Passing motorists stopped to give aid to the driver, who lay on the road, but there was nothing anyone could do to save him.

The man, about 55, died at the scene. His name is being withheld at the family's request.

The accident caused chaos during the morning rush hour as police closed all eastbound lanes of Highway 401 from James Snow Parkway to Trafalgar Rd.

The highway was reopened mid-morning.

Winsor is charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death.

He is being held in custody until a bail hearing this morning in Milton.

He turned himself into police yesterday.

Lawson said he hoped the fatal crash would be a civics lesson to all drivers.

"There are varying degrees of road rage and this has obviously gone to the utmost degree," he said.

"Being angry with someone is clearly not worth losing your life over."

THE police and the military were out in large numbers in Spanish Town yesterday and promised to remain there today to prevent further unrest in the old capital, as the reputed leader of the Klansman gang, Tesha Miller, remains in police custody for another day.
MILLER. to know Thursday if he will be granted bail 


On Saturday, a day after the arrest of the reputed gang leader, activities in Spanish Town came to a halt as members of the notorious Klansman gang, protesting Miller's arrest, set up burning roadblocks in several sections of the town and ordered businesses to close.

Yesterday, the police vowed that normal commercial activities must be allowed to continue in Spanish Town and warned that they would be employing a zero-tolerance approach, and would come down hard on anyone caught setting up roadblocks.

"We are here on the ground in the community and we will not be tolerating any planned protest from the residents here," Deputy Superintendent Anthony Castelle told the Observer last night.

"This is something that we will not be tolerating again; the police in Spanish Town are here along with members of the military and other officers from other divisions and we are keenly monitoring the area," added Castelle.

Miller was arrested on Friday when the police went to his home during curfew hours imposed by the court, but found he was not there. He was arrested for violating his bail conditions. When last granted bail, Miller was ordered to stay at home between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am each day.

He appeared in the Gun Court section of the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court yesterday, where he was remanded until Thursday, when the court is to rule on whether or not his bail should be revoked.

The prosecution told Resident Magistrate Valerie Edwards that given Miller's history of disobeying his bail conditions, his $300,000 bond should be revoked.

Miller's attorney, Everton Bird, argued that his client was taken into custody by the police on July 4 after going to the Spanish Town Police Station to report, as part of his current bail conditions. He said Miller was informed that he was being sought by police officers from the St Catherine South Police Division, and was arrested. Bird said his client was taken to the St Catherine South divisional headquarters in Greater Portmore, and then to the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston.

Miller has been charged with the April 7, 2004 murder of Robert Haughton, as well a triple murder on January 14, 2005 on Cresser Lane in Braeton, St Catherine.

Meanwhile, police were yesterday still trying to determine how a cellular telephone, which they said was found concealed in Miller's rectum, a telephone charger and petroleum jelly got into Miller's cell on Monday. The contraband was allegedly found when police searched the cell.

Steve Sidwell has been Aston Villa's top summer transfer target

Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell in a £5m deal subject to him passing a medical.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill now expects his lengthy pursuit of the former England under-21 star to be completed by Thursday at the latest.

Sidwell, 25, failed to establish himself at Chelsea after moving from Reading on a free transfer last summer.

He is the likely replacement for captain Gareth Barry when he finally completes his move to Liverpool.

If Sidwell's medical goes to plan, he will then fly out to link up with Villa's pre-season tour of Switzerland.

Sidwell was part of the Arsenal side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001 and had loan spells with Brentford and Brighton.

He was unable to force his way into the first team with the Gunners and moved to Reading in January 2003 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Sidwell played a big role in Reading gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time two years ago.

But he rejected a new contract that summer and left the Royals on a free transfer to move to Chelsea in 2007.

Scolari charms to take top billing

• Phil McNulty
• 8 Jul 08, 05:16 PM

Cobham

Luiz Felipe Scolari arrived between adverts for a "Legends Of Swing Tribute Night" and a Tom Jones impersonator - but there was only one man claiming top billing at the hotel in deepest Cobham.

And that was Chelsea's new coach as he capped his coronation with a glittering performance of charm, passion and a command of the English language that made mugs of us all.

Scolari pitched his arrival neatly between the swagger and self-confidence of Jose Mourinho and the under-stated humility of Avram Grant.

It was a c****ination that worked to perfection and made this a very good day for Chelsea's hierarchy, who sat and looked justifiably elated with their new man's first public outing.

Scolari cut a calmer figure than when I have seen him previously, stripped of his trademark tracksuit and encased neatly inside a smart suit and club tie.

He arrived to the predictable barrage of flashbulbs - and kept a surprise up his sleeve for when the cameras went away.

Scolari not only answered questions directly and almost always unhesitatingly, he answered them in excellent English, a skill he has shrewdly kept under wraps until he needed it most.

He had a female interpreter on hand for help, but she was not needed until he was tested with a question about whether he would like to see Cristiano Ronaldo leave Manchester United.

Scolari, perhaps sensing dangerous territory, checked the wording before delivering a most emphatic denial that he had ever interfered in Ronaldo's decision-making process - an answer that may, or may not, allay any suspicions harboured by Sir Alex Ferguson.

He still had all the glorious wild facial expressions and tic-tac hand movements that made him such a colourful figure as coach of Brazil and Portugal, but it appears he keeps his full fire for the touchline.

And as he gained in confidence, the eyes danced a little more and the hands waved with greater animation, a sign of the true Scolari perhaps.

He laughed off the idea of pressure with the words "when you are coach of Brazil...." and claimed the only heat he felt was coming from his need to show off his grasp of English under the public gaze.

It was so good he even found time for a joke against his interpreter when she hesitated over a translation.

"She is more afraid than me," he said in a flash - so much for the man we so ignorantly announced might struggle to leap over the language barrier.

There was none of the bluster I had witnessed from Scolari at close quarters with Brazil and Portugal. He was composed, assured and confident.

The Scolari I saw in Japan, Portugal and Germany appeared to be a man on the edge, capable of grand gestures and indulging in melodrama - including once offering to marry the entire Portugal FA - metaphorically speaking of course.

He was also a man of the people. I well recall the contrast between Portugal's humble media base when they were the host country and the circus of self-importance that trailed along in England's wake.

Visitors, particularly youngsters, were welcomed by Scolari and he showed a genuine common touch that I believe will appeal to Chelsea's supporters as he grows into his new job.

Of course there was also that madcap edge to his character, but let's not carp about that - let's embrace it as another great addition to the Premier League.

Here is a man Ferguson will not bully or psyche out. He's seen the old tricks before and has used a few of them as well.

But here we had Scolari the serene, Scolari setting out his hopes and ambitions for his new paymasters and supporters.

This did not look like a coach who cuffed an opposition player - this was a coach with a clear vision for Chelsea, but there lurked the underlying threat that this was a man with an unmistakeable winning mentality.

Of course he spoke of the "beautiful football" that owner Roman Abramovich (or "Mr Roman" as Scolari called him) wants to see at Stamford Bridge, but he was quick to remind us of his pragmatic side.

Scolari, above all, wants winning football and will adopt whatever tactics it takes to get it.

He was not simply on a charm offensive, he was full of positive news for Chelsea fans who wanted a check on the futures of their star players.

Frank Lampard wants to stay for years. Didier Drogba was "200%" part of his plans. John Terry was his captain. Lampard was not just staying, he was still vice-captain.

And of course, correctly, he announced he was indeed "The Special One." And as a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, why shouldn't he be?

However, unlike the great Jose, he was not a special one to himself, Scolari was special for his friends, family and country.

And his country had come to Cobham to see him in the shape of Brazil's media, along with representatives from Portugal, Spain and Italy.

But is he special as a coach? "So so" said the Modest One.

This was a big day for Chelsea and one they can be pleased with. They needed good news and a fresh start after ending last season empty-handed and receiving criticism for the ruthless sacking of Avram Grant.

Scolari's performance provided it and Chelsea's top bra** looked suitably pleased.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon and members of Scolari's backroom staff - including the surviving Steve Clarke - took front row seats with the media and left the top table spotlight to Scolari.

He basked in it comfortably and Chelsea will now hope he will adjust as quickly to the heat of Premier League battle against the men who will be his closest adversaries, Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

The exact cost of a plane ticket could become a lot clearer for passengers

The European Parliament has agreed to ban airlines from advertising fares that do not include the taxes and charges passengers have to pay.

The assembly heard that the "common position" of the parliament had been approved, which meant the issue was not formally voted on.

The new regulation is expected to come into force across the EU by the end of this year.

The 35-member Association of European Airlines (AEA) welcomed the changes.

 

'Fed-up consumers'

There are rules already in some European countries which have led to the phasing out of adverts that appeared to offer the chance to fly to from one end of the continent to the other for about the cost of a newspaper.

They [passengers] might see it's a 99p advertisement but they actually end up paying £99 Robert Evans, MEP

But Europe's lawmakers in Strasbourg are concerned many airlines are still misleading too many passengers, too often.

"I think at the moment people are paying more then they expected to in the first place," says Robert Evans, a British Labour MEP, who sits the parliament's transport committee.

"They see an advert, a headlined figure, but when they actually end up paying for it it's a lot more than that because there are extras that hadn't been made properly aware to them at the beginning.

"They might see it's a 99p advertisement but they actually end up paying £99," Mr Evans says.

The AEA, which groups many national flag carriers like Air France and Lufthansa, says it is comfortable with these proposals.

"I think it's in response to consumers getting a little bit fed up with the fact that what they pay doesn't always bear a great deal of resemblance to what they're offered," the AEA's David Henderson says.

"Airlines now in general I think are happy that clarity has been restored and that the consumer is being given the correct information from now on," he says.

Amongst Europe's low cost carriers, EasyJet says it also welcomes the changes.

Ryanair, the continent's largest no-frills operator, says it is transparent in its advertising.

However, the Irish airline has been trading insults in recent days with the Danish consumer ****udsman over exactly this issue - whether its passengers are being misled.

Ryanair has strongly dismissed the criticisms - saying they are entirely "false."

Me never see a black, indian, chiney etc etc pon TV a seh dem see Alien....
so question is do you believe?????

i dont know if wolverine is a "super hero" but i wud go choose him.....

he has no fear and him cold......

whose ur super hero and why?

People you notice say Tupac music & lifestyle is heavily use in mavado music for example Mavado songs Hennessy(role model), dying, It aint easy being me, Heaven got a ghetto, Even if dem kill me all songs that sample Tupac's lyrics or style, even how mavado is getting into trouble now a days and how deep he trys to be in his music to make the listener feel him a art of Pac's.

To me this is what has help his career, he is kno way the next Pac or even on his level but he is like Pac' brother or cousin or something thats almost close to him.

What do u think ?

I THINK ON THE ROCK MOVADO

ALABAMA police have arrested a GOAT after it climbed on top of a Mercedes-Benz.


It happened on Sunday when a woman driving the Mercedes saw a goat and dog playing on highway US 72 in northern Alabama.


She stopped, afraid they would get hit, but the goat jumped on the car and refused to come down.


Scratches





Fearing scratches and dents in her paint job, the lady called the Limestone County Sheriff's Department.


A deputy got the goat down and put it in his patrol car, but then the dog jumped into his back seat too.


The deputy took the dog to a vets and the goat to the home of another deputy.


Sheriff Mike Blakely said: "If anybody is missing a goat and dog, they need to let us know."

You herd it here first.


lmao @ this

Izn't it obvious? Watch my pic. Talk done!

JUNEAU, Alaska - A 20-year-old climber died shortly after reaching the top of North America's highest peak, just days after another adventurer became the first known person to die at the summit, park officials said Tuesday.

Pungkas Tri Baruno, 20, of Jakarta, Indonesia, died Monday night while descending Mount McKinley, said Maureen McLaughlin, spokeswoman for Denali National Park and Preserve. His body remains on the mountain until weather permits helicopter access, perhaps as early as Wednesday.

Guides had tried to revive him, McLaughlin said. The cause of his death is unknown, but officials consider his demise and that Friday of James Nasti, 51, "entirely unrelated," she said.

"We don't have any information on his health, but it would certainly appear that he was a very active person," McLaughlin said.

It was Baruno's first attempt at the 20,320-foot mountain, according to his climber registration form. He was part of a guided expedition that began the climb June 22.

Baruno, one climbing partner and two guides reached the summit on Monday. One person did not finish the climb, McLaughlin said.

Baruno collapsed about a quarter-mile or a 15-minute walk in a relatively flat region from a camp at 17,200 feet, she said.

Nasti, 51, of Naperville, Ill., died Friday at the summit. Two mountaineers from Japan disappeared in late May while attempting a technically demanding route and are presumed dead.

Baruno's death brings the death toll on McKinley to 102 people since 1932.

Against the background of its long-standing history of producing some of the country's best athletes, director of sports at the University of Technology (UTech), Anthony Davis, has revealed that the institution needs approximately $65 million to upgrade its existing sports facilities. They also need millions more to be able to offer a better quality education to student athletes who take up scholarships there. Upgrades The infrastructure upgrades would involve putting in a world-class football field; wood flooring for volleyball, basketball and similar sports; a proper running track; and an irrigation system and netting for the golf practice facilities, among other things, Davis said Davis, himself a former student athlete at the College of Arts, Science and Technology that eventually became UTech, was making a presentation to journalists from The Gleaner at a Gleaner-sponsored forum hosted by the university last Tuesday. Davis said they are looking at contracting the services of a marketing company to help sell the university's aspirations to potential sponsors. UTech is home to the MVP track club that boasts some of the world's best athletes, including former world record holder, Asafa Powell; Commonwealth 200 metres champion and Olympic sprint relay gold medallist, Sherone Simpson, World Championship silver medallists, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Michael Frater, and former national 400-metre women's champion Shericka Williams. The university has also helped produce elite athletes in other sports, including Jamaican and West Indian cricketers Wavell Hinds, Gareth Breeze, Uton Dowe, Sam Morgan and Courtney Daley; a former captain of the national football team Noel King and national hockey representative Duckworth Daley. Davis reveals that UTech has plans to establish a US$15 million endowment fund, the interest of which will be used to support sports scholarships valued at about US$9,500 annually. The university currently has 280 student athletes. For these athletes, UTech wants to be able to provide full nutritional support for each athlete - three meals a day for the academic year - including isotonic drinks during training sessions and competitions. The estimated cost of such a programme is US$340,000. At the cost of an additional US$6,000 they would like to be able to provide routine medical check-ups prior to the start of each season, as well as related medical care, including dental and optical. Goals But for all the university's success why has it been so challenging to attract funding to realise its goals? "People see the results and think that we have excellent facilities here," Davis said. "They think we are swamped with sponsors falling over each other to help us." In short, UTech has been a victim of its own success. "If you see someone looking good and doing well you assume that they have all they need," Davis said, adding that work must now be done to rid potential partners of this perception and make them aware of the reality. "The challenge now is to get the message out to say that we need to partner with you so you can align your products, goods and services with us so you can help us go forward," Davis said.

Installing cameras on the streets and extending some police powers were among measures which emerged out of a spirited discussion yesterday by business executives and members of the legal fraternity, as crime continued to occupy the nation. There was broad support for a raft of measures outlined by Cornwall Bar Association president, Clayton Morgan, and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) head, Chris Zacca, at the latest in a series of news luncheons hosted by Observer chairman Gordon 'Butch' Stewart at the company's Beechwood Avenue headquarters in Kingston. Stewart pledged the first $1 million towards the $20-million fund recently launched by private sector groups towards the Crime Stop reward for information campaign. "Crime is out of control. I think our citizens are living in fear. I don't know of any citizen that goes out at night and isn't looking (nervously) behind his back." Stewart told the gathering. "You have a community that is crying out for protection." He repeated his recent call for support for the police, saying: "Personally, I think the police are getting a bad rap. What I don't hear people talking about enough. is how many good police there are. At the end of the day, the force has to be motivated, has to be trained, has to be led in order to protect the citizens of this country." However, Stewart, Jamaica's leading hotelier, argued that despite the limited resources to fight crime the police must first make better use of their own resources in order to generate any form of success. "This business where you can't fight crime because you don't have 2,000 more cars or you can't fight crime because you don't have the high powered weapons [is not good enough]. You start fighting crime with what you have and motivate people around you and give some respect to the people that are out there exposed to the crime every day," he said. Morgan disclosed that Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne had approached members of the legal fraternity with 15 recommendations outlining how her ministry proposed to deal with crime. While he was not able to publicise the details of the recommendations, Morgan said if accepted, the proposals would transform the way the country dealt with crime. "If these proposals, whether we agree with them or not, are accepted by the Government, they will be far-reaching in the way in which crime is dealt with in Jamaica," he said. "It is a very difficult situation. Crime is out of control in the country and something has got to be done about it. It has to be cauterised. The question is how we do it?," asked Morgan. At the same time, Morgan said the manner in which the security forces were given extra powers was of grave importance and must be taken into consideration. "Are we going to scoop up hundreds of thousands of young men and women?" "We all know from experience that one has to be very careful of how much power we give to the security forces, because in a lot of instances they abuse these powers," he said. The group, for the most part, endorsed the legislative changes proposed by the private sector bodies last week. Zacca rehashed the suggestions which included mandatory imprisonment on conviction for any gun-related crime, DNA evidence, video evidence and three-strikes-you-are-out legislation, among others. Calling for radical measures to control crime, which he said was destroying the economy, Morris Facey of Pan Jamaican Investment Trust Limited, declared: "We need to find some way, some way of dealing with crime and if necessary we lock everybody (criminal) up," he said. "What is clear is that there is no teeth in the justice system that is going to bring people to heel." However, Veteran journalist John Maxwell insisted that the issue of community responsibility in terms of helping the police to bring criminals to justice was key. "If you give people incentives to turn [people in], but if people have no incentive and they are terrified they will not do anything about it and will allow themselves to be victimised," he said. "We need to get at this level in the society to put strength in the people's hands so that they can take charge." Mandeville Councillor Sally Porteous called for installation of surveillance cameras all over Jamaica and more street lights in dark and secluded areas. "There are 100 small things that we can do to prevent crime. I believe that we need to heavily invest in cameras," she said, noting that: "The Manchester Chamber of Commerce is going to be paying for cameras to go in the town of Mandeville. It is going to cost $6 million, but the private sector have said that they will do this, and we need them everywhere, not just uptown, but we need them in all the streets."