Owen Arthur reassigned as leader of the opposition (BLP) by a majority vote, see what Mia Mottley had to say about being PUSHED OUT!
DOZENSof Barbados Labour Party (BLP) faithfuls made the trek to Parliament yesterday for the first sitting after the summer recess and most of them had eyes only for a rejuvenated Owen Arthur.
Reassigned by a majority vote from his parliamentary colleagues to the leadership of the Opposition, Arthur arrived right on time for the 10 a.m. start of the Lower House.
Here, a dapper Arthur prepares to make his way up the steps of Parliament, followed by colleagues (from left) William Duguid, Ronald Toppin and Gline Clarke, as members of the media look on. (MK)
CLICK ON LINK TO HEAR MIA MOTTLEY: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/arthur-leads-the-way/
Private e-mails between Rihanna and Chris Brown have surfaced.
In November 2009, nine months after Rihannas infamous beating, she appeared on 20/20 with Diane Sawyer and gave an interview in an attempt to clear her name of any blame for her and Chris abusive relationship.
However, people have always had their doubts. Many believe Rihanna was equally abusive, at least verbally, prompting Chris disturbing reaction.
Now, MediaTakeout has obtained photos of Rihannas e-mail account (allegedly) from just 3 months before the incident.
It seems Chris wasnt responding to Rihannas phone calls, so she sent him a nasty note.
(Note: Robyn Fenty is Rihannas real name. You will also see e-mails to and from Mariel Haenn, Rihannas well-known stylist.)
Flour prices up |
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 |
CONSUMERS started to pay more for baking and counter flour yesterday when the respective 3.25 and 3 per cent increase by the Jamaica Flour Mills took effect.
Managing director of Jamaica Flour Mills Derrick Nembhard told the Observer that baking flour moved from $2,615 per 45-kg bag to $2,700, while counter flour went from $2,160 to $2,225.
The increases are a virtual double whammy for local consumers who have been forced to fork out more for basic food items owing to the March 31 lifting of the subsidy on such items.
Under that arrangement, which was effected in January, government pumped millions of dollars into the sale and distribution of flour, rice, cooking oil and milk powder, keeping local retail prices stable and shielding from increases on the world market. For the three-month period, counter flour remained at $1,800 per 45-kg bag and baking flour, at $2,030.
The price hike will affect the sale of all baked products, but one of the country's largest bakeries and distributors of baked products, National Baking Company, said it was still too early to determine exactly how.
"When the price of flour goes up, then the prices of all baked products go up significantly. We've never had such a large increase in recent history so it will be hard to predict how the market will respond," said National's director of operations, Steven Sykes.
Two elderly women who spoke with the Observer last Friday while they were shopping at a supermarket in Cross Roads, Kingston, said they feared that prices would keep spiralling until persons were no longer able to afford anything.
"Prices keep going up and the population is getting bigger so it not going to get better, but they have to do something. Something has to happen otherwise people will get fed up and will riot. You can't push people too hard," said one of the women who gave her name as J Fuller.
"The problem is things raising but wages not going up. Bills going up, food going up, clothes dear, everything dear but wages not moving an yuh have children to send to school," added Lorna Walker, the other elderly woman.
As far as strategies to cope with the increases, consumers said they would have to shop around more, diversify their diets, eat less or "bend their minds to their condition" and dig deeper into their pockets.
"Maybe we soon have to stop buy or buy less or start go market more," said Fuller.
"We either have to go deeper in our pockets or start dieting more," said Oswald Johnson and his wife Marvalin who were shopping at SuperPlus.
Meanwhile, a man who gave his name as Mr Blomfield, said while he was making a habit of shopping around for bargains, he did not accept that the increases were not controllable.
"I just left Empire Supermarket trying to find cheaper products because my money is limited and I'm not working," he said.
"But I don't believe we're told the full story as to why the cost of things are going up. I don't buy the story that it's the use of corn as a biofuel that's causing the increase. How does that affect the cost of butter, how does it affect the price of bread?" he questioned.
Rather, Blomfield claimed that politics was at the root of the problem.
"The prices were not moving until after the general elections. It might have to do with who owns the supermarkets and where their political allegiance was before the elections," he said.
Up to yesterday, counter flour was retailing for roughly $45.00 per kg while the price of bread varied from a low of $99 to a high of $276. A pack of six bullas was going for about $91, long spice buns ranged from $160 to $200 and the large pack of water crackers averaged $100.
Heavy flooding in Haiti has killed at least 10 persons after rivers burst their banks in the capital, Port-Au-Prince, following torrential rains.
Several residents were reported missing.
Displaced people living at a tent city for the victims of the January earthquake were strengthening their makeshift homes to cope with the bad weather.
Female deejay Stacious is following in the footsteps of fellow deejays like Spice and D'Angel by adding another dimension to her career.
The deejay will now be putting her business savvy to work when she launches the opening of her new hot spot Scrumptious Café at 50 Molynes Road, St Andrew, next Wednesday.
Scrumptious café will offer an assortment of smoothies, ice-cream, fruit vegetable and coffee for all to enjoy.
Stacious is currently working on her music and collaborations for the rest of 2010, and also gearing up for a European tour in February.
Beyonce Knowles better brush up on her lullabies.
The 29-year-old singer is pregnant with her first child, the new Us Weekly reports.
Despite the happy news, no one was more surprised than the singer herself.
"B was shocked. She loves kids, but she wasn't ready to be a mother just yet," says a source of the singer, who married rapper Jay-Z in 2008. "She really wanted to get her album done and tour the world again."
Still, another insider says that the singer, who is in her first trimester, realizes that "this is a gift from God and she's so happy."
Friends of the couple are already expressing their well-wishes for the parents-to-be.
"Jay has been all about family since I met him, and he's always going to be," record executive Kevin Liles, who has known the rapper for years, tells Us. "I wish them the best."
Knowles' sister Solange -- and mom to Julez, 6 -- agrees.
"She's got the most beautiful heart," she tells Us of her big sis. "She'll be a great mom."
US army recruit and dancehall DJ Zumjay is excited after he successfully completed his second tour of duty.
The deejay who was deployed to the Middle East is currently home in the United States. In an extensive interview, Zumjay reveals that he will spend time with his fam before he returns to Jamaica at the end of this month to resume work on his musical career.
Despite the length of his deployment in the Middle East, Zumjay adds that he kept up with the happenings in dancehall by surfing the Internet.
The deejay who is known for songs such as Zumjay News, Courtney and I'm High, was last in the island during the Summer to shoot the music video for Move It Around with video director Jay Will.
THE United Nations was set today to appoint an obscure Malaysian astrophysicist to act as Earths first contact for any aliens that may come visiting.
Mazlan Othman, the head of the UN's little-known Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa), is to describe her potential new role next week at a scientific conference at the Royal Societys Kavli conference centre in Buckinghamshire.
Cheshire police were called to his mansion during the night as the crowd outside screamed out chants including, 'Join Man[chester] City and you die.'
Rooney has stated this week his desire to leave the Red Devils after the club's failure to attract more top-level talent to Old Trafford.
Around 30 irate Manchester United fans, some donning balaclavas and Eric Cantona masks, gathered in front of his home before being dispersed by police.
Eight officers arrived on the scene to clear the disturbance, and apparently no arrests were made.
Meetings were held earlier in the day between the club and Rooney's representatives, but no resolution was reached before Manchester United issued a statement pleading for fans to 'be patient.'
Apparently, the message was not well received based on the evening's events.
Beyonces mom Tina Knowles say her daughter is not pregnant. Tina Knowles taped Ellen DeGeneres show today and she told Ellen that the rumor is not true.
I heard that, but Im here to clear the rumors up. The truth is that its not Beyoncé thats pregnant, its me, joked Tina. Im kidding yall. Im 56.
However, she remained good-natured about the gossip. No, its not true. Not right now. Im looking forward to it. With all the rumors, by now I should have five or six grandchildren.
If we had any doubts that our Usain Bolt is a superstar its all gone now. Wow, one woman after another keep coming out of the works about her romance with him.
The latest, Rebeckah Passley, made quite a big thing in the Sun tabloid in the United Kingdom on Tuesday that Usain was involved in a relationship before bolting away and leaving her behind.
"I feel heartbroken. He's the best lover I've ever had. Usain might be quick on the track but he takes his time in bed. He knows how to treat a woman," she is reported as saying in the article.
Passley said that they were dating for about a year before their relationship hit the rocks after rumours started circulating that he was dating other women.
"Girls were popping up in the press claiming they were dating him. He told me it was all nonsense. But it did have a bad effect on our relationship and we have had no contact for a month," she said.
Passley is said to have gone to a track meet at Crystal Palace, near her home, when Bolt got his manager to invite her to a team party in West Ham. She is said to have shared the back seat of Bolt's chauffeured car.
The heartbroken Passley said he loves dominoes, hugs and kisses. She also reasoned, "Friends tell me we'll get back together but I'm not sure we will."
We wonder, whos next on the love train?
Although Mariah Carey has yet to confirm her pregnancy, Nick Cannon is glad to open up about parenthood.
During the Running Russell Simmons party on Tuesday night (October 19), Us magazine asked if Cannon had thought about how many kids the couple wants.
Cannon said, Not really. I mean, its just whatever God blesses us with at that time. Well be happy with whatever it is.
Not caring whether he and Mariah have a boy or girl, Cannon said, We just want a healthy child.
Recognizing that hell be a young father, Nick continued, My parents were actually kids when had me. My parents were still in high school and teenagers and we have a beautiful relationship. Ill probably be that same way.
A number of female police personnel are disgruntled with the latest directives that have apparently been handed down by the Police High Command.
The directives which were circulated to the female personnel is said to insist they dress more modestly.
According to the orders sent out last week, the expected changes include, among others things, removal of braids, false fingernails, rings with the exception of wedding bands and earrings.
It is also stated that if the hair is processed, the length must not pass the collar.
"The force order that came out last week look like it want policewomen to look like grandmothers," a corporal complained to THE STAR yesterday.
She said, gone are the days when policewomen should look 'less hotter' than other females.
Similarly, a number of her colleagues also complained something needs to be done to prevent the new orders prohibiting them from 'blinging' out.
safety issue
There were even some persons who said this change may affect their safety. "I think this will risk lives, as we are now going to be easily identified. Many police officers have to take public transport and when an officer is out of uniform, she should not be easily identified. It is known that Jamaicans are anti-police and the safest method of survival is through disguise," another woman constable explained.
On the other hand, when THE STAR spoke to a senior female officer yesterday, she said the directive was given in an attempt to tone down some of the inappropriate attire of the women in recent years.
"It's long overdue. Nowadays you can hardly know police different from some overdressed higglers. It is a welcome return to ladylike dressing," the female officer said.
A woman constable was also quick to tell THE STAR: "Women competitive and all that, so dem haffi show who can wear the biggest diamond chip earring and all that. The good haffi suffer for the bad."A Haitian was among four men convicted of planting bombs outside synagogues and plotting to fire missiles at military planes.
A jury of six women and five men deliberated for eight days in convicting Laguerre Payen, 28, along with three other defendants Onta Williams, 34, James Cromitie, 44 and David Williams IV, 29. They face up to life in prison.
Payen and Williams were found not guilty of one charge, attempting to kill officers and employees of the United States.
Prosecutors said the men, who all lived in Newburgh, a northern New York City suburb, willingly co-operated with an informer working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who posed as a terrorist and supplied the men with inert bombs and Stinger missile tubes.
On May 20 last year, the men were arrested in the Riverdale section of the Bronx after they planted the bombs in cars outside two synagogues.
The authorities said that they also planned to travel to Stewart International Airport in Newburgh to fire missiles at military transport planes.
Homegrown terrorism is a serious threat, and todays convictions affirm our commitment to do everything we can to protect against it, said Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan.
The defendants in this case agreed to plant bombs and use missiles they thought were very real weapons of terrorism, he added.
Defence attorneys said they will appeal the verdict.
This is a miscarriage of justice just like the whole trial and case, said Susanne Brody, who represents Onta Williams.
Payens lawyer, Samuel Braverman, said his client was stunned.
Over the course of the nearly eight-week trial, prosecutors relied on recordings of conversations between the informer, Shahed Hussain, and the defendants.
Most of the recordings featured Cromitie, the first of the defendants to meet the informer, and by far the most talkative.
In conversations filled with what prosecutors described as bravado, Cromitie made anti-Semitic statements and talked about committing violent acts. But he also voiced doubts about his intentions.
Defence lawyers said those doubts proved that Cromitie and the other men were reluctant participants, and they argued entrapment.
The lawyers concentrated on painting Hussain as a liar and a manipulator who coaxed impoverished men toward a kind of violence to which they were not predisposed, a requirement of the entrapment defence. The strategy has never been successful in terrorism cases since 9/11, experts say.
This case should have never happened, said Alicia McWilliams-McCollum, who is Williams aunt, after the verdict was announced.
You come in to a small isolated urban community to do your wickedness. We have been used, and nobody cares, she added.
Mexican authorities have made one of the largest marijuana drug busts in years, in the city of Tijuana.
Security forces battled with drug runners early Monday morning, after attempting to stop several vehicles suspected of carrying drugs.
Following a shootout, two people were injured and 11 people arrested according to Sky News.
Some of those that were arrested, told police where they could find more marijuana bound for the U.S.
Police seized 10,000 packages of weed, weighing 105 tons. Also seized were firearms, trailers and trucks.
Army General Alfonso Duarte described the bust.
"Three operations took place simultaneously co-ordinating municipal, state, federal and army authorities," he said. "Approximately 105 tons (was found). We think this equals the amount we seized in the last 10 months."
Duarte said the blocks of dope had been wrapped in different colors and labels. Some were even stamped with pictures that included TV character Homer Simpson.
America's insatiable appetite for drugs has been blamed for the emergence of powerful cartels that control much of Mexico.
More than 28,000 people have been killed since 2006, as the cartels fight each other and the police.
So mi hear seh di SECRETgirlfriend fi Usain Bolt finally come fawud n talk up some intimate tings bout dem year long relationship. Rebeckah Passley, 23, from West Norwood, south-east London, come up n seh she deh wid Bolt from mussi June last year...until dem mussi bruk up last month. Dem seh di relationship bruk weh afta dem claim she him did a see odda women. "Girls were popping up in the press claiming they were dating him," said Passley. "He told me it was all nonsense. But it did have a bad effect on our relationship - and we have no contact for a month." Di couple did meet last year a di athletics grand prix a Crystal Palace weh mussi bolt managa did invite di gurl to di team paaty inna West Ham.(SO A DI COACH FAULT DEM MEET) Dem claim seh a di paaty Bolt put him hand dem roun di gurl n seh "You're mine." (A SOH DI MAN DEM GET GURL NOWADAYS) "He did it in a jokey way," sed Passley, "He was a gentleman. We danced together all night. He's an excellent kisser. He's a better kisser than he is a dancer." Bolt did den leff England ongly fi return bout a week lata. Passley seh "We spent the weekend together in Teddington. He's a very attractive man. When he takes his top off he's got such a defined physique. His arms are so muscular and so are his legs. Obviously you wouldn't necessarily notice all this with his clothes on. But when they're off you can see he's a very sexy man."(EHHH A DAT SHE SEH) Mi hear seh Passley spen a month wid bolt inna January gone inna Jamaica. Speakin a hostility shown by jamaican women, Passley seh: "They saw me as a foreigner who had come to steal their man. Everywhere I went I got daggers from women." Sighing, Passley concluded n sed: "Friends tell me we'll get back together but i'm not sure we will."
Reggae was once associated with politically conscious lyrics, Rastafarians and the palm-fringed shores of its native Jamaica. But forget Bob Marley and Peter Tosh singing about peace and love; these days some of reggae's biggest acts are just as likely to be advocating the killing of homosexuals in their music.
And that has advocates like Britain's leading gay rights veteran Peter Tatchell up in arms. A few years ago, along with Jamaican groups, Tatchell launched the Stop Murder Music campaign, aimed at bringing the genre to heel. Tatchell has recently succeeded in convincing some of the most notoriously homophobic figures in reggae and dancehall music to stop singing violently anti-gay lyrics like Jamaica-based artist Capleton's hit "More Prophet": "Shoulda know seh Capleton bun man [burn gays]/ Dem same fire apply to di lesbian/ All boogaman [gays] and sodomites fi get killed."
Buju Banton whose smash hit from the 1990s "Boom Bye Bye" also advocates the shooting and burning of gay men last week signed the "reggae compassionate act" after a three-year campaign by Stop Murder Music. Banton, a Grammy-nominated artist who broke Bob Marley's record of most number one singles in a year on the Jamaican charts, pledged to "respect" the rights of gays to live without fear of violence.
He is the latest in a series of high-profile artists, including Beenie Man and Sizzla, to sign the declaration after worldwide protests from gay rights groups resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of concerts and sponsorship deals, costing the artists an estimated US$5 million. The news about Banton was welcomed by gay rights groups in Jamaica, where attacks on gay people are common and sodomy laws left over from Britain's colonial-era still prohibit gay sex.
Since "Boom Bye Bye" was released in the early 1990s there has been a corresponding rise in homophobic violence in the Caribbean, although it's difficult to tell which came first the music or the violence. According to Jamaican gay rights group J-Flag which refuses to give out its address in the capital, Kingston, "due to the potential for violent retributions" the rise in homophobic violence culminated in reports of crowds lynching suspected homosexuals after concerts.
"It's a big positive step forward to get four of the top reggae artist to condemn anti-gay violence," says Tatchell, whose group was initially derided as racist when they began picketing reggae concerts in the U.K. and abroad. "We are not against reggae or dancehall the genre is great but we object to the small number of artists using music to incite violence."
But some music insiders argue that compassion was hardly the motivation. Mark Richards, known as DJ Kemist from reggae label Xtremix records, says: "I can see why [Banton's] done it. He doesn't want to jeopardize his whole career over just a few songs. But it doesn't mean it's going to change any of his opinions."
Other commentators say Tatchell has missed the point entirely. They argue that reggae artists don't create homophobia, but merely reflect the realities on the ground. "In Jamaica we grew up in a homophobic society and the Bible is what we go by," explains Vincent Nap, a Britain-based reggae artist. "You can't expect us to turn around like our religion doesn't matter."
"Blaming musicians for homophobia is like blaming gangsta rappers for gang violence," says Dorian Lynskey on the London-based Guardian newspaper's popular music blog. "They don't help matters, but they didn't create the problem, nor do they have the power to solve it."
For Nap and other reggae purists, most of the homophobia has been generated by dancehall music the genre's aggressive offspring and is not considered to be a true example of the reggae ideals of peace and mutual tolerance.
"Explicitly, you could say there is a problem [of homophobia] in reggae and dancehall, but it's in every type of music to a certain extent," says Stuart Baker, owner of the Sounds of the Universe reggae record shop London and the record-label Soul Jazz. "It is part of dancehall, but it doesn't define it... [Stop Murder Music] are justified in protesting their corner."
For Tatchell though, the struggle is not over. Stop Murder Music have their sights on four other big reggae acts who have a big international audience and are still considered to be homophobic: Elephant Man, TOK, Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killa. "The struggle for lesbian and gay human rights," he says, "is a universal one."
WHO WOULD GET MORE GIRLS?? TREY SONGZ OR LIL WAYNE???
The artwork forKanye West's new album,My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has been banned in the US for its depiction of an exposed breasts on what Kanye calls a Phoenix.
He tweeted about the album artwork last night and started out by saying, "Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!!!! Ima tweet it in a few..." He went on to say, "Banned in the USA!!! They don't want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!"
If you're wondering what a Kanye Phoenix looks like, here you go:
I'm not surprised by the artwork: A. It's Kanye West and B. it's called My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I would be astounded if someone saw that and had a gaping speechless mouth.
Kanye tweeted "In all honesty...I really don't thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers...I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity."
He could just do what Jane's Addiction did when their album cover for Ritual De Lo Habitual was banned: make his album cover the text of the first amendment.
What do you think he should change his album cover to?
Speaking of banned covers, take a look on the NEXT PAGES for some BANNED artwork.
********************************************************************************
Jane's Addiction Ritual De Lo Habitual was edited for the same reason as Kanye, artwork nudity.This album cover was changed to :
If you thought The Beatles were all about Peace and Love, this album cover might have you thinking a little differently. The photographer wanted to show The Beatles were flesh and *la*hd humans like everyone else by posing them with sausages, raw beef, a hammer, and baby dolls. This album made it to release but was quickly pulled off the shelves after numerous complaints.
it was re-released as:
The Black Crowes, another band not necessarily associated with a rebellious nature like Kanye is, had their cover for Amorica banned from many retail stores forcing the band to accept a change in their album cover.
We think the editors used Microsoft Paint to make the change.
Here's a pretty ridiculous album cover ban way back from the 50's. The Five Keys had their album cover banned because Rudy West's (far left) had his thumb just barely visible and the conservative people of the time mistook for a "possible" male organ.
We don't think they had Microsoft Paint in the 50s, but they just edited out his thumb. Roxy Musics' Bryan Ferry met two models in Portugal and asked them to post for his bands album cover. Naturally in Europe the album cover was perfectly acceptable but was banned in the US, just like Kanye's is being banned. His only depicts cartoon nudity that can easily be covered up by a sticker if it was necessary.
They used a test shot from the photo shoot to replace for American audiences.
Chelsea emerged as a potential bidder for Wayne Rooney after manager Carlo Ancelotti said he would be interested in signing the England striker should he become available.
Rooney's future at Manchester United appears to be in doubt after a reported breakdown in relations with his manager Alex Ferguson.
Manchester City is widely reported in the British press to be ready to make an offer for Rooney but Chelsea is the first club to openly declare an interest.
"You have to see if Wayne Rooney really wants to leave," Ancelotti said on Monday ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Spartak Moscow.
"Secondly, if Manchester United really want to sell him, and thirdly if Rooney is on the market, I think that not only Chelsea but a lot of teams would be interested."
Ferguson is likely to be asked questions about his relationship with Rooney at a prematch news conference at Old Trafford on Tuesday, ahead of United's Champions League game against Bursaspor.
Rooney started on the bench on Saturday as United drew 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League, only going on with 19 minutes left in the game. That decision by Ferguson increased the speculation about Rooney's future.
British newspapers were united on Tuesday in saying Rooney, who has less than two years left on his United contract, would be open to a move to City, following in the footsteps of Carlos Tevez. The Argentina striker made the cross-city switch to Eastlands in July last year.
The Times newspaper reported that Rooney has requested a 100 percent pay rise to stay at United.
United chief executive David Gill said on Monday the club would "say something (about Rooney) at a more appropriate time."
Source:http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Blues-interested-in-signing-Rooney
Stacious - File
Dancehall artiste Stacious will be testing her business skills when she opens her café next week.
The artiste will be launching Scrumptious Café at 50 Molynes Road, St Andrew, next Wednesday. There, she said, she will be offering fruit and vegetable smoothies, ice cream, sandwiches and coffee.
"I am a smoothie fanatic, so why not share my love with everybody else? Mi like it and it's a business venture that I don't think we have a lot of here. Mi a test the waters," Stacious told THE STAR, noting that the café will be open for business by next Monday.
"I have to hope for the best. Let's see how I can market and promote but I can't know without trying."
this is not her first business venture as she had a small hair salon years ago.
"It was a small place in Portmore. I wasn't quite into it and then I had to move the place and I just sell it out. I have way more invested in this," she said.
café dreams
The Scrumptious Café, Stacious says is only a fraction of what she plans to do.
"This is just a piece of what I really want to go into. Hopefully, I will be expanding," she said.
When her café dreams become realised next Wednesday at 6 p.m., Stacious says her guests will be given "an introduction to the place, nuff food, nuff vibes. It's not a dance."
On the musical side, Stacious said she recently did a collaboration with Versatile that was recorded for Romeich Records. She is also promoting her single Striptease that was produced by Jam 2. In addition, she will be going on an European tour in February.
Stacious came on to the dancehall scene in 2003 but gained significant popularity in recent years with her song Falling Down. Since then, she has had songs like Good Life, It's Over and Sexy Whine. Earlier this year she collaborated with Mavado on Come Into My Room, which was a major hit.
In 2008, she also dabbled in acting, playing a role in a film about AIDS awareness. She is also one of the faces for CY Clothing Inc, a local brand with outlets in Miami.Risks come with oversharing on social networks such as Facebook , particularly when youre a 27-year-old man trying to marry a 14-year-old girl.
Police arrested Robert Nickson Jr. of Delaware County, Pa., earlier this week after learning of his sick sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl through the couples Facebook postings.
Nickson and the teenage girl werent quite hiding their relationship, according to Police. They have both uploaded profile pictures showing them together, and posted status updates noting they are in love and engaged, cops told the Philadelphia Daily News.
They also sent text messages saying that they were afraid the police might find out about their relationship.
Nickson was charged with statutory rape, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of a minor after the girl told the police that she had sexual intercourse with Nickson at least four times.
BET held it's round table discussion to determine the "Top Ten Rappers Of The 21st Century" last night October 15.
After many heated arguments, the list was finalized. Fans are bound to find the list controversial.
Right off the top I noticed one glaring omission.
Here's how the list was decided according to BET.com
BETs "Top 10 Rappers of the 21st Century" is a fierce, no-holds-barred, hour-long special that reveals the ultimate Top 10 List of the last decades hottest rappers, whose careers blew up from 1999 to today.
BETs "Top 10 Rappers" is the definitive hip-hop countdown by the ground-breaking network that gave love to hip-hop before anyone else dared. BET threw open nominations to BET digital followers, industry bloggers and other social influencers (our Grand Jury). More than 25,000 votes later, they returned a Top 15 list of rappers for consideration. Now, our Hip-Hop Supreme Court is convening to vote on the final Top Ten, based on a rappers: flow, lyrics, subject matter, cultural impact, dough, and as needed in the arsenal of a 21st Century rapper digital skills (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, their own website, etc.).
The Court represents all of the regions of the country, and consists of nine select industry insiders many of whom were raised on hip-hop: Jermaine Dupri (Producer - ATL); Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur (AllHipHop.com); Boy 1da (Producer);DJ Diamond Kuts (Power 99 FM - Philadelphia); DJ Greg Street (V103 - ATL); Tony Neal (CEO, Core DJs); DJ Timbuck2 (107.5 WGCI Chicago); Chloe Hilliard (Managing Editor/Social Media Manager, Vibe Magazine - NYC); and DJ Vlad (VladTV.com - NYC).
In their technologically tricked-out courtroom, the Court is led by the Justice Big Tigger, who takes them through the debates and discussions about each of their own Top 10 rankings. Live votes allow Court members to sway each others minds about their original Top 10 Lists with each countdown position!
The Top 10
# 1 Eminem
Selling more records than anyone on the list, Eminem is not only praised for his commercial success, but is highly respected by his peers for his skill.
# 2 Lil Wayne
Lil' Wayne is a rock star. The Young Money Millionaire has shown the most growth in the 21st century.
# 3 Kanye West
The highly successful rapper/producer Kanye West is more than just a rapper. But the level of his rap game has been elevated since his debut.
# 4 50 Cent
In less than 10 years, 50 Cent has released four albums, three of which have gone platinum (or in some cases, multi-platinum). This controversial rapper has consistently put out hits.
# 5 T.I.
ATL-native T.I. may be controversial in his actions, but when it comes to rap, this MC has got the South on lock
# 6 Ludacris
It's hard to talk about the 21st century without mentioning Ludacris. The Atlanta-based rapper is arguably one of the most consistent when it comes to the quality of his music.
# 7 Drake
Aubrey "Drake" Graham has managed to win over the hearts of hip hop fans this past year. After releasing his debut album, "Thank Me Later," Drake has shown that he is the one to watch
# 8 Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy bumps in every whip, from the North to the South. This Southern MC is respected for his hardcore delivery and thug narratives.
# 9 Jadakiss
Jadakiss has always been praised for his complex rhymes and the meaning behind his words.
# 10 Officer Rick Ross
Rick Ross bossed up the game in the 21st century. He is one of the few rappers to survive a 50 Cent rivalry by continuing to put out quality music
So there you have it. What do you guys think of the list? Who should have been left off and who should have made it in their place?
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed England striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave Old Trafford.
Rooney's future has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few days following reports that the England striker was unprepared to sign a new contract.
In an interview with MUTV today, Ferguson said: "David (Gill, chief executive) in the early part of the summer had opened talks with his agent and that was to be continued after the World Cup.
"I was in the office on August 14 and David phoned me to say he wasn't signing a contract.
"I was dumbfounded. Only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world.
"I asked to have a meeting with the boy.
"He reiterated what his agent said, that he wanted to go."
Ferguson denied reports that he and the player had fallen out, and revealed his irritation that Rooney had denied having an ankle injury.
"We've not had any argument," he told MUTV.
"You have to understand the mechanics of these situations when someone wants to leave the club. It's an easy one to say you've fallen out with the manager."
Asked whether or not he was genuinely injured, something Rooney denied following England's game against Montenegro, Ferguson said: "Yes, he was injured. I said that in a TV interview some weeks ago.
"We sent him for a scan but there was no doubt that although he's able to train he's still carrying traces of that injury.
"Why he came out and said that you can only guess yourself.
"It was disappointing he said that."
He continued: "When it came to the Sunderland game, I gave him a complete break hoping he would get his form back.
"Why he's come out and said that I have no idea."
Having learned of Rooney's desire to go, Ferguson requested to speak to the player.
He said: "Dealing with the next step was always going to be decisive for us, how we dealt with the situation.
"I asked to have a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent said, that he wanted to go.
"The one thing I said to him was 'respect this club', I don't want any nonsense from you.
"I don't know if he has done that. I have doubts on that, we are reading all these things about falling out with me and all that nonsense.
"It's disappointing because we have done everything we possibly can to help Wayne Rooney ever since he came to the club.
"We have always been here as a harbour for him any time he has been in trouble, the advice we have given him, I was even prepared to give him financial advice.
"But it's not just Wayne Rooney, we have done that for all the players.
"Wayne has been the beneficiary of that, just as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes has...so there has been no falling out.
"So there we are, we have got into a situation where we had to clarify this for our fans because what we saw on Saturday was unacceptable.
"When we got to 2-2 (against West Brom) and they were chanting Wayne Rooney, it's a pressure on the players and didn't do the team any good so we had to clarify the situation and put it right."
Ferguson admitted he was stunned by Rooney's stance but confirmed the door remained open for the former Everton man.
He added: "Of course, there's no offer on the table as they are not prepared to listen to an offer but there's always an offer from Manchester United to negotaitate with any player and that's still there.
"I am disappointed, I can't believe it. When you manage Manchester United there is always something you have to deal with and we have had to deal with these situations before. It's not as easy as it was a few years ago.
"We are dealing with agents who are living in the pockets of players, it's a different world and we have to deal with it."
Source:http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Ferguson-Rooney-wants-to-leave
Appz mi hear say mavado a spit fyah and a cuss cuz him just find out say Moe a rob out and nyam out. What a pieca sign n wounda. wah me want know is how him find out so late cause it seems like everybody did know already long before him. cause me did know that long time. A so she have him fool. Anyways Met, Moe maddda buy a BMW from di singa and pay him lil to nothing fi it. she owe im di rest and all now cant pay it, dat a 1 a di tings him a cuss fa. n how every minute di madda beg beg him money. Every week she inna money crisis. But anuh deh so di robbing start. A from long time every minute $20grand USD n dem kinda money deh a missing from outta di house. $10grand USD n $5grandUSD always a missen hear n there... him use to blame everybody else inna di house except she (even him 8 n 9 year old pickney dem) but it happens that him did start hide him money to which only she knows weh it deh an it still a end up missing. When him realize him nearly killl har. with di belly n all bt she use to dat by now. him a get rob blind from di madda n di daughta. it no look pretty at all. Dem say a di madda a incourage har fi rob him. Vado cant travel a US n UK n u know say a deh so him get most him income. tings kinda slow down fi him cuz jamaica show dont pay like forrin shows so him start watch him money now. a so come him start pree all di robbings. Met di man a balllllll fi him tings dem. him all want tek weh back di car from di madda now n give har back har lil pieca money weh she put di down payment. Me guess its juss anotha life lesson weh him a go thru yah now. Hope him keep him head up n learn it well.
I HAVE ALLIANCE GROUPIES..... WAH UNU HAFFI SEH??
ATLANTA (AP) A federal judge revoked rapper TI's probation Friday and ordered him back to prison for 11 months following his arrest last month in California on suspicion of drug possession.
The Atlanta native, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr, was on probation after serving 10 months behind bars on federal weapons charges.
"I think Mr Harris had had about the limit of second chances," US District Court Judge Charles Pannell Jr said in court, according to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
During the hearing, TI begged the judge not to send him back to prison, saying he needed to get help for drug addiction. He told the judge he "screwed up" and pleaded for mercy.
"I screwed up big time, and I'm sorry. I'm truly and sincerely sorry. I don't want and I don't need to use drugs anymore. I want them out of my life," Harris told the judge, the Journal-Constitution reported.
The Associated Press was relying on information from the newspaper because the judge closed the courtroom after it was filled and several media outlets including AP were not allowed inside.
Pannell wasn't swayed by the rapper's plea.
The judge had said TI's sentence was an "experiment" he hoped to replicate if it worked. The rapper was allowed to stay out of prison while performing 1,000 hours of community service, mostly talking with schoolchildren about the dangers of gangs, drugs and violence.
"You certainly dumped a lot of smut on the whole experiment," Pannell told TI.
The Grammy Award-winning artiste is one of the biggest names in hip-hop, with multiple platinum-selling albums and singles, production credits and roles in films like ATL and American Gangster.
After the hearing, US Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said she was disappointed with TI.
"We had hoped that this would be a new, innovative opportunity," she told AP. "We're not giving up on Mr Harris, but ... if you veer off the road of redemption, there are consequences."
The rapper, wearing a gray three-piece suit, walked out of court with family and friends, leaving the building through a back exit without speaking to reporters.
He is expected to surrender voluntarily to authorities November 1. As a condition of his release earlier this year, he was ordered not to commit another federal, state or local crime while on supervised release, or to illegally possess a controlled substance. He was also told to take at least three drug tests after his release and to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment programme.
Yates urged the judge to consider a sentence of two years in prison. She said TI submitted diluted urine samples and told his probation officer he had used ecstasy at least three times since leaving prison.
TI's attorneys argued that after reviewing nearly 250 cases with similar charges, none of those people were put back behind bars for violating probation, Crosby said. Additionally, the attorneys told the judge that Harris was addicted to drugs and has attempted to turn his life around since leaving prison.
TI's label, Atlantic Records, put out a statement: "TI is such an important and valued member of our Atlantic family. We offer to him and his family our continued love and support during this very difficult time."
Earlier this week, Atlanta police said TI helped them talked a suicidal man down from a skyscraper. The rapper heard about the man on the radio and drove over to see if he could help.
The man agreed to come down from the 22-story building in exchange for a few minutes with the rapper, authorities said. They added he recorded a cell phone video of himself that was shown to the man by rescue workers to prove he was really there.
TI rejected suggestions that his intervention was a stunt to gain advance favour with the court.
Atlanta Police Department spokesman Officer James Polite testified at Friday's hearing about being present when TI lent his assistance.
"We believed it was genuine," Polite said of Harris' offer to help. "He gave words of encouragement and was an intricate part of having that situation safely and quickly resolved."
Source:http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Entertainment/Rapper-TI-headed-back-to-prison-for-11-months_8062912