I was reading this article in the Jamaica Observer and I swear, certain people in our Jamaican society (READ: certain constituencies on
both sides of the political divide) are masochists! They vote the same
way for years despite the same 'nothing' going on for these same years. Is it that
they misunderstand the importance of exercising their democratic right
in achieving their own 'greater good'?
I sincerely hope that with
this significant increase in the number of youths that have registered
to vote as per the May 31 voter's list that there will be an increase in scrutiny of what is being done
and put forward by the political parties in Jamaica. Though some may argue that
the type of government we have does not suit us, it is what we have and we
may as well work with it. I hope this new interest, whether a 'flash in
the pan' or not will bring about a new drive by Jamaicans to do away
with voting for a party because of tradition and start something unheard
of in Jamaica - voting for better! The old uneducated fools who have
been responsible for leading Jamaica down a path of destruction for 18
unbroken years and then some need to be removed, there is still hope for
Jamaica - men (and women) like Davies are on their way out, Roger Clarke is gone, A.J. Nicholson 'cut', Portia Simpson-Miller, as we say in Jamaica 'a gyaap', there seems to be a cry for 're-imagination and
re-birth' in the People's National Party (PNP) and that is long overdue and welcome.
I am not in a position to fairly judge those members of the Jamaica
Labour Party as frankly, I have not seen much of them in leadership of
the country. I do remember as a very young child under an Edward Seaga
led Jamaica being given a wet $2 note by one of the workers on the farm
that I grew up as change for my mother who had asked him to purchase
batteries for a flashlight and that worker being verbally reprimanded by
another worker for giving me 'so much money' lest I lose it. Bread was
cheap, milk was cheap, corned beef and tin mackerel were also cheap.
Crime wasn't so bad, the dollar was doing OK for itself and there was
not so much lawlessness in Jamaica. Fast forward couple years to the
beginning of a Bruce Golding led JLP government. A country inherited
from 18 years of PNP 'leadership' debt is sky-high, crime and violence
increased, bad roads, worse economy and a beaten and battered Jamaican
dollar among many other ills, especially those in our Society. I was
fairly pleased with that rather short JLP administration's achievements
in comparison to the PNP's 18 years and it is against that backdrop that
I am able to make a comparison.
Let's hope this cry for not 'better' but actual 'leadership' is not merely being championed by those with self-serving aspirations but is being done by people who genuinely want to see better for their party second and their country above all. The likes of Peter Bunting, Lisa Hanna and Julian Robinson all seem attractive to Jamaica against the likes of what previously obtained in that of those mentioned in the previous paragraph and also of Robert Pickersgill, Peter Phillips and and the 'youthfully exuberant' Phillip Paulwell who has not done too well for himself since his much heralded entry into Political representation. Let's hope Jamaica stands to benefit from the boat-rocking.
Anyway, the
direction I see Andrew Holness taking the country is promising, is it that
we will see new governance and leadership in Jamaica or is it the
proverbial 'bamboo fire' that just blazes up to die down as quickly as
it started?
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Friday, February 5, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
A Possible Solution to the Zika Virus Risk for Jamaica for the NSWMA (mainly)
The idiots who run the NSWMA are the ones who placed us at risk for the
CHIK-V and now ZIK-V. They cut out communal receptacles and implemented
kerb-side collection. As an Environmental Health officer, I will now put
forward why that increases the risks of mosquito breeding. The Aedes
aegypti mosquito has a flight range of up to 100 metres, some literature
put it at 65M max, for our purposes, let's leave it at 100. Communal
receptacles are what we call 'skips' or dumpsters and they are to be
placed at central locations within an area. Kerb-side collection is
collection of garbage from individual receptacles at each house. Now,
think about how that is executed: the garbage truck drives up to each
home, a man comes off and picks the receptacle up and empties it into
the truck - tedious and time-consuming and the truck has to make many
stops. Communal receptacles at a central location throughout various
points in the community strategically located results in the garbage
being handled by the workers in a more sanitary manner if they are
implemented properly.
We all know that the NSWMA has issues with trucks and reliability and funds to maintain the trucks, as a result, garbage has been known to go uncollected for weeks - months in some cases. So, uncollected garbage at each home puts the members of that household in a position where there is proliferation of potential (and actual) mosquito breeding sites. Had the garbage been placed at a central receptacle outside of the flight range of the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding of these mosquitoes would be less likely and people would therefore be less likely to be bitten and control would be a lot less of a problem. Additionally, we would now have only a few places to clean up whereas with the kerb-side collection, each household has a garbage issue.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes unlike many other mosquitoes prefer human blood upwards of 95% of its blood is from humans - therefore they are considered one of the most 'domesticated' mosquitoes on earth. Other species such as its cousins Aedes albopictus and Ae. medio-vittatus are not as selective, Ae. albopictus rarely being seen with more than 75% human blood and the Ae. medio-vittatus (Tree-Hole Mosquito) having less than 50%. There are other mosquitoes such as the Culex quinquefasciattus, C. negripalpus, C. corniger, C. mediator and C. janitor all of which are found in Jamaica are less picky and bite pretty much anything with blood that moves (species of Culex are known to spread heartworms in dogs).
But I digress...
Problem: kerb-side (house to house) collection of garbage; it has its pluses and is what is used in most 'developed' countries as a means of collection. It is fancy and ideal for the householder but it is not what we must adopt solely because it is used in developed countries - that should never be a reason we adopt anything. Additionally, the richer countries up north tend to not have these mosquitoes that spread these diseases. These countries use such methods because they are in a position to fund it - Jamaica is not!!! This method puts each household at risk of mosquito-borne diseases especially since the trucks don't work that well and garbage often goes uncollected for weeks on end. It is better to have the garbage piled-up in one location outside the flight-range of the Ae. aegypti than have many small piles of garbage at each premises.
Solution: Go back to a central receptacle, at strategic locations in the communities ideally outside of the flight-range of the mosquitoes, people will eventually start using them. This reduces maintenance costs on the trucks due to less wear and tear as a result of constant stopping, the trucks wouldn't need 3 to 4 workers all lifting heavy loads at frequent stops. Couple this with Public Education, and we will see the billions saved - you can thank me later.
We all know that the NSWMA has issues with trucks and reliability and funds to maintain the trucks, as a result, garbage has been known to go uncollected for weeks - months in some cases. So, uncollected garbage at each home puts the members of that household in a position where there is proliferation of potential (and actual) mosquito breeding sites. Had the garbage been placed at a central receptacle outside of the flight range of the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding of these mosquitoes would be less likely and people would therefore be less likely to be bitten and control would be a lot less of a problem. Additionally, we would now have only a few places to clean up whereas with the kerb-side collection, each household has a garbage issue.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes unlike many other mosquitoes prefer human blood upwards of 95% of its blood is from humans - therefore they are considered one of the most 'domesticated' mosquitoes on earth. Other species such as its cousins Aedes albopictus and Ae. medio-vittatus are not as selective, Ae. albopictus rarely being seen with more than 75% human blood and the Ae. medio-vittatus (Tree-Hole Mosquito) having less than 50%. There are other mosquitoes such as the Culex quinquefasciattus, C. negripalpus, C. corniger, C. mediator and C. janitor all of which are found in Jamaica are less picky and bite pretty much anything with blood that moves (species of Culex are known to spread heartworms in dogs).
But I digress...
Problem: kerb-side (house to house) collection of garbage; it has its pluses and is what is used in most 'developed' countries as a means of collection. It is fancy and ideal for the householder but it is not what we must adopt solely because it is used in developed countries - that should never be a reason we adopt anything. Additionally, the richer countries up north tend to not have these mosquitoes that spread these diseases. These countries use such methods because they are in a position to fund it - Jamaica is not!!! This method puts each household at risk of mosquito-borne diseases especially since the trucks don't work that well and garbage often goes uncollected for weeks on end. It is better to have the garbage piled-up in one location outside the flight-range of the Ae. aegypti than have many small piles of garbage at each premises.
Solution: Go back to a central receptacle, at strategic locations in the communities ideally outside of the flight-range of the mosquitoes, people will eventually start using them. This reduces maintenance costs on the trucks due to less wear and tear as a result of constant stopping, the trucks wouldn't need 3 to 4 workers all lifting heavy loads at frequent stops. Couple this with Public Education, and we will see the billions saved - you can thank me later.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Mosquitoes, Ineptitude, The PNP, Ineptitude and the Iceberg Phenomenon
There are a million-gazillion people in Jamaica presenting with symptoms that 'suggest' Chikungunya. We know it is Chikungunya but can't or should not say it is - all the signs point to it, Chikungunya sweeping the Caribbean, Jamaica being lax when it comes to Disease Surveillance at out ports of entry, poor border protection, the PNP being in power etc. Many of the cases seen recently do present with the symptoms Chikungunya and any old fool could tell you that yes it is. But the PNP has one thing going for it - the fact that confirmation has to be done by Laboratory analysis. The Learned Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson maintains that Jamaica is in fact 'controlling' the Chikungunya outbreak and to date only 24 cases (0.2% of the total confirmed for the region) have been confirmed in Jamaica of the 9000 confirmed in the Caribbean Region, such statistics would suggest Jamaica is doing exceptionally well in containing the outbreak - right? Well, read this article first then we can decide.
Jamaica has 7% of the Caribbean's population but well below 7% of the confirmed cases of the disease. Yet, day after day we hear of (and see) people with symptoms suggesting Chikungunya. We have never had a Leptospirosis outbreak to the extent where people are showing up with it to the extent we see people with these symptoms and if this happens to be Leptospirosis, as the Minister is suggesting then that is very very bad. Could it be due to the rising prices and rapid devaluation of the dollar that Jamaicans have also been forced to suffer a drastic reduction in Sanitation and Hygiene? Life is hard but not hard enough (yet) to result in regression of our development resulting in sanitation conditions akin to those seen 16th Century London before Pasteur and Koch. Leptospirosis in many cases is not detected too early and often results in liver failure in many patients which manifests itself by Jaundice and I am sure not one of these cases have presented with such signs as yet. So, Leptospirosis is out of the question Minister, come again.
"Well, there is Dengue" he is saying, "well, no there is not," I am saying! How come not even one of these cases are Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which almost always shows up in a Dengue Fever outbreak or better yet, how come not even one of these cases present the classic symptom of retro-orbital pain (pain in the back of the eyes)? Another lame excuse is, 'it could be Influenza' - a full two months early? Mr. Minister, come on man, stop taking us for fools! The drought has officially ended so naturally we will see a rise in mosquitoes, so this disease has to or is more likely to be something mosquito-related (further ruling out Influenza and Leptospirosis). Why would we even consider any of the aforementioned when Chikungunya is island-hopping and claiming many casualties on its little trek across the Caribbean?
How fortuitous for the present Government, the PNP that Dengue presents similar symptoms and also Leptospirosis to a lesser extent? So, it is OK for them to say "well the gazillion cases could be Dengue or Leptospirosis" which should underline the PNP's ineptitude just as much (if not more because these are all diseases we are familiar with and should by now be able to get under control). The exoticism and novelty of Chikungunya is what makes it so fearsome and would make the perception of an outbreak worse than the outbreak of Dengue or Leptospirosis when such outbreaks are just as bad if not worse.
In Disease Outbreak Investigation there are various bits of evidence that make laboratory confirmation a moot point such as patient history and behaviour. If, for example a person was exposed to rodents and farm animals and never exposed to mosquitoes then we can rule Chikungunya and/or Dengue out, and if a patient travelled to a country that is experiencing an outbreak of Chikungunya then we can conclude with some certainty that it is in fact Chikungunya as long as they present with the symptoms and further our Caribbean neighbours are being ravaged by the disease then why should the Minister suggest that the cases are mostly if not all Dengue and/or Leptospirosis? All the factors point to this outbreak being Chikungunya. One classic symptom of Dengue that makes lab confirmation unnecessary is the retro-orbital pain, Dengue is the only disease (as far as I know) with such symptoms. But lucky for the Learned Doc and his handlers in the PNP the lab confirmation is the only Technically and Legally acceptable determination.
As far as statistics go, The Ministry of Health can send only the 24 confirmed samples to be tested and technically we only have 24 'confirmed' cases, when a million-zillion suspected samples were not sent to be tested, that keeps figures (statistics) down and everybody happy - especially 'the tourists' and the Ministry of Health did its part in contributing to a phenomenon in Epidemiology we know as the "Iceberg Effect/Phenomenon," (more of a Sunken Rock or Swept Under the Rug Effect).
But guess what, we know better, don't we?
Jamaica has 7% of the Caribbean's population but well below 7% of the confirmed cases of the disease. Yet, day after day we hear of (and see) people with symptoms suggesting Chikungunya. We have never had a Leptospirosis outbreak to the extent where people are showing up with it to the extent we see people with these symptoms and if this happens to be Leptospirosis, as the Minister is suggesting then that is very very bad. Could it be due to the rising prices and rapid devaluation of the dollar that Jamaicans have also been forced to suffer a drastic reduction in Sanitation and Hygiene? Life is hard but not hard enough (yet) to result in regression of our development resulting in sanitation conditions akin to those seen 16th Century London before Pasteur and Koch. Leptospirosis in many cases is not detected too early and often results in liver failure in many patients which manifests itself by Jaundice and I am sure not one of these cases have presented with such signs as yet. So, Leptospirosis is out of the question Minister, come again.
"Well, there is Dengue" he is saying, "well, no there is not," I am saying! How come not even one of these cases are Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which almost always shows up in a Dengue Fever outbreak or better yet, how come not even one of these cases present the classic symptom of retro-orbital pain (pain in the back of the eyes)? Another lame excuse is, 'it could be Influenza' - a full two months early? Mr. Minister, come on man, stop taking us for fools! The drought has officially ended so naturally we will see a rise in mosquitoes, so this disease has to or is more likely to be something mosquito-related (further ruling out Influenza and Leptospirosis). Why would we even consider any of the aforementioned when Chikungunya is island-hopping and claiming many casualties on its little trek across the Caribbean?
How fortuitous for the present Government, the PNP that Dengue presents similar symptoms and also Leptospirosis to a lesser extent? So, it is OK for them to say "well the gazillion cases could be Dengue or Leptospirosis" which should underline the PNP's ineptitude just as much (if not more because these are all diseases we are familiar with and should by now be able to get under control). The exoticism and novelty of Chikungunya is what makes it so fearsome and would make the perception of an outbreak worse than the outbreak of Dengue or Leptospirosis when such outbreaks are just as bad if not worse.
In Disease Outbreak Investigation there are various bits of evidence that make laboratory confirmation a moot point such as patient history and behaviour. If, for example a person was exposed to rodents and farm animals and never exposed to mosquitoes then we can rule Chikungunya and/or Dengue out, and if a patient travelled to a country that is experiencing an outbreak of Chikungunya then we can conclude with some certainty that it is in fact Chikungunya as long as they present with the symptoms and further our Caribbean neighbours are being ravaged by the disease then why should the Minister suggest that the cases are mostly if not all Dengue and/or Leptospirosis? All the factors point to this outbreak being Chikungunya. One classic symptom of Dengue that makes lab confirmation unnecessary is the retro-orbital pain, Dengue is the only disease (as far as I know) with such symptoms. But lucky for the Learned Doc and his handlers in the PNP the lab confirmation is the only Technically and Legally acceptable determination.
As far as statistics go, The Ministry of Health can send only the 24 confirmed samples to be tested and technically we only have 24 'confirmed' cases, when a million-zillion suspected samples were not sent to be tested, that keeps figures (statistics) down and everybody happy - especially 'the tourists' and the Ministry of Health did its part in contributing to a phenomenon in Epidemiology we know as the "Iceberg Effect/Phenomenon," (more of a Sunken Rock or Swept Under the Rug Effect).
But guess what, we know better, don't we?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
One Feature I'd like to see on Google Search
When you type 'define: word here' in Google, it brings back the definition of that word, if it exists as a search result, that has been around for some time now. I am sure there are a few other stuff that syntax will get you on google. However, there is one thing I find that is missing and this I believe alienates a complete community of people that would like to see Google becoming the complete service I am sure Google strives to be.
I am an avid learner of languages, I am not good at any yet since it's been a recent interest of mine, I am trying to learn 'natural' languages and a few programming languages. I have completely taught myself Website Design with (x)HTML and CSS and have now moved on to HTML5 and CSS3 since the two are considered the future of the web. While they are not 'programming' languages in the strictest sense of the term they do have a few qualities of programming languages and teach you a few habits you need to know as a programmer. I am also in the process of learning C, C++, Javascript and PHP and MySQL. I plan to move on to Java and Python in a couple months. It has been hard going but I promise my readers (regardless how few that may be) that I will press on and will soon be able to do something useful in all these languages soon.
As part of my goal of learning a few 'natural' languages, I've embarked on a Spanish learning crusade and by now am able to speak basic Spanish to some extent, I want to improve on that too. While doing that, I am also teaching myself American Sign Language (ASL), just started out and knowing a few basic words. Why American and not British Sign Language (BSL), you might ask? Well, one reason BSL is too hard, the simplicity that is inherent in ASL makes it easier on the beginner, look at the various alphabets, a google search will help, which brings me nicely into what this article is about.
What I want to see Google do someday is allow me to type in the search 'ASL: dog' much like the define example above and it would give me the sign for dog and the same would apply for the various other languages. It would really helo those like myself who want to learn the language and don't have the mastery of the language yet. This would be somewhat of an image search or a video search. I know it may need a site dedicated to that sort of stuff, I would happily build such a site for free and host it for free as long as Google can link to my site. That would be my donation to the Internet and the Deaf Community that I so want to offer my help to but am not able to where I live. It is quite a task finding useful causes where I live in Jamaica to dedicate my time to so, I go on the net with that sort of stuff. I have so many things I would like to be a part of that is virtually impossible here and as a result some movement or cause suffers as a result but such is life from time to time.
If I am lucky, and some influential person reads this that can make it possible contact me, I'm dying to offer my assistance.
I am an avid learner of languages, I am not good at any yet since it's been a recent interest of mine, I am trying to learn 'natural' languages and a few programming languages. I have completely taught myself Website Design with (x)HTML and CSS and have now moved on to HTML5 and CSS3 since the two are considered the future of the web. While they are not 'programming' languages in the strictest sense of the term they do have a few qualities of programming languages and teach you a few habits you need to know as a programmer. I am also in the process of learning C, C++, Javascript and PHP and MySQL. I plan to move on to Java and Python in a couple months. It has been hard going but I promise my readers (regardless how few that may be) that I will press on and will soon be able to do something useful in all these languages soon.
As part of my goal of learning a few 'natural' languages, I've embarked on a Spanish learning crusade and by now am able to speak basic Spanish to some extent, I want to improve on that too. While doing that, I am also teaching myself American Sign Language (ASL), just started out and knowing a few basic words. Why American and not British Sign Language (BSL), you might ask? Well, one reason BSL is too hard, the simplicity that is inherent in ASL makes it easier on the beginner, look at the various alphabets, a google search will help, which brings me nicely into what this article is about.
What I want to see Google do someday is allow me to type in the search 'ASL: dog' much like the define example above and it would give me the sign for dog and the same would apply for the various other languages. It would really helo those like myself who want to learn the language and don't have the mastery of the language yet. This would be somewhat of an image search or a video search. I know it may need a site dedicated to that sort of stuff, I would happily build such a site for free and host it for free as long as Google can link to my site. That would be my donation to the Internet and the Deaf Community that I so want to offer my help to but am not able to where I live. It is quite a task finding useful causes where I live in Jamaica to dedicate my time to so, I go on the net with that sort of stuff. I have so many things I would like to be a part of that is virtually impossible here and as a result some movement or cause suffers as a result but such is life from time to time.
If I am lucky, and some influential person reads this that can make it possible contact me, I'm dying to offer my assistance.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Tessanne Chin and The Voice
Tessanne Chin was always an awesome performer ever since she was with her group Mile High, they rocked and rocked real hard, she needs to bring them back together! Anyway, it shows how our taste in music has degenerated over the years, it now takes foreigners to make real Reggae and that is way sad. We were once the little country with great music, now we live off the past and we have sucked Toots, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker and the like dry, like one done-out bag juice or suck-suck aka serve-me-long. When mediocre talents the like of Chronixx, I-Octane Konshens etc come up with a couple half-assed attempts at good music we laud them out of hope that this flash of brilliance may be long-lasting but they in fact turn out to be like a bamboo fire, blaze up then die down (or revert to crap) just as quickly.The Jamaican music palate has been abused with utter rubbish over the years that we look at true talent as something new and amazing.
Tessane was always good and it should not have been The Voice that showed us that. Her sister Tami is more recognisable (or was) than her because she was less talented, more pretty and evenly mediocre than Tessanne Chin. Sad, sad, SAD! I hope that she can make up for what she missed out on from this new wave of hype she has received from her "success" on The Voice. I used to watch The Voice religiously since it started something like 5 years ago and I chose not to this season because I think it an insult to her huge talent that she had to, in essence grovel to show the world how good she was, I wanted nothing to do with that and out of honour I chose not to watch it, talk about it much less vote. Now, she has eventually "made her name" though through a route I would have much preferred she had not taken, I hope Jamaicans have learned that people are better than what they sing and how they look and we are a very capable country when it comes to music.
Tessane was always good and it should not have been The Voice that showed us that. Her sister Tami is more recognisable (or was) than her because she was less talented, more pretty and evenly mediocre than Tessanne Chin. Sad, sad, SAD! I hope that she can make up for what she missed out on from this new wave of hype she has received from her "success" on The Voice. I used to watch The Voice religiously since it started something like 5 years ago and I chose not to this season because I think it an insult to her huge talent that she had to, in essence grovel to show the world how good she was, I wanted nothing to do with that and out of honour I chose not to watch it, talk about it much less vote. Now, she has eventually "made her name" though through a route I would have much preferred she had not taken, I hope Jamaicans have learned that people are better than what they sing and how they look and we are a very capable country when it comes to music.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Statistics as a Lamppost
The Jamaica Observer reported in this piece that Audi's sales have increased by a whole 50% in September, it did not state whether it was over the previous month or the corresponding period in 2012, 1911 or any period for that matter. I used to love the brand with the four rings until ATL Motors took it over, hate the direction they have taken it and hate the people who think it is a necessity to own one (and all the brands ATL carries - especially Honda) and I do not want to be associated with them. Therefore, my ultimate vehicle is a Toyota and if Luxury is ever in my intention, it most likely will be a Lexus.
Anyway...
O.K., um, 2 units were sold in the previous month and this month 3, is a 50% increase, huge figures as a percentage but rather modest sales figures in reality if you consider the actual numbers rather than the percentage. Anyway, some local figures would be really nice and comparisons with BMW's sales would also be nice! Since we are into performance, if we are to gauge any performance we need benchmarks, BMW (Audi's local target and a nice benchmark for comparison), could have sold 100 units in the corresponding period and not sold any for the same period under comparison (from my hypothetical figures above), that would still mean that BMW is outperforming Audi in actual sales but not as far as percentage goes, again, some figures would have been helpful! I'd much rather have been in charge of sales for the latter rather than the former had I been some 'big-waist' car sales executive.
This is irresponsible reporting, percentages always sound good, even better when the figures are small as any change would reflect large percentages the smaller the number. Statistics is a very destructive yet very helpful area of study. We keep hearing percentages being thrown about everyday in the media and by governments the world over and figures are quoted that sound impressive as percentages when had we been given actual figures we would have seen that the wool has been pulled over our eyes.
Andrew Lang once said: "He uses Statistics much like a drunk uses a lamppost, for support rather than illumination."
Moral of the Story: Be careful of those who quote only percentages and don't give figures to support, it is the hallmark of the under-performer who is seeking to paint a rosier than actual picture!
Anyway...
O.K., um, 2 units were sold in the previous month and this month 3, is a 50% increase, huge figures as a percentage but rather modest sales figures in reality if you consider the actual numbers rather than the percentage. Anyway, some local figures would be really nice and comparisons with BMW's sales would also be nice! Since we are into performance, if we are to gauge any performance we need benchmarks, BMW (Audi's local target and a nice benchmark for comparison), could have sold 100 units in the corresponding period and not sold any for the same period under comparison (from my hypothetical figures above), that would still mean that BMW is outperforming Audi in actual sales but not as far as percentage goes, again, some figures would have been helpful! I'd much rather have been in charge of sales for the latter rather than the former had I been some 'big-waist' car sales executive.
This is irresponsible reporting, percentages always sound good, even better when the figures are small as any change would reflect large percentages the smaller the number. Statistics is a very destructive yet very helpful area of study. We keep hearing percentages being thrown about everyday in the media and by governments the world over and figures are quoted that sound impressive as percentages when had we been given actual figures we would have seen that the wool has been pulled over our eyes.
Andrew Lang once said: "He uses Statistics much like a drunk uses a lamppost, for support rather than illumination."
Moral of the Story: Be careful of those who quote only percentages and don't give figures to support, it is the hallmark of the under-performer who is seeking to paint a rosier than actual picture!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Making Money on the Internet
Life is hard - yes. What my salary could by last year, week, month or even night for that matter, it cannot buy now. I was never really able to save much before so it is exponentially harder now. I do manage to save but those are as a result of compulsory savings attached to a loan I have running so I guess that's not half bad - guys, join a credit union somewhere. I am not talking the COKs or the big ones who are almost as terrible as the commercial banks. I am thinking of one that small and has a little niche thing going on. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to deal with one of the smaller credit unions.
Anyway, to the matter at hand, making money online. Let me point out one thing before I go any further, please do not expect to make zillions of dollar or to see money rolling in overnight - unless you are very lucky or are among the first to be a part of the next big opportunity (or scam). All methods are some of what I have tried and have actually seen money coming in albeit slowly and unpredictably, but money comes in nonetheless and a little extra never kills.
I know you want to get the details but to be able to make money you will need somewhere to keep it - right? Since accepting payments online on your own is very hard I suggest getting one of two of the following:
For me, I have both accounts and I will proceed to explain the pros and cons of each.
Paypal
This is pretty much the de facto paympent processing system on the internet. It is as ubiquitous as kitten memes, and that annoying Gangnam Style video. From my very very informal personal survey it is used by more than 75% of the sites I have shopped on and everybody and their dog has a Paypal account. Once you have access to email you can accept paypal payments. The fees to both sell and to receive money through it are fairly small that you should not complain about unless you are this woman.
So, if you have a website that sells rocks or people's toenails or whatever curio you may think is a sure-fire way to make a quick dollar, then you ought to go paypal.
Aah, but not everything in life is all about smooth-sailing right? Yeah, if you are lucky enough to have happened upon the next"new hype" that sells like Moringa leaves, pod, seeds, sap and pretty much every imaginable aspect of the tree on the streets of Kingston and Montego Bay, and you plan to peddle your wares on the good old "interweb" then a paypal account would serve you well but the one drawback I found is in order to take advantage of your new found wealth, you would have to request a cheque from paypal and wait for it to be mailed which is typically 2 weeks and then you have to wait a further 30days to have that cheque drawn on a US bank to clear. Well, if you are making money hand over fists then that shouldn't be much of a problem. There is fee for each withdrawal of US$5, this can be avoided however if you are lucky enough to have a US bank account to which you can have the money wired. There are also monthly spending limits and sending and receiving limits, these limits can be raised if you have a verified account, this can be done by inputting your credit card details. What's that, you don't have a credit you say, well, you can open an account at the Bank of Nova Scotia (I hate commercial banks like a strong dose of poison and politicians), they will give you a Visa debit card that acts as one once there is money in your account. If the little hurdle of getting a Scotia account is too hight to overcome then you are hopeless and should consider other methods of earning a living.
Then there is...
Moneybooker/Skrill
This happens to be my favourite, like Paypal, people can pay with their credit cards or Skrill/Moneybookers account through all the ways Paypal allows, they also apply fees per transaction much the same was as Paypal but they take it a bit further, they added the one thing Paypal overlooked which is allowing persons to wire money to their personal commercial bank accounts regardless of the country, this attracts a pretty standard US$30 fee per transaction and the money is usually in your account and clear within 24 hours - neat huh? That little extra thing is what makes me prefer this option. However if making a little extra online is on the books for you, and you don't already have accounts with them, then visit the sites and have a look around.
I notice that we are not particularly fond of reading so I will save the meat of the matter for my next post which will be available here.
Anyway, to the matter at hand, making money online. Let me point out one thing before I go any further, please do not expect to make zillions of dollar or to see money rolling in overnight - unless you are very lucky or are among the first to be a part of the next big opportunity (or scam). All methods are some of what I have tried and have actually seen money coming in albeit slowly and unpredictably, but money comes in nonetheless and a little extra never kills.
I know you want to get the details but to be able to make money you will need somewhere to keep it - right? Since accepting payments online on your own is very hard I suggest getting one of two of the following:
For me, I have both accounts and I will proceed to explain the pros and cons of each.
Paypal
This is pretty much the de facto paympent processing system on the internet. It is as ubiquitous as kitten memes, and that annoying Gangnam Style video. From my very very informal personal survey it is used by more than 75% of the sites I have shopped on and everybody and their dog has a Paypal account. Once you have access to email you can accept paypal payments. The fees to both sell and to receive money through it are fairly small that you should not complain about unless you are this woman.
So, if you have a website that sells rocks or people's toenails or whatever curio you may think is a sure-fire way to make a quick dollar, then you ought to go paypal.
Aah, but not everything in life is all about smooth-sailing right? Yeah, if you are lucky enough to have happened upon the next"new hype" that sells like Moringa leaves, pod, seeds, sap and pretty much every imaginable aspect of the tree on the streets of Kingston and Montego Bay, and you plan to peddle your wares on the good old "interweb" then a paypal account would serve you well but the one drawback I found is in order to take advantage of your new found wealth, you would have to request a cheque from paypal and wait for it to be mailed which is typically 2 weeks and then you have to wait a further 30days to have that cheque drawn on a US bank to clear. Well, if you are making money hand over fists then that shouldn't be much of a problem. There is fee for each withdrawal of US$5, this can be avoided however if you are lucky enough to have a US bank account to which you can have the money wired. There are also monthly spending limits and sending and receiving limits, these limits can be raised if you have a verified account, this can be done by inputting your credit card details. What's that, you don't have a credit you say, well, you can open an account at the Bank of Nova Scotia (I hate commercial banks like a strong dose of poison and politicians), they will give you a Visa debit card that acts as one once there is money in your account. If the little hurdle of getting a Scotia account is too hight to overcome then you are hopeless and should consider other methods of earning a living.
Then there is...
Moneybooker/Skrill
This happens to be my favourite, like Paypal, people can pay with their credit cards or Skrill/Moneybookers account through all the ways Paypal allows, they also apply fees per transaction much the same was as Paypal but they take it a bit further, they added the one thing Paypal overlooked which is allowing persons to wire money to their personal commercial bank accounts regardless of the country, this attracts a pretty standard US$30 fee per transaction and the money is usually in your account and clear within 24 hours - neat huh? That little extra thing is what makes me prefer this option. However if making a little extra online is on the books for you, and you don't already have accounts with them, then visit the sites and have a look around.
I notice that we are not particularly fond of reading so I will save the meat of the matter for my next post which will be available here.
Making Money on the Internet II
This is a continuation of my series on Making Money on the Internet. I know that you have sent the previous post to everybody in you address book who you care about and are aching to read on so let me not keep you waiting any longer.
Please bear in mind that these methods are in no way an exhaustive list and are just ways that I have used in the past to see a dollar or two pop up and if at least the same effort I put in is I did then you stand to make a couple extra dollars on the side like me.
Ebay
Yes, everybody knows about Ebay - "if its on your mind its on Ebay" is quite possibly the truest statement I have ever heard. Go ahead, test my little claim, think of something this minute, go over to there and do a search for it and see if I was wrong, you will be surprised. That said, there is great potential to make tonnes off this site selling pretty much literally anything from used underwear to old horseshoes. Do a search, so if you can look around and see anything that may be worth a couple small ones then go ahead, get an Ebay account if you don't already have one and get it listed. There are various types of listings on Ebay, you can "auction" or or offer the option to "buy now" and so on. I prefer the buy now option as you have immediate control over your price. "What about shipping" you ask, well you will have to use your head on that one. Find out which is the most feasible method of shipment and don't forget to charge the buyer what it will cost you, some people use this as a means to make some more money but I think that is robbery. If you really look into it your Post Office has very reasonable rates to ship to various parts of the world, they are far more reasonable than the DHLs, and FedEx, takes a bit longer but it is a lot cheaper and all parcels are shipped through registered mail and I am yet to have any issues shipping.
That's it for me with today's posting, the next in my series will be put up as soon as I am finished writing, you can follow me on and Twitter to see when they go up, you will be the first to know.
Please bear in mind that these methods are in no way an exhaustive list and are just ways that I have used in the past to see a dollar or two pop up and if at least the same effort I put in is I did then you stand to make a couple extra dollars on the side like me.
Ebay
Yes, everybody knows about Ebay - "if its on your mind its on Ebay" is quite possibly the truest statement I have ever heard. Go ahead, test my little claim, think of something this minute, go over to there and do a search for it and see if I was wrong, you will be surprised. That said, there is great potential to make tonnes off this site selling pretty much literally anything from used underwear to old horseshoes. Do a search, so if you can look around and see anything that may be worth a couple small ones then go ahead, get an Ebay account if you don't already have one and get it listed. There are various types of listings on Ebay, you can "auction" or or offer the option to "buy now" and so on. I prefer the buy now option as you have immediate control over your price. "What about shipping" you ask, well you will have to use your head on that one. Find out which is the most feasible method of shipment and don't forget to charge the buyer what it will cost you, some people use this as a means to make some more money but I think that is robbery. If you really look into it your Post Office has very reasonable rates to ship to various parts of the world, they are far more reasonable than the DHLs, and FedEx, takes a bit longer but it is a lot cheaper and all parcels are shipped through registered mail and I am yet to have any issues shipping.
That's it for me with today's posting, the next in my series will be put up as soon as I am finished writing, you can follow me on and Twitter to see when they go up, you will be the first to know.
Planning a Trip or Vacation to Jamaica?
Aah, the world knows about us, beaches, sand, sun etc. We are well-known for our Cruise ships that come here, our world-famous coffee from the Blue Mountains and our rum, the T-Shirts, the Music. The potential for weddings that are breath-taking and an equally wonderful honeymoon and the people, that is a lot of the positive stuff for which we are known. I deliberately left out the athletics, due mainly to the negative publicity we have received recently and no, Marijuana (weed) is not positive if you ask me. Anyway, since Jamaica is so renowned worldwide, I figure many people plan trips to travel to Jamaica. The North Coast is by far the most beautiful portion of the island in my opinion. I love especially the portion that stretches from Portland in the north-east to roughly about Discovery Bay in St. Ann., Ocho Rios being my most favourite part of the country.
I'm pretty much an average Jamaican person, I have stayed in a little more than my fair share of hotels on the island and after every single stay I wonder if I am the only Jamaican that has had less than fantastic stays there. I hear tourists go on and on about how wonderful Jamaica and Jamaicans are but I can't help but concluding that especially in the hotels, staff are wonderful to you if you are not black and if you are black you need to meet two criteria to be treated at least like you are spending money, these are: you have to have an accent from a North American or European country (or anywhere the staff will feel as if you are a big spender) and the other is you will have to be a big spender.
Jamaica (in my estimation at least) is no longer the destination of choice for the world's wealthy, all-inclusive hotels don't help. We are like the crack-whore of the tourism world. We don't partial any visitor neither do we direct our advances to any specific group, we target any and all foreigner with a dollar to spend. That waters down your product offering and though these offerings were once great and are in fact still great, the beauty and appeal is lost on those who don't care about it, they only care for the weed and the liquor and the sex. That is a sad state of affairs that unfortunately we have found ourselves in and that does not add to the value of our tourism product.
I have had my fair share of profiling visiting these hotels, I am not scared to relate on very terrible experience I had at the Iberostar Hotel in Rose Hall, St. James. I stayed there on two occasions and both occasions were terribly horrible! The first, my daughter was a few months old, my wife and I after checking in requested a crib for her at about 4:00pm, we were assured that we were getting it in a couple of minutes - 20 minutes to be exact. Suffice it to say, their 20 minutes turned out run from that time until 11:30pm or thereabouts, all this not before it took nearly 3 hours for us to get our room. When we go to the room, it wreaked of tobacco, and was hardly prepared. By this time I was just so tired of waiting for the room that I figured I would just go to sleep. In the middle of the night there was a knock on the, there was a young man holding the crib I had requested six hours prior, I felt like asking if it took them so long to make the crib but upon inspecting it I found that it was a dirty old crib that probably was borrowed from a nearby home in the adjoining community. In an effort not to be rude or disrespectful, I took it and went to bed, my daughter was already asleep on the bed so the need for the crib was no longer there. The next morning I went on the balcony to just sit and what I saw was the most disturbing site, on the edge of the balcony there was dried, what was obviously vomit. I went straight to the front-desk to register my disgust, I was sent to who was apparently the manager of something or the other. I explained the situation to "Miss" Manager and was told to write an email and send it to some person or the other, that I did and since 2010, I am awaiting a response.
Point: don't waste your money at Iberostar!
I guess they would have treated us with a bit more respect had I been either:
1. White
2. Black but obviously a big spender or
3 Black with a non-caribbean accent.
Stay tuned, I have the story of my subsequent stay at the same hotel as part of a conference that was held there.
One question I have before I go, isn't a dollar in the hands of a black Jamaican worth the same as that in the hands of a white foreigner?
I'm pretty much an average Jamaican person, I have stayed in a little more than my fair share of hotels on the island and after every single stay I wonder if I am the only Jamaican that has had less than fantastic stays there. I hear tourists go on and on about how wonderful Jamaica and Jamaicans are but I can't help but concluding that especially in the hotels, staff are wonderful to you if you are not black and if you are black you need to meet two criteria to be treated at least like you are spending money, these are: you have to have an accent from a North American or European country (or anywhere the staff will feel as if you are a big spender) and the other is you will have to be a big spender.
Jamaica (in my estimation at least) is no longer the destination of choice for the world's wealthy, all-inclusive hotels don't help. We are like the crack-whore of the tourism world. We don't partial any visitor neither do we direct our advances to any specific group, we target any and all foreigner with a dollar to spend. That waters down your product offering and though these offerings were once great and are in fact still great, the beauty and appeal is lost on those who don't care about it, they only care for the weed and the liquor and the sex. That is a sad state of affairs that unfortunately we have found ourselves in and that does not add to the value of our tourism product.
I have had my fair share of profiling visiting these hotels, I am not scared to relate on very terrible experience I had at the Iberostar Hotel in Rose Hall, St. James. I stayed there on two occasions and both occasions were terribly horrible! The first, my daughter was a few months old, my wife and I after checking in requested a crib for her at about 4:00pm, we were assured that we were getting it in a couple of minutes - 20 minutes to be exact. Suffice it to say, their 20 minutes turned out run from that time until 11:30pm or thereabouts, all this not before it took nearly 3 hours for us to get our room. When we go to the room, it wreaked of tobacco, and was hardly prepared. By this time I was just so tired of waiting for the room that I figured I would just go to sleep. In the middle of the night there was a knock on the, there was a young man holding the crib I had requested six hours prior, I felt like asking if it took them so long to make the crib but upon inspecting it I found that it was a dirty old crib that probably was borrowed from a nearby home in the adjoining community. In an effort not to be rude or disrespectful, I took it and went to bed, my daughter was already asleep on the bed so the need for the crib was no longer there. The next morning I went on the balcony to just sit and what I saw was the most disturbing site, on the edge of the balcony there was dried, what was obviously vomit. I went straight to the front-desk to register my disgust, I was sent to who was apparently the manager of something or the other. I explained the situation to "Miss" Manager and was told to write an email and send it to some person or the other, that I did and since 2010, I am awaiting a response.
Point: don't waste your money at Iberostar!
I guess they would have treated us with a bit more respect had I been either:
1. White
2. Black but obviously a big spender or
3 Black with a non-caribbean accent.
Stay tuned, I have the story of my subsequent stay at the same hotel as part of a conference that was held there.
One question I have before I go, isn't a dollar in the hands of a black Jamaican worth the same as that in the hands of a white foreigner?
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Jamaicans and what is "Right"
There has been much rambling lately on which laws should be "repealed" (note 'repealed' and not 'amended'). Now, people are too easily given to upholding what is convenient or what supports their position or thinking and too ready to oppose what goes against their views. The Towns and Communities Act of 1843 states clearly that it is illegal to sell items on "Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, except in pharmacies, in shops within
the terminal buildings of the Norman Manley and Sangster international
airports, and public markets." The Women (Employment of) Act of 1942 clearly states that it is illegal for women to work after 10pm. There have been much calls lately since the Jamaica Gleaner ran a piece on "obsolete laws" for these laws to be "repealed" (note the quotes). Many are pointing out the dates as a supporting argument for the removal of these statutes from the books. This argument is totally flawed and therefore worthless to anybody who at least thinks without setting off a migraine.
The one thing that I use to discredit such an argument, I am sure the law that applies to murder (Offences against the persons act) was in existence in some way similar to its current form long before these "obsolete" laws. In other words, I am sure it was as illegal then as it is now to commit murder. Therefore, one cannot use time to determine the usefulness of an act. The act that criminalises 'buggery' aka anal sex in Jamaica was on the books since at least 1861 just about 20 years after the one that bans selling on Christmas day and nearly 80 years before an equally obsolete one that bans women working after 10pm. Now, if age or time the Act was passed is important in determining its applicability then all these laws should be repealed.
Laws should not be repealed solely because of their perceived obsolescence but due to it actually being obsolete. Consider the current trends and conditions that prevail in society then determine whether they are to be amended to be in line with international standards and above all morality.
The one thing that I use to discredit such an argument, I am sure the law that applies to murder (Offences against the persons act) was in existence in some way similar to its current form long before these "obsolete" laws. In other words, I am sure it was as illegal then as it is now to commit murder. Therefore, one cannot use time to determine the usefulness of an act. The act that criminalises 'buggery' aka anal sex in Jamaica was on the books since at least 1861 just about 20 years after the one that bans selling on Christmas day and nearly 80 years before an equally obsolete one that bans women working after 10pm. Now, if age or time the Act was passed is important in determining its applicability then all these laws should be repealed.
Laws should not be repealed solely because of their perceived obsolescence but due to it actually being obsolete. Consider the current trends and conditions that prevail in society then determine whether they are to be amended to be in line with international standards and above all morality.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Prophetic Words
The song begins "While I'm living, thanks I'll be giving" One of Reggae music's most touching prophetic renditions from the mind of a stupid genius. I will not be like everyone else and say Mark Myrie O/C Buju Banton was "framed" or set-up or the gays were out to get him. I am here to talk about the Prophetic Words of one of his greatest songs - Untold Stories from the album Til Shiloah released in 1995! This heart-moving rendition is a word-for-word description of what we are faced with as Jamaicans today, this was released when I was in first-form, some 18 years ago (man I'm old) when $50 could get me lunch for the day and $400 could fill your tank with leaded low-octane gasoline! It sums up perfectly all we are faced with as Jamaicans.
All I see people a rip and a rob all a grab
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Who can afford to run will run (Senate President. Redwood?)
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
While trying to put this together, I realised the futility of this undertaking - the prophetic nature of the entire song is so profound it would be a thorough waste of time to try to take out phrases that have prophetic meaning as the entire song does that quite well. This song was written at the height of the Patterson Administration and yet again in another incarnation of that uncaring administration only difference is Dr. Omar is no longer Chief of Staff/War Minister leading the onslaught on helpless taxpayers, he has been relegated or re-assigned (I opt for the latter) and another "Doctor" is to administer bitter medicine - Dr. Peter Phillips. There has never been a more applicable time than now for the words of this song. Instead of listing the lyrics here is a version of the song for your ears, also I directly copied the uploader's version of the lyrics for you to read through, some aspects are not correct as far as the language is concerned but that does not diminish the prophetic message of the song, enjoy!
While I'm Living
Thanks I'll Be Giving
To the Most High You know,
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.
I could go on and on the full has never been told
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say..When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Dont give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who cantthey will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on.
The full has never.
Been..
Toooooold.
Most Outstanding Phrases
"With all the hike in the price Arm and leg we haffi pay While our leaders play"All I see people a rip and a rob all a grab
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Who can afford to run will run (Senate President. Redwood?)
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
While trying to put this together, I realised the futility of this undertaking - the prophetic nature of the entire song is so profound it would be a thorough waste of time to try to take out phrases that have prophetic meaning as the entire song does that quite well. This song was written at the height of the Patterson Administration and yet again in another incarnation of that uncaring administration only difference is Dr. Omar is no longer Chief of Staff/War Minister leading the onslaught on helpless taxpayers, he has been relegated or re-assigned (I opt for the latter) and another "Doctor" is to administer bitter medicine - Dr. Peter Phillips. There has never been a more applicable time than now for the words of this song. Instead of listing the lyrics here is a version of the song for your ears, also I directly copied the uploader's version of the lyrics for you to read through, some aspects are not correct as far as the language is concerned but that does not diminish the prophetic message of the song, enjoy!
While I'm Living
Thanks I'll Be Giving
To the Most High You know,
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.
I could go on and on the full has never been told
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say..When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Dont give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who cantthey will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on.
The full has never.
Been..
Toooooold.
Victims of our Own Aspiration (If it ain't broke)
When the Israelites enviously asked of God for a King because they wanted to be like the heathen nations, God gave them what they asked for. It is not a matter of the system that was in existence at the time was failing, or was not carrying out its mandate, it was a matter of them wanting something different and something everybody else had - they wanted to be like the heathen nations. So, a King they got and what a King he was, they were given Saul - a handsome and outstanding individual, a brilliant, affable man with the gift of using words quite capably. His story can be read in 1 Samuel Chapters 9 and 10. Now we need not be reminded of how horrible a leader he turned out to be, we all remember that from Sabbath/Sunday School. Now, I am not comparing any leader past or present that we have or may have had, I merely put this forward to prove a point, however, I am aware that this can be open to various interpretations and that I happily welcome. Anyway...
Jamaica is no different, it can be argued that we have found favour in the eyes of the Lord and are therefore blessed beyond compare, we have far more then many countries greater in size and population than us can boast. If in case you are unaware of the numerous blessings we as Jamaicans are given I will not remind you - too bad if you were living under a rock and missed the pass 50 years of our existence as an independent nation. We have however squandered those blessings time and time again, Jamaica should have been leaps and bounds ahead of where it is today. But we somehow were able to waste the opportunity of a lifetime to achieve Vision 2030 by 1970. How a country can pull that off is beyond expression - words can explain anything under the sun but can't express everything, that's about the only shortcoming words find themselves with, one would be lying if the same were to be said about our Government. Moving on...
Proverbs 29:18 and 19 of the Good News Translation sums up pretty well our predicament and is a brilliant launchpad into my article, it reads as follows: "18: A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law! 19: You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. They may understand you, but they will pay no attention."
The Government has chosen to revisit the sweetheart deal the teachers have as far as study leaves and other leaves are concerned read. I will not argue against the fact that this deal is quite an enviable one for other Public Sector workers and the teachers 'get weh' as put in our terms by getting such an arrangement. I will not dispute that because I am in agreement, however to put things into context, our Education System has seen a steady decline in quality and standards since independence, teachers are faced with the effects of a nation turning its back on God and they have to deal with that first-hand yet we expect them to work magic. Others have also pointed out that the teachers have been given such a deal because they now work at far less than the international average pay and at even far below international working standards. Now, the government has (as it has proven in the past to have a tendency to do) unilaterally decided to change those arrangements and cite 'austerity measures' as the reason for doing so.So...
Our beloved Government has chosen to correct its servants by talking to them, an act which Solomon in all his wisdom spoke out against in no uncertain terms in the above passage, clearly, the teachers understand the demands of the Government, after all they are teachers and I think the ability to understand simple directives is second nature to them at least if it isn't a quality seen in the other areas of our under-productive and overly-bloated Public Sector. However, they will not accept the argument the government is putting forward as justification for the move and rightly so. In countries such as Norway and the Bahamas leaders have opted to take pay-cuts in solidarity with those who they are asking to do the same, in the U.S.A. Jamaica's beloved Barack Obama decided to return $20,000 of his salary, I agree this can be argued to be political posturing to seem caring and concerned. Whether real or fake, these are qualities leaders should exhibit despite the circumstances that lead them to do so. Now if the teachers were to take industrial action for the rest of the year I would happily support such a move.
Instead of our Government freezing our salaries and cutting/limiting entitlements unilaterally, it would have augured quite nicely for the current administration had they said, "My fellow 'Jumaicans', in light of the current crises we are faced with as a nation my cabinet and I saw it fit to take a massive slash in salary (*stressing 'massive cut' and 'salary', conveniently disregarding allowances*) of 5% in solidarity with those who we are asking to do the same." The 5% would have gotten past the masses of un-educated that eat out of the government's hands. But the gesture would be the salient point. Which brings me to this next point...
Coming out of the last set of 'wage talks' with the government, Public Sector workers failed to predict and prepare for the "three-card" tricks the government had up its sleeves and happily rolled the 'loaded' dice ignorant of what was to come. The Unions, who ironically are set up to fight for workers' rights accepted the false promises of the government and gave away their birthright for not a bowl of lentil soup but empty promises which unlike getting a bowl of lentil soup, in essence works out to us paying to give up all, so we lose twice.
At the risk of damaging the tone of my article I will continue.
The per kilometre cost of the mileage allotted to travelling officers was increased by 17% a whole one-fifth. So, technically a travelling officer could get the same amount of work done with the same amount of travelling put in and be paid a whole 17% more on his mileage, or at least that was what was understood. This is where the under-handed, three-card tricks up the government's sleeve came into play once more, many departments were directed to strictly limit travelling by the "bevehicled" among us to as little as 100 Km/month. Now, it is beyond me how the prior levels of productivity (whether good or bad) are to be maintained with such knee-jerk measures. It is a popular belief that in times of shortages of money, expenditure should be cut/limited, this is and should be the last resort it is the wise investment (which is spending) of money on which emphasis is to be placed. For the sowing of a seed is in essence spending of the seed which in turn presents a return on investment in the future of that spent seed. I am no 'Doctor of Economics' and that came without much effort. In these times efficiency is what is to be stressed, apparently not on the list of 'things to do' for this administration. If I used to claim 500km/month as travelling, under the previous 30/Km I would have been paid $15,000 for that month please bear in mind that is just compensation for the work the officer uses his vehicle to carry out, and is in no way beneficial to the officer. Now, if that were to be calculated at the current 17% increase 35/Km then I would have been paid $17,500 for that month, now pay attention, the masterful sleigh of hands by our 'Three-card' government is so slick you need to pay very close attention to see it: now, with mileage restricted to as little as 100Km/month, we cannot claim more than 100Km, now let us multiply that 100 by 35 and we get the wonderful sum of $3,500!!! Remarkable savings on the part of the Government but let us see how that works out, shall we? Immediate knee-jerk 'savings' more often than not are always guaranteed to cost us far more in the future, and let me draw once again on the timeless wisdom of Solomon from Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" KJV. And on that note...
Jamaicans rolled the loaded dice in 2008 that promised people-power and prosperity that returned people-problems and poverty shrouded in the beguiling isea of change, well 'better' has finally come!
I conclude....
Jamaica is no different, it can be argued that we have found favour in the eyes of the Lord and are therefore blessed beyond compare, we have far more then many countries greater in size and population than us can boast. If in case you are unaware of the numerous blessings we as Jamaicans are given I will not remind you - too bad if you were living under a rock and missed the pass 50 years of our existence as an independent nation. We have however squandered those blessings time and time again, Jamaica should have been leaps and bounds ahead of where it is today. But we somehow were able to waste the opportunity of a lifetime to achieve Vision 2030 by 1970. How a country can pull that off is beyond expression - words can explain anything under the sun but can't express everything, that's about the only shortcoming words find themselves with, one would be lying if the same were to be said about our Government. Moving on...
Proverbs 29:18 and 19 of the Good News Translation sums up pretty well our predicament and is a brilliant launchpad into my article, it reads as follows: "18: A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law! 19: You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. They may understand you, but they will pay no attention."
The Government has chosen to revisit the sweetheart deal the teachers have as far as study leaves and other leaves are concerned read. I will not argue against the fact that this deal is quite an enviable one for other Public Sector workers and the teachers 'get weh' as put in our terms by getting such an arrangement. I will not dispute that because I am in agreement, however to put things into context, our Education System has seen a steady decline in quality and standards since independence, teachers are faced with the effects of a nation turning its back on God and they have to deal with that first-hand yet we expect them to work magic. Others have also pointed out that the teachers have been given such a deal because they now work at far less than the international average pay and at even far below international working standards. Now, the government has (as it has proven in the past to have a tendency to do) unilaterally decided to change those arrangements and cite 'austerity measures' as the reason for doing so.So...
Our beloved Government has chosen to correct its servants by talking to them, an act which Solomon in all his wisdom spoke out against in no uncertain terms in the above passage, clearly, the teachers understand the demands of the Government, after all they are teachers and I think the ability to understand simple directives is second nature to them at least if it isn't a quality seen in the other areas of our under-productive and overly-bloated Public Sector. However, they will not accept the argument the government is putting forward as justification for the move and rightly so. In countries such as Norway and the Bahamas leaders have opted to take pay-cuts in solidarity with those who they are asking to do the same, in the U.S.A. Jamaica's beloved Barack Obama decided to return $20,000 of his salary, I agree this can be argued to be political posturing to seem caring and concerned. Whether real or fake, these are qualities leaders should exhibit despite the circumstances that lead them to do so. Now if the teachers were to take industrial action for the rest of the year I would happily support such a move.
Instead of our Government freezing our salaries and cutting/limiting entitlements unilaterally, it would have augured quite nicely for the current administration had they said, "My fellow 'Jumaicans', in light of the current crises we are faced with as a nation my cabinet and I saw it fit to take a massive slash in salary (*stressing 'massive cut' and 'salary', conveniently disregarding allowances*) of 5% in solidarity with those who we are asking to do the same." The 5% would have gotten past the masses of un-educated that eat out of the government's hands. But the gesture would be the salient point. Which brings me to this next point...
Coming out of the last set of 'wage talks' with the government, Public Sector workers failed to predict and prepare for the "three-card" tricks the government had up its sleeves and happily rolled the 'loaded' dice ignorant of what was to come. The Unions, who ironically are set up to fight for workers' rights accepted the false promises of the government and gave away their birthright for not a bowl of lentil soup but empty promises which unlike getting a bowl of lentil soup, in essence works out to us paying to give up all, so we lose twice.
At the risk of damaging the tone of my article I will continue.
The per kilometre cost of the mileage allotted to travelling officers was increased by 17% a whole one-fifth. So, technically a travelling officer could get the same amount of work done with the same amount of travelling put in and be paid a whole 17% more on his mileage, or at least that was what was understood. This is where the under-handed, three-card tricks up the government's sleeve came into play once more, many departments were directed to strictly limit travelling by the "bevehicled" among us to as little as 100 Km/month. Now, it is beyond me how the prior levels of productivity (whether good or bad) are to be maintained with such knee-jerk measures. It is a popular belief that in times of shortages of money, expenditure should be cut/limited, this is and should be the last resort it is the wise investment (which is spending) of money on which emphasis is to be placed. For the sowing of a seed is in essence spending of the seed which in turn presents a return on investment in the future of that spent seed. I am no 'Doctor of Economics' and that came without much effort. In these times efficiency is what is to be stressed, apparently not on the list of 'things to do' for this administration. If I used to claim 500km/month as travelling, under the previous 30/Km I would have been paid $15,000 for that month please bear in mind that is just compensation for the work the officer uses his vehicle to carry out, and is in no way beneficial to the officer. Now, if that were to be calculated at the current 17% increase 35/Km then I would have been paid $17,500 for that month, now pay attention, the masterful sleigh of hands by our 'Three-card' government is so slick you need to pay very close attention to see it: now, with mileage restricted to as little as 100Km/month, we cannot claim more than 100Km, now let us multiply that 100 by 35 and we get the wonderful sum of $3,500!!! Remarkable savings on the part of the Government but let us see how that works out, shall we? Immediate knee-jerk 'savings' more often than not are always guaranteed to cost us far more in the future, and let me draw once again on the timeless wisdom of Solomon from Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" KJV. And on that note...
Jamaicans rolled the loaded dice in 2008 that promised people-power and prosperity that returned people-problems and poverty shrouded in the beguiling isea of change, well 'better' has finally come!
I conclude....
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Victims of Entitlement
Remember that University of the West Indies (Mona) examinations fiasco where those who were barred from sitting exams proceeded to disrupt those legitimately entitled to sit from doing so. That was a matter of funding (or lack thereof in the case of those who disrupted the exams). I do not agree with the behaviour of those unfortunate victims of circumstances (whatever those may be) to maliciously disrupt those who are able to fund their tuition by whatever means they have from sitting exams. Now, there was a long-winded debate as a result of that, many individuals, the likes of Carolyn Cooper and others who went on to say those who were unable to pay their tuition and proceeded to prevent those who could from sitting exams were all victims of entitlement. While I may agree whole-heartedly with such claims, the hypocrisy that tends to belie such claims is what I find very distasteful.
Now, I tend to read the local Newspapers a lot and in the Gleaner a story was entitled: "I deserve Government Funding - Atkinson." Now, many parallels may be drawn with the aforementioned issue and this. If these students can be labelled as such then there is no real reason Alia Atkinson cannot be so called.
Now, I tend to read the local Newspapers a lot and in the Gleaner a story was entitled: "I deserve Government Funding - Atkinson." Now, many parallels may be drawn with the aforementioned issue and this. If these students can be labelled as such then there is no real reason Alia Atkinson cannot be so called.
Friday, November 30, 2012
50 Shades of Garbage
Had the displeasure of reading a few paragraphs of the much talked about 50 Shades of Gray. It was hardly anything to speak of. In other words it was paper bound rubbish, Literature in its worst state. What ever happened to writing of the calibre or Thomas Hardy, Oscar Wilde, Harper Lee, J.D. Salinger, The Brontë Sisters, Victor Hugo, Voltaire and countless others? It shows the state our minds have fallen into when numerous authorities are pushing crap down our throats and calling it "The Arts". Music and movies have also fallen victim to this insult, rubbish is being released and forced through our eyes and ears into our minds and we are led to believe that if for some reason we do not take kindly to this insult there is something wrong with us. There still are in existence people with a yearning for the Arts in its truest form, good movies, music and literature, yet it seems to be an unprofitable venture to try to fill that need. It is my belief that there needs to be no more books written, movies, made and music produced subsequent to 2002, that was when something went wrong in entertainment, for we are no longer entertained, well at least those of us who know the use of our brains aren't in any way entertained by the garbage that people are passing off as Art. I did do a piece on movies here, so there is no need for me to go on about that.
It seems to be the trend nowadays for persons to not think for themselves, to go whichever way the corrupt winds of our morally, and artistically depraved society blow. It is no longer cool to like things because we like the way it makes us feel or because we like it or want things because we want it or feel feelings because we feel it.Everything has been since of late all about what everybody else does, wants, likes or feels. Who is everybody? Nobody! Nobody seems to have the nerve to think, feel or like for themselves it is always what somebody else thinks, feels or likes. Our children are growing up in a world totally devoid of any intellectually stimulating activities and I would hate to see the world 40 years hence.
Spoilers Ahead...
If you want a summary of the book, pick up any $2.00 romance novel with Fabio on the cover and thats it. It is merely "Hardcore" Soft Porn, like a $2.00 romance novel with a fresh coat of the most God-awful golden-brown paint and a set of 24 inch chrome "spinner" rims. It is not worth the few million brain cells you will no doubt kill reading it. My suggestion: get yourself a bottle of cheap vodka/rum/whiskey and take a few swigs until you pass out and that would be a better read (yes read) than this book.
It seems to be the trend nowadays for persons to not think for themselves, to go whichever way the corrupt winds of our morally, and artistically depraved society blow. It is no longer cool to like things because we like the way it makes us feel or because we like it or want things because we want it or feel feelings because we feel it.Everything has been since of late all about what everybody else does, wants, likes or feels. Who is everybody? Nobody! Nobody seems to have the nerve to think, feel or like for themselves it is always what somebody else thinks, feels or likes. Our children are growing up in a world totally devoid of any intellectually stimulating activities and I would hate to see the world 40 years hence.
Spoilers Ahead...
If you want a summary of the book, pick up any $2.00 romance novel with Fabio on the cover and thats it. It is merely "Hardcore" Soft Porn, like a $2.00 romance novel with a fresh coat of the most God-awful golden-brown paint and a set of 24 inch chrome "spinner" rims. It is not worth the few million brain cells you will no doubt kill reading it. My suggestion: get yourself a bottle of cheap vodka/rum/whiskey and take a few swigs until you pass out and that would be a better read (yes read) than this book.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Bigger Better Network?
Or is it? Jamaica has been blessed with a very liberal and harshly competitive mobile phone market and some say that this benefits the consumers, or does it? I've been a customer of Jamaica's Bigger Better Network for the past 10 years at least, had a few numbers over the years, was happy to get very good service in comparison to the other option at the time. Remember the days when you paid astronomical bills for unreliable crappy service and dropped calls and poor customer care and then came our beloved saviour from high prices and terrible services - the bigger better one. Now, eleven years have passed, numerous millions have gone both ways customers to service provider and vice versa (more one way than the next). So much so that our tiny little island nation with what is among the highest Debt to GDP ratios in the world, widespread poverty and leaders who lack leadership is responsible for the changes in fortune for the bigger better network's chief principal for the better, he now jet-sets and rubs shoulders with the best of them. That is not a problem, he seems to be one to hold giving back to the community and the country that literally made him in very high regard as we can see from the numerous sponsorships and charities his company is so involved in, he has also blessed us with the auspices of his worldwide head office on the Kingston waterfront that is in terrible need of some significant facelift that we hope was set off with the second coming of the bigger better network, and we love that, so much so that we are enamoured by the presence of the "chosen company" that we plunk down millions everyday in tithes and offerings, but hey, we are giving back. The listless leadership of losers (the Government) has nothing but picked up on this love that we have for chatter that it too has seen the possibility of extra income from the customers and applied the usual taxes as it thinks seems to be the solution for years of mismanagement perpetrated by previous incarnations of itself.
Now, eleven years later, what can happen after the golden age of cellular technology in Jamaica? The advent of cutting-edge technology, relatively fast internet speeds, widespread almost island wide cellular coverage and what is one of the highest cell phone penetrations on the planet, where better to go than down? Down in quality of service, market ingenuity and concern for the very fabric of its existence - its customers. It has to be one of the worst companies in Jamaica as far as concern for its customers is (for want of a better word) concerned. It has adopted the approach of a Customer Service/Care Centre that ironically is a disservice to the customers. There is a literal disconnect between the customers and the policymakers of the company with the adoption of the Customer Care Centre. Customer Service Reps are, with the least bit of disrespect intended the least valuable and least useful employees in any organisation from the perspective of truly serving the customer and this I can conclude from working for some time as one in another company. The Customer Care Centre is a buffer between the higher-ups who are responsible for "make or break" decisions in a company and the very reason the company exists. This obviously does more harm than good, of all the information that comes into the Customer Care Centre, at least the vast majority of this information including customer suggestions is lost in this buffer zone, as a result, very valuable information that cannot be gathered from even the best Market Surveys is lost, and seriously, does that make sense? Similarly, the unsavoury or ineffective aspects of the company's service delivery are also lost which cannot be good news for any company. I've been slavishly paying for what this company calls "4G" which is truly a sophisticated "Wi-Fi" Network and not true 4G for some time and the service has been horrible at best. Each time I call "Customer Care" I am met with the usual facade of Customer Service which truly turns out to be a disservice to me, a loyal paying customer. The experience serves to only lead one down the proverbial garden path, distract me from the problem by literally lying and in actuality not in any way addressing the concern that I - a loyal customer have. The service in my area is horrible and I believe that this bit of information is valuable to any company if true customer satisfaction is the intention, yet I have made numerous calls to its Customer Care Centre and after at least two years the issue of horrible internet is yet to be resolved, guess what, because I am not in anyway indebted to this company (because as a consumer I have choices, thank God), I will exercise my right to choose and the minute I move from this house I am living at which is by the end of this year, I am going to get the competitions internet and cell phone as my way of exercising my freedom to choose, call me retarded but that is my way of standing up for myself and letting them know that i will not stand for it. I know my little $3,200 less every month is really chicken feed, I feel good within myself that I did in fact stand up for myself and not taken bullshit.
Over the years, sadly businesses have taken on an approach of profit at all costs and even if that means making money from immoral, misleading or illicit methods. The consumers are the idiots for falling for it, picking up the ruse yet still handing over their money religiously despite not getting what is paid for, its as if we are paying for a disservice, the bigger, better one is exactly that as a result of the same blunders made by the previous big and only network, it doesn't pay to be arrogant and in the end things will work themselves out and nothing that is based in ill-intent, greed or solely to make money really lasts, So, Digicel needs to look into its practices lest the cash cows move to greener pastures, regardless of the lavish prizes that are given away yearly like clockwork to consumers to make us feel special, we at times do get the feeling of being robbed and will move to better prospects or greener pastures because we can and our loyalty is not set in stone or ordained by God if that were so, then it would not be loyalty, it would be our duty and it clearly is not our duty to continue like moths to a flame to spend our money regardless the source to be treated with the disrespect and disregard that is on the increase in companies over the years.
Now, eleven years later, what can happen after the golden age of cellular technology in Jamaica? The advent of cutting-edge technology, relatively fast internet speeds, widespread almost island wide cellular coverage and what is one of the highest cell phone penetrations on the planet, where better to go than down? Down in quality of service, market ingenuity and concern for the very fabric of its existence - its customers. It has to be one of the worst companies in Jamaica as far as concern for its customers is (for want of a better word) concerned. It has adopted the approach of a Customer Service/Care Centre that ironically is a disservice to the customers. There is a literal disconnect between the customers and the policymakers of the company with the adoption of the Customer Care Centre. Customer Service Reps are, with the least bit of disrespect intended the least valuable and least useful employees in any organisation from the perspective of truly serving the customer and this I can conclude from working for some time as one in another company. The Customer Care Centre is a buffer between the higher-ups who are responsible for "make or break" decisions in a company and the very reason the company exists. This obviously does more harm than good, of all the information that comes into the Customer Care Centre, at least the vast majority of this information including customer suggestions is lost in this buffer zone, as a result, very valuable information that cannot be gathered from even the best Market Surveys is lost, and seriously, does that make sense? Similarly, the unsavoury or ineffective aspects of the company's service delivery are also lost which cannot be good news for any company. I've been slavishly paying for what this company calls "4G" which is truly a sophisticated "Wi-Fi" Network and not true 4G for some time and the service has been horrible at best. Each time I call "Customer Care" I am met with the usual facade of Customer Service which truly turns out to be a disservice to me, a loyal paying customer. The experience serves to only lead one down the proverbial garden path, distract me from the problem by literally lying and in actuality not in any way addressing the concern that I - a loyal customer have. The service in my area is horrible and I believe that this bit of information is valuable to any company if true customer satisfaction is the intention, yet I have made numerous calls to its Customer Care Centre and after at least two years the issue of horrible internet is yet to be resolved, guess what, because I am not in anyway indebted to this company (because as a consumer I have choices, thank God), I will exercise my right to choose and the minute I move from this house I am living at which is by the end of this year, I am going to get the competitions internet and cell phone as my way of exercising my freedom to choose, call me retarded but that is my way of standing up for myself and letting them know that i will not stand for it. I know my little $3,200 less every month is really chicken feed, I feel good within myself that I did in fact stand up for myself and not taken bullshit.
Over the years, sadly businesses have taken on an approach of profit at all costs and even if that means making money from immoral, misleading or illicit methods. The consumers are the idiots for falling for it, picking up the ruse yet still handing over their money religiously despite not getting what is paid for, its as if we are paying for a disservice, the bigger, better one is exactly that as a result of the same blunders made by the previous big and only network, it doesn't pay to be arrogant and in the end things will work themselves out and nothing that is based in ill-intent, greed or solely to make money really lasts, So, Digicel needs to look into its practices lest the cash cows move to greener pastures, regardless of the lavish prizes that are given away yearly like clockwork to consumers to make us feel special, we at times do get the feeling of being robbed and will move to better prospects or greener pastures because we can and our loyalty is not set in stone or ordained by God if that were so, then it would not be loyalty, it would be our duty and it clearly is not our duty to continue like moths to a flame to spend our money regardless the source to be treated with the disrespect and disregard that is on the increase in companies over the years.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Jamaican Exclusivism
Why does everything in Jamaica have to be just so exclusive it is essentially counter-productive? I happen to love the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a dream of mine is to get the chance to see them perform live. I just heard this morning that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has arrived in the island to perform at two venues, one in Mandeville and the other in Kingston. What bothers me is these performances are to be held on the 13th (tomorrow) and the 17th of September. Talk about short notice. An event of this calibre should have been advertised the minute it was conceptualised. I understand the space constraints that we have with no venues available here being capable of ideally accommodating a performance of that nature.
I would have been happy to go to both concerts had I known about it earlier and had the opportunity to plan for it, but such short notice makes this event irrelevant (to me at least). What has "got my goat" or my "jaw tight, tight, tight" is the fact that the inner circles of which the organisers and planners are members knew about it all along and were able to get those who they think are more deserving of such a privilege the opportunity to see them perform (whether they appreciate it or are able to relate is not what we are here to discuss). What really upsets me is that we have evidence time and time again that the real creativity and the real movers and shakers in our society are not who we consider the "people of substance" but regular Jamaicans with talent.
I believed and have seen enough evidence to conclude that such practices of cronyism and nepotism stands only to water down an art form or a practice or whatever, if the determinants are solely because you know somebody or "have clout" then having talent is "neither here nor there." This stands to stifle creativity and water-down quality. It is essential that we integrate all of society in whatever practices we may have, wider exposure presents a greater talent-base from which the best can be selected - I need not point this out because this is common-sense, but then again, the decision-makers seem to be devoid common sense and as a country we will only suffer for it.
Those who plan and organise these things wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the face wearing a T-shirt that said "I am talent." It hurts to see some talentless people hogging the spotlight just because they "know people" or " have money" when the people with real talent are left to languish in poverty and non-exposure. Jamaica would be so much better if those who deserve better were given exactly that!!!
I would have been happy to go to both concerts had I known about it earlier and had the opportunity to plan for it, but such short notice makes this event irrelevant (to me at least). What has "got my goat" or my "jaw tight, tight, tight" is the fact that the inner circles of which the organisers and planners are members knew about it all along and were able to get those who they think are more deserving of such a privilege the opportunity to see them perform (whether they appreciate it or are able to relate is not what we are here to discuss). What really upsets me is that we have evidence time and time again that the real creativity and the real movers and shakers in our society are not who we consider the "people of substance" but regular Jamaicans with talent.
I believed and have seen enough evidence to conclude that such practices of cronyism and nepotism stands only to water down an art form or a practice or whatever, if the determinants are solely because you know somebody or "have clout" then having talent is "neither here nor there." This stands to stifle creativity and water-down quality. It is essential that we integrate all of society in whatever practices we may have, wider exposure presents a greater talent-base from which the best can be selected - I need not point this out because this is common-sense, but then again, the decision-makers seem to be devoid common sense and as a country we will only suffer for it.
Those who plan and organise these things wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the face wearing a T-shirt that said "I am talent." It hurts to see some talentless people hogging the spotlight just because they "know people" or " have money" when the people with real talent are left to languish in poverty and non-exposure. Jamaica would be so much better if those who deserve better were given exactly that!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Thirsty Goats
Monday, September 10, 2012
Mugabe being Moogs...
This is indeed making a mountain over a molehill. Leave Mugabe alone!!! The man has the freedom (obviously) to do and say whatever he wants. Before I go any further, let me put things into perspective. Our champion of African Nationalism the esteemed Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has made claims that Jamaica is (notice the quotation marks) "a country of marijuana smokers, where women are now taking charge since men are always sloshed" (a way cool way to say stoned, in my opinion). He went on further to say: "while marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, citizens are free to smoke and that men are always drunk, while universities were full of women." Well, being Jamaican and trying to be frank and unbiased let me ask one simple question - is the man lying?
We are all champions of the "Freedom of Speech" Ideal until somebody says something that "mash wih corn" the right and proper way. Bear in mind youngsters - there is no true freedom to do anything, we are fooled into believing that living in a state that has laws, once we are not "shackled" then we are "free." Fallacy!!! The law is indeed a shackle (nice segue into something totally unrelated to the issue - I should have been in politics). Anyway, there is some truth in what the man says or it deserves some looking into at least. Before we get upset examine what was said and see if there is merit to it. The truth a go hurt them and the backlash from Moogs' remarks is evidence to support that claim.
Remember the Human Trafficking Claim the US laid against Jamaica? Everybody (and dem dog) who was anybody was hopping mad or at best offended, then when the dust settled and we were all distracted by either the ignoble distinction of being murder capital of the world or the fact that we had a government in absentia, though they were right there in Gordon House, there were more committees on Human Trafficking set up than you could shake a stick at, or more aptly put - than there are fishes in (eh em) the aforementioned "House". Well, any well thinking career criminal knows never admit right away, give it a few months.
It is not the unflattering remarks that were passed that hurts, it is the fact that they are so truthful and strikes well home that we are offended at the fact that someone has pointed out the bit of dry snot (booger) that's in our nose so ostensibly that its not what was said that hurts, it's how its said, where its said and in what context. Well, that is to be expected from a man who is known for not mincing his words, he doesn't hold down his mouth when he is talking. I'd rather hear the truth from a man like that than hear words of obvious "adulation" from the most eloquent of speakers.
Update....
Let me point out one thing, when last have all of you people who are shooting down Mugabe's comments really walked down the streets? When last have you really gone to UWI, UTech or NCU and seen what really takes place there? Are we totally oblivious the "sloshed-out" men who are always "digging-out" there hand middles and the pubs on every corner packed to the rafters with strong able-bodied men? There is in fact some truth to what Moogs has said. We are just hurt that it took a loudmouth the likes of Mugabe to point it out. Had it been one of the more affable World-Leaders like Obama or any less unsavoury personality we wouldn't have had a problem with them. But it seems to be cool in international circles to whale on Mugabe the minute he opens his mouth, because of his allegedly racist and misogynistic actions in the past .
I am blessed to be part of a dying breed of Jamaicans, the educated male, I have heard Moogs' exact sentiments relayed in other quarters by other individuals who are less-unsavoury like Carolyn Cooper and Glenda Simms without the same backlash as those met by his. It obviously is not a matter of what was said but who said it and where and in what context. As Jamaicans you have to have your heads buried in the sand to not be aware of the truth (that may or may not be stretched a bit) that is inherent in these remarks. Apparently, we [Jamaicans] never like when someone points out our flaws so ostensibly. It does hurt like hell as the truth often happens to do from time-to-time.
We are all champions of the "Freedom of Speech" Ideal until somebody says something that "mash wih corn" the right and proper way. Bear in mind youngsters - there is no true freedom to do anything, we are fooled into believing that living in a state that has laws, once we are not "shackled" then we are "free." Fallacy!!! The law is indeed a shackle (nice segue into something totally unrelated to the issue - I should have been in politics). Anyway, there is some truth in what the man says or it deserves some looking into at least. Before we get upset examine what was said and see if there is merit to it. The truth a go hurt them and the backlash from Moogs' remarks is evidence to support that claim.
Remember the Human Trafficking Claim the US laid against Jamaica? Everybody (and dem dog) who was anybody was hopping mad or at best offended, then when the dust settled and we were all distracted by either the ignoble distinction of being murder capital of the world or the fact that we had a government in absentia, though they were right there in Gordon House, there were more committees on Human Trafficking set up than you could shake a stick at, or more aptly put - than there are fishes in (eh em) the aforementioned "House". Well, any well thinking career criminal knows never admit right away, give it a few months.
It is not the unflattering remarks that were passed that hurts, it is the fact that they are so truthful and strikes well home that we are offended at the fact that someone has pointed out the bit of dry snot (booger) that's in our nose so ostensibly that its not what was said that hurts, it's how its said, where its said and in what context. Well, that is to be expected from a man who is known for not mincing his words, he doesn't hold down his mouth when he is talking. I'd rather hear the truth from a man like that than hear words of obvious "adulation" from the most eloquent of speakers.
Update....
Let me point out one thing, when last have all of you people who are shooting down Mugabe's comments really walked down the streets? When last have you really gone to UWI, UTech or NCU and seen what really takes place there? Are we totally oblivious the "sloshed-out" men who are always "digging-out" there hand middles and the pubs on every corner packed to the rafters with strong able-bodied men? There is in fact some truth to what Moogs has said. We are just hurt that it took a loudmouth the likes of Mugabe to point it out. Had it been one of the more affable World-Leaders like Obama or any less unsavoury personality we wouldn't have had a problem with them. But it seems to be cool in international circles to whale on Mugabe the minute he opens his mouth, because of his allegedly racist and misogynistic actions in the past .
I am blessed to be part of a dying breed of Jamaicans, the educated male, I have heard Moogs' exact sentiments relayed in other quarters by other individuals who are less-unsavoury like Carolyn Cooper and Glenda Simms without the same backlash as those met by his. It obviously is not a matter of what was said but who said it and where and in what context. As Jamaicans you have to have your heads buried in the sand to not be aware of the truth (that may or may not be stretched a bit) that is inherent in these remarks. Apparently, we [Jamaicans] never like when someone points out our flaws so ostensibly. It does hurt like hell as the truth often happens to do from time-to-time.
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