What I pray for...©

I no longer pray as much for a burden to be lifted, instead I ask for patience and strength to maintain peace while I bear it. I no longer pray as much for troubles to not come my way, instead I pray for wisdom and understanding whenever faced with difficulties. I no longer think God is unjust, instead I appreciate and accept the truth that all things happen for a reason and what is to be will be. I no longer feel hopeless in any given situation, for once there is life there is hope. I pray to be grateful for every second I'm alive, be grateful for the small things because everything that is grand was once small and even if I die with only small things to be grateful for I know now that grand it is that I have life to give thanks for. Amen©
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Dirty Lemonade©

Structured in sinking sand
A plan drawn with a shaking hand
You divorced your nugget for a diamond
Traded your soul for the world while screaming Phil 4 verse 13
A Righteous Sinner
Mixing black coffee with cream

Rising in war so you never rested in peace
A Walking nightmare so you never had dreams

Rosy cheeks with a smile full of thorns
Who's to be scorned?
Who had died for this to be born?
Never trusted a soul including your own
Standing in the rain so no one sees your tears
Dirty lemonade drinking for the rest of your years
Always sipping on something so you're never sober enough to confront your fears.©
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Words from Baltasar Gracian (The Art of Worldly Wisdom)

A man at his best. You are not so born: strive daily to develop yourself in your person, in your every gift, of your every faculty. You will know it in the improvement of your taste, in the clarification of your thinking, in the maturity of your judgment, in the control of your will. Some never attain the perfect, something always being lacking, and others are late in coming to themselves. The man complete, wise in speech, wise in action, is admitted, yea, he is welcomed into that rare fellowship of those who understand.
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Queen Ifrica-Lioness On The Rise (Automatic Riddim)HQ

Green Power

Say hello to what I call my hulk formula: Callaloo, Parsley and Cucumber with an orange on the side. Yep it tasted like dirty water but I felt proud of myself, thought about Rocky Balboa when he drank the raw eggs, I'm just boxing for good health. :D
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Motivation

Often times we take the route of looking for motivation, seldom do we allow it to find us. Motivation is that force that dwells within anything and can be discovered at anytime and all the time. Being motivated to live or to be alive is the lamp upon the path for continuous motivation. The one that knows the source of the river never worries about it's supply and a man that lives for the seasons never worries about change.

Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Invisible Chains and Shackles

The chains are long enough for you to feel free, then that final step you feel that restriction and you realize freedom was but an illusion and there you sit again in despair, counting the days until freedom sings...
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Donopoly anyone?

 

by Michael Flyn Elliot

Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli) - Definition, RE: Definition

Blue Gold - World Water Wars - Part 1 of 6

New World Water

It's something taken for granted yet needed to sustain life. It's something that is being fought over that the daily news doesn't cover, it's gold that isn't weighed in ounces but every drop counts; you can measure it in 'lives'...Blue Gold.
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

KEEP IT SIMPLE...then the difficult will be attainable

"What is Love?" In mathematics (as bad as I was) I was taught to break down what seems to be complicated to gain understanding. I no longer ask for love from a person, instead I ask for Respect, Patience and Honesty.
Respect: Understanding that the other person is entitled to happiness and peace just as much as you are or you desire it.
Patience: Understanding that humans were made to always be a 'work in progress', that they can and will carry out actions not always favourable to others, also to understand that some genuinely want to act in a manner that is pleasing to others but require the patience and guidance of others to attain that.
Honesty: Telling like it is, minus the fluff, regardless of not being favoured in the end. Doing this with yourself, and with others when it is called for. Let's not fool ourselves starting out with a lie, that is already the beginning of the end. This factor breeds good communication and rekindles a fire you thought once lost, whether within yourself or a relationship. Yes it has that mystical power.
In carrying out these, which are simplistic and easy to understand in nature, I believe you attain that which always eludes us...Love, because asking for LOVE is asking for something we readily don't understand but grasping the pillars of it however I believe is a sure way to go. Also I no longer struggle with what was of the past, it creates a certain amount of strife and frustration, if we today just take on certain principles there is no task whether marriage or any form of relationship we cannot take on and be successful at. Generations come and go but good and bad virtues are timeless, it's just a matter of choice which we adhere to. It happens often when I share my thoughts on such issues it would be downplayed as wishful thinking, and I smile, because bitter people can't taste honey.

People like this still exist, I have faith in humanity once again :-D

So I was having a conversation about marriage and defending it, saying that I don't think we as young people know anything about honesty, patience, commitment much less love to even start discussing marriage. Then a married woman entered the conversation with these words: "I love my husband though he has cheated I forgive him not because I am stupid but because I see the man he can be." (PAUSE) ............Yeah let that sink in for a minute................ok so let me continue with the quote "This is who I chose to marry and I will honour my commitments. The problem with this world is that we are selfish, self-centred, proud, dis-loyal and not spiritual, so how are going to partake fully of spiritual things?" You see I am going to be honest with myself on this one, I know I have not attained a certain level of maturity emotionally/spiritually to handle such a situation like this lady, and I believe many more individuals neeeeeeeeed (yes that many 'e's) to be more honest with self before COMMITTING to someone else OR just change the vows to say well "if you do so and do...I will so and so" because what this woman has demonstrated on a serious level is loyalty; loyalty to self her husband and God. Loyalty isn't something you show only when it is reciprocated, it's a code that's binding, and the more I think about it is the more I realize that such a step isn't for the weak and fairytale like. A friend of mine said nope! NOT HAPPENING, she believes in the good old fashion saying "an eye for an eye"; and my thought on that is if we continue in such a fashion then it's only a matter of time before there is no light in this already cold world. So it goes back to what are we truly made of, selfishness or selflessness, unconditional love or loyalty with conditions? I mean before you start out on any path of commitment be honest  and loyal with yourself as to who you are before promising someone that you will be honest and loyal to them. That is all.  

Mirror Mirror on the wall...

What happened with just going off how you feel? I mean, I believe one of the greatest evils known to man is the mirror. Here you are feeling ok, going through the motions, stroking your course beard (that's me), and then BAM! you end up in front of the mirror and all of a sudden your world needs re-evaluation, you think that doesn't look right, that needs to go and then for the rest of the day your mind is on go-fast as to what you need to adjust on your what was an 'ok before going in front of the mirror body'. I mean don't be fooled, after writing this note chances are I will be heading in front of the mirror for some irrelevant and torturing reason, I'm just saying something needs to give. We can't afford what we see to dictate what we feel or how we should feel. That is all.

Assassin - Something's Gotta Give (City Life Riddim)

I sit, hear and think...BOREDOM?

I sit, hear and think of how is boredom possible. I always had a spirit of curiosity as much as they said it killed the cat; well I believe that cat being one happy cat before it died or if not happy at least always having an adventure to embark on. In a world filled with so many wonders, even in one's immediate environment, it's impossible to say there is nothing to do. Ok so what about those that say it's not about not having anything to do but it's about not being interested in anything that is there to do. Well my friend if you fall in the category of the latter then ahm....I can't help you. In fact no one can I believe, because it's like the old saying that only in the abundance of water does a fool remain thirsty. I mean get up and start living, go do base jumping or break a speed limit, read a book or create something! JUST DO SOMETHING! Quit being bored and start living a little. That is all. 

Rudyard Kipling - If

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

I-Octane - My Life (Official Video)

Holding firm when everything else changes

Here I was playing a game of chess, both sides were steadily building; my opponent was building to attack my King. I was building to gain control of the centre of the board. In one move the opponent with his Queen had me thinking if my game plan was sound; keeping in mind it was a 5 minute match. After taking a few seconds to quickly evaluate the strength of my opponent's move and re-evaluating my position I realized that all was not lost and in fact my opponent had basically handed me the game. I regained my confidence, stood my ground and continued with my original game plan, eventually winning.
In life one will come upon surprise attacks unforeseen enemies and trials, this is not the time to 'jump ship' or retreat. Often times we are in the position to succeed, to conquer, to overpower. Thomas Edison said it best, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

Everyday I have a new Heaven to be a part of
New glory to bask in and new hells to conquer
A new choice to be a foe or lover
To grow or to wither

A forward I received via BlackBerry messenger.

Forwards for me normally have no significance, they come and they go. However after reading one that was sent to me this morning I have to say this was a breath of fresh air indeed that I believe all will appreciate:

"There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day,someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,' Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.. Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who is no longer alive .... Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around."
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Reality

The truth is one day you are going to wake up to a reality. Whether the reality is that what you believed to had been reality was not so or that a reality was in your face that you were totally unaware of up until this point, you will wake up to one. I believe that's the only absolute about this life, that there is always a reality to be faced.

Life

Life in my opinion isn't something you put in a box or seek to explain solely from a certain discipline or viewpoint; say scientifically, mathematically, philosophically, religiously or psychologically. While these instruments provide great insight, seeing the world from one eye robs it of its many colours and facets. Understand that life is greater than any one understanding just as the vastness of the ocean gives every explorer a different adventure. Taking this mystery(life) and discovering it from different views is one thing but what should be avoided is taking one view to define the mystery. That is what gives rise to a dogmatic nature. Whichever path you choose on this journey of discovery, leave room for another to walk with you and look across to greet/encourage those on their path/journey so as to not be surprised if and when you see those same faces at the final destination or significant point.
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Castro being Castro (Clink on link below for full story)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68R50220100928

Stem Cell issues carry on (click link below for article)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68R4NN20100929

True Economics and Political Psychology?

Delroy Wilson - Sammy Dead

MILLIE - Sugar dandy (color clip)

Miss Louise Bennett

 

"A Picture says a thousand words", in this case it speaks for a nation.

U-N-G-R-A-T-E-F-U-L

SHACKLES YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE BOUND BY MAY BE HOLDING YOU BACK. A LOT of folks trod on without consciously thinking of subtle but very important factors that affect their life's journey. One of which is U-N-G-R-A-T-E-F-U-L-N-E-S-S or  the lack of showing appreciation for the people and things that occur in your life on a DAILY basis. No I'm not speaking of our ritualistic "Thank you God for another day" mantra, or "God is Good all the time and all..." yes yes we know them all too well. As much as I am not in a position to dictate to anyone how appreciation should be shown. I believe being in a constant state of reflection on how FORTUNATE or LUCKY(if you wish) we are to be in the presence of opportunities, individuals or actions that makes even an ounce of difference in our daily activities is such a BIG DEAL we would see our actions and mindset gradually change for a more efficient and fulfilling direction.
The mind often times goes on auto-pilot, however for the auto-pilot to be effective first a course or direction must be set, and what affects this direction is our state of mind, and what affects our state of mind is our outlook on the journey, and what affects our outlook on the journey is how we treat or view the different situations we come upon. If we could be more conscious of what occurs around us and what good fruits there are for us to receive, our path or direction would be that much more rewarding. Spend more time in reflection of how grateful you ought to be or spend the rest of your days wondering why the well seems to be dwindling or never has water.

The L word (revisited)

Water is water but it can be hot or cold, used to shower with or help in healing someone; it can be used to out a fire or it can drown someone; dispel a drought or become a tsunami. In the end however, its still water.
Love is love whether u want to channel it to material things, knowledge, yourself or others. Some people use it when committing genocide, as they love dearly their own beliefs when waging war, like in the Bible for man's love to God they wipe out another kingdom or nation, man woman and child. For a man's Love of the world he sells his soul. Some people because they Love they sacrifice their own life for another; God made man out of Love and according to the Bible gave his own son to die the most gruesome of deaths. In the end however, its still love.

So who am I then or who are you to dictate to anyone what love is or how it should be? It builds, it destroys. We came into this world without the word known to us only to be taught or made aware of it, we didn't make it, so in the end regardless of what you believe of it, we can only channel it.

Love!

What some women want...

After listening for years, here is the wisdom thus far: Some women want a wedding, while some want a marriage, some want a man that's already married. Some just want a man(companion) in their life, some just want a man to make a baby with, some want just the baby and not the man she made the baby with, some women want a man that's romantic, some want a man that loves her, some don't want a man at all...until they get old and realize their professional success won't suffice. The others are pretty much satisfied with where they are, wherever that is...

TRUE OR FALSE?

So today myself with the assistance of some friends on Twitter, Facebook and Blackberry Messenger conducted an informal survey: "Is it true or false that EVERY WOMAN has something about her body or a part of her body that she would change?" Of course one can guess the outcome, no then again maybe not everyone can accurately guess the outcome. I only received 7 False and yes A HEFTY amount of "True". Here is what got me though and I wasn't surprised about it; a lot, more specifically, majority of the ones that said "True" said that those who said "False" were lying. That to me shows a bit of envy and jealousy, for the fact that another woman has attained or claimed to attain physical security in herself. Also what it highlights is the selfishness of us humans in projecting our views onto the world. What many people over look is how we have been cultured through the influence of religious teachings especially from the Bible which advocate for the notion of imperfection (although I know the same Bible tells us how we were made in the image of God and fearfully made which is not pushed as much in my opinion) and that of the media (Hollywood and so forth). Why is it that we doubt the thought that man was made perfect in the light in which man was meant to be made, holistically, physically and individually?

Like Seriously?!

So let me get this straight...! Oh greetings! so as I was saying, here is hypocrisy showing its ugly head again in the land of wood and water. Lets talk about whats still being talked about...the video that showed the police killing the man in cold blood. Ok so that's wrong, point taken (Yes you see where I'm going with this already) but what of the woman (Miss Cherry Wilson) he stabbed to death moments before the police sent him on his way? People I am sorry but I have not a stone to throw on this one besides accepting the FACT that how the police went about it was wrong. NO NO don't tell me that's what everybody is saying because the truth is many are speaking of the incident as if he did not repeatedly stab her in the neck and chest, oh yeah how could I fail to mention that up until yesterday some people DID NOT even know he killed someone that day. I don't gamble (except with love) but I would bet my last dollar coin that if we heard the news that some man stabbed his common law wife to death and fled the scene we would all be mumbling and some shouting that "PEOPLE LIKE DEM DEH FI DEAD" well here it is folks, he's dead, and where are we? Yes that's right, sending the hero to the gallows. Wait wait, I AM IN NO WAY advocating  for the police and their crooked ways, no I'm just addressing this incident as is! http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Our-mother-s-death-is-being-treated-like-her-life-had-no-worth_785447

STORY TIME! GATHER AROUND CHILDREN - Drops of oil (story taken from 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho pg 30-32)

A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world. The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man's attention.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

"Meanwhile, I want you to do something", said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. "As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill."

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

"Well,' asked the wise man, 'did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?"

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.    

"Then go back and observe the marvels of my world" said the wise man. "You cannot trust a man if you don't know his house."

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything was selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

"But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?" asked the wise man.

Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

"Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you..." said the wisest of wise men. "The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."

Threading the needle

Its been years since I have threaded a needle, did it recently and the experience came off as therapeutic. It evoked a sense of urgency (so the hole in my pants could be sewed) and patience. Patience because unless you're a Master Threader (if such a title exists, it sounds pretty neat you must admit) it requires some degree of stillness and precision. Stillness for the hand with the needle seeing it isn't necessarily the biggest hole and precision to get the snake through the hole when the opportune strike presents itself. It's as if you're moving fast but slowly. I thought about how much different or similar rather life is to threading a needle. The eye of the needle representing that small window of opportunity and having that stillness and patience to recognize when its your moment to move; being confused or in the case of some difficult threads that have split ends it makes it harder to go through that window of opportunity. Depending on how small that hole is, split ends may never make it through. Then there is the feeling of triumph (not really a New Year's Day celebration type thing) when you successfully thread the needle after some misses; similarly when you go through that window of opportunity after some misses (deserving of a New Year's Day type celebration); what tops that?  

Sunday Paradigm II

An awakened drunkard values being sober more than a sober man who has never been drunk
Its when you are truly prepared to live without anything you begin to value everything and chase nothing
Life is an experience we live through once but die within it many times
Don't confuse the man that is content with the one that is lazy; one smiles, the other wishes more could be done and does nothing
A lot of things divide us rather than unite us, but then who said unity was the aim of the day anyway
Politics leaves the noble restless the crooked free and the greedy adventurous
I wish Spain didn't win world cup
Curiosity killed the cat but gave greatness to the likes of George Alcorn, Emmett W. Chappelle and Albert Einstein
You came here will leave here so what will you do while you're here?
Dying while wondering "What if...?" is a miserable way to die...I haven't experienced death yet but I know I'm right
I really hope Brazil wins the next world cup
Laugh, think and laugh some more, share the thought share the laughter and value the days you cried so you laugh harder when you get the chance
Listen to all believe few and trust God
All emotions should be seen as necessary for a more fulfilling life
Neglecting or pushing aside the least desirable emotions is adding straws to the camel's back
Don't break now!

 

Puppet Master

So after reading the article in Sunday's Observer on the rich Jamaican under US probe http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Another-rich-J-can-under-US-probe_7726628 I couldn't help but remember what I was told in my teenage years by an elder "Drugs money run Jamaica". Now this gentleman was by no means a business analyst, or economist, so where did he get his authority from to make such a claim? Before I try to unravel all that lets speak to the obvious, Jamaica has a lot of retail stores and plazas!  I know Jamaican retailers overprice their goods, however, I wonder how some of these businesses are sustaining themselves when its evident just by observing that their selling power is little or non-existent? Please don't confuse window shoppers with buyers!! A number of organizations, not just in retailing have been and are staying afloat but how? (who cares right?) If we are going to REALISTICALLY address corruption, lets be practical! Oh just to declare, I AM NOT SAYING ALL BUSINESSES ARE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES (had to do that for the critics). Regardless, my personal belief is that its nothing but dirty (blood, drugs, etc.) money that's keeping what we call an economy afloat. Prove me wrong and I will gladly correct my way of thinking. I found it amusing how Jamaica was all in a frenzy when the government claimed they were cleaning up garrisons (biggest joke since the idea that Obama was here to save the world) and Jamaicans quickly rallied around them and everybody became the modern day Malcolm X fighting and defending the cause. Now I really believe the man that told me "whatever project has to be done, the money can be found here in Jamaica, regardless of the amount". Yes oh land of wood and water!  

Exterminator

I got poisoned too many times 

I got shot by too many nines

slither slither from garden snake to king cobra

I'm not sure if I'm killing the right one

my brother, son, a killa ,a souljah

Now I have webs all around

I tear down what I see

I spray what I can

Now they made way to the house

My family faces harm 

My daughter Justice got poisoned 

Too late for alarm 

My wife Truth divorced me for that reason

I told her it was just for a season

"this too shall pass" I said...

"you're an ass" she said

JUSTICE IS DEAD!

Continue killing what I see or burn this house down?

too many sick memories 

too many ineffective methods

killed many but more thrive

Should have killed the Queen Bee instead of attacking the hive

Couldn't even the score

Never won and Truth is out the door

Shooting sheep looking for wolf, do it one by one or burn the flock?

Too many evils

Drop the Bible cock the glock

Kill the Devil without God? unheard of!

Forget pondering 

Too callous to be religious

This place is polluted 

No longer a father, protector or caregiver

ASIDE WITH THAT?!

I'm an exterminator!

I'LL BE BACK!!

Yours Truly: Teion BBP Williams

 

Labour in the Gideon

Labour in thought: In a country's dark and decisive moment let the weak separate from the strong, the wise from the foolish, the prudent from the impulsive, the patriotic from the disloyal and the God-fearing from the evils. Let those who believe stand to lead, the loud and empty be taken away by the winds of truth and the road to true change be guided by the hands of time. Enough talk, let's talk and walk... - BBP

We want the truth!

"We want truth" - That was the title given to the sermon done by Lorenzo King of Andrews Memorial Seventh Day ok forget all that and lets get to the juicy part 'Give the full stinking truth, PM' and then below that it says "Adventist pastor issues advice to Golding". Just based on that it sounds as if the Pastor had a vendetta against Golding, be honest, after the first couple of lines one would think along with the up-tight churchgoers "what is going on with this pastor?", or "what is the church going to?" And the editor/reporter INTENTIONALLY used the word "stinking" on the front page along with the pic of the Pastor, and then automatically you start questioning what kind of language is being used in the church (and then there are those that are glad to see this so they can throw more stones at the SDA church, or church body in general). So did he use the phrase "stinking truth" in church? Yes - Oh silly me, I should have told you earlier, I attended Andrews Church that day, so I have some authority to flex on this issue ;) When Pastor King spoke of the "stinking truth" he was telling the story of Lazarus of Bethany, as it relates to the truth and how the stench of his body was offensive to the people and it hit them when Jesus asked them to roll away the stone, then as they smelt the corpse Jesus ordered Lazarus to come forth. That's the analogy the Pastor used to represent the nature of any truth and the stench of it being repulsive to those who come in contact with it. Not necessarily an advice for the PM Bruce Golding, but an advice or lesson as it relates to THE TRUTH of any kind generally speaking. I say this because he spoke of both political truth and spiritual truth, spiritual truth as it relates to spiritual leaders from and outside the SDA(seventh day Adventist) church not telling or teaching the whole Biblical truth; like the Pastor he mentioned by name who leads church on a Sunday and preaches against the Sabbath but he himself observes and keeps the sabbath. As it relates to Political truth he preached on the basis that a Government's objective not the Government's objective, but a Government's objective (highlighting that he was just not speaking of local Government) is not to tell the truth but instead its objective is to retain power. Here he highlighted the Secrets Act of the constitution. He also quoted Winston Churchill  "In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.", and how its on such grounds the United States launched the second Gulf War lying to the people about weapons of mass destruction which up to this very day at the cost of billions of dollars and thousands of lives have not been found. I must declare that while the sermon was a very hard hitting one, it was not a gift wrapped sermon for PM Bruce Golding handed over at a surprise party. The Pastor prayed for Mr. Golding and his family and asked that whichever direction or results that come of the situation God should oversee. Ask yourself this question, when since has any tabloid been interested in a good sermon? Never, a good story, always! 

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The Greek festival/ritual of celebrating the queen of heaven or mother of gods is now one of the world's most celebrated days, Mother's Day (I bet my readers are rolling their eyes at this point). I know I know, maybe I should have saved this article for some other time, nah, couldn't help myself, had to crash the party. However I'm not here to start a sermon, I want to take this opportunity not to celebrate but to just thank the MOTHERS for their genuine effort in nurturing the young ones, especially if you are in a situation where you're doing it on your own! (I pray a special prayer for the inactive and missing fathers). Also I would like to take this opportunity to frown upon the vessels of this land who don't deserve to be called mothers (say what you may but some just don't deserve the title). I just call them child bearers, the ones who neglected the seeds, or put the relationship between themselves and the world or a man above the needs of the seeds; the ones who brought forth a child thinking it will prevent a man from walking out of the relationship; the ones who brought forth a child just to flaunt her womanhood and not because she has GENUINE PASSION to nurture a child as it should be; and last but not least the ones that brought forth a seed just because she has to beat the 'body clock'!!! Again "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do". To the mothers who educate themselves on the word of God so as to guide them in the nurturing of their seeds(the future of this world), the ones who make sacrifices only another mother of her kind can understand, the ones that KNOW FROM THE DEPTH OF THEIR SOULS that they have done their best, TO YOU I SAY THANKS! Thank you for making that mark on this world. To all my younger and expecting mothers, spend more time with your children, draw closer to God and his teachings, choose your partners(potential fathers) wisely, don't rush because your 'clock' is ticking, AND STOP LEAVING YOUR CHILDREN WITH WHOEVER AND HOWEVER TO GO PARTYING OR FOR NIGHTLIFE, parenting is not a cake walk, its a 24hr mission and responsibility. Click to listen Sizzla - Thank you Mama

Sizzla - Thank You Mama (Video) (High Quality)

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6).

Lets talk about that little voice in our heads, the one that constantly reminds you that there is way more you can do with what time and power you have. It's that restlessness you feel when you think about where you are and where you BELIEVE you can and/or should be. It whispers to you in the middle of the day, when you least expect it, THE LITTLE VOICE JUST HITS YOU: "look at you!", "look at me!!" Why do we continue to ignore it? Fear maybe? A lack of confidence? LAZINESS?! You could be a very hard worker who is still complacent, knowing there is more to you. Not everybody who is complacent is lazy but everybody who is lazy is complacent. Whatever it is, its just a matter of time before you run your head into the wall. I always say, don't die an 'I wish', die an 'I did'. No this is not a Rick Warren or Les Brown moment, its a real-talk moment.

*This paradigm shift or should I say epiphany, occurred when my Blackberry service expired...*hint hint* sometimes less is best and sometimes you spend a lot of time doing a whole bunch of nothing really!

I hope your laughs turn into tears

Come on everybody, isn't this by far one of the cutest things you have seen in a while? I mean, what better "awww" moment exists? I look at this pic, and the confidence I have in the people guiding our younger generation has increased 10 folds, no a 100 folds! I'm not sure if I'm laughing or crying anymore, never mind me though, as always, I get ahead of myself. I take life too seriously, I need to loosen up a bit, ITS - NOT - AS - BAD - AS - IT - SEEMS!! Silly me here thinking that we are going to the dogs, HA! yeah, silly me. 

Black Butterfly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlGNEqOpQZo&feature=player_embedded From a caterpillar to taking flight, from nothing to something, from a thought to an action, and from captivity to freedom. The struggle never ends, and the well of success knows no limit, knows no drought. Humility gives you wings and determination a better view of life. Staying low never gets you the view from the mountain top, but being grounded keeps you firm when you get there. Helping others learn how to fly never makes your wings heavy, on the contrary it strengthens them. As time flies, you should too...Black Butterfly!

Gold Nuggets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F76r7GsqH_8&feature=channel After watching the video, My heart felt warm, seeing young and aware(intelligent) black children, it provided that spirit of hope. I just hope they don't develop a liking to dance-hall music. People always seem to glance over the adage "the children are the future". But what to say of OUR(Jamaican) children? I wonder if I should do a similar video if I would get questions pertaining to our entertainment industry, or more social and political issues? Just thinking. What should be noted in the video too is how culturally grounded they are, with their traditional dancing and singing. Sing 'Linstead Market' to our youth and chances are you will be greeted by something unpleasant, sing something from BET/MTV or something 'Gaza' and 'Gully' related and you're sure to be a hit with them. Where has our culture gone, do we even need it in anyway or there are just bigger fish to fry? How important is it to society that we preserve our old culture and ways; or some of it (Not a big fan of Jankanoo)?. What I do know is that awareness, whether self or global awareness is lacking amongst our children, our teens and even adults. Would you agree that a major revamping of our schools' curricula is necessary, not to educate them just on strict academics, but a more holistic and cultural approach, bringing back that genuine love for one's self and country? Jamaica's culture has moved from being unique to the trashcan of Uncle Sam's backyard.

More Birth control than Self control, and more mothers than wives...the cycle continues!

Here is one immediate step to take in securing a future for our people: STOP HAVING CHILDREN YOU ARE NOT FIT TO NURTURE! its a serious matter. We have cultured ourselves to have children as accessories, women: "have to have my first child by ....". Men: "how you call uself man an noh have a pickney?" we need to correct the view of what it takes to be a mother and father instead of a sperm donor and child bearer. Now I'm not here to start a sermon on unprotected sex and what not, because quite frankly I know I'm talking to the wrong generation if that's the case. What I am urging us to do is to really THINK if any of us are really prepared to bring a child or children into this wonderful economic/political/spiritual situation going on in our country? Now I agree, if we should wait on the perfect atmosphere to have children in, then we can might as well wait until the next lifetime. But where does the buck stop? I am SO SICK AND TIRED of girls and boys no not men and women, girls and boys bringing forth children INTENTIONALLY when they know they are not equipped in no way to be EFFECTIVE PARENTS. Now why would you do that? You know you cannot even finance this child through secondary level education much less giving he/she a jump start to stand on their own. Boys don't know how to be fathers, much less husbands. Girls opting to be 'babymothers' as opposed to wives (why value yourselves so little?). What is the garbage that's gaining popularity amongst our women where they are ASKING men to impregnate them and leave after; just for the sake of having a child?!?!? It's bad enough we have so many single parent situations for one to go out and seek it. I would institute a law just for that. What are we doing for and to our children, what are we doing to this country? You see folks, these are the little things that fast tracks a nation to hell, or for one that is already there, keep it there. Without healthy homes, you can't have healthy communities, and without healthy communities you won't have a healthy nation. Never underestimate the dots of stupidity, they connect to paint a bigger picture.

Another cup of coffee...

It was an interesting evening and atmosphere by the University of the West Indies when some patrons at a party(weekly party called integration)got the news the government slashed tertiary level education subsidies by 1.6 billion dollars. When it was announced at the party they told the patrons(students) that they are asking the students to attend a meeting next week Tuesday to flesh it out. To my surprise not all students were disgruntled, not because they could afford the school fee, but some believe the students are not worth it in the end; as someone said, "they are wasting their education anyway." One cannot ignore the fact that tertiary institutions now, mainly UWI, have turned into recreational grounds more than academic nurturing grounds. Deny it to death, but the noble institutions of this land have moved from lush vegetation status to looking like parched grass during a drought, with more alcohol and marijuana than learning. Hardly being sober, how can we ever be aware? The night life has become THE LIFE, students get a degree but with what behind it? A burnt brain with a body feeling like 50(no offense to any reader over 40), but you get my point. We have the older generation looking at us the supposedly younger ones and asking if we are in the same bracket just because of how worn we are! So then, are we even worth the 1.6 billion? Or maybe that slash is just adding to the truth that the people up top really do not care about the people? If you care then why make it so out of reach? But then if you don't value it, why should you have it? Yes the good will forever suffer for the bad because the good allow the bad to be so popular. So then do we march or do we re-evaluate what is it we are going to march or protest for, isn't it about time we change the culture? Let's sip this coffee and think about it...

Letter to the editor by KD Smith endorsed by bbphilosopher

Letter : Dear Sirs, I am tired of the arrogance that characterizes the body politic in our beloved country. When a Minister can claim that they cannot live in squalor as a valid explanation for spending over J$50 million on the renovation of a house; when our Prime Minister can validate the arrangement of a deal that should have been passed by Cabinet by claiming that it was a good deal, with not even a slap on the wrist for those who have totally disregarded the checks and balances that should govern our legislature. When one Minister feels it is of utmost importance to correct the public on the pronunciation of the name of a known area leader and an alleged criminal. Jamaica, we have a problem! This is not the time for campaigning this is the time to build Jamaica Land We Love. In this time of crisis, where we have a “free” health care system where our doctors do not seem to be equipped to treat gallstones we are reducing budget allocation for the development of our health system. But it is the norm I guess because who doesn’t have overseas health coverage? It is evident that the government believes that our “free” education system is not working, because obviously the entire Jamaican populace is illiterate and unable to grasp the fact that we are being treated with the utmost disrespect! For the first time I long for the traditional role of the Opposition, to oppose! Why the silence. Gather yourselves together. It is not the time to sit twiddling your thumbs waiting for the country to place you in the driver’s seat. Your silence leads us to a state of despair, detachment and desolation. My fellow Jamaicans I know that you share my thoughts, I hear you crying out. Let us remember that the positions of leadership in this country were established for the leaders to serve Jamaica, not the other way around! Unless you are an area leader and that is a whole other story. I am etc. KD Smith

Watch as the Rock roll away...JamRock

Try all you want, run all the (9.58)s you want, get all the Bob Marleys you can but here is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...JAMAICA IS ON A BLAZING TRACK TO NOWHERE!! No its not because we have 'stupid' leaders, because if you ask me, I believe they are amongst the most intelligent leaders known to man. When you can have a people voluntarily submitting themselves to a vicious political cycle and empty promises for generations, that's intelligence. When a people are aware of the truth BUT STILL refuse to address it or DEMAND answers, that's intelligence! Because all of this friends, is nothing more than classical conditioning (google it) and political psychology at their best, and you will agree, no dunce can pull that off. So what is then the reason or reasons? Greed maybe, capitalism maybe, laziness or THE UNDERVALUING OF EDUCATION, I mean if you wish, we could really churn out a list or two. I am going to run with however the point about education, look at the state of some of our schools (still using pit toilets or compost toilets for those who don't like the pit phrase) and the curriculum! Then look at the salary packages and increases the ones in power have pleased themselves with (greed). Also take a look at the fact that while some parts of Kingston and wider Jamaica are experiencing SEVERE drought, University of the West Indies (where 'smart' people and future 'leaders' attend) is going to have water trucks spray water on carnival goers to get off the party paint, wow, hold on let that sink in, wooooooow. Also lets highlight the stink and always talked about CORRUPTION that for heaven's sake is squeeeezing the life out of us. Friends in high places giving killers in low places the reign to cripple a society, and you know the sad thing, you are going to read this post and do nothing. Yes I said it, NOTHING, you like everyone else in this disgusting situation will nod your head in agreement and say "true, true" and then go back to the daily garbage. Hey don't worry, you have company, after doing this hard hitting post I am going to roll over and play possum just like you, I mean whats the sense right? After all, if push comes to shove, I will go and live in Canada or another country, oh, that's if I still have my visa! Worse case scenario...sit here with my sunglasses on and burn with Rome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS3_vxvvqh0

LOVE IS BLIND or you just had your eyes closed the whole time...'baby'?

Today we are gathered here not to mourn, but to celebrate the life of the great adage "love is blind". While it has served its purpose in being the best excuse ever for us adults to be 'stuck on stupid' (yes I love that phrase), I think its time we wish it well and usher in a new time, one of responsibility. Responsibility to not say "love is blind", BUT PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE WARNING SIGNS you got before you decided to enter that dead end relationship. Responsibility to control that ever burning passion that clouds your 'vision', so you don't see the glass as half full when its really half empty. Why must my darling women (please recognize the sarcasm) insist on living off sweet nothings, yet they will look you dead in the eye as a friend and reassure you how much they are in control of the situation? Why must we pay so little attention to the obvious (actions)? My philosophy: if you have many questions, then there is still much to find out. "Some men are such dogs." Well news flash! these dogs gained their status from being associated with a lot of silly/blind/eyes closed women. I'm POSITIVE in his career he was flat out rejected by women who had their heads screwed on and passion in check. Hey I could be wrong! but I'm just saying. Remember how we were taught to cross the street when we were younger, wait until all the cars stop look up, down, UP AGAIN (I was trying the traffic light effect with the colours, nice right?), observe road signs and so forth? Same rules apply, so lets give love a break and proceed with caution and common sense for once. On that note, may it's soul rest in peace.

Man and His Ego - deadliest of combinations

Here I was on a mellow Sunday evening in my Brazilian jersey (yes they are going to win World-cup); nice day for some football; everybody was out children running and the vibe was right. An hour later myself along with everybody else on the field was trying to squash a fistfight (with rocks included). Now one might say, well that's a regular thing right, just sports? Its sad that arrogance has become the norm. Why couldn't one of the two involved take my advice and just leave the field when it was just word-throwing, NO! he had to prove a point, he had to show the other fellow that he's far from soft, and besides, being the 'bigger man' and walking away never wins the crowd over. So maybe the theory about man's animalistic side (defending his territory) applies here, or maybe its just a representation of the sad state our people are in, actions before thoughts and ego before control. And Words, words my friend, what to make of them? History has documented and proven it, the power of words; it made soldiers out of men, men out of boys, it rallied simple minded people to push for a revolution, it also brought disaster where peace reigned. Death and Life truly lies in the tongue, but just as deadly is one's ego.