venting

Demon-possessed Father

2006-07-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

A co-worker gave me this article to read. I did not finish reading it because of the nature of it.

How on God's blessed earth can a man....ANY man....rape a child?! Better yet, how the hell can a FATHER rape his FOUR MONTH OLD DAUGHTER?! Please....someone, anyone, explain that to me. I had a passing thought that maybe the man is a paedy, but on second thought, I think he is demon-possessed. I don't believe anyone can be that sick in their head. NO WAY!!! To have a BABY and turn around and do irreparable damage such as that, and scar that child for life does not amount to sickness in any form. Only the devil from hell could have inspired such behaviour.

Someone said to me had the man done a similar act to her child, he would not be allowed to see the inside of a courthouse. Now can anyone blame her? How do you explain to your child that her father is in prison because he raped her? How do you deal with knowing that your tax-paying dollars are feeding the SOB?! I am not saying had the same situation happened to me I would kill the man, but I certainly won't judge anyone who did.

Crime of passion, in this case, is quite understandable. I can only imagine what God will do to the man. After all, he did say whoever hurts His children betta fine a piece a stone and tie it 'roun dem neck and jump of a cliff inna di sea (or something similar).

What a world we live in!

Old-Fashioned Maybe

2006-01-20T21:22:00.000-05:00

I must be old-fashioned bad bad!!!

I went into a jewelry store to get a battery for my watch. They tell me they have it, the cost, and took my watch to put it in. So I just stood up by the counter and waited. But while I was waiting I happened to hear the music that was playing rather loudly for all who entered the store to hear. But it wasn't the volume that had my attention (it wasn't louder than a steelband that plays at UWI and can be rather loud sometimes). It was the lyrics (of lack thereof, whichever way you look at it)- vulgar, meaning that it had expletives and lewd sexual content. Now I said to myself that I must be dreaming, because there is no way a store that is opened to the public and can have children walking in at a moment's notice could be playing this music. Few seconds later I realised that hey, I am not dreaming after all! Needless to say I was shocked and appalled!

It gets worse!

The man (who happens to be Indian whether in part or whole and hasn't lost the accent) returns with my watch, now working (whoopee!). I told him thank you. But, as I am one who feels that I should contribute to society in a positive way and the development good morals where possible, I decided to say something to him. I asked the man if he realised what was playing on the radio...I mean, I can't really accuse him if he does not realise that such slackness is occuring (it happens). He says, "yes I do". Ok...slightly more baffled now. So I went further to point out that the contents were lewd and not suitable for a store/place providing a public service children can walk in at any time (I couldn't really assume anymore that he actually knew what was playing or that he was supposed to know better so I had to point that out). So this is the essence of the man's reply- yes the lyrics are nasty, but he can't and wont do anything, simply because it's what the people want! I should mention that the way he said that, the majority of the people he is talking about were his employees! I don't think I was able to hide the shock on my face very well. But that didn't make a difference!

This experience has made me realise just how bad our society has gotten and is getting, and it is really upsetting! How can adults act so irresponsible and LEAD the children astray?! It's bad enough that they have their peers and other things putting strain on their judgement skills, but to have the ones who should be curbing that be the ones adding to the pressure is one on too many levels.

I am now disgusted with the level of responsibility (or the lack of it I should say) that our society, whether locally or internationally, is accepting and embracing where our children are concerned. I am aware that not everyone was literally given the responsibility of raising a child, but goodness gracious- those who weren't need to realise that they are given the responsibility of NOT leading them astray!

"It takes a village to raise a child". I think this is one lesson we should try to learn from our African heritage. Unfortunately, it's wishful thinking!

PS: I have declared I will not ever again support the proprietors of the American Jewellers store (I think that's the name of the place). It's just above the former Kings St. branch of NCB. So I encourage everyone else who reads this to do the same.

Height of Foolishness!!

2006-01-17T08:17:00.000-05:00

I was at church on Sunday as I usually am. However, one particular announcement caused me great "upsetment".

The week before that was very heart-wrenching and upsetting for a member of our church. Her son was gunned down. That in and of itself was enough to get anyone raging mad. But what made it worse was that the people who killed the son had the nerve to call the parents and "apologise" because they mistakenly killed the wrong person. How is one to feel after that?!?!?

Just when you think things can't get worse, they up and do!!

SLB Again!

2006-01-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

So I called the Students' Loan Bureau to find out about trying to pay off my loan by September 2007. I was told that I need to pay a total of approximately $394 000, and that works out to about $19 000 per month. Fine. (Initially the gravity of the situation did not register). I mean, I am pretty much on par with current payments so I would not have to sacrifice a whole lot more to make the monthly payments. Then I looked at the figure again (after hanging up the phone from the Loan Officer), and it hit me- I have already paid over $230 000, and the figure quoted was pretty much the amount borrowed. So, in essence, I have paid the $230 000 as interest and what I would be paying over the up-coming months would be the amount I borrowed in the first place.

I am not rich. If I were, I wouldn't need to be paying off the loan as I am now. Thinking that I have to pay over $200 000 IN INTEREST on a less than $400 000 loan is VERY disheartening. That amount is 1) down-payment on a house, 2) downpayment/purchase cost of a car, 3) money for a very nice vacation, etc etc etc. IT IS WRONG!!! I do not believe that one should be subjected to pay that much interest on a loan that was borrowed to further their education. It is highly wrong and ungodly, and these people need to be stopped, STOPPED I tell you!!! (ok...getting off I bit too much, but sue me!) It is the most unconscionable thing a loan institution, especially one DEDICATED to providing students the opportunity for a higher education, could do. I really wish that somehow they will realise the situation and do something about it, because this is wrong on too many levels! And student's keep getting suckered into the situation not knowing what legal robbery they are getting into!

For now, I will try and find other sources to somehow pay them off so that I will have nothing to do with them. So if anyone has money to lend, or know of option that I may be able to use, feel free to pass it on. 'Til then, May God help me!

Clothes

2005-12-14T12:13:00.000-05:00

One may ask why I am venting about clothes. Here goes!

I am somewhat small-figured. Not quite petite, but not very fat or full-figured. One may say that is not a problem, but as far as I am concerned it is a slight problem when I have problems finding clothes! The stores that I look in (and they range from the not so expensive to the expensive) are biased! They have the sizes to fit those with bigger "personalities" (to steal a word), and those that have their mammory gland somewhat proportionately sized with their upper body! Some of these stores dont take into account the people like me. So I have to walk all over town (uptown and downtown) to be able to find something, and the worse part is, when I find clothes (like the pair of pants I bought quite recently) they are expensive!!!

Admitedly I do strike gold sometimes and end up finding soemthing that fits without the hassle, but I still hate the fact that that is a rare occurence and most times I have to search long and hard to find proper-fitting clothes.

Shoes is another issue...wont get into that one!!!

Never-ending madness!

2005-10-28T17:59:00.000-05:00

I have vented about the poor mental condition of the idiots that claim to have drivers' licenses on the road, but they never cease to amaze me!

Today I saw incidents that reminded me of how bad the road can be:

1) We were stuck in a line of traffic on the brow of a hill. To my shock and surprise, I saw a car overtake the line of traffic ON THE BROW OF THE HILL! Now had a car been coming... It was very interesting to see the same car reversing from whence it came a minute or two later.

2) We have now reached the long line at Barbican Circle and we are going around a corner. Next thing I know is that a man is blowing his way through the traffic. But what was amazing about this particular driver is that he overtook the line of traffic on the inside of the single lane. Ie, on the left of the cars. How he managed that, I don't know, but that must be a talent. And then had the nerve to blow the car I was in. Of course I had to ask him if 'im cannot wait!. Of course he didn't bother trying to overtake anymore. (I wasn't driving, but what does it matter?!)

Seriously, will the madness on the road end only when these idiots die?!!?!?

Soaring to new heights of ...?

2005-10-28T10:03:00.000-05:00

Ok. The trip to foreign started out like nothing I planned. Why? Air Jamaica’s ill-maintained aircrafts. I left home early to get to the airport for sometime between 4:30 and 5 am. This was so I could have the entire day in Florida to do stuff and visit people. Things started out quite fine (too good to be true I thought): checked in, passed through customs, and boarded the plane. Little after the airplane left the boarding area, the captain comes on and tells us that there is a slight problem with the brake…going to take about half an hour to check and fix. Half an hour later, they tell us to come off the aircraft cause the plane aint leaving. So we come off and of course the first thing I do is find food (I mean, who is gonna eat anything of substance at 4 in the morning). As luck would have it that was not the best Island Grill food I have had.

So we waited. Fortunately I made a new friend and we started talking to pass the time. Finally someone from Air Jamaica came and spoke to us (after people started making noise and complaining that no one is telling us anything). They were going to try and get another airplane from MoBay that supposed to be leaving to go to Miami to come for us, then they would bus us to Ft Lauderdale. Fortunately I was sitting beside someone who knew the ropes so eventually when we collected our new boarding passes, I also collected my food voucher. The Air Jamaica staff would have sat on the food vouchers after they had us sitting at the airport for so long and not tell anyone a damn thing. If you don’t know you’re entitled to it, then u goose salt!

Anyways, we finally boarded our plane to Miami after 1 in the afternoon. Flight was more or less ok. We got to Miami few minutes to 4 (US time), then we proceeded to immigration. I spend ONE AND A HALF HOURS IN THE LINE! ( I mean, this isn’t really Air Jamaica’s fault, but right now I feel like blaming them!).

I eventually left there and went to find my luggage. I did (eventually). Then to find the Air Jamaica counter to catch the bus to Ft. Lauderdale. When we eventually asked around and found it, the people at the counter had to radio the bus to tell them more people were on the way. As soon as we got on the bus, it left. So, to sum that up, if we somehow were given wrong directions, or we couldn’t find out luggage, then we would have been in a bind ‘cause the bus would have left us! They didn’t even have someone take names of who wanted to get the bus or anything so they did not even have a clue of those they may have left behind.

What got to me most was this: my mom tried calling Air Jamaica to find out about the flight and if all was well seeing I called her, but details were still sketchy about time of arrival, etc. Nothing. She eventually went to the airport to ask someone. NO ONE WAS THERE TO TELL HER ANYTHING. In other words, all the reps were in hiding. Of course, not everyone had a cell phone to call their people abroad and tell them the flight was cancelled, so people were actually at Ft Lauderdale airport from in the morning waiting for the flight. So when my mom got there, she met people furious because no representative was there to tell them anything and they were waiting there for at least five hours!

Then to come home.

As many may know, Hurricane Wilma lashed out on south Florida. This means that the airport I was supposed to leave from (Ft Lauderdale) was closed. Roads were blocked, light went on many areas, etc. Seeing that I was in Orlando, I had little ways of getting to Ft Lauderdale. That meant that the only way of returning home was to leave from Orlando. To not bore anyone the long and short of it is this: they told me on Monday (when we eventually got through to them) that to change my ticket, I needed to pay over US$400. However, to get a new one way ticket home, I needed to pay US$313.60. So, I had to go to a travel agent. (When we finally decided that options were limited, we couldn’t get through to Air J to make the reservation…their lines were busy).

So I am home finally, and I call Air J to see if I can get back the money I used for the ticket to come home. They are telling me because I went ahead and made my own reservation to come home, I will pretty much have to stand the cost. They are telling me that if I had gone through Ft Lauderdale (which was still closed) or Miami (which was also closed) then I would be entitled to whatever the difference was. So, in essence, I was to wait until any of the two airports were opened to come home and because I left from Orlando, I aint getting a damn thing from them.

Needless to say I am really pissed! I paid US$270 for a round trip ticket and ended up having to pay US$313.60 for a ONE WAY TICKET to come home, of which I get back J/US$0.00. They don’t really care about the fact that I needed to get home because I have work and I opted to try the best option that was available. They don’t care!

I will never again fly Air J as long as I live if I have a choice. Unless it’s an emergency and I absolutely cannot do better, I ask anyone to carry me straight to Ward 21 at UHWI if I ever buy a ticket to travel via Air J again. Air Jamaica has been soaring to new heights of crappy service; they don’t really care for their customers as they are brain-washing people to think. Their aircrafts are not well-maintained, it seems both outside and inside (sometimes one wonders why the restrooms so stink…DUH…it aint cleaned properly). The only thing they have going for them as far as I am concerned is their record of safety, which is good. But when their service and the way treat people is not up to any good standard anymore, then mi sorry f idem.

Spirit Airline…American Airlines…it will be nice doing service with you!

So much for patriotism!!

Mad!

2005-10-14T13:22:00.000-05:00

I realise that part of what makes people really upset is other people.

I will just say that I am really upset about a particular situation that I am not at liberty to speak about in this forum. But, I am calming down, and I have vented enough to her. I would like to say more of what I am thinking, but for now, that will suffice.

God has really helped me to keep calm.

JPS

2005-09-30T10:01:00.000-05:00

Now whichever way one takes it, Jamaica is caught between a rock and a hard place.

First, the government owned the utility company. Then, because they were somewhat incompetent, the sold it. Who did they sell it to? A company that is soley for the purpose of making money (as the seeker puts it). So where does that leave the people of this country? Should they be blamed for what is taking place because they excersiced their democracy and voted the ruling party into power to mess them up? Or should the government have sought much better alternatives considering it's the entire country that will suffer from wrong decisions?

Yet again

2005-09-28T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today I was on my way to work as every week Monday to Friday. This partucular morning I was reminded of how insensitive, stupid, etc the coaster bus drivers are.

A bus that runs the Constant Spring to Downtown route was seen along an avenue off Dunrobin Avenue, heading towards Dunrobin Avenue of course. (Note: The route should run on Constant Spring Road). Not only did this bus overtake a short line of cars waiting to go onto the Avenue, but it turned onto Dunrobin on the opposite side of the road. To make matters worse, it was letting off SCHOOL CHILDREN WHILE turning!!!!! They were literally pushing and pulling the children to get off the bus so they could hurry and drive ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD until it got onto Constant Spring Road again! Needless to say that cars started coming in the opposite direction and the bus was blocking them. Needless to say also that there were irate and cussing drivers and I would join them if I could!

Idiots on the road! When will it end?!?!

Damn Trailer

2005-09-08T15:54:00.000-05:00

So after the wasted day on Tuesday, I venture to work Wednesday morning bright and early. Went through the day doing work (mostly physical stuff), and the day ended. I was then on my way to Half Way Tree with a co-worker. On approaching National Heroes Circle, I was met by something coming in the opposite direction that had me baffled, shocked, flaberghasted...(you get the drift). A trailer, one that has a looong platform that's prob 20ft or more, was overtaking a car. (Please note that Heroes Circle has no straight stretch of road). The car, I must also add, was not going at snails pace. But a trailer overtook the car. Had the car I was in been a few metres ahead of where we actually were...

To say the driver of this trailer is a hog is doing injustice to the swine family. Someone could have been hurt or killed, and worse part is it wouldn't be the trailer truck driver! (God's ways are not always understood, but we have no choice but to accept it). These people who drive around and endanger people's lives ought to be taken off the road (I know, wishful thinking). But it is sad when someone in the prime of life is taken from this earth because of some stupid, silly person whose actions are not becoming of anyone who calls themself a human being! When will these idiots on the road wake up and realise that their driving only serves to thrill only but a moment, but a slip up will not only mess up their lives, but other innocent people?!

It would seem common sense and rationale thinking aint so common after all!

Baffled Yet Again!

2005-09-06T09:10:00.000-05:00

The JLP has planned and orchestrated a demonstration to protest the increasing difficulty Jamaicans have trying to cope with life on a whole. The cost of living has gone up, partly due to inflation (which the government promised would not go up, but down); utilities have gone up, including the ever so important electricity, which in turn will drive up water, etc; gas has gone up (partly not our fault). The poor to the not so poor are feeling the effects of the increased cost of living, especially the government workers who have not had a raise in salary for a while.

I am at a lost when it comes to understanding why the OUR felt it necessary to grant the JPS their request for the increase. What bun mi more is the reason they claim they want the increase is the fact that they were negligent and were not prepared for the onslaught of Hurricane Ivan and whatever other hurricane that could have hit the island. The JPS claims that they are suffering a “loss” because they lost valuable equipment etc during Ivan and they need extra revenue to compensate the loss. So they turn to the people of Jamaica, who already under nuff pressure ‘cause everything gone up! Now I am yet to understand why the OUR saw that, yet they granted the increase…Jamaicans are supposed to pay for the lack of efficient and effective planning on the part of the JPS for natural disasters! No wonder we can’t reach anywhere forward. We don’t own our light and those who do (US foreigners) are taking advantage of us!

Now on to the matter of the protest. There are, as far as I am concerned, two facts: The JLP has no bloody sense, and the other idiots who are blocking the roads have even less. I understand the opposition wanting to send a clear, unmistakable signal to the government: Jamaicans have had enough of their broken promises and are having a hard time coping with life due to increased cost of living. I have no problems with that. Send the message loud and clear. My problem is the method and timing. We ALL know from the gas riots that Jamaicans have a compromised rationale (i.e., not much common sense). They will hear "protest" and take it to the extreme: block the roads with debris. They do not realise that they hurt only themselves and that government does not feel the effects of the protest (after all, the PNP still is the ruling party after the gas riots so obviously it didn’t hurt them politically). The JLP claimed that their protests were supposed to be peaceful demonstrations (at the start of the school year). But they should know that 'peaceful demonstration' is a foreign concept to Jamaicans whose motto is to “block di road dem” to get their points across! Yes, there are those who are somewhat intelligent and will take their placards and chant their disgust at the side of the road. There are those (in majority) who do not think that is enough; they feel the only way to go is to create mayhem.

I just cannot see why people of the blessed country of ours do not wake up and realise that when they carry this foolishness they only hurt themselves. Stupidity at its best! I know humans often tend to have “masochistic” tendencies, but buoy…we tek it to a whole new level! Sad and pathetic!

News and taxi drivers

2005-08-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

So I have been oblivious to the news for a few weeks...partly intentional, partly due to too many activities going on in my life. So, things calmed and unfortunately I started to watch and read the news again. I was immediately bombarded with news of a teacher/principal being stabbed to death, and later in the same week, another educator being killed over a bicyle.

It seems that living in Jamaica should make one immuned to bad news, whether about the economy, or the living conditions of the people, or the crime and violence. But I am not! And it still pisses me off to think that people still cannot see that what they are doing just does not make any sense! I try...I really try to make sense of some of what I hear...but I can't! Maybe it's cause I am not privy to some of the detail...maybe I am just too "sophisticated" or "stuck up" or whatever, but I just don't get it!

Taxi drivers: too much has been said, yet not enough. I have had experiences with them (not many though), and I don't know what law is left for them to break (where it relates to the Traffic Code). And now, they seem to want to squeeze as much out of their passengers as possible! Eg: You call the taxi company and you're quoted one price...take the taxi to your destination, the driver tells u another! C'mon man! The common man trying to "make ends meet too"...why do they feel they have to make it so much harder for them just so that they can full their own gut?!

So many things to frustrate...that's it for now! In the meantime, God be with us!

Sly Lie Bank-wanna-be

2005-06-28T08:27:00.000-05:00

The Students' Loan Bureau (ie, the Sly Lie Bank-wanna-be) has been playing people for a while now. Unfortunately, some are not informed of this, and often fall into their traps (though some are not able to do better if they want to pursue a higher education).

Why do I make such statements one may ask. SLB has HIGH interest rates. One knows this from the outset, but one doesn't really realise this until it's too late how high they really are, and how they calculate it. So, for eg, they tell me that after borrowing just under $400 000, I would owe them over $800 000 after 7 years. Inother words, the interest is more than what I borrowed in the first place. Of course, the average person doesn't realise this rubbish until after the fact (hence the horror stories).

The SLB does not make an effort to make it's customers aware of the fact that it is MUCH better to start paying back before the date they give you to pay back. The MAY tell one and two people "by the way...". They keep it hidden that the ridiculous interests rate ONLY kicks in on the principal owed starting the day they say you must start paying back. They do not outline the fact that you have to pay insurance on the money you borrow, and that insurance is calculated on the principal owing on the before mentioned date. They failed to paint the true picture: you will probably end up paying close to $20 000 per month for 6 months, thereafter a little less, once you start paying back you loan on the date the specify. Whether or not you earn that much money per month, or whether or not you have a job is completely irrelevant. You wait longer to pay, you pay more.

Do not be fooled by their slogan, saying that they have the longest time for repayment and the best interest rate. BIG mistake. You will end up suffering if you do.

Admitedly part of the problem is that people have too much faith in these systems, and will just take their words without looking deeper into them. This would save a lot of people agony AND money.

What hurts the most is that the people who suffer the most are often those who cannot afford to do better. They spend the first part of the their working lives paying off bills that may be just as much as they get for their salaries...after all, not everyone is highly-payed after they finish Unversity/College.

Summary of it all: SLB is a money-grubbing set of people. They take advantage of the poor, and call it "help for those less fortunate" (not verbatim). They use children in ads to claim that people need to pay back some ridiculous amounts of money so the future generation can become lawyers, and doctors and teachers. They advertize that they have the best interest rates and payment periods to not make you see that you pay that more than half what was borrowed.

Future generations: BEWARE of the Sly Lie Bank-wanna be! Open your OMNI or Scotiamint or whatever other long-term savings plan, but do not go the SLB way. If you have no choice, pay them back before the date they tell you!

Upset with me!

2005-06-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

This is an unusual post. Why? Because I am venting about me!

Ever since I can remember, I have had bad memory (irony). I was never able to remember names as I should, or places, or simple things. I am now 21 going on 22, and still the situation is bad (what, did I really expect it to get better with age?!?!). I find that I say I will do this, that or the other, and end not doing them because I forgot...and not because I wanted to. So many important things I forget that I make a conscious effort to try and remember...

What irks me also is the fact that sometimes it's the things I DON'T want or need to remember that I often end up remember...things I really have no deep interest in. Sometimes I don't really make the effort to forget (as it seems sometimes the more you try to forget, the more you remember), but I still remember these unimportant things! Why is that that which is of more importance cannot take their place?!

Why is my memory so bad?!? How did I ever get through school? It is amazing how people can ask me simple things that ANYONE is supposed to know after having done certain course/subjects, etc., and I can't tell them! Why? Because I cannot remember! I used to come up with "ingenuous" ways of trying to remember things...I try to relate is to something else. But what happens? I end up remembering this something else and forget what I was supposed to remember in the first place!

It is really frustrating also to remember names! Names I am SUPPOSED to know without second thinking, I don't. I am at church or whereever and can't say this person did this or that. I will pass people on the road and can't call to them simply because I CAN"T REMEMBER THEIR NAMES! It is funny sometimes....but not all the time! It's most annoying and frustrating to be trying your damndest to remember something and CAN'T!

My aunt says I should go see a doc about it...will that help, or am I so far gone in my young, early stage of Alzheimer's disease?

Geez man!

2005-06-21T07:22:00.000-05:00

I don't know what to vent about really...there are so many things!!!

One: I now REALLY hate listening to the news. I don't know what the hell has gotten into the people of this blessed place...or maybe that's just it. Maybe hell has taken over these people. They rape 6/7 year olds, murder 2 year old, kill old people minding their own business...I still have not gotten too numb; I still cringe when I hear all this brutality, but the way things going, maybe that is not too far off.

Two: Need a quick fix of rage? One can either listen to the news, or one can go on the road!! Is it that we have now become SO impatient we can't bother to follow road codes, etc, and is it that we have so little respect for other people's lives why we take some of the foolish risks we do, and is it that we are so selfish we think the roads are designed for just a selected few?!

Three: Jamaica is now becoming a dump site...i mean not only of brutalized bodies, but also of rubbish! I must be old-fashioned. If I use a small piece of paper, if only to even wrap my used gum, I have to save it until I get to a rubbish bin. Yet others find it no problem to carry their big gaabige bin and fling the rubbish inna di gully, or pon di side a di road! The what gets me is some of these same people have the nerve to block road an' protest 'bout how the gov. not doing anything fi clean up di place!

Four: (of less importance). I HATE mosquitoes! They just takin over the place like it's theirs and they have a God-given right! Well they do, but still it is quite annoying to have them buzzing 'round the place, and biting you like you give them permission. Geez man!

vain?!

2005-06-05T21:23:00.000-05:00

Golden Nugget...what a stress!!!! It reminds me of just how vain people can get.

I happened to have seen parts of it, and what I saw was quite interesting. Contestant come together to compete for a car...a kia something. They subject themselves to runing nude and all sorts of rubbish, just for a car!

Makes us wonder...for more than a car, what heights or depths would people go?!

Ah buoy!!

It's my money!

2005-06-03T17:40:00.000-05:00

You walk into a grocery store (or any other store for that matter). You walk around and pick up the item(s) that you need. Then you proceed to the cashier to pay for the said items. Total is given, you do not have the exact change, so you give them more than what is required, and await your change. You wait, and you get “change”…only it is not in its entirety.

Principle: whenever a customer walks into a store and makes a purchase, the business is EXPECTED to give back every single, solitary cent unless the customer says “You may keep the change”. But NO!! These very ambitious Jamaican business people believe that the “red money” is good for their own use, but not their customers to whom it belongs. What is even "better" is when they get upset when you ask for what I yours! The audacity! How dare them deny me the right to my own money, no matter how small, and then get upset when I ask for it?!?!

Moral: “One one cocoa full basket”. Demand what is yours.

Hypocrasy

2005-06-02T07:36:00.000-05:00

The other day the PSOJ made a proposal: the members of Parliament are supposed to sign a "contract" to agree not to associate themselves with the not-so-innocent in society. I have NO problem with such as agreement. What I have the problem with is the fact that some of the members of the private sector are the ones who should really sign such as agreement. Which brings me to what is called extortion.

Extortion- a means by which criminals survive, preventing hard-working people in society from existing on their own property without fear of malitous destruction of property or life.

The private sector had a protest the other day as a "strong message" to the criminals. No problem with that. But then some of those same people are the one funding their own demise. BIG PROBLEM with that! That is called hypocrasy!

Will this ever end?!?!?!?

really now!?

2005-05-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had reason to take a good look at the song that is so controversial on my recently purchased John Legend CD “Get Lifted”. This particular song is entitled “Number One”, and by the title one would say, “hey, sounds it may be a good song”. As many things and persons in life, it is all a deception.

First two lines of the song:
Now you can’t say I don’t love you
Just because I cheat on You

Maybe I am too damn naïve, maybe I am not as experienced as many others and maybe I have a simplistic approach to too many things, but I cannot see how the two lines go together. The next lines are just as interesting:

Cuz you can’t see all I do
To keep you from knowin’ the things I do
Like erase my phone and keep it outta town
And keep it strapped up when I sleep around

Any well-thinking person can know that this is all rubbish! How can you say you love someone, then and cheat, and justify it by saying you love them because you hide that fact?! What gets me is the lines after:

You know that I love you
There’s no one above you

This is so cliché it isn’t even funny. So many instances where guys cheat, and then have the nerve to continue doing it and still have the nerve to say they love their girl/wife.

So what now? Be very, very careful, and be discerning. Don't take crap from people, but at the same time be open to forgiveness.

Jaded...

2005-05-04T07:24:00.000-05:00

I just cannot understand what is happening in Jamaica...

This morning I came to work, and was met with some news.
1) a police was killed somewhere along or close to West Kings House Road
2) A police inspector was killed just a few minutes walk from where I work, and while I write this at 7:30 am,the body is there... just down the road.
3) two guardsman security personnel was killed this morning.

Now this is just today. This is, sadly, barely skimming the top of what goes on in Jamaica. Pathetic, sad, heart-breaking, heart-wrencing, repulsive... all the things that are happening in this country of ours. How can one not feel it for those who are close to the 7 year old who was raped and then killed? Or how can u not empathize with those who have lost their loved ones because someone felt the need to ram a knife into them, or feed their heart with bullets? How can you not crinch when you listen to the news and hear the different ways people are inventing to take other people's lives?

The bible says righteousness exalts a nation...we need a huge dose of that. I don't know how much lower we can go as a nation. But Jamaicans always find ways... Right now, Jamaica is at war with itself!

I am becoming jaded by all of this. I realise all I can do is pray, and hope that one day these people will realise what they are doing. Until then, God help us!

What the...?!?!

2005-04-28T02:05:00.000-05:00

First let me say I have not been up-dated on the full details, but I have heard enough to get me pissed!

Now before I started to see the world in a different light (that is, when I was ignorant), I thought the government's best interest was the well-being of the people, public servant included, and not really them for themselves. I was so damn naive!

I heard recently that the PM carried before his other cronies a proposal for his pension plan. From the basiscs have heard, he wants
1) A driver
2) 2 secretaries
3) a housemaid
4) allowance
5) reg. "pay" in the form of the pension itself

1) He wants a driver for himself...no problem with that. What he needs to do is pay the person out of his own damn pocket! Don't use my money as a tax-payer to do that??!?!?

2) what the hell is he going to do with 2 secretaries when him retire!?! HELLO! and the worse part about it is that they aint gonna be paid chum change, and again this money is not going to come from his pocket...(details pending about final sum of money).

3)If you want a housemaid, like every one else, she should be paid for from your own pocket... and worse, if she supposed to be getting about twice the amount of money the normal housemaid gets!

4) I really dont know what this allowance is for...I have to try and find out more about it, but my understanding is the sum is roughly $800 000 (give or take a few).

5) A whopin' $4.5 mil!

I don't know about anyone else, but I have a big problem paying all this, never mind the fact that my contribution is not that great. I pay income tax (which is a fortune!), and GCT, etc. I dont think I should have my money going to overpay secretary, housemaid, or driver! And worse yet, to double pay the PM ...i mean, his pension alone is so much I dont see the reason to have him getting an allowance as well!

Now how do I see things going after this? The other parliamentarians are going to say soon, "Hey, what about me? I have been doing great service to my country and therefore I think my pension should be increased!" And of course, they will get their increase, screwing all the other public servants who NEED to increase their pension!

The summary of all this: the people who govern our beloved country are all self-seeking, self-righteous, arrogant... individuals (not really the word I want to use, but I will refrain).! They look out for themselves, and all their concern is how much money they can get by trying to appear as if they have our best interest at heart! Only proof needed is how they could afford to give themselves over 100% increase in salary and only give public servants a mere ~3% increase.

I hope that one day these people will wake up and realise that while they sit on their high, cushioned seats and get fat, they are destroying the country they claim to love. Our economy will suffer if all they want to do is get all the money for themselves.

What this country needs is a set of people who have a conscience to govern it, who will not want to set themselves up for their retirement while the country suffers, Christians! This is my prayer!

God bless!

CCJ...grand waste!

2005-04-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

Maybe I don’t really get the full concept of the CCJ, or maybe it is that I am misinformed. But from what I understand, our government has no damn sense, and has been using their power to abuse the people!

Now, first of all, the CCJ is supposed to be replacing the Privy council. Yes, there are limitations with the Privy council (like everything else)! I don’t have a problem with us trying to establish our independence as a region, but there are ways to do so. How can you have such an important decision to make and not consult the people who it will affect?!?! Yes, they did elect you to work on their behalf, but for Heaven’s sake, how can you not expect them to want to add their piece and understand what it is you plan to do with their future?!

First major problem with the CCJ: it is through the government. My understanding (and I say here that I may be wrong so don’t quote me) is that we can only appeal to the CCJ through the government. In other words, unlike with the Privy Council, an individual cannot appeal directly to the CCJ, but through the government instead. Now I need someone to explain to me how that can NOT be political…how can that be free from political influence?!

Second issue: it’s expensive. Fine, I can work with the idea that if we plan to establish the CSME we need our own system. But then why are we (Jamaica) spending so much money NOW when all we can do at the court is resolve trade disputes!? TRADE alone!! I cannot see how we are ok with spending US$27 million to resolve trade alone. The only way to get other cases (criminal, etc) heard at the CCJ is to have our constitution amended. The only way that can happen is if there is a referendum (which is quite expensive). Who is to say that the referendum will go in favour of the CCJ? Who is to say the CCJ will replace completely the Privy council in the future? So, what that sums up to is that we end up spending J$150 milion per year (to repay the US$27 mil loan for our contribution to the CCJ) for something we are not guaranteed will happen. HELLO!??! Bells not going off in these people’s head to tell them what they doing don’t make sense!?!?? All they doing is wasting money, and buoy, they doing it so well!

I guess God knows what will happen in the future. All we as citizens of this beautiful country can do is hope that government hasn’t screwed us too much for us to pay dearly in the near or distant future…

God bless!

Death and the Living

2005-04-20T10:51:00.000-05:00

Hey all:

Lately I seem to think too much about things. My great-grandfather's death in January forced me to think about death and the effect on those they leave behind.

Now I understand death is a part of life. But it seems to me death has taken on a new meaning over the last few years. My initial understanding was that when a person dies, their family grieves, and friends provide their support to help through the difficult period. Now, however, it seems that some "friends" only add to the stress!!!

The night before the funeral in my opinion (though foolish it may seem) is for the family to relax physically and mentally as the following day may be extremely stressful and heart-wrenching. But that isn't the case! Everybody turns up not for giving support, but to get dem belly full! So ok, they come the night before when you should be resting to stress you out...but leave it at dat nuh! Why you going to do the same rubbish the day of the funeral!?!?!?

Things and times heard, esp in Jamaica. Funerals are extremely expensive without having to find food to feed the whole bloody community. How I see things, the community is supposed to pull together and help the family...if they want food (like the curry goat and all the other things they expect) then they should find it themselves. They should not expect it, as if it is written in stone and declared by God that "The family of the deceased shall hearby feed all those who present themselves". I realise (first hand) that that is the attitute of many people and it is sickening!!

If I could have my own way when I die, I would like sandwitches to be prepared.... If they can afford it, then, fine, have a big feast. But if it will put stress and strain on the family to find the necessary funeral things PLUS food, then forget it! Mix red drinks and do cheese sandwitches! Who nuh like, TUFF!

God bless!

Road rage

2005-04-13T07:39:00.000-05:00

By this titile one would assume I am a licensed driver ...yah right?!? I am currently a learner, but I have been a passenger all my life and see the madness that goes on on the roads.

Now I dont know why Jamaicans have the mentality they have: the road is all about me and screw everyone else who tries to change that or get in my way. Mind you, there are many decent people on the road, but it seems to be too large a number who do not fall into that category. I, for the life of me, cannot understand how people overtake around corners, or why people overtake a line of traffic because of impatience, or blow your horn like a jackass and expect that it will make the road clear to go! C'mon, what can be so important that you can't wait for the traffic to move on it's own!? Why is it so important to risk your life and the life of others just for the sake of getting where u going without waiting too long?!

Seriously though, what is the purpose of indicators? I mean, I always thought that it served a purpose: to let people know when you plan to turn (which sounds simple enough. But I get the feeling many people are not aware of this blinking yellow light (or red, whatever the colour may be). One would think that if another is going to suddenly swerve infront of you they would at least be kind enough to let you know, right? Or one would think at intersections it would help to know when someone plans to turn or not, right? WRONG! That is, apprently, too much to ask!

Now let us examine the battle of the red plates. The taxi drivers usually drive smaller vehicles, and so is better able to manuever between smaller spaces. The minibus drivers however, will try to use these smaller spaces though the physics of it all doesn't make sense (to the person with common sense). Taxis are only limited to 3-5 people, while mini buses can carry about 3-5 times that amount. Therefore, it would stand to reason that the mini buses would be driven with a bit more care considering there is a lot more at stake (Note: I am in NO way implying lives are insignificant). And bus drivers are to stick to a particular route JUSt in case someone needs to come off the bus. But alas! Sometimes what pains me the most is the fact that the police are never around to see these acts.

There is so much more that can be said, but for now I will leave it at this.

God bless!