Canstruction 2013 Hits New York City

The 21th Annual Canstruction NYC Competition was held in New York City October 21 to November 8, 2013 boasted very creative art pieces made entirely from...

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Stunner Conquers Sigma 2013

In my last post I wrote about my intentions to run the annual Sigma Corporate Run this year and my hopes to even try to get

Getting Back Fit for Sigma 2013 and Beyond

My Running sneakers It has been many years since I blogged about doing the annual Sigma Corporate Run!

Toscanini - Italian Dining Experience In Jamaica

When you think of Jamaica you think of jerk chicken, jerk pork, oxtail, rice and peas and the many colourful and delicious Jamaican meals guaranteed to tantalize the palate. Fine dining to delicious Italian...

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Thursday, December 28, 2006

Too Bad, Sell Off!!!

Intro:
"I waan yuh carry this round di road fah mi
And don't tek nuh talk from nobody
Just do weh mi tell yuh fi do seen star
And mek sure everyting work according to how man seh everyting fi work seen
Tek back yuhself and bring back yuhself inna one peace
Mek sure seh yuh reach, hear mi.
Lawd a mercy, hey, lawd a miss mercy, lawd a mercy"


Chorus:
"Driver, don't stop at all, drop this Arizona round a Alba Mall
Driver, don't even hitch, collect dat likkle food deh yah and come back quick
Driver, just rememba di damn speed limit.
Cau if yuh, run in di Feds my friend dat is it."
Click here to read the entire lyrics... (Image and lyrics from Jamaican Classified)

"Diver A" is undoubtedly the hottest song for the end of 2006, it can be heard at any dance, in almost every body's car, on the radio. Just the into of this song is enough to evoke a rowdy response of "brap, brap! chune! bombocla....!" from any crowd in earshot of the speakers and command several "pull-ups" from the Selectors playing the songs. The popularity of this song is not just restricted to the above mentioned, but has been the cell phone ring tune of choice for many Jamaicans...including yours truly, hehehe.

Buju Banton has done it once a gain with a brand new album of hit songs, "Too Bad". I must admit that this album is one of the best albums from a Jamaican DJ artiste in a long time, if not it's at least one of the best for this year, as almost all the songs are popular and I can actually listen them to entirety. We all know that Buju is a veteran in the business, but this album is definitely one his greatest to date. This seven track album have a decent line up of songs:

Track 1. Your Night Tonight
Track 2. Try Offa Yuh
Track 3. Nothing
Track 4. Too Bad
Track 5. Waistline
Track 6. Jig
Track 7. Me & Ounu
Track 8. 'Til It Bend
Track 9. Hey Boy
Track 10. Go Slow
Track 11. Driver A
Track 12. Girl U Know
Track 13. Lonely Night
Track 14. Who Have It
Track 15. Better Day Coming
Track 16. Don & Dupes Featuring Pinchers
Track 17. Fast Lane

Off course you know I have to share my favorites from this album. The Stunner's favorite pics from this album are:

6 - Mi an unuh
5- Waistline
4 - Hey Boy
3 - Too Bad
2 - Nothing
1- and of course topping the list is Diver A

If you have listened to the album or some of the songs on the album let me know your favorites.
If you don't have this album as yet, wah yuh a wait pon, go get it! This is absolutely a good one from Buju Bandton, this album is really "Too Bad"! As they say here in Jamaica, "dis yah one yah sell off!!!"

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

It's Been A While

It's been a while since I have visited Blogsville and posted, or even read post. I have been a bad Blogger. But I have been busy with all kinda stuff and also I have just been in a slump for the past couple of days and just didn't feel like posting of doing anything at all. I'm feeling a bit better now and picking up the pieces and reconfiguring the Stunner. So what has been happening in my neck of the woods?

Exam Done, Whoooiii!!!
Yes at last exam has come to an end, and I am so happy, excited (as you can see from my 'sketelish' expression in the heading) and relieved. The exams weren't too bad at all! The first one was somewhat challenging and had me worried a bit that i might just not get that minimum B- that I need to bring up my GPA. But I went on the web portal yesterday and say that i at least passed the course (nuh haffi di it again, Whoooiii!!!). So I am a bit optimistic about getting my minimum B- in the course. the second one was a dream come true, i buttered up that one good and proper, your boy Stunner can just taste the A. Now I'm just waiting on the official results to seal the deal. The only thing looming over my head and standing in the way of me and the likkle piece o' paper is my Major Project and one deggeh, deggeh semester. Oh freedom just months away.

Car Fix-up
The Stunnermobile, which I have been running red and neglecting for so long finally got a likkle touch up fi the end of year. I decided to get it serviced to ensure it doesn't embarrass me on the road by breaking down. So between the parts and oils and the mechanic I had to fork out some doe. Yes I did say mechanic, I don't have time to service my car myself, I got stuff to do. but that's just half of my pay cheque, the front tyres were excessively worn due to on the outer edges. So I had to carry poor Stunnermobile to get her a bran new pair of tyres and an alignment. So the ride is almost good to gizzle, I only need to fix the AC which has been working when it feels like and my coke-head central lock system. After taking care of those Stunner Mobile will be good to gizzle fo sizzle...I will only need to figure out how I'm ging to buy food...

New Personal Communication and Entertainment Device PCED (AKA Cell Phone)
Yes finally I have decided to treat myself and purchase a new cell phone, well PCED as I call them these days, cause they have all kinda things on them now: Camera, Video Recorder, FM Radio, Calculator, Music Player, and the list goes on. As I have said so many times I am a Samsung man, but if I am to get a Samsung with all the features I want it would cost me an arm and a leg. So I settled for the next best thing, a Nokia! After scrutinizing and extensive research I bought myself a Nokia 6131. This phone is so loaded with features and the design isn't too bad at all! It has all the features above and more, it's even a push-to-talk phone (walkie talkie)! Now I need to get me some bad bwoy ring tunes for my Stunner Mobile (yes that's the name I gave it for bluetooth communications).

New Post on Exotic Island Photos
I have posted yet another new photo on my photo blog. But I have no idea what the name of the subject of the photograph is. So you can visit the blog and help me with the name.

That's pretty much a summary of a few of the things I've been p to over the past few days I have been absent. So what's going on in Blogsville? I guess I'll find out right about now, mi gone read some blogs!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Tagged!!! - 5 Things You Don't Know About Me

One down one to go. The exam didn't go as well as I wanted it to go, but I should pass...hopefully. Now I have to put out even more effort on the other one, as it's my only chance for an A this semester.

I was going to post something else this afternoon, but I noticed that, despite me being so careful to avoid it, I got tagged by Taylor. So here it goes, 5 things you don't know about me:
  • I have slight disorder when it comes to reading the papers; I have to start at the front, and read each consecutive section in the correct order and I can't lend anyone a piece of the paper if I haven't reached that section as yet. Do you think I'm crazy?
  • Despite my ranting and my seemingly outspoken personality displayed in my posts on my blog, I am rather shy and reclusive...until I get to know you better!
  • I would say, like Taylor said, I love my women thick, with thick thighs, big round, bubble- butt asses, and big breasts, but you all know that from the eye-candies I post on some of my weekend posts. So I'll tell you something you don't know, I love when a woman has pretty feet and they have to be well kept, nails all done up and stuff, no tips preferably; just small, neat, well shaped, beautiful, sexy feet.
  • I love to see women in heels, I find it so sexy! Especially in those heels that show the pretty feet and toes. (drooling just thinking about it)
  • I'm such a pastry junkie! I love pastry so much, all kind of pastry. I will eat off a whole box of donuts all at once, and don't mention Black Forrest Cake, Cheese Cake, Tortuga Rum Cake (I hope unuh reading this one MB and Ri, if unuh come back out yah without nuh Tortuga Rum Cake unuh might as well board back di plane!!!), Plantain Tarts, Danishes, Chocolate Chip cookies, cup cakes, oohlala! So to avoid getting fat and swelling up like a whale, I avoid pastry for the most part and only eat a small amount. I can only buy one donut or one slice of cake, not the whole box, else dat done inna one shot!

So that's 5 things you don't know about The Stunner, I hope it hasn't changed your impression of me as being a nice, well-behaved, young man...hehehe. Now to pass on the torch, Melody you have been tagged!!!

I have posted a new pic on Exoic Island Photos also. Enjoy your weekend, di I shall be studying.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Beer Contains Female Hormones!!!

No time to do a decent post, I have my first exam on Thursday an I feel dunce! Enjoy the joke. Hope the ladies won't hate me for this one. I also posted a new photo on Exotic Island Photos at the new address http://exoticislandphotos.blogspot.com (formerly Exotic Fotos).


Beer Contains Female Hormones!!!

Last month, National University of Lesotho scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer.

Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption. The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women. To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:

1) argued over nothing.

2) refused to apologize when obviously wrong.

3) Gained weight.

4) Talked excessively without making sense.

5) Became overly emotional.

6) Couldn't drive.

7) Failed to think rationally

8) Had to sit down while urinating.

No further testing was considered necessary.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

AIDS/HIV A World Killer


I should have posted this from yesterday, but I still don't have my Internet.

December 1 is marked my the countries of the world as World AIDS day. This disease has scared the faces of many countries and the lives of many, young, old, rich, poor, gay and straight. It does not discriminate against race or class.

AIDS/HIV has claimed hundreds of millions of lives since then and still continues in an alarming rate as it spreads exponentially, especially among the poor and developing world. with all the extensive research scientists have still not come up with a cure for the fatal disease.

What can we personally do to curb this insatiable deadly disease? Well, I guess I will just reiterate the most common suggestions:

A - Abstinence is the safest prevention if you don't have one faithful, uninfected partner
I - Infidelity should be avoided, especially if its unprotected.
D - Discrimination and Drug Abuse should not be practiced
S -Safe sex should be practiced by all.

H - Help to prevent the disease by doing your part to educate and protect yourself and others.
I - Information about prevention is essential to stop the disease.
V - Volunteer what you can, time or money, to stop the disease and care for those suffering.

However, there might be a breakthrough in stopping this pandemic, the AIDS vaccine. After any years of research the scientist have developed a vaccine against this deadly virus and it is currently in the testing stage. Although it will not cure the estimated 65million living with the disease, it might bring an end to the disease in the generations to come. The question is: Would you volunteer to take the AIDS Vaccine? And why?

Monday, November 27, 2006

Yumm Coffee

It's exam time again here in Jamaica and a lot of university students are currently burning the midnight oil studying. And that means a lot of persons will be consuming my favorite morning pick-me-upper hot beverage, coffee! Yes a lot of students including myself will be indulging in the flavour, aroma and stimulus of the brewed coffee bean for that little extra perk it gives the brain as they burn the midnight oil. Most of us don't take the time to brew coffee in a coffee maker, especially while out studying with the group, or shooting out early in the morning for work. So we opt for the next best thing, instant coffee. As everyone knows, the Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is the best coffee in the world! Maybe that's why I love it so much. As a Jamaican I consume a lot of instant Jamaican coffee, and I have sampled several of the instant coffees sold locally. So let me let you in on the Stunner's Jamaican Instant Coffee Ratings!

Stunner's Jamaican Instant Coffee Ratings (starting from highest rated):

  1. Jamaica High Mountain Instant Coffee

  2. Country Traders Instant Coffee

  3. Jablum Instant Coffee

  4. Salada Jamaica Blue Mountain Instant Coffee

What's your top favorite instant brews?


PS: I also posted a new pic on Exotic Fotos, check it out!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Brrrr!!!! It Cold Nuh B....!


Brrrr!!! Whoi it cold nuh bitch! That's what a lot of Jamaicans, myself included, said when they woke up this morning to extremely cold conditions (by Tropical standards) coupled with strung gusty winds. It seems the weather people were right about this one, cause it definitely is a cold front! (No not mine, it pretty warm right now! Fasty!)

The drop in temperature started from yesterday evening, and the wind didn't waste any time joining in the fun as it was right there with the drop in temperature. I even managed to wash and hung my clothes to dry last night and within a couple of hours they were dry, thanks to the strong breeze! But last night was nothing compared to this morning when the temperature really plummeted and the winds picked up. Trust mi, I man found it hard fi get up from unda that sheet this morning! Even with the three alarms I set the night before to ensure I got up.

It's times like these make me happy to know I have hot water, so in the shower I went. Then I armed myself to face the elements, straight undershirt today, no merino (A-shirt), and at last for the first time since the year started my sweater came out of the drawer! On the road, had the tell-tale signs of the cold front, everyone seemed to be putting on some protection from the weather, some were in jackets, windbreakers, sweaters and long sleeved shirts were the fashion of the day.

The day has gotten a bit warmer now, but it's still windy and overcast and my office is extra cold right about now. But I don't mind the cold temperature, at least I can keep warm, it's not as miserable and expensive here in the tropics as when it is hot. The forecast is for the weather to continue until the weekend, so the sweaters will be rejoicing that they finally get a chance to get out of the drawer.

No Internet yet, I will be getting it soon though...hopefully and I have exam in two weeks so I will still be laying low in Blogsville for a while. Until then I might not get to comment on much blogs or post much. Thank God for "copy and paste", else I wouldn't be able to drop a post since I only have access to the net at work. Till dem tme deh likkle more. Brrrrrr!!!

Friday, November 17, 2006

Hot Wuk (a.k.a. Hot F**k)!!!

Hot Wuk, also known as Hot F**k, is the latest of the raunchy dances storming the clubs, dances and on the television. This new dance came out just on the heels of Dutty Wine, and like its predecessor it has gained a lot of popularity on the Jamaican scene. I recall CD (CoolDesiny) asking me about the Hot F**k and Dr. D being amazed that there was a dance out there by that name. So I decided to give you this one to practice over the weekend, hehehe. Hot Wuk (a.k.a. Hot F**k), like Dutty Wine is a gender specific dance, for the females. Dat mean seh nuh man nuffi do it! The dance is supposed to mimic a girl receiving rough sex...let me know what you think of that! Well enough of the long chatting, here is the dance.





Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Checking In

I have moved at last, but not all is well, I still have a lot of unpacking and fixing up to do. But I have no time to do it, between working double shifts and school I hardly have time to do anything. not even sleep gets priority anymore. The place is OK, not as comfortable with it as I would want feel, but it will have to do until the end of next semester. No Internet yet, cause I just got the time to do the transfer on Friday. So I still have a few more days before I get it back. With all of that I will be scarce for a while. Anyway can't tarry fi long, just giving an update and hailing up everyone. Enjoy your weekend, and here is a little something to help you do that.


A married couple was in a terrible accident where the man's face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from his body because he was too skinny. So the wife offered to donate some of her own skin. However, the only skin on her body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from her buttocks. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and they requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.

After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the man's new face. He looked more handsome than he ever had before! All his friends and relatives just went on and on about his youthful beauty!

One day, he was alone with his wife, and he was overcome with emotion at her sacrifice. He said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?"

"My darling," she replied, "I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Got A Place, Moving Time Again

The hunt is finally over...for now. I finally got a place after the seemingly endless and stressful search for a place to rent. It's not all what I wanted or expected, but it isn't too bad I guess. It should be able to hold me, at least till I finish school. I am so tired it nuh funny, apart from working several shifts over the weekend which forced me to go to bed late and wake early, I had to find myself on the phone early this morning to call places I had selected in the gleaner the night before and then head out to look at them. But that part is over now, here comes the other hard part...moving!

I need to move as soon as possible to ensure that I get settled in to prepare myself for exams in a few weeks. I absolutely hate moving, the packing, the unpacking, the cleaning, the arranging, aaahh! Just the thought of it makes me tired and depressed. I have so many other things to do, send out my change of address letters, change my phone line...which means no land phone and worse no Internet! I also have an assignment and two labs to complete, one of which is due on Thursday and I'm not even half way through. Poor me, I don't know how I'm going to manage the next two weeks.

As a result of these time consuming activities I will be somewhat absent on the blog scene for a while until I sort things out. Later...

Friday, November 03, 2006

Dutty Wine Kills!

The Dutty Wine has been on the lips many deejays and has become one of the most, if not the most popular dance in Jamaica and even in the entire Caribbean and North America region. The popularity of this dance has also superseded the boundaries of the dances, clubs and television to even the Internet on the popular You Tube. Now it seems the Dutty Whine has a new claim to fame, a killer! It is alleged that on the night of October 29, 2006, 18-year old Tanisha Henry was attending a 'school uniform' party in St. Catherine. At about 4 o'clock in the morning she was doing the dutty wine when she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. (Ratid, mi sound like one dem police deh pon Crime Stop!).

The dance involves the rapid swinging of the head and neck which has spurred many doctors to issue warnings against the practice of this dance. It has been reported that many persons doing the Dutty Wine, especially in the infamous Dutty Wine Contests, have suffered from whiplash. However, this is the most serious incident that has been attributed to the dance. I have seen quiet a few Dutty Wine Contests on TV and let me tell you, I have to wonder if these girls have any common sense at all to be wheeling their heads in such a violent manner! I even saw one of them sprain their neck doing the Dutty Wine!


The alleged death by Dutty Wine has startled many, including one woman in the community where the incident occurred,, so much so that she proclaimed, "It is a warning to young people that dem mus stop du de Dutty Wine,...Is like a demon sen' from de pit a hell dat is taking the lives of the youth even before dem have time to repent." The incident has also let to many calling for the banning of Dutty Wine. Personally, I don't see banning the dance possible, but people must realise that although it's in the name of fun, they need to use their common sense and realize that they need to be careful. Then again, common sense is not so common.


On another sad note former World Boxing Council, Heavy-weight champion, Jamaican, Trevor Berbik was found murdered near his door step in the quiet district of Norwich in my home parish of Portland. He was brutally murdered and the police have ruled out robbery as the motive. The police have since then apprehended two persons in relation to the crime and has suspected that it may be a reprisal killing. This has casted a shadow on my peaceful parish of Portland, which has the lowest murder rate in Jamaica. It is just another sign to show how bad things have become, when not even the life of a celebrity, an icon, the women and even the children's life are safe from the hands of murder.


Now let's switch gears as I give you a Stunner update. I have decided not to take the place based on the concerns I explained in my last post, and so I'm still on the hunt for a new place. hopefully I find one this weekend, I have to! The school front is just as harsh, I did a test yesterday and I wasn't pleased with how I handled it. I have several labs and a major assignment to hand in between next week and the week after. As if that isn't bad enough, exam is breathing down my neck, as it is only 4 weeks away. But with the help of God I'll make it through. On a lighter note, I got to take more pictures, and speaking of pictures check out the picture of the Puss-Tail one Exotic Fotos! Enjoy your weekend!!!

Monday, October 30, 2006

I Want to Leave the City Behind


I want to leave,
Leave the hustle and bustle of the city,
Move to the hills where it's quiet,
To the hills where its clear and pretty.

I want to retreat,
Hide away from the horns, the shouting, the constant chattering,
Give it all up for the birds chirping, the rustling of the trees as they caress the trees,
A place I can relax and have no part of the city's beat.

I want to go above the light grey smog and the haze,
I want a view, the breath-taking scenery of the hills,
A place where I can see the moon and the stars as I gaze.

Give me a place where I can find refuge from the daily grind,
Somewhere I can feel inspired,
Yes, a beautiful place on the hills where I can leave the city behind.



Apartment hunt: Update 2
The hunt is still on, I still have not fully secured a place for myself as yet. I had one promising place so far, the Landlord has even agreed to rent me the place, but I am not 100% certain I want to take it. The parking arrangement is not that conducive to my working schedule and the other thing is that I would be living at the same premises as the landlord and is sister. I really don't want to share the same place with the landlord, even though he seems cool. The place is a really nice, new, flat, but I would prefer an apartment. I have to make a decision by this afternoon, so I have a lot to sleep on. Should I settle and make do with this one, or give up certainty for uncertainty and continue searching for something better?
I would love to get a nice place on the hills, but Ill settle for a decent apartment in a decent part of the city. So as my time here dwindles down ever so rapidly, I am still on the hunt. Hopefully, I will find a place that suits me as closely as possible.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Weekend Quicky With An Eye Candy

Another rough week has passed, I had my first test of the semester on Thursday, I think I should pass...I hope. As if that wasn't bad enough I have another test next week Thursday, so I will be in the books as much as circumstances and my brain will allow. I also have my Senior Project hanging over my head and I still haven't started any serious work on that as yet. Not to mention the impending final exams in four weeks time. Ahhhh!!! Lately I find it hard to study, I literally have to be forcing myself. But I have reached too far now to fall along the wayside. So I have to do it...starting tomorrow. I just need to take two days to de-fragment my brain.


Sunday is another day of hunting for a place. Truly I'm not looking forward to it, but it's something I have to do. Hopefully it will be productive this time, as this whole process is cutting into my valuable time that I should be using to study.


Here is a little something for the weekend. Checkout my weekend Eye Candy from khrystihill.com, that is a body! (drooling) I know only the male bloggers might enjoy this one, sorry ladies, no half naked men on this blog. Enjoy your weekend.


P.S. I have also added a new photo to Exotic Fotos.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Apartment Hunt: Update 1

Sunday apartment hunting was great, I actually found a nice apartment with all the amenities that I would want, in a wonderful quiet neighborhood, well kept, and one of the most wonderful landlord that I never thought I would meet..........Shit! Mi *!^$$*#& daydreaming again! Damn it!

Back to reality, Sunday, my first official apartment hunt was almost a total waste of time. The hunt actually started early Sunday morning... I mean early! I left work at about 12:20 am. I deliberately left work a bit late to ensure the "Early Edition" gleaner men received their Sunday supply of the Sunday Gleaner. Any avid house/apartment hunter knows that's the best time to get your gleaner to get a head start. But to my surprise the damn Sunday Gleaner wasn't delivered yet! Instead the half crazy gleaner/windscreen cleaner/rose sellers were instead out there trying to sell people roses at minutes past twelve in the morning! Just great, I had to go home wait a while and then hit the road again, fortunately this time the Sunday Gleaner had arrived and the scanning of the classifieds started shortly thereafter.

Cockadoodle doo! (Not mine), the sun was up and the alarm clock was making a racket, it was daybreak, some minutes pass seven and time to start phase 2 of the hunt. I started calling the places that was selected earlier. After talking to a few, rejecting a few, leaving a few voice messages, i managed to set up a few meetings and then it was on the road. I viewed a couple of places, but the ones I saw were definitely NOT worth the price the landlords were asking. At one point I was tempted to ask what the &@^##*#*!^#! yuh tinking bout yuh want so much fi dis ole dump! But in good manners I curtailed my thoughts. In another 2 cases, I spoke to the persons renting the places and after heading to the location I started to call to get the directions, only to have my calls going directly to voice mail. When I finally got through, the damn bastards had the heart to tell me that the places have just been rented! What the *#^#%@*!

Overall, the day was almost a total waste, the only good that came out of it is that I got to take a few wonderful shots while in Red Hills. I will share them with you during the course of the week on Exotic Fotos, starting Tuesday.

(sigh) So the hunt continues, during the course of the week and even more intensly on Sunday coming. Melody, CD and everyone continue your prayers so my dream can come through.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Dutty Landlord!

Once again Stunner is on the hunt for a new place to rest my head...among other things. The painstaking tasks of: buying The Sunday Gleaner at 12:00 midnight, waking up early on a Sunday morning, making endless futile phone calls, driving to all kinda areas across the corporate area, only to be disappointed by ridiculous prices and substandard places of dwelling are to be repeated once again! It seems I just keep moving, never settled; every year or two I am on the move again! Why? Because of Dutty Landlord!

From the time I moved from Portland to Kingston, in my younger days fresh from University, till now a full fledged Kingstonian, I have never had a good landlord! Is getting a good landlord too much to ask for? Why can't I get one of the good landlords?

I have lived on the same premises with my landlord before, and I vowed after the second experience that never again will I share the same space with a Dutty Landlord! It seems that whenever you live on the same premises as the landlord, appart from imposing endless restrictions and rules, he/she feels they can still do as they please because is their property. The Dutty Landlord feels he can put things anywhere he feels, burn bush (grass) whenever he feels and pound the whole place with his hammer as early as he feels, with no due regard to the tenant. The place belongs to the landlord yes, but from a person decides to rent a place he must understand that he has to give up some of his rights and have consideration for the tenant who is paying to live there. Mi not begging a cotch!

As a result I decided to rent apartments or somewhere where the landlord doesn't live. But even then I encountered problems! It seems it is an universal thing with almost all landlords; they love to collect rent, but never want to repair the place! Why is it that one has to "run dung" (beg and constantly remind) the landlord to fix something that is broken, due to no fault of yours. And when the Dutty Landlord does decide to fix it, he brings his tradesman friend to "bitch up" (temporarily fix the problem in such a way that the problem will reoccur in a short time). Why Dutty Landlord? I am paying you your rent punctually every month, and yet I can't live in some form of comfort!

I can't wait for the day when I'll open the doors to my very own place. God bless that day! Until then, (sigh) I guess I will have to put up with Dutty Landlords and keep moving when I can't tolerate it anymore! Pray for me as I embark on my hunt that I find a good landlord, and a decent place I can afford! And no more Dutty Landlord!

New photo posted on Exotic Fotos!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Extortion!!!

Extortion is what it is! Poor decent people who strive to pay their utility bills are now being asked to pay...no, sorry, forced to pay fee to pay their bills! What kind a &#^#%ry is that? Let me set the plot for you.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, honest hardworking, bill paying, customers of the utility companies would queue up is almost never ending lines to pay their exorbitantly high bills at the utility company's branch offices. Some time ago the idea of a bill paying agency was born. It was like a blessing, the best thing since slice bread! Now you could go to one central place to pay all their utilities!

Seeing the success of the bill payment agencies like, Paymaster and Bills Express, the utility companies, like JPS, The National Water Commission and Cable and Wireless, decided it would save them a whole bunch of money if they shut down their branch offices and allow the bill payment agencies to do the job of collecting.

Now these bill payment agencies were basking in success, now they are collecting for all the utility companies. Now instead of getting a fee from the utility company to collect the payment of a few who found it convenient, they were now being payed by the utility companies to collect from everybody on a full time basis! Oh, Paymaster and Bills Express were now reaping their rewards! Or so you would think! Just a couple of months ago, Paymaster, seeing how they could plunder hard working underpaid Jamaicans and get fat off the spoils got greedy! Paymaster decided that the money the utility companies were paying them was too little, they wanted more! So what did they decided to do? Ask the companies to pay more? No! They decided to target they poor consumer by charging a fee to pay a bill! Yes, consumers were told that they would have to pay a fee for every bill they pay!

OK, paying a small fee for the convenience of paying all your bills at one location isn't that bad, right? It wouldn't be bad if it was a small fee, instead Paymaster has imposed a $30 fee per transaction! Paymaster's main competitor Bills Express, could not let all this loot pass them by and decided to jump in on the action and slapped it's customers with a $35 service charge per transaction! There is no escape now! So if you have to pay your cable bill, light bill, telephone bill and water bill you will now have to pay as much as 4x35=$140 extra on your ever increasing utility bills! What the %#$#, this is ^#%@^@ robbery! It would be somewhat OK for them to charge a fee if consumers still had the option of the utility companies' branch offices. At least their would be a choice.

Who will save the defenceless consumer? The OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation)? Please, they can't do shit! the OUR is like a dog without teeth. When the consumer turned to them for help they outright declared that they can do nothing to protect consumers from this form of extortion.

Although this doesn't affect me as I pay my bills online through the bank, it stills upsets me to see this level of exploitation. And who knows, the banks may be the next ones to jump on the band wagon!

PS: New photo posted on Exotic Fotos.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Little Old Lady

A little old lady is walking down the street, dragging two plastic garbage bags with her, one in each hand. There's a hole in one of the bags, and every once in a while a $20 bill is flying out of it onto the pavement. Noticing this, a policeman stops her...."Ma'am, there are $20 bills falling out of that bag..." "Darn!" says the little old lady....."I'd better go back and see if I can still find some. Thanks for the warning!" "Well, now, not so fast," says the cop. "How did you get all that money? Did you steal it?" "Oh, no", says the little old lady. "You see, my back yard backs up to the parking lot of the football stadium. Each time there's a game, a lot of fans come and pee in the bushes, right into my flower beds! So, I go and stand behind the bushes with a big hedge clipper, and each time someone sticks his little thing through the bushes, I say: "$20 or off it comes!" "Hey, not a bad idea!" laughs the cop. "OK, good luck! By the way, what's in the other bag?" "Well", says the little old lady, "not all of them pay."

That's a laugh for the weekend, hope you all enjoy the weekend...I'll be working unfortunately. I was going to vent, but I'll save that for Monday, right now I just want to laugh.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Exotic Fotos


As some of you may already know, I have started a new blog! How can Stunner start another blog and he can hardly get time to blog on Stunner's Afflictions? Well, as the name suggests it's a photo blog, I will just be posting my photos on it, with a short comment describing the photo. So it won't be too time consuming, and I should be able to manage that. Ever since I go t the new camera I have been snapping away like crazy, so why not share some of those shots!

Anyway enough long chatting, go and visit my blog at http://exoticfotos.blogspot.com/.

Monday, October 09, 2006

And the Stars Rise

Picture of One Third and Nikeisha taken from YardFlex.com

Another successful staging of the Digicel Rising Stars competition has once again come to an end. And history has been created in this third staging of the programme that has won the hearts of Jamaicans. For the first time a group has come out on top and has claimed the winning title of Digicel's Rising Stars 2006. The group One Third has been voted the winner by the Jamaican public, who has their hearts stolen by this singing group of three, who sung a variety of songs from oldies to their most popular cover of Anthony Cruz's Half Way Tree. But One Third was not just faces that drove the girls wild and voices that thrilled their souls, they also had a commanding stage presence with their choreography. Congratulations One Third and all the best with you careers...and the one million dollars!

I have to also highlight the second runner up Nikeisha Barnes who also had a commanding stage presence, not only for her voice and her cover of a few Mary J Blige's song including her powerful performance of I'm Going Down, but also with her hot body. Yes she was not only a strong voice, but also a stong body gal! She had a nice shape, wonderful legs, accentuated by her outfits, and a decent pair of lips that keeps driving one of my coworkers wild! (ok, ok, I liked her lips too and her body) Nikesha wasn't a winner from the start at all though. She was eliminated in one of the early rounds, but for some reason the toughest, most feared judge of the competition, Anthony Miller, saw something in her and pulled her back in the competition. And I know he wasn't disappointed. Congratulation Nikeisha and I wouldn't mind sharing some of that six hundred thousand dollars!

I can't end this blog without mentioning the famous Brushy One String, singing melodies with his two string guitar 9formerly one string). Although he was eliminated the week before the final round he still came out a winner. I doubt Brushy wanted to win, i think he just wanted some exposure, as he has been performing for sometime now. And exposure he got, as he is now a part of the line up for the Heineken Star Time Show!

The competition wasn't as intense as last year with Chris and Noddy, but it still had a lot of hype! Come on 4000 ticket sold out in just a few days! That's still a lot of hype! An I know Digicel is smiling all the way to the bank with all that money they made!

Click here for a sneak prieview of Exotic Fotos!

Friday, October 06, 2006

The Bath Tub Test

It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time, and this should help get you started:

During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.

"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

The director's answer Is below...





"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

Did you pass the test? Don't lie now! Got that one in my email so I shared it. Enjoy your weekend!

P.S. I have switched to the new Blogger (Beta) and may be experimenting with it over the weekend...if I have the time. So don't be surprised if things look a bid different or totally messed up.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Eruption!

Well as you can see today is not Thursday, so the Thursday post didn't work out. I am still under the influence of the time consuming, school work. We actually got a one-week extension on the assignment that has been rocking my brain for the past few weeks. I am nowhere better off than I was when I just started but, one of my classmates claims to have a light at the end if the tunnel. So hopefully the information will help me out.

On the bright side I completed my lab report and handed it in, however I did another lab the same day I handed it in. Not to fret I spent the weekend and shot down that one too, cause you know I have to "stay pon top a tings, top a tings" But this is just the beginning of my stress, as I have to do my major project this year and the deadline for submitting the application is this week and we don't have a project as yet! You noticed I said we, well that is the only bright side...I actually am in a major project group. So the struggle to get the likkle piece a paper fi seh mi qualified continues. Anyway, as the title of the post suggests, this is not the main post, just a side info.

On another note, there is a fowl smell in the air, a smell of fear, of blood, of tears, yes a nasty odor. No I'm not talking about some smelly old socks, it election time around the corner. Yes the two major political parties (a.k.a. bands of thieves) are gearing up and are oiling up the pieces...oops, I mean their political strategies for the upcoming election soon to be announced. The campaigning and indirect campaigning has begun as everyone eagerly awaits the word from Sista P fi fly di gate!

How do I know that election is in the air, no you can’t actually smell it smarty pants, and no it's not the political speeches filled with empty promises, not the careless and numerous awards of contracts to repair the roads, nor is it the regular tours and motorcades across the island. Den how mi know?

It's the recent flare-up of tribal war...I mean political violence in the political strong hold communities. Yes the dreaded Mountain View community and Olympic Gardens are threatening to erupt again! The dormant volcanoes that have been so relatively peaceful seem to have started to send tremours through the corporate area and have even began to spew bloody lava on the streets and to hurl stones of bullets in the air. Other potential political volcanoes are under the radar such as Grant's Pen, Tel-Aviv, Spanish Town, Spoilers, Southside, and the list goes on. Once again our fellow Jamaicans have started to allow political tribalism to divide them and turn them against themselves as they do battle for political dominance. This has been the face of the political scene in Jamaica every time the election wind blows; various garrison communities battle against each other and even within themselves in the name of politics.

There is nothing such as a free and fair election in Jamaica. There is no freedom of movement in certain areas of this island. It's not just the innocent persons in these violent communities who suffer, not only the poor children, but also the whole Jamaica. Like it or not, political violence mars the beauty of this wonderful country. The Peace Management Initiative dubbed the PMI and the Police are trying futilely to put a band-aid on the laceration that political violence has made in the corporate area.

Why must we Jamaicans continue this violent cycle? Is it due to the lack of education why these elements of society war among themselves in the name of politics? Are the politicians to be blamed for the violent political tribalism, by instigating it or not doing anything to curb this malignant soar? What is your take?

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Quick Jotting

I have been scarce of late, no unnuh nuh do mi nuttin! No mi nuh inna malice wid unnuh! I have been rather busy and unda some serious pressure. A I have mentioned before, school is in full swing and the lecturers did not hesitate to start unleashing streams of notes, assignments and labs. O I have been trying to cope with the stress of school and work. I have three assignments due on Thursday: only lab, one report and a homework. The homework and the lab are done already and una lock, but the assignment is breathing down my neck. I should have started a long time ago, but all the information I dug up on the web, just kept turning me off. Have you ever had an assignment that you just don't know where to start? Well this is one of them.

You may have noticed that between Tuesday and yesterday I have managed to drop a line or two on your blogs, so I have not forsaken blogsville. I will drop a decent post Thursday night...Well that is if I'm not too beat! Anyway, till dem time deh, enjoy this comic yah.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Return of the Traffic!!!...Stay Cool

The traffic as seen through my side mirror.

September is not just know for being the peak of the hurricane season or just the beginning of a new school year, but it is also known as the month of the return of the traffic! Yes the miserable feeling of sitting in your car stationary for minutes at a time, the constant blowing of horns at the stop lights, the awful feeling of having to get up early, the anguish of reaching work or school late despite your best efforts, is upon us again. School is now in full swing and so its partner in crime the never ending traffic. It seems as if there is no escape from it, you try the back-roads only to end up at another end of the main road in more bumper-to-bumper traffic. As if that isn't bad enough even the back-roads and shortcuts have now become overwhelmed with traffic!

The traffic along Waterloo Road.

This is the scene on Waterloo road this morning as I was making my way to work; a never ending stream of vehicles trapped in a bumper to bumper queue en route to their morning destinations. Don't you just hate it when you're stuck in traffic and the other side of the road is as empty as your pocket just before payday? It just seems so unfair! Oh how I missed the summer holidays when I could get up even a hour later than usual and still arrive at work on time. Well there's just no way of getting around it, unless the government builds some super highways with over-head passes. I recall reading a post by Cool Destiny who was complaining bitterly about the whole traffic situation on the Portmore Toll road and now I am faced with my traffic torment too.

Since I can't do anything to avoid the menacing traffic here are some things the Stunner does to keep his cool in traffic:

  • I try to leave out as early as possible in the mornings. This strategy often fails for me, as I find it hard to pull myself out of the sweet early morning sleep. But is does pay off when I do as there is less traffic on the road and even if the traffic is bad I have enough time to still reach work early.
  • I ensure I have some serious bad-ass music to listen to and jig to in my car while I am stuck in traffic. This helps to keep my mind off the stress of being trapped in a traffic jam. Sometimes I wonder what the person behind me or the persons in front of me think when they get a glimpse of me in my car. You see, it's a regular thing for Stunner to be jigging, Willie Bouncing, among other dances and singing on the top of my voice in my car while in traffic. Thank God for midnight tint!
  • Apart from listening to my bad-ass CDs, I also enjoy listening to Francois and Dannae on Fame.FM, especially on Friday mornings when the have Full House Fridays when they have a whole bunch of comedians on their show doing all kinda crazy things.
  • One of my favorite pass time has resumed, as you can see from the above photos, taking photographs while stuck in traffic. I know people must be wondering what the hell is wrong with this idiot taking photos while driving! But don't worry I do it safely, I only take pictures when the car is stationary and on rare occasions when I'm driving slowly.

I know at some point you all have been trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic, whether to or from work or school. What do you do to keep your cool?

Monday, September 18, 2006

The Tailgater

A honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busyboulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled upbehind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the Choose Life license plate holder, the What Would Jesus Do? bumper sticker, the Follow Me to Sunday-School bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car.


I got the above in my email, and thought it conveys a wonderful lesson. I think the lesson is "never put bumper stickers on your car". Just kidding, I think it means we should remember to practice what we preach and that our actions speak louder than words. What did you learn?

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Number 1!

Once again the worlds fastest man has done it, he equaled his own record of 9.77s and has been named as the Performer of the Month for August by the IAAF. Asafa Powell has certainly earned a name for himself in the world of Track and Field as a 100 meter king.

I know equaling the record must have dropped a bomb in the US training camp especially with the recent doping scandal involving Gatlin still lingering in our memories. No hard feelings to my US peeps but I just had to drop that in.

Asafa has certainly shown himself to be an excellent sprinter and continues to make Jamaica proud. Hopefully he will continue to keep up his wonderful performance and continue to say "no to drugs".

The women have not been taking a back seat on the tracks as Sherone Simpson has taken the top spot for both the 100 meters and 200 meters sprints.

Sherone has been showing that she has the potential to do great things on the tracks and this number one position has shown that she definitely has what it takes to be a dominant player on the track.

Congratulations to both Asafa and Sherone on being number one and making Jamaica number one through your excellent performances.

It has been another rough week again, school just seems to be getting harder and harder every week as the notes increase and the assignments begin to manifest their ugly selves. The mandatory work courses have just been adding insult to injury as this makes my task of trying to stay pon toppa tings at school even harder. Hopefully I'll make it through this semester in one piece and still sane (...hmm, was I ever sane?)

Here's a shot for the weekend. This pic should seem familiar to the Mad Bull, as I took it on my decent when I visited Grand Cayman in early 2005. Enjoy your weekend.



Monday, September 11, 2006

9/11 The Aftershocks

Picture of Ground Zero formerly The World Trade Centre. I took this picture while in New York in 2003.

September 11, 2006, Americans, young and old, man and woman and people of different ethnic background commemorated the tragic events of what is now most commonly known as 9/11. It was five years ago when terror came from the sky and brought down one of Americas symbols of strength and economic dominance as well as the lives of so many innocent people.

I can still remember that day, it was my second week at work, fresh from University. I was sent to another location for cross-training and I had just arrived, about a hour before, waiting to for the senior technicians to impart their knowledge, when a technician came into the room and two planes were flown into the Twin Towers! At first I didn't believe, but after rushing to the pantry and turning on the TV, reality slapped me in the face! Smoke was bellowing from the buildings and there were flickers of flames everywhere until finally it all came crashing down and ending so many lives as well as breaking so many hearts.

Well, it's five years later and this act of terrorism has and still is affecting the lives of all Americans and the world over. The event's of 9/11 sent shock waves through the lives of not just those who lost family and friends in the towers and the planes, but in the lives of countless persons around the world. How so?

Since 9/11 traveling changed drastically, the US dictated new stringent security measures in an effort to thwart any recurrence of that attack. The US formed a traveling watchdog the TSA, which dictated several restrictions; no longer were allowed to travel with nail clips and tweezers in our hand luggage, travelers to the US were subjected to random shoes searches, visitors to the US are now subjected to being finger printed like felons and other forms of biometric identifications (yes, yours truly was subjected to the felon treatment) and airport security was beefed up to maximum.

The US government as well as ordinary citizens now live in fear of the next terror attack. When will it be? Where will it be? What form will it take? Will I be next? Are the questions that run through the minds of many today. This paranoia, or maybe common sense, has led the US authorities to implement a terror alert system ranging from yellow to red alert describing the various severities of a possible terrorist attack. Every accident, malfunction and man-made mistake triggers the words "terrorist attack" in the minds of the US authorities and citizens as well as people from other countries around the world until it is proven not to be. 9/11 has certainly plunged the world into a morbid fear.

The US was not to take this attack lightly as they launched an offensive against the man named as the mastermind, Osama bin Laden and Taliban regime who the US named as his supporter. The US army overturned the Taliban government and killed many who they implicated in terrorist activities, but yet still the mastermind is still at large, looming over like a dark ominous cloud. But America wasn't done yet, this was an opportunity for an all-out attack on the US long time arch-enemy Saddam Hussein and Iraq, which was attacked in the name of Terror. Although Saddam has been brought down, blood still flows like a river, the blood of American soldiers and the blood of many Iraqi people.

The war in the middle east has sparked an unprecedented rise in the worlds oil prices and dented our pockets with ridiculously high prices at the pumps. The surge in the price of the "black gold" triggered an increase in the prices of many other products that rely on it for production as well a hike in the utility bills, especially here in Jamaica. As the prices of oil continues to climb we feel the ribs of our pockets even more.

Undoubtedly the world has changed since then and things will never be the same as the aftershocks of 9/11 continue to ripple through our lives.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Just for the Weekend


So in my last post I celebrated getting my new camera and some of you were anxious to start seeing some photos. So I decided to post the first of many picture from my Kodak 650. The camera has performed well so far and I am certainly not disappointed. I call this one "Full Moon". I like it because it seems to impart a sense of tranquility, and I need that in these financially turmoil times.

I have been a bit busy this week: school loan application, work, school, gym and other stuff. I have started to feel the stress coming on as I have several mandatory courses to do at work and this semester at school seems as if it's going to be the roughest so far. I haven't selected a major project or a major project group, so I will be concentrating on that as well as the challenges of the new courses for this semester. So I might not be as visible as I would like to be on the blogsphere. This week was somewhat hectic, it took me three days to browse through and read the posts on your blogs, so Im way behind. But I'll still try to read the posts as well as dropping a few posts of my own.

This won't be a long post, as my weekend posts are normally short. Here is a little weekend laugh, enjoy your weekend.

The Three Caribbean Prostitutes
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson was at a cocktail party.He met three high class prostitutes during the function, an American, a Cuban and a Jamaican.

To the American he said: "I am the Prime Minister how much would it cost me to spend some time with you?" Only $1,000 she replied. Then he asked the Cuban the same question: "No mas, only $100 Americano dollares," was her reply.

When he put the same proposition to the Jamaican girl she replied:

"Yow P.J. if you can raise mi skirt as high as mi taxes,

pull dung mi baggy as low as mi wages,

get your 'ood as hard as the times are,

and screw me the way you ah screw the ghetto people,truss me Mr. Prime Minister, yuh can wuk dis yah pumpum fe free."

Monday, September 04, 2006

Good to Snap!

The lens, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the Stunner's Kodak Z650 Camera. Continuing mission to explore strange new shots, to seek out new scenes and new candid opportunities, and to boldly go where no camera has gone before! Stunner Cam!



Yes, as you might have guessed by now from the above nonsense, Stunner is back in business with his brand new Kodak Z650! For some reason I had the date mixed up and thought the person who was carrying down my camera was coming on Tuesday! Bwoy was I wrong. There I was sleeping away after coming from Ochie last night, when my sister calls and asks if I collected my camera yet. So I had to jump up and call the lady to find out where she was, fortunately Air Jamaica was late... For once I'm glad they were late! So I now have my camera and have already started to fool around with it! It's a very nice camera, bad nuh ratid! 6.1 Megapixels, so I can blow up my shots to poster size; 10x Optical Zoom so I can really zoom in on my subject; and lot's of picture modes to get that perfect shot! Now I wish my vacation had just started, I would be all over the place with my camera!

Other Random Stuff
My weekend on the North Coast wasn't bad at all, although I didn't go to much places. Just walked the town, slept and relax, and soaked up some of the warm Caribbean sun and sea. I don't have any pictures, because the person who was supposed to lend me a camera forgot all about that agreement. But that won't be happening again, thanks to Kodak Z650! I went to this nice restaurant name Carletos, I can't remember if that's the correct spelling. But the ambiance was ok and the food was great! You can even get a mixture of meats and the price isn't too bad. So if you're in Ochie you can check it out.

Today is the final day of my vacation, it's back to work tomorrow morning and back to school later in the week. It seems as if it was just yesterday my vacation started. But as they say, "All good things must come to an end."... and that includes vacation.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

September - Month of Financial Woes!

Of late I have noticed that September is the most financially crippling month of the year for me. I have two major financial crisis in one month. A massive and ever increasing school fee and the death blow, my motor vehicle insurance and don't forget the other monthly expenses: rent, credit card bill, utilities, food, etc... Sometimes I wonder how my sanity survives each year, things like these will drive people crazy!

So I have started to tackle the mountain of expenses one at a time. I definitely cannot afford school fee out of my pocket, so I have decided to sell myself...NO! Stop right there! No whoring! Unnuh mind to smutty! As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I have decided to sell myself to the credit union once again by acquiring a loan. So I dropped by early last week and requested an appointment to see a loan officer probably later down in the week, or this week, oh no I couldn't get an appointment till next week Monday! They don't understand the urgency of this! When I found out that my package was ready and went to collect it registration was in progress! "Suh any chance yuh can squeeze mi in, plleeaaassseee?", I pleaded. "No, I'm sorry sir the only time free is Monday" the customer rep replied. (%&*$!#!) So I will have to wait until Monday morning before I can go through the paper work and then another two to three days before I can get the cheque! I'm just hoping that teifing university don't charge me late registration fee.

Ok, since I can't do much more about that, it's time for the other headache, the motor vehicle insurance. My current policy expires tomorrow so I decided it's time to renew my policy, because I can't afford a ticket right about now, much more having my car towed away. So off to the insurance broker I went and what a shock I got! My premium is forty eight thousand and mash! What the &%#*$^$! Wah happen to mi no claim bonus? "That is included", the agent replied. Wah! What the hell, this is robbery! I can't afford to pay this much money for insurance and I haven't made a claim! Fortunately the nice lady found an alternative, she suggested I switch insurer and that's exactly what I did. Why? Well she found one that charged me some fifteen thousand dollars less! And you know paying less is always the best! So I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to... no, not Geico smarty pants... another insurer. Thanks insurance broker lady... wherever you are.

Well my vacation is coming to an end and it's back to work...and school next week. But I have planned to have a lass hoorah. I shall be off to the north coast for the weekend to enjoy myself and soak up the last of my vacation. Enjoy your weekend! I plan to enjoy mine! I know the male bloggers will appreciate this likkle weekend present more than the females. Got this in my email and I just had to share it. (Drooling)

Sorry, ladies but I shall not be posting any half naked men on my blog!....unless it's a pick of myself!.....and the answer is NO!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Shotta Donkey


"Only in Jamaica!" That's what I had to say when I saw this "Shotta Donkey" the last time when I was at Dunn's River falls in Ocho Rios. I just had to take a picture of this donkey all dressed up in his shades and adorned with beads around his neck and flowers on his back. There was an old mad who was sitting beside the donkey and was offering to have persons sit on the back of the donkey for a small contribution. How much? "...just leff a ting wid mi man...any ting yuh can spare..." So we gave him a donation and my little cousin sat on his back and took some pics. So whenever you are at Dunn's River you can keep an eye out for the Shotta Donkey.

Well, it seems once again Jamaica has been spared from the onslaught of tropical storm Ernesto and at one time hurricane Ernesto. Got a few showers today, in Kingston, but nothing to get worked up about. Well, hopefully the sun will be out tomorrow and all of next weekend when I will be off to enjoy the last few days of my vacation. Hopefully I'll see some more interesting things to take pictures of and HOPEFULLY MI GET A CAMERA FI BORROW.! My new camera will be arriving hopefully by early next week thanks to my big sis. Ratid I am a very hopeful person eeh!

My weekend was quiet, another couple of days of just chillaxing (chilling and relaxing...as if they don't mean basically the same thing), lazing around, watching TV, browsing the internet, running one ore two errands, sleeping late...wait isn't that what I have been doing since my vacation started? Usually I would be bored crazy by now, but for some reason I am not...maybe I'm getting old...hmmm. Let's move on to something ore interesting, how was your weekend?

Friday, August 25, 2006

TS, Watch Out!


Once again Jamaica is on a Tropical Storm watch. The first one for the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane season. Thank God it has been quiet so far, but now we need to pray that things don't start to deteriorate...or deteriorate too much! Tropical Storm Ernesto in on a projected path that is directly in line with Jamaica. It was upgraded from a tropical depression to a tropical storm earlier today with his eyes set on the rock. Hopefully it does not gain any more strength and become a dreaded hurricane. The picture above is taken from weatherchannel.com so it will be updated automatically, so you can check back here to keep posted. I'll replace it with a static picture after the storm passes.

While we have been celebrating a calm season so far, I bet the supermarkets and the hardware stores have been weeping when the reflect on the killing they made in the last two hurricane seasons when we had a hurricane watch almost every three weeks and two brushes with powerful hurricanes. Well it seems their rain dance has paid off and they might be beefing up their supplies and making their plans for an increase in sales on hurricane items.

On the vacation scenes, I haven't been doing much so far. I have been home just relaxing, not even blogging much. I decided to just take the week and rest, chillout and just unwind and shed the stress. I plan to do things next week, so I am even more concerned about the tropical storm becoming a hurricane. Can't afford to have my vacation ruined by a hurricane and I can't afford a hurricane to come and I don't have a camera! Also, the pre and post costs of a hurricane or even a strong tropical storm would put a serious damper on my vacation money, as well as the destinations!

Enjoy your weekend and be safe.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Grounded!

Yes that's exactly what has happened to me. The plan to go to New York has fallen through, so I will be staying in Jamaica for my vacation. I have spent countless hours on the internet scouring and on the phone negotiating with booking agents for various airlines, for low...or should I say reasonable fares to New York, but to no avail. All the cheap seats have been booked solid, so I have been grounded for this vacation. The cheapest tickets are still almost US$600! That would seriously cut into my shopping money with the new camera costing over US$250. So it's "sweet sweet Jamaica, nah leff yah" for me.

What's the plan then? No worries, since I'll be home for the vacation, I'll spend the time on various little projects and then I plan to do some traveling across the island next week. Why next week? Well hopefully I will be getting my new camera by then, my loving sis has agreed to buy it and send it down with one of her friends...don't rejoice yet, I'll have to pay her back! Nevertheless, thanks to my sis I should be getting the camera soon. If that doesn't workout, then I guess I will just have to borrow one, cause yuh done know mi cyaan travel without a camera!

Until such time I will be here blogging away, and I will keep you up to the time with all my excursions as try to find ways to keep myself entertained on a extremely low budget. Hmm...I wonder if that's possible?

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Vacation Around the Corner and the Dell Scare!

Yes, that time of the year is once again just around the corner, the time I get to rest, to go places, to get a well deserved break from work, vacation! I am not certain what I will be doing for my vacation yet, I want to take a trip to New York and look for my family, but the money weak right now. I have so many expenses to think about: school fee, which has hiked up so much since the last two years, insurance which has also taken a hike and has nullified the effect of my no claim bonus, and the normal overwhelming expenses of the month. On the other hand I don't really want to stay here and do nothing, and I don't feel like exploring Jamaica without my, (sigh) camera. So you can understand my predicament. But by next week Monday I will know what the plan is.

Dell Scare!
As I told you before, I bought myself a Dell notebook, after the untimely passing of my late PC. Well I was about to check my mail on Yahoo when I saw a headline saying that Dell was recalling the batteries for several of their notebooks! Of course this interested me as the article continued to say that several of the faulty batteries have overheated and caught fire! You can imagine my shock, and horror! Could my beloved notebook, be hiding an explosive secret! So off to dell.com I went to find out if my notebook was fitted with any of the faulty batteries. As I read through the site I noticed that they said the fault affects notebooks that were made in April...oh shit! My notebook was manufactured in April! I better read on, the faulty batteries were made in Japan or China...now I'm thinking I'm doomed because almost everything electronic is made in Japan, right! Anyway I preceded to check for the codes that are listed for the faulty batteries and popped out my battery to check it my notebook was a silent killer. Fortunately mine wasn't affected, the first good news was seeing Made in Korea on the battery and then my battery code was not listed in the faulty battery list. If you have Dell notebook that was manufactured in April you need to visit Dell and check out your battery.

Well, it's a weekend once again, so as usual enjoy your weekend!

P.S. I posted a new post on my fitness blog N'Shape, so you can check it out.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Terror-flying Restrictions!

The US is at it again! Acting on intelligence that revealed a plot by some crazy Islamic extremist to blow up several flights with liquid explosives, the US and Britain has enforced yet more travel restrictions.
In the response to the terror plot the TSA (Transport Security Administration) rapidly implemented new restrictions on us, the poor passengers. Now we are not allowed to travel with liquids, gels, aerosols nor lotions in our hand luggage! Yes, sorry for you if you have dry skin, I guess you will be white and scaly in that airport AC. They have reportedly "tweeked" these restrictions to allow you a small amount of medication with you. Passengers have now been subjected to the extra hassle ( ...and maybe embarrassment for those whose shoes nuh smell right) of taking off our shoes and to be exposed to more radiation as we now have to be X-rayed at the checkpoints.[read story] That's not all, the searching of your luggage has even increased, so be careful where you put that dirty undie!

What is next, as it seems everything can be used as a weapon of terror? Will more restrictions be implemented? I can just imagine in a couple of years we will not be able to carry any luggage at all as it will be checked and and double checked and shipped to our destination in a couple of days after our arrival; we will all have to fly in the nude or some special outfit similar to the ones patients wear while in a hospital...for which the airline will charge a rental fee of course!

We now have to be careful of how many items we buy in the stores if we are of a certain ethnic descent as we may be charged for "collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts" and be careful of the pictures we take of certain landmarks like bridges and buildings or we could be charged for "surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes". I was watching CNN on the TV last night and saw this report where three young Palestinian-American men were arrested and charged with the two above charges because they purchased about 80 cell phones and one of them had a picture of a bridge on their cell phone. According to the men they were buying the cell phones at a cheap bulk rate to re-sell them for a profit, but according to the American officials, "profits from that kind of activity can be suspicious." and the cell phones could be "used as detonators". [read full story]

Well, that hussling just mash up! So remember whenever you are shopping, you are restricted to only purchasing a few items or else... I can just see a couple of Jamaican Higglers (informal importers and/or vendors) being hauled off to jail for buying several cheap flip-flop slippers or blouses, as the "profits from that kind of activity can be suspicious."

At this moment, I feel like just staying in my country. All this hassle has taken all the fun out of traveling. Maybe the terrorists are accomplishing their mission, of making the countries go bankrupt trying to implement anti-terror measures, to keep us terrified of doing the things that make us happy and from making a living, who knows...only the crazy terrorists. I have enough restrictions on my purchasing and traveling here in Jamaica...no money! All these additional restrictions are just more burdens on poor likkle me.

But I must admit, life has changed drastically since the increased wave of terrorist activity, and the effects are not just limited to the countries that are being attacked! I can't blame these countries for trying to keep innocent citizens safe, even if the methods seem crazy. What can we do but to just work wid it and try to live our lives as normally as is possible... whatever normal is!

What do you think of the new travel restrictions? Are they necessary? Are all these anti-terror measures necessary? And do you think they are working?

Hopefully mi nuh get in trouble for using the "restricted words" in this post! But just in case I have published a disclaimer below.

Disclaimer for those who are tracking blogs that have the words terror and terrorist in their posts: Stunner's Afflictions and it's Author does not support terrorist activities or terrorist groups in any way and are totally against such deviant activities and those who carry out such activities.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Caught In The Act On Camera!!!

Perfect example of someone caught on camera while getting on bad! Took this one from restrictionentertainment.com, taken at the recently held Absolute Stages party, one of the parties of the Absolute ATI weekend. You can click on the pic to view a larger one to get the full impact. I just had to share this one! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Dr. Dave

Doctor Dave had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long. No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he couldn't. The guilt and sense of betrayal were overwhelming.

But every once in a while he'd hear an internal, reassuring voice in his head that said:

"Dave, don't cry about it. You aren't the first medical practitioner to sleep with a patient, and you won't be the last."

"And you're single. Just let it go. "

But invariably another voice in his head would bring him back to reality, whispering .

Dave.............

Dave............

Dave.............

................you're a veterinarian."

Neva had anything to blog about really, and I saw this joke in my mailbox and decided to share it. Hope you enjoyed it!

Monday, August 07, 2006

"What I Hate About Clock Alarms" and Yesterday

"Knock, knock." There she was basking in her radiant beauty; a body to die for, curves in the right places and booty for days. We both knew why she was here, not to reflect on the good times, to make some good times. Hot, steamy, un-chaineded, passion engulfed the room as our bodies became one..."Beep-beep, beep-beep!" Damn you alarm clock!

I finally got around to trying my skills at the 60 word stories. It's not as good as some of the ones I have read on the blogs I went through, but a try is a try nuh.


Yesterday

I went to Yesterday this weekend. It was held on Saturday night at the Mass Camp on Oxford Road. Being a typical Jamaican party person, I didn't arrive until about 2:00 am. By the time I got there the 90s party was is full swing, jam packed to the maximum. The selectors kept slapping the crown with dangerous mixes of dancehall, reggae and hip-hop music from the early to the late 90s. This was much to the delight of the crowd who kept rocking, whining an gyrating to the beats of their favorite songs of yesteryear. I was actually surprised to see sucoverwhelminglyingly huge crown considering that this weekend was host to two major events, Appleton Treasure Isle and the return of Sunsplash! I enjoyed the night as I rocked, whined, bussed shot (verbal imitation of gunfire coupled with raising ones hand in the air with the fingers positioned to form a gun) to the selections and sipped on some rum and coke under the clear night sky until 4:30 am. It was a good party, didn't regret spending the Ja$800 for the ticket. How was your weekend?