I am so bummed that I will not be jumping with Tribe this year.  Even more so that I will not be playing J’Ouvert.

On the brighter side 2013 soon come!

I truly believe that AdéChiké Torbert was lucky to come this far on the show as he was not one of the stronger dancers from the beginning.  

Every week I was shocked to see after some bad dance routines he was still there.

I suppose the injuries sustained by some of the other dancers could be the reason for his being there so long. I never enjoyed any of his routines; they did not do much for me.  I needed to see him putting a lot more into what he was given, but if the truth be told for me he had no more. 

He needs to go back to dance school and learn.  Jumping as high as you can without a shirt is not dancing in my book!!  I also agree with Mia when she said: “He’s very strong, an athlete, but he needs a lot of work in the fluidity department and style. He needs to tap into the artistry and the style of dancing.”

He may have got some routines that were not his style but so did the other dancers; however they stepped up to the plate and gave great performances. 

I suppose that AdéChiké has not been to an audition so that Mia comments may seem harsh to him.  Wake up if you want to be in this business!

I do not expect a Gene Kelley, Gregory Hines, Michael Jackson or Fred Astaire, but I expect to see potential and vision and drive in the dancers but most of all love for  the art of dance.

Mia you did fine.  I liked your comments and advice to the dancers.  Do not hold back they are there to learn from you expertise.  If they are that sensitive they should be in another business.

And ask Michael Lythgoe to shut up when it is your turn.  Rude Man!!!!

It is time for African Americans to stop playing the race card.  It will always come back to haunt us.

And to the person that made a comment about not knowing the difference between black and Cuban:  Here’s to you- One can be Black and Cuban!!!!

PS:  We need to got some Dancehall and Soca dance routines on the show!!!!!

Using Michael Jackson’s song these idiots converted his wonderful lyrics to “WE CON THE WORLD”

President Obama Stand up against this and show them that “WE ARE THE WORLD” and we are by no means being conned by these blatant acts of aggression and scorn.

We have illegal people in our country and you support this. We even had a child on National TV with Michelle Obama touting to the world that her family does not have “papers”; yet you sit back and do nothing while the Israelis not only blockade 1.5 million people living in Gaza most on the threshold of hunger but ridicule and scorn them and the rest of the world as well! 

You Sir are in a position to do something and you much act now.  Stop the Genocide!

We can NO LONGER support Israel.  No Aid.  And as consumers we should boycott all products made in Israel.

 A counrty like that CANNOT be a friend of the United States of America.

I  am sharing a couple of the quilts that I made.

This one is called “Earthly Constellation:

My latest creation is called “Hong Kong or Bust”.

All feed back appreciated

I know that the handling BP oil spill is not great for your ratings, but there is even a more urgent international challenge that you can fix.

The blatant and murderous act of aggression committed by the Israeli armed forces against the six ships carrying around 10,000 tons of desperately needed aid to Gaza. 

The ships, carrying close to 700 volunteers including women and children, are not warships. They are aid ships. There are 1.5 million people living in Gaza. One out of every five people in Gaza lives at the threshold of hunger. Gaza is under Israel’s blockade. The aid convoy was the ninth attempt to break the sea blockade.

That this attack took place against unarmed and defenseless civilians in international waters is all the more grievous and criminal. There was absolutely no necessity for force and all deaths and injury are simply reprehensible. 

In the attack, carried out 77 miles from Israeli waters, Israeli forces boarded the ships from helicopters. They opened fire on civilians using silencer-equipped weapons at close range. Disproportionate force was used against a civilian ship that had a white flag hoisted in international waters. The result: 18 dead and 60 people, including the captain of the Greek ship, wounded with one in serious condition and injuries to an international group of peace activists whose sole intention is to break the illegal blockade of Gaza imposed by the government of Israel.

The Israeli government continues to invite world scorn in its despicable treatment of the Palestinians and this latest incident is another ghastly and cowardly stain on its appalling human rights record. The Israeli government has continuously denied their involvement in any siege of Gaza but this attack in itself is an admission of Israel’s explicit complicity in the genocide of an entire people.

Hundreds of items of equipment procured by WHO and other organizations have been waiting to enter Gaza for up to a year.

The items include CT scanners, x-ray machines, fluoroscopes, infusion pumps, medical sterilization gasses, laboratory equipment, uninterrupted power supply batteries and spare parts for support systems like elevators.

According to The WHO “It is impossible to maintain a safe and effective healthcare system under the conditions of siege that have been in place now since June 2007.  It is not enough to simply ensure supplies like drugs and consumables. Medical equipment and spare parts must be available and be properly maintained.”

In addition, medical staff cannot leave Gaza for training.

Disruptions of power, water and sanitation services also affect health conditions for Gazans.

Gaza’s second-largest hospital, the Gaza-European Hospital, operates with only one of its three elevators functioning because of disrepair.

Because many specialized treatments are unavailable in Gaza, patients are often sent to hospitals outside Gaza. Several have died awaiting permission from Israeli authorities to travel.

Who does the Israeli government think it is to blockade 1.5 million people living in Gaza most on the threshold of hunger? 

We are Americans struggling to make ends meet in a recession and give 20 Billion dollars a year to Israel to do despicable acts of terror and we turn our backs. 

Shame on you President Obama! 

Your only comment is the regret to the loss of lives.  Would you like to live under siege with your wife and two daughters?

As a concerned citizen here is my advice to you and what you must do:

1.         No more aid for Israel. NONE! NIX! NADA! NEHUM! AUCUN! הם לא!  Join Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who called for the United States to “begin to redefine its relationship” with Israel and for Israel to face diplomatic and financial consequences for the attack.

2.         Free Palestine!  Stop the Genocide! No More Blockades!

3.         Condemn in the strongest possible term this latest round of aggression by Israel on the Flotilla Incident.

4.         Join NATO in reacting strongly to the attack on a NATO member flagged ship in international waters.  This is an event to which NATO is obliged – legally obliged, as a matter of treaty – to react.

5.         Support The World Health Organization in its renewed its call for Israel to allow the unimpeded access into Gaza of medical supplies and described a different situation.

6.         Hold the Israeli government totally responsible for the lives and well being of all volunteers on board the Freedom Flotilla. 

7.          Demand the immediate release of all the volunteers and urgent medical care be given to the injured.

8.         Urge the United Nations and all democratic nations of the world to do everything possible to end wanton killings of innocent peace activists on the Freedom Flotilla.

9.         Demand that all the aid destined for Gaza be released with immediate effect.

10.        Fire your chief of staff.

I just want to send a quick thank you for standing up to the Israelis and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I was unhappy with your choice of white house chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and I still think that you should fire him.  Not only the fact that you have at your disposal many qualified Americans many of whom are loosing their jobs, he is an arrogant bastard (excuse my French!) and an Israeli hardliner is NOT what we Americans need as part of your inner circle.

I and most of the rest of the world agree with criticizing Israeli construction in east Jerusalem — the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians. There are now plans to build 1,600 new apartments for Jews in east Jerusalem. Imaging making this announcement while Vice President Joe Biden was visiting.  These plans need to be cancelled for good. You need to go further you need to step up the pressure and mean it.  You also have the support of the international community that considers these neighborhoods to be illegal settlements, no different from the more than 120 Jewish settlements that dot the West Bank.

In this recession hard working Americans tax dollars to the tune of 60 Billion go to Israel every year and they thump their noses at you.  They insult our Vice President and Secretary of State.  You should continue to stand firm, also show more support to the Palestinians, and how does this conflict affects their basic rights to food, life, property, safety, and freedom. Listen to their plight and abuse at the hands of the Israelis. Israel’s occupation controls almost all aspects of Palestinian life. Children have difficult getting to school, parents to work, and the sick and injured to hospitals, because Israel has erected hundreds of checkpoints and road blocks obstructing Palestinian movement around their own country.

In addition to the daily difficulty posed by roadblocks, Israel has the ability – which it uses with disturbing frequency – to completely shut down all parts or all of the West Bank and Gaza. Sometimes Israel imposes, by force of arms, a “curfew” for an entire city or village. Heavily-armed Israeli troops enter civilian cities in tanks and armored vehicles, to prevent all inhabitants from leaving their houses for weeks or months at a time.

 Would you like for you, your wife and daughters to live under constant siege and fear for your life on a daily basis? To have your life lines cut off at the will of the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli beaurocracy, by any threats real or imagined from a people who do not have any way or means to threaten the most aggressive military in the world. Israel, with the fourth strongest military in the world, and empowered by US support, has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip (or ‘Palestinian Territories’) since 1967. The Palestinians have no military, few weapons, and no powerful allies.

You are in a position to help make changes that your predecessors failed miserably to do.

Next time you send anyone to Israel please take my advice and send Juan Valdez:  The Israelis need to wake up and smell the coffee!

 26 more days and I am heading south with Elliott and Soji.  Soji I promise that you are in for a treat.  Yes, we are all heading south to the land of my birth, the land of Carnival Celebrations, Fêtes, Food, Fun, Fuzzy Fruit, Family and Friends – and last but not least “Fat” Tuesday.

Of course we are all playing with Tribe -  our yearly Carnival Tradition.

My and  Sarah’s Costume:

Elliott’s Costume:

And we are still  working on getting a costume for Soji.

So all my friends that are not going this year, I will send pictures , eat a goat roti and some doubles for you.

For me I am going to enjoy the warmth and the hospitality of some of the most wonderful people on this planet, the Sunshine, A Maracas “Lime”, Shark and Bake, J’Ouvert with Red Ants, Soca, Insomnia, Eyes wide Shut, Girl Power, JWB and Coconut Water and wine and wine and wine….

PS.  If uisahtrini u go understand what d las six words dem mean!

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd – Australia 

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote:

‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. ‘

‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom’

‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!’

‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’

‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’

‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’..’

‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’

Aaron Greenspan Wins Legal Battle Against Google Adsense

Google Adsense Program is undoubtedly the best contextual advertising network available on Internet. In recent times Google has been receiving severe criticism on disabling Adsense accounts for no valid reasons, even if there were reasons they never disclose them and gave same lame or rather unclear replies. Google scourge many valid Adsense publishers who lost their unpaid earnings which amount to several hundreds of dollars in some cases. Google boasts that they are doing it in interest of advertisers but the bans have never been proved so that their tracking technology doesn’t come in eyes of miscreants.

The story is about a man “Aaron Greenspan “who audaciously won legal battle against Google Adsense. One fine day he received this email from Google Adsense team.

Your AdSense account for this login is currently disabled. We recommend checking your email inboxes for any messages we may have sent you regarding your account status. Sometimes our messages can be caught by email filters, so please be sure to check the Bulk/Spam folders of your email accounts as well.

If your account was disabled for invalid click activity, please visit our Disabled Account FAQ for more information.

Aaron was shocked and amazed and he was very sure that he was never indulging in any of fraudulent method like cloaking or invalid click exchanges. Like any other man he tried to contact Google adsense people by several ways…

Surely this bashing by court would bring some relief to novice publishers. I can’t hold myself laughing after the comment Adsense representative gave in court proceedings:

“But it’s not fair!” Google’s paralegal protested. “What if everyone whose account was canceled sued Google?”

Well Google I hate to say this but we have a precedent.

Your Evil ways are over!!!

However I can use as an example one on the commander in chief’s  list:

I am definitely giving up not getting into any political discussion about Obama’s crazy economic ideas or his stimulus package.

I still however, am staying  involved in making sure that we get a universal health care plan in place and that we do not allow offshore drilling off the California coast.

I would like to give up house work, but unless I get Rosy to come and live with me, that is not going to happen, unless I want to live in a dirty home.  NO!

I love a great glass of wine, and I could give that up.

I could also give up going to the Eagle’s nest on a Friday to meet friends.

Nah.  I think the political discussions would be enough.

What are you giving up for Lent?