Tower Of Babel

Tomorrow is the first of August, our Emancipation Day here. So we have another public holiday. Independence Day is next week Wednesday. Unfortunately, it gets no cheers from me as I am on call tomorrow and the weekend. Hence, I will not be going off to the country or anything like that. I have to go to work.

We received our Independence from England in 1962, so relatively speaking we are still a young nation and we have more than our fair share of teething pains. There are some who feel we would be better off if we were still a colony. I’m not sure I agree with that. You see, some of the people who feel this way are comparing our nation to others that have passed through the growing pains of nation building from long ago. But then again, they also remember a time when economically we were enjoying the status that the Cayman Islands enjoys today…… a high standard of living with a dollar that was higher in value than the US dollar! Yes. The Jamaican currency when I was a child had value!

Anyhow, whatever our present status, this is my country and though all may not be as we would like it to be (for various reasons), let me wish all Jamaicans a happy Independence Day from today.

Having said that, I had another irie night down by Mad Bull’s sharing drinks and jokes, pretty cool. The ‘Bull’ is still on leave, so he’s probably still snoring away (fucky lucker!) while I type this hurriedly as I have to go to work as per this morning. Anyhow, TTYL. Have a nice day.

Well, I didn’t post yesterday, not because I had nothing to talk about, but here’s why (if you care to read on).

I have been trying to keep my walking going, the benefits from regular exercise nice nuh rass! Actually, Natty told me last night that I’ve lost weight….I don’t think I have but thanks anyway.

So, I went walking and on the way back home I was stopped by a family friend and ended up chatting on his porch for about half an hour…he even was offering alcohol, but I was good and refused. So, I reached back home a bit later than usual, and while having some Pepperpot Soup for dinner, Mad Bull called inviting me down for drinks at his complex. As I really didn’t have much else to do than fart around on the computer last night, I finished dinner, went to hold a fresh (I doubt that Mad Bull and Co. would have wished to have me in their company smelling like a Ram Goat after my walk…). So I jumped in the shower.

When I arrived, apparently the lime had been in progress for a while before, but let’s say that good company + nuff alcohol = recpie for good rass time! So, I pretty much enjoyed myself. It makes going to work this morning seem like less of a chore.

Anyway, not having much else to say right now, I’ll end with a question, errr….., for the ladies really, but if any bredrens wish to answer, I will ‘low you as well. (Equal opportunity blog!)

Just how much would you be willing to spend on an old pair of celebrity boxers?? I would not be interested to spend anything, and who knows….perhaps I may do a post about celebrities later. We shall see. Have a good day all.

I’m sure that you are well aware that Germans love their beer, just as many of us in the Caribbean like our rum. Well, this German driver who was under the influence, deserves a pat on the back for honesty. After all Officer, he ONLY had about twenty beers!

Actually, I think if I was the Policeman, I would have to be lenient with him for his honesty and offer him a lift home with perhaps a warning. I mean, what’s twenty beers anyway??? Hic!

Well, I suppose you all must be wondering WTF the picture above is all about. Well, I spent about an hour or more today counting coins. You know….. you have them throwing into containers at the end of each day and they add up over time. Furthermore, I hate to carry coins around in my pocket or wallet. They usually get thrown into the little space on the dashboard of the car below the radio/CD player or into these containers.

Well, as those of you who read this site and Mad Bull may already know, the Jamaican currency isn’t worth a hell of a lot….. (my Father would say, “It nuh worth sea crab shit!”) So, after seeing these coins pile up in two containers in my room over the last two years, I decided to count to see what sort of fortune I had saved. Well, it is not a fortune, but I have come up with over $6,700 (Jamaican remember), which is about US $110. Not too bad eh?

Well, as I was in no mood to cook today, I decided to buy Chinese food (I made this decision from yesterday) for dinner. Well, the coins could have bought Chinese food for perhaps two more days as well, but somehow, I don’t think it would have gone down well with the owners of the restaurant if I unloaded the coins on the counter to pay…I can hear the Jamaican Chiney cussing already….”Weh de fuk u goin wid all o dem rass coin? Me naw tek ie, and u naw get no orda fe carry home a blood claat unless u pay wid paper money. Feisty rass you!” I wont bother to translate. I’m sure you get the picture.

Anyway, I gave them bills, which they gladly accepted and the food was irie. It was made even better as I opened a bottle of Merlot to go along with it, it was such a nice tasting wine that one glass became two, and two became three…..and the rest is history. I’m feeling irie nuh rass now! (I guess you could have come that conclusion long ago…..Dr. D. is posting while unda two juice, nuff expletive and ting…..you should try it!)

Anyway, I’ve got to find somewhere to unload my coins next week, and the Sunday is not over yet. Let me go hold a fresh and see what else can gwaan before work tomorrow! Tek it easy nuh.

Well, in case you didn’t know, it is Sunday and for most of us who work, Sundays are usually spent taking it easy and recharging batteries. The pic above shows fireworks that I saw from my sister’s home when I was in Maryland for the 4th of July recently. I have actually wanted to post it from a long time ago, but I only got the impetus to downlaod it from the camera today…..like I said, today IS Sunday, (and I can be a lazy rass sometimes!) So what do you think of the pic? I think it look good nuh rass! Later!

Let me tell you, it is SO HOT here! I just went to the place we rent DVDs from to return “Tarzan” (it was rented for my kid, honest). I stepped in from the oppressive heat outside, and I approached the counter and handed in the DVD. A couple of seconds after that, I noticed that I was enveloped in the most delicious cool-th… Awesome! I think they must turn the A-C (air) up higher than most people, because the difference in the temperature inside was SO striking!

It felt so good that I had to comment on it. “Wow, in here is so cool! I think I’m going to stay in here all day!” I said. The third person behind the counter replied “Its true. I came here at 11:00AM to drop him here, and I’ve been here ever since!”. He indicated one of the regular workers behind the counter as he said this.

I wish we could all afford to run our A-Cs like that, but as we say here, “tings ruff, Iyah!”. I guess we’ll just have to sit and swelter in the hot Jamaican sunshine and heat. Anyway, me gone. The Reggae Boys are playing a Brazillian “pick-up” side at the National Stadium today and they have just started the pre-game show on TV. Later, zeen?

Now, I have posted about cellular telephones before, and how annoying they can be when they ring and people take calls in certain situations. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware that they are useful and have one myself…. (who doesn’t nowadays?) But, I don’t hang on to mine as if it is a form of life support!

How would you like to hear via text message from your hubby, that you he is divorcing you?? And it is sufficiently acceptable to stand up in a court of law?? Well, I have known from my high school days that Muslim men can divorce their wives by saying, “I divorce you!”, three times. I guess it simply sheds light on how much respect Islam gives to women and how ’serious’ a commitment is made when taking marriage vows. I am sure that the Muslim woman does not have the authority to divorce her husband in this manner, and even more so by a mere text message. I rest my case.

I wonder what would happen if the woman who received this message was a non techie like myself who does not even check voice mail messages on cell phones? Man, she could have been divorced and not even know it! Text messaging indeed!

Well, here I am, its Saturday morning at a few minutes past nine. I’m not on call this weekend. I rose at 8:30 and am here loafing around taking it easy with my cup of tea and reading the Gleaner on line. Things seemed pretty cool until I read this story. I became pretty annoyed, believe me, I had to let off a blood claat or two as this Policeman irresponsible nuh rass! First of all, if he had apprehended a man who was smoking a ganja spliff (marijuana), and he started to run, does that offense warrant him shooting after him? Listen me, ganja is NOT legal here, however, it is readily available for all who wish to use it and there are many who do so, both privately and often quite openly in public also. In other words, it is not legal, but there are folks who use it as if it were.

So, the life of an innocent ten year old girl has been lost. I can’t say I blame the residents in her area to have demonstated, as we live in a country where our government officials do not act when people vent their feelings about injustice by the simple act of writing letters and so on. We have to mek nuff noise, burn tyres and block roads in order to be heard! Yes, it would make us appear as if we are nothing better than hooligans. Indeed, one of the Ministers in the ruling party who may well become the next leader of the PNP has said that, “People who play by the rules get shafted!”

I will end by saying, my sentimests go out to the family of this girl and I really hope that the investigation of this case will result in some sort of compensation. Whatever happens though, it cannot put the breath of life back into this child, and that is sad indeed!

I haven’t got much to share right now. Let’s just say TGIFF!! Have a good weekend, whatever you do…..and if you can’t be good, be careful!

I feel that I may get a lot of negative responses to my asking this question. But, was this necessary? Maybe its just me, but I don’t think so. Just my opinion. What do you think? I’m fairly open to sensible discussion.