Thursday, November 29, 2012

America - He's your President for Goodness Sake!

Interesting piece sent to me by Neville Hoo from Canada's Senior Living Magazine
http://www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/america-hes-your-president-for-goodness-sake

By William Thomas

There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the President of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country and it's borders and it was America versus the rest of the world with the president of all the people at the helm.

Suddenly President Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule.

Four days before President Obama's inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails the country flounders.

Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.

Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the President of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech.

Last spring, President Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president cannot take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theatre without adequate security is a tragically bad idea.
Remember: Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

At some point, the treatment of President Obama went from offensive to ugly and then to downright dangerous.

The health-care debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. President Obama's face appeared on protest signs white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler complete with mustache and swastika.

Odd, that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America.

Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing, putting the president's life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the health-care rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past.

And still the birthers out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States , although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody cares.

Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by President Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff's. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honour to meet the man or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: You're a hottie with a smoking little body.

Lady, that was the President of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He's your president for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at Monster Trucks On Ice. Maybe next it'll be, Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day.

In President Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he's a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president's predecessor, he's a highly moral man.

In President Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader, hell, most of our leaders for Obama in a heartbeat.

What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it, Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he's out of office.
America, you know not what you have.

The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It's like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better.

President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat if only he'd got control of that zipper.

Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example, just naturally has to stop.

Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads: No shirt. No shoes. No service, they'll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far.
Jean

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Grace Foods gets world food supplier award


Published: The Gleaner |Wednesday November 28, 2012 | 12:07 pm 
 

Tesco, the British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer, has conferred on Grace Foods UK the World Food Supplier of the Year 2012 award.

The award was made on November 21, according to a release from the parent company of Grace Foods, Jamaica’s conglomerate GraceKennedy Limited.

Grace Foods UK began in 2007 after GraceKennedy’s acquisition of then WT Foods, a leading ethnic and specialty foods supplier, from Bridgepoint Capital Limited, a European private equity firm.

The relationship with Tesco began in 2008 and started the push to build the business there, the release said.

“The process of getting listed in the chain is a long and intense one as negotiations generally last for an average of six months or longer before you get on the shelves,” revealed Managing Director, Grace Foods UK Ltd., Ryan Mack.

He added that “when you do get on the shelves you are challenged to maintain service levels above 98 per cent, so supply chain excellence is paramount.”

Tesco, the world’s third largest retailer by revenues after Wal-Mart and Carrefour, and the second largest measured by profits after Wal-Mart, gives the award after assessing hard data of suppliers’ performance in each category in its stores.

According to Mack, the award “... is recognition of the excellent growth performance of our products and our ability to meet our customers’ high supply standards.”

He added that “it recognises our value to one of our key customers and enhances our credibility as a key branded fast moving consumer group business in the UK. We see further growth opportunities across several product categories and market sectors and have an excellent team in place to execute this opportunity.”

Mack said the world food category in Tesco was growing and gave Grace Foods UK optimism for continued growth of its business as the company continued to provide service of the highest quality in a very demanding and unforgiving market place.

GraceKennedy Group chief executive officer Don Wehby expressed pride at hearing of the award.

“It shows that we are making steady strides on our road to becoming a global consumer group. It is very good news for us, as it signifies that we are poised for further growth in our UK business,” he said. “I am very proud of the hard work put in by the team there. It is their hard work that has brought about these results.”

Monday, November 26, 2012

Vanessa's death must be a turning point

About 40 children still in adult prisons now.
by Jean Lowrie-Chin
Jamaica Observer column | Monday, November 26, 2012

SIXTEEN-year-old Vanessa Wint was in high spirits a few weeks ago when her family visited her at the Horizon Park Remand Centre. By last Wednesday night, however, Vanessa was dead and there is speculation around the circumstances of her tragic demise. On various newscasts we have been hearing from an uncle, Javette Nixon, that there seemed to have been an altercation which had been pacified. However, it is alleged that the distressed Vanessa obtained a sheet and hanged herself.
Friday's Jamaica Observer reported that Vanessa had run away from home to escape a child molester who had threatened to kill her parents if she refused his advances. What a dark and dismal world this child had found herself in! What an uncaring and unresponsive system of government!
Vanessa's death must be the turning point for this country. No well-thinking Jamaican must rest until every single child is removed from lock-ups. Moreover, we had better get busy reaching out to children at risk and making sure that each of us is responsible for helping one - even one child!
Those of us who have worked hard to reach to a certain level of comfort in life deserve to enjoy the fruits of our labour. But we have duped ourselves into thinking that enjoyment is driving around in locked cars, living behind burglar bars and watching our very shadows. Let us be very aware that the quality of life of each Jamaican affects every Jamaican.
Meanwhile, administrations of both political parties have not displayed the energy and commitment required to protect children in lock-ups. In 1999, Human Rights Watch published a book titled, Nobody's Children: Jamaican Children in Police Detention and Government Institutions, by Rosa Ehrenreich. She quotes from the UN Convention on the Rights of Children which states clearly that "juveniles must be detained separately from adults". How do these members of parliament, these lawmakers of our land, feel when they sit importantly on platforms with UN representatives, even as they disregard the basic rights being required by that organisation? Are they not ashamed? We are of one voice with Jamaicans for Justice in their outrage at this festering situation bandaged over by specious words.
We hear that some of the children in lock-ups are there for rape and murder, recruits of the many gangs running riot over the country. Yet Anti-Gang Legislation remains on the back burner while blood-curdling stories circulate on how these gangs are utilised by cynical politicians. Does it matter to them that these gangs target less fortunate juveniles for recruitment?
We will hear myriad excuses about uncooperative public servants, about foot-dragging, about limited funding. I will not get into the argument about government vehicles as that is a drop in the bucket compared to the waste that takes place because we have these huge government bodies occupying expensive space without proper accounting for their justification for using up billions - not millions - of taxpayers' dollars. The media should get information on those swollen budgets and ask how a tiny country like Jamaica can afford those salaries and perks when we cannot find the wherewithal to protect our children at risk.
If our leaders feel they can fool most of the people all of the time, they are mistaken. Last night Twitter and Facebook lit up with expressions of scorn and disgust at our leaders. Here are some quotes:
* "Just upset me man... Yuh know how ppl a struggle fe mek ends meet already while dem a profile? kmt..#Madness."
* "What's worse is that they owe $124m in rent to the UDC and still have no IMF deal!"
* "Yup, these things happen and we're all to pretend its 'cool'. Blatant disregard for us as Jamaicans, and it will never change."
* "MI BUN ALL PNP & ALL JLP!!!"
You see, dear leaders, Sarah Palin was somewhat of a prophet when she termed the mainstream media, the "lamestream media" Fast on the heels of our traditional newspapers and broadcast media is the galloping social media and in the past few days we have seen the anger of ordinary, good-natured folk, rising in steady contrast to our deflating dollar.
Vanessa Wint is a poignant metaphor for this beautiful, wounded Jamaica, land we love. We teach our children to put their hands on their hearts and recite the national pledge:
"Before God and all mankind, I pledge the love and loyalty of my heart ...,/ in the service of my fellow citizens;/I promise to stand up for Justice, Brotherhood and Peace ...,/ so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity..."
This is the pledge mouthed by those who have campaigned to lead us. Today we ask them to meditate on these words and lead us to national healing.

UPDATE - 27 NOV 2012
ACTION FROM MUSTARD SEED!!!
After reading this column, Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon, head of Mustard Seed called me yesterday evening to say he would take all the children now in the lock-ups.  He had promise of support from Dr Wendel Abel at UWI for free counseling and Jamaicans for Justice for free legal.  He also has the full support of Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Dufour. Msgr Greg said he would ask the Gov't to give him the old Jamintel building which he would organise to house and supervise the children.  I was able to reach Senator Sandrea Falconer last night who linked Minister of Security Peter Bunting with Msgr Greg.  Things are moving and we pray that our children will be removed from those lockups very soon!  Thanks be to God!!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Feast of Christ the King!

 
Psalm 71/72 
He shall endure like the sun and the moon
from age to age.
He shall descend like rain on the meadow,
like raindrops on the earth.

In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the Great River to earth’s bounds.

Before him his enemies shall fall,
his foes lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and the seacoasts
shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba
shall bring him gifts.
Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,
all nations shall serve him.
(Shared from Velia Espeut's Facebook page)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

President Obama: 'Happy Thanksgiving'

The White House 
"From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving." -President Obama

Nissan’s special 'Bolt Gold' car for auction on eBay




Sports

Nissan’s special 'Bolt Gold' car for auction on eBay

Thursday, November 22, 2012 | 11:52 AM

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A special ‘Bolt Gold' edition of Nissan GTR supercar will be sold to the highest bidder on eBay Motors.
The car, complete with unique gold paint-job and an interior gold plaque bearing the 100metre star's autograph, is being auctioned to raise funds for the Usain Bolt Foundation, a charitable organisation created by Bolt give back to his community and help children in Jamaica through educational and cultural opportunities.
1/1
"This project excites me because it brings together my passion for speed and excellence, and my desire to help kids and young people," said Bolt.
"Thanks to Nissan, all the revenue from the GT-R charity auction will be donated to the Foundation, which will go directly to children to help develop their education and allow them to participate in sports".
Bolt, at the 2012 Olympics held in London, became the first athlete in the modern Games' history to successfully defend 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, and the first male sprinter to win six gold medals.
The Nissan GT-R is not only one of the fastest road cars currently available, but is often praised for its handling.
According to www.thenewage.co.za, each engine is built in a hermetically sealed chamber that enables ultra-high precision and ultra low tolerance manufacturing techniques more common in Formula 1 and the aviation industry. 
"When combined with its raft of technological drivers' aids such as traction and yaw control, the results are a car that can be driven every day to and from work and then head down to the track for a weekend of competition," the article said. 
The Bolt Gold special edition Nissan GTR was built to comply with Jamaican road legislation and safety regulations.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0U7wXxl
"This project excites me because it brings together my passion for speed and excellence, and my desire to help kids and young people," said Bolt.
"Thanks to Nissan, all the revenue from the GT-R charity auction will be donated to the Foundation, which will go directly to children to help develop their education and allow them to participate in sports".
Bolt, at the 2012 Olympics held in London, became the first athlete in the modern Games' history to successfully defend 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, and the first male sprinter to win six gold medals.
The Nissan GT-R is not only one of the fastest road cars currently available, but is often praised for its handling.
According to www.thenewage.co.za, each engine is built in a hermetically sealed chamber that enables ultra-high precision and ultra low tolerance manufacturing techniques more common in Formula 1 and the aviation industry. 
"When combined with its raft of technological drivers' aids such as traction and yaw control, the results are a car that can be driven every day to and from work and then head down to the track for a weekend of competition," the article said. 
The Bolt Gold special edition Nissan GTR was built to comply with Jamaican road legislation and safety regulations.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0Ty7PIA


A special ‘Bolt Gold' edition of Nissan GTR supercar will be sold to the highest bidder on eBay Motors.
The car, complete with unique gold paint-job and an interior gold plaque bearing the 100metre star's autograph, is being auctioned to raise funds for the Usain Bolt Foundation, a charitable organisation created by Bolt give back to his community and help children in Jamaica through educational and cultural opportunities.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0ULyklU

Nissan’s special 'Bolt Gold' car for auction on eBay

Thursday, November 22, 2012 | 11:52 AM

Print this page Email A Friend!

A special ‘Bolt Gold' edition of Nissan GTR supercar will be sold to the highest bidder on eBay Motors.
The car, complete with unique gold paint-job and an interior gold plaque bearing the 100metre star's autograph, is being auctioned to raise funds for the Usain Bolt Foundation, a charitable organisation created by Bolt give back to his community and help children in Jamaica through educational and cultural opportunities.
1/1
"This project excites me because it brings together my passion for speed and excellence, and my desire to help kids and young people," said Bolt.
"Thanks to Nissan, all the revenue from the GT-R charity auction will be donated to the Foundation, which will go directly to children to help develop their education and allow them to participate in sports".
Bolt, at the 2012 Olympics held in London, became the first athlete in the modern Games' history to successfully defend 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, and the first male sprinter to win six gold medals.
The Nissan GT-R is not only one of the fastest road cars currently available, but is often praised for its handling.
According to www.thenewage.co.za, each engine is built in a hermetically sealed chamber that enables ultra-high precision and ultra low tolerance manufacturing techniques more common in Formula 1 and the aviation industry. 
"When combined with its raft of technological drivers' aids such as traction and yaw control, the results are a car that can be driven every day to and from work and then head down to the track for a weekend of competition," the article said. 
The Bolt Gold special edition Nissan GTR was built to comply with Jamaican road legislation and safety regulations.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0Tp76fk
"This project excites me because it brings together my passion for speed and excellence, and my desire to help kids and young people," said Bolt.
"Thanks to Nissan, all the revenue from the GT-R charity auction will be donated to the Foundation, which will go directly to children to help develop their education and allow them to participate in sports".
Bolt, at the 2012 Olympics held in London, became the first athlete in the modern Games' history to successfully defend 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, and the first male sprinter to win six gold medals.
The Nissan GT-R is not only one of the fastest road cars currently available, but is often praised for its handling.
According to www.thenewage.co.za, each engine is built in a hermetically sealed chamber that enables ultra-high precision and ultra low tolerance manufacturing techniques more common in Formula 1 and the aviation industry. 
"When combined with its raft of technological drivers' aids such as traction and yaw control, the results are a car that can be driven every day to and from work and then head down to the track for a weekend of competition," the article said. 
The Bolt Gold special edition Nissan GTR was built to comply with Jamaican road legislation and safety regulations.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0Ty7PIPROCEEDS


"This project excites me because it brings together my passion for speed and excellence, and my desire to help kids and young people," said Bolt.
"Thanks to Nissan, all the revenue from the GT-R charity auction will be donated to the Foundation, which will go directly to children to help develop their education and allow them to participate in sports".
Bolt, at the 2012 Olympics held in London, became the first athlete in the modern Games' history to successfully defend 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, and the first male sprinter to win six gold medals.
The Nissan GT-R is not only one of the fastest road cars currently available, but is often praised for its handling.
According to www.thenewage.co.za, each engine is built in a hermetically sealed chamber that enables ultra-high precision and ultra low tolerance manufacturing techniques more common in Formula 1 and the aviation industry. 
"When combined with its raft of technological drivers' aids such as traction and yaw control, the results are a car that can be driven every day to and from work and then head down to the track for a weekend of competition," the article said. 
The Bolt Gold special edition Nissan GTR was built to comply with Jamaican road legislation and safety regulations.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Nissan-s-special--Bolt-Gold--car-for-auction-on-eBay#ixzz2D0Ty7PIA

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

American Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson for Jamaica visit

American Astrophysicist and science communicator, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
 
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 | Kingston, Jamaica:
  
United States Ambassador, Pamela E. Bridgewater, will host renowned American Astrophysicist and science communicator, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, on November 28, 2012. Dr. Tyson’s brief visit to the island will be shaped by a lecture/presentation dubbed ‘Star Talk’ to be held at the U.S. Embassy Kingston.  The event will be attended by over 200 invited guests including university and high school students, educators, members of the Astronomical Association of Jamaica, the Meteorological Services of Jamaica and officials from Jamaica’s Ministry of Education.

What promises to be an interactive hour and a half session will focus on space exploration and the cosmos. Dr. Tyson will later that evening present to an audience comprising Jamaican government officials, members of the Jamaica Teachers Association, key members of the local business community and members of the diplomatic corps, at an event held at the Ambassador’s residence.  His evening presentation will highlight the importance of systematic and institutional support of the sciences with greater accessibility to the study of subject area(s).  His evening presentation will be followed by a  reception and book signing, as guests will each receive a copy of the book, Space Chronicles, authored by Dr. Tyson. 

Dr. Tyson is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and Research Associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. Dr. Tyson's professional research interests are broad and include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations for Congress and for the major agencies of the government that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.  Since 2006 Dr. Tyson has hosted the educational science television show NOVA scienceNOW on PBS and has been a frequent guest on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Jeopardy! 

Dr. Tysons visit underscores the U.S. government’s overall commitment to science diplomacy in Jamaica and the region as his visit follows an Embassy initiated science workshop, held in August 2012.  The workshop taught educators techniques through which mathematic and scientific principles may be imparted through sports such as soccer, basketball, and track& field. Three sessions were held across the island in collaboration with the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology and the Ministry of Education.

 
Contact: Public Affairs Section TEL: 702-6000, Email: kingstonpress@state.gov
 
Derie Gilzeane
Information Specialist
United States Embassy
142 Old Hope Road, Kgn. 6
Tel: 702-6161; Fax: 702-6348
E-mail: gilzeanedk@state.gov