Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Michael Jackson's Funeral: Unnecessarily Extravagant?

Michale Jackson
Originally uploaded by Michale Jackson

Now I know that we have a habit in the Caribbean and among black communities in general, that when we bury our loved ones, we bury them, "in style".

The poorest among us have the most extravagant funerals...

...So that the dead person's relatives can say that they put him/her away "good".

Oh, don't mind the huge debt the family incurs to put their loved one away "good"...they just want to know that he/she had the biggest funeral and could out-do the previous "biggest" funeral, reserved for the well known and most-loved members of the community.

Well, its seems that Michael Jackson's family is following this time-honored tradition.

They announced that Michael Jackson's funeral/memorial service will be held next Tuesday..

...And guess what?

1) There were supposedly 11,000 tickets being given away to those fans who wanted to attend...now it's been reported that this number has reached 17,500

2) The funeral will be held at the Staples Center - home to the LA Lakers and the last place Michael performed before his death.

3) The Staples Center have been selling these tickets through their website, which crashed due to the huge demand for them. [That's 17,500 potential/existing customers that can be marketed to and increased brand value for the Staples Center (from free publicity from the funeral), at a very low acquisition cost].

Now I've been wondering the following, since I heard the news:

1) Hasn't it been reported that Michael is indebted to the tune of US $500 million dollars?

2) Who will be paying for Michael Jackson's funeral/memorial service...his family or the City of Los Angeles(LA)?

3) How much money will this memorial service cost?

(It has also been reported that Michael's body will not be at this memorial service for him and that the city of LA is broke and will be stretched thin, should they be the ones paying for this funeral).

Yes, I know Michael Jackson was the king of Pop and yes, many friends, family and fans want to pay their last respects to him...

...But the Staples Center?

Again, I trust that the family/the City of LA has been wise and has struck up a beautiful deal with the Staples Center managers - a deal which is more of a quid pro quo than actual money being fleshed out.

The Staples Center has already benefitted and stands to benefit tremendously from hosting Michael Jackson's funeral:

They will forever be embellished in history...

Additionally, the money they stand to make by making the Center a monument to his death, will more than pay for any costs the family would incur for holding the funeral there.

I hope the family's business managers or the LA City Officials were wise in suggesting this...and did not actually flesh out any money for this venue.

====

If it is that his family will pay for this memorial service and it is true that Michael is so heavily indebted:

I think it would be unwise for them to spend so much on the memorial service and:

1) Not attend to Michael's debt problems, first.

2) Not have sufficient money left over for the present and future well-being of his children.

I just hope that Michael's family or the LA City Officials are being wise, level-headed and financially prudent where his funeral/memorial service is concerned.

(I would like to thank Michale Jackson for his Flickr inset photo above).

Gillian

Copyright 2009 Gillian Campbell. All Rights Reserved.

 

Source Include

1) Article, "Massive demand for Michael Jackson memorial tickets" by Bob, Tourtellotte, Reuters, July 3,2009

2) BBC News, July 2,2009

Pigs Relieved, as WHO Renames 'Swine Flu Virus'

Millions of pigs across the world, breathed a collective sigh of relief, today, when the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the Swine Flu Virus, "H1N1" (it's clinical name).

After seeing thousands of their brothers and sisters slaughtered in Korea and Egypt yesterday, for fear that these pigs were carriers of the virus...the pigs staged a protest to the WHO, to demand that the Swine Flu Virus be re-branded (renamed), as it was doubtful that the new strain of human influenza (flu), was spread from pigs to humans.

Apparently the WHO agreed with the pigs advocacy group, PAFWCSF (Pigs Against Flus Wrongly Called Swine Flu), for they decided to give the virus it's clinical name, H1N1.

Peter the Pig, Head of PAFWCSF (pronounced, "PackWackSuff"), in an interview with "Reuters Crazy News",  said that with the renaming, pigs worldwide were now relieved and quite happy that less of them would be slaughtered for the right reasons - to provide high-quality pork to pork-lovers worldwide.

He pleaded with world leaders to continue to encourage the consumption of pork, "as when cooked above 170 degrees Celsius, pork is quite safe to be eaten".

Peter wished humans, "all the best", as we work at finding a cure for the H1N1 virus and said that quite a few pigs would willingly volunteer to be testers for any new, would-be cures for H1N1.

(He proudly reminded "Reuters Crazy News" that for the past 100 years, pigs have been instrumental in medical research, as many pigs have been used as testers for new medicines, prior to them being tested on humans.)

He then returned to the other members of PAFWCSF, who greeted him with cheers of "Hip-Hip-Hurray!"

======

Disclaimer: The above post was for entertainment purposes only...all persons and organizations mentioned, except for the World Health Organization, are fictional!

An aside:

(On Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the WHO upgraded the H1NI virus to category 5...one (1) category short of being in the danger zone of being called a pandemic.

This article from the Los Angeles Times, gives great tips on how to stay up-to-date re the H1N1 virus...

Please read it, friends :)).

(I would like to thank RaeA for the use of his flickr inset picture, of a pig, above).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Nationwide Radio, April 29,2009

2) Article, "Swine Flu: Don't Blame the Pig", by Jeffrey Kluger, Time Health & Science, April 29,2009

Nationwide Radio Off AM, But Still Online...Yipee!

Internet radio
Originally uploaded by fatcontroller

On Monday afternoon, I was about to listen to one of my favorite programs on radio - Nationwide Radio's "Cover Story", at 5:30 p.m., when I heard a high-pitched humming noise coming from the station.

I tuned to the station again, only be greeted by this annoying noise.

Lo and behold, when I listened to the news at 7:00 p.m. that night, I heard that Radio Jamaica had shut down the AM frequency that was being leased to Nationwide Radio, due to them not being able to pay the lease for a few months.

(Radio Jamaica had leased Nationwide Radio, the AM frequency bands of 580 and 720 AM, since 2007. Nationwide Radio has been experiencing financial difficulties for a few months.)

Man was I disappointed!

However, my disappointment was short-lived when, I read a Gleaner Story the next day, where Nationwide's CEO, Cliff Hughes,was being interviewed re the latest happenings at Nationwide: He  reported that Nationwide Radio would be still be available online.

Well, I checked today, and they are on!

Nationwide Radio can be found, online, at this address: http://www.nationwidenewsnetwork.com/.

You can also get them on your mobile phone...just go to their website and follow the instructions, there. :)

Additionally, Nationwide Radio acquired an FM frequency in August of last year and should be broadcasting on this frequency, in June 2009.

And I can't wait to hear them on radio, again!

I am kindly requesting that Nationwide's sponsors continue supporting them and that we, as listeners, continue listening to them.

...And that we continue to tell our family, friends and associates about them, so that their listenership can increase.

Nationwide Radio is one of the few radio stations we have in Jamaica, that tries to remain unbiased in its reporting, commentary and analysis of the news.

Such radio stations should be kept alive...not starved to death due to lack of funds!

Let's rally around Nationwide Radio!

I would like to thank fatcontroller for the use of his Flickr inset picture, above.

Gillian

Sources Include:

1) Television Jamaica's News at 7:00 p.m. March 30,2009

2) Article, "RJR shuts down AM, Nationwide goes off air", by Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter - Jamaica Gleaner, Tuesday, March 31,2009

3) Article, "Nationwide off air- Radio station moving to FM frequency as RJR ceases AM service", Tuesday March 31,2009

Is Vybz Kartel Being Hypocritical?

Vybz Cartel
Originally uploaded by hattie collins

On Saturday, February 22,2009, CVM Television's Entertainment Programme,"On Stage", with host - Winford Williams, did a feature on "Valentine on the Harbour":

 - a musical concert for lovers which took place at the ritzy Morgan's Harbour, on February 15 (a day after Valentine's Day) and which featured American R&B singer, Freddie Jackson, and Jamaican balladeers - AJ Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Karen Smith, Marcia Griffiths and "Rising Stars" winners - One Third.

By all accounts, the show was enjoyable, with Jamaicans from mostly the middle to upper-middle strata of society, in attendance.

After showing members of the audience, thoroughly enjoying themselves, the camera switched to Vybz Kartel (and his lady friend), who was being asked his opinion of the show.

Now what Kartel said next, nearly made me jump out of my chair in shock!:

He said that he enjoyed the show and was encouraging people from the ghetto to go to these kinds of shows, in which they could enjoy themselves without violence.

Can you imagine, friends? this is a songwriter/DJ, whose lyrics play homage to the gun and to rough sex and for whom his followers use stage shows (for which he's a major drawing-card) to misbehave (throw bottles, do gun salutes, fire their guns wildly the crowd)...

The latest being Sting, which occurred on December 26,2008.

Now Kartel is not the only DJ who is guilty of this...there are others... but what he said, is very instructive (important to note):

- If Vybz Kartel can enjoy a show without violence, why is it that he takes part in shows that promote violence - clashes that are supposed to be only lyrical in nature, but which ultimately turn out to be literal bottle and gun clashes of certain factions who follow him and other DJ's?

Why can't Vbyz Kartel write songs that appeal to a wider audience, who can feel good and uplifted after attending his performances, rather than songs for which people are angry and bloodthirsty after he performs?

I want our GWAP friends to really digest this...for if Vbyz Kartel can behave himself when he goes to a so-called "uptown" show and can enjoy sweet music from musical talents who promote good-feelings and peace, why is he leaving the crass side of himself for his "downtown" followers?

 Is he not being hypocritical (a phony)?

==========

I only hope that Vybz Kartel's followers "take sleep and mark death"...because what Kartel is subconsciously saying to you, his followers, is that you're not good enough for you to see his good (or "better") side...

You're not the "uptown crowd", so he can always feed you with dirty (lewd) lyrics and you'll accept it...

He can always give you gun and rough sex and make you happy.

Now, if I was a Vbyz Kartel follower, I would look deeply into this...'cause if a DJ doesn't believe that I am "good enough" to get the best from him...why am I listening to and dancing to his music?

Why am I even buying his MP3's and CD's?

Hmmmh??!!???

Nuff said. (Jamaican,meaning, enough has been said).

(I would like to thank Hattie Collins for the use of her Flickr inset picture of Vybz Kartel, above).

Gillian

Sources Include:

1) CVM Television Programme, "On Stage", with Winford Williams, February 22, 2009.

2) Article, "Freddie Jackson comes for Valentine on the Harbour", by Basil Walters, Staff Reporter -Jamaica Observer - via CaribDaily.com, February 15,2009.

Will the Broadcasting Commission's Ban on Lewd Music, be Effective?

politics is politics
Originally uploaded by grimjaw

Well, the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission's (JBC's) ban on lewd and violent music, took effect last Friday night.

(This is as a result of numerous complaints from Jamaicans as to the proliferation of lewd and violent music on Jamaican airwaves...especially the two most-recent songs from Deejays Vybz Cartel and Spice).

All stations airing music "not fit for airplay" will not be allowed bleep out "offensive" words...If there is any "offensive" content, in a song, then that song will be automatically banned.

The JBC has started with radio stations, and DanceHall Music, much to the ire of popular DanceHall artists like  Vybz Cartel (Cartel) who think that the JBC's move is hypocritical.

Cartel's view is that calypso music, which contains equally sexually-explicit content, should also be banned.

The Dancehall Deejay twin duo, Twins of Twins, also call the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission, hypocritical.

They rightly point out that these songs should also be banned on minibuses and route taxis, - the more effective conduits of dancehall music, to inner city and disadvantaged youths.

The JBC claims it has no control over these vehicles (conduits) and that the bodies responsible for them, should ban the offensive songs, accordingly.

But will this ban on lewd and violent music be effective?...I say yes for probably 50% of the time that music is aired to the Jamaican populace, via radio and television.

Unfortunately, the JBC cannot ban parents from playing these songs in their homes, in their cars and in their communities at community dances - also very effective conduits of these "offensive" songs.

========

What we need in Jamaica is more adults who can censor themselves...

Adults who will realize that to expose their young children to lewd and explicit music, thus making them prematurely ready and aware of sex and violent acts, is wrong.

Until this happens, the JBC will continue to have an uphill struggle against "the popular DanceHall culture." 

 - A culture that oftentimes exposes our youth to the crudest aspects of human existence, and that,instead of creating youth who can think their way out of problems, create youth who are problem-creators, due to them carrying out the violent sexual and gun acts, glorified in these DanceHall songs. 

Nuff said. (Jamaican,meaning,"enough has been said").

(I would like to thank grimjaw for the use of his Flickr inset photo above).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica, News at 7:00 p.m., February 9,2009

2) CVM Television, News at 8:00 p.m., February 9,2009

3) Article, "Educators blast ramping shop", Go-Jamaica.com, February 4, 2009

Barack and Michelle Obama: Romancing the White House

Just the way in which he looks at her gives you goose pimples...

Just the way in which he loving held and kissed her throughout his campaign to become US President, makes you gasp and say, "Wow! this man is really enthralled by this woman and they're married to boot!"

(Most celebrity marriages seem to last the length of time that it takes an iguana to shed its skin and grow a new coat - a maximum of 4-6 weeks).

...From the Obamas' using every spare minute, during their busy Presidential Campaign schedule, to show each other just how much they really care.

...to the vivid photos of them endearingly touching heads just before Barack Obama's inauguration as US President...

...to the romantic way in which they danced together at the  inaugural balls after his inauguration...

...it seems that President Barack Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama, are really in love.

Wolf Blitzer's (the anchor of CNN's "Situation Room") claim that if Americans follow in the romantic footsteps of the Obama's, they may all need a hosing down (to cool them down), is instructive of the magic that Barack and Michele Obama exude, when together.

But I think the thing that keeps us, the public, intrigued, is the fact that Barack and Michelle Obama are still in love after sixteen (16) years of marriage.

...and they're not afraid to show just how much they mean to each other.

You could say that the Obamas' marriage has the kind of substance that we all (both single and married people) desire for our marriages...one in which after sixteen (16) years of marriage, love still blossoms as if it were at it's first bloom.

==========

But the story of how the Obamas came together is quite instructive:

You could say that Michelle Robinson had waited all her life for a man like Barack Obama.

She didn't have many boyfriends and according to the articles, below, she always wanted a man who reminded her of her father, Mr. Fraser Robinson.

...a man who went to work in snow, rain and hail, despite having Multiple Sclerosis...

A responsible, black, family man who, along with his wife, looked after their children - guiding  and nurturing them from birth into young adulthood.

Michelle Robinson realized the importance of finding a man with good moral and family values and "held out" until she met such a man.

She pursued a career in law and met Barack while he was a first year student at Harvard and a summer associate at the law firm for which she worked.

Being both minorities from the same law  school (Harvard), Michelle Obama's supervisors thought it fitting that Michelle should mentor Barack Obama, even though she was 25 years old to his 28, at the time.

Barack was immediately smitten and asked her out. She reluctantly agreed because she at first thought his request,a bit tacky, seeing that she was his mentor.

Nevertheless, she agreed and after their first date, she, herself, became smitten of him.

Her brother, who was protective of his younger sister, noticed his sister's interest in Barack and thought that it wouldn't last.

Michelle, being a wise young woman, asked her brother to test Barack's character...in  a game of basketball, for according to Michelle Obama, you can tell if a guy is a jerk or not, by the way in which he plays on the court or on the field.

...You can also tell if he's a team-player or selfish.

Her brother also researched Barack's background by asking Barack's  friends about him.

Happily, her brother had great things to report, including the fact that Barack was the real deal (not a phony).

=========

Barack Obama has continually told young men that they should marry young women who are superior to them..

(An aside: To me, this is a sign of a mature and self-assured male, as many men marry women who do not "threaten" them, because their "masculinity" will allow nothing more. (These men's low  self- esteem predominates their view that women more accomplished, will trample all over them and make them seem small.)

Barack found his superior woman in Michelle Robinson.

He married Michelle on October 3,1992.

And from all accounts, this marriage has thrived accordingly...

(Iron strengthens iron, as we would say in Jamaica - meaning that strong people,when working together, will strengthen each other.)

The Obama's marriage is a testament to both single and married people across America and the globe that:

1) True love does exist

2) True love is worth waiting for

3) People who are right for each other, should marry, work out their differences and stay together.

It is my prayer that the President and First Lady's love will continue to blossom and bloom and that they will continue to be great examples to the world, that strong marriages and families do result in strong and well-balanced societies.

(I would like to thank NeighbourhoodBall for the use of his YouTube inset video above. It shows President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, having their first post-inaugural dance together (at the Inaugural Neighbourhood Ball), to the song, "At Last", written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon and sung by Beyonce.)

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Slide-show, "Barack and Michelle Obama: In Love,In Photos", by Josey Miller, iVillage.com

2) Article, "Michelle Obama's Independent Streak, and Her Romance With Barack", by Geoff Martz,Lynn Redmond,Teri Whitcraft, Christina Caron of ABC News, October 3, 2008

3) Article, "Barack Obama", Wikipedia.org

4) Article, "Reptile Skin Shedding" by Melissa Kaplan April 19, 2007