Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Jamaica's Response to WHO's Declaration of the H1N1 Flu Pandemic

H1N1 is Serious Business
Originally uploaded by niobite

Today, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chang, declared the Influenza A (H1N1) virus (formerly called the Swine Flu), a pandemic.

This means that it has spread to more than two (2) regions of the world, with rising cases in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile. 

This makes the H1N1 flu pandemic, the first pandemic in 40 years.

The virus has spread to 74 countries and over 30,000 persons are infected. 140 people have died, worldwide.

NB:Those especially at risk of death are those who have respiratory illnesses like pneumonia or emphysema.

There are currently 11 persons affected in Jamaica. Ten (10) got it whilst travelling to New York while the other person contracted it from being in contact with an infected person who had travelled to New York.

The Jamaican Ministry of Health (MOH) has stepped up its mechanisms to contract the spread of the virus, locally.  

In addition to:

• Persons who have travelled and who have flu symptoms being asked to check in with their doctor or heath centre 

  
  

• The constant surveillance and presence of a nurse's station at the island's ports of entry...

Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, Chief Medical Officer, MOH, stated that:

1. Two following local testing centres have been established:

   
   

   a) The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre

   b) The University of the West Indies

   
   

2. Additional equipment has been received, on island this week, to increase the turnaround time for identification of the disease. This means that 96 samples per time, can be tested.

   
   

3. GPS mapping is being done of infected cases and those they may have come into contact with them

   
   

4. So far four hundred (400) cases have been tested, with eleven (11) persons confirmed.

   
   

5. Ensuring the proper working condition of Isolation rooms in all public hospitals. (That they are self-contained with a bathroom and bed and have proper lighting and ventillation).

(I would like to thank for niobite for the use of his Flickr inset photo, "H1N1 is Serious Business", above).

Please visit the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for more detailed information on the H1N1 virus.

Gillian

Source Includes

Programme - Cover Story, on Nationwide Radio, June 11, 2009

West Indies Wins First Test Series in Five (5) Years!

Denesh Ramdin
Originally uploaded by caribbeancricket

Oh what a match!

This last cricket match in the Digicel 5-Test Series was nail-biting down to the very last ball bowled...

With England declaring at lunch, at 237-6...England was determined to bowl the West Indies out.

However, this was not to be, with West Indies at 107-8 (107 runs and 8 wickets down) and 3 overs left, as Fidel Edwards (bowler) and Denesh Ramdin (wicket keeper) used their bats to block balls spinning at them from all angles (from superb bowling from James Anderson and Monty Panesar), in a very deteriorated pitch at the Queens Park Oval, in Trinidad.

These two West Indians stuck it out like true warriors.

In the end, West Indies has won the series 1-0, thus regaining the Wisden Trophy. [The trophy has been in English hands for the past nine (9) years].

This win represents the first Test Series win for the West Indies in five (5) long years!

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog sends a hearty congratulations to the West Indies cricket team.

We hope that this will be the first of many more victories for you and that you will learn from the mistakes made in this series, so that you can win the One-Day Tests and 20-20 match coming up between March 15 and April 3, 2009.

(Please see West Indies vs England 2009 Itinerary, here ).

========

The final scores are as follows:

Ist Innings score:

England 546-6 declared

West Indies (W.I.) 544

 

2nd Innings score:

England 237-6

W.I. 114-8

=====

Again, a Big GWAP Congratulations to the West indies Cricket Team!

I would like to thank Caribbean Cricket for the use of their Flickr inset picture of Denesh Ramdin,above.

Gillian

Sources Include:

Digicel 5-Test Series coverage on Television Jamaica, March 10,2009

How to Choose Your First Boyfriend so as to Reduce Heartbreak

This is a continuation of our discussion on "Firsts"...please enjoy! :)

So you have a crush on a guy...you like him.

You like the way he laughs, his wit or his intelligence, the way his dimples sink in when he smiles, his caring ways, his shy ways, his voice, his eyes, etc.

In general, you've got a great feeling about him and you're on "cloud 9" (very happy).

You make it your point of duty to be around or near him, so that he'll notice you and if he does, well, oh my goodness, it's like heaven on earth!

So what do you do?

Well you say "hi, how are you?" and immediately start the "getting to know you" conversation, e.g.  you start talking about things you may have in common like the same class, how he's coping with it, homework, what he thinks of the teacher, etc.

And you're just beaming:)...You've just started the ball-a-rolling and you're officially in the crush stage... and you immediately start fantasizing about him, about kissing him, about being seen with him, etc., you know what I'm talking about! :).

Well, before you start fantasizing about wedding bells...may I suggest something?...hold on to your brakes!!!! :).

While I understand that things are going well for you...you need to ask yourself some very important questions.

What do you know about this guy?...

How long have you known him?

How does he treat his friends?...

How did/does he treat his former girlfriends?...

What "type" of girl does he like?...are you his "type"?

Is he the type of guy who has 2-6 girlfriends at the same time or is he monogamous(meaning, he believes in only having one girlfriend for a period of time)?

Does he currently have a girlfriend?...has he fathered any children?

Has any of his former girlfriends had to do an abortion of his child?

Is he straight or gay?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then it would be wise for you to get to know this guy, a whole lot better.

Some of us, as older women have made huge mistakes in the boyfriend and husband department, by choosing these men based on crushes (we fall in love with them before getting to know them properly), money (they have lots of it), sex (they're good in bed) or fame (they're well-known or recognized).

I want to steer you, our younger women, away from making terrible choices that could be detrimental (harmful) to your emotional health and well-being.

Here's how:

1) Like it or not, how a guy treats his friends, especially his female friends, is a good indication of how he'll treat you.

So, observe him carefully when he says/shows he's interested in a friendship with you!

2) How a guy treats his mother or his sister, is a great indication of how he'll treat you...

If he has "mommy issues" (issues with his mother), it's your duty to find out why and what he's doing to resolve this (you'll have to do this, over time, when he's more comfortable opening up to you)...

Why?

Because he's going to act out these issues in your relationship.

3) Find out if he's fathered children...as, when you eventually marry him, the money will be split between your family (you, him and your children) and his other families (if he's a responsible person)...so you'll want to bear this in mind.

Additionally, you don't want to get involved with a guy with two(2) or more baby mothers...it's an indication that he's careless and these careless ways may have remained with him...you've got to know him very well, for him to prove that he's left that way of life, behind.

4) Forget guys who aren't monogamous (who have more than one girlfriend at a time), they're frankly a waste of your time, emotions and energy...

Why should you be sharing your boyfriend with other women or men?

If he doesn't respect and love himself enough to realize that when he cheats, he's actually cheating himself of having a deep, caring and loving relationship, one in which it takes great character and ingenuity (creativity) to keep alive, then, he obviously won't respect and love you...stay away from him!

5) If he's gay (a homosexual/bisexual), leave him alone!...

You cannot convert him to being straight (a heterosexual)!...

When you get further along in the relationship, he'll only hurt you!...he's not leaving that lifestyle behind, for you, so forget him!

6) Re his "type":

Most men develop a preference for certain "types" of women, from when they're in adolescence or a few years, post adolescence.

Girlfriend, if he likes big, fat women with big breasts, and you're petite (small in body), don't worry...he won't be looking your way for very long...that preference has been ingrained in him from a tender age and he's probably masturbated constantly with that image in mind from adolescence, so you can't change that.

Just accept that fact and move on...

7) Stay far from any guy who has forced his girlfriend to do an abortion...he's bad news!...

It's an indication that he can't or will not accept responsibility for his actions!

Only try to forge a relationship with him, if he proves (over a long period of time) that he's changed his ways!

8) Stay away from guys who like being bad!...(e.g. they do drugs/gamble/drink a lot/do evil or mischievous things to other people.)

They attract evil intent and evil people (people who are just like him or worst)...and it's very hard for him to shake the "bad" lifestyle.

A lifestyle that he'll take into the relationship with you!...

A lifestyle that your children and their children, will inherit!

So beware!

Ok, so, what am I saying to our younger women out there?...stay away from guys/men?.. of course not!

Just stay away from guys/men whose attitudes towards life and whose actions could hurt you (now or in the future)!

Past behaviour is a very good indicator of present and future behaviour, so beware!

Your first boyfriend, is usually a good indicator of future ones and eventually, your husband, so you want to choose him wisely.

Get to know a guy for a period of time before you start going "head over heels" for him...meaning, get to know a guy as a friend, first, before you allow yourself to fall in love with him.

Through friendship, you'll discover who he truly is.

For your first boyfriend, choose a guy who:

1) Can openly express his feelings (without being angry or rude) - he's a highly evolved male, as many men have difficulty with this.

[Please note that guys/men are not girls/women and do not express themselves in the way we do (they don't talk constantly about the same thing and they won't be touchy-feely about things), but he should be able to communicate with you, openly and honestly.

Additionally, you may have to train him to talk about sensitive topics...guys have very low emotional intelligence and if you want him to learn how to be sensitive to you, you may have to help him to develop these skills.

(Any  guy who says he wants to get in touch with your feelings is a ginal! (Jamaican, meaning, con artist!)...guys just aren't wired that way.)]

2) Loves himself, first - that is, he's not doing things (openly or in secret) to damage his spiritual, emotional or physical health or reputation. If he can't or doesn't love himself, he won't be able to love you.

3) Can love and respect you and show you this love and respect, often.

[If he's uncomfortable with showing affection (you'll know it by the way in which he treats those who should be close to him) and he's impolite or addresses you improperly, during your friendship...take heed!

...He'll bring that same attitude into your relationship...you are forewarned...run like crazy!...

He'll need tons of therapy to rectify this problem!]

4) Will give you your space to pursue your activities.

[(That is, he's not calling you every minute to verify that you're where you say you will be). Some guys are so insecure and suspicious, that their girlfriends can't even leave the house without them freaking out!- Avoid these guys like the plague!]

5) Is ambitious, for his spiritual, personal and professional development...

[You don't want a dead-beat around your neck...he'll choke you literally! (He won't want to see you develop either!).

Try to choose a guy who is constantly, and always willing, to learn about many different things in life.]

6) Who can be happy  with your successes and be able to comfort you during periods of pain and loss.

[It takes a real man to be able do this...unfortunately there are many boys, walking in men's pants, where this is concerned!]

7) Who will be responsible to you and who'll want a lifetime commitment to you, eventually.

[Please avoid guys who can't make a commitment (even after knowing you for some time) - by the way, you'll discover this early in your friendship.

Let him find some other girl to fool around with - don't be his fool.)]

8) Has similar values to you (you both place high value on the same things in life).

[This can make or break a relationship. Relationships that succeed, are those in which both parties have the same, or similar value systems.]

9) Has similar interests and activities, but a few different ones, than you do.

[This is so that you'll complement each other. (Meaning that you'll have enough in common to keep you together, but be able to pursue different interests and activities, so that you'll have lots to share with each other and so that you can learn from each other, thus making your relationship more interesting.)]

Hmmmmmh!!!!

Now, with this said... girls/women, you can't want in a boyfriend, what you don't have in yourself!

Let me repeat!

Girls/women, you can't want in a boyfriend, what you don't have in yourself!

So the tips I've given here, must apply to you too, so that you won't give your boyfriends, grief!

Enough said.

In closing, if you choose your first boyfriend with these things in mind, it won't eliminate heartbreak (people break up for many reasons), but it sure will minimize (reduce) it...

I wish you girls/women all the best in choosing boyfriends who will love and complement you!

I wish that your boyfriends will be able to say that you girls/women love and complement them!

Please let us know what you think, re what has been said, above, ok?:)

Thanks in advance.

Gillian

First Kiss

Beginning today and for the next few weeks, we will be exploring topics under the Category "Firsts".

Mothers, please encourage your daughters to visit our blog with you, so that our posts will start and re-initiate conversations between the both of you about your "firsts" and your daughter's "firsts".

If you are under 17, please encourage your mom to sit with you while you view these posts, so that the two of you can have some frank and open discussions about same,ok? :)

If you want to explore these posts alone, please feel free to...just ensure that you have a tall glass of water and a dictionary beside you, for we will be discussing topics that teens and pre-teens are very hot and bothered about! :).

Here goes:

Your first kiss...

Every pre-adolescent and adolescent girl dreams of the day when she will be kissed for the very first time.

No doubt it has been the subject of discussion among her and her friends, as they drool over boys that they really like and exchange the exciting details of what they'd like done to them and what they'd like to do to these boys...

(Mothers, if she tells you otherwise, she's being less than truthful :)).

With that said...A girl should be ready for her first kiss and know what to expect from her first kiss.

You know when a boy is going to kiss you and/or when you're going to initiate a kiss when...

Hopefully the two of you have been friends and have been smiling and gigling with each other to know that something is definitely going on between the both of you and hopefully, you would have been taking things, step by step.

So you go from giggles, to making small attempts at comforting touches (e.g your softly pinching his nose or something like that), to the point of revealing how you both feel, to holding hands, to being comfortable enough with him to rest your head on his shoulder and hugging him (around the waist)...then to your first kiss.

I'm from the "old school" and still believe that a boy should initiate that first kiss.

Why?

Because if you do and he's very talkative...you may hear that you came on to him and how "easy" you are.

If he's not talkative, he's going to be wondering how many guys you've already kissed and in his mind, who knows, what else? :)

[Please try from this early age to observe boys who love to brag about sexual exploits or "easy" girls. They are usually novices in the sexual arena or are just "pawers". Meaning...to them, every girl is a vagina to be had and as such, each girl is a notch on a belt - one sexual conquest after another, for comparison purposes with their friends. These boys hardly ever grow up and are still this way even at age 40 :)].

Now back to the issue at hand :)...

You know when a boy is going to kiss you for the first time, when...his hands get wet, he's all nervous, he starts babbling foolishly and then wham - he splats you...tee hee:)...

Sorry guys, most boys, at age 12-14, have yet to learn the fine art of kissing.

Ok, most boys and girls get all nervy for that first kiss, but you need to exercise some confidence here...when he starts getting all nervous...kindly ask him if he wants you guys to kiss... if he says yes, encourage him to kiss you softly on the cheek first.

If his tongue gets entangled on your cheek...say, "let's try that again" and encourage a kiss that's "lips only", on the cheek.

Or you kiss him.

You'll have to moisten your lips with your saliva (if you don't know what that is,then you're too young to be kissing:)) first...and then just give him a small peck on the cheek...

When that happens, your body is going to go into overdrive, his body is going to go into overdrive, you're both going to be feeling all hot and tingly all over and my suggestion is that you stop at that peck...

Why?

When two very young and unmarried people are both experiencing hot blood pumping through their veins, one of them has got to be conscious enough to know when to draw the line and stop...

(This should be discussed by both of you, prior to any kissing,ok? You've got to be responsible for and to each other).

There'll be lot's of time for lip kissing in the future...

Please remember that you can always wait for everything sexual in life...young people need not feel pressured into kissing or sex before marriage...it will not run away!

If you can't handle the "lip kissing" thing...please leave it alone :).

Ok, so let's say you think you can handle the "lip kissing" thing...my humble advice is that you spend a few more days pecking, that is, practicing your kissing techniques on each others' cheeks, forehead and getting used to the warm, tingly feeling of face kissing...

Practice holding each other's chins and cheeks gently, as this will be important in bonding between the two of you during the kiss and in bracing each other's faces during the kiss.

Please practice talking with each other, too, to gauge each other's reactions to what's being done.

If you guys find yourselves pawing each other, please give the "kissing thing" a rest,ok?...you're not yet ready :).

If you guys can take things in stride, you're ready for the big leagues...the lips.

Both of you should have moist lips ...the art of fine kissing begins with moisture.

If you're under 14,  my humble suggestion is that you hold your lips in a kissing pout and he does the same and you two just let the four lips meet and kiss lightly.

(Please, do open your eyes to see where each others' lips are :)).

You do not need to get into tongue exploration at this age...keep it light and soft.

Precious memories should remain precious...don't damage a budding relationship by pressuring each other,ok?:)

If you're older, like over 15, you can just press your moist bottom lip on his moist bottom lip, in the centre of the lip and hold it there briefly.

Then slowly move your bottom lip, up and down his bottom lip, in a very relaxed and slow, flicking motion ensuring that you moisten his lip with the tip and the bottom-front portion of your tongue, intermittently.

Stop and kiss his lips, slowly; then with the slow, gentle, flicking motion of your tongue and both lips, ensure that his entire bottom lip is covered with the sucking motion of your kisses.

Do the same for his upper lip.

Encourage him to do the same to you.

Ask him how he feels,  or forgive me you, you'll know it by the way he's eagerly exploring you back :).

Stay calm and encourage him to stay calm. If it's impossible, then it's time for both of you to stop...

You go home...he goes home and you both take a cold shower.

Please resume on another day, picking up from where you left off,ok? :).

When you resume, you can start from the beginning, or just take either lip and gently suck on it, then take both his lips and kiss and suck gently.

Encourage him to do the same.

With both lips interlocked, either of you will have to tilt your head to the side, so that you can breathe through your nostrils and so that you can both enjoy soft and gentle kisses with both lips and the gentle movements of your tongues.

Please rember to breathe, and then kiss again...

Don't worry...you'll have plenty of time to perfect the technique and see and talk about what feels right and enjoyable to both of you :).

Now, I'm going to say this to you, as young as you are:

A kiss is never just a kiss...

A kiss usually leads somewhere...to more exploration and eventually sex.

You see, a kiss is the beginning of foreplay, which is gentle kissing, touching, etc. that leads up to sex.

You should not be lip and tongue kissing a boy you have no intention of having sex with.

You should wait until marriage to have sex...

Why? You may be asking...

All my friends are doing it and enjoying it...and telling me it's great!

No doubt many of your friends will be having sex, but how many of them will tell you about the downside...SIDs, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, abortion?

All because two people got hot and bothered and didn't stop with a kiss...

Sexual intimacy and sexual exploration at length, belongs to two people who have made a lifetime committment to each other and who can accept the results of that intimacy.

It has no place in the lives of pre-teens and teens whose hormones are running faster than Asafa Powell in the 100-metre sprint.

Please enjoy your childhood...enjoy being a teen, without the complications of "unprepared for" sex.

Try to live your life with as few regrets as possible, so that you can have peace in your life, as you get older.

Leave the deep-throat kissing for the man who'll become your husband...then you can explore him at length,ok?

Enough said.

Please let me know what you think,ok?.. I just love to hear you thoughts:)

More Resources for you:

This "Links 2 Love" Article Shows Positioning and Pictures

Tags: first kiss, french kiss, kissing technique, how to kiss, first time kiss