125 Drug Tests Before Olympics - JAAA Boss Counters WADA Claim - Lists High Frequency Of Testing Prior To London 2012 Games

 President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake has come out in defence of the nation's top athletes, following recent threats made by the World Anti-Doping Agency against the background that not enough was being done by the island's track and field officials to deal with drug use in the sport.
Dr Warren Blake
Dr. Warren Blake
"Our athletes are the most tested in the world, as prior to the London Olympic Games, some 125 drug testing was done on our elite athletes by the IAAF ... while WADA was not doing enough, the IAAF was extensively testing our athletes and our athletes are tested more than any other athletes in the world," said Dr. Blake.
"When you look at the performances of our athletes since this extensive drug testing by the IAAF it is the best medal haul we have had in major competition in our history." read  more

Excelsior High was beaten 4-2 on penalties by Wolmer's Boys in Wlaker Cup Finals.

Dear All,

In the Walker Cup Football Finals, Excelsior High was beaten 4-2 on penalties by Wolmer's Boys a few minutes ago. Penalty kicks became necessary after both teams were locked on 1-1 after full and extra time.

Congratulations to Wolmers, worthy champions. Hearty congrats to the Excelsior team who represented the school well all season; making the Manning Cup semi-finals and the Walker Cup final. Congrats also to Coach Halliman and staff for a wonderful season.

Coach Leebert Halliman, an Excelsior Alumnus will be our special honouree at this years Wesley Powell Invitational T&F Meet. He will be honored for his continuous contribution to the development of the school.....

Age Animo,
Shaks 

NIKKI MINAJ IN LIVING COLORS: Your skin and nose doesn't need fixing. Fix your mind. www.blackgirlsbeautybible.blogspot.com

Your skin and nose doesn't need fixing. Fix your mind.
www.blackgirlsbeautybible.blogspot.com
She was already pretty without all of that. So sad how our sistas hate themselves and don't even know it.

Rihanna congratulated by Barbados Culture Minister on winning first (American Music Awards) AMA icon award

Rihanna
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) -- the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley has congratulated Barbadian superstar, Rihanna, on receiving the first-ever Icon Award at the American Music Awards.  “This is a triumph not only for Rihanna and her family but indeed for Barbados,” said Lashley in a statement.

As a proud Barbadian, I, too, felt as though I had received this award. It was a glorious moment to see this humble, intelligent young woman, who just a few short years ago was still a schoolgirl attending Combermere School and living in Westbury Road, transformed into a fashion and music icon, being acknowledged by one of the greatest countries in the world for her craft,” he added. Read more: 

IN JAMAICA: Trinis turn to Shanique Myrie for help........says she has been contacted by Trinidadian friends who have voiced their disgust at the actions of that country's immigration officers.

SHANIQUE Myrie, the poster girl of free travel through the Caribbean Community, says she has been contacted by Trinidadian friends who have voiced their disgust at the actions of that country's immigration officers.
Myrie, who was recently awarded damages against Barbados in the Caribbean Court of Justice, says some Trinidadians are not in agreement with the unfair treatment being meted out to Jamaicans.
Myrie

"I have friends who live in Trinidad and they are calling on Jamaicans not to blame the Trinidadian people. It is the actions of the immigration officers. They asked me to tell the people of Jamaica that they love us," Myrie told the Jamaica Observer. Last week 13 Jamaicans, including an 11-year-old child, were denied entry into the twin island, forced to sit on a hard bench for an entire night and sent back to Jamaica the next morning.
The treatment of the Jamaicans have elicited calls for consumers to boycott goods from the twin island and a movement has already started on the social media Facebook. Read more: 

DAMMING TESTIMONY AGAINST VIBES KARTEL IN MURDER TRIAL : Witness testifies seeing ‘Lizard’ motionless in Kartel’s living room

A prosecution witness yesterday gave damning evidence against Vybz Kartel and his four co-accused as their murder trial continued in the Home Circuit Court, downtown Kingston.
Kartel leaving court last Thursday
The witness, who gave an initial statement that led to Kartel and Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Andre St John, Kahira Jones, and Shane Williams being arrested and charged with murder, seemed to tremble while on the witness stand. He testified that he was present at a house on Swallowfield Avenue in Havendale, St Andrew on August 16, 2011 when Clive 'Lizard' Williams was attacked.
The witness, who was surrounded by a security detail of about 10 police officers, said he and Williams were summoned by Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, to the house to give account for two illegal firearms that went missing while in their care. He was accompanied to the house by Campbell in a taxi driven by a man known as 'Nefa', who he begged not to leave him. He said, after a brief exchange between Kartel and Williams, Kartel invited them inside. Read more:

Deadly Storm Barrels Through U.S.....How Travel Plans Will Be Affected

Deadly Storm Barrels Through U.S.

Winter Stormtt

How Travel Plans Will Be Affected

Dark Money Crackdown

Rove

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Thanksgiving Meal


tv dinnerWhen it comes to Thanksgiving, every year is delightfully repetitive: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pecan pie. Your uncle will make the same insane political assertions; your young cousins will sulk. There will be lipstick all over your cheeks. You'll vow to do a better job with the gravy -- and then it will taste familiarly paste-like, despite your best efforts. We hate to interrupt this idyll of sameness, but we think there are a few things you might not know about your Thanksgiving meal. And we're here to tell you. read more
Thanksgiving is responsible for the creation of TV dinners

Pentatonix Performs The A Cappella Version Of 'Little Drummer Boy' You've Been Waiting For......[Official Video]

DAMION CRAWFORD LAUDS STING’S LONGEVITY

DANCEHALL music has always had its share of critics, some of whom point to the genre's negative impact on Jamaican youth.
Entertainment minister Damion Crawford, however, is not one of the naysayers. Speaking at Monday's launch of Sting at the Jamaica Pegasus in New Kingston, Crawford defended reggae's controversial spin-off.
Damion Crawford (left), minister of state
 in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment,
greets Supreme Promotions’ Howard McIntosh (right),
 while Lisa Hanna (second left), and Isaiah Laing,
 Supreme Promotions’ boss, look on. 


 

"The saying that dancehall is a crucial part of society's violence is a myth. If that was the case, Sting would not have been sustained over the years. We don't hear the same thing being said about cartoons, books and movies," said Crawford. He noted that other music forms such as rock and roll, and hip hop have been similarly chastised but like dancehall, and Sting, have endured. Read more: 

No doubt! Tessanne in Voice Top 6

Photo: CONGRATULATIONS TESSANNE CHIN! She is in the SCINTILLATING SIX on da VOICE. Let's take her to # 1.  Tessanne Chin popularity soars in the United States competition. 
http://rulabrownnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/11/higher-demand-price-for-tessannes.htmlTESSANNE Chin moved into the top six of the American television talent contest, The Voice, during last night's results show that proved nerve-wracking for Jamaicans.
Chin, who injected a Jamaican flavour to the NBC contest Monday night with an energetic performance of the reggae number Underneath It All by No Doubt, featuring deejay Lady Saw, was visibly nervous each time presenter Carson Daly announced the name of the contestants who, based on public vote, moved up to the next round.
Her anxiety, however, ended on the fourth announcement which triggered celebration among Jamaicans on the island and in the diaspora, as well as from her coach, Adam Levine. Read more: 

Konshens on new album & Vybz Kartel

Protect brand Ocho Rios


Business interests and other stakeholders decry the state of the resort town of Ocho Rios, which they say is in need of immediate attention. Here the roads are
flooded during a recent downpour and this is believed to be caused by the lack of a drain maintenance programme in the bustling commercial district.OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Newly appointed spokesperson on tourism Shahine Robinson said the resort town of Ocho Rios is in a deplorable condition and needs immediate attention. Similar sentiments were voiced by stakeholders at the recently held St Ann Chamber of Commerce meeting where Robinson was speaking. “T ...more

Read more: 

Jamaica Sets Eyes On Digital Future......Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss is taking the lead.

Jamaica is primed to be another hub, this one of the digital variety.

Representatives from various sponsors, supporters and information and communication technology stakeholders gathered at King's House yesterday to launch Digital Jam 3.0 - Caribbean Edition. The initiative is the follow-up to the highly successful Digital Jam 2.0 mobile-app creation competition, the finals of which were held earlier this year.
Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House, St Andrew, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador
 Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at
 King's House, St Andrew, yesterday.
 - Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Industry Minister Anthony Hylton, a key figure as Jamaica positions itself to be the next global logistics hub, said digital infrastructure was at the heart of developing both hubs, noting the 3.0 theme: 'The Future of Work is Digital'. He added that Jamaica had the ability, leadership and human capital to succeed on both fronts.
"[Digital Jam 2.0] has unearthed tremendous talent," he said. "Digital Jam 3.0 will give us another platform to identify that talent." read more

Wicked weather may wreck your travel plans


It's already left a mess in the western half of the country. Now, a big storm is soaking the South and may ice up roads in the Northeast -- just in time for Thanksgiving travel.FULL STORY

NEW BANK THREAT: SQUEEZE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS........Banks Threaten To Charge You For Saving Money

In an effort to protect their record profits, banks might soon charge you for the privilege of having a savings account.
I know what you're thinking: Banks already charge customers outrageous fees for the privilege of having bank accounts. But if the Federal Reserve dares to try and help the economy by cutting a special interest rate it pays banks, fees could get even moreoutrageous, the Financial Times reports (subscription only). Such a move by the Fed would lose banks some easy money, and they could take the difference out of their customers' hides.
The Fed is desperately trying to find ways to dial back on its $85 billion per month in bond purchases, an extreme stimulus program known as "quantitative easing," while still supporting the economy. One possible approach would be to stop paying banks a tiny interest rate for money they store at the Fed for safekeeping. The idea being that banks would be more inclined to put money to work with lending and other stuff that helps the economy. read more

Heart Health 7 : Surprising Signs of an Unhealthy Heart.......Sexual problems, Snoring, Sore Bleeding Gums, Irregular Heartbeat & more....

pain in a neck
We've all read the signs of a heart attack listed on posters in the hospital waiting room. But what if there were other, earlier signs that could alert you ahead of time that your heart was in trouble?
It turns out there are. Researchers have done a lot of work in recent years looking at the signs and symptoms patients experienced in the months or even years leading up to a heart attack. "The heart, together with the arteries that feed it, is one big muscle, and when it starts to fail the symptoms can show up in many parts of the body," says cardiologist Jonathan Goldstein of Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. Here are seven surprising clues that your heart needs a check. Any of these signs -- and particularly two or more together -- should send you to the doctor for tests. read more

Higher Demand, Price For Tessanne's Voice......As Tessanne Chin's popularity soars in the United States competition

As Tessanne Chin's popularity soars in the United States competition, 'The Voice', it seems her performance prices and bookings are increasing at a similar rate.
Photo: Vote for TESSANNE CHIN (11/25/13) The VOICE.....SHARE & VOTE 855-864-2302
http://rulabrownnetwork.blogspot.com/p/vote-for-tessanne-chine.html
Tessanne Top 6
According to Headline Entertainment's Jerome Hamilton, "Her popularity has increased in Jamaica and she is certainly more relevant as a Jamaican artiste. The world is being introduced to her. Her appeal has grown and we have seen it in the number of persons requesting her."
Hamilton, whose company also acts as one of Chin's booking agents, said demand for the powerful singer has increased significantly. "I can safely say her fees have gone up already," he told The Gleaner.
GT Taylor
GT Taylor
In addition, he said, Chin, who is now in the top eight of The Voice, "might get the chance to be a bona fide international artiste".
Added to that, Hamilton said, she is likely to get crossover success as well as secure a contract with a major record label. read more

More 'fiyah' from Red Fox

RED Fox recently released the mixtape Fiyah Fox, his first full-length project in almost 17 years. The compilation was produced by DJ Shirkhan of Sweden's Safari Sound.
"It comprises not only dancehall music but hip hop and free styles as well. I wanted to do it the way the rappers do and show versatility," he said. "Growing up in Brooklyn which is the birthplace of many rappers helped me achieve this." Among the songs on Fiyah Fox are Love Mi Jamaica with Shaggy and Golden Child and No Other Like You which features singer Rayvon.
International recording
 artiste Shaggy (left) and Red Fox


 
It also includes the Red Fox favourites Bashment Party and Yuh Body Good, as well as collaborations with Jimmy Cozier, Christopher Martin, Chico and Screechie Dan. No Other Like You helped put Red Fox back in the reckoning last year. It was well-received among Caribbean fans in New York City and South Florida where it made reggae charts.
Red Fox has two albums to his credit: As a Matter of Fox, released in 1993 on Elektra Records, followed four years later by Face the Fox for VP Records. Read more: 

Vote for TESSANNE CHIN (11/25/13) The VOICE.....SHARE & VOTE 855-864-2302



IN JAMAICA: And The Ban Is On! Teacher Launches Campaign To Boycott T&T Products

AS THE implications of a move seemingly aimed at blockingJamaicans from entering Trinidad and Tobago soak in, a consumer-oriented Facebook campaign urging Jamaicans to boycott products imported from that country has grabbed the support of scores of consumers on local shores.
Green Dillon
The campaign, initiated by
 rural primary school teacher,
 Kesreen Green Dillon
But not only are the local consumers ready and raring to go, influential segments of the commercial sector, as well as the Parliamentary Opposition, appear eager to come on board.
While the campaign has targeted Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados has not escaped attention.
The campaign, initiated by rural primary school teacher, Kesreen Green Dillon, was launched last week amid mounting allegations that the CARICOM neighbours are flouting the free-movement provisions of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by blocking Jamaicans from entering their shores. read more

Homeless Boy Steals The Talent Show.... Must See.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS: American dies in Bahamas free diving contest


image
Award-winning diver is thought to have
 suffered a depth-related injury to his
 lungs while trying to break a record
 at the international event.
NASSAU, Bahamas, Wednesday November 20, 2013 – An accomplished free diver, who won several international tournaments including the Deja Blue competition in Curacao earlier this year, died on Sunday while participating in a tournament in the Bahamas.
Nicholas Mevoli, 32, died around 2 p.m. in the water off the Bahamas' Long Island, about 164 miles southeast of Nassau, according to officials.

Organizer of the tournament William Trubridge said Mevoli was attempting to break a record for the deepest "Constant No Fins" free dive at the nine-day International Free Diving Competition, which reportedly brought together 56 divers from 21 countries. Read more: 

Former Puerto Rican police commissioner jailed for possession of child porn

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Thursday November 21, 2013, CMC – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says the former commissioner of the San Juan, Puerto Rico Police Department has been sentenced to 10 years in jailed followed by 15 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
image
ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),
working jointly with Puerto Rico Crimes Against
 Children Task Force, conducted the investigation
 that led to the arrest, the guilty plea and
subsequent sentencing of the
former commissioner. (Credit: pr


 
On Wednesday, ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted the investigation that led to the arrest, the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing of the former commissioner.
On December 8, 2011, Hilton Cordero-Rosario, 52, was arrested by HSI special agents on production and possession of child pornography charges.

According to the 21-count indictment, Cordero-Rosario had digital images and video files of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Read more:

ST. CATHERINE, JAMAICA: Patrick Wright's house of circles Construction worker building his dream house all on his own. Is single-handedly building his seven-bedroom dream house.

Patrick ‘Piey’ Wright’s house
 is still under construction in
Wakefield Savannah, St Catherine.


 
The 54-year-old construction worker, who lives in Wakefield, a rustic community in St Catherine, is single-handedly building his seven-bedroom dream house. And, as if constructing a house that size with no help is not enough, Wright — who is originally from Kingston — claims that the design is like no other in the island. "The house is being built and designed on a concept of circles," Wright told the Jamaica Observer last week.
"Most of the houses you see around are built with square walls, but in this house every room, every column is built in a circular form," said Wright, who is a Rastafarian. Wright said he decided to construct the house — which is now 75 per cent complete — in the unique fashion as he wanted to set himself apart from other players in the construction sector. Read more: 

West Indies Cricket Team beat India: Bravo attributes victory to teamwork

VISAKHAPATNAM, India (CMC) — West Indies Captain Dwayne Bravo said yesterday's victory against India in the second One-Day International was as a result of team effort and their hunger to win.
West Indies One-Day Captain Dwayne Bravo (right)
 embraces his Test counterpart after the
 latter inspired the Caribbean side to victory over
 India in the second ODI yesterday. (PHOTO: WICB)


 
West Indies beat India by two wickets, their first win on tour, and to keep their hopes alive in the three-match ODI series. Chasing 289, West Indies reached the target for eight wickets in 49.3 overs. Earlier, India scored 288 for seven in 50 overs.
Bravo said the aim was for the main batsmen to score runs and, despite losing wickets, they were able to maintain focus. "Great team effort. Holder and Rampaul gave us a good effort, can't forget young Permaul. Once we got the Indians under 300, we backed ourselves to chase," he said. Read more: 

Penthouse Records marks 25 years.....The Journey Continues also includes a 45-minute DVD documentary narrated by Germain.

IN the mid-1970s, Donovan Germain donned a jacket and tie and headed to his nine-to-five job on Wall Street where he worked as a junior accountant at a brokerage firm.
It was not long before he got bored. "I never love the corporate world... the jacket and tie thing wasn't for me," he told the Sunday Observer.
Penthouse boss Donovan Germain
with veteran singer Marcia Griffiths.


 
He entered the music business as a producer with Germain's Revolutionary Records, but did not hit his stride until 1988 when he returned to Jamaica and launched Penthouse Records. This year, Germain went into his archives and selected 47 songs which will be released on January 14, 2014 by VP Records as Penthouse Records 25 Years — The Journey Continues.
The set contains many of the songs that made the label a powerhouse during the 1990s, a fruitful period for dancehall music. There are others not as well known. Read more: 

IN JAMAICA: 10 Questions For Portia....With public disquiet growing increasingly about the failure of Prime Minister...What question would you ask the PM?

With public disquiet growing increasingly about the failure of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to make herself available for media interviews, The Sunday Gleaner invited select persons to send the questions they would like answered by the head of the Government.
Portia Simpson Miller
Portia Simpson-Miller
We have taken 10 from the loads of questions which were submitted and invite the prime minister to respond to these pressing areas of concern.
1) Did you hold Richard Azan, state minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, accountable for any breach of established government procedures in his handling of the Spaldings market issue?
2) Did you consider the outcry from civil society when making your decision to restore Mr Azan to his role of a junior minister?
3) In light of the sacrifices being demanded of all Jamaicans, do you think it is time for you to reduce the number of Cabinet ministers, ministers without portfolio and ministers of state?
4) Are you satisfied with the performance of Peter Bunting as minister of national security? remaining 6

Human rights group calls for resignation of Jamaica's top cop

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), called for the resignation of the Police Commissioner Owen Ellingto
imageKINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday November 22, 2013, CMC – The human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), Friday called for the resignation of the Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, saying he has failed to keep the murder rate in the country under control.

“He has failed to keep the murder rate under control; he has failed to improve the police clear-up rate for murder; he has presided over the highest cumulative rate of police fatal shootings ever seen in Jamaica," the JFJ said in a statement. More than 1,000 people have been murdered here so far this year. Read more: 

FOOTBALL: 2013 Manning Cup Final - JC Triumph In Thriller over Wolmers at Stadium in a grueling FINALS.

Jamaica College carved a 25th lien on one of the most coveted schoolboy football trophies at the National Stadium yesterday.
Jamaica's College's captain Junior Flemming (centre) lifts the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup trophy following his school's 3-2 extra-time victory over Wolmer's Boys in the final at the National Stadium yesterday. -Gladstone Taylor/Photgrapher
Jamaica's College's captain Junior Flemming (centre)
 lifts the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup trophy following
 his school's 3-2 extra-time victory over Wolmer's Boys
in the final at the National Stadium yesterday
. -Gladstone Taylor/Photgrapher
It took a gruelling, energy-sapping 120 minutes - 90 minutes regulation time and 30 minutes extra time - to decide the winners. And at the end, surrounded by his teammates and students of the Old Hope Road-based school, captain Junior Flemming lifted the coveted trophy after a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
The teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of normal time and it took another nine minutes for substitute Ronald Brown to crash home the winner after being sent clear by Raffique Bryan. read more

More Than 1,000 J'cans Denied Entry Into T&T In 3 Years

Officials in Trinidad and Tobago have revealed that just over 1,000 Jamaican nationals have been denied entry into that country in the last three years. 

The disclosure comes amid the current row between the two countries over reports this week that immigration officials in the twin island republic denied entry to 13 Jamaicans who were later deported. In a statement released yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Ministry the impression is being given that its immigration officers acted in an arbitrary and inappropriate manner. read more

IN JAMAICA: FOREIGN Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister AJ Nicholson rejects calls to ban imports from Trinidad and Tobago

FOREIGN Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister AJ Nicholson has rejected suggestions that Jamaica ban imports from Trinidad and Tobago as a retaliatory strike against the summary denial of entry to Jamaicans into that country.
NICHOLSON… it would be a breach of
 Jamaica’s obligations under the Revised
Treaty of Chaguaramas to block
 the entry of goods from Trinidad and Tobago


 
On Tuesday, 13 Jamaicans, including an 11-year-old girl and a man who is married to a Trinidadian woman, were denied entry upon arrival at the Piarco International Airport in Port of Spain and were sent back to Jamaica the following morning.

Immigration officials at the airport seized the Jamaicans’ passports and ordered them to sit on a hard bench all night before shipping them out of the country, despite the fact that the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) allows for free travel between countries by Caribbean Community nationals. Read more: 

RULA BROWN - Lips of Wine (Download for 79 cents).


https://app.box.com/s/l4auq4vw
 

Jamaica Sets Eyes On Digital Future......Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss is taking the lead.

Jamaica is primed to be another hub, this one of the digital variety.
Representatives from various sponsors, supporters and information and communication technology stakeholders gathered at King's House yesterday to launch Digital Jam 3.0 - Caribbean Edition. The initiative is the follow-up to the highly successful Digital Jam 2.0 mobile-app creation competition, the finals of which were held earlier this year.
Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House, St Andrew, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador
 Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at
 King's House, St Andrew, yesterday.
 - Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Industry Minister Anthony Hylton, a key figure as Jamaica positions itself to be the next global logistics hub, said digital infrastructure was at the heart of developing both hubs, noting the 3.0 theme: 'The Future of Work is Digital'. He added that Jamaica had the ability, leadership and human capital to succeed on both fronts.
"[Digital Jam 2.0] has unearthed tremendous talent," he said. "Digital Jam 3.0 will give us another platform to identify that talent." read more