Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 09, 2010
January 2010 Burning Spear Concert Stream Featured at New RadioREGGAE.com
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Your voice can make a real difference!
Your voice can make a real difference!
Each and every one of us has a special connection to nature. Whether it's the mountain trails we hike with friends, the flowing rivers we fished as children, or the rocky shores where we seek peace and tranquility.
That's why we're urging you to do two important things right now:
Each and every one of us has a special connection to nature. Whether it's the mountain trails we hike with friends, the flowing rivers we fished as children, or the rocky shores where we seek peace and tranquility.
That's why we're urging you to do two important things right now:
· Take action to protect the lands and waters we cherish and cannot live without by sending a message to your senators asking them to support oil spill response legislation (S. 3663). Tell them that a new future is possible if we work together to pass this bill.
· Speak out in the national dialogue about conservation in America launched by President Obama to gather insights and ideas from citizens across the country to create a road map that will ensure the lands and waters we cherish today will be around for our children and grandchildren tomorrow.
Just as we rely on nature, nature relies on us to keep it strong and healthy.And when you take a moment now to complete those two actions, you'll help address the impacts of the oil spill and the long term problems in the Gulf of Mexico that preceded it.
You'll also help invest in America's land and water by fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the primary funding source for protecting our national, state and local parks.
That's part of why The Nature Conservancy strongly supports pending legislation (S. 3663) in the U.S. Senate. If passed, it would be the most important bill in decades for the protection of our lands and waters. Read more about why this legislation is so important.
So please, complete both actions right now. 1) Tell your senators they must act now to seize this historic opportunity (with S. 3663) and 2) Speak out in the national campaign to collect your ideas about how to help our natural resources.
Thank you for your support and for all you do to preserve life on Earth.
Sincerely,
![[Signature]](http://support.nature.org/images/Appeals/Signatures/r-bendick.gif)
Robert Bendick
Director of U.S. Government Relations
The Nature Conservancy
p.s. Please forward this email to your friends and consider sharing it on Facebook and Twitter. The more people who take action and share an idea, the more we can all do together to help our natural world.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Reggae World International, a ning international web-based community, now accessible through URL www.REGGAEning.com
Reggae World International (RWI) is an international community of Reggae Music artists, fans and music industry professionals with members from over 40 different countries. Founder, Rasjohnmon, stated “a big obstacle for us was the long URL address – www.ReggaeWorldInternational.ning.com – our new community entrance at www.REGGAEning.com really simplifies things for members and visitors.” This change is of great importance in the marketing of the community.
Ning is an online platform for people to create their own social networks, launched in October 2005. Ning was co-founded by Marc Andreessen and Gina Bianchini. Ning is Andreessen's third company (after Netscape and Opsware). The word "Ning" is Chinese for "peace" (simplified Chinese: 宁; traditional Chinese: 寧; pinyin: níng), as explained by Gina Bianchini on the company blog. “The RWI ning community is “livicated” to spreading a positive message of peace and unity among all people, a nurturing Spirit for the planet and all its creatures. RWI is an international community of peaceful warriors linked by a passion for life, love and REGGAE Music!” explained Rasjohnmon when asked about the objectives of the community.
The RWI website is free for members. Each member is provided with easy to use tools to create their own custom web page within the community. The options available are considerably greater than other social networks. Members can publish videos, graphics, event listings, blog postings and their own advertising and interactive apps. Options exist for each member to create their own merchandise store, games and even have their own internet radio program. One of the founding members John Brodie commented, “The ning platform is definitely the most dynamic social networking option where all members have the opportunity to be creators of a very interactive and powerful web experience.”
John Brodie produced a short video to promote the community and their “long” URL address prior to the new option of going to REGGAEning.com. The video can be accessed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XkK_fpwFa0 . The RWI site is in its early growth stage and will be expanding rapidly as new members bring access to travel, specialty foods, new music releases from around the world, support for new and unsigned artists and a wealth of music industry contacts and expertise. For more information, visit the site at www.REGGAEning.com or email reggae@previewnet.com.
Friday, August 27, 2010
California: Latino Voters League, Black Police Officers Endorse Marijuana Depenalization Initiative
Sacramento, CA: Representatives from the Latino Voters League (LVL) and the National Black Police Association have offered formal endorsements of Proposition 19, The Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis Initiative of 2010. If passed, the measure would legalize the private adult possession and cultivation of marijuana, and allow local government the option to regulate the plant's commercial production and sale.
"The so called 'war on drugs' has been a gigantic failure, and approving Proposition 19 in November in California will hasten its demise," Antonio Gonzalez, coordinator of the Latino Voters League (LVL), announced at an August 13 press conference. "[A]pproving Proposition 19 will strike a blow to violent gangs and Mexican cartels that prey on our communities by removing their profit incentive. Parents worried about drug use today among their teenage children should support Proposition 19 because it will reduce the availability of cannabis among underage persons by controlling it and regulating it in the same way alcohol is controlled."
The LVL is a "nonpartisan organization dedicated to mobilizing Latino voters around progressive issues."
Last week, at its national conference in Sacramento, The National Black Police Association also endorsed the measure. The National Black Police Association has some 15,000 members nationwide. "[Passage of Prop. 19] means that we will be locking up less African American men and women and children who are using drugs," the group's Executive Director Ron Hampton said. "[Under the present policy,] blacks go to jail more than whites for doing the same thing."
According to a report published in July, African Americans are arrested for marijuana possession offenses in California's 25 largest counties at more than twice the rate of Caucasians.
The California state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had previously expressed its "unconditional support" for Prop. 19.
California voters will decide on the measure this November. According to the most recently released statewide poll on the measure, 50 percent of Californians support Prop. 19 while 40 percent oppose it.
For more information, please visit: http://yeson19.com.
"The so called 'war on drugs' has been a gigantic failure, and approving Proposition 19 in November in California will hasten its demise," Antonio Gonzalez, coordinator of the Latino Voters League (LVL), announced at an August 13 press conference. "[A]pproving Proposition 19 will strike a blow to violent gangs and Mexican cartels that prey on our communities by removing their profit incentive. Parents worried about drug use today among their teenage children should support Proposition 19 because it will reduce the availability of cannabis among underage persons by controlling it and regulating it in the same way alcohol is controlled."
The LVL is a "nonpartisan organization dedicated to mobilizing Latino voters around progressive issues."
Last week, at its national conference in Sacramento, The National Black Police Association also endorsed the measure. The National Black Police Association has some 15,000 members nationwide. "[Passage of Prop. 19] means that we will be locking up less African American men and women and children who are using drugs," the group's Executive Director Ron Hampton said. "[Under the present policy,] blacks go to jail more than whites for doing the same thing."
According to a report published in July, African Americans are arrested for marijuana possession offenses in California's 25 largest counties at more than twice the rate of Caucasians.
The California state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had previously expressed its "unconditional support" for Prop. 19.
California voters will decide on the measure this November. According to the most recently released statewide poll on the measure, 50 percent of Californians support Prop. 19 while 40 percent oppose it.
For more information, please visit: http://yeson19.com.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Bob Marley and the Wailers LIVE!
A memoir from JB - webmaster of Reggae.com and RadioReggae.com
My first experience of Bob Marley and The Wailers was in 1973. I was in an apartment in New York City and I remember I was sitting in the living room on the floor and talking with friends sitting on the couch across a coffee table in front of me. It was then that I heard a beat and a voice from the turntable playing music in the next room. I was distracted from the conversation and got up from the floor and made my way to the turntable. The party disappeared into the background and I had to know more about this music that called out with an intensity I had not heard before. The spinning label said “Catch A Fire” and the band was Bob Marley and The Wailers. A friend had seen the band playing a double bill with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band at Max's Kansas City a few weeks earlier in July. He had told me both bands were going to be big but he had no idea what he had witnessed.
The next day, I went out and bought "Catch A Fire" and "Burnin'" and listened to nothing else for several days. 60's and 70's rock had owned my turntable before - much of it was music with a message. Marley took this to a new level of passion with a riddum that could not be resisted. The songs presented stories of persecution but always filled with hope. Many of the songs were filled with a Spiritual energy that made them feel like hymns from the inner city. They were songs from the Concrete Jungle telling a story that would inspire not only Bob's friends and neighbors in Kingston, Jamaica but people of all walks of life, races, nationalities and levels on the economic ladder. Bob Marley's lyrics are enlivened by compassion and a determination to refuse to settle for a less than satisfactory status quo. Get up stand up, stand up for your rights! Who the cap fits, let them wear it. Jammin' and easy skanking, every ting gonna be all right.
If you got to see Bob live, you know. I have been lucky enough to see most of the top acts of the 60's and 70's live but the Marley shows were special... they were on a different plane. The first show I saw was the RastaMan Vibration Tour in late April 1976 at the Beacon Theater on Broadway in NYC. The Beacon was a top Rock concert Hall and drew fans from New York University, Columbia University the boroughs and Jersey. All the shows were sold out with fans of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, Doors, Jefferson Airplane and the like who had all be captured by Marley's Reggae Vibe. Lot's of trips to Jamaica were planned those nights.
All this time, I was buying up Reggae records from other artists - I figured if Bob's stuff was this good, there had to be other great stuff out there too. Culture, Joe Higgs, Burning Spear, Third World, Ras Michael, Lee Perry, Big Youth, U-Roy, The Heptones, Jimmy cliff... the list and my music collection grew and grew. I knew BIG TINGS A GWON.
When I heard Bob Marley and The Wailers were going to be at Madison Square Garden, I waited on line over night to get tickets. I got a ticket for myself and my little sister - I'd taken her to one of the last shows at the Fillmore East when she was 13-14 years old - I hadn't wanted her to miss being in that theater and this was the same kind of thing - I wanted her to get to see Bob. That night, as we walked in the Garden it was transformed into a magical place. It was a little like the energy being there for a Grateful Dead show but much deeper and more mystical - there was a natural mystic blowing through the air, can't keep them down - if you listen carefully now you will hear. It was a totally mixes audience from Rastas in Regal Garb to yuppies in jeans and t-shirts to N.Y's hip and connected "cool" crowd - it was the hot ticket in town that June 17 night in 1978. On another page you can see the ticket stub and program cover. I shot some great Bob Marley pictures at the Garden - the Ras John Reggae logo is from one of the shots I go that night as are the two stage shots you'll find. The memory lives on.
I was working at NBC and later Westwood One where I got to know Timothy White and Roger Steffens who worked with me at The Source (NBC Rock Radio Network) and then when Timothy was doing Rock Stars for Westwood One. Timothy wrote one of the best books on Marley, “Catch A Fire” and Roger “Rojah” Steffens is probably Bob’s biggest fan along with being a serious historian of Reggae Music with Marley front and center of course. There’s so much thing to say… it is quite an amazement and joyous wonder how this reluctant Messiah from the hills of JA went on to have such a monumental impact on so many peoples lives. He spawned a whole culture. Robert Nesta Marley brought the world together with Music and delivered powerful messages - Robert Marley's lyrics and riddums - when it hit you feel no pain. I got to see Peter Tosh a couple of times, with one of those times a very special night sitting right by the stage with only a couple of hundred other people at NYC’s Bottom Line. It was a great show with the Tamlins providing harmony but no match for the mystical power of Bob.
I got to see The Wailers next in October of 1979 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. Walking along the street one day in the City, I saw a poster – you can see it on another page here – Betty Wight (a soul/gospel singer) and Bob Marley and The Wailers at The Apollo. I was not going to miss it – it was one of the few times Bob got to play to a predominantly Black audience in the States – Bob played every show like he had something to prove and won the heart and soul of the crowd each night. The Legend LIVE show that is on DVD from Santa Barbara, CA takes place about a month later and demonstrates the power of the band as well as anything I’ve seen on recordings except maybe the Roxy Show CD. You can get more info on other pages here. I headed home after the show by myself, thanking Jah for the privilege of being there and wondering yet again of the magic and wonder of the world we live in.
I was to see Bob Marley and the Wailers one more time and at that time, I had no idea that this was to be Bob's second to last live performance ever. The album Uprising was released in May 1980 and the band completed a major tour of Europe, where they played their biggest ever concert, to a hundred thousand people in Milan. The U.S. portion of the tour kicked off at Madison Square Garden in NYC. The atmosphere in The Garden was again mystical, other worldly - there's really no other way I can think to explain it - I have been to lots of concerts and event at The Garden - it is strange because the cavernous space somehow felt smaller, more intimate. There was definitely that Natural Mystic in the air - in my memory, the two Garden shows are merged into one extended vision of intense energy and a spacey, trippy haze. That's not just because mass quantities of upful herb were being toked in the huge building - it is because the event and the audience together produced this mystic magical vibe that was inescapable. When the band launched into the opening of Natural Mystic, the attention of the thousands of people lucky enough to be in NYC that night and at the show was immediately riveted on the stage. Moments later Bob came dancing and skanking out to center stage. For the next hour and a half, this Spiritual Warrior, musician, artist, poet - a reluctant Messiah by the name of Robert Nesta Marley again captivated the masses with his powerful positive and vibrant energy. By the time the encore of Could You Be Loved finished, the audience was filled with satisfied souls celebrating what they had just witnessed. By the time the co-billed Commodores hit the stage, they were left to play to an almost empty arena.
The next day Bob would collapse on a run in Central Park. It was thought he was suffering from exhaustion but it was to sadly turn out to be much more serious. In July 1977, Bob had been diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma, a form of malignant melanoma. He did not realize it yet but the disease had spread thorough his body. Bob wanted to press on - he was still on a mission, a mission of taking his Jah inspired message to the world - but, on September 23, 1980, Bob Marley was to play his final concert ever at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. A pretty good recording of this show exists and it is testament to his power as an artist - although he was already very sick, the sold out crowd in Pittsburgh still got to see one last, stunning show. That last night, Bob ended the show with an acoustic version of Redemption Song (the recording of the song from that night is the final track on Marley Songs of Freedom 4-cd box set). There would be a three song encore but Redemption Song was poetically perfect as a closing note. "There was a feeling of a whole era coming to a climax. Everyone felt he knew something was going to happen," said Rita Marley. "Redemption Song is like a final statement in a career, a summation of all of the themes and thought that had created it" - to quote the liner notes for Songs of Freedom. "We've got to fulfil the book."
Sunday, August 01, 2010
National Friendship Day
Today is National Friendship Day. For the past 75 years, people around the country and the world have taken time on this day to honor and celebrate that most special relationship: friendship.
As such, we wanted to let you know about our own group of friends: Friends of The Nature Conservancy.
Comprised of members who support the Conservancy on a monthly basis, Friends of The Nature Conservancy allows members to provide the consistent, long-term support that is essential to effective conservation. It is one of the easiest ways to have a significant impact.
Your monthly gift will make a lasting difference for our natural world. The sustained support of our friends helps us achieve remarkable results, including to:
As such, we wanted to let you know about our own group of friends: Friends of The Nature Conservancy.
Comprised of members who support the Conservancy on a monthly basis, Friends of The Nature Conservancy allows members to provide the consistent, long-term support that is essential to effective conservation. It is one of the easiest ways to have a significant impact.
Your monthly gift will make a lasting difference for our natural world. The sustained support of our friends helps us achieve remarkable results, including to:
- Help bring together the leaders of six island nations to launch the Coral Triangle Initiative
- Protect the 4,528-acre Shasta Big Springs Ranch in northern California, which will help protect one of the most productive salmon streams in the state
- Transfer more than 3,000 acres in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to indigenous communities to expand their ancestral territory
- Work with partners to reconnect 25 square miles of floodplain forest to Louisiana's Ouachita River
Plans like these require long-term planning and long-term support. They require commitment. They require friends.
So on this National Friendship Day, please join Friends of The Nature Conservancy today.
Thank you for your commitment to our work and the natural world that sustains us all.
Sincerely,
![[Signature]](http://support.nature.org/images/Appeals/Signatures/bvs.gif)
Begoña Vázquez-Santos
Director of Membership
The Nature Conservancy
p.s. In honor of National Friendship Day, send your friends a free nature ecard. Or if you're on Facebook, please become our Facebook friend too!
So on this National Friendship Day, please join Friends of The Nature Conservancy today.
Thank you for your commitment to our work and the natural world that sustains us all.
Sincerely,
Begoña Vázquez-Santos
Director of Membership
The Nature Conservancy
p.s. In honor of National Friendship Day, send your friends a free nature ecard. Or if you're on Facebook, please become our Facebook friend too!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Pristine Sierra Lake Saved From Developers
Years of rumors, threats and intrigue over a little-known Sierra gem, Independence Lake near Truckee, ended last week when the Nature Conservancy closed a $15 million deal to purchase the lake and nearly 2,500 forested acres that surround it.
The result is that the Nature Conservancy will preserve public access, rebuild facilities, and probably develop a walk-in campground.
In the 1980s, the Disney Corporation attempted to buy the lake and convert it into a gated, high-end condo development. More recently, in a little-known saga, a Silicon Valley billionaire tried to add it to his personal empire for $22 million. Shortly after, the Nature Conservancy stepped in to reach a deal with Sierra Pacific Power Company.
The lake has some of the largest brown trout in California, in the 20-pound class, along with 10- to 15-pound cutthroat trout, and is home to one of the world's last two wild populations of Lahontan cutthroat in lakes. In addition, believe it or not, several people have reported sighting a ghost wearing a plaid shirt at the window of a former caretaker's home at the entrance to the lake.
Independence Lake is a deep azure jewel, 2.4 miles long at an altitude of 6,949 feet, nestled in a Sierra canyon north of Truckee. There are no signs to the lake, and it is just remote enough via dirt roads that it can be difficult to find.
The biggest point of contention - the conservancy will not allow motors on boats - has broken a few hearts of anglers who have fished for the lake's elusive giant trout. Though the gate at the small dirt ramp appeared to be opened or locked at random over the years, some Truckee residents have fished the lake with small boats and motors for generations.
"This is our way to prevent or greatly reduce introduction of invasive aquatic species, especially quagga and zebra mussels," said Michael Conner of the Nature Conservancy. "With no motors, you also get a nice serene lake.
"We learned that there are very few Sierra lakes where you can drive up and not hear a motorboat," Conner said. "So you will have a different experience here, quiet, just nature. We think we will serve many uses and have even a more positive user experience."
In June, the feeder creek at Independence has a natural run of cutthroat trout that heads upstream to spawn, when bears emerge from the forest to try to catch them, with bald eagles diving in to scavenge easy leftovers. It's like a scene in Alaska or Yellowstone, and there's nothing else like it in California.
JOIN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND HELP SUPPORT THEIR VERY IMPORTANT WORK! http://www.nature.org/
Funding: Northern Sierra Partnership as well as the California Wildlife Conservation Board, California Resources Agency, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, California Trout, Truckee-Donner Land Trust, Trout Unlimited and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., among others.
Tom Stienstra's Outdoors Report can be heard Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9) at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. E-mail him at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/19/SP5F1DG9ES.DTL&feed=rss.tstienstra#ixzz0v6djU1VV
The result is that the Nature Conservancy will preserve public access, rebuild facilities, and probably develop a walk-in campground.
In the 1980s, the Disney Corporation attempted to buy the lake and convert it into a gated, high-end condo development. More recently, in a little-known saga, a Silicon Valley billionaire tried to add it to his personal empire for $22 million. Shortly after, the Nature Conservancy stepped in to reach a deal with Sierra Pacific Power Company.
The lake has some of the largest brown trout in California, in the 20-pound class, along with 10- to 15-pound cutthroat trout, and is home to one of the world's last two wild populations of Lahontan cutthroat in lakes. In addition, believe it or not, several people have reported sighting a ghost wearing a plaid shirt at the window of a former caretaker's home at the entrance to the lake.
Independence Lake is a deep azure jewel, 2.4 miles long at an altitude of 6,949 feet, nestled in a Sierra canyon north of Truckee. There are no signs to the lake, and it is just remote enough via dirt roads that it can be difficult to find.
The biggest point of contention - the conservancy will not allow motors on boats - has broken a few hearts of anglers who have fished for the lake's elusive giant trout. Though the gate at the small dirt ramp appeared to be opened or locked at random over the years, some Truckee residents have fished the lake with small boats and motors for generations.
"This is our way to prevent or greatly reduce introduction of invasive aquatic species, especially quagga and zebra mussels," said Michael Conner of the Nature Conservancy. "With no motors, you also get a nice serene lake.
"We learned that there are very few Sierra lakes where you can drive up and not hear a motorboat," Conner said. "So you will have a different experience here, quiet, just nature. We think we will serve many uses and have even a more positive user experience."
In June, the feeder creek at Independence has a natural run of cutthroat trout that heads upstream to spawn, when bears emerge from the forest to try to catch them, with bald eagles diving in to scavenge easy leftovers. It's like a scene in Alaska or Yellowstone, and there's nothing else like it in California.
JOIN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND HELP SUPPORT THEIR VERY IMPORTANT WORK! http://www.nature.org/
Funding: Northern Sierra Partnership as well as the California Wildlife Conservation Board, California Resources Agency, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, California Trout, Truckee-Donner Land Trust, Trout Unlimited and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., among others.
Tom Stienstra's Outdoors Report can be heard Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9) at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. E-mail him at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/19/SP5F1DG9ES.DTL&feed=rss.tstienstra#ixzz0v6djU1VV
Friday, July 23, 2010
Image & Marley Make "Marijuanaman"
Official Press Release
A HERO FOR A NEW GENERATION
Berkeley, CA - 1 July 2010 - Grammy Award-winning musician Ziggy Marley is adding another title to his already impressive resume: comic book author.
The first issue of Ziggy's book, MARIJUANAMAN, will hit store shelves across the country on April 20, 2011. In support of his book, Ziggy will be making an exclusive one-day-only appearance at Comic-Con International. On Saturday, July 24, Ziggy will be signing MARIJUANAMAN posters with publisher Image Comics from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at booth #2729. Joining him will be artist Jim Mahfood (MIXED TAPES) and co-writer Joe Casey (GODLAND, OFFICER DOWNE).
Five-time Grammy winner and Reggae icon Ziggy Marley's early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father Bob Marley. For the next decade, as front man to Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Ziggy released eight best-selling albums, garnering three Grammys, with such chart-topping hits as "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down." Ziggy's first solo album, DRAGONFLY, was released in 2003, to much critical acclaim. His second solo release, LOVE IS MY RELIGION, won a Grammy in 2006 for Best Reggae Album. His third solo release, FAMILY TIME, scored him a Grammy in a new category: Best Musical Album For Children.
Now, Ziggy is blazing into the comic world with his latest project, MARIJUANAMAN. Ziggy's new superhero, Marijuanaman, is from a planet that is in desperate need of THC. Marijuanaman seeks to save Earth's marijuana fields from destruction by the drug company PharmeXon, and thus saving his home planet from destruction.
"I have been reading comics since I was a little boy in Jamaica,” Ziggy declares. “I am very excited to be a part of Image Comics, Comic-Con, and the comic book community."
Don’t miss Ziggy Marley's appearance at Comic-Con International 2010, where he will be signing limited edition Marijuanaman posters at Image Comics, booth #2729, on Saturday, July 24, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The first issue of MARIJUANAMAN will be in stores April 20, 2011. Find out more at www.marijuanamancomic.com.
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Withdraw Nomination of Michele Leonhart to be DEA Administrator
Following Recent Raids, Medical Marijuana Advocacy Groups Call on President Obama to Withdraw Nomination of Michele Leonhart to be DEA Administrator
Obama's DEA Head Must Follow Stated Medical Marijuana Policy, End Obstruction of Marijuana Research, and Base Marijuana Rescheduling on Science Rather than Ideology
CONTACT: Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, 202-483-5500 or director@norml.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, a coalition of organizations supportive of medical marijuana patients and providers (see list of organizations below) are calling on President Obama to withdraw his nomination of Michele Leonhart to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Ms. Leonhart, who is currently the DEA's acting-administrator, has not demonstrated that she is capable of leading the agency in a thoughtful manner at a time when fourteen states have enacted medical marijuana laws and science is increasingly confirming the therapeutic benefits of the substance.
"It is clearly time for President Obama to insist that his appointees adhere to current Justice Department guidelines regarding state laws regulating the medical use of marijuana, and that marijuana be fairly evaluated by all federal agencies, based on science, not ideology," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the nation's oldest marijuana legalization lobby. "The Obama administration should be working with us to eliminate criminal penalties for the responsible use of marijuana by adults, regardless of whether it is medical use or otherwise."
Under Leonhart's leadership, the DEA has staged medical marijuana raids in apparent disregard of Attorney General Eric Holder's directive to respect state medical marijuana laws. Most recently, DEA agents flouted a pioneering Mendocino County (CA) ordinance to regulate medical marijuana cultivation by raiding the very first grower to register with the sheriff. Joy Greenfield, 69, had paid more than $1,000 for a permit to cultivate 99 plants in a collective garden that had been inspected and approved by the local sheriff.
Informed that Ms. Greenfield had the support of the sheriff, the DEA agent in charge responded by saying, "I don't care what the sheriff says." The DEA's conduct is inconsistent with an October 2009 Department of Justice memo directing officials not to arrest individuals "whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana."
Ms. Leonhart has also demonstrated that she is unable to be objective in carrying out the duties of the administrator as it relates to medical marijuana research. In January 2009, she refused to issue a license to the University of Massachusetts to cultivate marijuana for FDA-approved research, despite a DEA administrative law judge's ruling that it would be "in the public interest" to issue the license. This single act has blocked privately-funded medical marijuana research in this country. The next DEA administrator will likely influence the outcome of a marijuana rescheduling petition currently before the agency. It is critical that an administrator with an open mind toward science and research is at the helm.
California NORML
Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)
Obama's DEA Head Must Follow Stated Medical Marijuana Policy, End Obstruction of Marijuana Research, and Base Marijuana Rescheduling on Science Rather than Ideology
CONTACT: Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, 202-483-5500 or director@norml.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, a coalition of organizations supportive of medical marijuana patients and providers (see list of organizations below) are calling on President Obama to withdraw his nomination of Michele Leonhart to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Ms. Leonhart, who is currently the DEA's acting-administrator, has not demonstrated that she is capable of leading the agency in a thoughtful manner at a time when fourteen states have enacted medical marijuana laws and science is increasingly confirming the therapeutic benefits of the substance.
"It is clearly time for President Obama to insist that his appointees adhere to current Justice Department guidelines regarding state laws regulating the medical use of marijuana, and that marijuana be fairly evaluated by all federal agencies, based on science, not ideology," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the nation's oldest marijuana legalization lobby. "The Obama administration should be working with us to eliminate criminal penalties for the responsible use of marijuana by adults, regardless of whether it is medical use or otherwise." Under Leonhart's leadership, the DEA has staged medical marijuana raids in apparent disregard of Attorney General Eric Holder's directive to respect state medical marijuana laws. Most recently, DEA agents flouted a pioneering Mendocino County (CA) ordinance to regulate medical marijuana cultivation by raiding the very first grower to register with the sheriff. Joy Greenfield, 69, had paid more than $1,000 for a permit to cultivate 99 plants in a collective garden that had been inspected and approved by the local sheriff.
Informed that Ms. Greenfield had the support of the sheriff, the DEA agent in charge responded by saying, "I don't care what the sheriff says." The DEA's conduct is inconsistent with an October 2009 Department of Justice memo directing officials not to arrest individuals "whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana."
Ms. Leonhart has also demonstrated that she is unable to be objective in carrying out the duties of the administrator as it relates to medical marijuana research. In January 2009, she refused to issue a license to the University of Massachusetts to cultivate marijuana for FDA-approved research, despite a DEA administrative law judge's ruling that it would be "in the public interest" to issue the license. This single act has blocked privately-funded medical marijuana research in this country. The next DEA administrator will likely influence the outcome of a marijuana rescheduling petition currently before the agency. It is critical that an administrator with an open mind toward science and research is at the helm.
# # # # #
The following organizations are calling on President Obama to withdraw the nomination of Ms. Leonhart if she does not end the attacks on individuals acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws and commit to making decisions related to medical marijuana based on science, not a personal anti-marijuana bias: California NORML
Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
NORML's Upcoming Just Say Now! National Conference in Portland, Oregon
Dear NORML Members and Supporters,
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws invites you and your like-minded friends and family members to attend the organization's 39th annual national conference in beautiful, cannabis-tolerant and hemp-friendly Portland, Oregon, Thursday, September 9 - Saturday, September 11.
The national NORML conference is America's largest and oldest gathering of cannabis law reform activists.
With the call to legalize cannabis growing stronger and louder every year in America, this year's apropos conference title and theme: Just Say Now!
The NORML 2010 conference is convening at the historic landmark The Governor Hotel in downtown Portland, right in the middle of the 'free ride zone' for the City's famous and efficient transit system.
Like all previous NORML conferences, leading cannabis law reform activists, elected policymakers, lawyers, doctors, medical researchers, business leaders and educators will deliver speeches, papers and presentations regarding numerous aspects of cannabis.
You can review some of this year's cutting edge conference topics here. Also, you can view past NORML conferences here.
Good News, Bad News Situation...
Bad news first... so popular are NORML's national conferences that a single alert from NORML in March effectively sold out the entire large block of the host hotel's discounted rooms.
The good news however is that steeply discounted hotel room rates have been negotiated for the overflow with a nearby, NORML-supportive hotel ($99/night as compared to $160/night at the host hotel).
Whether traveling from afar or from the greater Eugene-Portland-Seattle area, to make sure that you can attend this year's Just Say Now! national conference, please register online. This year's conference — based on how fast The Governor's rooms sold out — looks to be another sell out, so please do not delay registering for the conference online or by calling toll-free @ 888-67-NORML.
Jack Herer Memorial Expo Hall And Conference Sponsorships Available
Vending tables and unique conference sponsorship packages are available. Check out the information online, call the toll-free number or email norml2010@norml.org for more details.
Previous NORML conferences have been sponsored by physicians, lawyers, accountants, cultivation experts, medical cannabis wellness centers and delivery services, insurance companies specializing in medical cannabis, cannabis education centers and 'colleges', medical delivery device makers, hemp and clothing retailers, as well as pro-reform organizations.
Learn, Love, Enjoy and Focus
Lastly, September 9-11 is a most propitious weekend to convene a NORML conference in Portland, a city with great nightlife (the Northwest Music Festival will be going on when we're in town), a-m-a-z-i-n-g local microbrews and wines, wonderful eateries, arts & crafts and scenery.
Speaking of scenery and local color, September 11-12, Oregon's largest pro-cannabis public event, Hempstalk, is also happening at a nearby state park on a large lawn, surrounded by 100-foot tall evergreens, at the confluence of two mighty northwest rivers, creating a lovely setting for a large pro-cannabis festival and celebration (featuring speakers, music, vendors, food and crafts). Our out-of-town guests may want to stay an extra day to attend Hempstalk.
Worried about the cost of renting a car, getting around Portland, parking and gas prices? Don't be as this is one US city where a car is absolutely not necessary — from the airport to hotel to around town events — Portland's transit system removes much of these concerns and costs.
Whether as a not-to-be-missed yearly cannabis law reform activity, a professional junket or part of one's annual vacation to see amazing places, with really kind folks, please register ASAP for NORML's 39th annual conference in Portland, Oregon this September.
Kind regards,
Allen St. Pierre
Executive Director
NORML / NORML Foundation
Washington, D.C.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws invites you and your like-minded friends and family members to attend the organization's 39th annual national conference in beautiful, cannabis-tolerant and hemp-friendly Portland, Oregon, Thursday, September 9 - Saturday, September 11.The national NORML conference is America's largest and oldest gathering of cannabis law reform activists.
With the call to legalize cannabis growing stronger and louder every year in America, this year's apropos conference title and theme: Just Say Now!
The NORML 2010 conference is convening at the historic landmark The Governor Hotel in downtown Portland, right in the middle of the 'free ride zone' for the City's famous and efficient transit system.
Like all previous NORML conferences, leading cannabis law reform activists, elected policymakers, lawyers, doctors, medical researchers, business leaders and educators will deliver speeches, papers and presentations regarding numerous aspects of cannabis.
You can review some of this year's cutting edge conference topics here. Also, you can view past NORML conferences here.
Good News, Bad News Situation...
Bad news first... so popular are NORML's national conferences that a single alert from NORML in March effectively sold out the entire large block of the host hotel's discounted rooms.
The good news however is that steeply discounted hotel room rates have been negotiated for the overflow with a nearby, NORML-supportive hotel ($99/night as compared to $160/night at the host hotel).
Whether traveling from afar or from the greater Eugene-Portland-Seattle area, to make sure that you can attend this year's Just Say Now! national conference, please register online. This year's conference — based on how fast The Governor's rooms sold out — looks to be another sell out, so please do not delay registering for the conference online or by calling toll-free @ 888-67-NORML.
Jack Herer Memorial Expo Hall And Conference Sponsorships Available
Vending tables and unique conference sponsorship packages are available. Check out the information online, call the toll-free number or email norml2010@norml.org for more details.
Previous NORML conferences have been sponsored by physicians, lawyers, accountants, cultivation experts, medical cannabis wellness centers and delivery services, insurance companies specializing in medical cannabis, cannabis education centers and 'colleges', medical delivery device makers, hemp and clothing retailers, as well as pro-reform organizations.
Learn, Love, Enjoy and Focus
Lastly, September 9-11 is a most propitious weekend to convene a NORML conference in Portland, a city with great nightlife (the Northwest Music Festival will be going on when we're in town), a-m-a-z-i-n-g local microbrews and wines, wonderful eateries, arts & crafts and scenery.
Speaking of scenery and local color, September 11-12, Oregon's largest pro-cannabis public event, Hempstalk, is also happening at a nearby state park on a large lawn, surrounded by 100-foot tall evergreens, at the confluence of two mighty northwest rivers, creating a lovely setting for a large pro-cannabis festival and celebration (featuring speakers, music, vendors, food and crafts). Our out-of-town guests may want to stay an extra day to attend Hempstalk.
Worried about the cost of renting a car, getting around Portland, parking and gas prices? Don't be as this is one US city where a car is absolutely not necessary — from the airport to hotel to around town events — Portland's transit system removes much of these concerns and costs.
Whether as a not-to-be-missed yearly cannabis law reform activity, a professional junket or part of one's annual vacation to see amazing places, with really kind folks, please register ASAP for NORML's 39th annual conference in Portland, Oregon this September.
Kind regards,
Allen St. Pierre
Executive Director
NORML / NORML Foundation
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Nature Conservancy's Green Outside Party Kit
Are you hosting a backyard BBQ this summer? Check out The Nature Conservancy's Green Outside Party Kit and learn 5 ways you can throw an environmentally friendly backyard bash.
1.Food
2.Drinks
3.Lawn and Garden
4.Furniture
5.Decorations and Supplies
1) Green Food
When it comes to the goodies you serve at your party, there are 3 things to keep in mind: eat local, organic and vegetarian (or vegan).
A summer BBQ without hamburgers or hot dogs, you say? It ain't easy. But eating vegetarian still tops the list of ways you can help the planet. So get creative with your local veggies — shish kebobs are a fun party food and can be made entirely of whatever vegetables are in season. And really, can you think of a vegetable that doesn't taste good grilled?
Speaking of grilling…gas, propane or electric grills all burn more efficiently and cleaner than charcoal or wood.
(Note: if you really can't stomach the idea of a meat-free summer party, make sure you buy meat that's local and organic — it'll cost more, but it's worth it, for your health and the planet's.)
2) Green Drinks
It's 85 degrees outside — don't let you guests go thirsty! Whether it's beer or wine, the greenest rule of thumb is to buy local. Supporting a local microbrewery or winery means you'll significantly reduce the carbon footprint of shipping and transportation of beverages.
When it comes to beer, opt for glass bottles from a local brewery and serve them from a cooler so you're not wasting energy every time you open the fridge. Glass is 100% recyclable and one of the most widely accepted recycled materials! Or ask your guests to bring their own reusable cups and consider having a keg of local beer (kegs are returnable, refillable and recyclable!).
If you're a wine-lover, support local or sustainable wineries, and go organic (a few liquor companies are starting to make organic liquor, too!). And give your guests something to talk about by serving wine from innovative packaging, like Tetra Packs, instead of traditional bottles. These boxes can be recycled and are lighter to ship.
For the kiddos at your party, fill up pitchers with water, homemade lemonade and iced tea instead of buying huge quantities of personal-sized beverage containers. You can garnish the pitchers with mint leaves from your garden!
3) Green Your Lawn and Garden
A backyard BBQ is the perfect time to replace your gas-guzzling lawn mower with an environmentally friendly reel mower. Cutting the grass for one hour with a gasoline-powered mower creates about as much air pollution as a 100-mile car ride. So trim your lawn in style by using a push mower, which is better for the planet and gives you a great workout!
Consider sprucing up your garden by planting native plants a few weeks before the party. Native plants require much less water and fertilizer than non-native plants do. Tight on space? All you need is 4x4 foot area to plant a square foot garden — you'll be able to serve your crops at the party.
4) Green Furniture
The best way to be eco-friendly about your outdoor furniture is to buy used. Need patio chairs and tables? Scour local yard sales (or "tag sales") to find inexpensive items that were probably headed to the dumpster anyway.
But if you want to invest in something new, look for furniture made from recycled materials or sustainably harvested wood. There are a slew of options out there these days — like Adirondack chairs made from recycled plastics to tables made from reclaimed lumber. If you buy new, make sure your furniture is FSC-certified. Find places to buy green furniture at the website Eco-Business Links.
5) Green Decorations and Supplies (don't forget the little things!)
Get creative! Reuse past party decorations, make your own, or pick fresh flowers from your garden to top your table. If you're looking to add extra color or aromas to your greenery, potted plants or herbs can do the trick.
Tableware is often the prime suspect in party waste. Take the reusable route for plates, cups, utensils and napkins. Try substituting a tablecloth with an old bed sheet. And avoid using disposable cups! A Styrofoam cup will always be a Styrofoam cup.
Summertime is often synonymous with pesky insect bites. Prevent your guests from turning into mosquito meat by cleaning out your rain gutters and eliminating standing water sources, all common mosquito breeding grounds. And keep a few eco-friendly insect repellents on hand.
Make post-party clean up a breeze by placing clearly labeled compost, recycling and trash bins around your backyard. It will save you time while encouraging your guests to be eco-conscious at their next summer BBQ!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Magic-Flight Device - Awesome Dude!
Positive Vibes, Cool Runnins Travel and Irie Good Times to a REGGAE Beat! |
A message to all members of ReggaeWorld
| You got to check this out - really cool! http://www.vapeworld.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=118_8  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZp9kprZF0c Vaporization is an alternative to smoking. Rather than using a flame to burn the herb at about 900 degrees, which produces carcinogenic and toxic by-products, a vaporizer heats the material in a way that the active materials contained in the plant are extracted into a vapor. Operating at a much lower temperature, using a vaporizer result in no combustion eliminating 99.9% of harmful carcinogens that are normally present in smoke (Tar, Carbon Monoxide, etc). There is also NO second hand smoke, or irritating, harmful effects produced by using a vaporizer. The vapor produced from vaporizers is inhaled by the user through a tube or a balloon/bag. With no combustion to worry about vaporizers can be used in places where public bans have been issued against smoking. In addition, vaporizers can be a much more effective, healthy, safe way to administer medicinal herbs. One of the most recent studies on the technique of vaporization and herbs by the University of California in San Francisco published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Neurology examined the effectiveness of a vaporizer compared to using combustion with a flame. The results were astonishing with the effectiveness of the vaporization technique removing an unquantifiable amount of harmful toxins and carcinogens as well as using up to 60% less herb for the same effect as compared to using a flame. That goes to show you that a vaporizer will pay for itself in a very short time. |
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Pot Compounds Inhibit Oral Cancers, Study Says
Syracuse, NY: The administration of the plant cannabinoids delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC inhibit cellular respiration and tumor growth in human oral cancer cells, according to preclinical trial data published in the June issue of the journal Pharmacology.
Investigators at the State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University in Syracuse assessed the anticancer properties of delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in the human oral cancer cell line Tu183, which is highly resistant to conventional anticancer drugs.
Researchers reported that the administration of THC resulted in a "rapid decline" in cellular respiration in malignant cells. By contrast, investigators found that the administration of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide was "ineffective" as an anticancer agent.
"These results show the cannabinoids are potent inhibitors of Tu183 cellular respiration and are toxic to this highly malignant tumor," researchers concluded.
Last year, investigators from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island reported that the moderate long-term use of marijuana in humans "was associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma."
A 2008 scientific review published in the journal Cancer Research previously reported that cannabinoids inhibit the proliferation of a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids inhibit cellular respiration of human oral cancer cells," appears in the journal Pharmacology.
Investigators at the State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University in Syracuse assessed the anticancer properties of delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in the human oral cancer cell line Tu183, which is highly resistant to conventional anticancer drugs.
Researchers reported that the administration of THC resulted in a "rapid decline" in cellular respiration in malignant cells. By contrast, investigators found that the administration of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide was "ineffective" as an anticancer agent.
"These results show the cannabinoids are potent inhibitors of Tu183 cellular respiration and are toxic to this highly malignant tumor," researchers concluded.
Last year, investigators from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island reported that the moderate long-term use of marijuana in humans "was associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma."
A 2008 scientific review published in the journal Cancer Research previously reported that cannabinoids inhibit the proliferation of a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids inhibit cellular respiration of human oral cancer cells," appears in the journal Pharmacology.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Response to Jason Rubin at MoveOn.org
Jason Ruben of MoveOn.org asked us for our thoughts on world around us today. Here's JB's response:
Greetings Jason,
Thanks for the invitation to share some ideas. First and foremost, I am disappointed in our government. The Republicans have become the party of NO and the Democrats are with too few exceptions, weak and impotent legislators. What happened to the great politicians taking up a cause and then using all of their oratory and political skill to SELL the idea to the American public – we can only reclaim greatness with a Dream and a Mission. It is clear that energy independency and the phasing out of fossil fuels should be that mission. It calls for the rebuilding of the country’s infrastructure with new technologies and hardware – this could create millions of jobs, products and services for us to export, help restore the ecology of the planet, reverse global warming – with some American ingenuity, it could solve all kinds of problems and build a better world where we live more in balance with nature and each other.
To really get closer to some kind of utopia, we still need to find ways to end hate and conflict – I think the best thing for us to do to contribute to that is to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq – let them hire all the Blackwater Halliburton ops they want but get our US funded troops out NOW! We should strictly limit our military adventures to UN run operations. The use of the military should primarily be reserved for assisting in relief efforts and disaster recovery.
While there are many secondary issues, one other area where a change in policy can have far ranging benefits is in drug policy. We should decriminalize marijuana at the very least – regulate it, tax it – but eliminate the thugs and drug lords and the whole chain of decay that it creates. If we did the same for cocaine and other popular but illegal drugs, think of the far ranging benefits – yes, you would have some new problems but you would put vast hordes of criminals out of business overnight, free up our courts and prisons that are clogged with drug offenders – most of whom never infringed on anyone else’s rights. We would save vast amounts of money now wasted on an ineffective drug war, generate new tax revenue and we could spend money on education and treatment for people.
Last is business and the economy. Capitalism is a great system to build prosperity and provide a vehicle for personal achievement. Rewarding innovators and hard workers and risk takers is crucial to building a better world. The problem is that not everyone has integrity and a determination to strive to do nothing that will negatively affect others. This is where regulation must come into effect – the rules of the game. Sports have rules designed to protect players and fans – business needs the same. There are plenty of rules now but some important rules that should have been in place were not. Wall Street is always going to be a little like Las Vegas – it’s all about betting BUT, the house cannot be allowed to cheat the players. So much of what happened in our recent financial meltdown was the result of the house outrightly deceiving and cheating the players – fixing the tables to distort the odds and then cashing in. Big time cheating – more than the mob ever dreamed of in the old days of Las Vegas.
This gets us back to our opening statements. Disappointment in the government. It seems we have very few people with the courage and principles to simply stand up for what they think is right. The new Tea Party fringe will say anything because sensationalism is driving their bus but the established, respected government officials with far too few exceptions don’t seem willing to stand up for anything – they seem to think it is easier to get reelected by standing for nothing. Sadly, to a lesser degree, the same can be said for our President. What better time than with this oil disaster in the Gulf is there going to be to rally the American people around a new energy policy – he addressed it in his speech the other night but not with near the amount of force he should have. I think he has been doing a good job but I would like to see him really step up and DEMAND that things get done – use his office to sell the ideas to the American public and get everyone to write letters and call representatives and demand action. I believe the American people are a smart group and that with an intelligent and ongoing appeal the time is right to take decisive action on all of these issues. Let’s hope we have some leaders around with the courage and determination to make it happen. That is what has made this country great BIG Dreams and determination to make them a reality.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Original Jews Came Out of Ethiopia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZEDr8Hl6-Q
Some thoughts inspired by this video from Ras Henry:
Let me remind you that there is lots of historical and archeological evidence indicating that the original/original Jews came out of Black Africa, specifically what's today called Ethiopia. Of course, when it comes to historical/archeological stuff going back thousands of years in this particular area (just south of Egypt) EVERY BODY/GROUP has their own interpretation...not a lotta objective fact or evidence. The Rasta/Jewish connection extends back to the beginnings of Rastafarianism in the early 20th century, and the fastest growing Rasta sect calls themselves the 12th Tribe. Israel airlifted almost 20,000 Ethiopian 'Jews' to the homeland about 15 years ago...remember? There is NO OFFICIAL explanation within the official Jewish history about how such a large and organized and LONG-standing semitic culture could exist seemingly independent of all the known Jewish diasporas unless....unless....unless, like the likely path that 'modern man' took out of Africa (southern Ethiopia's Rift Valley don't u know...) the Ethiopian Jews were the ORIGINATORS!
But, things get confusing with this old history...Rasta's fervently believe that Moses and Abraham were BLACK...Steel Pulse sings a wonderful song called 'Not the King James Version' that 'correctly' interprets the Bible, and they find even more evidence of Jew=Black=Jew in the Old Testament. Go figger...but I'm sorta convinced that almost anyone can find a basis for any far out claims about history, culture and religion and civilization itself IF they base these beliefs/facts on selective readings and interpretations of biblical sources. Give Thanks & Praises, anyway..................
Ras Henry
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Montego Bay Community Embraces Reggae Sumfest 2010
Each year, the world- renowned Festival draws thousands of overseas visitors into the city and its environs, and with this influx, there comes a remarkable upswing in commerce and its related benefits. Visitors have been known to travel from as far as Australia to attend the Festival, spending on Jamaican products liberally as they seek to enjoy every aspect of the Jamaican brand. From as far back as 2003, it was predicted that significant foreign exchange would flow into the island during the time of the festival. This year’s Festival should bring substantial benefits to a wide variety of business interests primarily in the second city, but extending to other areas of the island.
“We expect Reggae Sumfest to be a major contributor to the economic landscape for this year,” states Johnny Gourzong, Executive Director of Summerfest Productions, producers of Reggae Sumfest. “This Festival causes people to not just spend on it, but to spend in preparation for it, and in several other endeavours related to it, and this year should be no different.”
This reality has been duly noted by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, which has over 200 members ranging from small family-run enterprises, to large scale businesses such as hotels and resorts. They all thrive from the boom in the various forms of trade which are direct spin-offs from the Festival, during a period that has traditionally been considered slow in that part of the island.
With the line-up this year that includes American R&B star Chris Brown, international superstars Shaggy and Beenie Man, Jah Cure, Etana, Queen Ifrica and Mavado, the package again promises to be an excellent lineup, and the expected benefits to the country should follow.
Reggae Sumfest is the most celebrated and supported Reggae festival in Jamaica, and attracts the world’s leading musicians and performers. In its near 20 year history, the show has boasted a superb entertainment package, loaded with the best performances, food, music, and culture. This year’s Festival runs from July 22-24 at Catherine Hall, St James.
Red Stripe is back as the main sponsor of Reggae Sumfest, after a one-year hiatus. The brand now joins a growing list of sponsors which includes Digicel, Iberostar, JTB, and Wisynco, for the 18th staging of the country’s premier Reggae Festival.
| For More Information Contact : | |
| Carlette DeLeon Headline Entertainment | |
| | |
| Jamaica : 8 Haughton Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica WI Tel: 876.469.4577,876.754.1526 , Fax: 876.906.3634 | US : 221 South State Road 7, MB# 4237 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317 Tel: 305.748.4602 |
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
New Jersey International Reggae Fest
Newark, NJ (Ms. RAINE INC.): With an illustrious history of bringing the biggest and brightest names from the islands to the Garden State for an unforgettable annual Caribbean festival, the New Jersey International Reggae Fest is celebrating their 10th Anniversary with an enormous colorful fete at the Edison Park Complex in Newark on Sunday, August 15th. With a line-up that includes the best of classic Reggae, Dancehall, and Roots, the NJIRF 2010 promises to be another remarkable showcase of Caribbean music and cultural.
Launched in 2000 in Newark, the New Jersey International Reggae Fest has earned a reputation for being the state's signature staging for Caribbean entertainment. Dancehall pop icon Sean Paul; Billboard Soca artist Kevin Lyttle and Soca King Machel Montano; Dancehall luminaries Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Capleton; and Reggae icons Beres Hammond, John Holt, and Barrington Levy are among the many stellar performances that the NJIRF has brought to the Garden State over the past decade. Last year's monumental staging at the Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium featured, among others, Platinum selling Hip Hop artists Fabolous and Rick Ross. The event draws approximately 10,000 people from up and down the eastern seaboard to Newark for an incident-free famiy fun-day that includes live music, authentic Caribbean cuisine, native arts and crafts, and a variety of cultural activities representative of the vast array of Caribbean nations.
For this year's staging, NJIRF event producer G City Enterprise and sponsors RoadblockRadio.com, and Jeawin Entertainment, will take the Reggae Fest to the Edison Park Complex (located at the Prudential Arena). NJIRF 2010 features a line-up that includes Reggae's legendary singers Freddie McGregor and Cocoa Tea, internationally acclaimed Dancehall artist Cham (formerly Baby Cham), and Roots Reggae lions Tarrus Riley, Gramps Morgan, and Duane Stephenson. From McGregor's Big Ship Label super producer/artist Stephen McGregor, Chino, and Laden will also be among the endless list of talent from the various genres of Caribbean music that will commemorate the NJIRF's 10 year anniversary.
"This is a big milestone for the Reggae Fest," states New Jersey Reggae Fest founder, promoter, and producer Kacy 'G City' Rankine. "We started out in 2000 with a relatively small array of mainly local artists and performers. Over the past 10 years we have had the world's biggest Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop, and Soca entertainers under the New Jersey Reggae Fest umbrella. This year, we are not only celebrating the past 10 years, but we are looking forward to what the next 10 years has in store."
The 10th Annual New Jersey International Reggae Fest will be held on Sunday, August 15th at the Edison Park Complex (located at the Prudential Arena) - 162 Mulberry Street in Newark, NJ. Featured Acts include Cocoa Tea, Freddie McGregor, Cham, Duane Stephenson, Gramps Morgan, Stephen McGregor, Chino, and Laden. More Acts to be confirmed. Limited $39.99 early bird tickets are available until July 4th. General Admission is $54.99. VIP tickets and special group discounts are also available. All tickets are available at www.roadblockradio.com and local Caribbean outlets. For a full listing of ticket outlets, visit www.roadblockradio.com .
New Jersey International Reggae Fest 2010 is sponsored by G City Enterprise, CCB International, Race Entertainment, BankyHype.com, RoadBlockRadio.com, Jeawin Entertainment, and Street Music Promotion.
Launched in 2000 in Newark, the New Jersey International Reggae Fest has earned a reputation for being the state's signature staging for Caribbean entertainment. Dancehall pop icon Sean Paul; Billboard Soca artist Kevin Lyttle and Soca King Machel Montano; Dancehall luminaries Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Capleton; and Reggae icons Beres Hammond, John Holt, and Barrington Levy are among the many stellar performances that the NJIRF has brought to the Garden State over the past decade. Last year's monumental staging at the Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium featured, among others, Platinum selling Hip Hop artists Fabolous and Rick Ross. The event draws approximately 10,000 people from up and down the eastern seaboard to Newark for an incident-free famiy fun-day that includes live music, authentic Caribbean cuisine, native arts and crafts, and a variety of cultural activities representative of the vast array of Caribbean nations.
For this year's staging, NJIRF event producer G City Enterprise and sponsors RoadblockRadio.com, and Jeawin Entertainment, will take the Reggae Fest to the Edison Park Complex (located at the Prudential Arena). NJIRF 2010 features a line-up that includes Reggae's legendary singers Freddie McGregor and Cocoa Tea, internationally acclaimed Dancehall artist Cham (formerly Baby Cham), and Roots Reggae lions Tarrus Riley, Gramps Morgan, and Duane Stephenson. From McGregor's Big Ship Label super producer/artist Stephen McGregor, Chino, and Laden will also be among the endless list of talent from the various genres of Caribbean music that will commemorate the NJIRF's 10 year anniversary.
"This is a big milestone for the Reggae Fest," states New Jersey Reggae Fest founder, promoter, and producer Kacy 'G City' Rankine. "We started out in 2000 with a relatively small array of mainly local artists and performers. Over the past 10 years we have had the world's biggest Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop, and Soca entertainers under the New Jersey Reggae Fest umbrella. This year, we are not only celebrating the past 10 years, but we are looking forward to what the next 10 years has in store."
The 10th Annual New Jersey International Reggae Fest will be held on Sunday, August 15th at the Edison Park Complex (located at the Prudential Arena) - 162 Mulberry Street in Newark, NJ. Featured Acts include Cocoa Tea, Freddie McGregor, Cham, Duane Stephenson, Gramps Morgan, Stephen McGregor, Chino, and Laden. More Acts to be confirmed. Limited $39.99 early bird tickets are available until July 4th. General Admission is $54.99. VIP tickets and special group discounts are also available. All tickets are available at www.roadblockradio.com and local Caribbean outlets. For a full listing of ticket outlets, visit www.roadblockradio.com .
New Jersey International Reggae Fest 2010 is sponsored by G City Enterprise, CCB International, Race Entertainment, BankyHype.com, RoadBlockRadio.com, Jeawin Entertainment, and Street Music Promotion.
For information regarding tickets and vending, contact G City Enterprise 973-573-8154 or visit www.roadblockradio.com
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