This is my little blurb on listen2thecall.
Members of Jamaica’s music fraternity have collaborated on a recording titled “Listen2theCall” in response to the Haiti earthquake crisis. The song premiered on Tuesday, February 23, 1010 at 4.53 Haiti time, with a Global Media Simulcast to coincide with the earthquake’s 6 week anniversary to remember the victims and survivors. The song produced by Handel Tucker, features Sly and Robbie, Toots (of Toots and the Maytals), Marcia Griffiths, Maxi Priest, Diana King, Luciano, Beres Hammond, Taurus Riley, dub poet Mutabaruka and others.
The goal of the Listen2theCall project is to encourage the global community to embrace active listening as a tool for global change. The project is the brainchild of Raymond Azan (co-founder of the FOR JAMAICA Inc. charity), music producer Handel Tucker and Andrea Davis (founder of the International Reggae Day Festival.
Profits from the sale of the song project will go towards the relief and rehabilitation effort in Haiti. The song, video and ringtones are available for download at www.listen2thecall.com. So go the website and buy something. Remember hurricane season is just around the corner and many people are still homeless.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Serenity Prayer
My next post was supposed to be about “women and the fascination with taking their husband’s name, either changing their last names or adding his”. But I started writing and it just never got finished.
So here, at the end of the week – TGIF :), I have been reflecting on the Serenity Prayer. I do not know why it just came to me while sitting at my desk waiting for the rush hour traffic to dissipate but it just did. I grew up reading the first few lines often because my mother had a plaque on the wall with it (I guess in our house, the Serenity Prayer was our crucifix). But today when I am faced with so many uncertainties and so many wants to and hopes to, I just needed to relax and use the Serenity Prayer as sort of my method of prioritizing. I guess I can add this as part of my Happiness Project journey.
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonable happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
- Reinhold Niebuhr
So here, at the end of the week – TGIF :), I have been reflecting on the Serenity Prayer. I do not know why it just came to me while sitting at my desk waiting for the rush hour traffic to dissipate but it just did. I grew up reading the first few lines often because my mother had a plaque on the wall with it (I guess in our house, the Serenity Prayer was our crucifix). But today when I am faced with so many uncertainties and so many wants to and hopes to, I just needed to relax and use the Serenity Prayer as sort of my method of prioritizing. I guess I can add this as part of my Happiness Project journey.
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonable happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
- Reinhold Niebuhr
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Live like we're dying
I have a smile on my face. I do not know why I have a smile on my face but I do. All is not right with the world and I do not know whether all my dreams and hopes well be realized and more importantly for me realized within MY timelines but I have a smile on my face.
Earlier this week, I got a peek at the anthology in which I have a poem, which will be published later this year. That was a great start to my week. I did a bit of writing and I have resolved to leave work at 4.30 p.m. each afternoon and so far so I have been doing that. Maybe not at 4.30 on the dot, but close enough.
I am acclimatizing to work. This is my third day back. One would think that 5 weeks off work is not a big deal, but on Monday I realized I had no recollection of the security code for the door to get inside my Branch. I remembered the first number but got stuck after that. Another thing, the cost of lunch at the place I usually get it has gone up and the amount of food has decreased; so you know who will not be patronizing them anymore. So twenty minutes to lunch time I had no idea what I was going to have. Eventually, I had a patty, an orange I brought from home and some peanuts. I think I am just going to have to take my own lunch from now on.
So far there have been no surprises. My phone has rung a grand total of 5 times in 3 days and once the call was not meant for me. In case you are wondering, that is a good thing because usually the phone is ringing and interrupting work.
I was just listening to Kris Allen’s version of Live Like We’re Dying and it made me think about whether I wake up each morning thinking “how I am going to turn it all around” or do I think about “how I am going to throw it all away”? How actively am I making lemonade? The fact is now, this moment, is all we have and what we do in this moment sets the tone for the moments to follow. Do we forgive in that moment where forgiveness is needed or be selfish and postpone it to another moment that may never be afforded us? Do we make sure that our loved ones feel loved or do we take it for granted that they feel the love we try to show in between appointments, crises and thoughts of there being not enough time? I think I might add that to my personal commandments – Live like I am dying.
And on the matter of living, do not forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The rebuilding process will take a while but we saw hope this week as an earthquake survivor was found under a collapsed market.
Earlier this week, I got a peek at the anthology in which I have a poem, which will be published later this year. That was a great start to my week. I did a bit of writing and I have resolved to leave work at 4.30 p.m. each afternoon and so far so I have been doing that. Maybe not at 4.30 on the dot, but close enough.
I am acclimatizing to work. This is my third day back. One would think that 5 weeks off work is not a big deal, but on Monday I realized I had no recollection of the security code for the door to get inside my Branch. I remembered the first number but got stuck after that. Another thing, the cost of lunch at the place I usually get it has gone up and the amount of food has decreased; so you know who will not be patronizing them anymore. So twenty minutes to lunch time I had no idea what I was going to have. Eventually, I had a patty, an orange I brought from home and some peanuts. I think I am just going to have to take my own lunch from now on.
So far there have been no surprises. My phone has rung a grand total of 5 times in 3 days and once the call was not meant for me. In case you are wondering, that is a good thing because usually the phone is ringing and interrupting work.
I was just listening to Kris Allen’s version of Live Like We’re Dying and it made me think about whether I wake up each morning thinking “how I am going to turn it all around” or do I think about “how I am going to throw it all away”? How actively am I making lemonade? The fact is now, this moment, is all we have and what we do in this moment sets the tone for the moments to follow. Do we forgive in that moment where forgiveness is needed or be selfish and postpone it to another moment that may never be afforded us? Do we make sure that our loved ones feel loved or do we take it for granted that they feel the love we try to show in between appointments, crises and thoughts of there being not enough time? I think I might add that to my personal commandments – Live like I am dying.
And on the matter of living, do not forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The rebuilding process will take a while but we saw hope this week as an earthquake survivor was found under a collapsed market.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Last week's news, et cetera
So the nightmares about work have begun. I will be back officially tomorrow and I am filled with anxiety. Arguably it could be said (I have said it too and am now taking it back) that 2010 did not get off to a great start for me; getting the chicken pox and all. But though it was a bit uncomfortable, it did extend a well needed break from work and I guess whether I want to go back tomorrow or not I have to since I did not win the lotto - but on to far more interesting things.
Jamaica lost a couple great men last week. First Albert Huie, followed by Ralston “Rex” Nettleford. Though I have never met either of these men personally, they have both left their mark in the arts and academia.
Last week (though not prompted by his passing) I made a visit to the National Gallery and had the pleasure of viewing some of Albert’s Huie’s work. In case you have never been or have not visited in a while, the National Gallery is worth a look. (You could drop during lunch.)
Last week’s big news was I suppose the gun and ammunition find that involved a member of the Constabulary Force. After reading one newspaper article about the find, I am convinced that perhaps the biggest obstacle to fighting crime in the country is the fact that no one is talking. It is alleged that the illegal gun shop has been operating for a while, yet no one had said anything. I have to confess that after thinking about it, I too would have kept quiet because it would not be worth the trouble to say anything since it was not affecting me directly. It would, however, affect me if one of the guns sold from this operation was used to hurt myself or someone in my family; but our thinking is too narrow-minded for that, and anyway why complicate things unnecessarily? I commend the officers that effected the arrests for the job they have done and for showing the police force in a positive light.
In a previous blog post I had stated that I was working on my personal commandments for my Happiness Project, well I have decided to share them here:
1. Be Joni
2. Love what I have
3. Be kinder to myself
4. Be less judgemental
5. Finish what I start
6. Love
7. Think less, do more
8. Stay in touch
9. Be optimistic; think ½ full!
10. Remember that life isn’t measured in dollars and cents but in moments.
Maximize each moment.
11. Stand up for myself
12. Eat well
This year’s Calabash International Literary Festival will be held from 28-30 May. It is going to be great, (and it will be the 10th anniversary) so if this is your kind of thing and you have never been; do not think about it just plan to be there. If you do not want to or cannot do the weekend in Treasure Beach thing, there are usually shuttles from Kingston at least Saturday and Sunday that take you to the festival on the day and back. See you there.
Jamaica lost a couple great men last week. First Albert Huie, followed by Ralston “Rex” Nettleford. Though I have never met either of these men personally, they have both left their mark in the arts and academia.
Last week (though not prompted by his passing) I made a visit to the National Gallery and had the pleasure of viewing some of Albert’s Huie’s work. In case you have never been or have not visited in a while, the National Gallery is worth a look. (You could drop during lunch.)
Last week’s big news was I suppose the gun and ammunition find that involved a member of the Constabulary Force. After reading one newspaper article about the find, I am convinced that perhaps the biggest obstacle to fighting crime in the country is the fact that no one is talking. It is alleged that the illegal gun shop has been operating for a while, yet no one had said anything. I have to confess that after thinking about it, I too would have kept quiet because it would not be worth the trouble to say anything since it was not affecting me directly. It would, however, affect me if one of the guns sold from this operation was used to hurt myself or someone in my family; but our thinking is too narrow-minded for that, and anyway why complicate things unnecessarily? I commend the officers that effected the arrests for the job they have done and for showing the police force in a positive light.
In a previous blog post I had stated that I was working on my personal commandments for my Happiness Project, well I have decided to share them here:
1. Be Joni
2. Love what I have
3. Be kinder to myself
4. Be less judgemental
5. Finish what I start
6. Love
7. Think less, do more
8. Stay in touch
9. Be optimistic; think ½ full!
10. Remember that life isn’t measured in dollars and cents but in moments.
Maximize each moment.
11. Stand up for myself
12. Eat well
This year’s Calabash International Literary Festival will be held from 28-30 May. It is going to be great, (and it will be the 10th anniversary) so if this is your kind of thing and you have never been; do not think about it just plan to be there. If you do not want to or cannot do the weekend in Treasure Beach thing, there are usually shuttles from Kingston at least Saturday and Sunday that take you to the festival on the day and back. See you there.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Too much things...
Three days before my vacation is over I am feeling like I am in a creative slump. I feel like everything I have written in the last few weeks is basically crap and I have been fooling myself all along about my writing abilities. I feel like I have too many things to say and I just cannot say them they way I would like to. That is not exactly great for someone who wants to finish a manuscript by the middle of April, but I trudge on – Finish what I start; commandment 5 of my happiness project.
I have finished my twelve commandments for my happiness project and right now I am thinking about resolutions. I think I have been shying away making resolutions because I am afraid that I won’t keep them. I think that is probably not a feeling unique to myself.
On a sobering note, be very cautious at ATMs and ABMs. If you must use them at all, try to use the ones at the bank, preferably the ones that are actually inside the bank. Keep a separate account that you do not have a debit card for in case your money gets stolen due to debit card fraud and keep tabs on your account so you can detect any irregularities as soon as they occur so you can put a stop on your account.
It used to be that you needed to keep your PIN safe. Now I have learnt that the thieves do not need your PIN to access your account. The information on the magnetic strip of your debit card is copied and placed on another card with a magnetic strip and then the thieves create their own PIN for this fraudulent card. Based on a recent occurrence where a friend not only had money removed from his account, but the fraudulent card was used to make a purchase using a POS machine, I have a few questions. One, this would mean that either the card being used is an actual debit card from a bank, two that if it isn’t there is one of two scenarios, that the thieves have made a card to look like one of the debit cards from the bank or that the thieves are in collusion with the store or someone at the store where the purchase was made.
I am not the Police and I will leave them to do their investigation. I will, however, take to task the fact that not enough is being done to educate the population of that fact that this is happening and how to protect themselves. Also, if the cards are so easily defrauded, why haven’t the banks either improved the security of the cards themselves or the ATMs/ABMs? Do the banks ensure that the security cameras are working at all times? If a customer reports that he has been defrauded and suspects that it occurred at a particular ABM/ATM, does the bank check the ATM/ABM? Are signs posted to indicate that the ATM/ABM has been used to defraud someone or that the camera is not working so the public can make an informed choice whether to utilize it or not?
So here’s a lesson (in case you have not learnt it as yet) the banks do not care about YOU, they only care about PROFITS and if that means screwing you over then so be it. Also the so called customer care (especially and possibly only the 24 hour phone service personnel) is staffed by robots who just regurgitate what they are taught to say in training which basically comes out to be – “I really cannot help you” at the time you need them the most because you would not be calling if it was during opening hours at the bank and you could pop in get what you needed done.
I have finished my twelve commandments for my happiness project and right now I am thinking about resolutions. I think I have been shying away making resolutions because I am afraid that I won’t keep them. I think that is probably not a feeling unique to myself.
On a sobering note, be very cautious at ATMs and ABMs. If you must use them at all, try to use the ones at the bank, preferably the ones that are actually inside the bank. Keep a separate account that you do not have a debit card for in case your money gets stolen due to debit card fraud and keep tabs on your account so you can detect any irregularities as soon as they occur so you can put a stop on your account.
It used to be that you needed to keep your PIN safe. Now I have learnt that the thieves do not need your PIN to access your account. The information on the magnetic strip of your debit card is copied and placed on another card with a magnetic strip and then the thieves create their own PIN for this fraudulent card. Based on a recent occurrence where a friend not only had money removed from his account, but the fraudulent card was used to make a purchase using a POS machine, I have a few questions. One, this would mean that either the card being used is an actual debit card from a bank, two that if it isn’t there is one of two scenarios, that the thieves have made a card to look like one of the debit cards from the bank or that the thieves are in collusion with the store or someone at the store where the purchase was made.
I am not the Police and I will leave them to do their investigation. I will, however, take to task the fact that not enough is being done to educate the population of that fact that this is happening and how to protect themselves. Also, if the cards are so easily defrauded, why haven’t the banks either improved the security of the cards themselves or the ATMs/ABMs? Do the banks ensure that the security cameras are working at all times? If a customer reports that he has been defrauded and suspects that it occurred at a particular ABM/ATM, does the bank check the ATM/ABM? Are signs posted to indicate that the ATM/ABM has been used to defraud someone or that the camera is not working so the public can make an informed choice whether to utilize it or not?
So here’s a lesson (in case you have not learnt it as yet) the banks do not care about YOU, they only care about PROFITS and if that means screwing you over then so be it. Also the so called customer care (especially and possibly only the 24 hour phone service personnel) is staffed by robots who just regurgitate what they are taught to say in training which basically comes out to be – “I really cannot help you” at the time you need them the most because you would not be calling if it was during opening hours at the bank and you could pop in get what you needed done.
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