91
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92
Trinbago, NBA & World Basketball / NCAA March Madness 2013
« on: March 21, 2013, 07:17:30 PM »
The usual suspects quiet so far. It's a lot better with trash talk.
I thought Davidson was going to take out Marquette, but they get pips at the end. The rest of it is going to form.
I thought Davidson was going to take out Marquette, but they get pips at the end. The rest of it is going to form.
93
General Discussion / Canadian traveller warns: Stay away from Tobago
« on: March 15, 2013, 11:55:08 AM »
Canadian traveller warns: Stay away from Tobago
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-15/canadian-traveller-warns-stay-away-tobago
A Canadian businessman and traveller who fled Tobago last year has created a Web site warning foreigners to stay away from the island. In an article in the Canadian daily newspaper, Metro, 61-year-old Phil Noonan claimed in March 2012 he was attacked by two Tobagonians while staying at a guest house in Buccoo, Tobago.
He said it occurred after he intervened in a fight between a young Tobagonian man and the owner of a restaurant and bar which he often visited. Later that day, Noonan told the paper, the young man and his brother appeared outside his door shouting angrily and threatening to kill him. Three weeks after the incident, Noonan said, he fled the island in fear and frustration.
Since then, he has created a Web site —tntwarning.com—which outlines his many negative experiences on the island and warns tourists about the dangers there. Among issues he outlined were violent crime, poor customer service, high levels of government corruption and inefficiency and indifference among the police.
The Web site also displays past travel advisories from the US State Department and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, warning of high levels of violent crime in T&T. Yesterday the T&T Guardian spoke to an official from the Division of Tourism and Transportation of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), who said the division had never received a report on the alleged incident involving Noonan and was following it up.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz said he was aware of some “worrying incidents” that have taken place in Tobago involving tourists and was working with the Ministry of National Security and the THA to ensure any attacks on tourists were addressed seriously. He described such incidents as “very unfortunate” but said they were rare. He added: “We want to ensure that incidents like that are few and far between, if at all. We also want to ensure that if they do happen, it is handled in a way so that the victim does not feel left alone.”
Earlier this week the Huffington Post’s Web site published a list of the ten least tourist-friendly nations in the world. T&T ranked eighth on the list, which included countries such as Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Haiti. The Post described T&T’s presence on the list as “slightly baffling, considering the locals are very friendly.” It added infrastructure in T&T needed improvement. Asked about his thoughts on that, Cadiz agreed that T&T’s presence on the list was surprising since locals were welcoming and friendly.
He added: “One has to be very careful about these indices that are printed because very often they are more of a perception than a reality.” However, he said, he would not disregard issues of negative perception of the island and his ministry was embarking on a national campaign to deal with the issue. In addition, he said, he would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Tertiary Education to establish a development programme involving tourism stakeholders.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-15/canadian-traveller-warns-stay-away-tobago
A Canadian businessman and traveller who fled Tobago last year has created a Web site warning foreigners to stay away from the island. In an article in the Canadian daily newspaper, Metro, 61-year-old Phil Noonan claimed in March 2012 he was attacked by two Tobagonians while staying at a guest house in Buccoo, Tobago.
He said it occurred after he intervened in a fight between a young Tobagonian man and the owner of a restaurant and bar which he often visited. Later that day, Noonan told the paper, the young man and his brother appeared outside his door shouting angrily and threatening to kill him. Three weeks after the incident, Noonan said, he fled the island in fear and frustration.
Since then, he has created a Web site —tntwarning.com—which outlines his many negative experiences on the island and warns tourists about the dangers there. Among issues he outlined were violent crime, poor customer service, high levels of government corruption and inefficiency and indifference among the police.
The Web site also displays past travel advisories from the US State Department and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, warning of high levels of violent crime in T&T. Yesterday the T&T Guardian spoke to an official from the Division of Tourism and Transportation of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), who said the division had never received a report on the alleged incident involving Noonan and was following it up.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz said he was aware of some “worrying incidents” that have taken place in Tobago involving tourists and was working with the Ministry of National Security and the THA to ensure any attacks on tourists were addressed seriously. He described such incidents as “very unfortunate” but said they were rare. He added: “We want to ensure that incidents like that are few and far between, if at all. We also want to ensure that if they do happen, it is handled in a way so that the victim does not feel left alone.”
Earlier this week the Huffington Post’s Web site published a list of the ten least tourist-friendly nations in the world. T&T ranked eighth on the list, which included countries such as Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Haiti. The Post described T&T’s presence on the list as “slightly baffling, considering the locals are very friendly.” It added infrastructure in T&T needed improvement. Asked about his thoughts on that, Cadiz agreed that T&T’s presence on the list was surprising since locals were welcoming and friendly.
He added: “One has to be very careful about these indices that are printed because very often they are more of a perception than a reality.” However, he said, he would not disregard issues of negative perception of the island and his ministry was embarking on a national campaign to deal with the issue. In addition, he said, he would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Tertiary Education to establish a development programme involving tourism stakeholders.
94
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / The k-os Thread
« on: February 28, 2013, 07:43:00 PM »
Kevin Brereton (born February 20, 1972), better known by his stage name k-os (pron.: /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/; read as chaos), is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.
k-os was born at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. He and his two younger brothers Joshua and Andrew Richard were raised by Trinidadian Jehovah's Witness parents. His father was a minister at two congregations in the Greater Toronto Area.[not in citation given] k-os moved along with his family to Trinidad while he was in grade three. In Trinidad, k-os surrounded himself with music to deal with being away from Canada.[5] Around the same time he also became a vegetarian at 8 years of age.[6] He returned to Canada with his mother in his teen years, taking up residence in Whitby, Ontario, a town east of Toronto, while attending Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. His father temporarily stayed behind in Trinidad to continue his work.[7] His father worked as a computer engineer and became Director of Communications for BWIA, the national Trinidadian airline, while his mother owned a cosmetics company.
k-os was born at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. He and his two younger brothers Joshua and Andrew Richard were raised by Trinidadian Jehovah's Witness parents. His father was a minister at two congregations in the Greater Toronto Area.[not in citation given] k-os moved along with his family to Trinidad while he was in grade three. In Trinidad, k-os surrounded himself with music to deal with being away from Canada.[5] Around the same time he also became a vegetarian at 8 years of age.[6] He returned to Canada with his mother in his teen years, taking up residence in Whitby, Ontario, a town east of Toronto, while attending Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. His father temporarily stayed behind in Trinidad to continue his work.[7] His father worked as a computer engineer and became Director of Communications for BWIA, the national Trinidadian airline, while his mother owned a cosmetics company.
96
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Carnival 2013
« on: January 22, 2013, 09:17:45 AM »
TUCO: Calypso competition on stream
By JANELLE DE SOUZA Tuesday, January 22 2013
http://newsday.co.tt/carnival_2013/0,172368.html
All national calypso shows seem to be in full stream as the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) yesterday announced that the Calypso Monarch, and Junior Calypso Monarch preliminaries would be held this weekend.
In addition, the finals for Extempo, as well as the Junior Calypso Monarch competitions will all be held on Monday, February 4, at the Queen’s Park Savannah from 7.30 pm, and 10 am respectively.
In a release, TUCO noted that 30 Junior Calypso Monarch semi-finalists were chosen to perform on Saturday, January 26, from 10 am at City Hall Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. They would vie for 15 spots in the finals, where they would compete against the reigning monarch, Aaron Duncan.
On January 26 and 27 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), live auditions would also be held for the Calypso Monarch competition, and categories from 9 am, with registration for all categories, beginning at 8 am.
The preliminary judging would accommodate unattached calypsonians, as well as those from calypso tents, who wish to address the judges with a different song from the one performed at their respective tents.
TUCO Public Relations Officer, Karega Mandela, noted that judging at the tents began approximately two weeks ago, and had been “running smoothly.” He said judging would continue tonight at Klassic Russo calypso tent, at several tents in Tobago tomorrow and Thursday, at Kaiso Showcase on Friday, and at NAPA over the weekend.
Mandela said the Calypso Monarch semi-finals list would most likely be announced on Monday January 28.
The semi-finalists would perform at the Calypso Fiesta on February 2 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, and the finalists on February 7 at the Queen’s Park Savannah from 7 pm.
The Junior Monarch Competition semi-finalists are as follows:
By JANELLE DE SOUZA Tuesday, January 22 2013
http://newsday.co.tt/carnival_2013/0,172368.html
All national calypso shows seem to be in full stream as the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) yesterday announced that the Calypso Monarch, and Junior Calypso Monarch preliminaries would be held this weekend.
In addition, the finals for Extempo, as well as the Junior Calypso Monarch competitions will all be held on Monday, February 4, at the Queen’s Park Savannah from 7.30 pm, and 10 am respectively.
In a release, TUCO noted that 30 Junior Calypso Monarch semi-finalists were chosen to perform on Saturday, January 26, from 10 am at City Hall Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. They would vie for 15 spots in the finals, where they would compete against the reigning monarch, Aaron Duncan.
On January 26 and 27 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), live auditions would also be held for the Calypso Monarch competition, and categories from 9 am, with registration for all categories, beginning at 8 am.
The preliminary judging would accommodate unattached calypsonians, as well as those from calypso tents, who wish to address the judges with a different song from the one performed at their respective tents.
TUCO Public Relations Officer, Karega Mandela, noted that judging at the tents began approximately two weeks ago, and had been “running smoothly.” He said judging would continue tonight at Klassic Russo calypso tent, at several tents in Tobago tomorrow and Thursday, at Kaiso Showcase on Friday, and at NAPA over the weekend.
Mandela said the Calypso Monarch semi-finals list would most likely be announced on Monday January 28.
The semi-finalists would perform at the Calypso Fiesta on February 2 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, and the finalists on February 7 at the Queen’s Park Savannah from 7 pm.
The Junior Monarch Competition semi-finalists are as follows:
| Calypsonian | School | Calypso |
| Alesha Alleng | East Mucurapo Secondary | Trinbago Will Rise Again |
| Allayaha Sylvan | Mason Hall Secondary | Respect the Pan |
| Aneka Collins | ASJA Girls, Charlieville | What I Want To Be |
| Annalise Emmanuel | Sacred Heart Girls RC | We Killing De Art |
| Chelister Rochford | Cunapo St Francois RC | They Eh Ready Yet |
| Emily Allen | Barrackpore East | Do Powers |
| Ferdinand Smith | Swaha Hindu College | Golden Keshorn |
| Garve Sandy | Bishops High School | Pillars of TT |
| Jerod Michael Griffith | Carapichaima RC | Our Children, Our Future |
| Jerome Rodriguez | St Mary’s Government | Unsatisfied Nation |
| Jerrisha Duncan-Regis | St James Secondary | When Last |
| Marq Pierre | The Sangre Grande Educational Institute | What If We Know |
| Necoda Francis | Woodbrook Secondary | Pass the Baton |
| Nekeisha Victor | Mucurapo West Secondary | Nine Day Wander |
| N’Janela Regis | Eshe’s Learning Centre | Record My Song |
| Raeann Guerra | San Juan South Secondary | Keep The Faith |
| Renald Alleyne-Noreiga | St Mary’s College | Pan Wars |
| Reshawn Goodridge | St Mary’s College | Family Is The Key |
| Rivaldo London | Fyzabad Presbyterian | Parents |
| Ronaldo London | Fyzabad Secondary | I Have Learnt To Rise |
| Sasha-Ann Moses | San Juan South Secondary | My BB & Me |
| Shaquille Simmons | Goodwood High School | Evil Forces |
| Sharissa Camejo | Sacred Heart Girls RC | Ah Supporting Meh Country |
| Sherisse Collymore | COSTAAT | The Game We Play |
| Shervonne N’Kola Rodney | El Dorado West Secondary | Beat That |
| Shurlana Matas | College of Legal Studies Ltd | There Is Something |
| Stefan Justin Sealey | El Dorado East Secondary | Blame The Parents |
| Tenisha Weeks | Bishop Anstey High POS | Would You Believe |
| Tsahai Corbin | St Joseph Convent POS | Consequences |
| Tyrese J Williams | Arima Boys RC School | The Diplomat |
97
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Soca Monarch 2013
« on: January 11, 2013, 09:12:05 AM »
Let the "competition" begin.
Soca Monarch 2013 semifinalists
Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.tt/carnival/2013-01-09/soca-monarch-2013-semifinalists
Organisers of this year’s Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch and Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch competitions yesterday announced the list of artistes who will compete in the two competitions on January 20 at the Arima Velodrome.
The names of the semifinalists and their songs are as follows:
Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch semifinalists
1. Ian Bunji Garlin Alvarez - Differentology
2. Neil Iwer D Boss George - Bubble
3. Dexter Blaxx Stewart - Nah Get Away
4. Destra Garcia - Call My Name
5. Nadia Batson - Manager
6. Denise Belfon - Wining Queen
7. Shurwayne Winchester - We not Stopping
8. Darryl Farmer Nappy Henry - Stranger
9. Rodney ‘Benjai’ Le Blanc - Feter
10. Drupatee Persad - Indian Gyal
11. Kerwin Du Bois - Wettin
12. Kenneth K Rich Richards - Wine Back
13. Patrice Roberts - A Little Wine
14. Terrin Super Jigga TC Callender - We Liming
15. Ravi Ravi B Bissambhar - Prescription
16. Stephenson Shal’ Marshall - Wickedest Wine
17. Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon - I Never Wine
18. Akil ‘5 Star Akil’ Borneo - Partier
19. Sheldon Sheldon Nuggets Bullen - Not Yuh Manager
20. Leslie EL-Jay’ James - Trini Beauty
21. Denyse Plummer - Rock and Roll
22. Michelle Michelle X - Xavier - Hold Somebody
23. Lawrence Mr Renzo Adams - Xrated
24. Nesta Sekon Sta Boxhill - Stick It
25. Jenelle J'Angel De Leon - Jook It
26. Charlene Charli Griffith - Go Down Low
27. Kevon Yankey Boy Heath - Rumors
28. Devon Lyrikal Martin - 25/8
29. Santeney Rampersad - Movin Alone
30. Sean Daniel - Magnet
Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch semifinalists 2013
1. Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez - De Stage Open
2. Austin Super Blue Lyons - Fantastic Friday
3. Destra Garcia - Carry On
4. Neil Iwer D Boss George - Unfinished Business
5. Rodney Benjai Le Blanc - Engoma
6. Shurwayne Winchester - We Control D Road
7. Nadia Batson - Gutter
8. Edghill MX Prime Thomas - Rell Vibez
9. Wilt Tallpree Cambridge - Muddy Jab
10. Dexter Blaxx Stewart - In Charge
11. Gamal Skinny FabulousDoyle – Monster (Reigning Monarch in St Vincent)
12. Lornette Fya Empress Nedd-Reid - Rum Please
13. Marvin Swappi Davis – Cha-os
14. Timel BoyBoy Rivas - Put yuh flags up
15. Devon Prophet Benjamin Samuel - No Lokani
16. Jeffrey Peter Levels Biddeau - Ready Again
17. Rickey Lil Rick Reid - Cyah Bother We
18. Trevor Gore - Once Again
19. Anslem Douglas - Bacchanal
20. Jason JW’ Williams & Ancil Blaze Isaac Jr - Timing It
21. Devon Matthews - Start It Up
22. Megan Walrond - Full Flight
23. Marcus Lavaman James - Psycho (Reigning Monarch in Grenada)
24. Shivonne Lil Bitts Churche - Raise D Dust
25. Emmanuel Chris Garcia - No Soup
26. I-Stan Chosen Scott - Bring A Flask And Come
27. Anthony Squeezy Rankin La Fleur - The Renaissance
28. Erphaan Alves - Doh Test We
29. Ronald Natro Date Wickham - Masquerader Drunk
30. Olatunji Yearwood – Tunji Mantana
Soca Monarch 2013 semifinalists
Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.tt/carnival/2013-01-09/soca-monarch-2013-semifinalists
Organisers of this year’s Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch and Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch competitions yesterday announced the list of artistes who will compete in the two competitions on January 20 at the Arima Velodrome.
The names of the semifinalists and their songs are as follows:
Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch semifinalists
1. Ian Bunji Garlin Alvarez - Differentology
2. Neil Iwer D Boss George - Bubble
3. Dexter Blaxx Stewart - Nah Get Away
4. Destra Garcia - Call My Name
5. Nadia Batson - Manager
6. Denise Belfon - Wining Queen
7. Shurwayne Winchester - We not Stopping
8. Darryl Farmer Nappy Henry - Stranger
9. Rodney ‘Benjai’ Le Blanc - Feter
10. Drupatee Persad - Indian Gyal
11. Kerwin Du Bois - Wettin
12. Kenneth K Rich Richards - Wine Back
13. Patrice Roberts - A Little Wine
14. Terrin Super Jigga TC Callender - We Liming
15. Ravi Ravi B Bissambhar - Prescription
16. Stephenson Shal’ Marshall - Wickedest Wine
17. Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon - I Never Wine
18. Akil ‘5 Star Akil’ Borneo - Partier
19. Sheldon Sheldon Nuggets Bullen - Not Yuh Manager
20. Leslie EL-Jay’ James - Trini Beauty
21. Denyse Plummer - Rock and Roll
22. Michelle Michelle X - Xavier - Hold Somebody
23. Lawrence Mr Renzo Adams - Xrated
24. Nesta Sekon Sta Boxhill - Stick It
25. Jenelle J'Angel De Leon - Jook It
26. Charlene Charli Griffith - Go Down Low
27. Kevon Yankey Boy Heath - Rumors
28. Devon Lyrikal Martin - 25/8
29. Santeney Rampersad - Movin Alone
30. Sean Daniel - Magnet
Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch semifinalists 2013
1. Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez - De Stage Open
2. Austin Super Blue Lyons - Fantastic Friday
3. Destra Garcia - Carry On
4. Neil Iwer D Boss George - Unfinished Business
5. Rodney Benjai Le Blanc - Engoma
6. Shurwayne Winchester - We Control D Road
7. Nadia Batson - Gutter
8. Edghill MX Prime Thomas - Rell Vibez
9. Wilt Tallpree Cambridge - Muddy Jab
10. Dexter Blaxx Stewart - In Charge
11. Gamal Skinny FabulousDoyle – Monster (Reigning Monarch in St Vincent)
12. Lornette Fya Empress Nedd-Reid - Rum Please
13. Marvin Swappi Davis – Cha-os
14. Timel BoyBoy Rivas - Put yuh flags up
15. Devon Prophet Benjamin Samuel - No Lokani
16. Jeffrey Peter Levels Biddeau - Ready Again
17. Rickey Lil Rick Reid - Cyah Bother We
18. Trevor Gore - Once Again
19. Anslem Douglas - Bacchanal
20. Jason JW’ Williams & Ancil Blaze Isaac Jr - Timing It
21. Devon Matthews - Start It Up
22. Megan Walrond - Full Flight
23. Marcus Lavaman James - Psycho (Reigning Monarch in Grenada)
24. Shivonne Lil Bitts Churche - Raise D Dust
25. Emmanuel Chris Garcia - No Soup
26. I-Stan Chosen Scott - Bring A Flask And Come
27. Anthony Squeezy Rankin La Fleur - The Renaissance
28. Erphaan Alves - Doh Test We
29. Ronald Natro Date Wickham - Masquerader Drunk
30. Olatunji Yearwood – Tunji Mantana
98
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Panorama 2013
« on: January 10, 2013, 11:39:04 AM »
Single pan preliminaries in spotlight this weekend
http://www.guardian.co.tt/carnival/2013-01-10/single-pan-preliminaries-spotlight-weekend
The National Single Pan Preliminaries take place this weekend, starting at Shaw Park, Tobago tonight. Tomorrow, the action shifts to The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah when 29 bands from the North Zone will face the judges.
Ten bands will participate in the South Zone competition which takes place at the Pleasantville Community Centre on Saturday and the preliminaries culminate on Sunday at Arima Velodrome with 20 bands from the East Zone.
A release from Pan Trinbago about the selection of tunes by the bands said the rule governing Music Selection states: “For the purpose of the competition, each participating steelband may select and perform any calypso, as long as the same selection has not been played by said steelband in a previous Panorama Competition.”
At the end of the Preliminaries, 32 Single Pan Bands from all the regions will move forward to the National Single Pan Bands and Small Conventional Bands semi-finals on January 26 at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Table at left lists the order of appearance for the National Panorama Preliminaries for the North, South and East Regions.
National Pan Preliminaries
North Single Pan Bands
The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah
January 11 from 7pm
Admission: $60 (Bleacher seating)
# Bands Arranger Tune Sung By
1 Brimblers Earl Brooks Gold Maestro
2 W/brook Modernaires Douglas Redon Doh Try Dat Crazy
3 Sea Lots One Love Ian B. Baird Crapaud Revolution Scrunter
4 Stardust Steel Orc Jason Issac Wine on Something Superblue
5 La Famille United Natasha Joseph Your Body Wuking Kes the Band
6 Trinidad Freelancers Trevor Redhead Toco Band Kitchener
7 Nutting Big Pan Groove Steve Jammott Pan In Danger Merchant
8 La Creole Pan Groove S Ash & Y Popwell We Come Out to Play De Fosto
9 Scrunters Pan Groove Aaron Clarke By All Means M Montano & Xtatik
10 Untouchables P/Groove Keno Alexander Jericho Kitchener
11 Gonzales Sheikers Darren Sheppard Pan By Storm Ken Philmore/Designer
12 Harlem Syncopators Phillip J Stewart Party Time Bally
13 Hi Larks Brian B Griffith Bubble Iwer George
14 World Wide Noel M Skair This Feeling Nice Denyse Plummer
15 Nayal Hill Sch/Music Rory Aleong We Come Out to Play Defosto
16 Spree Simon Harmo Ricky James Plenty Loving Merchant
17 Belmont City Kids Roderick Toussaint Pan Jumbie Dr Will B
18 St James Tripolians Darryl Reid Say Say Baron
19 City Sun Valley Dane Gulston Jump & Breakaway Ronnie McIntosh
20 Nostrand Symphony Cary Codrington Ethel Superblue
21 Uni Stars Kareem Brown Kaka Roach Kitchener
22 Carib W/brook P/boyz Michelle H/Watts Bacchanal Time Superblue
23 Music Makers Kenneth Charles Darling Johnny King
24 Bar 22 Akiba Joseph Signal To Lara Superblue
25 T&T Defence Force Robert Tobitt Iron Man Kitchener
26 T&T Fire Services Terrence BJ Marcelle Kuch Gad Hai Babla & Kanchan
27 All Aces Nigel Diaz Iron Man Kitchener
28 Blanca 47 Gillian Tobias Mash It Up Onica Bostic
29 Ice Water Anthony Mc Alliste All Over Fayann & Baron
South/Central National Single Pan Preliminaries
Pleasantville Community Centre, San Fernando
January 12 from 7 pm
Admission: $60
# Band Arranger Tune Sung By
1 Shades In Steel Kenneth Guppy Suck Meh Soucouyant Crazy
2 Kings Row Retro Riddum David Noreiga Mastife Small Island Pride
3 Jah Roots The Band Sans Humanite David Bereau & Friends
4 La Romaine S/Vibes G Williams/H Henry Bubble Iwer George
5 Self Help Marines Jason Baptiste Jump & Wave Preacher
6 New Age T/setters G Sobers Jr Pan Tuners Stacy Sobers
7 Rio Claro Koskeros Kenny Pascall Shock Attack Denyse Plummer
8 Highlighters Sean Ramsey Bubble Iwer George
9 St Thomas S/ Stars Bruce Roberts Thunder Duke
10 Fyzabad 4th Dimen Richard Gittens Jab Jab Superblue
National Preliminaries Eastern Region
Arima Velodrome
January 13 from 3.00 pm
Admission: $60.00
# Band Arranger Tune of Choice Sung By
1 T’dad Nostalgic Amrit Samaroo Dust in Yuh Face David Rudder
2 United Sounds M Prudhomme KaKa Roach Kitchener
3 Brazil Rx4 E Raymond I Music Felix Caesar
4 Nu Pioneers Sean Marcano Fire in the Back Seat Swallow
5 S/Juan E/Side Symphony D Stewart Rant & Rave Chris “Tambu” Herbert
6 Pan Elites Anselm Campbell This Feeling Nice Denyse Plummer
7 Pan On The Move Sheldon Reyes This Melody Sweet Baron
8 Curepe P/phonics Kenneth P Clarke Party Time Bally
9 Star Sapphire Committee Memb Misbehave Len Sharpe
10 Chord Masters Akua Leith We Ain’t Going Home Chris “Tambu” Herbert
11 Tdad E/Side Symp Carlan Harewood Johnny Colleen Ella
12 Pan Jammers Nicholas Singh Dingolay Shadow
13 Marsicans Marlon White Dollar Wine Colin Lucas
14 Magic Notes Rebirth R Depoosingh Toco Band Kitchener
15 N/Eastern All Stars Melvin Thomas Call My Name Destra
16 S/Juan All Stars Brent Holder Big Belly Man Mac Fingal
17 Pan Stereonetts Mark Hosten Bubble Iwer George
18 Cocorite Rd P/Groovers S Peters/K Robinson This Party Is It Chris “Tambu” Herbert
19 Arima All Stars Kern Kiszer Unknown Band Superblue
20 East Phonics Robert Thompson Toco Band Kitchener
http://www.guardian.co.tt/carnival/2013-01-10/single-pan-preliminaries-spotlight-weekend
The National Single Pan Preliminaries take place this weekend, starting at Shaw Park, Tobago tonight. Tomorrow, the action shifts to The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah when 29 bands from the North Zone will face the judges.
Ten bands will participate in the South Zone competition which takes place at the Pleasantville Community Centre on Saturday and the preliminaries culminate on Sunday at Arima Velodrome with 20 bands from the East Zone.
A release from Pan Trinbago about the selection of tunes by the bands said the rule governing Music Selection states: “For the purpose of the competition, each participating steelband may select and perform any calypso, as long as the same selection has not been played by said steelband in a previous Panorama Competition.”
At the end of the Preliminaries, 32 Single Pan Bands from all the regions will move forward to the National Single Pan Bands and Small Conventional Bands semi-finals on January 26 at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Table at left lists the order of appearance for the National Panorama Preliminaries for the North, South and East Regions.
National Pan Preliminaries
North Single Pan Bands
The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah
January 11 from 7pm
Admission: $60 (Bleacher seating)
# Bands Arranger Tune Sung By
1 Brimblers Earl Brooks Gold Maestro
2 W/brook Modernaires Douglas Redon Doh Try Dat Crazy
3 Sea Lots One Love Ian B. Baird Crapaud Revolution Scrunter
4 Stardust Steel Orc Jason Issac Wine on Something Superblue
5 La Famille United Natasha Joseph Your Body Wuking Kes the Band
6 Trinidad Freelancers Trevor Redhead Toco Band Kitchener
7 Nutting Big Pan Groove Steve Jammott Pan In Danger Merchant
8 La Creole Pan Groove S Ash & Y Popwell We Come Out to Play De Fosto
9 Scrunters Pan Groove Aaron Clarke By All Means M Montano & Xtatik
10 Untouchables P/Groove Keno Alexander Jericho Kitchener
11 Gonzales Sheikers Darren Sheppard Pan By Storm Ken Philmore/Designer
12 Harlem Syncopators Phillip J Stewart Party Time Bally
13 Hi Larks Brian B Griffith Bubble Iwer George
14 World Wide Noel M Skair This Feeling Nice Denyse Plummer
15 Nayal Hill Sch/Music Rory Aleong We Come Out to Play Defosto
16 Spree Simon Harmo Ricky James Plenty Loving Merchant
17 Belmont City Kids Roderick Toussaint Pan Jumbie Dr Will B
18 St James Tripolians Darryl Reid Say Say Baron
19 City Sun Valley Dane Gulston Jump & Breakaway Ronnie McIntosh
20 Nostrand Symphony Cary Codrington Ethel Superblue
21 Uni Stars Kareem Brown Kaka Roach Kitchener
22 Carib W/brook P/boyz Michelle H/Watts Bacchanal Time Superblue
23 Music Makers Kenneth Charles Darling Johnny King
24 Bar 22 Akiba Joseph Signal To Lara Superblue
25 T&T Defence Force Robert Tobitt Iron Man Kitchener
26 T&T Fire Services Terrence BJ Marcelle Kuch Gad Hai Babla & Kanchan
27 All Aces Nigel Diaz Iron Man Kitchener
28 Blanca 47 Gillian Tobias Mash It Up Onica Bostic
29 Ice Water Anthony Mc Alliste All Over Fayann & Baron
South/Central National Single Pan Preliminaries
Pleasantville Community Centre, San Fernando
January 12 from 7 pm
Admission: $60
# Band Arranger Tune Sung By
1 Shades In Steel Kenneth Guppy Suck Meh Soucouyant Crazy
2 Kings Row Retro Riddum David Noreiga Mastife Small Island Pride
3 Jah Roots The Band Sans Humanite David Bereau & Friends
4 La Romaine S/Vibes G Williams/H Henry Bubble Iwer George
5 Self Help Marines Jason Baptiste Jump & Wave Preacher
6 New Age T/setters G Sobers Jr Pan Tuners Stacy Sobers
7 Rio Claro Koskeros Kenny Pascall Shock Attack Denyse Plummer
8 Highlighters Sean Ramsey Bubble Iwer George
9 St Thomas S/ Stars Bruce Roberts Thunder Duke
10 Fyzabad 4th Dimen Richard Gittens Jab Jab Superblue
National Preliminaries Eastern Region
Arima Velodrome
January 13 from 3.00 pm
Admission: $60.00
# Band Arranger Tune of Choice Sung By
1 T’dad Nostalgic Amrit Samaroo Dust in Yuh Face David Rudder
2 United Sounds M Prudhomme KaKa Roach Kitchener
3 Brazil Rx4 E Raymond I Music Felix Caesar
4 Nu Pioneers Sean Marcano Fire in the Back Seat Swallow
5 S/Juan E/Side Symphony D Stewart Rant & Rave Chris “Tambu” Herbert
6 Pan Elites Anselm Campbell This Feeling Nice Denyse Plummer
7 Pan On The Move Sheldon Reyes This Melody Sweet Baron
8 Curepe P/phonics Kenneth P Clarke Party Time Bally
9 Star Sapphire Committee Memb Misbehave Len Sharpe
10 Chord Masters Akua Leith We Ain’t Going Home Chris “Tambu” Herbert
11 Tdad E/Side Symp Carlan Harewood Johnny Colleen Ella
12 Pan Jammers Nicholas Singh Dingolay Shadow
13 Marsicans Marlon White Dollar Wine Colin Lucas
14 Magic Notes Rebirth R Depoosingh Toco Band Kitchener
15 N/Eastern All Stars Melvin Thomas Call My Name Destra
16 S/Juan All Stars Brent Holder Big Belly Man Mac Fingal
17 Pan Stereonetts Mark Hosten Bubble Iwer George
18 Cocorite Rd P/Groovers S Peters/K Robinson This Party Is It Chris “Tambu” Herbert
19 Arima All Stars Kern Kiszer Unknown Band Superblue
20 East Phonics Robert Thompson Toco Band Kitchener
99
Other Sports / Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Márquez 4
« on: December 08, 2012, 11:55:23 PM »
Only one thing to say:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9z8F4fgj6Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/a9z8F4fgj6Q</a>
100
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / 2013 Calypso
« on: November 26, 2012, 05:13:57 PM »
Defosto - Aloo Sing
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sqxC8dwMMIw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/sqxC8dwMMIw</a>
101
Jokes / Snow White, Pinocchio, and Superman
« on: October 19, 2012, 02:50:09 PM »
Snow White, Pinocchio, and Superman are out for a stroll on the Las Vegas Strip one day. As they walk, they come across a sign: Beauty contest for the most beautiful woman in the world." I am entering" said Snow White.
After half an hour she comes out and they ask her, "Well, how'd ya do? " First Place ," said Snow White.
They continue walking and they see a sign: "Contest for the strongest man in the world." "I'm entering," says Superman.
After half an hour he returns and they ask him, "How did you make out?" " First Place ," answers Superman. "Did you ever doubt?"
They continue walking when they see a sign: "Contest! Who is the greatest liar in the world?" Pinocchio enters.
After half an hour he returns with tears in his eyes. "What happened?" they asked.
Pinocchio replies: "Who the hell is JACK WARNER?"
After half an hour she comes out and they ask her, "Well, how'd ya do? " First Place ," said Snow White.
They continue walking and they see a sign: "Contest for the strongest man in the world." "I'm entering," says Superman.
After half an hour he returns and they ask him, "How did you make out?" " First Place ," answers Superman. "Did you ever doubt?"
They continue walking when they see a sign: "Contest! Who is the greatest liar in the world?" Pinocchio enters.
After half an hour he returns with tears in his eyes. "What happened?" they asked.
Pinocchio replies: "Who the hell is JACK WARNER?"
102
Cricket Anyone / Champions League T20 - 2012/13
« on: October 08, 2012, 12:23:52 PM »
We starting right back up again.
We have to go through the qualifiers to get to the group stage.
QUALIFIERS
POOL A
Hampshire
Sialkot Stallions
Auckland Aces
POOL B
Yorkshire
Trinidad and Tobago
Uva Next
GROUP A
Kolkata Knight Riders
Titans
Perth Scorchers
Delhi Daredevils
Q1
GROUP B
Chennai Super Kings
Highveld Lions
Sydney Sixers
Mumbai Indians
Q2
Schedule:
We have to go through the qualifiers to get to the group stage.
QUALIFIERS
POOL A
Hampshire
Sialkot Stallions
Auckland Aces
POOL B
Yorkshire
Trinidad and Tobago
Uva Next
GROUP A
Kolkata Knight Riders
Titans
Perth Scorchers
Delhi Daredevils
Q1
GROUP B
Chennai Super Kings
Highveld Lions
Sydney Sixers
Mumbai Indians
Q2
Schedule:
| Date | Time | Pool | Match |
| Tue Oct 9 | 11:30 GMT | Pool 2 | Uva Next vs Yorkshire |
| Tue Oct 9 | 15:30 GMT | Pool 1 | Auckland Aces vs Sialkot Stallions |
| Wed Oct 10 | 11:30 GMT | Pool 1 | Auckland Aces vs Hampshire |
| Wed Oct 10 | 15:30 GMT | Pool 2 | Trinidad and Tobago vs Yorkshire |
| Thu Oct 11 | 11:30 GMT | Pool 2 | Trinidad and Tobago vs Uva Next |
| Thu Oct 11 | 15:30 GMT | Pool 1 | Hampshire vs Sialkot Stallions |
103
Trinbago, NBA & World Basketball / NBA adopts no-flopping rule with penalties
« on: October 03, 2012, 03:12:28 PM »
NBA adopts no-flopping rule with penalties
2:58 pm October 3, 2012, by Chris Vivlamore
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/10/03/nba-adopts-no-flopping-rule-with-penalties/
Vivlamore reporting.
The NBA will adopt an anti-flopping rule beginning this season, the league announced Wednesday.
According to a press release issued by the league, flopping will be defined as any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player. The primary factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact.
“Flops have no place in our game – they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said in the release. “Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should – after a warning – be given an automatic penalty.”
Here are the penalties for flopping:
Violation 1: Warning
Violation 2: $5,000 fine
Violation 3: $10,000 fine
Violation 4: $15,000 fine
Violation 5: $30,000 fine
The league said it will announce at a later date a separate set of penalties for flopping that will apply during the playoffs.
Physical acts that constitute legitimate basketball plays (such as moving to a spot in order to draw an offensive foul) and minor physical reactions to contact will not be treated as flops.
- Chris Vivlamore
2:58 pm October 3, 2012, by Chris Vivlamore
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/10/03/nba-adopts-no-flopping-rule-with-penalties/
Vivlamore reporting.
The NBA will adopt an anti-flopping rule beginning this season, the league announced Wednesday.
According to a press release issued by the league, flopping will be defined as any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player. The primary factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact.
“Flops have no place in our game – they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said in the release. “Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should – after a warning – be given an automatic penalty.”
Here are the penalties for flopping:
Violation 1: Warning
Violation 2: $5,000 fine
Violation 3: $10,000 fine
Violation 4: $15,000 fine
Violation 5: $30,000 fine
The league said it will announce at a later date a separate set of penalties for flopping that will apply during the playoffs.
Physical acts that constitute legitimate basketball plays (such as moving to a spot in order to draw an offensive foul) and minor physical reactions to contact will not be treated as flops.
- Chris Vivlamore
104
General Discussion / New Day, New Nutjob With A Gun
« on: September 21, 2012, 11:50:59 AM »
Armed man holds hostage in Pittsburgh, while posting on Facebook
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-crime-hostage-pittsburghbre88k0s8-20120921,0,1708481.story
Drew Singer
Reuters
12:37 p.m. CDT, September 21, 2012
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - An armed man was holding a hostage inside a Pittsburgh high-rise building on Friday, authorities said, and he appeared to be posting messages about his situation on Facebook.
Police were negotiating with the man who said he had a gun and also a bomb in a 16th-floor office at 3 Gateway Center, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper told reporters at the scene.
"He is not telling negotiators why he's doing this," Harper said. There have been no injuries, he added.
Police identified the man as Klein Michael Thaxton and said they were talking to him by telephone and monitoring his Facebook page.
On Facebook, a man who appeared to be Thaxton was posting messages at mid-morning. He also posted what he claimed was his telephone number.
"how this ends is up to yall," said one of his Facebook messages.
In another message, he wrote: "i cant take it no more."
"this life im livn rite now i dnt want anymore ive lost everything and i aint getting it back," said another message.
Several people responded to him on Facebook saying they were praying for him and encouraging him to cooperate with police.
But others were urging him to continue his standoff with police, Harper said. Police were monitoring those Facebook messages and those people could face criminal charges as accessories, he said.
Police said they were considering asking Facebook to take down Thaxton's page and as of early afternoon, it was no longer available.
Thaxton walked into the office shortly after 8 a.m. and took one man hostage, police said, but had not made any demands.
Harper said Thaxton was being cooperative and calm and that police were willing to be patient in resolving the standoff.
"We might be here for a while," Harper said.
Thaxton's mother was escorted inside the building to talk to her son, but she told police did not know his motive, Harper said.
As she left the building, she was visibly distraught.
"I just want him to get the help he needs," she said, refusing to give her name.
The incident was taking place in the office of a company that handles union pensions, but police said Thaxton did not appear to have any connection to the company.
On Facebook, the man believed to be Thaxton also wrote: "welln pops youll never have to worry about me again you'll nevr need to by me anything no need to ever waste ur hard earned money on me. i'll live n jail you dnt want me around anymore thats kool bye..."
Police said the suspect was believed to be ex-military, and Thaxton's mother confirmed that her son had served in the U.S. Army.
The situation was contained and rest of the office building was not evacuated, Harper said. Police cordoned off several streets around the office building.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-crime-hostage-pittsburghbre88k0s8-20120921,0,1708481.story
Drew Singer
Reuters
12:37 p.m. CDT, September 21, 2012
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - An armed man was holding a hostage inside a Pittsburgh high-rise building on Friday, authorities said, and he appeared to be posting messages about his situation on Facebook.
Police were negotiating with the man who said he had a gun and also a bomb in a 16th-floor office at 3 Gateway Center, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper told reporters at the scene.
"He is not telling negotiators why he's doing this," Harper said. There have been no injuries, he added.
Police identified the man as Klein Michael Thaxton and said they were talking to him by telephone and monitoring his Facebook page.
On Facebook, a man who appeared to be Thaxton was posting messages at mid-morning. He also posted what he claimed was his telephone number.
"how this ends is up to yall," said one of his Facebook messages.
In another message, he wrote: "i cant take it no more."
"this life im livn rite now i dnt want anymore ive lost everything and i aint getting it back," said another message.
Several people responded to him on Facebook saying they were praying for him and encouraging him to cooperate with police.
But others were urging him to continue his standoff with police, Harper said. Police were monitoring those Facebook messages and those people could face criminal charges as accessories, he said.
Police said they were considering asking Facebook to take down Thaxton's page and as of early afternoon, it was no longer available.
Thaxton walked into the office shortly after 8 a.m. and took one man hostage, police said, but had not made any demands.
Harper said Thaxton was being cooperative and calm and that police were willing to be patient in resolving the standoff.
"We might be here for a while," Harper said.
Thaxton's mother was escorted inside the building to talk to her son, but she told police did not know his motive, Harper said.
As she left the building, she was visibly distraught.
"I just want him to get the help he needs," she said, refusing to give her name.
The incident was taking place in the office of a company that handles union pensions, but police said Thaxton did not appear to have any connection to the company.
On Facebook, the man believed to be Thaxton also wrote: "welln pops youll never have to worry about me again you'll nevr need to by me anything no need to ever waste ur hard earned money on me. i'll live n jail you dnt want me around anymore thats kool bye..."
Police said the suspect was believed to be ex-military, and Thaxton's mother confirmed that her son had served in the U.S. Army.
The situation was contained and rest of the office building was not evacuated, Harper said. Police cordoned off several streets around the office building.
105
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Rembunction & Friends: We Are All Star Remix
« on: September 21, 2012, 08:39:26 AM »
Rembunction & Friends: We Are All Star Remix
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UPFC90VVYFA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/UPFC90VVYFA</a>
I thought this tune was ok, but the remix and video take it over the top for me.
I thought this tune was ok, but the remix and video take it over the top for me.
106
Cricket Anyone / ICC World Twenty20 2012
« on: September 14, 2012, 02:22:15 PM »
Match Schedule:
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Teams |
| Tue Sep 18 | 10:00 EDT | 1st Match | Group C | Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe |
| Wed Sep 19 | 06:00 EDT | 2nd Match | Group B | Australia v Ireland |
| Wed Sep 19 | 10:00 EDT | 3rd Match | Group A | Afghanistan v India |
| Thu Sep 20 | 10:00 EDT | 4th Match | Group C | South Africa v Zimbabwe |
| Fri Sep 21 | 06:00 EDT | 5th Match | Group D | Bangladesh v New Zealand |
| Fri Sep 21 | 10:00 EDT | 6th Match | Group A | Afghanistan v England |
| Sat Sep 22 | 06:00 EDT | 7th Match | Group C | Sri Lanka v South Africa |
| Sat Sep 22 | 10:00 EDT | 8th Match | Group B | Australia v West Indies |
| Sun Sep 23 | 06:00 EDT | 9th Match | Group D | New Zealand v Pakistan |
| Sun Sep 23 | 10:00 EDT | 10th Match | Group A | England v India |
| Mon Sep 24 | 10:00 EDT | 11th Match | Group B | Ireland v West Indies |
| Tue Sep 25 | 10:00 EDT | 12th Match | Group D | Bangladesh v Pakistan |
| Thu Sep 27 | 06:00 EDT | 13th Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (C1 v D2) |
| Thu Sep 27 | 10:00 EDT | 14th Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (A1 v B2) |
| Fri Sep 28 | 06:00 EDT | 15th Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (D1 v C2) |
| Fri Sep 28 | 10:00 EDT | 16th Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (B1 v A2) |
| Sat Sep 29 | 06:00 EDT | 17th Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (A1 v D2) |
| Sat Sep 29 | 10:00 EDT | 18th Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (C1 v B2) |
| Sun Sep 30 | 06:00 EDT | 19th Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (B1 v C2) |
| Sun Sep 30 | 10:00 EDT | 20th Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (D1 v A2) |
| Mon Oct 1 | 06:00 EDT | 21st Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (B2 v D2) |
| Mon Oct 1 | 10:00 EDT | 22nd Match | Super Eights | Group 1 - TBC v TBC (A1 v C1) |
| Tue Oct 2 | 06:00 EDT | 23rd Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (B1 v D1) |
| Tue Oct 2 | 10:00 EDT | 24th Match | Super Eights | Group 2 - TBC v TBC (A2 v C2) |
| Thu Oct 4 | 09:30 EDT | 1st Semi-Final | Super 8 Group-1 1 v Super 8 Group-2 2 | |
| Fri Oct 5 | 09:30 EDT | 2nd Semi-Final | Super 8 Group-2 1 v Super 8 Group-1 2 | |
| Sun Oct 7 | 09:30 EDT | Final |
107
Other Sports / 2012 US Open Tennis
« on: September 05, 2012, 07:06:47 PM »
Serena is on a mission. You have to be worried if you see her next on your match schedule.
108
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Snoop Dogg becomes Snoop Lion
« on: August 01, 2012, 08:11:25 AM »
Snoop Dogg becomes Snoop Lion
By Maura Judkis
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/snoop-dogg-becomes-snoop-lion/2012/07/31/gJQAQa9sMX_blog.html
In 1993, the debut single “What’s My Name?” catapulted rapper Snoop Dogg to fame. But if you ask him that question now, he’ll have a different answer. Snoop Dogg changed his name to “Snoop Lion” after a spiritual awakening in Jamaica this February, which he described to reporters at a press conference on Monday.
So, no more D-O-double-G. No more Doggfather or Dogghouse or “Woof!” — which, presumably, will be replaced with a roar. Snoop Lion has been working on a reggae album, ”Reincarnated,” the recording of which is being chronicled in a documentary film that premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Snoop told reporters that he was rechristened Snoop Lion by a Rastafarian priest.
“I want to bury Snoop Dogg, and become Snoop Lion,” he told reporters, according to news.com.au. “I didn't know that until I went to the temple, where the High Priest asked me what my name was, and I said, ‘Snoop Dogg.’ And he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘No more. You are the light; you are the lion.’ From that moment on, it's like I had started to understand why I was there.”
Snoop Lion’s legal name is Calvin Broadus Jr. He isn’t the only musician who has changed his stage name midcareer to accommodate a new sound. Remember these transformations?
• Garth Brooks to Chris Gaines: A much-maligned alter-ego, complete with bangs and a soul patch, for the country superstar to explore a harder rock sound. Brooks made the switch in 1999, and critics didn’t believe that he was exploring a new sound — they thought he’d gone crazy.
• Beyonce to Sasha Fierce: “I Am ... Sasha Fierce” was the album that revealed Bey’s alter ego, said to be a more sensual and assertive version of herself. But for an already assertive star, most of her fans couldn’t tell the difference.
• Puff Daddy to Puffy to P. Diddy to Diddy: Sean Combs has gone through several iterations of his stage name, starting out as Puff Daddy for his debut album in 1997. He also went by Puffy, but dropped the name for “P. Diddy” when he was working his way through some legal problems in 2001. He changed it once more in 2005, when he announced on the “Today” show that he would go by “Diddy” to avoid confusion.
• Christina Aguilera to Xtina: The name change coincided with a raunchy image change designed to propel Aguilera out of teen stardom and into adult sex kittendom. She wore chaps and released the single “Dirrty,” and her image suffered as a result of the abrupt change.
• Prince to The Artist Formerly Known As: The most notorious of all artist name changes. Prince — his legal name — changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol dubbed “The Love Symbol,” and was referred to as “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.” He returned to using “Prince” again in 2000.
Is “Snoop Lion” a good fit for the artist formerly known as the Doggfather? Will the name stick?
By Maura Judkis
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/snoop-dogg-becomes-snoop-lion/2012/07/31/gJQAQa9sMX_blog.html
In 1993, the debut single “What’s My Name?” catapulted rapper Snoop Dogg to fame. But if you ask him that question now, he’ll have a different answer. Snoop Dogg changed his name to “Snoop Lion” after a spiritual awakening in Jamaica this February, which he described to reporters at a press conference on Monday.
So, no more D-O-double-G. No more Doggfather or Dogghouse or “Woof!” — which, presumably, will be replaced with a roar. Snoop Lion has been working on a reggae album, ”Reincarnated,” the recording of which is being chronicled in a documentary film that premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Snoop told reporters that he was rechristened Snoop Lion by a Rastafarian priest.
“I want to bury Snoop Dogg, and become Snoop Lion,” he told reporters, according to news.com.au. “I didn't know that until I went to the temple, where the High Priest asked me what my name was, and I said, ‘Snoop Dogg.’ And he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘No more. You are the light; you are the lion.’ From that moment on, it's like I had started to understand why I was there.”
Snoop Lion’s legal name is Calvin Broadus Jr. He isn’t the only musician who has changed his stage name midcareer to accommodate a new sound. Remember these transformations?
• Garth Brooks to Chris Gaines: A much-maligned alter-ego, complete with bangs and a soul patch, for the country superstar to explore a harder rock sound. Brooks made the switch in 1999, and critics didn’t believe that he was exploring a new sound — they thought he’d gone crazy.
• Beyonce to Sasha Fierce: “I Am ... Sasha Fierce” was the album that revealed Bey’s alter ego, said to be a more sensual and assertive version of herself. But for an already assertive star, most of her fans couldn’t tell the difference.
• Puff Daddy to Puffy to P. Diddy to Diddy: Sean Combs has gone through several iterations of his stage name, starting out as Puff Daddy for his debut album in 1997. He also went by Puffy, but dropped the name for “P. Diddy” when he was working his way through some legal problems in 2001. He changed it once more in 2005, when he announced on the “Today” show that he would go by “Diddy” to avoid confusion.
• Christina Aguilera to Xtina: The name change coincided with a raunchy image change designed to propel Aguilera out of teen stardom and into adult sex kittendom. She wore chaps and released the single “Dirrty,” and her image suffered as a result of the abrupt change.
• Prince to The Artist Formerly Known As: The most notorious of all artist name changes. Prince — his legal name — changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol dubbed “The Love Symbol,” and was referred to as “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.” He returned to using “Prince” again in 2000.
Is “Snoop Lion” a good fit for the artist formerly known as the Doggfather? Will the name stick?
109
Cricket Anyone / West Indies vs New Zealand - 4th ODI
« on: July 14, 2012, 04:19:12 PM »
Look we win!
This proves that starting a topic here on SW.net is the real issue with the Windies winning.
This site is a blight!
This proves that starting a topic here on SW.net is the real issue with the Windies winning.
This site is a blight!
110
Cricket Anyone / West Indies vs England - 2nd ODI
« on: June 19, 2012, 04:20:36 AM »
The return of the prodigal son...
41 runs so far and he treating Bresnan like a red-headed stepchild.
18 runs off Bresnan's first over
41 runs so far and he treating Bresnan like a red-headed stepchild.
18 runs off Bresnan's first over
111
Other Sports / Paquiao vs Bradley
« on: June 09, 2012, 09:47:47 PM »
Paquiao delay the fight so he could watch the end of the Heat-Celtics game.
That is when you know you in the big-times.
Unfortunately, that means i have to listen to these HBO people talk.
That is when you know you in the big-times.
Unfortunately, that means i have to listen to these HBO people talk.
112
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / D.C. Caribbean Carnival heads to Baltimore
« on: May 31, 2012, 02:50:01 PM »
D.C. Caribbean Carnival heads to Baltimore
By Clinton Yates
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/dc-caribbean-carnival-heads-to-baltimore/2012/05/16/gIQAIhPsTU_blog.html
When D.C. Caribbean Carnival Inc. announced last week that it was moving its annual parade to Baltimore, it seemed sketchy — like a blindside hit to many of the festival’s ardent supporters. But what hopefully is a temporary relocation could end up being the most productive outcome for the event going forward.
Last year, after a series of ugly events — a stabbing, multiple shootings and a mass brawl near Howard University — marred the festival, many called for its cancellation.
And after two years of increasing debt to the tune of $210,000, the District finally said no to footing the bill for the Georgia Avenue event. Now, it’s set to take place partly in Charm City, which should give everyone on this end a chance to take a look at what went wrong and fix it.
It would a shame if the city and the event organizers didn’t look at this opportunity as a time to re-brand, re-configure and effectively re-invent one of the most culturally diverse days on the D.C. calendar for the past 20 years.
The first step is a more realistic look at fundraising. Because of what Loughton Sargeant, executive director at D.C. Caribbean Carnival Inc., describes as an agreement between the city and his organization, the festival’s costs are paid back with the revenue from the carnival. But revenue hasn’t covered the total costs, recently leading to the carnival operating in the red.
“We have had issues in the past where we have worked out our differences to make the event happen,” Sargeant said. “In 20 years, we’ve had good years and bad years, so we were always able to work things out. But this year for some reason, the situation was ‘either you pay the bill or it might not happen.’ ”
The truth is that the District simply just can’t afford to take another public relations hit with the festival as it did last year. And there’s real money involved: According to a Howard University School of Business economic impact study conducted for 2011, the D.C. Carnival event produced about $1.3 million in tax revenue dollars. And 92 percent of Georgia Avenue business owners said the event helped the corridor, according to the study.
With such strong financial impact, all parties involved need to do more to keep the event in D.C. City Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) said in a statement last week, “Unfortunately, the Mayor’s decision to punish parade organizers for past due debt also punishes Georgia Avenue businesses, parade-goers, our tax coffers, and — most of all — the Caribbean community.”
The parade passes partly through her jurisdiction, and she blames the city for its demise. “In the end, the administration’s failure of understanding, and of will, was the undoing of this great event.”
Not everyone in the neighborhood feels the same way. Navendra Jagdeo, owner of Lil' GT Cafe on Georgia Avenue, called the event organizers’ efforts to raise money “lackluster.” “They should do a dance or a concert every two to three months, right after the carnival is done to try to raise money. They don’t do anything,” Jagdeo said, though acknowledging that the city has taken an overly harsh stance on collecting on the event’s debts.
What’s clear is that nobody involved wants to see the D.C. Caribbean Carnival permanently relocate. For all of the disparaging and condescending remarks you see about the event in the comments section on popular blogs across the city, it’s embarrassing to see Baltimore steal what would have been the 20th anniversary of one of the best cultural landmarks this city has to offer.
“Really and truly at the end of the day, we feel like we’ve been kind of kicked to the curb, because a lot of people see it as a nuisance. We see it as a cultural event that brings more than just a good party on Georgia Avenue,” Sargeant said. “It brings a lot more to the city.”
And that’s exactly why it needs to come back. If it takes a mega corporate sponsor like, say, LivingSocial, Capital One Bank or AOL, so be it. Sure, you might lose some so-called street cred, but one big company isn’t going to kill the soul of a decades-old event if the people don’t let it.
“The one thing about the carnival that’s done here on Georgia Avenue versus in Canada for Caribana and New York for the Labor Day parade is you have a hometown feel,” Jagdeo said. “That’s the beautiful thing about D.C.”
If you’ve ever been to it, the smell is what stays with you. The cuisine alone is worth the effort. And between the costumes, the outfits, the music and the camaraderie, there’s nothing else like it. It would be a shame to see D.C. lose its most colorful day of the year over a relatively small amount of green.
By Clinton Yates
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/dc-caribbean-carnival-heads-to-baltimore/2012/05/16/gIQAIhPsTU_blog.html
When D.C. Caribbean Carnival Inc. announced last week that it was moving its annual parade to Baltimore, it seemed sketchy — like a blindside hit to many of the festival’s ardent supporters. But what hopefully is a temporary relocation could end up being the most productive outcome for the event going forward.
Last year, after a series of ugly events — a stabbing, multiple shootings and a mass brawl near Howard University — marred the festival, many called for its cancellation.
And after two years of increasing debt to the tune of $210,000, the District finally said no to footing the bill for the Georgia Avenue event. Now, it’s set to take place partly in Charm City, which should give everyone on this end a chance to take a look at what went wrong and fix it.
It would a shame if the city and the event organizers didn’t look at this opportunity as a time to re-brand, re-configure and effectively re-invent one of the most culturally diverse days on the D.C. calendar for the past 20 years.
The first step is a more realistic look at fundraising. Because of what Loughton Sargeant, executive director at D.C. Caribbean Carnival Inc., describes as an agreement between the city and his organization, the festival’s costs are paid back with the revenue from the carnival. But revenue hasn’t covered the total costs, recently leading to the carnival operating in the red.
“We have had issues in the past where we have worked out our differences to make the event happen,” Sargeant said. “In 20 years, we’ve had good years and bad years, so we were always able to work things out. But this year for some reason, the situation was ‘either you pay the bill or it might not happen.’ ”
The truth is that the District simply just can’t afford to take another public relations hit with the festival as it did last year. And there’s real money involved: According to a Howard University School of Business economic impact study conducted for 2011, the D.C. Carnival event produced about $1.3 million in tax revenue dollars. And 92 percent of Georgia Avenue business owners said the event helped the corridor, according to the study.
With such strong financial impact, all parties involved need to do more to keep the event in D.C. City Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) said in a statement last week, “Unfortunately, the Mayor’s decision to punish parade organizers for past due debt also punishes Georgia Avenue businesses, parade-goers, our tax coffers, and — most of all — the Caribbean community.”
The parade passes partly through her jurisdiction, and she blames the city for its demise. “In the end, the administration’s failure of understanding, and of will, was the undoing of this great event.”
Not everyone in the neighborhood feels the same way. Navendra Jagdeo, owner of Lil' GT Cafe on Georgia Avenue, called the event organizers’ efforts to raise money “lackluster.” “They should do a dance or a concert every two to three months, right after the carnival is done to try to raise money. They don’t do anything,” Jagdeo said, though acknowledging that the city has taken an overly harsh stance on collecting on the event’s debts.
What’s clear is that nobody involved wants to see the D.C. Caribbean Carnival permanently relocate. For all of the disparaging and condescending remarks you see about the event in the comments section on popular blogs across the city, it’s embarrassing to see Baltimore steal what would have been the 20th anniversary of one of the best cultural landmarks this city has to offer.
“Really and truly at the end of the day, we feel like we’ve been kind of kicked to the curb, because a lot of people see it as a nuisance. We see it as a cultural event that brings more than just a good party on Georgia Avenue,” Sargeant said. “It brings a lot more to the city.”
And that’s exactly why it needs to come back. If it takes a mega corporate sponsor like, say, LivingSocial, Capital One Bank or AOL, so be it. Sure, you might lose some so-called street cred, but one big company isn’t going to kill the soul of a decades-old event if the people don’t let it.
“The one thing about the carnival that’s done here on Georgia Avenue versus in Canada for Caribana and New York for the Labor Day parade is you have a hometown feel,” Jagdeo said. “That’s the beautiful thing about D.C.”
If you’ve ever been to it, the smell is what stays with you. The cuisine alone is worth the effort. And between the costumes, the outfits, the music and the camaraderie, there’s nothing else like it. It would be a shame to see D.C. lose its most colorful day of the year over a relatively small amount of green.
113
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Back In Times
« on: May 23, 2012, 08:44:06 AM »
Dunno why, but this songs was in my head this morning. I need to make a cd of these.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/kS_SvNIyucg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/kS_SvNIyucg</a>
Carol Addison - Born To Shine
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/eOiijWtLOIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/eOiijWtLOIA</a>
Nadie Lafond Make Love to You
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7Pe5woq1I8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/t7Pe5woq1I8</a>
Kalyan - Can You Love Me
Carol Addison - Born To Shine
Nadie Lafond Make Love to You
Kalyan - Can You Love Me
114
Cricket Anyone / West Indies vs. Australia 3rd Test, Roseau Dominica
« on: April 23, 2012, 06:58:14 AM »
Australia seek winning finish to Test season
Match facts
April 23-27, Windsor Park
Start time 1000 (1400 GMT)
Big Picture
Australia have retained the Frank Worrell Trophy but a drizzly draw is far from enough to satisfy Michael Clarke. He wants his first West Indies tour as captain to end in victory, and the Australians have that chance over the next five days in Dominica. The second-least populous nation that makes up the West Indies cricket team (after St Kitts and Nevis), Dominica is an unfamiliar venue for the Australia players, none of whom have played at Windsor Park before.
Not that it's that familiar to some of the West Indians either: the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played only one first-class game there. West Indies do have a Dominican player in their side, the spinner Shane Shillingford, and he should play a key role having been preferred to Devendra Bishoo, who has been released from the squad.
West Indies might have lost the chance to regain the trophy but they can take encouragement from the Test in Trinidad, where they looked like making a real go of their chase of 215 on the final day until the weather intervened. They also dominated the first three days of the series in Barbados, so while Australia will enter the match as favourites, a 1-1 series draw is far from out of the question.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies DLDLL
Australia DWWWW
In the spotlight
Darren Sammy has made contributions throughout the Test series - in fact, throughout Australia's entire tour - but this would be the perfect time for him to play a match-winning role. In Barbados, he removed Australia's openers and made a handy 41 himself in the first innings and in Trinidad he showed a willingness to promote himself up the order when the situation demanded it. If he can combine a fast-paced innings of substance with a few wickets, he will be one step closer to ending his first Frank Worrell Trophy series as captain on a high.
Australia's Test-only players have a six-month break after this match and as one of the few in that category, Ed Cowan would feel much better over the winter if he was coming off a big Test innings. Cowan has now walked out to bat ten times for Australia and has two half-centuries to show for it, but no hundreds. His contributions in this series - 14, 34, 28 and 20 - have not been failures but nor have they cemented his place in the side. The same could be said of his partner David Warner on this trip, but Warner already has two Test centuries to his name. At some stage, Cowan will need to take that next step as well.
Team news
Fidel Edwards finished the Trinidad Test with what the captain Sammy described as "a slight niggle" and he could be replaced by Ravi Rampaul. Bishoo has been released from the squad, so there is no chance of West Indies picking two spinners. The Guyana batsman Assad Fudadin has joined the squad but is unlikely to find a place in the starting line-up.
West Indies (possible) : 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Narsingh Deonarine, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Shane Shillingford, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Ravi Rampaul.
Injuries have forced Peter Siddle and James Pattinson to head home, which will mean a return for Ryan Harris after he was rested following his Man-of-the-Match performance in the first Test in Barbados. Michael Beer bowled well in Trinidad but is expected only to hold his position if the Windsor Park pitch looks especially spin-friendly. It appears more likely that the left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc will come in for his fourth Test.
Australia (possible): 1 Ed Cowan, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Ryan Harris, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Nathan Lyon.
Pitch and conditions
Windsor Park is still in its international infancy. In its first Test, between West Indies and India last year, only a third of the wickets fell to spin. In the two four-day matches played at the venue during the domestic competition that has just finished, no team managed 300 in an innings. The forecast suggests there could be showers throughout the Test.
Stats and trivia
Shivnarine Chanderpaul needs 82 runs to reach 10,000 in Tests
Should West Indies win, it will be the first time since 1999 a Test series between the two sides has not been won by Australia
Kemar Roach's ten-wicket haul in Trinidad was the first time a West Indies bowler had achieved the feat in a Test since Corey Collymore claimed 11 against Pakistan in Jamaica in 2005
Quotes
"I'm pretty sure all the boys will want to make this Test a good one for themselves personally and for the team because we've had a really good summer, we want to finish on a high before we get stuck into one-day cricket and the Twenty20 World Cup."
Michael Clarke
"When Australia came here everybody didn't give us a chance, but we've played a brand of cricket that we want to get used to. That said we've still got to get the victories and that's what we're looking for. To level a series against Australia would be another stepping stone for us."
Darren Sammy on the prospects of sharing the series.
Match facts
April 23-27, Windsor Park
Start time 1000 (1400 GMT)
Big Picture
Australia have retained the Frank Worrell Trophy but a drizzly draw is far from enough to satisfy Michael Clarke. He wants his first West Indies tour as captain to end in victory, and the Australians have that chance over the next five days in Dominica. The second-least populous nation that makes up the West Indies cricket team (after St Kitts and Nevis), Dominica is an unfamiliar venue for the Australia players, none of whom have played at Windsor Park before.
Not that it's that familiar to some of the West Indians either: the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played only one first-class game there. West Indies do have a Dominican player in their side, the spinner Shane Shillingford, and he should play a key role having been preferred to Devendra Bishoo, who has been released from the squad.
West Indies might have lost the chance to regain the trophy but they can take encouragement from the Test in Trinidad, where they looked like making a real go of their chase of 215 on the final day until the weather intervened. They also dominated the first three days of the series in Barbados, so while Australia will enter the match as favourites, a 1-1 series draw is far from out of the question.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies DLDLL
Australia DWWWW
In the spotlight
Darren Sammy has made contributions throughout the Test series - in fact, throughout Australia's entire tour - but this would be the perfect time for him to play a match-winning role. In Barbados, he removed Australia's openers and made a handy 41 himself in the first innings and in Trinidad he showed a willingness to promote himself up the order when the situation demanded it. If he can combine a fast-paced innings of substance with a few wickets, he will be one step closer to ending his first Frank Worrell Trophy series as captain on a high.
Australia's Test-only players have a six-month break after this match and as one of the few in that category, Ed Cowan would feel much better over the winter if he was coming off a big Test innings. Cowan has now walked out to bat ten times for Australia and has two half-centuries to show for it, but no hundreds. His contributions in this series - 14, 34, 28 and 20 - have not been failures but nor have they cemented his place in the side. The same could be said of his partner David Warner on this trip, but Warner already has two Test centuries to his name. At some stage, Cowan will need to take that next step as well.
Team news
Fidel Edwards finished the Trinidad Test with what the captain Sammy described as "a slight niggle" and he could be replaced by Ravi Rampaul. Bishoo has been released from the squad, so there is no chance of West Indies picking two spinners. The Guyana batsman Assad Fudadin has joined the squad but is unlikely to find a place in the starting line-up.
West Indies (possible) : 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Narsingh Deonarine, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Shane Shillingford, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Ravi Rampaul.
Injuries have forced Peter Siddle and James Pattinson to head home, which will mean a return for Ryan Harris after he was rested following his Man-of-the-Match performance in the first Test in Barbados. Michael Beer bowled well in Trinidad but is expected only to hold his position if the Windsor Park pitch looks especially spin-friendly. It appears more likely that the left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc will come in for his fourth Test.
Australia (possible): 1 Ed Cowan, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Ryan Harris, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Nathan Lyon.
Pitch and conditions
Windsor Park is still in its international infancy. In its first Test, between West Indies and India last year, only a third of the wickets fell to spin. In the two four-day matches played at the venue during the domestic competition that has just finished, no team managed 300 in an innings. The forecast suggests there could be showers throughout the Test.
Stats and trivia
Shivnarine Chanderpaul needs 82 runs to reach 10,000 in Tests
Should West Indies win, it will be the first time since 1999 a Test series between the two sides has not been won by Australia
Kemar Roach's ten-wicket haul in Trinidad was the first time a West Indies bowler had achieved the feat in a Test since Corey Collymore claimed 11 against Pakistan in Jamaica in 2005
Quotes
"I'm pretty sure all the boys will want to make this Test a good one for themselves personally and for the team because we've had a really good summer, we want to finish on a high before we get stuck into one-day cricket and the Twenty20 World Cup."
Michael Clarke
"When Australia came here everybody didn't give us a chance, but we've played a brand of cricket that we want to get used to. That said we've still got to get the victories and that's what we're looking for. To level a series against Australia would be another stepping stone for us."
Darren Sammy on the prospects of sharing the series.
115
Cricket Anyone / West Indies vs. Australia 2nd Test, Port of Spain
« on: April 15, 2012, 08:45:20 AM »
Australia have won the toss and will bat first.
Team news from West Indies. Kirk Edwards is indeed out. Powell comes in. Shane Shillingford replaces Devendra Bishoo who disappointed in Barbados. And Ravi Rampaul stays out.
Australia 35/0 (9.0 ov)
Team news from West Indies. Kirk Edwards is indeed out. Powell comes in. Shane Shillingford replaces Devendra Bishoo who disappointed in Barbados. And Ravi Rampaul stays out.
Australia 35/0 (9.0 ov)
116
What about Track & Field / Taking tech in stride
« on: April 12, 2012, 07:31:01 AM »
One of a series in the Washington Post.
Long, but worth the read.
The link is http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/carmelita-jeter-shows-value-of-technology-in-speed-training/2012/01/19/gIQACyOO2Q_story.html
This is the accompanying infographic:
Long, but worth the read.
The link is http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/carmelita-jeter-shows-value-of-technology-in-speed-training/2012/01/19/gIQACyOO2Q_story.html
This is the accompanying infographic:
117
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Is R&B Having an Identity Crisis?
« on: April 09, 2012, 08:36:17 PM »
Is R&B Having an Identity Crisis?
APR 9 2012, 1:39 PM ET 19
Recent comments from musicians show anxiety about the genre's popularity—and about black artists' place in it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/is-r-b-having-an-identity-crisis/255310/
The-Dream has written dance-pop hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Mariah Carey, but his solo career has largely been about recording R&B. So he knows a thing or two about the phenomenon he recently complained about in the pages of The Guardian. "What's crazy is that blacks can't do soul records any more," he said. "We love Adele singing it, but Beyoncé singing it? No, the tempo's too slow, gimme the club hit. Now the blacks in America are responsible for the pop records, and everybody else is singing soulful records. It's weird to me. We're pigeonholed over there."
What's striking, though, is that only a few days later, Stephin Merritt—singer for the decidedly un-club-friendly, un-R&B indie-pop act The Magnetic Fields—voiced similar concerns to LA Weekly. "I like Adele, though I have some reservations about why people like her," Merritt said. "She really has a lovely voice, but I only get suspicious when people get excited about British people who sound like American black people."
"Basically she sounds like Anita Baker," Merritt continued. "And people are not, you know, wild and crazy about Anita Baker. And I think about the whole, with the racism, when people love when British people sound like American black people."
Both remarks sparked criticism. Some questioned The-Dream's own role in the state of soul, while others charged Merritt with hypocrisy (he's faced accusations of racism, himself). And plenty of Adele fans were quick to argue that the singer's success comes from the quality of her music and the fact that it sounds different from anything else on radio. What's inarguable, though, is that the two men's statements speak to larger, widespread anxiety about the state of modern R&B—and black peoples' place in it.
It's not that there are no new black R&B artists. Singers such as Jazmine Sullivan, whom Adele beat out for Best New Artist at the 2009 Grammys, offer music just as soulful and introspective only with a minuscule fraction of Adele's fame. The same can be said about a gifted vocalist like Ledisi or Miguel. And it remains to be seen whether a newcomer like Stacy Barthe will enjoy Adele's success or turn out to be the Sharon Jones to her Amy Winehouse.
The problem, many black R&B artists say, is the way that in-vogue club pop sounds have infiltrated the genre they love. So-called R&B radio stations play music that, save for tracks from the likes of Trey Songz or Mary J. Blige, aren't actually R&B—yet get labeled as such because black artists are singing on them: tunes like Drake and Rihanna's "Take Care" or Usher's "Climax" (which Usher calls "electro soul," whatever that means). Earlier this year, Boyz II Men, who at their peak scored several megahits off their soulful tracks, made this point. On the state of contemporary R&B, member Shawn Stockman said, "It's taken a step to what I think really isn't R&B. It sounds more electro pop, I think the only reason people call it R&B is cos black folks are singing it."
In 2010, Erykah Badu turned off her radio and took to Twitter to complain as well about the "electro pop" turn R&B has taken, writing: "They playd 6 in a row today- #pop techno songs back to back with so called r&b and rap artists... on the [hip-hop] station. Where I been? Like I said, how y'all gone STAND by and let our music turn into pop techno cornball ass music?"
She went on: "I like the idea of no distinction in race when it comes 2 music, but SOULkeepers, U dont give up the boom bip and the hump 4 the payday."
Trey Songz, one of the few successful artists where the R&B tag is actually applicable, echoed Badu's thoughts in an interview with the Power 105.1 radio show, "The Breakfast Club." "The success of crossover is something we all want to attain, but the route to get there is what's important to me," Trey said. As for why so many of his peers have changed their sound, he acknowledges that it was "the easy thing to do right now to get a hit." Indeed, Trey noted that, "It's not cool to be an R&B singer no more."
As a child of the '80s, Trey can remember when it was cool and how soul singers didn't have to go so left to enjoy certain successes. He said he could recall "a time that Luther Vandross could sell out Madison Square Garden four nights straight with straight soul music and be in the top 100, but that's not what it is right now."
On that same show this week, another R&B artist, Dawn Richard (Danity Kane, Diddy-Dirty Money), spoke about trying to bring innovation to the genre but opting to start off independently releasing her music. It seems label reps would tell her they liked what they heard, but found the sound too risky to offer a record deal.
Rationalizing their ambivalence, Richard asked: "Why would you take a risk on a brown girl? There's no brown girl considered pretty right now poppin' in the game. A dark skinned game. Kelly Rowland? There are, but I'm talking about in that crossover world. They're not allowing it."
What has been allowed, though, is what's selling on radio. The traditional notion of R&B may not be dead, but it does seem destined to live in obscurity until popular tastes change again. As Badu put it, "I love house and techno as a side dish. But now it's served as the main course AND that's ALL u gone get."
APR 9 2012, 1:39 PM ET 19
Recent comments from musicians show anxiety about the genre's popularity—and about black artists' place in it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/is-r-b-having-an-identity-crisis/255310/
The-Dream has written dance-pop hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Mariah Carey, but his solo career has largely been about recording R&B. So he knows a thing or two about the phenomenon he recently complained about in the pages of The Guardian. "What's crazy is that blacks can't do soul records any more," he said. "We love Adele singing it, but Beyoncé singing it? No, the tempo's too slow, gimme the club hit. Now the blacks in America are responsible for the pop records, and everybody else is singing soulful records. It's weird to me. We're pigeonholed over there."
What's striking, though, is that only a few days later, Stephin Merritt—singer for the decidedly un-club-friendly, un-R&B indie-pop act The Magnetic Fields—voiced similar concerns to LA Weekly. "I like Adele, though I have some reservations about why people like her," Merritt said. "She really has a lovely voice, but I only get suspicious when people get excited about British people who sound like American black people."
"Basically she sounds like Anita Baker," Merritt continued. "And people are not, you know, wild and crazy about Anita Baker. And I think about the whole, with the racism, when people love when British people sound like American black people."
Both remarks sparked criticism. Some questioned The-Dream's own role in the state of soul, while others charged Merritt with hypocrisy (he's faced accusations of racism, himself). And plenty of Adele fans were quick to argue that the singer's success comes from the quality of her music and the fact that it sounds different from anything else on radio. What's inarguable, though, is that the two men's statements speak to larger, widespread anxiety about the state of modern R&B—and black peoples' place in it.
It's not that there are no new black R&B artists. Singers such as Jazmine Sullivan, whom Adele beat out for Best New Artist at the 2009 Grammys, offer music just as soulful and introspective only with a minuscule fraction of Adele's fame. The same can be said about a gifted vocalist like Ledisi or Miguel. And it remains to be seen whether a newcomer like Stacy Barthe will enjoy Adele's success or turn out to be the Sharon Jones to her Amy Winehouse.
The problem, many black R&B artists say, is the way that in-vogue club pop sounds have infiltrated the genre they love. So-called R&B radio stations play music that, save for tracks from the likes of Trey Songz or Mary J. Blige, aren't actually R&B—yet get labeled as such because black artists are singing on them: tunes like Drake and Rihanna's "Take Care" or Usher's "Climax" (which Usher calls "electro soul," whatever that means). Earlier this year, Boyz II Men, who at their peak scored several megahits off their soulful tracks, made this point. On the state of contemporary R&B, member Shawn Stockman said, "It's taken a step to what I think really isn't R&B. It sounds more electro pop, I think the only reason people call it R&B is cos black folks are singing it."
In 2010, Erykah Badu turned off her radio and took to Twitter to complain as well about the "electro pop" turn R&B has taken, writing: "They playd 6 in a row today- #pop techno songs back to back with so called r&b and rap artists... on the [hip-hop] station. Where I been? Like I said, how y'all gone STAND by and let our music turn into pop techno cornball ass music?"
She went on: "I like the idea of no distinction in race when it comes 2 music, but SOULkeepers, U dont give up the boom bip and the hump 4 the payday."
Trey Songz, one of the few successful artists where the R&B tag is actually applicable, echoed Badu's thoughts in an interview with the Power 105.1 radio show, "The Breakfast Club." "The success of crossover is something we all want to attain, but the route to get there is what's important to me," Trey said. As for why so many of his peers have changed their sound, he acknowledges that it was "the easy thing to do right now to get a hit." Indeed, Trey noted that, "It's not cool to be an R&B singer no more."
As a child of the '80s, Trey can remember when it was cool and how soul singers didn't have to go so left to enjoy certain successes. He said he could recall "a time that Luther Vandross could sell out Madison Square Garden four nights straight with straight soul music and be in the top 100, but that's not what it is right now."
On that same show this week, another R&B artist, Dawn Richard (Danity Kane, Diddy-Dirty Money), spoke about trying to bring innovation to the genre but opting to start off independently releasing her music. It seems label reps would tell her they liked what they heard, but found the sound too risky to offer a record deal.
Rationalizing their ambivalence, Richard asked: "Why would you take a risk on a brown girl? There's no brown girl considered pretty right now poppin' in the game. A dark skinned game. Kelly Rowland? There are, but I'm talking about in that crossover world. They're not allowing it."
What has been allowed, though, is what's selling on radio. The traditional notion of R&B may not be dead, but it does seem destined to live in obscurity until popular tastes change again. As Badu put it, "I love house and techno as a side dish. But now it's served as the main course AND that's ALL u gone get."
118
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Extempo king dies
« on: April 03, 2012, 06:26:31 AM »
Extempo king dies
By Wayne Bowman wayne.bowman@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 2, 2012 at 10:50 PM ECT
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Extempo_king_dies-145866445.html
Six-time National Extempo Monarch Sheldon John succumbed to kidney failure around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex.
John, who was 38 years old, had been battling kidney disease for some time, but took a turn for the worse shortly after Carnival. He even defended his title at the final of the National Extempo Monarch, which was won by Lady Africa on Carnival Thursday.
Few were aware of his ailment as John never allowed it to stop him from smiling and doing what he enjoyed the most, entertaining. During Carnival he was the master of ceremonies at the Kaiso House calypso tent, where he served as for several years.
Members of the calypso fraternity were shocked over John's death, all of them expressing that he was among the nicest people they had ever known. John was known for the permanent smile plastered on his face and for being extremely polite.
John's passion for the calypso art form was so strong that he even made it a point to always be well groomed and dress in the manner of calypsonians were known to in the golden era of calypso. Even in competition, John was known to give advice to his opponents assisting them in improving on their respective performances. He will always be remembered for his catch phrases at the calypso tent, one of these being, "Doing it nice."
John shot to the limelight in the late 1990's when he won the first run of the Tempo on the Road Extempo Competition. Shortly after this he was invited to be the master of ceremonies at the Kaiso Karavan Roving Calypso Tent run by TUCO East Zone. From here he moved on to Kaiso House becoming one of the most liked calypso tent hosts.
John in 2001 won his first National Extempo title and he immediately won the respect of Multiculturalism Minister, Winston "Gypsy" Peters who has won the title on multiple occasions. John went on to win the title in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2011. Through all of his victories and achievements, John remained humble and willing to do whatever he was called upon to for the continued development of calypso and young upcoming calypsonians.
Peters issued a statement reading, "I was deeply saddened upon learning of the untimely passing of Sheldon John, former Extempo Monarch, and friend. Sheldon was a true champion of our local arts and culture, who made a consistent and genuine contribution to national life without drawing undue attention to himself."
"Although we competed against each other countless times, Sheldon always remained a friendly rival both on and off stage. We shared a camaraderie that demonstrated to me that he respected the teachings of the elders with whom he interacted."
TUCO yesterday issued a statement expending condolences to John's family and expressing how great a loss his death is to the calypso fraternity and art form as a whole. The statement also read that John brought to the stage, "An easy flowing sense of confidence and the quiet flair of a champion."
Fellow calypsonian and extempo artiste The Incredible Myron B told the Express that he could not sleep at all on Sunday after hearing the news of John's death. He said he and John were friends for several years and in all that time he never heard John utter a negative word about anyone. He also said John was a giver.
"I first met Sheldon in 2001, just before he won that first extempo title. From that time he was a real simple fella and we maintained a good relationship since. He was one of the 'realist' people in the industry. I never once heard him say a bad thing about anybody else. He was also never afraid or unwilling to give advice to other calypsonians, especially the younger ones, even in competition. He would always help even his competitors," Myron B said.
Another friend, actor Cliff Learmond, said John will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him, "Sheldon once said that calypso could never die, because the art form is bigger than the man. The contribution that this man made to calypso and the people who called him friend, will make him live forever in our hearts," Learmond said.
Upon learning of John's passing, former International Power Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin put up RIP Sheldon John on his BBM profile. Asked for a reflection on John, Bunji, who a couple of years ago participated in an extempo show presented by TUCO during Calypso History Month, sent the following to the Express, "Fay and I remember interacting with him about two years ago in a lil extempo event. That man was really into extempo with a constant smile that to me seemed like joy reflecting from the talent he wielded."
John was also a pannist and avid supporter of the steeband movement. He played for the school band when he attended the El Dorado Secondary School and also played with the Exodus Steel Orchestra. Pan Trinbago too expressed sadness over his passing and extended condolences to his family and the calypso fraternity. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.
By Wayne Bowman wayne.bowman@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 2, 2012 at 10:50 PM ECT
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Extempo_king_dies-145866445.html
Six-time National Extempo Monarch Sheldon John succumbed to kidney failure around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex.
John, who was 38 years old, had been battling kidney disease for some time, but took a turn for the worse shortly after Carnival. He even defended his title at the final of the National Extempo Monarch, which was won by Lady Africa on Carnival Thursday.
Few were aware of his ailment as John never allowed it to stop him from smiling and doing what he enjoyed the most, entertaining. During Carnival he was the master of ceremonies at the Kaiso House calypso tent, where he served as for several years.
Members of the calypso fraternity were shocked over John's death, all of them expressing that he was among the nicest people they had ever known. John was known for the permanent smile plastered on his face and for being extremely polite.
John's passion for the calypso art form was so strong that he even made it a point to always be well groomed and dress in the manner of calypsonians were known to in the golden era of calypso. Even in competition, John was known to give advice to his opponents assisting them in improving on their respective performances. He will always be remembered for his catch phrases at the calypso tent, one of these being, "Doing it nice."
John shot to the limelight in the late 1990's when he won the first run of the Tempo on the Road Extempo Competition. Shortly after this he was invited to be the master of ceremonies at the Kaiso Karavan Roving Calypso Tent run by TUCO East Zone. From here he moved on to Kaiso House becoming one of the most liked calypso tent hosts.
John in 2001 won his first National Extempo title and he immediately won the respect of Multiculturalism Minister, Winston "Gypsy" Peters who has won the title on multiple occasions. John went on to win the title in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2011. Through all of his victories and achievements, John remained humble and willing to do whatever he was called upon to for the continued development of calypso and young upcoming calypsonians.
Peters issued a statement reading, "I was deeply saddened upon learning of the untimely passing of Sheldon John, former Extempo Monarch, and friend. Sheldon was a true champion of our local arts and culture, who made a consistent and genuine contribution to national life without drawing undue attention to himself."
"Although we competed against each other countless times, Sheldon always remained a friendly rival both on and off stage. We shared a camaraderie that demonstrated to me that he respected the teachings of the elders with whom he interacted."
TUCO yesterday issued a statement expending condolences to John's family and expressing how great a loss his death is to the calypso fraternity and art form as a whole. The statement also read that John brought to the stage, "An easy flowing sense of confidence and the quiet flair of a champion."
Fellow calypsonian and extempo artiste The Incredible Myron B told the Express that he could not sleep at all on Sunday after hearing the news of John's death. He said he and John were friends for several years and in all that time he never heard John utter a negative word about anyone. He also said John was a giver.
"I first met Sheldon in 2001, just before he won that first extempo title. From that time he was a real simple fella and we maintained a good relationship since. He was one of the 'realist' people in the industry. I never once heard him say a bad thing about anybody else. He was also never afraid or unwilling to give advice to other calypsonians, especially the younger ones, even in competition. He would always help even his competitors," Myron B said.
Another friend, actor Cliff Learmond, said John will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him, "Sheldon once said that calypso could never die, because the art form is bigger than the man. The contribution that this man made to calypso and the people who called him friend, will make him live forever in our hearts," Learmond said.
Upon learning of John's passing, former International Power Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin put up RIP Sheldon John on his BBM profile. Asked for a reflection on John, Bunji, who a couple of years ago participated in an extempo show presented by TUCO during Calypso History Month, sent the following to the Express, "Fay and I remember interacting with him about two years ago in a lil extempo event. That man was really into extempo with a constant smile that to me seemed like joy reflecting from the talent he wielded."
John was also a pannist and avid supporter of the steeband movement. He played for the school band when he attended the El Dorado Secondary School and also played with the Exodus Steel Orchestra. Pan Trinbago too expressed sadness over his passing and extended condolences to his family and the calypso fraternity. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.
119
Cricket Anyone / West Indies v Australia, 2nd Twenty20, Bridgetown
« on: March 30, 2012, 08:02:49 AM »
West Indies v Australia, 2nd Twenty20, Bridgetown
West Indies aim for big improvement
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
March 29, 2012
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/current/story/559252.html
Kieron Pollard made a 20-ball half-century on Tuesday but ran out of time to add much more to his score © AFP
Teams: Australia | West Indies
March 30, Kensington Oval
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)
Big Picture
The first Twenty20 on Tuesday was one of the most one-sided matches of the tour so far. Australia kept West Indies to 150 and then chased down the target with 11 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand, which by T20 standards is a trouncing. West Indies have responded by dropping Darren Bravo, who was scratchy, but what they really need from their top order is fewer dot balls and more turning over of the strike. A few more boundaries wouldn't hurt either. If Johnson Charles gets going he can be dangerous but two of the most destructive batsmen in West Indies' order, Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy, often bat too low to have a serious impact. They need to work out their batting order and ensure that too much is not left for the last few overs.
There was a lot to like about Australia's performance on Tuesday, from the death bowling of Shane Watson and Brett Lee to the century stand between Watson and Michael Hussey, who complemented each other perfectly. Under George Bailey, this side is starting to find its feet. Brad Hogg would likely be in Australia's best XI - he was rotated out of this tour to give Xavier Doherty and Nathan Lyon a chance - but otherwise expect a very similar side to this outfit when Australia play their first match of the World T20 in Sri Lanka later this year. For now, the aim is to win the series 2-0 after the drawn ODI series.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies LLWLL
Australia WLWLW
In the spotlight
It was hard to believe that Kieron Pollard's fifty on Tuesday was his first in a T20 international. Part of the reason is that he has often batted down the order, and West Indies might wish to give him more time in the middle after his brutal display in St Lucia, where he raced to a 20-ball half-century, the quickest ever by a West Indian in a T20 international. The more time he has at the crease the faster the match could be dragged out of Australia's grasp.
Michael Hussey helped Australia to victory with an unbeaten 59 batting at No.3 on Tuesday, and it was his first T20 international in nearly two years. Often he had been rested before or after a big Test and one-day tour, and he remains a key to Australia's chances in the ICC World T20 later this year. His poise and precision placement make him a valuable batsman in this format and playing at first drop allows him to have significant influence.
Team news
West Indies have dropped Darren Bravo and the allrounder Andre Russell is unavailable due to a minor hamstring strain, while Danza Hyatt has been included in the squad. Fidel Edwards should come into consideration on his home ground, where there should be some pace in the pitch.
West Indies (possible) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Danza Hyatt, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Carlton Baugh (wk), 9 Fidel Edwards, 10 Krishmar Santokie, 11 Sunil Narine.
Australia have confirmed an unchanged side for the second T20.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Michael Hussey, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 David Hussey, 6 Matthew Wade (wk), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Pitch and conditions
This is the first match at Kensington Oval on this tour and the pitch is expected to be an excellent batting surface with some pace in it.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
"We'll just be doing exactly what we did last game. We addressed our death bowling at the end of the one-day fixture and I think we did that really well [on Tuesday]."
Matthew Wade
West Indies aim for big improvement
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
March 29, 2012
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/current/story/559252.html
Kieron Pollard made a 20-ball half-century on Tuesday but ran out of time to add much more to his score © AFP
Teams: Australia | West Indies
March 30, Kensington Oval
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)
Big Picture
The first Twenty20 on Tuesday was one of the most one-sided matches of the tour so far. Australia kept West Indies to 150 and then chased down the target with 11 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand, which by T20 standards is a trouncing. West Indies have responded by dropping Darren Bravo, who was scratchy, but what they really need from their top order is fewer dot balls and more turning over of the strike. A few more boundaries wouldn't hurt either. If Johnson Charles gets going he can be dangerous but two of the most destructive batsmen in West Indies' order, Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy, often bat too low to have a serious impact. They need to work out their batting order and ensure that too much is not left for the last few overs.
There was a lot to like about Australia's performance on Tuesday, from the death bowling of Shane Watson and Brett Lee to the century stand between Watson and Michael Hussey, who complemented each other perfectly. Under George Bailey, this side is starting to find its feet. Brad Hogg would likely be in Australia's best XI - he was rotated out of this tour to give Xavier Doherty and Nathan Lyon a chance - but otherwise expect a very similar side to this outfit when Australia play their first match of the World T20 in Sri Lanka later this year. For now, the aim is to win the series 2-0 after the drawn ODI series.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies LLWLL
Australia WLWLW
In the spotlight
It was hard to believe that Kieron Pollard's fifty on Tuesday was his first in a T20 international. Part of the reason is that he has often batted down the order, and West Indies might wish to give him more time in the middle after his brutal display in St Lucia, where he raced to a 20-ball half-century, the quickest ever by a West Indian in a T20 international. The more time he has at the crease the faster the match could be dragged out of Australia's grasp.
Michael Hussey helped Australia to victory with an unbeaten 59 batting at No.3 on Tuesday, and it was his first T20 international in nearly two years. Often he had been rested before or after a big Test and one-day tour, and he remains a key to Australia's chances in the ICC World T20 later this year. His poise and precision placement make him a valuable batsman in this format and playing at first drop allows him to have significant influence.
Team news
West Indies have dropped Darren Bravo and the allrounder Andre Russell is unavailable due to a minor hamstring strain, while Danza Hyatt has been included in the squad. Fidel Edwards should come into consideration on his home ground, where there should be some pace in the pitch.
West Indies (possible) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Danza Hyatt, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Carlton Baugh (wk), 9 Fidel Edwards, 10 Krishmar Santokie, 11 Sunil Narine.
Australia have confirmed an unchanged side for the second T20.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Michael Hussey, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 David Hussey, 6 Matthew Wade (wk), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Pitch and conditions
This is the first match at Kensington Oval on this tour and the pitch is expected to be an excellent batting surface with some pace in it.
Stats and trivia
- Due to their schedule at the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010, Australia have played more Twenty20s (5) at Kensington Oval than West Indies (3)
- The toss can be important at this venue, with nine of the 12 T20s played there having been won by the team that batted first
Quotes
"We'll just be doing exactly what we did last game. We addressed our death bowling at the end of the one-day fixture and I think we did that really well [on Tuesday]."
Matthew Wade
120
Cricket Anyone / WI vs. Australia 1st T20I, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
« on: March 27, 2012, 07:55:31 AM »
A change of format after ODI battle
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
March 26, 2012
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/story/558858.html
Matches: West Indies v Australia at Gros Islet
Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of West Indies
Teams: Australia | West Indies
March 27, Beausejour Cricket Ground
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)
Big Picture
Two days on from the Australian victory that secured a drawn ODI series, the teams must adjust quickly with a Twenty20 series up for grabs. Little has changed in the Australia squad's personnel but the major difference is that George Bailey takes over the captaincy for the shortest format from Shane Watson, who was filling in for the injured Michael Clarke in the one-dayers. This will be Bailey's third match in charge and every game is vital, not only for itself but for Australia's plans ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in September. They have these two games and now, it appears, three Twenty20s against Pakistan in Sri Lanka in August to prepare.
West Indies are also in the preparation phase for the world tournament. They have not played a T20 international for five months and after these two games they are also likely to have three matches before the World T20 in Sri Lanka. West Indies have brought in some specialists for this version but having not played for some time, they must first evaluate their best side - seven of the men who played in their most recent T20 are not in this squad. But they have plenty of powerful hitters and will be a force to be reckoned with on the small Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies: LWLLW
Australia: LWLWL
In the spotlight
Darren Sammy showed in the fifth ODI the damage he can do at a ground with small boundaries like Beausejour. If he gets some time in the middle he could take the Australian attack apart again, but the likelihood is he could be batting as low as ninth in this West Indies line-up.
James Pattinson has been sitting in the rooms throughout the one-day series, wondering when his chance would come. It has arrived in the first Twenty20 and as much as his bowling will be an asset to Australia in this game, he will also be keen for as much game time as possible ahead of the Tests, given he is almost certain to be part of Australia's starting line-up.
Team news
West Indies have named a 14-man squad but having not played a Twenty20 international for so long, their starting line-up is far from certain.
West Indies (possible) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Andre Russell, 9 Darren Sammy (capt), 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Fidel Edwards.
Australia have confirmed their starting line-up and there will be two changes from the side that played the final ODI. The fast bowler James Pattinson will play his first match of the tour and the allrounder Daniel Christian has also been included, while Peter Forrest and Ben Hilfenhaus have been left out.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey (capt), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Pitch and conditions
The St Lucia pitch provided 280-plus first-innings scores in both the ODIs and there is no reason runs shouldn't flow in the first Twenty20 as well.
Stats and trivia
David Hussey will become Australia's most-capped Twenty20 international player in this game, surpassing Michael Clarke's record of 34 matches
There is no clear advantage at the toss: in the 11 T20 internationals held in St Lucia the team batting first has won five and lost six
Should Australia lose both of these matches, they could finish the tour ranked as low as eighth on the ICC's T20 international rankings
Quotes
"These matches will give us a gauge as to where we are. The belief is there. It was clear during the last two weeks. We are getting stronger."
Darren Sammy
"It's a nice change for us to have a T20 group that has been together for a little while. Normally with T20 you get thrown together for a week and that's it, so to spent the last ten days together, albeit playing one-day cricket, is hopefully going to hold us in pretty good stead."
George Bailey
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo.
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
March 26, 2012
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/story/558858.html
Matches: West Indies v Australia at Gros Islet
Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of West Indies
Teams: Australia | West Indies
March 27, Beausejour Cricket Ground
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)
Big Picture
Two days on from the Australian victory that secured a drawn ODI series, the teams must adjust quickly with a Twenty20 series up for grabs. Little has changed in the Australia squad's personnel but the major difference is that George Bailey takes over the captaincy for the shortest format from Shane Watson, who was filling in for the injured Michael Clarke in the one-dayers. This will be Bailey's third match in charge and every game is vital, not only for itself but for Australia's plans ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in September. They have these two games and now, it appears, three Twenty20s against Pakistan in Sri Lanka in August to prepare.
West Indies are also in the preparation phase for the world tournament. They have not played a T20 international for five months and after these two games they are also likely to have three matches before the World T20 in Sri Lanka. West Indies have brought in some specialists for this version but having not played for some time, they must first evaluate their best side - seven of the men who played in their most recent T20 are not in this squad. But they have plenty of powerful hitters and will be a force to be reckoned with on the small Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
West Indies: LWLLW
Australia: LWLWL
In the spotlight
Darren Sammy showed in the fifth ODI the damage he can do at a ground with small boundaries like Beausejour. If he gets some time in the middle he could take the Australian attack apart again, but the likelihood is he could be batting as low as ninth in this West Indies line-up.
James Pattinson has been sitting in the rooms throughout the one-day series, wondering when his chance would come. It has arrived in the first Twenty20 and as much as his bowling will be an asset to Australia in this game, he will also be keen for as much game time as possible ahead of the Tests, given he is almost certain to be part of Australia's starting line-up.
Team news
West Indies have named a 14-man squad but having not played a Twenty20 international for so long, their starting line-up is far from certain.
West Indies (possible) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Andre Russell, 9 Darren Sammy (capt), 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Fidel Edwards.
Australia have confirmed their starting line-up and there will be two changes from the side that played the final ODI. The fast bowler James Pattinson will play his first match of the tour and the allrounder Daniel Christian has also been included, while Peter Forrest and Ben Hilfenhaus have been left out.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey (capt), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Pitch and conditions
The St Lucia pitch provided 280-plus first-innings scores in both the ODIs and there is no reason runs shouldn't flow in the first Twenty20 as well.
Stats and trivia
David Hussey will become Australia's most-capped Twenty20 international player in this game, surpassing Michael Clarke's record of 34 matches
There is no clear advantage at the toss: in the 11 T20 internationals held in St Lucia the team batting first has won five and lost six
Should Australia lose both of these matches, they could finish the tour ranked as low as eighth on the ICC's T20 international rankings
Quotes
"These matches will give us a gauge as to where we are. The belief is there. It was clear during the last two weeks. We are getting stronger."
Darren Sammy
"It's a nice change for us to have a T20 group that has been together for a little while. Normally with T20 you get thrown together for a week and that's it, so to spent the last ten days together, albeit playing one-day cricket, is hopefully going to hold us in pretty good stead."
George Bailey
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo.