Friday, June 26, 2009
Do you remember the time?
Sigh. So the day has come, and if you ask The Dog, he found it was all too early. The Angry Pothound and his pups are all mourning the loss of a legend.
Show business, or entertainment, or whatever you call it, has not actually been around that long in our history. But in the past century or so, we have seen people with talent perform for us, make us feel, inject us with all kinds of emotions, and generally inspire us. It may sound like a bit much to some of you cynics out there, but there is a tiny handful of people in this world with that kind of power. Seriously. To never meet you, yet influence you endlessly.
We here at The Angry Pothound believe that Michael Jackson was perhaps the best entertainer the world has ever seen. He genuinely moved so many ppl. Can you say that YOU have touched ppl, like truly touched them in their hearts? Have you ever made someone so happy that they cry in your presence and faint and scream hysterically? Of course, The Dog knows what this is like, having been such a supreme being himself, as well as a trained singer and dancer. But there never will be and never was another Michael, and I think everyone knows that. Like Dave Chappelle said, so reverently, "He made Thriller, man. Thriller."
We have danced and sang along to his music for years. And yes, occasionally, we have made and laughed at some MJ jokes. Who didn't? But we are truly saddened by the loss of it all. It's like the death of JFK, a death that could truly define a generation. For most of our readers, we know that MJ was a little bit like your JFK, and he probably had more than a few songs on the soundtrack to your life.
Someone once said that there is nothing sadder than wasted talent. Michael Jackson was one of the most talented people the world has ever had the opportunity to see in action. To witness talent like that, well it affects you, even a lil bit. And what happened to him, how he faded into strangeness and obscurity and debt, how people laughed at him, hated him, didn't believe in him, and took advantage of him and his obvious mental problems for decades - well that is one of the saddest falls from fame we have ever seen. Really. And so, what we really have here is wasted talent. We saw a world rip apart a very deeply troubled man, slowly but surely, and then he died. THAT is the most tragic part. We might have all contributed in some small way to his demise. And that is what people are likely the saddest about.
Say what you want, be cynical. The Dog is a master cynic. But, I dunno, he doesn't feel comfortable being cynical about this. This shit is very sad, and what happened to MJ was truly sad. What about his poor children? Their father is gone. And there was never that comeback tour. Sigh. If you've ever seen him perform, count yourself among the lucky. We here at The Angry Pothound never did.
So play your favourite MJ tune today ... everyone has a personal favourite - The Dog has been playing Don't Stop Till You Get Enough whole day. Watch a couple of his amazing videos on Youtube - Remember the Time with Eddie Murphy as an Egyptian pharoah, that video is maddddd and you know it. Try to do some of those crazy dance moves - they are amazing, right? Hell, fuckin' moonwalk to and from work if you can (I'm sure most of you can't anyway, dammit that shit is hard). But let's just give Jack(son) his jacket nah. And make sure it's that red leather jacket from the Thriller video, or at least that bedazzled number in the picture above. Because the King of Pop doesn't deserve any less.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A Night on Block 8 by Denyse Renne
This is a step forward for the media of TnT . . . It could've been a bigger one but i'll settle with this for now. Taken in its entirety from The Trinidad Express.
It is late afternoon, around 5.45 on Friday. Downtown, George Street corner is quiet, with only a few people waiting on transport home because it is Labour Day, a holiday.
I was waiting for a taxi to take me to Block 8, in John John, Laventille. I was in the wrong taxi stand for Block 8, so I asked the PH driver how much he would charge to take me into John John.
"Which part of John John?" he asked. "By Block 8," I responded. He grimaced.
"Family, ah doh really go up there yuh know, but ah go charge yuh a $20 as is you," he said.
I got into the PH car and headed to Block 8 to spend the night.
My friend greeted me and took me into her apartment.
It was she, who had invited me to spend the night at her place, after I had expressed an interest in finding out what life was like at Block 8. Friday's visit was two days after ten-year-old Tecia Henry was found dead, on Wednesday morning, her bloated body was found stuffed in a hole under a house mere metres from her home.
Henry had gone missing two Saturdays ago while on an errand for her mother.
Five men-all of whom reportedly have either pending matters or convictions-are in police custody in connection with the matter.
"If you need any snacks go for it now cause we will be under lockdown in the next few hours and the shop will be closed," my friend told me, shortly after 6 p.m.
It turned out that a self-imposed curfew was in place in Block 8. Sometimes, when a police patrol is around, and now that the police mobile unit is set up, residents enjoy more hours to chat with their neighbours.
At around 8 p.m., that's exactly what my friend and I were doing; sitting on some steps outside her apartment as neighbours came out and joined us.
A middle-aged women called out to her son who was playing with a ball nearby: "(Child's name called), ah tell yuh doh go where ah cannot see yuh. Dey killin children now."
Steupsing under her breath, she then said: "Allyuh hear de chile (Henry) funeral is Thursday? Dat real sad."
She went on, "Yuh know de streets saying is (name called) and dem set de fire to (name called ) house.
She then launched an attack on what she called the hypocrisy of several residents, declaring that that "they know exactly what going on here and turn a blind eye towards it."
"All they know is to blame this one and that one, never themselves," the woman said.
"I remember when here was a place yuh could leave de door open to yuh house and go in de shop. When ah chile do dotishness, yuh could correct him. Now yuh cyah even correct other people children 'cause de parents coming and cussing yuh out."
The resident said that not only were young men the bad eggs in the John John community but that a lot of females were taking part in crime as well.
"De other day when (name called) get shoot up de hill, is a girl who lure him there and set up de scene," she claimed.
She complained about a decline of father figures for the youths who were engaging in crime, pointed out many of the women who took part in Laventille protests either have pending matters or convictions before the courts, that a lot of the single parents in the area sought help from drug pushers and criminals to raise their children.
When these men are murdered, the women seek other pushers and the cycle continues, she said to a captive audience of myself and three other women.
I interrupted:
"If you know the criminals and what they do, then why not unite and..."
The woman laughed raucously. Looking at my friend, while pointing at me, she asked:
"She not from here?"
"Sweetheart, this is de ghetto, when yuh see, yuh ain't see, that is if yuh value yuh life. When yuh see people protesting up here, what yuh feel, they doing it on they own free will?
"No, some do it on dey own, others, when certain individuals want to make up numbers yuh don't have a choice, yuh come out and protest even though yuh don't believe in de cause."
As we sat chatting on a cool evening, we heard the sound of gunshots. The woman got up.
"Well it's time to sleep. That's another thing. Up here gunshots are like doorbells, just that yuh don't open de door."
She yells out her son's name and motions him to follow her indoors.
My friend and I remained sitting on the steps for a while longer. Not more than 10 minutes later, four boys, looking no older than 16, even younger, walked past us.
They offered us no greeting. One of them looks at my friend, fiddling with something under an oversized jersey.
My friend tapped my shoulder and said whispered: "Time to go inside."
I didn't catch on until she repeated her statement.
As the door closed behind us, we heard yet another gunshot, only closer this time.
I ran to the window to pull the curtains open.
My friend grabbed me, pulling at me frantically.
"Aye yuh mad, around here yuh doh do dem thing," she said as more shots sounded close by, like right outside the apartment.
"Are we safe inside here?" I asked, reality beginning to sink in.
"So what you want to do, you want to leave, well go nah," my friend said.
I looked at her, she looked at me. It was around 10 p.m. on Friday night. My friend sought to calm my now-real fear.
"Men only showing off their heat tonight," she said.
"Police patrolling the area, so no killings will take place tonight (Friday)."
She said she was going to bed, but not before making sure to warn me in no uncertain terms against succumbing to my journalistic "skinning open" her curtains to see what was happening outside.
That night, as my friend slept, I sat in her living room, dozing off, only to spring up ever so often at the sound of gunshots, doors slamming and heavy panting from men running along the corridors of the apartment buildings.
After a while, I gave up on the idea of getting any sleep; I opened my laptop and began to write this story. I said my prayers. At 5.27 a.m., I told myself, just half an hour more before I leave.
It was not until 6.30 am, however, that I was able to get a PH car out of Block 8, and with no regrets for not having breakfast with my friend, I hightailed it out of Laventille.
Friday, June 19, 2009
WTF Files: Hors what the hell are you doing?
So ahm somebody tell me what these dudes doing pls
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Steupsssssssssss
Like she really trying to tell me that she was soooooooo alseep that she aint feel when that shit was being done to her face. Yea right!!!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I must be a jackass to believe that
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Island Life - do you REALLY know what that is?
Partying week in week out, what do we really get out of it?
Is it truly the only way we know how to socialize?
Are those the right set of questions? OR should I be asking WHY do we ignore all the other things, that we can have more fun doing and are the majority of the time, cheaper than partying???
Is it because we are accustomed to partying, and like most humans we don't like to go outside of our comfort zone? But why is partying even our comfort zone? Parties are essentially too many ppl, in a hot space too small to house them; listening to music... what’s comfortable about that?
Is it because our hormones have a greater effect on us than we seem to realise? And that we are drawn to the parties with the subconscious (or very conscious for some) mission of getting the attention of the opposite sex... are we simply driven by our sex drive?
Food for thought!
I have strayed from the main topic which I intended to write on and I’ve yet to even touch on it. At this point you are probably trying to figure out how is the title relevant ... patience young one. lol
We live on an island in the Caribbean... our home is vacation or heaven or even a dream that will never come through, to billions of people around the world. Don't take it for granted!
How many beaches have you been to in Trinidad? More than 5? When last have you been to the pitch lake? Ever been to the wildfowl trust or the Caroni Bird Sanctuary? Do even know where Asa Wright is? Do you know that if you go to Icacos on a clear day you can see Venezuela with your naked eye? Do you know that there is a place called Icacos and it’s also a beach?
I won’t even start and the stuff that require you to sweat a lil... you know like hiking, kayaking, mountain bike riding on a trail ... fun stuff!
For all those returning home for their summer vacation and for everyone who lives here where its summer every day, let's try not to forget what thousands of tourists spend their hard earned money, to come here every year and enjoy. Noooooo not carnival, but the beauty that is Trinidad & Tobago.
Aren't you ashamed that a tourist in Finland with Discovery Travel has more than likely seen more of YOUR country than you and yet he's never been... but I’m sure you can walk from the bar to the bathroom in 51 blindfolded..... let’s see Mr. Finland do that! ... :|
Don't you think it’s time for a change?
Vibe Magazine on Carnival
The article:
"Beats! Rhymes! Bikinis! Feathers! If Trinidad & Tobago’s carnival isn’t the world’s biggest block party, it’s definitely the hottest. VIBE returns to the scene of Jay-Z’s 2000 “Big Pimpin’ ” video (featuring UGK), where all you need is a hot soca track and a little bit of rum to move the crowd. But just remember, when you hit the road in Port of Spain, it’s not what you’ve got on, but what’s about to come off."
Some of the pics:
Monday, June 15, 2009
Don't ever be afraid to be the weird dancing guy
This is one of the best examples of mob mentality which plagues Trinidad like the common cold.
One person gets up and does something that he wants to do, with no regard for what society thinks. That person does it and does it well! Some people in society look at them like wtf, while the rest pretend not to see.
Another person genuinely likes what that person is doing and joins them. The group that was saying "What the f*ck?" is now asking the group that was ignoring "Hoss you seeing tha man lol. . wtf is he doing?" The group that was quiet is now saying hmmm but really thinking "that looks kinda cool unno"
One more person joins and it's a wrap . . . what was one man's fun turns into the latest craze and by that time the 1st guy is usually bored with that and moves onto something new.
Do you even know what Guy #37 was wearing in the video . . . I don't but Guy #1 was bareback and having a good fucking time being himself and that's who you should strive to be . . . minus the bareback part for the girls tho . . .unless you really want to. lol
Peace!
Friday, June 12, 2009
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!
Have you ever seen a Unicorn high?
i barked/laughed soooo hard the 1st time i saw this, and everytime after as a matter of fact but not everyone reacted that way.
I took the following from The Daily Fork a food news website (http://www.dailyfork.com)
The new Denny's All Nighter commercial is shamelessly (and smartly) targeting the one core group of customers you're likely to find in a Denny's at 3:00 am, stoners. By featuring a talking t-rex, a stoned unicorn, and a sarcastic leprechaun, Denny's has achieved a tic-tac-toe of advertising absurdity...but somehow it manages to work. Even though the commercial makes almost no sense (how does the t-rex eat his pancakes with those tiny little arms?), it doesn't really matter one bit. Denny's seems to be onto something here, and when you're getting well reasoned YouTube comments like, "damn this is the best comercial ever! just like the unicorn and t-rex, i love to get supa stoned and go to Dennys ..." you know you're doing something right.
The thing that resulted in me posting this is that 2 weeks ago when i showed the clip to a friend of mine his response was "they showing that on tv. Hors its obvious the Unicorn high. How can they show it on tv" so when i saw the article my ears raised because i really did not look at it in that way the 1st time around.
Do you guys have a problem with it seeing as its on regular rotation on tv?
Feedback ppl come on . . . lolol
Do Dogs need a visa to travel to DC for Carnival?
Mas package includes sexy costume, unique airbrushing, light breakfast, unlimited non alcoholic drinks and lunch at the end of the parade.
Thursday night IGNITE - Your Blu Carnival Experience, hosted by Basement Knokers Ent. and TRIBE Carnival will be held at Club 24 located at 2122 24th Place NE Washington D.C. Advanced tickets are $20, come enjoy sweet soca brought to you by Sprang International, Private Ryan, DJ Hazzard, and DJ Majestic. 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Saturday night XEN – The Blu Experience Continues hosted by Basement Knokers Entertainment, KnockBoyz, and Carib United offers an elite indoor/outdoor party @ Club 24, with DJ Merry Perry from Trinidad Red 96.7, Private Ryan, Sprang International, Foreign Base, Bandit, and Fyah Oats. Advanced tickets are $20, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., 18 to enter 21 to drink.
Check out www.blucarnival.com come or www.basementknokers.com. Join Blu Carnival for the ultimate DC Carnival experience!!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Chronicles Of Killadev
As I mentioned before I am hiding away from real life in Miami, and for good reason the prospect of the routine and redundancy of a mind numbing, spirit killing job is not something anyone would rush to do but guess what I need the money. Thats beside the point, while here in the sunshine state there is one thing I do not understand and I am totally perplexed and befuddled and I am forced to come of my own, probably warped and subjective, conclusion. I speak of STRIPPERS!! .... now these are not the strung out, as I would simply put crash bad things you see in 'Copa' and its counterparts. NO. These are the girls every pre pubescent male have had one or three wet dreams about at least twice a week until they were 14. these woman are effing hottt, now with that said this is where I find myself lost and confused and when I am frequenting the strip club i find myself not joining the festivities but just trying to understand. Now soul searching in a strip club is not the best idea however so great is my confusion.
The reason, I find myself in mental rigor mortis and trapped in my thoughts, is because I honestly believe that these girls could have been anything else in the world rather than this degrading profession they have chosen. These girls are honestly some of the most beautiful entities I have had the pleasure of laying my eyes on and they are treating themselves like nothing more than a side of beef.( and i say this because in one of the strip clubs I went to evey hour the girls are alerted by a bell and hold hands and walk in front the patrons one after the other like a virtual meat market). So the question I pose is why do that, why take off your clothes for strange men to fondle your lady humps for dollar bills, why give totally nude lap dances where I the patron am allowed to do anything I want for the length of a song, and if I pay more I may get as it was refferred to a happy ending. I would like to know what unofrtunate event made these flawless, embodiments of physical femininity choose this 'job'.I am totally confused....
I am goin to try and attempt to answer these questions being as real as i possibly could. Now I know not everyone has had the same opportunities in life and what not and that is good and well but to me there are things everyone could do to overcome these. I am not going to harp on that any longer, I want to know what gave these girls such a distorted view of sex and sexual relations that they trivialised it into a dollar by dollar experience. This trivialisation and marginalisation of sex and its associated functions as a means to an end baffles me like few things have before( one of these things I admit is girls which I no longer try to understand but rather survive).
I have hence come up with a list of reasons that i am putting forward to answer my own questions:-\
1. Some of them were sexually molested at a tender age and like most porn stars have warped views on sex
2. Negative self image leading to low self esteem
3. Some were probably not given attention as a child and hunger for that attention that alluded them and seek this attention on stage and the cheering crowd.
4. Lack of opportunity coupled with financial issues( this I think is a weak reason because tey are a million things someone could do besides taking off their clothes but Ill offer it up anyway)
5. Materialism, fast cash and music videos( well media influence on impressionable youths)
6. Any and all combinations of the affore mentioned
KILLADEV......
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
RIP Sheldon $hel $hok Benjamin
Who do the best call the best?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Stray Dog: The Feisty Pompek
by The Feisty Pompek
Those that know me and know me well, know that I am not one to accommodate the bad attitude and plain bitchiness of anyone. Particularly, someone who is suppose to be providing me with some service—that I am paying for!
We all know and complain that customer service in Trinidad is somewhat lacking—to say the least. Being that I currently live most months out of the year in the US, for the past three years, I have grown accustomed to great customer service, and if I happen to be on the receiving end of someone’s bad day, I have also grown accustomed to them being reprimanded by their superiors.
As a lass (ha!), I worked at West Mall—now The Falls at West Mall (pardon-moi!) over the Christmas breaks. I woke up after many long (ahem) nights of liming and took myself to work and smiled with people and helped them out. And let me tell you, people shopping at Christmas time, like 2 or 3 days before… are the MOST annoying customers ever!
Did I sometimes want to say “well, yuh know, yuh shudn’t ah wait til last minute to do this?!” ? Yes! Of course! But whether you selling clothes, chicken or perfume you should take pride in your job—it’s an honest living after all, and extend simple courtesy to your customers.
We acknowledge, that some customers are disrespectful, demeaning and just plain old RUDE! I believe that a salesperson, should in these cases defend themselves tactfully but I stress—maintain a level of professionalism!
So that said, this is what happened to me yesterday (June 2, 2009)
Since I’m on vacation from school (amen!) I decided to take advantage of the Tuesday special at Globe. The hype of schmoozin’ at the ‘Upper West Side’ at Movie Towne, and paying $45 to see ONE movie, has not really appealed to me for a while.
As a broke college student, I tend to be very careful of spending what little money I have—I feel no compulsion to be seen by the who’s who or party with the “in-crowd”. So, I decided, with 3 friends to head to Globe to see TWO movies for $5—yes… FIVE dollars!!! (TEN if you want to go Balcony—not that I should advertise for them!)
Anyway, so there I am in line, chatting with my friends, since I had not seen them since I had arrived in the country—eventually it became my turn to step to the window and I am greeted by a big, fat, unpleasant looking matron and I am going to spare this broad absolutely no criticism.
Her hair was in a mess! And I don’t mean it was elaborately done—God knows, I does just roll off my bed and bounce sometimes, but NOT if I’m going to work! Lady, ever heard of a brush?!—from the looks of her, clearly she had not—in any sense! (AHEM!)
She looked as though, she was going to throw out the garbage at home. I not saying wear a suit, but umm, you ARE at work! Anyway…
Now whenever I go to a store or where ever to buy ANYTHING I usually say ‘Hello’, ‘Good—whatever time of day it happens to be’ and then… ‘may I please have…. Whatever I want’—as a result of good home training nah..!
Since my friends and I had not been to Globe since last July… we were not aware of if the special was still on… and the prices posted over the window were the ‘regular prices’ of $12 or whatever. So after the exchange of pleasantries—well my extension of pleasantries, I asked the lady “Umm, excuse me, how much is it? I would like 4 adults tickets for House (yes, I went House, because I like the human commentary that accompanies the movies there!)
The ‘lady’—a term I am using VERY loosely, then leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. So I’m thinking well... maybe she didn’t hear me because, even though I have a big mouth, I try to speak to people quietly, because a lot of people think I’m shouting AT them… when really… I’m just shouting because I’m loud! So Miss Globe Cinema is now giving me, what has to be the DREADEST cut eye I see in years! You know the look your mother gives you—or used to give you when you misbehaving in public—the look that said “I go deal with yuh when we reach home!” ? Well, that look!
So I thinking to myself, well what really going on here? SO I ask her again and then yet again!
After the third time the lady leans forward and shouts (in very poor English, might I add!) “Wham?! Yuh bline, yuh eh see de sign dey?! LOOK ova so!”
... Insert me standing most perplexed here …
Looks to see the sign that advertises, that indeed, the special is still on.
Now, I have my ways. To be honest, I can be a real bitchy bitch! BUT hypocrisy is not my thing, so I decided to be the bigger person—not that it was literally possible with woman in question. I handed her the $20 and said “Umm, thank you, eh and have a lovely evening, dearie!”
My friends are currently STUNNED! The man taking the tickets is as usual, in a hurry and well I am just pissed!
Had I been a different person, actually, being just MYSELF, I could have yelled, decided not to see the movie, even drop in an F sharp or two!... but I decided that would do nothing and would also be a waste of time.
I always say, you know the type of person you are. You know what you like, what you don’t like and what situations you can handle and prefer not to. That said, if you are a grumpy, bitchy, eternally bothered person, perhaps—JUST PERHAPS… customer service is NOT for you!
I don’t like blood, and therefore have no desire to be a doctor. I don’t like to lie—therefore, law was not my profession of choice.
I think—actually I know, Trinidad needs a serious re-structuring and re-training in the department of customer service. We as consumers also need to stand up for ourselves. I am sure I am not the first person that lady spoke to in that manner, and I’m probably not the last.
It irks me when my friends and other trinis say, “Oh! Well this is not the States yuh kno! I am well aware that this is Trinidad, dear friends. Trust me! But the fact that people have just grown accustomed to poor customer service and somehow think that that’s the way things are and should be done, bothers me.
I’m not trying to make this into the US—please! I don’t like the US at all—but some things there work and work well. We need to adopt a sort of trini-service that is professional. I’m not saying smile all the time and take the abuse of irate customers, but please! It’s your job, take pride in it and treat people, like people. Jesus had it right you know (yes I bringin’ Jesus in mih ting!)
‘Do unto others, as you would have them do unto, you!’—that is sometimes not easy, but it’s a good thing to practice as much as you can—or at least every now and then
Anywayz, that was my rant. So I guess, I gone.
Sigh
One of the first things i learnt observing politics is that there are no ethics!
Everyday the list of unscrupulous acts that took or are taking place in this country gets longer and longer. From simple theft (a job costs $100million but you pay your brethren $250million to do it and split the 150million off the top) to advanced psychological strategies that confuse the best of us but result in somebody somewhere getting a big pay off.
The Dog isn't in the habit of naming names but i've read this name so many times i can't help but utter it . . . Calder Hart!
Does he have a Lifetime "get away with anything" Card? A Trinidad pass that you pay for once and do watever you want in this country . . . forever?!?!
Its obvious that Mr Hart has friends in very high places or maybe he just has one friend . . . the right friend (food for thought) . . . but there are countless instances of misconduct that are reported in the media but yet still Mr Hart is still in control of billions of this country's money . . . OUR money!
This dude as chairman of Udecott awarded a Malaysian company 'CH International' with a contract for $368million as part of the construction of the Legal Affairs Tower in POS.
It was uncovered that CH International was actually owned by Calder Hart and had his wife's brother and brother-in-law listed as the directors. CH's registered fax no. is the same no. as the fax line in Mr Hart's home. Coincidence?? Mr Hart seems to think so as he denied knowing anything about CH International.
The thing about this that ruffled my fur is the boldfaceness of this man. C-alder H-art & CH International. This f@&ker ain't even make a effort to hide. He named the company after himself and then telling us with a straight face he dunno anything about it.
I once heard a woman say that her man respected her because altho he cheated on her, he made an effort to cover his tracks . . . By this its safe to say Mr Hart has no respect for us TnT. None!
On Sunday's Newsday the headline was 'A house for Mr Hart' . . sigh
In a nutshell the Home Mortgage Bank sold a house worth 2.5million to Mr Hart for a little over $600k. The Chairman of HMB, Mr Andre Monteil authorised the sale to Mr Hart who was then CEO of HMB.
Click to read it for yourself on Newsday
I've given Mr Hart enough PR for now and I keep typing CL Fina and then deleting it . . .lol . . . i want to talk about them but the only word that comes to mind is Ponzi . . . google that then check me back. lol
Peace