POEM: A New Definition

Check out my poem: A New Definition with Kanye West's "Touch The Sky" instrumental. "Touch The Sky" was inspired by Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up":

Teeth, Ears and Immunizations: Things Parents Should Know

Parents have to stay abreast of their children's growth and ensure that children's teeth and ears are checked and immunizations are up to date.

Parents of infants and toddlers in most countries are constantly reminded that they should maintain their children's health by monitoring the youth's growth and development. Parents need to observe growth milestones and ensure that the children's immunizations are up to date. Before a child is ready to attend elementary or primary school, there are certain tests that should be completed before he starts classes. School-aged children should have already had their first dentist visit. A hearing test is also important to assess if the child has any ear issues.  While some countries require that these tests and vaccinations are completed, parents should also take the initiative to ensure that their children are in good health.

If Parents Choose to, Children Should be Fully Immunized to Enter School

If parents choose to immunize their children, they should be aware of the schedule set out by their country for the vaccinations. Parents who wish not to immunize their children for religious or other reasons should visit their doctor and provide the necessary information to their child's school with the application for admission. When it comes to immunizations, the vaccine for Hepatitis B given in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is given in three doses and if parents miss the second shot, this affects the child's immunization record by delaying the date for the third dose. By age four, any child entering the school system in the British Virgin Islands would have received the vaccine for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Polio, Diphtheria and Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP or DTaP). Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB) vaccine which prevents meningitis and Varicella for chickenpox and BCG are also administered within the first four years of life.

Five Year Old Children Should Be Regularly Visiting the Dentist

Countries and individual dentists may vary with their recommendation for when a child should first visit the dentist. Upon the recommendation of the local dentist in the BVI, my children had their first visit at age three and were comfortable. Since that first visit, they look forward to visiting the dentist and are comfortable with the procedures. By age five, most children start to lose their teeth and if the teeth are coming in crooked, it is good to already have the child comfortable with the dentist for those extra consultations. Going to the dentist is overall a good habit to get children accustomed to even if your child's school or public clinic does not require it. Healthy teeth are important for our smiles, our consumption of food and overall well-being.

Hearing Test

After birth, babies are usually given a hearing test. However, when a child becomes eligible to enter primary or elementary school, a follow-up hearing test is also important to ensure that your child can hear well. In the BVI, at age three, all children are required to have to have a hearing test at no cost to the parents. Not being able to hear well also affects the way the child learns and speaks. Education and health professionals are basically using the concept of "prevention is better than the cure" when it comes to hearing. Any hearing disability that is detected early can be corrected with further assessment which may range from simply clearing the ear of wax to getting the child equipped with a hearing aid. As stated earlier, requirements for children entering school vary from country to country.

Parents should monitor their children and ensure that their teeth are checked by a dentist at least every six months. Hearing should also be re-checked before entrance to primary or elementary school. Vision screening can be checked during a general physical and if the general practitioner sees the need for further screening, he will recommend the child to an eye specialist. Today, parents are able to work with dentists, audiologists and general practitioners to ensure that their four and five year olds are ready to learn when entering school.

Classic Reggae Music from 1979: Trod On by Culture

The reggae group Culture was very influential in reggae music. Their Trod On album was originally released in 1979 with songs like "Black Rose."

 

Reggae music has had several extremely talented artists who really took the genre to an international level. We always hear about Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

The reggae group, Culture, was also very popular and influential with their style of performing. They released songs like "Blood in a Babylon," "Weeping Eyes" and "No Sin" on their fourth album, Trod On. Culture's members originally were Joseph Hill, now deceased, Kenneth Paley and Albert Walker.

Reggae Group Culture Gave Us Good Reggae Music*

The reggae group Culture released several albums including Two Sevens Clash, Cumbolo, One Stone, International Herb Culture and Harder Than The Rest." Stoute also shared in his article that Culture was inducted "into the Jamaican Reggae Walk of Fame" and was given a "2005 Independence Award presented by the Prime Minister of Jamaica."

Reggae's Culture Worked with Jamaica's First Female Music Producer

Culture released Trod On in 1979. According to the notes to the Trod On album, "this album is Culture's fourth album for producer Sonia Pottinger."

The Reggae Album Trod On

Trod On has twelve songs including two under the title "Grounation" featuring Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastari. While Trod On was originally released in 1979, it was re-released in 1993 on compact disc. Joseph Hill wrote all of the songs and the music was engineered by Errol Brown.

• Title Track "Trod On": "Trod On" has a catchy instrumental and inspiring words. Lyrics include "this is the time when I and I should be free" and "majority of them don't want to see dread survive / but no matter what they do, dread must stay alive." Culture encourages people of all races to "trod on" and keep moving forward to victory and to prosperity. "Trod On" also makes several biblical references to Samson, Jacob, Joseph (in the pit), Daniel and David.
• "Blood In A Babylon": "If Babylon kill one more Rastaman / the sun will stop from shining / the grass will stop from growing" start the first verse of this piercing song. The chorus repeats the words "Blood, blood, blood in a Babylon" and "Fire, Fire, Fire in a Babylon" is added as a second chorus. The artist is expressing his pain for the youth and elders in the community who were being persecuted at that time.
• "Fussing And Fighting (Take Two)": Joseph Hill was basically making an appeal to his people to find unity in this song. The hook contains the simple, yet powerful words "Stop this fussing and fighting, brother." The 'Take Two' is only to reiterate that it does take two persons to make an argument. "It's a shame to see the people fighting in the streets / drawing guns at each other" are lyrics from the first verse.
• "No Sin" with Count Ossie & Mystic Revelation of Rasta: "No Sin" is one of the songs listed under the title "Grounation," which the album booklet describes as a "gathering of Rastafarians who come together to 'reason,' mingle ideas through discussion, chanting and beating drums." "No Sin" has rhythmic drum beats which remind the listener of Bob Marley's "Rastaman Chant" and is the longest track on the album with over seven minutes of chants. One of the popular bible verses, "Let the words from I mouth and the meditation of I heart might able be acceptable in thy sight" from Psalm 19:14 is sung. "No sin, no sin at all... cannot enter Zion" is repeated throughout "No Sin."
• "Ticklish Ghetto": "Ticklish Ghetto" has a classic ska rhythm. "Sometimes it's hard, hard, hard, so very so hard, my friend, to get a job / when you work and get pay and walk go a street, I say / them there a want to shoot you down" describes the singer's thoughts about the perils in the "Ticklish Ghetto." While people may work hard, there is always someone who wants to take what they earn. In the chorus, Culture admonishes "Work hard, natty, work hard, yea, till Jah Jah come."

Culture is a well-loved reggae group who has performed all over the world. Their 1979 Trod On album gives listeners inspirational words, grooving reggae rhythms and a glimpse into life in Jamaica. Culture's Joseph Hill passed away in 2006 but Culture continues to perform with the other founding members, Kenneth Paley and Albert Walker, along with Hill's son, Kenyatta. 

A Sitcom Fanatic - That's me

I am proud to say that I do love TV! I love a good detective/courtroom drama like Law & Order. I love the original, SVU and Criminal Intent. By the way, I still love Matlock.

Sitcoms have fallen by the wayside as more networks seem to want to feature reality shows. I've been a viewer of I Love New York, Flavor Flav, Bret Michaels, Chance & Real and I love America's Top Model.

I naturally love to laugh and that's where my sitcoms come in. From Hanging With Mr. Cooper, Cosby Show, Saved By The Bell, Frasier, Friends - I grew up watching these. The Jeffersons, Sanford & Son, Good Times all can give me a good laugh today.

I think I was devasted when they cancelled Girlfriends. The show ws entertaining an relatable. I am looking forward to seeing the new episodes of The Game and the new Let's Stay Together. On January 11, I will be sleeping late to see these new shows.

I just love me some sitcoms!!!!!!

Top R&B of 1998: Whitney Houston's My Love is Your Love Album

Whitney Houston has a dynamic voice and stage presence. This singer and actress has released several powerful albums including My Love is Your Love in 1998.

 

Whitney Houston is a talented singer with a voice that has smoothly performed the National Anthem of the USA and has won her many accolades and awards such as Soul Train Awards and countless Grammys. Houston has released several albums since the 1980s including her first release, the self-titled Whitney Houston in 1985, to her 2009 release, I look to You. She also added acting to her resume by starring in roles opposite Denzil Washington, Angela Bassett, Loretta Divine and Kevin Costner.

Whitney Houston's Albums from 1985 and On

Whitney Houston has a body of music that encompasses over twenty-five years of stellar performance. Her individual albums, features on movie soundtracks and compilations of her music show how immense her talent is.

• Whitney Houston's Early Hits: Whitney Houston hit the charts with songs like "You Give Good Love" and "How Will I Know" from her first album, Whitney Houston. Whitney was released in 1987 with chart toppers like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." I'm Your Baby Tonight was released after in 1990 and the title track had everyone grooving.
• Movie Soundtracks with Whitney Houston's Songs: Houston's songs were featured on soundtracks of films that she had major roles in, The Preacher's Wife (1996), Waiting To Exhale (1995) and The Bodyguard (1992). According to Houston's biography on her official site, "The Bodyguard soundtrack is one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all-time (at 17x-platinum in the U.S. alone)." The Bodyguard soundtrack carried one of Houston's best loved songs, the rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You." The Preacher's Wife soundtrack gave fans songs like "I Believe in You and Me" and "I Love the Lord." On Waiting To Exhale's soundtrack, Houston sang "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" and "Why Does It Hurt So Bad."
• Houston's Hits Since 2000: Houston released Just Whitney in 2002 and this album featured a rendition of Debbie Boone's "You Light Up My Life." One Wish: The Holiday Album was released in 2003 to share the Christmas spirit. The songs included Houston's rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" and "The First Noel."
• Whitney Houston Has Several Greatest Hits Compilations: Good compilations of her hits include Love, Whitney (2001), Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits (2000) and Whitney Houston: The Ultimate Collection (2007).

My Love is Your Love Gives Good R&B Music

My Love is Your Love is Houston's 1998 album released by Arista Records. This album was produced by Houston and Clive Davis. Thirteen songs make up this album and which features other artists such as Faith Evans and Kelly Price in "Heartbreak Hostel," Mariah Carey in "When You Believe" from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack and Missy Elliot. Other talented persons who had creative input on this album include Babyface, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill in "I Was Made to Love Him" and Rodney Jerkins from DarkchildEntertainment in "If I Told You That."

• "Heartbreak Hotel": After hearing this song, no one ever wanted to go to the "Heartbreak Hotel" because it is a song about breakup, thus heartbreak. "Heartbreak Hotel" features Faith Evans and Kelly Price (http://www.kellyprice.com/kelly/index.html) and this song is about a cheating man who was running around on his lady. "You've been doing wrong / played me all along" and "all I really wanted some of your time / instead you told me lies when someone else was on your mind" are some of the lyrics which were written by Carsten Schack, Kenneth Karlin and T. Savage.
• "It's Not Right But It's OK": "It's Not Right But It's OK" is another song about a cheating man. "Friday night you and your boys went out to eat…if six of ya'll went out, then four of you are really cheap / cause only two of you had dinner / I found your credit card receipt" end the first verse. Houston sings at the ending of the chorus, "I'd rather be alone than unhappy." This song was written by Rodney Jerkins, F. Jenkins, LaShawn Daniels and Isaac Phillips.
• The Title Track - "My Love is Your Love": Vocalized by Whitney Houston with background vocals by Family Friends Community Choir, this is one of the most powerful songs on this album. "If I lose my fame and fortune / and I'm homeless on the street / and I'm sleeping in Grand Central Station / it's ok, you're sleeping with me" are some of the lyrics." "My Love is Your Love" is written and produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis.
• "In My Business": "In My Business" was written by Missy Elliot, Kelvin Bradshaw and Lloyd Turner and Missy Elliot also raps on this song. The talented Houston sings both the lead and background vocals. "Why they all in my business / it's just too ridiculous / I can't get no sleep …don't they know I've made up my mind" are some of the lyrics in the chorus. Missy Elliot raps "…since I got you, they wanna fight me / cause I'm the chick walking round with the ring…" talking about how the young ladies hate her for the man she has.

During Whitney Houston's career, she released several albums that gave fans top R&B songs. One of her premier albums is My Love is Your Love which was released in 1998. Houston had us singing along with hits like "Until You Come Back," "I Learned From The Best" and the title track "My Love Is Your Love."

Let's Stay Together: Who are the Actors on This Sitcom

Let's Stay Together is a new sitcom that BET is launching in 2011. Read more to learn about the cast and the characters on this program.

Let's Stay Together promises to be a fun comedy sitcom airing on BET (http://www.bet.com) for 2011. The clips advertising Let's Stay Together show that there will be witty banter between the characters and a lot of drama. This sitcom has a cast of actors who are no strangers to film and television. The clips show that there is a rapport between them that will bring good entertainment.

"Jamal" is Played by RonReaco Lee

RonReaco Lee plays "Jamal." We know Lee from the sitcoms Sister Sister and Girlfriends, and movies such as Guess Who (2005) and Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail (2009). Based on what BET.com shares, Jamal is a legal aid attorney in his twenties who is married to the character "Tasha." In the  dvertisements, Jamal talks a lot about romance and even states that women want "good food, candlelight ...you have to soothe her into submission." Jamal is the father of twins with a wife who demands what she wants. In one of the commercials, Jamal tells Tasha that he does her hair which shows how dedicated he is to his wife.

Let's Stay Together's Housewife, "Tasha"

The spicy Tasha, Jamal's wife, is played by Joyful Drake. BET promises that this character will offer a lot of 'drama' to the show. In one clip from the show, Tasha is seen asking her Dad for money. BET.com shares that she is a housewife but one with flair and style. One of the advertisements has her complaining about Jamal preparing a picnic for her in the park. Tasha has no qualms in saying that she made him take her to 'a real restaurant.' Joyful Drake has acted in several movies including Phat Girlz (2006) with Mo'Nique and Beauty Shop (2005) with Queen Latifah.

Nadine Ellis is on Let's Stay Together

"Stacy Lawrence" is Tasha's sister and the fiance of "Charles Whitemore". Stacy is played by Nadine Ellis who has had roles in Hairspray (2007) and Idlewild (2006) with Big Boi and Dre also called Andre 3000 from the hip hop duo Outkast. Originally Malinda Williams was slated for  this character, according to Erica Hubbard's news page and to Gina DiNunno's April 7, 2010 article on TV Guide, BET Orders Comedy Pilot. Stacy is older than Charles and apparently makes more money than he does. BET.com shares that Stacy is a "conservative, independent woman."

BET Brings Us Bert Belasco as "Charles Whitemore"

"Charles Whitemore" is a strong character who works as a contractor. His love is Stacy but his views on love are funny. Charles seems to think that women want a man that is in control when it comes to sex. This character also admits that he has a comic book collection in one of the ads for the show. Charles is played by Bert Belasco who has appeared on

House.

Erica Hubbard and Her Character's 'Mancation'

The woman who claims that she is on a 'mancation' is Charles' sister, "Kita Whitemore." Erica Hubbard (http://www.ericahubbard.com/), from Save the Last Dance (2001) and Light It Up (1999), plays Kita and brings a different type of drama than Tasha does. Kita does not seem to hate men but she seems to want to take a break from serious relationships for a while. One of the clips from the Let's Stay Together shows Kita talking to a character played by America's Next Top Model supermodel and actress, Eva Pigford. They meet at an event and Kita is talking about a man that she dated that was married.

Let's Stay Together seems to bring romance and comedy for viewers looking for a new fun sitcom to watch. Airing on January 11 on BET, the promotions for Let's Stay Together have everyone in high gear to be entertained by this group of young, experienced and talented actors. 

BET's Programs for 2011

BET is offering new shows for 2011 including Let's Stay Together and The LaurieAnn Gibson Project and is also bringing back the favorites like 106 and Park.

We all remember BET in the days of Video Soul, Comic View, Teen Summit and Rap City. More recently, BET has continued to diversify and improve its programming by adding new shows and personalities. Reality shows, diverse music programs like 106 and Park and Bobby Jones Gospel that showcase hip hop, R&B and gospel music, syndicated sitcoms and talk shows are all a part of BET's lineup today.

BET's Reality Shows

BET's reality series have included College Hill, The Michael Vick Project, Monica: Still Standing, Baldwin Hills, Tiny & Toya and First In. Toya from Tina and Toya, the wife of Lil' Wayne, is expected to also have her own series in 2011, according to BET.com. A new reality series is also slated for 2011 with LaurieAnn Gibson, who according to BET.com, was a part of MTV's Making the Band. BET shares that Gibson is a choreographer and that the show will feature a competition among dancers. The LaurieAnn Gibson Project is set to air in the summer of 2011

Gospel Programming on BET

Gospel programs on BET have included Bobby Jones Gospel, Sunday Best and Celebration of Gospel. Bobby Jones Gospel is a definite staple in BET's programming. BET.com states that this program is the "longest continuously running original series on cable television" and will be returning in 2011. Other BET upstart shows include Sunday Best, the gospel version of American Idol hosted by Kirk Franklin with the duo Mary Mary and Bebe Winans as the judges. The Celebration of Gospel has been running for over ten years and has the energetic host, comedian, Steve Harvey.

Talk Shows on BET

Actress and comedian Mo'Nique  is one of the headliners on BET, but not in a new sitcom or movie. Mo'Nique hosts her own talk show, The Mo'Nique Show, which is exclusive to BET. In the past seasons, her show has featured the cast from The Game, Nelly, Musiq Soulchild and many other entertainers. BET is also airing episodes of The Wendy Williams Show. Williams' show also airs on other television stations and she interviews celebrities like Kelsey Grammer and Fantasia, chitchats about the daily happenings and shares information about fashion.

BET is Bringing Us Sitcoms

We have seen the syndicated sitcoms, The Bernie Mac Show, Everybody Hates Chris, The Proud Family cartoon and Girlfriends, on BET. For 2011, BET is bringing back the once CW Network show The Game for a fresh new fourth season. A new sitcom is also to be introduced called Let's Stay Together in relation to two couples and a single relative and their fun with romance. BET continues to enhance its programming so that it can attract a wider range of viewers. For 2011, new sitcoms to BET include new episodes of The Game and a new program Let's Stay Together. Fresh reality series are also in the plans for BET's 2011 programming. BET fans can look forward to seeing new episodes of their favorite shows, Bobby Jones Gospel and 106 and Park. For more information about BET's programming, please visit Bet.com.