Default Choices

How would you feel if you are the 'default choice'? I think in most instances, there is no way to feel but happy to get an opportunity. However, if it is a criminal matter, being the default choice may mean that you are a suspect or a key witness to something terrible.

I am sure that I have been the default winner on many occassions because that's how life is. I may not know when I am the latter choice, but I find it rather irrelevant to know if I am getting what I need. Job opportunities, prizes, sales are all good for a second choice pick.

When it comes to criminal matters, I would not want to be the default choice. I would not want to be a suspect, a pawn or key witness. I don't mind being an investigator expecially if it is a financial crime, but the rest is really for the birds (pun intended).

I have to make choices by default all the time. I had to choose that way for one of my subcontractors but in the end, it works out better for me. God has a hand in everything about us. While we may not know what the future holds, we have to live and move daily with common sense, faith and perseverance so that we can accomplish our goals.

Some choices are first preference and some are by default but we have to keep going.

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Premier Episode of Cycle 17 of America's Next Top Model

Cycle 17 of America's Next Top Model, the All Star Cycle, aired on September 14, 2011 on CW with many familiar faces from previous cycles.

We enjoyed sixteen great seasons of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) on CWTV. America’s Next Top Model is the brainchild of Tyra Banks, acclaimed top model, television host and a former singer and actress. Tyra knew the challenges of the fashion industry and created a show to give young women a crash course in ‘Modeling in the Real World 101’. She puts them through weeks of challenges, photoshoots, training sessions, runway shows, ‘go-sees’, hair makeovers, dancing and acting. In the middle of all the modeling and the tools to help build their ‘star power’, the girls are also distracted by the drama of living in a house with sometimes 13 or 14 models with one and sometimes two going home in one week.

Cycle 17 – The All Star Cycle

America’s Next Top Model calls Cycle 17 the All Star Cycle because competitors from all seasons except for three, six, seven and eight are back to once again aiming for the coveted title. This all-star season offers the winner a spread in ItalianVogue, a spread and cover in Beauty in Vogue, the opportunity to sit as a guest correspondent for Extra, a $100,000 contract with Covergirl and other prizes.

Tyra seems to be looking for more than just a top model for this All Star Cycle. She seems to be looking through some of the best contestants from the previous shows for a true ‘all star’. According to Tyra in the opening of the first episode, there will be appearances by the Kardashians, Latoya Jackson, Kathy Griffin, Ashlee Simpson and other celebrities. Viewers can also expect to see the girls work on a music video, a perfume, also audition for a guest appearance on CSI among other surprises.

The Models of Cycle 17

Some of the fourteen ladies who are competing in this special season are Alexandria Everett, the one top model that people really seem to dislike from Cycle 16, Kayla Ferrel, the sultry lesbian from Cycle 15 and Angelea Preston, who tried out on numerous occasions and is known for her ‘ghetto fabulousness’ from Cycle 14. Laura Kirkpatrick from Cycle 13, the sweet country girl whose grandmother makes her clothes and Allison Harvard, the wide-eyed blonde from Cycle 12 are also back in this competition. Two models are back from Cycle 11, Isis King, who has since completed her gender transformation and Sheena Sakai, who is half Korean and half Japanese.

Cycle 10’s Dominique Reighard, the girl who was constantly berated by the judges for her masculine bone structure, is also back. Bianca Golden from Cycle 9 is one of the more successful returns as she has modeled for Ford Models and appeared in the 2008 Virgin Islands Fashion Week. Bre Scullark from Cycle 5 is a favored returning model and is noted for throwing away Nicole’s Red Bull after claiming to miss her snacks.

While many of the girls are known for their photos, their runway walk or their attitudes, Brittany Brower from Cycle 4 who was always loud and Lisa D’Amato from Cycle 5 who urinated in a diaper, are more known for their wild behavior and their antics. The girls who come from the earlier seasons are Cycle 2’s Camille McDonald, a self-declared diva and Cycle 1’s Shannon Stewart, the ‘religious Christian’ who refused to pose nude.

Episode One of the ANTM’s All Star Cycle

The first episode of Cycle 17 started off re-familiarizing the viewers with the returning models. Of course, there was a photo shoot and it was shot by CelesteCanino in the backyard of the girls' new home. Subtle drama was highlighted with Bianca’s disapproval of her red hair, which affected her performance because the photographer was not engaged with her posing. Shannon came back with her Christian values and refused to wear lace underpants for her photo. Instead she posed in a bikini swimsuit bottom which made her more scantily clad.

The judges’ task was to evaluate the young ladies based on their photos, personality, the potential to be the Top Model All Star and how they worked the crowd. The judges were the same: André Leon Tally, Nigel Barker, Tyra Banks and guest judge, rapper Nicki Minaj. This first episode showed a live judging with an audience and the girls stomped their runway walks on a long catwalk to impress all the onlookers. Most of the models had a favorable response but Alexandria was actually booed and derogatory remarks were hurled at her.

The judges still retreated to privacy to review the photos and the performances. The models were called out in the following order: Isis, Allison, Camille, Lisa, Angelea, Laura, Bre, Bianca, Shannon, Dominique, Sheena and then Kayla. Brittany and Alexandria sat in the bottom two because the crowd showed no positive or negative reaction to Brittany and because Alexandria was booed. Alexandria was given another chance at redemption because she was memorable so the boos actually worked in her favor. Brittany Brower, Cycle 4’s wild-child now an entrepreneur and host, was sent home once again.

While this first episode did not have much of the drama queen and ‘divalicious’ behavior, the clip from next week’s episode proves to have some excitement. As of today, with over four million Facebook fans, America’s Next Top Model All Star Cycle 17 will surely have viewers glued to their television to see which model will win this coveted title.  

The Topics I Write About

I'm always looking for topics to write about. Most times I just start writing and the topic comes. I have a task to write about R&B/Soul/Blues and I love that because I get to listen to nice music. I also love writing about television shows and giving little recaps. Afterall, I pay to watch cable and use internet, so isn't is best for me to benefit from these things too?

I have written about topics concerning the BVI, reggae music, marraige, television shows, health, recipes and others. I am always looking to expand my writing resume and I do this also with poetry. I share poetry locally, via internet and orally when given an opportunity.

No one would have thought that I would be a writer. I never saw myself as a writer. However, I find it to be worthy hobby and pasttime. I know it will not make me rich but I get another 'height' or you can call it another type of fullfillment from writing. I have new topics that I am working on and will continue to share links in the blog.

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Reed Between The Lines Premiers on BET on October 11, 2011

In BET's continuing bid to reinvent the network, a new sitcom, Reed Between The Lines, is set to launch on October 11, 2011.

Black Entertainment Television (BET) re-aired The  Game, a CW original with some awesome new talent and fresh drama to keep the fans locked to the television. So far, we have enjoyed the new sitcom, Let's Stay Together, and the new dance reality series, Born to Dance with LaurieAnn Gibson. The next new show to be launched will be Reed Between The Lines on October 11, 2011.

The Cast of Reed Between The Lines

There have been several commercials that have aired promoting Reed Between The Lines giving us a glimpse of the characters and their comraderie. The leading characters are Dr. Carla Reed, a therapist

played by Tracee Ellis Ross and Dr. Alex Reed, a university professor played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Ross and Warner are complimented by two sets of actors - the young and fresh and then the seasoned and the experienced. 

• Malcolm-Jamal Warner from The Cosby Show: Malcolm Jamal Warner is no stranger to the television. We recognize him acting as Theo Huxtable from The Cosby Show. Warner can be considered a tv icon because he has appeared on several television series including The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World and then Malcolm & Eddie, with co-star Eddie Griffin. Warner has also appeared on True Blue, Sherri, Hawthorne, Jeremiah, Here and Now and others shows.
• Girlfriends' Tracee Ellis Ross: Everyone can remember the drama the character Joan Clayton, played by Ross, brought to Girlfriends. Ross has also appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Private Practice. She also acted in the Tyler Perry movie Daddy's Little Girls (2007) with Idris Elba and Gabrielle Union.
• New Faces on BET: The Reed's son is Keenan, played by Nadji Jeter, also a dancer, and who has acted in the movie Grown Ups (2010) and on the Chris Rock sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The daughters are Kaci, Keenan's twin sister, a role played by Zoe Soul who seems to be an enthusiastic young actor and singer; and the youngest child, Alexis, played by Zoe Hernandez.
• Other Cast Members: The Facebook page of Reed Between The Lines revealed that Anna Maria Horsford who appeared on BET's Let's Stay Together and who we know from Amen, The Wayans Brothers, Friday (1995) and Friday After Next (2002) and many other titles is one of the regulars on this new show. Horsford acts as Ms. Helen, Carla's assistant in Reed Between The Lines. Another familiar face of this new show is Melissa DeSousa who acts Gabby, an acupuncturist who seems to always have a bout with the character, Helen. DeSousa is known for her roles in The Best Man (1999), Miss Congeniality (2000) and the sitcoms Second Time Around and One on One.

 BET has seen the need to give the viewers fresh new programming and is working towards keeping its growing fan-base. Reed Between The Lines is a story about a family of successful parents with young children whose ages range from young to adolescence. Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Tracee Ellis Ross are no strangers to television so it is hoped that they will bring good chemistry to keep the viewers locked to television. 

POEM: Rejection

When I wanted to hang with you
You rejected me
When I said I would be there for you
You ignored me
I never understood
why you thought that I was liar
I never meant to misrepresent
or have you resent
me for anything that I did
I just wanted to love you
just to be there to please you
but you always thought
that I was a bad person
with an ill mind
but just know
that I really did and do still
care for you
and love you

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Some People are Just SPECIAL

When I say someone is special, they really are. I call them special because that sounds better than calling them a derogatory name. I see terrible drivers, jealous women, stupid men, 'thiefing' contractors and all the bad people but still I just call them special. When they behave in their negative way, rather to get into their business and act like them, I say "that person is special".

 

Special actually means, according to Dictionary.com:

1. of a distinct or particular kind or character: a special kind of key.
2. being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain: You'd better call the special number.
3. pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique: the special features of a plan.
4. having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.: a special messenger.
5. distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion; to fix something special.

  

We like to say that we are all special in our way. I feel that I am special and that I am unique, however, we are all human and all share similar feelings and experiences.

 

What is most important is that we respect one another and are able to forgive each other for our mistakes and transgressions. We need to be able to empathize and sympathize with our brothers and sisters. People are just...people. No one is perfect and we all just have to try to live together in the best way we can.

 

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POEM: Rights

I always hungry
but nobody want to feed me
I don’t know why
They just ignore me.
The doctor say I dirty
The teacher don’t want to teach me
They say I stupid.
I try hard but nobody,
Nobody at all want to bother with me.
I can’t get no job
This make my life hard
It’s real hard all the time.
But it’s a surprise
They letting me vote
You know, I thinking
Thinking it’s the law of the mother
Mother country, that is,
That let me vote.
They call it suffrage
I have suffrage.
But the elected ones
don’t realize that I
Suffering.

© Linette Rabsatt 1996

Working Smartly

If I work willingly, then I am considered to be a pleaser. If I work hard, then I may be considered industrious. If I cut every corner, then you may say that I am lazy. Should I be uncertain of my work, then it can be said that I am not ready. If I work smartly, then you can call me efficient.

I have a decent work ethic, however, I always seem to have a problem with going through with orders that seem ridiculous. I probably need to pray about this because inefficiency gets me annoyed. We always have to look at the best way to get a job done. It's not about the job being easy, fast or slow, but looking at the resources required, it is about efficiency. We have to realize that sometimes the middle man has to be cut out but there are occasions that the middle man really needs to be there.

Working smart considers the finances, human resources, time and energy. In many cases, the labor is the biggest issue because you always get a good worker, a slacker and some others that are in between.

I think SMART is the way to go!

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BVI's Five-Time Road March Champs in 2011: Showtime Band

The BVI's Showtime Band has continued to excel since its formation in 1999. The band has won five consecutive road march titles and continues to shine.

When British Virgin Islanders think about their annual festival, they look forward to celebrating their culture with both food and music. The music for festival time in the British Virgin Islands is the VI's own style of calypso and soca. Traditionally, the islands were known for fungi music, which is played with handmade instruments such as the ukulele and the squash. Since the 1980s, with the influences of Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis and the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands, the BVI has cemented its own brand of calypso music.

BVI's Festival Music

 Several bands have come out of the BVI, including Caribbean Ecstasy, with songs like "Push Pipe" in the 1980s, Adjik with "Ram," Awesome Crew and Prime Time, who sang "Bernie," inspired by Weekend At Bernies (1989). The band Elvis White also comes from the BVI and they sang the hit "Sexy Waist." In 1999, Showtime Band came on the scene and made an impact instantly. Today, they have accomplished eight albums, several hits, a growing fan base and road march titles.

Who is Showtime Band

Showtime's lead vocalists are Raul "Jougo" Sprauve, Renrick, "Mac Daddy" Massac and Eustace "Boss" Freeman, all original band members since 1999. Kerry Nichols is on keyboards, LeeSean Smith handles the drum machine, also called the rhythm box, and Glen Lamothe is a guitarist. Jougo's brother, engineer, Ramon Sprauve and Osbert "Cushung" Pole, the bass guitarist, were both members of the 1990s BVI sensation, Primetime. Kevin Sweeney, a rhythm box 'genie,' is also a founding member of Showtime and is currently on a short hiatus. Crystal Frett and Andrea Sweeney are also contributing members of the band.

The managers are Roger Frank and Ottley Hodge, another founding member. Since its inception, the band has gone through several metamorphoses, but stands strong today, and gave several outstanding performances during the BVI's 2011 Emancipation Festival. Showtime has not only performed for audiences in the BVI, but has also shared their music with fans in St. Thomas and St. Croix in the USVI and in Miami. They have collaborated with both local and regional artists. Locally, they have worked with hip-hop artist, Aaron 'Da Jedi' Parillon, in "Invisible" and with [Lincoln Ward](http://www.lincolnward.com/) in "See You Again."

They have also shared tracks with Sowande and Terra Mike and teamed with Trinidad and Tobago's Shurwayne Winchester on the 2007 Road March, "Soca Pledge Remix," from their 'The Family' album. Most recently, they teamed with singer and producer, AJ, of the former Xtaushun Band who sang "Energy" and with JJ, formerly of Xtreme Band, for another Road March. The collaboration resulted in the 2011 Road March "Buns of Steel." Other Road March songs from Showtime include "Hula Hoop" in 2008 and, in 2009, "Circles" which may be deemed their biggest hit. In 2010, two songs won, "Yo-Yo" and "Whine Like Crazy," both from the I Am album. Older songs that are recognized by fans include "Madoo," and "B.V.I.," a tribute to the BVI's beauty and culture.

How Road March is Determined

 For local bands, during the festival, the prize sought is the coveted Road March title, a competition in which only BVI bands can compete. The winning Road March song is chosen from the songs that are played in front of the judges during the August Monday parade. The person charged with ensuring that the Road March competition was properly handled in 2011 was Miss Nakema Bell of the BVI Festival and Fairs Committee. According to Miss Bell, the Road March judges consider the total number of times a song is played by a DJ or a band, the originality and creativity of the song and the band's overall performance of the song. Bands have to submit an application and compact disc with the songs to be considered as contenders for the Road March title. The song with the most points at the end of the parade is declared the winner. In 2011, there were two dedicated judges for the Road March Competition.

What's Next for Showtime Band

 2011  proved to be another successful year for Showtime Band. They are booked regularly in the BVI in Tortola and in Virgin Gorda and are getting positive feedback from their fans. In addition, they recently released their eighth album, The Journey, with eight tracks, including "Buns of Steel, "Pushing Bush" and "Surround Me." According to co-manager, Roger Frank, Showtime is aiming at a sixth consecutive Road March title in 2012. In the near future, they hope to perform at New York's annual West Indian Day Parade. Roger also shared that "the (fans') support has been tremendous and had a driving force to keep the band going." The band regularly performs community service by linking with a cause of their choosing to show their gratitude for the support of their fans. For more information and for bookings, please visit their Facebook page.

Sources:

• Telephone Interview with Roger Frank, co-Manager of the Showtime Band on September 6, 2011
• Telephone Interview with Nakema Bell, BVI Festival Committee on September 2, 2011
• Showtime Band Facebook Page
• Showtime Band is 2011 Road March Champion, BVINews.com accessed September 6, 2011

The Fads, Sex & Fashion of Music - short thoughts

Music really seems to go in periods of fads. It's not just the fashion and the rhythm but lyrically, music does evolve and in some cases almost dissolves. I liked the 90s lyrically but the fashion, which was the craze at that time, was really off. Hammer pants, crazy colors and hair, jherri curls, jeans that were loose and still baggy or super baggy are all part of the 90s and we hope these trends stay far away in the annals of time. I must say that the different award shows were much more glamorous back then because there was some really regal outfits. Of course, Lil Kim and Toni Braxton bared it out in the 90s too.

I think that since 2000, we've been focused on so much sexuality that even the once squeaky clean (or so perceived artists) fall into the trap of pushing sex. I do like some artists that have achieved major successes since 2000 including Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Chris Brown, Lloyd, Jazmine Sullivan, Gyptian, Jah Cure etc.

If you sing about love, sex is part of it too. However, do we need it blatantly in our eyes? Even in our local festivals and carnivals, we have to wonder what has happened to us. I guess the sexual images are so much in front of us that one front looks no different to another. I always say that I am tired of seeing the crotch of certain musical artists that I have don't even bother watch their music videos. It would have to be that I'm listening to the radio to realize that a particular song is theirs.

You may laugh at because I will support the Caribbean artists but if I don't like the content - lyrically or in the video, there are options - listen on MySpace or not at all. I can limit the garbage that I am exposed to and everyone has a tolerance level for nonsense.

I miss the days of Troop, Bel Biv Devoe, Jagged Edge, Lil Mo, Tweet etc.

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