Weary and teary eyes
from weeping and no sleeping
up all day yet wide all night
in such a fit
that it's such a sight
with daylight soon approaching
what obstacle will come next
will the reaction be fumingly vexed
upset - say something to regret
why is love an object
rather than a concept
is it so complex
that we regress
just thinking about love
it's another obstacle, isn't it?
just like people are
so crafty, so tardy
and so full of complacency
what a mix!
did you think
that I wasn't planning ahead too
do you know I can see through you
timing is slight
but I will not fight
I will express
I will address
I will speak wisely but not to regret
because it's not my fire to burn
some obstacles make an upturn
or a u-turn
whatever the deal
time will heal
cause life is too hip and too real
to be wasting time
eating sour limes
all day
regrouping is what to do
for the Father will see me through
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ORIGINAL MATERIAL COMPOSED 1/12/2011
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
People suck - don't they sometimes?
I am having a bad day. I am pissed with the world. Thank God for some Tarrus Riley, Niyorah, Richie Spice, Abijah and other reggae artists to keep me calm.
If it was not for the music, I think the wrong person may have mashed my corn today and ohhhhhhhh it would not have been pleasant.
Lord, help me because they are pushing my buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are not supposed to let situations change us but so help me - I am becoming a grump. Of course, I'm still cracking jokes, singing and chatting with my friends but I really want to scrabble the offenders who keep pushing my buttons.
Everybody wants to be sensitive but yet they don't care about others. Everybody knows every thing but yet they really know NOTHING. Everybody has the best ideas yet they can't execute a thing.
As the young people say in conversations "LOL LOL." I guess I should try to be the bigger person, but I'm really not - I'm only 5 feet tall so I don't mind being petite (pun intended).
I am controversial and I tend to let ones know when I am not pleased about things because they like to pick at me. Unfortunately sometimes, I like to pick back with a smile.
Someone sang "better must come one day." I'm still waiting on that day but I hope tomorrow meets me in a better mood.
ribbon
If it was not for the music, I think the wrong person may have mashed my corn today and ohhhhhhhh it would not have been pleasant.
Lord, help me because they are pushing my buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are not supposed to let situations change us but so help me - I am becoming a grump. Of course, I'm still cracking jokes, singing and chatting with my friends but I really want to scrabble the offenders who keep pushing my buttons.
Everybody wants to be sensitive but yet they don't care about others. Everybody knows every thing but yet they really know NOTHING. Everybody has the best ideas yet they can't execute a thing.
As the young people say in conversations "LOL LOL." I guess I should try to be the bigger person, but I'm really not - I'm only 5 feet tall so I don't mind being petite (pun intended).
I am controversial and I tend to let ones know when I am not pleased about things because they like to pick at me. Unfortunately sometimes, I like to pick back with a smile.
Someone sang "better must come one day." I'm still waiting on that day but I hope tomorrow meets me in a better mood.
ribbon
BET's Programs: The Game, Let's Stay Together, Mo'Nique and More
The Game and Let's Stay Together will be airing tonight on BET. Read more at: BET's Programs: The Game, Let's Stay Together, Mo'Nique and More.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Pyramid Schemes - A Matrix of Financial Ruin
Pyramid Schemes are not a way to
improve your finances. Instead, these plans defraud many people of their money
because the returns can never be realized.
In these harsh economic times, persons seeking a quick and high return
on their money can be easily swayed to invest. Many people worldwide have lost
money in pyramid schemes because of the promise of huge payouts on the initial
investments. In recent days, investors in the Virgin Islands have suffered
losses in a pyramid scheme. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that persons
remain cognizant of fraudulent schemes when investing.
What is a Pyramid Scheme
A pyramid scheme entices investors by offering a huge and quick return
on the initial investment with money earned from recruiting more persons to
invest. Each new investor is also promised the same high returns once he brings
more persons on-board.
A Live Pyramid Scheme Example
John joins an investment plan where he invests $100 and once he can
find four persons to join, he will get $20 for each one that joins. So John can
make $80 if he recruits four friends while there is actually $400 being paid in
by his four recruits. When each of the four persons, John's second level,
invites four more persons, John gets $10 for each of the new investors, now
John's third level, and he reaps $160. At John's third level, $1,600 would have been paid in by these new
investors.
At John's fourth level, there will be 64 people investing with $6,400
paid in and John will make $320 if his cut is $5 per investor. At a sixth
level, the investors increase to 1,024 and at John's seventh level, the numbers
soar to 16,384. When the number of investors under John is totaled, it is
21,844 persons and they would have invested $218,440 ($100 from each person)
through John's pyramid if there were enough new recruits. This cycle continues
because every new investor to the scheme becomes a 'John' starting his own
pyramid inviting new recruits.
Why Pyramid Schemes Fail
In the example above, the chances of John being able to increase to the
seventh level are slim and an
eighth level would require 87,376 new persons. Problems with
recruitment may begin at John's third level because difficulties may have
already begun with gathering the 256 investors and as the pyramid grows, it
gets worse. According to the Security and Exchanges Commission,
"at some point the schemes get too big, the promoter cannot raise enough
money from new investors to pay earlier investors, and many people lose their
money". After a lower level investor makes his payment and can not find
new recruits because of over-saturation, lack of interest or negative feedback,
the scheme begins to collapse.
In the Prepared Statement of Debra A. Valentine, General Counsel for the
U.S. Federal Trade Commission on "Pyramid Schemes", she considered
this latest recruit's perspective as they would have started their pyramid of investors
but with being unable to gather recruits, would be unable to recoup their
investment.
Virgin Islanders are Defrauded
Janice Dorette Rey, an Anguillan who resided in the British Virgin Islands
(BVI) at some point and also the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), was
arrested in Dade County, Florida on charges of Obtaining Money by False Pretense, Drawing and Delivering
Worthless Checks, Securities Fraud, and Being an Unregistered Broker-Dealer.
Rey, according to the USVI Department of Justice and the St. Thomas Source
online news, defrauded investors in the USVI and in the BVI of over three million dollars with her pyramid scheme "Global
Cohesive Economics (GCE)". She promised high returns on the investments
and in the end was unable to maintain the promises and was eventually caught by
authorities.
Errol George of the BVI Financial Investigation Agency Speaks
Rey's scheme caused the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands (FIA) to remind the territory of the danger of investing
without researching first. FIA's Director, Errol George issued a press release about
Rey's fraud advising people to be more vigilant because such fraudulent schemes
are marketed well and lack of understanding and ease of trust make for easy
targets.
The Director, when interviewed, suggested that persons interested in
investing should be extremely careful before entering any investment and they
should research, investigate and ask questions if there are any doubts. He
noted that it is very prudent to seek advice from the general business
community and the financial regulatory body in the country, such as the
Financial Services Commission (FSC) in the BVI. George also suggested that
persons should go with their gut feelings especially if the aura is negative.
Everyone wants to make large sums of money in the fastest and easiest way. This
makes it easy for thieves to come up with ways to defraud investors who are not
investment or business savvy.
Pyramid and Ponzi schemes sound good to the listener but really do
cause monetary losses and potential financial ruin depending on the level of
investment since there is no way for the scheme to maintain the promised
returns. Investors are reminded that they need to think carefully and choose
wisely about the type of investment they want to pursue to avoid such schemes.
Research, consultation and investigation are key to avoiding financial ruin
from pyramid schemes.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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.
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