Fangs for the memory - Does Twilight suck or True Blood bite? Dolls duel for fangs, uh, fans!

When I was transistor-high to a nanobyte, boys did not have dolls - we had "Action Figures"! There was the real GI Joe with hair, operating on the ground, and bendable Matt Mason for the stars.

Do you remember the mint condition Mego 12" tall figures mentioned in 40 Year Old Virgin? Um, I had the full set plus a 6 Million Dollar Man from Harrison's No. 1 Broad Street (I can hear one of my Facebook pals asking if I need cryogenics like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky)...


Here in Barbados, many folk - mostly ladies - have become very fascinated with either Sookie Stackhouse's romantic triangle or the Cullen Saga in Washington's northwest or both! To top that off, action figures are regaining popularity among a new set of bloodsuckers, Mattel and DC Comics, the victims are us - readers, viewers and the like...

Even Taylor Lautner’s Plastic Doll Has Abs! - Ken better hit the Dream House’s gym – because Mattel is releasing a Jacob Black doll and he’s only wearing cutoff jeans… not to mention, he’s sporting some major plastic abs. AccessHollywood.com has confirmed that Taylor Lautner will be immortalized in Mattel’s “Twilight” Barbie line. The Jacob doll – which Twi-Hards will have to throw down $24.95 to play with – doesn’t hit shelves until February 2010. The doll’s release is timed with the DVD release of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” We can only imagine the millions of Twi-Hards doing unspeakable things with the already released Bella “Twilight” Barbie doll – or even Barbie herself – if she’s lucky!

What does one do? Bay at the moon? Hiss like a Crucifix has been brandished? Edward looks like Ken with GI Joe hair and a lighter complexion, while Bella is a Barbie with deep auburn tresses... Not to be outdone, DC Comics has the franchise for the main characters of Charlaine Harris' series about a telepathic waitress and her two undead paramours. Rather than action figures, dolls or whatever, DC has created what they call Busts while I prefer Statuettes, very realistic here;-

DC UNLIMITED DEBUTS TRUE BLOOD PRODUCTS JULY 2010!

TRUE BLOOD busts.

Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) move from the small screen to your shelf.

TRUE BLOOD: Bill Compton bust measures approximately 6.75" tall.

Each bust is sold separately, packaged in a 4C closed box.

Twilight for me is Mills & Boon with enlarged canines, whereas Sookie, Bill, Eric and the residents of Bon Temps are a blend of romance, mystery, serial and soap opera with action/adventure.

Tried hacking Stephenie Meyer but sorry, the saccharine was worse than garlic! Charlaine's characters are alive - whether they live and breathe or not - and it makes you really THINK if such creatures exist.

I will soon be doing a review on the first two books in the Southern Vampire series, watch out!

HOPE SANCTUARY BOOK SALE : 20th November 2009

'We are always looking for volunteers to help at the Book Sales'

To Donate your Time or Books, Magazines & Comics:

(Fiction, Non-Fiction as well as Children's Books & MORE!)


PLEASE CONTACT:

Dominique Maraj: 428 4364 or via e-mail dmaraj@caribsurf.com

For West Coast delivery or pick-up, Marilyn Weekes: 432-7560

Jennifer Weekes 432-1181

For Christ Church pick-up: Julie Blades 230-0772

Taiwanese Ambassador assures continued support for St. Kitts and Nevis

Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Kitts and Nevis His Excellency Mr. Rong-chuan Wu, gave the assurance that his government and people would continue to give their unwavering support to developmental projects in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Ambassador’s disclosure came when he delivered remarks and handed over a US$300,000 cheque to Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry, at the official groundbreaking ceremony for police barracks at Belle Vue on Thursday.

“The people and the government of the Republic of China Taiwan, we don’t forget the staunch support from the government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the people for the last 26 years although we are separated so far apart. I want to assure you that we are so grateful for the support of St. Kitts and Nevis in the international community.

“Within the next 12 years our governments will commit without any doubt to continue to contribute to the development of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as a good friend, we will come to the urgent need,” he said.

Ambassador Wu, a former Police Officer in Taiwan, said he deeply understood the need to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement in the Federation.

“We Taiwanese always say, a great piece of sculpture is impossible without proper tools and instruments. If we want to sharpen the weapons of the police, we have to facilitate the accommodation of the police,” he said.

He explained that earlier this year, Premier Parry had discussed with him his major concern about the lack of accommodation for the police stationed in Nevis, a concern he agreed with.

Ambassador Wu also pointed to a number of cooperative projects his Embassy had been engaged in on St. Kitts among them the provision of camera surveillance equipment for the State Prison and in strategic areas of Basseterre.

He further announced that Nevis would soon receive assistance in areas of agriculture development.

“Earlier before this function, I also had the honour to get together with Minister Hector and his colleagues and we discussed a wide range of issues on agricultural development. I personally feel the emergency to upgrade the agricultural environment on this island.

“I assure you that the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Federation will spare no efforts in working together with other colleagues in the Federal Government and in the Nevis Island Administration to further develop our cooperative projects,” he said.

Let's Cruise for Lesley - Remembering the Father of Independence's Daughter

Our dear friend Lesley Barrow died in August 2008, very suddenly, leaving many of her friends in shock and disbelief. While we have all experienced the passing of good friends, most cannot recall a farewell that left us so unprepared to accept the loss of a person who gave much to so many in very tangible ways.

As we met over the past months to celebrate her life and unique friendship, exchanging Lesley stories and memories, a group of her friends started to brainstorm and ultimately, began a journey that we hope will take us to a path of sharing and giving back, in memory of Lesley. We vowed to do something to positively impact Caribbean heritage, building on her contribution to heritage studies and the national visual arts society in general. Bringing heritage to the people was a lived reality for Lesley. What better way to do this than to contribute to community, national and regional awareness of the heritage and the history of Caribbean island nations, and where better to start in true “Barrow” fashion to portray the critical and often unheralded contribution of the arts and heritage to the development of individuals and communities, and to promote the role of community museums.

Lesley was a museum Curator for seventeen (17) years before embarking on a career as an Attorney-at-Law. Her pride was to record and tell of the enormous progress and impact realized by the museums in the Caribbean, their work and contribution to preserving and presenting the unique Caribbean culture and heritage.

This initial group of friends has formed a non-profit organization that is titled Lesley’s Legacy Foundation to promote learning of Caribbean history while contributing to charitable organizations that Lesley supported. The intention is to demonstrate how that history has shaped a diverse people, culture and societies that is distinct and globally recognized, through contributions that build on her legacy of developing community and specialized museums.

While we plan to do an official launch of the organization in early 2010, we are having a fundraiser on December 6, 2009 on board the Tiami. We thought that a fun cruise would be a wonderful means of getting friends together while contributing to a worthy cause in honour of someone who dearly cherished the history and art of the Caribbean and its peoples.

Contributions to the cruise is Bds $100; however, since it is charitable organization larger amounts will also be accepted.

TIAMI Catamaran Cruise
The Shallow Draught
Bridgetown
Sunday December 6th, 2009
Arrive at 9:30am for 10:00am to 3:00pm cruise
RSVP on or before December 2nd, 2009
Thanks very much

Alissandra Cummins
Gail Mathurin
Paula Mohamed
Kay Robertson
Fran Wickham-Jacobs
Betty Canton
David Barrow
Kevin Farmer
John Anthony Rudder
Jeannine Comma

Jamaica Jazz And Blues Band Quest Goes Online

Through its Art of Music Campaign, the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival is again giving a platform for young talent to perform at the world renowned Festival in January 2010 on it's now famous 'Talent Stage.'

A chance to perform on the stage is a dream come true for many, with popular musicians such as Tessanne Chin and Rootz Underground getting the kick-start to their lucrative careers from performances on that stage.

But for 2010, Festival organizers are certainly kicking it up a notch, with the introduction of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Band Quest competition.

"It was the next logical step for us and developing our Art of Music idea," says Walter Elmore, head of TurnKey Productions, producers of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival. Now, persons all over the world will have a chance to showcase their talent at the Festival, thanks to the new Internet-based competition. Talented amateurs wishing to enter will have to visit the Festival's savvy website, and become a member of the JJ&B Fan Zone. With that membership, persons will be able to upload their music and performance clips.

According to Marcia McDonnough, marketing manager for the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival, "There are many activities that persons can do in the JJ&B Fan Zone to get points, and the Band Quest entrants might very well attract new fans, who have the power to vote for them and that also brings entrants closer to performing on the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Stage."

She added that up to 60 entrants with the highest number of points will be chosen as finalists and be invited to audition Live in the USA as well as in Jamaica. Entries opened on Sunday November 8 and will close on December 5, 2009. These sessions will be judged by a selection of qualified persons, selected by the Festival organizers.

If you qualify in the finalists but can't make it to one of the live auditions, then there is no reason to worry as persons who fit this bill will be entered into a second online competition, from which one act will be chosen to perform at the Festival based on their point acquisition and voting.

McDonnough said that the performances of all the winners at the live auditions will be recorded and subsequently uploaded to the Festival website and the winners will be added to the Festival line-up. Interviews with the judges and the winning entrants will also be uploaded to the website, which she says "will give the public a chance to get to know the acts before their performance at the Festival."

But in the end, there can only be one winner. The bands that make it to the Festival stage will be put through the ultimate test - the judgment of a Jamaican audience. Patrons of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival will be given numbers to text and indicate who their favourite act on the Talent Stage each night was. In addition, their performances at the Festival will be uploaded to the Festival website for yet another Internet vote. The band with the most points gained from the text messages as well as the Internet votes at the end of the voting period, will be named the champion of the 2010 JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Band Quest and will take home a flurry of prizes including a guaranteed booking to perform on the main stage at the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival in 2011.

Proud Barbadian conquers Segway Polo & Internet: World's Leading Travel Destination Website for 2009 - Totally Barbados

For the 3rd consecutive year, www.TotallyBarbados.com, a website offering a comprehensive guide to the island of Barbados, was voted "The Caribbean's Leading Overall Travel Information Website."

Totally Barbados gained further recognition when it also captured this year's award for the "World's Leading Travel Destination Website".

Brett Callaghan, founder and Managing Director of Totally Barbados, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), started the website which features over 5,000 pages of information about Barbados, using search engine optimization (SEO), so that finding articles, events and other listings are made as easy as possible for all those throughout the world searching for information about Barbados.

The 35 year old Callaghan who started his career as a jockey racing at the Garrison Savannah, Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks in Canada, before working at CIBC Mortgages Inc. in the banking industry in Toronto for another 6 years, returned home, and started the website in September 2005.

Since then, www.TotallyBarbados.com has gone from strength to strength, capturing the awards as the "Caribbean's Leading Overall Travel Information Website" in 2007, 2008 and now 2009, as well as capturing the awards for the "World's Leading Travel Destination Website" in 2008 and 2009.

For the first time this year's World Travel Awards featured the 120 Miss World contestants representing almost every country in the world, and the girls presented the awards during the World Travel Awards 2009 Gala ceremony held at the Grosvenor House A JW Marriott Hotel, in London, England.

Digicel Feature Article: Ponting's Taylor-made dilemma

The captain of a team is a natural target for opposition bowlers. Not very many teams have been able to tame the run machine that is Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

For the record, he has a cool 24,057 international runs, averages 55.88 in Test cricket and 43.19 in One Day Internationals, and has notched up 66 hundreds for Australia along with 123 fifties.

To say that those are imposing statistics which make bowlers quiver will qualify as a glorious understatement.

However, the West Indies have a man in their line up who has never quivered in the face of the Ponting challenge. In fact, this man has prevailed with such alarming distinction that Ponting may be the one to quiver when they meet again. Jerome Taylor is his name. And the elegant West Indian fast bowler appears to have the great Ponting’s number.

The statistics tell the simultaneously sorry and splendid tale depending on your perspective.

The two have faced off in two Test matches thus far and a similar number of Twenty20s along with seven ODI's. Ponting did not bat in one of the Twenty20s so Taylor bowled to him on twelve separate occasions in those matches.

In the lone T20 contest – their most recent encounter – Taylor needed just one delivery to dispose of Ponting for a first ball duck.

Ponting’s miserable run against Taylor dates back to September 2006 in Malaysia of all places. The then 22 year old Taylor had Ponting lbw for 6 in the DLF Cup at the quaint Kinrara Oval. Taylor has been Ponting’s nemesis ever since.

In the next match in Malaysia, Taylor did not get Ponting’s scalp - the honour went to left armer Ian Bradshaw as the Aussie captain got 54.

They met a few weeks later in the Champions Trophy in India. On both occasions Taylor induced Ponting failures, sending him back for one and a second ball duck.

In 2007, the pair had one meeting in the World Cup and Ponting avoided another Taylor dismissal as he was run out for 35.

Then a year later in St Vincent and Grenada, Taylor once again worked his magic, pocketing Ponting for lowly scores of 5 and 13.

In their two Test encounters, Taylor snared Ponting three times out of four innings, trapping him lbw for 18 and 38 and having him caught for 65.

Only twice has Ponting scored fifties when going up against Taylor and never has he scored a hundred with Taylor in the opposition attack - and Ponting hundreds are otherwise as frequent as flights into Heathrow.

All told, Ponting has scored a mere 274 runs against the West Indies when Taylor has played and at a very ‘un-Ponting-esque’ average of 22.8.

Of the 12 occasions that the two have met, Taylor prevailed an astounding nine times. Those are memories to cause Ponting more than mild discomfort as he walks out to bat in the first Test at the Gabba on November 26th.

Taylor’s ability to bowl lethal inswingers at Ponting early in his innings has brought around the Aussie captain’s regular demise. Of the nine times Taylor has snapped him up, five have been through lbws, another two have been bowled and the other two were caughts.

So far, it has really been a dream run for Taylor against Ponting. Perhaps no other bowler in the history of the game can claim to have had such astonishing returns against a batsman of the rare pedigree of Ponting.

Six occasions are around the corner when the two will continue their lop-sided duel. Should the trend continue, it will not make for pleasant reading for the Aussie skipper, but the two have never gone head-to-head on Australian soil. Home turf may just bring better luck but West Indians will hope not. {NB - All pictures courtesy: Brooks La Touche Photography and DigicelCricket.com}

MARCIA GRIFFITHS TO BE HONORED FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO REGGAE MUSIC

Marcia Griffiths O.D. will be honored by Jamaicans who reside in South Florida on her birthday November 21st for her outstanding contributions to the development of Jamaican music over the last forty six years.

This event will be staged by ‘CRM Multimedia’ at the “Grand Ballroom Of Sunrise” 7100 West Oakland Park Blvd. and will be hosted by Jamaican radio personality ‘John T’ of Radio WAVS 1170 a Caribbean oriented station in Fort Lauderdale.

The showcase will include a host of Jamaican artists and celebrities such as D.J.‘C-Roy the Entertainer and Rainbow disco who will provide the music that will feature the entire discography of Marcia from her early Studio One recordings, as a part of the I Three’s and with Penthouse Records.

Artistes appearing on the show include Nadine Sutherland, Twiggi, Jodian Pantry, Steve Face, Duane Stephenson, Noddy Virtue, Mikey Spice, Kymani Marley, Lady G, Hopeton Lindo and the Code Red Band among other top acts to be announced. A large Jamaican and Caribbean community in south Florida has inspired corporate entities such as Air Jamaica, Jamaica National, Western Union, Dr. Allan Mandell –Chiropractic and Caribbean oriented Radio WAVS 1170 to sponsor this stellar event.

Dubbed the Empress of reggae music, over the years Marcia has established herself as Ambassador, trail blazer and an I-con of Jamaican music. She began her music career in 1964 working with the late Byron Lee while recording for Coxsone Dodd’s ‘Studio One’ Records.

Marcia has shared centre stage with R&B greats such as Carla Thomas, Betty Wright and Ben E. King in the 1960s and 70s when the Carib Cinema was the official venue for international shows and memorable command performances, from the likes of Sam Cooke, Fats Domino and Nina Simone, just to mention a few.

Marcia’s first recording was “Land Of Love” for “Studio One” and her first hit singles were ‘Words’ recorded with the late ‘Free I’ and ‘Feel Like Jumping’ which was written by Bob Andy. Her first album “Marcia Griffiths at Studio One” also featured the first collaboration with Bob Andy on a song titled “Always Together.”

Other hits over the years includes ‘Piped Piper’ with Bob Andy, Dreamland, Young Gifted And Black, Stepping Out in Babylon, Deep In My Heart, Peaceful Woman and 'Electric Boogie' an international hit written by Bunny Wailer from which the dance “The Electric Slide" became an international dance craze. These are just a few of the many hits that Marcia has recorded.

Thus the name Marcia Griffiths has always been associated with excellence, she was a member of the group ‘The I-Three’s’ that included Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley who provided background harmonies that revolutionized the sound of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Marcia was awarded the Order of Distinction in 1994 and the Prime Minister Award for Excellence in 2004 for her outstanding contribution in the field of Jamaican music. Marcia Griffiths in command performance at the “Grand Ballroom of Sunrise” in Fort Lauderdale on ‘Thanksgiving’ weekend Saturday November 21st is a Jamaican event that Jamaicans in the Diaspora look forward to being a part of.

Champers Art Gallery - Martin Superville "New Paintings" Dec 5th 2009 {SHAMELESS PLUG}

You are invited to the opening of the Martin Superville Show on the 5th of December 2009.

It is displayed at the Champers Restaurant branch of the On The Wall Gallery.
For further information please contact us at 438 9246.
Look forward to seeing you there!

HAITIAN GROUP ZIN RELEASES BONUS CD FEATURING 3 NEW TRACKS FROM UPCOMING ALBUM!

Next week at "Musique en Folie," konpa favorite ZIN a.k.a. "The Hit Music Factory" will release a BONUS audio CD featuring 3 new tracks from their upcoming album. One of these tracks will be a debut single sung by ZIN's female lead vocalist, Bébé, titled "Whatever It Takes." Along with this release, ZIN will take the opportunity to promote their last album, PI RED, which was released June 2008.

Last year, 2008, ZIN was supposed to attend "Musique en Folie" in order to provide entertainment and promote their then new album, PI RED, during the 3-day festivities. The promotional tour had to be cancelled, however, due to the tragedies plaguing the country at the time i.e. hurricanes, flooding, and school collapse. With the country in brighter spirits this time around, ZIN will be at "Musique en Folie" to not only promote PI RED but also to release the new BONUS CD which will be given FREE when one purchases the PI RED album.

An exact title and date of release for the upcoming album has not been revealed yet. However, the new single, "Whatever It Takes," sung by Bébé will be released tomorrow.

ZIN awaits their fans at "Musique en Folie" and thanks everyone for their continuous support.

DAMON CORRIE TALKS ABOUT HIS AMAZING ARCHAEO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL DISCOVERY IN GUYANA'S WILDERNESS

On October 16th 2009 Damon Corrie was on his way back down a mountain in the Pakaraima range in Guyana with adopted Lokono-Arawak son Marlon (20), and three other tribal friends (Sado 24, Carlson 17, and Mariscad 13) - when the group stumbled out of the jungle covered hills and walked right into a very amazing place; in Corrie's own words:

"The first image that came to my mind was of Mayan ruins taken over by the jungles of Central America, this place looked as though huge granite boulders that had once fitted neatly together - had been subjected to a violent upheaval (whether seismic or volcanic) that had created the resulting appearance we all saw. I am no Archaeologist and cannot say for sure, but it appears to me that a tribe of long extinct ancient Amerindian stone masons at the very least - utilized and improvised a naturally created site."

I was later told my elders of the current tribe to inhabit the area (having conquered and expelled the previous resident tribes 200-400 years ago) - that I was the first person outside of a handful of male hunters from their tribe to ever lay eyes or set foot in this ancient site; and I consider it my supreme good fortune to be in the sole position to share this exciting news with the wider world.

I have taken as much photographic and DVD evidence as I can as proof - to counter the inevitable 'naysayers' who will come out of the proverbial woodwork as the news spreads.

The evidence includes;- Stone platters, stone bowls, pottery of a style not noted before among Guyana tribes and bearing a resemblance to Incan pottery (possible evidence of a great pre-Colombian pan South American inter-tribal trade network), stone fishtrap/foot bridges over rivers, one metre high stone obelisks with petroglyphs, mural sized petroglyphs on stone that resemble 'maps', and hundreds of smaller stone petroglyphs in various places, as well as burial mounds, burial pots placed in caves, animal heads carved out of stone and clubs of stone - several with a bear motif ...although no bears ever existed in Guyana as far as I am aware - though there is the Spectacled bear in the Andes (Tremarctos ornatus).

Over the past decade that I have spent approximately over US$10,000 of my own funds financing various expeditions to gather evidence of this intriguing unsolved mystery, and seeing unique stone and clay artifacts over an area of approximately 200 sq. miles in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana in the process; that what this all points to is a sophisticated and as yet unidentified pre-Colombian ancient Amerindian culture that was quite unique in north east South America - indeed perhaps in all of Amazonia!

Purely on my own I have decided to name this ancient culture 'The Pakaraimans' - after the area of their former habitation.

On one final note, I would just like to ask that the media be 'politically correct' by saying that I was the first person born outside of the present day tribe inhabiting the area - to discover the westernmost sacred site (as far as we know) and try to coalesce all the data into the 'lost tribe' theory of mine - but I am certainly NOT the first person ever to discover the evidence they left behind, some of my tribal friends have been to the site previously; and others have also collected ancient artifacts all over these mountains many years before I came along and became obsessed with it all.

Yours sincerely,

Damon Gerard Corrie

Damon Corrie is a 36 year old Barbadian by birth of paternal Trinidadian and maternal Guyanese Arawak descent, a registered observer at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), member of the Indigenous Caucus at the Organization of American States (OAS), and member of the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) of the United Kingdom - who's Zoological Director Richard Freeman describes Damon as a "real-life Professor Challenger".

BUBBA GOES HOME – BRENDAN NASH’S JOURNEY BACK TO THE GABBA

When the West Indies last toured Australia – in 2005 – Brendan Nash turned out for the land of his birth as an emergency fielder at the Gabba in Brisbane. At that time, he must have felt it was one step closer to his childhood dream of representing his native Australia. Then he was an up-and-coming batting all rounder and dynamo fielder with the Queensland Bulls.

Since then, the script has been flipped. When the First Test opens on November 26th – also at the Gabba – Nash will not emerge from the tunnel under a Baggy Green. He will instead leave what must be the most unfamiliar environs of the opposition dressing room - at a ground which he called home for many a season - wearing the West Indian maroon Test cap he earned in New Zealand a year ago.

After losing his Bulls contract at the end of the 2007 season, Nash’s journey to the international stage has been unconventional and at variance with that dream of representing Australia.

As his father, Paul – domiciled in Australia for the past 30 years – is Jamaican, Brendan qualified to represent the Caribbean country and thus made the move from Queensland to Kingston in 2007. It is now history that he gave an excellent account of himself in the Jamaican trials and held down a spot in the national side’s middle order.

History too it is that he had a commendable first season with the bat in Jamaican colours and displayed admirable professionalism on and off the field. It led, most naturally, to him being drafted into the West Indies side.

Ever since, he has been working on cementing his place and doing his bit to bolster the middle order with his stoic left handed batting.

So far he has appeared in 18 matches – an equal number of Tests and ODIs. He has been making steady strides in the longest format – scoring four half centuries and a maiden ton against England earlier this year at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago.

His Test average is just under 40 and one he will be eager to push over that benchmark in the upcoming three Tests - the last of which will be played in Perth - where he was born back in 1977 to an Australian mom.

But before he gets to Western Australia, he must survive the Gabba and the Adelaide Oval. On the first morning of the Test, Nash, known to his former Queensland teammates as ‘Bubba’, will walk out onto the Gabba outfield in the unfamiliar role of both home boy and opposition.

"It will be a little bit strange but I guess I've played there quite a bit," Nash said in his usual reserved manner when questioned about the unique circumstances.

But he noted that there will be advantages for his adopted team.

"I know the conditions and can pass that information on to my team-mates."

The Windies side - reconvened and rejuvenated - will certainly benefit from Nash’s years of experience playing in Australia and his familiarity with the Gabba. He will know though that it will not be a free pass from opposition or fans who once applauded his every success. They may reserve one last warm round of applause for him as he walks onto the field but when he arrives at the crease the reception from the bowlers will be no less than hostile. Nash may be in West Indian colours but he is still Australian born and bred and the Aussie players will not be strangers to this fact.

Mitchell Johnson, the fiery left arm fast bowler, with whom he once shared a house when the two were Bulls teammates, will be gunning for him. Johnson is now de facto spearhead of the Australian attack and Nash will know not to expect any “blighs” (a slang term for “free pass” he would have picked up during his time in Jamaica).

"I'd like to think he is going to try to get me out more than anything," was Nash’s considered assessment.

"I'm sure there is going to be a fair bit of that sort of stuff. It's going to be a huge challenge for not only myself, but the whole team," was Nash’s forthright appraisal.

Nash is smart enough to know that his returned to Queensland will not be a warm homecoming.

Talk Hard Independence Special - featuring Former Calypso Monarch of Barbados: Kid Site

Talk Hard is celebrating Barbados brekkin' way from de Union Jack with a special edition coming off Saturday November 28th at the Bump 'N Wine Cafe starting at 6:30pm. This time around our featured artiste is multiple Pic O De Crop winner, dynamic dub chanter and powerful reggae lyricist, KID SITE! He gin' be coming down in he unique stylee and if you aren't aware of the incredible wordplay that this man possesses, then you are missing out, and you need to come check he out!

Also we have the premiere of the new video from Barbados top rock band Kite! Yeah Brian and JJ will be lighting up the screens all over the cafe with their latest single Spinning off of their upcoming album.

As usual, there'll be the tremendous open mic filled with some of our best spoken word artistes and lyricists, special invited performers, the unveiling of a big bad band forming to tear up de place, Talk Hard T Shirts and Bim magazine giveaways and the ever electrifying, charismatic and artistic atmosphere of an Iron Sharpen Iron's Talk Hard.

To reserve spots for the limited open mic send a request to ironsharpenironshow@gmail.com or contact DJ Simmons or Adrian Green directly.

Admission is de usual lil $10 and drinks specials will be available at the bar all night.

Barbadian Trio - "Miniatures Plus" exhibition, Dec 2nd at the Main Guard

“Miniatures Plus” is an exhibition of small art works by Alison Chapman-Andrews, Heidi Berger and Luna Design, taking place at the Main Guard, (under the clock tower) Garrison Savannah

The opening reception is

Wednesday, December 2nd, 6pm – 8pm.

The show continues,

December 3rd and 4th from 11am - 5pm

and

December 5th from 10am – 12 am.

It will show mainly small, jewel-like works by each artist, as well as a number of major pieces.

The show is for both art collectors and buyers looking for seasonal gifts. You are invited to come and enjoy this pre-Christmas visual feast.

Details of the three artists:

Alison Chapman Andrews is one of Barbados most gifted visual artists, the winner of the Governor’s Award, the top prize in the annual Central Bank Crop-Over Art Exhibition. In 2006 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Collectors Club, Her works are found in all major public and private collections in Barbados.


Heidi Berger has exhibited in many exhibitions in Canada, the United States and Barbados, most recently “The Eve Paintings” at Queen’s Park Gallery in Bridgetown, March 2009. Her works have won awards in Canada and the USA . Her paintings are found in collections in Canada, USA, Germany, Italy, England, South Africa and the Caribbean.


LUNA DESIGN, well known in Barbados for their jewelry made from the obscure and environmentally friendly raw material, Vegetable Ivory, will also be showing their one-of-a-kind pieces as well as their fine jewelry using 18K gold and precious stones. They have won several regional and international awards, most recently the “Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2009” of the Barbados Small Business Association.

2 LARGE BREED BROWN DOGS MISSING FROM WOODBORNE, ST. PHILIP

Our 2 Ridgebacks – Simon & Sheba – were lost from the boarding kennel at Woodbourne, St. Philip while we were away recently.

We have searched everywhere we could think of but realize that at this stage our best chance is for someone to have seen them so we know what area they are in.

We are sending this email to everyone in our Barbados contact list with the flyer attachment and ask that you forward it to everyone in your list in the hope that if enough people know about them that someone would have seen them.

These dogs are very precious to us & we are desperate to find them safe.

I really appreciate your help with this search.

Thank you,

Suzanne & Tony Brooks

REWARD OFFERED

FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE SAFE RETURN OF

2 LARGE BREED BROWN DOGS

MISSING FROM

THE WOODBORNE AREA, ST. PHILIP

MALE HAS SKIN PROBLEMS

FEMALE SPAYED AND CANNOT BE BRED

PLEASE CALL 243-5377 OR 420-1120

DAY OR NIGHT IF YOU HAVE SEEN THESE DOGS