Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Giant MALE panda gives birth to twins
Shocked onlookers at the Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas in south-western China watched in amazement as Jinzhu the supposedly male panda went into labor and produced twin female panda cubs.
Jinzhu was mistakenly classified as a male at birth in 1996.
Jinzhu was mistakenly classified as a male at birth in 1996.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Who is Jason B?
"In a world of
constant bad news, I want to make music that is positive and
lifts people up" -Jason B.
constant bad news, I want to make music that is positive and
lifts people up" -Jason B.
Music is all about feeling
good and expressing deep human emotions for songwriter Jason
B who is quietly building a strong following on the internet.
"Music has the
power to lift up the human spirit, and I think people all
over the world can feel it" says the Jamaican-born Australian.
"If we look at
our planet we see too many people spreading hatred and negativity.
Music has the power to do the opposite. It can build empathy
and make connections between people."
Jason B's positive attitude
has seen him invited to leave his home land in Australia and
perform on the international stage. He has twice rocked a
royal gig at the King's Palace in the island of Tonga. He
has also toured the area in India hit by the 2004 tsunami.
A new CD is on the way
in 2007.
Prince Harry's Underwear
In case of photoshop gone mad, a US magazine has put Prince Harry on its cover dressed in his underwear.
Radar Magazine also shows the prince sprawled out on his throne with beer cans littering the floor.
The Magazine describes Prince Harry as a “skirt-chasing, hard-partying royal pain”
A spokesman for Radar said, "We thought it was just a fun way to poke a bit of fun and illustrate the way Harry is behind closed doors."
The article includes stories of the prince’s heavy drinking, meetings with young women and clashes with photographers.
"Certainly they (William and Harry) should not be untouchable - especially considering the amount they put themselves in the public eye by going out and going wild," the spokesman said.
"They are young, good-looking, powerful and rich - all things that America obsesses over - so we were interested in doing something big on him."
Radar Magazine also shows the prince sprawled out on his throne with beer cans littering the floor.
The Magazine describes Prince Harry as a “skirt-chasing, hard-partying royal pain”
A spokesman for Radar said, "We thought it was just a fun way to poke a bit of fun and illustrate the way Harry is behind closed doors."
The article includes stories of the prince’s heavy drinking, meetings with young women and clashes with photographers.
"Certainly they (William and Harry) should not be untouchable - especially considering the amount they put themselves in the public eye by going out and going wild," the spokesman said.
"They are young, good-looking, powerful and rich - all things that America obsesses over - so we were interested in doing something big on him."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Rihanna's show must go on
Even though Caribbean megastar Rihanna is on crutches after injuring her foot the show must go on.
She will perform her upcoming gigs sitting on a chair.
The R&B songstress’ right foot has been bandaged up since walking into a chair while on holiday.
It doesn’t look like the Umbrella star has slowed down, as she was spotted hobbling around LA’s shopping district on crutches recently.
If you want some Caribbean flavoured music click on the jamming dudes below and listen to my songs ‘Caribbean nights’ and ‘Jamaican me Crazy’...
Theres nothing like the music of the Caribbean to put the cool beach vibes in your day…
She will perform her upcoming gigs sitting on a chair.
The R&B songstress’ right foot has been bandaged up since walking into a chair while on holiday.
It doesn’t look like the Umbrella star has slowed down, as she was spotted hobbling around LA’s shopping district on crutches recently.
If you want some Caribbean flavoured music click on the jamming dudes below and listen to my songs ‘Caribbean nights’ and ‘Jamaican me Crazy’...
Theres nothing like the music of the Caribbean to put the cool beach vibes in your day…
Friday, August 3, 2007
Music Video
I love shooting music videos! Its way cool to plan it out and then watch it come to life on the screen. (I love the ideas people come up with like one director who suggested that we shoot a gig under water!)
Drop by my youtube page to see my music videos and check out 'love sweet love’ directed by Rudolph Hurley who is heaps of fun to work with.
Drop by my youtube page to see my music videos and check out 'love sweet love’ directed by Rudolph Hurley who is heaps of fun to work with.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Being an Aussie
Being Australian is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for A Belgian beer, then on the way home, grabbing an Indian curry or A Turkish kebab, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV.
Oh and...... Only in Australia ... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
Only in Australia ... do supermarkets make sick people walk all
the way to the back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in Australia ... do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET coke.
Only in Australia ... do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters.
Only in Australia ... do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the
garage.
NOT TO MENTION...
3 Aussies die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their
tongue.
58 Aussies are injured each year by using sharp knives instead
of screwdrivers.
31 Aussies have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in.
8 Aussies had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with
a lit cigarette in their mouth.
A massive 543 Aussies were admitted to Emergency in the last two years after opening bottles of beer with their teeth.
and finally.........
In 2000 eight Aussies cracked their skull whilst throwing up
into the toilet.
<
Oh and...... Only in Australia ... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
Only in Australia ... do supermarkets make sick people walk all
the way to the back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in Australia ... do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET coke.
Only in Australia ... do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters.
Only in Australia ... do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the
garage.
NOT TO MENTION...
3 Aussies die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their
tongue.
58 Aussies are injured each year by using sharp knives instead
of screwdrivers.
31 Aussies have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in.
8 Aussies had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with
a lit cigarette in their mouth.
A massive 543 Aussies were admitted to Emergency in the last two years after opening bottles of beer with their teeth.
and finally.........
In 2000 eight Aussies cracked their skull whilst throwing up
into the toilet.
<
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Lindsay Lohan: wot they r saying
Her Mom:
"I am sick over this. My children, my family, we are like prisoners in our own home because paparazzi [are stalking us] outside [our]home. Lindsay is in a safe place, and we are trying to strategically work out our next step."
Her lawyer:
“Addiction is a terrible and vicious disease. Since Lindsay transitioned to outpatient care, she has been monitored on a SCRAM bracelet and tested daily in order to support her sobriety. Throughout this period, I have received timely and accurate reports from the testing companies. Unfortunately, late yesterday I was informed that Lindsay had relapsed. The bracelet has now been removed. She is safe, out of custody and presently receiving medical care.”
Jay Leno:
“You know, we had Lindsay Lohan booked for our show tonight, but apparently she was ALREADY ‘booked.’ I thought our competition was Letterman and Nightline, but it turns out its Cops and America’s Most Wanted.”
"I am sick over this. My children, my family, we are like prisoners in our own home because paparazzi [are stalking us] outside [our]home. Lindsay is in a safe place, and we are trying to strategically work out our next step."
Her lawyer:
“Addiction is a terrible and vicious disease. Since Lindsay transitioned to outpatient care, she has been monitored on a SCRAM bracelet and tested daily in order to support her sobriety. Throughout this period, I have received timely and accurate reports from the testing companies. Unfortunately, late yesterday I was informed that Lindsay had relapsed. The bracelet has now been removed. She is safe, out of custody and presently receiving medical care.”
Jay Leno:
“You know, we had Lindsay Lohan booked for our show tonight, but apparently she was ALREADY ‘booked.’ I thought our competition was Letterman and Nightline, but it turns out its Cops and America’s Most Wanted.”
Britney has a naughty...
...dog
Naughty things Britney Spears did during an interview and photo shoot with OK Magazine ;
*Wiped her greasy hands on a $274 designer gown during lunch.
*Took frequent bathroom breaks - with the door open! - and even brought her assistant in with her.
*Insisted her ....friends,'' not the hired professionals, do her hair and makeup while complaining that the wardrobe provided by the magazine's stylists wasn't "sexy,'' "short'' or "tight'' enough.
*Fled the shoot and interview before it was over - still wearing $14,526 worth of OK!'s borrowed clothing.
Not to be outdone, Britney's puppy pooped on a $6700 Zac Posen gown.
"Neither Britney or her assistant, bothered to clean it up until the coordinator demanded it be taken care of,'' the mag says. Her minions finally scooped it up with a tissue.
Sources say the puppy is booked into doggie rehab…
Naughty things Britney Spears did during an interview and photo shoot with OK Magazine ;
*Wiped her greasy hands on a $274 designer gown during lunch.
*Took frequent bathroom breaks - with the door open! - and even brought her assistant in with her.
*Insisted her ....friends,'' not the hired professionals, do her hair and makeup while complaining that the wardrobe provided by the magazine's stylists wasn't "sexy,'' "short'' or "tight'' enough.
*Fled the shoot and interview before it was over - still wearing $14,526 worth of OK!'s borrowed clothing.
Not to be outdone, Britney's puppy pooped on a $6700 Zac Posen gown.
"Neither Britney or her assistant, bothered to clean it up until the coordinator demanded it be taken care of,'' the mag says. Her minions finally scooped it up with a tissue.
Sources say the puppy is booked into doggie rehab…
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Horse moves in with family, trashes house
Did you hate sharing with brothers or sisters when you were growing up?
Ever share a house with messy room mates?
Spare a thought for a poor kid in Modesto, California whose parents made him
share the family home with…a horse and 7 dogs.
Not only did the child now have to fight for the bathroom and the TV remote, things got so bad he had to sleep in a tent to keep the flies off!
(Modesto kid's new room mate)
(Kid 'slept in tent to protect himself from the infestation of flies')
(Dog: horse 'did not follow cleaning roster')
Modesto CA: A family was discovered living with seven dogs and a horse inside their house. Animal control officials say the waste and flies were so thick, a child in the home slept inside his bedroom
in a tent.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Little Sponsor Boy
While being given a tour of a hospital for the poor I was inrtoduced to a little sponsor boy who had just recieved a life saving heart operation...
Monday, April 2, 2007
After the gig!
One of my favourite parts of my gigs is meeting people after the show. At this gig in Tamil Nadu I met so many people! All of my CDs sold out and so did the cassettes. So I'll just have to return to sing for you guys! Here are some of my new friends and fans of my music...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The Woman with No Face
I wouldn’t trade being a musician for anything in the world. Performing music takes me far away from my home in Australia to some awesome places. Ask any musician who has been on tour and they will tell you, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. (Who’s seen the movie “This is Spinal Tap”?)
On one of my South Pacific tours I had to wear a suit and tie to sing at the royal palace for the King of Tonga’s birthday celebrations.
In Vanuatu I did a gig where people showed up in canoes and drank coconuts.
But nothing could prepare me for the day I met a woman with no face…
I was in India, the world’s second largest nation. Over 1 billion people live in India and it’s a nation destined to one day be a world super power. In addition to performing my music at concerts, my tour included sampling delicious curries...
riding the Rickshaws and learning what life is like for the many people who live in extreme poverty.
More people live in poverty in India than there are people in the United States.
One of my highlights was being shown around a hospital for the poor in Chennai.
The hospital was founded by Dr Colleen M Redit...
Dr Redit is an inspiring woman who left her birthplace New Zealand to work with the poor in Southern India 42 years ago. She encourages people in India and around the world to support her hospital and sponsor children and orphans in need. I quickly learned that the work Dr Redit began as a woman in her 20s is today saving the lives of countless people who cannot afford the help they need.
Dr Redit introduced me to a guide to take me on a tour of the 5-storey building she has in down town Chennai...
I was shown the pharmacy that provides medicine for people who cannot afford it...
I visited the dental surgery where simple procedures relieve a lifetime of toothaches...
I saw the orphanage where children sleep on the floor in the corridors because there are not enough beds.
There was even a chemotherapy wing that offered hope for cancer victims from the slums. I met a little boy who with the help of a sponsorship program was able to have life saving heart surgery...
Then I was taken to a door that read “Plastic Surgery Room”.
I thought of the plastic surgery rooms back home. I remembered the “Extreme Makeover” TV shows where ordinary people get movie stars looks. “What is a plastic surgery room doing in a hospital for the poor?” I wondered. “Are people getting nose jobs?”
All was about to be revealed…
The door opened, I walked in and stood before a woman with no face.
When I say “no face”, I mean “NO face.”
On the bed before me lay a woman who had no flesh where her mouth, nose, lips and cheeks should be. Her young face had been replaced with the image of a skeleton. I could see the bones of her jaw holding her teeth in place. Her eyes and the top of her head were covered by a large bandage. Her arms were tightly wrapped and her hands were swollen. It took a few seconds for the scene to sink in. It was like entering a dark room and slowly letting your eyes adjust to the light. I could not imagine what terrible thing had happened to leave some one in this state.
Standing beside the woman’s bed was her mother who began to speak to me. She spoke Tamil so I couldn’t understand. My guide started to translate her story.
It was no accident that the woman with no face was in hospital.
She was a victim of an horrible act of domestic violence called an “acid attack”. Acid attacks occur when some one pours common battery acid or sulphuric acid on their victim. Often the attacks happen in the night while the victim sleeps. The result is unbelievable pain and permanently scarring. Many victims become blind.
My guide told me that this woman’s family was unable to pay their share of her wedding dowry and her husband had thrown acid on her as punishment.
Her mother began to weep. She looked heartbroken.
As she cried, I watched her gently gaze at her daughter.
The woman with no face began to move. She lifted her bandaged hands to greet me, her unseen guest.
“She is thanking you for visiting,” my guide said.
I put my hands together and bowed as is the custom though I knew she could not see me.
“Vanakkam,” her mother said, giving me the Tamil greeting.
“Vanakkam,” I replied.
I left the room.
I left the hospital.
A few days later my music tour ended and I left India...
I cannot forget the woman with no face.
How do you forget someone who through no fault of their own has had their life robbed from them? The woman may never smile. She may never marry. She may never have a peaceful night’s sleep again. She may never see.
She is part of my world now.
She reminds me that the world we live in can be cruel and unfair.
A place where serious acts of violence occur and many innocent people suffer.
She also reminds me that our world is a place where simple acts of kindness and charity do go a long way.
A place where the same $10 bill that will buy me lunch in one country can save a life in another.
I met a woman with no face.
She is part of my world now.
She reminds me that every day I am alive I have much to be thankful for.
Even if all I have is a roof over my head,
Or a toothache fixed,
Or a doctor to visit,
Or my eyesight intact.
As I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, I remembered her.
Somewhere in this big world we all share, she is rising too.
Will she look in the mirror like she used to as a child?
If she is blind will she ask someone to help her through the day?
Tonight I will go to sleep in a warm bed.
Somewhere in the same world, a little orphan girl, rescued by a New Zealand woman, will lie down on a concrete floor in a corridor as her bed...
Not far away, a little sponsor boy will rest with a healthy heartbeat.
The woman with no face will lay her head down too.
I wonder if her sleep will give her rest from the pain her body feels by day?
Or will she fear the nighttime that brought such horror to her life?
Musicians meet a lot of people on tour. Some can say they never forget a face. I’m not sure I can say that but I can say…I will never forget a woman with no face.
On one of my South Pacific tours I had to wear a suit and tie to sing at the royal palace for the King of Tonga’s birthday celebrations.
In Vanuatu I did a gig where people showed up in canoes and drank coconuts.
But nothing could prepare me for the day I met a woman with no face…
I was in India, the world’s second largest nation. Over 1 billion people live in India and it’s a nation destined to one day be a world super power. In addition to performing my music at concerts, my tour included sampling delicious curries...
riding the Rickshaws and learning what life is like for the many people who live in extreme poverty.More people live in poverty in India than there are people in the United States.
One of my highlights was being shown around a hospital for the poor in Chennai.
The hospital was founded by Dr Colleen M Redit...
Dr Redit is an inspiring woman who left her birthplace New Zealand to work with the poor in Southern India 42 years ago. She encourages people in India and around the world to support her hospital and sponsor children and orphans in need. I quickly learned that the work Dr Redit began as a woman in her 20s is today saving the lives of countless people who cannot afford the help they need.Dr Redit introduced me to a guide to take me on a tour of the 5-storey building she has in down town Chennai...
I was shown the pharmacy that provides medicine for people who cannot afford it...
I visited the dental surgery where simple procedures relieve a lifetime of toothaches...
I saw the orphanage where children sleep on the floor in the corridors because there are not enough beds.
There was even a chemotherapy wing that offered hope for cancer victims from the slums. I met a little boy who with the help of a sponsorship program was able to have life saving heart surgery...
Then I was taken to a door that read “Plastic Surgery Room”.
I thought of the plastic surgery rooms back home. I remembered the “Extreme Makeover” TV shows where ordinary people get movie stars looks. “What is a plastic surgery room doing in a hospital for the poor?” I wondered. “Are people getting nose jobs?”
All was about to be revealed…
The door opened, I walked in and stood before a woman with no face.
When I say “no face”, I mean “NO face.”
On the bed before me lay a woman who had no flesh where her mouth, nose, lips and cheeks should be. Her young face had been replaced with the image of a skeleton. I could see the bones of her jaw holding her teeth in place. Her eyes and the top of her head were covered by a large bandage. Her arms were tightly wrapped and her hands were swollen. It took a few seconds for the scene to sink in. It was like entering a dark room and slowly letting your eyes adjust to the light. I could not imagine what terrible thing had happened to leave some one in this state.
Standing beside the woman’s bed was her mother who began to speak to me. She spoke Tamil so I couldn’t understand. My guide started to translate her story.
It was no accident that the woman with no face was in hospital.
She was a victim of an horrible act of domestic violence called an “acid attack”. Acid attacks occur when some one pours common battery acid or sulphuric acid on their victim. Often the attacks happen in the night while the victim sleeps. The result is unbelievable pain and permanently scarring. Many victims become blind.
My guide told me that this woman’s family was unable to pay their share of her wedding dowry and her husband had thrown acid on her as punishment.
Her mother began to weep. She looked heartbroken.
As she cried, I watched her gently gaze at her daughter.
The woman with no face began to move. She lifted her bandaged hands to greet me, her unseen guest.
“She is thanking you for visiting,” my guide said.
I put my hands together and bowed as is the custom though I knew she could not see me.
“Vanakkam,” her mother said, giving me the Tamil greeting.
“Vanakkam,” I replied.
I left the room.
I left the hospital.
A few days later my music tour ended and I left India...
I cannot forget the woman with no face.
How do you forget someone who through no fault of their own has had their life robbed from them? The woman may never smile. She may never marry. She may never have a peaceful night’s sleep again. She may never see.
She is part of my world now.
She reminds me that the world we live in can be cruel and unfair.
A place where serious acts of violence occur and many innocent people suffer.
She also reminds me that our world is a place where simple acts of kindness and charity do go a long way.
A place where the same $10 bill that will buy me lunch in one country can save a life in another.
I met a woman with no face.
She is part of my world now.
She reminds me that every day I am alive I have much to be thankful for.
Even if all I have is a roof over my head,
Or a toothache fixed,
Or a doctor to visit,
Or my eyesight intact.
As I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, I remembered her.
Somewhere in this big world we all share, she is rising too.
Will she look in the mirror like she used to as a child?
If she is blind will she ask someone to help her through the day?
Tonight I will go to sleep in a warm bed.
Somewhere in the same world, a little orphan girl, rescued by a New Zealand woman, will lie down on a concrete floor in a corridor as her bed...
Not far away, a little sponsor boy will rest with a healthy heartbeat.The woman with no face will lay her head down too.
I wonder if her sleep will give her rest from the pain her body feels by day?
Or will she fear the nighttime that brought such horror to her life?
Musicians meet a lot of people on tour. Some can say they never forget a face. I’m not sure I can say that but I can say…I will never forget a woman with no face.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Walking the streets
Making music takes me to some wonderful parts of the world. India is such a colorful place. Sometimes it felt like I was stepping back in time. Here are some shots I took as I walked around the ancient city of Madurai.
Visit to a Temple
The are so many amazing sites in India. I was fortunate to have some site seeing time to visit this historic temple in Southern India. It was built around the 17th Century. What a site! (click on photos to enlarge)
Colorful ceiling...
Me, checking it out...(Aparantly each pillar makes a different musicial note when struck)
the temple has thousands of hand crafted posts...
As you can see each post has special carvings...
I realised that there was so much going on...
I spotted an elephant...
Colorful ceiling...
Me, checking it out...(Aparantly each pillar makes a different musicial note when struck)
the temple has thousands of hand crafted posts...
As you can see each post has special carvings...
I realised that there was so much going on...
I spotted an elephant...
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