Tribute to Manly VHL Binning 1899-1986 – By Dmitri Allicock

Manly Binning

Manly Binning is remembered as a great father by his children. He was a brilliant coworker and mentor to the many workers of the bauxite industry in Upper Demerara, Guyana and to all his extended family one of the most important relative that ever lived. Manly was born with many exceptional talents. He was intelligent, creative, imaginative, skillful, ambitious, and very hardworking. Manly stood out as a leader among his peers and is remembered for all his great qualities.

The importance of Manly Binning to his family heritage is sacred. He was one of the few to document and record the lives of his family. He travelled by boat, train or bus to visit relatives where he conducted interviews and recorded by writing down their information and family history. He documented, organized his work, and then protected it for the future generations that can now benefit from this precious information of family heritage.    [Read more: Tribute to Manly VHL Binning 1899-1986 ]

Legacies of Empire: the Good, the bad and the ugly – Sir Ronald Sanders

Legacies of Empire: the Good, the bad and the ugly

Thursday, May 23, 2013 – 17:54 By Sir Ronald Sanders

This commentary is a much shortened version of a paper delivered at a public seminar at London University on May 20th on the Legacy of the British Empire in the Caribbean.

The Legacy of Empire in the Caribbean is a mixed one – some aspects are good, many aspects are bad, and one in particular is ugly. I will start with the good aspects:

THE GOOD:

Language

The first is language. Because English has become the first language of international commerce, the Legacy of the English language in the former British colonies has been beneficial to the English-Speaking Caribbean countries in a range of global transactions.  

The Ice Trade of British Guiana – By Dmitri Allicock.

CRYSTAL BLOCKS OF YANKEE COLDNESS

 A February 1806 Boston newspaper assured its readers. “A vessel has cleared at the Custom House for Martinique with a cargo of ice. We hope this will not prove a slippery speculation.”

Imagine life in 1800’s tropical hot and humid British Guiana without a cold glass of water or for the more affluent, ice cream, a cold beer or beverage. Gourds, goblets and other earthen vessels did bring some quenching relief of cool water for the thirsty as it did throughout history.

It was commonplace to find large water holding gourds among the furnishings of the historical kitchen of Guyana.

For those who lived in the rural areas or hinterlands, a shady and cool creek kept liquids below room temperature. Closed containers were submerged at water’s edge and retrieved for a cool drink on a hot day.     [Read more: The Ice Trade of British Guiana]

Money Laundering Bill – President Ramotar appeals to the House – video

President Ramotar appeals to the House to urgently review amendments to Money Laundering Bill – 22nd May 2013

Posted: 22 May 2013 05:11 PM PDT

A message to the National Assembly by the President is rare and hardly can anyone remember it happening before. But today, the President utilized that provision as he sought to simmer a row between the Government and opposition sides of the House in order to get amendments to the country’s law against financial crimes passed.

The Government wanted the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 passed before it faces the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Nicaragua next week.  

RFID chips – The Risk inside your credit card

In newer credit and debit cards there is a RFID / NFC chip that allows you to use your card at stores without swiping the magnetic strip. It works by radio waves and is usually only good for around 6″ or closer to the receiver. The problem with this is it’s a security problem as anyone with a small hand-held scanner can grab your information when they wave it by your back pocket. Also I have noticed that whenever you use this feature the transaction defaults to credit, not debit.     Here is how you disable RFID on your cards.  

“Rich people don’t create jobs” – Nick Hanauer [banned TED talk]

Nick Hanauer “Rich people don’t create jobs”

Published on May 17, 2012 – Talk was banned by TED officials

Via Business Insider: “As the war over income inequality wages on, super-rich Seattle entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has been raising the hackles of his fellow 1-percenters, espousing the contrarian argument that rich people don’t actually create jobs.

The position is controversial — so much so that TED is refusing to post a talk that Hanauer gave on the subject. National Journal reports today that TED officials decided not to put Hanauer’s March 1 speech up online after deeming his remarks “too politically controversial” for the site…”.

Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model – Cameron Russell

Cameron Russell: Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model.

Cameron Russell admits she won “a genetic lottery”: she’s tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don’t judge her by her looks. In this fearless talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16-years-old. (Filmed at TEDxMidAtlantic.)

Cameron Russell has stomped the runways for Victoria’s Secret and Chanel, and has appeared in many magazines. But she is much more than just a pretty face. Full bio »

Published on Jan 16, 2013 – TED talk

Your body language shapes who you are – Amy Cuddy

Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.
Amy Cuddy’s research on body language reveals that we can change other people’s perceptions — and even our own body chemistry — simply by changing body positions.   Full bio »

Published on Oct 1, 2012 – TED talk

Gov’t is courting several Airlines to connect Guyana to new destinations – Pres. Ramotar

President Donald Ramotar confirms Administration is courting several Airlines to connect Guyana to new destinations – 13th May 2013

New US immigration bill could benefit Caribbean nationals

The bill would give a legal second chance to thousands of Caribbean and other deportees without serious criminal records who have a child, parent or spouse with a green card or American citizenship.

By:Nelson A. King 

WASHINGTON D.C., United States, Monday May 13, 2013 – The United States Congress has started formal consideration of a sweeping immigration reform bill that creates a “path to citizenship” for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, including Caribbean nationals.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to finish work on the bill this week [by May 18, 2013] adopting Republican amendments aimed at stronger border security.