Hair Dreadlock Secrets Uncovered
by Katie Monroe


Interested in hair dreadlock secret's, straight out of the congo , Africa? You too, can have irie dreadlocks like Lenny Kravitz, Whoopie Goldberg, Rob Zombie, Ani Difranco, and Reggae Legend Bob Marley in just a few short hours.
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We will help you have the sweetest dreads possible. Also we will make sure that you are 100% confident and clear about the process. Your hair is going to look awesome, and we guarantee it. That's right, you can do the entire process yourself when you follow our professional advice. There is no need to hire an expensive dreadlock stylist when you have all the information you need right here. Some salons will charge up to $500 just to put dreads into your hair.
Do you want to know how to quickly and easily get started creating professional looking dreadlocks, and find out why $500 hair stylists are not needed and learn to do it yourself, or do it with the help of a friend. Learn everything you need to know about dreadlocks and the process of dreading your hair. Most importantly, know Why many people become infested with bugs from their dreadlocks and the one simple precaution you must know to prevent this from ever happening to you!
Who else wants to know the secrets behind the very best dreadlock products and how experts use these products to produce top notch dreads, plus discover the joy of "synthetic dreads" and how they could be perfect for you? A proper Understanding the initial steps of the dreadlock process and how to sit back and let them form easily for you is essential. Learn the litter secret to get your dreads to stand out amongst the rest and avoid the pitfalls that many are experiencing resulting in some serious bad hair days. With a simple technique, get the upper hand on dreadlocks that make the difference in you looking hip or looking like a bum. If you are looking for a hair stylist to do it for you, ask him/her the right questions to ensure you get the exact head of hair you want. And you must know the critical factors you must consider when choosing hair care products. There is safe, convenient, inexpensive and effective ways to color your dreads or hair, do you know? No more endless days of fighting a losing battle with nappy dreads. There are many more things to learn about dreadlock. Learn the number one common mistake people make when first starting their dreads. Find out the perfect size and thickness for the most ideal set of dreads. Learn just "how often" you should really wash your dreads. Get straight answers on just how much hair is needed to create dreadlocks. Discover the secrets for all types of hair styles. Whether your hair is curly, soft, thin, thick or dark, we'll have you putting dreads in your head in no time...
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About the Author
Katie is the author of many comprehensive articles on health beauty fitness. Be sure to check out her health beauty fitness website http://www.healthbeautyfitnessonline.com for more information on health, beauty and fitness related information and freebies.

Eric Clapton - "Slowhand" Returns To The Stage In 2006
by Jay Nault


Eric Clapton, thought by many to be the preeminent guitar authority in the world, is returning to the stage in the summer of 2006. His story is one that relates directly to the decades of timeless music he has produced, and Clapton is revered by fans of several generations. His life is one of struggle and sadness, and his music is seen by many of his fans as his personal triumph over his circumstances.
Early Life
Clapton was born in 1945 in England, although he didn't really know who his parents were until later in childhood. His father was a Canadian service man who went back to Canada after World War II, and his natural mother left soon thereafter to join him. Eric was left to be raised by his grandparents, who he thought were his real parents until he was nine years old. Clapton knew his real mother as his sister, as his grandparents wanted to shield him from the stigma that came with being an "illegitimate" child.
Clapton was first inspired by music as a young teenager when he watched Jerry Lee Lewis perform on television, and his life-long love of the blues was born that day. He attended school with the intent on becoming a stained glass designer was derailed when he was expelled at 17 for playing his guitar in class. Despite what was seen as a setback at the time, the incident propelled Clapton into music full time.
Early Career
Clapton proceeded to work a series of low-end jobs while continuing to learn and play the blues with his guitar. In 1963, he joined a band called the Yardbirds, which just happened to boast of three enormously popular guitarists - Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. The band was an instant smash hit, and they were known for their bluesy style and riveting guitar melodies. However, Clapton became disillusioned with the band's progression towards mainstream rock and roll, and left the band in 1965.
Clapton spent the next year making the band the Bluesbreakers extremely popular, but in 1966, he decided to form his own band, naming it Cream.
Reaching Potential
Cream was one of the most recognizable and loved bands in the world, and every one of their albums was a huge hit. Cream was mentioned in the same breath as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, and the trio recorded three albums before deciding to put together a farewell cut entitled Goodbye in 1969. There were many reasons for the band's break up, but drug abuse and clashing egos were seen as the primary reasons.
Later that year, Clapton became a member of rock's first "super group" when he teamed with Steve Winwood, Ric Grech and Ginger Baker. Although the band released only one album which was named after the band, Blind Faith climbed to number one on the North American Billboard album charts, and the work is still selling well to this day.
Going Solo
After all of his experience in highly successful bands, Clapton decided to strike out on his own, and this would prove to be an extremely wise decision. However, Clapton first had to get past his drug addiction, which was no small task. Once he had, however, he got right back into what he loved most, and released an album entitled 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974. The album included a cover of Bob Marley's I Shot the Sheriff, which not only experienced chart success, but brought exposure to the world of reggae that was seen as "the" boost to the genre in general.
In the past 30 years, Clapton has released 15 studio albums which have contained songs that are considered by many to be anthems more than singles, including such mega-hits as "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," "Lay Down Sally," "Cocaine" and "Wonderful Tonight."
Bringing It All Together
The result of Clapton's work goes beyond millions of records sold and tens of millions of loyal fans. He is the only artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times, has won several Grammy Awards and is known for his guitar skill in every country in the world. He has never lost his love for the blues, and continues to thrill crowds with his heart-felt renditions of his and other songs that were written over the decades, and everyone who has a chance to see him live considers it a privilege and an honor.
About the Author
Written by Jay Nault sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/. StubHub sells sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world. Please link to this site when using this article.

A Christmas Carol - The Man and His Book
by David Fitzgerald


Charles Dickens's book "A Christmas Carol" is probably the most famous of all Christmas stories. In the preface he wrote:"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay itTheir faithful Friend and Servant, C.D. December 1843."Charles Dickens - The ManCharles Dickens (1812-1870) is considered to be one of the greatest English novelists of the Victorian period. Dickens's works are characterized by attacks on social evils, injustice, and hypocrisy.Charles John Huffam Dickens, the second of seven children of John and Elizabeth Dickens, was born in Landport on 7th February 1812. His father worked as a clerk at the Navy pay office in Portsmouth. In 1814 Dickens moved to London, and then to Chatham in 1817, for Dickens, the happiest years of his childhood (1817-22) were spent in Chatham, a bustling port on England's southeast coast, where he received some education.John Dickens had difficulty making ends meet as his family grew. At ten Charles's family moved to Camden Town in London. John Dickens' debts had become so severe that all the household goods were sold. Still unable to satisfy his creditors, John Dickens was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison. Charles, now twelve, was sent to work at Warren's Blacking Factory, where he was paid six shillings (shilling is equal to 1/20th of a pound) a week wrapping shoeblack bottles to help support his family. Six months after being sent to Marshalsea, one of John Dickens's relatives died. He was left enough money in the will to pay off his debts and to leave prison. Charles was allowed to quite the job, against his mother's better judgment. This became a sore spot for Charles, that he remembers the rest of his life. Some of the inheritance was used to educate Charles at a nearby private school, Wellington House Academy. His schooling was again interrupted and ultimately ended when Dickens was forced to return to work at age 15. He found work as a clerk at the firm of Ellis & Blackmore, Charles disliked the work but he did enjoy walking the streets in the evening observing the people of London. He then became a shorthand reporter in the courts, and finally a parliamentary and newspaper reporter. Looking back on his own childhood, Dickens saw himself as "a very small and not over-particularly-taken-care-of boy." For as I had spoken before, Dickens's childhood was a mixture of both fond and unhappy memories. His childhood poverty and feelings of abandonment, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction. But even though Dickens family was both large and almost always hard-pressed, Charles Dickens grew into a young man who, through the sheer fertility of his creative genius and an astonishing amount of hard work, transformed himself into the most famous writer of his age.In the midst of his labors over Martin Chuzzlewit, Dickens found time to write the little tale that is unquestionably his most beloved work, "A Christmas Carol". Published on December 17, 1843, this tender fable of spiritual renewal received a rapturous welcome from the public. Readers were moved to tears by the story of the delightfully despicable Scrooge, a heartless old miser who undergoes a miraculous rebirth precisely at Christmas, the only time "in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open up their hearts freely."A Christmas Carol - The Book Millions of readers for over the past hundred and sixty years have enjoyed "A Christmas Carol". The penny pinching, miser Ebenezer Scrooge has become synonymous with a tight wad. Even today a person who hoards his or her money is nicknamed a "Scrooge". Dickens' character was a man whose cold personality equal only to the winters of London, and the comforts or fortunes of other was unimportant to him. Locking up his office on Christmas Eve, Scrooge heads for his rooms, which once belonged to Jacob Marley, his partner, who died seven years ago. Arriving at his door, the doorknocker is suddenly, transformed into his dead partner's face, staring at him. The vision passes, and Scrooge bolts the door from the inside. Sitting down in front of the dying embers on the hearth, Ebenezer Scrooge is subjected to the second phenomena, the ringing of all the bells in the house. Someone or something is trying to get in touch with his frozen soul. It turns out it is Jacob Marley who has been tying to contact him. Marley's ghost dragging his chains explain his present condition to the Scrooge; since he himself lived on the same basic principle as does Scrooge, explains what the afterlife is like for one who has never done a good deed to his fellow man. There is one way out of this misery for Scrooge says Marley, and that is to mend one's ways and cleanse one's conscience. To amplify the message, his old partner explains to Scrooge that three spirits will visit shortly after midnight. Having delivered his message and his warning, Marley goes away, dragging his chains behind him. Strangely, Scrooge manages to fall asleep, but is awakened when the clock strikes midnight. Soon after the Ghost of Christmas Past, an apparition with a child's face visits him long, white hair, and a full-grown body. It makes Scrooge an offer he can't refuse: to go on a sentimental journey to his own past.Riding through time and space effortlessly, they arrive in time to see the small boy Ebenezer, a lonesome child with books for his only friends. Lost love, lost comradeship, and lost chances for happiness are shown in rapid succession, and then the exhausted Scrooge is dropped off at home, where he dozes off. Next follows the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Ebenezer the merrymaking of ordinary people. They spy on Bob Cratchit, who makes the most of his meager resources in the bosom of his little family, carrying his son Tim, who is weak of health, and lighting the meager meal with his inner warmth and generosity, demonstrated when he proposes a toast to his mean employer, though not appreciated by his wife. The last ghost, Christmas of the Future, arrives, to show him the emptiness of a non-spiritual life. A peek into the future shows thieves plundering his belongings. He even gets a glimpse of himself, lying dead, and retreats in horror. The final blow is dealt to his now weakened soul when he learns that Tim Cratchit has died. The vision of himself dead, his own neglected grave, all this prompts Ebenezer to beg for mercy. Waking as from a nightmare, he finds that only one night has pasted and it is now Christmas morning, Scrooge thanks Jacob Marley's ghost for this second chance, and he really changes. He gets a huge turkey for the Cratchit family, makes large contributions to the poor, and turns up at his nephew's a changed man, filled with the merry spirit of Christmas. The spirits of Christmas had served their purpose, and Jacob Marley had done his good deed. For the rest of his life, Ebenezer Scrooge was a good generous man, living the spirit of Christmas.Chick here for more books by Charles Dickens

Copyright © 2004 by David Fitzgerald Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.
About the Author
David Fitzgerald is contributing writer to several sites and newsletters. Visit http://www.delvebookstore.com/for other great books and books on subjects in the areas of your interest. dfitzgerald@delvebookstore.com

Bob Marley Remembrance in Meskal Square
by Chris Meehan


Last Sunday saw the 60th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Bob Marley. Appropriately, thousands of Rastafarians, bedecked in red, gold and green, gathered in Meskal square, Addis Abbaba in Ethiopia, to salute their spiritual fellow traveller and great inspiration. They formed part of a vast crowd that had assembled to commemorate the life and philosophy of the towering figure that was Bob Marley, who died of cancer, aged 36, in 1981. A musical tribute, in the form of a free concert, was paid by the likes of Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo. There's no question that Marley's music captured the world's imagination and was instrumental in establishing reggae as the pre-eminent world-music from the 1970s to the late 80s. He came to global prominence with his group The Wailers - who initially formed in 1963, securing quick credibility in Jamaica with a number of hits, produced under the guidance of Coxone Dodd. International recognition was slower in coming - Marley even had a spell working on a car assembly line in the USA in 1969 - and only materialised once a deal with Island Records had been signed and the collaboration with producer Lee Perry established the sound that came to define Bob Marley and the Wailers to millions of fans around the planet. With the backing vocals of the I-Threes (including Bob's wife Rita) and a new line-up in 1974, the Marley bandwagon began to roll in earnest. 1977 and 78 marked the release of 2 seminal albums: Exodus and Kaya - which ,in addition to the critical acclaim they received, were massively successful in commercial terms, too. Island Records calculated that, in 1981, the extent of Marley's global sales stood at £100 million.Record sales have continued apace since his death. In fact, the 1984 compilation: Legend has consistently topped album charts around the world. There's a compelling view amongst critics that this appeal is based on the unshakable loyalty of his fan base rather than a significant growth in younger generation converts to Marley's brand of reggae - which is now seen, very much, as 'old school' and the less vibrant and engaging upcountry cousin to the much sharper modern dancehall music - whose influences are drawn from hip-hop, funk and R&B and melded into a powerful, street, hard-hitting, in-yer-boat, urban fusion.Personally, I happen to think that the music does stand the test of time. Some of the landmarks in the Marley catalogue are: • Catch a Fire, featuring Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, and released in 1972. It was the first reggae album to be distributed internationally. • Burnin', 1973, containing the gems that are: 'I Shot the Sheriff' and 'Get Up Stand Up'. • Rastaman Vibration, 1976. It stormed into the US charts and articulated many of Marley's core beliefs - take 'War', for example, with the lyrics coming from one of Haile Selassie's speeches. • Survival, 1979, with it's pan-African message of solidarity - promoted by such songs as: 'Africa Unite' and 'Zimbabwe'.
About the Author
Chris Meehan is the features editor at www.Just-Jammin.com. As well as a freelance writer on many subjects

A Review of Bob Marley Legend
by Morgan Hamilton



For people of the different ages the Bob Marley legend has different meaning, and they vary from peaceful love to melancholia. Some people connect him with superior reggae - inspiring music with meaningful lyrics, others think of him as a part of their own search for self, and still others connect him mostly with deep and true love. The legend of Bob Marley still lives with those who remember him, and remember how it started with him and was only because of him.
The legend has his name because Bob Marley was the one who actually made it in the conformist society of those days by first getting there, finding his place to fit into that specific social environment, playing by their rules, wearing their clothes and hairstyles. Afterwards he managed to grow and evolve both in a spiritual and a physical aspect keeping in mind all the dreads, but following his own ways in philosophy as well as in religion and in the general attitude as well as in the very words.
It is Bob Marley legend because he managed to bring reggae music to the non-African and non-Jamaican population of the world and made them love it as it was their own inborn spiritual legacy. He showed people the everlasting backbeat that goes along with the wailing soft words like "No Woman, No Cry" and "Is This Love...?"
Being qualified as the all-time finest reggae leader, Bob Marley is the person who made Rastafari be accepted and respected as a righteous life-principle and a real movement. And he managed to reach that goal with the help of "Rastaman Vibration " that he instilled into the quiet spiritual sound of "Haile Salassie" and curving up the rough sounds of rock. He managed to show people a different way to reach God.
Finally we can say Bob Marley legend because no matter where we were, what we were doing, what we were trying to get, or to escape from, he was always there, always ready to help and support us with his music and his words spreading his great spirit all over telling us that what we really need is just love, respect, unity and spirituality. Bob Marley helped all of us to" stir it up", to "put it on" and to "rock it baby", there was also encouragement in his words with "pass it on" with "stand alone" and with "keep on moving". All he did actually tell us through his music was that we should try living our lives according to our and to God's rules. He taught us to know what our rights are and to never quit until we get them granted and then use them properly.
About the Author
Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding the world of music. You can get interesting and informative information here at Bob Marley Legend

The Wall, Senator Clinton and Bob Marley
by eileen fleming


On November 15, 2005, Senator Clinton stood on the Jerusalem side of The Wall and was quoted in Ha'aretz, expressing support for The Wall because it "is against terrorists" and "not against the Palestinian people."
Senator Clinton did NOT visit the Little Town of Bethlehem in Occupied Territory, to see what The Wall has done to the Bethlehem economy. But I have.
On New Years Eve Day 2005, I visited a family who had just rebuilt their home in Dasheish, one of three fifty-eight year old refugee camps in Bethlehem.
The Habib [not real name] family had rebuilt on the very same spot after the Israeli Defense Force/IDF blew their former home up without reason and without any compensation. The usual reason given for home demolitions is for the building of The Wall, but the Habib residence is deep within the Dasheish refugee camp, and The Wall is at least three miles away. Mr. Habib told me that in 2004, the IDF banged on his door and informed the family that their home would be demolished within fifteen minutes. The family all got safely out but their home was but a memory a few moments later.
"No one in our family had ever been in any trouble with the Israeli government before and no family member had ever been arrested. They picked us to be an example of the power and control that Israel has to deny basic and inalienable human rights," Mr. Habib told me without any bitterness.
What impresses me most every time I go to Palestine, is that every Palestinian I speak with all have the most forgiving spirits and unflappable patience. I thought of Senator Clinton's inaccurate and insensitive remarks about The Wall not being against the Palestinian people, and wondered what she would say about Palestinian homes being destroyed without any reason at all.
An Uncle down the stairs from the Habib's also had his home blown away on the same day. Relatives took them all in, for the poor in Palestine take care of the poor and don't look to the government to do what people of good will, will do automatically: care for the widow, the orphan, the ill and the prisoner.
When ever I need a taxi while in Bethlehem or Jerusalem, I call Sam. He can comfortably transport eight and has an excellent sound system. Sam is an Orthodox Christian in the Syrian Church and has a gorgeous wife and two beautiful kids. Sam has VIP papers which enable him to chauffeur the Patriarchs around town without as much hassle as a regular Palestinian would have to endure at the checkpoints.
Sam, his wife and I rode to the Ben Gurion Airport, three hours prior to my 1 AM flight home on January 5, 2005. We talked a little but mostly we listened to the music of Bob Marley. When we arrived at the checkpoint at the entrance of the airport, Sam rolled down his window and smiled at the young soldier and said, "Shalom" but it sounded more like "Salaam."
Sam's VIP pass meant nothing to the soldier and we are all ordered to disembark and pull out all the luggage. My passport was demanded without a smile and Sam was led into the interrogation room while his wife and I stay out in the cold trying to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Another soldier examines and probes the van as he thoroughly looks for b-o-m-b-s. The paranoia I see in many Israeli's has got to be, some kind of holocaust hangover blinding them to the fact that the oppressed have now become the oppressors.
After Sam's van is thoroughly examined for b-o-m-b-s, I received my passport back marked with a red sticker upon it. Back in Sam's van his wife expertly removed the sticker and all the glue from my passport. The sticker brands one as having come through occupied territory. Sam informs me that my third degree would be airport securities territory and that was why the soldier never asked me any questions.
Sam smiled wryly as he told me, "This is what the Nazi's did to the Jews before the Holocaust when they made them wear the Star of David. They marked them as the enemy. Now anyone who knows Palestinians or visits occupied territory gets a sticker on their passport to label them as friends of the enemy."
Bob Marley and the Wailers erupt through the speakers: Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Don't give up the fight.
My luggage had been filled with Arabic nonviolent literature but Sam cautioned me to leave it all with him to avoid the extra hassle it could cause me during the routine questioning by airport security.
I left everything with him that I could get on the Internet but kept books, a CD and a DVD. Sam warns me on what I shouldn't say when I undergo my interrogation from the inquisitive employees at the Ben Gurion Airport.
While in Bethlehem I shared with many about my experience of having my computer confiscated by EL AL employees at JFK Airport, during my pre-flight checking in process. Every Palestinian told me "don't worry about it."
But every American I spoke with during my time in Israel and Palestine, freaked out when I told them about El Al confiscating my lap top for over an hour before I boarded the plane at JFK for my second trip to the Holy Land. Every American believed that they had downloaded my files, read my emails and perhaps even injected a Trojan into my soft ware. Those Americans had fallen into fear and paranoia, but Bob Marley and the Wailers is the way I choose to go:
Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Stand up for your rights Get up, stand up Don't give up the fight.
I had no fear of any airport security and I was determined I would answer honestly every question and keep smiling. Every employee I encountered smiled back at me and nobody asked me any 'explosive' questions. While three different young women examined and swabbed every item and surface in all my luggage I experienced frisson: the chill in the thrill of the rush you experience in a moment of delight, excitement or fear.
A young lady examiner came upon the book from the Holy Land Trust conference I had attended December 27-30, 2005 entitled: Celebrating Nonviolent Resistance.
The young examiner never looked my way, but she read the cover and scanned all the pages most thoroughly.
I wondered if perhaps a few seeds of thought were left germinating in Tel Aviv that night, but I forgot all about that when I landed in JFK fourteen hours later.
I had crashed for five solid hours out of the eleven hour flight. I awoke to vivid images of The Wall that remain brutally fresh in my mind.
In my minds eye, I still see the concrete boa constrictor and electrified fence that divides, separates, humiliates, dominates, controls and denies inalienable human rights to every Palestinian.
When I landed at JFK Airport, Terminal Two to wait three hours for my connection home, all I could think about was The Wall and all the injustice's I had witnessed during my second of sixteen days in Israel and Palestine. [My first 16 days are documented in my first book, "Keep Hope Alive"]
In January 2005, every local, taxi driver and would be terrorist knew all the many ways around the concrete boa constrictor and electrified fence which had enormous gaps, holes, and other ways to get around checkpoints and avoid The Bethlehem Terminal which divides the sister city of and from Jerusalem.
The Israeli government and Senator Clinton both claim The Wall is all for Security. I know better.
The concrete boa constrictor and electrified fence is a master plan to divide, separate, humiliate, dominate, control and deny inalienable human rights to the indigenous people of the Holy Land.
In Palestine and the Unrecognized Villages there are olive trees that were rooted centuries ago, for olive trees can live for thousands of years, if they are not plowed down. Twenty five olive trees can support a typical family in Gaza, the West Bank and in the Unrecognized Villages, Where every little child knows the names of the ancient olive trees, And they always be, Names of mommys, sisters and favorite aunts and uncles, For the olive trees are a member of their families.
In 1948, 20% of the total population of the Holy Land were Christian. Today they number less than 1.3% and continue to shrink fast.
Palestinian Christian roots go back to the first century when Christ promised: "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD." [Matthew 5:9]
At The Terminal in Bethlehem, upon the thirty foot high Wall, a hundred square foot sign from The Minister of Tourism hangs and proclaims in Orwellian logic: PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.
"Peace, peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace."-Jeremiah 6:14
For twelve days around Christmas 2005, I lived in the Little Town of Bethlehem in occupied territory. For twelve days I walked "through streets that were dead" [Bob Dylan] in the morning, noon and night and everywhere I did go, shops were closed, restaurants empty. A few locals would be around and tour buses would quickly come and go at the Church of The Nativity.
But stores remain closed and restaurants empty because tourists don't want to see, hear or know about occupied territory.
The Terminal is not The Way tourists in buses and taxis go; The Terminal is the way only Palestinians and the curious go, Who want to know what's really going down In the Holy Land: Which is in pieces.
Mr. Presidents, I plead, please tear down the concrete boa constrictor and electrified fence which has been deemed ILLEGAL by the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
Mr. Presidents, please imagine what a wonderful world it would be if you would plant olive trees and build playgrounds and construct bridges of community and global neighborhoods.
The Way to security is knowing ones neighbor, and ones neighbor is ones sister and brother, For everyone is a child of God.
To be blessed with Peace we must resist evil with good and God has already told us what is required: "Act justly, be merciful and walk humbly with your God."-Micah 6:8
"And the best you can do is forgive."-The Traveling Wilburys
About the Author
Eileen is a retired RN, activist, author, poet, reporter and editor of WAWA Blog: http://www.wearewideawake.org She returns to the West Bank in November 2006 and will be reporting on WAWA.

Love Is My Religion Ziggy Marley
by Karen Fish



Ziggy Marley is a singer songwriter and the son of the father of Reggae Bob Marley. In his blog "love" of Sept. 7, 2006 posted on his website http://www.myspace.com/ziggymarley Ziggy Marley says to his many fans:
"We had a good time out there (touring) from Europe to Israel to the U.S. to Canada. The preliminary mission was a success now we enter into the second phase. It's not about seling records it's about opening minds and shining the light the truth is within us. We just have to open our minds to realize it. It's like I found or rediscovered this great new food and it taste so good and makes me feel so good. I want all my friends to try it. So I hope everyone is in a positive mood whatever that may be for you, and thanks for the love. I apprecilove it. Talk to ya soon. Love, Ziggy"
Here is a comment posted on Ziggy Marley's blog "love", which is a letter from Karen Fish of The Temple of Love Religion to Ziggy Marley posted today Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 9:11 AM:
"Hi Ziggy, Here are some synchronicities between your song lyrics from your song "Love is my Religion" and The Temple of Love Religion. http://www.thetempleoflove.com/ In your song the lyrics are "Lets go fly a kite". 4 children flying a kite is the logo of the Temple of Love. "I don't want to fight." The Temple of Love is also called The World Peace Religion. "I'll take you to the Temple tonight." "Bring all the lovers to the fold." This is the message at the bottom of page 4 of the Temple of Love website. The kite is also a barn, a Temple. We bring all the 10vers to the fold. We bring in everyone. Read the last paragraph of the website. Madonna has Kaballah. Cat Stevens has Islam. Everyone has Christianity - Christina Aguilera. We need you to trumpet The Temple of Love on your website, on your tours, in your interviews. Search "unites Christianity Islam Judaism". There are a thousand results all ours. Only The Temple of Love makes peace among and unites Christianity Islam Judaism and Everyone else as the first step towards world peace. Right now these 3 religions are at world war with each other leading us all into the extinction of life on Earth forever. You have the opportunity to prevent the Apocalypse. Please help. Every child on Earth is depending upon you to save them from the real live fire of Nuclear World War 3. Yours truly, Karen Fish"
My letter to Ziggy Marley is an open letter to every celebrity who wants to use his or her fame to help The Temple of Love try to save every child on Earth from the onrushing fires of the Apocalypse, Nuclear World War 3.
About the Author
Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California. The Temple of Love http://www.thetempleoflove.com/

Katrina: The Big One
by John F. Burnett


John F. Burnett is the author of "Uncivilized Beasts and Shameless Hellions."
Storm refugees, nearly all of them black, are on the move throughout the city. And they are refugees, as in, people fleeing misfortune and seeking refuge. NPR and other news organizations caved to pressure from critics who did not like the word. We substituted "evacuees." Some listeners thought "refugee" carried a pejorative foreign connotation, something that happens in Sudan or Somalia but never the United States. That's precisely why I preferred the term. I hoped it would shock people into realizing that an American city had sunk to Third World conditions.
Hawke and I hop out of the truck to interview a ragged string of refugees walking up Howard on the way to the Superdome, trailed by an obese woman in stretch shorts. "I got a bad heart. I ain't got no business travelin' like this," she says.
A woman with matted hair in a Tweety Bird T-shirt says, "We slept all night on the bridge. They say go across the river and the buses will pick us up. Now they're turnin' us all around. We need somebody who knows what's goin' on!"
I ask more questions, but they want answers. Where to get a meal? Where to find a bus?
"Tell the truth," a young man in a Bob Marley T-shirt asks in exasperation. "Y'all care about us?"
"Of course we do," Hawke replies.
"Well, help us," he says sharply. "They got people layin' up there on the bridge dyin' . . . I know y'all want our story, but we need help!"
We don't know where they should go, either. And we're worried that if we hand out the little food and water we have in the truck, we'll cause a scene. Still, he makes a powerful point: We need a story; he needs a rescue.
A couple of weeks later, a listener will e-mail NPR and ask, "What about the demands of suffering humanity? Do you ever feel that journalism is an inadequate response to the tragedies you report on?" Other listeners suggest we should have turned our sat phone over to the cops after they lost communication.
The role of journalist as detached chronicler or part-time rescuer will be discussed intensely after Katrina. Purists argue that journalists should never participate in a story -- period. We bear witness to history; we don't step into it. But it's not that simple. We don't leave our humanity at home when we cover a disaster. Anytime I, as a journalist, record a person in misery and then walk away, I feel like the photographer who queasily described his role, saying, "We came to take our trophies and left." There's something unbecoming about that behavior, particularly if we can offer a small kindness without neglecting our job.
Later in the week, Hawke and I hand out water and snacks to individual refugees we encounter, and the NPR crew gives four desperate Canadian tourists a ride to Baton Rouge. I heard of other journalists using their news boats to rescue people. I believe you do what you can, but you never let go of the story. And on this story, in particular, journalists will perform a service by being on the ground and in the water to show the world and our own government the terrible conditions in New Orleans.
The unrelenting sun turns the morning into a sauna. I crank up the Ford's A/C and think sadly about the people stuck in the sweltering Superdome or sitting on their rooftops. This is the same heat wave that warmed the gulf and created the monster hurricane. Our world is heating up. There could well be more Katrinas in future summers. But at the moment, they've got to fix this one.
In the Rose Garden, President Bush ticks off all the federal aid bound for New Orleans: 400 trucks transporting 5.4 million meals, 13.4 million liters of water, 10,400 tarps, 3.4 million pounds of ice, 144 generators, 135,000 blankets. It probably sounds reassuring to people everywhere but here, where they know the truth. The relief effort -- if there is one -- has fallen into chaos. No one is in charge. Storm survivors are adrift in the gulf of New Orleans. The city needs every thing -- food, water, buses, boats, doctors, soldiers, ice, and body bags. And what does Governor Blanco do? She calls for a statewide Day of Prayer.
I zigzag through fallen limbs along St. Charles Avenue, famed for its Mardi Gras parades and formerly shady oaks. When I spot more refugees wading up the street, I pull onto the streetcar tracks and kill the engine. We climb out and introduce ourselves to Latoya Solomon, a 24-year-old hotel employee who's walking with 12 members of her family, from a tot happily splashing along the pavement to a grim old woman in an orange life vest. As soon as my first question is out, Solomon starts to rant. "The water's off, the light's off, everything's flooded, everything's soakin' wet, we can't eat, we can't cook, stores ain't open. We thirsty. What? What? I don't see nobody tryin' to help us. Everybody just walkin' around lookin' lonesome. This ain't gonna work," she says. I wish I could put her on live with the president.
Reprinted from: Uncivilized Beasts and Shameless Hellions: Travels with an NPR Correspondent by John F Burnett © 2006 John F Burnett. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling at (800) 848-4735. www.rodale.com
About the Author
John F. Burnett has been in the midst of the biggest news stories of our age, and 2005 marked his 20th year reporting for National Public Radio. He is the recipient of a 2004 Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting and a 2003 National Headliner Award for Investigative Reporting. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Rastalocks
by Kristy Pass

You've heard about dreadlocks, know they became popular as the fame of singer songwriter Bob Marley grew and have probably even read about their history. But do you know why you should get dreadlocks?
There are many reasons for wearing dreadlocks and looking like one of the stars is one of them. If that's your motivation, you can emulate Lenny Kravitz, Whoopie Goldberg, Rob Zombie, Ani DiFranco, or even the famous Rastafarian Bob Marley himself. There is no doubt that by sporting dreadlocks you'll be making a strong fashion statement. Like the actors, athletes and every day people that have come before you, you're dreadlocks will certainly draw attention.
Perhaps, though, your motivation for dreadlocks is of a spiritual nature. Rastafarians since the 1930's have been wearing dreadlocks to echo their belief system citing the Bible verse Leviticus 21:5: "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh." Even the term "dreadlocks" is a form of spirituality signifying the "a fear of the Lord". The Sadhus and Sadhvis or Indian holy men and women believed their dreadlocks were sacred and helped them remember that physical appearances were not important. In China, though, dreadlocks were thought to bring good health.
Another reason for wearing dreadlocks is as a form of self and group expression. The Cyber Goth movement in Europe and Ravers in the United States are wearing dreadlock wigs and extensions made with brightly colored fibers. Many people view it as a statement of ethnic pride including people who are honoring their Celtic and Viking ancestry. Dreadlocks have been called a symbol of black unity and power as well as the outward display for environmental activism. Even the rock scene is joining the creative expressionists as artists like Rob Zombie and Mike Borden choose dreadlocks over the former metal mania norm of long hair.
There's one last reason you should get dreadlocks; Freedom. Whether you want to wear your hair down and flowing, bound on the top of your head, pulled back in a rubber band, covered with a shroom hat or even going every which way in a dreadlock version of spikes, you can because with dreadlocks you are not tied to a comb and your style is only limited by your imagination.
So take the plunge and get your killer Rastalocks today.
About the Author
Kristy Pass is a stay at home mom, marketing mentor, and amatuer writer. If you've found her latest article helpful, you'll love what you find at http://gkpass.infopal.hop.clickbank.net/

A Tee Shirt May Make You a Walking Billboard

by Anthony Palladino
Copyright 2005 Anthony Palladino


Tee Shirt History
The tee shirt is nearly a century old (origin 1919) and is well becoming one of the most enduring symbols of youthful culture and expression. The walking advertisement of late twentieth-century American culture got its start as a humble item of men's underwear and got its name because when spread flat it formed a stubby letter T.
Its little sleeves and round collar distinguished the tee shirt from the standard sleeveless undershirt of the day. The sleeves may also have helped bring the tee shirt out of hiding in the 1930's and 1940's, since they offered a gesture toward modesty as well as a cache for a pack of cigarettes.
Dressing Up the Basic Tee Shirt
Once they were in view, tee shirts became canvasses for images and messages. In addition to basic white, they soon came in all colors and sizes; and equally important, they displayed first the emblems of schools and teams, and then every design or slogan imaginable.
Today a public event is hardly complete without its accompanying tee shirt. Whether it's a rock concert or a walk for cancer, you'll be sure to find a tee shirt commemorating the event.
Cold weather doesn't slow us down; we just cover the tee shirt with a sweatshirt, a 1925 American invention; or layer a tee over a long sleeve shirt. Some even refer to the long sleeve version of the short sleeve original as a "Long Sleeve tee shirt". Short or long, today, the tee shirt is a staple in just about everyone's wardrobe.
The Walking Billboard
And why do tee shirts never seem to fall out of favor? Because the tee shirt is the single most powerful form of individual expression for the average person.
When you wear a tee shirt with an embellishment on it, everyone may not interpret the embellishment the same way, but one thing is for sure, there is no question as to who is delivering the message. In today's world, there are lots of powerful tools that are accessible to those with something to say.
There is the Internet and all of its devices such as email, personal websites, blogs and forums, chat rooms, etc. And the more traditional forms of expression still exist such as writing - stories, letters, poems; or even art such as painting or sculpting. But with all of these aforementioned mediums through which one may express itself, there is none as powerful as the "Walking Billboard".
When you sport a tee shirt, you can't hide who you are and what you are thinking. If you wear a shirt that says "eat shit and die" everyone who crosses your path will know that you are a really angry person or a person with a very sick sense of humor...or maybe both.
Tee Shirts Online and Buying Trends
Now, hundreds upon thousands of tee shirts are available to us all, online. Whether you are looking for a novelty tee shirt with a raunchy saying or a political tee with a strong message, you will find no shortage of inventory in cyberspace.
The most popular sectors of the custom tee shirt market include Novelty tees, Skate and Surf tees, Hip Hop tees, High Fashion tees, Famous People tees, and Design It Yourself (DIY) tees.
At present, the fastest growing niche in the market seems to be that of Design It Yourself tees. While consumers are not getting tired of what the designers and retailers are offering, an increasingly large number of consumers seem to want to let their own creative juices flow and design their own.
Famous People Tees are Hot
Another emerging niche in the custom tee shirt market is Famous People tees, which offers original works of art that interpret icons of past and present. Some of the more popular icons to be featured are Bob Marley, Madonna, Che Guevara, and Al Pacino as Scarface.
Whatever your taste in tee shirts, just be prepared to take criticism, comment, or praise from those who view whatever it is you're advertising!
About the Author
Anthony Palladino is a cofounder of Icon Tees, a New Jersey firm that has developed an original line of tee shirts featuring popular icons like Madonna, Bruce Lee, Frank Sinatra, Run DMC and many more. Check out http://www.icontees.com/ and say what you want without having to say a word.

T-Shirt Designers Say "Black Icons Are Cool"

by Anthony Palladino
Copyright 2006 Anthony Palladino


What's hip in t-shirt design, you ask? T-shirt designers say nothing's cooler than Black Icons. Yes, they mean African American Pop Icons...visionaries, entertainers, athletes, and activists. And why are t-shirts with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor, George Clinton, and Martin Luther King Junior all the rage? Because these brothers are cool....real cool. Is it the color of their skin? Is it their fame? Is it their struggle? Is it what they've accomplished? It's all of that, but most of all it's because they're all leaders in their own right. And people, regardless of race, respect and admire people who take charge. And if you're a brother in charge, well then more power to ya.
Some fashion critics say it's also the Hip Hop movement that's bringing famous brothers and sisters to the fashion forefront. Recent polls show that Hip Hop gear is the most popular attire for American kids in their early teens to mid-twenties. Thanks to Hip Hop pioneers like Russell Simmons, chairman & CEO of Rush Communications, which founded Def Jam Recordings and Phat Farm Clothing and Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment and Sean John Clothing, the Hip Hop lifestyle has gone mainstream. Kids and young adults from all over the world are embracing the music, clothing, and swaggerous way of living that is Hip Hop.
So who's wearing black icon tees? Everyone...from the girl next door to the biggest names in entertainment and sports...Rappers, Singers, Actors, Athletes, street kids, and even silver spooners are repping their favorite black icon.
P. Diddy has been sporting t-shirts embellished with images of his friend and rap prodigy the late Notorious BIG, since shortly after his death. Diddy has also been known to wear other late greats such as Marvin Gaye and Jam Master Jay. Rappers The Game and Snoop Dogg have been photographed wearing their West Coast mentor and friend Tupac Shakur. Producer, songwriter Wyclef Jean has been spotted wearing Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Junior, and Dr. Malcolm X Shabazz.
Kids all over America are wearing black icons...black inner city youth and white suburbanites alike. The fad which started in the streets probably made it to the burbs by way of television through music videos and other forms of entertainment.
In a predominantly white middle school in New Jersey one student has came up with an interesting class project for black history month. He has proposed that on the first Friday in February everyone in his history class wear a t-shirt embellished with a black icon. They will get partial credit for participating in the project, but will be graded on how well they deliver a biographical speech about the icon they are wearing.
Who's popular? O.K., so now you're wondering if it is cool to wear any old black icon on your chest. Well, the answer is yes, but in case you don't want to chance it, here is a list of some of the more popular black icon tees.
Music: Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Aaliyah, Jimi Hendrix, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Miles Davis, Tupac. Sports: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Don King, Dr. J., 1968 Olympic Protest, Jim Brown. Activists: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks. T.V. & Movie Personalities: Richard Pryor, Red Foxx as Fred Sanford, Jimmy Walker as JJ, Fred Berry as Rerun, Fat Albert.
How much do the cost and where are they sold? These shirts usually cost between $12 on the very low end to $30 on the high end. But the average price for a quality tee shirt is about 20 bucks. You'll find these shirts just about anywhere you look. Huge department stores like Target and Wal*Mart carry them, but the cooler, more original shirts can be found in the small boutique type apparel stores in most major cities or on the Internet.
About the Author
Anthony Palladino is a cofounder of Icon Tees, a New Jersey firm that has developed an original line of tee shirts featuring popular black icons like Notorious B.I.G., Muhammad Ali, Tupac Shakur, Prince, Run DMC and many more. Check out http://www.icontees.com/

Bob Marley - Ongoing History

by All The Lyrics


Robert Nesta Marley, who is better known as Bob Marley has been regarded as a Rastafarian prophet at his native land of Jamaica. He has entered the world music scene for a long presence, traced even after his death. Bob Marley wass famous of popularizing the reggae genre outside of Jamaica. Presently, his relative successors resume Bob Marley's art activity. Bob Marley is father to 12 children and they all follow the path of their parent.
The four eldest children Ziggy, Sharon, Cedella and Stephen recorded their first single "Children Playing in the Streets" in the early childhood. The song was written by Bob Marley for the Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers band, comprising his four children. They toured and played joint gigs with Bob Marley, who strived to unite children, and thus organized them into a band.
In 1985 the Ziggy Marley and Melody Makers released their first album "Play the Game Right", which was nominated for a Grammy in the late 1985. Another CD album "Conscious Party" was released in 1988 and immediately became the platinum one. It was critically and popularly successful and included a song, later on nominated for the Grammy as the Best Reggae Recording. The band is now experiencing an art lull. All the members are mainly engaged in promoting their solo carriers. Stephen Marley also came up with an idea to cooperate with his brothers Rohan, Julian and Damian to launch the project "Ghetto Youths International", created to promote young talented musicians of Jamaica.
The youngest son of Bob Marley a Grammy-winning reggae artist Damian is now facing his golden age. As of 2006 he released three albums. The "Welcome to JamRock" was nominated for as many as four international awards and became the 2002 recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Damien has been performing since he was 13, unlike his siblings his musical speciality is "DJing", the Jamaican style of "rapping", which some consider a predecessor of modern hip-hop.
About the Author
Article sourse: Bob Marley - Ongoing History.

A Brief History of Epiphone Guitars

by William McRea


When thinking about the history of Epiphone, one must start in Greece where Anastasios Stathopoulos made lioutos (a Greek stringed instrument), mandolins, fiddles, and lutes. The family moved to New York, and his son, Epi Stathopoulos inherited the company in 1915.
The company name changed from the House of Stathopoulos to Epiphone, a combination of his name and the Greek word for sound. The change was made official in 1928. It was during this time that the company was active in making banjos, and they even bought out a banjo company in Long Island. After the change was approved, the company became the Epiphone Banjo Co.
Epiphones guitars were launched in 1931. This was a full line of what are known as archtop guitars, a style that is popular with jazz and blues musicians. They quickly became one of the top guitar produces with Gibson being one of their biggest rivals. Notable Epiphone players of that time include Tony Mottola with the George Hall band and two band members of Benny Goodman.
Epi unfortunately died of leukemia and left the company to Orphie, who before his death was the second in command. His other brother, Frixo, became the Vice President. The two brothers later have a feud and Frixo sells his stock. After that, company had some trouble and eventually stopped producing a lot of instruments.
In 1957, Chicago Musical Instrument purchased Epiphone and made them a division of Gibson. Epiphone now still maintains their own line of guitars and the Gibson and Epiphone labels remain separate.
Current Epiphone models include a few Gibson copies (Epiphones version of the Flying-V and Les Paul are a few examples), and a few original Epiphone lines. The original guitars include all the versions of the Casino, Zephyr, and Sheraton, the Wildkat, the Broadway, and the Emporer.
Epiphone has had some famous endorsees. Both George Harrison and John Lennon played Epiphone Casinos. Lennon is famous for his personal modifications to the Casino. Other artists include Bob Marley, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Lars Frederickson or Rancid, and Chad of Nickelback. For a complete list of artists, visit the Epiphone website . The list is quite extensive.
Here are what some uses have to say about Epiphone guitars (source Harmony Central):
About the Epiphone G-400 Custom
Action was really good. Finish was ok. Definately looks different than the rest of the pack. Gold hardware is gorgeous. The custom logo shined in the stage lights. I had to have it and I had fun with it for a few years.
This guitar is solid. Never goes out of tune. Hardware will dull a bit over the years. Strap buttons are solid. Careful with the neck dive on stage. Very top heavy.
About the Epiphone Flying Vee-Wee
I absolutely love this guitar!!! The VeeWee is the perfect shape for lap you can rest your hand on the upper arm of the V, or put it your hand in the point of the V to pick right near the bridge. The controls and cord jack are in the perfect position for lap style as well. Since it is so small and inexpensive, I carry it with me everywhere. I would not dream of bringing my Les Paul into the office, but this VeeWee is perfect for break time noodling. As I mentioned, the sound is great. I now own 5 guitars, and my lap-steel PeeVee wins the Most Fun award hands down!
About the Author
Guitar Warehouse is your place to Buy Guitar and other musical gear. We also offer a wide range of free guitar lessons and tips.

Buying a Band T Shirt Online

by Johnny Hayden


What is it that Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Green Day and the Grateful Dead all have in common? We could easily add in Guns 'n' Roses, Motley Crue and Johnny Cash to the bunch if that'll make it easier for you! What about Velvet Revolver, John Lennon and the Clash? Each of these musical artists and bands is captured for an eternity on t-shirts for you to proudly display as one of your all-time, personal favorites.
Band t shirts began to make their mark in history books at the end of the sixties when bands began to tour nationally and play the larger venues. The demanding concertgoers of the day wanted more than a ticket stub to remember the event, so t-shirts began being sold at the show itself. Before you knew what happened, t-shirts with band logos, photos and other types of insignia started popping up in music specialty stores across the country. As the demand grew, so did the number of stores that carried the shirts, and the bands came out with more and more designs for customers to buy.
As the years passed, some of the greats of music history passed, too. Janis Joplin and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin both lost their lives to alcohol; Bob Marley lost a battle with cancer; Jimi Hendrix took sleeping pills and never awoke; therefore the show did not go on. The demand for t-shirts continued to grow, even when the artist or band was no longer performing. As a remembrance of their favorites, t-shirt sales did nothing but increase through the years as their music lived on for future generations to enjoy.
You can buy all sorts of band t-shirts at the mall, department stores and specialty shops across the country, but finding the exact shirt that you're looking for in the size that you require can be a difficult and/or frustrating task, to say the least. The time spent, not to mention the fuel that you'd use driving from one store to another is hardly worth the effort, not to mention that you'll probably give up from pure aggravation.
The Internet has yet again made the most of variety and convenience, offering a wide variety of band t-shirts, commemorating the latest in music, the classics and absolutely everything in between, usually in one online locale- all just a few clicks away. No matter what your musical taste, or that of you family and friends for whom you may be searching for the perfect gift, beginning your band t-shirt shopping online will save you a lot of time and energy, as you will undoubtedly end up completing your shopping on the world wide web.
About the Author
Johnny Hayden recommends that you visit http://www.band.com/ for more information on buying a band t shirt.

Caribbean Festivals Show Island Culture

by Jennifer Smith


Cold winters mean many travelers head to the Caribbean for a break from the snow and ice, but freezing temperatures aren't the only reason to stop in on these islands. No matter what your interests are, you're sure to find something to do in the islands year-round, particularly when you consider the many delightful festivals that take place on the isles.
Carnival Events
The best-known Caribbean festival is Carnival, which is sometimes spelled "Carnaval." Many islands celebrate this annual event just before Ash Wednesday, but the dates do vary from island to island. This event is generally an island-wide party, so while some parents with younger children may not consider Carnival the most appropriate festival, those interested in experiencing a genuine slice of island culture will usually enjoy this event.
These traditional Carnival dates are followed throughout much of the Dutch and French Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy, and Saint Martin - but not Sint Maarten. The Dominican Republic, Dominica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago also share these Carnival dates.
In Sint Maarten, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, and Jamaica, Carnival falls directly during Easter week, while those in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico continue their celebrations from the week before into Easter itself. Vacationers can enjoy Carnival on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands toward the end of April.
With Sint Eustatius (also known as Statia), St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda travelers can take part in the festivities of a Caribbean Carnival in July. Grenada's Carnival falls in August while St. Kitts' is celebrated for a week beginning on Christmas Eve.
Each island has its own style of celebration, but one thing you can be sure to find is a distinct expression of an island's culture. Carnival is particularly known for its festivities filled with colorful and traditional characters from island lore. Often, a king and queen are named for the event and, though all Carnival celebrations include music, on some islands musicians vie for competitive titles. If you're looking for a sure way to see and hear the best the islands have to offer, Carnival is one cultural event you shouldn't miss.
Mass Music
Music may be required for Carnival celebrations, but it is also something islanders take particular pride in. Islands often host annual festivals featuring the cream of the crop in reggae, jazz, soca, and more. With so many music festivals in the region, it's easy to find one year-round.
One of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, the Barbados Jazz Festival is called "Paint it Jazz." The event is generally held early in the year, around the middle of January, which is the same month a different type of crowd comes to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the St. Croix Blues and Heritage Festival. Travelers can enjoy Jamaican styles at the Negril Music Festival the following month.
In May, the sounds of jazz are everywhere. Curaçao's KLM Jazz Festival happens early in the month, but mid-month the St. Lucia International Jazz Festival opens its doors. At the end of May, those who like jazz can also stop in at the Jazz Festival on Antigua or visit Puerto Rico for the Heineken Jazz Festival.
Sample something different in June at the St. Kitts Music Festival, or enjoy Jamaican jazz at the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival. Those who enjoy reggae may also want to be on the island in late July or early August for the Reggae Sumfest. Latin dance fans also have something to look forward to in July, when the Dominican Republic hosts the Merengue Festival.
Curaçao invites travelers to experience jazz again at the Curaçao Jazz Festival in early October, but those who would like to stop in the Dominican Republic can also enjoy the Annual Jazz Festival early in the month. While Jamaica kicks things off in November with the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Trinidad is host to the Pan Jazz Festival mid-month.
Those who like music, particularly jazz, will always find it in the Caribbean, but a music festival in these islands is a unique experience. Throughout the Caribbean you'll find these and plenty more musical festivals to enjoy each year.
Local Socials
While some loves and festivals, like music and Carnival, are shared throughout the Caribbean region, each island has its own unique festivals as well. These many include Independence Day or the celebration of a ruler's birth, there are some traditional festivals that differ among the islands. Of course, most islands host plenty of local festivals, but some of the most famous parties include the following:
*Reggae lovers will find plenty to enjoy on the island of Jamaica around January 6th, when Reggae Sunsplash coincides with the Bob Marley Birthday Bash.
*Puerto Rico celebrates its agriculture with a Coffee Harvest Festival for its popular mountain brew. You can celebrate alongside the locals in mid-February.
*Pirates Week is a popular time to enjoy the Cayman Islands, especially for the young at heart, while the islands celebrate their history. Pirates come to the spotlight alongside the islands' seafaring past during the last week of October.
*The nautically inclined can also enjoy Antigua Sailing Week at the end of April. This popular celebration has included as many as 1,500 participants, with 5,000 onlookers watching some of the world's top sailors.
*Historically, Barbadian field workers celebrated the end of the growing season in July or early August, and this tradition has carried forward in the form of Barbados' Crop Over Festival, one of the best-known Caribbean events.
No matter when you're planning a trip to the islands, you're sure to encounter a culture with a cause for celebration. On some islands, towns each have their own local festivals and events, while on others you may find commonly celebrated Caribbean pastimes. Either way, celebrations are a fun way to round out any trip to the Caribbean.
About the Author
Jennifer Smith writes for StLucia-Guide.info, Jamaica-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.
© 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc.Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

Caribbean Art Brightens More Than Walls

by Jennifer Smith


Arts have always been one of the most important aspects of Caribbean culture. As more and more artists from the region attract international acclaim and attention, the unique style of Caribbean painters is becoming accessible to wider and more diverse audiences.
Music and literature are, perhaps, the best-known Caribbean art forms, with famous names like musician Bob Marley and poet Derek Walcott creating works the whole world enjoys. But painting is growing as a recognized form of expression. Such colorful depictions of island life are especially popular in Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica.
Art History
The unique sights and sounds of the Caribbean have always been an inspiration to any who experience them. The bright colors of the region's landscapes and vibrant personalities of its people are particularly important in the region. The Caribbean's art history does contain a few surprises. Both Camille Pissarro and John Audubon, famous artists, were born in the Caribbean. Although their styles are not typical of the area, they have been influential in the development of regional art.
Pissarro was born on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, then at the age of 12 he moved to France. After he completed school, Pissarro returned to St. Thomas. When he moved to Paris a second time, Pissarro became very influential among the Impressionists. Similarly, John Audubon was born in Haiti and moved to France at a young age. His study of birds took off during his later move to America.
However, Europe may only lay claim to some of the influences behind Caribbean artwork. African and Latin American styles are also strongly represented. African colors and people are often the subjects of paintings, with shades of Latin American styles to influence the images.
Artistic Discovery
Fine Caribbean art can be found on many islands, but Cuban artists have been flourishing since the beginning of the 20th century. The political strife on Haiti and Cuba in particular have provided island artists the opportunity to express complex emotions and political beliefs through their paintings.
Cuba's Wilfredo Lam was one of the first Caribbean artists to gain worldwide recognition. An associate of both Picasso and Georges Braque, which added to his success, he was widely respected. The popularity of Lam quickly turned the art world's attention toward the entire region.
Fine works of art can be found on islands throughout the Caribbean, including Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. The Internet has also helped art aficionados access these unique styles by allowing people to view artists' works online without having to catch a plane or physically travel to a gallery or museum that features Caribbean artists - though many of the world's most famous galleries now have Caribbean collections.
However, fine works of art from many countries throughout the Caribbean also make popular souvenirs for those who do visit. Travelers enjoy bringing them home, and, luckily, fine arts are not included in the customs allowance for travelers returning to the United States from the Caribbean.
For anyone who craves visual art that is unique and refreshing, the beautiful works of Caribbean painters are a breath of fresh air. Artists who use the Caribbean's one-of-a-kind scenery and lifestyle as the basis for their art provide a new and creative way to view paradise.
About the Author
Jennifer Smith writes for Jamaica-Guide.info, StKitts-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.
© 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc.Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

Bob Marley: Legend - The Greatest Hits Album

by Glen B. Porter


The album Bob Marley Legend is one of the best albums of all time, especially in the realm of pop. Bob Marley Legend tells you the story of the world- famous Bob Marley and the Wailers, by having such classic tracks and all time hits as Buffalo Soldier, Stir it Up, Get Up Stand Up, Is This Love, just to name a few. Marley is one of the most phenomenal musicians in history, and almost single-handedly pioneered the art of reggae music. It is a testament to him that, despite the fact that he is probably more famous worldwide than all other reggae artists combined, he is still adored and respected in his native Jamaica rather than resented for permanently acing the rest of the local music.
Whenever I am feeling depressed with the way things are, I like to put on Bob Marley Legend and dream about a better world. I see clearly why it is like by hippies, frat boys, rastas, and college kids of all kinds. Bob Marley has managed to capture the virility of life, the spirit of youth and rebellion which is lacking from this modern life. The Wailers did more than revolutionize music - Bob Marley and his band with their tuneful groove and deep bass hooks helped to transform life itself for all of us.
Bob Marley Legend was one of the first albums I've heard in college, which is a fairly typical story. Many people started their love affair with a band this way. Something about the smooth, timeless groove of the Wailers makes it perfect for the dorm parties we had so often back then. My first girl friend in college was a huge Bob Marley Legend fan, and used to like to put it on whenever we were together. It is just the mellowest thing possible, and I can't imagine how I can live without those breezy melodies.
Although he is admired by fans of all kinds, Bob Marley Legend was originally radical music meant to bring to the world's attention the plight of average Jamaicans under tight clasps of poverty as well as political disenchantment and disenfranchisement.
Bob Marley himself always triumphed for noble causes such as independence and the right of ordinary people, and his radical spirit is still fresh in the songs that he plays. Wailers songs are not just meant as party music, although of course, they are lots of fun to party too. They are meant to make the listener feel a thirst for justice and peace, and sow the seeds of hope for a better world.
About the Author
Linda E. Joy is a writer for The Arts Magazine. The site provides readers with the latest insights and write-ups on all things and family oriented, and much more.