Scratchie’s World

Seems that Cable and Wireless is living up to the popular bastardization of its name to careless and wuthliss (worthless). Some time ago they introduced a calling plan that would see user paying a set monthly fee and in return would receive a block of minutes for calls to the US and Canada. Well only months later the cap is now reduced and customers are peeved to say the least. Personally, I think we should boycott C &W. In fact I have just reactivated my Digicel chip and I am relegating my C & W sim card to a maybe phone.  It seems as if anything to benefit the consumer is above and beyond this “service” provider. I will agree that the minutes initially offered may be a little over the top but they have literally slashed the allocation by 90%. Many persons returned to C&W because of this feature and many stayed because of it. The received customers through their partner/client EZ Mobile but I can promise you this, they won’t be getting my $1000 per month for the pitance they are offering. I am forced to use them because of my physical location within my office and will only be addding my usual prepaid minutes, but I still take satisfaction in telling them…C&W….up yours……  

I am reading with some amazement the headline story in today’s paper where it puts forward a story about the just concluded Jazz and Blues festival in the western section of the island. Seems as if the personal preferences of a “star” comes before the needs of the paying fans. In this modern day and age which seasoned performer can expect not to be recorded at a major event. Stupidity seems to know no boundaries I guess. Jamaicans are easy fans to please. Go out there sing their favourite songs, talk to them and yuh criss. On the other hand, they are extremely serious about what they want and what they pay to see. Miss Ross has lost a lot of respect here and I honestly can’t say I blame the fans. I can say without even thinking that she is lucky to have made it off the stage without being “bottled”. Many an artiste have found themselves on the receiving end of projectiles after infuriating large crowds. Somehow I doubt that she will be contracted for anything events in Jamaica in the near future. Artistes need to remember that the fans pay the bills. Lose the fans and you lose their money.

I can’t believe that so much time has passed since I wrote here. Well let me at least say that circumstances have changed for me and so you will have noticed a reduced number of posts and visits.  I am now on my new assignment. I had indicated that I had applied for a new post in the operational area of my organization. I am pleased to announce that I was selected from a field of 5 applicants and am now a couple grades higher than when I last wrote. With the new responsibility however comes less down time. I am also now supervisor to 5 persons so things get hectic. While in HR I could pace myself and so had a bit of time for posting and reading but at this new post the time is dictated by the demands of each day. I am also on my feet a lot more so the compi will stay for days on end without me turning it on. I am also no longer in a little corner by myself so privacy is an issue. Weekends never worked for me since the children are always onlie so…..

I actually considered closing the blog but decided that I will continue to maintain it as long as I can. Things are good and I am actually enjoying my new role. I miss HR but I’m still able to apply much of what I did to this new desk. We’ll see how things go over the next few months.

’til I get another chance to write…take care.

This blog pays tribute to Mr. Herb McKinley who died yesterday.

Image from the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association Limited website.  http://www.jaaaltd.com/Archives.htm

I had the privilege of meeting him a few years ago when he visited an exhibition put on by my organization. Even then, well past his running prime, the demeanour of this larger than life Jamaican turned many a heads as he moved through the exhibition. I won’t get into his accomplishments or stories of his conquests. I will add my condolences to his family and instead end with “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You have toiled well now enjoy the fruits of your labour. Rest in Peace.

It’s so funny how life throws curve balls at you. For those who have been following this story of the over aged college student (now grauate) you would have read my journey through studies in HR. Well the Monday after I graduated I made an application for a job outside of my field in fact in the job would be in a totally different environment. I would remain with my company but would no longer be in HR. Well I was advised yesterday that I was being appointed to the position. I will therefore leave HR in a week or two for new ground.

I’m of mixed feelings since I spent the last five years of my life devoted to HR studies and the last 15 years in the profession. So after 5 years of studying I will get to use my newfound knowledge for all of one month. I really shouldn’t look at it like that since what I studied solidifies what I have been doing for the past 15 years.

I know several other things will also change since I won’t have access to the internet as freely and it will involve much more montoring of persons etc. Right now I am having trouble with both internet at home and internet at office so my viewing and commenting is next to zero. C & W has me moving at snail pace so I’m internetless until they decide to have pity on me.  So we’ll chat again soon.

Edit: Well C&W decide to help me out a little yesterday. Internet at home was behaving slightly better than snails pace but still not up to what I’m paying for. It seems to be behaving a little better at work too hence a few comments here and there. These uitlity companies have you by the genitals.

Well my stint at college is finally over. As of the 3rd of November I am officially out on my rear end from school. I am now, for all intents and purpose, a university graduate. The valedictorian cried as she dedicated her degree to her mother. I dedicate mine to my family and friends who stuck with me through the fight.  All I will say right now is that I’m grateful.

It also with some amzement that I was also awarded the the only “1st class” honours degree in my major. I say this against the background of being 1) an older student and 2) studying part-time 3) and finally a male student (was just reminded by a friend that usually females dominate the scholastic arena). I’m happy. All the hard work and dedication to the task paid off and I can see the results.

Congrats to all who graduated recently (and along the same lines as my edit, there were notably quite a few males who received 1st class honours in their courses of study, to the point where the ladies were all but overshadowed at the function).

Well yesterday morning wifey and I got up and realized that there was absolutely no bread in the house so we decided to make fried dumplings (johnny cakes). Now, we have never successfully managed to create fried dumplings that are easy on the mouth but today we decided to give it our best shot. Wifey made the dough mix…flour, salt, baking powder…no problem. She turned over the dough to me for rolling into those little round shapes that would become our breakfast.

We decided that since past experiences were still evident we would deep-fry the dumplings. Seven or so went into the pot of extremely hot oil. Five (5) minutes later the dumplings are still not their expected  colour so leave them on for a few more minutes.

All of a sudden explosions are heard. Scratchie dives for cover pulling down wifey with him (well not quite so dramatic but you get the idea) Really though all of a sudden there are explosions and dumplings are flying out of the pot taking oil with them and sadly we lost four…no not people, dumplings.

Apparently air pockets built up in the shell which had gotten hard and subsequently went boom. dwl.  The Taller One advocates that we find a way to have timed explosions and sell our findings to the military as a personal attack weapon.

As for breakfast, well we had to let them cool then we broke out the jackhammers to break through the outer shell. Not quite…despite a tough exterior the dumplings made for a great breakfast with some bacon and fruit juice. I can tell you however, that we certainly won’t be marketing them anytime soon. Had to ask wifey if she had put any gunpowder or something in the dumpling dough though. Another novel idea is to just simply throw them at people. They could cause serious concussion. All the drama made for an entertaining morning.

Moral of the story, Don’t let HR officers and teachers into the kitchen to fry dumplings.   

I can sum up the last 2 days in one word…..Rain!!!

Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t dislike the rain, I just hate the resulting traffic jams and the potholes and the idiots who think they are driving boats…I think you get the point.

I was watching the Larry King show earlier this week (or was it late last week?)…oh well…recently. It featured Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria. I admire the man’s outlook on life and was kinda impressed with the way he handled many of the questions thrown at him about his life and his church and preaching methods. Personally I think the Bible is the source of religious foundation but Mr. Osteen seems to focus on life issues and how we deal with those practical situations and how we live or lives in relation to others. He has been criticised as being ”theology lite” among many other things including his wealth and lack of Crosses in his church…and the list goes on.

I raise the point of theology lite and I wonder if this is a fair accusation in view that his church has moved over the years from a membership of 6000 to close to 50,000 on a regular basis. Just thinking that maybe some persons need this type of simplistic view of Christianity to be able to accept the fundamental teachings of the Bible, which, when you come down to it, is really and simply put…LOVE. Maybe some persons really can’t or don’t need to comprehend the situations and applications of eros, phileo and agape. Maybe they just need directions on what to do and how to do it acknowledging that there is a God and that they are charged to live their lives a certain way.

Technically speaking a life of love (not making love or sex) should cover all the biblical requirements.  Where I will move away slightly is that I believe that the Bible is God’s word to us and through reading we are able to develop a much closer and fuller relationshipship with Him. It leads me to my other point, can we have one without the other? Yes reading the Bible and knowing it is one thing but if not applied to life then….? On the other hand living your live according to a standard that is unknown may be just as pointless. Maybe we need the balance…    

Do I agree with Mr. Osteen? I have no idea. I guess his works serves a purpose that draw people closer to God and I don’t think we are called to complete the full circle. So in that respect he has a very valid point. The fact is 50,000 people find peace in his church.    

It occurred to me this morning as I passed an old buliding that so many of the places I knew as a child have faded into oblivion. I can remember clearly Road Runner ice cream shops, Shakey’s Pizza, Stanley Motta, Bata Shoes, Brook’s Shopper’s Fair & Town and Country Stores, Morin’s Shoes, Island Victoria Bank, Century National Bank, Jamaica Citizen’s Bank, Homeletrix and of course Times Store where many a Christmas gift were bought.  I realize that most of the persons who stop by here won’t even know what the heck I’m talking about. It just seems strange that old businesses fade away and new ventures take their place without so much as a parting good-bye. These new ventures will one day outlive their viability and they too will fade away. The story of life I suppose. A dew, a very minute few will live on for longer than average but even these will not stay the same. They must evolve to survive.

Have a great week everybody.