Farewell Rex

No, he's not an islandista but every islandista worth her salt should know of Professor Rex Nettleford - since islandistas are after all, cultured Caribbean women and Rex was a cultural icon in this region.

And now he's gone.

Nettleford died yesterday in the U.S. at the age of 76 after having a massive heart attack  a week ago when he was up there for a UWI fund-raising gala.

There are so many worlds in which Rex will be missed - from dance to academia to the seemingly ever smaller world of committed Caribbean regionalists. He truly was a giant and it says a lot for the power of his personality that someone born with nearly every disadvantage you could have in Jamaican society - from being poor to being from the country to his sexuality to complexion - could still rise to iconic status.

We have nothing but admiration for him. Walk good Professor.

Michael Jackson death ruled a homicide

Oh sheeeeet. Dr. Conrad Murray is now really in potta/shit street/up a creek without a paddle. You pick the metaphor.

The Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled that the King of Pop's death was a homicide and the likely cause was a lethal combination of drugs.

Every news outlet and their mother is running with the AP report where a law enforcement official confirmed that the death is being treated as a homicide.

FYI - dat is murder hear?

Apparently, the forensic exams found that high levels of the anesthetic propofol along with two other sedatives was what caused Jackson's death.

Of course, this has has been widely speculated on for weeks, ever since Jackson's nutritionist Cherilyn Lee revealed that he had begged her to get the anesthetic Dipravan (another name for propofol) for him, in the weeks before his death.

Dr. Murray, who has been the target of a manslaughter investigation for weeks now apparently told investigators that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for nearly six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night. Via an IV drip.

Celebs really are not like you and me.

Murray told the investigators he worried that Jackson was forming an addiction to the propofol (no shit - anyone taking a powerful drug only used in hospitals and using it every night just to drop a sleep is obviously addicted. Why would Murray as a doctor give it to him in the first place?).

Anyhow, so he was trying to wean Jackson off the propofol by lowering the dosage and mixing it in with other sedatives.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Yet, it must have seemed to be working because two days before Jackson died, he managed to fall asleep with 'just' the two other sedatives.

But then in the wee hours of of June 25th, Murray reportedly tried all kinds of non-propofol alternatives to get Jackson to sleep, including regular old Valium.

None worked and Jackson demanded the propofol so finally Murray gave in around 10:40 a.m.


And the rest... well, we know it from there.

Awful and sad.

The King is dead. Michael Jackson 1958-2009

What can we say?

The King of Pop is dead.




There was so much said about Michael Jackson during his life - good, bad and outrageous.

We really don't think there is anything we can add to all that has been said. We all know the story - the dizzying heights of fame and success, the bizarre depths of trials and surgeries.


So let us just add our own personal feelings. An era has ended. Some may say it ended long ago for Michael but everyone harboured hopes that he would make a comeback and be the phenomenon we had all grown up with.




And that is the essence of Michael Jackson. He is the phenomenon we all grew up with. From the late 60s until today, Michael has always been with us, shaping popular culture. His own life seemed to be lonely and deeply unhappy but he brought happiness to billions. Yes, billions.





Generations grew up with him in different incarnations from the adorable, afro'd child star to the moonwalking, crotch-grabbing Thriller. He touched all our lives.

And that is all that needs to be said.

Jizelle Salandy dies in car crash

Sad news for the new year coming out of Trinidad, islandistas. One of our young stars who was literally both fierce and fabulous as only an islandista can be, has gone.

Champion boxer Jizelle Salandy died on Sunday morning in a terrible car accident on the Beetham Highway in T&T.

[caption id="attachment_474" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Trinidad Express"][/caption]

Esmin Green's family to sue hospital

Just a quick update on the Esmin Green tragedy. Her family is planning to sue Kings County Hospital for US$25 million.

Green's oldest daughter and family spokesperson Tecia Harrison was even more devastated upon actually seeing the security footage of her mother's dying moments.

From Carib World News via Caribbean 360:

Green`s eldest daughter, Tecia Harrison, who lives in Jamaica along with the rest of Green`s family, came to New York to attend her mother`s memorial service on Sunday and take her body back to Jamaica for burial.

After resisting, she finally watched the security camera footage for the first time.

"I wish I didn`t see it. I can't sleep," she said, sobbing at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. "The image of my mom lying on that floor and dying..."

Green's sister Brenda James added: "We don't treat animals like that. It's not to say she was in an isolated place. People were there and nobody reached out to help her."

"It's heartbreaking that my mother died in the way she died," added Harrison. "Not only did they allow her to die but they tried to cover it up. And what my brothers and sisters and I want is that the persons responsible should be behind bars."

Damn ... heartbreaking does not even begin to describe this situation.