Mixed flavours....I be on fire today!

I love MTV Base; addicted. Possibly, I signed an oath with them in my sleep to watch their music, daily. It has revolutionized the way we Africans view music from various countries in the continent. It is an excellent example of the power of media. MTV Base has played a role in forming positive views in most of us about one certain country, Nigeria. Honestly, MTV has done wonders in making us accept Nigeria (despite the common negative views we read frequently on drugs and 419 scams). If well used, it can be a very powerful tool to influence our perception of the country, positively. Thanks to the MTV Base, more and more people can sing along to Wande Coal, D’Banj, P-Square, etc. But, I just have one question. Seriously, can someone tell me, in this continent of at least 55 countries, minimum; MTV can only gives us access into less than 10 African countries though their music? Namely, SA, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, a bit of Tanzania and the DRC through Fally Ipupa. Did I say 10 African countries? Sorry I meant less than seven. Surely? Is their technology that limited or they lack sufficient access to information about music in other countries such as Ivory Coast, Senegal, Zimbabwe, etc or those countries do not have music that is suitable for MTV Base Africa? Or is that those countries do not have any artistes?

Actually, I have another question. Evidently my math is quite questionable as I stated that I have one question. I love Nigerians artistes; everyone knows that. But if you watch MTV Base Africa you will be convinced that Africa has very few countries that produce music for that channel and Nigeria being one of the top countries on this list. Could it be because their VP is a Nigerian? Hence the reason we have been watching Naija tracks since the inception of MTV Base Africa? Hmmm so much for equal distribution of music from various countries on that channel. The channel has created African super stars from these few countries, should it not do the same to other countries in the continent? Sudan? Gabon? Botswana?

From MTV Base Africa….to zee French

Meet Mr. Nichola (as the French say it) must be having a PhD in foot and mouth disease and this will explain why. In French, this is what he said:….vous êtes un pédophile!" I guess from this sentence you have a slight idea on what the topic is about, so here goes:

Sarkozy was recently questioned by journalists over the Karachi affair, about his role in allegedly overseeing illegal kickbacks in the Karachi affair. The comments, reported by the magazine L'Express on Monday were quite shocking…

"You're a paedophile, I'm deeply convinced of it, I've seen the secret services but I won't say which ones, I saw someone but I won't say who it is, and it was verbal. But I'm deeply convinced you're a paedophile!"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/18/sarkozy-kickbacks-pakistan-arms-sales

Sarkozy was criticizing the media's use of secret sources and what he sees as a willingness to report on political scandals without proper verification.

After the briefing, his people tried to insist the comments were off-the-record, no doubt realizing that the joke could be understood in a different light by journalists. Seems like he has a pathetic sense of humor.

…..his ‘witty’ comment came at the wrong time. Well, I quote witty according to him not me, being called a pedophile by a person of such authority is not near witty. But the saga continues …there have been a of suspicious burglaries targeting French reporters working on politically-loaded investigations, not to mention allegations that Sarkozy has personally given the order for journalists to be spied upon. Really?

Claude Angeli, Le Canard's editor-in-chief, wrote that Sarkozy phones Bernard Squarcini, the head of the DCRI, every time a journalist pens an article touching on topics he considers out-of-bounds to ask that that journalist be monitored.

Under French law, private phone records can only be accessed by filing a request with an independent body, the National Commission for the Control of Security Intercepts (CNCIS). By passing the CNCIS to obtain telephone records directly from phone companies - as the DCRI is accused of doing - is reserved strictly for cases of terrorism.

The members of the fourth estate are getting it rough this week….not only from Sarkozy….across one of the borders in the country I currently I reside in, the home of one Uncle Bob. Not my own personal uncle Bob.

The editor of a weekly newspaper has been arrested and is on lock down, as rappers would explain it. Reason? He stated that that “war veterans” were recruited for senior posts ahead of elections in 2011. And who said that the truth will set you free??

As for the Moroccans…..pity as the thought of Casablanca always sounds like paradise away from paradise….ok snap, back to reality…..

The Moroccan government denounced the “dishonest” behavior of Spanish reporters from “El Pais” and “El Mundo” after its “goodwill gesture”, by allowing them to go to Laayoune and cover the follow up to the recent events in the region.

So their minister, Morocco’s Minister of Communication, Khalid Naciri, said that good faith of Moroccans was again betrayed and the newspapers published lies about Laayoune.

It’s such a pity that we have so many illnesses that require a vaccine, I am not referring to Malaria or Aids or cancer. I am referring to the 4^th estate. Whether it’s a 3^rd world country or a 1^st world country, the media still struggles in several ways: being blatantly shut down e.g. in Zim, or subtly, through useless laws to curb it from disseminating crucial matters to the common public. Yet, one would assume that technology has enabled us to pass these barbaric acts. Meet China, where the government shuts down the internet, when it deems it important for the public’s sake. I won’t go on with this topic just in case my visa applications to Morocco, France or China are revoked.

Mo money mo money money!!!

Being rich, very wealthy must be a fantastic thing in Johannesburg especially if you love cars. I came across this nice information:

Private Supercar Club gives its members the opportunity to drive a fleet of 15 vehicles for up to 52 days in a year depending on membership type. With Supercar Club, there is no pain associated with ownership and running a supercar such as Depreciation, Cost of Capital, Services and Insurance.

Private Supercar Club vehicles are split into different groups ranging from the Group S Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari F430 Coupe through to the Group B BMW M3; some of the Italian Exotics are naturally in upper tiers (Group S and Group A). However, there are very exciting vehicles in Group B including the stunning Porsche Cayman S and the powerful Mercedes Benz C63 AMG, Skyline GTR.

Private Supercar Club will always endeavour to take members opinions into account as well as to make sure that the latest models are available. Therefore they will make certain that the cars are continually refreshed and kept up to date with the latest models available.

I won’t pretend to be modest. I would not mind being able to access these babies: Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari F430 Coupe…..top down, the wind blowing through my hair….sigh….it can’t happen I trimmed my hair.

What did you say?

Interesting facts: $46 million is the amount paid by a London jeweler for a rare pink diamond, the most expensive stone ever sold at an auction.

300, 000 – estimated number of sharks killed off the Brazilian coast since 2009 because of the popularity of shark-fin soup.

4,287 –number of times the US government asked Google for user information in the first six months of 2010.

600, 000 – number of species names cut from the world’s plant inventory

Time to go and listen to some Zouk music….and imagine myself dancing in Martinique, in the sand, fire orange horizon as the sun is setting….palm trees in the back yard…..