Ciara - Like A Boy (Music Video)

First I have to start by saying Ciara really likes her name and always has to say it like someone would forget that they're listening to Ciara.

Ok, that's out of my chest so I can now say 'I LOVE THIS SONG'. I think it's subject is something that ALL girls could relate to. Sometimes guys do things and we're like 'WHAT! What's he thinking?' And if we did the same thing he'd be MAD as hell and won't get over it but they would expect us to just accept it and move on.

That's why I like it when she says 'can't be getting mad, what you're mad, can't handle that' because they can't..Handle that is.

I also love the dancing, it's really cool especially when she's doing that bending thing..That rocks!

300 opens up in Botswana on the 30th March 2007 but I can't wait that long so I"ll be going on the preview on Wednesday, even if I have things to do like work I'll cancel. I simply can't wait to go and see this movie. It is beautiful, and I swear I wouldn't be concentrating on the storyline or the characterisation, which according to same critics is 'lacking', I would be enthralled by the cinematography. It really does look like a comic book coming to life which as a child was my dream.

I know that Sin City did the same thing, but this one somehow seems better and much more interesting in it's use of colour and comic feel, if you get what I mean.

300 is a film adaption of the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller the brains behind Sin City. It is a semi-historical account of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.

A movie about two civilizations killing each other in battle will have its share of controversy and this one isn't so different. The Iranians are complaining bout it's depiction of the ancient Persian Civilization and they have a right to say something, I mean it is about their culture but I also think people should accept that in those days, everyone was brutal and brutality was a means to survival. They really should say 'thank goodness we weren't wiped off the face of the earth like some civilizations that don't exist now.'

Prison Break started last night on M-net and I'm excited! It has been a long wait for the second season so I'm looking forward to see what happens next. The one thing that worries me about Prison Break is the question 'how long?' How long are they going to carry this premise? Last season is was fun to watch every Tuesday to see how they were going to break out but now that they are out, are they going to be running for the rest of their lives? But I won't worry about these questions now and just continue watching. I hope the producers don't get greedy and carry it out like the 'Lost' peeps and actually finish it before people get bored with it. Plus Wentworth is worth tuning in every week. The casting people were brillant when it came to casting him, they knew that millions of women including me would watch the show because of him.

This won't be a review of Diddy's album 'Press Play' because I'm really not a reviewer but what I am is a music lover and I felt compiled to say something.

I had a first listen of 'Press Play' a while back and I wasn't so impressed, not to say I'm really impressed right now with the whole album but there are some songs that require a five star rating. My favourite being 'Last Night' featuring Keisha Cole. I actually really heard it last night while doing the dishes and I was moved, literary moved to dance with the mop. The beat of that song is infectious, it gets you to do things you would not normally do, for example, I'm not an exercise person but I swear I was doing aerobics moves in the form of dancing.

I do enjoy some other tracks from the album meanly 'Come To me' featuring Nicole Scherzinger the only singer in the PussyCat dolls group and 'Tell Me' with Christina Aguilera. I'm sure they will be other singles that will come out of this album and I'd be "that's cool" but 'Last Night' is going to be my favourite track this year. I wish it had made the rounds this summer but I'm sure it was released now for the American summer, but it doesn't matter, will chase the winter blues in the dancefloor moving to the techno beat of the song. I won't say that this album is Hip-Hop or dance but it is instead a huge melting pot of all genres of music placed together in a 19 track album.

To describe his album, Diddy had this to say:

"Press Play is based on all my musical experiences - from the Uptown era, when I was working with Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, and Heavy D...to the Biggie, 112, Mase, Total, and No Way Out era. As time evolved, and I started traveling around the world and going into dance and techno clubs, I began to see music from a global point of view. It all came together on Press Play, all those sounds in my head. I've evolved, studied the game, been a part of it, had success. It all comes down to press play. After you press play, it's gonna make or break you in this game."

Unfortunately the only weakness to this album is Diddy himself. The man cannot rap to save himself and his lyrics are laughable. In order to enjoy any of his songs one has to tune out his rapping and concentrate on the beat and the guest star. Diddy is a genius when it comes to producing and knowing a great beat but when it comes to rapping/singing he really should retire.

Lionel Richie - I call it love

I absolutely love this song! Lionel hasn't lost his touch at all. I just wish someone would feed his kid but anyways. Adam is hot!

Beyonce feat. Jay-z- Upgrade U

This song is actually one of my favourites in her latest album 'Bday'. I would have done some things differently, but they are some shots that are really good like the reflection shots and the rap scene which is a bit different from what's been done over and over again.
Beyonce has actually been credited as a director as well in this video. I wonder what she really did to get it.

Boy is this guy HOT!

Wentworth Miller is one of the many stars taking part in the gap advert campaign. The campaign is meant to revamp gap in making it more hipper and trendier.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has implied many times in his blog that Wentworth is gay and that he even dated one of Perez's friends. Perez being gay himself has 'outed' many stars in his blog and he has never been wrong.

Wentworth on the other hand has denied the gay rumours in an interview but has said that the rumours do not faze him in any way.

I really would like the rumours to be false for my own self reasons but I think that if he is gay, he really should 'came out' and live life and not hide because you can't please everyone and should live for yourself. But he has been seen around town with a brunette woman so is she a girlfriend? Wentworth never says. To be a celebrity and be secretive is really annoying because we want to KNOW!

Well time will tell, many celebs have caved in and 'come out of the closet', maybe our Miller will do the same.

The Oscars had really made my day yesterday with the movie 'The Departed' winning 4 Oscars, including Best Film, and Best Director for Martin Scorsese.

It was well overdue for Martin to walk off with the Best Director statue and it seems I wasn't the only one who thought so because in his speech, Martin said that everywhere he went people kept saying he should win, so finally we all got our wish.

Congrats!

Unfortunately, Leo went with nothing, but it's not far off, he is really talented.

Ladies I have some bad news. This fine specimen of a man has been officially taken.

According to gossip bloggers, R&B singer Usher is engaged to long-time girlfriend Tameka Foster, his stylist. The couple started dating more than a year ago. Apparently, she is wearing a huge engagement ring and he's introducing her as his fiancee.

Lucky woman.

Gym Class Heroes - Cupids Chokehold

This song is great and I absolutely love this video, I think it's fantastic but unfortunately they had to do another one for the American public and it's funny but they should have just stuck with this one because it's really good.

In the American version they had two children dancing around like Cupid's which was funny but over done which is typically American, while the Brits understand dark humor which is funnier. I mean even the American version of The Office is fluffy while the original was dark, sharp and hilarious.

A Girl Like Me

This is a great documentary that basically highlights what everyone is thinking about black skin and how we as a black race discriminate against each other. It's really sad.

Mary J Blige

I haven't been a fan of Mary J Blige because I haven't felt any like for her songs but on this album I have liked all her songs and this one is my favourite. It's really good.Instead of reminding me of a man, it makes me think of my friends because I feel like my friends are FOR LIFE so I guess this is for them.

Lily Allen - Alfie (Music Video)

I really enjoy this song because I think it's so funny. I wonder what her brother Alfie thinks about the video because from what I read he wasn't impressed about the song in the first place. But I love this video, it's great kinda like the song. I also loved her LDN video.

Please I really hope this isn't true but it seems like 'The Departed' is going to be hit by a sequel. Writer William Monahan is working on a new story involving the police officer played by Mark Wahlberg and a new character to be played by Robert De Niro.

If he was so clever to be involved in the movie in the first place, why can't he see that a sequel is a bad idea. There was a reason why Mark wasn't a lead character in the first place. The Departed director Martin Scorsese would need to approve any follow-up so I'm hoping that he says NO!

Another surprising news is that they are planning to do a Robin Hood movie (the hundred version) with Russel Crowe as Sheriff of Nottingham. Apparently in this version the sheriff is the good guy who investigates murders with Robin Hood as the main suspect. Why do I see a flop coming?

The year hasn't started well for Brandy, as now the family of the woman killed in a car crash involving the star are suing her for $50 million. Gosh talk about a way to get over grief.

The parents of Awatef Aboudihaj, who died in December after Brandy hit Ms Aboudihaj's car on a California Highway, have filed the wrongful death legal action in court in Los Angeles. The action alleges that the death was caused by the singer's 'reckless driving' and it seems that they are not the only ones to believe that because the California Highway Patrol has recommended charging the singer with misdemeanour vehicular manslaughter, which carries a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

Can anyone see Brandy in jail clothes? Nope? Neither can I, but I bet they'll reach some agreement and she'll walk out scot free. Celebs are above the law in America. Reports are now saying that Brandy has hired a Crisis Management person who will handle her image regarding this tragedy. Someone died and she's worried about her image, typical.

Well, we'll wait and see what happens next.

Circle Circle Dot Dot - Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone

This song is the funniest thing I have heard in a while. Jamie Kennedy now thinks that he can rap after playing a wannabe rapper in the film Malibu's Most Wanted as B-Rad, the son who was an embrassment to his father.

Now him and his friend Stu Stone have an MTV show called Blowin' Up in which they are trying to get a record deal as RAPPERS. Seems like Warner Bros was the unfortunate record company to have said yes.

Kevin Federline (Rap Commercial)

Thought I'll blog this funny advert featuring Britney's ex, K-fed who the gossip bloggers have renamed fed-ex.

It's really good to be able to laugh at one's self.

In my struggle to get a permanent job (which I need for benefits like medical aid, insurance, not fearful of getting fired out of the blue) I have been wondering about my choice of degree. Sure I enjoyed the many many courses under my film and media degree, I mean who wouldn't enjoy watching films while others are being bored to death listening to monotone lecturers? My workload consists of watching TV shows like Generations, Backstage, Isidingo for research. Reading magazines and newspapers were considered very important reading material and now I'm wondering if I'm paying off for all the fun I had.

I've heard that many peeps from my class have ended up working for radio stations as DJs and I wonder if that is my only option. By the way, I have applied for radio jobs and that hasn't been fruitful either. My lack of job opportunities has really got me worried and I wonder if I should have done Bcom instead (ha, ha me as an accountant is really funny). If you have been unemployed for a year even working as a statician isnt so bad.

Well, people (my mom) say I mustn't give up, some people have been unemployed for 2 years before they found anything. Yeah, and that is suppose to make me feel better. But, alas, maybe they're right. I should sit back and smell the roses while I still can, thankfully, smelling roses is still free.

It's the award season again and the Oscar nominations have been announced.

I had expected Leo DiCaprio's name to appear in the Best Actor category but not for Blood Diamond. I mean what were they thinking? His acting in The Departed was much more better then in Blood Diamond. It's like the Denzel Washington thing again when he won the Oscar for the worst film ever, Training Day. I felt that they had given it to him because they had sidelined him for all the other better films he had made and so it was a consolation prize, while with Leo the nomination is for the 'movie with a message'.

Maybe this time the Oscar peeps can give Martin Scorsese what he's due and give him the Best Director award.

Presley Chweneyagae, the actor from the award winning South African film Tsotsi, has appeared briefly in the Pretoria magistrate's court after his arrest on Tuesday.

The actor was arrested for allegedly driving with a fake Ivory Coast licence that had been doctored to look like an international driver's licence. The funny thing about that was that yesterday his agent had said that Presley couldn't drive and had been driven everywhere while filming so where did he learn the skill so quickly?

I can't believe it. Here you are making a name for yourself and then you go and do something so STUPID!

The court granted his request for a postponement on his case because he had to travel abroad for work. While he walked out of the court, Presley was quoted saying that he was confident that the law will take its course.

I went to watch the 'controversial' film, Blood Diamonds and I ended up snoozing most of it. I know wonder what the whole deal was about.

The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, who plays the 'noble savage' role really well and will keep playing it it seems.

The film starts with Solomon Vandy (Hounsou) with his son Dia, who wants to be a doctor when he grows up, but of cause things go crazy when rebels arrive at their village and his family turn into refugees and his son becomes a child soldier. He finds a huge diamond, meets up with Danny Archer (DiCaprio) ,the bombs start flying and the running begins.

It was the small things I found annoying. The fact that the child soldiers all spoke with perfect English accents. The rebels spoke with a bad Nigerian accent and these were supposed to be people from Sierra Leone. The South African actors were probably told to stick with their accent because it's African right? And I don't even want to talk about Leo's accent and how bad it was. Actors normally spend months learning an accent or a dialect but when it comes to an African accent they're probably told anything dodgy is OK.

The other things that made me want to get the hell out of the cinema was the shallowness of the film. Zwick concentrated so much on the action that he forgot to make a meaningful film that actually had something to say! He just cut and pasted the bias you get from News agents like CNN about Africa and put Hollywood actors in it and called it a movie. The Africans were one dimension who were like lost little children who needed the help of the brave Westerners, or blood thirsty savages. Tell me, what else is new?

After watching it, I thought about the big PR campaign that our country, Botswana went into with De Beers. Our President was flying all over the world trying to sell our diamonds as non-conflict diamonds and now I'm wondering how all those millions spend on this campaign could have gone into our public services.

Today I'm having a hard time concentrating on work, well I always have a hard time concentrating but today it's extremely hard. I have walked up and down the office a hundred times and I'm sure the staff is thinking that I'm on something. I don't know what's wrong, maybe because the work is boring, that could be it.

The good news is that Martin Scorsese got best picture and best director for The Departed at the Golden Globes Awards.

The weird news is that Renee Zellweger is getting it on with Luke Perry! Who even knew he was still alive?

Well back to work I guess.

I wonder when the attitude of entitlement will end in some Africans, especially Africans in high political positions. It was with dismay that I read about a South African mayor spending almost half a million on a new luxury car instead of supplying water and other basic services to local townships.

The mayor, Linah Malatjie, intends replacing her existing Mercedes Benz with a new model costing R475 000. Half of that money could be used in improving the water problem in schools and for private use. When the public repeatedly asks for proper water tanks and better service they are told that there is no money, because it has gone to buy fancy cars for the mayor.

Last time I had blogged the rumour that there was going to be a huge Bollywood merger between Ria and Bachchan family, turns out that the rumour turned out to be true.

Ms Rai's people confirmed that an engagement ceremony had taken place on sunday evening at Ms Rai's home in the city Mumbai. It was confirmed that the families of both actors were present at the ceremony.

Boy is this man lucky. First he gets born in Bollywood loyalty and then he bags Bollywood's leading lady and the most beautiful woman in the world(Former Miss World). I actually remember watching her win the beauty contest, I never thought she'll end up acting, I had thought she'll end up being a business woman or something.

Gosh, they're going to have beautiful babies.

The Beckams are planning to invade LA in the not so distant future. David has decided not to renew his contract with Real Madrid and has signed instead with Galaxy something. The contract is for $250 million a year.

Is David crazy or what? Sure the money is good and all but what is he expecting to learn in the USA, where they don't even call call football by it's real name. The love of money really is the root to all bad decisions.

Zimbabwean police are losing their minds, that's if they had any to begin with. According to news24.com, the Zimbabwean police are refusing to return a consignment of sanitary pads to farm workers. They suspect a plot to reduce the fertility of rural Zimbabweans by poisoning them through the pads.

I mean really, who would have thought that sanitary pads could be used as a secret weapon. What a load of bull! The 81 packs of sanitary pads were confiscated at a roadblock last month. These packs are valued at about Z$129 000 and were given to the farm workers by an NGO.

I had read about this coalition that helped Zimbabwean women with pads because sanitary towels are so expensive in Zimbabwe, women end up using sticks, rags, newspapers to stop the menstrual flow. The woman who started the NGO, started it when she saw a woman walking in the street with her period running down her leg. She couldn't afford anything so she went without.

It's bad enough that women have to go through periods and now these poor Zimbabwean women have to deal with cramps and the fact that they can't afford to buy pads to deal with the flow. Now the Zimbabwean Government seems to be going out of it's way to stop NGOs helping these women. Apparently the male ministers were going on in Parliament saying that the women should show them how they use the pads. Can you imagine!

A march is organised at Trafalgar Square in London on the 10th of March to raise awareness about this crisis. To men, it may mean nothing but to women it deals with self-respect and dignity, we really must all unite against this travesty. The march is organised by Action for Southern Africa and The Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions(ZCTU) under the campaign Dignity!Period.

Lupe Fiasco -

No words. This is what hip-hop is about.

The Prayer

This single from Bloc Party's album 'A weekend in the city' is absolutely fantastic. Bloc always had my attention after hearing Banquet and this single is up that level. The beat is just WOW!

The lead singer and guitarist Kele Okereke apparently came out of the closet in this album. Shame that people couldn't let him be. Now he'll probably be known as the ' gay black dude in the indie band' instead of a good musician.

On New Year's eve I went to watch 'The Departed' and what a great send off to 2006. This past year movies have really sucked and I was wondering where it was all heading, but thank God for Martin Scorsese because he reminded me why I love movies in the first place. This movie is...fantastic!

I first fell in love with Martin's movies when I had to watch 'Taxi Driver' for a varsity course and 'The Departed' is a returned to that kind of storytelling. Not only is the screenwriting top notch but so is the acting and the casting was brilliant.

The film is based on a Hong Kong gangster movie, which in Scorsese's version centers on two Irish cops in Boston. Leonardo Dicaprio plays Billy Costigan who goes undercover to bust Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) and Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan the cop who is Costello's snitch.

What I loved about this movie was the way it centred on the psychological damage that happens when someone loses their identity when pretending to be someone they are not. Leo and Matt deserve awards for their performance in this movie, but then again who doesn't deserve to receive something for being involved in this masterpiece?

If Martin doesn't win an Oscar for this movie then I'll never buy into them again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cheers to a new year. Here's hoping that it ROCKS!

Sean Paul feat. Santana - Cry baby Cry

I know this video is a bit old but I just had to blog my favourite song in the new Santana album. Santana rocks!

Went to watch The Holiday last Sunday, and well what can I say, it was just a typical romance. I at least thought it well be hilarious because Jack Black is on it but I think I kinda smiled once or twice. I did shake my head a lot at how totally unrealistic it is. With this movie you really have to leave your head at the door.

One thing that really annoyed me was the Cameron and Jude Law story. Came on! Who in their right minds like seeing two genetically blessed peeps getting it on? It was nauseating. I'm really not a Jude Law fan, but I have to admit that that man is beautiful.

The story that I could sit through without fidgeting and feeling sick was the Kate and Jack story. Jack feels and looks more real then Jude and Kate was fantastic as Iris, the jilted English girl.

All in all, it's a movie that one can only survive seeing once.

SNL - Homelessville

Justin is actually funny in this skit.

It's that time of the year when shops are fill to capacity and people are spending money that they don't have. Yes folks, it's the Holidays. I really don't like Christmas and every time it nears December my body always tenses up. I guess it has to do with my hatred for Christmas songs. Every where you go that is ALL you hear and it makes me want to scream and tear down some Christmas trees. But alas, there is nothing I can do except say Merry Christmas.

It was with mixed feelings when I heard the judgement from the Basarwa versus Government case. I can understand the Basarwas need to go back to the place where they grew up, but when that place has nothing to offer you anymore I wonder if it is a good idea and ain't they being just a tad bit foolish.

When the Basarwas heard the judgement they were dancing and singing, but I wonder if it has sunk in yet that, yes they can go back, but Government doesn't have to give them the services that they have gotten used to. In the end, in my opinion, The Botswana Government has won. They are not obliged to help the Basarwas in CKGR. They don't even have to pay for they legal fees and bare in mind this court case has been going on for years and most of these people don't have jobs.

Baswaras will greatly suffer if they don't get Government's help. The CKGR is in a desert area where there is little or no water. The next town is extremely far for people to go and buy food and other necessities. It is really in the middle of nowhere and the fact that SI was fighting to return these people to nothing really boils my blood. Who knows what stories they were told by these organisation when the case was still on. Now they are going to have to face the consequences. The Government was simply trying to bring Basarwas closer to bigger towns where they could enjoy the services given to every Motswana. Because they were so far, bring those services to them was very costly. Since the Government provides free ARV treatment to every HIV sufferer, pays for school from primary to tietery level for every Motswana, you would see why they needed to reduce cost where they could, while bringing Basarwa closer to social developments.

Prior to the relocation, Government provided services like food rations, water, health facilities and transportation of children to and from school outside the reserve and these services cost government more than P55 000 per month and now these services are gone with the government not obliged to restore them to the residents of CKGR. So how pry tell SI would the Basarwas survive without those government hand-outs?

The Basarwas lawyer, Gordon Bennett, said that the Basarwas should decide,even if it meant resuming a 'simple existence as hunter-gatherers'. WHAT!!! In this day and age, does he really think that people could survive and make something of themselves through that existence? How would they take their kids to school if they can't pay for a bus? How would they afford necessities without money? I mean they is NO money and improvement in life by being a hunter-gatherer. They only thing is being a spectacle for Western tourist.

Roy Sesana,the leader in this case and the fellow in bed with SI was extremely happy about the result. But he doesn't even live in the CKGR. Thanks to the pounds given to him by SI, he has a lovely expensive car and a huge house in the capital city Gaborone and his children are driven to expensive English medium schools in Gaborone. He doesn't even know what it is like waiting for water at the reserve and he said he was happy for 'his people'. How is he going to help 'his people' get food, water or access to health facilities when he only thinks about them when it comes to putting his face in papers and travelling to places like London and USA.

The Government announced last night that the residents moving back to the CKGR will have to apply for special permits to kill wildlife. People moving in and out of the reserve will have to apply for permits. Animals, like cattle are not permitted to move in or out of the reserve. You have to get permission to bring water into the reserve. And only people of the CKGR are permitted to come into the CKGR. So really what victory did they receive?

Mr Bennett said that the Basarwas were not really interested in Government services but I wonder if that would still be the case when they arrive to nothing.

I never thought I was a romantic at heart. I always assumed that I was very critical when it came to things of the heart, but recently after spending most of my time watching clips of my all time favourite movie on youtube, I realised that I believed in romance and, dare I say it, a soulmate.

Kuch kuch hota hai is that movie. A bollywood movie that was a massive in 1998. My friends and I used to spend our Saturdays at the TV room at hostel watching this movie with my friend Shreya translating it for us. We must have watched it four or five times.

It's a movie about unrequited love that is finally returned in the end. I know most of you will sneer at this, but some of us who have been through the heartache of unrequited love, it's nice to dream that one day that love will be returned. My one-sided love happened in my finally year of undergraduate study. Instead of focusing on my studies, I spend nights pining, if that's the word, for a person who only thought of me as a friend. Gosh how sad, even thinking about it now pains the heart. But that's the great thing about movies. You could always lose yourself in fantasy when reality seems so harsh.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Sad

I was ecstatic to find this scene in youtube. This is my favourite movie of all time. This scene just kills me I just had to blog it. These two actors are the best in Bollywood and putting them together in a movie is a sure way of getting a hit.

While I was out shopping on Saturday afternoon, I happened to pass a trendy teenager wearing a cap bearing Che Guevara's image . Now this trend of wearing t-shirts or caps bearing this image has been something that has bothered me since the days of University. Most of the people who have worn his image are (I'm assuming) people who have no idea who he is and what he stood for. In University, the kids were all from wealthy families who drove the latest car and the t-shirt (with his face) cost an arm and a leg.

Now I'm not saying I'm against their wealth, but against the way this trend seems to belittle the ideals that this man fought and died for. Che Guevara died fighting capitalism and now his very face is used to sell everything under the sun e.g. CDs, swatches, beer, keychains, rafts and believe it or not ice-cream. One company slapped the likeness of Che's image on an ice-cream stick called Cherry Guevara. The copy on the wrapper read:'The revolutionary struggle of the cherries was squashed as they were trapped between two layers of chocolate. May their memory live on in your mouth.' If that's not blunt disregard of one man's struggle than I don't know what is.

The image that they slap on almost anything was from a picture taken at a rally in Cuba, organized to protest an explosion in Havana harbor in which more than 100 people died in early March 1960. Che never spoke at the protest but he stood on the podium to show his support. Now that stance of defiance is sold as something kitch. The Washingtonpost, while writing a report on this phenomenon, asked the sites that sold his image why Che was so popular and they replied: 'He's a rebel, and along with rebel comes the cool factor and trendiness'. Well never mind his cause!

It's really sad that the world could take this man who gave everything up to fight the injustice that he saw and make him into a 'rebel without a cause.'

It was very disheartening to read in news24 this morning about this poor little girl who was burned in the hands by her parents.

The news site wrote that the little girl, aged five, had never even received toys or gifts in her life. Her mother and stepfather had thought she had stolen 30 cents, just 30 cents and had forced her to put her hands on a hotplate and then hit her while her hands were still on the hotplate.

The police received an anonymous phone call about a girl walking around with burns on her hands. The police reported that the bandages found on her where put on by the neighbours and not even the parents. Can you believe it! The neighbours knew about this and probably all the other abuses and never even called the police, and the one person who did was not even brave enough to leave a name. When the police found her the wounds on her hands were already going septic and was taken to the hospital. While at the hospital, she told them that her parents beat her all the time.

There is another news story in news24 about a murder of a four year old boy by the lover of his mother. The mother and her lover were sentenced for his death last week.

I know you can't temper with any one's right to being a parent but they are just some people who should not be allowed to be parents. I don't understand how someone can stand to see her child in pain, a pain caused by them. Obviously the girl's parents knew that what they had done was wrong because they didn't take her to the hospital.

In the other case, both murderers were women so you can't say that a woman is more nurturing and loving, or that she can't control what a man does to her children, but it's all bull. The hatred that one can have for one's child is very mind-boggling.

I sometimes wonder after reading about child abuse, what we can do as a society to stop this. I for one believe that first of all the neighbours were also abusing the girl because they knew about the abuse and they did nothing about it. If we as a society stand up and act when we see abuse and stop the parents or parent then that would be a stepping stone to ridding society of this evil. Also I think, and I know that this will probable be controversy, that parents who have been proven to be abusers should never be allowed to be parents again. Either to the abused child and to other unborn children. I believe this behaviour comes from within them and will never go away so children should never be raised by them.

According to tmz, Beyonce and Jay 'the man' are getting married this weekend. Apparently it is a birthday party (for Jay-z) /wedding.

Guests were told to pack passports for partying in a yacht (lucking them) in St. Barts and then a wedding at Tony resort Cap Juluca in Anguilla.

Gosh, what I would give to have a wedding in some Island resort. But of coz I need to find a man first. Jay-z may be the 'greatest rapper in the world' but those lips...Beyonce you're a brave woman.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement of regret at Britain's role in the slave trade. He stopped short of making a formal apology because this will open up claims of reparations from slave descendants.

Campaigners said his statement does not go far enough and have called for a full disclosure of facts and compensation for the families of African people who were sold for slavery.

After reading the news item, I went to Have Your Say and was astonished at the British attitudes to this expression of 'sorrow' and the apology. Some were going on that slavery happened 200 years ago so why should Britain apologies for something that happened so long ago. And some were saying British people should be happy that Britain was the first country to abolish slavery not apologies, and some were saying why do people only concentrated on Black slavery what about the slavery within Britain under Romans and Vikings. Well, the word I would use from reading the posts will be 'shocked'. The racist comments from these 'liberal' people was utterly shocking. But I wasn't surprised, these comments are part of the legacy left by slavery. The thought that these people do not know what it's like to have been under some one's thumb made me angry towards their attitude.

People, mostly people of European descendant are against apologising for slavery because they are afraid of reparation, economic reparation. The thought of them handing out money to Black descendants leaves them shaking in their boots. But they have to admit that slavery and colonialism played a role in the economic development of their country. Businesses, banks to be more exact, profited from the slave trade. African societies were ransacked and new societies were built on the labour and lives of Africans. Slavery and colonialism were carried out for the economic enrichment of Europe and its descendants. So these people who are crying out that they did not have anything to do with slavery and so should not apologise are enjoying the fruits of slave labour.

Stephen Smith said on an online discussion that 'refusing to give an apology is denying responsibility as a nation and serves to re-enforce racial divisions' and I agree. Racial attitudes and mindsets originated from slavery. It was these mindset that also created colonialism, where European countries saw Africa and Africans as mere objects to use and exploit. 'Slave mentality' that Bob Marley sings about in his redemption song derives from slavery. So surely people could see that repercussions of slavery still run deep today so to brush it away as something that happened 200 years ago is foolish and very detrimental.

An apology could be a starting point for people who benefited from slavery and colonisation to build bridges with the victims (slave descendants) of this brutality because living descendants of slaves have not forgotten that slavery existed. Africans have not forgotten that colonialism existed and we still celebrate our independence every year (Botswana's Independence is on the 30 September).

But I must admit some had a point in pointing out that some African chiefs had a hand in selling their people to the slave traders and this needs a proper evaluation of why people would exploit their own. And if reparations are ever made will their descendants pay they price.

lupe fiasco ft jill scott daydreamin

Man, this song is sooo sick!Lupe is such a lyricist and Jill brings this song to another level.

LUPE FIASCO, 'KICK, PUSHING' HIMSELF INTO THE HIP-HOP HALL OF FAME

At last, someone who has something to say! These days I've been sick and tired of the materialistic and sexist 'hip-hop' that has dominated MTV and the radio in these recent times. Artist like Mos Def, Nas and Talib Kweli are far and few and instead we are bombarded by people who have nothing to say but how many cars, houses and women they have. But finally Lupe Fiasco has landed in our shores.

Chicagobased Muslim MC Lupe Fiasco began rapping in Junior High School and joined a group called Da Pak. The group signed to Epic, released one single and split up. L.A. Reid signed Fiasco as a solo artist to Arista, but was fired (Reid) before anything of significance happened. Fiasco eventually landed at Atlantic Records where his debut album 'food and liquor' was released. He appeared in Kanye West's ''Touch the Sky' where he outshone Kanye with his metaphor based lyrics.

Boy can this guy write. He is poetry in motion just like J. Ivy. His lyrics flow and ebb and his storytelling is evident in his first single 'kick, push', a song about a love of skateboarding (something he has in common with Pharrel, who produced one of his songs in the album). One music review said the song is a 'unique song that unites hip-hop with skateboarding', something that I wholeheartedly agree with. It's not all the time that you see African-Americans (black people in general) talk about skateboarding, they make it seem like a white person's sport. But I disagree but that's another topic for another time.

Another song that I LOVE is the track ft Mz Jill Scott, 'Daydream' my favourite lyrics being 'daydream, where I sleep underneath the flowers, on a beautiful day'. This song, where I might borrow someone else's words which I think are quite adequate, is a 'colorful blend of poetry and bluest hip-hop' at it's most purest. It samples Monster's 'Daydream in Blue'.

Lupe Fiasco's album 'Food and Liquor' is a storytelling lyricism that outshines anything that is called 'hip-hop' sold today.

You can check out his band's website and his myspace to listen to some great tracks. If you live, breath hip-hop this is an album to have in your collection.

The Bollywood rumour mill has been working overtime with the allegations of marriage between Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. Apparently the 'couple' went to the temple late last night to get married, though the priest of the temple denied the rumours.

Abhishek Bachchan is the son of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and Rai is a former Miss World turned actress. She and Abhishek have starred in two movies this year, 'Amrao Jaan' and 'Dhoom 2'.

I must say, if they are dating or married, they make a damn fine couple physically. And Abhishek is sure is a hottie.

I created this blog mostly to write down what I find interesting and this is mostly music, films and unfortunately I know(but I can't help myself), celebrity gossip.

So today I wanted to write down my thoughts on my most favourite actor that is out there in silicone village and that is Gael Garcia Bernal (photo on the left). I first laid eyes on Gael and his acting abilities of coz on Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's film 'Amores Perros (2000). I was captured by Alejandro's directorial brilliance and Gael's beauty and acting and I knew that these two men will go on and make fantastic movies and I wasn't wrong. Alejandro went on to make the Oscar acclaimed movie '21 Grams' with Sean Penn and now the Oscar buzzed film 'Babel' starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and also Gael Garcia Bernal (poster on right).

Babel entwines multiple story lines linked by circumstance and blood. The first story is set in Morocco and it focuses on two young goatherds with a rifle. The second on an American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett), the third a rebellious deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and the fourth on a Mexican nanny who, without permission takes two American children across the border. Alejandro says this movie is about miscommunication and how many problems are caused by us not listening to each other.

It is not the first time that Gael acts in a movie that has political issues. He starred in the acclaimed film 'The Motorcycle Diaries' as the young revolutionary Che Guevara and Alfonso Guarons 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' which on the outset seems to be about two young men who are after an older women but has political themes like homosexuality, circumstances arising from poverty and a theme that every human has to deal with, death.

Gael was born in 30 November 1978 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He began his acting career as a child, working with his parents in a variety of plays which is where he also met his close friend and business partner Diego Luna, who he acted with in 'Mama Tambien' (Interviewers had a field day asking them how it was kissing their best friend in the film. Gosh they never are original are they in asking questions). 'Amores Perros' was his first major feature film which catapulted him into stardom.

Gael and Diego own a production company called Canana (name comes from a bullet belt that revolutionaries wear) in Mexico. He has also gone and directed a film called 'Deficit'. Not only is he gorgeous but he is a man with a social conscience and he has worked with Oxfam on issues affected our world today.

Can't wait to go and watch 'Babel', will be on the front row drooling on Gael.

When I was getting my usual dose of news from BBC, I read that Lilly Allen was third in the list of coolest women in music according to NME which is funny because she gives a very angry statement about it in a her blog page.

I was happy to see the article in BBC because I hadn't known her name. I had seen her video SMILE on MTV Base but hadn't registered the name. I loved the song from the first time I heard it because I think it is a hilarious account of joy that you feel when you see someone who has hurt you go through a trouble time, something I'm sure a lot of us has gone through. The chorus goes: At first, when I see you cry, it makes me smile, yeah it makes me smile/at worst, I'd feel bad for a while, but then I just smile.

Since I enjoyed the song smile I'd thought I'd check out some of her other tracks and since the album is not out yet in Botswana, I went through Google to see if I can hear some of her tracks online (which is why I'm so grateful for the Internet). I managed to hear a few and I loved all of them. Her sound of laid back reggae sound with pop and garage underlined with cheeky lyrics is fantastic. The critics call her sound Ska which is what's popular in Britain at the moment with bands like The Streets and Arctic Monkeys. The Streets is one of the bands that I also enjoy even though Mike Skinner's 'rapping' could pince the nervous a bit.

The other track that I heard was 'Alfie' a song which sounds like there was a big brass band that was commissioned to be on with a sample from an old French children's song. The song is about her younger brother and I read that her brother throw out her laptop out of the window because he was pissed about it. Which is something you would understand after hearing the song as she goes on about how's his a twat and won't get laid if he doesn't stop playing TV games.

She also does a great cover of Kaiser Chiefs song 'Oh my god'. I can see why NME named her in the coolest list because her sound is so refreshing compared to what's out there in pop now days. To me British music has always been a trendsetter because they are never afraid to be original with their sounds which in the end everyone else follows. Case in point, M.I.A who's sounds got everyone talking and now artists like Fergie and Gwen are embellishing the sound.

If you are from Botswana or Africa for that matter and have no idea who I'm talking about, you can check out her music webpage and her myspace.

What a week I have been having. My chauffeur (my mother) has taken some days of work and now I have to deal with the dreaded public transport.

Having to wake up an hour early, I have had to gain some education when it came to the transport jungle. Upon arriving at the bus stop, you have to stand in front of the masses of people waiting for the same thing (a mode of transport that can safely transport them to their workplaces), and the impatience is engraved in their faces to having to wait for so long. The standing in front enables you to grab the first vehicle, either it be a private car or the bus , before you are crashed by the wave of people desperate to get in.

The mode of transport that everyone fights for are the private cars. The private cars are fast, comfortable and don't smell of burned diesel so I have learned that when you have managed to wave one down make sure you are in a position to make a sprint to the door and have your elbows up so that nobody is able to hip-bump you out of the way. When you have successfully opened the door and managed to squeeze yourself in, then you can relax and take a breather to the workplace.

Never had going to work been such a hassle, I'm so knackered from the early morning battle of arms that I'm ready for a holiday. What I would give for a warm ocean breeze and colourful drinks at my disposal.

TEBBY IS THE SURVIVOR!

I just had to blog my congratulations to my home girl Tebby Gasenelwe for becoming the first Survivor Africa winner.

Tsholofelo Gasenelwe, the 24-year old who hails from Kanye, Botswana was crowned survivor after 21 days playing the game at Panama. Here in Botswana everybody is delighted with the results and I'm sure the whole city will be there at the airport waiting to sing her home.

We are a very small country with little happening here and when something like this happens we all celebrate together because it brings joy to us all.

PULA! TEBBY PULA!

Yesterday I was watching THS investigates on E! Entertainment and they were discussing anorexia and bulimia among young women and men. It was interesting because they started off with the trend in Hollywood of actress being extremely thin and how this could affect the average American. But of cause they couldn't say for sure that there is a causal link between thin celebrities and an increase in eating disorders in America.

I say that the recent trend of celebrities being so thin that you could count their rib cage is extremely disturbing. Of cause, young women look up to these women because they are being hailed as 'IT' in the media. The media will show a picture of an emaciated celebrity and go 'oooh' and 'ahh' and 'how great they look now they lost how many pounds' that makes you sick. When the celebrity gets to a point where the media themselves can't agree with the way she looks, they trash her and tell her to eat something. Forgetting that they encouraged her to begin with.

We have to admit that we as women do not look the same. We have different body shapes. Why are we then trying to all look like stick figures? It was amazing to read about how many celebrities have eating disorders and how some of them died because of it. But I wasn't surprised. If you were always on the spotlight with zoom lens on your cellulite wouldn't you stop eating? So I guess I'm saying the blame partly lays with the media, the media that idolises 'thinness' and unattainable beauty. The media that always tells us how to dress, how to wear make-up, how to loss weight and doesn't celebrate the greatness that is diverse humanity.

The other blame I put squarely with designers. Why do they make dress sizes of 00 and 2 when they know that is ludicrous? Today I read a heartbreaking statement from Ana Coralina Reston's mother who lost her daughter to complications caused by Anorexia. She was a 21 year old model who starved herself to wear beautiful cloths and walk down a runway. Apparently the fashion world is trying to stop this by enforcing a certain weight on models but I think the designers will then take their designs to celebrities, I mean they are more then willing to stop eating. I mean look at Kate Bosworth. She had such a health looking athlete built in 'blue crush' and now she looks like her arm will come off if you just happened to grab it. It's really sad. And the fact that they don't get that impressionable kids are copying them, is even more depressing. I sometimes wonder how we can stop this trend, but has long as designers and the media work hand in hand in praising this phenomenon, then it will never end and we will keep having young women and men die trying to look good.

Weird Al

I've been a fan of this dude ever since I heard Amish paradise and fat. He's very funny. I love his take on Chamillionaire's song 'Ridin Dirty'.

So, it really is over? TMZ has reported that Reese has filed divorce papers against her hubby, Ryan Phillippe. The couple were married for seven long years (which is a pretty long time in Hollywood) after meeting at Reese's 21st birthday party.

Reese is asking for joint legal custody for their two children, with her being the primary caretaker. What is it with Hollywood and divorce? It's like a long happy marriage is an unknown thing to them. Marriage is about compromise, you give and receive. Actors are so used to receiving they don't know how to give (emotionally).

They say it's the Oscar curse. Women who have won Oscars end up being divorced months later. Well, I say, what does that say about the men? So shallow they can't even be happy for their wives? Or do the women turn around and throw the Oscar winning in their faces? 'Well I have the statue, what do you have? Look at your career, might as well stay home and look after the children.' (looking after children is something women did for centuries, why can't they?) Well, I guess we'll never know what really happened. It's just sad though. Rumours are that Ryan had(or is having ) an affair. You know how it is, rumours always turn out to be fact in Hollywood.

Wow, what is it with couples breaking up now dayz? First we hear that the golden couple of Hollywood is separating (Reese and Ryan), and now Britney Spears has filed for divorce from her hubby, Kevin Federline.

From what I can gather, Britney caught Kevin by surprise by filing the papers. I bet he didn't see the gravy train leaving the station so soon especially now that his album is a totally bomb (not in a good way). It's reported that after filing the papers, Britney went celebrating by ice skating. I guess she was imaging skating away from Federline's greedy clutches. That marriage was weird from the very beginning. I'm even surprised it lasted this long. It's just sorry that there is two children involved in this whole mess.
Talking about the children, Britney wants sole custody which is something Federline is planning to fight (with what I wonder? He has no money!).

Can you image being 24 and twice divorced? That Britney sure is a busy woman.

Justin was right when he sang "What goes around...Comes around". Wonder what he thinks? Probably laughing while he is cleaning up his EMA awards.

Simpsons 2006 Treehouse of Horror Clip

Nice take on the Iraqi War.

UMRAO JAAN

On Saturday 4 November 2006, my sister, a friend and I went to see the Bollywood movie 'Umrao Jaan'. First of all I have to say that I am a huge fan of Bollywood and Rai is one of my favourite Bollywood actress so I was really looking forward to seeing this movie.

We arrived in a rush because we were a few minutes late and I have watching a film that has already started but since these films are 3hours long I knew I'll have time to catch up. As I settled down I got lost in the colour and cinematic brilliance that was 'Umrao'.

The film was a re-make of an 80's movie that was a hit in India. The screenplay is based on a book that recounts this popular Indian fable. It has Aishwarya Rai acting as Umrao and her real life boyfriend Abhishek Bachchan (son of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan) as the love interest, Nawab Sultan.

As I write this I can recall the heavy heart I had while watching this movie. A lot of films have dealt with loss, loss of family, friends and love and 'Umroa' had all of these and more. Rai played the character so well that a glance at her sorrowful eyes had you weeping as a baby. I'm not an emotional person when it comes to movies but this movie had me wiping off a tear or two.

'Umroa Jaan' is really a masterpiece of cinema.

Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces

Finally in these day and age, a music video with some imagination. I'm glad someone sat down and actually thought about what they were going to do and this video really captures the music. It's fantastic!

Give it up to me-sean paul ft keyshia cole

I really like this guy's songs and the original was good but somehow the vocals of Keyshia make this version explosive.

Sean Paul is a pretty good-looking guy but what is with the shaved sides? It just looks weird.

I went to watch 'Step Up' after seeing this video but what a disappointment! I wanted my money back but I guess we all make mistakes.

Madonna admitted on Newsnight that she offered to 'support' David's father so that he could be able to raise David and he refused. She then decided to adopted. She even plans to learn his native lingo, so that means she will be teaching him his culture. Well, if that is the case then what of our objections? We can only then wait and see what happens next.

THE LEGEND IS BACK!

When I saw that John had released another album I was a bit taken back because I'm still enjoying his debut album 'Get Lifted' so I went out of my way to hear is new project 'Once again'.

Well, what can I say, from the first beats of 'save room' to the drum, choral sounds of 'coming home', I was never disappointed. I'm even tempted to say that this album even beats the three Grammy winning debut album with its musicality and its maturity.

In this album, John Stephens flys solo with no collaborations (except in producing) and for this I commend his boldness and belief in himself and makes this product unique compared to what's offered in R&B today.

Truely John is indeed a Legend and he will be with us for a long time to come.