This is cool. Maybe there is a God, because if this is true he threw me a big fuc%in' bone.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm

This one may answer why, but who really knows.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

All that and no hang over to boot. Yep Sol - According to the Rastas, you should partake of the sacrement of Rastafaria constantly as it puts you in touch with Jah as the herb was given by his hand to help with the healing of the troubles of mankind.
The only good thing to come out my trip to SE Asia was being introduced to Thai stick by a Marine in a bar in Vung Tau.

Who really cares?

Now I can claim "medicinal purposes only" after every geezer.

Good ol' science. The same people who told us that tomatoes were good for us because they reduce the rate of cancer, especially prostate. Oops, now they say, there is no effect against cancer.

I don't listen to that crap. If you want to have a drink, have a drink. If you want to light a bowl of chim-chim, fire away. Do your own thing. I don't think it really mattered anyway, did it Sol?

If the data showed the lung cancer rate among us Rastafarians was as high as it is for ciggarette smokers I'd at least think about cutting back. Glad that's not the case. I was currious enough to snoop around on Google because I've never known anyone or heard of anyone who smoked weed getting lung cancer. I've known a half dozen that died from cancer due to smoking ciggarettes, however. Kinda weird.

Here's a Gan-Jah download for you Sol..... burn it for burning.....

http://www.bloodandfire.co.uk/db/viewtopic.php?t=22698

Interesting read. It is also a scientific fact that spleef can turn the bite on, at least in my mind

Which is funny because alot of Jamaicans smoke Craven-A's which are the nastiest, noxious coffin nails ever produced.

Also after spending time in Jamaica, I wouldn't feel bad if a whole lot of them dropped dead.

And as far as I could tell, 90% of Jamaica's problems come from that violent, bloodthirsty, wackjob cult known as The Rastafari.

In the short time I was there, in that little backwater parish alone, there were 6 murders, one was a girl they suspected of of being pregnant with a "white man baby," another was suspected of being gay, one was a political assaination, and the rest were home invasion robberies, and ALL of them were macheted to death by several Rastas.

Wow, someone didn't enjoy there visit to Jamaica. Pretty harsh generalization

"Pretty harsh generalization "
True. I have no interest in starting a debate over your trip to JA and your post, Irie, but you may want to do a bit of reading about Rastfarians before you lump them all together. Rastafarians, by definiton and the teachings of their religion, are not into violence. The people involved in violence are often dreads but not Rastafarians.

I agree! I've always enjoyed visits there. The majority are a beautiful and sweet people. Plenty of talented and creative people there for sure.

All Rastafarian are not to be generalized as a " violent, bloodthirsty, wackjob cult." People like you will never experience the true Jamaica because of your preconcieved prejudices. First of all, give me your definiton of a Rastafarian. Does long dreadlocks make you a Rasta? Does listening to Reggae music make you a Rasta? Are all blacks with dreadlocks Rasta's? That's some vague generalizations if you ask me. Most of those people are doing the best they can with what they have, and still much nicer than most people I run into here in the states. You probably spend most of your time at Margaritaville with the rest of the snoobbish tourist, thinking thats the best that Jamaica has to offer. I've seen them, and most look pretty silly with their one up- Colonial plantation attitudes. I have been blessed to be connected to some of the most talented artist on that Island. I get the freshest of Reggae music as well as the marvelous works of many other artisians, by simply connecting on the human level.

Jamaica.....No Problem!

John Lee Hookum...
If you are into Reggae music, check out the website that the download I posted came from. It's connected to the Blood and Fire record label and the posters are primarily from the UK and Europe and there are a lot of djs, both sound systems and radio. They put up a lot of downloads that can be burned to a cd. I've been introduced to aton of artists and have bought several vinyls after I heard the tunes on the downloads.

I've got no problem with my fellow peace-loving Rastafarians.

Thanks Chuck, I will check it out. BTW, I have about 500 GB's of Reggae on my hardrive. From the Marley family and the classics.. Gregory Isaas, Black Uhuru, Third World, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh, Inner Circle, etc., to Anthony B, Sizzla, Bushman, Vybz Kartel, Capelton, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Midnight, Elephant Man, Michael Rose, Barrington Levy, Luciano, Big Youth, DMX, Groundation, Dub Syndicate, Cocoa Tea, just to name a few. I have many many more Albums and artists in my collection and always looking to add more. Thanks for the heads up. I will give the link a closer look.

Don't you just love having the downloads at the ready in your media center, all organized with each album and song catalog for your convenience. A long ways from the days of rooms filled with scratched or warped vinyl. Long live the Hard Drive!

Actually most Jamaicans dont listen to much Reggae. Thats like assuming All Americans listen to old Elvis records. They listen to a Reggae/Rap infusion along the lines of "Shaggy." Secondly, the closest I came to that *ucked up corporate mockery of Carib culture known as Margaritaville was walking by one at Sangster Intl. and noticing all the fat ass Texans and thier bratty kids and wondering to ourselves why anyone would eat such shyit when there is so much better food to be had all around. Jimmy Buffet is an asshole that has done as much to destroy his paradise as United Fruit Inc. We spent our trip in the Jamaican Backwater in Westmoreland Parish. The nearest airport was three hours drive away. The nearest bank was an 45 minutes away and had 2 M-16 toting guards out front. If you had any clue about Reggae, you'd know that one of Bob Marley's songs was about "kill da white people" and even he was a fruitcake of the highest order who would starve himself into hallucination in a remote cave to come up with songs that would make him more money, and he refused medical treatment for infection which cost him his ass.
lastly, I should clarify that my comments weren't directed at Jamaicans as a whole, just that segment of thier society that is causing the lot of them so much anguish.

Rastafarianism is right up there with Mormonism and Islam in thier militant dogma. What do you expect out of a group of illiterates that think Haile Sellasie (Thier "Lion of Judah") the dead, deposed king of Ethiopia is god incarnate?

Irie, mon, It's alright.

JLH....
I'm a lotech guy in a high tech world. I still buy vinyl and spin on the wheels of steel. Yep - vinyl. Zion's Gate on Capital Hill is a great source for vinyl as is Georgetown Records and Holy Cow in the Pike Place Market. I bought the Congos "Heart of the Congos" on 180 gr and sealed for $20. and now it's selling for $35 unopened. Wished all my investments went up like that in 18 months.
Trolling off Jeff head and listening to Kid Hops on Positive Vibrations in Saturday morning sunshine is one of the best things I can do.

Hey Irie, don't let JLH give you any worries... He's jumped on me before, accusing me of being racist when he had no grounds to do so. He is a knee jerk reactionist at the very least. Kinda like poking someone with a hot pin....

I've met Irie and I liked him.

"Rastafarians, by definiton and the teachings of their religion, are not into violence. "

I don't know about the Rastas, but I do know that if you exchange the word "Rastafarians" in the above quote with "Christians", "Jews", or "Muslims", it would be equally true, as the teachings of their religions, by definition, are not into violence, either.

We all know how well that works out in real life.

Fish on...

Todd

Exactly.

The feeling's mutual, Sol.

Speaking of real life how's that BAR exam going? You have to pass it to be a real lawyer, right? Hows that working out in "real life."

******************.

"one of Bob Marley's songs was about "kill da white people""

Which song is that?

"They listen to a Reggae/Rap infusion along the lines
of "Shaggy." "

Yep - it's called dancehall style. Sean Paul has had the most recent well known hits in that style.

one of Bob Marley's songs was about "kill da white people""

Which song is that?

It doesn't exist. Crazy Ball heads yes, Babylon struggles yes but "kill da White man" I have never heard in any of his songs. Maybe since the original Rastafarians were decendant of slaves that fled to the mountains to avoid slavery and there abusers, they might have wished for the death of those white men at one time. BTW, these mountain Rasta's were very rebellious to there slave masters and were not good shipmates so they were off loaded in Jamaica to get rid of the problem ones. I'm sure that many wanted all white men dead for what they were doing to them in those days. They were the rebellious ones then, and are still unique and a proud people today. Remember, it has not been that long since that S.H.I.T. happened.

So tell me JLH, how much time have you spent in Jamaica?

It's not about the quantity my friend, it's all about the quality.

I like Irie too. He fed me good beer that gave me a head ache.... I suppose that could have been the 8 beers I had before I met him as well...

So JLH....
Have you listened to any of the "Jahawaiian" music coming out of the Pacific islands?
I get some of the tunes from a Hawaiian friend of mine. I like most of it and it's across the boards covering the different styles of Reggae music.

I luv it.....old white guys arguing about Rasta music and culture.

Can ya say wannbe mon.....

RVW

RvsW- I'm not a totally white guy- I'm an old half breed Piegan clan of the Blackfeet Nation and not a wannabe by any stretch. I just got into the music because it was a lot more interesting than anything else that is played on the radio today. The more I listened the more I was interested in the Rastas because so much of the music is about their beliefs and to understand the context of the lyrics I read up on what it's about. The more I got into it the more I realized how much good music there was available.
Reggae music is only international musical genre out of the third world and is played on every continent in the world. I can see why a white guy, such as yourself, would get the impression that is not of interest to anyone as it is out of the third world. There is alot of interesting things outside of the US that have value. Try listening to some of it besides Legend by Bob Marley, you might be surprised.

I've listened to some, but I am pretty picky about my Reggae. Vybz Kartel,Shaggy, Sean Paul can be followed by Ini Kamoze, if I'm spinning the records, and the party would still be a jamming. I love the fact that even without translation, you get the true feel for the Reggae music it represents .

With so much excellent reggae out now, it's difficult for me to allow time for listening to works, that are not up to par. When I want to listen to Reggae, I want to listen to the good stuff, the very best. Life's to short!!!! I dig jamming with fresh and best Reggae I can get my hands on, if you know what I mean. I wont go looking to find the last Samurai in the Carribean either, if you know what I mean. This Eskimo an't buying that load of ice yet.

I'm not knocking anyones music, just indicating my preferences. Years ago they tried to promote "The Police" as being in the same class of reggae as Marley or Burning Spear. Not sure if you can remember that scam, but yours truly never fell for it. I liked "The Police" and enjoyed there music. Even saw them in concert a couple of times, but after watching Bob Marley, you would definitely realize that they were not in the same class. Period! They were even trying to lable and promote "The Clash" as a Reggae ban.

In England (in those days as now) a lot of the New Wave - Punk Bands were attracted to the Reggae scene. Reggae was catching on fast and the new bands of that time, such as "The Clash", "The Police" wanted to ride the Reggae wave to stardom, and it worked.

Again, I like my Reggae straight, no chaser.

So true! So very true!

Wow, the things I can learn on this off topic, wayward, sub-section of my internet fishing bulletin board.

I don't know jack about Jamaica. I didn't know about Marley's music until after he was dead. But I enjoy it. I don't get dreadlocks and think they look filthy, but to each his own I figure. I'm glad I didn't previously know Jamaica is a murder capital. My youngest daughter spent the first quarter of 2002 there on her Watson Fellowship after college.

I saw a sorta' documentary movie about Jamaica about 6 years ago that described how the US and UK destroyed the agricutural base and economy of Jamaica (made it a dumping ground for surplus US ag products), with the UK continuing to buy bananas to salve their guilt complex for being an accomplice to economic terrorism, and putting the country into one doomed World Bank economic plan after another, and both the US and UK benefit from the port city duty free sweat shops. It was a swell movie; made me feel like blowing up an international bank.

Jamaica can grow and use all the pot they want. I think they should make it a national industry and export as much of it to the USA as both a favor and an act of economic retribution.

That about sums up all I know or feel about Jamaica. I might look for some of that reggae tho.

Sg

Salmo...
From 9 - Noon on Saturdays, Positive Vibrations radio program is carried on KEXP 90.3. Kid Hops is the host. The playlist is posted on line so you can see the artist, the tune and the label. The shows, like all the programs on KEXP, is archived for two weeks so you can play it whenever you want thru the computer. KEXP is a good way to become familiar with different types of music without having to buy it.
The Friday nite rockabilly show from 6 - 9 with Dr. Leon Birman, the proctologist of rock and roll, is a good way to end the week.

i love kexp. the only radio station i listen to. do you get a clear signal over on the peninsula or do you stream it? great station and swingin doors and sonic reducer make my week every week. its worth listening to the djs during pledge drives to be able to rock out the rest of the time. we contribute also.

Ganja is illegal in Jamaica. Bigtime.

What part of Jamaica are ya from mon? I can't hear you through the resume.

I listen to plenty of reggae, always have, but your expert opinion is just that bra....an opinion.

I have spent months at a time abroad (oversees, travelling) and have experienced the world outside the U.S .... but thanks for your advice.

As for what you are I don't give a chit .... we are all something. However if you were from Jamaica you might have a louder voice....since you're not ....well I guess you're just another cracker like me.

Peace ---- RVW

Irie is okay by me. I think I met him at Solfly. One or more of us was impaired. I think he gave me some rum, or maybe I gave him some. Or maybe it never happened.

I have travelled around the Carribean a god bit and met kewl rastas and assholes, kinda like here I guess.

We both were impaired. I had that Wray & Nephew Overproof White Lightnin' I brought for you to try.

Irie rose to near legendary status in my book when he pulled a great move at SolFly.

He's standing there with a drink, when the buzz gets the best of him and it slides right out of his hand and plops on the ground. Without even skipping a beat, he sticks his hands in his pocket, whips out a beer, pops it open, and starts swilling it down like nothing ever happened.

Classic.

RvsW....
Gee, thanks for clearing up my misunderstanding from your first post in this thread. Gosh, I guess I just misunderstood your worldyness. Here's a dedication to you from youtube. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2C-3iXZPLE

Keep smiling.

I was hoping nobody would remember that!

That was my que to go pass out.