Jamaican Till I Die!

The more I travel and the more I communicate with people in different countries both in person and online, and the more I explore global news and current affairs as it happens in countries around the world. Is the more I have grown to appreciate my Jamaica and my Jamaican people even more.  I am not saying we are better than anyone. I am not saying we are superior to anyone and the fact that for the most part we do not think on those levels make me appreciate us more. As a matter of fact most of us Jamaicans know our limitations and enjoy our mediocre simple life. I will go even further to declare simplification of life is a much better way of living than an overly complex life. Simple things make my day and life worth living. Like finding a big East Indian mango, golden in colour, ripened to perfection and sweeter than sugar and it is big enough to be a single meal. I spent one part of my life chasing the dreams of my parents, thinking about corporate ladders, having...

What I love about software development is the process of designing a system, trying to think about all possible permutation of what could go wrong, the edge cases then design and code for it. I also love the feeling of unleashing my creations on the world, in that regard I suffer from a little bit of the god complex, knowing that my children, my creations are still running, still alive and still changing the world. What I love about the permaculture method of agricultural is the process of designing a food production system that mimics nature. Hijacking the natural world and using it for food production because nature has everything figured out, it is the most efficient system. This method requires patience and a deep respect for the natural world because what nature gives you on one hand, nature can take back with the other. But it is all part of the natural plan, it is nature’s way of replenishing the earth. What looks like destruction today is a rebuilding process tomorrow as n...

I hope y’all had the good fortune to enjoy the beautiful starry sky last night. Today finds me in a reflective mood. Yesterday morning my grandfather died. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005 and spent the past 7 years living the kind of life that comes with that diagnosis; an operation, numerous doctors’ visits, prescription medications by the bucketful, tests upon tests, pain, and discomfort. Through it all he maintained lucidity, humour and an inner strength that was representative of his character. I hold him up as one of the most influential male figures in my life, my role model for kindness, compassion, integrity, masculinity and responsibility. The memory of his fine example will play on in my mind’s eye for the rest of my life. He will be missed. Now my view on death may seem a little different or it may not. However, my spiritual understanding sees death as another beginning, a birth, if you will, in another reality. Without getting too deeply into this, I...

As the rainfall and intense winds subside, as the power and water supply return sporadically, as downed trees, foliage, light poles and power lines are cleaned up and put right, and as businesses reopen, the progressive return to normalcy is clear in sight. With this return to the norms of our day to day life, it would be good to reflect on how fortunate we are, 1) to have survived with so little loss and 2) for the disaster itself. I always find a need to remind everyone including myself that the purpose of the gift of life is to have the opportunity to become better, to evolve. This disaster as with all others gives us an opportunity to come into another frame of mind. When faced with an impending disaster, usually in Jamaica’s case, hurricanes.  we shift into high anxiety mode,  we head for the supermarket and/or hardware store, in an effort to implement our 10 point disaster preparedness plan, we closely monitor the updates on TV, radio or the internet...