10 11 Things that have been on my mind
There is no preamble to this.
- Why do people keep asking me “who yuh backing for the world cup?”? What manner of question is that? I’ve been asked that question twice in two weeks.
- If I hear that CWC soca-techno “Game of Love and Unity” song one more time, I swear I’ll puke.
- Since everybody but the police seem to know which are the houses that sell crack and weed, I have a solution. Give a crackhead $100 and follow him.
- Why does part of CNC3’s 7pm newscast seem to be on tape nowadays? I can’t figure out if it’s Roger Sant or Shelly Dass who’s on tape. But CNC3 isn’t hiding it very well. I feel cheated.
- Speaking about Roger Sant, it makes me wonder sometimes if sportscasters actually watch sports news. Roger is a bad example because his only sins are mispronouncing Amare Stoudemire’s first name (pronouncing it Am-AIR instead of Am-A-ree) and pronouncing Tomas Rosicky’s last name as ROS-icky instead of Rose-ITS-key. Well Astil Renn is another case all by himself. Do these guys actually like sports or do they just do it because it’s what the boss wants them to do? Despite that, in my humble opinion, Roger Sant is still the best sportscaster Trinbago has ever had.
- On the topic of CNC3, where’s Carla Foderingham? She’s been missing for months without explanation (or at least I may have missed the explanation). I miss my Carla, where is she?
- Boysieringo asked me what I thought about the Panday decision a few days ago. Boysie, I think that Panday is vindicated just as much as (and I can only imagine this) a turd’s taste will vindicate its smell.
- I want to be a famous rock star, however I don’t think many rock star biographies begin with “I got my first guitar when I was 31″.
- Why do all counter staff in Trinidad seem to be the most spacey-minded people in the world. Why do I have to stand in front of a girl for almost two minutes while she packs pens in a box before she asks me what I want? Why does she think she’s doing me a favour by selling me a legal pad?
- Who is the first man to eat caraili and think, “hey, this is something I want to eat tomorrow”?
- Why does British Gas aka BGTT take out full-page colour ads in the newspapers? Just what are they advertising? And to whom are they advertising. On the other hand why do WASA and T&TEC do the same? Sprangalang put it best when he asked “Who is the other electricity company that they does be competing against? I want to know because I want to go with them”.
20 Responses to “10 11 Things that have been on my mind”
By Dre on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Roger Sant ain’t a good “sporcaster”..
By Dre on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Number 11.
I think the reason that they do is to keep “mindshare.” By dey monopoly virtue they already mindshare established but they continually advertise to keep it.
It may be interesting to note that most if not all of their ads have a theme whether they have employees or nature in the ads sometimes to promote teamwork within the org. or to demonstrate their community outreach programs or that they care … unfortunately this doesn’t help when yuh current gone or BGTT continues to rape the country..
Interestingly enough Microsoft spent 500 million to promote Vista even though we’ll have to move to it eventually.
Is either TTEC or Linux… take yuh pick.. lol
By Mani on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Thanks Dre…but that was just one of three. My spelling’s horrendous.
By IZATRINI.com on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
If you are tired of the “Game of Love and Unity” and you want too hear another Cricket song in support of the West Indies, check out the Unofficial 2007 WC Cricket song by Gino McKoy here http://www.izatrini.com/blog
I love the official song but I too am quite sick of it.
By Karel Mc Intosh on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Great post Mani.
Regarding Carla, she’s now the CEO of the T&T Film Compnay. She was in Mumbai the other day presenting something, looking all lovely in a sari. She’s been in the papers a bit over the past few weeks.
Regarding the corporate ads. Although companies like BGTT are not really selling citizens a product per se, for them they use it to shape their corporate identity, and to communicate the commpany’s behaviour and personality. Basically, it’s meant to convince us that they’re a great company that doesn’t “rape the country”.
On the utility tip, I really liked that Sprangalang comment. Made me laugh.
By Sherwin on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Re #2: What about that Sugarboy song being played on CNMG every half hour during from January straight till Carnival?
Re #5: Wham to you boy? Dave Lamy was the best! jk
And I’ve heard European commentators pronounce Rosicky both ways.
Re #9: But they ARE doing us a favour. If only I could return it…
Re #10: Bodi and Baigan too
Re #11: My sentiments exactly. But I scream whenever I see ads for Udecott, Eteck and for any Ministry. I always wonder how much money they spend on ads and how it could more effectively be spent on something to prevent more baby deaths.
By Jonathan on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
After all your criticisms of Roger Sant, Mani, you still think he’s the best sportscaster we’ve ever had? The best? God man, what about (for a start) the the two Tonys–Harford and Dennison? Two professionals who know and care about sport. Roger Sant has a very, very long way to go to even catch sight of those two gentlemen.
Next thing you’ll be saying David “Boosh Fires” Parasaram is the best weatherman we ever had!
By Jonathan on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
As to a couple of your other points:
8. Leonard Cohen was already a successful writer when he switched tracks and became a musician at, I believe, the ripe old age of 36. So take heart, and practise those chords.
10. I am convinced people who hate on caraili aren’t cooking it right. Properly cooked caraili is a wonderful thing. You need to generously salt it beforehand to draw out the bitterness.
By Crankyputz on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
So who are you backing???
I think that Unity song is terrible…of all the music in the Carribean that sure is a poor presenation…
Had me laughing about the pens…
By eemanee on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
boy, #9 is not just a Trini problem.
#11, well the Marketing Manager has to do something, right?
By Vami on Mar 24, 2007 | Reply
i like #s 10 and 11 mani! LMAO!
By Chennette on Mar 24, 2007 | Reply
#5 – I think that not watching news/sports applies to about 90% of our broadcasters.
Dave Lamy??? I am sorry Sherwin, but he couldn’t pronounce ANYBODY’s name. And after one world cup where he wondered why there were Argentinian fans at a Greece match (ahm, ever seen the Greek flag???) I couldn’t listen to him again. I do like Sant, but yeah, not better than Harford.
#10 – Caraili is at least pretty looking – ochroes? funny texture on the outside, slimy on the inside – food?
By NatashaC on Mar 24, 2007 | Reply
Loved that post Mani.
By Island Spice on Mar 25, 2007 | Reply
HAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
Mani for President / Chief Justice / Prime Minister!!
By Mani on Mar 25, 2007 | Reply
Dre – So I guess it’s a whole PR thing to make us think good of them while they earn their millions of dollars. I guess I could understand why BGTT does it, but why WASA and T&TEC do it still boggles me.
Izatrini – Thanks for the tip. Yeah I love it too but good gracious man, it’s all over the place.
Karel – I guess in matters such as these I should always ask you first, lol. Thanks for clearing up the Carla dilemma too. So that’s where she is.
Sherwin – Dave Lammy boy? I can’t even remember Lamy doing anything outside of horseracing. Although I’m sure he did also do soprts news. I never heard European commentators pronounce it Sant’s way, but I’ll take your word for it. I guess it stands out more because he has a couple other mispronunciations.
You can make a case for Baigan, but bodi boy? Yuh mad or what? About Patrice Roberts, I was wondering that myself too. She was the only person to make a soca video or what?
Jonathon – Wait just one gosh darn minute, what do you have against Robin “Boosh Fires” Parasram? Just kidding. Actually I had completely forgotten that Tony Harford read the sports report. Geez, that was such a long time ago. I agree with you on that, he was a much better sports man that Roger – was a little less nasal too. I don’t remember very well Tony Dennison reading the sports though. Well I guess I’ll have to demote Sant to #2, despite his mispronunciations.
Jonathan boy, I’ve had caraili from all kinds of different people and I can’t say I ever found any I like. Thanks for your vote of confidence in my guitar playing though.
Crankyputz – Isn’t it obvious? Canada of course.
Eemanee – Well I guess the mm has to earn his or her salary. Allyuh does have to go through that in Barbados too?
Vami – Thanks Vami!
Chennette – Oh Gosh, Lamy actually said that? Geez. Chennette, just tonight I was listening to the CNC# newscast when Astil Renn was reporting on today’s England/Australia game (where Australia won) and at the very end of it he says “England won the game by seven wickets”. I kid you not. Where do they get these people? And this is the second time he’s done something like this in just a few weeks. I think I may need to stop watching CNC3 for a while. It used to be a lot better, but now they are copying reports directly from foreign sources (is that part of the business?), they have a hard time pronouncing words any serious reporter shouldn’t, plus they have a whole host of technical glitches on a nightly basis like the wrong video being shown for a story. It’s kind of painful to watch actually, especially as I thought they had long passed the teething stage.
Oh yeah, believe me Ochro is definitely on that list. Talk about a mouthful of slime.
Natashac – Thanks!
Island Spice – Oh gosh Spice, why yuh want to make me embarrass so? lol
By Sherwin on Mar 25, 2007 | Reply
LOL oh gorm I was kidding about the Dave Lamy thing eh people
And allyuh just not cooking that ochro right. But I wouldn’t eat it any other way than fried. Fry with some aloo and if it’s done well there’d be no slimyness (sliminess?)
By Hottie Hottie on Mar 26, 2007 | Reply
So wham to Tony Harford!? Roger Sant saying everybody name wrong years now – you NOW pick up on dat?! Carailli is not food people, is punishment. Ochro, on de udder hand, is a culinary delight. Sadi roti and fry ochro with “plenty plepper” as the Chinese girl I used to buy it from on Park Street used to say. But allyuh never nyam down a sweet ochro and rice?! Especially eef it have a lil saltfish in it. OH LORD! And ah see Karel done handle de marketing question so yuh good to go. And I glad I eh dere to hear no annoying cricket song nah cuz someboy mighta be swallowing a bat. Sideways.
By Afro Chic on Mar 27, 2007 | Reply
Mani boy after working as a volunteer fuh de cricket and hearing that song all through the tournament…I’m now a fan of the song. LOL.
I missing waking up at the ungodly hour of 3:45 to leave home at the even ungodlier hour of 4L45 to reach down in the Oval fuh 5:15ish.
Serious.
By Mummylicious on Mar 27, 2007 | Reply
Two tings:
1. Jonathon must be on drugs. Is caraili we talking about you know? No amount of salt can EVER make dat taste anywhere close to better dan dirt.
2. AMEN to #9 i have the biggest problems with cashiers at groceries. Why why whyyyyyyyyy are you talking to the girl next to you about Wasa fete when my groceries are sitting there waiting for you to swipe. Do you not see me standing there?
By Mani on Apr 2, 2007 | Reply
Sherwin, is ok if you think Lamy is the best yuh know, we doh judge.
Well Hotts, the song isn’t so much annoying as it is overplayed. Fry Ohcro on the other hnd….well maybe I could eat that once in a blue moon, but it must have plenty pepper.
Afro chic gyul, we applaud your service to our country, please accept the MOOM award (Manicou Order Of Merit).
Mummylicious, well to tell you the truth I wondering that too. I’ve had caraili all kinna ways and none of them ever taste good.
And don’t start me about the cashiers, what is the criteria these use to hire anyway? Be friendly and talkative to everyone but the customers?