Hey All

Well the week has been pretty much routine so far. Can't say I mind though. It certainly is a change from my hectic schedule of the past month. I had the privilege of attending a luncheon hosted by my organization for its pensioners. The food wasn't bad and it was nice to see some of the persons who had served the organization so well over the years and who have gone on to retirement. I knew quite a few of them, most in fact. Tells me I'm getting on in age here. In retrospect I have been here some 20 odd years since high school. Whoa!! lots of years that. Only when you see all these persons together do you realize how many persons have come and gone over the years, those who have migrated, moved to other jobs, retired or died. I can honestly say that I have seen almost a complete staff change since I have been here. Time............ I was watching the NBC news this morning and they have been featuring this man who shot and killed a policeman in NY during these past few days. I was so surprized to hear that Al Sharpton plans to visit the precinct today because he feels that it is irresponsible for persons who protest police killings of "innocent" civilians not to protest the injustice when a policeman is unjustly killed. Might be just a token visit but at least it is a balanced token visit. Honestly, I wish Amnesty International and Jamaicans for Justice would take a leaf out of his book. Usually you only hear them when one side acts up. Anyways I was just keeping it light today. Gone to do some reading so later.

Former World Rally Champion Richard Burns died at the end of last week, losing his battle with a brain tumor. More here. Burns was one of my favourite drivers and I have always loved how he handled the Subarus. He won his 2001 championship title behind the wheel of a Scooby but switched to Peugeot in his later driving years. He was 34. The avatar that I use on MSN is a model of his early Impreza WRC and one of the few that I have ever gone out of my way to search for and purchase. The sport has truly lost another great driver. Rest in Peace Mr. Burns. The sport will never be the same without you.

I deh bout...

Well I survived the onslaught of coursework. I figure that if you survive this semester then yuh can survive anything. The projects and presentations went pretty well. Some were better than others. and I found out that I did good on the test from last Thursday so one set down. Exams to go. Schedule isn't too bad. All being well I will be free of the campus by 13 December for about three weeks or so. We had a bit of disappointment in one presentation. A friend found out that based on the new regulations she has been placed on the "make good" list. This means she will only be allowed to clear up any outstanding courses before doing any 4th year courses. It put a damper on the presentation since anything she did between September and now has no value to her, including the presentation. She still went ahead and we did a reasonably good job. I'm gonna miss having her in class :( It feels kinda weird not having any schoolwork deadlines with everything crammed into the week gone. I'm gonna go chill tonight. Wifey wants to go idle so....... The Shorter One got a prize at her prize-giving yesterday. She was awarded for the work done in grade 8. She is so proud of herself and even insisted that I take her picture with the certificate. Later on in the year she will select subjects for her career hopes. She is giving out talks about medicine but keeps proclaiming about art. I kinda have to be hinting that she is to do what she likes and not what other people want her to do. She had told us that she wants to do designing and interior decorating. I suspect her friends are talking at school and she is being swayed. She does really well at art and catches concepts that I can only dream about. She hates the sciences, so unless she wants to do a new version of medicine that I don't know about......... Anywayz, I goin stop chat and go read a weeks worth of blogs so later.

Pass the Coffee.....Ok give me caffeine, Any Kind

Hi guys, after this past week and a half I'm going into detox. Coffee and any caffeine drink have become my best friends. The amount of that stuff that I've put away in the last few days is unbelievable. I checked and I'm in shock so...I guess that makes me a junkie. Well this last week goes like this....Wednesday gone - major project due, Thursday gone - in course test, Friday assignment, Saturday - groups meetings from 11:00 to 11:00 followed by about 2 hours of work, Sunday 3:00a.m. to 7:00a.m. group assignment 9:00a.m. to 12:00 rest 1:30 to 9:30 group meetings and assignment. 9:30 to 2:00a.m. typing. Monday night group meeting Tuesday night presentation and major project, Today group presentation and major project, tomorrow Thursday major project.By the way I work so during the Monday to Fridays I am at work from 8:30 to 4:30. I am just counting down to tomorrow when the last piece is handed in. Exams start the 2nd week in December. That I can deal with. At least it is just the reading and not the assignments. Anywayz I gone again. I will have to catch up on the blogs another time.

Friday already...where did...............

Okay ....give it back.....somebody stole the rest of the week and didn't share it with us. Selfish...:( Well All I can tell you (from the little I remember of this week) is that nothing much happening here with me EXCEPT TOOOO MUCH SCHOOLWORK!!!!!! I sat down this morning and just wondered what will life be like when I don't have this school thing hanging over my head in just about 5 semesters time. (I stopped using years because it just sound too far away. 5 semester is really just about 1 and 1/2 years. This week was hell. One test and a major project. Project was extremely challenging since it was a discussion question and the material was based on opinion rather than text book research and publish kinda thing. The test was a test was a test. I got back some grades and I am pretty pleased with them so it is inspiration to keep going. I haven't failed anything to date so here's hoping that trend continues. My random thpought for the day was about hookers, whores, sex workers. I really wonder how they feel going about selling themselves to anybody who passes. There is no name no face no feeling just a sea of dollar signs and meat. :( It must be, to my mind a very degrading thing. I am told that some actually enjoy the lifestyle but I'm not so sure........... Have a great weekend all.

True Jamaican Virgin

A Jamaican ginnal named Countafeit is out playing football and gets hit >with >a high speed penalty shot right in the crotch. Writhing in agony, he falls >to the ground. As soon as he could manage, he took himself to >Doctor >Morrison and ask, "How bad is it doc? Mi goin' on mi honeymoon nex week and >mi fiance' is still a virgin in every way." Doctor Morrison tol him, "I'll >have to put your thing in a splint to let it get better and keep it >straight > It should be alright by next week." So h! e took four wooden tongue >depressors, made a neat four-sided splint and wired it all together. >Another impressive work of art by Dr. Morrison. > >Countafeit mentions none of this to his fiance Puncie, marries and goes on >his honeymoon having professed to Puncie that he is also a virgin. (bwoy >can >lie yu see!!!). > >That night, in the motel room she rips open her blouse to reveal a gorgeous >set of knockers. This was the first time he saw them. She said, "You are >the >first, no man has ever touched these breasts." She then removes her panties >to reveal her treasure, and again declares, "You are the first, no man has >ever been there" > >He whips off his pants and says, "Yuh t'ink dat a nutten? look ya, my own >still inna di CRATE!"

Tuesday

Hail all, well it's Tuesday again. This just sounds so repetitive. I'm sure it was Tuesday just about 7 days ago. Maybe we need to have a 14 day week and rename some of the other days so they don't come around quite so often...... It's OK the school work is just playing havoc on the ole brain. :D I'm not going crazy...I passed that stage long time. Anyway, I'm already at work working on one of my school projects so I'm not gonna stay with you today, just to say hail and I'm out. Before I go, I'm just taking this opportunity to introduce Slybabyk. She has passed through on a few ocassions and dropped comments but it seems that she now has a Blogger account. Yes, she is Jamaican. I seem to have lost my toolbar on this machine but it is visible at home so I guess machine error. She is linked on my sidebar so you can drop her some comments and let a lady feel welcome. BTW, Esso still up to their tricks so another JGRA deadline set for today at ten or more bangarang might gwaan. Later guys.

Last Night

No this not gonna be x-rated. Last night was Kalookie night. We got off to a really late start but hey all in the name of Friday night idling I suppose. Guess who won? ........No! not my wife or sisters or friends......yup....that's right.....MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! How yuh mean that it can't be true?....what happen mi nuh name person too? ...... Is alright.....either say congrats or gweeyyyyyy!! By winning it means that the next round will be played here at my house. Means that I don't have to travel to the locale and when the game is over, I just throw out the guests and go to my bed. :) No don't leave, not because I tell yuh to gwey.....yuh can stay. :D Well I'm kinda tired. The Automobile Dealers Association had there car show this weekend. I went this morning to take a look at what I can't afford and have no hopes of acquiring in the near future but I love cars so I went. I think that that was a good enough reason to pay the entry fee and go fill my eyes. I wanted specifically to see the new Subaru Impreza WRX because I had seen photos of it and was totally disappointed. I'm glad I did...the car is a beauty. Sorry, wrong word....Scoobys are never beauties. The car look buyable iyah. Wish I had the cash. Except for a few bright spots here and there I was disappointed with the show. Usually there is a lot more fluff and flair to it. I think the show reflected the economy...nuff high price items and lots of consumers looking and can't buy. I got some tips on how to handle the interior of my current car so I have some stuff to go try out. The show presented quite a few of the higher end of the market and noticeably absent were the low to mid income cars like the Toyota Corolla and the Nissan Almera. SUV's and big models were the norm. For such big companies I was a little disappointed with the showings from the Nissan and Toyota dealers. I would have preferred a wider cross section....I note that space was a definite issue. Oh yes...there was an Evo IX on display :p My son was more impressed with the cars in parking lot than was was inside except for the WRX and the Evo of course. Other than that the Saturday was basically a spend with family kinda day. I don't have classes on a Saturday right now so it has been an opportunity for me to make myself visible on weekends. Can't say I miss the classes at all. Anyways I was just here telling you about my Kalookie win so now that I've patted myself on the back I gone :)

Registered!

Well I am once again a registered student of the Utech. I have been trying to obtain 1) my progression status and 2) my enrollment package for the past 6 weeks in total. About 3 weeks ago I finally got my report and requested my enrollment package so that I complete registration. I know it sounds strange to some people but it appears that the school deals with new students before trying to sort out the veterans. Because I also attend classes in the summer semester, progression cannot be given until the summer grades are posted so it results in us always being late in getting our stuff. So three weeks go by and no package. I checked three Thursdays in a row...nothing zippo zilch nadda none.....no package for Scratchie :( Last Thursday I realized that anybody who had outstanding fees was dropped from the computer system...package received or not. Of course, Scratchie blew his top at the poor defenseless girl in the office cuz she had attitude and I was not too thrilled about their style of doing things and already going beyond my responsibility by following up on something that I should receive as a course of routine. Hell, is my fourth year so yuh supposed to know the routine by now....student pass all courses....print package....student collect same and follow through on registration process. Not so easy as you might think. Student has to follow up on pass results...student makes sure results entered...student requests progression status...student requests enrollment package...student registers....student ensures registration complete...student ensures that system is updated to ensure enrollment. Maybe I should continue....student NOT getting paid to do work for Utech staff... Anyway, I decided to go there yesterday and actually got everything done without quarrelling or cursing or threatening or any of the good stuff. It went well and as the caption says.....I am now registered. I even paid the tuition :) Wasn't I a good Scratchie...round of applause please. Next dealings with school admin will be......Exam cards in December....listen out for more issues at that time...:) Later all.

Wednesday...Never Rains but.......

Well today was a really hectic day on the roads. Main event for today was the gas retailers strike called by the Jamaica Ggasolene Retailers Association as a heightened measure to pressure Esso into revising its pricing mechanism. As of tomorrow morning, not only will Esso service stations be closed, but ALL gas stations islandwide who are in support of the JGRA's call will be closed as well possibly for 2 days unless some arrangement can be brokered by tomorrow morning. Let me say that I totally disagree with this measure. Whereas I have no problem with the Esso dealers fighting for a better position and payoff, I think the move by the JGRA is irrational, unethical, uncalled for, irresponsible and illegal. I use strong sentiment against the background that the JGRA's issue is the dispute between Esso retailers and the Esso marketing company. If you have a problem with Esso then deal with Esso. Close the Esso stations and have Esso feel the pinch. If the stations not open then they lose money. How the rahtid can you implement a measure that will almost certainly disable an already battered economy. There were so many car scrambling for gas today that travelling in certain parts of town was next to impossible. Why are you holding the public at large for a dispute with Esso. The Fair Trading Commission has indicated that the JGRA's action is illegal and can be pursued in the legal system and, quite frankly, I hope that they are taken to court and fined the maximum fine of $5,000,000.00. It may sound harsh, but I do believe that it is time in this country that those who are given the power, authority and responsibility for the welfare of varying facets of our nation use their power responsibly and exercise prudence in the decisions that they make especially in a situation such as this where there are alternative measures that could be adapted which would have been just as fruitful. I would love to see the JGRA disbanded and declared an illegal entity but on the other hand I do believe in the trade union movement. I am however a realist. The days of the willy nilly "lock it down" are far gone although nobody told the JGRA this. We need to examine how we do things and how we resolve the problems that we encounter whether it is in dealing with the government, multi-nationals, marketing companies, employers or any other force of social political or economic existence. By now you can see that I am pissed and blowing my top......... Guess we all need to vent sometimes. Later all.

UPDATE: Strike called off but some stations totally out of fuel so shortage for a while.

Week in Review

Well I am still under stress with school so hence the neglected blog. I have a test this evening so this will be really short. What has been happening....nothing much to tell you the truth. between group meetings and housework and car cleaning and just plain ole loafing nothing much at all going on. Esso seems to be having an issue with their retailers or I think it's the other way around. Apparently there is some issue that the retailers have with the marketing company's pricing mechanism and the retailers are closing their stations in protest. Guess they are hitting them where it hurts. I had my own run in with an Esso service station on Thursday. I have copied the story from my post so parts of it may sound strange to some of you but I wasn't gonna sit and retype all of that so a little editing and walla: Last night I was on my way home from classes and was about to do my usual stop for weekend fuel at the Shell on the Boulevard but realized that they were closed (some bricks and stuff across the entrance and total darkness). Had to find some fuel quick, so I drove into the Esso at the corner of Molynes and Boulevard and told the attendant to fill tthe tank......wrong move...... One mind say check the cost and low and behold..... $53.7x for 87 . Had to stop the pump same time and pull out. Everywhere else have 87 for between $48.00 and $50.00 so why dem tiefing people still have it so high? I accept the blame because I should have asked first but just to let you people know...CHECK THE PRICES because some of these stations ripping people off. They don't post a price on the board so that you can see the comparison with other stations. Be on the alert people or your pockets will feel it. Esso seems to be a main culprit because there was no price at the one on the corner of Dunrobin and Constant Spring Road which was why I passed them in the 1st place. Still got caught anyway. Seperate and apart from that we have had some traffic fatalities since Sunday. On Sunday 2 bikers got killed on Highway 2000 near Old Harbour and yesterday 3 people got killed in a car accident. People...take it easyy on the roads. The police have vowed to step up their vigilance especially during Christmas. Seems we will be having more policemen/women on the roads. The Minister of National Security got the nod to beef up the force. I am not so sure this will solve the problem. Although if you look at it, it may mean more jobs and more security but we still need to tackle the root causes...too many illegal guns have gotten in here. We need to deal with that swiftly. Unfortunately I'm sure that nuff politics involved but......... Anywayz I gone do some work.....take care

Still Alive.....Tired like ....... but still alive

Hail up everybody, Well the tests and projects are still hanging over my head so this will be short. Did one on Thursday and have another today ...then one next week and a couple of major projects in between. All in the life of a student I suppose. Well I moved desks. It is a bit of a retro step for me in that I have done this job before but it is a step forward because it means I will get a little more $$$ at the end of the month so I will take the boredom for sake of that. The only problem is that where I now sit is right out in the open so no more during the day surfing and stuff...(not that I had much time for that before anyway). Things are quiet on the home front...except Spanish Town. Police killed an area don on Sunday and the place nearly tear down. I saw a photo on the front page of yesterday's Gleaner that would leave anybody in awe. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051101/lead/lead1.html I was trying to link it but it seems that half the Blogger toolbars are nowhere to be found so check the address above. Anyways, I hope everybody is fine....I've been reading but not really saying much. You all take care.

Holding a bit

Sorry guys, I know I have been absent but we go through this every semester. It's that time again....mid semester tests are right under my a_ _ ......let's call it my soul case. In addition each subject has a major project so time is of major premium right now. I promise to keep up the reading but the writing gonna have to take a short snooze. If I find a "must share" topic then yuh know how it go but not gonna log in just to tell you that the sky is blue.

And traffic is making things really miserable here at home. It took me an hour to move 2 block lengths from off Aldinton on to Hagley Park Road last night just so I could turn on to Woodglen. I am really sorry for the people ging all the way down Hagley Park Rd. because they were not going anywhere in a hurry. If it weren't for the policeman who directed me on to the right hand side of the road and allowed me to make my turn it would have been at least another hour in just that little section of the route. The shortcuts to China (potholes) aren't making it any better either. Some of those craters can swallow cars and SUV's whole.

Anyway I start chat and soon can't stop, so till later.......

Finally....

Well the rains have finally subsided. They started last Friday and fell consistently until this morning. The skies still seem a bit shakey but certainly not looking like what it looked liked over the past few days.

What was that?.....Seems we may have had our 1st ever tornado here in Jamaica. The geography people are a bit skeptical and the eyewitnesses are less than accurate in their descriptions simply because we have never had one of those things here at home. Whatever it was did some seriousdamage to a couple of houses in St. Catherine and one man said it sounded like a truck and dirty up the air wid bed and board and leaf and dresser.

Well I hear that I am being moved to a different section for a while. This is to act at a level above my current position. Yes, it means a little more pay for a while but it also means more headaches. We'll see how it goes.

I just heard that I still will not be having any classes this evening but I really don't mind. The roads are horrible following the rains and I not into the night driving on pothole riddled roads at all. Front end parts not cheap and besides, my car has on alloy wheels which can only be gotten as a set, so if one gets damaged yuh know is 4 haffi buy.

Haven't gotten to the blog reading yet but soon. Been busy trying to sort out people in crisis. We have staff in St. Catherine that have been cut off by the flooding and some spent 5 hours in traffic yesterday morning trying to get to work and several of them got here before daylight this morning trying to avoid the rush. This means that they will probably spend the better part of this evening sitting in traffic to get home. The management are considering letting them leave an hour earlier to alleviate some of the stress of the peak hour rush. Most roads are open again but only partially and yesterday saw 5 lanes of traffic trying to use 1/2 a lane. It ruff mi tell yuh. Hope it gets better today. It highlights the fact however that an evacuation method will not work since the routes that are blocked are the evacuation routes and is only so many of them anyway. Can you imagine 5 hours to move about 3 miles.

Anyways it could have been worse so I give thanks.

Later all...back to the slave labour.

Heroes and More................

Well, yesterday was National Hereos' Day here in good ole Jamdown. We have all of seven hereos to our credit. For those of you non-yardies they are: 1) Nanny of the Maroons 2) Marcus Garvey 3) Paul Bogle 4) Norman Washington Manley 5) Sir Alexander Bustamante 6) George William Gordon 7) Sam Sharpe. Have I gotten all of them. Think so. Each year the country pays homage not only to these spoken heroes but also to the many men and women who are, in their own right, heroes. These men and women who have served long and hard in their fields of expertise are honoured in a special ceremony held at the Governor General's residence on National Heroes' Day. This blog says thank you to you all for your dedication to this nation. On another note, well my mother returned to the island on Sunday. She is well and glad to be back to her own bed and tv and family and husband and high prices and......oh well you get the picture. Nowhere better than yard. Rain rain rain rain rain..........non-stop since Friday. Seems like we are in for more since Wilma doesn't seem to be going anywhere in a hurry. As long as she isn't a duplicate of "Wrong way Lenny" which moved eastwards instead of doing the usual west and up thing. I tried to walk in the grass on Sunday and sank in mud up to my knees. So I'll have a hell of a time explaining the two huge footprints in the lawn. Anyways I have a new recruit today so I gots to go early..... Later guys.....

The Little Piece of Jamaica that Flies

I saw one of our aircraft flying low overhead this morning and it looked soooooooo good. Air Jamaica is one little piece of Jamaica that takes the beauty and the glory of the Jamaican people wherever it goes. I got these photo through a Google search. The last photo shows the colour scheme of the older Air Jamaica era. Kinda dull and boring, nuh true? The latest colour scheme is depicted on the other 2 aircraft. It just struck me that few other countries can boast of an icon of their nation that is arguably the "most beautiful bird in the sky". Have an Air Jamaica kinda day.

Nothing Going On

Well life this week seems to be relatively mundane. Nothing too much going on in my neck of the woods and I kinda like it that way.

I've taken up a kalookie on a weekend just for relaxation. I learnt this game many years ago but had stopped playing. I guess my escapades will continue until I get tired of it or until the schoolwork gets in the way again. I have managed to place a consistent third on the last two ocassions that I have played. This week I hope to move into a better spot. Eight of us have been playing regularly and the fun and games have continued well into the wee morning hours. We are now looking at shifting to a different night and earlier times so that we aren't making our ways back to our respective homes when is only dog barking out on the road. Wifey, who is new to the game, won on our first play night and came in fourth last time.

On a diferent note, the Students' Loan Bureau has had consistent problems with loan recipients who refuse to repay the sums owed after completing their course of studies. The fund is a revolving one and therefore any non-repayment is actually taking the bread out of some other child's mouth. Arguments have been put forward about the rates of interest being too high and the service they received and.......... the list goes on. The fact of the matter is that you got the money and you knew the repayment rates so why complain now. Regardless of the service you received you got the money you paid your school fees and you are now making good returns on the investment you made...pay the money. Bottom line is that there really is no excuse.

They have now begun to publish the names and photographs or the delinquent borrowers in the daily newspaper. Now I am sure that other organizations are similar to mine and I know my management is watching those lists like hawks. I have no problem with the list being published, provided that all the groundwork is accurately done to ensure that people whose names are published are delinquent borrowers because that could lead to some serious embarrassment on the borrower's behalf and, I can state categorically, loss of jobs in some arenas.

I have also heard of people who have gone in and paid their entire balances upon requesting an outstanding balance status and several months later are told that they remain delinquent because the amount calculated was incorrect. My view is that the calculating officer should be held accountable (financially and otherwise) for that type of error. I wonder what the legal profession would say about this. One way of protecting yourself is to obtain a loan discharge document. I fail to see how you can tell me on one ocassion that I have completely repaid your money and then tell me some days later "oh sorry you still owe me because I haven't finished with you yet" and "I am going to put your name in the papers because you don't pay me". I think that amounts to extortion. What you think.

Anyways, enough chat from me. Later all.

Don dead

Well things have certainly been heating up in here since morning. On the news this morning there was a report that a car occupied by a political figure Babsy Grange was shot up and one of its occupants died from wounds. She was not hurt.

In another news item Chubby Dread, an area "leader" or don as they are more commonly known was shot and killed near to one of the island's night spots early this morning. This has kinda sent downtown into a reaction mode. Any time one of these dons gets killed the whole area feels the after effects. Places mysteriously burn down and other area activists end up stuffed into barrels etc. So everybody gone into extra careful mode today especially down by my office which is at the outskirts of the community in which he operated.

The third news item is of a fire in the shopping arcade downtown. I guess the 1st reaction for the don's death. Who knows. At this point one may also add...who cares. It is so unfortunate that these situations have become so common place in modern Jamaica. My view is..as long as them leaving innocent people alone...them can gwaan kill off themselves.

As for me,...well all I can say is that I am exhausted. School taking its toll on me. Circumstances may also change at work but I will let you all know how that goes as soon as all is confirmed. It may mean that my computer related activities may be restricted and reshuffled and my blogging may be reduced to those days that I am at home early but we'll see.

Anywayz I want to wish you all a great weekend. Take care till later.

Mid Week

Hi All, Blogger has been messing with me for two days. I had my first in course test last night. I can't say how I did. Results will tell I guess. The assignments are coming fast and furious so I will need to get organized or get swallowed up by them. I finished my brake repairs (or as much as I set out to) on Saturday. It was a real easy swap and I got it done in about 90 minutes. And YES! the car stops ...yes! before it crashes into anything. I tried to take some photos but the camera looks like it's definitely on the last now. I will salvage what I can and post about my project later in the week. Other than that, things are pretty much OK with me. Back to work.

Art Critique

Well here is the critique I promised so long ago. I saw something similar on Dorna's blog and promised to post it so here goes. Equus

The sculpture I have chosen to critique is entitled “Equus”. The sculpture forms a part of the artwork in the Caribbean Sculpture Park at the University of Technology. The Sculpture Park showcases several artistic pieces from artists across the Caribbean. The Artist The sculptor’s name is Lance Bannister. He was born in Barbados where he currently resides. Lance Bannister is a doctor by profession and is noted in his homeland for creating art from discarded car parts. Some of his other works, including his interpretation of Rodin’s “Thinker” and Jurassic Park, are located in a park called Iron Gardens near to his practice in Barbados. The Sculpture “Equus”, as the name implies, resembles a horse reared up on its hind legs. The word equus is defined as a genus of animals that incorporates horses zebras and such like animals. The piece stands approximately nine feet tall and is made entirely of welded metal and for the most part is constructed using discarded car parts. The entire work of art has been painted silver and is mounted on a rectangular base that has been so constructed to allow the horse to swivel 360 degrees. It falls under the genre of realism. The piece is undated and is identified solely by an erected metal plate denoting the name of the artist. The backbone of the sculpture is one inch corrugated steel that has been bent to take the shape of the horse. The underside of the frame is constructed of metal bars which appear to have been auto motive stabilizer bars. The horse’s head is formed using two control arms welded together side by side. The eyes are made of ball joints and the ears are pieces of muffler tubing that have been cut and welded to the control arms. The gaping hole that forms the mouth of the animal has been filled with a crankshaft sprocket that realistically resembles bared teeth. The neck, backbone and tail are made of automotive tappets of varying sizes. The ribs of the animal are molded from what appears to be varying lengths of trim pieces. These pieces form a rib cage that provides a 3 dimensional aspect to the sculpture. The thighs and buttocks of the horse are constructed again using four control arm pieces welded together. These provide the natural form required at those points. The legs of the horse are made from connecting rods of varying sizes welded together and ending in pistons that form the hooves of the horse. The hooves have been mounted on ball joints to enable slight realistic movement in a light breeze. My Impressions It is evident that much thought and planning has gone into the creation of this spectacular piece of work. The pieces have been chosen to complement each other and to provide a realistic dimension to the sculpture that enhances the viewing pleasure of the audience. In the absence of any literature surrounding this piece of work one is forced to examine it from the onlookers point of view. The horse, throughout history, has been a symbol of freedom, power and strength, speed and agility, transport, beauty and reliability. If we recall in mythology the horse has featured prominently in a variety of ways. Odin’s steed was depicted as having eight legs, Apollo’s chariot was drawn by stallions, the centaur which was half human half horse and probably the most famous was Pegasus the winged horse. In ancient Chinese tradition, the horse’s symbol was one resembling an arrow or spear which symbolized direction and purpose. Egyptian kings owned horses as a sign of wealth and freedom. The Caribbean is defined by the melting pot of other cultures as its people, from their many backgrounds, influence the evolving of a unique culture of its own. Each island, though different, is joined by a common thread. The horse, I think, brings this common thread to bear. It defines the strength, agility, ability, beauty and the majesty of a people that at one time were slaves. For me the horse carries a different significance. I am essentially what one would call a car fanatic. I have always been intrigued by their mechanics and the power of their engines. Each part must fit precisely where it was intended to fit. Today, two of the most powerful cars carry the horse as their symbol; the Ford Mustang and the Ferrari line. These cars have been designed with the beauty, strength, speed and power that modern engineering can afford them. The description that is given to these machines is remarkably similar to that of the Caribbean people. Car parts for me have always simply been used and discarded. Some can be rebuilt but for the most part they are destined for landfill. I find it intriguing that someone could find use for old discarded junk and by taking it a step further to use their creativity to produce such a strikingly recognizable and well-proportioned piece of artwork. I am drawn to the sculpture possibly because it is designed and constructed around something that I find quite relaxing and interesting. I am awed that someone would even think to use material in this way. I am elated that instead of being thrown down to destroy the environment that someone has found a usefulness for waste material to make it beautiful again in a different way. Conclusion Equus is by no means a perfect sculpture, nor do I think it was intended to be. It was left in its form to show the molding of its pieces from their origin. The artist has however placed a high degree of significance to minor details. He instead pays close attention to proportioning and adds some realism by including moveable parts. This is evidenced by the inclusion of teeth in the sculpture and the use of ball joints. If one were to examine the symbolism, its very design and construction represents a creativity that is indigenous to the Caribbean. It represents the rising of a thing of beauty from what was once seen as trash. “Equus” is indeed a Caribbean symbol. Its place among the other works of art in the Caribbean Sculpture Park is well deserved. It is a true representation of the people of the Caribbean region, creative, majestic, powerful, strong but most importantly free.