My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: October 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013

Apple launches Retina dipslay 13-inch and 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro and the Apple Mac Pro - Expensive upgrades with Graphics and Programming Professionals in mind


New Apple iPads aren’t the only thing that came riding in on Tuesday October 22nd 2013. Apple also released updated versions of the 13” and 15” Apple MacBook Pro and the much anticipated Apple Mac Pro Desktop computer as stated in the article “Apple announces new, faster Retina MacBook Pros with Haswell chips, Thunderbolt 2, starting at $1,299”, published October 22, 2013 10:28 AM PDT by Joshua Goldman, CNET News.


Not only that, but the Operating System, Apple OS X Mavericks is free to download along with iLife and iWork Suites, at least on Tuesday October 22nd 2013 as stated in “APPLE REVEALS MAC OS X MAVERICKS IS FREE TO DOWNLOAD TODAY”, published October 22, 2013 By Konrad Krawczyk, Digital Trends.

13” and 15” Apple MacBook Pro – Packing Haswell Processors and Retina Display goodies

The 13” and 15” Apple MacBook Pro, now update to Retina Display, are also packing the new Power-saving Haswell Processors as stated in “15-inch MacBook Pro gets latest Intel chips, better battery life, and a lower price”, published October 22, 2013 11:21 AM PDT, CNET News.


Apple has done away with the Optical Drive in this latest refresh, making the 13” and 15” Apple MacBook Pro SSD (Solid State Drive) with Retina Display and hence the longer Battery life. It’s also clear that the Apple MacBook Pro took its design queues from the Apple MacBook Air with the decision to ditch the Optical Drive and go Retina Display. Effectively, these MacBooks are really “Airs” to the Laptop Throne!



13-inch MacBook Pro

1.      2.3GHZ Core i7
2.      RAM: 4GB
3.      Hard-Drive: 128GB SSD
4.      Resolution: 2,560x1,600 pixels



15-inch MacBook Pro

1.      2.3GHZ Core i7
2.      RAM: 8GB
3.      Hard-Drive: 256GB SSD
4.      Resolution: 2,880x1,800

Here’s a comparison chart with last year’s 2012 refresh of the 13” and 15” Apple MacBook Pro’s:


Apple Mac Pro – Graphics and Programmers Nirvana come at last

The Apple Mac Pro about which much has been heard will be coming in December 2013 at a price of US$2999 as stated in the article “Mac Pro available in December, starts at $2,999”, published October 22, 2013 10:38 AM PDT by Don Reisinger, CNET News

The new Apple Mac Pro, which is made in the US of A as stated in “A US-made Mac Pro is a token gesture”, published October 23, 2013 4:00 AM PDT by Roger Cheng, CNET News, make you wonder why all Apple products can’t be made in the US of A. Here’s a quick rundown on the Apple Mac Pro Specs, which is the Future of the Pro Desktop according to Apple’s Chief of Marketing Phil Schiller:

The Apple Mac Pro comes in 2 versions and thus two (2) distinct pricing points:

1.      Mac Pro Quad-Core for US$2,999
2.      Mac Pro 6-Core for US$3,999

The base model of the Mac Pro Quad-Core versions comes with 3.7GHz Intel Xeon E5 with 10MB L3 cache and Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz. It has three (3) other possible configurations:

1.      3.5GHz 6-core Processor with 12MB L3 cache
2.      3.0GHz 8-core Processor with 25MB L3 cache
3.      2.7GHz 12-core Processor with 30MB L3 cache

Mac Pro 6-Core is a little on the meatier side, with a Intel Xeon E5 with 12MB L3 cache and Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz in its base model with the following configuration options:

1.      3.0GHz 8-core Processor with 25MB L3 cache
2.      2.7GHz 12-core Processor with 30MB L3 cache

The Mac Pro Quad-Core comes with 12GB (three 4GB) of 1866MHz DDR3 ECC memory that's configurable to 16GB (four 4GB), 32GB (four 8GB) or 64GB (four 16GB). The Mac Pro 6-Core packs more memory with 16GB (four 4GB) of 1866MHz DDR3 ECC memory and configurable to 32GB (four 8GB) or 64GB (four 16GB).

Dual AMD FirePro D300 graphics Processors for the Mac Pro Quad-Core and Dual AMD FirePro D500 graphics Processors for the Mac Pro 6-Core, the Graphic output supported by this beast is bordering on that of a Supercomputer!

It’s capable of supporting four (4) 4K displays or 6 Thunderbolt connected Displays. Clearly this is not a computer for the mere PC Hobbyist but built for the Professional Graphics Designer and is made for Graphics intensive work.


Specs for the Apple Mac Pro are as show in the video:



Despite the sky, high prices, I certainly can’t wait for a CNET Review on this product, as from the looks of it, it’s going to be super powerful and super fast! Christmas nice again!

Check here for more:

Apple iPad Air, the World’s Lightest Tablet launched in Silver, Space Grey, White - Christmas smartphone and Tablet Battle Royale as Winter is Coming


Apple fans it was that time again!! What do we want? The Apple iPad 5 and the Apple iPad Mini 2!

Well the Apple iPad Event did take place on Tuesday October 22nd 2013 at the Yerba Buena Center as stated in “Apple shows off iPad Air, iPad Mini with Retina display”, published October 22, 2013 11:09 AM PDT by Shara Tibken, CNET News.

Their latest Apple Invite Sigil: a Field of Multi-coloured Apple Leaves on a field of white with a big white Apple at the bottom. Their Words: “We Still have a lot to cover”. Game of Thrones ….or Tablets…style, as Dear Apple Fans. And based on what they revealed this year folks, one thing is clear for Google: Winter is Coming!






Good Golly Miss Molly! Christmas should officially be moved to October as after that announcing is made, it’s basically what EVERYONE will want for Christmas! Why may you ask?

Because if the Apple iPhone is all dolled up in Gold and Poly-carbonate and is soon to arrive on Friday November 1st 2013 as predicted in my blog article entitled “Apple iPhone 5S and 5C Shortages in the US may indicate that it's coming to Jamaica - How the Apple iPhone will be landing at LIME and ATL on Friday November 1st 2013”, then it stands to reason that the Apple iPad may also be wearing some new Emperors Clothes as well of a similar Johnny Ive design!

And New Clothes they did put on the 9.7” Apple iPad 5, now rebranded the Apple iPad Air as stated in “APPLE LAUNCHES SLIMMER, FASTER, AND BETTER LOOKING NEW IPAD AIR”, October 22, 2013 By Andy Boxall, DigitalTrends.

I’ll lay it out straight folks what dropped at the Apple shindig:

1.      Apple iPad 5, now called the Apple iPad Air in Silver White and Space Grey
2.      Apple iPad Mini 2 in Silver White and Space Grey

To be honest I was going for the Bread Sticker colours of Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, and White. Then again Sonny Dickson’s website didn’t mention Gold, only Silver and Space Grey as can be seen in my blog article entitled “Gold, Silver and Space Grey Apple iPad and Apple iPad Mini to launch in October 2013 - Sonny Dickson and NowhereElse sneak peek on Apple's Colour Revolution” so apparently the “bling bling” Golden Apple iPads I was expecting to match the Apple iPhone 5S didn’t really exist!

But the expected improvements under the hood came, sans the Touch ID Fingerprint Reader:

1.      64-bit Quad-Core A7 Processor
2.      M7 Motion Co-Processor
3.      Retina Display on the Apple iPad Mini 2

At only 7.5mm thick, a 20% reduction from the Apple iPad 4 and a 43% slimmer bezel, it’s lost some serious weight to slip into its new spaghetti strap dress. Weighing a shade under 1 lb or 469 gm (478 for the 4G LTE/Wi-Fi version), it's basically the lightest 9.7" Tablet in the World.

Not to be outdone the 7.9” Apple iPad Mini 2 (that’s what they’re calling it!) also sports the same colour makeover and significant specs as mentioned above as described in “SAY HELLO TO THE NEW IPAD MINI AND ITS SEXY RETINA SCREEN”, published October 22, 2013 By Jeffrey Van Camp, DigitalTrends. Already the Apple iPad Mini is outselling its bigger brother by a margin of 3 to 1 as stated in “IPAD MINI IS GOBBLING UP SALES OF THE IPAD MAXI”, published May 1, 2013 by Jeffrey Van Camp, DigitalTrends

The new Apple iPad Mini 2’s Display is an eye popping 2048 x 1536 pixels, double last years’ model and kicking them straight into Retina Display Territory! And like its bigger brother, its battery life isn’t compromised, as it still packs a 10 hour punch. With a suitable Case with a built in keyboard, you can leave the Apple Macbook Pro at home and take the Apple iPad with you as it’ll give the Microsoft Surface a run for its money.

This was expected, as the 7” Tablet category is hot thanks to the Amazon Kindle Fire which started this ball rolling in December 2011 as prophesied in my Geezam Blog article entitled “The Two Towers of Tablets, 7” Amazon Kindle Fire and 7.9” Apple iPad are the Global Tablet size of Choice.”

Samsung, beat that!

Apple iPad Innovation is under the Hood – More than meets the eye

If you though the Apple iPad Air and the Apple iPad Mini 2 merely got new dresses on, wait till you see what’s under the dress! Apple’s 64-bit A7 Processor and M7 Co-Processor for handling Motion related activities such as the GPS, Magnetometer and the Accelerometer have boosted the Processor and Graphics performance by four-fold and eight-fold respectively! 

At this rate if the Apple iPad’ll gets any thinner or lighter, it’ll replace not only Newspapers but also the Nintendo 3DS and the Playstation Vita, as it’s also a great Portable Gaming Machine as opined in “APPLE’S NEXT IPAD MINI COULD MAKE THE 3DS AND VITA LOOK LIKE TOYS”, published October 22, 2013 by Adam Rosenberg, DigitalTrends!

Now for the grand surprise! Apple has added another member to the Apple iPad family, the 128 GB version! That brings the members of the Apple iPad family to four (4), making the Apple iPad a full nuclear Family!

And what’s a Tablet without a winter Coat! Apple’s got you covered (get it!) with some new custom-designed polyurethane Smart Covers in blue, green, pink, yellow, black and Red for Apple iPad Air and Apple iPad Mini that retail for US$39. Like good Dornish wine, Apple's reserved the good stuff for last.

For those with a feel for Animal Leather, their aniline-dyed leather Apple iPad Air Smart Cases and Apple iPad Mini 2 Smart Cases are sure to please. Bread Tag colours in yellow, beige, blue, brown, black and Red are retailing for US$79 for iPad Air and US$69 for Apple iPad Mini 2. Apparently that’s where the Bread Plastic Marker I’d predicted for the Apple iPad Mini 2 went…..so I wasn’t off that badly!

After all, Winter is Coming!

Prices and Launch Date – Christmas and Winter is coming on Friday November 1st 2013


The Apple iPad Air and its diminutive sidekick the Apple iPad Mini 2 goes on Pre-order in the US on all Major Carriers on Friday November 1st 2013 with the following prices:



Further details are available from Apple’s Official Press Release on the Launch of the Apple iPad Air and the Apple iPad Mini 2. For those keeping score, that’s the same date as the Apple iPhone 5S and the Apple iPhone 5C possibly coming to Jamaica as stated in my blog article entitled “Apple iPhone 5S and 5C Shortages in the US may indicate that it's coming to Jamaica - How the Apple iPhone will be landing at LIME and ATL on Friday November 1st 2013.

Winter is Coming - Christmas smartphone and Tablet Battle Royale to Remember

My sole complaint: No Golden C3PO Apple iPad Air or Apple iPad Mini and no Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor. Then again, if you’re that careless to let someone jack your Apple iPad and not have a Tracking App or a proximity App installed to alert you it’s not on your person, you really deserve to lose it!

Also no news regarding the Apple Television as well as a revamp to the Apple iTV Set Top Box, possibly as a Game Console perhaps, especially as China’s State Council on Friday September 27th 2013 had announced that they’re opening up for the sale of Video Game Consoles as stated in my blog article entitled China lifts 13 Year ban on Video Game Consoles - Open Floodgates spells opportunity for debutantes Google, Amazon and Apple to enter the Video Game Arena”.


Apple’s gonna make Friday November 1st 2013 Christmas Day. This is going to be a smartphone and Tablet a Battle Royale 2013 to Remember for a long time. As per the Words of House Stark, Winter is Coming, Game of Thrones Style! 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Jamaicans now Eating Sly Mongoose as Chicken Back shortage Gets closer to Christmas

“They serve a purpose in our marine ecosystems. Being scavengers, they help with the health of our marine systems, which impacts the fish that we like to eat in Jamaica” 

NEPA Environmental Officer, Monique Curtis warning Jamaican not to Eat Crocodiles




First it was Crocodile Meat that was on the menu in Jamaica resulting in NEPA (National Environmental and Planning Agency) warning the public not to eat them as stated in Don't eat crocodiles, NEPA cautions, published Thursday, September 19, 2013 12:55 PM, The Jamaica Observer and “NEPA Warns Public Against Killing And Eating Crocodiles”, Published Thursday September 19, 2013 9:54 am, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Now we’re apparently putting the “sly Mongoose” on the menu as well, leaving NEPA in a quandary as the Mongoose isn’t endangered. 




But the Mongoose does present a Health Problem as Mongoose carry a variety of diseases, including Leptospirosis as stated in the article “Don't eat them! Authorities warn against mongoose consumption”, published October 18, 2013 by SHELDON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Star.

Imports from India during slavery times to Rats, the main reason they were brought to Jamaica, they also eat the Yellow Snake as well, being used to a diet of Cobras in India! That’s why the Yellow Snake is also on the endangered list. Add to that too the Coney, the Leatherback and the Manatee, albeit not because of the Mongoose but again because of Mans’ desire to possess the virility that eating these animals is said to impart!



For those who’ve never seen a Mongoose, there’s one at the Hope Zoo in Hope Gardens…..assuming he’s not on the Hope Zoo’s menu!




Crocodile vs Mongoose – Endangered and Tasty as Chicken Back Shortages continue

Crocodiles are an endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act (1971); if you're caught with one, living or dead, that’s an instant JA$100,000 fine and/or a prison term of up to two years as stated in “Jamaicans Warned Against Capturing and Eating Crocodiles”, published WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2013 17:11 by E. Hartman Reckord, The Jamaica Information Service.

They’re not man-eaters like most Jamaican women either, as they’re shy and prefer to eat fish. However, Jamaican Males, concerned about bring back life to the dead, mainly their virility, have made a meal of their Meat and Eggs, particularly their Tails whether Curried, barbecued or jerked as stated in “PHOTOS: Secret Crocodile-Eating Parties, Poachers, Threatening Reptile's Existence In Jamaica” Published Monday October 7, 2013 12:03 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner.


News of our taste for crocodiles has even reached abroad, as concerns abound that our love for eating the reptile and its eggs may place the animal back on the World Endangered Species list as stated in the article “Fears Jamaica's taste for crocodile meat and eggs could wipe out reptiles”, published 07 Oct 2013 1:01AM BST, The UK Telegraph.



Not surprising as Jamaica is currently undergoing a Chicken back shortage as stated in the article “CHICKEN BACK SHORTAGE HURTS VENDORS”, published August 15 2013 by Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Star and “No end in sight to chicken back shortage”, published Friday August 9, 2013 7:03 am, published, RJR News Online among the Rural Poor that still can’t afford Oxtail or Pork, putting these animals on the menu as alternatives! Who knows, maybe Lucas the Lion at Hope Zoo is next!




Our taste for Crocodiles isn’t a recent development. We’ve been munching on them since 2010, when The Jamaica Star first brought the practice to light in the article “JAMAICANS CHEW INTO CROC TAIL”, published September 23 2010 by CRYSTAL HARRISON, STAR Writer, The Jamaica Star.

Apparently we like them, Jerked, Curried and even Barbeque. Delicious, I assume, as I’m from Milk River, Clarendon and I’ve heard of (but never been to) one of these parties where these Animals are a hidden entrée on the nights menu at a Setup or Dance held by a prominent Community member!

Family and Community Gardens – Grow what we Eat this Christmas to reduce Import Bill

Since it’s apparent we have an insatiable love for Crocodiles, Mongoose and foreign foods, most of which can be grown in Jamaica based on our massive Food Import Bill of almost US$1 billion, Family and Community Gardens present themselves again as a ready solution. Suitable for both Urban and Rural Areas, they’re sustainable and easily to construct and maintain as they’ll make many Inner City and Rural Communities self sufficient in terms of their Food consumption.



Jamaica already uses Excess Eggs and Waste Fruit to make a Butter substitute and Fruit puree for the School Feeding program as explained in my blog article entitled “Ministry of Agriculture to approve Fruit and Liquified Eggs for School Feeding Program even as Pork faces Glut - How Solar Farming will make Jamaica's Food Security Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”.

Rooftop Gardens are especially suitable as they can be made from Glass Bottles and arranged to grow atop the Zinc Rooftops of many Inner-city communities, saving on land space as explained in my blog article entitled “How to Cut Glass Bottles and make your own Rooftop Garden made up of Wick-Based Hydroponic Gardening System - More uses for the Distilled Water from the Fresnel based Solar Desalinator”.



Now this same strategy needs to be employed to feed our nation, as it’s becoming apparent food shortages will worsen during Christmas 2013, making every animal a possible candidate to replace the traditional Chicken that not only short but now too expensive to afford. My parents who live in Milk River, Clarendon, have long practiced self sufficiency, growing most of what they eat at home and thus reducing their need to buy food from the Supermarket to eat.

I myself have stopped going to the Supermarket, instead going Downtown to Coronation Market to haggle with the best of them for the Fruits and Vegetables which are not only organically grown but much better for you. I’ve stopped eating a lot of the Processed Food in Tins and Fast Food, instead relying on Farm grown produce, using my eyes and hands to discern good from bad among the Vendors downtown. In short, it’s back to not only Basics, but also to food I can prepare myself and control the taste!


The trick of course as a shopper, is to simply get the phone number of your favourite Vendor, thus making it possible to call ahead of time and reserve your produce. Look at it this way: eventually when they get Bank Accounts and Mobile Money Accounts as well as a Website (it is possible you know!) as described in my blog article entitled “How Jamaicans can set up a Payment Gateway in order to process Credit Card purchases - E-Commerce the main Catalyst for Increasing Jamaica's Internet Penetration”, shopping Downtown online may become as convenient a reality as going to the Supermarket! But that’s in the distant future!

“Eat What we Grow” doesn’t mean to wait on the GOJ to get the Jamaica Agriculture Sector organized enough to grow crops on demand instead of creating glut and shortages when the demand changes. Rather, like many Jamaicans that have already signed up to Farmville Jamaica to grow their own Food organically as stated in my Geezam blog article entitled “Farmville Jamaica Live heralds the rise of Social Farming”, we have to grow our own food.



If not, then Sly Mongoose and Bro Crocodile may well be extinct in the next few years as the ongoing effects of the Recession affects those living in the Rural areas of Jamaica the most! So please don’t Eat me, as I’m a Deer!

Ras Puddler says Legalization of Marijuana benefits large Scale Growers - How Teenagers can Learn to Extract THC for personal Use to make Chocolate Cookie, Brownies and Sorrell Cake for Christmas

“I don’t want ganja to be legalised. They should go no further than decriminalise it, so that the police will not have to harass me for my spliff,”

Ras Puddler in an interview on Sunday 20th October 2013 with The Jamaica Observer as reported Wednesday October 23rd 2013


Ras Puddler shown here puffing his Chillum pipe stuffed to the brim with Marijuana, is of course speaking what's well know among John Public in Jamaica. If Legalization of Marijauna, which everyone is pushing for, were to occur in Jamaica it’s the large growers that'd benefit, making the small growers of the crop suffer as argued in the article “Ganja farmer says 'big man' will overrun small growers”, published Wednesday, October 23, 2013 BY DESMOND ALLEN Executive editor — special assignment, The Jamaica Observer.




At the time he said this he was smoking his chillum pipe at the Peter Tosh Earthstrong concert near Belmont, Westmoreland. He has since been arrested and charged for the possession of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) under the Dangerous Drug Act as stated in the article “Cops raid Ras Puddler’s home after Observer story”, published Thursday, October 24, 2013, The Jamaica Observer



This is evidence you shouldn’t smoke Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) in Public, even if at the time the Jamaica Police Officers weren’t doing anything initially and despite utterance from the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) who may or may not be smoking the holy Sacrament while they make their deliberations. But his arguments have credence, for which I’ll light a symbolic spliff to clear the minds of my readers!

Decriminalizing Marijuana – Smoking Ban contradiction to avoid Police Records

Already Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) production is outstripped by Tobacco Production as stated in my blog article entitled “Rise of King Tobacco threatens Agriculture for Food – Vybz Kartel Hot Grabba killing Marijuana Farming”.

This concern over Tobacco Production in contravention of the Treaty signed with the WHO (World Health Organization) may have been what really prompted to the Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson to act and thus Ban Smoking in Public places as noted in my blog article entitled “Adventists want Ban on Vehicle Pollution as Smoking Ban looms on Saturday July 15 2013 - Dr. Fenton Ferguson's Escape Plan leads”.

Legalizing Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa), for which possession carries a much smaller fine than possession of Tobacco, would put us back into the same situation once more as Tobacco has with smoking, all because it has a different name. It’s STILL Smoking, and like Cigarette smoke, despite its natural ingredients, it STILL can cause the same breathing problems such as Bronchitis and Asthma, despite a glaring lack of scientific evidence to support my claim! Smoke is smoke and affects you in the same way.

Same can be said too for the noxious fumes coming from Buses and motor Vehicles as well as from Mosquito Destroyers, for which an Importation Ban and a Replacement using Citronella Candles is necessary as argued in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to make Environmentally Friendly Citronella (Lemon Grass) Oil for Mosquito Repellant Lotion and Candles”.

Many have argued that this imbalance in a possession fine is literally making Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) possession seem legal, a possible reason why Ras Puddler was smoking so placidly in front of the Police Officers. Smoking Cigarettes in Public attracts a fine of JA$50,000 for the first offence and JA$500,000 for the Second offence!

After all, he’ll be fined for his chillum pipe, 3lb of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) and some seedlings found at his home and may simply gain a criminal Record and pay a very small fine of JA$5000 and then go free as the Police can’t find his Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) Field….as it’s much smaller than that of the Big Man Ras Puddler’s referring.

But as most Teenagers (ages 13 to 17) and Millennials (ages 18 to 28) who possess a spliff aren’t hardened drug users, just merely trying to relax their minds in a Jamaica that’s showing very little Job Prospects as argued in my blog article entitledCrowdsourced, Teleworking Flex-work Publishers needed for UWI and High School Students with Tablets in 2014 - How Jamaican Writers can make money via ePub Publishing Books”, Decriminalization is a first Step that’ll protect them getting a Criminal Record.

Legalization, however, is inevitable, despite Ras Puddler arguements, as there’s too much commercial value in Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) to let it all be about protecting the future of a few Teenagers (ages 13 to 17) and Millennials (ages 18 to 28)!

Marijuana in the hands of Big Pharma – Pill, Patients and Profits

His argument does ring true; private enterprise will quickly organize to grow Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) as aside from the mere smoking of the plant, it also has other uses, especially in the pharmaceutical Industry. This is similar to the uses discovered by Dr. Lawrence Williams into the usage of  Guinea Hen Weed (Petiveria Alliacea) for a variety of illness as described in my blog article entitled “Dr Lawrence Williams develops Bovine Serum Albumin replacement for Animal Testing - Cats and Dogs give this 2 Paws Up as Guinea Hen Weed fights Cancer”.

The main active ingredient in Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) is THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol). Its extraction, as described in my blog article entitled “THC Extract as a prescription pain killer - A Limitless Long Term Bio-Fuel Future for Jamaica” is well known among Jamaicans. It’s been recently discovered to deal effectively with the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Director of the Caribbean Drug and Alcohol Research Institute Dr Marcus Day recommended it's legalization in a visit to Jamaica in the week of Sunday December 16th 2012 in order for it to be used to combat the spread of HIV/Aids in Jamaica. He recommended it as an alternative to Anti-Retroviral Drugs, as stated in the article “Legalise ganja to treat HIV, cancer, doctors tell gov't”, published Sunday, December 23, 2012 BY NADINE WILSON Sunday Observer reporter, The Jamaica Observer.


An HIV/AIDS specialist and coordinator of the Caribbean Harm Reduction Coalition, he's recommending legislation for the legalization of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) to counteract the spread of HIV (High Immuno-Deficiency Virus), quote: “I think we should regulate cannabis (marijuana) use the same way we regulate alcohol use, the same way they are talking about regulating it in the states of Washington and Colorado in America. Cannabis actually keeps viral progression down in a body. If you are HIV positive and you are not on medication, smoking cannabis is actually therapeutic, and that's science, not people's opinion”.




It’s also been shown to reduce and in some cases cure cancer when eaten as an additive to certain foods as according to the latest Gallop Polls, many American favour Marijuana Legalization as stated in the article “Clear majority favors legal marijuana, new Gallup poll shows”, published October 22nd 2013 By Evan Burgos, Staff Writer, NBC News.

The US Gov’t has been slowly allowing Several States to pass legislation that makes it legal in some states, but it still isn’t legal at the Federal level as stated in “Despite Legal Marijuana Rules In 20 States Feds Won't Play Ball”, published 10/19/2013 @ 1:55AM by Robert W. Wood, Forbes magazine.

And several US Doctors, including Dr. Gupta, have joined the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) Bandwagon as I like to call it with a video that shows what changed his mind as stated in “Why I changed my mind on weed”, published August 9, 2013 -- Updated 0044 GMT (0844 HKT) By Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, CNN.

Jamaica since then has caught Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) Fever, as now everyone in Jamaica wants it to be legalized, not realizing what it really means: Pill, Patients and Profits for Big Pharma!


How to Extract THC for personal Use – Hash Brownies and Cake for Christmas anyone?

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In order to extract THC from Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) you'll need the following for a DIY (Do it yourself):

1.      A glass jar that has a watertight lid 
2.      A 2 Cup metal measuring cup with handle
3.      Stainless Steel Container
4.      100% Rum Bar Rum or other rum
5.      Best Grade Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) you can find
6.      A coffee filter
7.      A piece of fine mesh Cotton Cloth
8.      An eye dropper bottle
9.      Electric stove
10.  Large pot with Water
11.  Very Strong Standing fan

The instructions are simple and easy as baking a cake or even making coffee as explained in “Extracting THC Oil from Marijuana”, published August 19 2010, Weed Smokers Guide:

1.      Remove any seeds as their oils is super strong and they're good for replanting
2.      Masticate the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) in a blender
3.      Place the masticated Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) into your mason jar.
4.      Pour 100% Rum Bar Rum into the Mason Jar until the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) powder just start to float
5.      Put the lid tightly on the Mason jar and shake the jar a few times.
6.      Let it sit for 12 hours. The mixture should have a dark green color and have oily bubbles on top of the liquid when shaken.
7.      Place your coffee filter or cloth over your Stainless Steel Container
8.      Pour your Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) through the filter on the Stainless Steel Container.
9.      Grab the cloth by the edges and squeeze it to get as much of the green mother liquor out as possible
10.  Repeat the process using the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) left over from 1-9 until it turn bleach white
11.  Place the Stainless Steel Container on the Electric Stove inside of another large pot with Water, basically a Water Bath for gentler heating
12.  Turn on the standing fan to remove excess vapors from the alcoholic Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)  Mother liquor, keeping the heat level low
13.  Heat until it turns thick and oily but not bubbling boiling hot
14.  When the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) mixture thickens and darkens remove it from the burner
15.  If it gets too thick, add more alcohol and swirl it around until it thins out.
16.  Cool the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) mixture to room Temperature
17.  Pour your mixture in the eye dropper bottle for usage in your cooking. Make sure the Bottle is dark in colour to prevent the THC from being affected by light

At this point you can use the pure THC extract in everything from Cooking Chocolate Chip Cookies to smoking it in you e-Cigarettes. To get a super strong mind numbing high, you’ll need to include the seeds.

Using a Solar Desalinator with a Fresnel Lens attachment, Vacuum Pyrolosis can be used to obtain a pure oleum of the masticated Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) plants as described in my blog article entitled “How to upgrade your Solar Desalinator to a Solar Cooker and make a Solar Foundry for Vacuum Pyrolysis”. Then follow the process as described above but be warned: This is some strong stuff!

Marijuana Decriminalization then Legalization – the Calm before the e-Cigarette Storm

The GOJ (Government of Jamaica) for once has bi-partisan support for Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) on both sides of Gordon House. So much so that the GOJ is being urged to push through Legislation to Decriminalize of the possession of small quantities of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa), which Cabinet is mulling currently as stated in “Cabinet To Consider Changes To Ganja Laws”, Published Monday October 7, 2013 by Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The GOJ is currently avoiding this fearing diplomatic pressure from the US, where many States are making millions from the growth and distribution of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) as stated in “Jamaica Risks Losing Out On Benefits Of Weed, Warn Advocates”, Published Sunday September 1, 2013, by John Myers Jr, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner

The Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations 2013 using Section 14 and 15 of the Public Health Act however, needs to be update to deal with a new possibility: Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) e-Cigarettes as argued in my blog article entitled “Carerras and e-cigarettes - THC Thanks You for Smoking The Next Big Thing” and my Geezam blog article entitled “Jamaican use of E-Cigarettes usage set to rise as CAF placed on Tobacco Products”.

E-cigarettes is set to be the new trend among Teenagers (ages 13 to 17) and Millennials (18 to 28) based on what I remember from the lunchroom conversations at ACCENT Marketing. Already E-cigarettes are a growing trend among affluent Uptowners known as “Vaping”.

Imagine what’ll happen when Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) is decriminalized; e-cigarette usage’ll explode as you can effectively smoke a device that’s not banned by the current Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations 2013 and also no-one can tell if it’s Nicotine or THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) that you’re vaping!


Despite the focus on the Pharmaceutical Industry, Teenagers (ages 13 to 17) and Millennials (18 to 28) munching on Chocolate Chip cookies and Brownies with THC as a main ingredient will also be all the rage as well come Decriminalization Time!