On “Brief” Hiatus…

Hey folks!

In case you haven’t realised it by now, this blog has taken a short hiatus. Well, I’ve taken a short break from blogging, if you want to be more precise! Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.  I’ll be back soon!  I just need some time to sort some things out in the real world.

This post will remain at the top of the page each day, as a courtesy.  For now, when I post something new, it will be below this post.

I want to thank all my returning visitors (and bots!) for keeping me on your reading lists these past 5 months.  I’m really lucky to have patient readers… and somehow, relevant content!  By my last check, I’ve gotten close to 15,000 more hits since T.B.C. hit the 25k milestone.  That’s not something to be ungrateful about!

In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter. I’m really liking the interaction there, and its providing me with a fresh perspective, new ideas, new connections, etc. If you want or need to unleash your fury at me (for no new content, what else?), feel free so to do via my blog’s Comments page. You can also shoot me your missive at boboleechron [at] gmail [dot] com.

Cheers!

BoboleeChron

ShortLink for this post? http://wp.me/pfOU1-o5

Ole Time Someting Come Back Again

Here’s an interesting (& enjoyable) cover of The Mighty Sparrow’s classic calypso “Obeah Wedding”.Its performed by “TitoTitou”, a French native with a pretty eclectic taste in music, if one were to take a look at his YouTube profile.

We in Trinidad and Tobago (heck, the entire Caribbean) have such a wealth of talent in our blood.  While we must take our many art forms into the new millennia, we must also ensure that we don’t forget our roots & culture.   By revisiting them every so often, it not only serves as a source of edification and pride, but in my view, it’ll also to help educate the younger generations of our rich heritage and our identity as Caribbean people.

I hope you enjoyed!

(bigup to @suzettegardner, who shared this video with me. )

Bobolee Chron

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Shubh Divali

The word ‘Divali’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’ meaning a row of lights. ‘Deep’ means light or lamp and ‘avali’ means row. Hence Divali literally signifies a row or cluster of lights. That's why Divali (aka Diwali or Deepavali) is also known as the "Festival of Lights".

On the day of Divali, Hindus light clay or oil lamps (called ‘deyas’) in & around their homes, temples, gardens, rooftops, streets and outer walls. This decoration with deyas during Divali makes everything look amazingly gorgeous and vibrant. Divali is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm here in T&T as Divali is considered to be one of our more "celebrated" holidays. The whole country joins in celebration with the Hindu community, with Hindus and non-Hindus partaking in the lighting of deyas and house lights, the bursting of bamboo, firework displays and enjoying the many varieties of indigenous East Indian foods and sweets.  Many rotishops do brisk business around Divali, with many having to make extra rotis and roti-skins to cater for the increased demand for the delicacies…

Many Hindus invite  close friends, family and relations to their homes to partake in meals celebrating the religious festival, with some going so far as to invite complete strangers into their homes to help them celebrate the joyous occasion.

Some employers allow their employees to dress in traditional East Indian garb to celebrate the occasion. Divali is also considered by many in T&T to be a forerunner to the Christmas season, with a lot of people electing to start putting up their Christmas lights and making their preparations right around, or soon after, Divali.

Take a look at some pictures I took last year during the Divali celebrations on Ethel Street, in the suburb of Port of Spain known as St James.

Enjoy.

Bobolee Chron
–
Resident expert on all things Cracked.

my blogs:
boboleechronicles.wordpress.com
boboleepix.wordpress.com
follow me!: twitter.com/boboleechron

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Vendor Rivalry

"A casual encounter soon escalates into a battle royale, as two local vendors get pushed over the edge.

An animated take on a day in the life of two Trinidadian, Caribbean vendors, as an initial battle of words is transformed into a kung fu showdown in the busy streets of Trinidad."

Winner of Animae Caribe's "Best Caribbean Animation" prize for 2009, this video was produced by Ansar Sattar of Trinidad and Tobago.

I'd be more than happy to provide a translation if anyone finds it difficult to understand what the characters are saying!

Bobolee Chron

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Any Intelligent Life Out There?

If you see this…

Phone home.

(via)

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Colin Powell’s Been Blacklisted…

…but there's a mistake in his profile.  Can you spot it?

I 'discovered' the HBO/AOL Blacklist project online today after I came back to my desk from a series of meetings that had my head in a dazed tailspin.  Its essentially a collection of profiles of prominent African-Americans who are trying to portray/explain what it means to be "black" in America, through their eyes and living experiences.

The list is pretty diverse: young and old, athletes and actors, politicians and comediennes, hip-hop to rap to heavy metal…

As I made my way through the list, I thought about what it must feel like to be recognised so publicly by your peers and fellow citizens while you're still alive.  The majority of the people on the Black List are definitely all deserving of the inclusion and the accolades; they definitely put in the sweat and tears.  For me, the list is both inspirational and motivational. 

Colin Powell's someone I've always admired and respected, even though I don't agree with everything he's said 100% of the time.  Heck, I'm not even aware of everything he's said or done in public life to be even aware of half of the things he's said or done :p.  I mean, I was already impressed when he got the Joint Chiefs of Staff gig (being of Caribbean descent and all), but when he said that he loved calypso and that Sparrow was it's ''Mount Olympus''?  His list of admirers increased by one… and by 1.3 million.

I've got a lot more to say on this topic, but my head is aching and I have laundry to pick up.  This time, hopefully, I'll make it to the dry cleaners on time.

Check out the list yourself.  You may end up pleasantly surprised (or at least enlightened).  Let me know (via the comments) if you spot the same mistake I did in Colin Powell's profile.

Peace and Rice…

Bobolee Chron

[tags aol, the blacklist, black voices, colin powell, hbo, calypso, sparrow, trinidad, tobago]

–
Resident expert on all things Cracked.

my blogs:
boboleechronicles.wordpress.com
boboleepix.wordpress.com
follow me!: twitter.com/boboleechron

Posted via email from boboleechron

Food for thought…

Click to read…

Oh, and if you've got 20 minutes to spare, take a look at this:

Click to read…

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Jimmy Carter on Racism in the USA

Another zinger from PoliticalCartoons.com (via @dcagle)

–
Resident expert on all things Cracked.

my blogs:
boboleechronicles.wordpress.com
boboleepix.wordpress.com

follow me!: twitter.com/boboleechron

I enjoy the massacre of ads. This sentence will slaughter ads without a messy bloodbath.
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