News Items Today

Peaches Geldof – Divorce After 96 days of Marriage – Bob Geldof’s Daughter

Peaches Geldof, 19, presenter, and DJ, married singer Max Drummey, 23, a Harvard anthropology graduate, and singer in the indie band Chester d, French, in the middle of August this year. It was a rushed affair and even her dad, Bob Geldof, knew nothing about this until the very last moment.

He was happy enough to give his blessing but a little disappointed at not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle, and he added that the surprise marriage had the full support of the family. Peaches is the daughter of the late rock chick, Paula Yates and Peaches is carving a name for herself as a presenter and DJ, very much like her mother did.

Still in the honeymoon period, Peaches reasons for wanting the divorce are because she’s “had enough of hubby” “Every friend of mine has parents who are divorced. I didn’t go into it thinking, “This is going to last forever”, Peaches said. -

A disposable society I suppose and marriage does seem to fit in along with the rest of the things that don’t seem to have a lot of value these days and don’t last very long either. No it didn’t last forever Peaches! It lasted a mere 96 days. Drummey is said to be devastated as he thought marriage ‘was’ for life. But Peaches is happy to move on to the next man.

The couple have known each other for two years but the relationship developed more fully in July when Geldof was holding the ITV iTunes festival which Drummey took part in. Peaches and Drummey married in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, in the middle of August, while they were on holiday in the US together.

Christianna Garrett-Martin

The owner of a collapsed School in Petionville, Port-au-Price has been arrested and is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter

A school collapsed in the suburb Petionville, Haiti, just a few miles from Port-au-Price. It happened without warning on Friday at 10’0’clock in the morning; a time when the school children would have been in their lessons. Reported deaths are numbered at over 90 with survivors only numbering 4 to date.

It is now thought that there could have been as many as 500 children and teachers inside the three story school. This is a tragedy on a huge scale and it shouldn’t have been allowed to happen. Rogue builders and buildings are rife in Haiti.

The three story school building fell to the ground with no prior warning and building practices are now being called into question in Haiti. Distraught mothers anxiously wait while the rescuers dig frantically with their bare hands to search for the children.

A large slab of concrete is visible to the top of the building which looks to have been the roof of the school, and it appears too top heavy for the building. Apparently there are many of these illegally constructed buildings in this impoverished country.

American specialists have arrived on the scene along with Martinique workers who have come to out help out, but their efforts are being hindered by chaos and hampered by the frantic crowds, who are blocking the narrow access roads. But at least they have the right equipment now to deal with this disaster and hopes are more urgent now, as time draws on.

The children would have stood no chance as the building collapsed like a pack of cards around them. Four children have now been rescued from pockets of safety, though over 90 are reported dead, and many children are still missing.

The nearby hospital is full to breaking point with bewildered mothers and injured children who are too young to understand what has happened to them. The President of Haiti, Rene Preval, arrived on the scene to give his support and urge on the helpers to try and find the children.

Haiti is still recovering from two recent storms and hurricanes which devastated the Island and left the houses steeped in mud, and with over 800 hundred people dead. -

Christianna Garrett-Martin

Reference: Sky News.

Hurricane Paloma has made landfall as a category 3 hurricane bringing with it winds of over 140 mph and waves of 6-7 metres.

The Eye Of The Storm As Captured Earlier Today

Hurricane Paloma has made landfall on the south coast of the Cayman Islands this evening. It hit the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, as a category 3 hurricane, bringing with it winds of over 140 mph and waves of 6-7 metres. It is now travelling on a course across the Cayman Islands.

It is losing strength and is down to a category 2 hurricane now. After raging across the Cayman Islands, it will now make it’s way to Florida and then on to the Bahamas, at its present mapped course, losing strength as it goes.

Earlier Today

Arriving late in the Hurricane season, Hurricane Paloma is looking extremely dangerous. It is on a direct collision course for the low-lying, Caribbean, Cayman Islands. The hurricane is already category 4, with top sustained winds of almost 140 mph. The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami states that Hurricane Paloma is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in Cuba, late Saturday or early Sunday. Paloma will bring with it with maximum-sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Earlier in this year’s hurricane season, hurricanes Gustav and Ike have already slammed into Cuba, and collectively caused an estimated $9.4 billion in damage. Paloma started as a tropical depression but soon gathered strength in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and today huge 3 meter waves lashed upon Cuban shores. Grand Cayman is a mainly unprotected, sea level island giving it little protection when hurricanes strike.

The Cayman Islands are actually made up of the peaks of a huge underwater ridge which stands 8,000 feet from the sea floor, called the Cayman Trench. Grand Cayman is one part of the Islands, the others being, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and the islands lie south of Cuba and west of Jamaica in the centre of the Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane Paloma is heading towards the central-eastern city of Camaguey, which was the target for Hurricane Ike in September. Both Gustav and Ike caused a combined devastation to the tune of $9.4 billion and the crops of Cuba have been hard hit and a third of Cuba’s crops were ravaged, which has resulted in widespread shortages of fresh produce on the island.

People had been urged to evacuate and any remaining residents had been told to stay off ground and first floor dwellings. The airport was also closed Friday morning in preparation. Water service across Grand Cayman was turned off, and power would be cut off as the storm neared. Hazard management director Barbara Carby said. “We have asked everybody to come off the streets and to be home and safe right now,” she said.

The Cayman Islands is British territory with huge tourism interests. It is a major international financial centre and a tax-haven of dependent banking. The Cayman Islands have, however, unfortunately experienced the most hurricane strikes in history.

After striking the Cayman Islands, Forecasters expect Paloma to weaken into a tropical storm and then veer south of Florida through the Bahamas and into the Atlantic Ocean. –

Christianna Garrett-Martin

The Eye Of The Storm As Captured Earlier Today

Category 4 and on Course For Grand Cayman

Arriving late in the Hurricane season, Hurricane Paloma is looking extremely dangerous. It is on a direct collision course for the low-lying, Caribbean, Cayman Islands. The hurricane is already category 4, with top sustained winds of almost 140 mph. The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami states that Hurricane Paloma is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in Cuba, late Saturday or early Sunday. Paloma will bring with it with maximum-sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Earlier in this year’s hurricane season, hurricanes Gustav and Ike have already slammed into Cuba, and collectively caused an estimated $9.4 billion in damage. Paloma started as a tropical depression but soon gathered strength in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and today huge 3 meter waves lashed upon Cuban shores. Grand Cayman is a mainly unprotected, sea level island giving it little protection when hurricanes strike.

The Cayman Islands are actually made up of the peaks of a huge underwater ridge which stands 8,000 feet from the sea floor, called the Cayman Trench. Grand Cayman is one part of the Islands, the others being, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and the islands lie south of Cuba and west of Jamaica in the centre of the Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane Paloma is heading towards the central-eastern city of Camaguey, which was the target for Hurricane Ike in September. Both Gustav and Ike caused a combined devastation to the tune of $9.4 billion and the crops of Cuba have been hard hit and a third of Cuba’s crops were ravaged, which has resulted in widespread shortages of fresh produce on the island.

People have been urged to evacuate and any remaining residents have been told to stay off ground and first floor dwellings. The airport was also closed Friday morning in preparation. Water service across Grand Cayman was turned off, and power would be cut off as the storm neared. Hazard management director Barbara Carby said. “We have asked everybody to come off the streets and to be home and safe right now,” she said.

The Cayman Islands is British territory with huge tourism interests. It is a major international financial centre and a tax-haven of dependent banking. The Cayman Islands have, however, unfortunately experienced the most hurricane strikes in history.

After striking the Cayman Islands, Forecasters expect Paloma to weaken into a tropical storm and then veer south of Florida through the Bahamas and into the Atlantic Ocean. –

Christianna Garrett-Martin

Hockey Mum or Hoaxer?

Apres the recent presidential elections, and after studying the behaviour of Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, throughout. I came to the conclusion that I just didn’t find her to be at all warm or authentic.

Something in her make-up did not come across as sincere or at all genuine. This hockey-mom image that she is trying to put out there doesn’t fit very well with the ruthless and abrasive streak she portrays. Her voice is caustic and harsh with a waver to it; I found it grating on my nerves every time she opened her mouth. There was also no warmth or conviction to her speeches at all. She is an aggressively ambitious woman and it comes across in her whole demeaner

I also found her quite aggressive verbally if things weren’t going her way. Her speech on her arrival home to Alaska, where the reporters were waiting, was a classic example and I don’t think she was a very wise choice at all as an aide to the wholly sincere Senator McCain on the recent Presidential elections. Palin told reporters the attacks are “cruel and it’s mean-spirited, it’s immature, it’s unprofessional, and those guys are jerks.” - Charming!

She could even have quite possibly harmed McCain’s chances overall. With her ridiculous television interview with Katie Couric and her flaky response to the prank phone call from Canadian DJ and comedian, Marc-Antoinne Audette when he impersonated the French President. Her intelligence is at best, better played down and not given so high a profile as it was during the campaign.

Possible candidate for the 2012 elections! I do hope not. She also didn’t go down to well with the crowds. When Senator McCain gave his gracious defeat speech and he brought up Palin’s name there were huge boos from the crowd,
reinforcing what I already knew. Perhaps McCain did too, but alas too late.

Sarah Palin extortionately dipped in to the RNC’s (Republican National Committee) funds, some of the clothes and beauty allowance going to other members of her household. To which she retorted “Those are the RNC’s clothes. They’re not my clothes. I never forced anybody to buy anything,” Nonetheless Ms Palin has racked up a huge bill for the RNC. There will now be an inventory and they will be asking Palin to pay for said items, or returning them to the shops where they came from.

“The spending drew a complaint against Palin and the RNC by a Washington government watchdog group. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Palin and the GOP of violating a federal ban on the use of campaign funds for personal expenses such as clothing”.

For me the final nail in the Palin coffin came when Palin committed a huge faux pas and said she did not know Africa was a continent, not a country, and also she could not name the three countries in the North American Free Trade Agreement — Canada, the United States and Mexico. -

So Sarah Palin for President? – Haha! I think not - How about you? -

Christianna Garrett-Martin

Change Has Come To America.

Today on the 4th of November 2008, Barack Obama,47, has entered the history books and become the first African/American person to be elected as the 44th President Elect of the United States of America.

The atmosphere was electric in the great hall in Chicago as the crowd took in the enormity of this moment as they awaited their President. This was a monumental and defining moment in the history of America. 100,000 people lined the streets.

There was overwhelming sense of glory in the crowd as they praised and wept tears of joy and felt honoured to witness history in the making, as they awaited the first black president of the United States of America.

Barack Obama strolled onto the stage to a huge cheer which erupted from the crowd, his charisma reaching out to the multitude of people who had gathered to welcome their president. “Change” he said; “In this defining moment, change has come to America”. He continued “This is your victory” We, as a people will get there.

The history books are now being re-written. As Obama delivered his speech, he began, “There will be no blue states, and no red states. There will just be the ‘United States of America”. This is very much his message; he wants the America people to come together as one. “We will reclaim the American dream”.

He used Abraham Lincoln as a basis for a quote: “On this stage. With this election. In this defining moment. Change has come to America”. And ‘change’ was very much at the heart of his speech.

Watching the coverage on Sky News, I sensed the impact that Obama was having on the crowd was similar to the effect that JFK had on his followers. This is not so much about the reds or the blues, this is more about Obama the man, his enthusiasm and passion, and what he stands for.

People are drawn to his easy manner and sincerity and believe that what he says he will do, he will actually implement. Obama said times will not be easy, when talking of the issues that need addressing. it will take years. I may not be able to sort everything out in this office. But I shall try.

He spoke of his great respect for McCain and what a great fight he had put up in his bid for Presidency and said he looked forward to working with him. Senator McCain fought long and hard against what was basically a bit of a foregone conclusion. He battled on through the key states, and on the eve of the election he covered 3, 500 miles in whistle stop tours, whereas Obama covered only 700.

Obama did say “This is not a time for complacency” and he too was campaigning up until the very last minute. He was carrying the hopes and dreams of the black race on his shoulders, and the history of their fight against oppression, of their rightful need for basic rights, human rights and the acceptance and social standing of their white counterpart.

With the struggle and history of his ancestors ringing in his ears, this was definitely not a “time for complacency”. For a young man to have come so far so quickly, this was a race that he simply ‘had’ to win. His recently departed grandmother scrimped and scraped so that Obama could attend Harvard. She was in effect, grooming him for greatness, and he hasn’t let her down one little bit.

Obama touched all the important issues which are evident in America today: Alliances, The credit crunch, recession; a recession not seen since the likes of the 1930’s ‘Great Depression’. American troops serving abroad and their futures when returning home. Obama has great plans for them.

New schools to build, colleges, medical centres, he touched on most things. Obama talks a great rhetoric, only time will tell if he can pull off all these things in the wake of the devastation caused by George Walker Bush.

At the end of his speech, the Vice President Elect and his family came onto the stage with Obama’s family, and in a moment of congratulation, when all members of both families hugged, kissed and shook hands, it was a very moving and profound moment, when both the black and white race came together in greatness. -

Christianna Garrett-Martin

The beautiful voice of Fantasia, winner of American Idol. rang through the the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago this morning at the funeral of Jennifer Hudson’s deceased relatives.

Fantasia Barrino sang ‘Your Grace and Mercy’, directly at Hudson, whilst holding her hand to comfort her. She also called the Hudson’s her Family as they mourned their murdered relatives.

Today was the private funeral for Darnell Donerson the mother of Jennifer Hudson, Jason Hudson, brother and young Julian King her nephew, aged just seven years old. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the Reverend Jesse Jackson both gave a short speech.

There was a two hour wake, which at the end of, Jennifer kissed her mother goodbye. It was a very moving ceremony and a horse drawn carriage then led the mourners to the cemetery.

To keep the ceremony private, the police surrounded the church to keep the public and media well back and large plastic sheeting was erected on a fence to the rear of the church to block out the publics view.

In Chicago yesterday evening at the Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church which was the childhood church of Jennifer Hudson, singer and Oscar winning actress, friends and relatives gathered for a memorial service to celebrate the lives of her slain family.

Spiritual songs were sung and classmates, friends and teachers of her deceased nephew, Julian, were silent as the second-grade teacher, Carmen Williams of Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy, read aloud from journals written by Julian’s classmates and friends.

One particular entry was from a friend who had written that he was sad that Julian didn’t live long enough to become President. Standing, flanked by three of Julian’s classmates by her side, Carmen reminisced how Julian liked to tell knock-knock jokes, and went on to say what a smart boy he was.

“When Julian raised his hand, he had that enthusiastic light in his eyes, and he always, always had the right answer,” Williams said, and his classmates recalled how he loved Spider-Man and was always very generous with his school supplies.

Large Placards of Julian King and Jason Hudson stood at the front of room inside the Baptist church and the attendees listened to Jennifer Hudson songs being played on the chapel speakers.

The Chicago police are still holding a “person of interest”, who is Julia Hudson’s estranged husband, 27-year-old William Balfour. They are holding him on a parole conviction relating to a conviction for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.

The police are referring to the murders as a domestic related crime and they found the gun used in the killings in a vacant lot last week. At the moment the police are still processing the evidence.

The bodies of Donerson and Hudson were discovered Oct. 24 at the family home. Three days later the body of Julian was discovered in the boot of a white UV on the city’s West Side.

Let’s hope that Jennifer Hudson can now pick up the pieces of her life and move on safe in the knowledge that her family can now rest in peace. -

Christianna Garrett-Martin

What is Sarah Palin Hiding?

What is Sarah Palin Hiding?

Sarah Palin has not handed in her medical records yet. All other candidates for high office have. Why is she stalling?

It is a requirement that they should offer over their medical records before election day. It is the public’s absolute right to be able to know what is in the candidates medical records.

Now with less than 24 hours to go there is still no evidence of them. Several weeks ago reporters were told that the governor’s medical history would be released last week.

Still no records; and an aide for the campaign gave a statement that he did not know when the medical records would surface.

Barack Obama, John McCain, and Joseph Biden have offered theirs up long ago. One wonders just what Ms Palin could be hiding?

I don’t think much of hidden evidence, it seems very underhand, and I certainly wouldn’t want a President who harbors a person such as this, who refuses to hand over a simple item like her medical records.

“There has been a movement for candidates to disclose more information than they have in the past. Starting with [Ronald] Reagan in the 1980s, the Times started interviewing candidates; we did their medical histories, and we have done that for a number of presidents and candidates for other offices”. - Campaign Desk, The Observatory -

And I guess over that period of time, it has been a custom or a standard for the presidents to disclose information about their health”.

The reason for this is so that voters can assess the candidates suitability for high office. It is a courtesy and a requirement for all candidates standing for high office.

As Ms Palin once said: “You know, when you’re running for office, your life is an open book”. - Not yours Sarah; yours is decidedly closed!

Update
Well, just hours before the final day Sarah Palin has finally decided to give over her medical records. They state that she is fit and well and capable for work.

Christianna Garrett-Martin

Circuit City announced today that it is to close 155 stores and eliminate 17 per cent of its employees.

In October, Circuit City stated that they may have to lay off thousands of workers and shut down at least 150 stores to avoid filing for bankruptcy.

The Richmond-based retailer has tried to conserve funds and fend off pressure from vendors as they struggle against the credit crunch. But they have been hit hard.

The company is also seeking emergency funding from ivestment bank Rothschild, but Circuit City are having trouble finding anyone interested in financing them.

Circuit City investors do not want to file for bankruptcy before the holiday shopping season. Their worry is that customers will lose faith in the Companies ability to honor its extended warranties on electrical items.

With products such as TVs and laptops, it is the extended warranty sales that make up a huge part of Circuit City’s overall profits. The company has about 715 stores and outlets in the US and 772 in Canada.

The second-largest US consumer electronics retailer is considering this drastic action as a way to get through the impending holiday season.

With the holiday season looming, things are looking pretty bad for Circuit City at this present moment in time. -

Closing down sales at Circuit City are due to start in selected stores on 5 November.

Christianna Garrett-Martin

Read The Fake News Report Here!

The NME reports that a “fake site claims rapper, Lil Wayne has been shot dead”. Lil’ Wayne has since, become the subject of a death hoax, after a fake BBC News page appeared to claim the rapper had been killed”.

This hoax has now circulated all over the Internet throughout the weekend, until several sites, including Perezhilton.com, went out of the way to state that the rapper still very much alive and kicking.

Contrary to word on the street over the weekend, Lil Wayne, 26, is not in fact dead. Word had it that the 26 year old rapper died from a gunshot wound resulting from gang warfare.

Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr, aka: Lil Wayne is very much alive and well. Rumour had it that Lil Wayne had become the latest victim of the infamous feud between the “Blood” and “Crips.”

The site stated that Lil Wayne got caught up in a massive battle with members of the gang ‘Crips’ and he got shot 6 times. He lost a lot of blood and after being rushed to Tulane University Hospital, Lil Wayne died from his gunshot wounds at 2:36am.

Do not believe everything that you read. “The report is one of many in a long line of replicas made to look like, in this case, BBC News.”

The NME said “A similar online death hoax using the same ‘BBC News’ generator also appeared this weekend suggesting UK grime artists Wiley was dead too”.

Read The Fake News Report Here!

Christianna Garrett-Martin