Entertainment: The Mico "goes Smart" through Music

Founded in the immediate aftermath of British West Indian slavery, The Mico University (formerly the Mico

Ernie Smith (left) with Samantha Strachan and Wayne Marshal

teacher Training College) is, at 180 years, the oldest teacher training institution in the Western Hemisphere.

That said, for it to continue to be relevant, it has to adopt new technology and technology-driven delivery methods. Foremost among these is the building of some 15 "smart classrooms" that when completed, will allow for virtual connections - not only to faclities (Library, Labs, Lecture theatres) on the Kingston campus, but to similar facilities and institutions around the world, many of which have Mico graduates in their midst.

But the project naturally represents a massive investment, and so the Mico Alumni are partnering with the university directorate to raise funds to meet the costs of the ambitious and worthy project.

VETERAN musician Ernie Smith  - who has returned to national prominence via the re-working of his classic Red Stripe Beer campaing featuring the song "Life Is Just for Livin'" is one of the headliners slated to perform at tomorrow’s (November 13) Evening of Musical Excellence at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew.

The show will begin at 5:00 pm.

The event, hosted by the Mico University College Alumni Association, will also feature Dem Three Tenors, Kimiela Isaacs and Desi Jones Combo. It held under the patronage of British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton.

The organizers aim to raise some $6 million from the event.

Auto: "sexy" and Rolls-Royce in the same sentence, a new "Dawn"

The British carmaker describes the Rolls-Royce Dawn as the “sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built,” and we’re inclined to agree—in fact, Robb Report named it Best of the Best 2016 Convertible of the Year. Powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine, the Dawn was engineered specifically so that rear passenger room isn’t impeded by the convertible top. The top itself opens and closes in just over 20 seconds at a speed of up to 30 mph, and the automaker says the roof mechanism is the quietest in the segment. The front grille and bumper design were styled to emphasize the horizontal lines of the car rather than the traditional vertical lines of other Rolls-Royce models, 

WheRe wOrdS waNdeR: Knock it off

The command "knock it off" meaning "stop it" is first recorded 1880, perhaps from auctioneer's term for "dispose of quickly":

At the commencement of the sales, he gave every one that wanted to purchase a paper containing a description of the lands that were to be sold; and, as the sales were cried, he called over the numbers and described the land; and when it got up to one dollar and a quarter an acre, if no body bid, after it was cried two or three times, he would say, knock it off, knock it off. [U.S. Senate record, 1834]

The origin could possibly be from the habit of knocking a special beat to indicate a change of oarsmen in slave galleys. That's speculation but several of the earliest references to the term come from a nautical source; for example, William Clark Russell's novel An ocean tragedy, 1890:

"We were forced to knock off through sheer fatigue."

Where WorDs WaNder: hats off

With the Olympic Games now over, we say "hats off" to the organizers, the athletes, theofficials, the support crews and the people of Brazil and of the world for a great tournament.

Where does "hats off" come from ?


 While most Western men no longer wear hats (except in cold weather or as a fashion statement), there was a time when the hat was part of the business uniform, or identified you as a member of upper-class society. 
In England, men wore top hats (also called stovepipe hats) when dressed formally, as did Americans, in the 1800s and early 1900s. The style of the hat gradually changed (stetson hats became very popular in the American West); but the custom of briefly taking off the hat was historically a sign of respect, whether for one's boss or for someone in society who was superior in status. In centuries past, taking off the hat might be accompanied by a slight bow of the head. 

Taking off the hat was also considered to be good manners for a man to do whenever a woman entered the room. (In western movies, the cowboy would always tip his hat to a lady.) Expressions like "hat's off to you" or "I tip my hat to you" thus became ways of showing admiration. And even though most men no longer wear a top hat, the expression has lived on. A version of it also survives in baseball: players from one team may say they tip their cap to an opposing player: for example, Team X loses to team Y in a very close but well-played game. The pitcher from Team X tells reporters, "I'm sorry we lost but I tip my cap to their pitcher. He pitched better than me today." 

So, to sum up, the expression goes back to the time when the hat was an essential part of a man's wardrobe, and taking it off or touching the brim were acts that showed admiration or respect.

Popular music: Bay-C goes for "StreetCred"

Bay-C, Part of the 4 member Dancehall /Reggae group T.O.K, has always recorded quality solo singles since he released his project called ‘The Bombrush Hour’ in 2009.  With his venture now though as a bonafide solo artiste, he has prepared a quality EP project entitled “Better Must Come” that he is sure fans will thoroughly enjoy.

Bay-C’s solo artiste push has so far been extremely successful; a dance music single called ‘Flow’ he recorded with British producer Lokate and British artiste Doctor, was recently selected for the latest version of popular video game - Need for Speed. Bay-C is very excited about this achievement and sees it as a sign his solo career decision was an excellent one.

“This is definite major exposure. Plus it is a sign that the Bay-C brand as a solo act is a successful one. Truth is I hardly play video games. It was only after the song was selected that I asked around and heard had that it was a hugely popular game. Needless to say I was even more excited then!” Bay-C shared

The ‘Better Must Come’ EP shows Bay-C’s versatility with a blend of Reggae and Dancehall and a little acoustic sound in the mix. Bay-C is also singing as much as he deejays on the project.

“The EP is a mixture of sounds and themes. My lifestyle is that of a conscious individual with deep thoughts but also a very fun and jovial side. I see myself as that kind of artiste, a conscious lover of life and people.” Bay-C added

The project is executive produced by Bay-C’s Bombrush Records with individual record labels producing each single on the EP; Europe- based Damalistik and his Roots Survival label, Fatta 5 and his Category 5 label, Genius Sound and Bassline Records.

The Eye for an Eye single was released for Reggae month and has garnered exceptional feedback thus far. Other singles on the ‘Better Must Come’ EP include; ‘Straight Outta Portmore’, ‘Hold it out’, ‘Star’ and the title track ‘Better Must Come’.The full EP will be released digitally on Good Friday, March 25, and is distributed by Bombrush Records.

Visuals for Straight Outta Portmore can be viewed on BayCVevo page or on the Bombrush Records YouTube Page, and a music video for the "Eye For An Eye" single will be released shortly. Bay-C will perform next on the RJR Cross Country Invasion Road Show on April 2inside Clarendon, St Elizabeth and Manchester.