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.

Watches: How Omega Does Rio

- from A Timely Perspective


This year marks the 28th year that Omega acts as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympics. As an Olympic Partner, the brand’s vital role is to provide such precise timing and imaging of every event so that there is no question to the athletes and judges about who the winners are. To do this, Omega continually evolves its state-of-the-art technology.

This year alone, the brand has developed a host of new, innovative scanners, scoreboards and timing solutions.   Among them:

Omega Scan’O’Vision Myria camera: A combination of time detector and a chronograph. It takes up to 10,000 digital images per second at the critical finish of track and field races.

Omega Photocell Technology: A high-tech photocell reader with four cells instead of two to detect more body movement and patterns.

Omega Electric Photocells system.

Omega Scoreboards: New scoreboards that display timing and line up faster and bolder. There is also a new scoreboard developed for the golf and archery games.

In fact, Omega brings with it to Rio 2016, 450 tons of equipment including 355 scoreboards, hundreds of cameras, thousands of sensors and timing that measures to 1/10,000th of a second. More than 500 trained professionals accompany this effort, and another near 1,000 people are employed on site to assist.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Rio 2016 watch

Naturally, to celebrate its role in timing the Olympics, Omega also has brand ambassadors participating in the Olympic Games – including golfing great Sergio Garcia. Finally, the brand unveils a line of Rio 2016 Official watches.

Omega Seamaster Bullhead Rio 2016 watch

Entertainment: Keys clamps down on cell phones at her shows

- from JAZZIZ

R&B songstress Alicia Keys has adopted a strict no-cell phone policy at her concert performances. People attending Keys’ concerts will now be required to place their phones in something called a “Yondr Case,” a small neoprene phone case that locks as concert goers enter the venue. When the concert is over, the patrons will simply tap their phones on a small metal place, which will unlock the case as they leave the venue.

The technology allows the concert-goer to keep their phones in their possessions throughout the performance without the ability to use it. So far, this new technology has been used by such musicians as folk rock band The Lumineers in some of their concerts and comedians Louis C.K. and Dave Chapelle are reportedly planning to use it for some of their upcoming shows.

The “Yondr Case” allows both artists and venues to get around possible lawsuits that may result from confiscating cell phones and the impracticality of banning them completely.