I am back to running again. Up to half an hour now. I have bounced back much easier this time than with the first child. It feels wonderful to run again, even if I cannot go on those long runs when I would lose myself in thought and music. It feels good to move freely and connect with my body again. I’m aiming to do a five K soon and a ten K after that. And another marathon sometime.

Reading this review of the Reggae Marathon makes me nostalgic for those long runs and for how proud I was of finishing my first marathon. And to do it On such a mentally challenging course in a country I love.

My latest piece for the Guardian. Check it out here

Congratulations to Damien “Jr. Gong” Marley, who won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album last night.

A story coming from one of our community journalists.

Yesterday, the Minister of National Security addressed Parliament on several issues. This included matters relating to security, of course, but also to corruption and apparently, a problem with Devil worship. Here are his comments:

Mr Speaker, over the last couple of months, we have discovered a most disturbing trend of which you must be aware. We have been discovering “ALTARS” to facilitate devil worship in many places where raids have been conducted by the security forces. This is a most dangerous trend and the clergy is also disturbed by it.

Sir, the savagery, the brutality and horrific nature of some crimes point to sacrifices to these evil forces. Sir, almost a year ago I made a flippant comment suggesting that my uncle was an obeah man. It was meant to be a joke, but many persons were not amused. They were offended and rightly so. I want to apologize for the remark and the offensiveness it has caused and to give the assurance and publicly state that I am not into devil or evil worship in no way shape or form!

I worship one God! The one and only true God that reigns, forgives and sustains! I am not into devil worship. Some people are playing with things they know nothing about and open gates they cannot close. Sir, the trend is disturbing and must be stopped.

Indeed.

Looking up into an ohtaheiti apple tree. Someone harvested all the fruit, leaving only the flowers.

This is a great piece on press regulation in Jamaica by Annie Paul. It also touches on investigative journalism, or the lack thereof. Check it out.

What a fate for these two young girls. Imagine you do not live with your parents – they don’t want you. Can’t care for you. They left the country. Or passed away. So you are shipped to a “place of safety.” You are scared. Alone. Feeling abandoned. And then to perish in a literal hell. Just imagine. If you can. The heat. The pain. The fear. And no one comes to save you.

Walker’s Place of Safety was destroyed in a fire on Tuesday. A 12-year-old and a 16-year-old died. Thirty-four other children are in need of basic supplies. Please help if you can.

How can this happen after the Armadale fire?