I saw two young boys the other day, probably around 10 years old, in the middle of the day. They were wiping windows at a HalfWay Tree intersection. This little boy stayed at the car window for the entire duration of the light, not getting anything from the driver. The way they move is so tragic, they carry themselves like adults, like individuals who have learned to defend themselves. And they put themselves in considerable danger, darting in and out of traffic, spending hours in the sun, probably with minimal food and water. Why are they not in school? Where are their parents? Where do they come from? Why are they on the street? Do they have anything to eat or somewhere to sleep? I went back the next day and they were gone. If they are there again, I will file a report with the Office of the Children’s Advocate.

These two articles, from the New York Times and the Washington Post, most accurately reflect what I think happened in terms of gauging Donald Trump’s win as President of the United States. They basically state that the media missed the mark, an assessment with which I agree. Covering politics, you work in a bubble, especially in D.C., and the Hill in Canada. I have worked in that bubble in Canada, and lived in it in the U.S., in D.C. These reporters, pundits, consultants, government workers are out of touch. The majority of them never go deep into rural Kentucky, or New York, or Florida, or South Carolina or Nevada. They don’t know how people there think. They don’t know that a lot of them were feeling disenfranchised after eight years of a black president and a potential female president. They don’t know that Donald Trump spoke for them and they don’t know that Mr. Trump prompted many of them to vote, probably for the first time. I think voter turnout will be relatively high (early results show it is up), especially amongst first-time voters. It is a bleak day.

A good feature on the Peter Tosh museum, check it out here.

This is one of my students, the talented Christopher Scott. He has launched a bid to appear on ESPN, as he is an aspiring sports broadcaster. Check it out and share, help him attain his goal!

This article from Global Post raises some questions. The expected birth defects related to Zika are not materializing. This, of course, is positive news. The defects seem to be confined to Brazil, and have not appeared in the same numbers in countries such as Colombia, where infection rates are high.

The story lists the number of infected people for most countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. Except Jamaica. Why not? Is Jamaica not tracking cases? Are doctors not reporting? Were they just not contacted for this story? I think these are important questions that must be answered. We have had almost no media coverage of Zika for awhile now here in Jamaica. People don’t seem concerned anymore. Perhaps “herd immunity” has taken over and infections have stopped. I have talked to many people who felt they had Zika, but were not tested, nor confirmed. But, going back to the previous questions, citizens should know for future epidemics: is the Ministry of Health simply not testing? Are doctors not reporting? Or is it just that the media lost interest?

In honor of the new Peter Tosh museum, which opened this week, although some people are complaining that the anti-establishment artist would not have been happy with it.

BREAKING: Finance Minister Audley Shaw reports 2.3 per cent growth in the quarter from July to September, the highest level since 2002. Some good economic news.

Two audio clips are circulating on WhatsApp, promising of a bloody Christmas in Spanish Town. Civilians are being warned in the clip to avoid the area, as gangsters from the Klansmen gang are vowing to create a “war” after one of their leaders, Andre, Black Man, Bryan, was killed.

From the Observer: The voice message said in part: “A now the war ago start enuh; you hear me tell you cause them hold on pon Black Man enuh… Spanish Town nah see no Christmas, so me jus a mek everybody know seh if dem can avoid the town, avoid the town at all cost, avoid the town at all cost.”

Police say they are aware of the audio clips, and are posting additional officers to the area. They say they do not know the identify of the speaker, Bob, who promises revenge in a rather casual manner (check out the clips below). Police also caution it could be a hoax, although 12 people have already been killed in relation to this gang “war”, including three children.

I think this story is missing something, as it refers to someone named Miller, who is apparently incarcerated in the U.S., which paved the way for “Black Man” to assume the leadership position.

Apparently the same thing is happening in Maxfield Road community, although the media is not reporting it. According to a source, several people were shot in the Kingston inner-city community over the weekend. Speculation says that it is related to the death of a gang leader in Los Angeles, California.

Clip 1

Clip 2

When your father owns the newspaper, you get a 56-page spread thanking you for your service to the entire Caribbean region. The Butch Stewart-owned Jamaica Observer yesterday included a 56-page, full-color spread devoted to his son, Adam Stewart, who is also CEO of Sandals, the resort chain with locations across the Caribbean. Except, oops, the Observer made a giant mistake. The title of the spread, ADAM STEWART, OD, Tourism’s Rising Star, was incorrect, as indicated by a correction on page 2 or 3 the same day. (It is supposed to be CD, as indicated in the correction. How embarrassing. This is a major mistake spread throughout the entire spread that could have been easily avoided by some basic fact-checking) Earlier this year, Mr. Steward was awarded the Order of Distinction in Jamaica, as well as Hotelier of the Year (apparently the acronym is CD).

I’m not doubting Mr. Stewart’s abilities, personality or intelligence, or anything related to his character. But this is definitely not journalism. To be fair, it is not pretending to be, but I would love to talk to Jamaicans on the North coast, or anywhere, for that matter, to see how Sandals affects their lives and livelihoods. Sandals Foundation does some good work, but no matter what company it is, these resorts have major impacts on their surroundings, from the economy to the environment, both positive and negative. This is journalism’s job, to research the extent and impact, which a newspaper owned by the same owner as the resorts would not do.