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Welcome to
Yaadi Culture, Fimi Style Magazine
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As we begin Reggae Month or black
supreme. I invite the entire Jamaican
history for 2015, it is a sad commentary
community to join with me and YCFSM, if
for our community to have taken this
you are seriously ready to make Jamaica
"month of honor" and turned it into a
the kind of country we are proud to call
month
home. Of course, it's not perfect, but
of more
death
and
killings
of Jamaicans by fellow Jamaicans.
working together it we'll make it better.
Each of us has a responsibility to make
Thank you
the country a better place for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. What will your legacy be? If you don't know how you can make Jamaica better, visit a local basic or primary school and listen to your child read. I am encouraging black men, if you are a father, please, please, please step up to the plate, your sons and daughters need you! Enough is enough. We as black people
Adrian St. P. Duncan
can no longer sit back and allow negative
Editor - in– Chief
elements in our community to reign
Deidre D. Douglas
Layout & Design Contributors:
Adrian St. P. Duncan
Deidre Douglas
Photos: 4D Productions DatGirl Shadz
Jerdaine Sterling
Hugh Miller
Georgette McGlashan- Miller
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Stepping out of the broken shell "What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain."
reference to? The answer is making the
— Maya Angelou (Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now)
the tendency of clinging to what they are used to
conscious decision to step out of the now uncomfortable comfort zone. Humans may have out of fear of the unknown, but it’s high time to fly the coop. the journey of life wouldn’t be a
The feathers were ruffled, the bird bath dirtied
real chase if there weren’t any surprises. So yes
and yes, the nest was a mess. It was definitely
there will be many rivers to cross, and
time for a change and every part of this bird’s
sometimes we won’t know our heads different
being was screaming this. I am guessing many
from our feet, but feeling lost or dismayed is no
of us at some point or the other have been
reason to throw in the towel. Someone once told
there and maybe done something to remedy
me, even if you have to crawl like a worm, on
the state of affairs that was bringing much
your scraped knees and flesh exposed palms,
unease. The question is what do you do when
just don’t stop moving. I think that may have
you are so accustomed to a certain situation
been what took me through a few dark alleys on
but suddenly find it to be unbearably
this street of life.
discomforting? Well you make the decision to change.
What
is this change that so
many
coaches
life and
counsellors and well wishers speak in
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many of us have no real drive and the first wind he ability to focus on what’s
blows us away, even before the real storm.
good
to
However if we use the minor defeats and
holds
setbacks as trainers to build our morals and
promise so that the bad does not
endurance then when the major league storms of
get to stifle the other extremities. There are
our lives show up, we will have our game face
several moments of each day when depending
on, waiting to push through it. We have to be
on whom you are and what your specific
able to shake off bad mouthing and negative
situation is, you may feel down in the dust.
vibes and take things with a smile.
Nevertheless, let us all try to rise above it all.
And
and
lovely
compartmentalize
and
life
King David was not in the King’s army when he defeated Goliath. He was just a shepherd boy, helping his father with regular farm boy’s chores. But he did what the great army of Israel couldn’t; he stared his enemy in the face and spoke him down to his size. So maybe we all need to speak life into some dead situations or speak down some seemingly humungous burdens, transforming them it anthills (still a nuisance but a manageable one).
on this business of a smile, I must say it’s been a tried and
proven formula that what is soft is strong. So maybe the difficulty in your life is a real life tangible person, but the best thing to kill someone with is kindness. “A soft answer turns away
wrath,
grievous
words
stirs
up
anger” (Proverbs 15:1) and best of all “blessed are the meek” (St. Matthew 5:5). So be persistent in doing good things and not in pleasing everyone. And in your most difficult of
Perception is the key in this life and all it has
times remember, “When you're at the end of
to offer. One of America’s greatest writers of
your rope, tie a knot and hold on” Theodore
th
the 20 century, F. Scott Fitzgerald was quoted
Roosevelt.
to say “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” This means just what it states. So 6 @YaadiCulture
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just meeting a stranger. In my opinion, there is opportunity in each minute for a life changing event. Dillon, one of my friends from work, asked me when I walked in the door last week: “Adrian, give "Every action and decision we take - or don't—
me one of the life lessons you’ve learned.” I gave
ripples into the future. For the first time, we have
him my lesson on what I’ve learned about time:
the capability, the technology, and the knowledge
“Time is the most valuable thing we have as it
to direct these ripples."- Jacque Fresco
cannot be replaced. Enjoy your life. It’s the only
We sit at times and think of ideas that will
one you have.” He smiled and said thank you.
channel our move forward or change our present
Life changing money
situation. A famous person once said “change
Dimitri has a term called life changing money. The
does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but
amount is different from person to person
comes through
continuous struggle”. And as
depending on your circumstances. For some,
such we must straighten our backs and work for
having enough money to pay off your bills could be
our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your
life changing. If you’re homeless, maybe having
back is bent. The year 2014 was a very trying and
enough to get you off the street for a few weeks is
rewarding
times.
life changing. We’ve all played the “if I won the
Over the last week, I’ve had a few conversations
lottery, I would buy or do insert subject.” You read
about life changing events. The funny thing about
about people that win the lottery and in a lot of
life changing events is that they are different for
cases, most end up broke, right back where they
every person. Sometimes they are the big WOW
started or even bankrupt. The money did indeed
moments, maybe just getting out of debt, an
change their lives.
one
at
epiphany, could be winning the lottery, a death, or
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When I get up in the mornings, I must first thank God for every event and person in my life. I write that very sentence in my gratitude journal each day. I choose to think that every person and event in my life is life changing in some way. Sometimes it is very clear and obvious and other times maybe not so much, but I do know believing each event and person can be life changing really gives me a great feeling of anticipation for each day when I wake up. I choose to expect some
make you think a little different than you did yesterday. It could be some big business deal. It could be a chance meeting with a stranger. There is opportunity in each minute for a life changing event.
Progress
is
impossible
without change, and those who
cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
life changing event(s) will happen each day.
S
omething or someone will come into your life today that will change it in some way. It could be these words that just 11 Yaadi Culture, Fimi Style
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What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Also, kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. These problems may happen slowly over a long period of time. Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders.
The Facts About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.
Heart disease is the major cause of death for all people with CKD.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best estimate of kidney function.
Hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.
Persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine) means CKD is present.
High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney failure.
African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Seniors are at increased risk.
Two simple tests can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine.
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What causes CKD? The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for up to two-thirds of the cases. Diabetes happens when your blood sugar is too high, causing damage to many organs in your body, including the kidneys and heart, as well as blood vessels, nerves and eyes. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the pressure of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels increases. If uncontrolled, or poorly controlled, high blood pressure can be a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and chronic kidney disease. Also, chronic kidney disease can cause high blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of CKD? Most people may not have any severe symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. However, you may notice that you:
feel more tired and have less energy
have trouble concentrating
have a poor appetite
have trouble sleeping
have muscle cramping at night
have swollen feet and ankles
have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning 15 @YaadiCulture
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The Jamaican Maroons were runaway slaves who fought the British during the 18th century. When the British invaded Jamaica in 1655 the Spanish colonists fled leaving a large number of Africans who they had enslaved. Rather than be re-enslaved by the British, they escaped into the hilly, mountainous regions of the island, joining those who had previously escaped from the Spanish to live with the TaĂnos. They were very organized and knew the country well. Because of this, additional runaway slaves joined them. The two main Maroon groups were the Leeward and the Windward tribes, the former led by Cudjoe in Trelawny Town and the latter led by his sister Queen Nanny (and later by Quao).. Over time, the Maroons came to control large areas of the Jamaican interior and they often moved down from the hills to raid the plantations. This resulted in the First Maroon War. In 1739-40 the British government in Jamaica came to an agreement with the Maroons. They were to remain in their five main towns Accompong, Trelawny Town, Moore Town, Scots Hall and Nanny Town, living under their own chief with a British supervisor. In exchange, they agreed not to harbour new runaway slaves, but rather to help catch them. They were paid a bounty for each returned slave. This last clause in the treaty naturally caused tension between the Maroons and the enslaved black population, although from time to time runaways from the plantations still found their way into Maroon settlements. Their Lifestyle amaican Maroons intermarried with Amerindian natives, establishing independence in the back country as the island changed hands from the Spanish to the British in the 17th century. The survived by subsistence farming and by raiding plantations. Originally, Jamaican Maroons fought against slavery and maintained their independence from the British. However, in the treaty of 1738, they were also paid to return captured slaves and fight for the British in the case of an attack from the French or Spanish. Many of them were deported in 1796 to Nova Scotia and eventually to Sierra Leone. 18
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Superstitions
permeate many aspects of Jamaican life. Not surprisingly, the cultural influence most often
cited is African. What may be unrecognized, however, is that the area with the strongest retention is death, including burial practices. Most of these beliefs are born out of fear of the unknown; fear of what happens after death and how it can affect the living.
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Jamaica Folk Customs and Beliefs, omens of death include: the unusual crying of animals, birds or insects; the crowing of a cock inside the house. Similarly, the sudden occurrence and abrupt end of a rain shower on a clear day and a loud knock on the door or roof for no apparent reason are taken to mean death is imminent. If two people say the same thing at the same time, it means they will die together. If you add to a house or cut down an old tree, you must kill a goat or a chicken and shed the blood to prevent the death of someone in the house.
Burials
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Either one man or an odd number of men should dig the grave.
After the digger makes the first dig, he should drink some rum.
The grave must be dug east to west and the body placed to face the
sun. When filling the grave, the diggers must stand with their backs to the grave and throw dirt in
backwards through their legs to prevent the ghost from following them home. A calabash tree should be planted at the head and foot of the grave. 19 Yaadi Culture, Fimi Styleja
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Believing The Truth
Heb 11:6 (NIV) Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Faith is believing in what is true. Faith has two elements: 1) being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality, having evidence of
Job 13:15 (NAS) Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him
unseen things, and 2) believing, hoping in, embracing, seizing the truth. Heb 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
While faith requires being convinced that
Heb 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what what we believe in is true, just knowing the we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (NEB) Faith... makes us certain of realities we do not see. Heb 11:1 (Mof) Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (Wey) Now faith is a well-grounded
truth is only half of faith. God's word must be hoped for, embraced, seized! Luke 17:5 (NIV) The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."
assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see. Yaadi Culture, Fimi Styleja
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How To Get More Faith Contrary to popular teaching, faith is not mental delusion, presumption or selfdeception, but a work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God..
C.S. Lewis: "We must not encourage in ourselves or others any tendency to work up a subjective state which, if we succeeded, we should describe as "faith", with the idea that this will somehow insure the granting of our prayer. The state of mind which desperate desire working on a strong
Rom 10:17 (NIV) Faith comes by hearing
imagination can manufacture is not faith in the
the message, and the message is heard
Christian sense. It is a feat of psychological
through the word of Christ.
gymnastics."
Rom 10:17 (Phi) Faith, you see, can only
The Way Of Faith For Thomas. And Us
come from hearing the message, and the
Rom 14:5b (NIV) Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
message is the word of Christ.
Mat 24:4-5 (NIV) Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in Rom 10:17 (Wey) And this proves that my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will faith comes from a Message heard, and that deceive many." the Message comes through having been spoken by Christ. New-Age Faith Eze 13:6 (NIV) - they expect their words to be fulfilled.
Yaadi Culture, Fimi Styleja
Mark 13:5-6 (Phi) "Be very careful that no one deceives you. Many are going to come in my name and say, 'I am he', and will lead many astray. Luke 21:8 (Jer) He said, "Take care that you are not misled. For many will come claiming my name and saying 'I am he'."
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Name: Starfruit Binomial (scientific name): Carambola, fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree
Star fruit
Countries of Origin: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka International Uses: Entire fruit is edible and may be eaten when ripe. Juice is used in iced drinks especially that of the sour variety For making sherbet in Hawaii As seasoning in the Philippines Cooked as a vegetable, pickled or made into jams in Australia Dried in Jamaica (sometimes used as mixed fruits in cake and other pastry making) Cooked with fish in China Stewed in cloves and sugar in Southeast Asia Notable Characteristics: Flavour difficult to classify, buy has been compared to the combination of apples, pears, grapes and citrus fruits. Only holds ~4% sugar even in its ripest and sweetest state Rich in antioxidants, potassium and vitamin C Low in sodium and acid Signs of antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli Distribution: Australia, India, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, United States and Guyana are noted as top producers worldwide 28
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decades worth of love stored in their veins.
Suddenly,
t
w
o
All you have to do is roll up your sleeves
decades
and wait for it to happen.
h a v e
At times you felt so lonely to the point that
managed to creep by and you still have not
you feel it slowly consuming you. Or
kissed anyone with tongue, or kissed anyone
maybe you even bury yourself; stared at the
at all for that matter, or had a 3 AM
wall across your room, indulged in anything
conversation with someone who would rather
to take your mind off the fact that you’ve
look into your eyes for ten minutes straight
never loved or been loved.. Or maybe you
than talk. You have never even stood face-to-
fall temporarily in love with strangers on
face with someone who makes your hands
public transportation, fall in love with
shake so hard it feels like they’re both having
anybody who so much as accidentally
a separate anxiety attack.
brushed your hand on the way past. For
This causes much guilt and self-blame and
you, falling in love with dozens of people a
sadness but above all, an overwhelming
day was a coping mechanism for not having
c u r i o s i t y .
y o u
anyone to love you in return. But people are
really that ugly, that unwanted, that uninteresti
not eggs and falling in love with a dozen of
ng, that boring, that no one, absolutely no one,
them does not mean your shell will remain
has ever looked at you like the only thing on
unbroken. One day you’re going to hit the
earth? The answer is NO. The better answer is
point where you’re so desperate for human
that there is someone out there, somewhere in
contact that you’re going to snap in half and
the world, is “wondering what it’s like to meet
all your love will bleed out like egg yolk.
A r e
someone like you,” and they have two
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But someone out there is eating a bowl of Ramen noodles right now, watching tv, or even staring at the wall across their room. They are doing all the normal things that you’ve done in your own life. They are just like
you.
They
have
bad
habits
and
insecurities and goals and fears and doubts and maybe even bad handwriting. The truth is that they are just like you, and being just like you, they’re looking for a lover too. They’re what you might call a soul-mate. They think they’re all alone in feeling the way they do, but you’re really both two halves of a whole.
live has
suddenly been awakened.
But I hope that’s not the case, our purpose is far greater than just being loved or being loved. Find yourself first. Get to know who you are and what you want, what you don’t want. Too many times people try to find themselves within other people. Far too many people are looking for the right person instead of trying to be the right person. Your worth isn’t contingent upon other people’s acceptance of you. You can find all the things you’ve been looking for, but be realistic. You can’t expect love to be perfect when people
And one
d a y
aren’t. So while you wait, work on you and
you’ll
become the person that you wouldn’t’ mind
meet
having.
them, bump into them on the street, and your two halves will be put
together, and
you’ll make one. Hopefully then you’ll feel complete, feel like your
purpose has been
fulfilled, feel as if your right to live has
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