Hey Oronde--I picked up a book that I highly recommend that you read. It's called, "Some Writers Deserve to Starve: 31 Brutal Truths about the Publishing Industry" by Elaura Niles. I've worked in publishing for many, many years and the advise and guidance she offers in this book is right on. Hope all is well,
lab

Please tell us of your experiences with the drink "Maubi"
on the environmental round table. we love to hear your comments

Thanks for the addition to your circle

Yes - not on St. Vincent, but I've been working on Carriacou for several years with colleagues from the UK and The Netherlands - we're here now in fact working on a 6 week project. We're also planning work on several other islands in the Grenadines, including Mustique.

Good evening, Oronde. I spent all of four days on St. Vincent (I went with a group of scholars from the University of Puerto Rico for the Islands In Between/Eastern Islands Conference (Kingstown). My dear friend and doctoral advisor, Mervyn Alleyne, made sure that the last day was spent on a day trip into Carib territory. We ended up in Sandy Bay and I made contact with the King and Pierre families (incredible the matriarchal heirarchies...only the women would take time to speak!). These were the two places I got to experience, but have made plans to return, thanks to the graciousness of both families, to continue my research. And by the way, Max is right about the state of affairs regarding the roads and bridges in the Carib territories...but great efforts are being made to rebuild at this time. I found your country and people both achingly beautiful and humbly proud. A good source for information is one of your islands great elders, Edgar Adams (he is an incredible human being and a great source for local history). You can contact him at R&M Adams Book Centre at 5 Grenvillle Street in Kingstown: Tel: 784-457-2278, 457-5174 Fax: 784-485-6945. Being an elementary level teacher, the idea of a children's book is an exceptional idea (I didn't find any while I was there!). Wa do. M.

can you skype? i'm not sure about the messengering thing. i'm on yahoo...been tinkering about all morning on my computer. if you got skype, that would be cool. then we can talk over the computer for free. if you have a mic and speaker on your computer then we're good to go. just download the program.
let me know,
lab

Thanks so much, not just for your comment, but for being the very first person to upload videos to this network--what a treat, thanks so much again.

That is such a good question and one that I explore through the story of my father. I really recommend Samuel Selvon's The Lonely Londoners.. Oronde, you've been quiet recently: What's up? Hope to hear from you soon.
Best,
lab

I am watching the videos, about half way through now. This is very tough work, inspiring and often like a punch to the gut. The stories are very, very memorable. One of the questions that came up in one of your last videos is why would people go to Brooklyn (here we could add districts in Toronto, Montreal, London, etc.), and why do they believe the lies of "streets paved in gold"? That is an excellent question for me, having grown up in my own version of Brooklyn, from parents who left Rome (and no matter how tough life can be in Rome, Rome is Rome is Home)...right next to a 16-lane highway and I am still partly deaf from that upbringing, as are my brother and father. I have no idea why people would come from St. Vincent, Trinidad, or Rome, and give up what they had to get much less, or to get new grief. Tell me, what can be so tragic about life in St. Vincent that anyone would want to leave it? Have you considered returning or have all the bridges collapsed from neglect by now?

Hey Oronde, I put the first video, along with my recommendation of your writing, on my last blog entry. Hope you like it.
All the best,
the lab

Takahí! Hello! welcome to the site.

Welcome Oronde! I have watched the first installment of your series and am blown away! I would love to post it on my blog...let me know your thoughts on this. This is really good--lots of exciting stuff happening all around.
Be well,
the lab