ARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT

A Full Service Entertainment Marketing Co. 

to Give us a Shout out and sign our Guest Book...Please click here

www.ariousentertainment.com  

Now Reaching Over 35,000  Weekly and Growing Worldwide!  

WHAT'S HAPPENING by Susan  Mangatal

Seasons Greetings To all among our on-line family:

Everyone, I must first thank all of you who responded to my commentary regarding the "black on black crime" issue.  The responses were overwhelming, and if you have not gotten my response yet, please forgive me.  I intend to write each and every one of you very soon.  I must say I was quite impressed by receiving responses from folks across the oceans in China, London, Japan, Australia, the Caribbean, and of course from right here in the US from several states on the West Coast, Mid West, and East Coast.  Many of you compared and shared your experiences, and also "touched" on some solutions.  Most felt there may be a lack of positive role models, and some laid blame on society, the upbringing of our youths, and even on parents. Some of you even got "deeper" and stated that "the state of black people including our youths in America is part of a bigger conspiracy" and it's a major plot to "bring down" the black man, and the black family.   

I am not surprised that many of you felt sending our youths to Iraq in hopes of them learning some discipline was very harsh and was not the answer.  Yes, I absolutely agree this whole war thing is not "cool" and is real awful; and I ache to see so many of our families over in Iraq (now) experiencing such horror.  However, some of our youths here at home are so undisciplined, and do such "knucklehead"  things (thefts, crimes, violence and even murders), that it makes you angry, and even more angrier when it happens to you.  Do they not see, or know how lucky they are that they are not sent to another country to fight, kill, dodge bullets, see so much deaths and experience such violence?  

Well, I clearly see Todd's point, and  I see many of your points as well.  Todd was really impressed by all the explanations we received telling him/us why sending our youths to Iraq is not the answer, and he intends to respond to you via our commentary in the next few weeks (once his schedule eases up a bit).  Again, thanks for being part of our family, reading, and responding. As Todd always says "TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE"!!!

On to another issue, which seems to make everyone here in the City Government and the residence in DC/MD uneasy, and “up in arms”, is the building of the stadium for the major baseball team coming to DC.  My personal take on this issue is: sure DC can have a baseball team, and yes, a new stadium can be build for it, however it must obtain it’s own private funding to be built, and not use the cities money, (actually the taxpayers money) to have it built.  The more I hear, and think about this issue, the more displeased I become, because I have heard the Mayor Anthony Williams (who is all for this new Baseball team) state “bringing this team to DC will bring money to the city”, and of course this is his main priority (backing and endorsing programs/events that will bring money to the city), so therefore he is trying everything in his power to make this happen.  

Let make a little comparison regarding this issue to something that is very dear to me, and I would very much like for you to share your thoughts with me on this.  We in the Caribbean Community have an event here in DC each year, (our Caribbean Carnival), which is a very successful event, and which brings in lots of revenue to the city, actually 30 million dollars of revenue to the city in one weekend (documented per the results of an Impact Study done several years ago, the figures are sure to be higher now), so why is it we cannot get any funding from the city, or any relief from the city for some of the expenses (such as the police, etc.)?  Clearly, this is a successful event/program (13th anniversary in 2005) THAT BRINGS IN MONEY!  

Now, let me be clear, we do get some support from individual city officials, and some small support from the Commission on the Arts & Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts, by being awarded a small grant.  However, it is very minimal, and does not match up to the expenses for the services provided by the city for our event, (which is quite expensive.)  Some of you may be thinking that DC Carnival will never bring in as much money to the city as the baseball team, and you are absolutely right, especially, since our event takes place during one weekend out of the entire year, as oppose to the revenues the team will bring in from all their games and merchandise sales.  However, the fact remains…we do bring in money, actually millions.  So why are we treated so differently?  

Being a part of the DC Carnival team I am very comfortable and proud to say that we are self sufficient, and have been this way from the inception of the Carnival.  We normally raise all/most of the funds on our own to put on this event, but it seems every year it’s like “pulling teeth” to get support, or a little financial relief on the bills from the city.  Something is clearly wrong, it is documented that we do bring in money to the city, which is the Mayor’s first priority for endorsing a program, and yet we cannot get support, funding, or any kind of relief from the expenses submitted to us from the city for that 1 day.  Why is this?  Looking forward to all your responses on this important issue.

We received some information from our local Caribbean TV "CaribNation TV" regarding their December Schedule, so you can tune into the station - WHUT - TV (Howard University) Channel 32 @ 6pm.

Congratulations to the nominees of the 2005 Grammy Reggae Category (70) for Best Reggae Album (Vocal or Instrumental).

Don’t forget that iM4Radio.com and "Caribbean Vibes Radio" (the new 24-7 Caribbean Internet Radio) is having their 1st Annual Christmas celebration on Friday (December 17, 2004) at Exhale Lounge, located in the heart of Adams Morgan, @ 2305 18th Street, NW, Washington DC from 7-10pm (est). Fiona indicated they will have live DJs, Dancing, Food and plenty drinks available, so she wants you come out to relax and mingle.  Please go out to their holiday celebration and meet the entire staff of iM4Radio.com and Caribbean Vibes Radio.

Also, don't forget to listen to “Caribbean Vibes Radio”, so please log on to catch some vibes and feel the experience.  “Catch it...Feel it!!!!!  www.caribbeanvibesradio.com.  This Upcoming Thursday, and every Thursday Check out DJ Fabulous Live for "Sizzling Thursdays" 9-Midnight.  

Until Next Week!

Scroll down to view all the upcoming Events & Announcements, "Shout Outs" anD DEALS!

Congratulations to Sam'O on winning 4th place in the Songwriter's Association of Washington DC's annual competition.  His song "Christ Like" from his gospel CD took that honor.  I understand that there were thousands of entries, so clearly this was quite an accomplishment for him and his family.

Congratulations to The Image Band on the release of their New CD!

Ms. Harrison congratulations on the successful March/rally against violence the ROOT's and Alliance of Concerned Men had last Saturday (December 11th).  We are very glad to hear how successful this effort was!  You can always count on us at Arious for support!

West Indian-American Military Members Association

cordially invites you and a guest to their

Second Annual

Christmas Party

Saturday, December 18, 2004

7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

At THE CLUB

Andrews Air Force Base

Schedule of events for the party

7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.          Cocktail reception

7:30 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.          Invocation

7:40 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.          Announcements and recognition

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.          Dinner served

9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.          Dance and Raffle prizes

12:30 p.m.                          Bars stop serving alcohol

1:00 a.m.                            Celebration concludes

For Driving Directions to the Base and for more details, contact Winfield  at 301-523-1797; Saint at 301-873-4011; Pierre at 301-758-8273 and Ryan at 301-221-7788 

Caribbean Connections

3rd Annual New Year's Gala