The devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti, not only killed thousands of people, tore families’ apart, leveled buildings, and robbed a country of its infrastructure; it also demonstrated to us that life should never be taken for granted. This tragedy also forced me to re-examine my own life and ask myself the very tough question, “Am I living my life to the fullest, or do I merely just “exist?”

Needless to say, this question is not always the easiest to answer, as there are many levels that success or happiness is graded upon. Many of us are happy just being housewives; slaves to the daily grind. Don’t get me wrong as the role of a mother and a wife should be embarked upon with the purest of hearts; as a mother’s love is priceless. However, what about your needs as a woman, a human being with your own life? Do you settle when it comes to your own desires?

“But what more do you really want Sandy?” a friend of mine recently asked. “You seem so restless all the time! Just sekkle yuself a bit and tings will work out okay,” he said. That is exactly my point! I am not satisfied with just “Ok”. I want more!

Not riches and fame specifically, but the chance to live my own life, the life given to me by God; to its fullest potential. To others, my ambitions may be misconstrued as being narcissistic or self- centered, as one close male friend jokingly described me recently, while comparing my similarities to another female in the “biz”. It is safe to say that this female entertainer was not a fan of my effervescent personality and sharp, but sometimes devilish, yet playful wit.

“She tink se yu full of yuself,” my friend told me, as this entertainer had disclosed to him recently. “Who cares?” I asked him, laughing out loudly with a gut busting laugh; finding the whole situation amusing and highly entertaining. “She does not know me so why is she watching me? I am not in any race with anyone but myself. Like Oprah suggested, I never look at the person beside me and I just focus on the finish line,” I said to him. Women are often times wrapped up in watching others, never focusing on themselves.” ‘Who does she think she is,” is often whispered behind our backs, while others judge and mock our ambitions. Our lives as mothers, wives and even back stabbing girlfriends, often rob us of the opportunity to harness our own creativity, and “be all that you can be,” as the army slogan suggests.

As Mo’nique recently demonstrated to us by winning a Golden Globe Award, all things are possible and all dreams are attainable. Love and live as if your life depended upon it, as on that day of reckoning in front of God, there should be no regrets in meeting your maker. Ask that man out on a date that you like. Take that trip to Paris or hike the Appalachian Trail! Bungee jump if you want to; just live as if your life depended upon it.

On my own day of atonement, because as we all know that death and taxes are unavoidable, if I am asked by God, “Now what did you do with the life that I granted you Sandy?” I would like my answer to be quick and joyous. “Well Lawd, you know that there was the little ting called an Oscar that I won, and oh yeah, I raised two handsome men on my own who are now both doctors. By the way Lawd, did you ever get the book that I sent you in the mail, the one that I wrote? It became a bestseller you know Lord!

But why am I even saying this to you, the almighty one? Lord, as we all know, you see and know all things; whether it be good or bad.

———–
Sandy Daley is an actress, writer and a radio and TV host. She may be reached at
sandydaley88@hotmail.com, www.sandydaley.blogspot.com or at www.sandydaley.com.

The most recent is the popular, Top Dot Mortgage, while less than a year ago, 1st Republic Mortgage Bankers and Lavette M. Bills/MTC Real Estate were in the spotlight.

Two months after Howard F. Pitkin, Banking Commissioner for Connecticut issued a ‘Notice of Intent’ to revoke its license, 1st Republic and its principal Scott Sisskind were slapped with several lawsuits to recover some $16 millions for breach of contract and fraudulent conveyance in violation of New York debtor and creditor laws. The bank was  later forced to cease operation.
In April of 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Division, filed fraud charges against the self-styled “foreclosure specialist” and a regular guest on WVIP Radio 93.5 FM, Lavette M. Bills. She was arrested and is now facing several counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and false statements.

1st Republic, Bills and Top Dot were major sponsor of Linkup programmes on 93.5 FM and were personally endorsed by the owner of Linkup Media, David “Squeeze” Annakie.

During his daily radio programs, Annakie always appealed to his fellow Caribbean and African American audience to do business with the companies as according to him “I have done my research and they are the best.”

An excellent radio communicator with youthful exuberance, Annakie was well paid to promote 1st Republic Mortgage, Bills and more recently Top Dot.

However, these companies from all reports were not the best and are now hurting people. The radio listeners and members of the Caribbean communities are now confused as another “Linkup Radio” endorsed bank is in trouble.

As a shrewd businessman, Annakie appears to be well focus on meeting the needs of his high paying clients, but he needs to be more selective of the companies or individuals he is endorsing.

It is the responsibility of all radio personalities to help protect the listening public from dishonest and corrupt people who use the media to attract innocent customers.

Ms. Pinto, our English Head Mistress, who not only ruled with an iron fist, but also lived on the property to ensure the safety of all the students, instilled in us to exceed at everything. Now, as a grown woman, I had to ask myself, “Was my school motto, (Age Quod Agis); to do whatever you do well, being accomplished by living in another man’s country?” Did I cheat myself and my country by leaving?

The competitors, especially the girls, with many pulled off the field on stretchers, reminded me that I was a Caribbean woman; full of hope and many talents. Wolmer’s , incidentally, was the very first school to win Champs so it was fitting that they should win this 100th Games. This experience, while it served as a reminder of the resiliency of the Jamaican people, the rich ancestry of my past, and the never say die attitude of all Jamaicans; also allowed me to examine myself and really ask, “Would I be living in Beverly Hills like so many others my age on the island?”

“Sandy, yu caan really look at it that way,” a native Jamaican friend of mine said to me while discussing the issue. “The fact is that your family made that decision for you at the time because they thought it was best for you. You cannot change the past.” he said. “Good for him to say,” I thought to myself, as he was the same age as myself, with a top position on the island. He also had disclosed that the minute he graduated from the Ivy League school that he had attended in the U.S., he had “his Doctorate in one hand and a one way ticket back home in the other.”

Who is to say where you would be if you had stayed in your own country, after your years of High School? Maybe, yes, as my cousin said, “Sandy, yu would have definitely landed one of those big jobs deh man.” Or maybe I would have ended up working in the bank, using my O Levels, as it was called back then, to at least position myself for somewhat of a stable future.

No one is to say of course, but the ever present thought in my head, similar to the other oldies sitting in the stadium in all our respective school ties and belts, squeezing into shirts that no longer fit, was where did all the years go and if only I could do it all over again?

The choice to leave one’s own country is never easy; the road is unknown and the way uncertain. Yet, the decision to leave and to live in a foreign land, will not only erase many memories of your past life but also rob you of the opportunity to grow as an adult in an environment that is your own; hence making you unsure of your capabilities and your own God given talents. Your footprints are etched in your own country’s soil, so understandable it will allow you to prosper.

Our successes on the world stage, whether you chose to leave or become a “foreigner,” as someone called me while on the island, reflects our Ashanti tribe attributes; given to us by our forefathers. We are warriors and will forever strive for the best. In the words of my Wolmer’s school motto, passed down from generations I say to you, “Age Quod Agis”; whatever you do, do it well. Hopefully I am living up to my potential!

Add More RAM
A very effective way to boost your computer’s speed is to increase your RAM or random access memory. RAM is the place where your computer stores temporary information that is needed to maintain open applications. With more RAM, your computer can store more information and consequently run more applications.

If you run out of RAM, you will experience choppy videos and music, and stuttered responses to keyboard and mouse commands. You can increase your RAM by upgrading or adding more RAM modules. RAM modules can have a capacity of 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB.

Run Antivirus and Antispyware Software
Viruses, spyware, adware and malware all reduce your computer’s speed. These malicious programs can run stealthily in the background and hijack your files and processes.

To deal with these threats, scan your computer frequently — especially after surfing the Web.
There are many good antivirus and antispyware software available for free on the Internet, but the best way to stay protected is to purchase paid software that offer real time protection. With real time protection, viruses and unwanted files can be spotted, blocked or removed the moment they enter or attempt to breach your system.

Close Unnecessary Applications

A very simple way to deal with a lazy computer is to decrease its workload! If you are fond of running many programs in the background, close those that you do not immediately need and keep the number of open applications at a minimum. With fewer tasks to juggle, your computer can better manage your open applications.
Try out these quick and easy fixes and watch your computer speeds soar!

If you are an illegal immigrant and are married to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and have been a victim of abuse, you may be able to get help.

If you’ve been the victim of emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse at the hands of your spouse, you may qualify for immigrations benefits or a valid work authorization. Under The Violence Against Women Act, abused immigrants may obtain permanent residency and other immigration benefits that will allow them to leave their abusive situation.

For more information about free and confidential legal services call the Texas Civil Rights Project’s VAWA Program at 1- 888-364-8277.

NJ Supreme Court says bail can be higher for illegal immigrants

The state Supreme Court has ruled that county prosecutors may seek bail increases on illegal aliens charged with crimes who they believe face imminent deportation.

In a unanimous ruling by the state’s highest court, the opinion sanctioned the actions of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in January when it asked for, and received from a Superior Court judge, a bail increase from $75,000 to $300,000 for Manuel Fajardo-Santos. Fajardo-Santos, an illegal alien from Honduras, was charged in August 2008 with molesting a child in Wharton.

Bail was set at $75,000, and the complaint against him stated there was reason to believe he was here illegally. But it wasn’t until Dec. 18 that the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against him at the county jail, which indicated they wished to start deportation proceedings against him.

Woman pleads guilty to running marriage immigration scheme

DALLAS (AP) – A 71-year-old woman accused of recruiting family members to marry foreigners seeking green cards pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking part in an immigration fraud conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors say Maria Refugia Camarillo of Fort Worth faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced in September. She also must provide a $35,000 lien on her home.

Investigators said that from the 1980s until last year, Camarillo and others ran a scheme in which U.S. citizens would marry foreigners willing to pay up to $12,000. Once married, the U.S. citizen could petition for their foreign spouse to receive U.S. permanent residence, also called a green card, and later U.S. citizenship.

Citizenship for Permanent Residents

You may be eligible for naturalization if you have lived in the United States for at least 5 years as a permanent resident or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen (if you meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen).

How long can an alien be in H-1B status?

Under current law, an alien can be in H-1B status for a maximum period of six years at a time. After that time an alien must remain outside the United States for one year before another H- 1B petition can be approved.