Scorpion Mas Online

Scorpion Mas is finally online, this somewhat new band for Carnival 2010 can be found at: www.scorpionmas.com. I must say the costumes look MUCH better on models than when I went to the mas camp last December.

And since I already went to the mas camp last year and took photos of the costumes when the presentation was entitled "The Journey Begins" you can see close up shots of all but  the two new sections HERE.

Soka in Moka 2010

The first All Inclusive Carnival Fete of the 2010, season, Soka in Moka takes place on  Sunday, January 3rd:

Continental Airlines Carnival Fare Sale

Continental Airlines is having a Carnival Fare sale to celebrate Carnival and Mardi Gras, if you do not have a ticket to Trinidad as yet check out the fare sale HERE.

click for large view

End Of Year Survey

The second End of Year Carnival Survey is here and I am once again asking for your participation. This year the poll is hosted by Poll Daddy, which makes it MUCH easier.

So get started by either clicking THIS LINK HERE or the Link Below which will take you to a pop up layer; you may need to disable pop ups to see the survey if you click on the link below.

Please answer all questions as this is mandatory.

Results of the Survey will be published on January 1st, 2010.

Carnival Ambassador For Sale

As seen on FACEBOOK:

click to enlarge:

Carnival Ambassador for TTD $1,000.

Committed to ensuring that all visitors to Trinidad and Tobago have an enjoyable, stress free carnival experience we are offering the above services. This is a new concept geared toward maintaining the magnificent image of our carnival and letting you know we care. As mentioned it is a new concept and we would be seeking to update interested persons as carnival draws near. In the interim we propose constant companionship, advice and assistance during the carnival 2k10 period from well able, friendly, security oriented personnel.

Your own personal Carnival Concierge, of sorts, for a mere $1000.00TT/150.00US? Sounds like an interesting concept but I would have liked more detail as to what a "Carnival Ambassador" entails.

Does constant companionship mean they would accompany you to fetes or on the road as a solo masquerader? Will advice given be akin to what is written on this blog (if so I need to charge for all the free advice doled out over the past 3 years!) and I wonder if assistance means you can hire your drinks runner, man purse and backpack/headpiece holder? Thank God my husband does not charge extra for being my "assistant" on the road!

I do know that certain masqueraders hire extra personal security on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday . some masqueraders portraying an Individual  get an assistant to help them with their costume  and Ronnie & Caro is offering an assistant/drinks runner for their frontline masqueraders, but a Carnival Ambassador to me is a really intriguing concept! If anyone uses this service for Carnival, please let me know,

Westshore 5k Carnival Health Burn

Here is a good way to burn off some of those post Christmas pounds and get some stamina for Carnival 2010:

Registration Fee: $30.

Registration Dates: Monday 28th December, 2009 to Friday 9th January, 2010

Jaycees Carnival Queen Show To Return In 2010

After  more than 30 years of absence from the Carnival Calender the Jaycees Carnival Queen Show is set to take place on February 2nd. The queen show is being hosted by JCI Trinidad and Tobago, with the official launch of the Jaycees Carnival Queen Show carded for January 4th 2010.

Contestants will participate in interview, talent. carnival costume, swim wear and evening gown with the topic of focus being Cancer Awareness.

For those who may not know, the Carnival Queen Show was a part of Carnival history in Trinidad and Tobago having been staple of Dimanche Gras night in the 1950s until the Government Appointed  Carnival Development Committee handed over control of the pageant to the Jaycees in 1959. The show was then moved to the Oval on Carnival Saturday night until it's return to the Queens Park Savannah in 1963 until it ended in 1971.

The Carnival Queen Show was not without controversy however, Calypsonian Mighty Sparrow boycotted the Calypso Contest on Dimance Gras 1956 to highlight the unfairness of the prize money awarded to the Calypso King ($50.00) compared to the Carnival Queen who took home over $10,000.00.

When the Jaycees took over the Carnival Queen show the controversy continued as organizers of the event were charged with discrimination as seemingly only contestants of a particular ethnic group were chosen for the show. You can read all about the racism charges leveled against the Jacyees in the book Producing power: ethnicity, gender, and class in a Caribbean workplace By Kevin A. Yelvington, link to Chapter 4 HERE. Suffice it to say that there was never a winner of African descent in the Jaycees Carnival Queen Competition held in Trinidad and Tobago.

In the spirit of the Jaycees designer Wayne Berkley also held a Carnival Queen Show in 1999 where contestants  paraded in gowns and costumes. As diverse as the contestants were the winner who was chosen followed in the Jaycees footsteps as Cherisse Guaranito ,Miss Goldfinger, was crowned Carnival Queen that year.

Hopefully the new Jaycees Queen chosen in 2010 would prove that old stereotypes have been broken in a new century !

Pre Registration Woes

Hi Saucy,

I felt that the public should be aware that pre-registration isn't all it’s thought to be. For the past 2 years I have played with TRIBE and I absolutely love the experience, so much so that I will never play in another band! However, this was the first year I attempted to obtain the costume of my choice via pre- registration. Though I am a TLC card holder, I was advised that this is the best way to ensure that I got the costume of my liking. Prior to the opening of the official registration, registration fees were paid to an individual who claimed to know someone who had a direct link with a Tribe main section leader. Though no receipt was issued, I felt confident handing over $6000.00TT (for 4 of the 11 persons to be registered by this avenue) because this was the same route some of my band mates had taken for Carnival 2K9.

However, lo and behold, when receipts were issued for my section, none was found in my inbox. This bothered me sufficiently enough to contact the mas camp directly. At this point I was informed that there is no costume attached to my name... or any of the names I paid to register. I immediately contacted the individual who received the money and was somewhat rudely informed that everything is ok, the person in question who I will refer to as X, was in Miami for their carnival and it will all be sorted out when X returns. I waited until this point and heard no official word, and then again proceeded to try and get some information about the status of my costume. These calls and facebook messages continued for some months to no avail. This cycle continued until earlier this week I saw the Tribe disclaimer on pre- registration.

By this point I had lost all patience and decided to take matters into my own hand. I contacted the TRIBE Mas camp once again and requested if there were any costumes attached to our names and I got the same response (NB - however, individual X had a costume attached to X's name) . I proceeded to explain the entire situation to them and I was advised to contact X directly and find out what was going on (I must mention that as usual, TRIBE's customer care was very polite and helpful and I was once again impressed with their level of service). Individual X was contacted and I was informed that absolutely none of the 11 persons were registered... in fact it is alleged that the section leader contact that individual X apparently has was actually waiting for registered tribe persons to cancel their orders and then those costumes would POSSIBLY be allocated to us.

This sounded like absolute madness to me- not only would I more than likely not get the section of my choice, I would have to probably fit in someone else's costume that would probably be either too large or tiny... or have some other flaw with it (Mind you none of this was communicated to us in the months of trying to get information, we were always told ' Don't worry you will get your costume). After consultation with some of the other persons who attempted to pre- register and calling TRIBE to update them on my self induced troubles, I have decided to request all the money paid for my group to be returned. Individual X has confirmed to me that this would not be a problem and in fact the money could be returned the following day (which causes me to wonder whether the money ever reached the supposed section leader contact).

I will not be playing mass for 2K10 as previously planned, because I do not believe that any other band could provide me with the same experience that TRIBE can. So, as I await the return of my money I will like to tell all readers that pre- registration isn’t all that..... and if you have your TLC card USE IT , unless you have a direct contact with a committee member or section leader yourself . So I guess I will now be looking forward to mas 2K11 instead...

Regards,

Absolutely Disgusted

Carnival News Updates

More fetes are being advertised with prices as we draw closer to the new year;  the very popular Outta de Blue XI is $600.00 and Fete With the Saints is $500.00. There are also rumours that *Beach House is $800.00, One Fete is $600.00 and D Vale Breakfast Party is $500.00.. all prices in TT:

EDITED TO ADD:
*Official word from Beach House in response to the rumours is that the ticket price has not been set as yet. Great, lets hope the price is LESS than the rumour not more!

Machel Montano is keeping good on his word that he is taking a backseat for Carnival 2010 as the long standing  AC 8  concert, which was to take place on February 6th  has been canceled . Another fete that will not be on the fete calender for 2010 is  Georgian Jubilation Fete, hosted by St George's college as this too has been canceled.

Today is another series of "Road Works" by Island People and somehow I think this strategy is working in the band's favor as two more sections have Sold Out Frontlines:

Chandsitare

Pryiadarashini

Blac to Blue

click on flyer to enlarge

Beyonce To Perform In Trinidad After Carnival

Beyonce's "I Am" tour will be going to South America in Feburary 2010 and Trinidad and Tobago is the final stop on the itnerary with a concert scheduled for Trinidad at the Oval on Feburary 18th.

You may want to schedule this on your post Carnival Calender as a "cool down" event, seeing as the concert takes place the day after Ash Wednesday; perfect timing right?

So, how many of you will be canceling costumes or fete tickets to go VVIP at the Concert which is sponsored by Bmobile?

The "I AM..." World Tour in South America and The Caribbean

Thu  2/4    Florianopolis, Brazil       Parque Planeta

    Sat  2/6    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Maracana Stadium

    Sun  2/7    Sao Paulo, Brazil           Pacaembu Stadium

    Wed 2/10    Salvador, Brazil            Parque de Exposicoes

    Fri 2/12    Buenos Aires, Argentina     Hipodromo de San Isidro

    Sun 2/14    Santiago, Chile             Arena Movistar

    Tue 2/16    Lima, Peru                  Explanada del Estadio Monumental

    Thu 2/18    Port of Spain, Trinidad     Queen's Park Oval

SOURCE:

PR News Wire

Pollstar

TRIBE ICE 2010 Tickets on Sale

Deadline for TLC ($150) tickets - Mon 28th Dec at 5pm

(Subject to availability)

Tickets available at TRIBE Mas Camp &

through Committee Members

**TRIBE Mas Camp will be closed on Dec 24th & 25th**

Say What?

So News reaching the sauce is that for Carnival 2011 a certain band will NOT be allowing pre registration, not even by private section leaders; the only way you can get a "hook up" to be in the band is through the band leader ONLY! This shift in a long standing policy was because of some bacchanal that took place, it is rumored, one can only guess what drama took place as the word is mum on that situation. But, I can tell you people are STILL getting the hook up even the though the band has been sold out since August!

Well I guess if rumours of the other band are true for 2011 then there will be more than one way to be in with the in crowd. No pre registration? Whatever will the ones who have never lined up to register OR even go online do?

Also, I was told that a certain band flouting registration figures of over 1000 masqueraders to date allegedly only have 500 or thereabouts registered. An improvement from 2009 if this is indeed true, but nothing close to the numbers they were hoping for.

As for the costume quality controversy involving this particular band, well the sauce was reliably informed that the VERY congenial vendor, used to produce costumes, has been showing many people what the samples look like! From reports front line masqueraders should not be worried, and the situation with the regular costumes has been "worked out by the band leader"; lets just hope this is true as well and the final product is just as great as the protoype.

Anyway, word is that the vendor in question was also being sourced by other bands but upon viewing the quality of work was not used, reason giving why this particular band went with said vendor, even though standards were not up to par, is simply because this was the only vendor willing to work within budget even though said vendor knew that the quality of costumes desired would not be attained using the bands budget per costume.

Again these are all ALLEGATIONS and I am reporting it as I get it!

TRIBE, Fraud Alert!

Well, here is hoping those of you who "registered" in TRIBE through a hook up actually have a costume to collect next year; take heed:

IMPORTANT

Be Wary of Fraudulent Activity

It has come to our attention that there are persons who are falsely purporting themselves to be representatives of TRIBE. These persons may claim to be either members of the TRIBE Committee or friends of the Committee and/or TRIBE management and seek to collect monies with the promise to register masqueraders in the band.

Please be advised that the ONLY persons who are authorized to collect monies for registration are the TRIBE Mas Camp/office, Committee members and TRIBE Management. TRIBE shall not be held responsible or accountable for monies not directly submitted via these channels.

Please feel free to contact our office to make any enquiries or to report suspicious or potentially fraudulent activity.

TRIBE Management

TRIBE Registration Committee

Danielle Boucaud, Gillian De Freitas, Kevin Homer, Tara Koon How, Sanjay Ablack, Nicole Bovell, Mark Deane, Kevin Ackin, James Phillips, Cherisse Alexander, Tiffany Campbell, Shakka Subero, Ryan Henrique, Jerson Wattie, Rian Ramrattan, Stuart Gillette, Jamie Aqui, Robero Marquez, Anthony Outridge, Rachel Agarrat, Kendall Sharpe, Stephen Homer, Nicholas Patrick, Marvin Carmino, Kristi Ann Chin, Janna Lise Chung, Gina Alfonso Smith, Dexter McShine, Aeron Kalloo, Joel Lynch, Dave Ramroop, Jules Sobian, Sandra Hordatt, Peter Elias, Rhiannon Pemberton, Thais Mc Gowan, Quita Correia, Candice Cozier, Solange Shaw-Gopaul

SOURCE:

www.carnivaltribe.com

D Krewe Section Lineup

Now wouldn't it be nice if ALL bands published the lineup in advance of costume pick up?

Band Line up on de road 2010

1. Rainforest

2. Desert

3. Riptide

4. Soufriere

5. Hawk

6. Zulu

7. Comancheros

8. Tsunami

9. Yellow Fever

10. Passion

11. Venom

12. Kindred Spirit

13. Sorcerers

For further information call 622-8834 or 622-1716
email ; info@dkrewecarnival.com

We Lovin De Mas
www.dkrewecarnival.com

We Can Wee Wee!!

Breaking news!

After a meeting today with Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald band leaders FINALLY have a decision on the mobile toilets aka wee wee trucks; the wee wee trucks will NOT be banned for Carnival 2010.

Stipulations in place for all bands using wee wee trucks are that the wee wee trucks cannot be placed to the back of the band, suggestion is that it goes in the MIDDLE, and that the toilets must be cleaned twice for the day.

When contacted, NCBA vice president David Lopez confirmed the meeting, but added that certain conditions applied.

’The bands using the ’wee wee’ trucks will still have to go through the health authority and get approvals. They will also have to get all the relevant licences from the Ministry of Works and Transport. They will have to get final approval from the police to move the trucks on the road,’ he said.


Lopez said the bandleaders must also agree to clean the trucks four times a day-twice in the morning and twice in the evening. The ’wee wee’ trucks must also be positioned at the centre of the Carnival bands.

Although this is great news I am wondering whose bright idea it is to put the wee wee trucks in the MIDDLE of the band? I mean, really does that make more sense than at the BACK?

Sigh....

SOURCE:
Trinidad Express

Beach House 2010

click for large view

Surviving Christmas Part 2

Now that you know how many calories and carbohydrates are in your favorite alcoholic drinks, here is the nutritional content of the traditional Trinidad Christmas staples:

Pastelle:

serving size 86g :Calories 129 Calories from fat 67; Total Carbohydrate 11.9g; Dietary Fiber 1.3g; Sugars 2.3g; Protein 4.4g

Ponche De Creme:

serving size 151g: Clories 272, Calories from fat 63. Total carbohydrate 35.0g; dietary fiber 0.00g; sugars 0.0g; protein 12.1g chloesterol 125.5mg total fat 7.0g, saturated fat 3.6g

Sorrel:

serving size 200g/7.05 OZ: Calories 106 From fat4; Total Carb 25.9g; dietary fiber 0.5g; sugars 23.3g; Protenin 1.1g

Egg Nog:

serving size 283g/10oz : Calories 452 from fat 175; Total fat 19.4g Saturated fat 10.3g; Cholesterol 268mg; Total Carb 31.8 Dietary fiber 0.1g Sugars 11.6g Protein 19.1g

Black Cake:

serving size 132g. Calories: 369. Calories from fat: 122. Total fat: 13.5 g. Saturated fat: 7.0 g. Cholesterol: 86.6 mg. Sodium: 173.7 mg. Total Carbohydrate: 48 g. Dietary Fibre: 2.9g. Sugars: 28.3g. Protein: 4.9g

Ginger beer:

serving size 259g/202g : Calories 207/211 Claories from fat 2; Total fat 0.2g Saturated fat 0.1g Cholesterol 0.0mg; Total carb 52.9g/53.6g Dietary fiber 0.9g Sugars 46.6g Protein 0.5/0.7g

Stewed Pigeon Peas:

serving size 128g: Calories 126 From fat 44; Total fat 4.9g Saturated fat 0.7g. Cholesterol 0.0g. Total Carb 17.4g. Dietary fiber 4.4g Sugars 2.9g Protein 4.5g

As you can see it is pretty easy to pile on the calories, and pounds, with just one meal on Christmas Day!

Some tips to help you survive the Christmas Season as Carnival looms ahead:

*Plan your meals in advance especially on Christmas day, look for low fat versions of your favorite dishes, you will be surprised how little changes in ingredients lower calories without sacrificing taste.

*Try to incorporate low carb options as side dishes; instead of rice, potatoes and macaroni pie try sautéed broccoli, salads and baked vegetables(hold the butter); the less choices you have to indulge in the bad foods the better for you.

*Turkey is low in fat and calories as long as you avoid the skin and only eat the white meat, ham lovers eat more turkey!

*Skip the heavy creamy sauces, dressings and condiments, for salads use a vinaigrette. Hold up on the coconut milk in your pigeon peas.

*Don't plan to diet in the New Year and use that as an excuse to binge, eat sensibly and watch your portion sizes ;eat smaller portions as larger portions laid out on your plate make you feel as if you need to clean your plate. Reality is that when the New year rolls around you will only have SIX weeks until Carnival.

*Decide where you are going to "splurge on your calories", will it be alcohol, carbs, sweets or maybe a teeny bit of each?

*Eat protein first and carbohydrates last, yes this goes against the whole West Indian thinking where you savor your meat for the end of the meal.

*Avoid friends and relatives that guilt you into eating "just one more piece of cake", better yet eat at home before going to Christmas parties and limes so when you show up you will be full.

*Even if you stuff your face silly on Christmas day, remember that you do not have to continue doing so! One day of excess does not mean your diet is shot to hell, just put it behind you and continue to eat sensibly the next day.

* Try and get some exercise during all this eating and drinking, go do some laps at the mall!

Surviving Christmas Part 1

Its that time of year again, the time of year when you ask WHY is Christmas so close to Carnival? I feel your pain people, since of course I am on a diet gearing up for Carnival and I refused to be derailed by sorrel, ponche de creme, pastelle and black cake as I have seen the ladies in my section and they all look like the section leader handpicked them from a casting for America's Next Top Model.... I am serious, all gorgeous.

Anyway, I digress, if you are planning on consuming alcohol over the next few weeks as you attend Christmas parties, functions and visit friends for the season please note the calorie and carbohydrate content in your favorite Spirits:

Wine	Calories	Carbs	Per 5-oz Serving
Chardonnay	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Pinot Grigio	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Zinfandel® White Wine	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Cabernet Sauvignon	20	0.8 g	100 calories, 4 g carbs
Merlot Red Wine	20	0.8 g	100 calories, 4 g carbs

Hard Liquor	Calories	Carbs	Per 1.5-oz Serving
Vermouth	32	0.2 g	64 calories, 0.4 g carbs
Coconut Rum	51	5.3 g	77 calories, 8 g carbs
Beefeater® Gin	65	0 g	98 calories, 0 g carbs
Rye Whiskey	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Scotch Whiskey	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
White Rum	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Vodka	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Cognac	69	2 g	104 calories, 3 g carbs
Tequila	69	5.3 g	104 calories, 8 g carbs
Gilbey’s® Gin	79	0 g	119 calories, 0 g carbs

Beer	Calories	Carbs	Per 12-oz Serving
"Light" Beer	9	0.5 g	108 calories, 6 g carbs
Draft Beer	12	1.1 g	144 calories, 13.2 g carbs
Lager	14	1.1 g	168 calories, 13.2 g carbs
Ale	18	1.1 g	216 calories, 13.2 g carbs

Liqueur	Calories	Carbs	Per 1.5-oz Serving
Chocolate Liqueur	103	11 g	155 calories, 17 g carbs
Mint Liqueur	103	11 g	155 calories, 17 g carbs
Peppermint Liqueur	103	11 g	155 calories, 17 g carbs
Strawberry Liqueur	103	11 g	155 calories, 17 g carbs

Wine is your best bet in terms of calories per glass, however it does have 2g of carbs per every 5oz, hard liquor like rum or scotch has 0 carbs and if you mix it with diet soda it is not a bad option for a drink either, once you can stop at just A drink. The best advice for those looking to stave off the extra lbs for Christmas is to not drink at all, as the calories in alcohol do add up! I love the options laid out by the author of the blog She Walks Around With It:

Booze not only slows your metabolism, it has lots and LOTS of stupid calories. So like, if you're a girl, and you're aiming to consume 1200 calories a day, and you're an alcoholic, your options go something like this:

Daily Food Intake: Option 1
1/2 grapefruit
1 slice whole grain toast
2 tbs peanut butter
1/4 c cottage cheese
grilled chicken salad
1 apple
2 slices cheese
handful almonds
sensible dinner
Daily Food Intake: Option 2
1 bottle wine
3 potato chips

Basically if you want to survive DRINKING during the Christmas holidays choose your alcohol wisely, drink in moderation, watch the mixers as diet sodas will be the better choice over fruit juice, avoid cocktails and best of all, do not drink at all if you are on a diet. Easier said than done with all the temptation but just think of your costume and the fact that you would have to burn off ALL those calories post Christmas in order for them not to convert to extra lbs!

Tomorrow we discuss Surviving Christmas Part 2.... EATING!

SOURCE:
www.sparkpeople.com

Island People Sold Out Section Update

Looks like getting people into the mas camp, with free food and drinks, to have discussions and socialize must be working in Island People's favour, either that or people are impressed by the Road Works initiative because two more sections are now SOLD OUT:

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

FRONTLINE OPTION  ONLY REMAINING

FRONTLINE  ONLY SOLD OUT