Près de 2 millions, c’est le nombre de pèlerins musulmans attendus cette année pour le Hadj. Constituant le plus grand rassemblement humain annuel, le pèlerinage à la Mecque est placé cette année sous la crainte de la pandémie de grippe A. L’Arabie Saoudite a donc pris des mesures pour éviter la propagation du virus. Samedi les autorités sanitaires ont annoncé les décès de quatre pèlerins, liés à la grippe H1N1. A la menace sanitaire, se sont ajoutées de fortes pluies et inondations, qui ont provoqué hier la mort d’au moins 13 personnes.

Une Marocaine, un Soudanais et un Indien, tous trois âgés de 75 ans, ainsi qu’une Nigériane de 17 ans sont décédés de la grippe A, alors qu’ils s’apprêtaient à faire le Hadj. Deux d’entre eux présentaient des facteurs de risque de complication. Jusque-là, les autorités sanitaires n’ont recensé qu’une soixantaine de cas de contamination, un bilan très inférieur à ce que redoutait l’Arabie Saoudite.

“Je suis très confiant. J’ai confiance en l’équipe du ministère de la santé, en nos réserves et en nos infrastructures qui sont suffisantes”, a indiqué le ministre de la santé, Abdullal Abdul-Aziz Al-Rabeea. En effet, le pays a pris d’importantes dispositions pour limiter la transmission de la grippe A. Ainsi, près de 20 000 personnels médicaux sont mobilisés et un million et demi de doses d’antiviraux sont stockées. Par ailleurs, des caméras thermiques ont été placées aux points d’arrivée des pèlerins : à l’aéroport et au port de Djeddah. Enfin, le parcours du Hadj est marqué par des ambulances et des équipes médicales mobiles.

En raison du contexte pandémique, l’Arabie Saoudite a également imposé le report du pèlerinage aux personnes à risque. En théorie, les visas ne devaient pas être délivrés aux personnes les plus fragiles : femmes enceintes, enfants de moins de 5 ans, personnes atteintes de maladies chroniques et personnes âgées de plus de 65 ans.

Le cinéaste va être assigné à résidence en attendant son extradition vers les Etats-Unis…

Dominique Strauss-Kahn a pris “une dimension nouvelle” grâce à son poste de directeur général du FMI, notamment aux yeux des Français, et ceci est “un atout dont le Parti socialiste aurait tort de se priver”, a fait valoir jeudi un de ses proches, le député socialiste de Paris Jean-Marie Le Guen.

Du fait de son poste au Fonds monétaire international, DSK est “un homme aujourd’hui libre”, qui “a pris une dimension nouvelle”, a affirmé sur France-Info M. Le Guen, assurant que “les socialistes en général et a fortiori les électeurs de gauche sont fiers” de ce qu’il y fait.

“Indiscutablement, le regard des Français vis-à-vis de son action aujourd’hui se renouvelle et prend une ampleur tout à fait importante”, a constaté le député, en allusion à plusieurs sondages qui placent DSK en bonne position parmi les candidats socialistes préférés des Français.

Avoir “un de ses membres qui a une action qui pèse dans le bon sens et qui est vu (ainsi) par les Français au plan international (…), c’est un atout dont le Parti socialiste aurait tort de se priver”, a-t-il plaidé.

Toutefois, “concentré” et “totalement impliqué dans la gestion de la régulation financière internationale”, Dominique Strauss-Kahn “n’est pas dans un calcul tacticien par rapport à des échéances”, a affirmé le député, estimant qu’il était “beaucoup trop tôt” pour lui de se positionner pour la présidentielle de 2012. “Ce n’est absolument pas aujourd’hui l’objet de sa réflexion”, a-t-il répété. AP

La circulaire indiquant aux préfets les critères à prendre en compte pour l’admission exceptionnelle au séjour des salariés étrangers pourrait déboucher, selon Éric Besson, sur la régularisation de 1.000 étrangers.

AFP/MEHDI FEDOUACH

Le président de l’Assemblée nationale, Bernard Accoyer, a jugé “irrecevable”, jeudi 26 novembre, la requête des députés socialistes réclamant la mise en place d’une commission d’enquête sur les sondages financés par l’Elysée.

Epinglé l’été dernier par la Cour des comptes, l’Elysée a communiqué à l’Assemblée nationale les factures, après l’audition par la commission des finances, le 13 octobre, de Christian Frémont, directeur de cabinet de Nicolas Sarkozy. Le budget sondages de l’Elysée s’est élevé à 3,281 millions d’euros en 2008, à 1,989 million en 2009 et il est estimé à 1,424 million pour 2010, selon un rapport du député socialiste Jean Launay. L’opposition y voit plusieurs problèmes. Outre le coût jugé important, elle estime que certains sondages pré-électoraux concernant l’UMP n’avaient pas à être financés par des fonds publics.

Unity College - E-Stack natural ventilation system

The iawards were launched in 2009 by the Government ‘to recognise and celebrate the best of British science, innovation and technology.’

E-Stack won the iaward for Places to Live and Work for their natural ventilation system, which reduces the HVAC consumption of residential and commercial buildings. The system, using technology patented by the University of Cambridge, recycles internal heat gains to help reduce energy consumption from buildings by up to 50%.

ESI references:

• Roof ventilation turrets
• Vents and ventilation

Energy technologies used in buildings have advanced rapidly over the past decade. Although no wholly new HVAC technologies have appeared in that period, many options have improved, become more reliable or dropped in cost. Still, many HVAC technologies that could cut operating costs, such as variable-speed drives and energy management systems, remain underused.

With an understanding that what’s new for one customer may be old hat to another, here’s a brief shopping list of options.

More Efficient Central Cooling Systems

Electric chillers — complete with variable-speed drives, oversized heat exchangers, hot gas bypass control, to name a few features — have redefined efficiency from a “good” .7 kw/ton in 1990 down to about .5 kw/ton or better, cutting power demand and consumption almost 30 percent. Gas-fired reciprocating or double-effect absorption cycle chillers replace demand for electricity with use of natural gas. Thermal storage systems have become modular and more reliable, allowing them to fit into spaces with only marginal real estate value. Where electricity is expensive year-round, “free” cooling using cooling tower condenser water is no longer uncommon.

Rooftop and packaged units containing compressors and fans have become significantly more efficient, mostly as a result of changes to product efficiency standards mandated by the 1992 federal Energy Policy Act. Improvements of 20 to 30 percent are now common. Heat pumps and window air conditioning units are 10 to 15 percent better than they were only a decade ago.

Better HVAC Distribution Options

Those same federal standards raised minimum efficiencies for fan and pump motors and now require variable-speed drives on smaller units. VAV fans down to 30 horsepower must now be able to run efficiently at lower loads.

Although not necessarily designed purely for energy efficiency purposes, underfloor air distribution and radiant cooling systems, as well as dedicated outside air systems, are becoming more accepted as their reliability improves and their installation costs drop.

Economizer cycles, which replace return air with outside air when it is cooler, and air-to-air heat exchangers, sometimes called displacement systems, have been around for decades, but are now required by code for many new air system designs.

More Controls Clout

A variety of sophisticated control systems are also either required or accepted to meet building codes for new construction. A good list can be found in the changes made between ASHRAE’s 90.1-1989 standard and its 90.1-1999 version, which is now part of the federal standard that all states are supposed to adopt as part of their own building codes by mid-2004. Among those options to meet code are:

• Automatic ventilation controls for high-occupancy areas, including variable outside air volume based on carbon dioxide monitoring.
• Zone and loop controllers incorporating control error correction, plus a deadband when separate thermostats control heating and cooling in a zone; doing so limits reheating and recooling done by separate systems.
• Automatic shutoff controls for the supply of conditioned air, outside air and exhaust air to each zone, as well as automatic shutdown controls for off-hour operations or only minimal flow to maintain temperature.
• Motorized dampers in stair and elevator shafts and outdoor air supply exhaust hoods, vents and ventilators to minimize updrafts and infiltration.
• Resettable chilled and hot water temperatures in smaller systems —over 300,000 Btuh instead of the previous 600,000 Btuh.




Potential Savings

Although savings will vary greatly depending on climate, energy pricing, and building type and age, analyses by the U.S. Department of Energy indicate that applying just the relevant HVAC aspects of the 1999 ASHRAE code to America’s stock of buildings could yield savings of about 2 percent on electric usage, almost 3 percent on gas, and about 2 percent on overall energy bills, relative to present consumption. Comparing that to pre-1989 code buildings as a base, another 2 to 3 percent — for a total of about 5 percent — could be taken off annual energy bills for all U.S. non-residential buildings.

At first blush, that may not seem like a lot, but those numbers are based on the total building stock in the United States. A simplified calculation for a 160,000-square-foot office park in a mid-Atlantic climate finds its energy and dollar savings ranging from 8 to 15 percent, relative to the same facility being built before the 1989 standard came into play. In rough dollars, that boils down to about 15 to 35 cents per square foot per year, roughly comparable to many high-efficiency lighting upgrades.

Despite the range of choices, their proven track records and the potential savings, there has been no rush to take advantage of the newer technologies and designs. Why? There are several reasons.

One is that taking on any new technology involves a learning curve and some risk of failure or inconvenience. In the absence of an in-house champion for energy cost cutting, there may be no one to make the case that upgrading HVAC systems will make much financial difference.

Experience also shows that, for every one person willing to say “yes” to energy efficiency, there are 10 who say “no.” The first items to be value engineered out of a building’s mechanical design, for example, are often energy efficiency options that are not needed to make the overall system work acceptably.

In one major Northeastern institution, building operators resisted changing out their single-stage absorption chillers, fed by expensive utility steam, for a hybrid electric and gas-fired absorber plant because of a lack of knowledge and training on the new system.

In another case, word-of-mouth stories about how some new technologies were problematic or did not deliver expected savings were enough to block consideration of newer versions that had acceptable track records.

Many dyed-in-the-wool HVAC practitioners show little interest in learning about new technologies. Such technical inertia may stem from an attitude that says all hours of personnel time should be allocated to an existing job, so only a request from a customer to consider a new option will result in an investigation. An increasingly litigious culture also creates a financial risk when specifying, designing or installing anything not already tried-and-true.

Problems may also occur during adjustment of a base building design to accept new devices that, to be more efficient, are larger than originally called for or are unavailable in sizes needed to accommodate existing or projected needs. One customer wanted to install exhaust air heat exchangers in a lab building, but doing so would have required changing the setback on the floor containing the air handlers, which would have disrupted the building’s appearance.

Many new systems involve longer lead times for delivery that are unacceptable in tight building construction schedules. If a device is not readily available, whatever is on the shelf at the local supply house may be installed instead.

The incrementally higher cost of some new systems — including design, installation and commissioning — may also stand out more than potential savings, which typically take years to cover. Any possibility of selling the building during that time period creates uncertainty about recouping those extra costs.

For existing buildings, installing a new system may require alteration or contact with other systems or spaces that could create new problems. High-efficiency motors, for example, may require replacement of old circuit breakers unable to accommodate their higher in-rush current. If those power panels are touched, that may require upgrading them to meet new electrical codes, resulting in disruption and higher costs.

Some complex options, such as cogeneration, are very sensitive to changes in utility rates, thus creating significant financial risk for developers and building owners. Such fears lead to a wait-and-see attitude that is often the kiss of death.

Finally, the method to calculate savings from such new devices may be outdated or too narrow. Where average power pricing is used instead of a computer model that takes time-of-use costs into account, savings could appear lower than may actually occur. In other cases, savings or credits that should be taken are left off the balance sheet. When an electric chiller was to be replaced with a gas-fired unit, for example, a significant drop in a building’s peak electric demand would have resulted, allowing for installation of new power-consuming devices like a mainframe computer without a need to beef up the transformer or main electric service capacity. That large avoided cost was not included in the payback analysis for the chiller changeout, yielding an unacceptably long payback period.

No Pressing Need

Another reason that more efficient HVAC technologies haven’t been adopted more quickly is the absence of factors that make energy upgrades a higher priority within corporations. In many parts of the country, for example, energy prices were relatively stable for most of the 1990s, eliminating a major impetus for upgrading HVAC systems.

In other cases, a developer has no concern for the operating cost of the building because the occupants will pay the energy bills. Any additional cost may even make the structure harder to sell.

In roughly a third of states, energy codes either do not exist or are so poorly enforced that contractors know there is essentially no reason to comply with them. The increase in demand for fire and electric code inspections has swamped many jurisdictions, leading them to drop inspections or reviews for such non-safety issues as energy. Until the adoption of ASHRAE 90.1-1999 in 2004, most energy codes apply only to new buildings, allowing renovations, which affect the lion’s share of buildings, to escape coverage.

When most utility-sponsored energy rebates were dropped in the late 1990s as a result of power industry restructuring, many companies lost interest in pursuing the options once supported by such “free” money.You can see more of HVAC Supply at bidformaterials.com.

208457     การระบายอากาศในอุตสาหกรรม     Industrial Ventilation

หลักการระบายอากาศ การเจือจาง การควบคุมความร้อน การออกแบบฮูด ฮูดสํ าหรับงานเฉพาะอย่าง การออกแบบระบบระบายอากาศ อากาศเติมและอากาศหมุนเวียน การกํ าหนดรายการรายละเอียด การทดสอบระบบระบายอากาศ อุปกรณ์ทํ าความสะอาด

(Principle of ventilation, dilution ventilation, ventilation for heat control, hood design, specific operations, design procedure, make-up and recirculated air, construction specifications, testing of ventilation systems, air cleaning devices.)

(208457 มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์)

På SIMAB-dagen förevisades även teknisk utrustning.

SIMAB-dagen 2009
Efter lite inledande tekniskt strul med dator/projektor, som dock avklarades med marginal innan åhörarna anlände för frukost, var SIMABs olika Skorstensfejaremästare redo.

Klockan 09.20 öppnade Skorstensfejaremästaren i Malmö, Christer Bjelk, mötet genom att berätta om dagens program och om SIMAB i stort. 

- SIMAB är uppdelade i olika bolag för att helt separera de lagstadgade arbetena med övriga tjänster. Sotning och brandskyddskontroller skall till exempel inte subventionera imkanalsrensning eller tvärt om, deklarerade Christer

 En av gästföreläsarna, Ulf Lindén från SSR, var försenad på grund av stormen.
- Flygen från Stockholm var inställda under kvällen men han är på väg nu, sade Christer Bjelk.

8000 avvikelser
Därefter lämnade ordet till Patrick Nilsson, Skorstensfejaremästare i Helsingborg och Bjuv. Patrick gick mer in i detalj hur en brandskyddskontroll går till.
- Vi filmar kanalerna och ser sånt som inte syns vid den vanliga sotningen, berättade Patrick bland annat.

Lite statistik presenterades. SIMAB har utför 11000 brandskyddskontroller under 2008. Hela 8000 avvikelser uppdagades under dessa kontroller.

Kvalitetssäkrad besiktning
Hans Lundquist som är Skorstensfejaremästare i Ängelholm tog över ordet och berättade om nya SSR-besiktningen.
– SSR-besiktningen är en kvalitetssäkrad besiktning och får endast utföras av SSR-ansluta företag, framförde Hans Lundquist.

Rysk president föresenade
– Det var inte bara stormen som ställde till det utan även en Rysk president som ville ha motorvägen för sig själv, skojade SSR:s Ulf Lindén angående sin resa från Stockholm.

Ulf talade därefter om LSO, lagen om Skydd mot Olyckor, och om varför lagen ändrades 2004.
–  Man ville tydliggöra brandskyddskontrollen. Tidigare var den ihopflätad med sotningen. Nu är momenten separerade. Ulf berättade vidare om SSR-besiktningen och de olika bedömningsgrunderna.

Värst i världen….
Lars Berg, fd chef för Malmö Brandkår och Sotarna i Malmö, men som under SIMAB-dagen representerade Brandskyddsföreningen.
Lars pratade om bostadsbränder och redovisade en del statistik. 
– Vi är inte bara värst i Europa utan i hela världen när det gäller anlagda bränder i skolor, berättade Lars Berg.

– Vi måste jobba mer med systematiskt brandskyddsarbete. För tio år sedan fick vi jobba hårt för vår tolkning i Malmö att det ska finnas fungerande brandvarnare i varje hem, konstaterade Lars. Nu är det en självklarhet.

Farliga brister i hemmen
Jonas Olsson, SIMAB Ventilation och Brandskydd, talade om Säker Bostad, vilket bland annat omfattar SBA, Systematiskt Brandskyddsarbete, brandvarnare och rökluckor.
- Vi har monterat ca 55 000 brandvarnare. Jonas redogjorde följande om brandvarnare.

Mellan 15-20% av monterade brandvarnare fungerar inte längre. Många vet inte hur man testar sina brandvarnare. 22% vet inte detta enligt en undersökning som SIMAB gjort.

Jonas berättade vidare om att 90% av alla rökluckor inte fungerar.
-10% av de rökluckor vi testar årligen har det uppkommit brister i sedan förra besiktningstillfället.

Dagen avslutades med frågor till Christer Bjelk innan det var dags för gemensam lunch.

En mängd bilder från dagen följer nedan.

Tidigare om SIMAB-dagen: Skånska eldstäder säkrare

Tänkte att man som läsare kanske var intresserad av att veta ungefär hur vi hade tänkt oss att resultatet skulle bli. Här följer en snabb genomgång.

Den bifogade skissen stämmer inte till 100%, men den visar iaf de tänkta brandgränserna i rött. Väggarna ska hålla brandklass EI60 och dörren behöver endast hålla B15 av någon anledning som vi inte har brytt oss om att försöka förstå oss på. Vi kommer antagligen använda oss av en EI30-dörr då det verkar vara svårt att hitta B15-klassade dörrar.
Tilluften är ritad från fönsterna vilket inte stämmer längre. Tilluften kommer istället komma från nedanvåningen och försvinna ut genom en ventil i murstocken.
Trappan kommer komma upp från vårt nuvarande vardagsrum och förhoppningsvis slipper vi “knäcka” den.
Anledningen till att utrymmet inte är fyrkantigt, dvs att vi inte har med hela torkvinden vid trappan är att man enbart får köpa de kvadrat som existerar direkt ovanför ens lägenhet. därför uppstår ett “problem” som man inte tänker på direkt; vi kommer ha hanbalkar som går genom vår vägg in till torkutrymmet. Detta är ett problem då det kan börja brinna i torkutrymmet och därmed påverkar det vår lägenhet fastän det är två olika brandceller! Lösningen till detta problem kommer i ett senare inlägg

Brandgränser

Där har ni planen i stort.

/martin & lisa

Heating & Ventilation systems generally consist     of both supply and return air systems that circulate the air through a designated area.

Specifications for specific job applications.

Some examples of these abilities are:

• General Ductwork Systems
• Kitchen Ventilation & Canopy Systems
• Dust and Fume Extraction – C.O.S.H.H.
• Room Pressurisation Systems – Food & Pharmaceutical Specification
• Marine Specifications
• Hospital & Healthcare Specifications

Informations in HVAC Supply, you can visit bidformaterials.com to know all about heating and ventilation.

Spisfläktskanal. Kolla in slangen.

Några bilder från en totalrensning av en villa med takfläkts-ventilation i Vellinge idag. Ventilationen i dessa hus behöver rensas minst vart tredje år. Hur en slang från en fläkt kan se ut ser ni nedan….               

Samma slang från utsidan. Som ni förstår behövde slangen bytas ut.

Kanalen från taket.

Awesome weather here in Wisconsin so far this November – highs around 50-60F this week – can you believe it? The cold temperatures are coming, though, and typically the relative humidity in our homes drops for the season. But that is not always the case. If moisture from cooking, bathing, respiration and other sources gets trapped indoors, it can become a problem, especially where it contacts cold surfaces like windows and doors.

Researchers at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said that repeated exposure to indoor allergens and airborne particles could lead to respiratory symptoms and conditions. Doug Garrett, CEM, CDSM, building scientist and president of Building Performance and Comfort said, “If there was just one thing I could do to fix buildings, it would be to change the relative humidity.”

Moisture can lead to conditions that degrade indoor air quality. Yeast, mold and other biologicals sometimes become a big problem in a home with excessive humidity, and the winter months can be even more problematic than humid summer months.

If condensation on your windows is frequent in the winter it is important to address that issue. Health issues and property damage could result if the problem is not corrected. I learned first hand the importance of this in my own home. Make sure you are addressing the sources of excessive moisture, and make sure you have adequate fresh air in your home (your house needs to breathe).

Certainly upgrading your windows may be a good idea, but at the very least be sure to wipe any condensation to prevent mold or other invasive organisms from becoming a problem in your home. There are also a number of green, highly effective, enzyme-based cleaning and mold inhibitive solutions on the market that can help with this.

Try to keep your relative humidity to a reasonably low level, especially when the temperatures plummet outdoors.

If you do suspect mold or other potentially harmful organisms are growing in your home due to window condensation or other moisture problems, you can take a brief indoor air quality survey at www.iaqscreening.com/03289.  The survey may give you added clarity and ideas. Doug Hoffman’s book Mold Free Construction is also a good source of information along these lines, with 36 explicit and straight forward steps home owners can take to improve indoor air quality.

Phone: 954 603 8772.
Please leave a message and you will be contacted ASAP.

A/C not fixed = $20 (diagnosis/service)
If your air conditioning (A/C) is not fixed, the charge $20 to diagnose the problem.

A/C fixed + No parts = $50
(If your A/C is fixed and no parts are needed, the charge is $50 total.You will not pay more than $50 unless parts need to be purchased.)

A/C fixed + Parts = $50 + Cost of parts.
If your A/C is fixed and parts are needed, the charge is $50 + the cost of the parts.

Please note: Freon/refrigerant is a part and is not included in the service fee.

This is not an hourly fee – the labor fee is $50 no matter how long the repair takes. The charge is $20 if the A/C is not fixed.

Please note that the following services are not currently being offered: 1) coil change-outs, 2) compressor change-outs and 3) installations.

Here is a list of cities currently being serviced:

Boca Raton
Coconut Creek
Coral Springs
Deerfield Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Hillsboro Beach
Lauderdale Lakes
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Lauderhill
Lighthouse Point
Margate
North Lauderdale
Oakland Park
Parkland
Pompano Beach
Tamarac
Wilton Manors

South Broward, West Broward and Miami-Dade County are not currently serviced.

Here is a list of some of the units that may be repaired…
- Commercial A/C units
- Residential A/C units
- Split A/C units
- Package A/C units
- Wall A/C units
- Window A/C units

Please note: Personal Checks and Business Checks are not accepted as payment at this time.

If you can’t call, feel free to email your phone number to the email address at the top of this listing and you will be contacted ASAP.

Any and all air conditioners have a possibility of repair.

Here are some (but not all) brands that repairs are possible for..
Goodman, Trane, Carrier, York, Rheem, Ruud, Fujistsu, American Standard, Lennox, Mitsubishi, Bryant, Payne, Duchane, Fedders, Heil, Janitrol, Armstrong, GE, General Electric, Honeywell, Amana, Comfortmaker, Tempstar, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Guardian, Generac.

License # CAC014666

Recently, I asked the question, “Who is a better storyteller: Biggie, Jay-Z or NaS?” as my facebook status message, and the answers I received were quite interesting. I wasn’t asking who was the best MC of the three, but instead who was more adept at crafting the best story. One of my friends demanded I include Ghostface in the discussion. Yes Ghostface does belong, but we’re leaving him out of this discussion because my response would be too biased if he was included. After all… he is my favorite rapper.

So I decided to compare three samples of excellent story-telling from the three emcee titans.

Each excerpt was graded from 1 to 10 on the following criteria:

1. Imagery used – personification and metaphors, sensory detail present
2.  Does the excerpt transport you to the scene described? Can you visualize it clearly?
3. Does it “tug at your heart strings”, evoke emotion: joy, happiness,  sympathy?

Sample 1:

 NaS:  From “I gave you power”

 ”Yo, weeks went by and I’m surprised
Still stuck in the shelf with all the things that an outlaw hides
Besides me it’s bullets, two vests and then a nine
There’s a grenade in a box, and that tech that kept cryin
Cause he ain’t been cleaned in a year, he’s rusty as clear
He’s bout to fall to pieces, cause of his murder career
Yo, I can hear somebody comin in, open the shelf
His eyes bubblin, he said, “It was on”
I felt his palm troubled he’s shakin
Somebody stomped him out, his dome was achin’
He placed me on his waist, the moment I’ve been waitin’
My creation was for blacks to kill blacks
It’s gats like me that accidentally, go off, makin niggaz memories
But this time, it’s done intentionally
He walked me outside, saw this cat
Cocked me back, said, “Remember me?”
He pulled the trigger but I held on, it felt wrong
Knowing niggaz is waiting in hell for ‘im
He squeezed harder, I didn’t budge, sick of the blood
Sick of the thugs, sick of wrath of the next man’s grudge
What the other kid did was pull out, no doubt
A newer me in better shape, before he lit out, he lead the chase
My owner fell to the floor, his wig split so fast
I didn’t know he was hit, it’s over with
Heard mad niggaz screamin, niggaz runnin, cops is comin
Now I’m happy, until I felt somebody else grab me
Damn!”

MissAvon’s score : Imagery: 10 Transports Listener: 10 Evokes Emotion: 9

Other examples of NaS’ storytelling : “NY State of Mind Pt 2″, “Mastermind”, “Shootouts”

 Sample 2:

Jay-Z : From “You must love me”

Also watch video here

 We used to fight every night
but I never would suffer
just smile my big brother’s
tryna make me tougher
As we grew fussing and fighting continued
as I plundered through ya stuff
and snuck ya clothes to school
Got intense real intense
as we got older
Never believed it would lead
To me poppin one in ya shoulda
With my rings knew you had it
’cause you took too long
as Mickey, Andy, and the girl that bought it looked on
Huffin’ and puffin’ gun in my hand
told you step outside
Hoping you said no but you hurt my pride
made our way down the steps
maybe you thought it was just a threat
or maybe ya life was just that crazy
and you was beggin’ for death
try to justify this in my young mind
but the adrenaline
and my ego hurt combined
drove me berzerk
Saw the devil in your eyes
high off more than weed
confused I just closed
my young eyes and squeezed <gunshot>
What a sound
opened my eyes just in time
to see ya stumbling to the ground
Damn what the fuck I done now

runnin’ around in a circle
thinking I’m assed out
hot gun burnin’ my waist
ran straight to Jazz’ house
Like a stranger damn I just shot my nigga
and ran off into the night as if it was not my nigga
Left the scene how could I go out that way
Still you asked to see me in the hospital the next day
You must love me.

MissAvon’s score: Imagery: 8 Transports Listener: 10 Evokes Emotion: 9

Other examples of Jay-Z’s story telling – “Regrets”, “Allure”, “Do you wanna Ride”

 Sample 3:

Biggie: From: ”Niggas Bleed”

 We agreed to go ['in'] shootin is silly
Because niggaz could be hidin in showers with Mac [milli's]
So I freaked em, the telly manager was Puerto Rican
Gloria, from Astoria, I went to war with her
peeps in ninety-one, stole a gun from my workers
And they took drugs, they tried to jerk us
We blaze they place, long story, Glo seen my face
Got shook, thought a nigga was comin for the safe
Now she breakin, shut up, 112, what’s shakin
A Jamaican, some bitches I swear, they look gay
In a black Range Rover, been outside all day
If it’s trouble let me know, I’ll be on my way
Please, I got kids to feed, I done seen you make niggaz bleed
Nightmares this bitch don’t need
Ron, get the gasoline, this spot, we bout to blow this
get the cash before the cops and Range Rover cats notice
Room 112, right by the staircase, perfect place
When they evacuate, they meet they fate
Ron pass the gasoline, the nigga passed me kerosene
Fuck it, its flame-able, my hunger is unexplainable
Strike the match, just what I expected
The dread kid ejected in seconds
And here come two, opposite sexes, one black, one Malaysian
We in the hallway waitin patient
As soon as she hit the door we start blastin
I saw her brains hit the floor, Ron laughin, I swear to God
I hit Maxi Priest at least twelve times in the chest
Spin-t around, shot the chink in the breast
She cryin, headshots put her to rest
Pop open the briefcases, nothin but Franklin faces
The spot’s hot, sprinklers, alarm systems
Thats when other guests start to slip in
It’s time for us to get to dippin
I know them niggaz in the Range is on they way up
Flippin, pistol grippin, I load the clip in
The hallway, got real loud and crowded
They walked right past us, I don’t know how they allowed it
The funny thing about it, through all the excitement
They Range got towed, they double parked by a hydrant
Stupid motherfuckers

 MissAvon’s score: Imagery: 9 Transports Listener: 10 Evoke Emotion: 8

  More examples of Biggie’s story telling – “Juicy”, “I got a Story to tell”, “Notorious Thugs”

So based on my grading of the above excerpts, NaS has emerged as the winner. His verse is superior to the other two samples chosen and no, this wasn’t rigged. I truly believe his verse was the strongest. I could picture everything clearly when listening to the song. He used personification, effective imagery and sensory detail and his descriptive words transported me right to the scene. It felt as though I was right there witnessing the whole thing. The language used was simple, easy to understand and flowed extremely well. In my opinion, NaS’ verse crafting ability is better than most other rappers.

Biggie and Jay-Z tie for second. Jay-Z uses more of a narrative style in his verse. Strong imagery emerges towards the end of his verse and transports the listener to the scene of the shooting. The language is simple but carries a lot of emotional weight. The verse is very concise and descriptive but in very simple terms. It is extremely effective in evoking Jay-Z’s feelings after shooting his older brother. In contrast, Biggie’s verse is more layered and thoughtfully descriptive. He strings a lot of short, graphic phrases together to piece together a riveting story. Like the verses of his counterparts, You are transported to the midst of the scene while listening. His verse also had a bit more violence than both NaS and Jay-Z’s. Subtlety is not Biggie’s strong suit in this particular verse which has the more complicated sentence structure of the three samples.

So, In my opinion NaS posesses the best story telling ability of the three. Other’s may not agree because they misunderstood the question to be “Who’s the best emcee?” and also because of the assumption that Jay-Z is the best at everything. Well, that’s why this is my opinion. No one can take away from the fact that Jay- Z is the most commercially successful of the three but I think  NaS has the edge lyrically. I find that Jay-Z has become very formulaic in terms of what he rhymes about. The majority of his music today seems to be about how great he is. NaS is not formulaic and never has been. He is more willing to experiment with subject matter and has evolved more as a rapper than Jay-Z. B.I.G. had the “x” factor…an unmatched ability to craft vivid stories that were extremely believable and plausible. If he was still here he would have surpassed Jay-Z and possibly NaS, in terms of record sales and popularity.

But as for who is the very best…the world may never know. Until we crown the king, the best storyteller of the three,  in my humble opinion is NaS… no question.

 Do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment!

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Diane Sawyer interviews Rihanna about Chris Brown.

I liked this portion the best

More videos after the jump..

Part 1

Here’s a preview of the full interview from Good Morning America where she describes what happened…

He had no soul in his eyes. He was clearly blacked out….

It all started nine fateful years ago. I was visiting a friend at Wesleyan University and after hanging out in her cramped room for what seemed like forever, I suggested we go get some ice cream. To my delight, she agreed, and minutes later I was hopping into her car, happily thinking about what flavor ice cream I would get. But my thoughts were soon interrupted by a very loud, pulsating beat and a distinctive voice confidently affirming, “Ay Yo, this rap is like Ziti… facing me real TV… Crash at high-speeds, strawberry, kiwi…” I stared incredulously at the radio as the heavy bass engulfed the car. This was unlike anything I’d ever heard before! I listened closely to the rest of the song. I had no idea what this man was rapping about, but I was fascinated! He was stringing unintelligible phrases together in an incredibly imaginative way. This rapper rhymed with such zeal and charisma that the more I listened I was transfixed. “Who is this?” I yelled excitedly. “Ghostface Killah”, my friend replied with a knowing expression. For the rest of the trip, ice cream was the last thing on my mind. All I cared about was getting my hands on a copy of that album.

            That day, I got my first introduction to Ghostface Killah, one of the most charismatic members of the rap super group Wu Tang Clan. The music I’d heard was from “Supreme Clientele”, his critically acclaimed second album. Revered as one of the most successful solo albums by a member of the Wu Tang Clan, it pairs an ingenious concept (Ghostface as famed scientist, “Tony Stark” who becomes super hero, “Iron Man”) with original rhymes and robust, animated music that takes you on a journey. Even nine years after its release it still sounds just as relevant and ahead of its time as it did that first time I heard it. There is something undoubtedly very special about it.

Today, my love for Ghostface is stronger than ever. He is one of the most ground breaking, and talented artists I have ever come across. Simply put, his music makes me feel good. It stimulates my imagination and has infinitely enhanced my appreciation for rap music. Ghostface is also a true trail blazer. He was one of the first to start the multiple rap name trend and has several monikers including “Pretty Toney”, “Ghost Deini”, “Iron man” and “Tony Starks”. He has also crafted an indelible image that not too many have been able to duplicate. Over the years, his music has evolved in a very positive way.

These days his rhymes are no longer indecipherable, but are instead artfully layered with poignant narratives and entertaining braggadocio. His passion for the music is evident when he raps. In one song called “Holla” he pours his heart out for three and a half unforgettable minutes. It is so intense that at shows he performs it under a faint blue light.

Ghostface will forever be my hero even after her retires from rap. I am still in awe of his uncanny ability to skillfully string words together and to make meaningful, creative albums that are unique as they are thought-provoking. He is my favorite artist and I cannot wait for his new album which will be released later this month. I know I can look forward to his trademark attention-grabbing rhymes and that special little “thing” that only he has…that raw talent.

my day was spent in blissful solitude. crafting hemp anklets & words of love & the dinner i made sure was hot & ready for you when you retired from your work day. i know all your favourite flavours & all your favourite songs. i hand you love letters & kisses.

but that fades away when outside stress becomes a factor. & i am your moon, your mirror. & so those stresses become my shortcomings. my weakness. my failure.

& you say so many things you can’t take back that i literally stop processing words. i can only comprehend the taste of the resin. the watering of my eyes as i stare unblinking into the darkness.

i chase you into midnight moonlit nights to cover you with a blanket & you leave me in the cold.