Happy Birthday GuyanaLive.com

Only one year after the launch of the website we have established ourselves as a premier authority in the coverage and reporting of events and news of significance to the entertainment industry in Guyana. Birthed out of an idea started by a few idle souls taking pics everywhere they go to catalogue and document their liming and partying activities during the summer, guyanalive.com has rapidly become the place where memorable occasions are captured and stored for your viewing pleasure. Though this is not the first such site of its kind in Guyana it must be recognized that we have rapidly become #1 in the coverage of entertainment activities in Guyana. Placing such activities before an international audience has given Guyanese entertainers and Guyanese culture a platform for exposure and expansion never before experienced locally.

For those who have been following our progress over the past year the following information would be nothing new, but for the befit of those unfamiliar with our progress thus far this will serve to bring you up to speed.

The website was launched at “Into the Night- Music of the 70’s & 80’s” held at the Everest Cricket Club on Camp Street on July 28 2007.The event was organized by the Everest Hikers Hockey Team. This event proved to be an excellent launching pad for the site since the event was, as always, a tremendous success and before 6am the following day all the pics from the event were already uploaded onto the site. This standard has been maintained over the past year and will be continued.

Initially the aim of the site was to provide coverage of parties in and around the city, but some decisions at management level as well as due to the response received, it was decided that events out of the capital would be covered as well. This decision was taken in recognition of the fact that events of significance take place beyond the boundaries of the capital, thus giving coverage to these was aimed at being an adequate representation of Guyana, not just Georgetown. The decision was also taken to cover events related to the entertainment industry which may not necessarily be party related in order to give an holistic view of the entertainment climate in Guyana. This fact is evident in the coverage of the Rodeo held in Lethem which shows the dedication with which we seek to bring the best and wide ranging coverage of events in Guyana.

Over the past year the website has evolved into a place to not only view pics and videos, but into a meeting place for Guyanese worldwide through our forum. Other features of the website that have gained attention and which have also put us miles ahead of the competition include; artiste profiles, guyanalive.com top ten, free sms, music, videos, news, and the recent addition of the Guyanalive.com Blog.

These and other features have given Guyanalive.com a very important role in the promotion of the entertainment industry here in Guyana and internationally. This is a role which will be undertaken and executed with the highest standards possible. Despite a few hiccups that were as a result of circumstances beyond our control we remain the premier website in the promotion and distribution of Guyanese talent here in Guyana as well as putting everything Guyanese, in a positive way, on the international scene.

If all of this has been done within the time frame of one year, imagine what can be done over the next year! Thank you for your overwhelming support because without you we would just be another url on the world wide web. On this our first anniversary we will continue to be “Not just a site but A way of life!” bless and thank you.

Our Recent Problems

Hey Addicts,

We apologize for the recent two days of downtime and the slow site. It was unavoidable and we did our best. Let me explain what happened.

The server that GuyanaLive was previously hosted on had a major hiccup. The power supply had a fault and it blew and caused a bit of damage. The drive was not damaged and was placed as a secondary drive in another server and the files and databases were then copied. I’m sorry but we just couldn’t run to Digicom or Starr Computers for a $6,000 (+VAT) power supply and plug it in. Reasons? It would not physically fit and the power supply is for a server not even located in Guyana.

(Yes Digicom and Starr Computers, you’re welcome for the big up.)

Another reason why it took so much time is because the DNS (domain name system) had to propagate.  Long story short.  GuyanaLive.com was pointing to ‘server a’ and it takes a while for all ISP (internet service providers) to get the updated records to direct users to ‘server b’.

The second server (the one we’re currently hosted on) just isn’t capable of handling the load it previously had and the additional. Therefore the execution times have increased causing a delay of page load and timeouts.

A backup PSU (power supply unit) is scheduled to be delivered to the data center today.  It would replace the first and we’ll see if any further damage was done. If so another R900 server would be ordered.

The gallery database has been marked as corrupt but I’ll get over that one like everything else. By the way, we have 4 events to publish. Its all uploaded and waiting on the gallery to be fixed.

We received many calls, emails and IMs concerning the recent downtime. I never had a chance for a full explanation so here it is.

So what do you think? Feel free to reply here shoot us an email at team at guyanalive.com

– Rowen

SMS Works Again!

Thanks GT&T! We now have a choice between $1 and free. How cool is that? Good move.

p.s No I’m not praising them because they advertise on this site.

-Rowen.

Changes

The site is undergoing a few visible and performance based changes. The changes listed below are in relation to the main (index) page.

Events Block
Hiccups: We didn’t cater for international events although they were Guyanese related and we have a large Guyanese userbase.

Remedy: The flyer previews have been removed. Also the international events are marked with their respective country flags.

News Block
Hiccups: The news listings weren’t uniformed and lacked professionalism in the display.

Remedy: The previews were removed also with the fonts were reduced to accommodate long headlines without disrupting the layout.

Groups Block
Fault: Only one group was displayed and the image was somewhat big.

Remedy: Four groups are displayed instead with the images reduced but yet clearly visible.

Comments Block
Hiccups: There wasn’t one. Couldn’t see the last ‘x’ comments. You had to browse thru the entire site to see what was different. Silly on the part of the coder.

Remedy: Its implemented.

Profiles Block
Hiccups: Same as groups.

Remedy: Images reduced and five artistes are displayed.

Blogs Block
Hiccups: Wasn’t one.

Remedy: Is one.

Videos Block
Hiccups: Only three were displayed and it was bulky.

Remedy: Image dimensions reduced and six videos are displayed.

Polls Block
Hiccups: Wasn’t one.

Remedy: Is one and coded to be unobtrusive and user-friendly.

Mailing List Block
Hiccups: Was one. Then there wasn’t one.

Remedy: Its now back taking record of your email to send you specific updates.

Footer (all pages)

The other major change is the footer. It now displays over thirty links to different parts of the site. Some of the links dynamic to keep things fresh for you.

Arcade
There was one, now easier accessible in the footer.

More to come later.
Rowen

All Good Things Must …

Come to an end! No, I’m not referring about GuyanaLive.com. This is in relation to GT&T SMS being sent freely from online. I saw this one coming when they reduced their rates to $1 per text message and denied a few sites. GuyanaLive was among the last of the Guyanese sites to have the free SMS working and they were accused by “GTLIES” and “HINNY-EFFECTS” of sabotage in a recent meeting.

On the bright side; we have $1 messages! Our overseas folk just can’t message us.

Stay tuned to more of my updates.

– The Outsider

My Rotting Remains

The agony was too much. I’ve never cried so hard, my thoughts were scattered, I was confused and angry all at once.


I knew about the outcome of this but yet I was obstinate and had to have my own way. I sat at the edge of my bed with tears flowing down my pale cheeks; the sun stood still with its gleaming glow. It was as though it was punishing me for what I had done. The world scorned me.

Tim and I had been married for several years. Together we started our family and little by little we built ourselves the perfect home, or so we thought. As the days went by, “Tim was forced to work out of town to help feed and support the family.” Like any wife I supported his decision. The nights seemed endless and the days kept crawling. I was forced to spend my lonely nights crying the dry tears. I missed my husband so dearly; I longed for his kisses.

A day out with my girlfriends changed everything I once felt for my husband.

Mark,” the voice said softly. I turned slowly with a question written on my face.

I beg your pardon?” He looked straight into my eyes; I could feel the stare piercing my skin.

Mark,” he repeated.My name is Mark, I live just a few blocks away from you, and I’m sorry if I stared too hard but I was taken back by such radiant beauty.”

I blushed, and with a bright smile I got up and introduced myself;

“Elizabeth,” I said. I was already lost in his eyes, and his smile made me tingle all over.

Mark and I eventually left the group and made it to the park. We became mutual friends. He knew I was married but we both enjoyed each other’s company. We spent days together; thoughts of my husband barely crossed my mind. I was dangerously hooked on Mark.

Nothing seemed possible without him…we had endless pleasure together. This was an affair that I was determined to live with. I was willing to give up my entire family for this man. He treated me like a queen, dining out at nights, and unexpected gifts of love and affection. I was putting my wants before my needs. He adored my children and they loved him, but little did they know he was their mother’s secret pleasure.

I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror, I looked beautiful and youthful, I smiled more often and I felt that youthfulness I had with Tim. My heart told another tale, I can never love two men at the same time. I tried convincing myself that it was infatuation, but Mark was very charming and he had become a part of me. You’ve got to stop this,” I whispered to myself. “An affair will just ruin your marriage and besides Tim will be back,” I assured myself. I refused to listen to myself; I set aside every negative thought I had about Mark and let my passion take the best of me.

Mark decided he wanted to end this ‘fling,’ he wanted out. I was shocked. I had already given him the best of me and now I was left heartbroken. I pleaded with him not to end our relationship but he just kept shunning me. I felt ripped, inside a burning desire for Mark. Many nights I cried the tears of regret. I was now left alone.

I stood there dumb.

How could you?” I screamed as I tried to hold back my gushing tears.

He glanced away and playfully kicked about stones on the ground and said

Some things are better left unsaid.”

I froze, my heart froze because I watched my lover walk out of my life.

My husband returned home and I felt reprehensible. I was scared but I vowed not to let my guilty conscience ruin my marriage. I spent most of my time longing for Mark. I rejected my husband’s embrace; I only wanted Mark’s touch. I pretended that everything was all right when really I was burning inside with desire for another man.

On a bright Saturday afternoon, as I baked cookies for my kids and listened as they ran through the house screaming, the buzzer on my door went off. As I walked towards the door, I wiped my hands on the kitchen towel and gently flung it on the kitchen counter.

“Good afternoon, Madam,” the mailman said with a huge smile.

“Good afternoon to you too. May I help you?”

He gave me the telegram and calmly walked away. It had been a telegram for me, and it was from an unknown name, but it was addressed to me.Who?” I thought to myself.

It read, “Mark died.” Stop. “He died peacefully.” Stop.Package to follow.”

“Mark died,”I whispered to myself. I felt my stomach growl, suddenly I felt dizzy. I became numb; the walls looked as though they were closing in on me. I was spinning helplessly.

The package that followed had a letter from Mark, and in the privacy of my room my tears rushed helplessly down my cheeks. I sat at the edge of the bed unsure of what to expect. As I read the letter my heart raced and my thoughts were cloudy and gray. He had left because of his illness, an illness that killed him, he regretted every hurt he caused me but was happy that in his lifetime he met a woman such as me.

As I read the letter my husband came in only to find me slumped on the bed in tears. He took the letter from me but I was too ashamed to fight back. He read with disbelief, his anger grew faster as he too broke down with tears of betrayal and hatred.

Forgive me,” I pleaded with him.

The scornful look he gave me made me realize that our vows ‘for better or for worse,’ were all just a sham. He hated me no less, I made him cry. The man I once loved I compared to a man I lusted for. I was scorned amongst everyone. It had been an excruciating affair.

My rotting remains were a disgrace. Now I have to live with the guilt and the poison of what I had done to my family, and myself. I have allowed my lust to consume me and my consequence is definite, the house with the picket fence is broken and all my dreams shattered all at once. I am HIV Positive. God! Help me now…. How can I stop these tears from falling down helplessly.

Copyright © 2008 Tashandra Inniss