The 30 seconds dash to the Bots…

30 Seconds is a game I have been familiar with but problem lies in actually playing the game. Somehow in my 19 years, 3 months and 15 days in this life, found it quite surprising that I had managed not to play this interesting game.

So the time had come to for me to finally experience this life-changing event. What made it even more fun and adventurous was the fact that it was at the Botanical Gardens with a bunch of mates. To top it off my loyal beverage (ice-cold beer) was there to make it a time to remember.

Let the games begin- and so they did, in the beginning it took me a while to adjust to the rules and the way the game worked. When I got the hang of things, boy did I cream the game. The game got even more interesting when the girls starting cheating and claiming to have answers that no-one cold recall. But in the end we the men, overcame such challenges and triumphed.

Despite all of this, the good weather, the great friends and the amazing beer created timeless memories.

Pap n' Vleis served the funky way.

Pap n’ Vleis the proper African dish. No, I’m not talking about food here, but actually the blog. This blog is a good representation of African culture. The name drew to read on and see what these journalism students had to say. My first glance at this blog- I was awestruck at its funky and vibrant personality. This group of students delivered exactly what they promised, a dose of funky and vibrant talent.

The more I read their posts the more I was compelled to carry on and read more. It didn’t feel as if I was reading for an assignment but rather for my own pleasure. It was like eating good food- you are full but you still carry on eating. Another that made me enjoy reading their posts was that I could relate to what they were talking about. The post by Loyiso, about the adventurous trip to Port Alfred, brought childhood memories when I last went there on my Grade 6 camp. Even Tammy’s post about just going to the Grey Dam and swinging across the dam, it rejuvenated my own ambition of always wanting to do spontaneous things outdoors; things that put in a trance like state.

If you want some good food for thought served to you by some funky vibrant writers then this African dish might just be what you looking for.

Becoming Rafiki

Should I do it… Or shouldn’t I? Hmm… the pros and cons. I will become more flexible, more relaxed, one with nature. But isn’t it only for granny’s and hippies? Do we have to do that ohm stuff? That’s what everybody else says… Screw the opinions, let me do it!

A trans-like voice echoes through the cloud of incense. The candles give a spiritual glow. “We will now go into Surya Namaskar”. Say what? The instructor looks at my confused face, her smile shows her spirit, as free as her clothes. Bending and stretching, bending and stretching, feeling my muscles apprehend every position.

Yoga is far more intense than I ever thought it would be! Contorting my body into the shape of an “O”, gripping tightly on my pointed feet, kicking them up, my head in the same motion, looking towards the heavens. Rocking back and forth on my stomach. Back and forth. Back and forth. On my stomach?! Well this is a new feeling. My hamstrings, thighs and stomach muscles feeling like sinew in biltong.

“We will now finish off in Hanasana”, “lie flat on your mat, palms facing towards the ceiling, open your throat”. The voice drifts eerily past, like a fairy in a cave. “Feel the air touch the tips of your nostrils, imagine a white light going in as you breathe in, and dark light going out, negativity leaving your body”.

“Now imagine a white light on your forehead”… “Touching your third eye”… White light touching my third eye… White light touching my third eye… White light touching my third eye. My third eye? What the hell is that? Damn it now I broke my trance.

“And now bring your attention back to your breath, roll over into foetal position and then sit up and cross your legs, we will now end with a series of Ohm’s”. Here it is, I cross my legs and get into The Lion King’s Rafiki pose. An immensely deep breath in, and I let it out… oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmm… try it. And again. Lips vibrating. I am tuned in to the universal frequency. I can hear like I have never allowed myself to hear before. My mind is placid. My body, taught and relaxed all at once.

My spirit has been stretched.

Would you like to Rant-a-view?

I do apologise for the length, but stay with me, experience these controversial bloggers, their achievements and shortcomings.

Rant-a-view, a catchy title, encapsulating their post well. The use of the fish in their title is somewhat arbitrary, but different, as they choose to be. Put on your reading glasses you older folk who want to read about the controversies, because the predominantly black text on blue background will leave you squinting. http://tinyurl.com/yfuxcll

Juxtaposed to the attention-grabbing, enjoyable, well written posts is the tediously long group post – “a memorandum”. It’s like reading through the small print on an indemnity form. Wading through, I found some good points: To open up the blog to anyone interested in media, instead of journalists. They hit their target audience of 18-23 year olds, using the immediate nature of Facebook for advertising.

Onto the bloggers. Greeneggsandspam: an excellent profile, precisely written. One can feel his alternative, goal orientated nature. Did he reach those goals? He constantly blogged about news stories…which ended up being just that, a news story. The news value dropped due to incorrect spelling. The use of swearing hinted that an appropriate adjective did not come to mind many a time. In “Something New to Do” he suddenly changed his register, slang words were thrown around in a “hey bru” vibe. Not a compelling “first time” story.

Space Cake stays true to his name. “A Sudden Realisation” by him, was what many realised a while ago. It was a good attempt to portray his findings; however he came off as looking a bit behind the times. He tells, instead of shows. “A New Truth for a New Day” is a common view, expressed in an average post. This being said, the end paragraph is powerful and truthful, his true opinions rise to the surface and participate with the audience.

Chocolate Thunder: “This Blogger claims to be Inappropriate”. The controversial nature strikes and catches the eye. Her metaphors are incredible and provoking (“Is this thing on?”). Her tongue-in-cheek humour keeps things light, but witty. “Uncensored knowledge is just a click away” she stated. She has got my attention for as long as I pursue the quest of honest journalism.

Minnie Doughnut has a rather serious blog. It is almost a gloss over blog. Her metaphor of journalism as a cake falls flat. Her sentences tend to flow into each other like lazy ripples on a river. The stone throw of contrversiality is there – but it does not make successful ripples. “Pants or No Pants: Could Sisterhood be a Myth” however, was very truthful and powerful, with great use of image. (http://www.mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com/)

believe in yourself

Believe in yourself
This year will definitely be marked as one of my most memorably. It has been a year of growth independence and most importantly confidences. Who thought that I would pack my belongings and move to Grahamstown? Definitely not me nor my family, or take up ballroom dancing, work for Cosmopolitan Magazine and read news bulletins for a live regional radio broadcast. All these achievement are great but the one I hold close to my heart is my presentation evening for all extended studies faculties. I would have never thought I could present for a large audience filled with student’s, deans and honoured guest, and not just present but present on witchcraft for academics! This had to be one of my most nerve wrecking and exciting experiences of my life.
This experience has thought me that self doubt can be the most detrimental factor in a person’s life. If you don’t believe in yourself no one else will and amazing opportunities will pass you by. This was a great learning experience for me, my presentation had its flaws but overall it was amazing and I am proud of myself.

http://www.comeeko.com/ps/gallery/view_image/32975238

Purple knickers are quiet refreshing

By Palesa Radebe

1. Tweet: #rublogs the colour of your knickers does not determine who you are http://bit.ly/2WH5Ji

Purple knickers, first thing that comes to my mind is a clichéd stereotype, promiscuous blond teens and their “college” experience, studying journalism because “I really want to be famous and have like my own talk show”.
My assumptions about the blog were totally misguided, though the blog does exude a sense of “legally blond” with the pink background and beach road trip photos, the content does not reflect air heads. The blog is informative yet entertaining, the topics discussed are not new or surprisingly different but the angles the blogs are written in are refreshing. The topics discussed are very socially conscience issues, such as racism, gender equality, human rights and education. Their Headline are not just bold and bright (I am not just referring to the font’s style and design) but also witty and satirical .The blog posts are written in simple language, easy to read formats and in a student’s point of view.
This blog is feminie, it’s very female originated, and most of the stories are written in a female’s point of view, as they tend to be very emotive. The issues are relevant to a reader’s life and seeing how young female journalist view particular issues are very stimulating as these voices are hardly heard.
The tweets are very provocative and in your face, and all the hyperlinks work. It’s very easy to navigate through the blog and I believe the blog has lived up to it manifesto. It has delivered interesting topics that educate and entertain.

http://rhodespurpleknickers365.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html

Parreira, “the backstabbing” captain returns to his sinking ship.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, the former Bafana coach has been reinstated into the position of head coach of the defeat less Bafana Bafana. This was announced by Safa (South African Football Association), on Friday night, after the previous coach Joel Santana resigned. Santana who was suggested by Parreira, simply failed to match the level of his predecessor. Parreira is faced with the difficult task of getting Bafana back into gear.

Now, why would one want to appoint someone who left Bafana when they were really blossoming into a solid unit, to be with his wife back home? But this does not surprise some of us, because we know that Safa is just performing their well-known ritual. They have never failed to fire and appoint new coaches near the time of World Cup Tournaments. The exact same thing happened before the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.

Whoever promotes such behaviour is an idiot, who sure knows how to lure these foreign coaches with big paycheques that they would never be afforded in their own countries. It did not work in the past and what will change this time. Who are they fooling? Safa is like a dog chasing its own tail- all they do is deal with issues in the same manner that failed them in the past.

Is the world going through another great depression?

Tweet: palesaradebe Tweet: #ruglogs suicide is never the answer or is it?

By: Palesa Radebe

Is the world going through another great depression?
The number of suicide reported in South Africa has increased over the past few years; this is due to the economic crisis the world is going through. This depression has the same characteristics as the 19th century one.
The recession has had are very negative impact on South Africa’s this has left people in a state of hopelessness and self pity, South African feel like their backs are against the wall and this is evident in the number of protects, increase in crime and worse suicides.
It’s reported that 22 South Africans take their lives every single day and 220 suicide attempts are reported. These numbers are alarming and South Africa is not the only country affected by this.
This lead to me in wondering what is the government doing to decrease the numbers? I don’t believe enough steps are being put in place to help people cope with the economic crisis. People are losing their jobs homes, cars and dignity and are resorting to suicide as a quick fix method. More counsellors are needed in the work force, schools, hospitals and churches, there is a clear indication that South Africans are not handling the crisis well and don’t know what to do next. People need to know that this is a passing phase and soon everything will go back to normal, they are not alone in this situation.
Hope needs to be re-instilled in people; suicide is not the only answer

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/7dfb5a1ac4b64be389327b2d187e8bb2/19-07-2009-08-01/22_commit_suicide_daily_in_SA

Stick to The Roman law

Roman Polanski, highly accredited film director, was taken into custody in Switzerland at the Zurich Film Festival and faces expatriation to the US. If you have not heard this name before, you think: What could this man have possibly done at this festival to be kicked out of a country? But, it is not what he has done now; it is what he did 32 years ago.

Polanski fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl. Samantha Gailey (now Geimer) was 13 years old at the time, when Polanski allegedly plied her with champagne and drugs during a model shoot, before raping her. He was charged with rape, child molestation and sodomy. He was 43 at the time.

However, according to many Hollywood highflyers he should not be punished for this. Whoopi Goldberg delivered an infamous line: it was not “rape-rape”. A petition is being circled for the dropping of these charges. To let Polanski off the hook trivializes child sexual abuse and sends the message that rape is OK. It maintains that those who are rich and famous need not be held accountable for their actions.
Geimer, now married with children, is asking for the issue to be dropped saying the constant publication of details "causes harm to me, my husband and children". (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2712371.stm).

Many look at the other side of the coin, in sympathy. Polanski spent his childhood in the Krakow ghetto, lost his mother in Auschwitz and his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, to a brutal murder. Traumatizing life events for one person to experience, however, he is now passing that on to another. If he is not punished for his actions which he pleaded guilty to, injustice is served, and the judicial system is not fair to all. Samantha protested and said “no” repeatedly throughout the ordeal. He ignored her. She insisted on going home. He ignored her. Let us not ignore another rapist walking free.

news commentary

It is a shame that in order for the lower-class communities to get attention and have their voices heard they have to resort to violent protests. Can we really blame these people for their reaction to lack of service delivery and unresponsiveness from the municipality?
Well I don’t think so! This is not just a random protest, its years of corrupt government official and mismanagement. The residents were stuck between a rock and a very hard place; extreme measures have to be taken in order for the government to take notice and action. This is unfortunately the real truth for the working class, their voices wont be heard unless from extreme circumstances
The media reports on these issues, in the same way, the angry resident with their ‘violent” protests are always portrayed as the disruption and due to their lack economic understanding, they end up making unreasonable demands. Why should they be reasonable? They have been reasonable for all these years and no actions were taken than. The government has taught them that this is the only reasoning they understand.


http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/a2b79ce2c1874434b0ae2da012723cf9/15-10-2009-04-18/Itll_be_war_until_Zuma_comes

'Shoot-to-kill', leading to many innocent deaths

The only thing that this aggressive stance on crime is managing to do is murder innocent citizens. This comes after the statements made by our own president and some government officials urging police officers on. Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu had gone as far as saying: “You must kill the bastards.” They have perhaps given power to people who do not know how to exercise it correctly. According to Mike Waters DA MP, 75 percent of the police had not received shooting training, the government has even admitted to this.

This business of “shoot-to-kill” raises the question of: will this have a positive or negative effect on our nation? What it has done recently is cause anger amongst family members of those innocent people who have been killed unjustifiably; “I will never forgive those police who killed her”. Reactions like these are not good for the country as they need the communities support to help fight crime.


Police are placed in a difficult position because Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act states that they must forcefully act in situations where there is substantial risk of the suspect causing any harm. When a police officer is out there it is a whole different situation, they have to make a split-second decision about how risky it actually is.


What this calls for is for South Africans to stand together to fight crime and the police not to be ‘trigger- happy’ monsters.

Monty assaults Wife in Fight over Brush

Almost every article relating to Monty’s alleged assault on his wife, Tasmin, was based on the conventional SAPA article. The true opinions of the news pages only came through in the headings: “Monty’s Wife Kicks for Touch” to “Assault charge in Montgomery case ‘laid in haste’”. The adjacent pictures made more of a comment. On the “Mikeys” website (http://mickeys.co.za/2009/10/montys-wife-drops-charges/) collaborating with “Monty’s Wife Drops Charges” stands the humorous, yet triumphant picture:
























Compared to “The Independent’s” “Percy ‘threw a Punch’ at His Wife” -a fairly strained looking Percy alongside his model wife. “The Independent” has the best researched, most interesting article. It does not go around the fact that Percy is a celebrity, which may result in bias from the public. (http://tiny.cc/OCjxF)
Besides “The Independent” I found every other article standard, with no independent research going on. No, they left that all to the bloggers. The true disputes between who is in the right or wrong came out, the provocative articles begin: On News24 the debates flared from: “For those who judge... F*** you…What do you think drives a decent man so far as to hit his wife?”, to “Why Can't people mind their own business” to “OH MY GOODNESS !!... I am one of Tamsin's friends and DONT DARE diss her like you have...”. (http://tiny.cc/M6GmD)

The Mail and Guardian: “it is a private family matter”. (http://tiny.cc/91GMO). However, once the police are involved, it becomes serious. One can either take it that Tasmin was standing up for herself; overreacting, looking for attention; or that Percy is at a loss after playing days and taking it out. For a person to charge their husband with assault, and then drop it, shows it might be intimidation… or a drunken night.

The police responded, stating that this was a waste of their time. (http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1760978.htm). Related articles however fail to mention that it might not have been(http://tiny.cc/M6GmD). Perhaps the cops should refrain from stating such claims, as it is their duty to protect. If someone withdraws their claims of abuse (like many abused women have done, before abuse resulted in their death), the police should scrutinise this, or charge a fine if it was irrelevant in drunken haste.

Step by Step

ziphe

image/32/844/758/comic-p.jpg[/img] [/imagine]=http;//www.pikistrips

image/32/844/758/comic-p.jpg[/img][/url]=http:www.pikistrips.

http://www.comeeko.com/ps/gallery/view_image/32843928

Blogging cannot be so bad, after all

As a journalism student I have felt apprehensive to the idea of blogging, although it is a big part of the media world. I have though of it as being a medium through with people complain, share irrelevant details of their life to the outside world, which will probably not be read by anyone. As you can see, one of the aims of this blog is to be truthful. I have thought of blogging as being almost like an “agony aunt” page. However, through learning about blogging with lecturers’ who have read and searched them extensively, I have learnt that a lot of blogs are substantial, and not all are “funeral blogs”. As a result of looking at the different blogs I realise that a blog should be something interesting, and while portraying what I would like to write, that I should also think of my audience. Journalism students at Rhodes, around the world, and students wanting to study Journalism would enjoy this blog. Journalism has really stretched me, and I am constantly learning more. Not just about the subject, but myself. With this course on blogging, we are able to explore these intertwined elements, and put it down for all to see. It is a liberating feeling, telling others how you feel. Being a Journalism student has opened up my eyes to more media, and to meeting and learning about very interesting people. I really would not choose any other course, as I get such a fulfilment from what I take away from it. In the beginning of the year it felt so glamorous saying that I wanted to be a Journalist. I just expected things to fall into my lap. With the work experience I expected to get out there with no time in an office at all and to make a name for myself and for everyone to participate positively in interviews. However, I have since found out that Journalism is hard work. “Tippy toeing” is an acquired skill in the Journalistic world, as well as persistence, especially with sources and interviews. Learning how to work with people and to be objective is a must in this field and has been repeated in all of our courses this term. I have tried to maintain that standard since day one, and as a result I have found that my writing has become more professional. This course on blogging has come at a perfect time, the end of the year. We can sit back and look at our performance throughout this year like a person observing a colourful, eventful play, at the end of which you take away an important message. This reflection has opened my eyes to what I have done throughout this year, and a sense of pride and happiness flows through me, thinking of the obstacles overcome. Blogging cannot be so bad, after all.

ziphezinhle what blogger am i

Ziphezinhle Mpanza I am an upcoming journalist, born in Kwa-Zulu Natal a Zulu girl with lots who trusts and believes in the lord almighty. Ethics are very important in life and I will be a journalist with a lot of ethics and hope to that will never change in the years to come.

I am aspiring to become an investigative journalist because I love going out there and finding stories and exposing people who think they can get away with anything, for the people who have been violated and have nowhere to go, I want to be the hope for those who have lost hope. I look up to Deborah Patter, the journalist from 3rd degree, she is my role model I love how she interrogates people and that is what I have the passion for what she does she exposes people on live television.

In the attempt to describe myself I am still not sure of whom I really am, I am still in search for the final product of myself even though I know where I am going. In the blog my mission is to be an honest a journalist with integrity and will not publish false stories or misinterpret. The whole aim in this blog is to interact with young people from all the spheres of the world to share our experiences and relate, and what I enjoy doing interacting because that is when we get to learn things and that is when we get realise that no problem is bigger that another and of course getting and giving advise and that is how we as people grow by sharing and learning from one another.

In my life I have learnt that the little mistakes we make are the ones that have the worst repercussions to me life is a journey is a book with many chapters of who we are in this blog I hope to find friends that will give me advise that will make a difference in my life, a good difference, that and I intend on doing the same because the people that you think you know sometime are the people that tend to let you down and do not have the guts to tell the truth instead the laugh at you. On the other hand I am sure that people you do not know and cannot see you they always tell you the truth and they are not afraid of offending you. As a journalism student I have learnt to be brave and it has taken away that shy element that I had, I know enjoy reading newspapers and discovered how important it is to keep up with what is happening around me.

The Blogger thats ME!

Athe Mahomana
JMS 1- Blog Assignment 1
Tutor: Lindsay Callaghan
450 words

Greetings. I am Athe Mahomana one fourth of The Shouting Rats. This is my first blogging experience. I believe it will grow me and expose me to a different
kind of journalistic experience. It will expose me to a different mediated experience with journalism. As a group and as individuals we aim to achieve our
utmost best with blogging and putting the journalistic skills we have acquired to great use. Our blog our posts will deal with the issues that we young and
upcoming journalists are experiencing everyday.

We mentioned in our blog planner that we will draw from blogs like that of Bob Stepno, who says that journalists today have to adapt to the ever-changing
technological world that we live in. He deals with this issue by providing us with a list of what he thinks is the best way journalists today can produce
quality journalism as well as making use of the technology available to us. The Shouting Rats will mirror this and tweak it to suit our target audience and
help them become better journalists.

Who am I? I am someone who has great passion for music but more especially house/dance music, it is evident in my speech. It forms a major part of my life.
I also have great interest in Dramatic Arts – it really fascinates me and I want to see myself doing physical theatre (which is part or drama) in the near
future. As a black South African I find it difficult to express my political views freely, without being judged and looked down upon as an outcast by my
fellow black people. I am pro Democratic Alliance and very anti-ANC. But as this is my blog and I have the liberty to exercise freedom of speech I will use
this platform to my advantage. You will find that my blog posts might be influenced greatly by the music I listen to and by my political views, but I will
try to link these with journalism.

This brings me to say that journalism is an important factor in everyone’s lives. It is important because it keeps us informed about the current affairs that
affect us daily. So this is why on our blog we will provide you with accurate and truthful journalism. We are exposed too much to sensationalist news;
because unfortunately some media companies have succumbed to the wrath of capitalism. Being a journalism student is an experience different to what I expected. I am disappointed to a certain extent because of the little freedom we have had to
express our views in the journalism class. Although being in this class has shed light in a positive in the way I see journalism.

What kind of blogger am I

Okay so i am another journalism student trying to get my thoughts and opinion out to the world, and you probably thinking so what? It's not as if im the first nor last so called "opinionated" journalism student who thinks they have something important or valuable to say.

I am not interested in politics nor do I want to win the "investigative journalist of the year award", I dont want to chase Politicians down the street screaming minister " do you think its appropriate that you brought a car valued at R 1 million while the country is experiencing recession?". Don't get me wrong I do believe that these are very important issuess that need to be confronted, but just not by me! Okay so by now you probably thinking why study journalism? Cause sweetie you are clearly in the wrong carrer path!

One of the reasons why I love journalism and media studies so much it's due to the fact that it's so broad, it's okay that i can't picture myself in a power suit integrating corrupt government official. Iwant to tell stories but not just any stories, stories that are about real people who get affected by the decisions made by corrupt government officials. I want their voices to be heard, their stories to be told but most importantly I want to hear their thoughts and opinions.

Personally I am so tired of hearing and seeing the same old people everyday on television, newspapers and radio. I'm interested in the kind of journalism that listens to people from all races and classes. Haven't you ever thought to yourserlf during an interview lets say abnout poverty, why aren't they interviewing the people that actually go to bed hungry or the street children smoking glue to stay warm about their experiences, instead of an over nourished politician who has no idea of whats happening in the "real South Africa".

this blog is different because its members are so different, we all come from different backgrounds and have such different experiences, which make our blog so versatile and refreshing. When reading or following this blog you can expect more than just a bunch of first years that have misconceptions about what journalism is. In our group we all know that, we are not yet equipped nor experienced enough to analysis or critic the world of journalism. We are all still trying to figure out what journalism means to all of us. What our blog represents is truth for all of us no matter how we see and understand what truth is, it will be real to our world.