It is with disgust to learn of the knew developments on the BRT project in Cape Town. To make such a blunder at a time like this, is not fair. It is not fair to us as taxpayers and to the project 2010 itself. They have started so well but everything has since changed. More money is needed to be able finish the project (5 billion rands) to be exact. There is more to the problem than what we have been told. It has now turned a political battle between the ANC and DA. One accusing the other of wrong doings and the other retaliates. This is taking us nowhere as we are very close to the event.
It was not supposed to be like that but everyone from all the parties should be working together to ensure that our ducks are in a row for the 2010 World Cup. This is our priority for us as the whole world will be watching us. Does this mean that we will still be using the unroadworthy taxis that the government wants to get rid of? It definately does not make sense at all. Whoever is responsible for this mess must be brought to book and charged for this.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Benni is back
I learnt with great joy that Benni Mcarthy our prolific scorer is back with the team. It has been a long and dry season for Bafana Bafana in terms of scoring goals. We have been playing very interesting and beautiful football but without any goals. He is one of the players who can score goals from all angles and create something out of nothing. He has proved himself to Blackburn Rovers and Porto FC. However, our problem with him is his lack of discipline. He had given us headaches when it comes to this department. He abandoned us for numeral times whenever he feels like it but now we are going to the World Cup he is back.
It is also good that Alberto Pareira is back with the team. We lacked a great leader and motivator in the camp. We needed a person who will lead us, guide us and give us that little push to the right direction. We failed dismally under the helm of Joel Santana. The whole team just broke down. We dropped from the Fifa rankings terribly and we lost eight games in a row. I still hope that all Bafana Bafana fans and all South Africa will rally behind the team to ensure that we go to the World Cup in high spirit and proceed to the next round even to the finals of this prestigious trophy.
It is also good that Alberto Pareira is back with the team. We lacked a great leader and motivator in the camp. We needed a person who will lead us, guide us and give us that little push to the right direction. We failed dismally under the helm of Joel Santana. The whole team just broke down. We dropped from the Fifa rankings terribly and we lost eight games in a row. I still hope that all Bafana Bafana fans and all South Africa will rally behind the team to ensure that we go to the World Cup in high spirit and proceed to the next round even to the finals of this prestigious trophy.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Conventional is a good fallback position
This is quite true; being conventional at times is not a problem especially if the situation requires you to. It helps in a sense that one stay away from trouble, avoid arguments that would leads to no solution but time wasting. There are things that demands one to be conventional. However, we need to not be conventional if it will mean that we must miss out of all the benefits because we are afraid of opening our mouth and talk.
Sometimes people are so afraid of taking opportunities because they are scared of failure. That must not be seen as conventional but lack of it thereof. They stick to their routine and do things again and again because they are scared of trying new ventures, they are afraid of change. Change to them is scary and they will not be able to fit in and things will be different to what they are used to. This must not be seen in that direction but change brings a new way of doing things and sometimes it’s easy that the one you are used to. You tend to miss out on all the life’s opportunities that would have changed your life forever.
Sometimes people are so afraid of taking opportunities because they are scared of failure. That must not be seen as conventional but lack of it thereof. They stick to their routine and do things again and again because they are scared of trying new ventures, they are afraid of change. Change to them is scary and they will not be able to fit in and things will be different to what they are used to. This must not be seen in that direction but change brings a new way of doing things and sometimes it’s easy that the one you are used to. You tend to miss out on all the life’s opportunities that would have changed your life forever.
The biggest music festival ever- 40 years ago!!!
This happened forty years ago 15-18 August 1969 in Woodstock (US) in the town of Bethel. It was to celebrate the rock and roll music and to build a music studio in the town of Woodstock. All went haywire because of lack of proper organization and not divulging all the information needed to stage an event. It was a lesson that we as events organizers need to bear in mind all the time we organize an event. There was no suitable site in Woodstock for the event and they had to be accommodated to an alternative site.
They played down the numbers expected, they said only 50 000 people were expected while they sold 186 000 tickets in advance. In the end 500 000 people attended the festival. There were approximately a million people that were turned away by officers. There was no Plan B for the venue and it was drizzling. No securities to enforce law and the event ended being a free event.
The moral of the story is that, event organizing is not for any Tom, Dick and Harry. Never assume that everything is in place unless you get expertise of the people who knows what needs to be put in place. This is a case study that we can learn from especially now before the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
They played down the numbers expected, they said only 50 000 people were expected while they sold 186 000 tickets in advance. In the end 500 000 people attended the festival. There were approximately a million people that were turned away by officers. There was no Plan B for the venue and it was drizzling. No securities to enforce law and the event ended being a free event.
The moral of the story is that, event organizing is not for any Tom, Dick and Harry. Never assume that everything is in place unless you get expertise of the people who knows what needs to be put in place. This is a case study that we can learn from especially now before the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Where is South African Football going?
We were admitted back to international sports in 1994 after a long isolation and immediately won the African Nations Cup. Our standard was so high to such an extent that we predicted that by this time around we will be playing with all the international recognized football countries. Immediately after that, we started to drop the standard.
We are now rated number 85 in the Fifa World rankings which is very disgusting looking at our infrastructure and stadia. We keep making blunders that end up costing us fortunes and skillful player and talent. We recently held elections where Fifa objected on what FIFA instructed them to do and they did not listed. They all occupying high positions not because of knowledge of the game of football but devoured by their own inability of ruling and managing the game. Today our National team plays the worst soccer ever seen having the elections before the World Cup but all the SAFA opportunists and power mongers insisted on having it. But after that we are faced with court orders and legal issues where the very same people who insisted on having the elections are taking each other to courts and that is totally against.
We are now rated number 85 in the Fifa World rankings which is very disgusting looking at our infrastructure and stadia. We keep making blunders that end up costing us fortunes and skillful player and talent. We recently held elections where Fifa objected on what FIFA instructed them to do and they did not listed. They all occupying high positions not because of knowledge of the game of football but devoured by their own inability of ruling and managing the game. Today our National team plays the worst soccer ever seen having the elections before the World Cup but all the SAFA opportunists and power mongers insisted on having it. But after that we are faced with court orders and legal issues where the very same people who insisted on having the elections are taking each other to courts and that is totally against.
Andy Warhol said, “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” – You can’t choose the 15 minutes but why would you be world fam
Fame, who does not want to be famous? The statement above is really true and each and everyone of deserves to be happy once in our lives. Be it long or short time. It’s also quite critical that fame does not get to your head and you start undermining other people and behave like a lunatic. I know of people who were once poor and now famous and they forgot where they are coming from. Another point is that sometimes fame come unexpected and for a very short time. With all the social communication tools at our disposal, it’s easy for one to be famous without even noticing. I do not consider being shown on TV for ten minutes is fame but your constant appearance is what I call fame.
Fame is good as long as one put more effort in acquiring that.
Fame is good as long as one put more effort in acquiring that.
“Bunch of animals”
I refute the statement above based on these following factors. We all know the history of our country, where we come from, how we got to where we are today. Having said that, it is quite evident that we fought so hard and so many lives were sacrificed in the process. Our fellow black and white brothers sacrifice a lot for the sake of freedom and democracy. We have experience and partaken to worst of things that we never thought of doing just for the sake of democracy. We can no longer entertain where a certain few individuals will take decisions that affect everyone without consulting them first.
Then the issue in CPUT falls under the same sphere of segregation financially. Those in power are struggling so hard to ensure that black people (who compose 80% of CPUT students) will not be able to afford to pay that kind of money, which means that majority of black student will not be able to study. That does not justify the vandalism but fighting for your rights is what any man/woman must do. We cannot go back to the apartheid era where people would decide for others without consultation of any sort. The struggle continues (ALUTA CONTINUA) and power to the people. The struggle must be intensified to break the shackles of the past. Also by vandalising what we have is of no cure to no one because after it’s all said and done we will be left with nothing. Some of us are studying and paying with our hard earned cash and we are in no position to compromise our time, money, studying for no reason at all. Sanity must prevail and people need to learn how to voice their anger and frustration
Then the issue in CPUT falls under the same sphere of segregation financially. Those in power are struggling so hard to ensure that black people (who compose 80% of CPUT students) will not be able to afford to pay that kind of money, which means that majority of black student will not be able to study. That does not justify the vandalism but fighting for your rights is what any man/woman must do. We cannot go back to the apartheid era where people would decide for others without consultation of any sort. The struggle continues (ALUTA CONTINUA) and power to the people. The struggle must be intensified to break the shackles of the past. Also by vandalising what we have is of no cure to no one because after it’s all said and done we will be left with nothing. Some of us are studying and paying with our hard earned cash and we are in no position to compromise our time, money, studying for no reason at all. Sanity must prevail and people need to learn how to voice their anger and frustration
Personal Autonomy-how far does it extend?
It refers to “A self-directing freedom and moral independence. An ethical principle holds that the autonomy of persons ought to be respected”. We all need to be free and be able to take informed decisions and as long that freedom is attained in a moral and respected way, life will go smooth. For example, your mother gave birth to you and when you get of age she must accept that you have grown and needs freedom to make decisions for yourself.
As humans we have a desire for personal autonomy. We have a desire to be the person who chooses how we live our lives. We have a desire not to be controlled by others. As young children when we are learning about the world we may be happy to follow what those we trust tell us, but, as we all know as we approach adolescence we fight with fierce determination for our right to change this situation and make our own choices, independent of those whom we have been accustomed to following. If we are not able to move into a position where we are self determining, if we feel under the control of another then we find ourselves in a very difficult situation. To not act in accordance with what feels right to oneself results in severe mental confusion because we are not able to be who we are. Indeed this problem begins far earlier than adolescence. If as babies and young children our basic needs are not looked after, or if we are expected to act in ways which are against our basic nature, then damage will have been done in our psyche.
However, to her you will always be young and a child (something you cannot change). As one grows, one tends to mature and needs that sense of independence and have his/her family and make his/her decision without consulting anyone. However, one does not leave in vacuum and have people that one needs to consult and make amends with for life go smooth.
As humans we have a desire for personal autonomy. We have a desire to be the person who chooses how we live our lives. We have a desire not to be controlled by others. As young children when we are learning about the world we may be happy to follow what those we trust tell us, but, as we all know as we approach adolescence we fight with fierce determination for our right to change this situation and make our own choices, independent of those whom we have been accustomed to following. If we are not able to move into a position where we are self determining, if we feel under the control of another then we find ourselves in a very difficult situation. To not act in accordance with what feels right to oneself results in severe mental confusion because we are not able to be who we are. Indeed this problem begins far earlier than adolescence. If as babies and young children our basic needs are not looked after, or if we are expected to act in ways which are against our basic nature, then damage will have been done in our psyche.
However, to her you will always be young and a child (something you cannot change). As one grows, one tends to mature and needs that sense of independence and have his/her family and make his/her decision without consulting anyone. However, one does not leave in vacuum and have people that one needs to consult and make amends with for life go smooth.
“Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read
This has been the difficult topic that I have encountered in this whole blogging. I’m not sure whether it is dealing with Rock as in music or people who can’t read, write and let alone interviewing people. Be that as it may, I believe that to be able to execute your task thoroughly and efficiently one needs to have a little bit of education, studying and be able to interpreted and make sense of all the information presented at his disposal. In fact one needs to know exactly the rules of interviewing and gathering information or putting the information together. Being illiterate never helped anyone. You can have all the information at your disposal but if unable to utilize it, it will be of no use to you at all. Especially now with this ever-changing technological world where information flows at a very fast rate, one would not be able to keep up. There are so many new innovations that come out everyday i.e. social media like google,face book and others we then needs to be able to familiarize ourselves with this form of communication.
What motivates me?
This is a controversial topic and people have different explanations attached to it. My take is that, I am a people’s person, more concerned by other people than myself. What I’m trying to say is that, people first. A pat in the back and recognition is more important at the end of the day after you have done something good or clinched a deal for your company. It does not matter how small the gains will be but the fact that you have taken an extra mile for the company is more important. It motivates me more to see how passionate people are towards their work and ensuring that they give their all. The mere (thanks) if a person has done something good more motivating.
Even if one fails, when you know deep down your heart that he/she tried his/her best, that individual must be motivated and encouraged to keep the spirit and that fire burning. If I were a boss, I would make sure that all my employees are being rewarded for their efforts and productivity in the company. It does not have to be financial rewards but other means as well. You’re not sure how far that would actually go. What I hate most is managers and individuals who collect accolades and benefits at the end of the day without even acknowledging the people who put their entire to ensure success of the project.
Even if one fails, when you know deep down your heart that he/she tried his/her best, that individual must be motivated and encouraged to keep the spirit and that fire burning. If I were a boss, I would make sure that all my employees are being rewarded for their efforts and productivity in the company. It does not have to be financial rewards but other means as well. You’re not sure how far that would actually go. What I hate most is managers and individuals who collect accolades and benefits at the end of the day without even acknowledging the people who put their entire to ensure success of the project.
Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you only have one idea
This is a great statement that has two sides in it. Firstly, having one idea can be very dangerous especially if you planning a venture. Reason being that if this idea is not working out then you are “OUT”. Whereas if there’s plan B to fall on, it will be good. I think one also needs to ensure that you get other people’s views and opinions and how your idea can be made a reality and you will be surprised. One needs to be diplomatic especially if you go for pitching for new clients. You need to be able go back and forth and play with your idea by showing different angles in it in order for clients to buy in it.
On the contrary, it is good to have one idea. Why?
When you have one idea you make sure that you do anything possible for it to work because you only have that idea. Furthermore, when pitching for an account and you start confusing your information because you have so many ideas will cause more harm than good. You need to be focused and stick to this one idea but motivate it further so that people can see that you have done your preparations and you know your story as well. When that is your one idea, it sounds or looks like a wounded animal with no other alternative but to fight in order to survive.
On the contrary, it is good to have one idea. Why?
When you have one idea you make sure that you do anything possible for it to work because you only have that idea. Furthermore, when pitching for an account and you start confusing your information because you have so many ideas will cause more harm than good. You need to be focused and stick to this one idea but motivate it further so that people can see that you have done your preparations and you know your story as well. When that is your one idea, it sounds or looks like a wounded animal with no other alternative but to fight in order to survive.
The ten most unexpected consequences of being online
The ten most unexpected consequences of being online
1. To have all your personal information available to strangers and end up in the wrong hands
2. To have people spying on the emails and messages (personal ) that is being sent and received
3. By becoming addicted on social media sites
4. Banking online and other financial transactions (don’t trust those)
5. Share information with the rest of the world instantly
6. To also have first hand information before other media gets hold of it
7. To be able to discover and find new friends around the world that you would be able to communicate and share information with on daily basis
8. Some other people find love on the dating sites which is good
9. Affordable, one can be online for an hour for as little as R5
10. Being in contact with long lost friends through social media i.e. face book etc.
1. To have all your personal information available to strangers and end up in the wrong hands
2. To have people spying on the emails and messages (personal ) that is being sent and received
3. By becoming addicted on social media sites
4. Banking online and other financial transactions (don’t trust those)
5. Share information with the rest of the world instantly
6. To also have first hand information before other media gets hold of it
7. To be able to discover and find new friends around the world that you would be able to communicate and share information with on daily basis
8. Some other people find love on the dating sites which is good
9. Affordable, one can be online for an hour for as little as R5
10. Being in contact with long lost friends through social media i.e. face book etc.
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