Wednesday - 16 May 2007 - My boys high school. After school sports against a visiting school. Rugby, and probably netball. The grand stands are filled with spectators, from both schools.
Two boys got into a bit of an argument. They are both coloureds - their race is important as it sets the scene, for us South Africans anyway.
Visitor takes a swing - misses.
Local boy plants a bunch - center in the face of visitor.
Visitor reaches under his shirt - another local spots a gun butt - swings - lands another punch in visitors face.
First local stabs visitor in the gut!
All hell breaks loose, and I am told many more kids getting involved in the free for all.
Thursday - 17 May 2007. My boys come home from school with this update.
The rumour mill has confirmed that about 30 kids from the visiting school will make their appearance after school at the side gate of the local school. This is a revenge visit. The local boys have a meeting, and about 30 locals will be there to welcome the visitors, including, I am told, some of our Lebanese fraternity!
I trust that the teachers have got wind of this, (they normally do) and that the local SAPS (LIU) will show. If not, this could be nasty.
Will update Monday.
Salagatle!
LIU - Look It Up!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Ok, so it works
If you want to see my poems, click on the label "Poem" at the bottom of this post (or any other with the word poem) and all my poems will be lined up for you.
I like this feature.
Time to realign all my posts.
Salagatle!
I like this feature.
Time to realign all my posts.
Salagatle!
Those of you who have read my stuff
for some time will know I have posted quite a few poems. In fact, I'm going to be linking them using the "Labels for post" thingy below. That is what it's for isn't it?
However, why I am raising it is, for some time now I've been trying to do a few more (even one more would suffice), but I don't have "it". Not sure what "it" is, but there's nothing coming together. This means, I am either in a very satisfied / relaxed place in my life right now (NOT) or I've got poets block (as opposed to writers block).
Funny how that can happen. And frustrating too. Anyway, I have kept a file with all my poems, and am at about 37. When / if I get to 100, who knows, I may have them published...
Some raised some issues, I was even slated for being racist (I neither acknowledge or deny this fact), and some (most) are really bad, but they are all mine, and original.
Salagatle!
However, why I am raising it is, for some time now I've been trying to do a few more (even one more would suffice), but I don't have "it". Not sure what "it" is, but there's nothing coming together. This means, I am either in a very satisfied / relaxed place in my life right now (NOT) or I've got poets block (as opposed to writers block).
Funny how that can happen. And frustrating too. Anyway, I have kept a file with all my poems, and am at about 37. When / if I get to 100, who knows, I may have them published...
Some raised some issues, I was even slated for being racist (I neither acknowledge or deny this fact), and some (most) are really bad, but they are all mine, and original.
Salagatle!
Damn fool bidders
I often / regularly? visit the local on line auction site, www.bidorbuy.co.za, and see whats available. Have also bought some stuff in the past. My brother is a regular surfer there (maybe that's why his blogg has stagnated) and has bought a mountain of stuff there.
However, my reason for mentioning this is the fact that I am surprised at how high some / most of the bids go. Surely people are not so stupid as to bid almost the cost of a new thing for a second hand one? Or is it just the point of winning the bid, at all costs?
Cellphones are especially hard bidded, to the point where I know I can buy a brand new, in the box, with warranty unit for the price it gets auctions for, or maybe 10-15% more, which I think is worth paying as it would be brand new.
Then, the junk that gets listed is another gob smacker. Some people will try and sell anything, and some people will bid on anything. It's worth a visit, even if only for a laugh.
One of the bigger attractions recently was cabin space on board a local liner for 3 or 4 day excursions around our shores. Now I know that it's expensive to start off with, but to bid it to within 5-10% of face value, and then to have to go on their choice of dates makes no sense. And yet, the online bidders will push the price.
Coins and bank notes and the like do ok. I've a good mind to sell some of my collection there, as I have a whole mountain of old stuff. My only problem is I don't really know their value, and am too tight to buy a book that will give me an indication, so they remain in the safe.
I've also looked at eBay, but find it's not as user friendly (well, to me anyway) and cause it's in USD, looks kind of expensive, with the added problem that if you buy something, it costs a pretty penny to ship here, and if it's broken, what recourse do you really have from so far away.
Anyway, to any reader of this blogg who also looks at BidorBuy, keep the bids low, that way we all win. (or do we?)
Salagatle!
However, my reason for mentioning this is the fact that I am surprised at how high some / most of the bids go. Surely people are not so stupid as to bid almost the cost of a new thing for a second hand one? Or is it just the point of winning the bid, at all costs?
Cellphones are especially hard bidded, to the point where I know I can buy a brand new, in the box, with warranty unit for the price it gets auctions for, or maybe 10-15% more, which I think is worth paying as it would be brand new.
Then, the junk that gets listed is another gob smacker. Some people will try and sell anything, and some people will bid on anything. It's worth a visit, even if only for a laugh.
One of the bigger attractions recently was cabin space on board a local liner for 3 or 4 day excursions around our shores. Now I know that it's expensive to start off with, but to bid it to within 5-10% of face value, and then to have to go on their choice of dates makes no sense. And yet, the online bidders will push the price.
Coins and bank notes and the like do ok. I've a good mind to sell some of my collection there, as I have a whole mountain of old stuff. My only problem is I don't really know their value, and am too tight to buy a book that will give me an indication, so they remain in the safe.
I've also looked at eBay, but find it's not as user friendly (well, to me anyway) and cause it's in USD, looks kind of expensive, with the added problem that if you buy something, it costs a pretty penny to ship here, and if it's broken, what recourse do you really have from so far away.
Anyway, to any reader of this blogg who also looks at BidorBuy, keep the bids low, that way we all win. (or do we?)
Salagatle!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Carbon Footprint
Is it just me, or has the whole world gone completely moggy around the "Carbon emmission" issue?
I mean, to accuse someone of being insensitive to this issue because they have the audacity to own their own Jumbo jet, and fly solo to various locations around the world? Oh Please... don't you think it's more a case of sour grapes?
Surely, the amount of carbon generated by the space shuttle on one single blast off is 100 times more than a single Atlantic crossing by a jumbo? What about the amount of carbon emmited by crematoriums / war zones / cooking fires.... it's a load of crock.
I think this issue has a hidden agenda. I think someone somewhere has found an alternative to something which is in daily use, and this is the introduction to a total ban on this thing, with a view to total world domination with the new / as yet unreleased product.
What am I talking about? Well, water driven motorcars, advanced / affordable / efficient solar power, maybe an alien source of power, discovered on some distant planet, and currently being harnassed and imported (can you import from another planet) by the Americans??
I don't know the answer, but I do think that too much is being made of this.
What I do know is that our insistence to intervene with nature is the basis for much of our problems today. How many people would not be alive if it wasn't for intervention? And I'm not talking about healthy, working people, but rather those unfortunate enough to be born with such severe defects that in the "old world" they would naturally not have survived?
Now before you start to trash me on this though, it's only a thought! It's not my belief that these people should be allowed to die, but the reality is that in the real world only the fittest / strongest would survive. Not so in the human world. Is this why we are "disappearing" Is this why we are losing the battle with ourselves? Think about it? More and more diseases / birth defects, more sensitivity to ideals and issues which only a few years ago would have been a NO-No, more pathetic. Are we creating our own downfall due to this situation? I don't know, just asking.
My son's pants have a nice mark where I booted him on the butt after having stomped out a fire he had started. Thats my Carbon Footprint!
Salagatle!
I mean, to accuse someone of being insensitive to this issue because they have the audacity to own their own Jumbo jet, and fly solo to various locations around the world? Oh Please... don't you think it's more a case of sour grapes?
Surely, the amount of carbon generated by the space shuttle on one single blast off is 100 times more than a single Atlantic crossing by a jumbo? What about the amount of carbon emmited by crematoriums / war zones / cooking fires.... it's a load of crock.
I think this issue has a hidden agenda. I think someone somewhere has found an alternative to something which is in daily use, and this is the introduction to a total ban on this thing, with a view to total world domination with the new / as yet unreleased product.
What am I talking about? Well, water driven motorcars, advanced / affordable / efficient solar power, maybe an alien source of power, discovered on some distant planet, and currently being harnassed and imported (can you import from another planet) by the Americans??
I don't know the answer, but I do think that too much is being made of this.
What I do know is that our insistence to intervene with nature is the basis for much of our problems today. How many people would not be alive if it wasn't for intervention? And I'm not talking about healthy, working people, but rather those unfortunate enough to be born with such severe defects that in the "old world" they would naturally not have survived?
Now before you start to trash me on this though, it's only a thought! It's not my belief that these people should be allowed to die, but the reality is that in the real world only the fittest / strongest would survive. Not so in the human world. Is this why we are "disappearing" Is this why we are losing the battle with ourselves? Think about it? More and more diseases / birth defects, more sensitivity to ideals and issues which only a few years ago would have been a NO-No, more pathetic. Are we creating our own downfall due to this situation? I don't know, just asking.
My son's pants have a nice mark where I booted him on the butt after having stomped out a fire he had started. Thats my Carbon Footprint!
Salagatle!
Super 14 Final
So, this coming Saturday it's the Blue Bulls v Sharks. (LIU). Super 14 finals, to be held in the shark tank (as the Kings Park stadium is fondly referred to). For the first time it's 2 South African teams in the final, and as such, a guaranteed South African victory.
It's no mean feat, as in all the previous years we have been humiliated in this series. it's going to be a humdinger, as both these clubs have the most ardent supporters.
The one good thing is that the King's Park venue is probably the best, as it is well known that after the game, irrespective of who wins, there is always much jubilation / partying / braaing (liu) in the car park, with no animosity from the locals. However, it is equally well known that when major games are won / lost at the Bulls home ground, Loftus, those who are not local supporters make a dash for their cars and get the hell out of there. The reason is simple; if the Bulls won, they going to take you on because you are supporting the other team, if they lost, it's cause you are supporting the other team.
Anyway, I'm not too fussy about who wins on Saturday, as long as it's a good, well contested close scoring game. If I'm pushed for a decision, I'll go with the linesman!
Good luck to both teams.
Salagatle!
It's no mean feat, as in all the previous years we have been humiliated in this series. it's going to be a humdinger, as both these clubs have the most ardent supporters.
The one good thing is that the King's Park venue is probably the best, as it is well known that after the game, irrespective of who wins, there is always much jubilation / partying / braaing (liu) in the car park, with no animosity from the locals. However, it is equally well known that when major games are won / lost at the Bulls home ground, Loftus, those who are not local supporters make a dash for their cars and get the hell out of there. The reason is simple; if the Bulls won, they going to take you on because you are supporting the other team, if they lost, it's cause you are supporting the other team.
Anyway, I'm not too fussy about who wins on Saturday, as long as it's a good, well contested close scoring game. If I'm pushed for a decision, I'll go with the linesman!
Good luck to both teams.
Salagatle!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Interesting to say the least
The DOE (Department of Education), http://www.education.gov.za/, here in South Africa have over the years since 1994 managed to ruin the education system. Instead of uplifting the previously disadvantaged schools to the level of the previously advantaged schools, they have systematically degraded the latter to the level of the prior. Well, not completely, yet!
Now the Minister has announce plans to hold the governing bodies of the schools responsible for the pupils marks! (Learners they now call them here). here is the link / shortcut....
http://www.education.gov.za/dynamic/imgshow.aspx?id=2635
What she is saying is that these people who volunteer their time to sit on the governing bodies which are there to assist the running of the schools from a non-instruction perspective must be held accountable for the good / bad teaching!! They are everyday people, normally parents, who are doctors, painters, housewives, lawyers, and in some instances unemployed illiterate domestic servants or gardeners!
They are elected onto the board and assist with fund raising, arranging sporting events (not the actual sport, but rather the surrounds, i.e. vending outlets, food, drinks, etc.)
Typical "potfolios" of members of a school governing body:-
GOVERNING BODY : 2007
The parent members of the Governing Body for 2007 are:
Vice Chairman, Buildings, Security - Secretary, Exco, Finance, LETU - Finance, Exco - Marketing, Advertising boards - Website, Marketing, Public Relations - Chairman, Grounds
Hostels.
The Gov. will not understand that until they raise the level of education of the teachers, and start paying better salaries to keep the good one's, and institute a disciplinary code into the schools, you will never be able to improve on the current status. And this especially in the more underprivileged areas / schools.
As long as you have schools operating under the trees in the veld, and 1 teacher for 32 to 100 pupils per class, it's a no brainer.... the pupils marks will be bad.
As long as access to the Internet / libraries / information is expensive / not available, only the "privileged few will prosper. It's a no brainer...
But therein lies the problem - no brain. If you listen to the minister of education on TV, she speaks with a strong British accent, and comes across as very arrogant, but not, in my humble opinion, too bright. Obviously she had the privilege of a good school, but not good intellect!
as long as the dept. elects the headmasters, and does not hold them accountable, and appoints teachers there can be no one held responsible but the department.
Should they give the parents / governing bodies the budget and responsibility of interviewing and appointing teachers, THEN, and only then, can they be held accountable. But then they will also be in a position to hire and fire, which will ensure that those fortunate enough to get a teaching post WILL give their best.
But we are in a current situation where, especially in rural areas, teachers don't turn up for class, or turn up late. Where the teacher for a grade 8/9/10 class has a grade 5 certificate. Where teachers who are committed to their work, and have been for 20 years or more earn ZAR8/9k per month!!!
My sons are forced by the "new curriculum" to work in "teams" on various projects at school. Without fail every time one of them has had a project to do, they have done it alone, added the other pupils to the front page and submitted it as a "group" effort. Each time they have got good marks. The reason? Well, some of their peers do not have access to funds / Internet / research materials. Some do not have parents with the capability of assisting them. Some, well they and their parents are just pathetic. Now, I don't mind in any of these instances, as long as my kids do their work, and get good grades. The problem is that it is skewing the ratio of success for the pupil / grade / school. Now it looks like 90%+ of the kids are doing well, but this is on the back of the 5 - 10% who actually do the work.
Anyway, time will tell. Are we to become the next Zimbabwe!
Salagatle!
Now the Minister has announce plans to hold the governing bodies of the schools responsible for the pupils marks! (Learners they now call them here). here is the link / shortcut....
http://www.education.gov.za/dynamic/imgshow.aspx?id=2635
What she is saying is that these people who volunteer their time to sit on the governing bodies which are there to assist the running of the schools from a non-instruction perspective must be held accountable for the good / bad teaching!! They are everyday people, normally parents, who are doctors, painters, housewives, lawyers, and in some instances unemployed illiterate domestic servants or gardeners!
They are elected onto the board and assist with fund raising, arranging sporting events (not the actual sport, but rather the surrounds, i.e. vending outlets, food, drinks, etc.)
Typical "potfolios" of members of a school governing body:-
GOVERNING BODY : 2007
The parent members of the Governing Body for 2007 are:
Vice Chairman, Buildings, Security - Secretary, Exco, Finance, LETU - Finance, Exco - Marketing, Advertising boards - Website, Marketing, Public Relations - Chairman, Grounds
Hostels.
The Gov. will not understand that until they raise the level of education of the teachers, and start paying better salaries to keep the good one's, and institute a disciplinary code into the schools, you will never be able to improve on the current status. And this especially in the more underprivileged areas / schools.
As long as you have schools operating under the trees in the veld, and 1 teacher for 32 to 100 pupils per class, it's a no brainer.... the pupils marks will be bad.
As long as access to the Internet / libraries / information is expensive / not available, only the "privileged few will prosper. It's a no brainer...
But therein lies the problem - no brain. If you listen to the minister of education on TV, she speaks with a strong British accent, and comes across as very arrogant, but not, in my humble opinion, too bright. Obviously she had the privilege of a good school, but not good intellect!
as long as the dept. elects the headmasters, and does not hold them accountable, and appoints teachers there can be no one held responsible but the department.
Should they give the parents / governing bodies the budget and responsibility of interviewing and appointing teachers, THEN, and only then, can they be held accountable. But then they will also be in a position to hire and fire, which will ensure that those fortunate enough to get a teaching post WILL give their best.
But we are in a current situation where, especially in rural areas, teachers don't turn up for class, or turn up late. Where the teacher for a grade 8/9/10 class has a grade 5 certificate. Where teachers who are committed to their work, and have been for 20 years or more earn ZAR8/9k per month!!!
My sons are forced by the "new curriculum" to work in "teams" on various projects at school. Without fail every time one of them has had a project to do, they have done it alone, added the other pupils to the front page and submitted it as a "group" effort. Each time they have got good marks. The reason? Well, some of their peers do not have access to funds / Internet / research materials. Some do not have parents with the capability of assisting them. Some, well they and their parents are just pathetic. Now, I don't mind in any of these instances, as long as my kids do their work, and get good grades. The problem is that it is skewing the ratio of success for the pupil / grade / school. Now it looks like 90%+ of the kids are doing well, but this is on the back of the 5 - 10% who actually do the work.
Anyway, time will tell. Are we to become the next Zimbabwe!
Salagatle!
Mothers Day - 2007
has come and gone. For the first time I was not going to buy the Princess anything as, well, she's not my Mom, even though she's the mother of my children. I figured that they are big enough now to get her a gift themselves, without me having to do so on their behalf.
Big mistake. LuckyL confessed to not having got her anything, and GMan said he had. Well, Saturday I found out what the Princess needed, went out to the store and got it for her, from me and the boys. Needless to say they still have not offered to pay their 2/3 in to me, and no other gifts were forthcoming, contrary to GMan's statement earlier.
However, I did get my Mom something, and Princess did get her mom (Queenie) something.
And we had the two old ladies at our home for Sunday lunch which went down a treat.
So, a good day all round, successful, and well, done.
Salagatle!
Big mistake. LuckyL confessed to not having got her anything, and GMan said he had. Well, Saturday I found out what the Princess needed, went out to the store and got it for her, from me and the boys. Needless to say they still have not offered to pay their 2/3 in to me, and no other gifts were forthcoming, contrary to GMan's statement earlier.
However, I did get my Mom something, and Princess did get her mom (Queenie) something.
And we had the two old ladies at our home for Sunday lunch which went down a treat.
So, a good day all round, successful, and well, done.
Salagatle!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)