Shocked

Wow, This Blog still exists??

F(read)om Writers. Really?

I have been following this blog since our task as Journ students was to create and master the art of blogging. In the introductory, it states that this is a blog made up of the minds of three different people. Different minds, different backgrounds, all explained and introduced. I enjoyed it in the beginning and that enjoyment continued.

Like all students with lives only the necessary posts were added, but they all meant something and that was reflected in the writing. Their photos were another representation of that.
With a simple layout and a background which represents every paper-clip owners collection, it was easy to look at and not too damaging on the eye. The topics were well written, having substantial research and information posted.

I was disappointed with the lack of living up to the name however. With ‘read’ so emphasised within freedom I was expecting more on literature and writing of journalists and, well, freedom. But I am guessing that it is just representing the act of writing and the idea that what the members write is their own choice.

A good use of photographs were also present, which is becoming such an important way to communicate since people are becoming lazy and would rather get the story from a picture rather than reading a whole post.

Even though I did enjoy it, I don’t think that it is that stimulating for everyone, maybe once in a while for a light glance over it. It was probably just the name that attracted me in the first place anyways.

Sisters doing it for themselves

“whatlifeidojourn” is an example of what ladies can do when they put their minds to. This title of the blog ties in with a rumour I have been hearing all over campus; if you do journalism, you will have no life. Upon reaching the page, I knew before reading the part of it which spoke about the creators that it is created by females, a conclusion I drew based on the highly frustrating fluorescent, colours and backgrounds which pierced thorugh my eyes, making it almost impossible for me to concentrate on a colour at a time, nevermind reading the words. However, after putting some shades on, I found it was quite an interesting blog indeed. A different reading experience to any that I have had up to now. It is basically an illustration of all the reasons why journalists or at least journalism students, are said to have no lives. It highlighted to me, the importance on working hard on the product in order for the end result to be satisfactory. The pictures on display provided an excellent means for creating a mind story of the matters being written about. Articles like “Not all that glitters is gold” provide some interesting food for thought and it is clear to see that the writers of this blog know what they are doing and what effect they are hoping to achieve by posting what they are posting.
If you dislike the colour pink and are not fond of reading, this blog is not for you. However, if you are keen on exploring avenues of your mind you were not sure existed and you want to try something new, a mild form of alternative, so to speak, you will find this blog greatly beneficial to you and your life.

http://whatlifeidojourn.blogspot.com/

A new love affair? I think that’s a definite...

Being at University I have unfortunately had to put my love for music aside. Firstly because the live scene in Grahamstown is yet to be desired (everything in this town is totally up to the students) and secondly because finding new music is not really something I have time for having amazing series to watch and keep up with and endless amounts of work which requires continuous thinking without actual doing anything until the work is done.

So, I decided to dedicate half a day to finding new music, music from scenes which I enjoy but haven’t explored recently.

I began with a lil’ electronic music, delving into the computer produced beats that satisfy the body-bobbing soul (it makes not only your head, but your whole body mooooove).

It was amaZINGZING. The Black Ghosts, Empire of the Sun, Peaches, some hardchore Enter Shikari and locally produce Lark each added a bob somewhere to my body. I was a very happy person and when I am emotional in any way, slang is automatically attached.

The Black Ghosts were my favourite though. I secretly imagined them loud, surrounding me in their breath-taking sound and I was automatically immersed in my own word where I danced like no one is watching. Literally.

‘So, give me something new, something to break through the normal’ Something New by Black Ghosts.

How appropriate. Smiles all round please. Thank you.

The G-spot: Not so pleasurable

I checked out the G-spot, I must say I was utterly disappointed. The name was very tantalizing and catchy, yet the delivery was not as exciting. Out of all the blogs I've seen from JMS 1 students, this particular blog was very difficult to navigate. I found that the dates span from June 2005, not really sure how that happened. The posts were either deleted or well hidden, for I only saw three. It was even difficult to see the group's mission statement as to try and understand what they were aiming to achieve.

Personally I would have loved to see provocative journalism to accompany the name of the blog. I would have wanted to see female journalists engaging with the blog in a critical and analytic way. As a plus, I must give the group an A plus on one of their articles. Their article on being an Asian was very interesting and had a slight numerous note to it. Although written by someone else, it was still good to see on their blog.

The group members of the G-sport did not do this blog justice and failed to deliver interesting issues to the followers.In essence a good theme turned sour.http://thegspot.blogspot.com/

Slummin' in the streets

When faced with the challenge of having to immerse myself in a surrounding that I wasn't familiar with, I found myself absolutely unsure of what it would be that I was going to indulge myself in for an hour/s.

My options were as follows:
1)I could go to the township, mingle with the beautiful people who make up this historical town…and pretty much get to know them...but, I’ve lived in a township and pretty much grown up there, so I wouldn’t find this experience new.
2)I could sit in an unusual part of town, say the highest point of a building, the cathedral for example, and vent on my own, escape in my individual thoughts…it would be a kind of therapy I guess…but, that wouldn’t give me much of an experience now would it…no!
3)Or, I could just take a walk through all of Grahamstown and not stop. I could just keep walking till my toes hurt, and the soles of my shoes wear out…and that sounded like a plan.

So, it’s no surprise that my final option was what I chose to do. And, since I like taking random walks anyways, I thought why not, and the soles of my shoes really are close to non existent already, but that in itself is a story for another day.

Saturday was the day, 25th of October, the weather was walkable, and off I went.
My journey took me past the well known Grand Res, where not much appeared to be happening, and so I moved right along to walk by the ‘Frontier Hotel’. Now, walking past this monument was a bit of a difficult experience because this spot, as all Rhodes students know, is the place where busses like “Greyhound”, and “Translux” take us to destinations we call home!...and so my trek continued.
I chose, then, to take the regular route up High Street, and took a bit of a recess by Checker, and that’s when my exercise began to get a little exciting. I came to meet two street kids and these were their stories…


His name was Akhona, well at least that’s what he told me, and he is 18 years of age. He dropped out of school at the age of 17, last year, and is now roaming the streets and working as a car guard every day.
That’s when I thought to myself “let me get to know this young fellow a little more.”
Akhona explained to me that his parents were unemployed, and he dropped out of school because of pressure from his high school peers.
Now, Akhona’s story grabbed my attention because he ultimately chose to drop out of school, he chose to leave school a year before he could’ve had the opportunity to matriculate, and it angered me to hear that he chose to take such a drastic step. He carried on explaining how he was finding it difficult to live on almost no money everyday, and he went to bed hungry sometimes because he no longer lives at home, but with friends. He explained to me that his parents kicked him out of the house because he’d started doing drugs, and became uncontrollable, so to say.


My second subject, however, was a young man, who didn’t reveal much of his identity to me. He wouldn’t tell me his name, nor would either of them let me take pictures of them. I didn’t understand why Akhona didn’t want me to take a picture, but young man number two had been to jail,so I took this as being the reason. He was also strongly affected by poverty. He told me about the head policeman in Grahamstown who won’t let him, and his buddies make money off of washing the cars in the parking lot, in order to make some form of an income. He explained how when they try not to commit crimes, and make a way of living, the system works against them, and so they turn to crime. This young man says he does not enjoy going to beg people for money; the every day struggle to survive isn’t anything that anyone should experience. I couldn’t imagine how degrading it must feel for someone to beg others for money, but when our own police force restricts these children and young adults from doing little things to try to better their lives in some way, I begin to understand why they choose to rob and steal. This makes me wonder whether they really do want to protect us. Here I was being told, blatantly, that I was sitting with a criminal, but he had no other choice because he has to buy bread, some food, in order for him to stay alive, and if washing cars isn’t going to work, then he has to make other means to stay alive.

And, as fast, and as unexpectedly as my little exercise had come to its end, I left Checkers with an empty feeling in the depths of my soul. I want to help Grahamstown’s society, I want to help Grahamstown help the children on the streets in some way, but if the authorities aren’t going to let them at least try to better their lives in some way, then will the crime that happens everyday, in each and every corner ever end. Will the poverty that we, as a country see, hear and have knowledge of ever cease. And, could an idea of starting a car wash be a viable entrepreneurial plan, for someone who has nothing, to actually be something that has the potential to be a business being tarnished by one non-understanding upholder of the law.

If trying to better your life and its condition is a crime, then we would all be criminals because that is what we all work toward doing every day, even though we don’t always think about it that way. The harsh realities of life cause for some to want to take action, and this young man was my teacher for the day when it came to this lesson. The only thing left to ask now is: Will the crime ever perish in this little town called Grahamstown if people have no other option but to inflict pain on others when not granted the permission to make their own amends. And, will this cycle of crime ever end in the world as a whole if people aren’t granted opportunities to better their difficult situations…I am not quite sure it will!

A sneak peak...

From feminist issues, living le “green life” to exploring the ups and downs of South African sport, ‘F[read]om Writers’ blog has it all.
This hip, innovative blog composed of bright backgrounds, and deeply insightful articles has the capability to grab the youngest to the oldest of people. This could be due to the fact that the team that compiled the blog consists of two ladies and a young fellow. Mixing of the sexes really can conjure up some of the most enlightening of creative projects. However, others could, and most probably would, argue otherwise.
As we are all told growing up, we are all unique in our individuality, and this blog reflects just that. Our passions and the things we enjoy to “loose” ourselves in are what build our characters in some retrospect. And, ‘F[read]om Writers’ gives you a taste of the passions that three young Rhodes Students have, which set them apart, yet bring them together, when their differences clash to create this fresh cyber project.
The blog includes quotes from well known author’s and writers, such as the likes of Anne Lamott, as well as a list of author’s that the journalists admire and adore, from Maya Angelou, Ted Hughes and Jodie Picoult.
This layed back sight provides intellectual insight on almost every aspect of our daily lives, exploring issues that take place in and around Rhodes University campus and beyond.