Nic’s blog
I write about building businesses, failing and building a life, not a legacy.
The corruption of an apathetic electorate
Recently I have been staying away from politically fuelled articles but I just can't keep my mouth shut on this one.Read this article about Jacob Zuma's new mansion and where he found the funds. Here's a snippet:
Yet as his people struggle in squalor, South African president Jacob Zuma has sparked outrage by spending £17.5 million (R248m) to upgrade his rural family home.
The fact that Jacob Zuma is our president makes me angry with the South African electorate. All those people who chose not to vote. This is what you get, you bunch of apathetic arm-chair protestors.I am not embarrassed by the country, we have a magnificent country with amazing people who do incredible things. I am saddened by the people voting for this man as our leader and I am enraged by the people who do not exercise their vote when it matters.I am outraged by Zuma's actions and if these allegations are proven to be true, the people of South Africa need to rebel against this level of blatant corruption and misuse of much needed aid and our trust.
Could someone please explain to me what ...
Could someone please explain to me what it matters if I change my twitter avatar to a shade of green? Apparently this is going to make a difference to someone in Iran, but I have my doubts. I have seen a few people I follow on twitter doing it and noticed a few tweets about it.I just can't understand the damn relevance. The people of Iran don't care, they aren't looking or watching and the green avatar you are now sporting is not going to change the world, in fact I think that these green avatars are way to appear cool. And it bugs me.It might just be my opinion but that's OK with me. It just gets under my skin when I begin to feel guilted in to doing something as meaningless as changing the colour of my picture on twitter to a shade of green.
The DA, social media and the masses
I need to say this out loud and as bluntly as I can. It's cool that the DA are trying to get social with social media and a newly launched website but are we "social media experts" all so far up our own arses that we can't see that in the big picture of the 2009 elections the DA's social media campaign is relatively insignificant.What the DA is trying to do is actually COMPETE IN THE 2009 ELECTIONS. I am extremely curious to figure out how the DA's social media campaign fits in to the bigger picture of their general election campaign.I'm not convinced that social media is going to make much of a difference in the numbers that the DA is looking for as the official opposition for the 2009 elections. I think that it's essential that they are in the space of social networks, mobile activity and engaging with an online community. But let us get real here for a second, when we say "engaging with an online community", who do you think we are talking about? Is it 500 000 South Africans with broadband access? I don't think so. My 20 or so friends who aren't particularly active online have never seen or engaged with DA online. So what's the point? When we talk about engaging with social media we are probably, effectively talking about 20 000 or so people at an absolute push. I stand to be corrected here, these numbers are thumbsucked so please correct me if you know the figures.Why should we be criticising the DA, analysing their every move and be excruciatingly anal about the things they do and the way they do it online? It's actually ridiculous.I asked Helen Zille a question online a few days back on twitter. I was wondering what her stance is on Cope integrating politics and religion. I didn't receive a reply. But let's be honest Helen Zille is competing in one of the most important elections since our democracy came in to existence, what the hell difference does it make if she answers my question? I want her to do the best job she can do in POLITICS not in social media to be perfectly frank.And don't try and pull the Obama card here. We are not the USA, we cannot claim to be and we should try to be. This would lead us in to all sorts of confusion and trouble. We are, majority of the SA population, without Internet and in need of some very distinct things, one of which is not social media let me tell you. The important things right now, in the build-up to election day 2009 (22 April) is to keep the focus of this election on the people, the rights, the voting, elections, masses and not on social media unfortunately.Many people have covered, blogged and written about the DA and what they are doing online. It's quite interesting to me that there isn't much hype, noise or talk around the other political parties. Yet the DA is getting it in the neck. It's like we, the online community, are berating one of the few political parties who bothered to actually make an effort. Why are we not giving the other parties hell as openly as the DA? Why does it matter? Surely our countries democracy is more important than proper use of Facebook, social tools and multimedia?I am interested to know how much money has been put in to the DA's social media campaign and what sort of return of investment they have and will receive? I wonder if in our country that money could not be better used somewhere else? Marketing the DA differently to a wider audience? Because let me tell you, if we all praise and hail the DA as the online guru's in politics but they get trumped in the election then I will feel betrayed by social media and so will they.Walter wrote that the DA's response has him puzzled well my response is simple, in South African politics I would be more concerned if the DA was spending more time answering the social media folk than concentrating on their political campaign. We, as social media people, need to get over ourselves and look at all of this in context.I want democracy, I want a viable opposition and I want leaders who can engage without being sidetracked from what is important. I also want politics and religion to be separate but that's another story that shall be told at another time.
I have registered to vote. Have you?
Today I went to my nearest IEC registration station and changed my registration details from Grahamstown to Johannesburg.The process was simple, the queues were managed well, the forms were readily available, everything worked perfectly.I was chatting to someone yesterday who made a really valid point, this is the first time (out of the three) that I have gone to register and have had people actually talking about politics, registration and voting, alot. It's great to hear, great to see and fantastic to know that politics is no longer one of the things you never bring up at a dinner party.
Death Metal, Rap-hop and the devil made me do it
Satan has been in the news a fair amount over the past few days.
Krugersdorp - A schoolboy who stabbed a fellow pupil to death with a sword in Krugersdorp on Monday morning was apparently high on drugs, saying Satan had told him to kill the children...Krugersdorp councillor Alex Raubenheimer said school children on the scene told him the boy was high on drugs and was dressed like Joey Jordison, a drummer of the band Slipknot.source
I really enjoyed Chris Roper's post on the topic.I'm not sure if you've seen the movie "Primal Fear"? If you haven't, you should. Ed Norton and Richard Gere are fantastic.The basic premise of the movie is that an alter boy kills some people and uses his innocent, god-fearing "nature" to defend himself. This coupled with his apparent schizophrenia gets him off. He walks free.This isn't the same thing as stating that "the devil made me do it" ofcourse, but the premise is the same. It's the same as saying I am incapable of making decisions on my own so I blame the devil. The devil is intangible and doesn't exist therefore I need to make the concept real so I tell you that heavy metal is the devil's music. I can therefore blame the heavy metal for my actions and by association, blame the devil.{The way I see it (and I think this might ruffle some feathers) is that the devil does not exist. So in theory this is where my article should end, but for the sake of debate, let me continue.}Is this some sort of twisted philosophical logic that I just don't grasp? Why don't we blame the parents, the school system, the child, the child's friends and their influence on the child's life and actions? Why do we have to make it about themusic and single the music out as violent, aggressive and possible of warping a perception so much so that the child becomes warped in action?Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that an under-age child should be listening to music or watching films that promote violence, sexual promiscuity or any other illegal or dangerous action. But that is for the parents to regulate, you can't tell the music to stop playing itself if it thinks the child is under-age. That's just ridiculous.Furthermore, music can be intense, aggressive, cutting edge, loud, banging and harsh but that doesn't mean the lyrical content reflects that. I am deep in to rock music, old, new, heavy, soft, refined and raw. I love it all. But it doesn't all dramatically influence my action, choices, decisions and life. It provides me with insight in to what other people perceive the world to be.Let's step back 50 years or 40 years or 30, 20, 10 years in our history. Think back to The Beatles, The Stones, Queen (is the name a reference to homosexuality possibly?) and heaven forbid Elvis the once banned rocker and now the king of rock 'n roll forever. These bands all faced adversity in their time. Why? Because parents, teachers, headmasters, religious pundits and many other groups couldn't take responsibility for their actions, their children or their children's actions. Basically, blame the music for the uncontrollable and rebellious nature of our children.I thought we were meant to learn from the mistakes of our past? Are we not just repeating the actions of the ignorant and blind from the past by condemning the music and inadvertently pushing our children towards the messages that we are trying to protect them from?When I was about 11 I got in to Skunk Anansie heavily. I loved them. The lead singer was a bald black woman by the name of Skin. Skin. Do you honestly think that my Greek Orthodox (then) father was going to tolerate it? Not a chance. The first song on the album featured the lyric "Yes it's fucking political". Ha! I didn't stand a chance. Or did I? I made sure that the first thing I did when my father stepped out of the house was play that song. I credit that song alone for my political interest and for my degree in politics from Rhodes University. That Damned music, it ruined my life.
Here's a Skunk Anansie cutaway:No wonder I'm so messed up. This is what I was listening to at 11/12 years old and I haven't killed, maimed, harmed anyone....yet...dum dum dum dum
All that my father's harsh actions, forced law and pushy intention did was make me crave the message, the content and the music more. Get real, kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Nothing you do is going to make them stop listening to that music.I'm not sure if you've looked around lately, picked your head up out of your bible, book, "reality" or life and noticed how liberal the world has become. Take your blinkers off. They are playing "the devil's music" in clubs nowadays, they are playing that rock-metal-death-rap-craziness on the radio. The world has moved on. So why don't you?One murder happens involving teenagers and it immediately becomes anti-religious (as if the only thing that can save our children is god/religion) and name and blame towards the musicians. I listen to Slipknot, I have 16 year old female cousins who listen to them too, they aren't suicidal, on a murderous rampage or intent on harming others. In spite of their personal lives they are actually very well balanced cousins who make me proud. The music they listen to gives them perspective on the world not insight in to the devil's mind. This was one incident that occurred amongst a sea of socially uncomfortable youths who do not choose to murder. Let's look at the one case, not clump the entire youth of SA and their music habits as satanistic.I am not saying the research doesn't oppose my argument, it might, I don't know. But to be honest I am more than satisfied with blaming myself for my actions, my societal influences, my friends, parents or experiences but not the devil and his (her) music.Last point, if you want violence, turn on Carte Blanche on a Sunday at 7pm, turn on SABC 1, 2, 3 and e-tv news at 7am or 7pm every day, listen to the radio broadcasts about war, dishonesty, crime, violence at home and abroad, cheating politicians world wide and more. Music, let me tell you, is a fraction of our problem today.
Online politics - Zoopy and Helen Zille
I have quite enjoyed watching Zoopy's extensive coverage of Helen Zille over the past few months. But today for the first time I found myself questioning their coverage.Why is it that Zoopy covers Zille so extensively? Why is the coverage not more representative. I am sure that Jason is going to come on here and tell me that they have covered Patricia de Lille too, but that really doesn't count as extensive.Just as the SABC is pressed for equal representation I think that an organisation such as Zoopy should be too. If nothing else, they need to be weary of aligning themselves subconciously with a party. It appears to me that this might already have happened...This comes directly from the Zoopy "about us" section:
Who’s behind it all?At Zoopy HQ it’s just the three of us, for now: Jason, Gerry and Pat. And a few carefully selected contributors.
Hmmm... carefully selected, sounds intersting, lets find out more.I emailed Jason from Zoopy to get some comment on the issue and see if this is a definite trend that is to continue or an incidental happening. This is what he had to say:
Thanks for giving Zoopy some blog space – and on such a relevant topic too. It needs to be said that we’ve personally spoken with Ebrahim Rasool, Jacob Zuma, Trevor Manuel and indirectly with Patricia de Lille. None of them have responded in any way. Helen grasped the technology available from the first meeting we had with her and her team. They have a handheld video camera with them and have chosen to upload a range of political and non-political issues, ranging from aerial shots of a dam through to her new electric car and more. She responds in person to users who send mail via Zoopy and those who leave comments on her Zoopy profile.There are also occasions when we’re out at events that she happens to be shaking hands at, or attending, and in those cases we upload any relevant footage ourselves. So really this is not a case of us showing favouritism toward any party or individual. It’s a case of the individual getting involved themselves, and us facilitating it as much as possible. We’d love to host social media relating to every South African on Zoopy (politicians, lawyers and bloggers included! hehe) and always promote the possibilities when meeting with interesting people.That said, there are more high profile people going Zoopy very soon. Because of the technology, functionality and community available to them. Not because of who they are or whether or not we believe in their cause.
I think that is fair and valid justification of their stance. I wait with anticipation for the "high profile" people to get involved with Zoopy. Let's see if this becomes a case of YouTube and CNN joining forces for the next American election.
EU leaders are wussies...exept for Gordon Brown
I never thought I'd say that about a British Prime minister, but Brown has really taken a stand. He has outright stated that he wishes to be nowhere remotely close to Robert "I harm my own people" Mugabe.What a boy. Meanwhile the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, came with the thunder declaring her rage against human rights injustices. Then she sits with Thabo Mbeki and crumbles.What is that? She has come forward and endorsed Mugabe's presence at a summit to take place in Lisbon. She's an idiot, that's what I have to say. She has done so many incredible things already in her short time as chancellor. But then she endorses Big Bad Bob's presence?This is bad because other EU leaders are as ficle as she is and will jump on the "support bob harming his country" bandwagon.I applaud Gordon Brown for his blatant disdain for that tosser Mugabe and I only wish that other leaders will take the same, not a similar, the same stand. I cannot for the life of me understand how any leader of any country can willingly stand in the presence of a "leader" like Mugabe. Does it not repulse them?Screw the "politics" of the situation. Good men and women need to take a bloody stand and make the evil men dissapear (interpret that as you like).Surely if someone wanted Bob dead, he would be dead already. With all the conpiracy theories running around the world about JFK's assasination and every other political situation, here's one for you:Someone wants Bob alive and in power. Someone, somewhere is shit scared of information that Bob has on them. It may have been the Blair/Bush administration, but that is now gone and Brown's administration is pissed off with Bob. Good.
Survivor's dead goat
I wasn't fortunate enough to see Survivor SA last night but apparently a goat was "murdered" and left for the tribe to eat. Shock flipping horror, a goat died.Now on the radio this morning two people called in to a show shocked and appalled that they were "forced" to see a dead goat. Note, they did not actually see the goat's throat slit, they saw it after the event, dead.Why I am blogging about this is because vegetarians piss me off. There are various types of vegetarians that I can classify in my mind. For the purposes of this post I am only going to be talking about 2: Political vegetarians and Food vegetarians.Political vegetarians are making a stand. They don't eat meat because animals are creatures too and they aren't shy to let you know that you are a pig, a dog, an animal, a brute and more for eating meat of any kind.While a Food vegetarian simply does not enjoy eating meat and prefers vegetable. I like this type of vegetarian, I know some, intimately and they are lovely people.Do you know why they are lovely people? Because they aren't force feeding me their political bullshit about not eating animals being right. Food vegetarians love to eat, they love to cook for you and love vegetables. I now love vegetables and cooking thanks to a vegetarian of the Food kind.But on the radio today the two idiots who called in were definitely Political Vegetarians. They were insistent that showing a dead goat on TV was wrong. Let me ask them a question: Do you watch the news on TV? If you do, why aren't you violently against reading watching and hearing about murder, rape and other violent crimes against HUMAN BEINGS. Do you switch of the TV?On that point, NO ONE is forcing anyone to watch Survivor and the dead frikkin' goat. If you don't want to watch anything like that then change the channel, it's easy and it's called self regulation. If you don't want to self regulate yourself it means that you just want to be political and make a point.And finally, the two people on the radio (the Political veggies) insisted that "did not like having it pushed down their throat" when the goat was on TV with its throat slit. How is that pushing anything on anyone? Let's flip the situation around shall we, what if the tribe was forced to only eat vegetables? Would these vegetarians feel that us meat eaters were having their beliefs forced down our throats? Methinks not.It's always different in someone else's shoes, but some political vegetarians are fast becoming like staunch christians who bible bash. Not fun for anyone.
Why is Zim in the T20 World Cup?
I am pretty irate about this. I don't understand why the hell the rest of the world is allowing Zim to play in the T20 World Cup? I think it is disgraceful.Please don't misunderstand me, I am compassionate about the people in Zim and the players on the team but at the end of the day someone needs to make a stand against big-bad-bob (BBB).You can argue until the cows come home that sports and politics are seperate but they are not. They are intricately intertwined and there is no disputing it. SA was banned from all international sport in the time of apartheid I think that is 100% spot on.Sport is something that brings a nation together, creates income and allows you to showcase your country to the world. If you are banned from taking part in major tournaments then your country suffers.However, this might not be so appropriate, on reflection, in the Zim example. If BBB actually gave a crap about his nation he wouldn't be doing what he is doing so let's be honest, who cares if Zim plays or not from his perspective. To him, he has what he wants he is making it happen in his little world. All the while his people are suffering and have to read posts like this written by relatively well-off South Africans who don't know the true extend of the situation there.I know it's easy to cast a dissaproving eye towards Zim and the international sporting community from where I sit, but I truly believe that if I were involved I would forfeit my position in the team if I were playing Zim.
Manto is a convicted criminal. Fire her now
If Manto is not fired very soon then we know that there is something fishy going on.I call for her to be fired and swiftly. Take a stand Mbeki, for crying in a blood soaked bucket take a goddammed stand.
Pink Tells President Bush About Real Life
I am a huge fan of Pink. Those of you who are laughing at me, hold off and watch this video:This video rings true in more countries than America and could be directed at more presidents than Bush.I appreciate it when artists take a stand against something that is destroy our culture. They have the power to change things and the power to make a difference. I just wish that more of them would rally together and release singles along the same line, with a similar message at a similar time. Even just as an experiment to see what kind of impact that would make.I can only image what would happen if Greenday, Christina, Beyonce, U2, FooFighters, Fall Out Boy, PDiddy, Snoop, Eminem and the rest of them all released and anti-Bush campaign (not that kind of bush, calm down).
A Social Network With A Cause
Change.org is a social network that I think is fantastic. It is not trying to get you to talk about how drunk you got last night, how many people you slept with and who you are in love with. Change.org wants you to talk about politics, about change and about social injustices.Yes this is a bit of a dramatic cause to be blogging about so early in the morning but one that is close to my heart and my political views. Silence is not the solution here, awareness is. Visit Change.org now, screw Facebook and their pseudo important agenda's. This is a site worth networking through.
Fatima Meer Takes On The ANC In Front Of Mandela
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My Graduation Ceremony Rocked. It did, really. Not because I was the one and only important person in the world graduating but because one Nelson Mandela and Another Fatima Meer both attended the ceremony. Mandela was present because his Grandson was graduating so that was cool, chilled, didn't say much. Meer was there receiving an honourary doctorate in literature from Rhodes University.Let me give you some background of Meer before I go ahead with the controversial and stinging speech that was read on her behalf on Friday.
Fatima Meer (28 August 1928 - ) is a South African writer and academic, a screenwriter, and was a prominent anti-apartheid activist.
There is much more information available on Meer at Wikipedia.Now not only were these two icons present at my graduation ceremony but Fatima Meer took the opportunity to make an unbelievable speech in the presence of the ANC's biggest historical figure and advocate, Mr Nelson Mandela. Meer is not well. In fact she has a nurse looking after her 24/7 these days. She had enough energy to greet the congregation present and introduce her granddaughter to speak on her behalf. I cannot remember everything that Meer said in the speech but will try to remember some key points or statements that were made.She began her speech by doing the usual, thanking those present and Rhodes for having her and awarding her with the doctorate. That was it for the formalities. The Granddaughter then proceeded to read a scathing account of her grandmothers thoughts. Meer believes that a socialist uprising is coming. She believes that the people are on the verge of taking back their country and that it is the ANC that the people will be taking back from. She noted that in her opinion the Neo-Capitalist regime that the ANC has instilled in this country needs to and will soon come to an end. Meer further pushed the need for the ANC to reconnect with its people and get off the gravy train. She had much positive to say about South Africa and the people within this country, but she had nothing, absolutely nothing good to say about the ANC.That is the gist of what I can remember about the speech, I was gobsmacked and astounded at the guts of Meer herself and her granddaughter; getting up in front of Mandela and saying all of these things and more. In case you are wondering how Mandela reacted, you will not be shocked or surprised to know that he stood (with great physical difficulty I might add) applauded Meers speech and shook her hand. He never ceases to amaze me.Further thought leads me to wonder about the statement that he was making by not reacting and "endorsing" the speech with his silence? Is he perhaps agreeing with Meer? Is he perhaps stating that the ANC as it stands right now is not what Mandela fought for for so long? I am not sure what he was trying to say but in his presence I must admit, he can say anything he wants and it seems to be so incredibly phenomenal.Keep a look out for Meers speech in case it gets posted, I'll see what I can do in terms of audio or text versions of the speech. Read Fatima Meers book about Nelson Mandela. It should be a ripper: MEER, FatimaHigher Than Hope: The Authorized Biography of Nelson Mandela
Rock out minus the politics
North Korea (NK) is allowing Western Musicians in to their country to play a concert for peace. The concert is being organised by a pro-NK group and will be help next year as long as the lyrical content from the bands is not "sexy or violent". (Hmmm, well that rules out ALMOST EVERY BAND IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!).A little quote from the Voice of Korea website talking about the concert:
"any band will be considered even though you are from USA."
Now I am as anti-American as the next blogger out there, but seriously, "even if you are from USA"? Are these morons nuts? Some of the best bands in the world are from the USA (I hate to admit that but it's true).Lets see, U2 (political) - out, FooFighters (aggressive) - out, Greenday (political/aggressive) - out, Coldplay (political) - out, Robbie Williams (Drug abusive) - out, Travis (political) - out, The Strokes/The Vines/The Hives/Arctic Monkeys/White Stripes/REM/Elton John/Rolling Stones/Paul McCartney/Aerosmith/Goo Goo Dolls/Pink/P.Diddy/Jay-Z/Ludacris/Beyonce/Eminem/any other rapper/any punk rock band (all political or aggressive or biased or violent).This list could go on forever. There are very few bands who have no political agenda in their music whatsoever. These days music is love and music is war.So to sum up, playing at this concert I can see Pussy Cat Dolls (if they remained 98% clothed), Ronin Keating (if he isn't too violent about love), Westlife (Because Ronin owns them) and maybe, just maybe someone like Kylie Minogue - maybe.
You Tube Politics
Sky News (I know, I know, alot of sky news) has broadcast a story about the political usefulness of the internet and in particular sites like YouTube. Appararently certain senators in the U.S of A are being 'tailed' by their opposition and filmed at every possible moment. These films obviously catch senators saying stupid American-like things that the public is shocked to hear and see when it is put on the internet (personally, no shock from my side).Basically, one senator noticed this man filming and pointed him out at a rally. The filming had already been done and the stupidness already recorded. This film was placed on YouTube and recieved dumploads of views and comments. Another Senator was caught on camera saying that no one in the States can go in to a corner shop anymore unless they are Asian or Indian. What the hell was he thinking to himself as he said those words. Wait, I know, he thought: "Self, no one is going to remember this, no one will know I've even said it." Sorry for you Bucko, your idiocy has been eternalised for every political analysed and voter to scrutinise through the internet. Ya Moron.I think that this movement is incredible in regard to politics. I think that candidates need to be shown as human, normal people who screw up. People who make mistakes while running for office and who will probably make a mistake while in office. Let the public see the blunders and vote accordingly.