MY FIRST TIME IN PORT ALFRED

My first time in Port Alfred


On the 26 of April, for the first time ever I went to Port Alfred. I have been in Grahamstown for 11 months now and ever since I got here I have been told that Port Alfred is one of the most beautiful places in Eastern Cape. As a Cape Tonian I have been missing the beach so I was determined to go to Port Alfred not only to smell the beach but to be able to say “I have also been to Port Alfred” and to experience it myself. I along with two of my friends, Loyiso and Noxolo, and her brother drove to Port Alfred for the night, it felt like a mini road trip. When we got there, we had supper at the hotel the Royal Guesthouse, and drove around taking pictures, but we couldn’t really site-see because the weather was terrible and most of the places were closed. We decided to create our own entertainment by playing games and swimming. It was not what I fully expected but I still had lots of fun, having my friends there really contributed to my experience and now I can give my own opinion about Port Alfred, which is that it’s indeed a beautiful place that is ideal for holiday getaways

Gett' Ya Scandal Out...

The very fascinating background and layout of the blog is what’s bound to catch and capture your eye, it becomes proof that the RUScandalous blog has some scandalous business going on behind it.

The RUscandalous blog is definitely a bloggers spot. It is not only a focus tool for information but also a mission drive that gets you thinking about the very scandals that occur in our daily normal lives and whilst doing that the blog includes article about the fears that we think we got under control but actually have a huge impact in our productive and phobic lives – homosexual and the death of music. What’s more appealing and compelling are the thoughts and views that you are left with in every article that is written. The blog makes you realise that either way, you are or become part of the daily scandals in this world.

RUScandalous is what we need to keep in touch with the world and our inner thoughts, because scandal can damage or concrete our reputation. The blog also serves as an encouragement to doing things that do not require much effort but which can lead into greater self esteem and courage – the post smiling, which is emphasises the importance and motivation a smile can bring in ones daily life. So RUScandalous?

The Blind Library

When passing by the Blindlib (Blind Library), I’ve always wondered how the visually impaired make their way to the library, and how do the librarians deal with a bunch of blind people.

I chose the SALB (South African Library for The Blind), because it has always caught my eyes attention when passing by it – just wondering if all the people who are library members can read Braille, I guess I was also a bit ignorant because I’ve always thought that all the members of the Blindlib are fluent with Braille, otherwise they would not make use of the library.

I also didn’t know that there could be Braille magazines, especially produced for the visually impaired.

Before going to the SALB, I anticipated coming across a few visually impaired people making their way in and out of the library, like a normal daily routine of a library, but to my surprise the SALB has a totally different operational system.

Other than having a flock of visually impaired people into the library, the library produces and borrows their clients’ books in a form of a tape or cd recording. Members and clients of the library who are fluent with Braille request books (maximum of six) and then in turn the book is delivered to their door.

They different kinds of sections and services namely,

the library services – dealing with administrative work which includes managing and maintaining the electronic management system and making certain that the library members get what they want in time.

the audio production – this section of the library deals with maintaining the standards of the material the library provides and delivers i.e. producing, converting and copying various print magazines to the digital audio medium

the Braille production – which makes sure that a high quality of Braille material is produced including books in Braille in all the 11 official languages (of South Africa) and that the library staff members are fluent with Braille.

the production support services – helps with the training and monitoring of volunteers and temporary staff members in the production of audio and Braille titles, provides advice where it is needed and assists the external clients of the library.

the Braille consultancy – “ it encompasses an additional function of standard setting”.

Under the Information technology and technical services:

•the technical services – “managing and administrating the transport and vehicle needs of the library”
•information technology – responsible for the development and support of the technological requirements of the library.

Marketing – promotes, produces and markets the library material and services.

Management Services – “this section is primary responsible for providing support to the SALB Board, the Director and all section heads of the library. It is responsible for recording, reporting and providing relevant information required by the Public Finance Management Act and various other legislations relating to finance and human resources”. This section comprises:

•Financial Management and Fundraising
•Human Resource Management and Development
•Administration and Cleaning Services

Together these sections and the great, willing and welcoming staff of the Blindlib help maintain and manage the library.

Facts about the library:
●The SALB was founded by Josephine (Josie) Wood in 1918
●The SALB is not only a national library for the blind, but it is the only library for the blind in the continent of Africa.
●The SALB has members and clients all over the world including, Australia, United Kingdom, Spain, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and so on.
●The SALB provides and distributes free information service to its clients including free Daisy player
●The SALB has over 24, 000 title books
●The SALB provides their readers with magazines i.e. National Geographic, Bona, Oprah, Chess Magazines and Sports Magazines as readers digest.
●The SALB has a membership base of 5, 773 members

a special thank you to the staff of the Blindlib especially Mr F. Hendrikz (director) for a great co-operation, and making my visit worthwhile.

Mamma had a chicken... Mamma had a cow!

Mamma had a chicken… Mamma had a cow!
By Robyn Selles

In reading the articles posted on “cowandchickenandcoward”, I found myself immediately drawn into them and excited to continue reading. It was not only political issues covered, but personal issues – feminism, working hard and the typical weight problems that can often plague the media. I believe that a blog such as this one is important in a society so that people reading this blog are able to grasp on to that one last shred of hope in this world. Blogs and online magazines that constantly tell people to be who they are not are everywhere – and it is just sickening http://heat.co.za/ .
With the media enslaving us all, it is a relief to see personal opinions about important issues in the world as well as the seemingly small ones.
It is evident that the authors of this blog are not well-accomplished, world-famous journalists; instead they represent the mediocrity of the world – the average student, the people we know best. There is something so personal in a blog such as this one. Emoticons and abbreviations are used as they are used in all communicative media among students. They are not pretending to be who they are not. They are blogging every day life for the rest of the world to see and make sense of.
I really believe that this blog could go far with a lot of followers – it’s bright, inviting and exciting and definitely something I will continue to read.
http://cowandchickenandcoward.blogspot.com

Rain, rain go away... I'll blog again another day

Rain, rain go away...I'll blog again another day
By Robyn Selles

Generally, rain annoys me and I do whatever I can to stay away from it. Yet, this particular day was no ordinary day – my Japanese test had been cancelled which meant that I could get back to watching movies while curled up in bed. But the rain had other plans for me… and so instead of doing the normal thing – running as fast as I can all the way back to res – I took a deep breath in and spun around in the rain. I then took out my (waterproof) camera and continued to parade around in the rain until I was thoroughly drenched and shivering. It was such an exhilarating experience for me, because I always do whatever it takes to avoid moist situations such as this one. I took many pictures and jumped in all the puddles barefoot. I laughed by myself in the middle of the street – with people giving me strange looks.
Spending time in the rain is not something I plan on doing every day – but on that odd occasion when I know that a warm bed and hot chocolate awaits me, there is nothing wrong with taking some time out of my day to dance in the rain and take pictures of the flooding gutters. It’s such a freeing experience and the perfect way to end off a busy day.
The sky was a fantastic mix of pinks and greys and everything around me was so peaceful – well, except for the students acting like cats in the rain. The smell of almost-summer rain and the high humidity in the air was all so much to take in. I couldn’t stop smiling – and who can blame me?

chained freedom

#rublogs my blog post on www.JournalismJargen.com are my views on the media being bias and goverment contributing political idealogies

Liberal bias in the media occurs when ideas are influenced. Some bias exists within many media channels like the SABC and CNN as well as newspapers, and sometimes radio stations. Media bias is the bias of journalists and news producers, from the way they choose their stories to which story is good enough to get published. Government plays a big part in media influence by having some kind of ownership of the news, staff selection and first choice on target audience, therefore contributing to journalists being politically prejudice. I believe that the media is a product of manipulation of ideologies that is greatly influenced by the government. I don’t believe that favouritism only exists in print; racial bias in media is also evident. “Political activist and one time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson said in 1985 that the news media portray black people as less intelligent a we are.” The media sometimes depict blacks as the people responsible for crime and being backward. Yes media is a tool for us to know what is happening around us and unfolding scandals and human interests but the question is whose interest is the media protecting and are we getting the full unbiased story?

Payed for Being in Prison!

Former eNdumeni municipality mayour, Thandeka Nukani, her driver Peter Khumalo and her boyfriend Bongani Shangase were denied bail by the Utrecht magistrate’s court last week but she is continuing pocketing her monthly salary of R18661 despite the languishing in jail. The package includes a R17830 salary and R831 cell phone allowance.

She is being overwhelmed and saluted by the tax payers’ money for being in prison and facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and allegedly conspired to poison her nephew. Who gets a cell phone allowance whilst still in prison? I have no doubt that if she was an ordinary accused, and not in the governmental position a different procedure will be followed.

Municipal manager David Cebekhulu said: “We will continue paying her salary because she has not been found guilty. It is her party (ANC) or the MEC that can take a decision.” The municipality is being thankful and proud of what she’s accused of. She was denied bail which is an indication that there is something fishy about this conspiracy. It is such nonsense and an insult to tax payers. What will happen when she is found guilty?

She is no longer serving the community because she was obviously not a suitable candidate. The words of Cebekhulu are proof that our governmental system and governmental representatives are not considerate about the people. It shows that if you’re in the cabinet in South Africa money is in abundant, and you need not to work for it.