I hope 2008 brings you many blessings: good health, less stress, happiness, the ability and resources to reach your goals and loads of money.
I’m feeling well-rested now, and my brain is actually working. Looking back, the past two months look really scary; I don’t know how I got through them I was so worn out. In view of that, here are some of the decisions I made for the coming year:
1. Take better care of myself – This includes planning my work days more effetively, sleeping early and taking morning walks before I go to work, eating less junk, planning my meals better so I don’t have to buy fast food at lunch, getting a regular dose of vitamin B12 and other supplements.
It also means taking a full day, once a week, where I do no work. On this day I will not blog, do research, write fiction or any type of creative writing, read industry web sites or answer emails. Sounds really tough just thinking about it, but I have to try.
2. Mind the details – Some of my stress came from not minding the details of meetings, schedules and the writing process right from the beginning.
My hope is that my new Blackberry will help coordinate things and get more work done in a shorter time frame. It will especially help with reminders, responding to emails on the run and submitting articles when I'm working outside the office.
3. Pay attention to the superficial– I’m going to regularly colour my hair black. I started turning grey when I was in my early twenties, so I’ve had ample time to get used to the fact that I have more grey hair than my (almost) 69 year old mother. As for now, about 40%, maybe a little less of my hair is grey.
Personally, I love it and the grey is interesting, even unique at my age. But society does not agree with me. Conventional wisdom says grey hair means that you are old, and it was sobering when I met a couple of people over the festive season and they greeted me with the kind of respect normally reserved for the old and feeble:-)
I’m also going to pay more attention to my home – make it fresher, more stylish, keep the garden neater. Feeling good about myself and my environment will help keep me energised I'm sure.
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
6 Things I Appreciated About Phokeng This Christmas Season
The road to Tshufi Hill, the source of inspiration for my stories. View is from our small gate.
Originally uploaded by damariasenne
Christmas celebrations in Phokeng were wonderful. As my sister's husband is American, and his mother was also staying with us through the holiday, we had a combination of African and American Christmas Day.
The menu was primarily African - we reckoned the American menu works for a winter Christmas, not a sweltering 34 degrees
Celcius :-)
But Eileen (mother-in-law) baked a number of cakes and pies and cookies usually prepared for Amerian families.
We also had a gift exchange session early in the morning.
2. Being Close To Things That Inspire Me
When I was little, my mother made up many a story about this road, the dam and the hill out there in the horizon. I also made up a few stories.
3. Working With The Environment
Summer weather in Phokeng is hot and dry, usually staying in the mid-thirties. So most people wake up at dawn so they can finish their chores before the heat saps their energy.
The trees, a combination of indigenous and those planted by the villagers, provide the shade which allows people to walk around the village at certain times of the day.
Most people also sit in the shade outside during the day, so they can enjoy the resultant breeze.
4. My Mother's Garden
My family, especially my mother, loves sitting on the stoep, facing the garden and the road ( see view in the pic).
Sitting there, you can chat with another family member, listen to some music from the livingroom behind the stoep, or even work off a laptop if you are so inclined.
You can also exchange greetings with neighbours as they walk/drive past. Local custom dictates that you greet the people you meet (we know not to greet when we are in a different environment,like an elevator in town:-). Those you are friendly with stop for a moment if they are not in a hurry to share news.
Warning: If you do not want to be disturbed, do not sit out front where the neighbours can easily see you, as that will be construed as an invitation to socialise!
5. Plenty of Fresh Food
Most people in Phokeng grow maize in summer. They also grow a variety of vegetables and fruit which grow easily in the area and don't require much care.
These include beans, pumpkins, watermelon and spinach
Because of the heavy rains in spring/summer, you can keep as big a garden as you like. All you have to do is make the soil ready and plant the seed. Later, you just have to keep weeding the garden.
Phokeng does not have a garbage disposal system (as in, no one comes to get the garbage bins), so throughout the year people dig holes in their gardens, bury what can be buried ( peels etc) and burn what they can. This system nourishes the soil for when they plant.
6. A Place To Relax
This is one of the places where I can completely relax. I can sit around all day doing nothing, or work if I want to. These past holidays I even had the opportunity to photograph some flowers, and chase a couple of birds ( and butterflies) in my mother's garden.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Disappointed in Setswana Translations
Let me start by stating that I am not a Setswana language expert. I'm a business journalist, struggling children's book author, mother and blogger with a keen interest in communication technology and the Internet.
Setswana happens to be my mother tongue, and as I had much older paternal grandparents (born in the 1890s), I learnt their language rather than the modern version.
Many people in my village (Phokeng) also speak Setswana among themselves, with very little integration of SA's 10 other languages in their sentences, as happens in the speech patterns of many urban-based South Africans.
And I understand that language is a dynamic thing. Really, I do:-). I welcome new words that add to the vocabulary of this very old, descriptive language, enriching it for modern use and ensuring that it remains relevant.
But these summer holidays, as I work through my stack of children's books to review on this blog, I have been disappointed by the Setswana translations.
The translator(s) keep using Sesotho/Sepedi words and phrases, and at some stage I had to look through the publishing credits to make sure I was reading a Setswana translation.
"What's the difference?" Baby asks when I yell and throw the book down in frustration. "It's just little things that don't make a difference to a story. And the languages are similar and most kids reading the book won't know the difference."
My point exactly: most kids won't be able to tell the difference, which means these errors could become part of institutional learning.
And in the great scheme of business and education, it doesn't really matter, because South Africans mostly communicate in English in those spheres.
Yet, I can't help but think that I want Baby to be comfortable in the international arena,communicating quite easily and fluently in English without having to give up the beautiful language of her ancestors.
I also keep wondering why SOMEONE did not tell the publishers (of the books I've got) of the translation problems? Where are the academic language squad, which I assume is ever-vigilant about language use? Why didn't the Department of Education, language experts, teachers or parents say something so the faulty translations are recalled and fixed?
I'm not very well-informed about developments in the local publishing industry, so I don't know if I'm talking about a subject that was discussed among the publishers and language experts and resolution found. If so, I apologise for "pulling off the scab on a healing wound," as Batswana would say.
For now, I've decided to stick to English language book reviews, as they represent a fair reflection of the story the author and illustrator told, and the publisher issued.
I'm also going to write the publishers involved to let them know of what I think is a problem ( they may disagree:-)
I haven't worked with them at all ( the ones I'm contacting) and they may feel I'm just talking through my ears. Or my emails may end up in the slush pile/eaten by a spam filter, but it doesn't hurt to try and say something.
If all else fails, they are bound to bump into this post. That's why I love blogging: your voice is heard sooner or later.
Setswana happens to be my mother tongue, and as I had much older paternal grandparents (born in the 1890s), I learnt their language rather than the modern version.
Many people in my village (Phokeng) also speak Setswana among themselves, with very little integration of SA's 10 other languages in their sentences, as happens in the speech patterns of many urban-based South Africans.
And I understand that language is a dynamic thing. Really, I do:-). I welcome new words that add to the vocabulary of this very old, descriptive language, enriching it for modern use and ensuring that it remains relevant.
But these summer holidays, as I work through my stack of children's books to review on this blog, I have been disappointed by the Setswana translations.
The translator(s) keep using Sesotho/Sepedi words and phrases, and at some stage I had to look through the publishing credits to make sure I was reading a Setswana translation.
"What's the difference?" Baby asks when I yell and throw the book down in frustration. "It's just little things that don't make a difference to a story. And the languages are similar and most kids reading the book won't know the difference."
My point exactly: most kids won't be able to tell the difference, which means these errors could become part of institutional learning.
And in the great scheme of business and education, it doesn't really matter, because South Africans mostly communicate in English in those spheres.
Yet, I can't help but think that I want Baby to be comfortable in the international arena,communicating quite easily and fluently in English without having to give up the beautiful language of her ancestors.
I also keep wondering why SOMEONE did not tell the publishers (of the books I've got) of the translation problems? Where are the academic language squad, which I assume is ever-vigilant about language use? Why didn't the Department of Education, language experts, teachers or parents say something so the faulty translations are recalled and fixed?
I'm not very well-informed about developments in the local publishing industry, so I don't know if I'm talking about a subject that was discussed among the publishers and language experts and resolution found. If so, I apologise for "pulling off the scab on a healing wound," as Batswana would say.
For now, I've decided to stick to English language book reviews, as they represent a fair reflection of the story the author and illustrator told, and the publisher issued.
I'm also going to write the publishers involved to let them know of what I think is a problem ( they may disagree:-)
I haven't worked with them at all ( the ones I'm contacting) and they may feel I'm just talking through my ears. Or my emails may end up in the slush pile/eaten by a spam filter, but it doesn't hurt to try and say something.
If all else fails, they are bound to bump into this post. That's why I love blogging: your voice is heard sooner or later.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Why I love shopping at Exclusive Books
One of the reasons I love buying books from Exclusive Books (www.exclusivebooks.co.za) is that they create a comfortable space for book-lovers to browse and make their selections. br />
There are couches at strategic corners of the stores, where you can sit while you browse through a book you want to buy, or read a book you can’t afford to buy.
You don’t have to stand at the shelves, blocking other buyers, and you don’t have to take a book unless you’re quite sure that’s what you want. Sometimes I even drop by just to take a break from the mall crowds and end up buying something.
Baby also loves the bookstore. It's a place for her to rest when she's tired of shopping, an oportunity to read through some new books if we don't have money to buy, and to ear-mark books she wants me to buy for her.
This is a different atmosphere to CNA, where the aisles are narrow and the atmosphere does not encourage you to linger.
How can I buy anything, when I can't stand at a shelf for two minutes before I have to shift out of the way for another another customer to pass through?
And there is no way to get comfortable if you like the book you found, though I suspect that's the point. Buy it if you like it, but don't read it and then leave it, I suspect is the ethos.
To be fair, CNA is not really a bookshop as such. I think the best description is "entertainment store," as they sell all manner of things including laptops, games, DVDs, toys, stationery in addition to books.
P.S. What's you favourite bookstore, and what are the reasons you love it?
There are couches at strategic corners of the stores, where you can sit while you browse through a book you want to buy, or read a book you can’t afford to buy.
You don’t have to stand at the shelves, blocking other buyers, and you don’t have to take a book unless you’re quite sure that’s what you want. Sometimes I even drop by just to take a break from the mall crowds and end up buying something.
Baby also loves the bookstore. It's a place for her to rest when she's tired of shopping, an oportunity to read through some new books if we don't have money to buy, and to ear-mark books she wants me to buy for her.
This is a different atmosphere to CNA, where the aisles are narrow and the atmosphere does not encourage you to linger.
How can I buy anything, when I can't stand at a shelf for two minutes before I have to shift out of the way for another another customer to pass through?
And there is no way to get comfortable if you like the book you found, though I suspect that's the point. Buy it if you like it, but don't read it and then leave it, I suspect is the ethos.
To be fair, CNA is not really a bookshop as such. I think the best description is "entertainment store," as they sell all manner of things including laptops, games, DVDs, toys, stationery in addition to books.
P.S. What's you favourite bookstore, and what are the reasons you love it?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Annual Christmas party with friends
The early Christmas dinner with my friends went very well. As I’ve been friends with Pam for almost twenty years now, it was not surprising that I’d meet mutual acquaintances I haven’t seen in a long time. It was great time to renew old relationships; form new ones. And as always, the food was plentiful and delicious.
Strangely enough, the subject of blogging came up during dinner. No, I didn’t start it:-).
Most people at dinner had a vague idea of it; generally associating blogging with online personal journals and the Sowetan sub-editor who was fired for blogging.
When I explained about blogging as a possible tool for business, it became obvious that two friends – Johanna and Xolile, both small business owners, could benefit from it.
The rest of my friends at dinner mostly work for government or signed non-disclosure agreements with their corporations, and hearing that they blog personally would give a number of employers some nightmares.
Say it with flowers
Johanna (orange & white dress) brought hostess Pam a big bunch of sunflowers
Originally uploaded by damariasenne
Johanna opened her flower shop at the end of October, so the business is very new and could do with some aggressive marketing.
The blog will give her:
- Inexpensive web presence without requiring any technical work,
- A platform to talk about flowers.
- Hopefully, this will help her generate some corporate business. Then there’s the lead up to Valentine’s Day to worry about.
While Johanna is registered with Interflora and some other international organisations, she doesn’t have Internet access at her shop or on her cellphone.
Her mobile phone is also old (over 2 years old) and needs Internet access in her new business.
It has to be at very low prices, because her business is new and she can’t afford to bleed cash. It also has to offer mobility – she has to be able to stay connected whether she’s in the shop, meeting potential clients or at the flower market.
So she’s going to shop around, compare some solutions, and by the end of the year she should have something that suits her business. Hopefully, her adventures will result in a post on Mobile Life (www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife).
Ask Mama Stork
Xolile is a private practice mid-wife operating out of a couple of local hospitals. While her business is not new, she also needs a stronger web presence to market her services.
Also, many women who are pregnant are hungry for birth information and she can provide that. She already has a column with a number of national pregnancy magazines, but we’re hoping that a blog will provide a further resource, allow Q and A and provide women a platform where they can share tips and just support each other.
Of course it wouldn’t hurt her business if the blog visitors converted to clients when they are near delivery…
So some time after Christmas the three of us are going to be meet, and I’m to help them set up their blogs.
Strangely enough, the subject of blogging came up during dinner. No, I didn’t start it:-).
Most people at dinner had a vague idea of it; generally associating blogging with online personal journals and the Sowetan sub-editor who was fired for blogging.
When I explained about blogging as a possible tool for business, it became obvious that two friends – Johanna and Xolile, both small business owners, could benefit from it.
The rest of my friends at dinner mostly work for government or signed non-disclosure agreements with their corporations, and hearing that they blog personally would give a number of employers some nightmares.
Say it with flowers
Johanna (orange & white dress) brought hostess Pam a big bunch of sunflowers
Originally uploaded by damariasenne
Johanna opened her flower shop at the end of October, so the business is very new and could do with some aggressive marketing.
The blog will give her:
- Inexpensive web presence without requiring any technical work,
- A platform to talk about flowers.
- Hopefully, this will help her generate some corporate business. Then there’s the lead up to Valentine’s Day to worry about.
While Johanna is registered with Interflora and some other international organisations, she doesn’t have Internet access at her shop or on her cellphone.
Her mobile phone is also old (over 2 years old) and needs Internet access in her new business.
It has to be at very low prices, because her business is new and she can’t afford to bleed cash. It also has to offer mobility – she has to be able to stay connected whether she’s in the shop, meeting potential clients or at the flower market.
So she’s going to shop around, compare some solutions, and by the end of the year she should have something that suits her business. Hopefully, her adventures will result in a post on Mobile Life (www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife).
Ask Mama Stork
Xolile is a private practice mid-wife operating out of a couple of local hospitals. While her business is not new, she also needs a stronger web presence to market her services.
Also, many women who are pregnant are hungry for birth information and she can provide that. She already has a column with a number of national pregnancy magazines, but we’re hoping that a blog will provide a further resource, allow Q and A and provide women a platform where they can share tips and just support each other.
Of course it wouldn’t hurt her business if the blog visitors converted to clients when they are near delivery…
So some time after Christmas the three of us are going to be meet, and I’m to help them set up their blogs.
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Holiday Fun Begins
You know the graduation scene in high school movies where the speeches and awards are done, and the kids jump up and throw their caps into the air?
That’s how I felt at mid-day today when I left work, knowing I was free to enjoy the summer and Christmas celebrations without any work-related obligations. Today, ITWeb Online’s news division closed down for the holidays, to reopen early January.
So the rest of the year will be devoted to spending time with Baby and partying with friends and family.
I wonder if you also have the same experience: as I grow older I find that I have numerous Christmas celebrations instead of just one.
In the lead up to the 25 December, I have Christmas dinner with groups of friends here in Johannesburg. And yes, we go the whole way with the dishes, the presents etc. And then I go home to Phokeng and have another Christmas celebration with family.
Last year we had an early Christmas luncheon for the nuclear family, as one of my cousins was hosting a massive Christmas celebration on the 25th.
Brings a whole new meaning to “On the first day of Christmas my true love....….”
My first Christmas celebration is tomorrow evening (Saturday), with my closest friends Pam and Lynn and their families. This is the third year that we’ve had a full on Christmas celebration together, taking turns to host it. Next year is my turn to play hostess…
I’m also planning to continue blogging for the rest of the year, and to keep up with urgent emails, thanks to my new Blackberry 8310, which I got yesterday courtesy of Research in Motion and Vodacom.
Special thanks to Yaseen from Vodacom for setting up the phone for me, and Ima, representing Research in Motion, and for synchronising everything. It made the change very easy.
That’s how I felt at mid-day today when I left work, knowing I was free to enjoy the summer and Christmas celebrations without any work-related obligations. Today, ITWeb Online’s news division closed down for the holidays, to reopen early January.
So the rest of the year will be devoted to spending time with Baby and partying with friends and family.
I wonder if you also have the same experience: as I grow older I find that I have numerous Christmas celebrations instead of just one.
In the lead up to the 25 December, I have Christmas dinner with groups of friends here in Johannesburg. And yes, we go the whole way with the dishes, the presents etc. And then I go home to Phokeng and have another Christmas celebration with family.
Last year we had an early Christmas luncheon for the nuclear family, as one of my cousins was hosting a massive Christmas celebration on the 25th.
Brings a whole new meaning to “On the first day of Christmas my true love....….”
My first Christmas celebration is tomorrow evening (Saturday), with my closest friends Pam and Lynn and their families. This is the third year that we’ve had a full on Christmas celebration together, taking turns to host it. Next year is my turn to play hostess…
I’m also planning to continue blogging for the rest of the year, and to keep up with urgent emails, thanks to my new Blackberry 8310, which I got yesterday courtesy of Research in Motion and Vodacom.
Special thanks to Yaseen from Vodacom for setting up the phone for me, and Ima, representing Research in Motion, and for synchronising everything. It made the change very easy.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
The worst performer in the Christmas party karaoke line-up
On Friday I took part in a karaoke competition at my work’s Christmas party. The thing is, I’m not a good singer and I know it. In fact, I was so bad I was probably the worst performing artist in that line up. The kind that leaves the judges and audience stunned, but fascinated in a very sick way:-)Anyway, I got into this mess through my fellow-journalists. It was maybe an hour or two before deadline, and they were nagging me that I had to enter the competition because they were entering. It was to be done in the name of team-spirit and all that nonsense.
You know when your child keeps nagging and saying “please” and you’re concentrating on something else, and finally you absently say “yes” just so the buzzing noise will go away?
By the time the full implications of what I agreed to sank it, the party planners already had my name in the official programme. I felt I would be a bad sport for pulling the plug at the last minute. But boy; was I nervous!
That night (before the party) Baby and I had quite a lot of fun practicing the song I was to perform.
Yes, I know "Barbie Girl" was a very strange selection, but I've already admitted I was not in my right mind:-)
Anyway, the stakes went even higher when I heard, at the Christmas party that it was actually a serious “Idol” type competition and there would judges and prizes. First prize was a weekend stay at a hotel and there was also lots of champagne and some luxury chocolates for the second and third prize winners....
I think that's when I decided to stop worrying about my performance and to go on stage and just be silly and have some fun. Clearly I was not in the running for a major prize. I was also the only one who could control whether I enjoyed the Christmas party, and my performance, or not.
The party also reminded of some very important lessons:
Sometimes it’s okay to be silly/do badly: I’m not a good singer and have no great dreams to be one. So it does not matter in the great scheme of life that I did badly.
But failing publicly is another matter, especially for someone who is somewhat shy as I am. My bad performance however showed me that sometimes people react to the attitude of the person who failed, not the failure itself.
Because I didn’t care, and thought it was all silly, they did too and laughed with me. If I had been embarrassed because of my failure, some people would have been concerned on my behalf, tainting the experience.
I should get out of your comfort zone whenever possible: I’ve never done karaoke before and never performed musically in public. And lately, as I grow older, I’ve become less adventuresome.
But the Christmas party reminded me of the young woman I used to be, who hiked up to Mount Aux Sources (the highest peak in SA), took golfing lessons ( was bad at it) Chinese painting lessons (found it soothing) and went on road trips over parts of Southern Africa with friends at a drop of a hat.
Use the experience for future work – I’ve read my children’s stories in public/at festivals and would like to do more of that. This experience will help me gain more confidence, and put myself out there for more readings.
Personal development - It will also remind me, when I’m nervous about a presentation or speech or something, that no matter how badly it goes, I will survive. During those moments when you’re overwhelmed by nerves, that’s a nice thing to know.
Teach my child to deal with failure - I don't think as parents we do this enough.However, failure is an inevitable part of learning, and the better equipped you are to deal with it, the more willing you are to try new things and adapt your strategies when things don't go according to plan.
P.S. As a karaoke participant, I also won Beacon’s Superfine Luxury Truffles, which family and friends enjoyed over the weekend.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Dakota Blue Richardson : A Review
A couple of days before I was to see the premier of The Golden Compass, a friend forwarded me an email urging me to boycott the movie because of its anti-God message targeted at children.
The Golden Compass is based on a book called Northern Lights (also called The Golden Compass in the United States) by Phillip Pullman.
It tells the story tells of Lyra Belacqua, a girl who goes on a voyage to rescue her best friend and other children who have disappeared from her community.
The book is part of a series by Phillip Pullman set in a universe where people’s spirits, called daemons, manifest as animals and walk alongside them.
I had already seen the media coverage where many religious groups slammed the movie and its associated books. One report also cited Pullman as saying he wanted to “kill God.”
Despite being a self-confessed Christian, I attended the premier. I went because I like fantasy and The Golden Compass sounded interesting. I also wanted to see if the movie did indeed bash God, or if it was the same hysteria that accompanied Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Harry Potter movies, among others.
The Review
Caveat: I’m not a professional reviewer or expert in the arts, and attended the premier courtesy of pan-African mobile provider MTN
That said, I’m a huge fan of fantasy, and have lately been reading a lot of books populated by demons (they seem to be fashionable in literature lately). So I expected an epic fantasy tale that would be a visual feast for me, and maybe later, my daughter. Sadly the movie was very disappointing.
l could find nothing wrong with the actors’ performance. Daniel Craig is convincing as Lord Asriel and I really wanted to know more on his storyline, but the director kept it very short. Clearly it was an introduction, with more details provided in the next movie.
Nicole Kidman does the stunning but sinister Marisa Coulter very well, but somehow, the character was not rounded enough for me to root against her. Or is that I didn’t love central character Lyra, played by Dakota Blue Richardson and so didn’t much care if she lost against Coulter?
The movie does not fully show Lyra as a proactive character who sets out to do things. It’s more that things happen to her and she gets swept along with the tide of grown-ups concerned about the issue. Pretty shabby, I think, for a heroine…
As to the overall structure of the movie, it felt like an introduction of a major epic, rather than a self-contained movie. Yes, I understand that it’s part of a series, but each movie should stand alone even while driving towards the next installment. Lord of the Rings did that incredibly well.
So no, I would not recommend that Baby watch The Golden Compass. Her R20 would be better spent on another movie.
However, the premier itself was a very classy, well-organised event. I met some very interesting people and watched quite a few local stars as they went about the evening, The food was also great and the drinks were endless. It was a really memorable evening.
The Golden Compass is based on a book called Northern Lights (also called The Golden Compass in the United States) by Phillip Pullman.
It tells the story tells of Lyra Belacqua, a girl who goes on a voyage to rescue her best friend and other children who have disappeared from her community.
The book is part of a series by Phillip Pullman set in a universe where people’s spirits, called daemons, manifest as animals and walk alongside them.
I had already seen the media coverage where many religious groups slammed the movie and its associated books. One report also cited Pullman as saying he wanted to “kill God.”
Despite being a self-confessed Christian, I attended the premier. I went because I like fantasy and The Golden Compass sounded interesting. I also wanted to see if the movie did indeed bash God, or if it was the same hysteria that accompanied Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Harry Potter movies, among others.
The Review
Caveat: I’m not a professional reviewer or expert in the arts, and attended the premier courtesy of pan-African mobile provider MTN
That said, I’m a huge fan of fantasy, and have lately been reading a lot of books populated by demons (they seem to be fashionable in literature lately). So I expected an epic fantasy tale that would be a visual feast for me, and maybe later, my daughter. Sadly the movie was very disappointing.
l could find nothing wrong with the actors’ performance. Daniel Craig is convincing as Lord Asriel and I really wanted to know more on his storyline, but the director kept it very short. Clearly it was an introduction, with more details provided in the next movie.
Nicole Kidman does the stunning but sinister Marisa Coulter very well, but somehow, the character was not rounded enough for me to root against her. Or is that I didn’t love central character Lyra, played by Dakota Blue Richardson and so didn’t much care if she lost against Coulter?
The movie does not fully show Lyra as a proactive character who sets out to do things. It’s more that things happen to her and she gets swept along with the tide of grown-ups concerned about the issue. Pretty shabby, I think, for a heroine…
As to the overall structure of the movie, it felt like an introduction of a major epic, rather than a self-contained movie. Yes, I understand that it’s part of a series, but each movie should stand alone even while driving towards the next installment. Lord of the Rings did that incredibly well.
So no, I would not recommend that Baby watch The Golden Compass. Her R20 would be better spent on another movie.
However, the premier itself was a very classy, well-organised event. I met some very interesting people and watched quite a few local stars as they went about the evening, The food was also great and the drinks were endless. It was a really memorable evening.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
USAASA CEO James Theledi on Why SA Needs to Develop Relevant Local Content For Our Children
I mostly did this video as part of my experiment on my Mobile Life blog. But I couldn't figure out how to load it up on that site, so I brought it here.
James Theledi, CEO of South Africa's Universal Service and Access Agency, was kind enough to be my guinea pig for my first interview using a mobile phone (LG KU990). His agency has the job of ensuring that the poor and disadvantaged also gain access to phones, the Internet and TV/radio services.
Among many issues, some of which I write about here, James and I chatted about the need to develop local content that is relevant for the needs of developing communities.
P.S. This is raw, unedited tape. As soon as I figure out how to edit, the quality will improve.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Baby is reading The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
This week Baby is reading The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. This is her second book by the author.
She was introduced to C.S. Lewis through the movie “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Soon after we found a copy of the book and she fell in love with The Chronicles of Narnia.
Tonight she insisted we do a bit of research on the author, including looking for images of him on the Internet.
I was working on the laptop and didn’t want to stop the flow of words, so I said something like “never mind what he looks like. I’m sure he’s very old, and has a long beard like the men from his era! Just read the book.”
After a bout of nagging, I finally gave in and searched for images of the author.
“B-but, he’s so young! He’s even younger than my [paternal] grandmother,” I exclaimed. My grandmother, God bless her, was born in 1896. She passed away in the nineteen eighties.
“How old did you think he was?” Baby asked.
“I don’t know. As old as…… you know, that beard guy…..”
“Jesus Christ?”
“No, not him! The other one…...”
“Confucius?"
She was introduced to C.S. Lewis through the movie “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Soon after we found a copy of the book and she fell in love with The Chronicles of Narnia.
Tonight she insisted we do a bit of research on the author, including looking for images of him on the Internet.
I was working on the laptop and didn’t want to stop the flow of words, so I said something like “never mind what he looks like. I’m sure he’s very old, and has a long beard like the men from his era! Just read the book.”
After a bout of nagging, I finally gave in and searched for images of the author.
“B-but, he’s so young! He’s even younger than my [paternal] grandmother,” I exclaimed. My grandmother, God bless her, was born in 1896. She passed away in the nineteen eighties.
“How old did you think he was?” Baby asked.
“I don’t know. As old as…… you know, that beard guy…..”
“Jesus Christ?”
“No, not him! The other one…...”
“Confucius?"
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Smacking a child may cost you R300
A number of child-related news stories jolted me quite a bit recently.
Firstly, a number of media reports this morning say parents will have to cough up at least R300 for giving children a clip on the ear if they are prosecuted under the proposed Children's Act.
The articles cite a News24 report as a source. "The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday told the parliamentary social welfare services portfolio committee that unless clause 139 of the Children's Act was changed, "any minor smack on the buttocks or rap over the knuckles" would be illegal and punishable by law."
The reason the issue shook me up is that I hadn’t realised I have mixed feelings about corporal punishment.
Make no mistake – I am completely, totally, against child abuse and believe that strong measures should be taken to prevent it and to punish the abuser.
But I see a smack as something that some parents may choose to use when other options fail.
I was smacked when I was a child. I don’t think it was an effective way to guide me to make better decisions and choices. It was simply punishment for wrong-doing and a way to force me never repeat the mistake out of fear. BUT, even as an adult, I don’t see the smacks from my parents as abuse (and no, I’m not in denial either!)
Anyway, I was checking out News24 when I came across the headline:"Cops smash teen child porn ring."
The report said six teenage boys would appear in court after they were arrested for the alleged production and distribution of child pornography using cellphones.
The boys, aged from 16 to 18-years-old, were charged with rape, soliciting and the production and distribution of child pornography, the article said.
I’m going to about it this later today on Mobile Life at www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife
Firstly, a number of media reports this morning say parents will have to cough up at least R300 for giving children a clip on the ear if they are prosecuted under the proposed Children's Act.
The articles cite a News24 report as a source. "The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday told the parliamentary social welfare services portfolio committee that unless clause 139 of the Children's Act was changed, "any minor smack on the buttocks or rap over the knuckles" would be illegal and punishable by law."
The reason the issue shook me up is that I hadn’t realised I have mixed feelings about corporal punishment.
Make no mistake – I am completely, totally, against child abuse and believe that strong measures should be taken to prevent it and to punish the abuser.
But I see a smack as something that some parents may choose to use when other options fail.
I was smacked when I was a child. I don’t think it was an effective way to guide me to make better decisions and choices. It was simply punishment for wrong-doing and a way to force me never repeat the mistake out of fear. BUT, even as an adult, I don’t see the smacks from my parents as abuse (and no, I’m not in denial either!)
Anyway, I was checking out News24 when I came across the headline:"Cops smash teen child porn ring."
The report said six teenage boys would appear in court after they were arrested for the alleged production and distribution of child pornography using cellphones.
The boys, aged from 16 to 18-years-old, were charged with rape, soliciting and the production and distribution of child pornography, the article said.
I’m going to about it this later today on Mobile Life at www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife
Friday, October 05, 2007
Last night I had to make makgabe
I’d forgotten that today Baby’s class has to do a “show-and-tell” on traditional clothing. I was supposed to buy her a pair of makgabe [a fringe skirt worn young Batswana girls] for her class.
But after a couple of shopping expeditions I couldn’t find it and time ran away from me. I think part of the challenge was that most people think traditional African dress means colourful Zulu outfits, with beads on them.
Zulu skirt from Wathorg.co.za
This one looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s not what I was looking for. Then there are the beautiful Ndebele skirts made from fabrics with colourful geometric prints. They nice, but still not what we were looking for.
The Xhosa skirts don’t fit the bill either.
And neither do Shangaan skirts.
Unlike their cultural cousins, makgabe have no visible beadwork or decorations. I’m not implying makgabe don’t have any artistry. They are usually one colour but if you use wool [ you can you leather too, or sackcloth], the fringe has to be unraveled first, and then intricately plaited into a fringe.
I took one of my favourite brown woven shawls and made makgabe out of it. It was not ideal, but it gave a fair representation of what Batswana girls used to wear.
Sorry, no pictures of makgabe I made.I took some good ones, but I still haven’t figured out how to download them from my Samsung P910.
But after a couple of shopping expeditions I couldn’t find it and time ran away from me. I think part of the challenge was that most people think traditional African dress means colourful Zulu outfits, with beads on them.
Zulu skirt from Wathorg.co.zaThis one looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s not what I was looking for. Then there are the beautiful Ndebele skirts made from fabrics with colourful geometric prints. They nice, but still not what we were looking for.
The Xhosa skirts don’t fit the bill either.
And neither do Shangaan skirts.
Unlike their cultural cousins, makgabe have no visible beadwork or decorations. I’m not implying makgabe don’t have any artistry. They are usually one colour but if you use wool [ you can you leather too, or sackcloth], the fringe has to be unraveled first, and then intricately plaited into a fringe.
I took one of my favourite brown woven shawls and made makgabe out of it. It was not ideal, but it gave a fair representation of what Batswana girls used to wear.
Sorry, no pictures of makgabe I made.I took some good ones, but I still haven’t figured out how to download them from my Samsung P910.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
A wedding turns into a wake
I was planning to spend most of the day working, while Baby went to a wedding with some friends. But the bridal entourage had a car accident, and among other casualties, the bride’s sister and niece died on the spot.
As you can imagine, the family is shell-shocked; the situation made even more difficult by the fact that they have to repeatedly explain to arriving wedding guests.
My friend dropped off Baby, her two kids and a mutual acquaintance’s kid at my house around mid-morning, so she could help the family deal with the new situation. They are watching Toy Story 2 as I write this post.
As you can imagine, the family is shell-shocked; the situation made even more difficult by the fact that they have to repeatedly explain to arriving wedding guests.
My friend dropped off Baby, her two kids and a mutual acquaintance’s kid at my house around mid-morning, so she could help the family deal with the new situation. They are watching Toy Story 2 as I write this post.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I wanted to go on an elephant ride
This is going to be a very short post.
Our stay at Sun City was great; pity about the lousy weather. "This is not Sun City, it's Rainy City," Baby complained.
But she didn't let cloudy weather stop her from learning how to surf, then chasing the waves.
I mostly baked in the weak sun, took a ride on the "lazy river" running around the Valley of the Waves and read a novel.
I'll write a post or two about the Sun City trip in the coming days. Our adventures included meeting a number of monkeys which were rummaging through the garbage can, learning how to hula and to a vertical climb rock, chasing man-made waves and watching live surfer demonstrations.
I wanted to go on an elephant ride, and failing that, learn to do some horse-back riding. But I had trouble dragging Baby out of the water long enough for her to even eat. Maybe next time I will go on the elephant ride.
Our stay at Sun City was great; pity about the lousy weather. "This is not Sun City, it's Rainy City," Baby complained.
But she didn't let cloudy weather stop her from learning how to surf, then chasing the waves.
I mostly baked in the weak sun, took a ride on the "lazy river" running around the Valley of the Waves and read a novel.
I'll write a post or two about the Sun City trip in the coming days. Our adventures included meeting a number of monkeys which were rummaging through the garbage can, learning how to hula and to a vertical climb rock, chasing man-made waves and watching live surfer demonstrations.
I wanted to go on an elephant ride, and failing that, learn to do some horse-back riding. But I had trouble dragging Baby out of the water long enough for her to even eat. Maybe next time I will go on the elephant ride.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Fluffy Entertainment: Bratz–The Movie, Going to A Man-Made Beach
Baby and I went to see Bratz – The Movie. Many of the reviews I read before we went to see the movie completely trashed it, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yes, it is as fluffy as I expected, but is it what it is – movie candy and nothing else. Baby had fun, and if she's pleased and laughing at the right moments, I’m pleased.
Critically speaking though, I wish South African content producers could learn to package content as slickly as Bratz- The Movie was packaged. We don't want to ape Hollywood, but we can learn a lot from that industry so our stories have as much youth appeal as possible.
If we don't make an effort to appeal to the masses, we lose the kids anyway, whether we tell meaningful stories or not. And then we complain that they read too many international books, watch too many movies out of Hollywood and lack an appreciation of the home-brewed content.
The Valley of the Waves
Baby and I spent most of the evening packing for Spring Break. The event is taking place at the Valley of the Waves at Sun City, in the North West Province of South Africa.
The resort is in the Pilanesberg region and only a short distance from the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, one of the largest parks in southern Africa, and about 150 kilometres from Johannesburg. We're going to drive through Phokeng to get there, and I'm planning a quick stop at home to say hi to my mother before we drive the final 35 kilometres of the trip.
I did some research to find out if there are some interesting legends and folktales associated with the Pilanesberg area. But the only tale I could find is the ridiculous legend of the lost city, which I think is a marketing ploy to explain the naming of The Palace of the Lost City, the resort. But I’ll keep digging.
I also read up on the Valley of the Waves. Check out some of the online pics of the place online. Isn’t it weird that we're getting ready to go to the beach even though the ocean is nowhere near that region?
Yes, it is as fluffy as I expected, but is it what it is – movie candy and nothing else. Baby had fun, and if she's pleased and laughing at the right moments, I’m pleased.
Critically speaking though, I wish South African content producers could learn to package content as slickly as Bratz- The Movie was packaged. We don't want to ape Hollywood, but we can learn a lot from that industry so our stories have as much youth appeal as possible.
If we don't make an effort to appeal to the masses, we lose the kids anyway, whether we tell meaningful stories or not. And then we complain that they read too many international books, watch too many movies out of Hollywood and lack an appreciation of the home-brewed content.
The Valley of the Waves
Baby and I spent most of the evening packing for Spring Break. The event is taking place at the Valley of the Waves at Sun City, in the North West Province of South Africa.
The resort is in the Pilanesberg region and only a short distance from the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, one of the largest parks in southern Africa, and about 150 kilometres from Johannesburg. We're going to drive through Phokeng to get there, and I'm planning a quick stop at home to say hi to my mother before we drive the final 35 kilometres of the trip.
I did some research to find out if there are some interesting legends and folktales associated with the Pilanesberg area. But the only tale I could find is the ridiculous legend of the lost city, which I think is a marketing ploy to explain the naming of The Palace of the Lost City, the resort. But I’ll keep digging.
I also read up on the Valley of the Waves. Check out some of the online pics of the place online. Isn’t it weird that we're getting ready to go to the beach even though the ocean is nowhere near that region?
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Didn’t make the cut
I didn’t make the cut for Mantswe a Bonono, the documentary on South Africa writers for SABC 2. I thought it was a done deal, but I understand the director shooting in Johannesburg made her own selection and art of it. I suspect I didn’t work out because I don’t do a lot of Setswana writing, and most of my work is not creative.
I’m conscious of the missed opportunity, but don’t feel disappointed or anything. That is the nature of TV, and any form of media, for that matter.
This morning, someone fell through my own cracks. I had a story planned, interviews done and then something else that we felt took precedence in the story line up came along. I will get to the planned story eventually, when I get an hour or two to myself.
Meanwhile, here’s my latest post on Mobile Life http://www.mydigitallife.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5447&Itemid=43
A recent research says frequent cellphone use may slow brain function. The research was limited, so there’s no need to panic yet.
I’m conscious of the missed opportunity, but don’t feel disappointed or anything. That is the nature of TV, and any form of media, for that matter.
This morning, someone fell through my own cracks. I had a story planned, interviews done and then something else that we felt took precedence in the story line up came along. I will get to the planned story eventually, when I get an hour or two to myself.
Meanwhile, here’s my latest post on Mobile Life http://www.mydigitallife.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5447&Itemid=43
A recent research says frequent cellphone use may slow brain function. The research was limited, so there’s no need to panic yet.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Invite to “In the Public Interest” on Sunday at 9.30, SABC
Today I'm digressing from my usual blah blah and talking a bit about work-related issues. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)has invited me to take part in “In the public interest,” a live, current affairs programme taking place on Sunday 23rd at 9.30 morning.
The programme aims to take the media to task over unfair and inaccurate reporting and to debate issues rigorously.
“In light of the recent announcement of the new pay TV channels, we would like to host a debate as to whether there is really a demand for such channels. Can Viewers afford four more Pay TV channels?” the insert producer notes in her brief.
I know I should be happy to be invited to a national, prime time TV programme. I will be..... Maybe....... Once the butterflies in my stomach settle......
Mostly I’m humbled they invited me, and scared I’ll go tongue-tied at the wrong moment. Or worse yet, someone will ask me a question and I’ll forget all the insight I’m supposed to have on SA’s new pay-TV environment.
I have been on TV before. Actually, in another life I was a presenter of a children's programme and later spokesman for a number of non-profit organisations. But that was different - then I was just disseminating information and knew the agenda from the outset.
Researching other people’s views of “In the Public Interest” on the Internet, I came across these articles:
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=49&fArticleId=3322962
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=559170
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=318553&area=/insight/insight__national/
I don’t know if the criticism of the SABC by these articles has merit or not, but it scares me silly.
But I do have to go. It’s a coup for my employer ITWeb Online, and for me personally.
Anyway, wish me luck. And please watch "In the public interest" on Sunday. I'm going to pretend I'm talking to you. I'm sure that'll be good for my nerves.
The programme aims to take the media to task over unfair and inaccurate reporting and to debate issues rigorously.
“In light of the recent announcement of the new pay TV channels, we would like to host a debate as to whether there is really a demand for such channels. Can Viewers afford four more Pay TV channels?” the insert producer notes in her brief.
I know I should be happy to be invited to a national, prime time TV programme. I will be..... Maybe....... Once the butterflies in my stomach settle......
Mostly I’m humbled they invited me, and scared I’ll go tongue-tied at the wrong moment. Or worse yet, someone will ask me a question and I’ll forget all the insight I’m supposed to have on SA’s new pay-TV environment.
I have been on TV before. Actually, in another life I was a presenter of a children's programme and later spokesman for a number of non-profit organisations. But that was different - then I was just disseminating information and knew the agenda from the outset.
Researching other people’s views of “In the Public Interest” on the Internet, I came across these articles:
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=49&fArticleId=3322962
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=559170
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=318553&area=/insight/insight__national/
I don’t know if the criticism of the SABC by these articles has merit or not, but it scares me silly.
But I do have to go. It’s a coup for my employer ITWeb Online, and for me personally.
Anyway, wish me luck. And please watch "In the public interest" on Sunday. I'm going to pretend I'm talking to you. I'm sure that'll be good for my nerves.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Cellphones blamed for school violence
Tonight I saw a news broadcast on etv which blames cellphones for violence in schools. The opinion, by parents and commentators, follows an incident where a number of girls [ I think it’s in the Western Cape] attacked another student at a school. One of the students captured the incident on video, using a cellphone.
I found the views of these parents and commentators very disturbing. Clearly, there is something wrong with our children, as they are increasingly turning more violent against each other.
To read the rest of this blog post, visit my Mobile Life blog at www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife
I found the views of these parents and commentators very disturbing. Clearly, there is something wrong with our children, as they are increasingly turning more violent against each other.
To read the rest of this blog post, visit my Mobile Life blog at www.mydigitallife.co.za/mobilelife
Monday, September 17, 2007
Taking a short break next week
I’ve finally confirmed that I’ll attend Vodacom’s Spring Break (an annual event), which is taking place at Sun City from the 22 – 30 September.
Baby and I are only staying 3 days, 2 nights (after the Heritage Day holiday on Monday), but it promises to be a fun, even relaxing holiday. I’m pulling her out of school for two days so she can join me on the trip.
She has mixed feelings about it. She’s looking forward to playing in the sun, doing some water sports and watching live kid shows for two days, but she’d rather we used the time to go to Durban where we could do this AND visit with family.
I’m really tired, and fun in the sun with nothing to worry about for days will revive me so I can start writing more enthusiastically.
Our hotel stay and participation at the event is sponsored by mobile operator Vodacom (www.vodacom.co.za).
For more information about the event, check on the hyperlinked title of this post ( sorry, formatting on blogger seems to have has gone hinky today, so no hyperlinks on the body of the post to provide more info about the event.)
Baby and I are only staying 3 days, 2 nights (after the Heritage Day holiday on Monday), but it promises to be a fun, even relaxing holiday. I’m pulling her out of school for two days so she can join me on the trip.
She has mixed feelings about it. She’s looking forward to playing in the sun, doing some water sports and watching live kid shows for two days, but she’d rather we used the time to go to Durban where we could do this AND visit with family.
I’m really tired, and fun in the sun with nothing to worry about for days will revive me so I can start writing more enthusiastically.
Our hotel stay and participation at the event is sponsored by mobile operator Vodacom (www.vodacom.co.za).
For more information about the event, check on the hyperlinked title of this post ( sorry, formatting on blogger seems to have has gone hinky today, so no hyperlinks on the body of the post to provide more info about the event.)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Cartoon Network is back on Multichoice/MTN Mobile TV trial
Multichoice has brought back Cartoon Network as part of its Mobile TV line up. Baby is very happy about that, and this weekend she made sure we took my cellphone wherever we went.
There was also less conflict in the house about TV programming; I could watch my choice of TV programming while she watched cartoons.
By the way, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ( the regulator) recently licensed four more pay-V broadcasters, with Multichoice as the fifth. The broadcasters can deliver transmissions through satellite or the Internet.
This development opens up the South African TV industry and should make for new opportunities for writers providing both children’s programming and other types of content.
Most players in the ICT industry say there’s a strong need for local content in South Africa for both broadcasting and the Internet. I wonder if local writers and producers are aware of this, and what they plan to do to take advantage of these opportunities.
There was also less conflict in the house about TV programming; I could watch my choice of TV programming while she watched cartoons.
By the way, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ( the regulator) recently licensed four more pay-V broadcasters, with Multichoice as the fifth. The broadcasters can deliver transmissions through satellite or the Internet.
This development opens up the South African TV industry and should make for new opportunities for writers providing both children’s programming and other types of content.
Most players in the ICT industry say there’s a strong need for local content in South Africa for both broadcasting and the Internet. I wonder if local writers and producers are aware of this, and what they plan to do to take advantage of these opportunities.
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