Monday 28 December 2009

How much control do we have in shaping our own identities?



Having read Kayleigh James' blog on how language is used to control thought and behaviour,i felt encouraged to explore more on who really controls our identities.Kayleigh mentioned that religious beliefs and doctrines tend to control the way people think.And she wasn't convinced that these religious people had any control over their own thoughts.

How we perceive and make sense of each other is fundamental to all social interactions.Identities are formed and shaped through our participation and interaction with social structures such as gender, class, nationality and culture. I suppose we choose to identify with a particular identity or group.The question is how much choice and control do we have?

Personality describes qualities that a person may have,characteristics and traits that make a person unique as an individual. It is possible to describe yourself in several different ways, and the description may vary depending upon the person or group you are presenting yourself to.I am guessing that genetics play a role in the development of our personality, and we are born with some distinguishing characteristics which are more or less unchangeable. In this regard, we are born in a certain area or part of the world and it is natural to identify with the specific culture. Even though membership in a culture does not necessarily involve the desire to act in accordance with the norms associated with the identity it is difficult to resist the social environment.

During the last decades there have been considerable changes in society, and new possibilities have emerged and these are reflected in the way people identify themselves. People are flexible and they change jobs, move, travel and encounter, either personally or via media such as the internet, different cultures and religions. Globalization promotes cultural homogeneity and this could lead to a detachment of identity from the community. Furthermore, the roles for males and females have changed, for example, women are more likely to be working and it is more acceptably for males to show a caring side. All these changes and movements have made it possible for individuals to have more control over the shaping of their own identity. I consider globalization as a contributing factor in the loss of identities. People have no choice or control over the shaping of their identities. .

Experiences in childhood and adolescence lay the foundation for the development of self and identity. Young adolescents’ identities are less stable and they are more prone to be influenced by the social environment. Despite the fact that there might be a social pressure to conform and behave like the rest of the group, individuals do have a choice. Human beings have knowledge and skills to make up their own minds and deal with things in our own way. Therefore, it is possible to have a certain independence and control of the social environment, although you cannot stand apart from it.

The way one’s identity is formed is a complex process where social and individual factors are linked.I am of the opinion that individuals have some control over the shaping of their identity.In the interim changes in society and globalization has made it easier for people to reconstruct themselves. On the other hand, the individual has little control over some factors, for example, genetics and the organization of society.

Sigmund Freud believed that societies suppress people and it is for this reason that George Orwell reiterated in his novel 1984 - that societies are modelled around BIG BROTHER.

Newspeak - propaganda personified

muchokomania: American propaganda on communism -(Newspeak(1984)

muchokomania: American propaganda on communism -(Newspeak(1984)

American propaganda on communism -(Newspeak(1984)

Friday 25 December 2009

Global warming synonymous with improvised explosive devices


The UN Summit on climate change held in Copenhagen, Denmark two weeks ago reminded many of us the dangers that lie ahead for future generations.For as long as the global village do not reach consensus on the way forward,we are bound to condemn our predecessors into oblivion.For as long as developed nations remain a prototype of big brother in the novel 1984,there can be no amicable resolution in ratifying the proposed treaty.That is the reason why the summit collapsed - leaving big brother livid.


Surely the planet's hostile model of development pursued by the industrialised countries has led to a collective detriment to the rest of the world.Now it is only fair that the developing countries repel a deal that is obliterated with underlying adverse effects in relation to their development.If i were to be an empiricist, the effects of climate change can not be ignored, because there are now quite poignant.Most of the developing world are under siege and have become victims of climate change, yet their contribution to this change is little or none.

For the world has changed and it is imperative that we change with it.But to what extent should big brother compensate the developing world?There seems to be some imbalances in the way in which this world is run.The USA and its allies are in Afghanstan,in a war they define as ,'a war of necessity'.But when the global climate agreement is finally ratified in future, will they send their men and women to fight those that will defy the climate change treaty.In my opinion defying the climate change treaty is just as equally bad as the terrorism they are fighting in Helmand.Or are there gonna be economic sanctions for those that violet the mother treaty?

The bio-carbon emissions are more prevalent in developed countries, why then should the developing world ratify something that will undermine their own development?Of course, there is compensation put aside for the developed world but is it a fair deal.Remember carbon emissions will be the same across the spectrum once ratified - so who gets the raw deal?

I hope a consensus will be reached at some point.I am not vindicating the underdeveloped or mitigating for them but it's a fact - they are getting a raw deal from big brother!!!!

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Last bulletin leaves a legacy

For all the technical misfortunes and amateur story packaging that our newsroom suffered in our first two live bulletins - I am proud to say, we have reached the promised land.And i am subjectively tempted to thank everyone involved in making our last bulletin the best.We might not have all been friends in the newsroom but the team effort suggests that we fought together for a common purposes.For the things that brought us together were far greater than the ones that separated us.

We have surely come of age.Remember the days we brought to the newsroom, images that were over-exposed,out of focus,footage that did not match the script,footage that didn't contain GVs,footage that lacked actuality in terms of sound and the list goes on.

For so many days we worked so hard to perfect the technics and today's bulletin is true testimony that nothing is impossible,if the drive is there to learn.

Guest bulletin editors came and offered the best advice available.It was indeed a privilege that we will all live to appreciate.We might not all make it in the industry but the few that will make the grade, have a reason to acknowledge the input by team Horrie(Angus and Brian).

Team Lovell(Arnold,Grant,James) were exceptionally incredible.I remember filming an interview at 2230pm,filming on a Saturday and working in the rain - for my team.It is with regret that we might not live to share the same newsroom again but the legacy will live-on.Our editor Lovell had the patience to work with his team and a lot of our success is due to his man management skills.

Every day felt like special because, we knew what we had to do.

The struggle for perfection will continue after Christmas.

Sunday 6 December 2009

Thought crime is not crime,it is death

Thank goodness,i have just finished reading the novel by George Orwell's novel 1984.In tandem,i also managed to watch the captivating movie that potrays the novel.There is sex,violence and anything vile you can dream of.

The story starts, in the year 1984, and it takes place in England or as it is called at that time, Airstrip One. Airstrip One itself is the mainland of a huge country, called Oceania, which consists of North America, South Africa, and Australia. The country is ruled by the Party, which is led by a figure called Big Brother.The protagonist is Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party, working in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth, rewriting and altering records, such as newspaper-articles, of the past. The action starts when Winston develops critical thoughts against the ruling dictatorship of the party, for the first time. Doing so he buys a book, to use it as a diary. As individual expression is forbidden by the Party, having a diary is a crime, which may even be punished by death. There are so-called telescreens in each room, showing propaganda and political pamphlets, and which has a built-in camera and microphone, in order to spy on people. Therefore keeping a secret book is not only forbidden, but also very dangerous.

When Winston makes the first entry in the diary, he thinks about an experience he has made during the Two Minutes Hate, a propaganda film repeated each day. During this film he caught the eye of O'Brien, a member of the Inner Party, whom he thought might also be critical to the regime, or that at least there is a bond of some kind between them. After this reminiscence, he finds that he has written the sentence: "Down with Big Brother" all over the page. The same night Winston dreams about his mother and sister, who starved to death in the war, because he had been so greedy. Then he dreams of having sex with a girl he has seen in the Records Department, during the Two Minutes Hate.

Early in the morning, Winston is woken by the harsh voice from the telescreen. During the performance of the physical exercises, Winston's thoughts move back to his childhood. The last thing he remembers clearly is the World War. After the WW, the Party took control of the country, and from then on it has been difficult to remember anything, because the Party changes history constantly to their own benefit. After the exercises Winston goes to work at the Minitrue (Ministry of Truth), where his job is to alter records, and once altered, to throw them into the memory hole where they are burnt. At dinner Winston Smith meets Syme, a philologist, who is working on the 11th edition of The Newspeak Dictionary. Syme explains the main character of their work on this dictionary. During their conversation the telescreen announces that the chocolate ration has been increased to 20 g a week, whereas yesterday it was cut down to 20g a week. Winston wonders whether he's the only person with memory who isn't inflicted with Doublethink. As he looks around in the dining room he catches the eye of the dark-haired girl he had dreamed of the same night.

Back home again he makes an entry in his diary about his meeting with a prostitute three years ago. He remembers her ugliness, but nevertheless he had sex with her. Winston had a wife, but she was very stupid and just following the orders of the Party, which said that there may only be sex to produce "new material" for the Party, and that sex for personal pleasure is a crime. Then Winston thinks about the Party and believes that the only hope lies in the Proles.Later he remembers another fact of his past - Jones, Aaronson and Rutherford, the last three survivors of the original leaders of the Revolution. They were arrested in 1965 and confessed to all kinds of sabotage during their trial; they were pardoned, reinstated but not long after arrested again and executed.

The next morning Winston is again filled with the conviction that the future lies with the proles, that they will overthrow the greyness of the Party. But suddenly reality crashes in. "We are the DEAD", he says to Julia. An iron voice behind them repeats the phrase, the picture on the wall falls to bits to reveal a telescreen behind it. Uniformed man thunder into the room and they carry Winston and Julia out. Winston is in a cell in what he presumes is the Ministry of Love. He is sick with hunger and fear, and when he makes a movement or a sound, a harsh voice will bawl at him from four telescreens. A prisoner who is dying of starvation is brought in, his face is skull-like. Later the man is brought to "Room 101" after screaming and struggling, and even offering his children's sacrifices in his stead. O'Brien enters. Winston thinks that they must have got him, too, but O'Brien says that they got him long time ago.

A guard hits Winston, and he becomes unconscious. When he wakes up he is tied down to a kind of bed. O'Brien stands beside the bed, and Winston feels that O'Brien, who is the torturer, is also somehow a friend. The aim of O'Brien is to teach Winston the technique of doublethink, and he does this by inflicting pain of ever-increasing intensity. He reminds Winston that he wrote the sentence: " Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two makes four". O'Brien holds up four fingers of his left hand, and he asks Winston how many there are. Winston answers four a couple of times, and each time the pain increases .At the end of the session, under heavy influence of drugs and agony, Winston really sees five fingers.O'Brien now explains how the Party works. The image he gives of the future is that of a boot stamping on a human face - for ever. Winston protests, because he thinks that there is something in the human nature that will not allow this; he calls it "The Spirit of Man".

O'Brien points out that Winston is the last humanist, he is the last guardian of the human spirit. Then O'Brien gets Winston to look at himself in the mirror. Winston is horrified by he sees. The unknown time of torture has changed him into a shapeless and battered wreck. This is what the last humanist looks like. The only degradation that Winston has not been through, is that he has not betrayed Julia. He has said anything under torture, but inside he has remained true to her. Winston is much better now. For some time he has not been beaten and tortured, he has been fed quite well and allowed to wash. Winston realises that he now accepts all the lies of the Party, that Oceania was always at war with Eastasia, and that he never had the photograph of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford that disproved their guilt. Even gravity could be nonsense. But nevertheless Winston has some unorthodox thoughts that he cannot suppress. But now it is time for the last of the three steps, reintegration. Winston is taken to Room 101. O'Brien says that the room 101 is the worst thing in the world.He looks forward to the bullet, they will kill him with some day.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Trapped in a closet of hate

'I am not being racist , i just don't like blacks ,but because of the system i am forced to,' said an unsuspecting white fellow.

My tutor at the best journalism university in the country, once said,'never use a quote ' when starting a news story. For some reason,i have decided to breach the code of main stream journalism.

Since my longhaul flight aboard a South African airways plane to England across the Atlantic,i have never been subjected to racism - of course until today.As i wandered about in the media centre, i heard something that i last heard during the apartheid regime in South Africa.This unsuspecting fella,didn't realise that a 'nigger' was behind his work station,when he pronounced his dislike for black people.I instinctively interjected and asked him to apologise.There was utter silence from the fella and his crew - before apologising.The stunned red faced fellas immediately, asked if there was anything they would do to compensate for inciting hate speech.

I suppose there is nothing wrong in hating black people but if it's done in the public domain,then there is cause to worry.Charles Darwin might have inspired a fully-blown spectrum of racism.He believed that,the white race had reached a full stage of human development.In America the KKK and other Alabama right-wingers still hold onto the mythical theories.In the state of Alabama,my DJ friend was assaulted for 'walking while black' and 'driving while black'.

Probably if i was white,i might have had the same feeling as anyone who hates 'niggers'.

Am not an angry blackman for now but i now really feel marginalised following today's incident.Of course, it's fair comment to say,i hate niggers but if it's made public knowledge then a 'nigger' gets offended.

Sunday 29 November 2009

Global village libel laws


I happened to be watching one of my favourite telly stations, Al Jazeera today when i came across a discussion on libel laws. Indeed this discussion captivated my attention because,it is a subject that will remain prevalent as long as i am a journo.

The presenter of the show gave an analogy of a recent libel case in London.Apparently an arab television station was recently sued in a British court by a Turkish firm.How on earth can a london court hear proceedings for a libel case involving a foreign defendant and foreign claimant.

Almost everyone is coming to London to sue foreign publications.The crux of the matter is that it is hugely expensive to defend libel cases ,therefore defendants are somehow forced to opt for ,out of court settlement.

Now publications like ,The New york times are planning to stop circulation of their publications in London.Even blocking access to their sites to London consumers as a precaution on libel cases.

Below is an article from the Guardian Newspaper.


Foreign media count cost of UK libel lawsBuzz up!
Digg it

Karen McVeigh The Guardian, Monday 9 November 2009 Article history

Britain's reputation for "libel tourism" is driving American and foreign publishers to consider abandoning the sale of newspaper and magazines in Britain and may lead to them blocking access to websites, MPs have been warned.

Publishers, human rights groups and campaigners have expressed "substantial and increasing concern" because comments that would be protected under the freedom of speech in the US constitution are actionable in London courts once published here, no matter how small the readership.

A memorandum submitted to a Commons select committee, ahead of a meeting with US publishers, states: "Leading US newspapers are actively considering abandoning the supply of the 200-odd copies they make available for sale in London – mainly to Americans who want full details of their local news and sport. They do not make profits out of these minimal and casual sales and they can no longer risk losing millions of dollars in a libel action which they would never face under US law. Does the UK really want to be seen as the only country in Europe – indeed in the world – where important US papers cannot be obtained in print form?"

The submission, on behalf of a number of US media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and MacMillan (US), as well as Human Rights Watch, Global Witness US and Greenpeace International, added: "The consequences of making media organisations liable for putting articles – perfectly lawful by the law of their own domicile – on websites which are occasionally accessed in England should be obvious. The cost of fighting libel actions may lead internet publishers to build 'fire walls' against access from the UK, in order to avoid such actions."

Thursday 26 November 2009

Living the dream

The privileges that come with the profession of journalism are just beyond imagination.I didn't choose the profession for the glamour but for the desire to disseminate news to those who care to watch,listen and read.And without bragging, i am living my dream.

Last Saturday, i went to film an FA trophy tie between Eastleigh FC and Lewes at the Silverlake stadium.The stewards and officials from the host team were more than co-operative to my film crew.There was a degree of respect and honour.After the match, the officials also organised, some interviews with the team managers for the two teams.

Life in mainstream journalism has just begun and being a video journalist is not as easy as one might assume.There are technical nightmares associated with it.Thank goodness,i did a sound check before interviewing the managers.Soon after the match,i connected the radio mic and noted that there was some distortion and a lot of reverb.After trying a few tricks,i resigned to the idea of fixing it and opted for the gun mic.

Editing on final cut pro was quite easy because,i had my story board written before hand.General views and cut aways are essential in any bulletin package and i used them quite effectively.

I am also impressed by the teamwork within the news room.In particular, the production department has been awesome.Keep it up guys!!!!!

Thursday 19 November 2009

Sunday 8 November 2009

Meeting Terry Paine



Over the years,i watched Terry Paine on the supersport sports channel in South Africa and never thought i would one day meet the former Southampton and England goal poacher.

The man who played a record number of games for the saints visited Winchester University last Thursday,for a book signing conference.I had the exclusive rights to film the proceedings and i must say,my confidence in vjing is reaching its threshold.When Terry walked in with his entourage,i immediately identified myself as a proponent of Johannesburg.He looked bemused because,it was beyond his imagination that someone from Johannesburg would find comfort in Winchester;such is the power of globalisation.

Even though the conference was poorly attended,the few that made it enjoyed more attention from the legend.The man is so humble and down to earth considering
the fact that he is a world cup winner,an MBE and a presenter for supersport.

For the sake of Winchester news online,Terry invited me to attend his graduation ceremony on Friday at the Guild hall in Southampton.Solent university gave him an honourary accolade - Dr of Sports, for all the work he has done through out his career.

Terry hasn't lost allegiance to his country of birth,England but admires Johannesburg more and has no intention of rekindling with English weather anytime soon.

For the edited version of Terry's visit please visit winchester news online website.

Tour of duty for Winol




Last week,i had the ultimate privilege of representing Winchester news online, at the Planet ice shield arena in Basingstoke.This was my first ice hockey game as a video journalist and the prospects of a rude awakening were looming.I duly consulted two video production boffins for advice.They both suggested that i needed to use two video cameras,one from a wide angle and the other one from a close up angle.It seemed a daunting task for one VJ to execute two roles simultaneously.In good faith, i asked two of my VJ associates at Winchester to help with the logistical duties, but unfortunately they all relented for one reason or the other.

In the long run,i decided to use only one camera from a wide angle.Ice hockey is not a game of the faint heart;it's fast,furious and is suited for adrenalin junkies.Basingstoke Bisons were hosting Peterborough Phantoms in the planet ice trophy.Ice hockey is considered the fastest sport in the world and i have every reason to believe so,after witnessing one of the most difficult sports to film alone.

But thank goodness,the end product made winchester news online dummy broadcast last wednesday.Of course,i acknowledge the effort by my sports editor Mark Lovell,who worked tirelessly to finetune the editing hick-ups that befell me on final cut pro.

The experience was great and would advise any vj to take note of the following when filming ice hockey.
-If you are using one camera,make sure you shoot from a wide angle
-Sometimes ignore the action and leave the camera focused on the goalminder
-zoom in when ever necessary but it's not advisable
-shoot the action on manual than auto
-sometimes leave the player with the ball and focus on the crowd
-make sure you get enough cut aways
-film the scoreboard every time a goal is scored
-create a storyboard on how you want to narrate your story,it makes life easy when editing.

Monday 2 November 2009

Who is considered British?

As a foreigner and of ethnic minority in the United Kingdom,i have been following politics and international relations with intend.When Nick Griffin, appeared on the BBC question time show to mitigate reasons for hating Islam as an ideology,Gay and lesbian dispensation,and immigration flaws,i kept vigil for a reason.After the proverbial show,i researched on what Griffin calls Britishness and noted that Britishness is quite fluid.

The concept of Britishness is much contested.In physical, political terms, ‘Britishness’ relates to the borders of living within the archipelago islands of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in so far as you live in Britain. Yet when people talk about ‘being British’ what do they mean? Are there physical attributes ascribed to being British? Are there characteristics particular to the British, or is it based on history, language and culture?
Are these attributes fixed, or have they, and do they change over time?

The formation of ‘Great Britain’ was established in the Act of Union of 1770 bringing together Scotland with Wales and England and later to include Ireland. The standardizing of the English language had begun in the early fifteenth century, with the aid of the printing press and religion, forging together all regions, aiding communication.

With the formation of the archipelagos, Great Britain, under the rule of a monarchy, established a strong standing and naval army that laid claim to much of the world. The Empire provided mutually beneficial gains for all territories of Britain, and allowed a sense of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ to be fostered, helping create a British identity, ‘For many British people over a very long period possession of an empire has been an essential part of their sense of Britishness.To be ‘British’ during these times meant to be a citizen of a strong, powerful country, superior to the areas it dominated.

Although participation came from all regions, England, who housed both parliament and the monarchy, was more dominant, and traditional Britishness was, ‘more closely aligned with Englishness’. Although it took years, Britishness was established by a strong monarchy, increased communication and travel that enhanced ‘differences’ and superiority of Britishness.

Since the breakup of the British Empire, two catastrophic world wars and new technologies, Britishness is in crisis because there is a dilemma of identity. No longer do the empire and the sense of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ prevail and the monarchy no longer holds power to dictate and unify the country through religion due to secularization.

Nationalism in the regions of Britain has also become more pronounced, with the Republic of Ireland declaring independence in 1921 and the devolution of power to the Welsh and Scottish assemblies.

Immigration has increased dramatically since World War 2, the independence of colonial countries and the unification of the European Union.A person can be both Scottish and British.No person needs to claim to just one identity, they can change through time and circumstance.

Britishness is at its best in sport behind Team GB in the Olympics, and Andy Murray in the Wimbledon tournament. The same can be attributed to television; ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ saw a diverse and mix of people claiming their allegiance to being ‘British’ .
Therefore the country is increasingly changing, Britishness has encompassed the diversity of its inhabitants.

So where does Mr Griffin and his accomplices stand with Britishness?

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Three amigos fail to inspire team






Chris Horrie, failed to inspire his team to victory in a pulsating match played at the University of Winchester, yesterday. Mark Lovell hammered home the winning goal for the third years a few minutes from time, to silence their critics.

“Hobbes is a traitor and he knows it,” said Grant Payne after his team lost in the dying minutes of the game. The second years had every reason to feel robbed, after having led for the better part of the game.

The match was played at a scintillating pace, with both sides displaying some deft touches. Brian Thornton, playing his debut match showed glimpses of brilliance every time he probed forward. And really, there could have been no more fitting player to set the second years on their way than Thornton, after Joey Lipscombe withdrew from the starting line-up. The third years, absorbed pressure from the onset and could have easily been beaten.


Josh Duffy, Chanin Lloyd, Joey Lipscombe,Rob Anderson and Tom Otrebski added spark to the spectacle, as they were part of the media entourage covering the match live.

Tom Hepworth from the BBC was a guest player for the second years and had a relatively good game – though his presence could not deter the resilient third years from victory. With the game seemingly heading for a stalemate, Mark Lovell hammered home the winner to sent his team into a frenzy. Horrie’s trump card Joey said he will be back for next week’s encounter.

Tuesday 27 October 2009

News is about people doing things


Tom Hepworth,BBC South

Yesterday, was a day that will remain embedded in our thoughts; for we were privileged once again, to have a guest speaker in Tom Hepworth.The BBC South prodigy started his broadcasting career in radio before joining BBC South, as a video journalist.

Mr Hepworth watched all the video packages produced by Winchester Journalism students and gave expect advice accordingly.Below are some of the important aspects of journalism he mentioned.

.If you decide to do a piece to camera,there must be a valid reason for that.
.A piece to camera must never be in the excess of 30seconds unless otherwise.
.It is important to plan how you intend to set the package in your storyboard.
.Sequencing is vital,as it gives emphasis to actuality
.A piece to camera can also be used to add actuality and reality
.News is about people doing things, when you are interviewing a chef,make sure he is doing something.
.When you go out for an interview,try to find another story

Mr Hepworth also took time explaining and illustrating the best technics when shooting a story on your own.

I have come to the realisation that the real world of journalism is about precision and time.Putting up telly packages can be quite daunting if there are no plans in place.But with more effort it can be done.

Monday 26 October 2009

BBC guru graces Winchester University

Former BBC news editor,Ian Anderson,visited the University of Winchester today,as part of an initiative to engage students with industry professionals.

"You have facilities which i could only have dreamt of," he said.

Having started at the Reading Evening Post,Mr Anderson went onto work for the press association,as a news sub-editor.A few year later,'I was recommended to the BBC by a friend,' said Mr Anderson. He told journalism students that,he spent the past 20years working for the BBC in various roles before leaving last year.

Asked about his most memorable moment at the BBC , Mr Anderson said:"producing news at Westminister,close to the end of the Thatcher era," and 'being on the first flight to New York after 9/11.'

The former news editor gave students some 'very valuable' advice on creating televison packages.This was after he took time to review recent packages produced by journalism students.His emphasis was more on the content of the packages,the storyboard and the general persona of a successful journalist.

'The move to invite Mr anderson by the course leader is essentially what we needed,' said one of the students on condition of anonymity.

Saturday 24 October 2009

libido personified

The week leading to last Thursday's lecture by Chris on Freud created such a moment of anxiety and excitement.Chris had consciously posted a message on the site,that the lecture was bound to be of explicit nature and advised abstinence to sensitive journos.My gut feeling was,all females would consider staying away from the lecture.Guess what?In fact i am embarassed to say,the opposite sex outnumbered us.Before the lecture,one female friend of mine who i can not name for legal reasons,said:'Arnold,i can't wait for Thursday's lecture'.I suppose,what drove every female to that lecture room was the subject of sex.Of course,the reason why all guys attended is public knowledge.

It's quite interesting to note that Freud linked philosophy and science by using greek methology and literature in exploring psychoanalysis.The 19th century was individual against science and by the time Freud made his observations in the 20th century,it was struggle with self.However his pyschoanalytic theories were developed at the expense of women and religion.

Freud noted that women were more masochistic and narcissistic than man.He felt that female identity grows from an infant girl's shocking discovery that she lacks a penis.In Freud's thinking,boys and girls focus on the penis at around the age of six.I assume all this happens at the play ground.Generally kids at this stage seem to fiddle around with whatever hangs on their genitalia.In Freud's world,a girl becomes frustrated with herself because there is nothing to touch,anyway.Thus,the term penis envy was born.As the boy child grows and reaches the stage of proper conscience,he finds himself alienated(in hegelian terms).The alienation coming from not being allowed to masturbate for fear being of castrated.Freud used an analogy of a greek mythical character,Oedipus who kills his father and marries his mother.

Freud thought women were a frustrated species who were annoyed by themselves.He observed that the drive to love and bear children arises from women's sense of being mutilated.The other reason why Freud believed that women didn't like themselves was the aspect of menstruation periods.For men,it is a mysterious and sometimes frightening phenomenon - the shedding of blood without visible injury.Some religions don't even allow women in mosques when they are menstruating and not even allowed to cook - for goodness sake!

If,i were to remain impartial i would not entirely blame Freud.He is certainly not guilty of persecuting women alone.Even my own bible is written in such a way that it gives women a very inferior role in the society.So who is to blame,Freud or the books of faith.The bible and the quran alike negate the fact that women are as important as men.

So should the bible or quran be re-written?

Friday 23 October 2009

Griffin - a victim of conspiracy theories!

Last night,i waited for 'Question Time' with intent because,the advocate of britishness was to appear on the popular BBC one show.I have always wanted the BNP leader to vindicate himself from 'assumed' public outrage.Of course,last night meant that he would gain ground in changing public perception or lose those who provisionally pledged allegiance.My probable reason for anxiety could have been the fact that i am dark skinned and an 'alien' according the manifesto of the BNP.

Poor Griffin,the moment he agreed to appear on the show is the moment, he fell into the trap of political gimmicks.Oh dear,the panel on the show savaged him at every opportunity and never gave him time to finish responding.The key focus of discussion was on immigration and religion.

If i was born with a skin that requires tanning,i would have been tempted to change my perception on the BNP leader.His explanations were quite logical, given the toxic issues which were on the agenda.He explained why he is at odds with Islam as an ideology,gay and lesbian rights and immigration.He wants gays to enjoy themselves in the privacy and security of their own home.

A survey carried out this morning by two television stations show that three quarters of the people interviewed felt Griffin was bullied and i agree.

As a black person i am kind of juxaposed to Griffin's views but hey that's part of democarcy.Someone once said the genocide that took place in Rwanda was good because it was a way of reducing the population.Of course,it's an outrageous school of thinking but that is freedom of expression.Democracy says,worship as you please.Have sex with who you chose and say what you want without fear of prejudice.

Griffin is what Mike Tyson was to Boxing, and what Ben Johnson was to the Olympics - controversial!

Monday 19 October 2009

'God is dead'

The advent of science,philosophy and politics could have marked the death of God,according to Nietzsche.As a die hard christian,my emotions were left in mock despair on the realisation that,God had been pronounced dead by a modernist philosopher.I initially found the assertion baseless,since there is no empirical evidence that,the all mighty is nomore.Therefore i decided to investigate.

Nietsche appear to have used a phantom character in his book,The Gay Science, to emphasise,the infamous statement.I also noted that,at the time Nietzsche wrote his works in the later half of the nineteenth century,the shared belief of God was waning.I suppose the overriding fact,was that Charles Darwin and his insghtful writing on evolution brought a new dimension on how people perceived God.Where God once stood alone,as a centre of influence,meaning and eternal life - a plethora of voices were now being heard and God was now being pushed to the peripheries by the society.

The Darwin doctrines,and an assortment of human science created a crisis of faith and culture.In essence,God was now dead in the modern man's head.Nietsche observed that the death of God would lead to nihilism,where morality does not exist.In other words because,man would have found solace in philosophy and science,there would be no need to conform to the norms of the society - because there is no fear for God.Religion of course,is blamed for fostering a slave mentality.In doing so people would never revolt for their rights in fear of God.

So i guess when Nietsche said,'God is dead',he didn't mean it as one might think.

Monday 12 October 2009

Voice of reason

Oh my God where do i start?Emile Zola - the godfather of investigative journalism!Germinal is perhaps one of the best novels i have ever come across.Centering on a French coal mining community in the 19th century, Zola mixes social commentary, and political philosophy to create a story that is stunning,brutal,heart-breaking and at times painful.Unlike the bloody diamond mines of Sierra Leone,where the poor fight amongst themselves for survival in a hash and uncompromising economy - Germinal expresses outrage at the exploitation of many by the few,but also shows humanity's capacity for compassion and hope.The reason,why the story is so captivating is that - it's not only a mere narration about mining,labour strikes or human suffering but it's about the strengths and weaknesses of human spirit.

This is a classic example of ,class struggle that led Karl Marx at one time to be a proponent of a communist ideology.Marx felt that in a capitalist society,the rich are parasites, and will remain so, as long they control the means of production.The poor would remain poor,with no resolution, even though it's within reach and view.But in the long run, a revolution would be necessary to bring about change.But change comes at a price!

Germinal begins with the arrival of Etienne Lantier,an unemployed railway worker,who is clever,uneducated but possessing a very dangerous temper.Seeking employment,he profits from the death of a workman to take his place.Shocked at the poor conditions the miners are subjected to Etienne stirs up the miners to go on strike.The strike goes on and on all through the winter,until the general starvation and anger eventually leads them to go on a rampage.Army officers are summoned to restore order and Etienne evades arrest by hiding underground,where his accomplice ,Catherine later dies.Only survivor,Etienne is hospitalised a few weeks before heading back to Paris.

Thus, in muchokomanian terms,a violent revolution is not necessariy the only way to bring about change because there are bound to be casulties.But can a dialogue with your oppressor bring change?The advent of the 1976 Soweto uprising against Bantu Education can be attributed to the freedom of present day South Africa.Nelson Mandela had several chances to come out of prison long ago but he denied the concession that the apartheid regime wanted him to follow.He was meant to give up politics and fighting for freedom.But he refused and kept telling his comrades to keep fighting,until freedom was attained.

Zola wrote Germinal,i suppose as a social ideal that would give birth to trade unions and other human rights groups

Saturday 10 October 2009

VICTIMS OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Are semites victims of their own creation or are they orphans of a misconception, regarding their utopian hereditary background?,I wonder.I felt compelled to use the word, utopian because,the arabic translation of the word semite,refers to something noble and majestic.And to put in muchokomanian terms, a custodian of the heavens, with a privilege to report to God - the father directly,with no intercessors in-between.In direct audience with God,i meant.

Was Alfred Dreyfus a victim of circumstances in France? or was his case the bonfire that led to the spread of anti-semitism?.If so what role did Edouard Drumont play or was he merely a decoy in the conspiracy theories that led to the extermination of so many innocent souls?

Now bear with me, as i dismantle conspiracies of doom.

Having defeated France in the war of 1870, Otto Von Bismarck's predominant aim in foreign policy was to isolate France, thus unabling it to wage a war for the recovery of the lost province of Alsace Lorraine.He did this in a typical Bismarckian manner by signing the Dreikaiserbund treaty.This treaty consisted of Germany,Austria-Hungary and Russia.Since France was now in abject isolation,there was so much polarisation against the government,especially in Paris.Bismarck's policies were so sophisticated that the peace treaty with France included ,a triumphal entry into Paris.The resentment of the bandits/militia in Paris grew to such an extent that they took over the entire council and implimented a social democratic ideology - Paris commune,which only lasted two months,before being murdered by the goverment troops.

This culmination of events led to a conspiracy against the jews(semites).France had lost national pride - a defeat against Prussia,the near Coup De tat - by the national guard(Paris commune), and general public disapproval.

Alfred Dreyfus,who was charged with treason for allegedly disposing military secrets to the German Embassy,would have obviously been convicted using circumstancial evidence.His prominent visits to a Prussian suburb and being of a jewish origin,made him the probable suspect.Some native French soldiers found him arrogant because,he never bothered to learn French.

Thank Goodness Emile Zola,an Italian who adopted French naturalisation wrote a very provocative article Jaccuse,directly addressed to the head of the government.The birth of investigative journalism,meant Dreyfus would survive another day in court after being exonerated.My gut-feeling is, Zola did not act unanymously in exposing the flawed case outline against Dreyfus by the Martial court prosecution.George Clemencue,who later became the German leader might have instigated the move to propel his own political agenda.That's just the muchokomanian way of thinking.

I would be naive,if i were to assume that anti-semitism started with the Dreyfus affair!If you open your bible,to those who believe,you will see that Jesus himself rebuked the Jews,after they vehemently rejected him.Historically,when christianity became the state religion of Rome,in the 4th century jews became objects of religious and political oppression.Christians believed that Jesus was brutally murdered, through the insistance of the jews.Even Emperor Constantine 1,instituted several laws to supress 'God's chosen people'.

You might wanna visit http://www.davidicke.com for some mind-boggling conspiracy theories.Word of warning though, only aspiring philosophers should do so at their own risk - you might never see the world the way everyone sees it again.

Thursday 8 October 2009

Rightiousness exalts a nation,but sin is a reproach to any given people

The social contract that led to the codification of present day laws,may be the direct reason why some urge,whether we have the autonomy to control our own lives.Or conversely,do society impose what is socially acceptable.

We did not all ratify the laws and norms of the society we live in but are bound to morally behave in a socially acceptable way.I read an article three days ago in the Daily mail,about Simon Cowell's extravagant 50th birthday bash.Of course,all those who attended - under my assumption, would have been on the guest list and Max Mosley the F1 boss was one of them.

The author of the article wrote:
Despite the fact that guests of honour included the host's 84-year-old mother and a local vicar, the party's entertainment included exotic topless dancers, naked women gyrating behind a big screen, and a guest enjoying a good whipping on stage from a dominatrix.

But the highlight of the show was the appearance on stage of a giant replica of female genitalia, joined by two giant sex toys. What a jolly jape to humiliate every woman in the audience.
I'm only surprised disgraced Formula One boss Max Mosley wasn't there doing a turn.

As Journos,how far can we then go in naming a man who won a liable case against a newspaper publisher before?To what extent will the author and publisher justify that this is a fair comment?Can there be a legal writ against the paper,if Max Mosley decides to sue for defamation.

Or are we continuing to walk on quick sand again?

Monday 5 October 2009

HORRIE.COM

Sometimes life is not worth all the fuss,that is associated with it.But some things are worth the fuss associated with them.As i strayed on the net for a moment,i came across the revered Horrie site and the time spent on it was great whilst it lasted, to say the least.

The site is so customised to such an extend that,you are tempted to believe that it's a marketing or business site.The massive New York city boulevards and the landmark towering office and residential buildings give the site such a cosmetic background.This is what i would boldly refer to as,the Horrie show,nevermind that i later renamed it the Horror show,after failing to get any links to Horrie's favourite blogs.

The site is unequivocally infested with the author's professional background and left me wondering why the queen has not yet found the audacity to knight him - Sir Horrie to be precise.Essentially the man's cv is true testimony that he is no gatecrasher or novice to the career path we have all chosen.

However,i would probably have preferred to see links with snippets of the author's books.

All in all the site is something worth a visit.

The death of mainstream newspaper vending

As much as,i have so much sympathy for the sometimes vulnerable and destitute newspaper vendors - it is time to raise our eyebrows ,as journos and see where the world of new media is leading us to.Or can i blame the recent announcement,that The London Evening standard newspaper is gonna be free for all - to its acquisition by a former KGB Russian billionaire.Or is it due to the mediascape which has been deviously changing the course and dynamics of how we in the media used to conventionally do things.

Surely,the newspaper vendors will soon be out of sight and journos might be in for a rude awakening. The apparent unmitigated reason for disposing The London Evening standard newspaper,is due to a marketing gimmirck by the Russian. To boost circulation, so we are told. And the enormous production costs will apparently be paid for by the somehow ambitious advertisers.

In principle, all newspapers might follow suit ,but what are the probable repurcations to such a move, especially to journalists and vendors alike?If i were to be pragmatic then,i suppose that move will leave many of us out of mainstream media. The internet is being blamed for the shift in the way, media corporations operate but will relying on advertising revenue only be the panacea to this dilemma. I wonder.

Will have to wait and see where technology is driving our illustrious profession!But the future for vendors and journos look gloom and this somehow takes the gloss off our profession.That's just my view

Thursday 1 October 2009

WHEN I CEASE TO BREATHE

One day when i cease to breathe,take me away to a place i will see the sun nomore,a place of peace and tranquility: Such a rhetorical thought from an addicted born again christian.But hold on ,at least for now.I am just hoping against the hope that Minerva,the virgin roman God of wisdom will reveal,the secret of what lies ahead - life after death.Is there any existence beyond the phantom and imaginary 'Gods'?,that we have come to accept and embrace,yet there is nothing empirical to prove the mythical world beyond our sight.

Existence in this moment, is the only reality.Interestingly,reality contains everything that exists,but existence is only a subset of what is real.Therefore nothing unreal exists.Western philosophical idealists like Hegel,somehow approved the notion that,in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.And the earth was without form and full of darkness.In essence,i suppose this was derived from oral tradition,where religious beliefs were passed on from generation to generation - in a quest to understand the supernatural.

Typically Philosophical materialists believed that in the beginning there was matter - these assumptions were purely based on empirical and scientific evidence.Theocracy tells us that the world is merely 2009years after the death of christ,yet human endevour using scientific methods suggest that ,the world has been in existence for millions of years.If i may bring Hegel back into this phenomena,his arguments are concurrent with biblical suggestions that,all man are immortal - thus succumb to the death of the flesh and the spirit gets reunited with the creator.

Of course,Hegel's arguments did not go unchallenged.Even though Karl Marx enthused on emulating Hegel,he noted that there were fundamental differences in how things are seen pertaining to the world we live in.To clarify an event is(for Hegel no other than) to explain it in terms of logical necessity - the world comes to self consciousness and man rests in God.Whilst Marx felt compelled to radically assume the world revolved around the material state of things.Afterall Marx might have tried to develop his theories using propaganda by denouncing Hegel's earlier philosophical approach.

So does love make the world go round or does the world make love go round?Food for thought!

The mere reason,we keep visiting relics like the gravesites of our beloved one's,is a norm which is synonymous with the religious whitewash that pre-existed.Thus we will die clueless,of whether there is a heaven for the 'innocent' souls.

I suppose God lives in the sun - anyone who tries to go near it using scientific instruments will melt to death,anyone who looks direct into the sun will fall blind,and without the sun,the entire world will freeze to death.Interestingly,the moon itself does not have any light but the light it possesses, is a reflection from the sun.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Depleted Labour party confusing electolate!!!

Winston Churchill once said,Politics is not like war because in war you are shot once and die forever - but in Politics you are shot once and you resurrect with a vengeance several times.This subjective statement epitomises Gordon Brown's plight and leadership squabbles that has of late haunted the labour party.I have always supported labour parties because they are historically based on the ethos of revolution.From Zambia's Fredrick Chiluba,Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai and South Africa's Peter Marais(even though his policies are a model of the repressive apartheid government).

The recent revolt and conspiracy against Gordon Brown leaves me wondering whether the ridiculed leader is heading for an involuntary exit from 10 downing street.Are we close to an internal regicide and mutiny?

Who manages the affairs of the labour party and who leads the labour party?Help me,i am confused.Leadership is a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.
And management is the act of getting people to accomplish desired goals.This leaves me in the horns of a dilemma and in such an intricate confused situation.Holding all other things constant - ceteris paribas in latin: whats the difference between leadership and management?Is Gordon Brown the leader who manages the affairs of the labour party or what?

It is so disturbing to come to the realisation that the Prime Minister - an individual with the royal prerogative can be savaged by the media and his own MPs alike - such is the democracy in England.This man surely hasn't been given enough time to settle.Remember that he inherited a war in Iraq and Afghanistan,the global economic melt down was looming and the image of Britain all over the world was not at its best.Yes he was chancellor,under Tony Blair but did he have a direct influence on the policies of his predecessor?Marginally yes but that's not the benchmark to judge his ultimate credentials.

Of course,David Cameron is convincing when he talks but i am not convinced.It was such a privilege to watch Alan Shearer on a BBC match of the day programme,giving opinions on how teams and coaches should be playing - what formation would suite which team?Now he is in the fray at New castle - for record sake,one draw and three defeats.

The labour party should resolve their internal squabbles without our knowledge.How will they expect us(if i was british) to vote for them if there is inhouse fighting.

It's time to put differences aside and plan how best to defeat the opposition.

Labour for life!

Monday 4 May 2009

Why obey the law anyway?

Robert Putman argued that increasing individualism had led to a decline in political participation and activity in community organisations,thereby undermining good governance.In tandem,Ronald Dworkin had previously argued that the duty to obey the law from an 'associative'obligation;in short,that the duty of obedience to the state extends out of the obligations each individual bears towards family and friends and is therefore natural and not reliant on any overt consent.

For Dworkin community is based on shared concern for others,yet in contrast Arnold Muchoko can ask,(is political or community participation a pre-requisite for 'good governance'?)Is obedience to the state only justified via such participation or is obedience based on a different conception of the relationship between the state and the individual?

Sometimes political philosohpy does my heading!One day when i return to my beloved motherland,i will surely not philosophise every political thought - because the political arena is so much infested with bandits who exterminate whoever has an abstract thought.So for that reason, i am out of politics - but my research goes on.

Thomas hobbes once argued that the individual must obey the state due to the obligations arising from a pre-historical social contract without further demands for active political participation.So the duty to obey the state was the result of a social contract,i suppose.In the state of nature,men were free but also subject to intense violence and competition - just imagine the english civil war(which led to the execution of Charles 1).So by deciding to join together to form the state,men could avoid such competition and violence, in return for the protection,they promised obedience to the state.In Hobbes' eyes there was no requirement of continuing active participation in politics underlying individual obedience, instead via the social contract, agreed in pre-historic,an individual is bound to obey the state.

I guess theology and religion also contributed extensively to the reasons why men found it imperative to live in solidarity and form sovereign states.This brings me part of the theory of Charles Darwin survival of the fittest this time ignore through natural selection.If it wasn't for the precedents of the social contract this world would have been a mess and i mean it.Survival of the fittest would have been the order of the day.The world would have been grossly over-populated through sex without consent, and all anti-social activities that you can dream of would have been prevalent.Thank goodness the bible, the quran and pre-historic social contracts redeemed us all.

Now to mess around,and try to act belligerent - the state has the autonomy to prosecute and convict.That's the reason why Britain has around 88 000 convicts - at least one is assured of a play station,telly and laptop inside the so called British prisons.Conversely prisons like the Black beach(Malabo - Equatorial Guinea),Sun City(South Africa) and Chikurubi Maximum(Zimbabwe)are some of the most notorius in the world.This reminds me of a Briton, who led a group of mercentaries to Equatorial Guinea,in a bid to try a coup de tat on President Teodore obiang Nguema.Unfortunately his attempts were thwarted before his mission could be accomplished - sadly now he languishes in solitary confinement,one meal a day and a wall dripping with condensed water to look at for life.Such conditions are the ones that prompted fugitives like Stephen Chidumo to make maiden escapes from Chikurubi Maximum in Zimbabwe, and Annanias Mathe(houdini) from Maximum security prison C max in Pretoria(South Africa).

So there is every reason why we should obey the law - nevermind human rights.
http://journalism.winchester.ac.uk/

Monday 27 April 2009

ZUMA VICTORY MARKS NEW ERA FOR AFRICAN POWERHOUSE

Perpetual readers of my blogs might wonder why,i always sound proud and patriotic about the rainball nation - south Africa.Yes it's a home of 43million citizens and i am one of them.I did not go home when my fellow citizens were casting their votes for a new president - all i did was follow every campaign leading to the voting day ,on my beloved Al Jazeera channel.Of course,the voting was carried out in tranquility - so i heard Haru Mutasa reporting live from the boulevards of Auckland park,Johannesburg.

Jacob Zuma an African National Congress candidate enjoyed a landslide victory - which angered his adversaries,who had false hope on those who had desserted the ruling party to form Congress of people's party.Of course,Zuma is quite a controversial but charismatic leader in South Africa.Having served under Thabo Mbeki,as vice-president - only to be fired after an arms deal and corruption charge against his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.But those of us following politics with moderate knowledge suspected that Zuma's plight was politically motivated.The complex of the matter emanates from the fact that South Africa has 11 official languages and Zulu being a predominant one - Zuma being Zulu himself.Mandela who became the first president of a democratic South Africa was xhosa speaking,Mbeki was also Xhosa speaking and the woman who replaced Zuma as vice-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was also xhosa speaking.Hence the masses polarised against the Mbeki government and party gurus had no option but to oust him before his term of office expired.

Zuma's victory marks the beginning of a new dispensation for the Southern African region and Africa at large.In principle South Africa is the largest economy in Africa and far much better than most European countries.Also to bear in mind that it is part of the G20 - a gathering of the ultimate of the world's biggest and influential economies.That is the reason why FIFA awarded the 2010 World cup - barring the rotational system they talk about.We are the world's largest gold producer and third in platinum.

Zuma has quite a pragmatic attitude and those close to him say,he will be hands on with the Zimbabwean situation - which has seen 10million immigrants crossing into South Africa.Tendai Biti the Zimbabwean minister of Finance said that Zuma's victory is a good omen for his failed state - as there are mounting expectations for him to keep Mugabe at bay through tough diplomatic and foreign policies.Bearing in mind also that Zuma was the only outspoken ANC figure during the Zimbabwean political crisis.

The unemployment rate is hovering at 40% and the majority of people are still leaving in shacks and dilapidated conditions.We hold the highest murder rate in the world and there is a proliferation of the Aids epidemic.Those could be the main short and long run objectives of his presidency.There won't be any drastic changes to the constitution because historically when the ANC party got into power in 1994,they did very minimal amendments of note.

The fact that the ANC failed to garner 2/3 majority in the 400 member parliament is a blessing in disguise,as they will have to debate with the opposition parties for any change in policy.That means there could be a constant trend of democracy.

Zuma could be a catalyst in african politics - as he turns out to be a good mediator.His successes range from the Burundi,Rwanda and Inkatha Freedom party peace mediations.The Inkatha freedom party wagged a bloody civil war in the Kwazulu - natal province in South Africa.The violence was so extreme that it threatened the entire country - until a zuma led delegation successfully negotiated peace.For those who don't know where Burundi and Rwanda are - don't bother me.Look on your world map.

So the African powerhouse could be heading for better days of our lives.

Who the hell is this fake sheikh?

Slumdog millionaire star Rubina Ali 'auctioned' for £200 000!The reigning fake sheikh of 'Arabia' is the true face of tabloid news in Britain i reckon.Chris Horrie had at one point mentioned about this larger than life and king of deceit - News of the World's fake sheikh,who thrives on dangerous but effective investigative journalism - and because of being complacent and not being bothered, i never did any reservations until last Sunday.Apparently the poverty-stricken father of the oscar winning movie Slumdog millionaire,Rubina Ali,was on the verge of selling his daughter at a cut-price in a deal made in London but executed in Arabia.

Mazher Mahmood aka Fake Sheikh is renowned for initiating sham and bogus deals that leaves many a 'victim' livid and at times in big SHIT - and sometimes in penitentiary.The unsuspecting father of Rubina Ali,got a call from someone soliciting on behalf of the 'sheikh' suggesting that he be flown to Arabia to meet a mega rich prince,whose prime aim was to buy Rubina for thousands of pounds.After several delibetions i suppose this poor man was cohesed into the 'fake' deal.So who do we blame - fake sheikh or Rubina's father?

Weeks before the easter holiday we had discussed quite extensively on the advent of new media technology and resolved that this could mark the death of newsprint.Now because of my adoration for the fake sheikh,i believe newsprint is here to stay.People will always buy newspapers for stories like these.Yes the internet is valuable but to an extent Newspapers have the advantage of tangibility.

I noted that this fake sheikh - has dinned and wined with the taliban,mafia,gangsters,Sven Eriksson and some high profile ladies of the night.In spite of being put at gunpoint once in his life,he is still undeterred.I suppose for him its ALUTA CONTINUA(the struggle continues - mozambiquean dialect) - in search of the truth.I wonder how this man does it.Now that i know and have heard about him,i will keep a vigil and be vigilant for all the days of my life.Why would people believe that everyone from mainstream China or downtown Bankok is a martial arts expect ,after the legacy left by Bruce Lee?So not every caller or anyone for that matter dressed and speaking like a sheikh is real.

Hats off to the sheikh!

Am back from the easter break !

Friday 27 March 2009

Why bother working for free?

On the 24th of March,i had the qualified privilege of attending a Basingstoke Cabinet meeting and was very surprised with the reception,i got from the patrons.I might have been the only minority and only journo representing Winchester.The leader(chairman) of the cabinet asked me to sit where the press people are allocated and for that reason,i enjoyed the sovereignty of Britain.

The Agenda was purely based on the proposed facelifting of The Basingstoke Mall.On both sides of the committee suite i was flanked by cabinet members and two solicitors from legal and democratic services.I even got more excited when the leader told everyone that the deliberations would be going live on webcast,and could be accessed by members of the public on the internet.

The chairman,started by asking cabinet members whether there were any objections in regard with the budget of the facelifting of the Mall.However the 72page agenda was just too daunting to read through and because there were 'pink' areas(not accessable to press or the public),the meeting was adjoined.Hence,i was only there for 15minutes and never really got what i wanted.

Interesting though, were the reservations i made about the functions of a typical English Mayor.It was shocking to note that these so called Mayors are not on anyone's payroll.The only benefit is a brand new car to chauffeur himself around,petrol paid for and a credit card for his spouse to shop around for dear clothes.It's more of a ceremonial role than what those of us from Africa are accustomed to.One aspect i also found to be petrifying is the fact that a county mayor's office term only runs for 12 months.Apparently he/she is voted in by the councilors of that particular county.

So why bother to work for free anyway?

Advent of New Media Technology haunt bloggers

It is with great sorrow that,after Tuesday's session which partly covered an intro to the truth behind sharia law,i went home disturbed as to how simple,a dogma can enslave people in a 'democratic' society.On my arrival ,i took another setback when i tuned into Al Jazeera to get an update on news around the world - including Islamic republics.Iran are on the verge,of drafting a bill which will effectively see the extemination of vile and political bloggers(antagonists).If i cast my mind back to 2003,Iran became the first government to imprison a blogger - Sina Motallebi.And in that period a record 41 daily newspapers had been banned.Of course,anti-censorship groups have been lobbying against the ruthless media laws,but without success.

Amid the proposal by the Iranian authorities to pass the 'bill' into an act, a majority of those within the media might be forced to polarise against such a move.So far,in Islam there are three things which constitute to a death penalty - murder,adultery and of course apostasy(which is a simple conversion or deviation from Islam).That is Sharia law at its best.If passed into constitution then those who vent their anger against the government through blogging will DIE HARD.And no one will be accountable but Sharia law.Sir Da Gama,a missionary tutor at Pretoria boys high once said,a martyr is a person who dies for what he believes in.Just like Bernard Mizeki who was speared to death for trying to convert the monotheistic believers of Southern africa.And yes he died a painful death - for what he believed in.The allegiance to Islamic faith is the epitome of commitment and sacrifice.Any breach of the code of the quran,you are history.

As Chris alluded in the session - Turkey is still an Islamic nation but ruled by a moderate - who i think encourages secularism.He believes that human activities and decisions should be based on evidence and fact, unbiased by religious influence.So by being a moderate - does he face the wrath of Islamic republics?.Yes i suppose,because his ideologies are critical of religious orthodox and once asserted that religion impedes human progress because of it's focus on superstition and dogma versus reason and scientific method.

In my earnest opinion,sharia law is not bad for those who committed themselves to Islam in the first place - because you pledge to live by the quran and die by the quran

For now i am out.Peace

Monday 16 March 2009

Beware to walk on quicksand - Journos

For the rest of my life,i will live to curse those that drafted one of the many clauses of the European Convention on Human rights.The right to privacy!Whose privacy?Damn,as an aspiring and potentially talented journo,i have now been forced to mind every step i take in pursuit of breaking news for the sake of public interest.In my motherland,cartoonist are being sued for millions of pounds for 'defaming' political demagogues and some are reportedly abducted for 'pervasive' investigative journalism.Now when i crossed the sahara desert and the massive bodies of water to come and refine my trade in England,i found that the protocol is the same.Journos are sued for millions of pounds for taking photographs without consent.Where does the future of investigative journalism lie?

Last week, i was rudely interrupted by a female security officer at the Basingstoke Festival mall.My crime - carrying the Canon SRL Stills' Camera in my hand.The assumption was that i might have been secretly photographing the mall for publication.I tried in vain to explain that i was coming from Jessops,where i had purchased a memory card.The argument,turned nusty as i vehemently refuted her suggestions of putting my camera away.Several security officers were summoned to deal with the defiant Mr Muchoko.As the impasse gained momentum,the crowd gathered in disbelief.Poor me,and poor journos.I never intended to take any photographs and i never took any.Was i a victim of circumstances because i am black?,so i thought.Afterall Victor Anichebe who plays for Everton was recently arrested for loitering around a jewellery dealer shop in Cheshire.The fact of the matter is that it had nothing do to with my skin colour - but the repressive privacy act.The prima facie was the camera in hand.To end the debacle,i was escorted out of the mall under heavy guard despite my innocence.

Another interesting story for journos to mind their every step is the Tesco vs Guardian story last year.I watched a television programme a week ago on BBC - where the press standards committee,Solicitors and legislators debate on current press laws. The Guardian was sued for libel and malicious falsehood.Apparently the guardian's specialist reporters on finance and tax carried an investigation into the offshore property deals by Tesco.They reported that Tesco - one of the largest public companies in Britain and the fourth largest retailer in the world had evaded corporate tax.In essence Tesco had not evaded corporate tax,but their deals were structured to avoid a different tax - the stamp duty land tax.In fact they didn't avoid any form of tax,but the stamp duty route minimises costs.

From the above scenario it's evident that the reporters used a wrong terminology,hence Tesco won the case and an out of court settlement was done.This is just as good as calling someone convicted of stealing,a robber.You will be done for that - mind your language!

On that BBC programme,i also noted that apart from the Reynolds defense,we are now partly covered by a new amendment.An offer of amends,was designed by Parliament as a means of settling defamation cases quickly and with minimum cost.The idea is that the newspaper should admit error and publish a correction and apology,with a judge deciding on damages.If the claimant accepts the offer of amends,it's the end of the case - barring damages.If it's rejected ,the burden of proof switches to the claimant,who must then prove malice and if unsuccessful,has to bear the costs of the entire proceedings.

Before i buzz off,some tabloids have come up with a strategy - Circulate a malicious story,earn millions and then pay very little on out of court settlement.But that's dangerous though.

Being a journalist in England is just as good as sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode.But don't give up we will fight for our rights!

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Open letter to Yaz Murray

After carefully reading a blog casually written and edited by one of my 'learned' colleagues at Uni,Yaz Murray,i have decided to write an open letter of acknowledgement.At least you made me to think extensively this time around and have no hesitation to compliment you for a thought well written.

You mentioned that Karin said,cats see the true colour of grass better than humans.Of course,for now i agree with his a priori approach.Pussy cats and dogs are naturally nocturnal and were went to be hunters before the dominance of humankind found the audacity to domesticate them.And yes they possess vision 20/20.Their eyes were designed for hunting.There is a built-in super sense of smell that emanates from a predominant purposes of hunting for survival.

For interest sake:A dog can distinguish between caprylic acid(an 8 carbon saturated fatty acid,found in coconut,breast milk,etc) and caproic,in highly diluted solutions.The only difference between these two acids is an extra pair of carbon atoms on the chain.In fact dogs are also used by the narcotics department to detect fraudulent smuggling of drugs at airports.This is the simple reason why dogs are always disturbed and bucking for no apparent reason.They smell and see things from afar.

A priori will tell you that the reason why dogs look away when you stare them in the eye is because they are shy.That's bull dust.A mild empiricist will say that they look away because staring is perceived as dominant behaviour and sometimes a threat.

A 14 century English logician William of Ockham is renowned for the occam razor hypothesis.The principle states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make a few assumptions as possible,eliminating those that make no difference in observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis.

Occam's razor tells us to 'not multiply entities unnecessarily',that is if there are two ways to explain something,the one that requires us to assume the existence of as few things as possible is the most likely true.Cats are often scared of vacuum cleaners.One way to explain this is that it might be simply frightened of the sound,perceiving it as a threatening roar.Another is to assume that he hears ghosts in it,which requires the assumption that humans have spirits which live in vacuum cleaners.By using Occam's razor,i would assume the first one is correct.

Simplicity is evidence for truth.But an empiricist ought to challenge me on that.

So cats and dogs see nothing except that they were meant to be hunting in the jungle

Goodnight all

Tuesday 3 March 2009

Royal prerogative

It was quite a fascinating stock taking exercise of the Royal family today.I guess everyone who attended the lecture has a different perspective of the elected dictatorship.These protestants defied catholic fellowship after King Henry v11 divorced his wife for 24years, Catherine because five of her children had died at birth.To add insult into injury,when the pontiff denied to preside over a second marriage,Henry deviated to become the head of the church of England.With one motive in mind - to marry his newly found mistress.Absolute power corrupts;an act of settlement was formulated in 1701 to condemn catholic beliefs within the monarchy.
This act lays down that only protestant heirs of Princess Sophia,granddaughter of James 1 may succeed in Britain.

Thank God that when the Magna carta was signed,it moved most of the power to parliament.Now the queen is just a figurehead for ceremonial purposes and knighting over-achievers like Gordon Fucken' Ramsay who had a 'glorious' fucken' football career at 'Rangers'.

But don't take the gloss off the crown of the queen as yet because when parliament decides to make laws ,she still has to 'sign' for approval.If she doesn't happen to like the new law and rejects it,she may have a rebellion on her hands as parliament is voted in by the people.

As Horrie alluded in the lecture,the Prime minister is a representative of the royal family in parliament and works hand in hand with the privy council.Don't be fooled by the word privy,it's informal for private or secret.Whatever is discussed with the head of the state remains classified information.Even if members of the privy council might know who killed Diana,they can not run to the news of the world and sell the story for personal gain - because they will be in contempt of the official secrets act.

I also discovered that the queen is currently paying income tax and capital gains on a voluntary basis,since 1992.So who are we to complain about tax if the sovereign herself is paying?

The good news on monarchy power is that the queen can not by law elect William in place of Charles as the new king of England.Her powers are quite limited in that respect.

So the real people who run this country are based at whitehall and westminister respectively.

I am only waiting for Henry(harry) to be king and turn that royal Buckingham palace into a night club and throw the significance of a monarchy into mock despair.I am really worried that i might not live to see him reign because he is just third in line and there is a receding hope that he will ever be one.

In fact ,who is English?

On the balance of probability ,no one is English and curse my unorthodox view if you are bothered.Hold on - i can give anyone the benefit of the doubt if they can prove themselves innocent until proven guilty.I am prosecuting those who claim to be English for the sake of 'immigrants' - Polish included.

I submit that English is one of the many languages of West German.In fact it was brought to this land by German settlers.The migration from German after the ice age might have been triggered by incursions of the Huns and population pressures.

Last week's lecture by Chris might have provoked a few patriotic fellows and raised eyebrows on the legitimacy of the rightful owners of this land.My reservations on the evolution of the English Monarch reveal that a majority of the people who ruled were not 'English'.Henry Tudor who reigned as Henry v11 was in reality Welsh;William of Orange who ruled as William 111,was dutch;Elizabeth 1 who died a virgin in the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty ,indirectly handed power to her cousin James 1,who was scottish.Through out the period of regicide,this land was under a constant rule of 'foreigners'.

What puzzles me is whether an Englishman is a German by default who got persecuted and fled to this land.

I know the truth hates but in reality,it sets you free.So know your history and be vigilant.I traced mine and discovered that all people in Southern Africa originated in central africa,but were too weak to fight - thus were kept on the run ,until they reached the Cape of good hope.

In closing this prosecution you are all Germans - prove me wrong!

Mitigating for Mugabe.



We have the autonomy to choose our friends but we can't choose our neighbours and if i had a way i would have unanimously opted for Vladimir Putin - to Mugabe.Now Morgan Tsvangirai,a former trade unionist who gatecrashed his way into politics,carrying only a diploma in international governance aquire through distance education - got bullied under duress by his rival Mugabe in signing a deal that never was.The impasse has finally come to rest with a new government of national unity in place.

Millions of victims crippled by cholera and poverty crossed over to South Africa.Today i am writing to mitigate for Mugabe and stand by him for the failed state he created with the help of the British.

The man has been in power since 1980 - after defeating Ian Smith's regime through gorilla warfare,with the support of Cuba and South Korea.He quickly adopted the socialistic and nationalistic ideologies.Of course,the eloquent but ruthless scholar had paid ten years of his life in prison.A forged cease-fire by the British government,led to the Lancaster House agreement where a deal was signed under the supervision of Lord Carrington.The British government in tandem with the Americans promised to buy land from the white farmers who were not willing to reconcile with the custodians of the land - willing buyer ,willing seller.

Mugabe's bid to forgive and forget the past never materialised because of a few minority who were non-repented.In 1990 he tried the land reform programme,but was halted by the African National Congress Party in South Africa,as they were so close to defeating apartheid.Of course,the move paid dividends,as Nelson Mandela was released from Robben Island the same year.

In 1995 Zimbabwe's economy started to plummet and the international monetary fund suggested a recovery plan called (The economic structural adjustment programme),which subsequently led to the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar.

Out of desperation Mugabe pursued the land reform programme - in trying to force the British government to compensate the white farmers who owned at least two thirds of the country's arable land.Tony Blair and the back benchers at Westminister angered Mugabe by denying to honour,the Labour Party's promise to compensate as agreed at the Lancaster House conference in 1979 .So his militias ran rampage and seized all the farms - which led to a mass exodus of farmers to England,Australia and New Zealand.

Smart sanctions by the EU meant Mugabe and his cabinet ministers were automatically barred from travelling to Europe.But who suffered ?The poor Zimbabwean people.

Ango-American and bluechip companies pulled out of Zimbabwe in protest of the Mugabe regime.Mass unemployment followed and Zimbawe became a disaster.

Because Tsvangirai was bankrolled by the british government: Mugabe was very cautious after losing the general election.This dinosaur doesn't trust the British because of a long history of unfulfilled promises in the past.

What people must realise is that Mugabe is the only surviving student of Mao,Mussolini,Hitler and Idi Amin(who fed his opponents to the crocodiles in Uganda).

So Tsvangirai deserves to be grabbed down under.

Monday 2 March 2009

Nostradamus or Arnold Muchoko - choose who to believe



In the city of God there will be a great thunder,two twin brothers between two rivers will be torn apart by chaos,while the fortress endures,the great leader will succumb.The third big war will begin when the city is burning - tha says Nostradamus.

The World watched in disbelief,as two twin towers(World trade centre),between two rivers - Hudson and River east fell apart within minutes after a devastating suicide attack by jihad fanatics,so we thought.This was an apparent fulfillment of prophecies and predictions made by Nostradamus in the 15th century.


Before the coming of the great and dreadful day ,with a world in it's sleep,Islam will eclipse christianity,and all other religions will fall prey to Islamic dogma - tha says Arnold Muchoko.

When the 1976 uprising ensued throughout the marginalised township of Soweto,i was still in the production line,somewhere in my fathers groin - not quite sure where?Hector Pieterson was the first riot victim,so i was told.In spite of being born in a nation full of hatred and resentment towards one another,i embraced christianity from a very innocent age.I remember my boarding master,forcing us to sing,What a friend we have in Jesus - a song written by a scottish fellow Joseph Scriven,in a letter to console his mother who was in pain.The words in the song became our school anthem for the productive years i spent at a secluded primary school.Every school day would be kick-started by prayer and the song ,inside the assembly hall.At times,i would sit on the corner of my single bed and read books like,The river between,Things fall apart,Coming of the dry season and House of Hunger.For i was preparing myself for a life in literature.But the doctrines of christianity had taught me that reading too much literature would make me an antagonist of the holy book.

Now as Britain,America and allies fight the Taliban in Afghanistan,the underground network is busy forcing amendments to the existing acts to suite,what prophet Muhammed,said'Islam will rule the world'.If you happen to fly to Johannesburg at our main airport,there are toilets labelled 'Moslem toilets only'.Our Parliament used to be opened by a word of prayer - but now the constitution has been changed to accommodate Moslems.The trend has moved to England ,America and other countries.Now you can't publicly talk about your faith and brag about being a christian - the reason-you are likely to provoke Islam.My prediction is that in 100years from now,christians will be a minority.

Christianity is so much divided to return the dignity it once commanded.Now gays and women are being ordained to be preachers of the word.That entirely contradicts what the bible they believe in ,says.In the Moslem world none of the above will have the right to stand before innocent followers of the word and deliver,repentance and redemption.It is taboo in the Moslem ideology.When Moslems go to Mecca(a 'holy' city of Islam in Saudi Arabia),they do so in millions.Now that is what i call faith.Christians have so many denominations,teaching the same word but in different version.The gathering of the Moslems in Mecca can never,and will never be matched by Christians for a single pilgrimage because they are so much divided.

I am not about to turn Moslem,and i will not swop my christianity for anything - but i am just a realist.And my christian faith rebukes me for assuming that Islam will rule.Christianity is now too commercialised that it has lost its purpose.

I have nothing against women preachers or Gay preachers - but where is it written in all your books of faith,your bible and even the Qur'an?

Modern day christians pray whilst standing and their eyes open.Surely the culture is gone and might soon be in oblivion.All this is done by charismatics.If they say God never changes,today,tomorrow and forever,Why change the way of praying because of commerce?In essence when moslems fast,they do a dry fast.But christians have modified it,by saying you can have a cup of tea and fruit.That's bullshit.No wonder why Islam has now over a billion followers.

As i write ,i am inspired to do so by the all mighty - for greater is he that is in me than the one that i see.

Nostradamus predicted in the 15th century and it happened in the 21st century.My prediction is work in progress,so stay alive for another 100 years to see the manifestation.Afterall how can you believe Nostradamus who you never saw in real life - than Arnold Muchoko who you are privileged to know and see?

Thursday 26 February 2009

Mind your language



The things that brings us together are far greater than the things that separate us and i hold my breath with caution,before exhaling a prophetic assertion that will haunt the entire generation of the 21st century and beyond.My motherland - South Africa is frantically preparing for a historic general election.On the 22nd of April,innocent victims of a depleted government will be casting their votes for a new president.Now fasten your seat belts and keep still as i drive you down the boulevards of the RAINBALL nation - where a barbecue is known as a braai,a motorway is called a freeway and a traffic light is called a robot.

As much as i am excited about the prospects of a better Mzansi,i am powerless and voiceless to raise alarm on the bleaching of democracy in my motherland.An incumbent president - Thabo Mbeki was spectacularly ousted from power before his term of office ran out.The African National Congress' (ruling party)kangaroo court implored that Mbeki had failed to lead the government according to the manifesto which was initially drafted by party gurus like Nelson Rolinhlanhla Mandela.Hence,to this day we are running on a make-shift aristocratic government,elected by the ruling party.Make-shift in the sense that a lot of those who sympathised with Mbeki resigned and formed an opposition party called COPE.No referendum was held to elect the current leaders - it just happened at party level.So if the people the party represents are not consulted ,whose voice is the party representing?

Politics spares no one and it's ruthless and dangerous in fragile young democracies like South Africa.Yes we gained independence from the dreadful apartheid regime.And yes we are independent but freedom is dangerous if abused.Sometimes i wonder if we had remained a Kingdom - ZULULAND.Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe called on his opposition leader Dr Joshua Nkomo to form a government of national unity in 1987.Typical Che Guevara style,the ruling Zanu(pf) swallowed the opposition,who had disbanded their army units and intergrated into the new 'government'.That's why Zimbabwe is in this shit today - they preached a one party state and it failed.In the interim,the ANC did the same like Mugabe,they dismantled the official opposition National Party by swaying its leader Marthinus Van Schalkwyk to join them.And by being offered the Minister of Tourism post ,he agreed and the opposition varnished.

Jacob Zuma who is widely expected to win the upcoming general elections recently sued Zapiro,an award winning cartoonist for millions of pounds.The cartoon depicts the woman as the justice system;the people helping the woman to be raped are members of the ANC and the guy pulling his pants down is Jacob Zuma.In essence Zapiro was humourously saying,Jacob Zuma and his accomplices are raping the justice system.Is this defamatory?In the eyes of many Yes.But then what is freedom of press?Cartoons started in the ancient Greek empire and were used for political propaganda.Of course,they were later perfected by people like William Hogarth.With the invention of lithography in 1798 ,it became appparent that it could be printed in national newspapers to represent aspects of a society through human figures.Again South Africa's fragile democracy worries me,if Journalists can not express their opinions and comments without fear of being abducted by party hardliners then there is no democracy.

So to all my varsity colleagues,if i were to do a cartoon of the queen being raped by an unidentified government official - would that be defamatory .If yes to what extent???