R they scandalous???

I decided to review the blog http://www.ruscandalous.blogspot.com/, because before even going through the blog I had a feeling it was more scandal than news. Even though we are all in first year and yes it is very important to keep up with the newest trends, stay on top of the earliest gossip as well as know when the next party is. I found this blog rather insulting than interesting. The blog follows the stereotypes that have been used throughout the years about journalists only being able to uncover gossip and scandal.

The writing was very sensationalised as well as a bit humorous at times. Although the blog was given the name RUscandalous I also found tem to have trailed of their initial name and concept. The pictures were however very well taken they added a bit o ‘class’ to this scandalous blog. The blogs appearance was also very sensationalised as there was a picture of a woman with red glossy lips in the background.

All in all I thought the blog had forgotten about the initial aim of creating these blogs and I feel that they have created more of a scandal in terms of writing and journalist ethics, instead of initially uncovering the scandals.

SILENCE IS REALLY NOT THAT GOLDEN...

As a child I was always told by my mother that, the only way a women can express herself is through words. It did not matter how much make-up you put on or how much your shoes cost but the way in which you constructed your speech determined the women you are. I was told that men only pretend like they find beauty as an important factor in a women’s appearance, but the truth is a man only falls in love with the words that come out of your lips.

So I went and decided to do one of the hardest things I had ever done in my life that is living in a day of full silence. I woke up early in the morning, put on some heavy make-up and a brightly coloured shirt. The make-up and the shirt being my voice for the day. It was hard for me to do this because all my life my voice has always been my primary source of expression. I found it funny how my friends and people who know me instantly assumed that I was upset or that I was having a bad day. I didn’t tell anyone of my ‘silent day’, because I thought if they knew what I was doing they would make keeping quiet very hard for me.

After a long day of absolute silence I realised that people don’t really like the silent me. My friends thought I was ignoring them and were very upset. And those who didn’t know me just found me boring and rude. Some guy even told me to my face that my silence is unwelcoming. After this day I had not only wasted a day without speech, but I had lost a crush almost lost my friends and had missed out on seven important phone calls.

Bot Gardens- Immersion

Palesa Tembe
G09t1308

I decided to visit the Botanical Gardens for my immersion exercise.

I felt excited as I had not been there before, but there was an undercurrent mystery and overwhelming emotion. I was with friends for a picnic so I was also consumed by their enthusiasm. I expected to see a lot of hobo’s and weed smokers. But I was rather intrigued to see the amount of ‘ordinary’ students there, either to study, or relax in the company of those they loved. I chose a picnic at the Bot. Gardens because it is relaxing and nature inspires me. It is such a different environment to that which I hang out in. The time was enjoyable and I felt like a kid again.

When we were at the gardens, I felt most comfortable and at ease until the legendary Grahamstown weather took a turn for the worst. We brainstormed ways to keep warm as we felt our fun was not over yet. Just then a friend suggested old native games to play such as; Ingenda, Vul’ amasango, Ushumpu, Inqatu and others. Since these games do not need many props we improvised and it turned out to be quite the adventure.
This immersion exercise was a breath of fresh air and one I truly needed.

Pen n Heels blog Review

Review a Blog by: Palesa Tembe

I decided to review the blog called Pen n Heels, by first year journalism students Stephanie Lloyd, Nomathemba Zulu and Vuyokazi Burwana. This blog was their first group blog and there are many aspects of the blog that I enjoyed but others that I could have changed, or even re-thought.

The first striking image that caught my attention was the blogs profile picture. It corresponds well with the name of the blog and gives you an idea of the personality of the bloggers. I get the sense that these students are very feminine and lady like which are qualities evident in the colour scheme they choose (pinks and purples). The topics of each post, however, are quite serious, formal and sensible, not as care free and materialist as the ideology stands about women of this century. Some issues dealt with in this blog are topical and could prompt some interesting discussions. I really enjoyed these stories and an example of one is, “Is South African Journalism Really Gender Free”. Such reporting is interesting and very insightful.

The range of stories covered in this blog were very vast, unlike some other more professional blogs, were the subject matter of the stories are somewhat related and subject specific, either about the economy or entertainment. But this does not take away from the quality of the blog and you are still able to follow it relatively well.

Check out the http://pennheels.blogspot.com/ website for your own take on the blog.

Review: mirror mirror on the wall

by:lindokuhle mthombeni
There are many blogs that I found compelling and interesting but I chose this one, http://mirrormirroronthewall-rhodents.blogspot.com/ ,because it explains what it is meant for and its aims. I found the framework interesting and attractive. The blog stick to its principles from the beginning till the end
They say that they will be giving us the latest happenings on campus and around the world and we should be prepared. In their blog they did stick to that by giving us what’s happening around the world and by showing us pictures of what they are talking about.
The language that is used in this blog accommodates everybody of any level. The follow-ups of the bloggers show that, the bloggers themselves are enthusiastic about their blog. It gives you the sense of wanting to join-in and follow-up yourself.
The blog is very inspirational; I personal think that people should be recommended to this blog to experience the good work of dedicated students. This blog proves that team-work is the best because the participants played their parts responsible and the sticked to what they have aimed for and promised the followers. I personally enjoyed this blog

Opinion Piece:Your Body is the Temple of God

by: lindokuhle

I grew up in a Christian based family. The belief that your body is the temple of god has became one of the many slogans at home. I believe that one has to respect their body as appreciation to god. One of the many issues that are important to me is honouring and respecting my body as if it was borrowed to me.
Today people change their physical features just as much as they buy bread. It angers me to the extent that I feel sorry for the plastic surgery-gone-bad victims because there is no way back. I have come across many articles in the internet about how far people go to look the way they feel is appropriate http://www.miniurl.com/19383 .
Issues like this means a lot to me because they are going in a pace that is very fast and it is destroying the minds of the new generation, therefore they need effective attention. The children of today are poisoned by what the read and what the see, so if a child is always reading about plastic surgeries they might end up having ideas that you need to do surgery in order to be beautiful.
Issues of surgeries that had gone bad means a lot to me, because they give me an alert on life. They make me respect my body in an enormous way, they make me proud of my beliefs and of what I have, the body which is a temple of God.

Sons of Anubis

by:lindokuhle mthombeni
I love reading. Always make sure that I read something before I sleep everyday. Factual, inspirational and real-life novels are my favourite. I normally take a period of a week or two in order to finish whatever book. For this exercise I decided to read a fictional novel and finish it within a day. I chose a book by Robin Saunders called Sons of Anubis because it was recommended by a friend to me, and because it was a fictional book and I have never read a fictional book before.
Before I read the book I was enthusiastic about it, I always find it challenging to do something I never did before but I love it and I was looking forward to start doing it. At the beginning of my reading I felt bored because I have never read a fictional novel before and I always thought they were manly and boring. I also felt that, the pressure was too much because I was pushing myself so had to finish the book that very same day and to also find the interest in that book.
I expected the novel to be unrealistic in a boring way because I believed that fictional novels are for men. I also expected it to be confusing and long. At the time of my reading I felt the pressure but was slowly finding the interest of the novel as well. Towards the end of my book I didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying it so much.
After I had finished my exercise I felt good about myself. I over achieved my goal, I had planned on finishing it in a day but I finished it in 6 hours. I felt like I can conquer the world, like nothing was impossible.