Sam basically discovered Gill. She was one of his favorite models, and I think it’s reflected in the work they put out together. This series of shots comes again from Five Girls.

Click the pic to see it big.

Gill was an art student in Johannesburg in the early sixties. Not a professional model, she just walked into the studio one day and was a total natural in front of the camera.

There were stories of Vietnam soldiers taking copies of Five Girls (often gifted to them by their wives or girlfriends) to war, so Gill was also a Vietnam pinup. The fan mail generated by Five Girls in the 60s included letters from both men and women. (Sam Haskins’ blog, entry dated 21 April 2008)

It’s been almost two decades that the walls of apartheid tumbled down and South Africans came in union at the Rugby world cup 1995 and 1997 and every colour joined in to sing not only a song of victory but freedom too…

Click here to read the full article…
http://www.sevafrica.com/Entertainment/CelebratingOur.shtml

Last week, a furore broke out among opposition political parties in South Africa over the handing out of food hampers by the ruling ANC party’s youth wing (ANCYL), to destitute communities in Phillipi in the Western Cape. It is alleged that the food hampers were provided by a government ministry.

To those not familiar with South African politics, this apparent act of kindness by the government and one of its agencies not normally known for any sort of decency, would have gone unnoticed and unquestioned. However if you are in opposition politics or familiar with (well publicised) government dishonesty, or even just plain cynical, this act of generosity would have raised a few eyebrows at the least. You see, the Western Cape is the only Province in South Africa which voted overwhelmingly against the ruling ANC in the last general elections, and the selective targeting of poor people in this particular part of the country for charity, could and should be construed (in all fairness) to be clearly politically motivated. The poor in Phillipi are no worse off than the poor elsewhere, and surely those who voted the ANC into power in the other provinces would be equally, if not more appreciative of some assistance? The truth is that when the government’s humanitarian efforts become selective, rather than nationally organized, you can bet that some grubby politicians are thinking about where their next votes are coming from.

However, dishonesty in charitable work is not confined to government or politics. In fact, the motivation to be charitable, from a religious perspective are far more dishonest than any emanating from politics or big business. This scandal-in-the-making in the Western Cape (which will be swept under the carpet as usual) reminded me of an e-mail I received from a church elder a few months ago, about how they had so kindly fed about a hundred or so, sickly and poor people waiting at a public hospital for treatment. And again, for those of you not living in South Africa or are fortunate enough not to have to attend one of these institutions of gross inhumanity; public hospitals are a cesspool of neglect, mismanagement, and fraud perpetrated by both administrators and public officials alike, understaffed and under-equipped. Anyway back to the e-mail, and the now infamous words that still trouble my mind:

THANKS FOR THOSE THAT ASSISTED IN SPONSORSHIP FOR SANDWICHES ,MIRACLE REVIVAL CENTER NOT ONLY PROVIDED FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY ,BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THE SOUL. REFER TO ATTACHMENTS BELOW...

WITHIN 30 MINUTES OVER 200 SANDWICHES OF VARIED TASTE PROVIDED NOURISHMENT TO HUNGRY SOULS ,SOME WAITING IN THE HOSPITAL FROM 03H00 IN THE MORNING WITHOUT ANY NOURISHMENT .BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OVER 100 TRACKS[WITH MRC DETAILS ] WERE DISHED OUT TO PEOPLE WHO WERE ACCEPTING TO THE WORD OF GOD AND HAVE THE TIME TO DIGEST IT....????

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO SHARE IN THIS EXPERIENCE ARE MOST WELCOME AS WE PLAN TO MAKE IT A ONCE IN A MONTH EFFORT ..........WE COULD LOOK AT THE OTHER HALF OF THE MRC BEING FULL UP BY DECEMBER 2009...?????

Clearly the effort to feed these helpless people was motivated by the desire to proselytize and proliferate a particular insidious religious doctrine with the end-expectation of causing half-empty churches to magically fill up again. For church administrators, full churches equate to a steady job and income, and off course the perpetuation of a belief system. For religious individuals the effort represents a way to solicit favor with a supernatural benefactor and supposedly pave the way for an easy entry into the famous afterlife. However for individuals, an even more crass reason to be charitable is to satisfy a religious or scriptural requirement. It’s as good as saying that if it was not a tenet of their faith, then it would not be required of one to be charitable. Fortunately religion advocates charity and thus earns itself a minor saving grace.

As an afterthought; it’s now December and I wonder if the Miracle Revival Center’s other half  is now full with sick people hoping for a miracle cure. Or, failing that, as is the most probable outcome, would they be happy with a sandwich and a tract instead?

Big business is another contributor in the dishonesty stakes when it comes to charity. You’ve all heard about those social responsibility programmes which every modern company seems to have. It looks good on the balance sheet and is useful for tax purposes. It is also useful as a motivational tool for making your employees think they are doing great humanitarian work, while they enforce your despicable shareholder-enriching policies, poverty-inducing price schemes and couldn’t-give-a-shit service practices, which fucks the poor anyway. Yeah, it’s always nice to make everyone think you’re giving back some of what you stole in the first place.

And back to individuals or even organized groups; there is always dishonesty when the object of your supposed benevolence is limited to a particular ethnic, racial or social group. Only last week, the daughter of a friend told me of a group of cute Indian children that she and her church had assisted. She had meant for me to also single out that particular racial group of children for special attention. While I believe that she did it unthinkingly and innocently, it is still not acceptable behaviour.  Charity is not charity when it is targeted at certain individuals, racial, ethnic or even religious groups. It is nothing short of bigotry; only done to appease your own troubled mind.

The big question is, should it matter to the poor and destitute what the motivations are behind their benefactor’s supposed good deeds? One could argue that they should not be choser’s, and they should not question the intentions of those that contribute to their well-being. Off course they shouldn’t have to! The situation that the poor and destitute find themselves in should not be exploited by those with hidden or dishonest agendas. It’s up to honest people to not allow the religious, the politicians, business and others to take advantage of the poor, and must expose it wherever it happens.

If you ever come to me and doubt the quality of South African music, I’m going to refer you to this. Case closed.

Artist: V.A.
Title: Ralf GUM presents GOGO Music Vol. I mixed by DJ Christos
Label: GOGO Music
Cat. Nr.: GODIG 007
Barcode / EAN: 4260082119076
Format: Download Mix Compilation
Genre: House / Soul / Deep
Web-Link: www.GOGO-Music.net
Digital Distribution: Believe Digital

GOGO Music was established 2001 by Ralf GUM to provide an active platform for innovative club-music and artists. After more than ten years of experience in the music-scene as a Producer, remixer and DJ Ralf GUM took the next step to spread his infectious love for the perfect groove and started to build up his own label. Ralf worked for many renowned labels including ones like Defected, Tommy Boy, Papa, Look At You, Deep Sugar / Strictly Rhythm, Knee Deep and many more with great success. As a DJ he established as one of Germany’s upfront tastemakers, who’s able to take listeners on a journey by DJ. To date he graced the crowds with his DJ-sets at more than 350 venues around the globe.

GOGO Music’s output concentrates on timeless songs instead of putting out a huge quantity of records following the latest ephemeral trend. The ‘quality not quantity’ philosophy quickly beard fruit, as the constantly growing and specific interest in and vast feedback on GOGO Music’s work shows. It is reflected by entries in almost every important dance-chart, as well as by countless top download chart positions, including the #1 in the “Top 100 Singles 2008” and the “biggest house track 2008” in the chart of the ultra-credible Traxsource download-shop with the soulful hit of 2008 “Kissing Strangers featuring Monique Bingham”. Top-DJs as Tony Humphries, Louie Vega, Timmy Regisford, Jamie Lewis, Gilles Peterson, Frankie Knuckles, Osunlade or Quentin Harris love and play the label’s music and it’s enjoying a growing community of confessing fans. Already late 2005 GOGO Music was called “one of the hottest imprints around” by the leading magazine Blues & Soul, in Germany’s Subculture you could read that “GOGO Music is one of the prime German house labels” and 5 Magazine from Chicago wrote in 2009 that “GOGO Music is the beacon of soulful house in Europe and Germany’s premier House Music label”.

Christos Katsaitis is a legendary deejay and one of South Africa’s most respected house producers. A veteran of over two decades, he has influenced and provided platforms for countless Dj’s and producers and he is credited for the current flourish in the South African House music scene. In 1998 he received a SAMA award for best dance album with partner Vinny Da Vinci, since then his productions have received 4 SAMAS for groundbreaking work including album of the year in 2008. He established the Southern African music conference in 2004 and later formed a company called DJ’s Unite with Oskido, Da Vinci, Fresh and Greg Maloka to run the SAMC. Nowadays it is the largest annual House music conference on the continent. The Magic Sessions kicked of in 2007 with international guest Franck Roger, Charles Webster, Rocco, Abicah Soul, Ralf GUM and Manoo it is the most anticipated event on the dance music calendar. Christos rocked some of the world’s most ecstatic venues and we are please that he mixed this GOGO Music compilation, where he combines the latest and hottest GOGO Music releases in his flawless style.

Tracklisting:
1 – Roberto De Carlo featuring Joshua – Never Forget (Ralf GUM Vocal)
2 – Bucie – Your Kiss (Ralf GUM Vocal)
3 – Ralf GUM feat. Daniel Thomas – Higher High (Ralf GUM Deeper Deep Dub)
4 – Shana – Uyangichomela (Ralf GUM Deep Mix)
5 – Blackcoffee feat. Bucie – Turn Me On (Raw Artistic Soul Vocal Dub)
6 – Ralf GUM feat. Diamondancer – All This Love For You (Ralf GUM Original Mix)
7 – Sequential Soul – Breath Deeper (Ralf GUM & Benny Pecoraio’s 4 Ears Vocal)
8 – Ralf GUM feat. Monique Bingham – Kissing Strangers (Ralf GUM & CrisP Original Club Mix)
9 – Andy Compton feat. Kafele – Above the Sky (Ralf GUM Remix)
10 – Raw Artistic Soul feat. Ursula Rucker – The Light (Main Mix)
11 – Raw Artistic Soul – Nawella (Main Mix)
12 – Raw Artistic Soul feat. Wunmi – Oya O (Main Mix)

FRANCE 24 VIDEO:  Guinea’s Power Struggle

In this edition: President Moussa Dadis Camara that seized power a year ago was shot and injured by renegade presidential guards in the capital. The West African state of Guinea is facing fresh turmoil. How will the international community and African Union react?

Click here to view the video.

If you love grilled Chicken and corn, Nando’s Peri-Peri: Home of the Original Peri-Peri Sauces is the place. They refer to it as grilled PERi-PERi Chicken.

I, first discovered the place when I used to live in London in 2003. I was so surprised to find them here in D.C. Their China town branch opened less than 2 years ago. But, their Dupont Circle branch just about 6 month ago. Their food is fantastic and very affordable. I attended their opening. Eat like a pig for free with a few friends

The Chain was born in late 80’s in South Africa, They are in about 34 countries on five continents around the world. Their Chickens are fresh and not frozen, marinated for 24 hours in their PERi-PERi sauce. They grill it over an open flame to reduce fat content.

You can choose your heat — there are many ways to enjoy their chicken. Whether it be flame-grilled to order or as a breast fillet in a Portuguese roll, toasted pitta or wrap, you get to choose the baste to your own taste, whether that be lemon & herb for the less spicy option, medium for the more adventurous or hot and extra hot for the real daredevils!

As part of a well balanced diet it’s just as tasty as on a reckless uncontrolled binge! Flame-grilling the chicken means it loses lots of its fat. Their menu provides a varied choice of healthy and super delicious options which makes eating out healthily easy.

There are also plenty of alternatives to chicken. They offer steak Sandwich, Portobello Mushroom & Halloumi Cheese, Chicken Livers, Veggie Burgers & Pittas , and Wide Range of Salads.

Here is their Ad in Australian TV which I am sure it is band here in America. It is HOT!!! Nando’s Double Breasted Burgers

Here are a few pics of their food:
:

SHEESH!! A girl can’t even be in a movie with out people bit*cin about it SMH. According to FreddyO.com a union group in South Africa is protesting Jennifer Hudson playing Winnie Mandela in the upcoming biography based on the ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela. According to sources the Creative Workers Union of South Africa said using foreign actors to tell the country’s stories undermined efforts to develop the national film industry, according to the AFP.

“It can’t happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports,” the union’s president Mabutho Sithole said in The Citizen newspaper.“This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now,” union secretary general Oupa Lebogo said in The Times. “If the matter doesn’t come up for discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film.”

WWWOOOOOSSHHHHH and they say that all Black people are the same LIES I tell you LIES.

My book I’m OK—You’re Not has received its share of reviews. I like the ones that praise the book; I often agree with points in the ones I don’t. But I love the one below. It’s translated via Google from a South African blog called Emergenbracken. (Thanks, Ken R. for sending this to me.) Here it is:

In a sense, this is not a typical book on evangelism is not. Inherent to our current era of deconstruction, John Shore hoist the presumptions that lives in the minds of (mostly) evangelical, American Christians. Not only does he not questioned, he also provides thoughtful alternatives to the strooipoppe his essay.

But what trade I’m OK – You’re Not? John Shore’s kernbetoog is that Christians’ behavior towards non-Christians cycle with hovaardigheid and liefdeloosheid. We are so plagued with the great commission (Matt 28) that we completely forget the great commandment (Matt. 22). And if one merely semantic terms to see, have a commandment greater urgency than a job. Although he is not opposed to evangelism is not, John Shore felt that American Christians should realize that everyone in their large country gospel at least once heard said, and therefore has a choice exercised. The time has arrived to unbelievers, especially with respect and love to treat, not as projects that can be depreciated if they reject verlossingsboodskap not.

Shore offers ten reasons why unbelievers skeptical about Christians and their witness. He said:

• They think Christians are emotionally blasé;
• They think Christians are intellectually immature;
• They believe Christians have problems with their sexuality;
• They think Christians are biased and selfvoldaan;
• They think Christians are hypocritical;
• They think Christians are emotionally unavailable;
• They think Christians are desperate to convert anyone;
• They think all Christians are FANATIES;
• They believe Christians have a poor kleresmaak;
• They know they do not respect Christians.

The good book because the author is humorous. Indeed, he is continuously filled full of good wit. Sometimes people lose their sense of humor, but then you do not clean snap the point he tried to make it. I have also found a strong argument that he makes against evangelical Americans, who all know what they are trying to bring repentance, slightly odd to me more about Reformed fall. It’s not because I mean no difference, it’s rather my experience that South Afrikaans Christians are more reserved about how our faith with others as our American geloofsgenote. Above all his specific arguments are often more applicable to South Afrikaans Christians from the Holy Spirit comes movements: It sometimes comes before or anyone who they do not share their particular beliefs, to be considered justifiable sendingobjekte.

What have I learned I’m OK – You’re Not? Enormously: Love dealing with people, I mean that they will unconditionally accept all of them dancing in their early morning or Adams Evaspakke around burning candles in a garden. To people of Jesus to tell, it means that I will respect any decision, even though I think it is way to hell about it. Evangelism is not a single project—for people with Jesus’ love to serve, I suppose that would be their friend, even though they did not share my faith. And that I will remain their friend.

Eventually I also learned we should not be too serious about life. It’s good to have your own religious beliefs sometimes with a knypie salt vat!

(A knypie of salt vat! Ah, good times. You can view the original here, though maybe not since I think it might come up all hinky on your screen.)

**********************************************************************************************************

Follow: http://twitter.com/johnshore
Befriend: http://www.facebook.com/john.shore1
Be Fan: http://bit.ly/3wfdb9

So I had all the best intentions when I started this blog – I was going to become a real life dedicated blogger. And then I upped and moved to London and other things took precedence. Things like not freezing to death or finding my way home after getting on the wrong bus.

But I’m a little more settled now and thought that it was high time I shared some more wisdom.

So, I thought I would let you in on a few insights about living in London (‘cos we all know we’ll all come here at some point in our lives). And nothing useful like where to get cheap seats to the theatre. Nope, things that are far more relevant. Like how to make a decent cup of tea.

Getting lost

When I first got here I was convinced that everyone knew exactly where they were going so I would try and sneak a peak at my tube map hidden in my bag in an attempt to blend in. It’ll take you just under a day to get over this. Even the most seasoned Londoners get confused. And with so many improvements taking place, half the lines get closed on weekends, so unless you want to get stranded in God-knows-where – use a map.  Just remember the rule: nothing makes you stand out as a tourist more than a brand new AtoZ. So mess yours up a bit.

A cuppa

Tea in the UK is tricky. You would think that being the home of tea, this would be THE place to have a cuppa. Apparently not. Think weak and with a gross oily film on top thanks to the hard London water. Solution? Twinings English Breakfast Tea, trust  me – you will never look back. And the method: milk, bag and then the hot water. I know I know, the idea of seeing your tea bag float in the milk is revolting, but it’s worth it. No oily film and a perfect cuppa every time.

Getting peeved with the bus

I arrived here with a huge South African chip on my shoulder. (cue indignant voice) “How dare Londoners complain about the buses/postal system/tubes? At least they have a working tube system! Etc etc etc. But you’ll be surprised how quickly you get used to said working system and how peeved you get when said system doesn’t work. Like when my closest bus that is due every 4-6 minutes consistently just doesn’t arrive for 5 days in a row. I earned my right to complain. And the right to whine that I now have to walk to the tube instead. Take that 266.

Be prepared

Contrary to popular belief, the sun does shine in the UK. But don’t be fooled. That actually means that it is colder than ever. Something about clouds having an insulating and warming factor blah blah. But anyway, do not make my mistake. Sunshine does not equal warmth. So, past July, always take your jacket. And your gloves. And a scarf. And maybe a hat too. And an umbrella. And maybe a spare pair of slipper socks just in case.

2for1

No matter where you go you will be inundated with two for one deals or ever 3for1 in some places. And it is super easy to fall into that trap. I mean, why wouldn’t you bring home 3 tubes of Pringles – you got 2 free, think of how much money you saved! But really… did you need Pringles in the first place?? (they are the chips with the highest fat content in the UK by the way). Take a look around, the 3for1 deals are never on useful things like bread, milk or bacon. So, be brave and say no. You can do it.

You’re Australian

Give in. No one knows what a South African sounds like. They will always think you are Australian and then backtrack hastily to try and explain their mistake. Don’t get offended and just enjoy their discomfort.

See you in the UK soon! x

In its election manifesto the ANC promised to fight against corruption within ‘the state and the private sector’.

But President Zuma hauled back on that promise.

In his state of the nation address he said the commitment had always been to fight corruption in the public service. With the lessons of Polokwane apparently still fresh in the minds of all the big players in government, rooting out corruption of the kind that inflates the bank accounts of ANC leaders and finances party coffers is a political minefield no one, not even President Zuma, would dare to venture into.

Rather take the safer option, the public service sector which everyone is raging at. Poor service delivery because of local government corruption and incompetence is the reason for the discontent that has swept through the country in a world record number of protests during the past two to three years. People will not tolerate any longer the lack of proper water, sanitation, health, social and housing services.

If government can succeed in rooting out corruption and incompetence in the public service sector it will win for itself the renewed confidence of the people.

But without first tackling political corruption it will be difficult to root out bureaucratic corruption because those politicians tasked with accomplishing it will have no moral authority over civil servants.

They would have to say to them, ‘Don’t do as I do — just do as I say.’ It leaves the ANC government between a rock and a hard place.

“I question your judgment.” This used to be something my mother would say to me. Well maybe not always, maybe specifically when I was eighteen years old and working at the Dockside Seafood Bar and Grill. An air conditioning repairman with manly air conditioning repairman hands kept coming in during my quiet afternoon shift for coffee. I liked our conversations.

One day, as I cleared his table, I saw he left a note for me on the butcher paper. In a tiny, meticulous pen he gave me his phone number. I forgot what else he said. I know there was a whole paragraph and I was charmed. Maybe I blushed as I stood there in my dirty waitress apron reading it.

What I remember most about my time spent with him occurred in his apartment. He swooped me into his arms, cradled me in his lap and kissed me. I loved being swooped. I was at the age where I didn’t have a sense of a good person with whom to share such a peak moment. And so I shared it with my mom.

“I question your judgment.” That’s where this line came in. And the questioning was due to the fact that I went to his apartment without knowing him that well. He was much older than I and had a kid. Interestingly, the air conditioning repairman also questioned my judgment. He had aspirations to be a cop and was safety conscious.

I’m not eighteen anymore and my mom’s opinion of my judgment has changed, but I still have this mom character in my head that still questions my judgment. The voice of this mom character was certainly activated as I poised to click on that CraigsList link.

Click.

I found a respectful posting. It was written in a low key, non threatening style. The poster offered just what I wanted – to watch two guys having oral sex. I wrote: If you haven’t yet found a match, I’m interested to know more. Soon I was on the phone with a guy.

My first impression was that he stuttered. This made him human; I knew he was nervous to speak to me. Beyond the stutter I heard an adorable accent. South African. First of all, I must know – is he bisexual? He explains he likes women and is not bi. His excitement has to do with the woman finding the scenario erotic. Perfect! I like how this South African thinks.

I learn that he doesn’t have a guy in mind to suck his cock. I’m shocked. What exactly is he proposing? Clyde (the South African) suggests we post on CraigsList to find the other guy. He has done this once before and it actually worked out well. I was riveted by the story. After a few good phone conversations, I felt comfortable meeting Clyde.

We chose to meet at the American Chicken Café. Why? Because it’s public, well lit, convenient, friendly, safe and normal. It was after work on a Tuesday evening. I was both excited and nervous, freshly showered in jeans and a t-shirt. I arrived on time; he was early. Clyde was clean cut, and extremely quick witted. So am I. He was friend material! What a wacky jackpot.

I brought my computer, we connected to the internet and together we wrote a post. We were both meticulous writers and this becomes the strangest experience. I am co-writing a post with this stranger to have an unusual erotic encounter with another stranger. The synapses of my brain are exploding, my paradigm is being forever yanked in a new direction.

As the hours go by in this first meeting, I become so high, so fizzy with joy that it becomes a challenge to drive safely. Clyde has suggested that we leave the Chicken Café and head for a Starbucks. “Better ambiance for our purposes,” he explained.

Once situated at Starbucks, we checked responses to our post every few minutes. We were getting the usual fake spam responses. And a few real ones. You wouldn’t believe how many people will send a picture of just their hard cocks. Very nice, thank you, but if you please we’d like to see your face. We are very proper Clyde and I. We question the judgment of the cock photo senders and dismiss them immediately. We want someone who has some common sense.

It’s getting late and I’m feeling a little hung over from being so high for so long. We want an adventure, but where’s our third? I feel comfortable enough with Clyde by now to invite him to my place. In a pinch we decide that having sex with just the two of us would still be an adventure. And it was.

Clyde and I would certainly be meeting again to plan an adventure. Thank you CraigsList for bringing me a playmate.

South Africans are amongst a group of mercenaries working for Guinea’s military junta, according to security sources and copies of emails seen by Reuters on Friday.

A spokesman for Camara on Friday denied the junta had hired South Africans to train a militia but said Israeli nationals were training recruits for undefined tasks.

S.Africans are among Guinea mercenaries: sources | Top News | Reuters
“DAKAR (Reuters) – South Africans are amongst a group of mercenaries working for Guinea’s military junta, according to security sources and copies of emails seen by Reuters on Friday.

The bulk of them have been sent to the West African nation by Dubai-based businessmen, the sources said. As well as military training, their job is to ensure the arrival of arms acquired by the junta from Ukraine in defiance of an arms embargo.

Guinea’s military regime is facing international sanctions and demands that it hand over power to civilian rule after a September 28 crackdown on opposition protesters in which witnesses said more than 150 people were killed and women were raped.

South Africa announced this week it was checking reports that its nationals have been hired to train a force for Guinea’s junta, and there have been separate reports that Israelis and Ukrainians are involved in helping the government.

“They couldn’t get enough people to do the job, so that is why there is a mix of people doing the job,” said Henri Boshoff, a military analyst who served in the South African army, citing information in intelligence circles.

“(The South Africans) were very desperate. They are not being very well paid.”

Two security sources also said that South Africans were currently in Guinea.

“There are definitely South Africans and they don’t seem too shy,” said one source with contacts in Guinea’s private security sector, adding they had been hired to train a militia loyal to junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara at a former U.N. refugee camp in Guinea’s east.

A spokesman for Camara on Friday denied the junta had hired South Africans to train a militia but said Israeli nationals were training recruits for undefined tasks.

A copy of one email seen by Reuters and purporting to come from a Dubai-based company called Omega Strategic Services on October 9 finalised arrangements for their arrival in Guinea on a flight from Johannesburg.

“When you arrive in Guinea … our director of operations, will either meet you at the airport or arrange for you to be picked up and brought to the client site,” said the e-mail copy.

When contacted by Reuters, Omega declined to comment.

A second security source with knowledge of the arrangement said the South Africans had also been tasked with ensuring $45 million of light arms recently bought by the junta in Ukraine arrived safely.”

The AP in Johannesburg reports that the South African sports ministry says 800 world champion Caster Semenya will keep her gold medal.

Caster Semenya has been under humiliating public scrutiny for several months now, when it was made public that the gold medal winning world champion female runner was suspected of having been born with male sex organs and had an unusual amount of testosterone for an actual woman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex

Caster was forced to take a gender test, and the alledged test results were leaked, and falsely reported internationally.The leaked results stated that Caster was rumored to have been proven to be a male, and a female at the same time.The report of the results were confusing at best.

The actual results of the gender test will remain closed and confidential, saving Caster from any more intimate public scrutiny,it is truly the right thing to do in this case.

The South African sports ministry pushed the IAAF to keep the recent gender test results strictly between patient and doctor. Once the IAAF agreed, the ministry announced today the confidentiality and urged South Africans and media to please respect Semenya’s privacy.

She will also be allowed to keep the prize money winnings she earned in August at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in where she won the gold medal by blowing out the competition. That is where suspicion grew about her actual gender, based on her deep voice, and muscular build.

A quote reported in the Huffington Post explains the Caster Semenya’s gender qualifications test situation as follows….

She was tested for not being female enough even though the kind of conditions required to disqualify a self-identified girl from competing in boys sports are quite extreme. In fact, according to the IAAF’s own policy document on gender verification (2006), women can compete even if they are genetically male:

Conditions that should be allowed: (a) Those conditions that accord no advantage over other females:
- Androgen insensitivity syndrome (Complete or almost complete – previously called testicular feminization);
- Gonadal dysgenesis (gonads should be removed surgically to avoid
malignancy);
- Turner’s syndrome.

As well, athletes who choose to have sex changes are permitted to continue to compete in sport as long as they have completed a mandatory number of months in hormone therapy…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-rubysachs/semenyas-struggle-teaches_b_363668.html

I did not know that there were rules that governed intersex athletes in international sports, but, given that they do exist, and some may excel in sports, I think that the International Sports authorities have shown some proactive leadership in specifying the qualifications for the intersex athlete around the world.

The official ruling clears Caster Semenya and the South African Sports association of any wrongdoing, or malicious intent, like the violations of doping and steroid abuse that seems to be so prevalent among international athletes covering a wide range of sports.

I personally look forward to Caster continuing in her chosen field of sport, and I am sure that she will continue to set new world records, and represent her country well in the coming Olympics, should she choose to compete.

For more information on the life and times of world champion runner Caster Semenya, please follow this link…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caster_Semenya

I’ve certainly been busy since the last time I posted something! Where to begin with what I’ve been doing?

Well, for starters, I was given the chance to act in a college film. I was there for 8 hours of filming, and I only acted for about 2 hours at most in it. But, it was fun anyway. I learned that my college does not have digital video cameras. We have the 16mm film cameras (the first design to have a zoom button!). I learned that actors need to find a way to keep themselves entertained between scenes. There is a short period of movement and action, accompanied by long moments of nothing.

An interesting note about this filming experience was that I was nearly arrested. Our director had found ‘the perfect spot’ to film the movie. (I will be saying ‘our’ and ‘we’ because there were about 5 or 6 people working on this film every moment I was there.) So, we all crammed into the pack of gum he calls a car and went off to this dirt lot on a fairly busy road next to a liquor store. (Needless to say, my claustrophobe self was more than happy to get out of the car.) Now, the story has a homeless man in it. So, one of our actors set himself up as a homeless man. We were recording for about an hour before the liquor store owner came out. Man, the owner was seriously P.O.ed. He was angry because we were recording a ‘bum around his establishment.’ Our director told him that his store wasn’t on the film. We couldn’t prove it to the owner because we were using the old 16mm film. He said that we had to prove to him his store wasn’t in the film, or he was going to call the police to arrest us. We didn’t want to get into trouble with the police, and we couldn’t prove to him that his store wasn’t in the film, so we had to leave. It really orally evacuated that we had to move. That dirt lot was an awesome place to shoot, and was better than the place we had to go to film the movie.

I saw Celtic Thunder when they came to San Diego! They were only here for one night, but it was a beautiful night. I fell deeper into love, had my heart broken, and fell in love with them all over again. I’m convinced that only a Celtic Man can pull such emotions from me. I had so much fun. I couldn’t hear properly for a day (due to my own screaming), and my throat was a bit sore from the event for about 5 days after they event. I can’t wait for them to come back to San Diego, though. I just hope that I can get better seats next time!

I also had the chance to see The Lion King in the theatre!  Alright, I had nosebleed seats (what do you expect for $28?), but I still saw it!  I took my aunt with me to the show, as she’s never been in the audience of a theatre, only on stage.  She, for some reason, wasn’t as impressed with everything as I was.  She was expecting the actors to be in more of an animal-looking costume.  We had the chance to go with the Director behind the scenes of The Lion King.  I learned so much information from there.  Apparently, there is 2 of everything for the traveling show.  There were two traveling shows in the USA, and when it became 1 show, that show ended up with both sets of props, costumes, and equipment.  The show I saw had the most South Africans  then any other Lion King show being played in the world.  6.  6 South Africans in the USA Touring Show.  That doesn’t seem like a lot to me, but it appearently takes at least that many to keep everyone in the show on track!  There are about 5 differnt African languages spoken in the show, which I found to be fascinating.  The one spoken the most is Zulu.

On the school front, I have been working on two group projects, a midterm, and a couple of essays. I think that my group projects are going well. One is going to be a Civic Engagement speech on the Ugandan Children, and the other is 10 minute play for my Theatre class. Our play is going to be a comedy of the LA judge that refused to marry an interracial couple. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s an article about it on CBN News.) I think that my midterm went well – it was in math. I hope that I passed it! I need all the good grades I can get in that class.

I’ll probably be putting the theatre project and play up onto Youtube when I get a copy of them. I’ll post the links/put the video on here when I get the chance to.

Well, now that I’m done telling you all about my life, I’m off to do some school work. Group projects really take all possibilities of having a life away from you.

Brightest Blessings,
Sockgirl

Below is a 10 minute video clip from a 1997 Journeyman Pictures documentary on South African mercenaries called, “The War Business.”  Understanding why Guinea would hire mercenaries and what mercenaries have to gain from “working” in resource-rich countries should be enlightening regarding the current situation in Guinea.

Here is background on the documentary from the film makers:

from Journeyman Pictures

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Need to make a wedding toast?  For those of us who have’t yet signed up for last minute toastmasters – we’ve compiled a list of great wedding toasts from all around the web to help you get started!

Toasts to the bride and groom:

“Congratulations on the termination of your isolation and may I express an appreciation of your determination to end the desperation and frustration which has caused you so much consternation in giving you the inspiration to make a combination to bring about an accumulation to the population.”.

“May your children be blessed with rich parents.”

“May your love be added, may it never be subtracted, may your household multiply, and may your hearts never be divided!”

“(while placing the groom’s hand over his bride’s)  “Remember this moment and cherish it, (groom’s name)… because this will be the last time you’ll ever have the upper hand!”

“May a flock of blessings light upon thy back”. (Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet)

“Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married.  May your love blossom through all of life’s seasons.”

Wedding toasts from bride to groom or groom to bride:

“I have known many, Liked not a few, Loved only one. I toast to you.”

“Never above you. Never below you. Always beside you.  Here’s to you.” – Walter Winchell

“Wherever I roam, whatever realms I see, my heart un-traveled fondly turns to thee.   Here’s to you” – Oliver Goldsmith

“I love you more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.  Here’s to you, my love.” – Angela Gerardi

Wedding Toasts to the bridesmaids:

“We admire them for their beauty, respect them for their intelligence, adore them for their virtues, and love them because we can’t help it.”

Wedding Toast, From the Parents of the Bride and Groom

“When children find true love, parents find true joy. Here’s to your joy and ours, from this day forward.”

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Some of these quotes were borrowed from the following websites.  Visit them to find more wedding toasts:

About.com

Your wedding 101

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