In Impressing- Entertainment and lifestyle we have Genesis looking at talent in South Africa, Motlalepula rounding up the football leagues that are wrapping up their seasons while Thabisile looks at breast cancer in relation the recent news that Angelina Jolie opted for a preventative double mastectomy.

In Impression- My Diary we have Daniel looking at studying for exams where he shares tips on finding a method that works for you.

Finally in In Press- Research we have Joan looking at the intensity of New Media.

Enjoy it and stay well,

Viraj

South Africa. A country established under diverse cultures, religions, practices and teachings. With all these diverse phenomena, combined to create our common cultures, charismatic talent stems at the top of the list. From Sbujwa dance to Mbhaqanga music, we never fall short of forms of entertainment that solely represent South Africa.

As a South African youth, I experienced a sheer sense of pride in hearing that both Toya Delazy and Donald were nominated for the international BET awards.  These “Freshmen’’ in the South African music industry plunged into the music scene in 2012 with hit singles in heavy rotation across radio stations. However, in watching the 2013 South African Music Awards, I realized that there was a thin line between South African artist that make an international mark, as well as artists that make a break and with time, slip away into the overpopulated ocean of industry hopefuls.

While countries like The United States create platforms in which raw talent is scouted, South Africa continues to duplicate the same notions, but fails to cultivate these talented individuals into award winning sensations. We are aware of the various talents that are noticeable within the entertainment industry however; we begin to question the organisational execution of marketing, promoting as well as artist development. Some may argue quality is to blame for the lack of progress in the South African Entertainment industry. On the contrary, some feel strongly that the entertainment industry and one’s success, dwells entirely on inter-connectedness and “who knows who.”  This is the speculated point of view of many people who hope to break out into the industry. If this is the case, then to what point does talent play a role in moulding the very same artists that represent the South African population on worldwide stages?

Among some of the most recent talent search initiatives are,: South African Idols, South Africa’s got talent, Jika Majika, Battlestations as well as the Shiz Niz mixtape competition hosted annually by Shiz Niz Hip Hop show. These are some of the very few initiatives that have contributed to the spirit of artist discovery.  Apart from the prize money that some may offer, exposure as well as contracts are offered on the basis of distribution, management and even press.

Personally, I am in favour of these kinds of initiatives. They expose a fair chance to citizens of our country, to take part, promoting procedural and substantive fairness. We need to also take into account, the fact that choice of talent will ultimately determine who represents us. We therefore need to be exposed to projects that will help interact with normal people to find talent in the most veiled of places.

Music channels alike, fail to incorporate the ideas of a diverse entertainment. Initiatives will help the audience feel as though their input and votes count in any instance. First world countries continue to support and develop the multi-dimensional spheres of entertainment. American projects continue to be of influence to fans around the world while African bred artists are rarely noticed.

The truth is that South Africa needs to be able to place itself on an international scale where artists are purely accepted openly in the eyes of the public while also being able to support the South African culture musically and in terms of everyday realities. Many talents remain lost due to the lack of resources and development schemes in our countries. The basic solution would be to implement initiatives that will cater to discovering the best talent that South Africa offer regardless of ones societal or class status. In this, we will begin to feel more confident in the talent that our country has to offer.- Gigi LaMayne

Despite ending the season poorly with only one win in their last six games, maximum points accumulated from the start of the season proved to be enough for Kaizer Chiefs to see them clinching their third league title since the inception of the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The Amakhosi, as they are affectionately known, were deserved winners as they topped the log throughout the 2012/2013 season under the guidance of former Bafana Bafana mentor, Stuart Baxter, who made history by becoming the first foreign coach to win a PSL title in his maiden season. Chiefs were officially crowned the champions over the weekend despite their 1-0 loss to PSL rookies Amatuks, who impressively booked their place in the next season’s MTN 8 knockout competition. The main winners were, however, the boys from Naturena who won the coveted trophy for the first time since the 2004/2005 season. Chiefs coach was visibly a delighted man, and paid tribute to his players, especially the captain, for fighting, showing hunger and dedication throughout the season.

Kaizer Chiefs this season under the catchphrase ‘Reclaiming The Glory’ arguably had their best stint in the PSL in a long time. Considering that they can win a double having to play Supersport United in the Nedbank cup final this weekend, what makes it even more worth bragging and celebratory for the Amakhosi faithful’s is that they have ‘reclaimed their glory’ by dethroning bitter rivals Orlando Pirates who surrendered all their trophies won in the past two seasons and could only finish the league in a disappointing third spot. They would, however, find solace in their impressive CAF Champions League run.

Looking elsewhere, Stuart Baxter’s fellow countryman Sir Alex Ferguson ended his 27 years illustrious career on a high note when Manchester United overwhelmingly claimed their 20^th English Premier League title with a provisional 10 points gap over defending champions Manchester City. Ferguson (71) who has been United’s manager since 1986, won 13 league titles, two Champions Leagues, the Cup Winners’ Cup, five FA Cups and four League Cups making him arguably the best and most respected manager in modern football era. Joining the list of legends retiring from the game is Ferguson’s employee Paul Scholes (38) and former employee David Beckham (38) who also went out triumphantly, and became the only English player to win championships in four countries, after his French side Paris Saint German (PSV) became the sixth club to win ‘Ligue 1’ in the past six seasons.

In Spain, Barcelona, as expected, won the ‘La Liga’ title with three games to play following their unassailable ten points lead over Real Madrid who finished the season with no trophy to show for it. This will go a long way in consoling the European giants after their disastrous semi-final exit in the UEFA champions league following their 7-0 aggregate humiliation suffered at the hands of Germany giants Bayern Munich, who on the other hand, claimed their 23^rd title in the ‘Bundesliga’ with a whopping and record breaking 22 points gap over defending champions and Champions league finalist Borrusia Dortmund. The finale however in German soccer proves to be the UEFA Champions League final, which will see the German giants Borrusia Dortmund and Bayern Munich battling it out for the most prestigious club competition in the world.

Holistically, it was a very interesting football season. However, it can be argued that it lacked some elements of competitiveness. Kaizer Chiefs officially claimed the league with a game to spare, and that is something South Africans are not really familiar with considering the thrilling climax evident in the past few seasons. The points gap alluded above in the top European league sums up the one sided affair witnessed in the 2012/2013 season. Perhaps one might argue that it was not necessarily a matter of lack of quality display from other clubs, but rather the champions were better prepared and more determined to win. This is especially the case because of the fact that all the teams mentioned who have won the league in their respective countries had to dethrone their bitter rivals, which undoubtedly set for a thrilling 2013/2014. In the end, it is only fair to congratulate all the Champions as we anticipate the new season with high expectations.

“Life is more precious than boobs”

News that the famous and gorgeous Angelina Jolie had recently undergone a double mastectomy sent shock waves throughout many media platforms. Angelina Jolie, one of the most beautiful Hollywood actresses, took a special and rare breast cancer test that can tell one their probability of getting breast cancer in the future. After having her breasts checked it was found that she carries a gene that makes her more likely to suffer from breast and ovarian cancer. This links to her genetics as her mother died at the age of 56 after fighting cancer for a long time.The results from the test Angelina Jolie undertook stated that she had an 87% chance of getting breast cancer in later stages in her life. From hearing this shocking news, the Hollywood bombshell decided she would undergo a mastectomy,  which is the process of removing both breasts. Angelina Jolie stated that it would be better to get her breasts removed than for her six children to lose their mother.

The particular breast check test Jolie took is supposedly very costly, and cost a whopping sum of $4000 which is over R30000 After Jolie underwent the mastectomy she had breast implant surgery, which would have also proven to be quite costly. For Hollywood stars such as Jolie, the cost of such procedures is not a problem, but for an ordinary woman surviving on a budget, it is an unattainable goal.

Breast cancer is the most invasive cancer in women all over the world. Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that develops from breast cells. The breast is made up of billions of microscopic cells, which multiply and new cells are made to replace the ones that die. In the case of breast cancer these cells grow uncontrollably and there ends up being more cells than there should be. Young women are advised to check their breasts for symptoms such as a lump in the breast. If one feels a lump they should immediately have it checked to determine whether it is cancerous or not. Other signs include skin dimpling, a rash around the nipple area, a clear or bloody fluid leaking out of the nipple and changes in the colour and the texture of the breast.

Professor Elna McIntosh, a South African sexologist and activist on the Cancer Association of South Africa stated on an eNCA report that she has been fighting cancer for years and it is not necessary for all women to undergo a mastectomy because one can still survive after fighting breast cancer. In a country such as ours one should note that not everyone can afford to have a mastectomy done and let alone a special test that can predict whether one can have breast cancer in future. Most of these options undertaken by Angelina Jolie cannot be compared to those a lower to middle class South African woman will take. It is however important to be aware of the realities at hand. Learning about the disease, signs, symptoms, treatment and the rest is important for us all.

With exams just around the corner (for some of us only mere days away), this is when the frantic last minute exam preparations begin. With exam time comes that unfortunate period of time that I am quite sure our bodies dread – the endless sleepless nights spent poring over endless slide after slide of lectures and page after page of text.  It’s a time that most of us often let go of our bodies and overall health in pursuit of that good grade by pumping ourselves full of energy drinks and copious amounts of coffee, unaware of the grievous harm we will be doing to ourselves.  Often letting our nerves get the best of us, our bodies end up at the receiving end of the stick, doing ourselves a disservice.  A healthy body makes for a healthy mind; I hope you will find this ad hoc exam lifestyle guide helpful.

I’m awfully wary of energy drinks (though that doesn’t stop me from using them every now and then). Nothing reminds me of the danger of energy drinks like one episode from my favourite T.V show, The Inbetweeners, where one of the characters, Will, goes mental on energy drinks while studying and ends up soiling himself in an exam (Disclaimer: energy drinks obviously will not result in one having a bathroom disaster in an exam). But they have been proven to be quite unhealthy. The average energy drink contains close to 2 or 3 amounts of caffeine as compared to a cup of coffee.  Like coffee, they can dehydrate you if you take too much of them.  The same goes for coffee. Drinking too much of it will also dehydrate you.  Although both coffee and energy drinks are somewhat effective when it comes to keeping one awake and allowing frantic students to push through those late nights, they can create an undesirable cycle of having too much energy to fall asleep which, is followed by very late nights, tired mornings and a habit to repeat the cycle with more caffeine.

Not to worry, there are however some brilliant “healthier” methods of going about studying. There is obviously getting enough sleep, drinking loads of water (very important), eating balanced meals and snacks. The first would be giving oneself constant breaks every thirty minutes or so and using them to exercise (pretty much knock yourself out, jumping jacks, harlem shake, squats, anything that takes your fancy), physical activity will keep you awake.  I find using yoga breathing techniques in conjunction with physical activity helps a great deal. Food is a bit tricky. Stuffing yourself full on carbohydrates before a study session will soon enough slow you down and probably send you to sleep.  The same goes for drinks with high sugar content. Instead opt for fruits and a lot of protein.

Studying while listening to music works for some and does not for others; I personally find that it helps me concentrate longer. I find jazz, house and anything without any words particularly helpful. Songs with words will often result you in trying to decode the meaning and that is not very helpful while studying. It is important that you set up some form of routine and make studying second nature. Some of us work better at night right into the wee hours of the morning, for some it’s during the day. Find out what works for you. I cannot over emphasise the importance of resting when studying though. Short naps after every few hours of studying will keep you on top of your game. However it is also important to manage time while studying, if you can, make a schedule for your study sessions and hopefully stick to it. Make sure to allocate more time to those units that you find challenging. Be organised and have everything you need for your revisions with you beforehand. That way you will not waste time looking for that book you lent to your mate. I have heard of even more bizarre tips on keeping alert when studying from rubbing the back of your hands between your thumb and index finger; pulling down on the earlobes and massaging the back of your knees; face wash to even rubbing Vicks under the nose.

Contrary to popular belief, studying does not have to be a boring affair. One way to make It fun and effective is to study in groups with friends. This is not only fun but could help you gain a new perspective on some topics that you might have been struggling with. These discussion groups do not have to be in person. Skype , Whatsapp and BBM are particularly helpful in this regard.  Over the years I have also found mind maps to be very effective while studying. Create a study technique that suits you. Some work well with just slides and texts with little or no note taking, others rely on notes. If you use notes, especially on your computer make sure to back them up or store them online. This makes for easy sharing if you are discussing in groups. I would recommend a particular software called Xmind for those of you who are keen on mind maps. Above all, make sure to constantly test yourself on the stuff you are reading. Remember the key is not just to read but to learn.

The most important thing left is keeping a positive and focused mindset.

Are there any study tips, techniques or tricks you would want to share? Please comment below if you do, cheers and all the best in the exams.

Over the past years, the concept of media has been evolving by new technologies. Having said that then, the concept of new media may not necessarily mean that “it’s new” but rather new technologies are being fused with the so-called traditional media. New media then refers to the demand of content, anywhere anytime on digital devices which then allows participation and interactive feedback. For example, the Internet can influence users to be active participants and at the same time be interactive with other users despite geographical location. With the introduction of smart phones, people are now able to do a lot of things without leaving their homes. This includes online shopping and banking amongst other things. The new media technologies have allowed a certain range of things to be done by users without leaving their comfortable spaces.

Following the news of BlackBerry introducing its own application BlackBerry Messaging to other platforms like Android and iOS, this has proved how intense the development of new media has been and continues to be.With this development of the application being on different cell phone brands, BlackBerry will make an even greater profit and obviously attract many users. BBM the key operating application of the smart phone has raised a lot of eyebrows, with many critics arguing how this will improve the falling brand of BlackBerry. However, the CEO Thorsten Heins has noted on Tuesday after the announcement that this move will be crucial to the development of the brand. This is as an obvious attempt to remain relevant in the mobile phone game by attracting larger numbers of users both within and outside the Blackberry user group. The smart phone with its BlackBerry Internet Service has allowed users to constantly use this operating system without the need to spend a lot of money. Then again this move does not mean that it will work because judging from the way people have been complaining about the brand, a lot of people will most likely to shift and still utilize the BBM application on other phones and so forth.

New media and all its advances has allowed such a move to be possible. We have and continue to see how new media allows different media forms to come together to either create a greater amount of users or to innovate. Media consumption has, with the influence of new media proved to be growing every day.  However, there are limitations of new media in that some people are unable to access these technologies based on numerous constraints. But then again, as significant these new technologies are, they also have negative constraints.  All in all to the lucky individuals that have access to the luxuries that are new media technologies, seek balance and enjoy.

In Express- Current affairs we have Joan looking at the recent scandals surrounding the use of political icons in Politics in South Africa, Nadia looking at approaches to education and Thabisile looking at the recent Gupta wedding scandal that took place in South Africa.

In Impression- My Diary we have Abdul looking at issues that emerge when choosing to get a tattoo. We also have Ntombifuthi who shares some tips on how to successfully navigate the exam period.

Finally in Impressing- Entertainment and lifestyle we have Daniel looking at the power given to the South African television audience, Genesis looking at the disease grandiose delusion while Sharney looks at a recent YOU magazine cover that caused quite a stir.

Enjoy it until next week,

Viraj

Former president Nelson Mandela was in the news in the past weeks because of his ailing health. Shortly after he returned home after his most recent stay in hospital the South African audience was invited into his home by the SABC. The broadcaster followed a political delegation headed by President Jacob Zuma who paid the former president a visit. The message that the delegation and broadcaster alike tried to sell was that former president Mandela was “alive and well.” Shying away from public life, the video feature offered a rare glimpse of the former president. However, as an overall reaction to the incident, the South African public were outraged by the whole incident. Social media users, especially Twitter, argued that the man looked frail and it was therefore not necessary for him to appear on camera. Many thus felt that the ANC were forcing him to appear on camera for their own gain.  Personally, I do think that this was some sort of a publicity stunt by the ANC, using the man’s presence to perhaps win the public over? It is always the case with the ANC and political parties in general, to use something or someone for publicity.

The visit, monitored by Mandela’s medical team, saw those around him laughing and chatting while Mandela was sitting quietly on the chair covered by a blanket. Some even took pictures, where the bright flash of the camera disturbed his eyes forcing him to quickly close them for a moment. This seemed completely unacceptable. The man should be left alone to rest, as his healthy is unstable.

The South African public seemed sceptical after the reports, video and pictures were released. However, chaos around fromer president Mandela is not new. Earlier it emerged that various media institutions in the country had planned various details about the former presidents’ funeral and how they would cover it.

Similarly, the Democratic Alliance, an oppositional party in the country was also accused of using a former icon for publicity. The oppositional party was criticised for using Helen Suzman and Nelson Mandela for the so called publicity when they unveiled a poster in which they appeared together. It seems clear that the now political leaders are using former political leaders to their advantages.

In the case of Nelson mandela it appears that various people are disturbing his peace. For now, they should let the man rest. After such sacrifices he has done politically for the country, it is only fair. Some reports emphasise how some people were happy that the man they honour is doing well even after several visits to the hospital. The ANC should just let the man out of the political “playground” because he has done his part for the country.

Does success in the school system correlate to success in life? And is getting that D symbol an indication for future failure?

On December 2, a Spoken Word artist by the name of Suli Breaks posted a video titled “Why I hate School but love Education.” This particular work of art- as Breaks points out in the description of his video- pays homage to Jefferson Betke’s viral video “Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus.”

Within the controversial irony, Breaks explores the contrast between school and education in which he questions the true value of mainstream schooling and how is it that some of the most rich and successful global figures such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have not completed any form of post-secondary education. In his now viral video, which has close to 3 million views, the British-Ghanaian poet encourages students to ask themselves whether qualifications still carry the same value as they did in their parents’ generation and most importantly to look at what is true education.

Having sparked global debate, it is quite easy to misinterpret the essence of what Breaks is attempting to communicate in his heartfelt expression. He isn’t saying, “don’t go to school” or “don’t work hard because it’s pointless.” What he is saying is that our school system is flawed and needs to be fixed as it focuses more on “information retention and regurgitation” as opposed to how well one can actually learn and nurture their own particular abilities. The gist of “Why I Hate School but Love Education” communicates that most education systems fail to prepare us for what is out there once we leave school. Instead of preparing us for adulthood, some institutions teach us how to merely pass an exam, forcing us to remember things that we will never have to use or apply again.  Therefore the message that Breaks could be hinting is for officials to fix and reform what could be a faulty substandard system.

Most importantly, the video touches on how as individuals, we are labeled and judged by how well we are able to perform in our exams when in reality, not everyone is cut out to do well academically. As a result, students are thus made out to feel dumb if they attain low symbols. On close evaluation, this concept correlates hand in hand with Albert Einstein’s quote in which he states: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid.” Society needs to acknowledge that one person’s strength could be another person’s weakness and that it is vital for students to pursue fields that complement their personal talents, abilities and interests of which may not require degree qualifications.

In actuality, students need to realize that exam results are not the barometer of their future success and that they can not allow symbols on mere pieces of paper to decide something as great as their fate. These symbols are actually just one part of a great puzzle that forms part of their journey to success.

However, it can be argued that drop out figures like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates are exceptionally talented and have capabilities most of us don’t. Furthermore, they attended prestigious schools before dropping out to pursue their remarkable inventions. This is where Breaks fails to point out that these inventions could have been initially sparked by the education that they received before actually dropping out.

For that reason it is important to conclude that education is indeed important. We cannot ignore that school is the most basic way of refining minds and sharpening logic. Although it may not measure every person’s talent and ability, it does however help us with crucial subconscious life skills such as how to manage our time effectively, how to prioritize, how to work in a team, how to socially engage with others, how to manage stress and most importantly, how to work hard.

Afterall, in the overall run, the manifestation of success is always reaped through sowing seeds of hard work. No pain, no gain.

The arrival of the Guptas for their extravagant wedding at Sun City surely caused a lot of controversy. Their arrival at the Waterkloof air base and their entry into the country without going through customs caused much alarm and eventually led to the questioning of the relationship between the Gupta family and President Zuma. As we all know birds of the same feather flock together, so I am very certain the elite will always seek to serve the interests of the elite. The Guptas are without a doubt elite individuals. They are known as the bosses of many empires including the computer company Sahara.

Entering any nation without going through the appropriate customs and immigration processes could have led to dire consequences for the national security of our country. I do not bear any grudges towards the prestigious Gupta family, but the law needs to be respected if it will concern the safety of the citizens of South Africa. Entry of individuals into the country without proper searches and procedures followed could have led to many threats to the country. That is why the necessary processes are in place when entering any country. Skipping these processes is one element of the problem, another is that fact that their private jet landed at the Waterkloof air base. The Waterkloof air base is a military air force base and if anyone has the power to overthrow this air base they might as well have the power to cause national turmoil and havoc. Wealth and power is a wonderful asset to have as long as it will not endanger innocent citizens.

According to news reports, the Gupta family had no say where the plane would land and this was an agreement between the Indian High Commission and the South African government. In essence the newly wed couple had no idea about the magnitude of their actions by landing at the air force base. When the young couple had had their wedding they left the country and South African government officials found themselves in hot water. Some officials even lost their jobs after the event and what good comes out of that in a country with extremely high unemployment rates?

Whether one agrees with the Gupta’s response to the situation or not, one thing is for sure. Better national security strategies need to be implemented in our country so as to avoid such situations from repeating themselves.

These issues have fired up South African media outlets that have been very critical about the security breach and the Gupta family in general. Many of the views expressed on this issue in the South African public sphere as been in line with the general consensus of being annoyed with the power elite have. However, quite a few individuals have used the opportunity to unmask their racist and xenophobic opinions. Many were caught saying categorically and/or insinuating that Gupta family and their guests are Indians (Indian nationals) and need to go back where they came from. Furthermore questions were even asked as to why the couple (who chose to have a destination wedding) didn’t marry in their own country. It is surprising how a single incident has led to xenophobic connotations within media debate. Thinking back to the brutal xenophobic attacks that occurred in 2008 one would think that this harsh mentality has diminished. The xenophobic attacks of 2008 were against our fellow brothers and sisters and it was mainly a situation of black on black violence, so what more should we expect in this case.

It is understandable to be angry at the abuse of power seen in this story, but surely this does not justify xenophobia and racism as in the case of the Guptas. We need to be able to separate issues.  Its high time people saw facts for the way they are and stop blaming issues on things like different ethnicities.