My first challenge was wrapping my fingers around the pen and having a firm grip on it whilst still being able to write comfortably. Then it was adjusting the angle of my book to complement my grip of the pen - which took a while; I tried having the centre of my book perfectly aligned with my body, but that restricted my left arm's movements and I thus had to compensate for that by overworking my left wrist and fingers... they got tired and so I tried a different angle; this time with the center of my book perpendicular to my body; and guess what? the opposite effect, my left arm was liberated while my left wrist and fingers' movements were restricted; the result was that my pen made erratic jerks in directions my brain didn't consent with but which were fully support by my rebellious left hand. The next logical thing to do was to find the half way mark, so I positioned the center of my book at a 45 degree angle to my body, and Voila! I had more control over my left arm's movements and could go on writing for longer before periodically resting my arm. Of course my handwriting was illegible (as not even I could make out what I wrote) but at least I wrote with my left hand for an hour and covered 1 1/8 pages. I really expected pushing a pen to be way easier than pulling it, but I was wrong; using your left hand is a skill that has to be practised, there are so many technicalities that need to be considered, it's not merely doing everything the opposite way to how you do it with your right hand - your left hand might not be comfortable with doing things that way, so you need to find what is most suitable for both your right hand and your left. You might view both arms as twins but you must treat them as individuals; they prefer it that way. After this experience of being left handed, I immediatley felt off balance when walking and uncertain as to which arm I should use when. I think my brain had become so attuned to using my left hand that it started neglecting my right hand every now and again; and i was fully conscious of this as it happened. So I had to draw the line between the two so that each hand could know its place, for small tasks like opening the fridge and pouring juice into a cup, i can use my left hand; but for bigger responsibilities, I let my more experienced right hand take its place. I thought I was right, but i guess now I'm ambidextrous.
Friday, October 30, 2009
I thought I was "RIGHT"
My first challenge was wrapping my fingers around the pen and having a firm grip on it whilst still being able to write comfortably. Then it was adjusting the angle of my book to complement my grip of the pen - which took a while; I tried having the centre of my book perfectly aligned with my body, but that restricted my left arm's movements and I thus had to compensate for that by overworking my left wrist and fingers... they got tired and so I tried a different angle; this time with the center of my book perpendicular to my body; and guess what? the opposite effect, my left arm was liberated while my left wrist and fingers' movements were restricted; the result was that my pen made erratic jerks in directions my brain didn't consent with but which were fully support by my rebellious left hand. The next logical thing to do was to find the half way mark, so I positioned the center of my book at a 45 degree angle to my body, and Voila! I had more control over my left arm's movements and could go on writing for longer before periodically resting my arm. Of course my handwriting was illegible (as not even I could make out what I wrote) but at least I wrote with my left hand for an hour and covered 1 1/8 pages. I really expected pushing a pen to be way easier than pulling it, but I was wrong; using your left hand is a skill that has to be practised, there are so many technicalities that need to be considered, it's not merely doing everything the opposite way to how you do it with your right hand - your left hand might not be comfortable with doing things that way, so you need to find what is most suitable for both your right hand and your left. You might view both arms as twins but you must treat them as individuals; they prefer it that way. After this experience of being left handed, I immediatley felt off balance when walking and uncertain as to which arm I should use when. I think my brain had become so attuned to using my left hand that it started neglecting my right hand every now and again; and i was fully conscious of this as it happened. So I had to draw the line between the two so that each hand could know its place, for small tasks like opening the fridge and pouring juice into a cup, i can use my left hand; but for bigger responsibilities, I let my more experienced right hand take its place. I thought I was right, but i guess now I'm ambidextrous.
Paper trail... I think we are on to something
My review is on the blog site http://thepapertrail09.blogspot.com. Given the fact that blogging is a subject that many of us have only been exposed to this term and that the bloggers of this site are first year students, I am quite impressed with the quality of their blog site and their blog posts. Firstly, the aesthetic quality of the blog site is impeccable, it correlates brilliantly with their name as we see strips of paper and ink blots that suggest some sort of writing activity that has transpired and that the bloggers are the ones exposing all this activity, so an element of intrigue and suspense is created from the appearance of the blog and how it relates to the name of the blog. The Posts are informative yet exuberant; you can tell that they are intended for the younger generation. In their blogs the members, who are Cam, Marina, Nkuli and Candice, cover everything from current affairs to their personal experiences and opinions. Their profiles give you the opportunity to know them a bit better and they are quite free to let you into their lives. The language cuts across academic and colloquial in that you can sense the seriousness of the reporting style yet at the same time feel like your conversing with an old friend over coffee. The headlines summarise the content of the posts effectively, thus evading anti-climaxes from reading the posts. This blog site is relevant to journalism students because it is informative and inspiring.
The day in the life of a 1st Year Pharm Student...but not really.
I never thought Id end up impersonating a student.
Not even for a minute. I ened up doing it for and hour.
I gatecrashed a Zoology prac.
I walked into the Pharmacy department i.e the Zoo building , lab coat on my back, disection kit in my hands, ready to do something deadly to something, well, dead.
Since most of my friends are pharmacy students (I kid you not, 89% of my friends are doing either 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year Pharm...I need to get out more) I decided why not experienced some of what I hear about everyday?
So off I went, ready, steady, go! but what do I end up doing? disecting a leaf and examining its properties and characteristics. meh.
Never the less, I enjoyed my hour as a Pharmacy student and promise never to do it again.
Swing-swing-swing along
Run. Run. Run. I often run to the Grahamstown Grey Dam.
Tired. Tired. Wow it’s a far run, and every time I take this far run I so desperately want to jump into the water to cool off, because by that time my body is hot, hot hot, but there is this one problem; I am terrified of cold water, and Grahamstown as we all know has a weather man that so kindly graces us with all four of the seasons in one day, how delightful.
The water always looks evilly tempting, like Eves apple; yet once you are in, you freeze. So I decided for my “I have never done this before task” that I would not only brave the iciest water, but that I was going to do it in style. There is an old swing that is tied to one of the biggest trees at the dam. So I swung like a craze Jane from the tree, SPLASH and then there was silence… and before my head had reached the surface it was shit shit shit!
Tired. Tired. Wow it’s a far run, and every time I take this far run I so desperately want to jump into the water to cool off, because by that time my body is hot, hot hot, but there is this one problem; I am terrified of cold water, and Grahamstown as we all know has a weather man that so kindly graces us with all four of the seasons in one day, how delightful.
The water always looks evilly tempting, like Eves apple; yet once you are in, you freeze. So I decided for my “I have never done this before task” that I would not only brave the iciest water, but that I was going to do it in style. There is an old swing that is tied to one of the biggest trees at the dam. So I swung like a craze Jane from the tree, SPLASH and then there was silence… and before my head had reached the surface it was shit shit shit!
Some things should never be revealed but I guess…
Sunday afternoon I was the joke of the day, but I really don’t mind. I spent the whole afternoon half naked “WHAAAAAT? Yep!!! I did, all day I was walking around res only covered with my tiny towel. All my friends were all shocked because walking with a towel around res is something I really hate and never tried it before. I usually ran down the stairs to my room every time after a shower. It was a hell lot of experience, but will never do it again I’m not ready for any risks this time. Some random guy walked in the common room and it felt so weird because he spent more than 20minutes chatting with us and I was very quite always looking straight in the TV. Well sometimes, I guess it’s good to do something you not used to do even if it’s extremely risky. Maybe I will try this again……maybe not.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Journalists, Bloggers, students … Who are these people?
#rublogs a bit of politics, drama, news, entertainment all is here, have a bite. http://write-side-up.blogsp...
Firstly the enviroment, the format the location of this blog is very fascinating and eye-catching, and that was the first thing I was looking in the blog I want to review. Secondly, traditionally journalism can never be replaced by anything else in the world. I’ve looked into so many journalism student blogs and have come across “write side up” http://write-side-up.blogspot.com and I think among the rest this blog still rise above the rest. The bloggers are journalism students writing journalism. This blog, I believe is inspiring other students to write read and appreciate everything around/affecting them or their country, another thing is that it more exiting to read something that was written by your mates it can be easier to relate yourself into it.
The most valued quality of the language of journalism is clarity (Roy Peter Clark) this clarifies all the things that are written and I can see that the bloggers are passionate about writing and they are writing good stuff. There should be a good relationship between a journalist and the reader, which is well represented in the blog; the readers are well informed and represented by the bloggers. As journalist’s students, I bet all of us are the knower’s but we perceive what we get from the world we live in, differently.
Writing on-line was not an easy thing to but now it’s very easy to do so and our up-and-coming journalists are always stuck onto their screens. Objectivity and real time new is overrated in the journalism world. The blog focuses on the present what is valuable, leaving out what is not newsworthy and also has tried being objective on their writings. In this blog you a little bit of everything like in the blog; The Roving Journalist http://michellemaskaly.blogspot.com
By: Nolusindiso Msizi
Firstly the enviroment, the format the location of this blog is very fascinating and eye-catching, and that was the first thing I was looking in the blog I want to review. Secondly, traditionally journalism can never be replaced by anything else in the world. I’ve looked into so many journalism student blogs and have come across “write side up” http://write-side-up.blogspot.com and I think among the rest this blog still rise above the rest. The bloggers are journalism students writing journalism. This blog, I believe is inspiring other students to write read and appreciate everything around/affecting them or their country, another thing is that it more exiting to read something that was written by your mates it can be easier to relate yourself into it.
The most valued quality of the language of journalism is clarity (Roy Peter Clark) this clarifies all the things that are written and I can see that the bloggers are passionate about writing and they are writing good stuff. There should be a good relationship between a journalist and the reader, which is well represented in the blog; the readers are well informed and represented by the bloggers. As journalist’s students, I bet all of us are the knower’s but we perceive what we get from the world we live in, differently.
Writing on-line was not an easy thing to but now it’s very easy to do so and our up-and-coming journalists are always stuck onto their screens. Objectivity and real time new is overrated in the journalism world. The blog focuses on the present what is valuable, leaving out what is not newsworthy and also has tried being objective on their writings. In this blog you a little bit of everything like in the blog; The Roving Journalist http://michellemaskaly.blogspot.com
By: Nolusindiso Msizi
Monday, October 26, 2009
Love vs Like
Do you really love the people you say you love or do you only like them? Have you ever spent time meditating on the distinction between the two concepts? Well if you have not, then this ought to help you locate the level of your love-walk. Love gives, like lends; have you ever found that you only give things permanently to people that are very close to you while you merely lend to those that are not as important? What this represents is the worth of the people to whom you give and those to whom you lend because when you give something to someone, your conviction is that you would rather go without than to see the one you love struggle or suffer; on the other hand to lend means “I’ll help you out for a little while, but after that you are on your own”. So if you have learnt to give to all people wether they are close to you or not, wether they do good things for you or not then you are on the right track because you do not need a cause to love people, you simply love them because you believe that every single human being is worthy of being loved. Thus you will be able to give your time, energy and resources to that person with no expectation of being rewarded. This kind of love is unconditional and selfless thus making it genuine; as true love is only proven in a challenge.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Proof of racism!
I never write about political topics, I never do. I don’t like writing about race and racism because it’s all over now and were supposed to be moving on, but now I’m angry, I’m very angry - here is living proof that racism still exists and people aren’t even trying in the slightest to hide it. In a recent article that I read on Press Association Online, researchers where investigating racial discriminations in the workplace. The researchers made thousands of phony CV’s and sent them to numerous organisations for their recruitment processes. The three fake identities - Nazia Mahmood, Mariam Namagembe and Alison Taylor - were all given similar experience and qualifications. The result?
The white candidate had to send in nine applications before an organisation requested an interview, in contrast to this response, the other candidates had reached sixteen applications before they were offered a similar response. Here it is, in black and white, the applicants all had very similar experiences and qualifications. Then what was it that made one candidate receive more attention from corporations than the others? The answer: the different colours of our skin. There was no other evidence, other than the difference of their complexion that might have made a difference in the selection process.
Employment minister Jim Knight said: "This research clearly shows that some employers are discriminating when it comes to choosing staff. This has no place in a modern society and racial discrimination cannot be allowed to continue." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ijBP1mlvd9ZNJ2R6XJ-IF5q1tyPQ
The white candidate had to send in nine applications before an organisation requested an interview, in contrast to this response, the other candidates had reached sixteen applications before they were offered a similar response. Here it is, in black and white, the applicants all had very similar experiences and qualifications. Then what was it that made one candidate receive more attention from corporations than the others? The answer: the different colours of our skin. There was no other evidence, other than the difference of their complexion that might have made a difference in the selection process.
Employment minister Jim Knight said: "This research clearly shows that some employers are discriminating when it comes to choosing staff. This has no place in a modern society and racial discrimination cannot be allowed to continue." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ijBP1mlvd9ZNJ2R6XJ-IF5q1tyPQ
Short concentration span
The Herald
Article: “Pupils and students turns to risky performance drugs”
Date of publication: 17 October 2009.
By: Yolandé Stander; WEEKEND POST REPORTER.Full article can be viewed at: The Herald
Article: “Pupils and students turns to risky performance drugs”
Date of publication: 17 October 2009.
By: Yolandé Stander; WEEKEND POST REPORTER.Full article can be viewed at: http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=485891
#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future.
Coming to University is a big step for everyone, and as a result everyone is so exited and passionate to do and finish up their degrees. There’s always been competition, more especially among friends and some students can’t stand the competition and are forced to do stupid things to make the best out of themselves, like trying to use drugs in order to maintain concentration on their academics.
This article serves as a warning to all students to be aware of the decisions they make regarding what they take to improve their learning abilities. This is something that always happens when students are facing exam pressures. Professors, Lecturers need to talk to the students and make them aware of the risk they are putting their lives and suggest things that might be helpful.
The head-line: not very strong and not everyone might be interested in. I can say it is aimed at students, parents and Lecturers. There’s an over-wording in the head line; Pupils and students (synonyms). The story could’ve been much more interesting if the reporter had also included the students in the article; students who have personal experiences of these drugs. Now that the exams are around the corner we should be wise and do what’s best for our health and academics, because we wouldn’t like ending up in bad conditions.
#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future. less than 5 seconds ago#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future.
Coming to University is a big step for everyone, and as a result everyone is so exited and passionate to do and finish up their degrees. There’s always been competition, more especially among friends and some students can’t stand the competition and are forced to do stupid things to make the best out of themselves, like trying to use drugs in order to maintain concentration on their academics.
This article serves as a warning to all students to be aware of the decisions they make regarding what they take to improve their learning abilities. This is something that always happens when students are facing exam pressures. Professors, Lecturers need to talk to the students and make them aware of the risk they are putting their lives and suggest things that might be helpful.
The head-line: not very strong and not everyone might be interested in. I can say it is aimed at students, parents and Lecturers. There’s an over-wording in the head line; Pupils and students (synonyms). The story could’ve been much more interesting if the reporter had also included the students in the article; students who have personal experiences of these drugs. Now that the exams are around the corner we should be wise and do what’s best for our health and academics, because we wouldn’t like ending up in bad conditions.
Article: “Pupils and students turns to risky performance drugs”
Date of publication: 17 October 2009.
By: Yolandé Stander; WEEKEND POST REPORTER.Full article can be viewed at: The Herald
Article: “Pupils and students turns to risky performance drugs”
Date of publication: 17 October 2009.
By: Yolandé Stander; WEEKEND POST REPORTER.Full article can be viewed at: http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=485891
#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future.
Coming to University is a big step for everyone, and as a result everyone is so exited and passionate to do and finish up their degrees. There’s always been competition, more especially among friends and some students can’t stand the competition and are forced to do stupid things to make the best out of themselves, like trying to use drugs in order to maintain concentration on their academics.
This article serves as a warning to all students to be aware of the decisions they make regarding what they take to improve their learning abilities. This is something that always happens when students are facing exam pressures. Professors, Lecturers need to talk to the students and make them aware of the risk they are putting their lives and suggest things that might be helpful.
The head-line: not very strong and not everyone might be interested in. I can say it is aimed at students, parents and Lecturers. There’s an over-wording in the head line; Pupils and students (synonyms). The story could’ve been much more interesting if the reporter had also included the students in the article; students who have personal experiences of these drugs. Now that the exams are around the corner we should be wise and do what’s best for our health and academics, because we wouldn’t like ending up in bad conditions.
#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future. less than 5 seconds ago#rublogs http://uvebnpind.blogspot.com fellows our lives are at risks we should act wise for our future.
Coming to University is a big step for everyone, and as a result everyone is so exited and passionate to do and finish up their degrees. There’s always been competition, more especially among friends and some students can’t stand the competition and are forced to do stupid things to make the best out of themselves, like trying to use drugs in order to maintain concentration on their academics.
This article serves as a warning to all students to be aware of the decisions they make regarding what they take to improve their learning abilities. This is something that always happens when students are facing exam pressures. Professors, Lecturers need to talk to the students and make them aware of the risk they are putting their lives and suggest things that might be helpful.
The head-line: not very strong and not everyone might be interested in. I can say it is aimed at students, parents and Lecturers. There’s an over-wording in the head line; Pupils and students (synonyms). The story could’ve been much more interesting if the reporter had also included the students in the article; students who have personal experiences of these drugs. Now that the exams are around the corner we should be wise and do what’s best for our health and academics, because we wouldn’t like ending up in bad conditions.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thinking Beyond...
Michelle Mack was born without the left hand side of her brain due to a stroke she suffered before birth; the lesion literally took away the left hemisphere of her brain. Yet remarkable she has been able to lead a normal life, even graduating from High School. The left hand side of the brain controls the right hand side of the body and language processing. The right hemisphere controls the left hand side of the body and visual spatial functions. The right-side of Michelle’s brain essentially rewired itself to take over the left-side’s functions. Doctors and scientists call Michelle’s case a “new discovery” concluding that the Brain has the ability to compensate for damage by restructuring itself http://tinyurl.com/yhq9gg3. The compensation of the left hand side of the brain by the right has cost her in some of the normal functions of the right; e.g. she struggles with abstract concepts and gets easily lost in unfamiliar surroundings, she’s lost some language ability and has difficulty controlling her emotions. Now 37 years old, Michelle works at home doing data entries for her church. Prior to this, science has told us how the brain has wired functions, yet Michelle’s case proves that the brain is actually quite placid. I think people trust science too much, we should learn to think and research beyond scientific research because sometimes it can be inaccurate; plus, scientists will never admit to being wrong, they’ll simply underplay their mishaps with euphemisms like “new discovery”. Time to think beyond!
Friday, October 9, 2009
O-week: Rhodes edition
First Years and House Comm together during O-Week at Rhodes, A celebration of things to come?
Photographer: Annchen Naude
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=23359145799&ref=ts
Thursday, October 1, 2009
quote of the day
No one ever confides a secret to one person only. No one destroys all copies of a document.
Renata Adler
Renata Adler
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