Power to the humming bird!

Isn't this just Peachy

Research shows that the first year of college or university ranks up there with some of the most stressful years in a person’s life. (Just under divorce, actually.)” Now it all makes sense.

Visit: Candid Transitions - First Year Student Blogs - http://candid--transitions.blogspot.com/

Bad Karma - I do reflect...

This year has been a tough one and I do not pretend specifically that karma chose me out of all first year students to mess with. Although I must admit that when I found out we would all be required to construct a blog, I secretly smiled to myself. Finally, we were all being picked out by karma silmultaniously. Living proof that I am not the only one to experience bad karma. This year I have developed an interesting and new bad habit... everything that goes wrong, i will, without a doubt, find a way to somehow link it back to bad karma. Spilt soda, a disgusting zit, bad break-up or even a severe case of "dronk-verdriet" or as they call it here; "a mare". All of my life and everything in it has happened because I am a bad person. But okay, seeing as this is a reflective piece, I shall reflect and admit that maybe my "bad-karma vibe" has kind of become my excuse of choice when it in all actuality boilied down to the bad choices that I have made in life.

Missing the first few lectures on blogging was another one of those bad choices which resulted in me spending countless hours trying to figure out how to do this, also known as "bad karma 101". When I eventually figured out how to accept the invite from my diligent group members and actually join the blog, I looked like a little wooly sheep surrounded by hungry wolves. Everyone had a plan on how to do this and formulate that, I personally had no clue what so ever. Countless hours spent trying to find common place ground and time for all of us was not so great and the "bad karma" our group had to endure when two of our members were unfortunately no longer able to participate in the blogging process due to family matters, made it all the worse.

Overall, I am very proud of all of us. We were productive when the pressure was felt and our team turned out to be very creative. Our technicalities was mostly handled by Meez, a Microsoft genius in the making while Missl'tee and myself tried to come up with a few ideas here and there. We had established early on that we would treat our audiences as friends and siblings rather than isolating them, this had a definite impact on our writing style and story ideas and impacted a few ethical issues such as how exactly to handle issues of alcohol abuse etc. Our meetings were often brief due to mostly unforeseen circumstances, ie. everyone is too busy and different and simultanious times to always meet for an efficient period, but we got through somehow. Personally, I can reflect that ultimately this course has been a productive one. A course which requires participation and zest and creativity as well. I have been afforded the opportunity to be myself and enjoy my writing. My initial thought of how blogging can be perceived as journalism has completely changed. I enjoy the fact that no longer does journalism have to be confined to writing informative news paper articles, the world around us is changing and it is part of the duty of journalism to adapt to that change constantly.

I found that because of the type of journalism we were dealing with, people were more than willing to talk to us and read about us. When something is handled on a much larger scale such as this, there is a lot more pressure not to sound like an uneducated and challenged human being which I found can be rather difficult considering my rants. Ultimately I can admit that ths has been my favourite course the whole year. I truly enjoy practical participation in a course, something which has formed the back bone of this term.

As exams approach, I say a cheery "goodbye" to bad karma and hello to karma about to be made.

Post on Procrastination on the web

Liz Strauss has a website that deals with the effects of procrastination and how it may be overcome. Visit the site here to see my comment.

All the best
Meez
xx

Cyanide and Happiness...The quirkiest cartoon on the net

While perusing through my favourite anti-pc, at times down-right sick cartoonists page, I stumbled across many a cartoon which made me chuckle (muttley style for anyone who has witnessed this). Unfortunately for you guys, most of them I find a bit too audacious for this here space.

But-all is not lost! An article in the Oppidan press this week entitled "Sleeping on Service" highlighted that some of the security guards on campus are sleeping on the night shift. THE NIGHT SHIFT, PEOPLE! Night, where things are dark and creepy and things dissappear, like your wallet, or worse, your dignity at the Rat. Yes.

To be fair to those at the CPU call centre- Of all the times that I have relied on them, they have been there. These guys are literally one call away, no matter what hour of the night. I am sure many bear testament to the fact that if you need an escort, they are more than happy to walk you safely back to your res. This is invaluable in light of the increasing rape and mugging cases on our campus.

That is not to say that the article does not hold any merit. On the contrary. Investigation was done on the guards stationed at various checkpoints on campus - and the findings were less than comforting. These are the hours where we would potentially need the most protection. It is not fair for our security to be compromised-especially not because some did not get enough shut eye. Do your job, and do it properly.

Strictly Delayed

Procrastination is the First Year FASHION!

I strongly believe that first year for any individual is a trying time where life’s biggest and worst habits are bred, harvested and cultivated. One of the more prominent and common habits we initially pick up, or rather perfect is the art of procrastination. Hence, first years do their assignments the day before, of which are generally very slack. Most chant “I work best under pressure”, or “there’s nothing like the adrenalin rush of the last minute”. This, ladies and gentlemen is simply a defence mechanism created by the first year student who lacks a sense of time and discipline. The definition of slack according to my online definitions assistant is “not showing enough care, attention, or rigour.” This translates into the results of the assignments with ranges of 40 percent to 50 percentages. I am surely for the generalised opinion that [we] first years have a problem with meeting deadlines before they are dead. Who does that in this century?? This is the testimony for my motion: as I rant about this procrastination fashion, I burn the laptop keyboard, punching in letters at a ferocious speed: reason being that I too am rushing to beat a rapidly pending deadline. Need I mention the mole hill of work that has evolved into Mount Kilimanjaro? I dare not.
My opinion is backed by Nicolette Saulez, a BA Law student who is also doing her first year at Rhodes University. “I am the biggest procrastinator. In fact, I’m renowned for that. I can’t exactly pin-point the reason my condition exists, it’s just that I get so easily distracted, and having ‘Facebook’ at my disposal is of no help whatsoever.” For a split second, I thought my condition was an isolated diagnosis. However, my affected fellow punctuality hermit assures me.” Oh no, I have a large group of first year friends, and neither of them are diligent “before deadliners”. I doubt it’s because of our hectic social lives; I mean it’s not like I go out seven days a week, but I’m always tired. I find myself sleeping in the wee- hours of the morning but realising I have not done a single thing,” confesses Saulez to a very understanding pair of ears. I believe that the binding factor of this unproductive ‘disease’ is a lack of motivation. The drive, will, passion, enthusiasm to work...call it what you will is in constant absenteeism in these lives of ours. Could this be that since it is our first year, with courses that take three to four years, excluding the fact that most have aspirations to study further makes our dreams seem like a distant reality? I would that say seeing the results of the fruit of one’s labour in a period of an approximated seven years would be demotivating for anyone, including the Einstein’s of our time. Or we could perhaps simply have a serious condition that needs a prescription.
First year students will side with me in saying that, in the case that an assignment is due in three weeks; this particular scenario brings about no sense of urgency we ask ourselves “what’s the hurry? In that same light we answer ourselves saying “after all, tomorrow is another day.” Indeed tomorrow is another day and it will continue being another day, until we face the dawn before the deadline. A reasonable person with a reasonable mind would rationally start to see red lights of emergency flicker. Do these red lines trigger in the mind of a reasonable student? Is there a reasonable first year student? Especially when time is concerned? I have serious doubts. After all it’s only the dawn before the deadline right? As I rant about this procrastination fashion, I burn the laptop keyboard, punching in letters at a ferocious speed: reason being that I too am still rushing to beat a rapidly pending deadline. It’s too minutes before the dreaded deadline. I therefore rest my case.

A loser complex

Grahamstown- a hub of incompetant hillbillys

As young people who have had to survive under our parents supression for so many years, the word "yearn" does not fully encapsulate the burning desire and craving we have for freedom. when i got my car on my 19th birthday i promised myself that i would look after my new Coco with all my heart and soul. six months later, "drinking and driving" became an act of inconsequentialism... i now longer worried seeing as i had done it so many times and nothing had happened. And so i went on for a year, partying and getting home on my own time. then the 17th of September happened.

I dont remeber driving, nor do i remember hitting the large, yellow pole outside of BP and causing my car R13 000 damage. I knew I coldnt tell my parents... they are 'those' kinds of parents, the ones who would without a doubt pull me out of varsity on the basis that i am a raging alcoholic (not true, but irrelevant). And so the plan began, I was lucky enough to find a friend who was willing and able to lend me R9 500... just about four grand short and with a month to go, who knows how i will raise that kind of money. I fully accept the responsibility and this is not a cry for help, i can manage thanks.

However, what i cant manage is the absolute incompetance of service in Grahamstown... Three weeks later i am still waiting for the parts only to find out that they havent ordered them... thanks for letting me know. apparently, a R9000 deposit is required before the parts can be ordered. Yet, due to incompetant and undertrained staff, I am still waiting for banking details. I have that sickening feeling that my car wont be ready by the end of term in which case i will publically attack the autobody shop who say that it will only take a week.

As exams draw near, considering the fact that i write four in a row, i am stressed. I am even considering attaching a blinking banner to my head which screams cusses at anyone who tries to approach me. this is a sensitive time my friends, lets hope for the benefit of the autobody shop, no one gets hurt.