Hello there electorate,
So I stumbled across this concept on Nic Haralambous' blog (http://nicharalambous.com/) and thought I'd give it a try and see what comes from it. So the object of this exercise is to clear your address bar in your browser and type in your ABC's, keeping in mind that you only enter one letter at a time and then post the corresponding address under the specific letter of the alphabet! (EG: a = www[dot]apple[dot]com ---> Got it...? Good!) So let's go:
a - absa.co.za (Online banking for ZAGlamour)
b - blacknotes.co.za (Incredible life stream and South African blogger)
c - castlelarger.co.za (Funny, was very interested in the "Hero's for December" campaign)
d - davidanthonyalves.blogspot.com ("It was not meeee...it was the one-armed man!!!")
e - ecopreneur.co.za (South African blog by Charlie Bryant on entrepreneurialism in green industries)
f - facebook.com (Thanks Captain obvious!)
g - gmail.com (Noooo....I don't believe it!)
h - honda.co.za (Mostly because of the recent shitstorm I've had with them lately...crisis.)
i - iol.co.za (Was expecting www.inhabitat.com ---> Ok then...!)
j - janegoodall.org (Incredible institue that I'm hoping to get involved with - brand management...!)
k - klout.com (Ummm...I swear I don't check it that often...what?)
l - linkedin.com (Obviously because of recent activity...)
m - muti.co.za (I like that...was expecting www.mashable.com ---> interesting!)
n - news24.com (Again, was expecting nicharalambous.com but ok...!?)
o - oprah.com (Don't judge me...she has an awesome eco-orientated section to her website...shut up!!!)
p - twitpic.com (Don't ask, I like it ok...!)
q - **Don't have one - lame!!!**
r - recyclart.org (Industrial design site focused on recyclable materials ---> F*cking awesome!)
s - standardbank.co.za (Personal banking...duhhh!)
t - twitter.com (No shit!)
u - davidanthonyalves.blogspot.com (It was the "U" in |Swimming Upstream| ---> Name of my blog.)
v - vixxen.co.za (South African e-magazine for alternative women...what? It's a good resource...!)
w - wikipedia.org (Huge boners all round!)
x - http://wwwbesportier.com/archives/patron-xo-café.jpg (That is hilarious!!! Waaahahaha!!!)
y - youtube.com (More boners!)
z - zaglamour.com (My company's website ---> South African goodness!)
So, interesting to see, some lame, some not so lame...but all in all, I think that I could have spouted these off the top of my head if I really tried (except for the letter "x" ---> that is just horribly random!) You should give it a try...comforting to know I'm not too weird, apart from the Oprah link...
...I said SHUT UP!!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Honda will burn!!!
So, those of you who have been listening up on this debacle with Honda will know that yesterday (09/12/09) I picked up my car and unto my knowledge I had no idea what was to proceed the half baked smiles and seemingly soul crushing handshakes.
When I picked up the car yesterday, I was assured that there wouldn't be a problem with the car and that everything was in order. What the hell do I know, I'm a social commentator...how would I know what has been replaced and what hasn't. I handed over the courtesy car which I was slowly but surely falling in love with with every turn of its key.
I climbed into my own, feeling somewhat alien behind a wheel of a car I almost wanted to forget. Everything felt wrong or was it my subconscious playing on my mind forcing my senses to over analyze every single bump, tick, squeak and rattle in the car as I drove off. The bastards even managed to give me back my car with 1km of petrol left in it...thanks tossers!!! Driving off I felt this feeling of relief, satisfaction and a glimmer of ecstasy that it was over...the pain, the anxiety, the stress was over. It was finally done and the next time I'd have to see this sorry excuse for a service station would be at my next service...in another 30 000kms or so...(I had celebrated too soon)...
This morning, reeling with contentment from the previous day and evenings success as I even managed to take our weekly poker evening with the boys (I have not won in what seems literally months)...I climb in my unfamiliar front seat, turn the key and push my start button which resembles a dull ruby...she starts.................
THE.LIGHTS.THE F*CKING LIGHTS. THOSE GOD DAMN F*CKING LIGHTS.
It is pain, anguish, anxiety and utter rage all over again. I sat staring at my steering wheel for the next 30 minutes. I had to, if I had taken to the road I would have taken it out on the car, myself or whom ever I thought worthy of a serious head on collision. Yes, I felt like killing. Scary but not unbelievable for somewhat who is not considered a morning person. I hate mornings...and this one was no different.
I make my way to Honda cursing and swerving "my bitch" at random cars and pedestrians along the way. My rage was insurmountable and all the way in the back recesses of my mind I could hear a voice telling me to calm the f*ck down, it's just a car, it's their problem...relax!
"F*CK YOU LITTLE VOICE THAT COULD" ---> yes, it was an internal strife, don't judge me!
As I pulled up to the Honda Service Station, I had the incredible urge to follow up on my "pseudo threats" to drive my car through, not the doors, but through the showroom windows and onto the showroom floor. The urge was an incredible rush, it made me heated, physically hot all over! I felt like I was going to black out as I stopped breathing for I don't know how long.
I ask for "King Dick""The Service King" and patiently waited at the seating area on the showroom floor. Yes, I waited, didn't kick, scream or perform...I waited, silently, ready to pounce on the first troll to offer me a lift or a cup of tea ---> GRRRR!!! ---> I'm pathetic, I know...
He finally finds time out of his, apparently tremendously busy schedule to see me.
"Good Morning Sir ("Sir", I love that shit...I wanted to scream, now roll over and play dead!)" he said almost surprised to see me.
"Hello", I replied, steely, cold and ready to pounce.
"What seems to be the problem?" The Service King asked
"What do you think?" I answered, almost interrupting him.
"No, I can't believe it, it's impossible, it should have worked itself out now" said The Service King.
"Umm...no, it's still f*cked" I snapped, he now knows I mean business.
To cut this story somewhat short - because I'm actually finding this quite draining - is that he took the car back into the bellows of the cesspit and returned approximately an hour later. Yes an hour, by that time I had waged war on the irritations beauty therapists call cuticles. I have none let.
He handed over the keys reassuring me that he had reset the CPU (which these prats had done previously) and told me that "everything should be in order". I cannot tell you off hand what I will do tomorrow if I have to go through this again.
I am refusing to write another complaint through HelloPeter because of the magnanimous admin that that website puts you through just to lay a complaint about the accused. As much as I want to, I can't say "that these trolls better have gotten it right this time or I'll..."...yah, what can I do but bend over and take it up the tail pipe all over again???
Until tomorrow, this is David, the anal receiving Honda driver, painfully signing off.
When I picked up the car yesterday, I was assured that there wouldn't be a problem with the car and that everything was in order. What the hell do I know, I'm a social commentator...how would I know what has been replaced and what hasn't. I handed over the courtesy car which I was slowly but surely falling in love with with every turn of its key.
I climbed into my own, feeling somewhat alien behind a wheel of a car I almost wanted to forget. Everything felt wrong or was it my subconscious playing on my mind forcing my senses to over analyze every single bump, tick, squeak and rattle in the car as I drove off. The bastards even managed to give me back my car with 1km of petrol left in it...thanks tossers!!! Driving off I felt this feeling of relief, satisfaction and a glimmer of ecstasy that it was over...the pain, the anxiety, the stress was over. It was finally done and the next time I'd have to see this sorry excuse for a service station would be at my next service...in another 30 000kms or so...(I had celebrated too soon)...
This morning, reeling with contentment from the previous day and evenings success as I even managed to take our weekly poker evening with the boys (I have not won in what seems literally months)...I climb in my unfamiliar front seat, turn the key and push my start button which resembles a dull ruby...she starts.................
THE.LIGHTS.THE F*CKING LIGHTS. THOSE GOD DAMN F*CKING LIGHTS.
It is pain, anguish, anxiety and utter rage all over again. I sat staring at my steering wheel for the next 30 minutes. I had to, if I had taken to the road I would have taken it out on the car, myself or whom ever I thought worthy of a serious head on collision. Yes, I felt like killing. Scary but not unbelievable for somewhat who is not considered a morning person. I hate mornings...and this one was no different.
I make my way to Honda cursing and swerving "my bitch" at random cars and pedestrians along the way. My rage was insurmountable and all the way in the back recesses of my mind I could hear a voice telling me to calm the f*ck down, it's just a car, it's their problem...relax!
"F*CK YOU LITTLE VOICE THAT COULD" ---> yes, it was an internal strife, don't judge me!
As I pulled up to the Honda Service Station, I had the incredible urge to follow up on my "pseudo threats" to drive my car through, not the doors, but through the showroom windows and onto the showroom floor. The urge was an incredible rush, it made me heated, physically hot all over! I felt like I was going to black out as I stopped breathing for I don't know how long.
I ask for "
He finally finds time out of his, apparently tremendously busy schedule to see me.
"Good Morning Sir ("Sir", I love that shit...I wanted to scream, now roll over and play dead!)" he said almost surprised to see me.
"Hello", I replied, steely, cold and ready to pounce.
"What seems to be the problem?" The Service King asked
"What do you think?" I answered, almost interrupting him.
"No, I can't believe it, it's impossible, it should have worked itself out now" said The Service King.
"Umm...no, it's still f*cked" I snapped, he now knows I mean business.
To cut this story somewhat short - because I'm actually finding this quite draining - is that he took the car back into the bellows of the cesspit and returned approximately an hour later. Yes an hour, by that time I had waged war on the irritations beauty therapists call cuticles. I have none let.He handed over the keys reassuring me that he had reset the CPU (which these prats had done previously) and told me that "everything should be in order". I cannot tell you off hand what I will do tomorrow if I have to go through this again.
I am refusing to write another complaint through HelloPeter because of the magnanimous admin that that website puts you through just to lay a complaint about the accused. As much as I want to, I can't say "that these trolls better have gotten it right this time or I'll..."...yah, what can I do but bend over and take it up the tail pipe all over again???
Until tomorrow, this is David, the anal receiving Honda driver, painfully signing off.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Twitter Down ---> my life is over!!!
So, anyone who's anyone with some kind of social media experience and knowledge knows that Twitter went down last night (Time Zone: South Africa: 01:15) and was off line for approximately 20-30mins and...(don't judge me...) it was as though my world had ended...not really, but at the time...my quarter past one in the morning temper went through the roof...I even had a go at the screen...pacing up and down my study questioning what could have lead to this ridiculously timed crash of a seemingly simple social media platform.
I calmed down and wondered to myself how many times Twitter had rolled down the curtain for an interlude since it's inception. Now whether the down time was for maintenance, debugging or Tim-The-Twitter-ToolMan-Taylor accidentally shut down the wrong server is unknown...what ever it was...it annoyed me to no end.
This morning I awoke to find I was again irritated, but directly at myself for how stupidly I acted in private about something so meaningless and pathetic. I even had a little chuckle about it...and I never laugh in the morning...EVAR!!! Had I become so dependent on Twitter to hear my "real time" thoughts? And the fact that I couldn't Tweet or let "the tworld" know what I was thinking at that specific moment in time made me boil over ---> don't get me wrong, it's not like I reached the point of taking a sledge hammer to my laptop, but it irritated me to the extent that I felt cheated, hard done-by and helpless ---> pathetic isn't it...?...I thought so too...
Well, this is an apology to you my precious MacBook Pro...please forgive me for the banter, swearing and physical threats I made to you in the wee hours of this morning...my aggression was unfounded and misplaced...
(Don't think I'm going to get an apology from "Shooogah" anytime soon...boooooo!)
I calmed down and wondered to myself how many times Twitter had rolled down the curtain for an interlude since it's inception. Now whether the down time was for maintenance, debugging or Tim-The-Twitter-ToolMan-Taylor accidentally shut down the wrong server is unknown...what ever it was...it annoyed me to no end.
Well, this is an apology to you my precious MacBook Pro...please forgive me for the banter, swearing and physical threats I made to you in the wee hours of this morning...my aggression was unfounded and misplaced...
(Don't think I'm going to get an apology from "Shooogah" anytime soon...boooooo!)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Honda can go F*ck themselves...
This post is being written with a head full of mucus, stiff body and on a stinkingly hot day.
To make a f*cking long story very short, I was in a bumper bashing some 6 weeks ago...after a huge annoyance with the panel beaters know as "Grand Panel Beaters" who did less than a shitty job putting my car back together (*FYI* My car was not aesthetically complete until I found out the true source of the electrical problems.). I took the car thinking everything was (relatively) hunky-doory, there was a front towing cap missing and some lines weren't right, but I needed it ok...the next morning I turn on the car and my ABS light and VSA (Stability Control) light comes on in the car. So I think to myself, this is definitely an electrical or "Honda Orientated" issue...so like any other dumbass, I take it on down to the dealership/service center where I originally bought the car...to explain what happened in dialogue orientated D!ck terms...
"Oh don't worry sir, simple problem to fix, the battery is probably run down from when the panel beaters fixed your car!" Says greasy person.
"Yah, that makes perfect sense, so what's the plan...?" I ask unbeknown of the bullsh!t that will ensue.
"We'll just reset the computer and everything will be fine" Said the grease monkey.
"Rocking!" I reply. (Dumbass)
So, everything seems fine and the brakes are perfect and off I go.
The next morning I wake up, turn on the car and *BANG* the f*cking same lights come on again - unf*ckingbelievable - so there I go, back to Honda and inquire once again about what the issue is.
What came from the second encounter with The Service King and Troupe at this sorry excuse for a dealership was that my battery must have dead cells in it or some sh!t...that's great...they then proceeded to want to charge me for a battery - R1200.00 - are you f*cked in the head??? I drive off searching frantically for a Battery Center, have another one installed and everything is back to being hunky-f*cking-doory...until the next morning...yes...you guess it...
I wake up, and the f*cking-b*tch-c*nt-lights come back on...you can imagine my utter rage...and I don't feel rage often, apart from right now...but yes, rage...so, back to The Cesspit known as Honda I go to complain yet again...hey...at least I got a new battery...wait...f*ck...that doesn't sound right...
So, I am eventually handed over to "The Service Manager" of the center, he rigs my car up to some ancient computer that tells him...not me...him, that my car's ABS Sensor and Pump have stopped working and could be damaged..."Oh, you think?"....
"That's great" I say, "What do you want me to do about it...?"
The Service King answers with, "It's not yours or my problem sir, it was the panel beaters prerogative to change this part as it was most likely damaged in the accident".
"Awesome" I say wanting to simultaneously jam his head in his own ass and make him take 10 deep breaths...(Burn)
I inevitably cannot handle the bullsh!t any more and ask Honda to deliver the car back to the panel beaters (Double Burn) thinking that I'm going to score here, they'll fix the last aesthetic issues I have with the car and they'll replace the ABS pump...(BURN!!!)
...a week later...yes, a week later I pick up the car...lines look great, the colour matches, new light, car cleaned as new...looked great, start it up...no issues...*Thank Christ* I think to myself (And I'm an Atheist...imagine!) So happy I could have f*cked it...the car I mean...
Next morning...7:15AM...the lights......................f*cking came on...again...the rage...ensues...
After spending a day on the phone between both Honda and Grand Panel Beaters, it was settled that there was a miss communication between the two of them and the part that was supposed to be changed...the f*cking ABS Pump...was not ordered or changed by the panel beaters as they weren't told by Honda...I scream..."Awesome" at the top of my lungs...
What was the final consensus was that the car would be sent back to Honda and they would change the part and the Panels Beaters will sort out the payment between them and Honda for the part...I think to myself, "This is great, the two of them can fight this out and I'll pick up my *biatch* when the smoke clears!" ------> Double Dumbass!!!
So the elusive ABS Pump is now nowhere in sight...literally, not a single dealership or parts warehouse has one in South Africa (Hard to believe it...well f*cking believe it sister...f*ck!)
I have been informed by The Service King that it will take 15 (working) days for the part to arrive from Japan or where ever the hell these parts come from...so, I submit...I can no longer fight...I am a beaten man and my car, like a castrated kitten, sits hopeless at that Cesspit of a Service Station...
Now the fun begins...it has been a week and I have been conveniently placed on the "courtesy car list" - oh, is that a list for all the f*cking morons you like to fob off because you can't handle them making kak for you all blady day??? Huh huhuhuhuhuh...! (BURN!!!)
Today, I have been down their throats about it and still nothing...even though my car has a motor plan, is still on warranty and is currently stored at the exact dealership I bought it from...
I. Am. Now. Ready. To. Kill. -------> (BURN!!!)
To make a f*cking long story very short, I was in a bumper bashing some 6 weeks ago...after a huge annoyance with the panel beaters know as "Grand Panel Beaters" who did less than a shitty job putting my car back together (*FYI* My car was not aesthetically complete until I found out the true source of the electrical problems.). I took the car thinking everything was (relatively) hunky-doory, there was a front towing cap missing and some lines weren't right, but I needed it ok...the next morning I turn on the car and my ABS light and VSA (Stability Control) light comes on in the car. So I think to myself, this is definitely an electrical or "Honda Orientated" issue...so like any other dumbass, I take it on down to the dealership/service center where I originally bought the car...to explain what happened in dialogue orientated D!ck terms...
"Oh don't worry sir, simple problem to fix, the battery is probably run down from when the panel beaters fixed your car!" Says greasy person.
"Yah, that makes perfect sense, so what's the plan...?" I ask unbeknown of the bullsh!t that will ensue.
"We'll just reset the computer and everything will be fine" Said the grease monkey.
"Rocking!" I reply. (Dumbass)
So, everything seems fine and the brakes are perfect and off I go.
The next morning I wake up, turn on the car and *BANG* the f*cking same lights come on again - unf*ckingbelievable - so there I go, back to Honda and inquire once again about what the issue is.
What came from the second encounter with The Service King and Troupe at this sorry excuse for a dealership was that my battery must have dead cells in it or some sh!t...that's great...they then proceeded to want to charge me for a battery - R1200.00 - are you f*cked in the head??? I drive off searching frantically for a Battery Center, have another one installed and everything is back to being hunky-f*cking-doory...until the next morning...yes...you guess it...
I wake up, and the f*cking-b*tch-c*nt-lights come back on...you can imagine my utter rage...and I don't feel rage often, apart from right now...but yes, rage...so, back to The Cesspit known as Honda I go to complain yet again...hey...at least I got a new battery...wait...f*ck...that doesn't sound right...
So, I am eventually handed over to "The Service Manager" of the center, he rigs my car up to some ancient computer that tells him...not me...him, that my car's ABS Sensor and Pump have stopped working and could be damaged..."Oh, you think?"....
The Service King answers with, "It's not yours or my problem sir, it was the panel beaters prerogative to change this part as it was most likely damaged in the accident".
"Awesome" I say wanting to simultaneously jam his head in his own ass and make him take 10 deep breaths...(Burn)
I inevitably cannot handle the bullsh!t any more and ask Honda to deliver the car back to the panel beaters (Double Burn) thinking that I'm going to score here, they'll fix the last aesthetic issues I have with the car and they'll replace the ABS pump...(BURN!!!)
...a week later...yes, a week later I pick up the car...lines look great, the colour matches, new light, car cleaned as new...looked great, start it up...no issues...*Thank Christ* I think to myself (And I'm an Atheist...imagine!) So happy I could have f*cked it...the car I mean...
Next morning...7:15AM...the lights......................f*cking came on...again...the rage...ensues...
After spending a day on the phone between both Honda and Grand Panel Beaters, it was settled that there was a miss communication between the two of them and the part that was supposed to be changed...the f*cking ABS Pump...was not ordered or changed by the panel beaters as they weren't told by Honda...I scream..."Awesome" at the top of my lungs...
What was the final consensus was that the car would be sent back to Honda and they would change the part and the Panels Beaters will sort out the payment between them and Honda for the part...I think to myself, "This is great, the two of them can fight this out and I'll pick up my *biatch* when the smoke clears!" ------> Double Dumbass!!!
So the elusive ABS Pump is now nowhere in sight...literally, not a single dealership or parts warehouse has one in South Africa (Hard to believe it...well f*cking believe it sister...f*ck!)
I have been informed by The Service King that it will take 15 (working) days for the part to arrive from Japan or where ever the hell these parts come from...so, I submit...I can no longer fight...I am a beaten man and my car, like a castrated kitten, sits hopeless at that Cesspit of a Service Station...
Now the fun begins...it has been a week and I have been conveniently placed on the "courtesy car list" - oh, is that a list for all the f*cking morons you like to fob off because you can't handle them making kak for you all blady day??? Huh huhuhuhuhuh...! (BURN!!!)
Today, I have been down their throats about it and still nothing...even though my car has a motor plan, is still on warranty and is currently stored at the exact dealership I bought it from...
I. Am. Now. Ready. To. Kill. -------> (BURN!!!)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Being quiet, maybe too quiet...
So my dear readers, or non-existent readers...
I have been somewhat quiet over the last couple of months, but this in no way implies that I have stopped writing, because I have and have been very diligent about what subjects I have approached. In the last couple of months I have been writing article for my digital magazine and it seems to be getting great reviews.
The articles have ranged from everything eco-orientated to social media and back again, so yes, I am trying my hand at some social commentary when it comes to industries such as fashion, which unfortunately I have no education about expect for my own sense of style which is probably still firmly planted in the late 90's - so sue me!
I was given some brilliant advise by one of my very good friends and social media "go-to-guy" Nic Haralambous who, I can assure you, has a much better resolve and education on the "blogosphere" in South Africa as well as social media trends...he advised me to not update my blog as often as I have been writing but to save my blogs, pre-schedule them as posts and have them bomb off, so-to-speak, randomly throughout the next couple of months. Unfortunately, i have not post anything in between my last post and this cry for a pardon (regardless of the amount, or lack of followers on my blog), owning a blog is a responsibility and I have not kept my side of the deal...and I apologise, through my teeth I must highlight.
Another reason "Nic The Guru" told me to hold back on the posting is that he explained to me that the quicker I switch to my own domain and a Wordpress theme, the more "legitimate" and "blogosphere accepted" my blog will be - what ever the hell that means, in essence, I get it and there is definite merit to it all. Hopefully I will be able to transfer most of the simple little touches I have added to this blog at the moment, such as my "Twitter Feed" and "Twit Pic's" which I thought I was being extremely clever in managing to do - (pats himself on the back!)
To end, I will do my best to keep writing updates posts to relieve the cobwebs that seem to be making themselves at home on my blog.
"Bang-----------and the dirt is gone!"
I have been somewhat quiet over the last couple of months, but this in no way implies that I have stopped writing, because I have and have been very diligent about what subjects I have approached. In the last couple of months I have been writing article for my digital magazine and it seems to be getting great reviews.
The articles have ranged from everything eco-orientated to social media and back again, so yes, I am trying my hand at some social commentary when it comes to industries such as fashion, which unfortunately I have no education about expect for my own sense of style which is probably still firmly planted in the late 90's - so sue me!
I was given some brilliant advise by one of my very good friends and social media "go-to-guy" Nic Haralambous who, I can assure you, has a much better resolve and education on the "blogosphere" in South Africa as well as social media trends...he advised me to not update my blog as often as I have been writing but to save my blogs, pre-schedule them as posts and have them bomb off, so-to-speak, randomly throughout the next couple of months. Unfortunately, i have not post anything in between my last post and this cry for a pardon (regardless of the amount, or lack of followers on my blog), owning a blog is a responsibility and I have not kept my side of the deal...and I apologise, through my teeth I must highlight.
Another reason "Nic The Guru" told me to hold back on the posting is that he explained to me that the quicker I switch to my own domain and a Wordpress theme, the more "legitimate" and "blogosphere accepted" my blog will be - what ever the hell that means, in essence, I get it and there is definite merit to it all. Hopefully I will be able to transfer most of the simple little touches I have added to this blog at the moment, such as my "Twitter Feed" and "Twit Pic's" which I thought I was being extremely clever in managing to do - (pats himself on the back!)
To end, I will do my best to keep writing updates posts to relieve the cobwebs that seem to be making themselves at home on my blog.
"Bang-----------and the dirt is gone!"
Sunday, September 13, 2009
When will people see "Green" as "Better"?
There is an old saying that goes like this, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - this really pisses me off...
Who said anything was broken and who in their right mind knows of the correct direction in which to make things better? This post raises the question, "when will going green be seen as better"? My honest opinion on the matter is, I have no idea, I wish I knew and more so, wish the general public knew it too. South Africa is slowly starting to embrace what they believe is a "better and greener" future. Pikitup, our governmental crap-collectors, have now commissioned a new initiative into waste separation by means of fantastically coloured bags, it's brilliant...but not so brilliant at the same time...why was this initiative not activated 10 years ago? Has anyone been to the national Landfill we have decorated our beautiful Midrand with? It is disgraceful to say the least, if I had a cent for every time I gagged at my last visit I would be able to fund Julius's Presidential Campaign trail...FFS!
Johannesburg's Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo may appear to be pulling out all the stops when it comes to environmental awareness in South Africa, but to us Eco-Foondies, this initiative goes into the spam pile. We, the few, have been separating our waste for years now, making their jobs easier. In the patriotically written blurb in Thursday's, The Citizen (10/09/09), it highlights some of the key factors of Pikitup's pilot project:
Part 1 (which I love dearly...)
"The Red Card initiative is aimed at empowering ordinary citizens. If citizens see anyone littering they can show them the Red card and say it is not cool to do what the offender is doing. A citizen will have the right to immediately call the contact number on the card to inform the authorities who in turn will take the appropriate action" said Masondo.
What a load of sh-t. Are you telling me that if you see someone littering, you have the right to walk straight up to them, in referee style stance, and show them the "Red Card"? Oooooh, I'm shaking in my crocs, come on, they cannot be serious, and where are those "Red Cards", where the hell are mine? I would have gone through a governmental sized years supply of blady Red Cards just this weekend alone. I'd love to see this initiative being enforced in South Africa, someone is just looking for a slap here. As much as I have just slammed this, Part 1, maybe instead of such a tactile approach to littering, why not set up an "Environmental Protection" Hotline, it can even be SMS based to make it easier for "budding environmental protection agents"? Haven't we got a Hotline for practically everything in South Africa...why not this? Why a flipping Red Card...?
Part 2 (Too little, too late...?)
"Separation at Source" - brilliant! What an excellent term that no doubt will be coined upon over and over again in time to come. What Masondo has put forward is an initiative not to teach people nor to educate people on the benefits of waste separation, but to simply give the general public the means to separate their waste. Paper goes in this one, Plastic in this one? Brilliant, 7 more plastic bags for every one South African out there...I mean, where has the common sense disappeared to? Look, I admire the initiative and I think it'll be great in the long run, but what happens if the "long run" is too far to blady run? I feel as though a community based education should have been their first priority, to teach the general public the simple benefits of waste separation! It's all well and good giving people pretty coloured bags to put their waste into, but from that
point, if they have no inkling as to where that separated waste is going and why...why should they separate that waste to begin with? Because they're going to get Red Carded by the "Green Police"...seriously, give me a break!
Another couple of points I dislike about this new "waste separation" initiative, why have Pikitup designated a bag for "Garden Waste"...have they never heard of a compost heap? It's education like that that needed to be communicated before this initiative went public.
I fear for the worst when I think about all of this, where were the warnings? Where were the Public Relations? Where are the Public Announcements? The community awareness is almost nil, and it's a shame, really it is.
Any thoughts Sustainable South Africa...?
Who said anything was broken and who in their right mind knows of the correct direction in which to make things better? This post raises the question, "when will going green be seen as better"? My honest opinion on the matter is, I have no idea, I wish I knew and more so, wish the general public knew it too. South Africa is slowly starting to embrace what they believe is a "better and greener" future. Pikitup, our governmental crap-collectors, have now commissioned a new initiative into waste separation by means of fantastically coloured bags, it's brilliant...but not so brilliant at the same time...why was this initiative not activated 10 years ago? Has anyone been to the national Landfill we have decorated our beautiful Midrand with? It is disgraceful to say the least, if I had a cent for every time I gagged at my last visit I would be able to fund Julius's Presidential Campaign trail...FFS!
Johannesburg's Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo may appear to be pulling out all the stops when it comes to environmental awareness in South Africa, but to us Eco-Foondies, this initiative goes into the spam pile. We, the few, have been separating our waste for years now, making their jobs easier. In the patriotically written blurb in Thursday's, The Citizen (10/09/09), it highlights some of the key factors of Pikitup's pilot project:
Part 1 (which I love dearly...)
"The Red Card initiative is aimed at empowering ordinary citizens. If citizens see anyone littering they can show them the Red card and say it is not cool to do what the offender is doing. A citizen will have the right to immediately call the contact number on the card to inform the authorities who in turn will take the appropriate action" said Masondo.
What a load of sh-t. Are you telling me that if you see someone littering, you have the right to walk straight up to them, in referee style stance, and show them the "Red Card"? Oooooh, I'm shaking in my crocs, come on, they cannot be serious, and where are those "Red Cards", where the hell are mine? I would have gone through a governmental sized years supply of blady Red Cards just this weekend alone. I'd love to see this initiative being enforced in South Africa, someone is just looking for a slap here. As much as I have just slammed this, Part 1, maybe instead of such a tactile approach to littering, why not set up an "Environmental Protection" Hotline, it can even be SMS based to make it easier for "budding environmental protection agents"? Haven't we got a Hotline for practically everything in South Africa...why not this? Why a flipping Red Card...?
Part 2 (Too little, too late...?)
"Separation at Source" - brilliant! What an excellent term that no doubt will be coined upon over and over again in time to come. What Masondo has put forward is an initiative not to teach people nor to educate people on the benefits of waste separation, but to simply give the general public the means to separate their waste. Paper goes in this one, Plastic in this one? Brilliant, 7 more plastic bags for every one South African out there...I mean, where has the common sense disappeared to? Look, I admire the initiative and I think it'll be great in the long run, but what happens if the "long run" is too far to blady run? I feel as though a community based education should have been their first priority, to teach the general public the simple benefits of waste separation! It's all well and good giving people pretty coloured bags to put their waste into, but from that
point, if they have no inkling as to where that separated waste is going and why...why should they separate that waste to begin with? Because they're going to get Red Carded by the "Green Police"...seriously, give me a break!Another couple of points I dislike about this new "waste separation" initiative, why have Pikitup designated a bag for "Garden Waste"...have they never heard of a compost heap? It's education like that that needed to be communicated before this initiative went public.
I fear for the worst when I think about all of this, where were the warnings? Where were the Public Relations? Where are the Public Announcements? The community awareness is almost nil, and it's a shame, really it is.
Any thoughts Sustainable South Africa...?
Who "owns" your Tweets?
As we all know, Twitter has been one of the biggest online media platforms to circumnavigate the internet since the great start-ups such as MySpace and Facebook.
For those of you who are unclear about what Twitter is, you shouldn't be reading blogs, or commenting on them for that matter, so please do me a f--king favour and move on to the next blog...relax, if you are interested in reading on, here's a little blurb about what Twitter is and how it's used:
Twitter is a Social Media Platform for people who just have to "write" about "what you they're doing at a specific moment in time" or what's on their minds and evidently cannot keep it to themselves, I should know, I'm one of them (Example: I'm sitting on the toilet, it's great.).
Twitter allows people to post comments, limited to 140 characters long, as well as link web addresses to your "Tweets" (Twitter's name for your comments) that you might find interesting or enriching of your "Tweet".
You are also able to "Follow" people on Twitter, meaning you have the option to be constantly updated with what a specific person has to say or "Tweet". As you build up your list of people to "Follow" as well as your "Tweet" count, so you will be "Followed" in return. Twitter is all about your "Following", the more you "Tweet", the more "Followers" you'll get!
Just remember a few things...
Now, to get back to more pertinent issues...is it just me or is Twitter making amendments to their Terms of Service every 2 months or so? I'd think that a major online corporation like Twitter would have had these so called "dynamic" amendments sorted out by now...or maybe I should be embracing the idea that a company like Twitter has to be constantly, flexing and bending their own rules in order to grow and adapt to their already incomprehensible following?
There is no doubt that Twitter is an incredible part of the online evolution as well as the ever growing mobile evolution, but I still stand firm in my opinion when I say that I would have thought Twitter would have their Tweeting-Tweet-Tweet-Shit sorted out by now...
@Green_Guerrilla on Twitter
For those of you who are unclear about what Twitter is, you shouldn't be reading blogs, or commenting on them for that matter, so please do me a f--king favour and move on to the next blog...relax, if you are interested in reading on, here's a little blurb about what Twitter is and how it's used:
Twitter is a Social Media Platform for people who just have to "write" about "what you they're doing at a specific moment in time" or what's on their minds and evidently cannot keep it to themselves, I should know, I'm one of them (Example: I'm sitting on the toilet, it's great.).
Twitter allows people to post comments, limited to 140 characters long, as well as link web addresses to your "Tweets" (Twitter's name for your comments) that you might find interesting or enriching of your "Tweet".
You are also able to "Follow" people on Twitter, meaning you have the option to be constantly updated with what a specific person has to say or "Tweet". As you build up your list of people to "Follow" as well as your "Tweet" count, so you will be "Followed" in return. Twitter is all about your "Following", the more you "Tweet", the more "Followers" you'll get!Just remember a few things...
- You can protect your Tweets, allowing only the people who Follow you to view your Tweets, it's secure, but limits your scope on potential Followers
- You are what you Tweet, be careful what you say if you choose to keep your Tweets public, there are very attentive people out there
- Twitter is mobile and you can update your Twitter account "on the move" with great mobile applications - with out a doubt, the way of the future which will be covered in another post
Now, to get back to more pertinent issues...is it just me or is Twitter making amendments to their Terms of Service every 2 months or so? I'd think that a major online corporation like Twitter would have had these so called "dynamic" amendments sorted out by now...or maybe I should be embracing the idea that a company like Twitter has to be constantly, flexing and bending their own rules in order to grow and adapt to their already incomprehensible following?
There is no doubt that Twitter is an incredible part of the online evolution as well as the ever growing mobile evolution, but I still stand firm in my opinion when I say that I would have thought Twitter would have their Tweeting-Tweet-Tweet-Shit sorted out by now...
@Green_Guerrilla on Twitter
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remebering Teri Smith - R.I.P.
Teri Smith 1985 - 2009
Rocker, Friend, Party-lover, Hilarious, Kind, Sweet, Loving...Teri Smith contracted Meningitis, unfortunately slipped into a coma and pronounced brain dead on Friday morning (04/09/09) - she will be missed and never forgotten.
"You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
To one of the most beautiful, intelligent, wonderful and sensitive people I have ever known, you will always remain in my heart Teri-Berrie.
If you had the pleasure of knowing this incredible person, you will know how much this planet will miss her.
Love Always
David
Rocker, Friend, Party-lover, Hilarious, Kind, Sweet, Loving...Teri Smith contracted Meningitis, unfortunately slipped into a coma and pronounced brain dead on Friday morning (04/09/09) - she will be missed and never forgotten.
"You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
To one of the most beautiful, intelligent, wonderful and sensitive people I have ever known, you will always remain in my heart Teri-Berrie.
If you had the pleasure of knowing this incredible person, you will know how much this planet will miss her.
Love Always
David
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Introduction to me: David Alves
Hi there and Welcome to My Blog,
Firstly, thank you for viewing and reading My Blog.
I have taken the plunge into Blogging as an online release due to the limiting factors I find social media networks have these days. I am an avid Twitter user as well as Facebook and MySpace, yet, I find the outlet for freedom of expression some what limiting and thus have constructed this page. I am the owner of two companies, namely Guerrillas Gone Green and ZAGlamour. Both have their own identities and both capture very different sectors of the business world.
To start: An Overview of my current business world
Firstly, thank you for viewing and reading My Blog.
I have taken the plunge into Blogging as an online release due to the limiting factors I find social media networks have these days. I am an avid Twitter user as well as Facebook and MySpace, yet, I find the outlet for freedom of expression some what limiting and thus have constructed this page. I am the owner of two companies, namely Guerrillas Gone Green and ZAGlamour. Both have their own identities and both capture very different sectors of the business world.
To start: An Overview of my current business world
Guerrillas Gone Green - http://www.guerrillasgonegreen.com/
Guerrillas Gone Green is an environmentally-friendly advertising agency devoted to offsetting our carbon footprint for every advertising campaign we are involved in as well as for our monthly energy consumption.
We integrate Guerrilla Marketing techniques and Environmental consciousness to create cutting edge advertising campaigns all the while using socially responsible methods.
Our Methods Include:
- "Reverse Graffiti"
- "Projection Advertising"
- "Flash Mobbing"
- "Moss Sculpturing"
AND Guerrillas Gone Green "Green Mobs" which are volunteer driven community clean up "mobs" who can be branded with logo's, buy-lines and corporate images creating a socially responsible avenue for corporate clients to advertise their brands.Using our unique methods we create an alternative means of advertising for small, medium and major corporations, both locally and Worldwide.
ZAGlamour - http://www.zaglamour.com/
At ZAGlamour, we pride ourselves as being a leader in the alternative advertising industry via our interactive online magazine. We are proud to say that we are totally devoted to the promotion of the undiscovered talent within the glamour industry of South Africa which includes, photography and its associated photographers, undiscovered models and designers of all kinds. A major part of ZAGlamour is the interactivity that the website provides to its subscribers.
All of our contracted models are active bloggers on the website giving a media platform for subscribers to interact with our gorgeous models through comments and replies to their insightful and humorous blogs. Another major interactivity of ZAGlamour is our glamorous events which will be held at premium venues throughout the country. This is a chance for the subscribers and invited ZAGlamour VIP's to meet the Girls of ZAGlamour in a social environment.
At these exclusive events, all ZAGlamour invitees will be given VIP treatment by means of exclusive prize give-ways on the night as well as sponsored beverages. As a company, ZAGlamour is constantly striving to put itself forward to the public in every way possible in order to portray an approachable and welcoming, yet glamorous demeanor.
This attitude extends to every part of the company and its interactions with its members on the website as well as at ZAGlamour Premium Events.
As one can see, my business interests are vast and I here I hope to share my love for the business world I have created as well as unique and innovative business ventures I deem pertinent to myself, South Africa and hopefully you, my readers.
Look out for some personal banter on the way soon!
Regards
David Alves
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