Lack of Respect destroys communities

Salamu

My Niggas!

So finally Canada got with the programme and have over 1 000 page views.

But this is not my topic for the day. I have always been outspoken about my views on living life without fear. I mean what it the point of living life looking every corner for danger or not trying new experiences? However, there is a line that needs to be drawn where living without fear borders on living without respect. And that my friends is a very fine line to tread, especially when it borders on no respect for authority.

There is an alarming increase in the number of Project X parties happening in South Africa. What is a Project X Party you ask. Well...Please see the trailer below:



Basically it was a movie. And as with all movies it is a FICTIONAL account of an event that has been popularized for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. But these thundercats don't know that there is a difference between fantasy and reality so they are now throwing their own Project X Parties where they jump off roofs onto jumping castles or try to fit 900 people into someones house. Whats scary is that this is being done without parents knowledge and with no older supervision. Alcohol and Recreational Drugs are freely available at these parties where the age range is from as young as 13 to as old as 20.

Now this to me is nothing more than a bunch of young punk ass kids who have nothing better to do with their lives than do some stupid shit. Now before you start giving me the lecture...yes I was young once. in a previously written blog post (http://shalafain.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-wild-night-in-mulbarton.html) I went into some detail as to what I got up to in my youth. And yes it got a bit wild. But 30 people is a hell of a lot less than 900 people. There was drinking so I'm not going to criticize bout that. But not once did we ever think bout doing drugs.

It comes down to respect. When we were organizing these parties and mobilizing the  troops we were always conscious about the fact that we didn't own the shit in the house and at the end of the day we would have to answer to a higher authority, so we always did things within the parameters of respect. Who do these thundercats respect? They don't even respect themselves! Who the hell in their right mind jumps off a roof onto a jumping castle?Or drives their dads car into a swimming pool?

It also comes down to bad parenting. There are no problem kids in this world. Only problem parents. You are obviously not doing a good job if your kids don't respect your authority. Now I'm not saying parents should go Gestapo on their kids. But there needs to be enough authority to know that if kids are going to be doing some stupid shit then their parents are going to rain some hell down on them!

Another area of no respect is during the Marikana Massacre. For those who don't know about it. 20 000 mine workers went on strike at Lonmin's Marikana Mine in the North West Province because they wanted a pay increase. This is all good and well. South Africa's constitution protects a persons right to strike and every person has the right to earn a decent wage in order to support their families. But something somewhere along the line went wrong because all of a sudden we are seeing these people striking with traditional weapons (Asagai's, Knobkieries, Panga's). Since when do you strike about wages with traditional weapons? Lonmin got a bit scared so they call in the Law.

Picture the scene there are 20 000 protesters (most with traditional weapons but some with Gats that have live ammo) against 5 00 cops. That means for every cop (1 cop) there were 40 protesters.  On what tured out to be the last day of the protest this is what happened:



You can clearly see that the cops followed procedure by A)forming up in a line, B) Keeping a distance between them and the protesters, and C) following the Rules of Engagement which say that you must not fire unless you are fired upon. What do you expect the cops to do? They have families to. They have kids to go home to as well. If I am a cop and a protester is shooting at me trying to take my life I will shoot that bastard down.

This comes down to the fact that people don't respect the police in this country. I do understand that there are more dirty cops in this country than clean ones and yes to an extent I do agree with the sentiment of how can you be expected to respect the police if the majority of the force is dirty. But people, please get off your high horses and think sensibly for two seconds. If nobody respects the police the country will descend into anarchy and we will become the next Syria. Even if its hard and even of you are unsure about who to trust, you need to respect: A) the law of the country and B) the people who enforce the law.

You know....I loved Dubai. But all my time there a piece of me missed my country. To be home. To be with family. To be with friends. To be around South African culture. And to see my country turning into this makes me sad. It really does.

Please people. Listen to Jerry Springer: Take care of yourselves...and each other.

Till next time my Niggas!

Mei jua daima kuwa kabla yenu, na vivuli nyuma yako!

FHM Cutie looks back on 2012

Salamu

Touching base with one of the most amazing girls in the world

It is the 15th of August and it about this time of the year that I take a look back at the year that was and take some stock. 

Ill give you my take on the year closer towards the end of the year, but it has been a HUGE year for a very close friend of mine...the AMAZING Adele Coetzee.  Here's her take on the year: 

Question 1

We haven’t done a blog post in a while and the fans  are getting withdrawal symptoms. How are you keeping?

Hahahaha really? Yea I missed having  a quick chat. I enjoy sharing my thoughts with your peeps on the blog, it's super cool! I'm always fine hey, the world is way to small to complain hehe 

Question 2

It has been a very big year for you. First it was the FHM Top Model Search then it was the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the world (which you should have won) then you are mentoring young models. Please discuss the ride you have been on this year.

WOW yes this year has been a very good year for me so far.

I really gained a lot of new experience in various fields. I really enjoy helping young aspiring models kick start their careers. I'm also into photography, I totally love capturing those beautiful moments- I go by the motto- Making a difference in other's life's. 

People now days live in their own bubbles & they don't really care for others. If more people can stand up for each other & help each other, this world will be a better place for us all... Really it will! 

As for my FHM campaigns, even though I didn't win or place at the Top, I still gained A LOT of experience an really grew as a model. I love my modelling, unfortunately I only do it part time, but that's more than enough for me. In between all of this I focus on helping other newbies.

Besides...It's not always about winning 

Helping models further their career is important to Adele

Question 3

Respect girl. Agreed...if more people cared for others the world would be an amazing place. War...What is it good for? Looking back, would you have done anything differently?

Not at all, it was my first round of FHM campaigning after helping others, I gave it a shot myself. The turn out for me was excellent, placing in Top 20 in the country was a nice feeling. I do hope to do better though for the next one. It's all about gaining experience & to up your game  If you really want something in life you have to work hard for it and stay dedicated

Question 4

Are you disappointed that you never won the Top Model Search and the 100 Sexiest Women in the world? Are you hoping to do a bit better next year?

Oh no not at all, as mentioned before I know what to do differently this year and to go all out & give it my best!

Question 5

What has the support been like for you on your different projects this year? What was your boyfriends reaction to all that you have achieved?

Oh WOW, where to start. I am really really blessed with so many wonderful supporters, which on the modelling side , I call my Adele Coetzee supporters Team Adele. They've really been so helpful an supportive of me this year & I have people asking me daily so Adele when's the next big one again mmm... hehehe so that's cool . All geared up and ready for action! 

As for my business page & work I do full time, WOW more than amazing, I really can't believe how fast my page and work has grown, it's amazing. 

Last but not least my awesome guy in my life Andrew is the BOMB. It's really amazing how chilled he is with everything, how supportive and no matter what he loves me and gives the green light, it rocks to know you have people beside you that's with you every step of the way. They say it's not the number of breaths you take, but rather the moments that takes your breath away.

Question 6

What can we expect from the beautiful Adele Coetzee next year?

Well well mmmm I aim to make difference in various categories, helping woman gain success. I love my work, want to take my photography to the next level as well, learn something new each day.

As for modelling I'm giving FHM Top 100 another shot , it kicks off again in Sept'12 for 2013's round, let's see how far I can make it this time round with all the support I have. Winners never give up. But that's if I make the cut lol, but I always believe! 

Question 7

We don't doubt you will make it. Ok….You, Bianca Golden (Playboy Playmate) and Cee Baily are tied for the Olympic gold medal for sexiness. You face an elimination challenge which is either a Boxing match or a survivor style fire building challenge. Which one do you choose? 

I am a very strong competitor & I always train in-house self defence moves. Believe it or not. So I can most defenately get a few punches in and stand up for myself and what I believe in and worked my ass off for hehehe. So let's go for boxing, seeing that I have the experience in that lol. But I can lit up a fire too, no probs. Fast learner. 

Sorry laaaaaadies, you beautiful inside and out, but let's stick to the game plan LOL

Infographic on the worlds Olympic Medals

Question 8

On a more serious note, your old man is actually an Olympic Medalist's coach. What is Khotso Mokoena like away from the athletics track? 

Yes he is. Look they had A LOT of haters during their build up for the games. Unfortunately the wind was so against Khotso during his jumps, with the highest -2.3 winds against him. It was a really unfair, because we KNEW how strong competitor he was and that , that gold had his name in it. 

I'm not being all flattery because my dad's his coach. I know how hard they trained to get there. But getting down to your question. His an awesome guy, VERY VERY chilled, down to earth and also polite. He always greets his competitors with the greatest respect & respect is key, gives you that balance to stay focussed and stay in the game plan. Things might not always work out as planned, but giving it your all is what matters in the end, screw the haters! 

Question 9

Haters will hate! Screw Them! Traditionally, Afrikaans toppies can be very conservative (ask me…I know). What has your dad’s reaction been to your modeling career?

OMW My dad is like a 25 year old in a 53 year old's body. He is actually the one inspiring/motivating me to do this and give it my all and never fail to believe. My dad is super cool. He still goes clubbing at his age. So what was that C word you used again? LOL  

Question 10

We want to know a bit more about you as a person. What is a typical Sunday for the beautiful Adele Coetzee like?

Mmmmm... I'm a really relaxed person, I love my Sundays. That's usually my day off, cause I work on Saturdays too. So a typical Sunday for me will be to cook up a storm in the kitchen(I love cooking) for me and my boy & to start a movie/series marathon on the couch. Very relaxed indeed! My fav series at the moment are: Breaking Bad, True Blood, Suits, Revenge & I can't wait for Son's of Anarchy to start next month again.

To give you an insight as to how amazing this girl is...I met Adele thorough Facebook only last year commenting on a photograph of hers and she actually replied to me. And our friendship grew from strength to strength. There are very few ladies you can talk to about ANYTHING and they will give you an honest answer. Honestly gents...how wrong can we go with a girl who likes both True Blood and Sons of Anarchy! 

Till next time my Niggas!

Mei jua daima kuwa kabla yenu, na vivuli nyuma yako!

Looking to the future I'm going to make an assault on the FHM Top 100 next year

What Qualifications do Niggas have other than hatin?

Discliamer: I am not rascist in any way, shape or form. the word Nigga used in this title is Tupac's street version of the word and not the derogatory term used in old america. 

I am also by no means an authoritative figure on the things I critique in this blog, I'm just asking relevant questions. 

Salamu

I cant believe I went through the whole Olympic Games and I only did two posts. I must either be getting extremely weak or I just wasn't that interested.  

Ok fine I was interested, but there is only so much you can say about the greatness of Usain Bolt before you start repeating your words. One confession I have to make though is that going into the games I hated that bitch ass traitor Mo Farah. If you are born in the country you should run for THAT country no matter who you are married to. I sat in eager anticipation waiting for the Kenyans and the Ethiopians to run his ass down in the 5 000 m and the 10 000 m. But after the 10 000 m victory I have massive respect for the man. I still feel the same about his traitor ways, but I can forgive him because of the way he ran that final lap of the 10 000 m at the Games. Top Class running son...Top Class.   But please do us all a favor and buy some food with your prize money, looks like you haven't eaten since you defected from Somalia. 

Don't come being a Bitch Ass Nigga up in here BOY!

I do have a bit of a bone to pick. It actually arose from something that happened in the games and it got me thinking. 

It was during the race where our very own Chad le Clos won the Gold Medal in the 200 m Butterfly event out touching Michael Phelps at the wall. The Bitch Ass Nigga Australian commentator was so in love with Michael Phelps that he never gave Le Clos a fair shake at any stage when he called the race. The way Le Clos swam that last 50 meters even if Phelps won the Gold he would have given it to Le Clos. 

It got me thinking....what qualification's did that Nigga have to call that race? After Le Clos won he was bitchin because the Australians HATE to see South Africa win ANYTHING! 

Unfortunately there are is a great number of unsuitably qualified niggas in positions of power that have a voice and are seen as authoritative figures on things while back at the ranch the only thing they are authoritative on is talking bullshit!

Top Class movie worth more than
21%

I have just finished watching the movie Basic with John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson and Connie Nielson. To me it is a great movie. A bit dark (as in that the lighting throughout the movie is dark not Tim Burton dark) but a good movie. What to the bitches at Rotten Tomatoes go do? Give it a rating of 21%! WHAT DRUGS WERE THESE PEOPLE ON TO GIVE A MOVIE LIKE THIS SUCH A LOW RATING? 

Don't believe the bullshit these critics tell you. Kingdom of Heaven is another movie that is a prime example of niggas who be hating. The movie was so good I have watched it 32 times (and counting), I can quote dialog from the movie verbatim. Switch the sound of the movie off, you can have the South African version of it. What does Rotten Tomatoes do? Give it 32%! They must really have it in for Ridley Scott because they gave Robin Hood a low rating as well (43%) in fact the only Scott movie they liked was Gladiator (78%). 

The final aspects where I seriously doubt the qualifications of certain people is Rap and Hip Hop music. Apart from Reggae music, Rap and Hip Hop is my music of choice. And there is some seriously good new hooks out there. Wiz Khalifa's Work Hard Play Hard is one of them,  Driiky Graham's Snap Baks and Tattoos is another and so is Trey Songz's 2 Reasons, but then I came across J Cole's Nobody's perfect. 

I dont know if he purposely made a lame ass rhyme in the first verse of the song but it goes like this: 

This is for all the fans that waited, the bitch niggas that hated

Old hoes we dated, look mama, we made it

Your son out in Barbados, cheese eggs and potatoes

CHEESE EGGS AND POTATOES?  How old is this nigga? 2? Tupac and Biggie must be turning in their graves listening to his punk ass! But like with Mo Farah...the rest of the song works, so I can forgive a nigga.

And Tupac aint dead is he? He probably be sitting on that same beach in Barbados next to Elvis Presley waiting to pop this nigga upside the head. But that's a story for another time! 

Till next time my Niggas!

Mei jua daima kuwa kabla yenu, na vivuli nyuma yako!

Swimming not always top priority for Durban’s Golden Boy...A Throwback

Salamu

I have never been more proud to be a South African than I am at the moment. After the disappointments of Beijing I have been hoping and Praying for a better show at London 2012. And my prayers have been answered.

I am especially proud because I can officially say I have interviewed an Olympic Gold Medalist. I caught up with Chad le Clos last year before his Olympic glory. I have kept the interview in its original prose context and time because I want to show the humility of the boy. He is really top class.

Published: Weekend Witness November 2011

After exceptional performances in 2011, there is a lot of hype being built up around Durban based swimming prodigy Chad le Clos with some tipping him to win an Olympic medal in next year’s London Olympics.

But he said that it was not always about the pool. He pointed out that when he was younger he was very focused on football.

“I really enjoyed football when I was in primary school. I was really keen on the sport and thought I could pursue that when I left school. I played in the country districts first team up until I sustained a really bad groin injury which put a halt to those plans,” he said.

When he was not on the football pitch, he was in the pool. And up until the age of 13 he was swimming purely for enjoyment with no thoughts of the competitive side of the sport.

“If was not for a family friend, who with my grandfather founded engineering firm Bearing Man, I would not be as focused as I am today swimming. Greg Till saw something in me and sponsored my dad and myself to go to England and participate in a number of meetings there,” he said.

After that, Le Clos said that he really started to see the belief that everyone had in him for himself.
After coming back from England, he joined up with his coach Graham Hill who has coached a number of top South African swimmers.

Le Clos attended Westville Boys High and concentrated solely on swimming from the age of 14 and dominated every age division he participated in before graduating last year.

Fresh out of high school, Le Clos was unsure how he would fair in the world of senior swimming.

While still at school he won two gold medals in last year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi. And he recently dominated this year’s Fina World Cup where he won 23 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and two bronze medals. He also became the third South African to win the overall Fina World Cup Series championship title.

Le Clos initially went into the circuit hoping for a top three finish, but after the first few legs he knew the win was possible.

“When I started off in Dubai I was kind of hoping for a top three finish in the overall standings because I would be participating in all of the legs. After getting six gold medals in Dubai, I realised that I had the advantage,” he said.

He added that he certainly did not expect to beat Olympic greats Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps on his way to winning the title. But he is humble about his victories, and with good reasons.

“Although I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that I beat Phelps and Thorpe, who I admired growing up, you can’t read too much into the fact that I beat them. Swimmers who are older pick and choose the events that they participate in and won’t swim in every World Cup meeting. And swimmers like Phelps and Thorpe save their best for big events like the World Championships and the Olympics. So I am expecting them to be my main competitors in June next year,” said Le Clos.

South Africa has a long tradition of producing world class swimmers, but Le Clos hopes that the new generation will be remembered for their own achievements rather than being compared to other swimmers.

“Hopefully South Africa will remember me for my own achievements. I am also aiming to achieve unique things. I feel that the future is bright, but I also do not know what it holds,” said Le Clos.

Le Clos added that anything short of a podium finish in London will be a disappointment for him. “Key for me ahead of the games is to stay healthy and focused. It is easy get caught up in all the hype and expectation around your performances and form. I do appreciate the support, but I need to stay focused and not let it get to me,” said Le Clos.

Helping him on this journey is his dad who Le Clos describes as his closest confidant.

“The support I have gotten from my dad is amazing. He is not only my agent, but he has been through a lot in his life and gives me a lot of advice about life outside of swimming,” said Le Clos.

He added that the two are at times inseparable as they go out a lot and spend a lot of time participating in social activities that any other teenager would do with his friends.

“I don’t have a lot of friends, and the ones that I do have come from swimming so they understand the sacrifices that I need to make on a day to day basis. It is very hard at times when I want to be a teenager, but I now have to be responsible and act in a mature manner,” he said.

He added that if he did not have the support of his family and coach, he would not have been able to cope with the roller coaster time that he has had over the past two years, and with the anticipation growing around him and possible Olympic glory, he feels that the ride is far from over.

Mei jua daima kuwa kabla yenu, na vivuli nyuma yako!

Beating his boyhood hero to gold is the achievement of two life long dreams for Le Clos.