the school of hard VOX

What the FUCK?

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:38:11 +0000

Ok. Jesus. I don't even know where to start. Perhaps here:

Pigs acting like Apes

What about here?

Or even here?

I can't articulate just how sick it makes me to know I can never go back to my mother country.
And, if I'm forced to go back, I'll be the one building these until I run out of fuel, rags and bottles.

God help South Africa.
We need more Madiba.
We need less Mugabe.

It's not a White vs. Black thing anymore.
It's a BROKEN COUNTRY thing.
It's not working for ANYBODY.

Feeling, revolutionary,

habit47.

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Put your money where the mouth is.

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:32:18 +0000

TimeOut is essential reading, especially if you're a South African outsider looking for inside information.
Again and again they come up with great suggestions, bite-size articles and proper local knowledge.

This week it's all about filling your brain and belly with The Fabulous 50 - London's all-time great restaurants.
Tuck in!

TimeOut Time

Feeling, like a well-informed fish out of water,

habit47

If you're a bit of a Style Tourist, you might like these.

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Why do you wake up each day?

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:19:25 +0000

Why do you wake up each day?

http://habit47.vox.com/library/post/w...

A new, reasonably interesting, theme on YouTube.com. Personally, I wake up because I have no choice. Of course, as soon as I open my puffy eyes I also get to see this: Just because you're all such nice people, here's the real deal: Stick it on loop, put on your headphones and just kick back for a...

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It's raining back home, too.

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:04:26 +0100

barely nearly

So I don't mind not being there.

Feeling, like of all the South African things I miss, I miss my friends the most,

habit47

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Bullardgate - foolish or fantastic?

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Wed, 09 May 2007 00:09:02 +0100

David Bullard, a prominent South African traditional journalist has just taken a swipe at the Blogosphere.
I'm not sure what his game is. Either he truly is ignorant, or he's link-baiting like a pro.
Do read the article, and read some responses.
Then let me know what you think, won't you?

Feeling, like somebody might just have brought a knife to a gunfight,

habit47

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I am NOT a terrorist.

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:01:07 +0100

So why am I treated like one when I want to travel?

Let me elaborate.

I am South African i.e. a native of the country with a history of human rights abuse, civil unrest, stronghold of the apartheid era and birthplace of Nelson 'Madiba' Mandela.

I'm currently living in London and operating on what's commonly referred to as a 'working/holiday visa'. This visa entitles me to exactly 12 months of legal employment and 12 months of 'holiday/travel'.

I'm here because:

1) It's extremely difficult to secure this 'working/holiday' visa beyond the age of 30, and, being 28, I figured it would be a good time to make my move.
2) As fantastic as my homeland is, it doesn't treat skilled workers to a salary that actually pays them what they're worth. Nor does it offer them an opportunity to exploit the advances being made in my specific industry.
3) My girlfriend lives in London and, because she's operating on the same visa, if I arrived any later, she would've had to leave the UK just about the time I arrived. Pointless, don't you agree?
4) The crime in South Africa has, increasingly, become characterised by extreme violence. This situation is due, in part, to the unchecked acceleration of the 'tik' trade and abuse. For those of you in the States or United Kingdom, this is the South African street name for 'crystal meth' or 'speed'. Having had my life-threatening brushes with 'tik' addicts, I figured it wasn't worth having my head blown off for my car, mobile phone or the contents of my wallet.

So I left the country of my birth to seek out a more beneficial and prosperous lifestyle. I also think it'd be good to go back with some first world experience so that I might help contribute to my country's success in a more developed manner.

Here's the catch though: even though I'm in London, paying tax, earning pounds which I in turn spend which in turn bolsters the economy, the EU refuses to grant me the same basic rights bestowed upon the British citizens that surround me. See, before I can get into, say, France, Amsterdam, Italy or Spain, I need to acquire another visa - something called the Schengen Visa. In order to secure this, I need to provide a long list of documentation (not to mention a fair amount of cash) and book my flights and accommodation as if I'm guaranteed the visa.

Then I make my application and wait. If I'm lucky, I get it. If not, the embassy denies me and I have to cancel all plans, hopes dashed, cash down the toilet. So it's like gambling, just not as much fun.

A Brit, on the other hand, decides 2 hours before knock-off on a Friday afternoon that it might be nice to pop over to Barcelona for the weekend. So he books his flight and legs it, no questions asked, except perhaps what he might prefer to drink on his flight.

Here's my problem with this system: because of my heritage, I'm treated like a second class citizen.
The fact that I've been to the exact Schengen states before and honoured my visa conditions makes no difference at all. Every time I need to go somewhere, it's almost more trouble than it's worth. It might be worth pointing out that I'm a white South African. This means my lineage extends back to the 1820 settlers - all British citizens.
So effectively I come from the United Kingdom in the first place.

The Brit is born with the golden book in his/her hand. The American, well, let's not even go into that. Then these governments wonder where the black market trade in passports comes from. They're practically begging me to travel on false documentation because they make the legal route so criminally unreasonable.

It's my world too - and I'd like to see as much of it as I can before I die. I don't want to bomb anything or kill anyone. I just want to move around, pump my hard-earned cash into the economies of the countries I visit and EXPERIENCE THE PLANET I WAS BORN ON.

Why is that so fucking hard?

Feeling, well, can't you tell?

habit47

P.S. There are legal shortcuts and loopholes that allow you to apply for citizenship early - it all comes down to how much cash you generate with your company/taxes. They just want to make sure you're good value for the economy.

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When design goes wrong.

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:53:49 +0000

twirl a squirrel

No idea why there's no sound on this clip, but it'd probably be lame circus music anyway.

Thanks to BB from the '...' group for passing this on.

Feeling, like I miss the squirrels back home in The Company Gardens,

habit47

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Dealing with Loss

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:00:10 +0000

Losing business, losing money and, hence, losing patience.

After nearly slitting the very wrists connected to the hands that type this, I am, finally, back online and online AT HOME, too. I'll fill you all in on exactly what drove me to the edge of sanity once I've had a little time to calm down, but let it suffice to say that it involved BT (British Telecoms), a host of operatives at their call-centres in INDIA, calls to Virgin Media urging them to help me bring BT to its knees and far too many cigarettes.

Still, it's worse in South Africa.

It's ok, though, because now I can share stuff with you again. Stuff like this:

twin spin

Ok, as much as it hurts to abandon this connection after such a long wait, I'm on my way out for dinner at a plate-smashing-wine-sculling Greek restaurant called, would you believe it, GREEK.

It's been more real than you can feel.

Feeling, satisfied,

habit47

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Why do you wake up each day?

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 09:38:13 +0000

A new, reasonably interesting, theme on YouTube.com.

Personally, I wake up because I have no choice. Of course, as soon as I open my puffy eyes I also get to see this:

Would this get you up?

Just because you're all such nice people, here's the real deal:

Déjà View?

Stick it on loop, put on your headphones and just kick back for a bit, mnnnk?

Feeling, sleepy,

habit47

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The Spy in America's Pockets

nobody@vox.com(habit47) — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:13:17 +0000

Canada is spying on you. Yes indeed, it has been alleged by the US Defense Department that those sneaky Canadians are sneaking about good, wholesome American affairs using, wait for it, SPY DOLLARS!

Blame Canada

If I recall correctly, this isn't the first time Canada has made dodgy moves on America's good ol' boys....

We all know what happened last time

If you'd like to help stem the tide of inevitable Canadian military action against USA, get a job at the CIA. At the very least they'll supply your with your own cool gadgets.

Feeling, glad to be South African,

habit47

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