A Springs g.p.s system

So true hey?How many holes does your fence have?

Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.

(Most importantly the last sentence)

NAIL IN THE FENCE

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back
of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to

drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. ' A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.' So remember to love your friends.


Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole.

Skokkende foto van kinder mishandeling in die ergste graad

Kan iemand asb die arme kind net help-hoe kan enige ouer so wreed wees om sy kind so te mishandel?

South Africans show your support

This is about petrol prices and an invitation to join the resistance. By the
end of this month petrol prices are set to soar even higher.

If we want the petrol price to come down, we all need to take some
intelligent, united action.

Last year there was a "don't buy petrol day"-but the oil companies

Just laughed at that because they knew that we would "hurt" ourselves by
refusing to buy petrol.

It was more of an inconvenience to us than a problem to them.



But, whoever thought of the ideas, has come up with a plan that can really
work.



READ ON AND JOIN THE ACTION!!

By now you probably thinking petrol priced at about R4.50 is cheap. It is
currently at + R6 for regular and unleaded.

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations (the bullies like US and
Britain) have condition! ed us to think that the cost of a litre is cheap at
R 5.00 ,
We need to take aggressive action to teach them that buyers control the
marketplace......... Not the sellers.

With the price of petrol going up each day, we consumers need to take
action.

The only way we are going to see the price of petrol come down is if we hit
someone in the pocket by not purchasing their petrol.

And we can do that without hurting ourselves. How?

Since we rely on our cars, we just cannot stop buying petrol.

But we can have an impact on petrol prices if we all act together to force a
price war.



Here's the idea:



For the rest of the year, don't purchase any petrol from the two biggest
overseas

Oil companies (which are now one), SHELL and BP...



(Local is Lekka - So buy Sasol / Engen / Excel)

Ons gaan nie rugby praat nie of hoe?

Ai die rugby die naweek was vir my en ek ding vir alle opregte Suid Afrikaners maar n demper die naweek.Ons swak spel was die oorsaak.Ek wens die somer wil nou kom ek is nou keelvol vir die koue winter.O ja baie geluk aan my kollega Pedro Fernando wat vandag 24-06-2007 verjaar het en my ander kollega Henry Brunette wat more verjaar hy se hy is more sweet 16 ja sure boeta,tussen ons hy is more n volle 32 jaar jonk.Die naweek het ek my self entertain met dvd's nl Hannibal rising,Breach en Romancing the bride.Ek moet se dit was goeie vermaak gewees veral Romancing the bride en Breach gaan neem dit maar gerus uit as jy die movies nie op die groot skerm gesien het nie.My gunstelling video winkel is Videoland in Strubenvale Springs telno 011-362-5079 hulle diens is uitstekend en hulle het n groot verskeidenheid dvd's.More is alweer Maandag, my "nie" gunstelling dag van die week.Geniet die week en ek chat weer binnekort met julle.

Gerhard

Another top S.A band

BRIGHT BLUE ARE BACK - THE FULL STORY
November 2001

Anyone who has been following the career of seminal South African band, Bright Blue, for the past 17 or so years, will know that it's entirely appropriate that the release of their long-awaited retrospective set comes with the title, 'Every Now And Then (The Best So Far: 1984 - 2001)'. For everything about Bright Blue has always been fluidity; about blurring the edges of what is expected of a band in the conventional sense ("We release music sporadically and intend doing it forever" announce the band) and, of course, extending that into their music which wholeheartedly defied the boundaries of the time becoming a forerunner of the "rainbow nation" sound.

With a name that reflected the paradox of being bright in a very blue time {actually, it was also a tribute to Chelsea FC - Sporting Ed.}, Bright Blue created a sound that - through recordings and a raucously rocking live show - organically fused the lilt and lurch of township jive and the harmonies and rhythms of mbaqanga with a solid rock musicality and smatterings of pop.

What's more, the band - at first brothers Peter and Ian Cohen, Tom Fox and Robin Levetan (now a Cape Town-based architect) and Dan Heymann - flew the flag of protest and liberation in astute songs about the contradictions of a life of white privilege that were, on first experience, uplifting and positive (perfectly matching the band's paradoxical name). This was no mean feat in apartheid's final, dark decade which was marked by the apartheid regime's unrelenting oppressiveness; the spectre of an uncertain future; war raging in the townships; and a military call-up that many white youths found morally reprehensible.

And although a handful of other groups dipped into South Africa's broader musical well, few did it with such infectious results and quite in the winning way that Bright Blue managed. This they achieved by unleashing several fine recordings (among them two full albums, 'Bright Blue' and 'The Rising Tide'- both still unavailable on CD) gaining some significant radio play (with tracks like 'Window On The World', 'Weeping' and 'Second Avenue') and moving from campus to campus, club to club, bringing their live show to staunch fans all over the country.

A mid-80's shift to Johannesburg pushed Bright Blue to new heights and greater exposure. Reflecting on the time, Ian Cohen said: "Moving to Jo'burg felt like we had arrived in New York City - we were real small town boys in the big smoke. But it gave us a chance to be amongst and play with some great musicians." Among these were Louis Mhlanga, Simmi Zeko, and Sipho (Scorpion) Mandono, all of whom added to the unique sonic swirl that Bright Blue crafted.

The band's strong connection to the anti-apartheid movement of the time is evidenced by the song 'Weeping', which was penned by Dan Heymann (although in typical Bright Blue democratic style, they are all formally credited with its composition). As Heymann recalls: "In 1986, responding to the Apartheid Government's clamp-down on the media, I wrote the words of 'Weeping', over a piece of music I had composed more than a year earlier, while I was stuck in the Army".

The song was originally recorded in 1987, at Orange 338 Studio in Orange Grove, Johannesburg, by Phil Audoire and Daved Moloele. In a mad burst of creativity, Bright Blue recorded two songs in one night ('Yesterday Night' being the second) pausing only at about 2am to dash off to the Market Theatre to pick up the late Basil Coetzee to blow his magnificent horn on this track.

At that time without a deal (the first album, 'Bright Blue', was the extent of their recordings for Trutone, though an EMI deal was soon to follow), the group pressed up 500 vinyl singles, featuring a black and white cover shot of Bright Blue sitting outside the Imperial Café in Cape Town. Astonishingly, 'Weeping' soon made it onto the national airwaves, despite the fact that it quite clearly contained a section of 'Nkosi Sikelel I'Afrika', which was then banned by the Nationalist Party government.

'Weeping' has been extensively covered since then, most notably by the Soweto String Quartet and Vusi Mahlasela. A particularly poignant moment for Bright Blue was playing the song live at a Mitchell's Plain concert for returning exiles, attended by former President Nelson Mandela soon after his release from prison in 1990.

To date however, the only Bright Blue material available on CD (besides 'Weeping' being included on many SA compilations), was the 'Open Your Eyes' CD single from 1996. Which makes the release of 'Every Now And Then (The Best So Far: 1984 - 2001)' such a welcome event for Bright Blue fans. The compilation includes songs like 'Who's The Enemy', 'The Rising Tide' (a tribute to jailed SA conscientious objector David Bruce), 'Living In Africa', 'Yesterday Night', 'Window On The World' and, of course, 'Weeping'.

The album also features two new tracks, 'World Turns' and 'Can You Feel It'. 'World Turns', is vintage Bright Blue, with just enough sonic twists and threads to ensure the track resides firmly in the 21st century musical terrain. Penned jointly by the group's remaining three active members (Ian and Peter Cohen and Tom Fox), 'World Turns' pivots on Fox's distinctive yet subtle mbaqanga-influenced guitar piece and the chilled rhythm section provided by the Cohen brothers. But the musical ante is upped by the inspired use of gorgeous, jazz-influenced keyboards (played by Mark Goliath) and some elegant sampling.

'Can You Feel It' is as joyous a new slice of sound as you will hear emanating from South Africa this year. Fast moving and showcasing Bright Blue's feel for a groove and a blasting horn section, this is uplifting stuff that proves just how relevant the group still is today. Adding to the quality of the new material is the input of life-long friend and colleague Johan Griesel (who has been handling live sound for the likes of Steve Winwood and Jeff Beck recently) who assisted Bright Blue in mixing the two new songs.

The 1990's saw Bright Blue moving in a new direction as the political situation in South Africa changed. After a decade of writing, practising, recording and touring, Bright Blue became a looser set-up, with the band members engaged in other pursuits. Peter Cohen worked with Mango Groove, and Tom Fox, alongside James Stewart, Yoyo Buys and Paul Tizzard, produced some excellent BB-influenced sounds (and three strong albums) with Cape Town band, The Usual.

But Bright Blue never "broke up" as such, and we can expect even more musical magic from this hugely-popular band in the future. Dan Heymann has expressed interest in recording with the group again (properly via the Internet). Heymann currently resides in New York, working as a computer programmer. Until September 11th, he worked on the 96th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Fortunately, Heymann arrived at the WTC subway station just after the first plane had crashed into the towers on September 11, and the area had already been cordoned off.

Music continues to dominate the lives of Peter Cohen and Fox who worked under the Bright Productions banner, crafting music for soundtracks and commercials (often with Ian's input when time allowed). Ian, meanwhile, continues to create music from his home studio, and he recently composed and performed the soundtrack for 'Main Reef Road', Nic Hofmeyer's upcoming film about Johannesburg.

"Music is still a powerful part of our lives" the group attests, "We want to be releasing Bright Blue stuff when we are sixty. We've found a way of working that works for us all; that suits our requirements and with the availability of digital methods of recording, we hope to keep creating far into the future".

Albums:

Bright Blue (1984) Jive Wire
The Rising Tide (1988) EMI
Every Now And Then - The Best So Far... 1984-2001 (2001) Universal
Musicians:

Robin Levetan: vocals on first album only
Tom Fox: guitar, vocals
Ian Cohen: bass, vocals
Peter Cohen: drums, vocals
Dan Heymann: keyboards

Ek is terug-soos gewoontlik weer in die sop

Ek is so jammer dat ek my blog lanklaas opdateer het-was so n bietjie besig en soos my vorige posting beweer het was dit maar hectic in die lewe van Gerhard Schaap.Baie dankie vir die reminder dat julle meer op my blog is as ek,dit het gewerk en ek voel heavy skuldig hoor.Ek is ook baie besig met my "social responsibility" en is baie betrokke met charity.Ek hou daarvan om my medemens te help en veral waar klein kindertjies betrokke is.Hier is 'n foto saam met my mede Springs Round Table kollegas waar ons vir 'n organisasie voedsel en speelgoed oorhandig het hier in ons eie Springs.Ek hoop julle kan my vergewe dat ek die afgelope ruk nie so aktief op my blog was nie,sal opmaak daarvoor hoor.

Die afgelope week

Wat n rowwe paar dae het ek nie gehad nie.Dit was seker een van die rofste weke in n lang tyd.Dis darem vreeslik hoe die staking ons tog op een of ander manier raak.Wel n groot ligpunt is dat Oos rand Stereo nou beskikbaar is op die net en dat ons nou audiostream,wat n mylpaal vir ons.Ek is so keelvol vir mense wat jou kan veroordeel en kan slegmaak sonder om hulle feite te he.Die ergste is dat hulle nooit hulle naam sal bekendmaak nie maar die klom skynheiliges sal altyd n mond vol te se he oor jou.Maar in elke geval sal n mens nooit die skinderbekke kan stilmaak nie,so skinder maar aan en "enjoy".Ek weet wat ek weet en erken dat ek wel foute gemaak het in my lewe en wie van ons het nie?Wimpie baie dankie vir jou verdediging op jou blog,jy is n vriend duisend.Ek sien uit na die rugby die naweek en spoil julle vaders die naweek.Ek is nou nognie n pa nie en hoop dat daai geluk my eendag sal tref.

Tot later

Gerhard

Featured S.A band of the week-Mango Groove

While in her last year at school, Claire Johnston joined Mango Groove (founded in 1984 by John Leyden, who teamed up with Andy Craggs and ‘Big Voice Jack’ Lerole’). She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Witwatersrand while touring with the band and quickly established herself as the face and voice of Mango Groove.

For the next two decades, they had an enormous impact on the South African music scene. At the time, popular multiracial music groups were not common in South Africa and Mango Groove was seen as a symbol of unity in a country struggling to shake itself free of apartheid.

The group had over 12 number 1 hits in South Africa and were the first and only group to remain at the top of the South African national sales charts for over a year. They received almost every South African music and video award, as well as a number of global awards.

They also performed to sell-out shows in many cities across the world, including London, Paris, Hong Kong and Sydney. Their unique blend of marabi, kwela and pop music, together with the voice and presence of Claire Johnston and the penny whistle of Mduduzi Magwaza, made them very popular.

Some of the highlights of Mango Groove’s career include:

The direct satellite link-up to the The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London in 1992 to an estimated audience of a billion people.
Their performance in front of 200,000 people at a "Rock Against Racism" concert in Paris
Their performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival where they received 3 encores.
Being the only African band to be invited to perform at the "Celebrate Hong Kong ‘97" Reunification Concert where they performed alongside Wet Wet Wet, Michael Learns to Rock and All-4-One.

Clever boy

The teacher asked, “Johnny what is your problem?"

Johnny answered, "I am too smart for the first Grade. My sister
is in the third grade and I am smarter than she is! I think I should be
in third grade too."
Mrs. Brooks had had enough. She took Johnny to the principal's
office. While Johnny waited in the outer office, the teacher explained
to the principal what the situation was.The principal told Mrs. Brooks
he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his
questions he was to go back to the first grade and behave.

She agreed. Johnny was brought in and the conditions explained to
him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: " What is 3 x 3?"
Johnny: "9."

Principal: "What is 6 x 6 ?"
Johnny: "36."

And so it went with every question the principal thought a third
grade should know. The principal looks at Mrs. Brooks and tells her, " I
think Johnny can go to the third grade."


Mrs. Brooks says to the principal, " Let me ask him, some
questions?"

The principal and Johnny both agree.

Mrs. Brooks: "What does a cow have four of that I have only 2 of?
"
Johnny, after a moment " Legs."

Mrs. Brooks: " What is in your pants that you have but I do not
have ?"
Johnny: "Pockets."

Mrs. Brooks: " What starts with C and ends with T, is hairy, oval
and delicious and contains a whitish liquid?"
Johnny: " Coconut."

Mrs. Brooks: "What goes in hard and pink and comes out soft and
sticky?"

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop
the answer, Johnny takes charge.....

Johnny: " Bubblegum."

Mrs. Brooks: "What does a man do standing up, a woman does
sitting down and a dog does on 3 legs?"

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop
the answer.....

Johnny: " Shake hands."

Mrs. Brooks: "Now I will ask some 'Who am I' questions, okay?"

Mrs. Brooks: "You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to
get me up. I get wet before you do ."
Johnny: "Tent."

Mrs. Brooks: " A finger goes inside me. You fiddle with me when
you're bored. The best man always has me first."

The principal was looking restless and a bit tense.

Johnny: "Wedding Ring."

Mrs. Brooks: " I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come
with a quiver?"
Johnny; " Arrow."

Mrs. Brooks: "What word starts with F and ends in K and means a
lot of heat and excitement?"
Johnny: "Fire-truck."

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the teacher,
" Send Johnny to University, I got the last ten questions wrong myself!"

Real good Capetonian joke

A colored guy, sitting outside his home about to be evicted from his house, was contemplating how the future would be after he had divorced his wife, lost his children, lost his job.He notices a crate of beer bottles and walks up to it. He takes out an empty bottle, smashing it into the concrete wall swearing, "You are the reason I don't have a wife", second bottle, "You are the reason I don't have my children", third bottle, "You are the reason I lost my job". He notices the fourth bottle is sealed and still full of beer. He takes the bottle, puts it aside and says, ....................."Staan jy een kant my broe, .....I know you were not involved".