I have been jamming to this mix since it dropped 4 days ago, what would be awesome is if this had a track list - the first 4 - 5 tracks are amazing [ I even tried to google the lyrics ] but failed to find out who some of the artist are.

Hope the title is self explanatory. We getting ready for a freezing winter in the southern hemisphere and in the northern part of the world things are getting heated up. Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy the selection. — Fistaz Mixwell

Winter Here. Summer There. by fistazmixwell

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

This week I wanted to share a few truths I've come to accept. I wrote this a while back and I thought it would be great to remind myself to see if I still feel the same. Hope you enjoy it.

You see the truth about it all, is that like everyone else I dream big. I dream of being wealthy, and sometimes I want to be famous. In all honesty though, I just want to be appreciated.

You see the truth is like everyone world over, I’m going to struggle with a few life decisions and perhaps may have regrets about some of them. In the end I will have probably made the best decision, and in hindsight will only realise it much later.

I’ve been heartbroken, and I’ve done my fair share of heartbreaking. Let's be honest it sucks, irrespective of which side of the fence you are on. The truth is that despite this fact of life, I’m still a fan of love and wish to be blissfully in love again. In the same breath though, the truth is I’m petrified of having my heart-broken again.

Some days are absolutely brilliant, you know the type that you want to share with the world. Then sometimes you’ll have very dark and depressing days, the ones where you want to dig a giant hole for. As life would have it, either way you always make it out alive. The truth is sometimes you don’t want to be part of this crazy world but you know you can’t live without it.

Perhaps one day you’ll wake up with the worlds worst hangover, actually maybe it’s universally monumental. Then your first thought is “damn that was a good night”, but even if it was an awesome night you will very openly hate yourself. The truth is that life happens and some things are just beyond your control. Although you simply can’t sit on the bench and watch your life go by. You need to be an active participant.

As your open eyes and roll over in bed; two things might happen and it all really depends on the ending you choose. Option one: as you roll over in bed and turn to see who is laying next to you. You may just have a sneaky little smirk and think “that’s a job well done”.

Option two: Or perhaps you roll over, to turn and only regret laying in that bed. Either way, let’s admit it the truth is after all its just sex. One day you will be under-dressed, you’ll have to chin up and rock your outfit with pride. Let’s be honest though inside you’ll be kicking yourself silly.

The truth is your mom and dad are right about a few things. They’ve been there, done that and gotten the awards for it and made you in the process. We all know it sucks having to learn lessons the hard way. In the end you value the lesson after all. The truth is that nothing in life is certain, that is except death and taxes. If you don’t believe me, I suggest that you watch Meet Joe Black.

Sometimes you'll meet someone who really appreciates your passionate obsession for all things lingerie like you do. In reality though you might just end up with someone who doesn't understand what all why you are so fussy about underwear. It's on those days you'll need to smile, wave and teach them a few things

The truth of all truths is, that you should be true to yourself. No one can live this life for you and no two journeys are the same.

P.S Truth is I really really like Drake and I don’t care what anyone else thinks

VS

XOXO

Truth jpg- flavourofsuccess.com    Seek truth- vizfact.com

HOLLYWOOD SEEMS LIKE a fairy-tale land to the rest of the world - a place where it’s always sunny and dreams come true on a daily basis. In reality though, it’s more often “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” than American Dream. The sunny part may be true, but in the summer it’s so hot that you can’t walk more than a few blocks without melting into a puddle on the Walk of Fame. It’s not all bad though - I’ve lived in Los Angeles for three years now and I love it. I’ve taken classes at Ivana Chubbuck’s acting studio. Swam in the Roosevelt Hotel’s pool during the day and kept tabs on the rich and famous (and the train-wrecks) at Chateau Marmont at night. I’ve made some friends I’ll keep for life.

My time in LA brought to light the immense cultural difference between Hollywood and my current home of London. For one, In London, pretty much everyone around you is either trying to break into or has already broken into the film industry. You don’t have the glossy hair, the equally manicured lawns and hands, the fake boobs and teeth. You can smell movies in the air in LA - London doesn’t have any show business iconography like the Hollywood sign, or hills dotted with celebrities’ obscenely large houses, or a street that goes on for miles commemorating a veritable who’s who of the entertainment history.

But London does have one thing that LA doesn’t: A performance history that goes back much further than the invention of Technicolor cinema (Shakespeare Globe, anyone?). Before sending their young actors to sunnier shores, Brits make sure they are serious about their craft, with world renowned schools like The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which has churned out high-quality performers since the turn of the century (alumni range from Viviene Leigh and Gemma Arteton). Which brings me to my point: Lust after the flashy City of Angels all you want - but something special is brewing in the UK. Americans seems to be increasingly bored with the familiar onslaught of doppelganger actors and actresses, so much that casting directors decided Brits should play the most  American superheroes: Spider man (Andrew Garfield), Batman (Christian Bale) Superman (Henry Cavill). Soon we’ll even see breakout British actress Carrie Mulligan play Daisy Buchanan in Baz Lurhmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel. Ok well thats my point of view, wish me luck in London :)

X

Simone

This is a salute to the woman that every man needs,
The woman who was there before everything

The one who opened the door at 4am, again,
And didn’t ask a single question,
Because she knew you were not proud
Of the dark path your ambitions made you walk.

Before you bought mom the big house,
The one who was there when mom called,
To say thank you for her beautiful gift you sent,
When you had forgotten it was her birthday.

Before the entourage,
The one who could through your friends,
When you couldn’t see past your friends.

Before the Platinum Cards,
The one who came dressed up and
Took a whole ten minutes going through the menu,
Knowing well that there was only one thing you could afford there,
And she ordered it,
And smiled

Before the critics,
The one who tried to read the books,
Go through the sites or listen to the music,
Not that she wanted to,
But because she wanted to have more to say than just, "oh, that’s nice…"

Before the 2 door coupe,
When she counted the coins,
To make sure you had enough for the taxi

Before you name was written in lights,
When you couldn’t keep the lights on,
But her eyes glowed in the candlelight.

Before the multiple properties,
The one who helped you switch off the light and lock the doors,
When yet another bright idea failed.

Before the angelic groupies,
The one who showed you your demons,
And held your hand as you faced them.

Before every one knew your name,
The one who spoke about you dreams,
Like they were hers.

Before the sunrise,
On that long night, that long, dark night
That seemed like it would never end,
She was there, helping you count the stars.

Before the three piece Armani,
When she ironed pop’s last gift to you

Before the corner office,
When, again, with bloodshot eyes,
You put scraps of business plans into a brown envelope, again,
And she saw a CEO walk out the door.

Before you came bursting through the doors, eventually,
Bearing gifts, kids running into your arms,
The one who had to answer when confused little minds asked;
"Why doesn’t papa want to be with us anymore?"

She did this without ever losing herself or her identity,
Because she knew that, she too, was with the one,
The one who was there before everything.

Ladies, sometimes you don't know, sometimes we don't say it,
But sometimes, you are the most powerful presence in your man's life

On behalf of every man who's ever had someone believe in them,
Thank You!

By Vus / @JustVus

Edit:

I remember when Dope Store just started out it was similar times when s83 was just starting out - its awesome to see Andile still pushing and expanding. Seeing this gives everyone else who is still pushing to get their dreams out - to hold on, it will happen one day. Nice one Andile.

I have been following http://ieatcoffee.tumblr.com for a while now, and even liked the facebook page. Being mainly a fashion and lifestyle illustrator, ieatcoffee's use of colour in the works, is what ispires me. For all you illustrators, designers, artists, cartoonists, here are a few of my favorites, I do hope you get inspired.

...Rihanna

...I love the skeletal 'reflection' on the t-shirt

...a bit of photoshop added for effect

...an ode to the 'self'

Text: Jules

Images: ieatcoffee

South Sunset: Vogue Vignette — jeff

This past weekend i attended this "Secret" party at a "secret' location, well at least it was secret to those who didnt know about it. Bidding farewell to summer i say, its getting so cold any kind of  party will have to be indoors for me. Anyways, i as usual was working and thats how i have my fun.

Videography/Editing: Jeff Rikhotso

“Your job is to go to school and learn so that you can do these things for yourself” is a phrase I remember all too well in my childhood not only from my parents, but from the parents of any other peer who wanted to fill the conversation void as I waited for a buddy.

Once indoctrinated, I understood that an education was my ticket out of perceived mental or physical squalor and I feared nothing more than mental squalor. The inability to do for myself what my parents had been doing for me was a cause for much of my drive in the early years. The idea that a person could spend years “a hlezi” [sitting] was a disgraceful act. “Ke eng? Ha ana shem?” [does she feel no shame?] “kapa tlhogo ei notletsi?” [or has the brain locked itself in?]

There were only two reasons for a “person” not to have an occupation: you were either a shameless lout, or your brain was on a lock out. But then again, I was brought up by a generation that insisted that “idle hands were the devil’s playground”. So imagine my dismay when I came to discover that opportunities to study have become something of umzamo [a hustle].

I remember a time when to hustle connoted a sustained and persistent push toward the attainment of a goal [I’m not discounting the origins of the word]. If your hustle was a degree, then fellas would be talking about “ngi pusha ispani” a sustained study flow to complete your assignments, so that you can attain your degree.

An important factor in the hustle is the idea of sacrifice the knowledge that you may have to engage in activities you may not particularly enjoy or are not necessarily passionate about, in order to reach your goal. 

That’s the hustle doing what you have to, in order to gain what you covet.

These days I am confounded by stories of twenty-five year olds with no hustle, talking about “I’m not inspired to come to school”; “this is not what I expected”. Or, “I quit my job because it was ‘too much’; they expected me to do things that were too complicated”. My favourite one is, “Why do they expect these things, I’m young”. That's the faux-hustle at work.

I have come to learn of this new concept of learnership-hopping, where individuals apply for and obtain learnerships to study while receiving a stipend toward the attainment of skill whose qualification is meant to address the issues of: skills shortages and provide experiential learning for a youth that may otherwise not receive the experience [through conventional employment]. Most learnerships are a year-long, which provide for a relatively short-term commitment to a company or organisation offering the opportunity.  Upon completion, some individuals move on to other learnerships and over time are awarded a number of learnerships. 

Cumulatively, the learnership qualifications acquired have the potential number of credits to amount to a complete academic qualification [that would be my hustle]; but it seems the aim is never quite to complete the learnerships as it is simply to benefit from the schemes [aka umzamo].

The expectation that has been sewn into our society that we have to await handouts [either from government or from corporate] have reached the point of absolutely squander. We fear not the thought of wasting someone else’s money or the opportunities they bestow upon us. We lavishly consume and dispose of Bursaries, Stipends, and Transportation Allowances at will. We do not use them to better ourselves we do not use them to help us on our journey to self-establishment. 

Mzamo ke Moleko a change must come

We must work to prevent mental squalor society’s filth reeks in our midst; we will not be able to escape its stink.

Photographer: Daz Smith

Tuesday_Love Presents: Tues.Love with The_Bartender | !!DOWNLOAD!!

Todays'Lov.e:
1. Quadron - Day(feat. Coco)
2. Kaidi Tatham feat. Muhsinah - Always Will
3. Dego - Its Nothing
4. Daedelus - Tailor Made(Floating Points mix)
5. James Blake - CMYK
6. Hudson Mohawke & Mike Slott - Muse
7. Ta-ku - More Than Magic
8. Portformat - U gotta Find(Feat. Shuanise)
9. James Blake - I Mind
10. Feat. Kissey Asplund - How I Love
11. AFTA-1 - Tuesday
_________________________________________________________________

Tues.day - The day of the week before Wednesday and following Monday.

Love - is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection.

The_Bartender born Ipeleng Morake aka The SoulConnect aka Stoical_Sponcha_van_veuren an ex band member of Meat The Veggies and co-producer for covalist Ruby Gold represents the bar he tenda, contributing to and reflecting the atmosphere of the bar's musical journey. Where his cocktails are the main focus, The_Bartender is all but invisible. Alternatively, The_Bartender may be part of the entertainment, expected to engage in flair bartending or other forms of entertainment (Pole, table dancing of all sorts).

Where tipsy-tipping is a local custom, The_Bartender depends on tipsy-tips for most of his income. The_Bartender is also usually responsible for confirming that customers are old enough to drink before serving them alcoholic musical mixes. In some countries, The_Bartender is legally required to pump in more alcoholic musical mixes to drunk customers and encourage them to get drunk more.

!!DOWNLOAD!!
________________________________________________________________

a Tintsumi Media Innovation | Case Study
Creative & Art Director: Sello Ditjoe (@noidsystems)
Illustration & Poster: Sello Ditjoe (@noidsystems)
Photographer: Sello Ditjoe

via @Studio83_Mag

New local stock photography site, AgencystockSA, is running a Local is Lekker photo competition. Anybody can enter as many times as they like and the panel of esteemed judges – Joanne Thomas (The Jupiter Drawing Room), Jesse Leigh Elford (Photographer), Morne van Zyl (Photographer) and Alistair King (King James) – will pick a winner who gets R5000. Sound good?

Here are the details:

All you have to do is upload photos that represent South African flavour the best. The things you only see in South Africa. And no, you’re not limited to one photo, you can upload a thousand if you want. Continue ...

Hattip via Miss Msibi

Sounds, light, colours, space, time, nature, and silence... that is what Szjerdene will tell you when you ask what inspires her. Good day S83. I have been sitting on this for quite some time now and I haven't even given it the time of day as I usually do with good new music.

Quick background, Szjerdene is 23 and was born and raised in the Hackney neighborhood of North London. I find it so interesting that she says that she grew up listening to Maria Carey's Music Box. That, she says, was what introduced her to a life-long love of music. The reason why it's so interesting is that her music is just that step further than pop - she has incorporated her later love for jazz and blues into her music from the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Dusty Springfield.

To be honest, I loved this girl because I found her name so intriguing. She has just released Patchwork The EP under Wonderful Ear Records. I found this recording from the UK Station Sessions which happen at St. Pancras International - a platform showcasing new music.

P.S If you're wondering how to pronounce her name, she says it here.

Another entry to the list of my hot friends with style and love for street fashion. This my friend Mamello, she hails from the south of Jozi. My boys Khumbelo and Karabo came thru for this shoot, big ups.

Photography by: Jeff Rikhotso

Model: @MamelloNaves

Famous Greek philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle believed that leadership comprised of vision, ethics, oral prowess or the power to persuade, conviction, selflessness  and sacrifice, but also the ability to listen to and understand different viewpoints. Throughout history there have been such leaders who have, because of these attributes, shaped the world as we know it. The following are some of the leaders who made a great impact on the world or at least their countries.

Alexander the Great

Born a prince, Alexander was destined to be in a position of power from the onset however his leadership resulted in one of the most famous and largest empires ever. Thrust into power at the tender age of 16, he followed the teachings of his tutor, Aristotle and by the time he was 30 had conquered most of the known world. Although mostly remembered for his military leadership, Alexander’s legacy is the fusion of different cultures and races all from a perspective of mutual respect.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Another military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte is often referred to as a child of the French Revolution. He is best remembered for his small stature but big ambitions and his leadership led to some stability in France and to some extend, Europe. His legal reform, the Napoleonic Code remains a major influence on civil law jurisdictions across the world.

Shaka kaSenzangakhona

Also known as Shaka Zulu, this is one of the most famous chiefs in South Africa. A military legend, he is recognised for uniting the Nguni clans. He is, however, not given enough credit for the strong Zulu kingdom he created and this is largely due to the brutality this involved but a lot of what he achieved was based on diplomacy as well.

Abraham Lincoln

America’s 16^th president is also arguably its most recognisable. Abraham Lincoln’s legacy includes leading his country through moral, civil and military crisis. He is recognised for legally ending slavery in North America, and is remembered for his rousing speeches. Most people are, however, unaware of the fact that Lincoln was mostly self taught and although he became a laywer, he failed to secure a seat in the United States Senate several times before being elected as President of the Federation.

Winston Churchil

A notable statesman  and orator Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister for Britain Twice, most notably in the second World War. His speeches and radio broadcast inspired the people of Britain to resist the Hitler’s German army.

Nelson Mandela

Incarcerated for 27 years, this South African leader led with both diplomacy and urgency even while behind bars. His background as a lawyer may have assisted in his objectivity on various issues but its his leadership which enabled a negotiated democracy. A world icon, Nelson Mandela’s legacy includes the creation of a nation with such rich diversity as well as one of the world's most progressive constitutions.

Barack Obama

Obama is a sublime orator who overcame controversy on his religious, racial and political beliefs to become the first black president of the United States of America. His slogan promising change remains a challenge which he has risen to remarkably well given the political and economical circumstances under which he must lead. He has stuck to most of his deadlines however time is ticking for him as most of his allies have been voted out of office, most recently, Zarkozy in France.

There are many other leaders who deserve to be mentioned here for their contribution to society as well as incredible leadership however we would like to find out who else you would put on this list and why? 

I'm in love with Lamborghini design of late - they are better than Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin. The Estoque looks mean and fresh but it has that Alfa Romeo 157 look though. This design is based on the Aventador [but since the Estoque concept came out in 2008, I don’t know which one came first] - personally I think it’s the best-designed Lamborghini since Diablo.

This cover is really cool but will Complex feature Kid Cudi every year on the covers? Like really there are so many people out there are better than him ...

via Tehpapercut

A while back i (With my business partner Mesia) got commissioned to shoot the entire Kaya fm DJ line up as well as their outdoor Ad campaign (Currently on Kaya Fm rooftop, M1 South, Newtown). Working with such radio vets as legendary George Manyosi, T-Bose and Bob Mabena was an honor for me. These are sone shots for your enjoyment.

Oh this was our first ever commercial shoot and biggest to date.

Photography and retouching: Jeff Rikhotso

Yoh! I almost forgot about this, sorry about that - had too many deadlines all at the same time last week. Since I started to post the monthly stats I have realized something that I have been in denial of for the longest time. Studio83 Magazine target market is 18-25 years of age (I stand to be corrected here) and I'm not saying that if you are over 25 years you feel out of place but the reaction of the audience on s83 reflects ones of this age group.

Here is a bit of information about the 18-25 Segment Report

• 18-25 Segment Overview (2007-2011): Total Population; Percentage of Total Population; Living Standards Measure distribution for 18-25 year olds; Exact Age Distribution
• Gender Distribution: Male; Female
• Life-stage Distribution: At Home Singles; Starting-out Singles; Couples; Parents; Single Parents
• Education Level Distribution: None; Some Primary School; Primary School Complete; Some High School; Matric; Technikon Diploma Or Degree; University Degree; Other Post Matric
• Community Distribution: Rural; Settlement; Small Village; Large Village; Small Town; Large Town; City; Metropolitan — SOUTH AFRICA SEGMENT REPORT

1. Johannesburg 2.Sandton 3. Cape Town 4. Pretoria 5.Durban 6. Randburg 7. Germiston 8. Constantia Park 9. Florida 10. Centurion 11. Midrand 12. Port Elizabeth 13. Auckland Park 14. Roodepoort 15. Bloemfontein 16. Rustenburg 17. Kempton Park 18. Polokwane 19. Stellenbosch 20. Benrose 21. Parktown 22. Hatfield 23. Pietermaritzburg 24.Vereeniging 25. Alberton

• 25,446 / visits 
• 622,018 / page views/impressions
• 15,554 / unique-visitors
• 967,185 / hits
• 4.3 Gigabytes of bandwidth
• Average Visit Duration / 00:02:00

1. Ass 2. American Apparel 3. Minnie Dlamini 4. Studio 83 5. Vus Ngxande 6. Anggun 7. Marisa Ramirez 8. Timbuktu 9. Siyabonga Ngwekazi 10. Mepako 11. Tumblr Girl 12. Izikhokho 13. David Beckham Fashion 14. Studio83 Kabomo 15. Infadizle 16. Claire Mawisa 17. Sloan from Entourage 18. 76motherussia 19. Natalie Suliman 20. Boitumelo Thulo 21. Pursuit of Happiness Quotes 22. Nandi Mngoma 23. Bria Myles 24. Jon Olsson R8 25. Studio83

Top 15 Posts for April 2012

1. Politics: Obama checking out Ass
2. American Apparel
3. Chicks Dig Thursdays / Minnie Dlamini
4. VUS.ISM: RAPE (Pt 1) [New Entry]
5. Chicks Dig Thursdays / Marisa Ramirez
6. Jon Olsson [New Entry]
7. Chicks Dig Thursdays / Deus abençoa o Brasil
8. Misunderstanding Mondays: Cheaters [New Entry]
9. Chicks Dig Thursdays / Bria Myles [New Entry]
10. The Almost Naked Truth [New Entry]
11. Underneath It All [New Entry]
12. Chicks Dig Thursdays / Emmanuelle Chriqui
13. Chicks Dig Thursdays: Boitumelo Thulo
14. Quotes Of The Day / Pursuit of Happiness [14]
15. Stats — March 2012 [New Entry]

Now looking at the above information certain things now make sense - like Chicks Dig Thursdays is always tops (besides the fact that sex sells) and for the fact that Education Wednesday is always read but people comment less it might be because the audience don't have enough life experience to be able to disagree — so mostly agree and absorb the information and move on. Topics that always get people attention Sex, Cheating, Race etc (basically anything sexual) are exciting and everyone has an opinion in almost all those topics.

I hope all that makes sense ... please let me know your thoughts.

Last night, I decided to spend almost two hours cutting up my shirt into something "summer worthy". Inspired by a black maxi dress I just bought from Forever 21, I cut across the middle of my shirt.

I then tied the two halves of the shirt in the middle, front and back. I then cut the sleeves, as well as the bottom half of the shirt, to create a fringe look.

Kind of rock 'n roll, but still sexy. The process of actually cutting the shirt was easy. It just takes a lot of patience. It's important to never get sloppy nor lazy in the midst of creating! I'm not quite done with the shirt, but for the most part, here it is...

- B1ue  twitter.com/electricb1ue

I am searching for a religion. Yes, seriously. I am looking for a home for my divine beliefs. Strange, isn’t it? That someone is looking for something that is so, well, common. So common in fact that, having a specific faith borders on common sense. Well, common sense, as the quip goes, is not very common.

From that paragraph alone, many of you have already made up your minds about my standpoint and have probably boxed me somewhere. Off the top of the shaking head, the first point would be, “but you are Christian”. Eish, I will try to be brief on that one. South Africa is generally perceived to be traditionally Christian. (There’s irony in that statement). Most of us were Christian before we knew our own names and in that, lay the perils of assumption. Assuming that, because you rocked your Sunday best since yay high, you automatically know WHY you were Christian in the first place. For more than half my life I believed I was Christian. That is, until I realized I had stopped being Christian in very much the same way as I had become one, without my knowledge. John 14:6 “Jesus answered ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’”. My dilemma was that Ididn’t believe that the Christian God was the only God, or that Jesus was the only channel to him. I believed in Jesus as much as I believed in the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, or the Hindu deities, or Haile Selassie. This is mostly because I know that, had I grown up in the Middle East, Christianity would be something I see on tv mostly. I have also sat down with people from different faiths and listened to how, to them, it only makes sense to believe in their specific religion.

But this is not a post about Christianity. I am not trying to discredit anyone’s faith. Although, I do know that by putting these points across, some will perceive it as me being against their faith. Not even the Sunday Facebook church. You know, the Church of The Holy Update and All of A
Sunday Saints. But the world of religious beliefs is also becoming very muddled, in my opinion anyway. With so many religions and beliefs, many claiming the sole right to God, it does beg the question; how necessary is it to belong to a specific faith or denomination? Everyone believes his or her faith is the right one. Why? Based on what? Sadly, these questions are usually written off as me lacking the backbone to stick to the “one true God”, regardless of which name he answers.

I could very easily resort to Atheism. But it is, in itself, an institution. Also, I feel they tend to be reactionary, anti-something or other. I’ve entertained Gnosticism, which loosely provocates for a faith sans middle “man” like Jesus. But this route is also murky. I believe that one’s analysis of one’s religion revolves around certain fundamental of questions; do you believe in the existence of/a God? If yes, then do you feel that your belief in this divine being has to be structured around certain practices, acts or routines? Does this faith then need a name? Then, more contentiously, do you believe this faith should have the sole right of existence above all others?

The other reason I can’t get with the Atheist crew is that, I DO believe in God. Also, very typically, when sh*t hits the fan in my life, I do want to reach out to “something bigger”. Something to assure me that existence is not in free-fall. But this reaction, especially the Christian elements of it, comes more as a force of habit than anything My main gripe is the countless “human” variations of God. We grow up in religion in the same way we grow up in school. You are taught a lot of things that you are told will make sense later in life. The problem comes in, especially in faith based societies like ours, where like in school, you want to choose your own path/career. In primary school I was not taught graphic design, but A is for Apple has stuck with me. The basic tenets of having a faith have stuck with me from my youth. But the path before me is not leading me to any specific house of worship. But it seems as though choosing not to have a religion is like going to school and then choosing to be a bum.

Words: Vus / @JustVus
Photograph: Novocane

My latest obsession ...

My sermon went along these lines:

But that is precisely my function, to reach into your cranium and muck things about until change takes place. When the ritual learning experience is complete, you should be clear of oppressive knowledge and be ready to walk a new path. 

But this was a resilient little demon.

When seeking knowledge a person has to be prepared to undertake the process of acquisition. This is not simply a “seek & find” mission; it is mission of development [which by its very definition refers to an incident that causes change or progress]. If you claim to have read something or researched something, [as an incident of learning] and are neither influenced nor changed by it [or at the very least affected by it] you are not at a place of learning. Once acquired, you have taken ownership of knowledge [you possess it as one would a tangible asset].

There is a humility involved in allowing yourself to learn. If you are too distracted by the mode of teaching [the way a person looks or how they express themselves] you are not prepared to learn.  My flock was frustrated at my insistence to ask them questions instead of providing them with answers; they asked me, “but if you are here to entertain, should you not be prepared to entertain?”

What am I an actor? Or a teacher?

See teaching is my business, and learning is your business.

The two are however not mutually exclusive, for a teacher can teach all day long, whether or not learning occurs is a matter for speculation. 

I do know however that in order to allow learning to take place you have to be open to learning.  Allow new knowledge to come into your headspace and rearrange the furniture. This is what makes learning a difficult experience. If we are in the vicinity of new knowledge and can at a later stage recite it as if we know it, we have not learnt anything. But if we have integrated new knowledge within ourselves that when we speak of it we express it as though we discovered it, we have been changed by it.

“But you are busy asking us questions, instead of telling us what we did wrong.”

I’ll tell you what you’re doing wrong.You have removed yourself from the entire learning process: classes are events that are imposed on you; lecturers are creatures that are sent to ruin your lives, assignments are tasks that are created to rid you of your youth. 

All of these are things sent to invade your precious headspace; things that are happening to you.  Nothing that you are necessarily invested in yourself. Learning is very much un-fun.

You’re of the opinion that you are here to learn how to do design. I however am not in the habit of teaching people how to do design. I am in the business of teaching people how to become designers.

If you are in a class of mine and are ill prepared to be changed by it you are in the wrong place.  

*rolls in the next class

Photographer: Khumbelo

The hotel will consists of two spherical buildings connected by three columns providing stability, and a long vertical shaft that contains an elevator and stairway. 

...the discs supported on three columns

...approach

...helipad and rooftop bar

The elevator takes guests about 10m below the surface of the ocean where the 21 room hotel, dive center and bar are located. Each room has huge windows offering a view out from the bed and an external ‘explorer’ robot, which can be controlled from within the rooms will allow guests to interact closely with sea creatures, whilst taking photographs of them.

...hotel room

...hotel room views

Hosted above the waterline will be a restaurant, spa and reception area, with guest descending below the water surface in glass walled tunnels to get to their rooms.

The hotel will offer diving services, with a training pool and other water sports. It is proposed to be built to the highest safety standards, ensuring that the top disc is built high enough to withstand a tsunami and flooding, whilst the lower disc will automatically surface in the event of any danger.

...the above surface restaurant

With no specific planned opening date, I for one will be watching to see if this architectural achievement ever comes to fruition

Tuesday_Love Presents: Clive Bean | Underground Our Home_Block 15 (Love Tuesday House It Edit) 

Todays'Lov.e_Mixed By Clive Bean, Running Time: 46:13: !!DOWNLOAD!!

1. Incognito - Freedom To Love (Atjazz Remix)
2. Deep Xcape & Dee Mac - Overtone (Main Mix)
3. Liquideep – Feel it (Andre Lodemann remix)
4. Tigerskin – November
5. Monotone  - Invitation to dance (Sole Essential Smoove Candi Remix)
6. Shigeru Tanabu - El Contraste (Atjazz Love Soul Remix)
7. Soulcreation Feat. Misu Sueno - En_ti (rub-a-dub)
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Tues.day - The day of the week before Wednesday and following Monday.

Love - is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection.

Professional DJ / Music Conceptual Developer / Head DJ Lecturer

Clive’s music career started in 1994 with his involvement at his High School events in the Johannesburg East Rand Township, Vosloorus. This was highly inspired by his collection of mix-tapes that included the greats like Ganyani, Tokzen and Bob Mabena’s drive time show that played on Radio Bop. His musical taste at the time covered a wide range of styles: Hip Hop (Krs-One, Keith Murray, De la Soul, etc.), Funk (Ashford and Simpsons, Kool and the Gang, Diana Ross…) and more specifically House music. This led him to a career in the South African Music Production and DJ Industries in which he has been a recognized player for the past 16 years. His discerning taste and skill as a DJ has seen him invited to grace stages through out South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland, Germany, Kenya, New York City and recently Switzerland.

In 1999, he joined Suga Trax (a vinyl and DJ’s accessory store), which was renamed SoulCandi Records. Clive has conceptualized and co-ordinated his own events for years. He has been commissioned by Levi’s® to compile a series of South African Afro/Deep House music, for its stores all over South Africa. As part of SoulCandi’s current A&R team, Clive is a Compiler for International and National Dance Music Compilation CD’s. Clive now also combines his career as a professional DJ with teaching. He is currently the Head DJ Lecturer at the SoulCandi Music Institute, in Johannesburg. He has been, to date, employed by SoulCandi Music Group for the past 11 years.

Other Concepts, Compilations and Involvements:

• 2010 His latest CD compilation “Soul Essentials” was released on SoulCandi sessions 5 and has sold Double Platinum.

•2009/10/11/12 Levi’s® Live Mixtapes: quarterly compilations (played at all Levi’s stores throughout South Africa)

• 2008/2009 Compilation released with U.S based Kingstreet Records: Mix The Vibe Series “Mix The Vibe S.A” Double CD Compilation with Teddy Douglas (Baltimore, USA)

• 2005/ 2006 Compilation released with UK based Defected In The House “Downtown Grooves” CD Compilation

• 2004-05 Radio Mix Slot @ YFM 99.2 on Rudeboy Paul & Sanza’s Kamikaze Breakfast

• 2004 to date: Home Cookin’ Xclusiv Events: Head of Concept, Coordinator and Head DJ. (Series of Afro/Deep House events.)

Links to Clive’s Music:
www.soundcloud.com/clive-bean
www.soundcloud.com/soulcandi/candi-cast-007-clive-bean-underground-our-home-block-4/
www.soundcloud.com/soulcandi/candi-cast-009-clive-bean-underground-our-home-block-5/
www.soundcloud.com/soulcandi/sc5-clive-megamix/
www.soulcandi.co.za/index.php/candi-store/cd/mix-the-vibe-sa.html

!!DOWNLOAD!!
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a Tintsumi Media Innovation | Case Study
Creative & Art Director: Sello Ditjoe (@noidsystems)
Illustration & Poster: Bafana Qwabe of Petrol BOMB (@bafanaq)
Photography: Sello Ditjoe

via @Studio83_Mag

Population statistics indicate that there are only slightly more men than women in countries throughout the world. Factor in the fact that there are so many men in prison and a sizable percentage of men are homosexual then you get to a situation where the numbers are pretty even. So it seems bizarre then that it is just accepted in society that men cheat more than women. Are these men cheating alone? Perhaps the most compelling evidence to the fact that women cheat just as men do is the fact that most men would be willing to testify in court, to the fact that they have slept with or dated several married or committed women. Several.

Good Girls gone bad

There is a saying that once a good girl goes bad, she’s gone forever.  She can’t be brought back.  And that’s why if a woman gets a bad reputation, whether she deserved it or not, she will find it near impossible to get back to being a “good girl”. Think of the male superstars who cheat, most of them have gone on in their careers heralded as sex icons while their female counterparts are punished for their infidelity. Remember Blue Cantrall?  Her debut album was a top-seller but her career went down the drain as soon as it was discovered that she had been a porn actress before her singing talent was discovered.  Nicky Minaj’s career almost suffered the same fate after it was suggested she had also been a porn actress. But why is it that society is so unforgiving towards bad girls trying to be good?

Patriarchy

Even before the hippies movement of free love AKA sexual revolution, came into play one of the most crucial aspects influencing sexual relations was and still is patriarchy. This system, placing men above women, has allowed men privileges they really shouldn’t have the right to. For example polygamy. If a woman where to marry six husbands it would be deemed socially and morally unacceptable.

Exploitation of women

The legacy of the patriarchy system is the exploitation of women. This has come in many forms and is perhaps also partly responsible for the high rape incidences. The saying "sex sells" then becomes highly misguided within this context. What should really be said is that the exploitation of women sells. Because in 99% of the cases, its women being portrayed in sexually suggestive ways that "works". Doesn’t quite work with men.  And can you picture a woman subscribing to a porn magazine to watch naked men all day long? Women are wired differently but it doesn’t mean they don’t cheat.

The modern woman – Femme Fatale

Because of patriarchy and the consequent exploitation of women on different levels, the modern woman has acquired skills pertinent to their survival in this age. The modern women has earned the right to stand on her own and will do so for as long as she wishes. But the modern woman will also go after anything she wants. She  is not afraid to admit she wants dick, and just dick, nothing else. She’s not afraid to approach a man in the street and floor him with seduction. She’s not afraid of going home with a stranger. And she’s not afraid of leading a man on and holding out on him no matter what. In short, the modern woman is more in control of her sexuality than ever but more careless about exposing her sexual desires.  What makes the modern woman the quintessential femme fatale is the ability to cheat and not get caught.  And whereas men are likely to exaggerate their sexual conquests, women are more likely to undermine theirs. They are not driven to cheat by their egos, they have a totally different motivation.  It could be lust, but in most cases, its something more ...

Photographer: Diaan Mynhardt

To all the really genuinely pretty cool and hot guys out there I apologise in advance.

Dear Cool Guy,

How you doing? Oh me, I’m good, thank you for asking. Hell I didn’t think that you had even taken notice of me. By the way you look even better in person, admiring you from a far doesn’t do your beauty any justice. You like that huh? Don’t act all coy now; everyone deserves to have a compliment once in awhile.

Can I get you a drink? We need to get a few things straight nothing major really; just something I got get off my chest.  I all appreciate your good looks and the time that you take to look good, but your looks cannot be the only thing that you put an effort in. As life would have it the earth actually only revolves around the moon, as much as you’d like to think it goes around you 365 days in a year. Quite frankly there's got to be more to you than that. Don’t get me wrong the ladies definitely appreciate a man that cares about his appearance; it sure does get heads turning in your direction.

So it’s not entirely a bad thing, but you don't have to check yourself out on every reflective surface, it gets annoying. My appreciation for your good looks, and suave sense of style shouldn’t be confused with some sort of crush. Trust me if I was crushing and hard, you wouldn’t miss it. Your beauty will fade or there will just be some other hotter dude to gaze at for hours on end.

Stop it! You are making all the other honest good looking fellas seem like y’all are cut from the same shallow cloth from the planet of douche lords. Trust me when I say we know that life is a lot easier the prettier you are. Well guess what; sometimes life isn’t as easy as we’d like it to be you still have to make an effort to get me and to show me that you are interested. I will get used to your beauty and will need more. Your looks will get me interested, but will they keep me?

Enough about the pretty boys. I haven’t forgotten about the rest of you cool guys out there. The Mr have-it-alls: lights, camera and action- famous for whatever types. The truth of the matter is ya'll are hot. The in thing, your names are on everyone’s lips and you got the ladies crazy just thinking about you. Heck you could probably give Trey Songs a run for his money in the "Mr Steal Your Girl" game. It seems like everyone wants a piece of you.

Most are drawn to you by your talent and skills. Some just admire you.You’d like to us to think that you have more substance than the pretty boys, but let’s be real here y’all are just as shallow. Y’all even have other dudes dying to be noticed by you, just one split second of recognition. Talk about dick riding.

I can only imagine how annoying it must get, but it can’t be more annoying than watching a dude’s ego walk in before he does. You see that behaviour right there makes you far from cool. In fact it makes you look like a real loser, and that is just not HOT. The interesting thing about people is that they may not remember what you did to them, but they will ALWAYS remember how you made them feel.

Thing is gents, life is a lot simpler than we are all making it. You know what else isn’t hot or even remotely cool is painting is people with the same disgusting brush. So just because you have people screaming your name and throwing themselves at you, does not mean that we are all the same. The truth is the same life rule applies to all of us. Now somewhere out there in this big bad world; there is a cool guy who is just that cool. Kudos to you dude. *high five*

It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t let the “clique boys” know a few things about how they’ve been acting too. Oh we all know them, rolling 5/6 deep wherever they do. The partners in crime and thick as thieves, they are tighter than a bunch of ladies trying to make it to the bathroom. From the outside your inner circle looks so inviting. Like that is the best place in the world a girl could ever be. And you’re right it is the coolest place ever, but just not for me. You see for me it’s like being an animal voluntarily walking into the butchery hoping to not to get culled. In the beginning the inner circle is an awesome space to be in, and you might even find a dude you actually click with. Then without fail the douche is you begin to surface. Then just for control you tell me the things you think I want to hear, as opposed to just be an honest individual.

We walk into a room and there isn’t a banging girl/woman in there whose panties you can’t imagine on your bedroom floor. You are predator by nature and as luck would have it, I will always seem to be the prey. The thing that grates my tits the most about clique dudes, is the lengths you will go to protect your seedy and disgusting behaviour. How even when the opportunity presents itself for you to actually be a nice guy, you always seem to do the uncool thing and choose to be a right royal dick. Then again I can’t blame you. Your dick pretty as it is cannot be the measure of your worth. Oh and this includes the poor sods that always end up being the wingmen to clean up your dirty work. Yes wingmen, you too can be as uncool and surprisingly turn to be as ugly as the pretty boys, cool dudes and gross as the clique boys.

In the end it all comes down to a matter of choice. I love that you love looking good and I appreciate that you take time to look like you walked out a GQ shoot. And sometimes I think it’s cute when you play the hard to get card, even if I have no intention of ever sleeping with you.  Yes I must be honest the pretty dick can be useful too, even though we won’t admit that in public. It’s simple this all boils down to general lack of respect all round. It won’t kill you to be courteous once in a while, take time to remember my name even though we’ve been introduced 5 times.  

If humility is a trait that you lack, then please at least attempt to be sincere in your approach in respect to us. We may or may not be your fans, but one thing we can count on is the fact that we are not your STANS. So don’t do us any favours or expect any if you fail to treat us like decent human beings.

Let the conversation begin.

Vs

xoxo

There is nothing, I mean NOTHING that brings out more drama, action, scandal and laughs in a township family unit than the death of a father figure.

Its almost according script. Starting from just after the initial shock of the sad news, you can grab your packet of amakipkip and sit back.

First, Uncle Khandashisa rocks up to come "handle" everything. No, you didn't ask him to. Poor mom, she has to sit on the matraas. Actually, what has a bed base ever done to anyone? Anyway, so mom is doeked and tjalid in the bedroom with the grief-squad. There's always some old lady you've never met sitting in there, and she's always passing out. Meanwhile, outside, people are slowly making their way into the yard. Some happily chatting, till they get to the kitchen, spontaneously start wailing and then pull a young collapse. In comes the sugar water. Has anyone ever verified if sugar water/stashota/starch actually calms nerves? And, does vigorously rubbing the chest sooth heartache.

In any family I believe you need a strong Aunty Team. The gangster ones who put on their doeks, a la Rambo, and handle business. You need them especially on peeling night. When young Thabo's mom from next door asks him to bring a big bucket to use to rinse veggies. Little Thabo skips happily with the empty bucket. But, when the bucket has to leave your yard, youngen is practically dragging the heavy, tightly closed bucket.

A few days into the week and Khandashisa is living up to his name. That bald head looking like an ad for Glezerin. Aunt Fatuku on the other hand, had always been saying how she put daddy dearest in her burial society scheme. Yet, she is strangely quiet about coffing up the loot. In comes Uncle Puo Paa during the people on some, "wena Fatuku, don't think we don't know that you are socking the cash". Wait, was PP tipsy before after he got here?

Some old jacket wearing young guy rocks up at the door and Ol' PP turns to him asks, "and you are who?", "I'm Vaslapa and the deceased was my father" answers the head-scratcher, backing up his claim with a suspect weep. The is a collective "clap once" around the kitchen and the doeks are smh'ing. "Well, pick a number and join the queue", retorts mighty Puo Paa. They say where there is will, your name better be on it.

Outside, the cow has broken loose and the men folk are in hysterics.  Khandy just ducked into the kitchen behind Aunt Vasplanka (who actually knew about Vaslapa). PP is crapping all the men out on how they might as well wear does too. Uncle Stering comes in to save the day. He straight up busts a cap in the cows head. The gunshot silences the of whole Zone 3. Cousin Sta Soft sulks because this means he's not eating the meat. He doesn't eat murder victims. He's too sophisticated, eating Lucky Star Pilchards from his plump chicks body and all. So what!

Meanwhile, the church has arrived and Vice Jesus is just canibalising the tea and biscuits. Bontsi Knowels is belting out some AUTOmatic-Tune solo so off beat that no one can back her up. It happens like this every night during the funeral week. Vice Jesus always going off at tangent about scandalous youth, at an elderly man's hiding. That is, until deputy christ, he's translator, calls a time out. Telling VJ that yena he has things to do. The bastard line is growing and there is, well, very little Will to attend to them. What always amazes me is how grieving is for the guests and not the berieved. You spend so much time comforting guests that you forget that you are the one who lost someone.

The hearse will come and you will remember all too well. But after that, if you are male, its chopping up the beef and eating braaid liver. Sitting by the fire listening to Ol' PP telling you he's "in my time" stories. If you are female, its chopping veggies and sitting with those old school moms by the giant black pots. How they sit there, in the dead of winter, till the crack of dawn, I don't know.  But in a sense, sometimes the drama softens the blow for what is very, very difficult time.

If you have recently lost someone, condolences to you and your family. But, whenever you can, do look at the lighter side of it all. It does help.

Dedicated to my Aunt. RIP.

Words: Vus / @JustVus
Photography: Uno

Wynonna is an illustrator from the Caribbean Islands [I think], she has done Nandi's illustration taken from Lebo Lukewarm's shoot. This is her story ...

Salut tout le monde! Eh oui les blogs mode touchent également les Antilles! Malheureusement à ce jour et à ma connaissance, je ne suis toujours pas tombée sur un blog mode dont l’auteur vivait dans la Caraïbes. Longtemps inspirée par les blogs francophones, j’ai voulu à mon tour en créer un. Je suis de la Guadeloupe: jolie île en forme de papillon bordée par l’océan atlantique… :)

Google Translate: Hello everyone! Yes the fashion blogs also affect the Caribbean! Unfortunately to date and to my knowledge, I'm still not fallen on a fashion blog where the author lived in the Caribbean. Long inspired by blogs in French, I wanted my turn to create one. I am the Guadeloupe: beautiful butterfly-shaped island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean ... :)

Name: Wynonna Pseudonym: DoubleV Location: France Title: Black Woman Caption: A beautiful and elegant black woman

So GGM put me up on this shoot that Lebo Lukewarm did with Nandi ... *wipes forehead. I met Nandi when she was featured on the Seven Deadly Sins issue and all of a Sunday I see her everywhere. I thought she only did TV but I wasn’t aware of her singing - the Tonight track is fresh.

Bond…James Bond

This week, the fictional man we genuinely love is Mr. 007 himself.  

Fifty-nine years old! That is James Bond’s “real” age. Kinda hard to reconcile. The older guy you wonder about from a distance or an older fling who introduces you to drinking martinis at 11AM and cocktail parties? I’m sometimes torn about Mr. Bond. I wasn’t always a Bond fan, the twenties hinder desire and appreciation for suave and mystery. After a friend loaned me a box set with six Bond movies, I could only exhale “oh James!” and I was sold (read obsessed.)

There is no doubt that Agent James Bond 007 is the quintessential paradigm for unlawful/good guy, tuxedo wearing, sports car speeding, womanizing while on the job, and of course never aging. He’s the man’s man, and also very much a girl’s man…and that is possibly why he’s not real. Say it with me “Bond…James Bond.”

Oscar Niemeyer (1907- )

Oscar Niemeyer (Born Dec 15, 1907) is a Brazillian architect most famous for his use of abstract forms, curves and concrete. He didn't stick to traditional straight lines but rather free flowing sensual curves like that, as he once remarked, on the body of the beloved woman.

He was able to design and build curved architecture through his revolutionary usage of concrete. His designs are daring, mixing innovation and courage, plastic freedom and invention. Characterised by being spacious and exposed, his buildings are a mixture of volumes and empty spaces to create unconventional patterns, harmony and elegance.

Some of his more famous works are listed below.

National Congress of Brazil, Brasilia (1964)

Constructed while he served as the cheif architect for Brazils new capital Brasilia. The complex is composed of several buildings. The domed Senate building, the Parliament tower in the middle and the bowl shaped Chamber of the Deputies.

...a dome, a tower and a bowl

Cathedral of Brasilia (1970)

In 1988, at 81, Oscar Niemeyer was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious award in architecture, for this cathedral.

...the exterior view

...a view of the altar with three angel figures suspended above

Mondadori Headquarters, Milan, Italy (1975)

Niemeyer is to have said that with this building he was illustrating how important it was to maintain an external harmonious play on volume and free space, using arches of differing widths with an unequal and almost musical rhythm.

The site is surrounded by a large lake and is made up of three elements, a large cuboid characterised by tall arches or varying widths, linked to two low rise and sinous sections that appear to emerge out of the central building.

...a view of the 'complex'

...arches of differing widths at rhythmical spacings

Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum (1996)

The saucer shaped modernist structure overlooks Guanabara Bay, from where on the opposite side Rio de Janeiro and Sugarloaf Mountain can be seen.

...perched on a cliff edge

...looks like a flying saucer

In 2006, at the age of 99, he wed his longtime aide Vera Lucia Cabreira. They married in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema district. In December 2010 he turned 103 and opened a museum of his work, The Oscar Niemeyer Foundation outside Rio de Janeiro and it houses drawings and models from this modernist architects 70-year career.

He is still alive to date.