Unsung heroes of PV
How to: First Date
My Life in Pink Emma Jane Menteath
Letter from the Editor Arvida Lincoln
MATTHEW SWANEPOEL 2. 3.
JAN BRÜMMER
4.
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7. Brilliantly Botha
6. LABUSCHAGNE 8. Vaarwel
liefste van
9 HANDSOME HUNTING HAYWARD Heerden... .
10.
MY LIFE IN PINK
12. 20
11. Cutest Couples
WAYS NOT TO
MESS UP A FIRST DATE
13. 14.
16. Vir 17.
Blue Tech
15.
Book Review: Frankenstein
Altyd—movie review
18. #trending
Bossa review 20.
19.
LA VOIX 22.
21. SPOKEN WORD
CARTOONS
by CRAIG WEBER
recipe
Konrad Kuehl By Belinda Naude
Jan Brummer by Hugo Uys
Dara Steingaszner by Abigail Janse van Rensburg
National Dancers by Emma Ramsbottom
UNSUNG HEROES OF PV
MATTHEW SWANEPOEL - Finn Adendorff Matthew Swanepoel is both a proud PV student and a South African downhill longboard racing champ. Boasting several big wins and big time sponsors, from a lot of hard work, dedication and passion comes worthy praise. Here is an inside look into a sport that few of us know much about. Q: How old were you when you started longboarding and taking part in downhill races? A: I started riding at the age of 11 and started doing competitions at 12. Q: How much practice do you need to get in before a big competition? A: A lot at first, but as I get closer to the competition it’s more about confidence and mind set. Q: What is the biggest competition you've taken part in so far and how well did you do? A: Hot Heels Africa was a pretty big event with many international skaters taking part and bringing an end to the South African points-series. I ended up coming in first place. Q: What's your goal for your longboarding career? A: To take it less seriously. I want to focus more on the photography of the sport. Q: What do you love the most about the sport? A: The rush I get when I'm on my board facing a big hill, and the fear that I feel, really helps to clear my mind. The feeling I get once I'm at the bottom of a scary hill is the best feeling ever. Q: Where is your favourite place to skate? A: Definitely the Franschhoek pass. Q: What is your usual routine before taking part in a competition? A: Practising what I’m not confident in, like stopping with a power-slide or breaking with my feet. Q: What is your motivation when you're struggling or doing badly in a race? A: I walk away from the competitiveness and re-join the event just to have fun. It normally gets me back into the race mind-set.
When did you start fishing? – Tell us the story.
- Belinda Naude
I started fishing when I was two, but I only got really into competitive fly fishing when I was thirteen. Where is your favourite place to fish? I like fly fishing in the Smalblaar River, Du Toitskloof. This river is very special to me as I have won many competitions there and my personal best is fifty five rainbow trout in about six hours of fishing (all released!) I also enjoy saltwater fishing in Struisbaai. I have been fishing there since I was a “laaitjie” and every time I go back there I always catch something new or something bigger than before! What achievements/awards have you received for fishing? Fly Fishing - 2x SA Junior Fly Fishing Team (2014 and 2015), placed 16th at the World Youth Fly Fishing Champions in Poland - 2014. Ranked second in the country for the second year in a row now. Individual Silver and Bronze at Junior Nationals 2014 in Limpopo and 2015 in the Eastern Cape. First person to make the SA Junior team at their first Protea Trials. What is the difference between fly fishing and normal fishing? In fishing, your bait is easier to cast because it is weighted, but since the artificial lures that we cast have almost no weight, we cast out our weighted line with the fly on the end of it. The tackle is a lot more specific and fishing is more active and productive. What is your favourite memory regarding fishing? Definitely standing in the water at night at Struisbaai beach, holding a 120kg ragged tooth shark by the tail and releasing it back into the ocean after a one and a half hour fight. Another moment that I will never forget is netting a fish in the last five minutes during the final session at World Champs and beating the world champion in that final session. With whom do you go fishing? I go fishing with all my teammates and any of my friends who would like to experience fishing with me. We try make it as fun as possible so that we always have a great time. What do you wear when you go fishing? I either a wetsuit or a waterproof set of pants known as waders so that I don't freeze in the ten degree mountain water. Do you see yourself/want to have a future in fishing? Fishing is just a hobby for me and as much as I love doing it, I don’t think I will be able to have a career in fishing. How much did the biggest fish you’ve ever caught weigh? I have recently caught two very large ragged tooth sharks, the one weighing 120kgs and the other weighing 96kgs. What are some advantages and disadvantages in pursuing fishing as a sport? Fishing is an amazing sport and as much as it is fun, it is also a lot of hard work. While preparing for World Champs, our team spent the last 2-3 months researching the venues and preparing our fishing tackle for the conditions we would face. It is also a highly intelligent sport, as you need to know where the fish will be, at what time and how you will be able to catch them.
JAN BRĂœMMER - Hugo uys
Almal van julle ken die spreekwoord "Dinamiet kom in klein pakkies." Dit word weereens bewys deur Jan Brummer. Jan is besig om naam te maak vir homself as 'n briljante gimnas. Dit het egter nie oornag gebeur nie. Jan het op ouderdom 9 begin met gimnastiek en vanjaar is dus sy 8ste jaar as gimnas. In die loop van die 8 jaar is daar natuurlik 'n hoogtepunt of twee wat sal kop uitsteek. "My grootste prestasie en trotste oomblik... Ek sal moet sĂŞ, dit was toe ek die SAS in Tuimel vlak 4 gewen het en ook die geleentheid gekry het om in die SAS, in die Artisisties vlak 7 te kompeteer ". Saam met alles goed kom daar egter sleg (of eerder uitdagend). Jan beskryf vir my die strawwe oefening waardeur hy daagliks moet gaan om gimnastiek-fiks te bly. "Na 'n dag se oefening en klas gaan jy huis toe, net om daar verder te oefen." Dit is liggaamlik uitputtend en kan maklik met jou gedagtes ook begin speel.
- Abigail Janse van Rensburg In the year 2012 a grade eight girl entered Parel Vallei High School as an eager music student. Little did she know she would become one of Parel Vallei’s very own stars-blowing us all away with her amazing talent. She recently wowed us with her performance in the Back to the 80’s musical with her breath taking solo of “Material girl” by Madonna. She doesn’t stop there, however, as she also released a solo album “Brain Washed Buffoons” (which is available on iTunes) and she is a member of the band Under the Tree. I asked our singer a few questions on her career to find out a few ‘behind the scenes’ details: 1.
How old were you when you first started studying music?
I started formal classical piano training at age 4. I have been singing since I can remember, but only started taking lessons from age 16. 2.
When did you start playing music professionally?
I wouldn't call myself a professional (that’s more something I want to aspire to) but I have been playing paid, live music shows or 'gigs' since December 2014. 3.
How has your music grown since you first started out?
It has been a very long ride now… I’m going into my 14th year of playing music. There is a large variety of things I want to improve on with regards to the overall spectrum of being a musician. Some of my more memorable achievements are playing in the national Sanlam Classical music competition in both Grade 6 and 7, making it reasonably far in SA's got Talent at age 10 and the ability to have a big enough repertoire to be able to play requested songs on the spot for the audience during shows. These are some signs to indicate major growing points over the past 14 years. On a more recent note, my personal music compositions were released on iTunes and Spotify last year which were successful in downloads and in giving myself more exposure. I hope to grow more and work harder on my music and try to get my name out there. 4.
Where does your passion / inspiration come from?
My passion comes from the pure joy, happiness and purity that is in my soul when I play music. I believe everyone was put on this earth with a purpose, and to give to society in some form. I believe I was always meant to be a musician and I have always wanted to be one; it has been my dream ever since I can remember. I was genuinely passionate about music before the world significantly influenced the way humans evolved to think. Some of my major inspiration comes from various role models such as Matt Corby, Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald and a few more. 5.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for next year are to travel all over the world and play music wherever I can to get more exposure and experience. I will fund my travels from savings from now and from the money I receive from shows. In 2018 I plan to study at Berkley School of Music in Boston, USA.
- emma ramsbottom
While everyone was sleeping late, enjoying Easter eggs and the chilly weather the April holidays bring, we were waking up at 3am to steam costumes, put on makeup and style hair, getting ready to leave at 5am for the Rustenburg Civic Centre in Pretoria for another day of dancing and supporting. I am so excited to write an article about this experience and the fact that Parel Vallei is beginning to recognize this sort of sport, and art, more and more. The South African Championships of Performing Arts (SACPA) does not only feature dancing. There were 5 categories of competition: Vocal, Dance, Acting/Drama, Instruments/Music and even Modelling. Some of my friends from the Western Cape team performed in these other categories too, such as modelling and singing (vocal). We stayed in a lodge which caused a few problems. In my dance teacher’s cabin on the first night, her toilet fell through the floor‌ luckily with no one on it; and we often were not provided with food. Some nights when we heard we were not being catered for, we had to make a plan. Some days we ended up eating MacDonalds for lunch and Burger King for supper (it was not as great as it sounds!). This carried on for the full two weeks we were there. We travelled from the lodge to the civic centre every day at 5am. Once there, we either sat and supported (due to the fact that we were participators, our passes allowed us to be able to view any of the categories taking part during the day from the plays to the dancers to the musicians and models) our friends and others, warming up to take part, were on stage or were icing wounds in the cafeteria and eating makeshift lunches. We did this from 9am to 5pm and then proceeded back to the bus to travel home for the next hour only to get back to the lodge where we would be tumbling, hand-standing, cartwheeling or practising dances on the grass in the rain and thunder (there are lots of thunderstorms in Pretoria!) for the next hour or so. We would then have supper and practise dances for the next day until 9pm. Then it was lights out until 3am again. I had just pulled some muscles in my shoulders before this trip and was nursing it (I had made a few trips to the physiotherapist already). Like many of my other friends on the trip, it became an exercise between dances: dance, ice, Deep Heat, repeat. On one of the last days of the competition my friend became terribly ill but he kept on dancing. He showed the true spirit of never giving up. This is what it was about, passion. Despite these difficulties, some nasty competition, a few injuries and illnesses, I have never experienced the happiness I felt from performing on that stage with my friends. There was one night I remember well. We had just had a makeshift supper and began using our bottles, packets, straws, and voices to make music and began dancing around the table in the dining area. The happiness and love I felt in that moment is and always will be one of my favourite memories from this experience. After the competition, there is a selection round for the showcase evening (a concert of all the best acts on the last night). We were chosen! There was also a medal ceremony where we all received our medals and the South African Team was announced as well as all the overall winners and grand cham-
This championship provides you with so many opportunities one would think were out of reach. We made it onto the South African Team to go on to World Championships in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, if one person in your group can’t afford the R80 000 (excluding accommodation, catering and pocket money) to go, the entire group is not allowed to go. This was the case for us as it is very difficult to find sponsors for dancers. A friend I made from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Team went on to win the Senior Grand Champion of Dance at SACPA and won a fully sponsored trip to go to LA and take part in worlds. His dance partner went too and she danced with people such as Twitch, Melanie Moore and other all-stars from the television show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. There are scouts who watch you during Worlds and some people I know have gone on to win scholarships to attend dance companies in Hollywood and internships and so on. So this kind of competition can really open doors for people with dreams of acting, dancing, singing and playing music in Hollywood and making it big. I think it is an opportunity and a competition that is worthy of more recognition and support from families, schools and sponsors. It is not easy to be a dancer. Just look at any professional dancer’s feet. It takes hours and hours every day of blood, sweat and tears to become the best. It requires sacrifice, maturity, humility, perseverance, passion and spirit; the stuff The Blue Thread in this school is made of. I think the school should really dig into the opportunities this championship provides regarding our Drama and Music departments. This is the stuff dreams are made of. This is the stuff stars are made of. Well done to all my friends who joined me in this experience (in this school: Jade Boyce, Jolindi Snyman, Natalie Frohman, Tamryn McDonald, Bianca Nieuwoudt, Rodrique Japhta, Luke Bradshaw and Christopher Sherwood-Adcock, who matriculated last year, and all my family from Rhapsody Dance Centre); it would not have been as magical without you. The bond we made will be unbreakable and well done for all your achievements. The Western Province Team won the Best Province Award with our studio winning 97 golds, 55 silvers, 17 bronze and 3 overall trophies. Hard work pays off!
#-LIK WELKOM... Mnr. Labuschagne deur Collin Adrew Sherriff
Juf. Botha deur Hugo Uys
Juf. van Heerden deur Arvida Lincoln
LABUSCHAGNE maak die lewe lekker
- Collin sherriff
Op skool het hy verskeie atletiek prestasies behaal, as ook drie record verbeter! Hulige matrikulant, André Fritz, het gesê: “Híérdie yster is my motivering!” Nou ja… Hierdie “yster” bewandel deesdae die gange van PV! 1. Wat is meneer se eerste indrukke van Parel Vallei? Dit was baie positief! PV het gehalte onderwysers en positiewe leerders. 2. As meneer nie ‘n onderwyser geword het nie, wat sou meneer wou doen? Ek sou ‘n professionele rugbyspeler wou word – vir die Cheetahs en dan vir die Bokke! Ek sou ook graag ‘n meganiese ingeneur wou wees. 3. Is daar iemand spesiaal in meneer se lewe? Ja! My vrou, Adri. Ons is al drie jaar getroud. 4. Wat is meneer se stokperdjies? Kosmaak! En ek geniet dit om tyd saam met my honde te spandeer.(Meneer Labuschagne het twee Labradors en een Jack Russell.) 5. Watter lewenslesse sal meneer altyd bybly? Maak seker jy weet wat jy wil gaan swot na skool. 6. Wat sal meneer doen as meneer vandag 1 miljoen rand kry? My huis afbetaal. 7. Hoe wil meneer PV verander of beïnvloed? Die hele “main” struktuur van PV is reg. Alles werk en ek sal net iets wil verander as ek dit kan verbeter. 8. Wat is meneer se gunsteling plek op aarde? Prins Albert, saam my vrou. (Red. Aaaaw) 9. Wie is meneer se rolmodel? Theodore Roosevelt.Die lewenslus wat uit hom uitgestraal het, inspireer my vandag nog.
Brilliantly Botha
- Hugo Uys
Her favourite quote is quite long, but I felt it necessary to share. "Who honours those with the life we live? Who sends monsters to kill us, and at the same time screams that we'll never die? Who teaches us what's real and how to laugh at lies? Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend? Who chains us, and who holds the key to set us free? It's you. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight."
Before joining the ranks of Parel Vallei High School, she had taught at Fish Hoek High, HMS Bloemhof and Muizenberg High. What surprised her the most about Parel Vallei was the kindness and approachability of the staff and the students. Despite PV's highly regarded image, we have managed to keep ourselves humble and down-to-earth. Those who are not in Miss Botha's English class might not know about her true love - movies. But why? "I love movies because it really is an under-appreciated art form. So much can be said with a single frame." Her favourite movie is “The Dreamers” by Bernard Bertolucci. It also comes as no surprise that she was a total drama geek in high school. Some of her other favourite things include the song "Where Is My Mind?" by The Pixies and the book "Vurt" by Jeff Noon. Her childhood dream-job was to be an archaeologist, inspired by the “Tomb Raider” games and a mild obsession with Egypt. In the past few years her slight fixation must've moved over to the Medieval times - explaining the festive Medieval banners decorating her classroom as well as her love for “Game Of Thrones”.
I asked her to give me one word describing her time at PV. She replied with 'challenging' - but not negatively. I've been pushed harder at PV than anywhere else and I'm excited that I could push myself harder as well." Finally I asked her what the “Blue Thread” means to her. "To me it feels like I've been adopted into a really big family. It sounds corny, but once again, I felt so welcomed when I arrived and I think the Blue Thread definitely plays a role in that."
Vaarwel liefste van Heerden... - Arvida Lincoln
Hoewel haar tyd hier baie kort was, is ons dankbaar dat ons Juffrou kon ontmoet. Ons is hartseer dat Juffrou ons verlaat, maar ons is ook saam opgewonde oor Juffrou se nuwe avontuur! Hier is boodskappe wat slegs ‘n paar grad 12 leerders oor haar te sê gehad het: ABIGAIL DIETRICH: Juffrou van Heerden was my Afrikaans onderwyseres vir slegs een kwartaal. Sy is die eerste onnie wat verstaan dat die matrieks baie besig is en vir ons min huiswerk gee wanneer ons toetse het. My punte het verbeter en ek het vreeslik baie by haar geleer. Ek wens sy kon nét hier bly en nie weggaan nie. Ek wens vir Juffrou baie geluk met die res van Juffrou se loopbaan toe.
ANDREA STEYN: Juffrou van Heerden was ‘n baie goeie onderwyseres. Nie net het my punte verbeter nie, maar my huiswerk was ook baie minder… Dankie vir Juffrou se invloed in my skoollewe. Ons gaan jou mis!
CHRISTIAN JOLLY: Juf. van Heerden is een van daai onnies wat net anders is. Cóól is. Sy verstaan dat ons nou as matrieks baie besig is met leer en natuurlik ook ons sosiale lewens. Sy moedig ons daagliks aan om deel te neem en om skool te geniet. Ons gaan defnitief die "rus periode" van Afrikaans mis en die feit dat sy ons as gelykes gerespekteer het - wat vir ons as leerders regtig baie beteken. Ons gaan haar definitief mis "agt en agtig" en al! Liefste Matrieks
Die kwartaal was slegs 'n oogwink lank, maar in hierdie kort tydjie was dit my voorreg om julle te kon leer ken. En wat 'n spul spesiale wesens is julle nie!!! Dankie vir lekker lag en gesels, maar ook vreeslik hard werk. Julle sal almal suksesvol wees met wat julle ook al aanpak. Mag die res van jou matriekjaar gevul word met wonderlike herinneringe! Waardeer die mense wat om jou is en geniet die laaste bietjie van julle skoolloopbaan saam. Sorg dat jou matriekjaar die heel heel beste jaar ooit is!
- Finn Adendorff Where did you grow up? I grew up on a farm outside of Steytlerville, in the Eastern Cape.
What are your favourite hobbies? Hunting and any kind of sport. Basically anything that gets my heart rate going.
What was your first impression of PV? To me PV is like a well-oiled machine. There are so many different things going on at the same time which seems to have nothing to do with each other, but at the end it works together perfectly. This school is brilliant.
What legacy would you like to leave if you one day have to leave? A legacy of respect, loyalty and honour.
What motto would you say you live by? There are two. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just your absence felt. If you want to be the best, you have to take out the best.
Comparing PV to other schools you’ve taught at, what standard is PV at? PV is well above the rest. It is an honour to be at this school.
What does the “Blue Thread” mean to you? To me, the Blue Thread gives you a sense of belonging: you are a part of something bigger than just yourself. A bigger body, which is PV, and the Blue Thread being the blood.
If there is one thing that your heart beats for, what is it? HUNTING!
FUN FACTS:
What is your favourite... Childhood memory: When I was six years old my dad gave me my first gun, a .22, and said to me, “Now it’s time to be a man.” Midnight snack: Biltong Superhero: Wolverine
Chantal Pretorius writer eduart zerht Writer Cristine van Zyl writer Stephanie Solomon Writer Sandra Snyman writer Tammy Els Design Team Sabrina Rohm Photographer Leandre van der Merwe Admin
MY LIFE IN PINK - Chantal Pretorius PV, honestly was amazing. Gr12 was my favourite year. I was more into cultural activities than sport, but I played football after school. I always loved the excitement going on during interhouse athletics, with the houses going head to head (even though I was in Abby). In my high school years, I never actually knew what I wanted to become. I saw the school psychologist and she recommended I study Business Management and Communication Science. After school I didn't go to the University of Stellenbosch or UCT .I studied through UNISA, where I got the opportunity to see the world while writing my exams in places such as New York. Later on I had to somehow pay for my studies, so I decided modelling was a way to get a good income. I started with Boss models, then moved over to Outlaws. I got to be part of amazing opportunities like being part of the Dune London Campaign, Levis, Elle Magazine etc. I got to meet people and groups like Gigi Hadid, Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The more I got to model the more I realized that I needed another hobby. That’s where my blog came in. I used to upload posts on my Tumblr account (My Life In Pink) for my friends and family to read. Then I decided to make my blog name ‘My Life In Pink.’ ‘My Life In Pink’ mostly consists of fashion, DIY and food, unlike my Snapchat that consists of everything. My amazing photos are taken by Justin Polkey (SA’s best photographer). I met him on a shoot for GQ a few years ago and we have worked together ever since. With the perks of modelling and blogging, I was able to travel to many places such as Turkey, Paris (my favourite), New York and London. The people in other countries are so loving and down to earth and I guess that’s what I like about traveling (Don’t forget the food!). The essential item I always take with me is my charger, whether it’s portable or not. I need my phone fully charged when I am out in the city and want to take photos. When I have nothing to wear I usually go for a simple white look with sneakers. Some of my favourite places in South Africa would be my home in Cape Town, The Power And The Glory, (a restaurant near my house) and Loading Bay. I think if I had to choose what I wanted to become in high school, I would've never gotten where I am today . I had to choose my direction and I had to know why I wanted this career. If I could give advice I would say: “Be yourself and be authentic.”
Cutest Couples
- Collin sherriff
Jessica van der Walt and Jared Timberlake: 1. Where did you two meet? Jess: We met at my house. He was my brother’s friend and came to visit him. I only started liking him when he went out with us, and Josh left us alone for like two hours, so we had to make awkward conversation. 2. Do you have any nicknames for each other? What are they? Jess: Not really, I call him “beasty” when he is grumpy. Jared: I don’t have a nickname for her. 3. What don't you like about each other? Jess: He does stupid things sometimes. Jared: There’s nothing not to like about her, she’s just amazing. 4. How long have you guys been dating? On the 20th of April it will be two years. 5. Where was your first kiss? Jess: It was at the beach… I think. 6. What does the other person do that you find adorable/ funny/ weird? Jess: He whistles softly when he isn't thinking. He is constantly worried about how his hair looks. He eats like a beast. 7. What is something you like about your other half’s appearance? Jess: His eyes, I mean, have you seen them? Jared: I love her eyes and her smile. She is so cute.
Matthew Henry and Rosie Hapgood: 1. Where did you two meet? We met at school. 2. Do you have any nicknames for each other? What are they? She calls me Matty. 3. What doesn't she like about you? She doesn't like PDA at school, or when I embarrass her in public by doing something weird. 4. How long have you been dating? Two years. 5. Where was your first kiss? Matthew: It was at my house. 6. What does she do that you find adorable/ funny/ weird? Everything she does is cute and I love her a lot. When she laughs I find it adorable, like when I play fight with her or she tries to “hurt” me.
Arvida Lincoln and Christian Jolly: 1. Where was your first date? A: It was at Bens on the Beach, however Christian will say it was at the movies in grade 5. C: Grade 5 we went to the movies and watched “The Princess and The Frog” and I was too scared to speak, so my dad had to speak to her dad for me. 2. How did you first meet? And where? A: We met on the first day of third grade. 3. What does your other half do that you find strangely attractive? A: He makes this face and then I know he has done something he shouldn’t have. C: She pulls these faces when she tries to be unattractive (which we all know is impossible); it always makes me laugh and I just make unattractive faces back. 4. Would you cut off your left pinkie for your other half? A: If his life depended on it, yes, but why would I need to? C: Yes, if doing it could stop any harm from happening to her, I would do it in a heartbeat. (Ed. Aww) 5. What does the other person do which you don’t find attractive? A: The fact that he's so much like my brother. C: I don’t find anything she does unattractive. She thinks it’s a lie, but I think she is beyond perfect. 6. Where was your first kiss? C: Well, in grade 5 I actually wanted to make a move, but that (obviously) never happened. Last year I tried kissing her and she didn't kiss back (that was when I experienced the horrifying FRIENDZONE, luckily I was the lucky one that made it out… keep going guys there’s always hope). 7. What are your nicknames (if you have any)? C: We don’t have nicknames, but on my phone her name is saved in auto correct as “My Beautiful Amazing Girlfriend” 8. What is something that you both agree on? A: It's the little things in life. C: It’s the little things in life, and in a relationship that makes it all worth it along with the love you have for a person.
Emile Gouws and Line Boshoff: 1. Waar het julle ontmoet? Ons het in graad 8 ontmoet. 2. Het julle byname vir mekaar? Wat is dit? L: Meel. E: Laan of Laani 3. Wat hou julle nie van mekaar nie? L: Dat hy goed in als is, en die meeste van die tyd reg is. E: Sy doen soms iets vreemds met haar oë- dit “freak” my uit. 4. Hoe lank gaan julle uit (as julle wel uitgaan)? Ons gaan nie uit nie. Ek dink ons het albei nog nie tyd gehad vir die titel nie. 5. Waar was julle eerste soen? Amy en Christian se 18de. 6. Wat is snaaks/ oulik/ vreemd van die ander persoon? L: Hy spuit deodorant aan na elke periode. E: Sy het ‘n oulike klokhelder laggie. 7. Wat is jou ander helfde se gunsteling kleur? L: Blou? E: Sy hou nie van pienk nie. Haar gunstelingkleur is die kleur wat sy die meeste van hou. (Red. Ons dink nie hy wee wat die regte antwoord is nie.)
20 WAYS NOT TO MESS UP A FIRST DATE 1.Show up 5 minutes early for the date. 2.Open the door, pull out her chair. 3.Keep your cellphone face down. 4.Don’t kiss her on the first date. 5.Make plans to see her again. 6.Tell her she looks great. 7.Pay for dinner. 8.Make sure she gets home safely. 9.Don’t let there be a moment of silence, except when you gaze into her eyes. 10.Bring her a rose or something small when you meet. 11.Don’t talk about your ex. 12.Don’t order a salad 13.Ask more questions about her than speak about yourself. 14.Don't let them know you've stalked them on Facebook . 15.Don't tell her you love her . 16.Do not ask her to marry you. 17.Hope she doesn't fart when you put your hand on her bum. 18.Don't be antisocial. 19.Laugh at her lame jokes. 20.Don't say "we'll do anything you want to".
- Chantal Pretorius
Are GMOs Bad for Your Health? The short answer is: they’re not. Genetically Modified Organisms have now been in use for dozens of years and we have yet to observe any adverse effect on animals or humans. The reason for this is simple: the organisms in this case are crops; all crops produce thousands of proteins; genetically modified crops produce a few additional proteins that were selected by humans. Among other problems our race faces on Earth, overpopulation and a global food shortage are the biggest. Since the industrial revolution, our population has increased exponentially without signs of slowing. Conventional crops and farming methods would no longer suffice to deliver the quantity of food that we need. New equipment and farming practices were introduced, most notably artificial fertilizers from the early 20th century, which fed and saved millions of people worldwide. GMOs, therefore, help us face the challenges of a world with a growing population and a worsening climate. However, like nitrogen fixation, which enlarged both our food output and Germany’s bombs, Genetic Modification is something that needs to be studied, understood and controlled in our best interests. But that understanding must start with you and with me. In South Africa, roughly 40% of maize, 60% of soya and 80% of cotton is genetically modified and most of our livestock is fed on GM foods. Roughly 65% of our food is of a genetically modified variety, with canola, potatoes, wheat,
- eduart zerht
sugarcane and possible vines soon to follow. It will, presumably, not be long before livestock is genetically modified. But let’s examine some recent instances of genetic modification. In 2012, Atlantic Salmon was genetically modified to have higher levels of growth hormones, using genes from Pacific Salmon and the Ocean Pout. It has been concluded that the new fish is safe for humans. In crops, modification is typically done to improve insect and herbicide resistance, or for better nutritional value. A striking example is Golden Rice. Because about 500 000 children go blind every year due to a Vitamin A deficiency, this rice was developed to contain more Vitamin A as to keep those it feeds in good health. All organisms on our planet have natural genetic variability. We have exploited this variability for thousands of yours through artificial selection, whereby we would breed certain cultivars such to enhance the most desirable traits. There were, for example, only three species of citrus in the beginning, but we have since crossed and crossed them to obtain the deliciously juicy varieties we enjoy today. This was, until recently, only done with genes from the same species. With extraordinary advances in genetics, we became able to extract genes from one species and fuse them into the genes of another.
These inter-species genes are called Transgenes. Through this process of Transgenesis, an important milestone in AgriScience was achieved. We were able to produce “Roundup-ReadyCrops”. Soybeans, corn, sugar, beets, cotton, and canola have, in some parts of the world, been engineered by the herbicide producer Roundup, to resist the herbicide Roundup. The active ingredient in Roundup is Glyphosate, which prevents plant enzymes from producing amino acids and proteins, without which the plant dies. It is, however, very effective on crops and weeds alike. What farmers needed to do, is plant their crops further apart and take great care when applying herbicide as to not kill their crops, which restricted their yields. Roundup saw an opportunity to engineer crops to resist Glyphosate, such that Roundup could be sprayed over whole fields to kill weeds but leave crops unharmed. To do this, scientists had to take the appropriate gene from a bacterium and splice it into a plant cell. You may know, from Life Science, that genes are located within the nucleus within the cell. How does one simply get a gene in there? The first, and rather crude tool, was the gene gun. These literally blast DNA into plant cells. Tiny particles of gold, coated with the desired transgene are pneumatically shot at plant cells in a vacuum chamber, with the hope that some of them will be assimilated into the chromatin network of the plant cell. A more recent and more effective way to transfer genes involves using the soil-dwelling Agrobacterium. It happens to be a plant parasite that is a natural genetic engineer.
It has an additional unique piece of DNA called a plasmid that can leave the bacterium and implant itself into a plant cell. When it does this, is recodes the plant cells to grow food for it! In laboratories, however, engineers can use this plasmid as a carrier of transgenes to fuse it with the plant DNA. This modified cell cannot simply be put back into the ground though. Through backcross breeding, the transgenic plant is repeatedly crossed with breeding stock until a new transgenic crop it obtained. At the end of this tedious and immensely expensive process, Roundup had a patented crop that could be sprayed with glyphosate and survive. Not only did the sales of this GMO increase, but as a consequence sales of the herbicide Roundup reached new heights as well. A whole new market for a weed-free crop system was created. The fact that genetic engineering is so expensive yet still financially sensible indicates how useful it can be. Patents of GMO’s are held tightly by the companies that created them, but the public has reacted negatively; not necessarily due to the health concerns of engineered foods, but due to the economic and social implications of a small number of large companies having such power over our food supply. The GMO debate has thus become part of a much larger debate about corporate influence. And on that note, it is derivable that GMO’s pose no danger to our health, but will instead become vital to our survival. We must therefore make a decision as to who in this world is allowed control over such a significant matter and whether or not something upon which the world depends should be owned by corporations.
Blue Tech - eduart zerht The Turning Point of Data Storage and Access Welcome to an exciting new part of The Blue Thread Magazine. Debian, inspired by a Linux operating system of the same name, will be a regular column of the Blue Thread in which everything in the world of computers & technology will be discussed. In Debian’s spirit of co-development, this information will be outside the high school syllabus as to broaden PV’s knowledge by giving insight into the fastest developing sector in the world: IT. Recently, I was very excited to realise that our generation will experience a major turning point in the industry. This turning point concerns the huge amount of data in the world and the way in which we access it. We know that the language of computing is binary. It exists of 1’s and 0’s. Predetermined sequences represent certain letters and numbers, etc. These 1’s and 0’s must be stored on some medium for us to access it. The first such medium, which is still the most common today, was the hard drive: disks of polished aluminium, coated with cobalt alloy and platinum, which can be selectively magnetised. It is important that some sectors can be magnetised to represent a 1 and other demagnetised to represent a 0. Since its invention in the 1950s, the density of sectors which can individually be magnetised and demagnetised, and as such the storage capacity, has significantly increased, such that we even needed to invent a new method of formatting, called Advanced Format, in 2009.
Before the internet became as widely accessible as it is today, one had to buy whatever programs and information one wanted and load them onto a PC. Buying programs, dictionaries, encyclopaedias and even clipart on floppys or CDs was the norm, and so was running out of storage space. But then a radical development came along in the 70s: the internet. The US Department of Defence funded the creation of a versatile network system in the 70s. ARPANET adopted TCP-IP in the 80s and with the creation of the World Wide Web in the 90s, the internet took on its recognisable form of today. It surged in popularity. It shrunk our globe in terms of communication. The whole world has come to depend on it: people, businesses, banks, governments – everything
3.75MB Hard Drive [1956]
2,7 Million Times larger [2016]
In the beginning, the internet was based on dialup modems. These were replaced by ADSL, which is being replaced by fibre optics. Land-based internet developed alongside the mobile data technologies of EDGE (2G), HSDPA (3G) and LTE (4G). As a result, we take for granted that we can access the internet anywhere, anytime, and on anything. We replaced more and more gadgets with our internet-capable smartphones. PDA’s, GPS’s, MP3 Players, alarm clocks, cameras, diaries and flashlights all lost to the omnipotent smartphone. People no longer go out to buy software – they type in their credit card numbers into Amazon, iTunes and Steam and the files start downloading. As a matter of fact, it now seems unfashionable to keep one’s documents on a PC: the cloud is the way to go. Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive and many others have surged in numbers and in space. However, when companies saw these trends and strived to deliver their content to consumers, they faced a problem. The most commonly used devices, particularly smartphones, have limited internal storage which many users still rely on. For this reason, Content-Delivery-Networks were put in place. Steam is an excellent example, but it needed to go beyond that. Users needed to be able to access a vast library of data in real-time, and at this very moment the turning point in our industry occurred. Our devices need to be connected to the internet at all times to function to their potential. Previously, when you bought a GPS is came loaded with maps. You cannot, however, use
smartphone maps apps without being connected to the internet. Instead, the map of your vicinity is downloaded as you move. You cannot use Google Now, Siri or Cortana without a data connection, because a much more extensive and effective library of data can be stored on servers than can be stored on a single smartphone, particularly considering that these services rely on vast amounts of dynamic, crowdsourced data. Internet connectivity has not only become a prerequisite for weather and news updates, but also for basic functions like navigation and voice commands. If this trend is extrapolated, it becomes evident that we’ll soon only have the backbones of the OS and the apps on our phones, and the rest will be downloaded continuously, as needed. There was a huge uproar about such internet dependency when initially, Microsoft’s Xbox One required internet to run, and would not be usable without it. But realistically speaking, why do we fight this trend if we are the ones perpetuating it? The popularity of downloads started with PC programs but, helped by Torrents and media servers like Netflix and Spotify, a huge demand transpired for music and video downloads. The cloud was the next service to surge in popularity. But such is the age we are living in. The amount of data in the internet will continue to increase exponentially. The bandwidth of our internet connections will continue to broaden. Our devices will become more and more linked to the cloud. It will just be exciting to see how a technologically-challenged South Africa adapts to the greater dependency on fast, uninterrupted internet connectivity.
and culture by eavesdropping. In a heartrending scene, the monster reveals himself to the blind father of the family, only to be violently spurned when the rest of the family returns. Frankenstein finds out that his suspicions about William's fate were correct, and the monster threatens further violence on Frankenstein's family if a certain request of his is not fulfilled. He wants a bride, similar in nature to himself, simply because every Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley in 1818. She normal human has rejected him. was only 21 at the time. Shelley was born in 1797 to two Volume 3 is about the consequences of Frankenstein's radical writers, Mary Wollstonecraft, who died within a refusal of this request. Frankenstein attempts to make few days of childbirth, and William Godwin, who raised the bride once, but destroys the result. He flees across her. She had already experienced quite an amazing northern Scotland and Ireland, only to face more death, range of events in her life when she wrote the book. and back in Geneva, a final round of murder and death. Shelley received a much more extensive education than The result of this is revealed to the reader upon reading other young girls in that time period. She married Percy the book. Bysshe Shelley at the age of 17. Only one of their four Why has this book's fame persisted so long in our culchildren survived, and Percy himself drowned in 1822. ture? Shelley's Frankenstein is a strong psychological She died in 1851. drama, the pitiless tale of the destruction of one man. Frankenstein was published anonymously, and the auThe book has longer passages of philosophy and reflecthor was only later revealed to be Shelley. She wrote a tion than modern horror readers are accustomed to, new introduction (included in this Penguin Classics edibut the body count is certainly still quite high. Intertion) for the 1831 edition, at which point she incorpoestingly, Shelley's story has been played as horror in rated a number of changes. She also took the chance to most adaptations but it's also a sound argument to call answer a question she had apparently received quite it science fiction. What should we do with our expandoften: how such a young girl could write about such hor- ing scientific powers? How do we make decisions on rible things. Her answer describes her literary sources, life or death matters once that is within our hands? As as well as a disturbing dream that was the kernel of inmuch as Frankenstein is a clichĂŠ when it's applied to spiration for the story. Shelley brilliantly synthesized ide- new scientific advances - the warning of doom - it's also as of the time, and brought the sting of satire to bear on as if Shelley's book has never been applied at all. Does the modern idea of the scientist. Frankenstein deserve his cruel fate? Shelley seems to Frankenstein begins with a framing story. An explorer punish the man for two sins: hubris and lack of pity. named Robert Walton has left the north coast of Russia Frankenstein creates life and then turns away from it. and is on his way into the Arctic Ocean; Walton is writing Perhaps it's as simple as the fact that he doesn't learn letters to his sister in London and tells her how one day from his mistakes despite his brilliance. he saw a monstrous figure fleeing across the ice. A few Throughout the story, each and every character remains days later, Walton rescues Victor Frankenstein from hyexceptionally well-constructed, diverse and interesting. pothermia and starvation. Frankenstein tells Walton the To describe them would be to spoil the book, but be events that form the core of the novel, his creation of assured that their realism is certain to draw you into the the Monster, and Walton relates them to his sister in book. epistolary form. Frankenstein is well worth reading, and it's much differVictor Frankenstein's story is divided into three volumes. ent than the popular Volume 1 is the story of Frankenstein's childhood in Geconception of the stoneva, and his studies at a university in Germany that led ry. This is not surpristo the creation of the monster. He thinks he can create ing, considering the wonderful new life, but at his first glance at his creation, way it has wended its Frankenstein turns away in horror. He subsequently beway through popular comes quite ill. He is called back to Geneva two years culture for almost two later by a letter from his father who has tragic news: his centuries. The story younger brother William has been murdered. Frankenhas been picked over stein is convinced that his monster committed the crime, by horror and science but a piece of evidence has been planted with Justine, fiction writers and the family maid. When Justine is executed, Frankenstein scriptwriters ever feels like he has two deaths on his head. since. It is deserving Volume 2 is mainly the monster's story; Frankenstein of 4 stars for epitomismeets him on a glacier near Geneva, and the monster ing the gothic genre. tells his creator about his life thus far. Everywhere he turned, he was met with disgust or rejection. He was hiding out in the woods when he found a family he could safely observe, help secretly, and use to learn language
Book Review: Frankenstein - Eduart Zerht
Sonder om te veel van die storie weg te gee, moet ek sê dat Vir Altyd ’n goed-voel-film is wat elke kyker se hart sal aanraak . Drie paartjies bevind hulself, weens hul onderskeie omstandighede op die eiland van Mauritius waar tragedie en teleurstelling as inleiding tot die res van die storie dien. Vir die twee helde, Hugo (gespeel deur Ivan Botha) en Nina (Donnalee Roberts), was die aankoms op die Eiland van Liefde onverwags en heeltemal onbeplan. Ben en Marietjie Botha (Dirk Stoltz en Ilse Roos) besoek die eiland in ’n poging om hul huwelik te red. Ons sien ook hoe Ben na die uithoeke van die eiland reis om haar hart weer terug te wen. Hierdie twee karakters dra by tot die humor van die fliek en sorg via menige oomblikke van lekker lag. Tannie Betsie (Elize Cawood) en oom Paul van Zyl (Wilson Dunster), is ‘n afgetrede paartjie wat na vyftig jaar van getrouwde luwe eers hul wittebrood kan vier. Hier kom Oom Paul tot die besef dat sy vrou moontlik nie kanker vir die derde keer mag oorwin nie. Tydens die helde se grootwordjare, was hulle beste vriende wat nooit ‘n kans op ’n avontuur laat verby gaan het nie. Maar na soveel goeie jare is al wat oorbly pynlike herinneringe. Op die ouderdom van 28 kom Hugo vir die eerste keer in tien jaar terug na sy huis in die Paarl. Hy is onbewus van die feit dat dit die aand voor Nina se feëverhaaltroudag is. Onverwags word hy deel van haar groot dag, en dis hier waar hul lewens wéér vinnig verander. Nina se mooiste oomblik verander in ’n verwoestende storm wanneer Retief, haar aanstaande, haar alleen en verneder voor die kansel laat staan. Die film is iets uit ‘n sprokiesverhaal en bevat al die elemente wat mens sou verwag van ‘n eg SuidAfrikaanse “Rom-Kom”. Daar is puik vertolking, fyn humor en traan-pik oomblikke wat jou hart aangryp en jou jou asem laat ophou. Alhoewel dit voorspelbaar is, gryp dit jou hart aan omdat dit die tipe romanse is waarna elke mens hunker. Dié menslikheid van die fliek maak dit só ’n goeie fliek! Die fliek is geskik vir alle ouderdomme, vir mense wat verlief is, vir mense wat op skei staan en vir mense wat nie meer in ware liefde glo nie. Dit is ‘n verhaal van hoop en dra die boodschap oor dat liefde altyd sal wen. Dit gaan nie oor die gelukkige einde nie – dis die avontuur daarheen wat belangrik is. Ek gee Vir Altyd 4 uit 5 sterre.
- Arvida Lincoln
- Christine van Zyl and Stephanie Solomon Are you sick and tired of the same old restaurants? Well, look no further Bossa to the rescue. The menu ranges from pizza to sushi. The food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. The vibe is relaxed and sociable. The crowd is mainly consists of younger people. The music is random ranging from the classic 80s to now. They also offer free WIFI. The service is great, they are very friendly and you don’t wait long for your food. If you are looking for a new hang out with your friends or a place to take your boyfriend or girlfriend on a date then come to Bossa.
#trending - Sandra Snyman
Verlede jaar het ons Brandon Stanton se Humans Of New York aanbeveel as ‘n blog om te volg, en nou stel ons Felines Of New York voor. Die formaat is nog dieselfde: portrette van gewone New Yorkers gepaard met inspirerende of snaakse aanhalings uit ‘n kort onderhoud wat die fotograaf met hulle voer. In hierdie geval is die foto’s egter almal van katte, en die bygaande kommentaar! Raai maar wat dit is wat in stadskatte se gedagtes aangaan! Jim Tews, stigter van Felines Of NY, kry dit op een of ander wyse reg om katte se houdings perfek in woorde om te sit, met die regte balans van salige onbewustheid en diep bepeinsing. Die kastige diepsinnigheid van New York se huiskatte kan verbasend baie genot bring.
Plaaslike talent om te volg: Katherine Horn (@katherinehornsart)
Dis altyd goed om erkenning te gee waar dit kort, en om die talente van Parel Vallei se eie kunstenaars te verkondig. Katherine Horn, matriekleerder van PV, se Instagramprofiel is ooglopend uniek. Katherine se pragtige, effens deurmekaar tekeninge op @katherinehornsart wissel van selfportrette tot prente van vriende of bekendes wat sy inspirerend vind, en word meestal met dun, swart lyne geteken. Die pensketse word dan soms ingekleur, of ander kere oor fotos geplaas wat by die tekeninge pas. Haar kunswerke is fyn en eenvoudig, maar kan baie gevoel oordra. Of dit is om jouself te motiveer om ‘n pen, potlood of verfkwas op te tel en kuns te begin maak, of om eenvoudig jou Instagram-ervaring op te helder, doen jouself ‘n guns en volg Katherine na.
Op Instagram: Jonathon Lo (@happymundane) Jy kan gou verveeld raak met dit wat jy elke dag op Instagram sien- veral as almal wat jy volg, geneig is om aldag selfies te neem. Dis ook maklik om te voel jou eie lewe is nie so indrukwekkend soos dié wat jy op jou skerm sien nie. Jonathon Lo, fotograaf en ontwerper van Kalifornië, wys egterdaarop dat ‘n mens nie berge hoef te klim of na verre strande toe moet vlieg om mooi foto’s te neem nie. Hy bestuur ‘n Instagram-profiel wat goeie ontwerp vier – die gewone, die ongewone en die buitengewone. Op @happymundane vind jy allerlei alledaagse voorwerpe, soos plante of teëls in helder en prettige kleure wat jou sal inspireer om die mooi dinge rondom jou te waardeer. Soos Lo op sy blog happymundane.com sê: “Daar is skoonheid selfs in jou skottelgoedseep.”
Chocolate Whoopie Pies - l. hauspie Ingredients
Method:
For the cakes:
1.
Heat the oven to 180â °C. Line three large baking trays with nonstick baking paper.
2.
Beat the butter in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs until blended.
3.
Sift in the cocoa, flour and salt and gently stir in until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and milk.
4.
Drop two tablespoons of the mixture at a time onto the baking trays, keeping them about 4cm apart.
5.
Bake for about 25 minutes until cooked through. Insert a skewer into the centre- it should come out clean. Cool down on the baking trays for a few minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.
110g/half a cup butter 110g/half a cup caster sugar 2 eggs 4 tbsp cocoa powder 225g/2 cups self-raising flour Half a tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 120ml/half a cup milk For the filling: 6 tbsp unsalted butter 100g/1 cup icing sugar 200g marshmallow fluff Tip: Use hazelnut, almond, orange or mint flavours instead of vanilla for a different twist to the recipe.
Method: For the filling: 1.
Beat the butter until soft and creamy. Sift in the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the marshmallow fluff and vanilla until well blended.
2.
Turn half the cakes upside down and spread generously with the filling. Place the remaining cakes on top.
LA VOIX
His Character was not defined by Greed
Laura and Lahore Hauspie
The Fade - caleb cousins
The shadows appearing slowly, as depictions on the wall summoned by the torch of men as merely models of the world. They grew and rose, as time progressed exaggerating more remembering less. Men fought and died, for shadows they knew questioning nothing leaving shadows as their view. The wise, the few, realised the dangerous events and killed the shadows with the fade of ignorance.
Oneindig Blou - johan van der spuy Snags lĂŞ ek wakker en luister na die donder van reuse branders sonder hande wat trom kom speel op rotsige strande Ek luister na vryheid na onbeteuelde krag Ek luister na di witperdrunnik van branders in die nag Van verre aangejaag deur die huil van die wind Die oordonderende gallop kan ‘n rusplek hier vind Snare van my hart gepluk deur die see se lied speel ‘n sagte deuntjie wat verdwyn in die nimmerblou-diep
- Nicole evert Do we deserve the world we were given? Once: A beautiful land with peace and reason. Now: A warzone with greed and shame. It’s quite sad really, the presence that craves for power. Our leaders expect us to share, when they can’t – won’t – give us a dime. It’s our money, but is it really ours to spend? We’re told to ‘hush’ about the bad and sing about the good. They ask us to support them, as they lie to us. We have freedom of speech, but do we really have a voice? They steal from us, some things useless, some of great value, but they’ve stolen more than just innocent trinkets, they’ve stolen life. Fear pollutes our minds, as we pollute our earth. We were given life, but can we really live? People tell us we shouldn’t do something because everyone else is, but when we stray from the usual, we’re criticised, we’re strange. We were given personality, but are we any different? The destructive nature of people is an evil force. Never considering anything but their hunger for money. Do we deserve the world we were given?
The Ride Home - Nicole evert
During the ride home, I look out the window and notice the differences on the left and right side of the road. The road acts as a barrier between two different pieces of land – a separator between lush green vines and dry sand, holding old withered shrubs. On the right, a place untouched by man, something beautiful without alteration, but on the left, a farm with sour grapes being grown for sweet wines; it’s beautiful, but makes me think of a woman who wears too much makeup, hiding her natural beauty. The road starts to separate the rich from the poor. On the left are cute houses, cosy and welcoming but on the right are tin houses with harsh wire fences and a sense of struggle. The road divides comfort from hardship, peace from disturbance. The road seems to divide everything…almost. But the road cannot divide the rivers. The rivers are the exception. They are the loophole. They flow under the road. They do not stop when mankind wants them to. They won’t stop when we destroy something beautiful. They stand for their land. The rivers are the rebellion, and they say: “No!”
- Cassandra vellema For so long has my hand been empty, longing for the loving touch of life. For so long have i needed someone to save me, someone who’d keep me from the knife. All around me are those friendly faces, yet they disguise demons and devils inside. Am i alone, forgotten and lost without a trace? Or shall i be found and led by a guide? Who shall lead me by my weary hands, to a peaceful place with no pain or plight? There shall be no worries, nor cares, nor nightmare lands. There shall only be the stars shining in the night, “Could it be that the child of summer would meet her love amidst the cold of winter? Could it be that what she so hoped to avoid, gave her the starlight she so needed?” Let it be known, that I’ve found what I’ve been longing for, in the least expected of times and places. No longer am i alone, and neither are You, for I have found my sanctuary in the least likely of embraces.
CARTOONS by CRAIG WEBER