US election race heats up

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The US national election heated up last week following the Democratic national convention. Former president Bill Clinton formally recognised Barack Obama as his prefered candidate with an emotional speech that went on for more than an hour. The speech which had Clinton holding the audience in the palm of his hand can be found here.

The resounding performance had this response from Obama who complimented Clinton in a light hearted manner for his support in the race. He also had a retort for the words towards his wife Michelle:

  "As the other men in the audience know, our main goal when we marry is to improve our gene pool.  (Laughter.)  That's why my daughters turned out good.  (Laughter.)  Because you just -- you marry up and you marry somebody superior to yourself.  And you just -- you beg them until they marry you.  (Laughter.)  Persistence is the key."

 As the elections near D-day, many analysts think that the popularity of the Obama clan as a whole could could catapult Barack into a second term. A image of Michelle on the childrens TV show iCarly can be found here.

Despite bringing a more family friendly option to the ballot box, Obama has received criticism throughout his first term based on his failings with his proposed Obamacare as well as the poor handling of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The American people go to the ballot on the 6th November. A recent poll of New Hampshire voters by Suffolk/7 News sees the race tied at the infamous 47 percent. 

This leaves the 6 percent of undecided voters that both parties have been appealing to so desperately over the past few weeks. Whoever is able to garner the most out of this bracket will most likely fill office at the end of the year.

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South African TATTOO

Tattoo has returned to South Africa for another years run and I was privileged enough to receive complimentary tickets from Alphabet Soup Media. The show is an open air format that see's various Scottish pipe bands attempt to out (blow?) one another.

The shows tag line Blending the traditional spectacle of massed pipe bands with a uniquely African flavor rung true as the mainly local ensemble gave a world class performance that climaxed with the singing of the national anthem as a huge South African flag was pulled across the arena. 

This years show also featured the Johannesburg Harley Davidson owners club who gave a syncronised display to AC/DC's Thunderstruck. The sight of burly leather clad mustaches weaving deftly between each other in a controlled show of grace brought tears to more than a few eyes.

Also on display was the Affies girl's choir and Benoni rock band Haggis and Bong who's out of control rock antics contrasted beautifully with the precision of all the other acts. Seeing these hooligans attempt to march along with the Transvaal Scottish proved to be the highlight of the day. 

Due to the open air nature of the event combined with freak weather in Joburg over the previous few days, organizers have been forced to cancel a number of shows. In a statement on their website the organizers apologized for events out of their control and offered a refund of tickets - something that is not done at many other open air events.

Waiting at a cross roads...

A day in the life of people I see on my commute.

                           

Hot cakes!

After reforming in 2011 the world has waited in anticipation for a new album from The Darkness. Since their 2005 hit album One way ticket to hell and back, the band has taken a break in order to pursue solo ventures. Despite the long break this album picks up exactly where they left off. Musically very similar to previous offerings, the album relies heavily on the piercing vocals of lead singer Justin Hawkins.

The band will be touring South Africa later this year, opening for Lady Gaga on the Cape Town leg of her born this way tour.

The first single off the album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEhgNW-l2Ys

The scum of the earth

All Journalists are scum. At least according to a lovely lady I met the other day...

For those who don't yet know, I Au pair two young lads in the upmarket area of Sandton and one of my responsibilities is coercing them to go to swimming practice twice a week. My job ends once they are bundled into the pool and then my own personal horror begins.

You see their is very little to do at the side of a swimming pool - its why we drink so much waiting for our water polo games. Unfortunately Planet Fitness disapproves of this practice and so I am forced to endure 45 minutes of 'polite' conversation with Sandton mummies. 

It usually centers around two topics. Either how well their kids are doing in all aspects of life (having no kids myself it tends to be a rather one sided topic) or how terrible their child's particular school is. Having gone to a great school I struggle to relate to this and generally tend to suggest they send 'Precious' to boarding school. Hey, it worked for Spud.

Yesterday one of the mummies was telling me how her two young charges had been at O.R Tambo to welcome back the SA Olympic team and how terribly they had been treated by the Journalists trying to get pictures of the athletes. 

As far as I could determine, someone had stepped on her child's foot in the melee and this constituted a gross violation of media practice (or something even more insane). Anyway I let her rant fizzle out before informing her that I was in fact a journalist. And judging by her child's attempt to coordinate her breaststroke she probably stepped on her own foot.

We were at Oppi this past weekend and saw some amazing bands. But one of the highlights for me was running into a Photo-Journo who has already cut her teeth in the industry. She did her masters in war journalism (how cool) and her blog is here:

vsmeets.wordpress.com

Juggling on Oxford

Travelling through Sandton, one can not help but be impressed by the quality of busking on show. It was on the corner of Oxford and Corlett Drive that I came upon this gem of a man. Clearly already a master juggler, when I first approached him he was attempting to juggle and ride a unicycle - with hilarious consequences. Setting down the bike for a second he agreed to an impromptu photo shoot. 

In no time the bike was back out and I was treated to a lesson in the finer art of balancing what-was-not-designed-to-be-balanced. Ten minutes and a bruised pelvis later I realised that I was not cut out for this profession.

Along with the tarmac in my side, I was left with a memory to treasure from our city. The mans enthusiasm for what he does as well as a willingness to engage with a complete stranger is what is captured in this image. And one that shall be remembered by me every time I drive through the streets of Illovo. 

The watering hole

Sport has always been an important part of my life. I have also always had a special affinity for water sports in general. This photo was taken at Victoria Lake Club where I paddle and is one of the places where I feel most at home.

The sense of family within a club is also important and the picture from within the bar looking out is an expression of this. The bar forms the social center of the club but is not the most important aspect. This can be seen from the reflection of the water in the mirror.

The first image was taken late in the day with the sun behind me. The shutter speed was set to 1/50 of a second with a wide aperture. The second was with the same aperture and a 1/2 second shutter speed to compensate for the lack of light within the club house.