What are the shapes of clouds?

Clouds can usually be seen in the sky every day. They come in all shapes and sizes and bring with them all sorts of weather. Some clouds bring humidity others bring with them rain and thunderstorms.

Have you ever just sat and stare at the sky and wander what shapes the clouds are? Well, I have done that many a times. I enjoy staring at the clouds and seeing what shape, animal or object they representing. Clouds bring beauty to the sky.

Do you know what clouds are made of? Well I did not know this until just recently. A cloud is simply a visible mass of tiny water droplets that have formed because the air has become too cold at that height to store all its water as invisible vapour. Cool hey?

So next time you outside and there are clouds in the sky, why not try and see what shape the clouds are or what shape your mind can form...you will be surprised to see what all you can see in the clouds.

If I was the boss...

I would start my day 9h30. Cruise through traffic in my Aston Martin Vanquish. When I enter the office my secretary will greet me with a lovely cup of coffee and a muffin or a scone (everyday can not be the same). I will eat my breakfast while reading my emails on my apple mac.

Once I complete my breakfast, my working day will actually start. I would visit each department to ensure that they are satisfied with everything and any queries they have we can try and sort it out. They will know that they can always come to me with any problems. My main objective is to always ensure that my employees are satisfied. If I take care of them then they will take care of me.

They know just as much as I do that working for a publication is not an easy job. There are constant deadlines and ideas need to flow all the time. Working hours will be from 9h00 till 15h30. However, if all their deadlines are met before the day ends then they are most welcome to leave. The most productive is not the person who stays whole day and completes nothing, but rather the person who stays half day and completes everything.

We will have our own cafeteria and healthy and delicious dishes will be served. They will be able to eat anytime they want. Not everyone is hungry at 13h00. If a family emergency occurs, they are welcome to leave with my permission providing they have a valid reason.

Through percieving my dreams and with the help from my internal and external stakeholders, my company will make a name for itself internationally.

What to drink?

I was never a fan of drinking tap water. When I was at school and after playing “on-on” during our intervals we would all be thirsty and just need that one drop to quench our thirsts. My classmates and friends would run to the taps as the bell rang but no matter how thirsty I am I could never get myself to do that.

As time progressed I began to drink tap water but very seldom. When I heard about the time where maggots were found in our taps I completely stopped. That just put me off. Bottled water is all I drink.

Last year I received an email questioning just how safe is bottled water. Apparently, one should not use plastic bottles over and over. There is some sort of chemical that is released every time the bottle is used and this can cause cancer. The email also stated that these bottles remain for long periods in the heat (while being delivered, when in storage, etc) and this also allows the chemical to be released.

What also bothers me is whether or not this only applies to bottled water or to the juices, yoghurts and milkshakes that come in plastic bottles to. Just what to do we know about what we consume and the dangers therof?

So here I am, confused and bottled as to just what is the safest option when it comes to our health?

Two people came out of a building and into a story...

…filled with magic, inspiration and fulfilment.

After a stressful and upsetting day at work, all what Tracy, a 25year old, and Janette, a 26year old, wanted was to quit their jobs and feel how it is to live again.

As they were exiting their building through the revolving door, they saw they were in a new dimension. A world where everyone was equal and everything and anything was possible.

Tracy didn’t know what to expect and was afraid they could not return but Janette was excited and over the moon to think that a world like this exists. They continued through this new world and found little people and animals all living in peace and love. This was a world where no crimes were committed, money was never an issue, there was never any shortages of anything and everyone enjoyed what they did.
“If only our world was like this” said Janette. Tracy confused and scared replied, “Are you crazy! What if we never get out of here, what about our lives?!” Janette, irritated with Tracy complained, “What life do we have back there?! We were never happy with our jobs, all we wanted to do was quit for the past six months but because jobs are so scarce we cannot afford to quit. We barely can afford to pay our monthly rent, every so often petrol increases, there is a shortage of water and how often do we spoil ourselves? Please Tracy, let us just enjoy this new world where everything is perfect, we have nothing to lose.”

As they were passing through the town, an old man approached them and asked if they were passing through just like many others. They were confused and asked the man to please explain. He explained, “This is a perfect world, a world every human dreams of when they are kids. Where fairytales are possible and nothing can and will stand in your way. Many people from your world feel that life is getting to much, they become unhappy, unsatisfied, like they wish things could change or things to come to an end. When we sense such people we allow them to enter our world and feel that there is much more to life than just their work or that whatever is bothering them, can be solved and God will not give them a burden heavier that what they cannot bear. They come here to strengthen their spirit and once they feel satisfied, they go back to their world ready to live again and knowing that life is a gift and not a burden.”

After experiencing many inspirational and uplifting moments, Tracy and Janette returned to their world. They returned knowing that there is much more to life than a bad day at work and since this experience, they get up every day with a positive attitude that nothing is more important than living life to the fullest.

Does money make the world go round?

Despite the opinion of many, money doesn't make the world go around. It just helps it go around a little faster and a little more in style. Even though the way we worship money one would think it was part of our religion. We sacrifice our mind, our families, our sanity in search of the ‘Almighty Rand’ as if it had the power to bring to us the most important things we really want.

Sorry, guys. You can buy a lot of goodies with money, but you can't buy eternal life, inner peace or total security. You can have a few million in the bank and still feel totally poor, like those you read or see about who lived in miserable poverty all their lives, only to find out after they've died they were sleeping on a mattress filled with moola.

Money itself, of course, is not evil, but the love for money is the cause of all evil. What I really mean is that greed or the desire for money is the root of all evil. For many people, money is a necessary evil. They must earn money to fulfil their needs and responsibilities. Often, it is money that takes over people’s lives, they become obsessed with it and try to attain it by any means, fair or foul. What people love about money, of course, is the power that it gives us to enjoy physical pleasures.

In the end, it is not money but rather our greed for it that makes the world go round.

Designer PR?

Every business, just like every product, in the making is extremely competitive. Companies need to have something that makes them stand out from the crowd, something that makes them more appealing and interesting to both the public and the media.

Public relations practitioners (PRP) provide a service for the company by helping them give the public and the media a better understanding of how the company works.

PRP's also help the company to achieve its full potential. They provide feedback to the company from the public. This usually takes the form of research regarding what areas the public is most happy and unhappy with.

The public often think of PR as a glamorous job. PRP's seem to have been glued with the image of constant partying and networking to find new contacts. The reality is usually long hours and hard work for anyone involved in public relations

When PRP's manage, control or influence people's perceptions, they do it with the hope to initiate a pattern of behaviors that will lead to the achievement of the company's objectives. When PRP's successfully create, change or reinforce the opinions of others through persuasion, their primary objective is accomplished.

Is polygamy a feminist issue?

For many of you who are not familiar with the term polygamy; it is where one husband has more than one wife.

Polygamy has raised many issues amongst women. While it might be a religious or cultural issue to many e.g. in Islam or Zulu culture, feminist issues are being raised worldwide.

A lot of people think that polygamist men support their wives and children financially. In the Qur’an (Holy Book for Muslims), there is a verse that clearly allows for polygamy. However, one should not forget, that the verse following this contains strict restriction, “….and if you fear that you cannot do justice (to so many) then (marry) one only . . . .”. There are exceptions to every rule, there are a few wealthy polygamist men who have their homes where their women and children are not living in poverty. In Indonesia, laws are made to accommodate men who wish to marry multiple times, even if they lack the financial means to do so.

Polygamy is a lifestyle that depends on women to make it work. Many might see polygamy where women's basic civil rights and basic human rights are violated every day. In certain countries (where polygamy is practised) some women rights are respected and protected but how does their choices impact on women in general? Will every wife have a happy sex life? Will the wives live in harmony or will there be jealousy among them?

I feel that the question of polygamy is not an easy one to resolve, especially for feminists. Or at least for people (like myself) who believe at the same time that people should generally be free to make whatever romantic, sexual or matrimonial choices they want and that women should have just as much freedom, power and rights as men.