So, why the chatter?

Last week I wrote an article on E-Tolls and mentioned it as part of the ANC's enrichment scheme.  I felt like I need to qualify why I would pick E-Tolls as the example as proof of the ANC's enrichment at the expense of the country.

other than all the valid reasons mentioned in my post, the real reason is because I live in Gauteng, and because the government has announced that they will switch on the system on the 3rd of December.  So yes, it affects me.

Post Number 2

Good day blogosphere!

Yes, it's my second post, and I can't believe I'm still at this. Guess I'm having too much fun. 

Anyway, today's post will start off with a bit of a self-reveal.  As the picture above suggests I'm South African and proud of it. You probably would've picked this up from my profile if you bothered to read it, but yeah it's out there now.  And now you know.

As I mentioned I am proudly South African, but don't let that fool you: I am highly critical of our current government, indeed our entire political landscape, at this point in time.  If politicians aren't out to enrich themselves with taxpayers' money, they are out to two-time their own supporters.  If you don't know what I mean with that link, check this one out.  Thus I will be very vocal when it comes to anything a political party does that harms South Africa's citizens.  

You may have noticed that I didn't give a link to the "enrichment" part of my previous paragraph.  Oh, don't worry, for tonight/today I am going to tackle that very point head-on.  

The Start of it All

A Blog.  If you asked me a month ago if I would ever do something like this I would tell you that you are mad.  Not only does the name "blog" put me off (it sounds like someone barfing), I thought it was a medium for grannies, aunties and other women to talk about their recipes, daily activities and menopause problems, however dull and trivial.  Or for those who would like to bore the world with their opinions, which are mostly incorrect, single-minded and wrought with falsehoods and/or stereotypes.   And upon investigation it turns out that I'm not entirely incorrect.  

However, amongst all the nanny talk and self-inflated egos I found quite a few blogs that were...interesting...to say the least.  Of course this blog is not about those blogs.  Indeed I doubt I will ever refer to any other blog unless it is to quote them for the sake of quoting them in order to pass on a fact or idea that I might find intriguing or that supports my theories or arguments.  That said, they aren't the reason why I started this blog.  No, they were merely the confirmation that someone, such a I, could start one without feeling guilty of joining a mass crowd of clowns and fools out to parade their own folly.

So why did I start?  Well...the main reason is that I had done writing before, and loved it.  I didn't do a blog, just merely wrote stories and poems, but I felt like I needed to do this.  To nurture something I always liked.  Something I didn't always nurture and use as I should have.  Something that gives my life just a bit of meaning, even though I probably have a lot that I do that gives my life meaning.  And perhaps because I'm completely bored out of my skull with my career.  One I think I should never have gotten into in the first place.

And finally, yes this will be cliche, because of a girl, or more correctly, a woman, who told me that maybe I should do this and see where it goes...

As I sit here, I have the soundtrack to Mass Effect 3 playing loudly, my room still needing tidying up after coming home from work, and a thousand thoughts whirling in my head.  Here is the Truth: I have no idea what I will do with this blog. I have many ideas of making it an outlet for my own opinions on politics or current events.  I could also just express my opinions on anything that I find interesting, not necessarily politics or philosophy.  Maybe I'll also profess my faith through this blog, maybe write a few messages of hope and Good News.  Who knows, someone out there may just need a bit of it.

All in all, I have no idea where this will take me, if anywhere at all.  If it will ever become popular or not, if I might need protection for expressing undesired or unpopular views, or if it will just dwindle away.  But, dear reader, there is a few promises that I need to make about this blog that I feel I need to make.  take it as my word to you (Matthew 5:37):

• If I ever pass something off as fact you can be assured that I have made sure that it is, and that I would have made doubly sure of it.  If I do not say that it is fact, then take it as opinion unless I state it later as fact.  I hate lying.  To me it is one of the worst sins and I despise it.
• Every opinion of my own I express here will be that which I believe in.  I will not state my opinion for the sake of selling a product or masking my true identity or furthering someone's agenda.  If I say something is my opinion know that I believe in it deeply.  And if I were to ever further someone else's agenda be sure that I would mention it, and that I would probably believe in it as well.
• I am human, and will error from time to time.  If I do error or if I state something as fact and it was not, I will correct it and apologize.  I can and will own up to my mistakes
• That said, there are opinions of mine that will not be popular. They may offend, or downright make you hate me. Let me be clear upfront: I don't care if you are offended if a fact is stated or if an opinion of mine is made public and it is truth. If an opinion of mine is wrought with falsehoods I will correct it, but there are opinions of mine by which I will stand to the death, and I will never apologize for them.  Because I have the facts.  Because I see the Truth.  Because I may even know the future of them.  And I will never apologize for them to you or to anyone.  If you are offended by anything I say or believe or state as fact do the following: 

1. Grab a paper bag and breathe into it to prevent hyperventilation
2. If needed, count to ten
3. Take a deep breath after recovery
4. Collect your thoughts
5. Grow up
6. If you want to, sound off in the comments with coherent/proper English, and respond like a human being and not an animal, just in case I might be enticed to ridicule you (and trust me, I may just do that), why you disagree and your facts/proper thought out opinion(s) as to why
7. Don't always expect a reply.  In fact I may be too busy to bother, especially if you haven't thought through your argument, or come across as an animal that need schooling
8. Don't automatically assume that your argument  wasn't sound or you did come across like an animal if I don't respond as mentioned above.  I may just be too busy to comment.  Maybe my next blog entry could contain the answer/rebuttal.  I may even email you.  Who knows.
9. Don't like what I am saying or what I stand for?  Exercise your constitutional right to close the web browser, and web surf/read something somewhere else.  I don't have time for whiners in my life.  And don't quote constitutions. I don't have a lot of respect for those rights documents.
10. I am not a believer in debates.  For a debate to be effective it requires both parties to be civil, and unfortunately I have rarely seen civil debate online.  That said, should you ever challenge me to one I may accept.  There are no guarantees.  And, if I do, it will be on a proper platform so as to allow proper discussion (such as Skype).  And it will most probably be public, with anyone able to join in and listen.  I do not believe a blog or its comments section is the right place to debate as anything typed can easily be misconstrued.  And I won't just go into a debate over anything.  If my opinion is in fact fact, or is Truth, there is no debate to be held.  I don't debate facts or the Truth. Ever.
11. I don't respond kindly to death-threats, or threats of any kind.  Let's just say I have my ways, and contacts, and leave it at that.
12. Don't like this list? Too bad.  They are my rules.  My blog, my rules.  No discussion required. 

• My blog, my rules  >:)

And that is it for me for this session.  If I think of anything else I need to add to this piece I will do so at a later date, but for now I'm finished.  Be safe, and my Jesus bless you, regardless of whether you believe in Him or not.