Space

All of us, suck at something. There is a necessary space for lets called constructive failure. Apparently, I fail at spelling as evidenced above. My thought is about the current perception that if at first, one doesn't succeed. One just isn't cut out for something.  Or one just doesn't have the talent.  Timing and experience play a critical role in talent as do the need to find the space within any job to constructively not succeed.  It seems to be an art form we have lost the talent for, excuse the pun. We are so busy setting our children up for success that we fail to teach them the necessary path of failure within any truly creative endeavour. 

Creativity thrives in the happenstance space between perfection and disaster.  To find people to work with who will allow you the space to try and fail and try again. Those people are the ones who will lead you to create your best work. The path may be fraught with conflict and misdirection. However, the space to think and create meaningful work is constructed with afternoons of staring at clouds and wondering aimlessly exploring ideas and possibilities. 

All to often overlooked in our modern rush towards resolution. 

Headlines

This is a precursor to a piece I've been thinking about. Something about the language we use to describe events in relation to perceived public opinion of the facts. How media ultimately potentially controls how we understand and perceive or agree on issues. 

FUBAR

The last few weeks on Wits campus have been a little nuts. 

The middle (Class)

Reflecting on the goings on our campus over the last few days, shock, horror. An overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. That, partially the place where I have always felt safe. This place of knowledge has been so devastated.  Now reflects only anger and the inability for conversation for dialogue. How has our supposed democratic country fallen so far, neglected for so long any semblance of a democratic process in favour of what exactly? The protection of the few wealthy at the expense of the poor. Meanwhile, the privileged few, sit in their lush gardens and discuss, pot holes, and how the new administration is going to fix 'everything'. Possibly again at the expense of those who have no voice.  Where you sit and eat cake and drink expensive drinks, far removed from and unable to engage with the injustice which happens all around. 

Where is the voice of our supposed democratic government on this issue? Why have they said almost nothing in 3 Weeks? Paper bag citizens. Like everything is fine, nothing is amiss here. Let's just keep on like normal. As if this state of affairs is in any way normal... 

Students protesters and Police Retaliation

Todays Muttering, I've drawn a map of police action and student numbers on East campus between 11:30 & 1:30. Tuesday 05 October 2016. 

Based on Twitter photographs and personal observation. 

Round circles concentration of students

squares police vehicals

X - stun grenades

O - Green gas

_____._____._____ Rubber bullets. 

The academic position

Sitting in my office today, listening to the stun grenades and rubber bullets. The small of smoke and gas. Really where does one find a place to stand. And take a stand one must, as Eli wisel once said. "We must take sides, neutrality helps the oppressors,never the oppressed ?" Where is the side in this fight where each side is partially at fail for the mess we find ourselves in. A negotiation cannot be had when no one is willing to give an inch. 

Relax ( can also be read as chill out)

In the ridiculous expectations we make for ourselves. Do we ever stop and think, would I expect this level of perfection from others? It may be neccicary to cut yourself a little slack once in a while. 

Threat

Protestors needs

As Evidenced by a sign lying in out building today, "Please listen to the students". May reflect a profound need by Fees must fall protestors. Is it more important to be heard or effect actual change? If there some invisible line between actual on the ground change, long term vs short term goal meeting. Or is the point that within our media-mad society, with everyone's life on display all the time, and attention demanding increasing needed to be affirmed and valuable and necessary member of society. Do student protestors primarily want to be heard?

Protestors

Sometimes one wonders about the level of hysteria on campus, versus actual threat to safety.  Wits Staff can be divided into two camps. People more afraid of police and student protesters. People more afraid of Student protesters than police. Perhaps it depends on whether someone has been on the receiving end of police brutality or not. Mostly one seems to see that unless some form of crowd thought is actively present, the level of violent protestors in any crowd is fairly low.  Add riot gear and stun grenades, and tear gas. The Level may increase significantly. Of course, I have no scientific proof of this, this is just my observation. 

Dogs

Yup, after all that the one place I don't want the dogs to be. Yup that's the spot...