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O'Malley's political interviews - Chronological list of interviews per year - 1991
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POM Moses, I have a question arising out of the situation in the Soviet Union today where Gerrit Viljoen yesterday asked the ANC where it stood on the coup, suggesting in some way that the ANC might be sympathetic with it but the ANC hasn't yet responded. What would your position on the coup be?
MM Well I think I cannot respond on behalf of the ANC, the ANC would have to respond, but as a trade unionist I believe that if whatever action is in the interests of the people, if the people of the Soviet Union felt that Gorbachev was not leading them in the right direction, therefore we cannot judge them and say that then because this is our interest or that is our interest, therefore you are right. Then it seems that the coup is being supported in many areas except in Russia and therefore we would like to be guided by the masses in the Soviet Union, then if that is in the interests of the masses, if that's what the masses want to get rid of Gorbachev, therefore we will say then we support them but if it's against the masses, it's just a clique, then we wouldn't be in favour. Whatever we can support is something that has to benefit the people generally.
POM You are saying that in areas outside of Russia that the masses of the people are supporting ...?
MM No, there are contradictions that we see in the media here. It seems in Russia not to affect other states than the masses marching expressing opposition to the coup, but in other areas there is no significant protesting taking place, because if then the masses are pro the coup that will mean then that Gorbachev was not mandated, he was moving alone without the support of the people. Then if there is a massive move against the coup that will mean now that leadership has not consulted the people.
PAT How do you see that outside the constitutional framework of the Soviet Union? How do you see the transfer of power taking place outside the constitutional framework?
MM Well it's difficult to say, it depends on the conditions in the countries. It's not the first coup, there have been many coups and there will be many coups in future.
POM Will the SACP be issuing it's own statement in regard to the coup?
MM Well we have not discussed that and I don't know if the office has worked out anything but I would say at the present moment there is no resolution, no decision towards that.
POM I want to go back to something pretty basic and that is to the nature of the problem in SA, the nature of the problem that negotiators will be asked to try and resolve when they sit around the negotiating table. There are a number of different points of view. You have those who say the problem is racial, that it's about the oppression of the black majority by the white minority, and you have those who say it's really a conflict between two forms of nationalism, black nationalism and white nationalism, and those who say yes there is racial oppression of the blacks by whites but within the racial groups there are significant ethnic differences and these must be taken into account in a future dispensation, and you have those who say the real problem here is access to resources, the mal-distribution in the distribution of resources between the haves and the have-nots. In your view what is the essence of the problem that negotiators will sit down to try and resolve?
MM Well I think there are other questions that would come from the premise that in SA there are class divisions, class divisions that are hidden behind race, behind apartheid, but all in all the capitalist class that is in power in this country is using apartheid, is using race, has used race and apartheid to exploit, to oppress and to repress people. That apartheid was putting the black people in a very desperate position which has created a gap, you see that gap in land, the Land Act that deprived people of their land, the Land Act that has authorised the minority to buy, I would say, 87% of the land whilst the majority, which is about 80% of the population, is occupying 13% and have no rights to own even that 13%. [There then has been this link between -] Then in the factories pure exploitation, pure racism, the labour laws, the gap that they have created between the two races, white and black, in dividing people. There is that inter-relationship but all in all it's the class oppression, class war that is raging.
The negotiators, therefore, have to � that war, then they have created this landlessness, homelessness, health crisis, transport crisis and poverty, in many areas famine, and then the negotiators have to answer those problems. We say that there should be two tier negotiations; the negotiations where the politicians are negotiating the transfer of power. When we talk of the transfer of power we are talking of people being able to be empowered, to be able to control their day-to-day lives. For example the trade unions have negotiated new LRA and they have to continue negotiating the new labour law for the future. It should be the trade union bosses and the government, all of the people who are concerned in that area, then that would be part of the empowering of people, part of transferring power to them and the restructuring of the National Manpower Commission, the labour laws. If we talk of housing, the civics' housing developments, the local government, then the civics have to be heard at the negotiations together with trade unions and political parties that are concerned about changing to non-racialism in this country. Then the restructuring act that has produced the black local authorities that has introduced racism in local government, so it would be a project for those organisations.
Let's talk about electricity supply. There is an Act that is controlling the energy and the Energy Council that is now a forum that is negotiating and is controlled by the civics, negotiating transport again, the trade unions and the civics backed by the political parties. Then if we do that, are able to consult everybody, and then move towards that national body, that the main negotiating party then would be advised by this forum on how to change, how to non-racialise, how to restructure and even restructuring the economy.
POM This is something I would like to have you elaborate on a little more, something you talked about the last time. One line of thought is that negotiators get to the table and what they negotiate are the rules for an interim government and for a Constituent Assembly and the CA draws up the constitution, the constitution is put to the country and the political parties campaign and a government is elected and then that government, on the basis of the pledges it made during the campaign, carries out its mandate. There is the other group who say not only must you have negotiations on the process of constitutional change going on, you must have a parallel process going on that would be negotiations about the nature of the economic structures themselves and that agreement must be reached on the nature of these structures and on the broad principles for redistribution before a new government is elected.
MM What we are saying is that these things must go parallel and there should be like the LRA, there are negotiations already to restructure the National Manpower Commission, etc., all that. Also then we have continued, we have started already, we have met the Minister of Transport where we said there should be a forum that is negotiating the new transport policy in this country. We have also met the government on this local government and development housing. We said that there should be a new housing policy and there is going to be a forum, a summit, around that and the restructuring of the economy that is happening already; that process of the restructuring of the industries and the restructuring of the economy would be more about that. Both these things have to go parallel with the national negotiations.
POM There would in fact be almost two sets of agreements. One would be on the nature of the economic restructuring and the other would be on the nature of the constitutional settlement. They would both have to be endorsed simultaneously.
Over the last year there has been a new creeping tendency, or there was an increasing tendency in the west, Europe, America, to characterise the violence in the Transvaal as tribal violence between Xhosa and Zulu. Do you find that a misleading characterisation?
MM That is a misleading characterisation because they know clearly that the violence is perpetrated by Inkatha, Inkatha perpetrating that violence even amongst the Zulus in Natal, let alone the Zulus in Transvaal, and it's not a Zulu/Xhosa war, it's not black on black violence because it's not even only Inkatha. Inkatha has white members and Inkatha has police backing, white police, white army, and Inkatha has been financed by the government of the country through the KwaZulu government, through Trust Bank, and therefore it's not just as simplistic as that because we have seen the government, the structural violence starting from the National Party government in coalition with the KwaZulu government, the warlords, the police, etc., etc., to fight against the progressive organisations like the ANC, like COSATU. I will say it's ideological war, a war against the people because it is the people who are being killed, the massacre in the trains, that general massacre conducted by whites and blacks, the white police, and the massacre in the streets, the townships; there is no distinction made. Then it's just terrorism, sustained terrorism.
POM What's the purpose of the violence?
MM The purpose is to neutralise the people, neutralise democracy, neutralise the ANC, that the government should negotiate with a weak ANC, with a weak COSATU, with a weak South African Communist Party and trying to elevate the other forces as national forces like Gatsha Buthelezi, elevating him to the status of Mandela, [or Inkatha � of the ANC] and that is the propaganda, and also some old things in Africa where you found that the colonisers when they see that they are about to lose power they resort to violence to destabilise the country, destabilise the economy, destabilise everything. That has happened in Mozambique, that has happened in Angola, that nearly happened in Zimbabwe.
POM Do you see what you would call the alliance between Inkatha and the government as being a capitalist alliance, that these are the forces that support capitalism?
MM We believe that the CIA is involved, CIA involved in it and therefore it's more broader than people can think, more broader than Inkatha, more broader than this government, more broader than � it's a campaign to really keep the status quo that there should be, that there's just political change in this country, not economic change, so that the balances of forces, the balances of power, don't have to be altered. Then those balances of forces, balances of power, we're talking of the economy now, the restructuring of the economy, etc., etc., and as we would believe that the government orchestration of it started way before the unbanning of the organisations, the political organisations and leaders, then that was the aim, release them, unban their organisations and you stick to a (plan).
POM When you say, "We believe that the CIA is involved", is that the trade union movement, the ANC or the SACP?
MM The progressive movement in this country believes that and the trade unions.
POM So this would be a commonly held perception?
MM Yes, the CIA in the past - the CIA is involved.
POM This leads to the accusations made repeatedly during the past year by Mr Mandela that the government has a double agenda, the olive branch of negotiations on the one hand and the violence orchestrated on the other. You obviously believe that.
MM Yes, and that double agenda was planned before they embarked on negotiations.
POM Do you see revelations about government funding of Inkatha, would that constitute the final irrefutable proof that the government has been involved in the organisation of violence, in financing violence, perhaps in carrying out the violence itself?
MM That's the irrefutable proof. We have been saying that long ago, for a long time.
POM You were saying that last time.
MM And no-one was prepared to believe us and now here is the proof that is beyond doubt and we believe that there is still more to be revealed, still more. We hope that the newspapers and some organisations are still going to dig more because it has shown clearly that the government has been behind Inkatha, behind the violence, directly and indirectly.
POM Just to get on one thing, I want to distinguish between ...
MM And the bosses also have been involved, that has been revealed.
POM The bosses being?
MM �
POM They've been involved too in the violence?
MM In financing and also in the violence itself, supporting ...
POM I haven't heard that allegation.
MM Oh yes. Take ISCOR, you find that they accommodated in the hostel that is called KwaMadala then they allowed non-ISCOR workers to stay there and they are operating from that hostel. All the violence in the Vaal is from that hostel.
POM This would be a parastatal rather than - this would be part of a government-owned, financed, industry as distinct from private employers? You're saying private employers are involved in this?
MM Are involved. It's not only ISCOR, there are some others but I'm making ISCOR as an example of employers being involved. There are some who have given money to Inkatha but they say that we are entitled to support the party that we want to, but they knew clearly that they were supporting violence in supporting Inkatha. Inkatha has clearly aligned itself with the - and vigilantes and they are Inkatha members, people who have maimed communities.
POM I want to make a distinction between De Klerk, the government and the security apparatus.
MM I can't.
POM You can't. So you would say they are one and the same and that De Klerk himself ...?
MM They are one and the same, you can't separate them. The army is controlled by the government. There is a Minister of Defence who is under the State President then definitely he must be reporting to the State President on major issues and the law and order, the Minister of Police. That's why we are saying that they are deeply involved and the revelations that they were deeply involved and we believe that the government must have known that this was happening but it can't say so today.
POM He can't say so.
MM He cannot.
POM Where does this put De Klerk in the whole thing of moving towards a new SA, one man one vote? What kind of strategy do you think the NP or the government is embarked on? What are they trying to do? What's the aim here?
MM Well what they want is to negotiate not to lose power, to negotiate a sort of Muzorewa-type in Zimbabwe transfer of power where the white community is still in power but there is a black base in front. They don't want sincerely to transfer power to the majority of the people and to introduce proper democracy. They wouldn't want to lose economic power too so the aim therefore is to reject, that's why they are rejecting the sort of interim government that is envisaged by the ANC. They are bitterly opposed to the Constituent Assembly. They put themselves as a player and referee, which is not acceptable, because they don't want to change, they want the status quo to remain, that's their aim.
POM I'll go back to some of those things in a moment but I'd like to stick for a moment with the NP saying they don't want a transfer of power. Now a number of surveys have been carried out which show that a majority of the people in SA, including a majority of supporters of the ANC, would accept a kind of a coalition government between the ANC and the NP with the ANC being the senior partner in the alliance as an acceptable outcome. Would you find that an acceptable outcome? Would the SACP find it an acceptable outcome? Would the trade union movement find it an acceptable outcome if at the end of the day what was proposed was in fact that there would be power sharing, with most power going to or seeming to go to the ...?
MM Well the coalition, we are for a coalition government. Yes we can be for it if then at the voting system then we become equal with some political organisations. Then we can say that there is no outright majority therefore let's form a coalition government. We believe that then there should be, an interim government, there should be an open vote where people have to vote for a Constituent Assembly and after that there should be an open vote where people vote for their leaders, for the government, the constitution. If the NP wins, fine, if the ANC wins that's fine and if the SACP wins it must be fine. A coalition for what?
POM Let's assume that the ANC fell short of a majority.
MM Yes, then the condition would be forcing that there would be a coalition. You can't run away from it.
POM Even in those circumstances would you ...?
MM In those circumstances, yes, you have to accept that there is now maybe equality of votes when you are voting for the new government if there is no-one who is claiming an outright majority therefore there should be a coalition government. That is the proper democratic way.
POM What I'm getting at is many people who we've talked to say what will happen is that during this process of negotiations an understanding will be reached that for a period of time after the new constitution is in force that the ANC and the NP, and perhaps other parties, will form a government of national unity for maybe five years or ten years so that some of these enormous social changes and economic changes that have to be addressed can be addressed.
MM No, no, no, we cannot accept that, that's not acceptable. Why didn't we do that in Zimbabwe? Why didn't we do that in Namibia? Why should we do it in SA? There should be an interim government and the nature of that interim government will depend on what is negotiated. It may be that coalition, it may be whatever because in a situation where there is no constitution an interim administration � that may be a coalition. Yes, we may not reject that outright. But once a constitution is set up it should be one person one vote and the party that wins therefore has to control the country just like the NP won and then it has been controlling everybody, in some areas without the mandate, there are some sectors of society. If then out of that voting system where people are wanting a new Cabinet, a new government, and there is no outright winner, it's then that you can consider a coalition.
POM Let's say the ANC won and they decided that the best man for the job of Minister for Finance was Barend du Plessis?
MM Oh yes, then it will be that party deciding who should have which department. That's what's happening now but it will be the ANC that is the government and again it can choose from the community the best people to head the ministries. That would not be a coalition government if Mandela is the person tomorrow then he goes to Du Plessis as a person who is capable and says, "OK lead this department".
POM But you wouldn't find it inimical to the interests of the working class that a man who is so closely identified with capitalism would now be in a new SA the Minister for Finance?
MM Well that was not a socialist government. We have to accept that, that that will be a government, a nationalist government not a socialist government. That way you would have a mixture of people. We have not taken over power, then the whole thing is negotiated with a national approach.
POM I am sorry, I'm missing something here.
MM The whole arrangement would be a nationalist arrangement, just like the NP government, it's a nationalist arrangement so it's not a socialist arrangement so therefore there is no way that you can say we don't want Du Plessis if the ruling party says to Du Plessis, "Take this position", because capitalism will still be there, it will still be the free enterprise system. You can't say we are rejecting him because of his capitalist approach. It will still be a capitalist system, free enterprise system.
POM So where does that leave you? You want a socialist system.
MM At the beginning, these negotiations are not negotiating socialism. It's negotiating the government's � the ANC believes in mixed economy, it doesn't say that it's going to change the country into a socialist country.
POM No, but what you're saying is that, if I get it correctly, while the constitutional negotiations are going on there must also be major negotiations on future economic structures that would involve mechanisms, modalities for transferring resources from the haves to the have-nots?
MM Yes. You can't negotiate socialism. You can negotiate the best arrangements that can take up the needs of the people, the aspirations. No capitalist will agree to transferring economic arrangements into a communist arrangement so it will be a process of a revolution on the ground that is going to introduce new systems and then it could be then the balances of power allow the negotiations to usher in certain forms of socialism. But at this moment I wouldn't say that when we get to the new government, no, then we would be in a position to say we don't want Du Plessis, we don't want that one, we don't want that one.
POM You won't be in a position to say that?
MM We won't be, we haven't taken over. We have to accept that we haven't taken over power then it's going to be a long process, a long process, painful process.
POM So could you as a member of the SACP really find yourself in opposition to a post-independent ANC government that would be more capitalist oriented than you would like?
MM Well the SACP would then be an independent party, if the ANC is pushing for just position then it will get the support but if it's totally against socialist interest then it will get opposition and the SACP may even play as an opposition. It may be in coalition with the ANC and it may act � conditions will tell. It's difficult to say now because we don't know. When the ANC takes over we will be in a position, as you say, to say we don't want to be seen there using the boat, coming closer to the socialist set-up.
POM But it could move the opposite way too?
MM It could move the opposite way where then it will now convince them, some organisations, that they must be in opposition. Then it could move to the left and then the left organisations, the left would be a coalition and would push more and more for changes.
POM Last year I asked you what was the difference between the SACP and the ANC and you said in part that the SACP was the party of the working classes. Wouldn't the ANC say that it's the movement of the working classes?
MM The ANC is a multi-class organisation.
POM Multi-class?
MM You can find people like [�] in the ANC but it is more biased to the poor at the present moment. It is not solely the party or the organisation that we can say then surely it's socialist.
POM The ANC in the light of the Inkathagate revelations has taken a position on an interim government that the present government must resign and then all parties could form an interim government in which they would all share power together in some way. Do you believe that this government will resign, that it will vote itself and its state and its apparatus out of existence?
MM I don't believe it will. Then it has to be pushed to that stage, pushed by the international world. That's why we are still calling for sanctions and isolation of the South African regime more and more. They will be pushed by the struggle on the ground, that's why we're saying mass mobilisation, mass struggle must continue because we have not yet got what we want.
POM Is there any way that some kind of alternative form of an interim government could be advanced but one that would still leave this government as the government, that De Klerk would still be State President, that his government would still be the ruling government even though there would be responsibility sharing and there would be members of the ANC, perhaps, in charge of some ministries or having joint control of ministries?
MM We can't allow the ANC to run apartheid so if we choose some people to run some ministries, under whom? Under De Klerk? Then under the present racist government, that won't be acceptable to be there. What we want is a purely interim structure that is going to have the support of the people, where people are going to know that there is neutrality, that it's a structure that's going to be able to be controlling the army in a neutral way, controlling the police, etc., etc., and the administration generally. If now then we just take ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, what's going to change?
POM That would be co-option in fact.
MM It's co-option in the true sense of it and we would never agree to that position where we are co-opted.
POM So this issue of an interim government seems to be like a line has been drawn in the sand. The government must resign, period.
MM Yes.
POM Before really negotiations can go forward.
MM And then it can negotiate through its party, the NP. The NP, the ANC and the parties that negotiate that interim structure.
POM So in the event of the government refusing to do so then one would expect a new campaign of mass mobilisation?
MM Then the struggle continues. Yes.
POM There are eleven working groups going on. One of the things that fascinates me about the process is that you can have on the one hand all these angry exchanges between the government and the liberation movements, accusation and counter-accusation, and on the other hand you have working groups, groups of members of the ANC who meet with civil servants or members of the government and try to thrash out agreements.
MM Yes, that's why we say that the (talks) must run parallel because you may not get the interim arrangement through just negotiating as we are negotiating now. You may get that through tackling all these areas like the National Manpower Commission, the LRA, the housing policy, the electricity policy, transport policy and all these. Then you find just from the ground negotiations to restructure the whole thing and it may end up at the end of the day putting us in a position to say, where the government says, "Oh we are prodded through these negotiations, with these forums, through these working groups", and that it was of no use to continue rejecting the interim government. Anyway, the agreements are interim already. Let's say in the local government we in the civics want to put together all the civics, trade unions and the political parties to negotiate and discuss the future of local government and the government was there, the NP, the government must be there in that, in the restructuring of the whole thing. Then if the government doesn't accept, take this, then mass struggle, etc., etc. Then that's how we are going to force now this unbending government. Like this conference, the Peace Accord that was signed between the government, Inkatha and the ANC now, it's a giant step towards the interim structure if you look at how the police are going to be controlled, the army, by these committees.
POM But the final responsibility for security still lies with the government.
MM Yes but what I am saying is that it's a step, that if then the government is genuine about the peace then the army and the police, really there's genuine control with committees, then that could be a step towards it. Then if in all angles you find that giant step forward without us controlling the army, because how can you control the police today? If you can't control the police, it will be difficult as the Minister of Police whilst the Generals on the ground are ...
POM That's what I'm getting at is the issue that you want this government to go out of existence because of black legitimacy or is the issue that you want to find a way where all parties share in the administration of the government?
MM The interim government.
POM Of the interim government? Is that absolutely necessary, what you're saying; is it absolutely necessary that the government resign? That's what I hear you saying.
MM What I am saying is that if the government, whilst we are negotiating we have to face the whole issue on the ground while the government is there but not dropping their call. But there could be this; at the end of the day the government would see that we have a genuine cause, yes, we have lost the ground. The call for an interim would never be equal to any other negotiations. What I am saying, it's happening within the trade unions that we are making new laws etc., etc., there are many negotiations that are happening. Those negotiations may corrode the stand of the NP party at the end of the day where the NP say, "No, we should accept the interim." Anyway we have given instructions, what's the use of continuing resisting therefore when we get to that stage. It's going to be a long battle this fighting for this and that which is going to be approached in different ways, fighting for this interim government. That's why I don't believe that during the course of this year the talks may start, the actual negotiations will start.
POM On Inkathagate again for a minute, who were the main political winners, who were the main losers? In particular what has it done to the standing and stature of Gatsha Buthelezi?
MM Well we wouldn't like to talk about Gatsha and what we can talk of as a person is the government which has power to stop violence. The government instead of stopping that violence has fomented, has put petrol on the many fires of violence, financing violence, financing Gatsha, financing the KwaZulu government, financing vigilantes and even supporting them directly. So therefore the government has been an active number one partner in violence, the structural violence, state terrorism. It has been a loser in political terms because everybody was seeing De Klerk as a man of integrity, seeing the NP as a changing party, so the whole scandal has shown that the NP is still the jackal it is now they have tried to put their sheepskin on it, De Klerk trying to put the sheepskin. And then this opened the eyes of the world but the world is not that crazy. So the ANC has come out strengthened from the scandal because that's what the ANC has to say, "The trade unions, the party, we have come out strengthened because we have shown, we have proof that what we have been saying that the government is involved in destabilising in the violence directly, that the government is not genuine, it is not sincere in really genuinely negotiating as equal partners." It does not want that, it wants to negotiate with a weakened ANC.
POM And Buthelezi? Where does it leave him?
MM Buthelezi is an instrument. He's just like other instruments of violence. He's one of the agents of the government. He's a homeland leader. He's a homeland leader, he's the leader of the vigilantes, Inkatha vigilantes and they're just like other vigilantes. He's just like other homeland leaders.
POM Where do you think that will leave him at the negotiating table? Will he be sitting alongside Viljoen?
MM It's difficult to say now where he will be sitting but what he was saying is that the structures that he is controlling as part of the government, he is part of the government, part of De Klerk, he has to be on the side of the government as one of their homeland leaders that has chosen to be locked into De Klerk's structures. There are some homelands that have changed and are on the side of the progressive organisations, the democratic movement. They will be on the side of the people. So we see the table as two sided, the side of the people and the side of the government.
POM And on the side of the government you will have Inkatha and all the other homelands?
MM The homelands that are still wanting to be in that camp. Those who want to come on the side of the people they will be accommodated. I don't see Gatsha really moving away from (where he is) and he has shown that he is committed to violence.
POM If one goes back to, say, 1967 and you look at the history of Africa and you see that with one or two exceptions there haven't been any cases where countries or governments in an election transferring power to a new, different government, they've either become one party states or the government enjoys such a monopoly of power that that it keeps re-electing itself. What do you think will make SA different?
MM Traditionally this country is different. You find that those African countries that you are talking about they came to power without any organs of people's power from the ground, practical organs of people's power, which are the organs which are going to make sure that power is transferred to the people. When we say the transfer of power, we don't say the transfer of power to political organisations, we say transfer of power to the people where people on the ground at grassroots will be able to say that we are controlling the country, we are controlling SA and you have trade unions that have civics in the factories. We have civic organisations that have constituencies in the townships, political organisations that have branches on the ground, regions, and those are the structures that have to give mandates to the leadership, top leadership. Those are structures that have to be accountable, we have to make the organisations accountable, make the elected leaders accountable on the ground, giving them mandates, power to represent and what then? SA won't allow that. Those structures were built out of all these struggles and they have that tradition of a democratic approach to all these, report backs. So it's going to be a bit different here and there's no trade union movement in Africa, there's no strong civic movement like here in all those African states.
POM Do you see local government structures as being a key part of new political structures?
MM They will be, yes, they will be. That's why there should be now people on the ground involved in the negotiations on the ground, again running parallel with the national negotiations to changing, non-racialising the present racial local government, creating a fiscal base, a tax base that is going to benefit everybody regardless of colour, creed and forming up new local governments, non-racial local governments. The civics will remain independent of political parties or local governments and they will act as watch-dogs of such structures that when they are carrying the mandate given to them to closing the gap that is created by apartheid exploitation and also developing people to a new viable society.
POM Last year you said that the major threat to the process came from the right. Would that still be your assessment?
MM It's still there. The Ventersdorp incident.
POM How do you view that? How do you view Ventersdorp?
MM Well they are a threat. They can destabilise. I don't think they will ever come to power but they can create lots of problems. I think De Klerk is supported by the army and the police and they think that he is not selling out the white power.
POM Would you think that most of the police, the white police, are supporters of the Conservative Party?
MM I would say so far they are supporting the NP. If they were supporting those right wingers then there would have been a coup already because that's what they are gearing for.
POM That's what they're?
MM The right wingers, they would like to see a coup.
POM Do you think if tomorrow morning De Klerk said, "OK, I'll go for an interim government and we are going to vote ourselves out of power", do you think that could precipitate a coup?
MM That may change white minds, that may, because they would feel that now we are losing power.
POM Well they would be. If De Klerk came to you and said, "Moses, I'd really like to do this but I assure you that if I go in there tomorrow morning and pull my Cabinet and my parliament together �"?
MM We don't care whether there is a coup or not but then the democratic process has to happen, then he must give in, he must give in to the interim government. If the whites then stage a coup that's their democratic right to stage a coup. Then we can't say OK let's feel for De Klerk, let's feel as if we're in his shoes, then there will be a coup if he does even that. It's none of our business if the whites are fighting each other in this country then it's none of our business that battle. We have to demand what is rightfully ours.
POM So it's a democratic right to have a coup? It seems an odd democratic right.
MM That's their decision.
POM It would be the decision of the army.
MM But it's their decision if they say they must have a coup. It's a coup against another white government. It has got nothing to do with us and our struggle continues whether the coup is there or not. It has nothing to do with us.
POM A number of studies now show that if you look at unionised black labour and white labour, generally white labour, that on balance there's about a 15% difference between a black worker in a union in a particular occupation is paid and what a white worker in the same occupation is paid. That gap has been narrowing over the years and is now at about 15%. Some economists say that the real problem now is not race so much as black unions gain more ground and more membership but is one of the employed versus the unemployed, that you have members of unions getting better off as a result of wage negotiations and part of the trade-off of that is that black unemployment increases as employers substitute capital for more expensive labour so that what you have are really two classes of black people now; those who are becoming a lot better off because they are working and members of trade unions, and those who have nothing.
MM Yes there is that situation but then it's not a situation of the trade unions. The trade unions are fighting against unemployment because of the economy in this country and then the trade unions have to still negotiate for better conditions for their members. But the trade unions of SA are different from any trade unions in the world because they also are saying that this structure, this economy, must be restructured so that it can create jobs for the people. We can't say now there is no fight for jobs. There is fight for jobs, there is fight that people must not be retrenched and more jobs must be created, that there's massive unemployment. I would say that's true like in the auto industry; in NUMSA, they're getting big wages, more than maybe people in the motor industry. There are differences also in the industries depending on the strength of trade union negotiators. I don't know what your point was?
POM My point is that in most economies as labour becomes more expensive employers either employ fewer people, lay off people and substitute capital for labour because capital becomes relatively cheaper.
MM You can't really eat your cake and still have it. We have to accept that people join the unions for better benefits and not that then there should be unemployment. The employers are pushed by profit motives wherever they invest and, yes, they are threatened by labour and if they think they can get best profits by using new machinery, automation, then they will go for that. If they think they can get more profit by paying more they will go for that.
POM But that in part is determined by the level of wages.
MM Not wages, profits.
POM Higher wages mean lower profits.
MM In SA I don't think the black workers are getting high wages such as that that they are contributing to unemployment in this country and they are contributing to decisions, economic decisions. The workers here are the worst paid in the world. American workers, British workers, German workers, what are we talking about? So therefore in this country that is still not in question. What is controlling them is the soft motive approach where then, OK, we must cut off the labour not because they are getting more money but just because we want to be more profitable. We want to introduce a machine to be profitable, produce more quickly, etc., etc.
PAT Are you saying that organised workers are the worst paid in the world or the whole body of the labour market is the worst paid?
MM The whole body.
PAT Of the employed labour market is the worst paid in the world?
MM The workers in SA.
PAT Employed and unemployed?
MM When you talk of the labour in Britain you include everything. The people who are working in SA, they are spending their money to helping even those who are unemployed. They share their salaries with their brothers, with their sisters and caring for the unemployed in the family because there are no unemployment insurance benefits that can keep people alive. You find that you get that for just six months and after six months you don't get anything, whilst in other countries they are getting as well as your unemployment you get that, especially in Europe.
POM As a matter of interest, there have been some suggestions that De Klerk more or less allows the violence to happen because it shows him to take action against right wingers; it shows the police acting against white people who threaten violence just as they would act against black people. It took some of the spotlight off Inkathagate, away from him and made him again � refurbished his image in the international community.
MM Well I can't answer that because there have been lots of incidents, right wingers provoking the government and provoking black people so there have been many incidents. So to isolate that incident I wouldn't be talking, saying the truth, because the right wingers have been trying to � there have been also squabbles where Pik Botha was going to address them and they stopped the meeting. What I am saying is that it may have happened like that, that also it could happen that the right wing have been trying to disrupt black meetings and/or ministers meetings and there has been violence between the police and the AWB in some areas.
POM Two quick last ones. What's happened to the PAC? You talked of them last year as being a potential major actor at some point in this whole thing.
MM In the locations.
POM Or in the future?
MM I don't know what's going to happen. They sometimes are interested in negotiations at times and then they say, "No, we are not". It's difficult.
POM In terms of having a constituency out there?
MM Well their constituency is not yet significant. They are still � I can't say OK here is their constituency, it's a big constituency. It's difficult to say.
POM When we met you last year the violence was at one of its highest levels. When you look at last August what do you point to as measures of progress? What have become new obstacles? What do you point to as measures of progress in the form of moving towards a democratic, non-racial, SA and have new obstacles come in the way of moving towards that?
MM Let me say that there is progress. What we've been saying is that something is done but it is not enough. We say that the Harare Declaration demands are not met. There has been violence even there. So we are still in the same situation and the violence has escalated and now the demands in the Harare Declaration still stand and there is a new demand now that the government must quit for an interim government before we can negotiate.
POM And any new obstacles that have come to the fore?
MM Yes, the violence and scandal, Inkathagate scandal. Violence is the problem and the financing of violence by the state. You can't negotiate while people are being mowed down by the state.
POM Do you think that the National Peace Agreement that's been negotiated ...?
MM We don't think it's going to help much.
POM You don't?
MM But then it will lay down parameters and we can say, OK, people, you are not following the Accord. That's the advantage, that we have a document that we can use.
POM It won't stop the actual killing or won't have much impact.
MM We'll still have the killings.
PAT I have one question. It has to do with the role of the civic associations and trade unions and you were making the point that they were operating with government. My question has to do with the development of communism and socialism where it seems that what you're saying about the role of trade unions and civic organisations and the on the ground structures for decision making and negotiations is the opposite of what is understood of conventional communist structures which are very centralised and needed to be centralised and they would deliver the product essentially without offering [�] for independent organisations, trade unions, civic organisations. So I am having a little bit of a hard time trying to figure out what task as a leader of the Communist Party you are pursuing, which of these is your role? A civic leader, a trade union leader or Communist Party leader? What is the Communist Party's role in this? What is it?
MM We believe that that command of centralised structures cannot work here. We think that the mistakes that the Soviets did were to neutralise the powers of the Soviets. Therefore the civic structures which we refer to as organs of people's power will act as those Soviets and the trade union shop steward councils and the people on the ground and therefore it should be socialism based on mass democracy, democracy from the ground, not democracy from the top. The tradition here has been that the leadership must be accountable, organisations must be accountable. You talk of mass democracy; it must be socialism based on democracy not on commandism.
POM Thank you very much.


text:
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Brindley Twist Tafft & James
Unmarried couples and property; Who owns what?
When unmarried couples involved in a long term relationship separate, one issue that may arise is that of property ownership. If the couple have bought a house together,to whom does it belong?
Legally, if the house is in both parties' names, they both hold the legal title to it. The issue arises in relation to the 'beneficial interest' in the house, the value, when parties have bought a house together but have not contributed equally, either by way of a deposit, mortgage payments or the cost of property improvements.
Where this has happened, the prospect of the value of the house simply being divided 50/50 can seem very unfair, especially against the background of ill feeling that so often accompanies separation. However, in cases where there have been unequal contributions such as where one party pays the deposit, whilst the other spends an equal amount on their holiday, to not separate the value 50/50 may also produce an unfair result.
What is important is what the parties intended the division of the value to be, though how this is to be identified in the absence of an express agreement is not easy.
The intention of the parties
Couples will often not set out, in clear terms, at the beginning of a relationship exactly what they do intend the position to be regarding the beneficial ownership of a property purchased together. The Court must therefore figure out what the parties intended.
Jones v Kernott
In this case, the parties met in 1981 and had two children. They purchased a house in 1985 in their joint names. They paid £30,000 with a despoit of £6000 from the sale proceeds of Ms Jones' previous home. The mortgage and upkeep on the house was shared between them. In 1986, they jointly took out a loan of £2000 for an extension, on which Mr Kernott did some of the work himself. The trial judge found that this extension probably enhanced the value of the property by about 50% to £44,000.
Mr Kernott moved out of the property in 1993. Ms Jones remained with the children and paid all of the household expenses herself. Mr Kernott made no further contribution towards the purchase of the property and, in 1996, he bought his own house by cashing in a joint life insurance policy for the deposit, and by making mortgage payments. The Court found he would have been unable to do this had he been making any contribution towards the mortgage on the former family home.
Over the years, the value of the former family home increased and in 2006 Mr Kernott indicated that he wished to claim a beneficial share in it. In response, Ms Jones applied for a declaration under section 14 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 that she owned the entire beneficial interest in the property. Ms Jones' position was that in the 14 and a half years following the seperation, there was evidence that their intentions had changed. Mr Kernott had bought his own house and ceased to make contributions to Ms Jones. By 2008 the property was valued at £245,000.
What the Court found
The Supreme Court concluded that the following principles should be applied where a family home is bought by a cohabiting couple in joint names with both responsible for the mortgage, but without any express agreement as to how the value of the property should be divided upon seperation;
The starting point is that equity follows the law and, as they are joint legal owners, they jointly own the property 50/50.
That position can be challenged by showing that (a) the parties intended something different when they bought the property, or (b) that they later intended that their ownership of the property would change.
The intention of the parties can be deduced from their words or conduct.
In cases where it is clear that (a) the parties did not intend joint ownership at the point the property was first purchased, or, if they did, (b) had changed their minds (but it is not possible to deduce what their actual intention was) the Court will award each party the share of the property that it considers fair. This it will do by considering the whole course of dealing between the parties.
Each case will turn on its own facts, and the financial contribution of each party is one of many factors the Court must consider.
The Court found that whilst the starting point should be joint and equal ownership of the property as it was held in joint names, in this case, because of the parties' conduct, that intention had changed. Once Mr Kernott had purchased a new home, his interest in the former family home was established. He maintained his new home whilst Ms Jones maintained the former family home. The intention was therefore that Ms Jones would have the sole benefit of any gain in that home and Mr Kernott would have the sole benefit of any gain in his new home. On that basis, the division made by the trial judge, 90/10 in favour of Ms Jones, would be appropriate in all the circumstances.
This case illustrates the principles the Court will follow and the correct approach. Where the property is in joint names, the starting point will always be that the parties are equal joint owners. If words or conduct at the time of the purchase, or later, before the property is sold, indicates something to the contrary, then the Courts may divide the interest differently. This is something the party seeking a greater share will have to satisfy the Court of, and it will not be an easy burden to discharge.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There are no spoiler tags here???
It would be really nice if there were a button for it in the editor instead of it being hidden however.
Yes there are in BB code, I'm aware, but that's not quite what I'm talking about, and they aren't being used when they should be anyway. I mean simply a warning of some such in the thread title.
Though it would be nice if people actually used those spoiler BB code you are referring to.
I realize you and a number of others know about it. Some people don't know however (and/or don't remember how to do it when they should). My post was mostly for those people.
Spoilers are a minor peeve of mine too, since I tend to wait until a season is over to binge-watch. Now they have no excuse! At least if they read this thread..
Considering the lack of acknowledgement, as this thread has been here for close to a week without any, I can only assume there are no intentions nor interest in addressing this problem. There are clearly more pressing issues to see to such as clearing the daily spam filters, adding new site themes, and hiding the online user list. The lack of transparency and communication has been chipping away at the community experience and I've honestly seen better quality on larger forums with even less staff.
It's definitely an issue and I can relate to. I normally type it down on my threads if spoiler tags are necessary. Also spoilers tags are same across forums.
Actually there are several other issues such as thread duplication, even though you get a list of possible threads that might be similar or the same to what you intended to make. I know that this is a common problem but these things can be solved by addressing them explicitly.
I didn't know the code worked for this site (some forums it doesn't). Anyway, I tend to post **Spoilers** in the title of my thread to warn others, lol.
I use spoiler tags a LOT and even though it should be simple, it's tedious when you have a lot of content to post.
How to use thee spoiler tag.
The spoiler has now been added to the text editor as a button.
I added a spoiler button suprized this hasn't been added yet.
We use to have spoilers in the previous forum version I don't know why it was taken out.
Nope it is something I had to manually enable for the text editor. Though I do agree it should be default.
Great, thanks. But that is not what this thread was about. At all.
Thread titles should have spoiler notifications. As I explained in a previous post, in this very thread, I'm not talking about the BB Code and I'm fully aware that it exists. The problem is that A) People don't seem to care if a thread has a potential for spoilers within its contents and therefore do not title their threads appropriately. And B) The FILTER TAG does not exist as an alternative option, along the lines of tagging a post according to its content's genre. The word "tag" is not exclusively used for referring to code tags, folks.
I apologise for the harsh response I left previously, I was extremely frustrated and admittedly hormonal. But now I am wondering how, even after a response, people are still missing the point of this thread, and I'm frustrated all over again. I'm actually genuinely amazed how hard the point was missed and it makes me feel like nobody actually bothered to read it.
Thread titles should have spoiler notifications. As I explained in a previous post, in this very thread, I'm not talking about the BB Code and I'm fully aware that it exists. The problem is that A) People don't seem to care if a thread has a potential for spoilers within its contents and therefore do not title their threads appropriately. And B) The FILTER TAG does not exist as an alternative option, along the lines of tagging a post according to its content's genre. The word "tag" is not exclusively used for referring to code tags, folks.
Let me see if I understand this. You want a spoiler tag for whole threads. And use this tag for what exactly? Seeing before clicking on a thread that it contains spoilers or/and filtering out all threads that contain the spoiler tag?
If I got this right, then who exactly should tag those threads? If the users don't bother to put a notification in their thread titles now, or mention it in the first post or put spoiler inside a spoiler bar/field, why should they bother using a spoiler tag? Technically moderators could add them for each thread. But what I do is simply see if a thread is heading for a spoiler and avoid it if I haven't seen what might be spoiled yet.
@Wedgy I am sorry I derailed your thread asking for spoiler button! I had no idea you were asking for a thread title tag thing... I wasn't aware those existed? Sorry. I was coming to this area to make a request and saw your post about spoilers and didn't want to make a duplicate thread, so I resurrected yours. My bad. Also, the spoiler button was needed, it may help the problem a bit when it comes to usability. As pointed out in this thread, lots of forum users aren't aware of bb code, so maybe you noticed a lot of spoilers in the past. Perhaps now there will be fewer spoilers in general.
But I see what you mean about titles being able to have a spoiler "tag" that could be a very useful item if it's possible to create.
Looked topic as issue is resolved, and button added.


text:
#Giveaway BANNED BOOK WEEK #Win $10 (INT)
September 24, 2016 By Mary
BANNED BOOK WEEK GIVEAWAY HOP
This hop starts on Sunday, September 25 at 9am Eastern! As I verify the post links I marked them with a ~, so check those first.
This hop will be adding new blogs throughout the week, so be sure to check back.
If you are a blogger or author and want to participate, just grab the above image and copy the linky code below to add to your post. I just request that it be relevant to Banned Book Week. Gift cards are welcome! Please limit your entry options to 8 simple options and remember not everyone is on social networking. Also, please include at least the link to the Banned Book Website HERE http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek
Here is the linky code for blogs that allow script (blogger and self hosted wordpress – try this one first)
<!– start LinkyTools script –>

<!– end LinkyTools script –>
Here is the linky code for blogs (wordpress.com sites) that don't allow java script

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

A Big THANK YOU to all of the bloggers that participate in these hops! There are many blogs participating in this hop, so be sure to stop by each and enter to win! Each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.
As you know, BANNING BOOKS is never good! Even some books that are not tasteful to me, may serve a purpose someplace else. It is when groups or individuals try to force their ideas on others that it becomes a problem for me. I have never restricted media from my son as he was growing up and he has the knowledge to choose what is decent and has grown into a wonderful human. Quite a few books that have been banned make absolutely no sense to me. You don't like a book? Don't read it! Do not try to tell me what I can have access to since that is even more wrong than a horribly written word.
HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:
Or for International readers
So you can buy that book you are dying to fall in love with!
Be sure to check out the giveaway on my YA blog HERE for another chance at $10
**Giveaway Ends 10.1.16 and open to all who can legally enter.
Open to residents of the US Only
Must be over 18 or have your parents permission to enter.
An email will be sent and you have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.
Winner will be announced within 48 hours at the end of the giveaway.
Giveaway is organized by Bookhounds and sponsored by me.
It has no affiliation with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity.
Void where prohibited.**
Not Responsible for lost, stolen or misdirected prizes.
Theresa Fischer says
No, I don't.
bn100 says
Viki S. says
I don't know all the banned books but I'm sure the Holy Bible is on it.
Susan T. says
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.
Cali W. says
To Kill and Mocking Bird; thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Linda Kish says
Anne C says
Not really sure what books are banned but I love dark and scary stories. I'm quite sure a lot of books like that are banned.
dianna says
I don't have a favorite banned book, but I have read many! I was surprised to see such a long list.
Ashfa says
The Handmaid's Tale!
Beverly Gordon says
no favorite
Lily M. says
I can't think of one right now, but I'm sure there are books that I enjoy and are banned.
Sherry Compton says
There are so many good books that are banned…The Bible is an amazing one. My daughter liked Harry Potter and Judy Blume. So many classics.
J9 says
There are a few books that I love that have been deemed banned at one point or another. To name a few: To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Color Purple, The Lord of the Ring series and The Harry Potter Series.
Thank You for a giveaway
To Kill a Mockingbird.
Andrea Amy says
Megan @ reading away the days says
To Kill a mocking bird is my favourite banned book.
Heather E. says
I took a censorship class in college, and I discovered my favorite book in that course. 1984! I also really enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale. 🙂
Stephanie LaPlante says
The entire Harry Potter series because it's full of magic. Still can't believe it was banned from schools.
No, I don't have a favorite banned book.
nrlymrtl says
Wuthering Heights is one of my favorites. The characters are so tormented!
Diane Sallans says
not that I know of – sometimes I think banning books gives them more attention than the banner would like
Michelle Willms says
I love the Harry Potter books. It amazes me when I read the list of banned books.
cheryl c. says
the Harry Potter series
Carol L says
I commented in rafflecopter that I didn't think so but I saw someone else post To Kill A Mockingbird, not realizing it was on the list of banned books. It's my all time favorite read.
Carol L
Pamk says
Linda Moffitt says
Not that I can think of but I'm sure I'd enjoy most of them
Jessica Iskey says
The Bible. How can we ban the book that tells how we came to be?
It doesn't make sense.
Donna N. says
Roxanne says
No, I do not have a favorite banned book.
Lisa Brown says
the harry potter books
Ada says
I can't think of a favorite banned book
Mai T. says
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)
Nikolina says
No, I can't say I have a favorite banned book…
Kaitlynne W says
I don't know that I have a favorite… It's probably a tie between Just Listen by Sarah Dessen and The Twilight books
Anita Yancey says
My favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird. Thanks for this chance.
Rebekah Gyger says
I have never really paid much attention to what books have been banned where, so I am not sure if many of my favorites have been banned anywhere. I do know that one by one of my favorite authors, Ted Dekker, was banned in a European country. The book is Emmanuel's Veins.
I don't really know any banned books.
Amber Terry says
My favorite would probably be The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Edye says
I don't know of any banned books.
angela smith says
Kate F. says
I love the Harry Potter series.
Angela @ Angel's Guilty Pleasures says
WOW a lot of books have been banned: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics
I'd say The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Thank's for the giveaway
Julie Waldron says
To Kill A Mockingbird is the only banned book I can think of.
Cassie says
I'm sure I do, I just probably don't know that it was ever banned 🙂
Jan Lee says
Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James and the rest of that series has to be my favorite banned book, 🙂
I hate to admit it, but I kind of liked Fifty Shades of Gray! LOL
Penny Olson says
Harry Potter. Thanks for the giveaway!
Anubha says
I think I have never read any banned books 🙁
Janie McGaugh says
Katie r says
The Bible I'm sure is banned somewhere and that has to be my answer.
Christy Maurer says
The Harry Potter Series!
Deb Favorito says
When I was in high school, many, many years ago, the Liberian decided to ban Exodus by Leon Uris.
The book had been on the shelf but she decided to remove it. I went to the principal to have it reinstated. Neither had read the book, I asked them to, they did read it. It was reinstated. It is still my favorite book.
Thank you for this great giveaway
Traci U says
I like too many of them to pick just one.
Maggie says
My fave banned/challenged books are The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye! Thanks for the giveaway! 😀
KateS says
Yes, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Shakeia Rieux says
I don't have a favorite banned book
Alona Y says
I love Where the Wild Things Are.
One of my favorites is "The Catcher in the Rye." And "Lolita." And Kate Chopin's "The Awakening."
So, a few. 🙂
Emily Endrizzi says
One of my favorite banned books is Native Son, by Richard Wright.
Sharon Braswell says
My favorite banned book is the Bible.


text:
Scarlett Van Dijk
Sky Stone Series
Map of Branzia
Guest Post: Mr M - How I Created The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard
Some call 4:30am the ungodly hour. For me it's the time when my son and wife are peacefully sleeping. It is the time I launch myself into another universe…a universe only I know. There are so many reasons why I write. There are so many reasons why someone should go to the gym instead.
I write because it is like television in my head. I didn't really love writing until I reached undergrad at Chapman University. My writing tool of choice was a Mac Classic which was essentially a very large, beige box. I dragged it to college and back home in order to work on mediocre student film scripts. Each was fun, but looking back, each was terrible.
However, I soon learned a valuable lesson in writing good dialogue. Writing good dialogue can make or break any book, movie, or television show. As an author, I place a high priority on making sure my dialogue is exciting. Originally, my book was about a boy who wanted to be popular. It was cute and charming, but that's all it was. In many respects it was like the beginning of the film Super 8. Nothing really happens, but we like the characters. I did a dialogue pass in order to build each characters voices.
I revised, expanded and soon eerie, bizarre things began to occur to my lead character, Brian Leonard. I wanted the kind of memorable dialogue that people quote as they exit a movie theatre. Eventually, Brian and his best friend Johnny became slightly sarcastic. Their wit became charming to me.
One of my favorite movies that has great dialogue is Bull Durham. To many viewers, it is a great sports film. To others it is a great love story. Ron Shelton (the writer) wrote a masterpiece. The lead character Crash Davis (played by Kevin Costner) is a minor league baseball player who is beyond his prime. The Durham Bulls have hired him to mentor a young, up and coming pitcher. During one of the locker room scenes Crash dispenses advice. In my head, I can visualize Crash leaning forward on the stool next to a locker.
"Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob."
My main character is a middle school boy. However, building memorable lines was still important to me. What dialogue in The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard was memorable for you? I'd love to know. You can contact me on Facebook.
About Mr M
Mr. M graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Film and Television Production. He received his MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. As a television executive at CBS, UPN, and ABC he worked with writers and producers supervising comedies and dramas for the networks. Some of the shows Mr. M worked on were Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Girlfriends, Alias, George Lopez, and the short lived Invasion. Mr. M was always interested in teaching and decided to make a career change. He attended Pacific Oaks College where he earned a Masters of Human Development and a multi-subject credential.
Mr M's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-M/676524319075068?ref=bookmarks
Buy 'The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard':
http://www.amazon.com/The-Magical-Adventures-Brian-Leonard/dp/1497511305
3 Weeks As One Of Them Employed People
Hi everyone, long time no write. The last three weeks have been some of the most hectic, overwhelming, incredible, fun, tough, and exciting of my life. On the 5th of January I became "one of those employed people". I am a fully-fledged radiographer, taking x-rays and being all professional and stuff.
Unfortunately I have already let one of my New Year's Resolutions slide. I haven't really written, well, anything. I promise I will get back on track! Hence, I am here again.
Before I began work I was worried about such silly things as: Will I be good enough? Will they like me? Will I fit in? What if I make mistakes and I don't meet their expectations? What are their expectations anyway?!
Now I see how silly I was being. When I began working all these worries went out the window as the first week saw me so incredibly busy that the only worry I had was whether I was getting behind in my work flow! My colleagues are kind and willing to teach me the ropes. I am also realizing that it is okay to make mistakes occasionally since I am new, as long as I learn from them. Not to mention that this mythical thing called "Pay" is amazing! (I now have a new handbag)
The scary part is that I feel like I have officially started life. Yet, it's exciting to think of what is to come. I am independent and I know that for the next however-many decades this is what I'll do. Yes, it's terrifying. As a kid you dream of being a working adult, earning money, doing adult things… then you become one and you think, "Can't I just stay a kid forever?".
Well, I guess that is where fiction writing comes in…
Guest Post: Laine Cunningham - Writing Residencies
How would you like to travel to a new place and discover that your room is actually a cottage in the woods or even a furnished apartment in a century-old stone building? What if that cozy living space came complete with hot meals and interactions with other writers?
Welcome to the world of writing residencies.
First, know that there are two broad types of residencies. The first are called residencies but are technically writing retreats. These intensive workshops, often about a week long, are led by a famous (or semi-famous) author or editor. They always cost a ton of money, they always schedule every minute of your day, and they don't always include a place to stay. As for meals? Um…rubber chicken, anyone?
The other type—the kind we'll be looking at here—embody the original concept of residencies. These programs are hosted by organizations looking to bring authors and artists into their communities. Although you can find residencies that are only a week or two long, most span 4 weeks. A good portion offer 8 or even 12-week residencies, while a few extend as long as a year.
Writing residencies are everything you've dreamed of. They offer long stretches of time uninterrupted by the usual demands of work, family and home. Since the hosts understand that art is created in settings that stimulate the creative mind, often your rooms will be decorated with original art and beautifully furnished. Even in rustic dwellings, though, the most inspirational part is the setting.
Residency programs can be found in major cities, small towns, and national parks. Among urban offerings, authors might be housed on a university campus, in the heart of downtown, or within walking distance of the historic district. Rural residencies can land you in a log cabin on a mountain, a tiny house in the midst of working farmland, or perched atop a promontory overlooking a lake. Interweave your writing time with plenty of walks, and you have the perfect setup for success.
Before you consider residency programs, though, be aware of a few expectations. You might be asked to provide something for the local community like a public reading or a short workshop. Although most programs provide you with kitchen facilities, you might be housed in a building with other artists. Many residencies do not allow overnight guests, even spouses or life partners, so be prepared to go without your main squeeze for a time. Although most locations now have wireless, take your laptop and be prepared for abysmal internet speed and potentially frequent outages.
So, considering all you give up, what do you get back? Thirty blissful days where your only decision is whether to have breakfast before or after writing your first pages. Mornings that streak by because you're not being pulled in eighteen different directions. Afternoons that glide seamlessly into evenings where you can engage with other authors and artists. Connections with other dedicated authors. And, of course, the validation of adding a residency program to your artistic bio.
The Anderson Center, Red Wing, Minnesota
http://www.andersoncenter.org/
Ucross Foundation, set on a 20K-acre working cattle ranch in Wyoming
http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/
Residencies available inside national parks
http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, on 400 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains
http://www.vcca.com/main/index.php
Writing Between the Vines, residencies at vineyards!
http://www.writingbetweenthevines.org/
The Rensing Center, an environmentally forward-thinking program on 20 acres of farmland in South Carolina
http://www.rensingcenter.org/
Laine Cunningham is the author of two paranormal thrillers. The first, Message Stick, takes place in Australia's outback. The novel won two national awards and was created during two month-long arts residency programs. Her second, He Drinks Poison, was shortlisted for national fiction awards and was supported by two additional writing residencies. Both are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play. Laine is also the owner of Writer's Resource, and helps authors enhance their work, pitch manuscripts to publishers worldwide, and sell their published and self-published books with Amazon bestseller marketing plans. Currently 47 titles are under contract with agents or publishers.
Laine's book website: www.LaineCunningham.com
Writer's Resource: www.WritersResource.us
Publishing and book review blog: www.WritersResourceBlog.com
Personal blog with book reviews: www.DancingTheBlade.com
Guest Post: Charlotte Henley Babb - Getting Un-Stuck with Inner Conflicts
I was stuck. The big hole in the WIP was the motivation of the villain, his goal, why that goal, and what exactly he wanted to accomplish. Was he a thief, a con man, an assassin, an anarchist? Working alone? Betraying his companions? Masterminding a devious scheme?
I did some research into villainous motivations when my muse decided to take a three-hour lunch without me. I found an article by Janice Hardy at Fiction University about Michael Hague's description of inner conflict and the intersection with the plot. I'd never heard of him, but the descriptions gave me a better exercise for re-thinking this character.
I made a summary, below, to help me work through the character. It was so useful that I tried it on several minor characters, who do have their own stories, and it gives me a better insight into how and why they get in the protagonist's way even when trying to help.
Hague's basic inner conflict arc:
1. Longing or Need: The thing the character needs emotionally: inner goal
2. Wound: A hurt that is a current, unhealed source of pain: backstory
3. Belief: What the character believes due to the wound: worldview
4. Fear: fear of experiencing that wound pain again: stakes
5. Identity: emotional armor, protection from the pain: fake persona
6. Essence: What lies under all the emotional armor: true self.
The acceptance of the essence is often what allows them to figure out the plot piece they need to win in the climax, so this is closely linked to the plot arc:
a. Inciting event: first failure establish identity
b. Act one climax PP1: second failure, a hint of the essence is revealed
c. Mid-point reversal: first attempt to live in the essence, doesn't go well, but the essence is seen and realized
d. Act two climax PP2: fear of failure makes protagonist run from their essence instead trying to embrace it like they did at the mid-point
e. Climax: The protagonist digs deep, embraces her essence, and wins. The antagonist, however, loses because she refuses to risk that vulnerability.
Finding the villain/antagonist's motivations and goals drives the plot, especially when the story is summarized from her point of view. She has her goals, needs and wounds; she is the protagonist of her story, and your main character blocks her success.
In the Star Wars epic, for example, starting with Part IV, we don't know what Darth Vader's part is, other than "For the Evulz," but he drives the plot, forcing Luke to grow. The longer epic, at least until part VI, shows his descent to the dark side and his redemption. Luke, not so much.
A danger in this, of course, is that the villain may be more interesting than the protagonist. Consider what your protagonist would do in the villain's place, given the same goal.
About Charlotte Henley Babb
Charlotte Henley Babb works as a web designer and college writing instructor in Spartanburg, SC. She brings to any project a number of experiences, including work as a technical writer, gasket inspector, cloth store associate, girl Friday, and telephone psychic. Having big feet, gray hair, and a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Charlotte Henley Babb writes fractured fairy tales, steampunk adventures and science fiction.
Her first novel, Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil, was released in 2012 and won 2014 Sharp Writ Book Awards for Sci-fi/Fantasy and an honorable mention in the 2014 National Federation of Press Women communications contest for adult novels.
A dead cellphone calls with a job offer and a promise of dragons.
Down and out, Maven Morrigan is ready to give up what's left of her self-esteem for a cup of coffee when her last chance to redeem her life comes as a job offer to be a fairy godmother. But Faery is shrinking, the other fairy godmothers have disappeared, and nothing she does turns out right. How can she put together the happily ever after each of her clients wants with her boss standing in her way?
Happy New Year everyone! 2014 was an amazing year. I can't say I kept all of my resolutions for the year but I definitely made the most of it. I finally published my debut, YA fantasy novel, Sky Stone. I learnt so much about publishing as I muddled my way through self-publishing with CreateSpace. I also graduated from university and am now a qualified and registered radiographer. I'm ready to jump into 2015 and begin a new phase of my life.
I expect a lot from 2015. I commence work soon, finally being paid for what I have been training to do during the last four years. I am no longer the student (although I will always be learning) and will be mentoring university students when they attend my site of work. I can begin to stand on my own two feet in this wild world.
So what are my resolutions for this year?
Publish Guardian Core
Guardian Core is book two in the Sky Stone series. I completed writing the manuscript last year and am now going through the rewrites and edits. I hope to publish Guardian Core in July.
Finish writing new novel, Nexus
Nexus is the title of my latest Work In Progress novel. This book is completely unrelated to the Sky Stone series. I am unsure as to whether it will be a stand-alone novel or a series. This book is set in the future and am writing it in third person. Both of these things are unusual for me. I have never written anything set in the future and I have rarely written in third person. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Take more time out for writing
This was a resolution last year as well. With university now completed I can prioritise my writing. I have no uni assignments that will take precedence. This is a great opportunity to finally delve in to my writing.
My first year out in the work force I expect will bring with it quite a number of pressures. I hope that I can stay my usual positive self and stay strong as I learn the ropes.
Keep up the fitness regimen
Last year I resolved that I wanted to take more walks… let's say that didn't really work out. However I did start up something new and extremely fun. Pole dancing. No I don't perform, just take classes. Pole dancing has been amazing for my overall physical strength and fitness. I have lost weight and toned up considerably in only about 6 months. I love it so much that I attend classes 3 times a week. I would suggest it to anyone!
Do my best!
Obviously! What's the point in doing anything if I don't try to do my best? So I will motivate to put my best effort into everything that I do this year.
What are your resolutions for 2015, be them writing related or in general?
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
A Writer's Tale
Writer of young adult, fantasy series, the Sky Stone series, poetry and short stories.
I hope to update this blog weekly with tips for writers and some personal stories. There will also be guest posts from fellow writers. Stay tuned!
Guide To Fantasy Writing
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© Scarlett Van Dijk 2016


When I got pregnant about a year ago, all I ever heard and read about was how my appetite would skyrocket, and I'd be eating everything in sight to nourish my growing baby. Well, I was one of those fortunate mamas who managed to avoid a lot of nausea for the most part, and yes … I had quite the appetite. What people didn't tell me was the rate that my already aggressive appetite would completely escalate with my decision to breastfeed. HOLY COW. (Pardon the pun.) When your body starts to make milk, it becomes a calorie-burning machine. You're feeding and nourishing another human being. It's fascinating, really. And exhausting.
There's a lot of stress that comes with being a new mom. If you choose to breastfeed, one of those stresses is being able to produce enough milk for that baby. I have friends with freezers full of milk—overproducers, we'll call them—who have the luxury of putting out hundreds of ounces with zero effort. Well, ha, I am not one of those. I may have eeeked out an extra ounce or two here and there, but for the most part, I produce enough to feed my little bundle … and that is it.
A friend of mine then told me about these lactation cookies that help stimulate milk production. Cookies that promote milk production? I'd already heard that dark beer stimulated milk production, and I'll be the first to admit that I had been more than happy to join that train, treating myself to a frothy stout or porter every night once the evening feed was complete. But cookies, too? Where do I sign up?
To my surprise, Google was flooded with recipes for "lactation cookies," in addition to the term galactagogue. A galactagogue is a substance that helps increase milk production. While the list includes a lot of herbal remedies like blessed thistle and fenugreek, it also mentions oatmeal, flaxseed, and brewer's yeast … the three key components found in most of the recipes I came across for these "magic" milk cookies. Also found in every recipe was about a cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, and loads of refined flour. The average cookie rang in at 210 calories and 5g sat fat per cookie—and only 1.5g fiber and 3g protein. Fine for one cookie, but there's not a lot of staying power in these guys. Try and tell an exhausted and starving breastfeeding mama that she is only allowed to have one of her magic milk cookies at a time. Ain't happening. And she wonders why all that baby weight isn't just shedding off.
As an editor whose life revolves around recipe makeovers, I figured I might as well dive in. This one was a bit different, though. The milking mothers of the world need more calories in order to produce. An average of 300-500 more per day. So I wanted something that was not only sufficient in heart-healthy calories, but tasty, too. I kept all that oatmeal and ground flaxseed, but dropped the white flour for whole-grain quinoa. To save time (which can be hard to come by with a newborn), I decided to transform the cookies into bars, which cut out the time it takes to scoop and roll dozens of dough balls. With bars, just mix 'em up, pack 'em into an 8-inch square pan, and bake them for 11 minutes until set.
I also swapped out both sticks of butter for rich, creamy nut butter—packed with heart-healthy fats. The nut butter also complements the brewer's yeast (found here or at Whole Foods), which has a nutty but slightly bitter flavor. To sweeten, I used a little honey and lots of dried fruit, cutting sugar from the original recipe in half.
I was quite pleased. They're tasty, filling, and full of fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats … just what a new mama needs. Plus, they're 100% whole grain, with nearly double the protein and fiber of the original cookies.
Even if you're not breastfeeding, they're a great thing to bake and take to any friend who's just had a baby. Trust me. She's going to want some snacks. She's going to need snacks. These make 32—you can easily halve the batch or just freeze half. I figure if I'm toasting and chopping everything I might as well double it all to either save time or share with friends!
Spread oats and quinoa on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Place oat mixture in a large bowl, and stir in cherries, almonds, coconut, flaxseed meal, brewer's yeast, and chocolate.
Combine almond butter, honey, oil, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour almond butter mixture over oat mixture; toss well to coat. Press mixture into 2 (8-inch) square glass or ceramic baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 11 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in dish. Cut evenly into squares.


In this article, you will find the top and the most popular 5 games for Android till date. If you are an Android user and if you are interested in playing Android games then you must check out these 5 games. Your Android using life will be incomplete without these 5 games.
Players will be involved in two campaigns, both set in the 1950s: the North Korean (June 25 August 20) and the American (September 15 October 8.) In this title tactical engagement experts can test their skills on a new strategic level. Move your forces over the entire Korean Peninsula, managing reserves, as well as the fuel and ammo supplies. Tactical battles in Theatre of War 3: Korea are generated based on the strategic situation.
The boxed pack of "Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun" and the expansion; Victoria: Revolutions completes the gaming experience and opens up the possibility to continue the game in Hearts of Iron 2: Doomsday.
Master your slams, drop shots and lobs in this easy to learn and fun to play Tennis game.


text:
from mock import patch, MagicMock
from unittest import TestCase
import pandas as pd

from pandashells.bin.p_hist import main, get_input_args, validate_args

class GetInputArgsTests(TestCase):
    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.sys.argv', 'p.hist -c x -n 30'.split())
    def test_right_number_of_args(self):
        args = get_input_args()
        self.assertEqual(len(args.__dict__), 26)

class ValidateArgs(TestCase):
    def test_okay(self):
        # passing test means nothing raised
        args = MagicMock(quiet=False)
        cols = ['a']
        df = MagicMock(columns=['a'])
        validate_args(args, cols, df)

    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.sys.stderr')
    def test_bad_cols(self, stderr_mock):
        # passing test means nothing raised
        args = MagicMock(quiet=False)
        cols = ['b']
        df = MagicMock(columns=['a'])
        with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
            validate_args(args, cols, df)

    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.sys.stderr')
    def test_bad_quiet(self, stderr_mock):
        # passing test means nothing raised
        args = MagicMock(quiet=True)
        cols = ['a', 'b']
        df = MagicMock(columns=['a', 'b'])
        with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
            validate_args(args, cols, df)

class MainTests(TestCase):
    @patch(
        'pandashells.bin.p_hist.sys.argv',
        'p.hist -c x -q -n 10'.split())
    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.io_lib.df_to_output')
    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.io_lib.df_from_input')
    def test_cli_quiet(self, df_from_input_mock, df_to_output_mock):
        df_in = pd.DataFrame({
            'x': range(1, 101)
        })
        df_from_input_mock.return_value = df_in
        main()
        df_out = df_to_output_mock.call_args_list[0][0][1]
        self.assertEqual(set(df_out.columns), {'bins', 'counts'})
        self.assertEqual(set(df_out.counts), {10})

    @patch(
        'pandashells.bin.p_hist.sys.argv',
        'p.hist -c x -n 10'.split())
    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.get_imports')
    @patch('pandashells.bin.p_hist.io_lib.df_from_input')
    def test_cli(self, df_from_input_mock, get_imports_mock):
        show_mock = MagicMock()
        plot_lib_mock = MagicMock(show=show_mock)
        get_imports_mock.return_value = plot_lib_mock
        df_in = pd.DataFrame({
            'x': range(1, 101)
        })
        df_from_input_mock.return_value = df_in
        main()
        self.assertTrue(show_mock.called)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Clarets Return For Pre-Season Testing
David Hynds
The Clarets squad returned to the club's Gawthorpe training ground today for pre-season testing ahead of the 2015/16 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
They were put through their paces by the Sports Science team, who took height and weight measurements, carried out stretching exercises, balance work and strength tests upon the player's return.
New signing Matt Lowton got chance to meet his new teammates for the first time and, internationals Tom Heaton and Michael Keane aside, all of the first-team squad were in attendance.
The first full training session will take place tomorrow and the squad fly out to Geneva for their pre-season camp at the end of the week.
That trip will culminate in a pre-season friendly against Swiss 1. Liga Promotion side Etoile Carouge on Friday July, 10 (7pm kick-off).
When they return to the UK, the Clarets will face the following pre-season schedule:
Saturday, July 18: Accrington Stanley at the Store First Stadium (3pm)
Ticket prices will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Tuesday, July 21: Rangers FC at Ibrox Stadium (7.45pm)
Ticket prices will confirmed as soon as possible
Saturday, July 25: Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium (3pm)
Tuesday, July 28: Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium (7.45pm).
Pay on the gate: Adults £12.50, Over 65 and U18 £7.50, U16 £2.50, U5s free.
Saturday, August 1: Bradford City at Turf Moor in the Michael Duff Testimonial game (3pm).