SA Rocks

Donna McCallum, incase you weren’t aware of it, is commonly known as the Fairy Godmother. And she now has a guide to getting what you want.

You see that’s basically what she does; she teaches people how to get what they want. And she’s good at it too. Her positivity expands further than even mine and Donna is somewhat of an inspiration to people like myself.

I had the pleasure of finally meeting her at Mail & Guardian’s 300 South Africans To Take For Lunch.

Who is this person?

Donna McCallum had an epiphany experience in Argentina a few years ago that completely changed her life. She transformed from marketing entrepreneur to Fairy Godmother overnight and began her mission to touch the lives of people around the world and ignite in them the courage to live their dreams, find their genius and discover their full potential.

Since then she has helped over 1500 people in South Africa, Europe and the USA to identify their goals and dreams, realise their potential and achieve it – with long lasting effect.

The Book

At times we all need a Fairy Godmother to help us make our dreams come true
Well, what if a modern day Fairy Godmother wrote a guide book that you could use to turn your dreams and goals into reality?

It is almost as good as having her with you, in person, waving her wand.

Oshun Books is delighted to be part of spreading the magic by publishing
The Fairy Godmother’s Guide to Getting What you Want by Donna McCallum a.k.a The Fairy Godmother.

The Fairy Godmother’s Guide to Getting What you Want is a self-help book with a difference. It does not claim to offer readers a quick fix: ‘Anyone trying to sell you the “secret” to happiness,’ says the author, ‘is another drug dealer in this world of pop psychology.’ Rather, it offers readers who are willing and ready to take responsibility for their lives guidelines to living the life they want.

Popularity: 4% [?]

I blogged about the need for 15000 volunteers to come forward for the 2010 Football World Cup. It seems as thought people in SA and around the world are not shy to lend a hand.

SouthAfrica.info reports that over 11000 volunteers have already come forward and offered their services from all across the globe. That’s impressive if you ask me.

Just days after opening its 2010 Fifa World Cup volunteer programme, South Africa has already received more than 11 000 volunteer applications from the country, the continent and the rest of the world.

Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC), told reporters after a meeting in Johannesburg last week that around 1 100 of these were from the rest of Africa and 1 500 from overseas.

“South Africans and other countries have responded very well to the programme, and we expect more applications before the closing date [31 August],” Jordaan said.

“This … clearly shows that people are looking forward to the event in which volunteers are significantly important. We are very impressed with the current number of applications.”

Popularity: 8% [?]

It’s fantastic to see such a prominent movie producer/direct like Peter Jackson speak so highly of talented South Africans. Not only is the movie directed by a South African, but it stars South Africans and is produced in Johannesburg and based in Johannesburg.

I cannot wait to see how this film comes together.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Two South Africans are flying around the world. Now that doesn’t sound like such a great plan in today’s day and age. Hell, everyone knows they can hop on a plane and make a few stops and be around the world. The site is called Airplane Factory. And it’s an interesting read let me tell you.

Yet this is different:

Mike and James, proud owners of The Airplane Factory, are flying the production prototype Sling from Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Oshkosh Airventure Airshow, Wisconsin USA, in July this year. They will return to Johannesburg by continuing their journey west, circumnavigating the globe en route. The journey, including 6 days in Oshkosh, is planned to take place over approximately one calendar month, commencing on 18 July and returning on 22 August 2009.

Now, Mr Jason Bagley alerted me to this via twitter, one of the pilots is actually his Uncle, which I think is pretty nifty.

Where are they now?

Mike & James are presently in Conakry, Guinea.
WEATHER: Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low around 24°C / 75°F. Winds SW at 8-16km/h / 5-10mph. Chance of rain 40%.
EXPECTED DEPARTURE: The next leg across the Atlantic will be Wednesday evening, the 22nd July 2009. We will advise as soon as we have the expected time of departure.

You can show your support on the site too, if you have any way of possibly helping them out or assisting them with plans of any sort then head over to the site for more info on how to help.

Be sure to head over to the Routes area of the site and follow their progress. It seems as though they’ve just completed the 3rd leg and are on to the fourth leg of the trip tomorrow. What an extraordinary thing to be doing. I am incredibly impressed with these two phenomenal gentlemen, and somewhat jealous!

Popularity: 4% [?]

I just read on the Mail & Guardian that Fifa’s 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa is asking for 15 000 volunteers.

Apparently anyone over 18 on March 1 2010 can apply from anywhere in the world:

Anyone 18 years or older on March 1 2010, and who has a good command of the English language, can apply. Application forms are available on the Fifa website or at a number of venues across the Cup’s host cities.

I think this is something very cool to get involved in. Apparently at the Beijing Olympics it was the volunteers who made all the difference. Some debate arose around “manufacturing” ambiance or actually having a real vibe. But lets be honest, we want the stadiums filled, the vibe rocking and the event to run smoothly.

Jobs available to volunteers include: accreditation, marketing, media and protocol services, welcoming and ushering spectators and providing them and other people involved in the event with information.

Applications close August 31 2009 so get cracking.

Popularity: 8% [?]

What will you be doing for 67 minutes tomorrow? I’m a little unprepared right now, so I’m not quite sure what I’ll be doing.

But there are options as MR President JZ has proven (he’ll be doing a couple of things apparently).

You could clean up the litter on your neighbourhood streets for 67 minutes.

You could search for you nearest charity and spend 67 minutes helping out wherever they need you.

You could simply buy some food and give it to a street beggar (repeat for 67 minutes).

You could also simply switch the TV off and spend some quality time – outdoors – with the ones you love.

Try to find a Soup Kitchen near you and spend 67 minutes helping out.

Take 67 minutes, drive to all your lazy friends, collect tinned food, a blanket or old clothes from them and donate them to a charity.

Do yourself a favour, become a volunteer.

There is alot that can be done in 67 minutes.

What’s your plan?

Popularity: 6% [?]

That is correct, Zackey pulled himself out of short-stack status yesterday to end day 7 with 5.5 million chips. Slightly behind the average chip stack of 7 million or so.

Here’s what Zackey had to say about his incredible achievement:

Popularity: 4% [?]

Yes please, you read that headline correctly.

After the incredible success of Ray Rahme coming in high at the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in the past it was (in my opinion) to be expected that a South African would do well again, sometime. But I didn’t expect it to be that well, this soon.

Apparently Mr Zackey is through to Day 7 but is short-stacked and high-spirited! Here are his thoughts:

Warren Zackey, from Johannesburg, South Africa, is the chip leader at the World Series of Poker Main Event following Day 5 Sunday with 4,872,000 chips. Zackey is a plumbing supplies salesman in Africa.

Zackey, a 42-year-old plumbing supplies salesman from Johannesburg, South Africa, currently owns the largest chip stack at the World Series of Poker Main Event after five days of play in his first WSOP event during his first trip to Las Vegas.

“It’s brilliant, excellent,” Zackey said. “If I tell somebody in South Africa what it is like, they are not going to believe me. They have to come here. Las Vegas is unbelievable.”

Zackey won his entry fee into the Main Event through a tournament at the Piggs Peak Casino in Swaziland in May.

Heading into Day 6 Monday, with only 185 of the original 6,494 players remaining, Zackey has amassed 4,872,000 chips. The average stack is 1,053,081 chips.

- source

I love it. Let’s hope Mr Zackey holds out to become another poker dollar millionaire! Bring it on.

Thanks to Mel for the tip.

Popularity: 4% [?]

CueTV did an intriguing video on a production being put on at this years national arts festival. “Done London” is a story about South African’s experiences in London and returning home what it feels like.

From CueTV:

Been there, done that, seen the show. While you may still reminisce about mad house shares, job hunting and that ever-annoying voice repeating ‘mind the gap’, for many of you who have done London, South Africa seems to be where you end up. The grass is not always be greener on the other side and the cast of Done London at this year’s National Arts Festival in Grahamstown explain how their experiences in the big city influenced their roles in the play. cueTV went to see the show and all you got was this lousy clip.

Popularity: 4% [?]

If you live in South Africa there is almost no chance that you don’t know someone who thinks that Table Mountain is the bees knees. I think it’s pretty smart myself, but apparently the rest of the world is beginning to think so too.

TABLE MOUNTAIN TOPS EVEREST

Table Mountain is one step closer to being named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. South Africa’s iconic mountain, and its only official nominee, has been voted as one of the top 77 sites selected from over 261 participants from around the globe, it was announced yesterday by the New7Wonders foundation, Thursday July 9, 2009.

The much-loved landmark beat fellow category contenders Mount Everest, K2 and Mount Fiji in round two of the international competition that relied solely on votes from the public. Table Mountain needed to be ranked in the top 11 of its category – mountains and volcanoes. Other categories include seascapes, lakes, islands, ice formations, waterfalls and forests.

“We are thrilled at the enormous level of support and votes from the citizens of South Africa as well as from fans around the globe,” said Sabine Lehmann, CEO of Table Mountain Cableway, who formed an official supporting committee to promote Table Mountain as a nominee.

A panel of experts will now select 28 finalists to be announced on July 21, 2009, when the third and final phase of public voting will begin. The official New 7 Wonders of Nature will be revealed in 2011.

A number of South African celebrities and sports stars showed their support for Table Mountain’s New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. The Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, comedian Marc Lottering, radio DJ Natalie Becker and the Proteas cricketers all cast their vote for Table Mountain.

The campaign is run by the New7Wonders Foundation which is based in Zurich, Switzerland and works to document monuments and conservation efforts worldwide.

For information contact the Cableway on 021 424 0015 or visit www.votefortablemountain.com

Head on

Popularity: 4% [?]