Greetings - Sunday Thoughts

If you didn't know yet, Facebook's C.E.O Marc Zuckerberg has officially acquired most of the shares belonging to whatsapp, meaning he is in charge of the latter right now.

When I first saw the news on Facebook, I wondered to myself if this would be good news for us. I started asking myself questions such as "What does this mean for whatsapp? Will everyone who has Whatsapp be forced to have a Facebook account? Will Whatsapp/Facebook be integrated into each other and make it easier for users to connect through both media platforms as the likes of Facebook and Instagram or would Whatsapp have a bigger platform and even end up being used as, not only a mobile app, but a full computer application? I am sure everybody must be asking themselves a lot of questions regarding this news and how it will affect both parties not only physically but technically as well.

 Last night, 22/2/2014, the whole world got the first taste of Marc's reign when the Whatsapp app went down for a few hours, leaving users confused and upset. Some "experts" suggested that it was due to technical change caused by some of Facebook's developers, who have been trying to make both, Facebook and Whatsapp, work together.

I simply can't wait to see what this partnership will mean for the internet world and to everybody that uses both platforms. Mark is a smart guy, as we have come to learn from him throughout the years and he takes every opportunity he sees. I wish him all the best at his new endeavor and may this be a good partnership for all of us.

Is school really necessary?

I have recently been with a group of students that unfortunately have had the sad experience of failing grade 12. I told them that failing grade 12 is not the end of the world, as they still have a chance to make up for it but, I also told them that this could be one of the most important steps in their life, not only because it's the end of their high school experience but this also marks the beginning of  a new stage in their lives as they prepare to face the world.

I asked them what they think this meant for them and surprisingly, or not, many of these young peers assumed that being successful does not really depend on passing grade 12, which is debatebale, but I was shocked when few even went as far as saying that school isn't really a necessity in the lives of people. Never did I think, I would come across people with that mindset in this era. School holds us back yes, but there are advantages.

Life's a school itself, and having school experience is not only about having to study maths and science, but it teaches us how to interact with people of all types. School is the first glance we get at being involved in society and understanding it. It helps us, weather we like it or not, and it's up to us to use that to our advantage. It's impossible for human beings to live alone for we need each other because that's in our DNA, that's how we were made and school just makes it easier for us to understand that. I understand everyone has their own opinions, but I don't think I'd be able to write what I am right now if I did not go through the school experience.

Mr Mandela

The most popular topic of discussion during the month of December, one of the biggest funeral ceremony to have ever been staged in the whole world, the greatest gathering I have ever seen in my life. People mourn but at the same time there is a feeling of joy and celebration left in their hearts because of the things this man showed us and the legacy he has left behind.
He symbolizes humanity, unity, forgiveness, struggle, democracy and many things that men in general have been trying to instill in every human being's heart and mind. This man alone is bigger than I have ever imagined him to be, he might as well go down in history as the greatest man to have ever embraced this world.
Words are not enough to describe the efforts and impact he has had, and still have on the African continent and beyond. People come from all parts of the world to gather and mourn as well as celebrate the life of a man that has done his part the best way possible, and left a commanding mark on the ideology of democracy and equality.
Today, we take our hats off for the man that has led South Africa's struggle for freedom for so many years and succeeded like no other; the one responsible for unity in Africa and around the world; one of the most influential figures of this era Mr Nelson Mandela.

Picture of the day

40 year-old actor, Paul Walker, has passed after he was involved in a car accident in california. R.I.P Paul we will always remember you.

Picture of the day

Palestinian youths practice their park-our skills in Gaza

Picture: APAimages/Rex Features

Sunday thoughts

They are two of the most popular words in the world, but as time goes on  and as the world evolves they seem to be losing their popularity as well as importance. "Please" and "Thank you" have been, as referred to most, the magic words for quiet as long as we can remember and these words can be more powerful and meaningful than any other word you may use on a daily basis.

I was riding a bus to school recently when the bus made a stop at one of its regular bus-stops. As the bus stopped, two elderly ladies got on the bus. They looked pretty much tired and frail, so me being the human being I am, full of life, love and ethics, I spotted them from the moment they got in the bus, and in my head I knew already that I would stand up and offer my sit to one of them, and the fact that the bus was full meant that I really had to do it, I had no choice at that point.I, then,raised from the seat I was on and offered my sit to one of the ladies and by seeing that, the person sitting next to me did the same thing.

Both ladies sat down comfortably, I was delighted to have helped someone at that moment, for there is no greater joy for me than that, but something hit me at the moment... Those ladies never said a word or two to any of us, the ones who offered them the seats. I started thinking about how I was raised and the way my grandmother, mother and other elders in my family, always taught me to use the words "Please and Thank you". I also thought of the way we, the new generation, are constantly described by older generations and the media as rebellious, ill-mannered and arrogant people, but wait, how can we be any less different if the same people that usually criticize our demeanor act in an unpleasant way. Actions speak louder and better than words, and we get motivated when we see people do something that they would want us to do as well.

None of us has the right to judge anyone. I've realized that some people sometimes get so caught up in analyzing the behavior of others that they tend to forget about the good things themselves. Always do your best to change something you are not happy with because it starts with you. Those ladies were wrong but that does not mean we all have to be that way, let's keep doing good and using the magic words in that way, who knows, we may change the world and make it a better place.

Picture of the day: Misspelt tattoos - Hillarious