Safe sex

I had to share this - it is too good !

Condoms don't guarantee safe sex anymore.

A friend was wearing one when he was shot by the woman's husband.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

US Credit Rating

A friend sent this to me - it was too good not to share:

Hookers Downgrade US Credit Rating Shortchanging by Secret Service Draws Strong Rebuke

NEW YORK – Days after Secret Service agents shortchanged a group of prostitutes in Colombia, the international trade group representing hookers downgraded the United States’ credit rating from AAA to B.

The strong rebuke from the International Alliance of Professional Escorts came after a Secret Service agent reportedly paid one of its members $30 for an $800 service, or only 4% of the stated price.

The statement from the International Alliance of Professional Escorts said that in downgrading the United States’ credit rating it was sending a clear message that its “members should be aware that doing business with the government of the United States carries with it a significant risk.”

“We are urging our members to avoid conducting transactions with the United States and to focus on more reliable customers, like the International Monetary Fund,” the statement added.

Just hours after the announcement from the escorts’ group, the U.S. Congress passed the following resolution blasting the Secret Service for its actions: “We strongly denounce the Secret Service for consorting with prostitutes, which has traditionally been Congress's role.”

But it was not all bad news this week for the Secret Service, which today reported a 5000% jump in enlistment.

The agency said that enlistment offices across the country have been packed with prospective agents.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Sleeper's Wake

Tonight is the premier of Sleeper's Wake in Durban at DIFF.

Check out the teaser trailer here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCPUA7Hrd_U

We got in to the Toronto film festival with this movie ... exciting month ahead!

We are still waiting to hear about Material - we got into the Montreal film festival, which is also fantastic, but the big one coming up is London. We won't have to wait much longer though ... in the next two weeks we will know what the universe has planned for us.

Also, VideoVision sent out a press statement about The Long Walk to Freedom, and Riaad Moosa is playing Ahmed Kathrada ... what an incredible story!

Yeah, very exciting month ahead!

By Ronnie Apteker

Why are you asking me ... ?

What are you asking me is one thing. But why are you asking me? Like with storytelling and script writing, what a character says is less intriguing as to why they actually said it.

When you go and ask your mentor, for example, if it is ok to do something, then make quite sure your motivation is clear. If you are asking someone for their permission (like I wrote in the last VLOG) then that is one thing, but if you are asking someone for their blessing, well, then that is a whole other story.

Don't ask someone you look up to if something is right. We know what is right (and we know what is wrong), and if you don't, then, you have a problem.

So, the next time you ask a mentor if something is right, understand that you are not asking for permission, but rather, for their blessing. Don't do that!

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

What are you asking me ... ?

We all have a boss. We all have leaders we report in to, or get reports from. We all have people we look up to, and trust. But often we abuse that trust, even if we don't really mean to.

The other day someone I work with comes to ask me if it was ok to miss work that Friday because of some family function. This is a trap of a question because this colleague of mine was not coming to work that Friday no matter what I responded with. So, why they did they come and ask me ... ?

This is what I want to touch on here. You see, they were going, one way or another. They weren't coming to ask me if it was ok, but rather, they were coming to ask for my blessing. They wanted me to say "Sure, no problem, go wild." But it is not ok. If it was ok, we should all take days off, and then it will soon become the 4 day work week. But don't get me wrong, it is fine if they take a day off, it is just not ok. There is a difference.

Taking a day off is no big deal. By all means, if all your work is done, and all your responsibilities are taken care of, then go wild. But, it is still not ok. You will not get my blessing. You may get my permission, but my blessing is a whole other story.

The next time you go ask someone a question like this, make sure you know exactly what you are asking for? If you are asking permission to take a day off, then that is one thing, but if you are asking if it is ok to take a day off, then that is a whole other question.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Reading the paper

A friend sent this to me - it was too good not to share:

A Jewish man was sitting in Starbucks reading an Arab newspaper. A friend of his, who happened to be in the same store, noticed this strange phenomenon. Very upset, he approached him and said: 'Moshe, have you lost your mind? Why are you reading an Arab newspaper?'

Moshe replied, 'I used to read the Jewish newspapers, but what did I find? Jews being persecuted, Israel being attacked, Jews disappearing through assimilation and intermarriage, Jews living in poverty... I got so depressed!

So I switched to the Arab newspaper. Now what do I find? Jews own all the banks, Jews control the media, Jews are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the world. The news is so much better!'

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

July !!!

The first half of the year is over. It went by in a flash ... wow!

We have been waiting for July very patiently. Not because we didn't like June, but because so much news is coming this month. Please God only good news.

Yes, the Material team is getting ready for a drum roll or two ... may we have the envelope please.

In this month ahead we will hear from the Venice and Toronto film festivals, and perhaps even London (although for LIFF we will probably only get news around August, but hopefully sooner). Then, our man Vincent in London may have some exciting news too, as well as the good doctor, Riaad Moosa, who is living the good news, and will be able to share it after the 18th of this month.

We will also be seeing the 1st official cut of Black South-Easter by the end of July, and Craig will be delivering a draft of our East/West script, for me to read, in about 10 days time - I can't wait !!! And the premier of Sleeper's Wake is taking place at DIFF on the 20th ... it is all very exciting!

Tonight there is there is the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, and if Spain does win, well then Ukraine and South Africa will share a common piece of football history.

Gentlemen, start your engines ...

Posted by Ronnie Apteker