There Goes English Teacher: A Memoir

No Abstract

The desire for the ineffable: on the myth of music as absolute

This article proposes to establish and critique connections between religious and musico-aesthetic conceptions of in-effability by exploring the link between neoplatonic thought and romantic aesthetics. The central thesis is that recourse to the ineffable is often made by resorting to theological tenets and, consequently, that romantic aesthetics, although desperately trying to disengage itself from theological thinking, can in fact be interpreted as being inextricably bound up with it. Taking Plotinus’ conception of the relationship between the “One” and “Intellect” as model, the romantic conception of the absolute is revealed to be a fallacy. It is shown that claims of the ineffability of music not only locate music as a false absolute, but also confer on music a quasi-religious authority. This results in an ungrounded secular faith in the power of music and the mastery of its composer-god to lead mankind to the truth. Untangling the myths of ineffability leads the way to a detranscendentalised conception of music with performance at its centre

Towards a Christian model for journalism

While it is necessary to question the underlying presuppositions of the news media, it is not adequate merely to criticize or reject non-Christian models. However, little has been done to formulate a comprehensive Christian model for the media in general, or journalism in particular. In this article some outlines of a Christian model for journalism are suggested. It includes three basic principles as well as several sub-principles (or norms). It is argued that the suggested norms could be regarded as "news values". The general use of the term "news values” is thus rejected in order to protect the normative character of values. It is stressed that as journalism is not an "objective", value-free activity, all aspects o f the ongoing selection process instrinsic to journalism ought to acquire a Christian flavour

H.F. Verwoerd’s student years - cradle of his political career and thought

This article briefly describes student life in Stellenbosch during the period 1919-1924 when the young H.F. Verwoerd was immersed in a general Christian ethos and atmosphere of Afrikaner nationalism which he articulated with fervour. In view thereof, the notion put forward by Miller (1993), viz. that South Africa’s sixth prime minister changed his political beliefs substantially when he became the editor of Die Transvaler in 1937 is rejected. It is found that the basic views Verwoerd held as a student were generally consistent with those he held in later life. It is accepted, though, that some of his views were adapted and inconsistencies could possibly be identified in some of his views. Unlike Miller’s analysis and conclusions, Venter’s (1999) analysis of Verwoerd's political thought is found to be remarkably consistent with the views and activities of Verwoerd the student activist. Consequently, this article argues that the context and nature of the political views he held as a student at Stellenbosch help significantly to explain Verwoerd’s later positions as lecturer, editor and politician, even if he did not personally subscribe to every view expressed by the Students' Representative Council he was part of and chaired

The role of microzooplankton in carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean

A 3-year study was carried out on the role of microzooplankton in carbon cycling in the south Atlantic and the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton was estimated during austral summer and winter employing the dilution technique. Carnivory by larger zooplankton on microzooplankton during summer was estimated using in vitro incubations. Microzooplankton assemblages were always dominated by protozoans comprising ciliates and dinoflagellates. In the ( 20 um chlorophyll fraction, microzooplankton grazing was sufficient to control the growth of the nano- and picophytoplankton suggesting that, where larger microphytoplankton cells dominate, micro zooplankton maintain the background concentrations of the nano- and picophytoplankton. During winter, when small nano- and picophytoplankton cells dominate total chlorophyll concentrations, the microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton is dramatically increased. Microzooplankton removed on average 37% of the initial phytoplankton stock or 70% of the daily phytoplankton production. These results suggest that in winter, micro zooplankton are the main sink for phytoplankton production. Carnivory experiments conducted with selected meso- (copepods) and macro zooplankton (euphausiids and tunicates) showed that all species examined consumed micro zooplankton in the presence of substantial chlorophyll concentrations. Microzooplankton can, therefore, be regarded as trophic intermediates between bacterioplankton, small phytoplankton cells and larger zooplankton species in the Southern Ocean. The results of this investigation suggest a spatiotemporal shift in efficiency of the biological pump mediated by changes in the size composition of the phytoplankton assemblages. South of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) large IV microphytoplankton cells dominate the summer chlorophyll biomass, suggesting that larger zooplankton grazers represent the main sink for phytoplankton production. Under these conditions, carbon flux to the interior of the ocean will be high due to diel vertical migrations by grazers and the production of large, fast sinking faecal pellets. The sedimentation of large phytoplankton cells also contributes to flux. In the permanently open waters south of the APF and throughout the Southern Ocean during winter, small phytoplankton cells dominate total chlorophyll, resulting in the microbial loop being the main sink for phytoplankton production. The close coupling between the micro zooplankton and the microbial loop dramatically reduces the transfer of organic carbon from the surface layers to depth. Carnivory by metazoans on microzooplankton may reduce the high grazing impact of micro zooplankton and, may also represent an important source of carbon flux originating from the microbial loop

The role of microzooplankton in carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean

A 3-year study was carried out on the role of microzooplankton in carbon cycling in the south Atlantic and the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton was estimated during austral summer and winter employing the dilution technique. Carnivory by larger zooplankton on microzooplankton during summer was estimated using in vitro incubations. Microzooplankton assemblages were always dominated by protozoans comprising ciliates and dinoflagellates. In the ( 20 um chlorophyll fraction, microzooplankton grazing was sufficient to control the growth of the nano- and picophytoplankton suggesting that, where larger microphytoplankton cells dominate, micro zooplankton maintain the background concentrations of the nano- and picophytoplankton. During winter, when small nano- and picophytoplankton cells dominate total chlorophyll concentrations, the microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton is dramatically increased. Microzooplankton removed on average 37% of the initial phytoplankton stock or 70% of the daily phytoplankton production. These results suggest that in winter, micro zooplankton are the main sink for phytoplankton production. Carnivory experiments conducted with selected meso- (copepods) and macro zooplankton (euphausiids and tunicates) showed that all species examined consumed micro zooplankton in the presence of substantial chlorophyll concentrations. Microzooplankton can, therefore, be regarded as trophic intermediates between bacterioplankton, small phytoplankton cells and larger zooplankton species in the Southern Ocean. The results of this investigation suggest a spatiotemporal shift in efficiency of the biological pump mediated by changes in the size composition of the phytoplankton assemblages. South of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) large IV microphytoplankton cells dominate the summer chlorophyll biomass, suggesting that larger zooplankton grazers represent the main sink for phytoplankton production. Under these conditions, carbon flux to the interior of the ocean will be high due to diel vertical migrations by grazers and the production of large, fast sinking faecal pellets. The sedimentation of large phytoplankton cells also contributes to flux. In the permanently open waters south of the APF and throughout the Southern Ocean during winter, small phytoplankton cells dominate total chlorophyll, resulting in the microbial loop being the main sink for phytoplankton production. The close coupling between the micro zooplankton and the microbial loop dramatically reduces the transfer of organic carbon from the surface layers to depth. Carnivory by metazoans on microzooplankton may reduce the high grazing impact of micro zooplankton and, may also represent an important source of carbon flux originating from the microbial loop

In situ feeding rates of the copepods, Pseudodiaptomus hessei and Acartia longipatella, in a temperate, temporarily open/closed Eastern Cape estuary

Size-fractionated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations and the in situ grazing rates of the copepods, Pseudodiaptomus hessei and Acartia longipatella, were assessed seasonally at the temporarily open/closed Kasouga estuary situated along the southeast coast of southern Africa. Total integrated chl-a concentration ranged between 1.17 and 12.18 mg chl-a m^(–3) and was always dominated by small phytoplankton cells (<20 μm), which comprised up to 86% (range 64–86%) of the total pigment. Total zooplankton abundance ranged between 2676 and 62 043 individuals m^(–3). These copepods numerically dominated the zooplankton counts, accounting for between 79% and 91% of the total. Gut pigment concentrations of the two species at night were significantly higher than the daytime values (P<0.05 in all cases). The observed pattern could be related to the marked diurnal vertical migration patterns exhibited by the copepods. Gut evacuation rates of P. hessei during the study ranged between 0.29 and 0.77 h^(–1) and between 0.39 and 0.58 h^(–1) for A. longipatella. The rate of gut pigment destruction for P. hessei and A. longipatella ranged between 55% and 81% and between 88% and 92% of the total chl-a ingested, respectively. The combined grazing impact of the two copepods ranged between 0.65 and 4.37 mg chl-a m^(–3), or between 4.3% and 35.9% of the available chl-a in the water column. Variations in the grazing activity of the two species could be attributed largely to seasonality in water temperature and shifts in the phytoplankton community structure and zooplankton abundance

The importance of phytoplankton size in mediating trophic interactions within the plankton of a southern African estuary

The influence of the phytoplankton size composition in mediating the trophic interactions between the bacteria, phytoplankton, microheterotrophs (200 μm) was investigated on three occasions in a warm temperate, temporarily open/closed estuary situated along the southern African coastline. Results of the investigation indicated that the microheterotrophs represented the most important consumers of bacteria and chlorophyll (chl)-a 20 μm), mesozooplankton were unable to feed efficiently on the chl-a due to feeding constraints. In response to the unfavorable size structure of the phytoplankton assemblages, mesozooplankton appeared to consume the microheterotrophs. The negative impact of the mesozooplankton on the microheterotrophs resulted in a decrease in the impact of these organisms on the bacteria and the chl-a <5.0 μm. This result is consistent with the predator-prey cascades. On the other hand, when the total chl-a was dominated by nanophytoplankton (2–20 μm), mesozooplankton were able to feed directly on the phytoplankton. Results of the study indicate that size structure of the phytoplankton assemblages within estuaries plays an important role in mediating the trophic interactions between the various components of the plankton food web

Dating in the dark: a phenomenological study of the lived experience of online relationships

Online relationships are becoming increasingly popular due to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of online social networking and dating sites. Individuals are progressively moving from meeting romantic partners face to face to meeting and engaging with individuals online. There is ample evidence to support the view that individuals do initiate romantic relationships online and often these relationships progress offline. The primary focus of online research had been conducted by communication and linguistic scholars while very little research has been conducted into the psychological conceptualisation of online relationships. In addition, there is a lack of available research pertaining to the development of romantic relationships online and more so in South Africa. The current study utilised Sternberg’s Triangular model of love and the Johari window as a framework for understanding the concepts involved in online romantic relationships. The study specifically aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of individuals who engage in online dating. The parameters of the study included the elements that comprise the online relationship, the subjective meaning attached to the relationships, and the processes these relationships encompass. The study moreover aimed to explore the progression of the online relationship. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach using snowball sampling and semi structured interviews to collect data. Tesch’s model of content analysis was used during data analysis while incorporating the four major processes in phenomenological research, namely (1) epoche, (2) phenomenological reduction, (3) imaginative variation and, (4) synthesis. The findings of the study generated a greater understanding of the complexities of online dating. Themes including online relationship development, the dynamics of online relationships, how love, according to the triangular model of love, is perceived online and, self-disclosure online were identified through the participants narratives. These findings ultimately can be used for future research