A Pluviophile

MIND AND SOUL “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” said Zachariah It’s a no-brainer that music makes people feel good. But that old adage that “all the best things in life are bad for you” definitely does not apply here. As it turns out, music is beneficial for the mind, the body, and we would definitely argue—the soul. Here’s a quick snapshot of how: The Emotional • Music may do a better job of lowering anxiety levels than anti-anxiety drugs do, according to one study that measured the outcome of over 400 studies published in the in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences. • As many of us have experienced ourselves, music can definitely lift our moods and statistically can help with depression. The Intellectual • It’s also been shown to improve cognitive function and increase performance and reaction time when people are put ...

Chairman of the Portfolio Committee for Police, Francois Beukman, said the high murder rate of South African Police is something that Minister Bheki Cele would put at the top of his agenda during his tenure at the helm. The right of South African Police to protect themselves was a major theme, during Cele’s tenure as Police Commissioner – when he was even reported to have said Police must shoot to kill. Beukman’s comments come in the wake of the massacre of officers, by a group of terrorists, at the Ngcobo Police Station last month. The lack of fear that criminals have for South African Police is something that people cannot ignore. “The Ngcobo attack and all killings of police officers is unacceptable. It is totally unacceptable that the symbol of the state can be attacked in this manner. It is time for South Africans to say: ‘No more’,” said Beukman. “The first priority for the incoming Minister is to put in place strategies to deal with the high murder rate of police officers...