Dali Mpofu, the CEO and “editor-in-chief” of the SABC, has lashed out at members of the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) for “pretending to be converted to foreign, frigid and feelingless freedoms”. The issue that provoked Mpofu’s outrage was the Sunday Times‘s reliance on the right to freedom of expression in defence of its […]
2007
Posted inSport
Hello, is there anybody out there?
Excuse me while I rant. Watching SABC Africa last night I came across a story about Fifa officials preparing to visit Zimbabwe to assess the country’s capacity to host fans from the 2010 World Cup. Then, yesterday morning, I found the equivalent story online, which you can read here. I can’t believe that with Zimbabwe […]
Posted inLifestyle
The Big Sexy
My name is The Sumo; Sumo for short. You can call me Mr Sumo if you so wish or even Sumolicious if our relationship develops to the pet-name-calling level (which I hope it does, ladies). I’m 147kg of strapping Zulu male, 1,79m tall and handsome beyond measure. I’m proud of who I am and am […]
Posted inGeneral
Are you smart enough to work for Google?
Here are some interview questions asked at Google and Microsoft. Some of these are supposed to generate a specific answer, some are asked to gauge how you estimate, analyse and approach the seemingly impossible problems. Post some of your answers in the comments, but no cheating. I’ve figured out number 10, but would be interested […]
Posted inBusiness, Media, Tech
Internet-savvy employees affect the bottom line
My company, Creative Rides, currently has four employees, including my partner and I. Although we’re a “workshop” focused on altering all types of cars in different ways, I’m doing the opposite of large corporations … I’m encouraging use of the internet and it’s certainly affecting on my bottom line each day that goes by. Here’s […]
Posted inSport
The agony and the Ecstasy
The All Blacks are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the World Cup. According to media reports this week, the Kiwis have enlisted the assistance of an expert to help predict weather patterns for the tournament, which in turn may influence team selection. According to these reports, the expert produces his forecasts based […]
Posted inMedia, Tech
The numbers are in: Blogging reaches tipping point in SA
The three months from April to June 2007 are likely to be remembered as the beginning of the tipping point for social media and social networking in South Africa. Most of the country’s key platforms and innovations for what is collectively known as Web 2.0 emerged during that period. While it was obvious that growth […]
Posted inTech
Why corporates should force Facebook usage
Many positive and negative things have been said about the banning of Facebook access at corporate workspaces. But corporates seriously need to wake up to the fact that they are doing themselves an injustice by trying to control their employees’ online behaviour — even if it is during office hours — and would be far […]
Posted inMedia, Tech
Cliff Jennings: The facts
Cliff Jennings, the now popular Idols contestant, was exposed to blogger Bruinman to be a marketing ploy by Ogilvy. This was confirmed on Tuesday by Pierre Cloete, brand manager at M-Net. I don’t want to discuss how I feel the campaign should have been executed or how Ogilvy doesn’t understand the concept of social media. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Crossing a line
It’s that time of the year again — floor-crossing season. Well, that time, every two years, actually, when MPs are — for reasons still elusive to me — allowed to throw out of the window their commitment to their political party (some say their honour) and happily join ranks with those who were their political […]
Posted inMedia, Tech
Tsch-tsch-tschooning into online video
I’ve been using the internet since the days of BelTel, so it’s safe to say that I’ve seen many technologies, concepts and ideas come and go, come again and go again and return yet again! I remember the excitement of logging on to IRC each evening to sweet-talk ladies around the world and bask in […]
Posted inGeneral
‘Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it’
I wonder if George Santayana really examined the concept of “history” before arriving at this conclusion. Did he factor in the tendency to award the job of writing it to the victors, the revision that would take place as the needs of expedience overtook actual recounts or even the way in which modern man perceives […]