Many people involved in the South African (and global) social media industry will agree that, if anything, these past few years have taught us a lot about web-based content and copywriting, online communities and networks, and marketing and communications on the internet. We have also seen how numerous companies, both locally and abroad, find value […]
2008
Posted inMedia, Tech
Online Millions: Finding your niche
In your pursuit of making millions online, the most important decision you will have to make is choosing the correct niche as your target audience. Do not fall into the trap of playing the “it’s for everyone” game, because it never is, and even if it was, you would never be able to afford it. […]
Posted inLifestyle
Faded pop stars at the last-dance saloon
A few years ago a friend of mine was hitch-hiking near Stellenbosch and got a lift with Heinz “Idol” Winckler. She said that he was listening to his own album in the car. Someone actually bought the album then, in other words. I ran into a copy the other day at a second-hand record shop. […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Putting sex, glamour and wit back into world politics
Nicolas Sarkozy, regardless of his politics, looks like being a raver of a premier, notching up a divorce from one glamorous wife and a marriage to a supermodel in his first few months as president of France. It’s as if he’d planned it all along — get into power, marry the lovely Carla Bruni and […]
Posted inSport
Eugene Terre’Blanche, Mike Stofile and the year of being ugly
From the country that brought you the ANC two-faction in-fighting debacle, the war between the Scorpions and organised crime unit and the arms deal, comes a film so moving — and let’s face it, most of us will want to move overseas quickly after seeing it — that critics have deemed it an epiphany. Tweeracistsenababa […]
Posted inGeneral
Eugene Terre’Blanche, Mike Stofile and the year of being ugly
From the country that brought you the ANC two-faction in-fighting debacle, the war between the Scorpions and organised crime unit and the arms deal, comes a film so moving — and let’s face it, most of us will want to move overseas quickly after seeing it — that critics have deemed it an epiphany. Tweeracistsenababa […]
Posted inGeneral
Debating 101: Taking the wind out of their sails
Regular readers of this blog appreciate the contempt I have for the activity known as debating. For the benefit of those not initiated in the savagery of the Silwane ways, here is a definition for you. Debate is a form of interaction between two human beings in which they engage for the purpose of proving […]
Posted inGeneral
South Africa today: A personal assessment
Assessing the political and social conditions in a country is like volunteering an opinion on religion or sex; everyone believes that he or she is in a position to say something authoritative about it without necessarily doing so from an informed position. Moreover, what counts as being “informed” about such matters is not always easy […]
Posted inGeneral
What future South Africa?
Submitted by Anton Kleinschmidt The last thing that South Africa needs is timid submission to political correctness, because our politicians and bureaucrats are so consistently incorrect. A critical review of current realities and future prospects would serve no purpose if I resorted to watching my every word. One or two of the opinions that I […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Stop treating us like mushrooms
Submitted by David Drew The misinformation being spread by the government and Eskom is getting past the point where we can believe that it is well-meaning but somewhat misguided. The more I hear, the more I believe that either we are suffering from a complete lack of common sense or we’re being treated like mushrooms […]
Posted inBusiness
Down with debasing anagrams — AA, BEE …
Submitted by James Tobias Suspend reality for a moment and imagine I am green and have no political agendas. Hard, but humour me. Has the time arrived for us to rid ourselves of initiatives designed at promoting one sector of the population over another? Fifteen years later, shouldn’t we allow natural forces to decide who […]
Posted inGeneral
Let me try something controversial for a change
Recently I have been talking about more serious issues. It has been quite a wake-up call how readers can often be quite nit-picking and very ready to point out where one might have gone wrong. I truly appreciate feed-back, but it does make one hesitate to write again. I mean, who wants to be wrong? […]