Posted inNews/Politics

Obama’s disdain sends Mugabe to Russia; China revisited?

In June of last year Barack Obama, soon to be inaugurated as the next president of the United States, declared Robert Mugabe’s regime illegitimate and lacking in credibility. Then Senator for Illinois, Obama expressed the view that “If fresh elections prove impossible, the US and other countries should tighten “targeted sanctions” and “pursue an enforceable, […]

Posted inGeneral

South Africa on centre stage in 2009

It’s safe to say that 2009 will be the most important year in this country’s sporting history. In just six months, some of the giants of international football (including Brazil and Italy) will compete in the Confederations Cup. With a $17-million prize fund, it will be the biggest sporting event ever staged on the African […]

Posted inBusinessLifestyleMediaNews/Politics

Buyology — how we’re brainwashed into buying stuff

We’ve always suspected those tawdry health warnings on a packet of fags were rather dumb, but never knew why. Well, it seems that, contrary to discouraging smoking, they actually encourage lighting up by stimulating the nucleus accumbens — the craving spot — in the brain. This recent research finding in what’s called “buy*ology” is a […]

Posted inLifestyleMedia

A Digital Concert Hall

It’s been a really long time since I’ve been bowled over by technology. And I must say that this time around it’s not really the tech stuff that floored me and got me doing the OMG thing. It’s the use of existing technology that got me jumping up and down. It’s not actually even innovative […]

Posted inGeneral

Hoskins to invite Argentina to Dance in 2012 – Let the Music begin in 2009

South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. could make southern hemisphere and Super Rugby more valuable to sponsors and broadcasters with an attractive rugby spectacle by introducing a coherent rugby inventory that complements the existing domestic and international tournaments and makes the Super 14 stronger. SA Rugby’s Hoskins as Chairman of Sanzar, […]

Posted inNews/Politics

Zuma and Selebi conundrums

South Africans have every right to look to the government for an explanation of their handling of the Scorpions and Vusi Pikoli disbandment and dismissal. In both cases the impression that is left is that, regardless of the feelings of the citizens of this country and the findings of the commissions into both issues, the […]

Posted inGeneral

Another year in the pursuit of misery

It’s that time of the year again when most people are in a resolute mood about all the things they’re going to change in the next twelve months. Needless to say, they won’t achieve anything. Nothing substantial in any case. The fatties won’t put down the supersized Double McGrease Deluxe Whopper Meals with extra onion […]

Posted inNews/Politics

The house of hunger

If Princeton economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman is to be believed, 2009 could be a very tricky year. Forget tricky; it has the potential to be an outright disaster. The sad thing is that this financial mess will probably affect weaker economies disproportionately, even though they had the least to do with […]