Many of Thought Leader’s regular bloggers worry whether the people who read these blogs actually do so with any measure of intellectual diligence. The cause for our concerns is the very low standard of almost half of the comments readers take the time to write. We often look at the garbled, nonsensical, immature inanities commentators […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
Ironing out BRT our final 2010 hurdle?
The key ingredients to ensure the successful hosting of a mega sporting event are security, state-of-the-art stadia, sufficient accommodation, the buy-in of the public and, of course, an efficient transport system. In terms of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup preparations, the country is on target to meet four of these five requirements. Sweeping measures are […]
Posted inLifestyle
Lunch in a car park
Recently I was having lunch at one of Jo’burg’s favourite restaurants, with a friend from Cape Town. Her phone rang and she chatted about the usual stuff, “I’ll be back on Tuesday. Really? What did she say?” And so on. Then she commented, “Oh, not much, what you usually do in Jo’burg — sitting in […]
Posted inGeneral
Malema and the white question
I have often heard many an “unreconstructed racist” hasten to add that they have many black friends. In the minds of these people it is clear that your racism or lack thereof, is proportional to the number of friends you have in race groups other than your own. The subject of race and racism has […]
Posted inSport
Kick Chiefs, Millwall and West Ham out of tournaments
In 1995 while acting for various syndicates of Lloyd’s of London I was fortunate enough to travel to the United Kingdom to meet with certain members of the underwriter. The trip lasted for ten days which gave me the opportunity to go and watch my beloved Derby County play on three separate occasions, the last […]
Posted inGeneral
Federer, the greatest?
Is Roger Federer the greatest player to ever grace the tennis court? He has won 15 grand slam titles and will be moving in for title number 16 at the upcoming US Open, which he has won for the past five years. He also holds the record for being ranked number one for 237 consecutive […]
Posted inNews/Politics
White compatriots still the biggest BEE and AA beneficiaries
According to the Employment Equity Report released this week, white people have benefited handsomely from affirmative action thanks to the toothlessness of our government’s regulatory framework and the inefficiency of the department of labour and department of trade and industry (DTI). Starting with the department of labour, it is clear to me that Labour Minister […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics, Sport
Caster’s revenge: The war on Australia
So, we’re at war with Australia again. As usual it is about sport. The conspiracy goes that it was Australian athletes who challenged Caster Semenya’s gender. They are the ones who accused her of being a man. Apparently after seeing the size of her shoe. Caster’s story has been hotly pursued by the Australian press, […]
Posted inGeneral
Climate change being blamed for too much
By Roger Diamond According to a recent news article in the Guardian (UK), parts of the Nile Delta are being flooded by rising sea levels. The rising sea levels are, of course, being blamed on climate change. Indeed, sea levels are apparently rising and it is almost certain that most of this rise is caused […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Money, Africans and the art of conversation
A friend of mine told me the other day that he does not like to socialise with the new African middle class. “I find it difficult to have a decent, soul-nourishing conversation with them,” he said. He went on to add: “All they talk about is government tenders, contracts, money and how to make more […]
Posted inGeneral
IRB, SA Rugby on a collision course…again
It’s uncanny how South Africans can be so narcissistic, arrogant, stubborn and petulant to the extent that they become blind. It’s time for a little introspection and a massive overhaul of the way we conduct ourselves. Time and again we fail our people by being discourteous and rude with the most phenomenal gaffes on the […]
Posted inGeneral
Caster, round two
I have found myself getting increasingly angry over the past few days listening to the debate raging over Caster Semenya. It has taken a nasty, racist turn — cleverly clouding the real issues surrounding Caster: that Athletics South Africa (ASA) should have tested her before she left, that they have proven to not understand the […]