“There are enough zealots on both sides who kindle up the passions of their partisans and, under pretence of public good, pursue the interests and ends of their particular faction. For my part I shall always be fonder of promoting moderation than zeal, and though perhaps the surest way of producing moderation in every party […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
Free booze in China and so forth
It can be a laugh a minute living in this country. Oh I am sure the PCs and semi-literates will find my sense of humour (heck I don’t make it up, it is in your face and waiting to be photographed or copied) completely inappropriate. I am glad. Funny is funny. To hell with appropriateness. […]
Posted inGeneral
SA: Matters of self-esteem, race and so on
In a timeless collection of African short stories, folk tales and poetry, edited by Barbara Nolen, the poem titled The Moon succinctly captures what this polemic is about. Let me reproduce the said poem: “The moon lights the earth It lights the earth but still The night must remain the night The night cannot be […]
Posted inSport
A tribute to the Mkhonto Eleven stars
You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. We drove into Alex and met up with the Mkhonto Eleven under-15 soccer team. Kitted out in black and white and their new boots (sponsored by Friends of Alex), they were happy, excited, and chirpy … yet disciplined, on time and grateful for the taxi that […]
Posted inGeneral
Racism remains a lingering disease
Will humanity one day look back on the days when people were regarded as greater or lesser beings because of their racial origins in the same way as we now look back on the era of witch hunting? This question assumes that at least some progress has been made in eliminating racial prejudice, and certainly […]
Posted inGeneral
Heart-to-heart with traffic
My Nokia and I are slowly bonding, as I figure out its quirks and get to grips with its sophisticated technology. I’m even starting to like its pulsing light which bathes everything around it in a warm gentle glow. On Friday we completed a right of passage. Wearing my Polar heart rate monitor my phone […]
Posted inGeneral
Sports 4 Poverty
Football in rural areas is generally not structured. That is, there is no league, competitions or proper administration of the sport. As a result the passion for the sport is reduced to a mere hobby, something that young boys do just so they don’t get bored. Sadly, a lot of talent gets lost. Some never […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SADC’s hypocrisy over Madagascar
The SADC is meeting in South Africa on Saturday in order to try and “restore political order” to the ongoing strife in Madagascar. International efforts at mediation have broken down and the Southern African Development Community are hearing report backs from the mediators who took part in the talks. The SADC suspended Madagascar during March, […]
Posted inGeneral
Why are Apple products so expensive in SA?
Here is a letter I sent today to Apple’s European customer-relations representative. Core buys their stock from Apple Europe so they seem like the right people to contact. I hope I get feedback. To whom it may concern I am sending you this email because I have had service from you in the past and […]
Posted inGeneral
Is South Africa doing a good job of hosting the Confederations Cup?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Is South Africa doing a good job of hosting the Confederations Cup?
Posted inGeneral
Choking is not quite the word for it
You win five on the trot and then you stumble at the penultimate hurdle. For most teams, that would be a pretty good run which was bound to end some time. But for Graeme Smith and co, that is mere confirmation of their world-class choke-ability, right? Wrong! It cannot be classed a choke when you […]
Posted inGeneral
Economic growth a dream with dwindling oil supply
By Roger Diamond I hear and read everywhere that what we all “need” is economic growth, but nobody seems to be talking about how this can be done. Let’s make jobs, let’s stimulate industry, and so on, but not much proper thinking into the roots of what comprises economic activity. The simple fact of the […]