Part of the challenge of writing for a wider public is resisting being provoked into knee-jerk responses to attacks on what you have written. Sometimes it is OK to simply let contrary viewpoints go by unchallenged, even when they are palpably ill-founded. At other times, though, remaining silent is not an option, and the latest […]
2010
Posted inNews/Politics
Media tribunal smacks of an ANC cover-up
African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe in a report in The Star newspaper on Friday called upon newspaper editors to join the debate on setting up a media tribunal rather than act defensively. Mantashe said the invitation is in order that the media engage in the debate constructively and exchange ideas rather than defend its […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Toilet saga still smells
By Jackie Mapiloko During school holidays my parents would ship me to a relative’s house in Evaton, a tiny settlement in the Vaal Triangle. My ageing relative was landlord to about 20 families who lived in shacks in a yard, which she had inherited from her mother. As the landlord, or ”ma-stand” as she was […]
Posted inGeneral
SA Jewish Board of Deputies must condemn Israel’s actions
Often anti-Zionist and Israeli apologists when arguing about the Israel/Palestine conflict, behave like toddlers on a playground needing parental supervision. There are those who vehemently defend the actions of Israel regardless of the atrocities it commits. According to their logic Israel is protecting its “right to exist” (**rolls eyes**). This is while anti-Zionists also condone […]
Posted inGeneral
Why Starcraft II’s important
For those of you who don’t know, the sequel to one of the biggest real-time strategy (RTS) games of all time, Starcraft, has been 12 years in the making. The game is made up of three races: Terran (humans), Protos and Zerg. The three races are three versions of popular science-fiction race types: humans in […]
Posted inNews/Politics
It stinks to high heaven…
The hypocrisy of the West that is what — particularly the type exhibited by the US. The leaked slew of military documents on the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks this week, was another stark reminder of the two-faced nature of Americans, who it seems, have become quite adept at the practice of preaching one thing and doing […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANCYL above the law?
The African National Congress Youth League in the Eastern Cape confirmed yesterday that it would be convening a congress in the province despite there being an interdict prohibiting it from doing so. The youth league in the Eastern Cape previously disbanded its provincial executive committee resulting in a court order which interdicted it from holding […]
Posted inGeneral
A few home truths about the Bokke
When the Springboks left these shores they were considered favourites for the Tri-Nations title and now return in rags. South Africa has always been a fickle place for sports lovers and this was proven by the rumours, conjecture and very dismal view the public has of the Green and Gold since they stepped back into […]
Posted inLifestyle
Panjo, Panjo…
By Jason Norwood-Young With apologies to William Blake TIGER, tiger, burning bright Near to Delmas, on the right, What infrared hand or eye Could track thy fearful symmetry? In what distant mealies or field What copse of bluegums dost thou shield? Why did you leave your bakkie and leap? Did you see a chicken, or […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Why hasn’t Agliotti been charged with fraud?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Brett Kebble murder trial in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg is the fact that the accused, Glenn Agliotti, has not been charged with fraud relating to what appears to be a defence of assisted suicide. The evidence given by Agliotti in the corruption trial of […]
Posted inGeneral
More World Cup babalaas
The best way to snap out of a World Cup hangover is to take a good look at the financial ruins visited upon the so-called advanced economies and then take a look at our solid grounding, which has helped us survive the worst of the global financial crisis. There is much to be happy with […]
Posted inTech
Guns are no match for germs
By Roger Diamond Looking into the future is fun, but even more fun is looking at how other people are looking into the future. First, there are the pessimists and doomsayers who are sure the game is all over and we have a few last years of light before the eternal darkness, or something along […]