The word is not as incendiary as “kaffir”. It does not offend the ear as would “nigger” or “jewboy”. It is, in fact, a rather beautiful word. But in the United Kingdom, utter the word “gypsy” and rooms go quiet; looks are exchanged, brows furrowed and lips pursed. And arguments rage. A gypsy is to […]
Tony Jackman
Tony Jackman is a journalist, budding playwright and sometime chef. He's written two plays, An Influence of Ghosts and Blue Train Coming, and back in the day wrote loads of songs. He paints a bit in watercolours when he remembers to, and apart from that he massages words and pushes grammar for a nice little magazine called myweek.
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
And now, from the manufacturers of blacks, whites and coconuts, a whole new race!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, after decades of research and years of trials, the manufacturers of whites, blacks, coloureds, coconuts, Indians, plurals, tricamerals, old-style liberals, diehard Nats, Oranians, black diamonds — basically of anyone you know or have ever known — have invented a whole new race which, with immediate effect, replaces all races that have […]
Posted inLifestyle
I could of danced all night but not of begged for more
At the risk’ve sounding like Henry Higgins trying to get Eliza Doolittle to speak proper English, I could of sworn English was a different language when I was a kid. I lay the blame firmly at the door have our schoolteachers, who don’t seem to be able to see the would for the trees any […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Why Jacob Zuma could be our very own Bill Clinton
I’m looking forward to the Zuma era in South African politics. We’re all wallowing in the mire right now, and have been for years. It’s bad, bad, bad out there. Jacob Zuma, for all his worrying foibles, could be just the breath of fresh air we all need. Usually we South Africans lob some guy […]
Posted inNews/Politics
I’m sorry, but if 1994 wasn’t an apology for apartheid, I’m a blue Martian
If actions speak louder than words, the relinquishing of power by white South Africa in 1994 was worth far more than the mere mouthing of an apology by “whites” in 2008. Knee-jerk responses should always be regarded with cynicism, and the call this week for whites to say sorry for apartheid — in the wake […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Atonement and astonishment
I was in dire need of a leak the other day just after seeing Atonement at the Nu Metro at Canal Walk, the shopping centre near Cape Town which, in design, sits uncomfortably between Nataniël’s boeredoir and the visual riot going on in Sol Kerzner’s head at any one time. The gents’ loo at this […]
Posted inLifestyle
Counting riches
Eyes that once turned green with envy now turn jaundiced at the flaunting of wealth in an increasingly superficial consumer society; the way success is measured by the sports car you drive and your designer sunglasses, loft apartment and chic choice of pretentious restaurant or coolest possible bar. South African urbanites are visiting New York […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Sex, morality and mortality
I don’t care how famous or infamous somebody is, what they do in the privacy of their or other people’s bedrooms, or for that matter on beaches, kitchen tables or in the loos on jumbo jets, ought to have no bearing on their ability to star in a movie or run a country. But it does make for great reading.