Vincent Tabak, the Dutch national who murdered Joanna Yeates, apparently used Google to research the definitions of “murder”, “manslaughter” and “sexual assault” in the days and weeks after committing the egregious crime. Tabak, no doubt, was trying to assess his prospects in employing a defence which, if he was caught, would allow him to admit […]
General
Posted inGeneral
Currie Cup Champions 2011
Having just seen the conclusion of the Currie Cup final of 2011, I have to say categorically that I am very happy. I agree with many pundits in that I like to see the top-ranked team win the Currie Cup and at times I am quite sorry that they need to partake in this play […]
Posted inBusiness, General, Lifestyle, Media
Julius toppled by vaginas…and T-shirts?
Julius Malema has been toppled by vaginas and sexist T-shirts. Who would have thought that the posts that attract the most reads should be about plastic surgery for fannies (over 5 000, a record for me) and T-shirts bearing legends like “You looked better … from behind”. Admittedly, a lot of the comments would indicate that […]
Posted inGeneral
RWC: The champions are champions
The All Blacks are world champions and deservedly so. But I have to admit I got very excited when Le Bleus (wearing white, how were the jerseys this WC? England: looking like All Blacks, playing like England!) started working them over in the second half. Once again, in spite of consistent world domination during the […]
Posted inGeneral
Currie Cup final — good luck to both teams!
When the first overseas team to tour South Africa in 1891 arrived they carried with them a particularly precious bit of cargo. They had a golden cup given to the British Isles squad by Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, the shipping company that transported them to the southern tip of Africa. The gold […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, General, News/Politics
Imagine your electricity bill went up 459%
You’ll often hear that renewable energy is a nice idea, but it’s simply too expensive to be a realistic option. The choice between burning coal and switching to renewable energy is said to be a simple cost calculation — one that coal wins every time. It’s the rationale for why Eskom is going ahead with […]
Posted inGeneral
Two Tests doth not a series make
Australia’s current tour of South Africa has produced some enthralling cricket, with the contest being feisty. Graeme Smith scored a much needed 50 in Port Elizabeth while Jacques Kallis also returned to form with a classy knock, reminding us of his enormous value to the Proteas. Morne Morkel is starting to reach the heights his […]
Posted inBusiness, General, Media
Here’s to South African creativity
So the announcement has finally been made: Cape Town is World Design Capital for 2014, ahead of Dublin and Bilbao. This is great news for creativity in South Africa. Cape Town has long focused on positioning itself as a creative hub — film, advertising, design — and this is paying off. It’s the kind of […]
Posted inGeneral, Lifestyle, Media
Germany — on being disconnected in a connected world
It’s so easy to take connection for granted. Sure, there are places, like the bush, where you expect to feel isolated from technology. But finding yourself in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and everyone else is connected — now that makes for the kind of cognitive dissonance that triggers panic attacks. […]
Posted inGeneral, Lifestyle
Gareth Cliff on everything you’ve already heard
Let me start with the mandatory “I don’t like Gareth Cliff and I don’t listen to his show” disclaimer. But despite this, I was secretly looking forward to reading his first book Gareth Cliff on Everything. In a fragmented, siloed society such as ours, books are a small mirror into sections of society you only […]
Posted inGeneral
Balotelli fireworks set Old Trafford on fire
Sir Alex Ferguson called it his worst result ever and, considering the fact that two more Manchester City goals would have been enough to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it’s not hard to understand where he is coming from. On Sunday, City laid siege to Old Trafford like men possessed while United were given […]
Posted inGeneral
Rugby World Cup obsession needs to end
The Rugby World Cup has finally come to an end, with New Zealand emerging as winners after a tight and enthralling final. France won’t care that their performance has been praised — as American comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said, second is the number one loser. While the French were the better team on the night […]