Outside lies snow almost two metres deep. Snowfalls across the United States have hit record levels this month, with New York receiving an all-time record of 37 inches so far. That is a lot of shovelling off sidewalks — you get fined if you don’t shovel your sidewalk — and digging out cars, garages are […]
Lifestyle
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
An unsanitary state of affairs
The average amount of blood lost in a menstruation is about 35 millilitres, which means that if a woman has 12 periods a year, she loses about half a litre of blood a year for about 30 years. The age at which women start menstruating is getting younger and younger, meaning that girls attending primary […]
Posted inLifestyle
Faith won’t shape our future, facts will
By Roger Diamond Fashion and faith — more on the differences later — MAY have a role in shaping our destiny as a civilisation, species or society, but then again, they may not. Facts, however, will. First a bit on fashion. Fashion includes not only the mainstream idea around clothing and other relatively superficial aspects […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
I want to fit into a box
I want to fit into a box. Kugels get to be in boxes. So do boytjies and tenderpreneurs, cougars and sugar daddies and yummy mummies. So why not me? I want to be able to describe who I am in a sentence. Life is perplexing, and I’d feel better were I to fit into the […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Why Power Balance® is like apartheid
It’s happened twice this weekend: once on Friday among the black-pants-and-blue-shirt-set at The Baron on Fredman Drive, once at the Ciao Baby Cucina in Cedar Square. That’s where I saw young men wearing Power Balance wristbands. You have to admire their persistence and their bravery, because they might as well be walking around wearing twinkling […]
Posted inEnvironment, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Population explosion!
Some time later this year, probably toward the end of October, the 7 billionth person will be born, and judging by birthrates, (s)he will most likely be Indian. The jump from 6 billion to 7 billion people on the planet will only have taken 12 years. The birth of this 7 billionth person raises important questions about […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
The uncaring black middle class
It’s time middle-class blacks owned up to not loving their people and setting this nation up for failure. I cannot imagine how those who do not love their own people can serve this nation. Hard as I try, I find that there are very few instances where the middle-class blacks demonstrate a love for the […]
Posted inLifestyle
Ukutawuna finally explained
I promised to write a blog explaining the term, “ukutawuna” or “tawuning”. Well, I have finally come (excuse the pun which you will get later) around to fulfilling that promise even though it is far later than I originally intended. Many people wonder what ukutawuna means, especially those who keep seeing it being used on […]
Posted inLifestyle
What makes you smile about Joburg?
“What makes you smile about your city?” That’s this month’s theme in the global social media campaign I’m involved with and it’s a challenging one. I’m sure that the bloggers in London or Paris have loads of material to work with, but for Joburgers it’s a question so loaded as to be provocative. As one […]
Posted inLifestyle
Taking the bull by the horns
By Nelly Shamase I’ve finally moved out of home. At the not-so-tender-age of 27, many would argue that it’s been a long time coming. Try telling that to my parents. When you’re the last born of seven children — and you’re a girl to boot — your parents are not as eager to let you […]
Posted inLifestyle
Introducing the Koos Kombuis fitness plan!
I never thought that I would have anything in common with Springbok rugby captain John Smit — apart from our crappy hairstyles, that is — until I read in this morning’s paper that, over the Christmas season, John has lost seven kilograms. Surprise, surprise! I did even better than that! Over the last nine and […]
Posted inLifestyle
Is your car a handbag on wheels?
Are you one of those people with a messy car? I will confess that I must count myself a member of that renegade tribe, but in my defence I am trying very hard to reform myself. I have resolved that my vehicle will be a model of minimalist motoring, devoid of all extraneous bits and […]