As the food price crisis deepens, many commentators are pointing the finger of blame at overpopulation. Apparently, the real problem is the “human plague”: all those teeming, swarming billions of people in China, India and elsewhere, who are wolfing down so much meat and rice that food production methods have gone into meltdown. It’s time, […]
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Posted inGeneral
On broken dreams and broken teeth
When I was growing up my mother’s greatest fear was that I would break my front teeth. I grew up. I broke my front teeth. The point of this intro is not to lament over hours of dental work or to illustrate the backlash of a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is to emphasise, with some embarrassment, […]
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The flip side of the freedom of not having a car
Walking. Walking, and waiting. I do a lot of both now. Tonight, in the autumn cold, I sit on a bench on wharf 5. It rocks almost imperceptibly on the inky waters of Sydney Cove. The next ferry is forty minutes away; I fed my ticket into the turnstile just in time to see the […]
Posted inGeneral
The xenophobia files: Part one
First of all, I apologise to all foreign nationals both directly and indirectly affected by the recent xenophobic attacks. I am not a perpetrator and I do not support the perpetrators, but, as a South African, these stupid attacks were done in my name against our fellows from across the border, and for that I […]
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XBRL: mash-ups for accountants
I’m grateful for search engines, but I still find it hard to accept living with Dead Text. Letters and figures on a screen. Not able to be mined, found, unlocked, extrapolated into meaning. What irks me in particular is tables of figures, especially financial information, that you would have to re-key into excel or some […]
Posted inBusiness
What causes inflation?
Submitted by Philip Copeman Inflation, the old enemy, is back. With a few exceptions, this has not been a severe threat to the world economy since the early 1980s. Inflation now threatens us all. South Africa and a number of other countries seem well on their way to succumbing to this monster. Why is inflation […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Citizen Monbiot and tomorrow’s justice
In spite of being unsuccessful last week’s attempt by the Guardian columnist George Monbiot to arrest as a war criminal the former US ambassador to the UN, and Under-Secretary Of State for Arms Control, is a salutary reminder of civic duty. The charge against John Bolton, who was speaking at a literature festival in Wales, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
‘Constitutional vandalism’ is in the eye of the beholder
The Democratic Alliance’s Tony Leon has accused President Mbeki, ANC president Jacob Zuma and Cape Judge President John Hlophe of “constitutional vandalism”. Leon’s allegations arise from a variety of causes, particular to each, as set out in an article from Sapa, which appeared on IOL. The courageous and adroit former leader of the DA is […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Love in the time of unipolarity
I’ve heard it said that relations between the U.S. and South Africa are a lot like relations between the U.S. and France. Having lived in all three countries, I must admit that similarities in the two bilateral relationships are unmistakable.
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The Facebook parent phenomenon
Facebook, bless it, has (dare I say it? ) revolutionised the online world for many people. Parents in particular. In addition to worrying about what their offspring get up to when they’re supposed to be at school, en route to and from school, hanging at the mall at weekends or Mxiing it up to the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The cohesion campaign: Quo vadis?
Last Friday, Pallo Jordan launched what is called a social cohesion campaign. The aim of this is to afford South Africans the chance to air their views on suggestions to change names of geographical places — in aide of creating a sense of belonging among citizenry across the country. This is a good step to […]
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Discovering the world of adventure racing
Getting lost in Pretoria to collect your new teammate is not a good sign when you’re about to spend the weekend navigating your way through the countryside. Getting lost en route to the meeting point is even less encouraging. Navigation is not my thing, but Toby must have been seriously concerned when I missed the […]