I wish this was a joke...

But it's not. It's true...unfortunately.
http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/mcdonalds-hong-kong-offers-weddings-494226#ixzz129kRnZig?hpt=C2

Ridiculousness

This is getting ridiculous! I totally agree with the one cop at the end of the story who says that it is getting to a point where lae breakers get more rights than ordinary citizens. Looks like the nanny state Britain is paying too much attention to the naughty kids and not enough to the good ones.
http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=3268&fArticleId=1.684587&fFeed=breakingnews

Great Chefs

Apparently, if you want to be a maestro chef, you need to be a little whacky. The newest addition to your plate? Dirt! Yup, thats right, dirt.

The dirt os made out of charred vegetable, or ground barley. It sounds bizaar but apparently it wins awards.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019612,00.html?iid=WBeditorspicks

As weird and wonderful as it sounds, I don't think I would dig in.

Space Law

I guess I've just never thought about it before but it makes perfect sense that there is 'international law' governing space. It's called Space law. There is also a Treaty called the 'Outer Space Treaty' which is signed by 125 countries but only ratified by 98.

I came upon this because of a post on geekologie
http://www.geekologie.com/2010/09/how_am_i_not_the_man_for_the_j.php
Although this post claims that there are laws governing the treatment of extraterristrial life forms, I have yet to find them. There are however laws governing the use of space-relating tot he peaceful exploration of space, the inability of any particular state to make a claim on any planet and the prohibition of testing weapons in outer space. It all makes perfect sense, but like I said, I just hadn't thought of it before.

I wonder how far this law will extend. especially with the discovery (still to be confirmed) of a habitable planet... makes for some interesting reading
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2022489,00.html

Army life anyone?

Talk about Craaaaazy Americans. I am amazed that these guys exist. I think from a complete lack of actual issues and an overdose of self-inflicted conflict, these Americans have lost the plot...literally.

This group of private militias are like mercenaries but for there own cause. They won't offer their skills to the highest bidder but they will cause civil war due to percieved threats, or perhaps even boredom.

They are a group of armed right wingers-who seriously should be in the nut house. Reminds me of aggressive men with no real cause and nothing to do except play army.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2022516,00.html

Smoking Portugal

Could the decimalization of drugs work? Portugal is a case study proving the positive. Drug use is down and rehabilitation is up in a country that has decriminalized the use and possession of marijuana, cocaine and Methamphetamine. So could it work elsewhere in the world?

If anyone has seen the tv Series ‘The Wire’ you would have seen the season where the police created ‘little Amsterdam’ a section of Baltimore where drug gangs could sell their drugs and users could meet without retribution from the law. In the series, the experiment worked well. The drug gangs moved out of the centre of town. The crime rate dropped and Addiction centers and health officials were able to work amongst the addicts, helping them instead of leaving them to the fate of the city streets.

There are so many arguments for and against decimalization of drugs. A particular one against is the fact that many criminals, who may be more active in other crime rings (theft, hijacking etc) are often brought to justice because of drug possession. Many of them can’t be caught on other charges and if drugs were legalized, there would be no way of holding these criminals.

This debate should be had face to face over a couple of hours, so instead I leave you with the case study of Portugal to make up your own mind on the issue.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

The Real Big Brother

Seems like sociologists and the like are using the trapped Chilean Miners to do some studies on Human Behaviour. Their findings are interesting. It's one of the rare cases where they can study human behaviour under stressful conditions without losing their study subjects.
Check out what they have to say:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2017215,00.html

Traceable

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2019239,00.html

Wonder why the government is asking us to RICA our cellphones? (Registration of our mobiles with proof of residence for those of you living outside SA)

I'm not even going to say 'I told you so' but maybe people should take my 'conspiracy theories' a little more seriously.

According to TIME, cell phone's are not only traceable through signals pinging off towers but most new cell phones have a GPS chip built in to them. Feeling a bit like a contestant on Big Brother? It looks to me like it's heading that way.

This new little device allows government to trace your every move. Gone to the movies instead fo to work? They know about it. Gone to a political rally or a secret meeting? They know about it.

I have no idea what the law is like in South Africa on this issue and I intend to find out but something tells me it may be a little more lax than the US? Which means the government can access this information, and your whereabouts, whenever they want to!

Doing something illegal? Maybe leave your phone at home next time.

p.s I am going on holiday for a week so if you get bored check out Suck The Marrow
http://suckthemarrow.co.za/
And don't forget to check back in a week!

Need Money and Have a Death Wish?

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2019221_2019202,00.html

You can go after Mexican drug Lords for Bounty that starts at USD $5million. Never mind that these guys have been responsible for more bodies than you can count, that they have evaded the law for years or that one of them escaped from a maximum security prison. If you need a career change, this is for you.

Check out the top 10 Mexican drug lords.

The Cuban Invasion

Mark my words and that of this article…the Cuban invasion is imminent. It was just a matter of time before the communist regime started showing cracks. Cracks that will soon be filled with swarming American and European business investors.

The capitalist world has been waiting for this for some fifty years. Cuba used to be a playground for Americans. A summer retreat until the revolution. Cuba may just go back to the vacation club it always used to be.

The Cuban government is letting go of 500 000 government employees by next Spring. A move that should cripple the already fragile economy. However, the Cubans have made a statement that might change everything.

In trying to explain the reason for the loss of jobs they slipped up saying that the current economic system ‘doesn’t work for us anymore’. Although they tried to quantify that statement later to mean that they intend on fixing the problems with their communist country, it was too late and the capitalists had already started planning their move.

There are whisperings of economic reform reverberating in the ears of entrepreneurs. Money hungry business men are seeing dollar signs and before you know it Cuba will be enjoying their first McDonalds ever.

Check out the article in TIME that gives all the details
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2019225,00.html

How's my driving?

Having to drive a significant distance every day to work and back, I get to witness some of South Africa’s greatest driving idiots.

My favourite is the screaming beamer: This is the guy (inevitably in a BMW) who speeds at the pace of a small rocket ship straight towards a wall of brake lights. I am totally unsure of what she/he (yes the women do it too) is trying to achieve-perhaps testing the speed vs stopping distance brake capacity.

Dear screaming beamer, you are an idiot.

My second favourite has to be the Ping Pong driver: This is that TWIT who actually thinks he is going to get to his destination faster than everyone else by changing lanes at an aggressive pace when there is absolutely no space and nowhere to go.

Dear Ping Pong Driver, you are a twit who is going nowhere fast!

And then comes the: Push and win drivers. This is that delightful, oh so smart driver who thinks that if he comes up very close behind you (even when there is a wall of traffic in front you) a lane will miraculously open up and he will be able to drive free of hindrances to his destination. This is a special kind of person…I think these are the people who as kids were always rewarded for pushing things. They must have been the type that pushed and doors opened. Perhaps their parents let them play with the elevators too much. Because now they think that if they almost touch your bumper they will win a prize.

Dear Push and Win drivers, go back to nursery school and stick your finger in a plug or something. You are a jerk.

And that is my venting for the day! If you see any of these special drivers on the road, give them a wave and a smile because I am almost certain that they are all a little damaged in the head.

What The?

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=1.680095&fFeed=region_51

Is it just me or does this article create the most mixed emotions a person can feel?
At first you are feel excited that prisoners are doing something good. The author makes you feel a sense of pride. In the middle of your happy thoughts, they slip in that said prisoners are murderers. You now feel angry at them and angry that you thought they were nice people. Then you get angry that they are celebrating murderers in the first place!

'The day, however, belonged to former Kempton Park dentist Casparus Johannes Greef who is serving a life term at Baviaanspoort Prison for killing his wife.' What the....?

Are you kiding me? I'm not even sure what I feel right now. All I know is that this journalist needs to get an angle and not make people feel like they are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Burning Topic

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/09/09/loony-pastor-still-a-loon-but-no-longer-a-fire-hazard/

This chick has it right. A round of applause for a journalist with a brain.

I appreciate people who think like she does. Pastor Jones has been the topic of media hype for the past week and indeed a burning topic for months before that. Pastor Jones wants to commemorate the 10th year of September 11 by setting alight a pile of Qur’ans. Of course this little event of his has caused a major uproar and sparked age old debates on the freedom of religion, persecution of religion and culture and the generalizations that go with it.

But this journalist is right, and the same goes for a number of other issues. Leave Pastor Jones alone, let him do what he does in the quiet of his own home. Drawing this much attention to the quack is only giving him more power and feeding the beast, so to speak. Her plea to journalists and media around the world ‘we can do the right thing by letting this hatefulness play out on a homemade backyard stage instead of a global media platform.’The same goes for a couple of unmentionable politicians (or wannabes) in South Africa. We feed them and their narcissism by giving them a nice little platform from which to preach.

Take the platform away and all they’re left with is a street corner on which to stand, where during the hustle and bustle of traffic, only a few people stop to listen.

Until Last Night

I had never really given any thought to our innate human need for safety…. until last night. We had a bit of a situation in our complex which caused us to brush shoulders with the ugly underworld of the sex trade.

We had some suspicions that there were some unsavory characters renting the apartment downstairs. They were into some illicit business as girls changed over, rich older clients knocked on the door and money was exchanged.

Thing is, they had been so quiet and well behaved that we had no proof of what was going on… until last night. One of the ‘entrepreneurs of the night’ was kicked out for not offering to share her skills for payment. What ensued was a frightening expose of the industry. Needless to say, that I have never in my life seen such a blatant display of this ancient profession. Nor has it ever made my stomach churn… until last night.

I had seen the men that partake in the services rendered, wealthy, very wealthy nice looking middle aged men. The service providers however, were the personification of desperation. They were dirty, drunk and sad. So so so sad. It made me want to knock those clients out for fueling such iniquity. Their wives sitting at home not a clue as to where their husbands are or what kind of services they are receiving.

Back to the story, the ‘ladies’ unwillingness to provide services ended in her being kicked out by the ‘small business owner’ onto the street. A fight ensued, the cops came, the cops went. More fighting ensued, our fear grew, the cops came and the cops went.

Long story short, we were not the brave home owners we normally are but were instead existing in a state of fear.

It all got me thinking this morning, when I walked into work and felt safe, where else I do I feel safe? It then hit me that Mr Maslow was quite correct in putting safety as a very basic need and second on his hierarchy of needs. Feeling safe is incredibly important to our psychological welfare.

I can’t imagine the distress people go through when they are constantly scared. People living in war zones. Those living under the hand of a violent brute. Those living in the streets constantly watching over their shoulder for the next threatening experience.

Safety is so important. If Mr Maslow were still alive, I would call him up and congratulate him on his most accurate understanding of the human condition. Well done Maslow, well done indeed.

Violent, Disrespectful and Menacing: Britains Youth

If you want a snapshot on British youth today, watch a movie called Harry Brown, starring Michael Cain. Warning: the movie is incredibly violent and tells the story of an old pensioner and marine veteran in London who loses his patience with the violent youth and gangs terrorizing his area. It is typical vigilante movie however the violence portrayed is disturbing and probably more accurate than any other vigilante movie I’ve seen.

The point is, the movie raises some serious questions in my mind. Why has Britain allowed these teenagers to take over the country? What caused such violence and why are the police completely incapable of regulating them?

The most obvious and noteworthy thing about these ‘chavs’ is there complete and utter lack of respect for anything and anyone. They do as they please, when they please without ever minding their P’s and Q’s. So where did they get such a sense of entitlement?

An article in 2008 on the subject blames alcohol, a lack of parenting and the fact that British teens aren’t integrated into the adult world but are kept separate, socializing only with their peers. The last explanation may in fact make the most sense-to me anyway. Youth all over the world are exposed to alcohol and to a lack of parenting but they are also exposed to the adult world often enough through having to work for pocket money. This is particularly true of those coming from poorer homes where the parents aren’t around. In the UK, state funds mean that these kids don’t have to work. As a result they never interact with adults and stay on the council estates causing fights with their peers. They are less likely to get involved in community programmes and turn to drugs and gangs instead.

A comment from an older man on the subject a few years back, blames the lack of corporal punishment for the out of control teens. He says ‘ Spare the rod, spare the child.’ He goes on to say that unlike his days at school in the UK, teachers have absolutely no control over their students. The same can be said of the police. Laws put in place to protect children/teens from harm have provided them with a means to harm others without retaliation instead.

What do you think?

Behind the Veil of Tradition

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2016193,00.html

Who would have thought that floods weren’t the most devastating thing to hit Pakistan? It is what is happening as a result of these floods that makes your skin crawl.

Pakistani woman, especially those from the regions that have been the hardest hit by floods, are facing the toughest time. A practice called Parda or Purdah meaning ‘curtain’ is the practice of shielding women from men, either physically or through the use of clothing to cover one’s body. This practice is not followed by all Pakistani’s but In the northern province of Pakistan, where the floods have ravaged the land and left countless in ‘refugee’ camps, the practice of Parda is particularly prevalent.

Parda is about family honor (hence the separation of men from women).When a woman dishonors her family or husband, he has the right to defend his honor, either by fighting off other men or by killing his wife or daughter.

Usually women in Parda can remain secluded within their houses, avoiding any interactions that may dishonor their families. However, the tented camps and communal living is creating great distress for these women as they are forced to mix with strange men. Time states that these honor killings are a weekly occurrence within these camps.

Honor Killings! I know a lot of women who would be dead by now. Including me. I’m pretty sure I would have received one to the chest for pinching that cute boys bum that one time at varsity.
This comment has to fall into the category of ‘thank goodness you live in South Africa’-or any free democracy for that matter. Having to remain in hiding avoiding human contact is bad enough. Being murdered because a strange man spoke to you is atrocious. These women are like sitting ducks. It doesn’t seem to matter what they do or don’t do. Even words spoken by some strange man can result in their deaths.

Talk about Human rights abuses. But how do you put a stop to ancient ‘traditions’. It is a fine line to walk between stopping traditions that are outright wrong and infringing on the freedom of those to practice culture and religion. Herein lies the problem, no international body, country or legal group wants to get involved in this touchy subject. It is far too controversial and can cause massive damage to relationships between countries and bodies trying to govern through consensus. If they step on these toes, they may have to face the whole beast.

Unfortunately, No one wants to unveil these traditions and see the darkness lurking beneath.

Sugar Coating Discrimination

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2015389,00.html

They may be known for their unfriendliness, but this is taking it a bit too far.

The French are being very un-European at the moment. Even though they held the Presidency of the European Union (EU) in 2009, France is not playing nicely with the other EU members and following their laws.

The EU has the great policy that allows the free movement of people within its’ borders. It does not discriminate, but France does. Prez Sarkozy is a bit of a racist. To add to his regime’s banning of the Burka, Sarkozy is now spearheading a campaign to expel Roma’s. The Roma’s are a minority group of gypsy’s from Romania and France doesn’t seem to like them much.
The French are facing significant opposition from within the country, the EU and from International Organisations like the UN for sending some 8000 Roma back to Romania or Bulgaria in the first 8 months of this year. The government is paying the Roma to leave ‘voluntarily’ and expelling the ones who don’t.

It appears that France has double standards; it upholds EU law, allows the freedom of movement of people but only some people. Apparently, there is a clear distinction for Sarkozy between those who deserve the privilege of those laws and those who don’t.

The government has gone so far as to outright blame the Gypsy’s for the increased crime rate in France. Sarkozy is not a popular man right now and he is doing nothing to increase his popularity either. Perhaps he should learn how to sugar coat his discrimination a little better.

Shrimp Anyone?

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/08/31/drink-up-nyc-meet-the-tiny-crustaceans-not-kosher-in-your-tap-water/

To add to my series on ‘thank goodness you live in South Africa’, have a look at what New Yorkers are drinking in their tap water.

This guy reminds me of the super creepy robot bugs in the matrix. Maybe the makers of the matrix already knew what was crawling in their water before they made the movie. I find this totally gross, even if these little guys do help keep water clean. We manage to keep our water clean without strange robot looking bugs.

If you are heading to New York anytime soon, do yourself a favour and buy bottled water. Unless you are content to have mini shrimp swimming around your intestines. Gross!

Shot in the Head

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2014070,00.html

Take another look around you, breathe in and be extremely grateful that you live in South Africa. Despite our issues, can you imagine living in the country regarded as one with the highest Human Rights abuses in the world.

China is decreasing the number of crimes punishable by the death from the current 68. Thirteen so called economic crimes (such as smuggling endangered animals and relics) are being dropped from the current policy. Convicted felons above the age of 75 will also now be eligible for exemption.

Human Rights organisations believe that the number of executions a year range in the thousands. Beijing is extremely secretive about the actual number of executions. China caused the worlds gaze to shift back to their controversial policy when they executed a British man accused of drug trafficking in 2009. If our government initiated a similar policy, we would have no SAA flight staff left.

China has always been a covered in a cloud of secrecy. It would be very very naïve of us to underestimate their power, intelligence and ability to fool the world for their gain. They may be ‘reviewing’ the policy to get the international bodies off their backs but they are no pushovers. There is a very powerful giant hiding under this cloak of compromise that we see on the international stage. Watch out world, if you are standing in their path, you might get stepped on.

Guns ablaze

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2014446,00.html

As the US starts their withdrawal of troops from Iraq, it is evident that they have learnt nothing from their past experiences. While some may criticize Africa’s quiet diplomacy and Europe’s ‘soft diplomacy’, the world has to see how America’s declarations of war are not the most effective conflict resolution tool.

Historic examples of America’s gung-ho attitude include Vietnam, Cambodia, Panama, Lebanon, Cuba, the goes on. Whether by backing rebels, CIA backed coups or full on military invasions, the US has been involved in dozens of conflicts around the globe. Their lock ‘n load attitude often results in a worse situation. The country of their military interest, like current day Iraq, is often left in a state of decay. Worse off than before the invasion.

What some of you may not know, and which makes the scenario that much worse, is that the US assisted in catapulting Saddam Hussein to power. In 1963, the CIA organized a coup that killed the President and brought the Ba’ath party to power. In doing so, Saddam Hussein was able to return from exile to take his place as the head of the secret service.

As history repeats itself the US has once again stirred the pot, added a few weapons and explosives, killed a few innocents, played chess with politics and installed their own idea of a caretaker government and now they want to leave. The article in Time sketches a picture of a country in disarray, a country that will only suffer further with the withdrawal of American troops. I do feel for the families of US soldiers but if you start something, you should stay and finish it.

The yanks have always gone in with guns blazing. Unfortunately, they are notorious for leaving before the fire is out.

Dani on the state of the nation

I solemnly pledge myself to the service of humanity and will endeavour to practice my profession with conscience and with dignity.
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honour and the noble traditions of my profession. The total health of my patients will be my first consideration.
I will hold in confidence all personal matters coming to my knowledge.
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient.
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life. I make these promises, solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

This is the oath pledged by nurses that practice within South Africa today and I find it disheartening that a promise with such eminence has become so meaningless and erratic.

Don’t get me wrong, I am under no misconceptions that nurses and health care workers should be paid more. You only have to watch the likes of Saving Soweto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43sF56TF280&feature=channel
a documentary which follows a Trauma doctor through one of many 24 hour shifts at Baragwaneth hospital in Soweto SA) to see what atrocities and pressures our health care workers are put under every day; however; this is no excuse to place the lives of desperate people in jeopardy. This is no longer a strike, it is attempted murder.

The country is in chaos, some internationally may even call the breakdown of medical care and the sudden standstill of educational facilities a catastrophe. Not our government however. While the country sits on the verge of a national crisis Jacob Zuma is shipped off to China with fiancé number… oh who knows…. because according to ANC’s spokesperson Jackson Mthembu “the work of the government must go on.” Well call me selfish but surely the South African governments first priority is… well… South Africa.

The government sector is filled with holes and questions - Why is the government not implicating the promises made? Why are they not arresting violent strikers? How can our Unions make excuses for destructive employees who took an oath to “maintain the utmost respect for human life”? In most professions people have been fired or even jailed for less.

Sometimes I just wish South Africa could be run a little more like a powerful, passionate power house and a little less like a school playground – Hopefully then the head of South Africa “Pty Ltd”, Jacob Zuma, would be made to penalise those not contributing, inspire those that hold our country together and reward those who work hard.

But instead, here we sit. Sigh.

-Dani Moolman

Have you seen the real Spider Man?

He's french and his 48 years old:
http://www.alainrobert.com/
Unfortunately he doesn't save lives or do any good for mankind but the man can climb!
He has just been arrested (again) for climbing a 57 story building in Sydney. He's clombed some of the world tallest buildings and he does it all without any equipment. Creepy but pretty cool.

Swanning Around

While we worry about strikes, the break-down of our government and staying alive in South Africa, this is what the British are writing about

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100825/tuk-motorcyclist-hurt-in-swan-crash-6323e80.html

You gotta love a media group with far too much time on their hands. This poor swan though, no one said anything about his injuries. The article should have read something like this:

Man on motorcycle flies into unsuspecting swan

'While Sederick Swan was minding his own business yesterday, crossing the carriageway after a long day in the pond, he was hit by a man on a motorcycle. Reports say that the man wasn’t even looking where he was going when he collided with Sederick. Sederick sustained some minor injuries and is recovering well. Sederick’s family is glad that the man’s head, covered by a hard helmet, was not at the same level as Fredericks flight path. No one knows if the man sustained injuries nor do they really care ’.

Being schooled the hard way

Environmentalists and green nuts the world over have spent millions trying to convince indifferent populations to conserve our natural resources. They have endeavored to find a way to get us to realise the value of our natural resources before they run out. They have missed the simplest course of action available to them. Take it away for a day.

South Africans don't need to be told how precious our water is. We don't need to see campaigns on how to conserve electricity. The government has taught us how invaluable these resources are and they've done it the hard way; they’ve taken it away from us.

Every South African, whether rich or poor, has been without one or more resources for a day. We have first-hand experience of an energy crisis and know full well what it’s like to be in the middle of an important document at work only to find yourself in the dark, staring at a useless dead piece of machinery. Or what it’s like to be all soaped up in the shower only to find the trickle coming out of the shower head is slowly diminishing. Contemplating using toilet water to wash off your shampoo is probably more common in South Africa than you think.

We know how valuable our resources are, so we should be protecting them-with our lives. We should be showing the rest of the world how it's done. Either that, or the governments of the first world need to school them the hard way. I promise you that if they did that, environmentalists everywhere would hug a tree in thanks that people finally understood.

Gagging the Press

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/ChrisMoerdyk/Blaming-media-is-admitting-failure-20100823


Blaming media is admitting failure

I have absolutely no doubt that 99% of all media revelations of political intrigue, corruption, fraud and whatever sensational dirty dealings you care to mention are not initiated by nosey investigative journalists.

They are started by people within Cabinet, government departments, parastatals, public and private companies, religious organisations and sports bodies leaking information to the media.

It is human nature that whenever people get together to take a decision and one of them doesn't agree, something will be leaked to the media, shareholders or to staff.

Not only do they leak often extremely confidential information to the media but the more they don't get their way, the more annoyed they are, the more their egos are damaged, the more they sensationalise the information they are divulging.

So, when the ANC, Communist Party or anyone else call for media tribunals and protection of information acts, all it really means is that they have finally given up trying to keep control of their own people.

Then, as a last resort, they turn to shooting the messenger in an effort to save themselves.

However, I am not suggesting for a minute that the media doesn't get things wrong. Of course they do.

And yes, of course, the media is a business in which profit is a priority.

Press freedom like pregnancy

But, any media boss with half a brain will know that one sensational story or even a string of sensational stories will not result in any long term increase in sales.

Making money out of a news medium is about giving advertisers real, sustainable long term value. It takes a lot more than sensational content to build a quality audience. Quality content is what builds audiences.

But, getting back to restricting the media - the problem really is that press freedom is like pregnancy. Either you are or you aren't.

But, even so, South African media are not completely free to just do what they like without any recourse.

They are governed by self-regulation and whether or not one feels that this is sufficient is another story and maybe the media does need to look at its own rules.

The press is also governed by South African law.

Anyone who feels that the media has been misleading or libellous can sue the daylights out of them.

But, what amazes me is the number of politicians and business leaders here in South Africa who huff and puff in denial and threaten to sue the media, but then, when a push comes to a shove, they hardly ever do.

Very few actually go through with it and one cannot help but wonder why? The only logical answer seems to be because the press was right and they were wrong.

Another problem with things like the protection of information bill and media tribunals is that South African media consumption is no longer something that just emanates from South Africa.

Dozens have tried

News and information is being disseminated on the internet via social media as well as by massive global organisations like CNN, Sky and the BBC.

The South African government will very quickly find that they won't be able to stop any of these stories that are bothering them, through legislation. Because I suspect that the BBC, SKY, CNN and most of all Google, Twitter, FaceBook and others, won't actually give a hoot about any media restrictions we may have.

Dozens of countries have tried it and all of them have failed to keep the lid on.

Quite frankly, if our government goes ahead with the media tribunal or protection of Information Act, they might as well consider banning the internet, cellphones, satellite television and the importation of foreign newspapers and magazines.

Because that's the only way they will be able to stop the media from doing what it is doing right now. Like it or not, technology has effectively made the media untouchable.

It is, I firmly believe, better for a country to have an imperfect free press than no free press.

Comments by Dani Moolman:

The ANC has been fundamental in the free democracy we hold today. South Africa was deemed the shining light of the African continent and the ANC stood strong in its moral beliefs in freedom and equality.

This seems to be a far cry from where we are today; heading fast and furious back to our pre apartheid traditions of hiding information behind the façade of protection of information bills and media tribunals. Surely this is just the kind of offence ANC fought to abolish!

As a nation belted out our national anthem at this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup it really dawned on me that we as a generation perhaps for the first time and maybe for the last sang our anthem loud and true. “As we live and strive for freedom in South Africa our land”

Malema says something Intelligent

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=3268&fArticleId=vn20100823054117182C511957&fFeed=breakingnews
No, I'm not joking. For once the man has said something useful: (as a result, look out for flying pigs and perhaps a little snow fall)

'Julius Malema has warned the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) that the deaths of patients in hospitals arising through disruptions by striking public service workers would haunt it and that it would regret the consequences.'

'"You can't be proud that you took out a doctor from an (operating) theatre and a person died. Those are the disruptive (incidents) that will haunt Cosatu."'

'Malema said that while the Youth League supported the strike in principle, it opposed the violence by strikers.

"No matter how (unhappy) we are, they can't close down hospitals." '

The Community Strikes Back

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=3268&fArticleId=vn20100823053032530C568133&fFeed=sanews

Yup, we are still talking about the strikes. But this time something positive has come out of government inefficiencies. The community is pulling together. The principle of Ubuntu is not lost.

I’m not sure if this has happened before, I don’t remember following the last strike so closely, but thousands of volunteers have given up their time to assist in hospitals while permanent staff is on strike. Volunteers are feeding patients, making beds, cleaning in the kitchen. It truly makes me very happy to see that South Africans have not given up. We are not ready to let go of all that is good in our country. We are not ready to watch it fail. This just proves that there is a new spirit in this country, attitudes have changed. People have stopped moaning and have started doing something. Instead of griping about the ‘state of our nation’ we are turning South Africa into the kind of place you can be proud of. The only thing I am ashamed of is that I was not one of these volunteers.

The change in attitudes may partly be related to the World Cup and the amazing sense of togetherness and patriotism we felt. It may also be because of this:
http://www.leadsa.co.za/

Lead SA is the most extraordinary initiative. Not extraordinary in what it asks of us, extraordinary in that it’s working. It calls South Africans to take action. It asks us to remember what it is like to care for others. What it is like to respect each other. What it is like to live in a great nation. It asks us to make that change. Download the call to action and join them on Facebook. This initiative could change South Africa forever. Make sure you’re a part of it.

An Opinion

Funilly enough, my friend sent me her opinion and the link to the article I already posted on without having seen it. So here is her opinion. Thanks Shivs

If you have chosen to be a nurse, you have decided to help the sick, to aid them in healing or to relieve their pain in dying, if it is so easy to "switch" from that respect to demanding that people who are in emergency situations must negotiate their ways through picket lines, then should you really and truly be in this job at all. The stories about this strike just sadden me.

Do I believe that nurses, doctors, teachers and the police deserve a decent wage - absolutely, do they receive it, probably not. Should they disrespect those colleagues who do believe in the sanctity of life or the importance of education - not one bit. I've heard it said on the radio - the nurses and teachers that are striking, threatening etc, are those who probably don't do their job properly as it is - we should make is so much harder to become a nurse or a teacher in this country, we should make them professions that are widely respected, where it is an honour to say you're a teacher or you're a nurse, even if they are not the highest paid, they are important, vital to this country's development and they should feel that need, even if it can't all come in monetary form.

Such a complex issue, the civil servants have a point, but they are losing support hard and fast due to their actions and disrespect, if they want support and respect they need to rethink their strategy.

Strike Action

It had to get violent. This is what stumps me and I’m sure what bothers all of you out there. Why get violent. For one, you lose public sympathy immediately, two, you lose government sympathy and three, you make us look like fools. Can’t you toyi toyi in peace? (I asked someone in the know and apparently that’s how you spell it).

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=3268&fArticleId=nw20100820083409400C155628&fFeed=breakingnews

Read this article. This is a nurse who puts her job first, these are the kind of people we ought to celebrate. In the very same breathe, I must say that I am in agreement with the public service demand for more money. Not to suck government dry but perhaps a little redistribution of funds huh? What about those million rand car allowances being spread to teachers, nurses and policemen and women that could use a little extra money for you know…food! How about giving the people that earn less than R6000 a month a little bit of your travel allowance that affords you weeks in 5* hotels? Sharing is caring.

What makes me mad though is the method. Strike by all means, every nation in the world strikes. Some get violent (like the French burning tired in the streets) and our wonderful civil servants. Others, like the Dutch, cripple the government by staying home. No violence, no protests, they all just stay home for a couple of days. It works wonders. Lastly, emergency services should not strike….people are dying in hospital, babies are not being fed and cared for in neonatal wards and for what? The R300 or so extra you are fighting for? Come on South Africa. There are ways of doing things. You catch more bees with honey I think the saying goes.

Scary Stuff

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jK6l4dHN9hCJ_FEDRV2NPiEsO1nQD9HM9FI00
As someone who works in politics, it frightens the daylights out of me when people downplay the importance of governance. Once such example is the topic of the day, Wyclef Jean and his bid for the presidency of Haiti.

Unfortunately, he is not the only inexperienced and unschooled person running. The election poll looks a little like a South Park episode with Wyclef’s opposition including ‘Michel Martelly,( a well-known Haitian singer known as "Sweet Mickey" who is known to perform in diapers), and Jean Bertin, (the father of Miss Haiti, who will compete in the Miss Universe contest next week).’ Scary stuff.

Jean was born in Haiti and his uncle, probably one of the only candidates that should be running, is Haitian Ambassador to the US. There are also some Ministers and politicians running for Presidency. Before you go and say ‘yeah, how cool is Wyclef and how rad will he be as President of Haiti’, stop and think for a second. What are his motives here? How can he promise the people of Haiti that, like a father, he will protect them, provide their basic needs, govern in their interest when he isn’t even a politician? On the job training is not exactly ideal in this career. Of course as President he would have aides and advisors to assist him but he will have to make the ultimate decisions and if he has no knowledge of the cogs and wheels of political machinery, then how can he do that?

In addition to what seems to be a power hungry move for more celebrity status, Wyclef has been in some trouble at home because he failed to pay some 2million in taxes in the US. His former charity, Yele Haiti, was also investigated for financial impropriety.

For every decision made in government, for every request, every meeting, every transaction there are a million processes that allow them to take place. Some sort of knowledge of these processes is absolutely necessary for someone who will be tasked with building government structures, building infrastructure and distributing millions of dollars in development aide. Not an easy task for even the most experienced political leaders.

Haiti desperately needs to be led out of abject poverty and brought back onto the international stage with some dignity by a strong, wise leader. Ask yourself, is Wyclef Jean really that guy?

OUCH!

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20100818043824167C217267

Even if you don't have time to read this article, there are some very bizaar claims going on. One man is claiming that he coughed up a rubber bullet and it came out of his nose a year after he was 'shot'. Before you ask how come he didn't notice it was in there, apparently it is quite possible for an object to 'quite comfortably slip past an eye and setlle behind it' . Are you kidding me? 'Quite comfortably'? I go bonkers when there is an eye lash stuck in my eye. How does this guy, who was apparently already blind in one eye, miss the feeling of a bullet 'slipping past' his healthy eye and lodging behind it?

The dude is trying to sue the Police for R3.3 million. I think they should pay him, just because that is the most insane story I have ever heard.

Still on Art

Just because this chick is so cool. Check out her work, she is amazing. Her exhibition is at the Everard Read. She has an amazing ability to capture movement. Her experience of South African life stirs up some old feelings and memories of dusty roads and barefoot play in South African streets. I love her stuff:
http://www.nicolataylor.net/

Art Anyone

On Saturday we finally went to the remodeled Everard Read Gallery. What an amazing gallery. http://www.everard-read.co.za/?m=2
We will most certainly be visiting it on a more regular basis. Especially the Circa. If i could live there I would. After contemplating how much money we would have to win and offer them to live in there we decided it would probably be easier to use said lottery money to pay the architect to replicate it instead. But wow!

I'm not sure why there aren't more galleries like this in Jozi and why we don't visit the ones that are around. I am making a new years resolution in the middle of the year that I will be exploring our art world with more dynamism from now on.

The short stick

Ba ha ha. The French have ended restrictions that barred people under 1.6m from joining the police force. Apparently the restrictions were introduced centuries ago and the French Labour Ministry have just ended them because they are seen as discriminatory.

Well duh? I'm surprised they lasted this long. I wonder why the French were worried about short people and their ability to protect and serve. Maybe they were scared that the short people wouldn't be able to run fast enough or jump over fences while the criminals (all very tall of course) evaded their little counterparts. I would think short cops could be of great benefit. Just think, they can hide in small spaces, dress like children and pick up secrets. Heck, they could even shoot criminals in the knee caps, thereby, hindering but not killing them. Genious!

I find this hilarious...

Oh my!

How do you say redneck...
There is a small article in the Pretoria news today:
Buffalo, New York: ' Navarro, a four-year-old cat, was found "marinating" in oil and peppers in the trunk of a car in Buffalo on Monday. Police officers heard the cat meowing when they stopped 51-year old Gary Korkuc to ticket him for running a stop sign. He was charged with animal cruelty and released. Korkuc denies he was planning to eat the cat, whihc now has a new owner'

Well what exactly were you planning to do with the cat Gary? And who marinates their food while it's still alive anyway....redneck!

Feeling the squeeze

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article595795.ece/Food-prices-set-to-soar-as-crunch-hits-farmers

Besides spelling ‘dairy farmer’s as ‘diary farmers’, this article is actually pretty boring. But that’s not the point. The point is that food prices are going to increase. Is it just me or does it feel like we are being squeezed till our eyes pop out. Unless you’re earning a sweet salary that allows you to ignore increases on all levels then this sucks. And it sucks big time. I’m starting to wonder if the money will ever just run out. What if one day our salaries can’t pay for our lifestyles and there are no increases because there is no extra money in the economy and the price of food and electricity and our basic needs just grows? Granted that goes against the fundamental principles of economics but my little brain sometimes wonders where all this money is meant to come from and where does it all go and when will it stop flowing?

Government is on strike waiting for an 8.6% increase. An increase that government can’t afford. This means the increase will come and so will retrenchment packages causing more unemployment and less people to pay taxes to pay for the increase….Eish!

I would like to go and live by the sea and eat fish I fished out of the water (if the Chinese haven’t raped and pillaged all of our seas by then) and grow vegetables and trade other things.

If you are worried about starving due to price increases then start your veggie gardens and stock up on canned goods. Another option is to invite yourself round to other people’s houses for dinner every night. You can pull the ‘surprise, just wanted to pop in and say hi. Oh, I see you’re cooking dinner….’ A side note: this tactic will only work twice at most. After that you will have to find new people to abuse. Good luck!

The Heart of Evil

If anyone has watched Lord of War with Nicholas Cage and seen the African Warlord depicted in the movie, you have seen a cinematic representation of former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor.

If girls are made of sugar and spice and all things nice and most boys of frogs tails then Charles Taylor is made of monsters breathe and Scorpions tails. The man is the very picture of evil. A warmonger disguising himself as a peacemaker, he backed rebels during the civil war who wove terror and fear through the hearts of Sierra Leone’s people. He smuggled arms, traded in blood diamonds, traded in humans, traded in death, raised child soldiers and a former aide said he even saw the man eat a human liver.

Charles Taylor was educated in America, after returning to Liberia and being dismissed from his government job for embezzlement, he went to Libya where he was trained in Guerilla warfare. Taylor returned to Liberia where he overthrew the government in the late1980’s, starting Liberia’s first civil war. After peace deals were signed, Taylor won ‘democratic’ elections in 1997. During his Presidency, Taylor backed the rebel Revolutionary United Front during the neighboring Sierra Leone war. He traded arms for diamonds and diamonds for arms, assisted rebels in murdering tens of thousands of people and displacing some two million people during the eleven year civil war.

Taylor has been on trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Hague, Netherlands since 2007.

Enter Naomi Campbell. Naomi Campbell is a witness against Taylor and is testifying about his gift of blood diamonds to her at a function in South Africa in 1997. Naomi Campbell (possessing the intelligence that only super models can) stated that the trial was a serious inconvenience for her and that she would only state that she received some ‘dirty stones’ from men she did not know. She also claimed that she did not know who Charles Taylor was.

Some people do deserve a RFS (Running F Slap) and Naomi Campbell is one of them. Never mind, looks like her testimony is being blown out the water by Mia Farrow and her ex- agent. Of course the retard knew who Charles Taylor was and what those dirty little stones were. Thing is, people like her are blinded by shiny objects and can’t be blamed for missing the monster behind the light.

Fire as deadly as Ice

http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/article593361.ece/Death-toll-rises-as-Moscow-smog-fails-to-shift

Wow, who knew that Moscow was a fiery pit of smog? One of the hottest summers in 130 years.
Whats scares me more are these statistics: 'In usual times 360-380 people are dying each day. Now it's around 700' . Mortality rate has doubled. That is a lot of deaths per day for a population of 10.5 million.

You would expect more people to die of the cold during Russian Winters than heat in Russian Summers. Heat and Russia is a bit of a contradiction in terms. Maybe this global warming phenomenon and government extravaganza (it's a beautiful lobbying platform for any power hungry politician) is more of a worry then us skeptics thought.

Cover yourselves and head for the hills, the sky is falling and the world is cracking beneath us. Not quite, but you get what I mean.

Seriously?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/article593916.ece/Taliban-kill-adulterous-woman

Are we not passed this yet? Just a little eye opener after Woman's day celebrations yesterday.

We forget that there is still persecution of innocents around the world. We forget how fortunate we are to live in a society that tolerates not only our indescretions but listens to our voices, a society that respects women for the most part and values our contribution. It must be so frightening to be a woman in the Middle East. What is Human Rights if it is not the protection of your liberty? Where are the international organisations created to protect people against their own governments?

What a frightening world. We are lucky to be South African. We are lucky to be free.

The Dark Side

I read a story in today’s Mail & Guardian that has really got me thinking; are we not adapting fast enough? History has shown that the world turns, times change and society evolves. But what happens when the world is spinning so fast that people can no longer keep up?

Mark Rice-Oxley writes a gripping story of his battle with Depression in Mail & Guardian August 6. In an attempt to explain the vastness of the dark crevice he found himself in he writes ‘ There were days when I just sat on the bed and stared at the wall and wondered whether I was losing my mind, when even doing a child’s jigsaw puzzle would wear me out. Days, long joined-up hours, when I thought I would never work, write, parent, play or love again.’

The World Health Organisation has dreary prediction of our society’s future, predicting that by 2030 ‘depression will be second only to HIV/Aids in the toll it exacts on society’. Depression is a well known to lurk in dark corners, attacking even the most unsuspecting victims. It is an ugly monster, one that should be obliterated. So the question remains, why now, why in 21st century are we seeing a rise in depression.

Apparently, the most at risk population are woman and poor people. Causes vary from a major life event like the loss or change of a job, bereavement, relationship change. But mourning, career changes and new beginnings have been part of human life since the beginning of time. Obviously so has depression but not to this extent.
It is only my opinion (an uninformed one at that) that humans simply aren’t evolving fast enough to keep in the fast lane. My advice is this, if you feel like you’re falling down the well, reach out for help. If you feel like you’re accelerator is flat but you’re struggling to keep up then move to the slow lane. Take it easy people and don’t try out-run the wheel.