Archive for October, 2008
Friday, October 31st, 2008
IOL asks the question – What is Mbeki up to? – and then tells us to read all about it later today in the afternoon papers (and on their website presumably).
Did Jacob Zuma and co really believe Thabo Mbeki was going to accept a humiliating defeat without a fight? Did they really think he would go gently into that good night? Do they know the man at all?
The same Mbeki who after he was done with Cyril Ramaphosa put the man (who should have been president) off political office, seemingly forever. You don’t cross Thabo Mbeki and get away with it.
I can almost envisage Mr Mbeki wearing a smoking jacket, puffing away on his pipe and pacing around his study, thinking of ways to gain revenge on his enemies – stopping only to write letters.
His to-do list would look something like this, I would imagine
- Find ways to stall Zimbabwean peace talks for a little while longer – not ready to get off international stage yet. Write letter to Mugabe about Tsvangirai wanting the best cabinet posts.
- Write long letter to Zuma using language he won’t understand – use flowery language to make him think I will canvas for the ANC in the next election.
- Write letter to cleaning staff informing them to not touch writing utensils in study.
- Write letter to Zanele asking what’s for dinner.
- Write letter to Lekota informing him of letter to Zuma and give tips for conference – remind him to invite Patricia De Lille as she’s a political mercenary.
- Write post to HIV/AIDS dissidents’ forum.
- Strongly suggest Lekota open a Facebook page – seems to be working for Obama and won’t hurt getting the young vote!
Besides the obvious letter writing, I think we can safely assume that our former president is up to something.
Posted in election 2009, politics | No Comments »
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
The New York Times has an interesting article, brought on by the possible election of Barack Obama as US President.
According to the article, written by Nicholas D Kristoff, studies have shown that humans have an ingrained prejudice even if it goes against our better nature.
Participants in the studies were given the implicit association test to examine their reaction to people with different skin colours and ethnicities. A similar test can be found here. The study concluded that even the former UK Prime Minister was seen as more American than Obama, when they were asked to make judgements based on skin colour.
A quote from the article:
“Some scholars link racial attitudes to a benefit in evolutionary times from an ability to form snap judgments about who is a likely friend and foe. There may have been an evolutionary advantage in recognizing instantaneously whether a stranger was from one’s own tribe or from an enemy tribe. There’s some evidence that the amygdala, a center in the brain for emotions, flashes a threat warning when it perceives people who look “different.”
“
It’s easy to look at the US and see prejudice against minorities and then act smug, because we already had three black presidents in our country.
Even after 14 years of having a black majority government, we still see both horrible acts of racism played out against black people. Black sports people still have to far exceed their white team mates to be even seen as equal. Companies still have a smattering of black managers and directors and educated black people still have to prove themselves over and over again.
So Americans, even if you elect Barack Obama as president and even if his entire cabinet is black, it will still be business as usual.
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
So Jacob Zuma received a letter from former president Thabo Mbeki earlier in the week.
What concerns me – and what few people are talking about – is the form of this letter and how it was delivered.
We know very little about Thabo Mbeki and his time in office. He did however leave the impression that he had some clandestine things going on, he disliked being challenged, especially on such insignificant issues like HIV/AIDS oh, and he loves writing letters.
We may never know if these impressions are true or just a figment of our over-overactive imaginations; I however, am most interested to know the methods he uses to produce these letters. 
Does he use a computer, typewriter, quill and ink, fountain pen or ball point pen? Do the letters self-destruct after being read?
When are these letters being written?
During the Zimbabwe negotiations, while on in-transit to Zimbabwe or when there’s nothing left to watch on the History Channel?
How did these letters get to Jacob Zuma?
Was it , e-mailed, couried, sent by carrier pigeon, sent through the post office or hand-delivered by the former first lady Zanele Mbeki or former vice-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka ?
Furthermore, did Mr Zuma read –what I can only imagine to be pages and pages of words – himself or did he have someone mark the highlights?
Posted in politics | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Let me re-emphasise immediately that this is not a review of High School Musical 3! There will never be a review of HSM 3 on this blog if I can help it…and I can help it!
Being an aunty of little girls, I have been subjected to many things, from Barney to the Wiggles.
I have been made to sing Baa Baa black Sheep at least 10 trillion times.
I have been coerced by a then 9 year old into watching HSM 1 and 2 since all my niece spoke of was Sharpay, Gabrielle and TROY! Afterwards I told her that Troy looked and acted like a girl…which didn’t go down too well.
To keep my sanity I had to say no to the 3rd sequel, which she fortunately saw with her friends at the movies over the weekend (her 11th birthday). On Sunday I asked her if she liked it. She gave a guarded, non-commital yes. I asked if it was better than the first two…and got a slightly more enthusiastic yes.
Having nieces is very similar to having boyfriends.
You start off putting rules into place of how the relationship will be conducted. You say to yourself, your friends and to your new boyfriend that you will never do that! Before you know it you are not only doing what your resolved not to do, but you find yourself watching WWE wrestling stuff and some unmentionable stuff as well.
That is how when one Friday night her parents dropped her off at my home with overnight bag, Barbie make-up and High School Musical dvd in hand I got pursuaded to watch the teenaged musical that lauched a thousand knock off high school musicals.
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Monday, October 27th, 2008
I am often bemused by catchphrases, slogans and the occasional cliché – they can go from the sublime to the truly ridiculous.
The US elections brought to the fore some zingers, my favourite – say it ain’t so, Joe – and a few others that will go down in folklore if not become every day sayings.
During one of our previous post ‘94 elections, our neighbourhood had graffiti strewn all over the place with election slogans.
South Africans have a way with words for sure! I was at once dumbstruck and awestruck at the untranslatable “Vote NP…bly ‘n hotnot”.
With politics as it is, I guess if you don’t laugh, you cry.
Speaking of catchphrases…
One that brings a chuckle is the ‘internet rockstar’ that pops up now and then, especially where internet marketing is concerned. Where did 
internet nerd or geek go?
The dictionary defines rockstar as “A famous singer of rock music”. That elite group would include people like Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and the likes.
Tell that to the self proclaimed rockstars springing up all over the place!
I suppose if you can be a rock legend in your living room with games like Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and if tv shows like Rock Star Supernova can churn out ‘rock stars’ at a drop of a hat , then what stops you from declaring yourself a rockstar anywhere else.
Then again, who am I to talk? I’m not even an internet karoake singer!
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