Yesterday I wrote about my Perspective on Protection of Information Bill. I also reiterated that the contents of my blogs and my electronic communications is subject to Terms of Use on my blog. What I omitted to mention in my perspective yesterday was the disimpact (couldn't think of a better word) that is likely to be caused by Julian Assange's Wikileaks.org. According to Wikileaks (see here) they have already published a secret document which is a South African Banking Report by the South African . . . Continue reading this article
A lot has been said in the recent weeks on 2 issues that somewhat mutually exclusive. The first of these is the Protection of Information Bill currently before parliament. The second one is the issue of the media tribunal which some attribute to ANC NGC Discussion Document released a couple of weeks ago. These are 2 separate matters and an attempt will be made to discuss them separately. In this text, I shall focus on the Bill as was of contribution to the the debate but also as a way of avoiding . . . Continue reading this article
Not one, but 3 of the contributing writers of Spoken were chosen among the Top 200 Young South Africans. This is an annual listing done by the Mail and Guardian. I am aware that there is an open process of nominations for young leaders in various fields to be nominated into the list, but I am unaware on how the final decision is made. Having said that, the Top 200 Young South Africans is somewhat a prestigious list that would not list paupers like me for example.Our 3 writers who made it to . . . Continue reading this article
NB: The reasons I share below are mine and to a certain extent I share them with 19 818 subscribers at http://www.quitfacebookday.com (as of 26 May 2010). They are not transferable and not intended to persuade people to do the same. It is just to notify my curious friends about my departure.1) Tagging in photos without my permissionWhen you update your relationship status on Facebook with someone who is on Facebook. Your status won’t reflect his/her name until he concedes (grants permission) . . . Continue reading this article
I have been involved in 2 car accidents where I was driving. Fortunately for me, there were no fatalities.One night I was driving between 120 and 140 km/h on a 3 lane free way. I had 2 passengers, one next to me and the other sitting at the centre of the back seat. Let's call the passenger next to me Nathan and the passenger at the back seat Grant, mostly because these are their real names. My passengers like hyperbole, they quickly put on seatbelts when I overtook a car on the middle lane as it . . . Continue reading this article
A friend on facebook has brought it to my attention that while there are many readers of this blog, she has learned of 2 reasons why some of the people would rather not comment or are discouraged from reading some of the posts.The first reason is that I am alleged to be rude. Obviously being rude is a subjective factor of the offended. Some of the time there could be truth in that but some of the time it could be the difference of belief systems, culture or background that leads to diverse interpretation . . . Continue reading this article
As I type this text, it’s Monday afternoon. The temperature is -10 degrees Celsius (below freezing point). I am beginning to feel the bone marrow on my left leg; this happens every time the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. The battery in my laptop is low so I can’t type for long. In South Africa we don’t have in-flight power outlets for charging laptops.I am not sure who is responsible for attempting to freeze passengers in this flight between cabin crew and pilots. But I am inclined . . . Continue reading this article
All manner of opinions have sprung forth following the newspaper reports over the weekend about the allegation of the President fathering a child with a soccer boss’ daughter. The merits of the allegations are not the subject of this opinion. What is of interest is the reaction to the reported allegations.Some modern-day Pharisees, who are self-ordained God’s representative here on Earth, have passed judgment on the person of the President as lacking in morals and unethical, whichever you deem . . . Continue reading this article
Sometime this morning, a friend had the opportunity to intercept the President's State of the Nation Address. As his Address will be readily available and likely to be published in the newspapers soon, there is no harm in sharing it with you today and here.As you will see when I quote the President extensively, he makes very interesting observations about the people and the world we live in. He puts forward interesting suggestions on a range of important issues."One year ago, I took office amid . . . Continue reading this article
This column owes a lot to cyberjunkies - people who spend lots of time on the Internet. I am all for cyberjunkies. But one also gets...CYBERCLOWNS: they send you jokes usually about sex, Zuma, Obama, Malema, lawyers and English cricketers.CYBERSOBBERS: usually female. They send out American-style sob stories usually involving God – stories that leave one with the feeling of having eaten 17 custard slices. You might recall this one:Hello. My name is Billy. I am a very sick little boy. My mother . . . Continue reading this article