Our government here in SA is introducing a carbon emmision tax that will be dependent on the size of the vehicle and the amount of pollution it emits.
Fantastic.
But would it be too much to ask for that money to go into some kind of ec-friendly development such as the research and creation of sustainable power, rather than the pockets of our already fat legislators?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
THE END OF THE WORLD
Nah, not really, but for a few moments there it sure felt like it.
The Yanks have done it again - got everyine in the world panicking about a possible Great Depression - what with Lehman Brothers, Merryl Lynch and co showing us the way down... and to think, it all started with approving mortgages, at subprime rates, for people who could not afford them. And while the bigshots will fall back on their millions, the poor people who lose their homes will still have to pay taxes and thus, in effect, pay for the bugger ups of the guys in Wall Street - that is if Paulson gets his way with the $700 billion bail-out plan.
Then, Europe starts shaking. UK heads to a recession. Australia and Japan pump $20 billion into the money markets. Hong Kong, India, Korea and many more are on alert. Major banks the world over start publicising write downs.
Israel gets a new prime minister.
Japan gets a new prime minister.
South Africa's ruling party in effect 'fires' its president and in the space of 5 days South Africa has a new president. The finance minister (the longest serving finance minister in the world) quits. The markets dive into freefall! The currency crumbles. Then, from Washington, he says: "Nah, I am going to stay" and the currency and markets go up like a hot-air balloon on steroids - and you have to see that.
Bombs go off in India, Pakistan, Iraq.
Bush opens his mouth.
Then I remembered someone once telling me a Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. Nah, its a blessing. We are living in a time that will be critical in history books of the future.
I will leave you with an irish blessing:
As you slide down the banister of life.... may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!
The Yanks have done it again - got everyine in the world panicking about a possible Great Depression - what with Lehman Brothers, Merryl Lynch and co showing us the way down... and to think, it all started with approving mortgages, at subprime rates, for people who could not afford them. And while the bigshots will fall back on their millions, the poor people who lose their homes will still have to pay taxes and thus, in effect, pay for the bugger ups of the guys in Wall Street - that is if Paulson gets his way with the $700 billion bail-out plan.
Then, Europe starts shaking. UK heads to a recession. Australia and Japan pump $20 billion into the money markets. Hong Kong, India, Korea and many more are on alert. Major banks the world over start publicising write downs.
Israel gets a new prime minister.
Japan gets a new prime minister.
South Africa's ruling party in effect 'fires' its president and in the space of 5 days South Africa has a new president. The finance minister (the longest serving finance minister in the world) quits. The markets dive into freefall! The currency crumbles. Then, from Washington, he says: "Nah, I am going to stay" and the currency and markets go up like a hot-air balloon on steroids - and you have to see that.
Bombs go off in India, Pakistan, Iraq.
Bush opens his mouth.
Then I remembered someone once telling me a Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. Nah, its a blessing. We are living in a time that will be critical in history books of the future.
I will leave you with an irish blessing:
As you slide down the banister of life.... may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Playing God
Have a read about what China is doing at the Olympics....
Liu Zhen, Reuters: BEIJING — China is preparing an arsenal of rockets and aircraft to protect the Olympics opening ceremony from rain, hoping to disperse clouds before they can drench dignitaries at the “bird’s nest” stadium.
Officials believe there is a 47% probability of rain during the August 8 opening ceremony and a 6% chance of a heavy downpour and will try to drain humidity from clouds before they reach Beijing.
Strong winds and fog would also be troublesome because the “bird's nest" National Stadium, where the ceremony will be staged, has no roof.
More than 100 staff at 21 stations surrounding the city will have 10 minutes’ notice to fire rockets or cannons containing silver iodide at approaching clouds in the hope of making them rain before they reach the stadium. Three aircraft will also be on stand-by to drop catalysts to unleash rain from the clouds. “We’ve worked with neighbouring provinces on a contingency plan for rainstorm and other weather risks during the ceremonies,” said Wang Yubin, the deputy chief of China’s meteorological service assigned to the Olympics.
“Studies have proved that the chemicals we use do no harm to the air, water or the entire environment,” said Zhang Qiang, head of Beijing’s Weather Modification Office.
The government has spent $500 000 to build up Beijing’s cloud seeding capacities over the past five years and authorities will conduct practice runs in June and July. It typically uses pellets of silver iodide, which is highly insoluble in water and can concentrate moisture to cause rain. Zhang Qiang, head of Beijing’s Weather Modification Office, believed her staff could can fend off drizzle, but could be powerless in the face of a heavy downpour. “I hope God will not send any storms to Beijing,” she said.
NOW:
We all know that once a technological or scientific discovery is succesfull, it, generally, over the years makes its way into the consumer world. Think of the cell phone, PC or GPS. China will use this at the Olympics - and if it is a success it could have HUGE implications for me in South Africa.
If it is a success, different industry players will compete to create a mass-produced, cost-effective product to flood markets with... and herein lies the genius!
When it is on the market I will be sure to buy it, and then, when I organise a braai, I can make sure that even if my entire city is pouring with rain, there will be a clear patch above my house, so that we can enjoy a good old-fashioned, sunny South African braai!
Liu Zhen, Reuters: BEIJING — China is preparing an arsenal of rockets and aircraft to protect the Olympics opening ceremony from rain, hoping to disperse clouds before they can drench dignitaries at the “bird’s nest” stadium.
Officials believe there is a 47% probability of rain during the August 8 opening ceremony and a 6% chance of a heavy downpour and will try to drain humidity from clouds before they reach Beijing.
Strong winds and fog would also be troublesome because the “bird's nest" National Stadium, where the ceremony will be staged, has no roof.
More than 100 staff at 21 stations surrounding the city will have 10 minutes’ notice to fire rockets or cannons containing silver iodide at approaching clouds in the hope of making them rain before they reach the stadium. Three aircraft will also be on stand-by to drop catalysts to unleash rain from the clouds. “We’ve worked with neighbouring provinces on a contingency plan for rainstorm and other weather risks during the ceremonies,” said Wang Yubin, the deputy chief of China’s meteorological service assigned to the Olympics.
“Studies have proved that the chemicals we use do no harm to the air, water or the entire environment,” said Zhang Qiang, head of Beijing’s Weather Modification Office.
The government has spent $500 000 to build up Beijing’s cloud seeding capacities over the past five years and authorities will conduct practice runs in June and July. It typically uses pellets of silver iodide, which is highly insoluble in water and can concentrate moisture to cause rain. Zhang Qiang, head of Beijing’s Weather Modification Office, believed her staff could can fend off drizzle, but could be powerless in the face of a heavy downpour. “I hope God will not send any storms to Beijing,” she said.
NOW:
We all know that once a technological or scientific discovery is succesfull, it, generally, over the years makes its way into the consumer world. Think of the cell phone, PC or GPS. China will use this at the Olympics - and if it is a success it could have HUGE implications for me in South Africa.
If it is a success, different industry players will compete to create a mass-produced, cost-effective product to flood markets with... and herein lies the genius!
When it is on the market I will be sure to buy it, and then, when I organise a braai, I can make sure that even if my entire city is pouring with rain, there will be a clear patch above my house, so that we can enjoy a good old-fashioned, sunny South African braai!
Friday, March 21, 2008
A name says a thousand words
(Copied from Two Left Feet - the link to this site is under 'Sites of Interest)
The super 14 is in full flight. Teams from Australia, New Zealand and SA (mis)tackle each other in an effort to be crowned best of the best or remotely as good as the Crusaders.
Even the Wallabies recognised this truth and appointed Crusaders coach Robbie Deans as Australia’s national coach. If they can match Kiwi muscle – perhaps taking a leaf from their tans-Tasman foes and also importing Pacific Islanders, although with a growing number of South African expats that may not be necessary – the Aussies are sure to once more be a formidable force.
The Super 14 is widely held as the best Rugby competition in the world - apologies to Heineken Cup fans. Not only does the Super 14 produce exiting rugby (if you understand the experimental law variations) most the teams also have exiting names. What’s in a name, someone might ask? Bear in mind the name reflects the franchise, and to the layman it reflects their qualities and abilities.
New Zealand has the Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders which all sound like formidable forces. Then there is the Blues. It’s a matter-of –fact name and more often than not it is what they inflict on battered opponents. In Australia there is Western Force, Waratahs (either a 500ft steamer or indigenous plant), Brumbies (indigenous horse) and the Reds. Reds is a matter-of-fact name and more often than not, lately, it is the colour of their faces after meeting more illustrious opposition.
But when looking at the names of South African teams, a trend emerges which has this armchair flyhalf kicking with both his left feet. Besides the Sharks, in the Vodacom (cellular service provider) Super 14, we have the Vodacom Cheetahs, Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Stormers. Evidently Vodacom, the supporter of South African supporters, spares no effort in reminding us of this fact (not taking anything away from the good support they give South African sport). But the name that steals the show is the awful name that has been bestowed upon the Lions.
Having lost SAA as a Super 14 sponsor I am sure there were many anxious suits at Ellis Park. But what they have settled for in terms of naming rights has to go down as the most ridiculous, if not embarrassing, sports name in the world. Sitting at Ellis Park and hearing the announcer laboriously go through the full name every time he mentions the team is enough to make the staunchest cynic cringe. “Ladies and gentlemen I present to you… the Auto & General Super 14 Lions! Also be aware that if you are an Auto & General Super 14 Lions fan, you stand the chance to win season tickets for every home game of the Auto & General Super 14 Lions!” The Lions website last week proudly proclaimed a match between “Auto & General Super 14 Lions vs Sharks at 5pm on Saturday, March 15”.
Anyone would accept that sponsorship is central in the professional era, and that without it our teams would simply not be able to exist, never mind compete, but surely such forceful corporate branding is a case of sponsors taking advantage of desperate unions with no leverage. In the same vein, can the unions really say they tried to preserve their name before preceding it with a sponsor’s title that, in the case of the Lions, changes every few years? Are the returns in profile and revenue generated by the sponsor force-feeding their brand down the throats of spectators and fans enough to justify such a farce? Everyone is well aware of who the sponsor is because its name is branded on the kit and merchandise of the union, as well as all over the home venue and website.
The Auto & General Super 14 Lions: it would take a lot of convincing for this cynic to see of the point of having a ten-syllable name for a sports team, and that includes the need to specify that one particular company sponsors one competition and not the other, whether or not it is done to appease all stakeholders. Surely a common sense approach would be better. If not, then our sport is being held hostage.
The sport and recreation website reports that a study by BMI SportInfo among the top 100 sponsors in SA shows that sports sponsorship in SA is worth R2,6bn with an additional R2,2bn being spent on leveraging those sponsorships. The industry has a year-on-year growth of 14% which is ahead of the 11% global average. Most sponsors are “positive” or “somewhat positive” about the country.
Sports fans are grateful to sponsors whose cashflow keep their teams both afloat and competitive and recognise the right for the sponsor to receive the recognition it deserves, but corporate muscle-flexing turns into a farce. Thank goodness we don’t speak of the Mr Price Sharks, and we certainly don’t hear about the Ford Crusaders or Ford Rebel Sports Super 14 Chiefs (although those would make fantastic cars).
A quick search of the internet will reveal that most sane organisations and people drop these corporate prefixes from their fixture lists, tables or news stories. There is a place and need for corporate sponsorship in professional sport. Unfortunately, the only place for an invasive corporate farce, as epitomised by Auto & General Super 14 Lions, is the Two Left Feet hall of shame.
The super 14 is in full flight. Teams from Australia, New Zealand and SA (mis)tackle each other in an effort to be crowned best of the best or remotely as good as the Crusaders.
Even the Wallabies recognised this truth and appointed Crusaders coach Robbie Deans as Australia’s national coach. If they can match Kiwi muscle – perhaps taking a leaf from their tans-Tasman foes and also importing Pacific Islanders, although with a growing number of South African expats that may not be necessary – the Aussies are sure to once more be a formidable force.
The Super 14 is widely held as the best Rugby competition in the world - apologies to Heineken Cup fans. Not only does the Super 14 produce exiting rugby (if you understand the experimental law variations) most the teams also have exiting names. What’s in a name, someone might ask? Bear in mind the name reflects the franchise, and to the layman it reflects their qualities and abilities.
New Zealand has the Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders which all sound like formidable forces. Then there is the Blues. It’s a matter-of –fact name and more often than not it is what they inflict on battered opponents. In Australia there is Western Force, Waratahs (either a 500ft steamer or indigenous plant), Brumbies (indigenous horse) and the Reds. Reds is a matter-of-fact name and more often than not, lately, it is the colour of their faces after meeting more illustrious opposition.
But when looking at the names of South African teams, a trend emerges which has this armchair flyhalf kicking with both his left feet. Besides the Sharks, in the Vodacom (cellular service provider) Super 14, we have the Vodacom Cheetahs, Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Stormers. Evidently Vodacom, the supporter of South African supporters, spares no effort in reminding us of this fact (not taking anything away from the good support they give South African sport). But the name that steals the show is the awful name that has been bestowed upon the Lions.
Having lost SAA as a Super 14 sponsor I am sure there were many anxious suits at Ellis Park. But what they have settled for in terms of naming rights has to go down as the most ridiculous, if not embarrassing, sports name in the world. Sitting at Ellis Park and hearing the announcer laboriously go through the full name every time he mentions the team is enough to make the staunchest cynic cringe. “Ladies and gentlemen I present to you… the Auto & General Super 14 Lions! Also be aware that if you are an Auto & General Super 14 Lions fan, you stand the chance to win season tickets for every home game of the Auto & General Super 14 Lions!” The Lions website last week proudly proclaimed a match between “Auto & General Super 14 Lions vs Sharks at 5pm on Saturday, March 15”.
Anyone would accept that sponsorship is central in the professional era, and that without it our teams would simply not be able to exist, never mind compete, but surely such forceful corporate branding is a case of sponsors taking advantage of desperate unions with no leverage. In the same vein, can the unions really say they tried to preserve their name before preceding it with a sponsor’s title that, in the case of the Lions, changes every few years? Are the returns in profile and revenue generated by the sponsor force-feeding their brand down the throats of spectators and fans enough to justify such a farce? Everyone is well aware of who the sponsor is because its name is branded on the kit and merchandise of the union, as well as all over the home venue and website.
The Auto & General Super 14 Lions: it would take a lot of convincing for this cynic to see of the point of having a ten-syllable name for a sports team, and that includes the need to specify that one particular company sponsors one competition and not the other, whether or not it is done to appease all stakeholders. Surely a common sense approach would be better. If not, then our sport is being held hostage.
The sport and recreation website reports that a study by BMI SportInfo among the top 100 sponsors in SA shows that sports sponsorship in SA is worth R2,6bn with an additional R2,2bn being spent on leveraging those sponsorships. The industry has a year-on-year growth of 14% which is ahead of the 11% global average. Most sponsors are “positive” or “somewhat positive” about the country.
Sports fans are grateful to sponsors whose cashflow keep their teams both afloat and competitive and recognise the right for the sponsor to receive the recognition it deserves, but corporate muscle-flexing turns into a farce. Thank goodness we don’t speak of the Mr Price Sharks, and we certainly don’t hear about the Ford Crusaders or Ford Rebel Sports Super 14 Chiefs (although those would make fantastic cars).
A quick search of the internet will reveal that most sane organisations and people drop these corporate prefixes from their fixture lists, tables or news stories. There is a place and need for corporate sponsorship in professional sport. Unfortunately, the only place for an invasive corporate farce, as epitomised by Auto & General Super 14 Lions, is the Two Left Feet hall of shame.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Braking the power crunch
It was with great interest that I read an article in Business Day newspaper today about the Gautrain.
There has been much protestation about the highspeed Gautrain that is being built in our province, and the amount of power it will use. People have argued that surely, in times of electricity tightness, a massive power user such as this train would not be good for other consumers.
The Gautrain is planning to use the friction and heat created by braking to generate electricity which it will then feed back into the national grid. The power it will generate from braking will be 20% of the power it uses to accelerate. The energy created will be sufficient electricity to power something as large Eastgate Shopping Centre - that's a fair deal of electricity being pumped back into the national grid.
Good on you Gautrain. We need innovative ideas to help us not only overcome this power crunch, but also to lead us in the direction of becomming a progressive energy-using country in the long-term.
There has been much protestation about the highspeed Gautrain that is being built in our province, and the amount of power it will use. People have argued that surely, in times of electricity tightness, a massive power user such as this train would not be good for other consumers.
The Gautrain is planning to use the friction and heat created by braking to generate electricity which it will then feed back into the national grid. The power it will generate from braking will be 20% of the power it uses to accelerate. The energy created will be sufficient electricity to power something as large Eastgate Shopping Centre - that's a fair deal of electricity being pumped back into the national grid.
Good on you Gautrain. We need innovative ideas to help us not only overcome this power crunch, but also to lead us in the direction of becomming a progressive energy-using country in the long-term.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Bulbs Pieterson and the children of Darkness
We are lucky in South Africa, in that we have very colourful names.
We also live in a colourful society that, among other things, has electricity generation constraints. Any problem offers exiting new possibilities...
I was sent this list today:
South African names after 9 months due to Eskom's "load shedding":
1. Candle Mabuya
2. Darkness Ngozi
3. Eskom Shabalala
4. Vroegslaap van der Merwe
5. Blackout Legodi
6. Battery Ndlovu
7. Generator Mothabela
8. Loadshedding Masibuko
9. Ugezi Phindanghene
10. Switch-off Mkhwanasi
11. Geyser Baloyi
12. Capacity Mahapa
13. Traffic-light Mdlalose
14. Megawatt Nxumalo
15. Power-cut Nhlapo
16. Gas-turbine Khaba
17. Solar Buthelezi
18. Rationing Mlaba
19. U.P.S Van Wyk
20. Bulbs Pieterson
21. Bright Brown
22. Dim du Preez
It is vital to note that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Eskom has however informed us that this light has also been turned off.
We also live in a colourful society that, among other things, has electricity generation constraints. Any problem offers exiting new possibilities...
I was sent this list today:
South African names after 9 months due to Eskom's "load shedding":
1. Candle Mabuya
2. Darkness Ngozi
3. Eskom Shabalala
4. Vroegslaap van der Merwe
5. Blackout Legodi
6. Battery Ndlovu
7. Generator Mothabela
8. Loadshedding Masibuko
9. Ugezi Phindanghene
10. Switch-off Mkhwanasi
11. Geyser Baloyi
12. Capacity Mahapa
13. Traffic-light Mdlalose
14. Megawatt Nxumalo
15. Power-cut Nhlapo
16. Gas-turbine Khaba
17. Solar Buthelezi
18. Rationing Mlaba
19. U.P.S Van Wyk
20. Bulbs Pieterson
21. Bright Brown
22. Dim du Preez
It is vital to note that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Eskom has however informed us that this light has also been turned off.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Inland Empire
Watch this if you can!
David Lynch's latest film, Inland Empire, is shot entirely in digital video, and was premiered on September 6, 2006 at the Venice Film Festival.
http://www.inlandempirecinema.com/
"We are like the spider. We weave our life and then move along in it. We are like the dreamer who dreams and then lives in the dream. This is true for the entire universe."
- Aitareya Upanishad
David Lynch's latest film, Inland Empire, is shot entirely in digital video, and was premiered on September 6, 2006 at the Venice Film Festival.
http://www.inlandempirecinema.com/
"We are like the spider. We weave our life and then move along in it. We are like the dreamer who dreams and then lives in the dream. This is true for the entire universe."
- Aitareya Upanishad
Casting light on SA
How many South Africans does it take to change a light bulb?
Ok, that's a nasty joke.
Ok, that's a nasty joke.
In a dark, dark house in a dark, dark forest...
It's 11pm, Johannesburg, you don't feel like going "out" so what do you do?
This past Saturday evening a few friends decided to take me to see the "Walkerville Ghost".
They turned out to be very good guides with testimonials that could make even the most staunch sceptics have second thoughts, complete with full moon and howling wind.
I was up for a laugh, so within 10 minuites we were on the R59 to Walkerville.
It was about a 20-minute drive from the south of Jo'burg. Not bad: Just goes to show - in Jo'burg you are always near to the activity - even activity from the OTHER SIDE.
As we approached Walkerville, the roads became narrower and the sky became darker. This ghost's marketing team had their heads screwed on... ironic as the ghost is supposedly headless.
We turned left into the haunted road. It is a very, very long quiet road with plots (smallholdings) on either side. Dark and queit. Any Jo'burger's nightmare. It all made sense to me - Walkerville: paranormal activity for paranoid people. If there was wind, it would have been howling. If the moon was full, it would have been tinted red. There were no howling dogs.
We reached the end of the road (and that's how it felt). Turned around, turned the lights out and waited.
Then the lights were flashed three times to "call" the ghost, which is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Nevertheless, to satisy the experiment I went along with the crowd. I flashed my lights three times - to call on a spectre from another realm, because as you know they are light-sensitive and only respond to the number 3. (Trinity, 3am ghosting hour, 3pm on Golgotha, everything happens in 3s - I wonder how that came about?)
Anyway, before long we were witnessing a red light in the distance that changed to a light green and then white and it appeared to be approaching very fast. I turned on my lights to prevent being crashed into by the oncomming car (that was my excuse anyway) only to see nothing when the lights were turned on. "You chased away the ghost!" people shouted at me. So we reset. Lights off, 3 flashes and low and behold the same thing, a red light that changed colour and appeared to be approaching until I turned my lights on again, and guess what... nothing! We drove up the road to make sure there was no one there and we went through the motions once more. Same result. The wind was still not howling.
I have no idea who created these lights, or how they did it, but it was quite spectacular.
But I can tell you this, I was terrified.
My skin was crawling and so I was happy to leave. Not because of the biker ghost, though.
But because I was stopped at the side of the road, at night, near to Johannesburg, and visions of hijackings and other ghastly (not ghostly) things were drowning my mind. I was checking my review mirror and had my car in gear, ready to flee. Even while wating for the dearly departed, I was ready to depart hastily.
I look forward to the day that I can sit at the side of the road and not look in my review mirror.
(Now President Mbeki, whether this fear is perception- as you call it - or not, it is real and tangible to the average citizen)
I fear though, in the medium term, I have more chance of seeing a headless biker whizz past.
This past Saturday evening a few friends decided to take me to see the "Walkerville Ghost".
They turned out to be very good guides with testimonials that could make even the most staunch sceptics have second thoughts, complete with full moon and howling wind.
I was up for a laugh, so within 10 minuites we were on the R59 to Walkerville.
It was about a 20-minute drive from the south of Jo'burg. Not bad: Just goes to show - in Jo'burg you are always near to the activity - even activity from the OTHER SIDE.
As we approached Walkerville, the roads became narrower and the sky became darker. This ghost's marketing team had their heads screwed on... ironic as the ghost is supposedly headless.
We turned left into the haunted road. It is a very, very long quiet road with plots (smallholdings) on either side. Dark and queit. Any Jo'burger's nightmare. It all made sense to me - Walkerville: paranormal activity for paranoid people. If there was wind, it would have been howling. If the moon was full, it would have been tinted red. There were no howling dogs.
We reached the end of the road (and that's how it felt). Turned around, turned the lights out and waited.
Then the lights were flashed three times to "call" the ghost, which is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Nevertheless, to satisy the experiment I went along with the crowd. I flashed my lights three times - to call on a spectre from another realm, because as you know they are light-sensitive and only respond to the number 3. (Trinity, 3am ghosting hour, 3pm on Golgotha, everything happens in 3s - I wonder how that came about?)
Anyway, before long we were witnessing a red light in the distance that changed to a light green and then white and it appeared to be approaching very fast. I turned on my lights to prevent being crashed into by the oncomming car (that was my excuse anyway) only to see nothing when the lights were turned on. "You chased away the ghost!" people shouted at me. So we reset. Lights off, 3 flashes and low and behold the same thing, a red light that changed colour and appeared to be approaching until I turned my lights on again, and guess what... nothing! We drove up the road to make sure there was no one there and we went through the motions once more. Same result. The wind was still not howling.
I have no idea who created these lights, or how they did it, but it was quite spectacular.
But I can tell you this, I was terrified.
My skin was crawling and so I was happy to leave. Not because of the biker ghost, though.
But because I was stopped at the side of the road, at night, near to Johannesburg, and visions of hijackings and other ghastly (not ghostly) things were drowning my mind. I was checking my review mirror and had my car in gear, ready to flee. Even while wating for the dearly departed, I was ready to depart hastily.
I look forward to the day that I can sit at the side of the road and not look in my review mirror.
(Now President Mbeki, whether this fear is perception- as you call it - or not, it is real and tangible to the average citizen)
I fear though, in the medium term, I have more chance of seeing a headless biker whizz past.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Business Unusual
A mathmetician, an accountant and an economist go for the same interview.
The interviewer asks:
What is 2 + 2?
The Mathmetician answers instantly "Four!"
The Accountant answers after a delay "Probably four, but thats not taking into account tax, inflation and the real-term value of the 2 after considering the fundamentals..."
The Economist closes the door and leans in close to the interviewer:
"It can be whatever we want it to be".
Indeed...Welcome to South Africa.
The interviewer asks:
What is 2 + 2?
The Mathmetician answers instantly "Four!"
The Accountant answers after a delay "Probably four, but thats not taking into account tax, inflation and the real-term value of the 2 after considering the fundamentals..."
The Economist closes the door and leans in close to the interviewer:
"It can be whatever we want it to be".
Indeed...Welcome to South Africa.
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