One thing I love about the end of the year is all the 'best of..' lists. It's an opportunity to disagree with and pretend to know better than the obviously-uninformed taste of some high profile magazines, and also catch up on all those things you might have missed during the year. Particularly enjoyable this year was Time's list of the best online videos. Appart from being highly amusing, it also shows us that:
1)South Carolina's education might not be that much better than SA's,
2)Mbeki should've taken a lesson from Obama on how to do party-political infighting properly,
3)It's funny to see people get electrocuted,
4)The Philipines may have the solution to the lack of reform in South African jails, and
5)Kanye sucks, Daft Punk should never have anything to do with him again and they should rather opt to deal with anime characters and a pair of hands.
Enjoy:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686303_1690876,00.html
Sunday 23 December 2007
Saturday 22 December 2007
AG PLEEEEZ!
This is a desperate plea to all of those going to the reunion tonight... please take lots of photos, and ffs don't post them on Facekak! Anyway, have a ripper time, i wish i could be there, chillin' on the biology veranda, singing the 'bubbly guava juice' song with the other Kibbutzniks...
Wednesday 19 December 2007
100% Zuluboy!!
Deputy Prez: Kgalema Motlanthe (Mr Moderate; will be our next state prez if Zuma goes to jail)
National Chair: Baleke Mbethe (Speaker of Parliament, apparently only nominated because they were concerned about gender representation. Tokyo turned down his nomination for this position)
Secretary General: Gwede Mantashe (Former NUM leader; avowed Marxist; the 'new Netshitenze')
Dep Sec Gen: Thandi Modise (daughter of Joe Modise, former defence minister who presided over the arms deal)
National Treasurer: Mathews Phosa (former Mpumulanga Premier)
Of course now we wait and see what happens with the corruption charges. If he does go to jail all eyes on Motlanthe, whom we seem to know rather little about. Other than that he is yet another former union man and economic lefty, who likes Cuba.
Wednesday 12 December 2007
Tuesday 11 December 2007
Interesting sideshows...
We are less than a week till national conference time. It's very much the JZ show now, although there are still some unknown unknowns. JZ is winning friends all over the show now. He delivered a speech at WITS yesterday to commemorate international human rights day. He said lots of platitudinal stuff, then launched into campaign mode. He told us that a leader tackles the problems facing the average Joe. This includes AIDS, crime, Zimbabwe, and corruption. All of Mbeki's major cock-ups. It was a very impressive speech, which he clearly did not write, but I hope he took to heart. And all this with Tokyo Sexwale sitting on his right hand side, with Zweli one seat further down. That did make for a fascinating stage show indeed. Tokyo for VP anyone? Not a bad compromise if it shakes out that way...
Anyway there are plenty of fascinating side-shows going on. In last week's mail and guardian, ferial haffejee interviewed mo shaik on the future of south african politics. mo is shabir's brother, long-time shady-ass mofo, and of course senior bureaucrat (mainly in the department of defense. arms deeeaaaal).
Mo was remarkably arrogant, describing in great detail what a zuma presidency is going to look like, where the major challenges lie, and most remarkable, how some of the more senior figures in the mbeki government will "serve" in the new one. Remember, Mo is nowhere near being a senior ANC member. He has never been on the NEC. He is just an enigmatic power-broker who became famous when his brother got drilled in court.
Trevor Manuel, one of the people whose future Mo plots, took exception, and wrote this open letter, which appeared two days later... Makes for a fascinating read, and it quite reassuring in many ways:
Trevor Manuel, Sunday Times and Sunday Independent, 9 December 2007
Dear Mo
I observe from the comments you made in an interview with Ferial Haffejee (Mail & Guardian editor) that you said of me, "I see a great role for him. It would be great to have Manuel stay on as finance minister, but the challenge is this: When you have been part of the macro-economic stabilisation programme, do you have the right mind-set for a period of heightened implementation? Would he have the flexibility of mind?"
I suppose it is incumbent upon me now to say: "Thank you for the mention, bwana." But, of course, I will not.
Mo, like you, I have the ANC in my entire being. The privilege of serving this movement in any capacity has always been a part of that commitment. Being elected to serve as part of the collective of its National Executive Committee since 1991 has been a tremendous opportunity for learning and for my political development. And, the joy of being called by its two successive presidents in state, Mandela and Mbeki, to serve as South Africa's Finance Minister is unsurpassed.
The emphasis, Mo, is on service. Service to my country and people becomes an act of love - it is clearly not a job, nor could it ever be an undertaking for notional power or the salary. And yes, the assignment as Finance Minister is one that I draw great pleasure from. But be assured that the opportunity I speak of is not something I will grovel for, nor do I ever wish to be beholden.
So, I observe that I might not have the qualities of flexibility that you are looking for - I am sorry that I fail you so. I also see that you see a great role for me - that is wonderful. But who asked you? You would know that your comments are exceedingly arrogant and gratuitous - but how do you claim this right?
I was so struck by the force of your attitude, I thought that I had missed a trick. I then checked the published list of nominees to the NEC - your name should have been in position 139, between Shabangu and Shiceka - but it was not there. So what is the source of your raw power?
Your conduct is certainly not something in the tradition of the African National Congress. It is obvious that you have no intention of becoming part of any elected collective within the organisation, yet you arrogate to yourself the role of determinant. Despite your glib references finding "synchronicity between the government and those in Luthuli House", you, quite frankly, act to undermine both the government and Luthuli House.
My plea to you is simple - it has taken 96 years of the most unimaginable toil and sacrifice to build the ANC into this formidable movement, it could be destroyed in five days at Polokwane - don't do it!
The ethos of the ANC over all its life has been Umfutho Kubantu, a movement of the people at its service. You have no right to turn this organisation into something that serves your ego. The task of building a deep and durable democracy that impacts on the lives of all South Africans is incomplete. Do not destroy the only vehicle capable of delivering that democracy.
Comradely greetings
Trevor Manuel
PS. The same message goes to the other self-appointed recent spokespersons for the National Democratic Revolution such as Patrick Craven, Fikile Mbalula and Jeremy Gordin.
Anyway there are plenty of fascinating side-shows going on. In last week's mail and guardian, ferial haffejee interviewed mo shaik on the future of south african politics. mo is shabir's brother, long-time shady-ass mofo, and of course senior bureaucrat (mainly in the department of defense. arms deeeaaaal).
Mo was remarkably arrogant, describing in great detail what a zuma presidency is going to look like, where the major challenges lie, and most remarkable, how some of the more senior figures in the mbeki government will "serve" in the new one. Remember, Mo is nowhere near being a senior ANC member. He has never been on the NEC. He is just an enigmatic power-broker who became famous when his brother got drilled in court.
Trevor Manuel, one of the people whose future Mo plots, took exception, and wrote this open letter, which appeared two days later... Makes for a fascinating read, and it quite reassuring in many ways:
Open letter to Mo Shaik
Trevor Manuel, Sunday Times and Sunday Independent, 9 December 2007
Dear Mo
I observe from the comments you made in an interview with Ferial Haffejee (Mail & Guardian editor) that you said of me, "I see a great role for him. It would be great to have Manuel stay on as finance minister, but the challenge is this: When you have been part of the macro-economic stabilisation programme, do you have the right mind-set for a period of heightened implementation? Would he have the flexibility of mind?"
I suppose it is incumbent upon me now to say: "Thank you for the mention, bwana." But, of course, I will not.
Mo, like you, I have the ANC in my entire being. The privilege of serving this movement in any capacity has always been a part of that commitment. Being elected to serve as part of the collective of its National Executive Committee since 1991 has been a tremendous opportunity for learning and for my political development. And, the joy of being called by its two successive presidents in state, Mandela and Mbeki, to serve as South Africa's Finance Minister is unsurpassed.
The emphasis, Mo, is on service. Service to my country and people becomes an act of love - it is clearly not a job, nor could it ever be an undertaking for notional power or the salary. And yes, the assignment as Finance Minister is one that I draw great pleasure from. But be assured that the opportunity I speak of is not something I will grovel for, nor do I ever wish to be beholden.
So, I observe that I might not have the qualities of flexibility that you are looking for - I am sorry that I fail you so. I also see that you see a great role for me - that is wonderful. But who asked you? You would know that your comments are exceedingly arrogant and gratuitous - but how do you claim this right?
I was so struck by the force of your attitude, I thought that I had missed a trick. I then checked the published list of nominees to the NEC - your name should have been in position 139, between Shabangu and Shiceka - but it was not there. So what is the source of your raw power?
Your conduct is certainly not something in the tradition of the African National Congress. It is obvious that you have no intention of becoming part of any elected collective within the organisation, yet you arrogate to yourself the role of determinant. Despite your glib references finding "synchronicity between the government and those in Luthuli House", you, quite frankly, act to undermine both the government and Luthuli House.
My plea to you is simple - it has taken 96 years of the most unimaginable toil and sacrifice to build the ANC into this formidable movement, it could be destroyed in five days at Polokwane - don't do it!
The ethos of the ANC over all its life has been Umfutho Kubantu, a movement of the people at its service. You have no right to turn this organisation into something that serves your ego. The task of building a deep and durable democracy that impacts on the lives of all South Africans is incomplete. Do not destroy the only vehicle capable of delivering that democracy.
Comradely greetings
Trevor Manuel
PS. The same message goes to the other self-appointed recent spokespersons for the National Democratic Revolution such as Patrick Craven, Fikile Mbalula and Jeremy Gordin.
Friday 7 December 2007
Analyse this!
Hola almal
It's now the last day of my first week of employment. I say that in the sense that articles was not employment but actualy senseless torture (the CIA destroyed those tapes too)... but i digress.
I am now an equity analyst. Apparantly that means that soon I'll be a very clever person who tells people what share prices should be, but for now I'm not asigned any companies, so it means i spend my day looking at news on the internet and debating whether Tito will add another 50bps in February. Actually I don't know if that's what I'm supposed to be doing but everyone's being very kind to me because I'm new and they're all too distracted with holiday plans so I thought I'd take advantage of the situation while I can.
Here are two articles that I came across in my extensive and somewhat side-tracked research that are pointless but worth sharing.
Time rips off the Grammys
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1691917,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
The Economist takes on American Cars
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10249454&fsrc=RSS
Hope you enjoy
Ciao
And another late entry..
Lolly jackson predicts doom for SA as strippers plan to leave our shores. A plot worth of a Van Damme film...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20071207055356511C826185
It's now the last day of my first week of employment. I say that in the sense that articles was not employment but actualy senseless torture (the CIA destroyed those tapes too)... but i digress.
I am now an equity analyst. Apparantly that means that soon I'll be a very clever person who tells people what share prices should be, but for now I'm not asigned any companies, so it means i spend my day looking at news on the internet and debating whether Tito will add another 50bps in February. Actually I don't know if that's what I'm supposed to be doing but everyone's being very kind to me because I'm new and they're all too distracted with holiday plans so I thought I'd take advantage of the situation while I can.
Here are two articles that I came across in my extensive and somewhat side-tracked research that are pointless but worth sharing.
Time rips off the Grammys
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1691917,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
The Economist takes on American Cars
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10249454&fsrc=RSS
Hope you enjoy
Ciao
And another late entry..
Lolly jackson predicts doom for SA as strippers plan to leave our shores. A plot worth of a Van Damme film...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20071207055356511C826185
Thursday 6 December 2007
Chartin' rap
Som' o' dis be damn funny yo.
http://www.jamphat.com/rap/
Merry christmas everyone! Even the jew!
Sunday 2 December 2007
Saturday 1 December 2007
Vodka degrades your sense of style
So some of you lekker ouens bought me the Vice Guide to Travel DVD for my birthday, which is pretty cool to watch (didn't really inspire me to eat dog or get radiation poisoning though). I usually pick up Vice magazine at a record store in the city, but i haven't been there for a while until today. Anyway, i was reading the latest Vice and there is an article about this crazy Ibiza-style rave on the Black Sea, and a link to the Vice website to watch the short docco they made about it. Apologies to the ladies, because there is a lot of gratuitous boobie (obviously edited by a guy) but the whole thing is just SO FUCKING WEIRD. You should watch all four parts, its wacky...
Part 1 :
Part 1 :
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)