Welcome to South Africa we hope you survive your stay.
Yeah, it's THAT bad. But we welcome dollars *grin* bring em in ... please?
We have a new person in our midst, one of those Nordic types ... WELKOMEN!!!!
I've always loved this track, and it is particularly apt for Johnny ... he'd know the tune ....
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green,
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day
Despite of all your losing.
Viva le Led Zeppelin
Monday, 30 July 2007
Friday, 27 July 2007
tap tap tap tap
I feel like a blind man this morning, tapping around to try find the right direction. The flu got me, and while i'm a little better, my head is spinning.
Work is going ... as work does. Always a deadline and new rules ... *sigh*
I really don't have much to say ... makes a pleasant change :)
I must say though, that 2 things are going really well for me lately, the blog and the bike.
The blog is helping to just get my head clear, say my say and be done with it. The bike is such a pleasure daily, and as an aside, it's doing my sex drive wonders. Something about it just makes me feel happy, content. Maybe it's a ccontrol thing. I'm not a control freak, i'm happy to watch things happen and step in only when whatever process needs a bump in the right direction. But on a bike, control is EVERYTHING. But control is a funny thing. Control too much, and you break it, not enough and it breaks you. Like a kite, one thin piece of string and the kite flies like a bird. Breka the string it'll crash, pull too much on the string it'llcrash too.
Bike riding is kinda like that. Time and again i literally need to remind myself to breath, you inhale, tense up, and have to concentrate on relaxing. At 100+ in traffic, relaxing does not happen easily.
But both of these are mental exercises. You think, and keep thinking. Decisions. What to write, where to ride. Same thing really. We don't think enough, any of us. I think instead of "information age", we should call it the "convenience age". It's not convenient to think, about anything. But forcing yourself helps, like this blog today. I am forcing myself to express myself in a coherent fashion. Maybe what i'm saying is dribble (i suspect that strongly) but the manner of saying is soothing, calming, and very good for me.
Ok, after not having anything to say, i think i've said enough.
Peace & love & chickenwings everybody!!!!
Work is going ... as work does. Always a deadline and new rules ... *sigh*
I really don't have much to say ... makes a pleasant change :)
I must say though, that 2 things are going really well for me lately, the blog and the bike.
The blog is helping to just get my head clear, say my say and be done with it. The bike is such a pleasure daily, and as an aside, it's doing my sex drive wonders. Something about it just makes me feel happy, content. Maybe it's a ccontrol thing. I'm not a control freak, i'm happy to watch things happen and step in only when whatever process needs a bump in the right direction. But on a bike, control is EVERYTHING. But control is a funny thing. Control too much, and you break it, not enough and it breaks you. Like a kite, one thin piece of string and the kite flies like a bird. Breka the string it'll crash, pull too much on the string it'llcrash too.
Bike riding is kinda like that. Time and again i literally need to remind myself to breath, you inhale, tense up, and have to concentrate on relaxing. At 100+ in traffic, relaxing does not happen easily.
But both of these are mental exercises. You think, and keep thinking. Decisions. What to write, where to ride. Same thing really. We don't think enough, any of us. I think instead of "information age", we should call it the "convenience age". It's not convenient to think, about anything. But forcing yourself helps, like this blog today. I am forcing myself to express myself in a coherent fashion. Maybe what i'm saying is dribble (i suspect that strongly) but the manner of saying is soothing, calming, and very good for me.
Ok, after not having anything to say, i think i've said enough.
Peace & love & chickenwings everybody!!!!
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
The World's Fastest Indian
*grunt*
Yeah that's how i feel today. Went to the bloody dentist yesterday, took another tooth out. FFS, this is the 21st century, and all every dentist has ever said is take it out. Now while i'll be the first to say standards have improved over 500 years ago, WTF!!!!????
*sigh*
Ok, moving swiftly in the other direction. Bikes. Yeah you know i like them :D
Something i've been doing for a while now is looking for people who really deserve my respect. Burt Munro is one of them.
In 1920 he bought an Indian Scout for $120. Then he started tuning it, racing it, tuning it, racing it more. The he started rebuilding parts. He hand carved conrods, used a two-gallon-can furnace to make his own pistons (!) and clutchplates and even redesigned the head, from a sidedraft to overhead draft design. Apparently the last was done at the sea, using sea sand (!!)
When he bought the bike, it was rated to go 55 mph, which in those days was fast for a bike. Once he was done, he set what stands as the fastest ever speed for an Indian 190.07 MPH. That's 304.11 KPH.
From the Indian website:
Burt began modifying his bike in 1926. His methods, to say the least, were unorthodox. He used an old spoke for a micrometer and cast parts in old tins although one American report has him casting pistons in holes in the sand at the local beach! He built his own four-cam design to replace the standard two-cam system and converted to overhead valves.
He made his own barrels, flywheels, pistons, cams and followers and lubrication system. In their final form he in effect hand-carved his con-rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle, and hardened and tempered them to 143 tons tensile strength. He built a seventeen plate, thousand pound pressure clutch and used a triple chain drive. He experimented with streamlining and, in its final form, the bike was completely enclosed in a streamlined shell.The leaf-sprung fork was dispensed with and what appears to be a girder fork from a 1925 - 1928 Prince substituted.
Now passion is one thing, but this is stupendous. His world speed record was basically set by a 63 year old man, on a home tuned 47 year old motorbike. His only safety measures were a leather football cap, and tucking his trousers into his socks. He spent 16 hours a day working, until his doctor told him to slow down, so thereafter he only spent 10 hours a day in his workshop.
We could ALL use a page from this man's book. From his passion and dedication, to his common sense approach to solving technically difficult problems, with ingenius, yet simple solutions. He apparently took a number of serious falls, some upwards of 200mph, yet after recovery he was always back on the saddle, doing what he loved.
Yeah that's how i feel today. Went to the bloody dentist yesterday, took another tooth out. FFS, this is the 21st century, and all every dentist has ever said is take it out. Now while i'll be the first to say standards have improved over 500 years ago, WTF!!!!????
*sigh*
Ok, moving swiftly in the other direction. Bikes. Yeah you know i like them :D
Something i've been doing for a while now is looking for people who really deserve my respect. Burt Munro is one of them.
In 1920 he bought an Indian Scout for $120. Then he started tuning it, racing it, tuning it, racing it more. The he started rebuilding parts. He hand carved conrods, used a two-gallon-can furnace to make his own pistons (!) and clutchplates and even redesigned the head, from a sidedraft to overhead draft design. Apparently the last was done at the sea, using sea sand (!!)
When he bought the bike, it was rated to go 55 mph, which in those days was fast for a bike. Once he was done, he set what stands as the fastest ever speed for an Indian 190.07 MPH. That's 304.11 KPH.
From the Indian website:
Burt began modifying his bike in 1926. His methods, to say the least, were unorthodox. He used an old spoke for a micrometer and cast parts in old tins although one American report has him casting pistons in holes in the sand at the local beach! He built his own four-cam design to replace the standard two-cam system and converted to overhead valves.
He made his own barrels, flywheels, pistons, cams and followers and lubrication system. In their final form he in effect hand-carved his con-rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle, and hardened and tempered them to 143 tons tensile strength. He built a seventeen plate, thousand pound pressure clutch and used a triple chain drive. He experimented with streamlining and, in its final form, the bike was completely enclosed in a streamlined shell.The leaf-sprung fork was dispensed with and what appears to be a girder fork from a 1925 - 1928 Prince substituted.
Now passion is one thing, but this is stupendous. His world speed record was basically set by a 63 year old man, on a home tuned 47 year old motorbike. His only safety measures were a leather football cap, and tucking his trousers into his socks. He spent 16 hours a day working, until his doctor told him to slow down, so thereafter he only spent 10 hours a day in his workshop.
We could ALL use a page from this man's book. From his passion and dedication, to his common sense approach to solving technically difficult problems, with ingenius, yet simple solutions. He apparently took a number of serious falls, some upwards of 200mph, yet after recovery he was always back on the saddle, doing what he loved.
Monday, 23 July 2007
i'm here
I had a groovy weekend, highlight was a breakfast run to Magalies ... awesome place.
I'm zoning ... far away, got stuff on my mind, from the office ...
Either way, nothing to actually say, i'll make up soon for the lack of post.
Peace love & chickenwings
I'm zoning ... far away, got stuff on my mind, from the office ...
Either way, nothing to actually say, i'll make up soon for the lack of post.
Peace love & chickenwings
Friday, 20 July 2007
Hey hey it's friday!!!!!!
Today is a good day. I affirm it.
Started the day at Kopdood. Now i can imagine the "huh?" expression already. Apparently a long time ago there were some bikers. they had coffee every friday morning at about 7. A tannie approached them shivering in jo'burgs cold and asked if they are kopdood (head-dead). To which they replied ... yes.
Anyway every friday morning a bunch of guys get together for coffee and kuier. The Think Bike guys have the bright yellow vests on ... no you really can't miss them if your eyes are open. Bikers. REAL bikers. In the sense that they ride day night winter summer and on weekends for fun.
And in a very realy way, bike riding is a world view. To get on a bike daily, you have to re-assess you entire way of doing things. While it has a lot of advantages, it is not convenient, as such. Most guys are like me, steady family men, who hold good positions in companies etc. But all without exception have one major difference ... attitude.
I was told once i have an attitude problem .... nononono ... i have an attitude ... no problem :)
Attitude is good, and i'm not talking arrogant. Arrogance stinks, arrogance=stupidity. Attitude is something else entirely, something along the lines of: BRING IT ON.
I'm a grown man, to everyones surprise. But the role of MEN and issues of MANHOOD are sorely overlooked in modern society. Hence all the fucked up men women are always meeting (they are not men, they are little boys with big muscles).
I am talking Primal here, in the true hunter sense. A man has to feel it, it's still in his blood. As it was in the stone days ... it's me vs world, that hasn't changed even a little.
Real men know this instinctively, having kids and wifey helps to understand this. And once they acknowledge this, human spirit takes over.
I love the human spirit, so battered of late. Those men in ships sailing towards the worlds end, wanderers and adventurers SALUT!!!!!
It is this spirit that pervades biking, you FEEL it in your blood.
I have a passion. I have a motorbike.
Started the day at Kopdood. Now i can imagine the "huh?" expression already. Apparently a long time ago there were some bikers. they had coffee every friday morning at about 7. A tannie approached them shivering in jo'burgs cold and asked if they are kopdood (head-dead). To which they replied ... yes.
Anyway every friday morning a bunch of guys get together for coffee and kuier. The Think Bike guys have the bright yellow vests on ... no you really can't miss them if your eyes are open. Bikers. REAL bikers. In the sense that they ride day night winter summer and on weekends for fun.
And in a very realy way, bike riding is a world view. To get on a bike daily, you have to re-assess you entire way of doing things. While it has a lot of advantages, it is not convenient, as such. Most guys are like me, steady family men, who hold good positions in companies etc. But all without exception have one major difference ... attitude.
I was told once i have an attitude problem .... nononono ... i have an attitude ... no problem :)
Attitude is good, and i'm not talking arrogant. Arrogance stinks, arrogance=stupidity. Attitude is something else entirely, something along the lines of: BRING IT ON.
I'm a grown man, to everyones surprise. But the role of MEN and issues of MANHOOD are sorely overlooked in modern society. Hence all the fucked up men women are always meeting (they are not men, they are little boys with big muscles).
I am talking Primal here, in the true hunter sense. A man has to feel it, it's still in his blood. As it was in the stone days ... it's me vs world, that hasn't changed even a little.
Real men know this instinctively, having kids and wifey helps to understand this. And once they acknowledge this, human spirit takes over.
I love the human spirit, so battered of late. Those men in ships sailing towards the worlds end, wanderers and adventurers SALUT!!!!!
It is this spirit that pervades biking, you FEEL it in your blood.
I have a passion. I have a motorbike.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Nanny world
Morning world
Just another day, getting warmer here, which is greatfully appreciated. Although first thing in the morning is still chilly, by about 10 it's pleasant.
The topic was arb, just dropped it in because of an incident. Without to much detail, why is it always that these people just decide that they're going to protect you. Micro manage the crap out of you, until you don't even want to live anymore, it's that dull.
Just those small irritants, you just want to say to the person sit down, shut up and mind your own bloody business.
This world is too safe, but conversely not safe enough. People die in gruesome ways daily, i noticed a more common accident lately is trucks losing cont5rol, hitting some small car and killing or maiming everyone inside. Now as horrid as it is, any solution requires a comprehensive look at the problem. Knee jerk reactions don't help, the confuse the issue.
An excellent example occurred on the Bronkhorstspruit to Bapsfontein road. Some poor kid got knocked over, no fences or anything next to the road. Rural community, no real education, and people are all over that road all the time. It was inevitable. The community got very upset about it (understandably) and decided to do something. So they cut up the road. Bunch of the ladies arrived with pick axes and made a great big hole in the road, figured that they would stop people using the road entirely.
After it became an issue, the govt put speed bumps down. Now understand please, this is a major road (despite appearances) and is busy all day every day. There are massive signboards (i have to get a pic for here) saying "Cultural Heartland" and "crime hotspot, do not stop your vehicle", both signs on the same post. So the govt puts up these speed bumps, in the middle of nowhere, where crime and hijackings are a known problem.
Knee jerk reaction.
It took several months, but the heavy traffic trampled those speed bumps to nothing. The situation has not changed, and all the trauma may as well never have been.
Addre4ssing the abominable state of the vehicles travelling that route won't help either, as the norm is a 30 year old rust bucket that is used for dirt raods, and the occassional major route (?).
Ok, maybe a little off topic, but the tragedy of a kid dying has so many reasons and implications, anywhere, anytime, you can never control it. I have 3 kids. If one was to die i know it will eat me up inside. And yes, sometimes i can try fix something that is broken. But what happens is people get emotional, and demand action now.
I know there is a lot broken in our society. It really doesn't work as well as we pretend to believe, and grudgingly accept. But any changes HAVE to start ground up, no "cosmetic" changes will ever fix anything.
We need to start from the basics of how we approach the world, with all the things we don't like, but instead of changing, we need to redirect. Education is probably the biggest single factor, but even that is a multi faceted approach, starting with parents, then community, then school, and church, and any miriad of groups (eg scouts, etc).
The only thing that you or i can do today, that is concrete, and viable, is to be nice to people. Small, basic, trivial even. But that alone starts the community, shares our common humanity, gives us a central pillar to our communal tent. Whether we like it or not, we're all in this life thing together, and while we need certain rules, for obvious reasons, the rules we're adding to our collection on a daily basis aren't working. They're just providing more base fustration, encouraging that drink, that anger, that next tragedy.
Go on ... be nice to someone today.
Just another day, getting warmer here, which is greatfully appreciated. Although first thing in the morning is still chilly, by about 10 it's pleasant.
The topic was arb, just dropped it in because of an incident. Without to much detail, why is it always that these people just decide that they're going to protect you. Micro manage the crap out of you, until you don't even want to live anymore, it's that dull.
Just those small irritants, you just want to say to the person sit down, shut up and mind your own bloody business.
This world is too safe, but conversely not safe enough. People die in gruesome ways daily, i noticed a more common accident lately is trucks losing cont5rol, hitting some small car and killing or maiming everyone inside. Now as horrid as it is, any solution requires a comprehensive look at the problem. Knee jerk reactions don't help, the confuse the issue.
An excellent example occurred on the Bronkhorstspruit to Bapsfontein road. Some poor kid got knocked over, no fences or anything next to the road. Rural community, no real education, and people are all over that road all the time. It was inevitable. The community got very upset about it (understandably) and decided to do something. So they cut up the road. Bunch of the ladies arrived with pick axes and made a great big hole in the road, figured that they would stop people using the road entirely.
After it became an issue, the govt put speed bumps down. Now understand please, this is a major road (despite appearances) and is busy all day every day. There are massive signboards (i have to get a pic for here) saying "Cultural Heartland" and "crime hotspot, do not stop your vehicle", both signs on the same post. So the govt puts up these speed bumps, in the middle of nowhere, where crime and hijackings are a known problem.
Knee jerk reaction.
It took several months, but the heavy traffic trampled those speed bumps to nothing. The situation has not changed, and all the trauma may as well never have been.
Addre4ssing the abominable state of the vehicles travelling that route won't help either, as the norm is a 30 year old rust bucket that is used for dirt raods, and the occassional major route (?).
Ok, maybe a little off topic, but the tragedy of a kid dying has so many reasons and implications, anywhere, anytime, you can never control it. I have 3 kids. If one was to die i know it will eat me up inside. And yes, sometimes i can try fix something that is broken. But what happens is people get emotional, and demand action now.
I know there is a lot broken in our society. It really doesn't work as well as we pretend to believe, and grudgingly accept. But any changes HAVE to start ground up, no "cosmetic" changes will ever fix anything.
We need to start from the basics of how we approach the world, with all the things we don't like, but instead of changing, we need to redirect. Education is probably the biggest single factor, but even that is a multi faceted approach, starting with parents, then community, then school, and church, and any miriad of groups (eg scouts, etc).
The only thing that you or i can do today, that is concrete, and viable, is to be nice to people. Small, basic, trivial even. But that alone starts the community, shares our common humanity, gives us a central pillar to our communal tent. Whether we like it or not, we're all in this life thing together, and while we need certain rules, for obvious reasons, the rules we're adding to our collection on a daily basis aren't working. They're just providing more base fustration, encouraging that drink, that anger, that next tragedy.
Go on ... be nice to someone today.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Driving
I guess i do need to say soething about the previous post. Radebe saying thatit's because people don't prepare sounds vaguely wrong. I don't hesitate to add that i'm pleased they aren't letting any Tom Dick or Harry just pass, but somehow i don't think we're talking about safety.
Even in parliment it's assumed bribery plays a part, so if you bribe you pass, if you try get it legally, you fail on some insignificant technicality.
I passed my drivers about 10 years ago. Arrived in Loveday street early on a Monday morning, wrote the test, went outside and found a school. Asked if they could help me get the license the same week (i did know how to drive already, only needed to polish). We arranged 3 lessons throughout the week, including driving the most likely course that i'd be taken on (there was one spot where the road bends right, and the guy showed me where NOT to cut the white line), and hey presto, friday morning i passed my license. No mess no fuss.
Trying to get another learners for the bike, and suddenly it doesn't work. Eish no appointment, phone back tomorrow. Now, do this daily for about 3 months and all you'll have is a phone bill and high blood pressure. You cannot book at the test centres, and the call centre can't help, in any way. I must add that before they even speak to you they want to know who you are, name id number address phone number e-mail address work address etc.
If you have a learners and need a license BEFORE it expires .... good luck. Not going to happen. And if you miraculously get an appointment, you'd better pass, otherwise it will take months before another appointment.
Now this is all well and good if they were selling doughnuts. You could either go to the inevitable competition, or decide to diet. This is essential government business. You HAVE to have it. No options at all. The inhumanity with which this ANC govt. treats it's tax paying citizens is appalling.
The problem remains, some people are getting, and others aren't. It is impossible to ascertain whether indeed those that are failing deserve to fail or not, but so many average people are failing i wonder ... and take a drive from anywhere to anywhere and you'll quickly learn that the licenses that have been issued are worthless.
I don't really have a solution, a quickfix, but that's not my job. I pay tax, the tax money goes to people who are employed full time to solve these problems. They are failing miserably, even worse than the license testees.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ........ the only viable options involve making a loud noise.
PS I found an excellent article in the "Road Safety" blog on the right
http://roadsafety.wordpress.com/
Even in parliment it's assumed bribery plays a part, so if you bribe you pass, if you try get it legally, you fail on some insignificant technicality.
I passed my drivers about 10 years ago. Arrived in Loveday street early on a Monday morning, wrote the test, went outside and found a school. Asked if they could help me get the license the same week (i did know how to drive already, only needed to polish). We arranged 3 lessons throughout the week, including driving the most likely course that i'd be taken on (there was one spot where the road bends right, and the guy showed me where NOT to cut the white line), and hey presto, friday morning i passed my license. No mess no fuss.
Trying to get another learners for the bike, and suddenly it doesn't work. Eish no appointment, phone back tomorrow. Now, do this daily for about 3 months and all you'll have is a phone bill and high blood pressure. You cannot book at the test centres, and the call centre can't help, in any way. I must add that before they even speak to you they want to know who you are, name id number address phone number e-mail address work address etc.
If you have a learners and need a license BEFORE it expires .... good luck. Not going to happen. And if you miraculously get an appointment, you'd better pass, otherwise it will take months before another appointment.
Now this is all well and good if they were selling doughnuts. You could either go to the inevitable competition, or decide to diet. This is essential government business. You HAVE to have it. No options at all. The inhumanity with which this ANC govt. treats it's tax paying citizens is appalling.
The problem remains, some people are getting, and others aren't. It is impossible to ascertain whether indeed those that are failing deserve to fail or not, but so many average people are failing i wonder ... and take a drive from anywhere to anywhere and you'll quickly learn that the licenses that have been issued are worthless.
I don't really have a solution, a quickfix, but that's not my job. I pay tax, the tax money goes to people who are employed full time to solve these problems. They are failing miserably, even worse than the license testees.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ........ the only viable options involve making a loud noise.
PS I found an excellent article in the "Road Safety" blog on the right
http://roadsafety.wordpress.com/
Driver's license problem
60% fail driver's licence test
17/07/2007 23:25 - (SA)
Rajaa Azzakani, Die Burger
Cape Town - More than 60% of all South Africans who applied for driver's licences in the past two years failed the test.
That's the gist of a written reply from Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow.
Farrow wanted to know if Radebe was aware of the unacceptably high driver's licence failure rate in the land and what his department was doing to tackle the problem.
Radebe said that from July 2005 to last month, 1.5 million applications for driver's licences had been received and only 591 624 had been issued.
That meant a national pass rate of 39.9%.
It appears from his reply that the Free State fared the worst with 31.23%, followed by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with just more than 33% each.
The pass rate in the Western Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal was just above 35%. Gauteng fared best with 46.58%.
Radebe said the high failure rate could be attributed to people not preparing adequately for the tests.
"Applicants are not compelled to use driving schools, and in some instances driving schools don't prepare candidates properly for the tests," he said.
Radebe assured the public that the department took the inspection of testing centres seriously.
'We're talking about bribery'
Gary Ronald of the Automobile Association said the AA was swamped by complaints from members who were at their wit's end because their children repeatedly failed the driver's licence tests.
Ronald said corruption could play a major role.
"The chances are good that applicants won't pass the test unless money passes under the table. We're talking about bribery."
Ronald said someone who'd failed his first driver's licence test should be accommodated.
"If someone has failed once, he should be put on a priority bookings list so that he can repeat the test as soon as possible.
"Systems should be designed to eliminate corruption even if it means installing cameras in the cars (used for tests)."
17/07/2007 23:25 - (SA)
Rajaa Azzakani, Die Burger
Cape Town - More than 60% of all South Africans who applied for driver's licences in the past two years failed the test.
That's the gist of a written reply from Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow.
Farrow wanted to know if Radebe was aware of the unacceptably high driver's licence failure rate in the land and what his department was doing to tackle the problem.
Radebe said that from July 2005 to last month, 1.5 million applications for driver's licences had been received and only 591 624 had been issued.
That meant a national pass rate of 39.9%.
It appears from his reply that the Free State fared the worst with 31.23%, followed by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with just more than 33% each.
The pass rate in the Western Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal was just above 35%. Gauteng fared best with 46.58%.
Radebe said the high failure rate could be attributed to people not preparing adequately for the tests.
"Applicants are not compelled to use driving schools, and in some instances driving schools don't prepare candidates properly for the tests," he said.
Radebe assured the public that the department took the inspection of testing centres seriously.
'We're talking about bribery'
Gary Ronald of the Automobile Association said the AA was swamped by complaints from members who were at their wit's end because their children repeatedly failed the driver's licence tests.
Ronald said corruption could play a major role.
"The chances are good that applicants won't pass the test unless money passes under the table. We're talking about bribery."
Ronald said someone who'd failed his first driver's licence test should be accommodated.
"If someone has failed once, he should be put on a priority bookings list so that he can repeat the test as soon as possible.
"Systems should be designed to eliminate corruption even if it means installing cameras in the cars (used for tests)."
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
n e w p o s t
Tuesday, i'm supposed to be putting something up, so here am i.
um ...
yes ...
absolutely ...
huh?
What i'm actually doing is getting more la linea downloads, and reading Think Bike.
www.thinkbike.co.za
um ...
yes ...
absolutely ...
huh?
What i'm actually doing is getting more la linea downloads, and reading Think Bike.
www.thinkbike.co.za
Monday, 16 July 2007
I don't like Mondays ...
No-one does. If they do they're lying. If they're not lying they're insane.
Kill it before it multiplies. Simple.
However, the universe is on our side. From the creative genius of mankind, via the everlastingness of the internet, i present, La Linea!!!!!
Hmmm ... youwhat? Neverheard? ohdear. Well ..... i can't really say anything to do justice to this astounding art.
La Linea
Oh, and before i forget, something to not try at home.
http://www.donotattemptthis.com/
Kill it before it multiplies. Simple.
However, the universe is on our side. From the creative genius of mankind, via the everlastingness of the internet, i present, La Linea!!!!!
Hmmm ... youwhat? Neverheard? ohdear. Well ..... i can't really say anything to do justice to this astounding art.
La Linea
Oh, and before i forget, something to not try at home.
http://www.donotattemptthis.com/
Friday, 13 July 2007
Thursday, 12 July 2007
BE AWARE
it's working. I get to work in the morning with a supersized grin on my cheeky face. Staying alive is fun ;-)
I'm so nervous on the bike, haven't riden in a few months now (since the CB went in) and the Jonway lost it's back wheel. The FZ6 is nce, really nice. But it's bigger, and heavier, and much more than i know how to handle right now.
I guess the only answer is slowly .... but even then it's dangerous ....
I have to add at this point, that the Think Bike campaign is running again. It was started quite a while ago, and then ran out of steam. But some guys grabbed the idea, and have been very busy lately.
Coming from an angle of education, for both bikers and "cagers", informative and friendly, the guys try help each other learn and be better at this riding thing.
I am so happy to be a biker again. I have been learning all sorts, about bikes, bikers, cagers, traffic, and even the perceptions of people, of bikers.
Stopped at a shopping centre the other day, and walking through with my helmet and leathers everyone turned to stare. Guys, gals, kids the lot. Just worth mentioning i guess, although i must add that guys, gals turn their heads for 3 things: HUGE muscles (not me), a baby in your arms (me), or leathers and a helmet (me).
But the more i learn about the road, the more i see that the only factor that matters, is being aware. If you're a nooby (like me) .. be aware of it. If you're driving a car, be aware of what's around you. If you are at least aware, you can react in a manner (any manner for that), but the biggest problem is that people aren't even aware of the fact that they're blissfully braindead.
If you have a near miss on the roads, almost guarenteed the schmuck was on the phone, screaming at kids, doing make-up, talking to passenger, in fact any damn thing except watching the traffic. Come on ... you're driving at an even modest 80km/h, surely the only rational thing to do is make very sure that nothig happens, even at that speed the damage can be phenomenal, the impact velocities are frankly too large to comprehend. Being on a bike puts you in the leading edge, but exactly the same princioples apply to any aspect of the road.
I have discovered that biking is in my blood. My dear grandad rode to work on a scooter over Ou Kaapse Weg daily, i been riding pillion with my old man since i was 3. That was in Cape Town too, known for it's windy and wet conditions. The other regret i have is the years i had no bike. Those years i walked. People still don't believe me sometimes, but when i was 16/17, daddy didn't buy me a bike, or anything. So, i walked. Miles and miles and miles and miles. I guess i was hitch-hiking, but in-between rides i never stood still, there is another turnon ahead, more cars, maybe one of them will stop. Then i got my license, and instead of code 8, needed a code 10, which let me drive a great big bloody blue truck around. The other end of the scale. Big, slow, hardly functional, a deathtrap. Since then a couple of cars, couple of bikes, worked as a delivery boy for years in the car (for charity) in and around jhb, 8-10 hours a day in this blasted traffic. The rules don't change, not even for pedestrians, or trucks, just the perspective of however is behind the wheel.
I think part of the problem is basically human(ness). I am on a bike, i see the world from THIS perspective. Or, i am in a car, i see the world ONLY as car drivers similar to me. Taxi's fall under some other listing. Never driven one, travelled them enough, i actually believe it's safer to be outside the damn things, hard as it may be to consider. They however perceive the world as theirs. Anything else merely does not matter in the slightest, and their contampt for you and i and their passengers is truly frightening.
BE AWARE ... of yourself, your own car, your place in the traffic, your speed, etc.
BE AWARE ... of the people around you, at any point, know which car is where WITHOUT looking first.
BE AWARE ... of the road 100m and more in front of you ... just in case
BE AWARE ... of the road behind you, be it a car or a bike ... there WILL be someone trying to get past you.
And for god's sake ... if you are going to talk on your phone (we ALL do) please understand that it is SECOND to driving. If you drop the phone, it's inconvenient, if you drop your car, it's literally a smash. Keep your focus on the road, if you can't watch the road and talk, either pull over (applying due caution) or call them back. It really is easy.
I'm so nervous on the bike, haven't riden in a few months now (since the CB went in) and the Jonway lost it's back wheel. The FZ6 is nce, really nice. But it's bigger, and heavier, and much more than i know how to handle right now.
I guess the only answer is slowly .... but even then it's dangerous ....
I have to add at this point, that the Think Bike campaign is running again. It was started quite a while ago, and then ran out of steam. But some guys grabbed the idea, and have been very busy lately.
Coming from an angle of education, for both bikers and "cagers", informative and friendly, the guys try help each other learn and be better at this riding thing.
I am so happy to be a biker again. I have been learning all sorts, about bikes, bikers, cagers, traffic, and even the perceptions of people, of bikers.
Stopped at a shopping centre the other day, and walking through with my helmet and leathers everyone turned to stare. Guys, gals, kids the lot. Just worth mentioning i guess, although i must add that guys, gals turn their heads for 3 things: HUGE muscles (not me), a baby in your arms (me), or leathers and a helmet (me).
But the more i learn about the road, the more i see that the only factor that matters, is being aware. If you're a nooby (like me) .. be aware of it. If you're driving a car, be aware of what's around you. If you are at least aware, you can react in a manner (any manner for that), but the biggest problem is that people aren't even aware of the fact that they're blissfully braindead.
If you have a near miss on the roads, almost guarenteed the schmuck was on the phone, screaming at kids, doing make-up, talking to passenger, in fact any damn thing except watching the traffic. Come on ... you're driving at an even modest 80km/h, surely the only rational thing to do is make very sure that nothig happens, even at that speed the damage can be phenomenal, the impact velocities are frankly too large to comprehend. Being on a bike puts you in the leading edge, but exactly the same princioples apply to any aspect of the road.
I have discovered that biking is in my blood. My dear grandad rode to work on a scooter over Ou Kaapse Weg daily, i been riding pillion with my old man since i was 3. That was in Cape Town too, known for it's windy and wet conditions. The other regret i have is the years i had no bike. Those years i walked. People still don't believe me sometimes, but when i was 16/17, daddy didn't buy me a bike, or anything. So, i walked. Miles and miles and miles and miles. I guess i was hitch-hiking, but in-between rides i never stood still, there is another turnon ahead, more cars, maybe one of them will stop. Then i got my license, and instead of code 8, needed a code 10, which let me drive a great big bloody blue truck around. The other end of the scale. Big, slow, hardly functional, a deathtrap. Since then a couple of cars, couple of bikes, worked as a delivery boy for years in the car (for charity) in and around jhb, 8-10 hours a day in this blasted traffic. The rules don't change, not even for pedestrians, or trucks, just the perspective of however is behind the wheel.
I think part of the problem is basically human(ness). I am on a bike, i see the world from THIS perspective. Or, i am in a car, i see the world ONLY as car drivers similar to me. Taxi's fall under some other listing. Never driven one, travelled them enough, i actually believe it's safer to be outside the damn things, hard as it may be to consider. They however perceive the world as theirs. Anything else merely does not matter in the slightest, and their contampt for you and i and their passengers is truly frightening.
BE AWARE ... of yourself, your own car, your place in the traffic, your speed, etc.
BE AWARE ... of the people around you, at any point, know which car is where WITHOUT looking first.
BE AWARE ... of the road 100m and more in front of you ... just in case
BE AWARE ... of the road behind you, be it a car or a bike ... there WILL be someone trying to get past you.
And for god's sake ... if you are going to talk on your phone (we ALL do) please understand that it is SECOND to driving. If you drop the phone, it's inconvenient, if you drop your car, it's literally a smash. Keep your focus on the road, if you can't watch the road and talk, either pull over (applying due caution) or call them back. It really is easy.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Places to see
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/
Very well written articles for the bikers among us. How to ride a motorcycle. Kinda like life, even though you know how it's done, if you don't keep reminding yourself of the rules, you're going to get hurt.
http://www.demakersvan.com/
Art meets tech, a few nice ideas to get round the harshness of technology.
I don't have much to say today, feeling quiet. Trying to figure the odds of a long lunch break and a run out the city. Just get to a hilltop somewhere, have a smoke ... and come back. Damn i miss the ocean.
A running chicken is poultry in motion (or a moving target)
Very well written articles for the bikers among us. How to ride a motorcycle. Kinda like life, even though you know how it's done, if you don't keep reminding yourself of the rules, you're going to get hurt.
http://www.demakersvan.com/
Art meets tech, a few nice ideas to get round the harshness of technology.
I don't have much to say today, feeling quiet. Trying to figure the odds of a long lunch break and a run out the city. Just get to a hilltop somewhere, have a smoke ... and come back. Damn i miss the ocean.
A running chicken is poultry in motion (or a moving target)
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Eureka!!!
Yes, i had a bath moment. You can never have too many steaming hot baths ...
It's also really interesting that that is when your mind has it's best moments.
The upshot goes like this: We are an emotive society, not an intellectual one.
Now this is a big statement, one of those things that define how you perceive the world, and how to understand it more effectively. What makes it worse (i think) is that we believe, from our school days, that we are a scientific society. We have houses and cars and computers and cell phones and complex tools to assist in our daily lives. We have tradesmen, artisans, specialists, engineers, and that helpdesk helper. All these little helpers make the 21st century the age of technology.
But the over specialisation has a price. People know what they do at work, usually some minutae within a massive organisation, but even if their work impacts our domestic sphere of life, their specialisation means very little in the day to day running of our lives.
What chrystalised this train of thought was a blog post of a friend (Koo) who commented on a friend of hers talking about feelings, and how feelings were a luxury not afforded to even our parents. They took what they could out of life and were grateful for it.
Now looking at the youth of today (don't say it) but they are very emotive beings. They operate on emotion; I don't feel like doing it, it doesn't feel right, my FEELINGS, etc. Even choosing a car, most make a passionate choice, as opposed to a balanced, informed choice. It's not the make with reliability and service support that makes your insides bubble. It's the fast, sleek, sexy car that will break that in the showroom wins your heart. The subsequent trauma of having a sub standard car is merely the laws of cause and effect in action.
Hmmmm ... i'm not making my thoughts clear enough i think ......
Well, as an aside, this is exactly what i want the blog for .. just sharpening my thoughts. If they have the sharpness of a tyre, then i need to think again.
Be back a little later i hope ... got to try clarify.
It's also really interesting that that is when your mind has it's best moments.
The upshot goes like this: We are an emotive society, not an intellectual one.
Now this is a big statement, one of those things that define how you perceive the world, and how to understand it more effectively. What makes it worse (i think) is that we believe, from our school days, that we are a scientific society. We have houses and cars and computers and cell phones and complex tools to assist in our daily lives. We have tradesmen, artisans, specialists, engineers, and that helpdesk helper. All these little helpers make the 21st century the age of technology.
But the over specialisation has a price. People know what they do at work, usually some minutae within a massive organisation, but even if their work impacts our domestic sphere of life, their specialisation means very little in the day to day running of our lives.
What chrystalised this train of thought was a blog post of a friend (Koo) who commented on a friend of hers talking about feelings, and how feelings were a luxury not afforded to even our parents. They took what they could out of life and were grateful for it.
Now looking at the youth of today (don't say it) but they are very emotive beings. They operate on emotion; I don't feel like doing it, it doesn't feel right, my FEELINGS, etc. Even choosing a car, most make a passionate choice, as opposed to a balanced, informed choice. It's not the make with reliability and service support that makes your insides bubble. It's the fast, sleek, sexy car that will break that in the showroom wins your heart. The subsequent trauma of having a sub standard car is merely the laws of cause and effect in action.
Hmmmm ... i'm not making my thoughts clear enough i think ......
Well, as an aside, this is exactly what i want the blog for .. just sharpening my thoughts. If they have the sharpness of a tyre, then i need to think again.
Be back a little later i hope ... got to try clarify.
Stratovarius - Against the Wind
Against The Wind
[Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto]
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
I'll never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all that's left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
We've got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together we'll forget the sorrow
it's forever gone
[Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto]
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
I'll never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all that's left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
We've got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together we'll forget the sorrow
it's forever gone
Monday, 9 July 2007
If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.
Greetings!!!!!!
It was a very good week off, with lots getting accomplished. Lots to talk about all round ... Although truth be told, i haven't touched the internet at all, neither newspapers nor any other news source. Ignorance is bliss.
I got my learners license for a motorbike, which i only needed to get finance. That being said ..... LOOKEEEEEEEE
Yamaha FZ6 '05
I am as happy as .... um .... a pig in shit. *grin*
It's big, it's fast. it's comfortable, IT'S FAST, it's quiet, IT'S FAST, and best of all, it's mine. All mine. Ok, please picture me with a stupidly large cheshire cat type grin ... yes, the goofy look.
I have so much to add here, i see i've been tagged by Green Tea and Tan Lines, got some lyrics i want to throw in (Scorpion) and shew ... all sorts.
Nice to be back though ... a little ... leave was lovely but as ever, too short.
Got some mojo back though, which always goes a long way, and my biggest problem (ie getting to work and back) has been resolved. *deep breath*
BRING IT ON
It was a very good week off, with lots getting accomplished. Lots to talk about all round ... Although truth be told, i haven't touched the internet at all, neither newspapers nor any other news source. Ignorance is bliss.
I got my learners license for a motorbike, which i only needed to get finance. That being said ..... LOOKEEEEEEEE
Yamaha FZ6 '05
I am as happy as .... um .... a pig in shit. *grin*
It's big, it's fast. it's comfortable, IT'S FAST, it's quiet, IT'S FAST, and best of all, it's mine. All mine. Ok, please picture me with a stupidly large cheshire cat type grin ... yes, the goofy look.
I have so much to add here, i see i've been tagged by Green Tea and Tan Lines, got some lyrics i want to throw in (Scorpion) and shew ... all sorts.
Nice to be back though ... a little ... leave was lovely but as ever, too short.
Got some mojo back though, which always goes a long way, and my biggest problem (ie getting to work and back) has been resolved. *deep breath*
BRING IT ON
Moment of Glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I fly away like a bird in the Sky
No limitation, a new inspiration
A World that is free just as free as my mind
Communication
A new destination
The planet of visions is calling tonight
Another thousand years seem so long
I´m just a passenger
And the ride ride has just begun
Moment of glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
Moment of glory
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I fly away like a bird in the Sky
No limitation, a new inspiration
A World that is free just as free as my mind
Communication
A new destination
The planet of visions is calling tonight
Another thousand years seem so long
I´m just a passenger
And the ride ride has just begun
Moment of glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
Moment of glory
Tag time
I was tagged by Blistering Barnacles of Green Tea and Tan Lines.
HERE’S THE RULES…
- We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
- Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people who get tagged and list their names
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them their tagged.
my 8 random facts:
1. I am a schoolkid in my own head ... this being an adult sucks (except for motorbikes)
2. I have a family of: 1 wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, several fish, and a live in maid
3. I have met a female superior from the office at a strip club (by acident.
4. I don't have TV
5. I own a motor bike, and love the "biker" lifestyle
6. Hanepoort is my "house blend" at home
7. I do not like commercialism ... or branding ... or stickers
8. I have travelled everywhere in SA ... and love it!!!!!
i tag…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
HERE’S THE RULES…
- We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
- Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people who get tagged and list their names
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them their tagged.
my 8 random facts:
1. I am a schoolkid in my own head ... this being an adult sucks (except for motorbikes)
2. I have a family of: 1 wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, several fish, and a live in maid
3. I have met a female superior from the office at a strip club (by acident.
4. I don't have TV
5. I own a motor bike, and love the "biker" lifestyle
6. Hanepoort is my "house blend" at home
7. I do not like commercialism ... or branding ... or stickers
8. I have travelled everywhere in SA ... and love it!!!!!
i tag…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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