Cracked heads

Date: Sat Mar 27 15:36:01 2004

Yes, you. You sick fucker. On Wednesday morning I emerged from my
girlfriend's building by U.N. Plaza to find that you had sawed the tops
off both the sparkplugs on my motorcycle. At the time, I had no idea why
anyone would do that. Other than the sparkplugs, the bike was untouched.
Some kind of bizarre vandalism? A fraternity prank gone awry? I had no
idea. All I knew is that I looked like a huge douchebag riding the Muni
to work in a padded motorcycle jacket and helmet. Because the bike was
immobilized I got a $35 street sweeping ticket that night. Thursday I
had it towed to the shop ($45) where they replaced the sparkplugs and
the boots ($50 including labor). They explained to me that "people" - I
use the term loosely here - like you break off the tops of spark plugs
and use the porcelain tubes to smoke crack. As an engineer and former
MacGyver fan, in a way I think this is kind of cool. But then I remember
that I just paid $100 for YOUR crackpipes, and I get angry again.

Crackhead, it was really good to have my bike back though. I rode home
from the shop with a couple of spare sparkplugs and a smile on my face.
I figured the next time I parked at my girlfriend's place overnight I
would have to buy some crackpipes and tape them to my bike as a peace offering. Overall, I wasn't that upset. Despite having to ride the bus
for three days and dropping a hundred bones at the shop, I had gained
some fascinating knowledge, a new set of spark plugs, and a pretty funny
anecdote about how fucked up you are, and how our paths once crossed
briefly in the night.

But you couldn't just let sleeping dogs lie, could you Crackhead? You
couldn't just stay in on Friday, watch Letterman through the window of a
home electronics store and then call it a night. You couldn't rest on
your laurels. Two porcelain sparkplug crackpipes just wasn't enough for
you, was it Crackhead? You just had to come back for more. This morning, a scant fifteen hours after I rode it out of the shop, I found my
motorcycle violated once again. This time you only took the right one -
maybe you were having an off night. At least this time I had a spare
sparkplug and the tools to fix it - or so I thought - having ordered a
73-piece toolset from SEARS.com last week. But no, the sparkplug socket in my new toolset was for American sparkplugs. So I had to go down to the neighborhood Ace hardware. They had an 18mm socket that would fit over my sparkplug, but it was for a 1/2" drive ratchet. My toolkit only has 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets. So I had to buy a 1/2" ratchet along with
the socket. Even though the clerk took pity on me and gave me the senior
citizen discount (I'm 25) it still cost me $22 all told.

Now, you might say that I should have just gotten a 3/8"-to-1/2" drive
adaptor instead of springing for the whole ratchet. And to that I say
"Shut the hell up, Crackhead, I'm not finished. And besides, I was
eventually going to buy a 1/2" ratchet anyway so it's probably not worth
it to take it back now."OK, now I'm rambling. But the point is,
Crackhead, that you have done me wrong. Now, I get that you love crack.
That is totally understandable. I've heard it is really fun, at first,
and quite addictive. What I don't understand is...

YOU ARE A CRACKHEAD. WHY DON'T YOU OWN A CRACKPIPE?!

I am an engineer. Do you ever see me shaking down bums in the Loin for a calculator and sliderule? No, you don't. Because engineering is the main thing I do, I went and bought myself a calculator. The main thing you do is crack. How do you get by without a crackpipe? The other crackheads must clown on you non-stop. I mean, the fucking saw you used to saw off my sparkplugs is probably worth five or ten bucks. Why not sell or trade it for a crackpipe? You really haven't put much thought into this, have you? Please, Crackhead, please don't tell me you sold your crackpipe to buy crack. Even a stupid crackhead such as yourself couldn't possibly be that stupid. I've decided that taping crackpipes to my motorcycle would be tantamount to appeasement.

You have crossed a line, Crackhead - specifically California Street. You
have come onto my own street and you have desecrated that which I hold
dear. You have stolen from me, and you have caused me to spend the last half hour writing this post instead of engineering shit, and it is
conceivable, if not likely, that my boss could find out about this and
fire me. I am hella pissed at you dude.

Here are my options as I see them:

1. Write a note saying that I have coated both of my sparkplugs in rat
poison and tape it to my bike at night. You can thank Tim for that one,
it was his idea.

2. Don't write a note, but just coat both sparkplugs in rat poison. This
is probably closer to a punishment that would fit your despicable crime.
I'm sure this is super illegal and SHIT, but it's not like anyone is
going to miss you, Crackhead. Don't fool yourself.

3. Wait in an alley near my bike armed with my new stainless steel
mirror-finish Ace Professional brand 1/2" drive socket wrench, my 18mm
sparkplug socket, and my searing rage. It's pretty heavy and well
balanced. I am not a large man, but I am angry.

In conclusion, Crackhead, why don't you just do both of us a favor and
buy yourself a crackpipe? It will both enhance your crack smoking
experience and save me a lot of time and felony assault charges. Think
about it.

Sincerely,
Matt

*** If you are not the Crackhead that took my sparkplugs, please disregard this posting ***
_______________________________________________________________

I have no idea why, but i'm in a very surreal space lately. I guess this kind of real world humour appeals to me now .... it is very funny though ;-)
peace

i luv humans

The following letter was forwarded by someone who teaches at a small high school in country NSW (Australia). The letter was sent to the principal's office after the school had sponsored a luncheon for the elderly.

This story is a credit to all humankind.

Read it, soak it in, and bask in the warm feeling that it leaves you with.

Dear School,

God bless you for the beautiful radio I won at your recent senior citizen's luncheon. I'm 94 years old and live at the local County Home for the Aged.

My family has long since passed away and I rarely have visitors. As a result, I have very limited contact with the outside world. This makes your gift especially welcome My roommate, Maggie Cook, has had her own radio for as long as I've known her. She listens to it all the time, though usually with an earplug or with the volume so low, I can't hear it. For some reason, she has never wanted to share it.

Last Sunday morning, while listening to her morning gospel programs, she accidentally knocked her radio off its shelf. It smashed into many pieces, and caused her to cry. It was so sad.

Fortunately, I had my new radio. Knowing this, Maggie asked if she could listen to mine.

I told her to fuck off.

Bless you.
Sincerely,
Edna Johnson

Pro child initiative

http://www.fpbprochild.org.za/Home.aspx

Very nicely done website, a lot of useful information, and links.

Go check it out.

Elemental wolves

http://yuumei.deviantart.com/art/Element-Wolves-87274429

Art by yuumei ....

Very good .... awesome in fact. If you look under the image on the page, there are a serious of similar drawings, wolf of fire, clouds, water, etc. They all stand individually, and in this impressive compilation image.
BIG thumbs up :D

Duel On the Highway

Duel On the Highway

An exit ramp bisects a sweeping curve
too many times I’ve seen
cages and rigs roll on through
and I wondered...
would it be that way today?
If so, what would I do?
I see the cage coming down
and as I come around
the end of the curve
I am watching...calculating
preparing for "battle",
which way will I go
if she doesn’t slow
and yield?
I will hold my lane here
not off in that field !
So damn many thoughts
are clicking off
methodically and lightning quick, one by one
I’m tallying statistics and survival scenarios.
I’m staring her down,
she’s talking on her cell phone, listening to her stereo
oblivious of me, like she’s alone and owns this road.
I’m won’t slow down...not this day,
this is my road, this is my "town"...
and I’m staring her down
like a gunfighter’s eyelock before the pistols are drawn,
staring her down....
drilling my presence into her pre-occupied brain...
Will she see me, or will my life
forever change in this instant?
Look, look, look at me dammit!
She finally turns to look my way
as I accelerate by,
checking her in my mirror
I see.. she never stopped
as I blow the smoke from the barrel of my "gun".
Another notch in my belt...
another battle won.

Chopper Kate By

Bikes

Went to the 1000 bike show this weekend, what a lekker jol!!!

Nope nothing else here ...

IT WORX!!!!!

*grumble*

Blogger ain't working properly .... not sure if it's my network's fault, or not.

Either way ... will post more stuff ASAP.

*grumble*

R.I.P. George Carlin

Metro gangs

News 24 user clips of the Metro blockade on the M2 last week

Norton rides again

Aww faak ... images not wekking ... *sigh*

Norton

go see ;-)

Portraits

Get more at http://www.interesno.dn.ua/interesting-photo/interesting-photo-people/8-photo-interesting-people/242-homo

Cops vs Cops

Leopard-crawling to save my life
June 26 2008 at 06:31AM


It has been a long time since I leopard-crawled with bullets cracking over my head. That's what I was doing last night.

This time the people pulling the triggers were supposed to be on the same side - the Joburg metro police and the SAPS. But they were out to kill each other.

I was part of a crowd standing about listening to a senior metro cop trying to get protesting colleagues to listen to him - with little success. There had been toyi-toying, good-natured banter - even a drill display by a platoon of metro cops.

But it all turned ominous when the SAPS arrived. They brandished shotguns and wore body armour. Some were clearly game for a scrap.

They were taken aback when they noticed the metro cops were armed and loaded.

"We've also got guns," was the chant, which didn't sound good.

The SAPS withdrew to a safe distance. They made two false charges over the next hour, only to withdraw when some metro cops drew their weapons.

So, when they finally made a push for real, we - the spectators - were taken by surprise and went to ground.

I don't know what happened next - I had my chin on the tar - but at least 200 shots must have been fired, including automatic weapons fire.

I made it back to my car just as people in front of me decided to make a break for it. I followed suit, dodging the debris of the roadblock.

I didn't take a good look at what was going on, but did see an SAPS officer fire his shotgun at the crowd running down the Eloff Street onramp.

This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on June 26, 2008

Cell towers make suicidal impulses

SUICIDES ‘LINKED TO PHONE MASTS’

Sunday June 22,2008
Lucy Johnston

THE spate of deaths among young people in Britain’s suicide capital could be linked to radio waves from dozens of mobile phone transmitter masts near the victims’ homes.

Dr Roger Coghill, who sits on a Government advisory committee on mobile radiation, has discovered that all 22 youngsters who have killed themselves in Bridgend, South Wales, over the past 18 months lived far closer than average to a mast.

He has examined worldwide studies linking proximity of masts to depression. Dr Coghill’s work is likely to trigger alarm and lead to closer scrutiny of the safety of masts, which are frequently sited on public buildings such as schools and hospitals.

It is also likely to fuel more campaigns against placing masts close to public places on health grounds.

Dr Coghill said last night there was strong circumstantial evidence that the masts may have triggered depression in those from Bridgend who took their lives.

They include Kelly Stephenson, 20, who hanged herself from a shower rail in February this year while on holiday in Folkestone, Kent.

Dr Coghill said: “There is a body of research that has over the years pointed to the fact that exposure to mobile radiation can lead to depression. There is evidence of higher suicide rates where people live near any electrical equipment that gives off radio or electrical waves.”

There are now 70 million mobile phone handsets in the UK and around 50,000 masts. Both emit radio signals and electromagnetic fields that can penetrate the brain, and for many years campaigners have argued that this could seriously damage people’s health.

The national average for proximity to a mobile phone transmitter varies depending on the type of mast. The latest masts are far more powerful so they can transmit more sophisticated data, such as photos and videos for people to download on internet phones.

Masts are placed on average 800 metres away from each home across the country. In Bridgend the victims lived on average only 356 metres away.

The national average distance from a new powerful mast is a kilometre while in Bridgend it is 540 metres. Three transmitters were within 200 metres, 13 within 400 metres and as many as 22 within 500 metres of victims’ homes. Carwyn Jones, 28, who hanged himself last week, was the third young person in his street to commit suicide.

Research shows young people’s brains are more susceptible to radio wave energy. Only two weeks ago a report identified mobiles as having an effect on sleep patterns.

Dr Coghill added: “What seems to be happening is that the electrical energy is having an effect on the chemistry of the brain, depleting serotonin levels. We know that in depression serotonin levels are low and that a standard treatment for depression is to give drugs to boost serotonin levels. As they begin to work, the patient’s depression lifts.”

He said urgent research was needed because Britain was now covered with thousands of masts, many close to homes, schools and offices.

Since January 5, 2007, there have been 22 deaths of young people in the Bridgend area. Some believe the suicides are linked but so far experts have failed to find a common cause.

Thomas Davies, 20, hanged himself in February 2007. Last night his brother Nathan, 19, welcomed Dr Coghill’s research. “As far as this family is concerned nothing can bring Tom back,” he said. “But if there is a link found and something can be done then it could prevent further suicides.”

But Mike Dolan, executive director of the Mobile Operators Association, dismissed Dr Coghill’s research. “This is an insensitive and outrageous piece of speculation which has no basis in established science,” he said.

The Government’s Health Protection Agency insisted that fields from mobile masts – even modern powerful masts – were well within international agreed safety limits. “There is no evidence that masts do you harm. The levels of radio waves are very low.”
____________________________________________________________________________

I love the brush off at the end. It is established science that any form of electronic radiation is bad for you, hence the "international agreed safety limits". Just because everybody agrees with them does not mean they are safe. I can also add that it is mpossible to know for certain, purely because not enough testing has been done. Cell towers are still new to our environment, say 10 years or so.
No previous testing could have taken into account 10 years worth of exposure.

The Bridgend suicides continue, a small town in Wales where for no apparent reason the teens are killing themselves in alarming numbers. I believe wholeheartedly that the cell phone towers are bad for humans, animals and plants, and that cancer, and other diseases are the logical end result.

Largest art on earth

Take the huge dry lake bed. Choose a stick. Make the largest sand drawing on Earth.

Next on the list could be - aliens see it, make contact. Well, even without aliens, this art is more than mind-boggling in its scale. It's planet-altering.

Jim Denevan made the world's largest freehand drawing a few weeks ago on a dry lake in Nevada. How big is it? Three mile across, which took 100 miles of walking to draw the pattern:







Taken from Darkroastedblend

ATTACK OF THE CELL PHONE ZOMBIES

By Will Thomas

Selected quotes:

Phoning from inside a car or truck is a bad call for everyone in the vehicle - especially children - because the surrounding steel structure amplifies cellphone emissions. The UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee reports, “using a mobile phone in a vehicle can accelerate radiation levels by up to 10-fold due to resonance effect.”

SAFETY TIP: Protect yourself from zombies operating motor vehicles! If you are driving and spot someone using a cell phone in a vehicle nearby, pull off the road and seek cover as soon as it is safe to do so. Or maneuver behind that driver and increase your distance accordingly. Do not open fire. “Self-defense” is not yet a legal defense for shooting drivers wielding cell phones.

Associated Bioelectromagnetics Technologists findings also show that RF exposure from cell phones and cell phone relay towers “is wholly correlated with the repeatedly documented increased incidence of autism - now reported by at least some researchers as greater than 1 per 100 newborn.”

Brain-damaging cell phone exposure continues through childhood. A 1996 study probing the “Electromagnetic Absorption in the Human Head and Neck for Mobile Telephones at 835 and 1900 MHz,” conducted by the fabulously named Dr. Om Gandhi showed electromagnetic radiation from cell phones “coupling” even more alarmingly with the electrically active brains of children, than through the thicker carapaces of cumulatively compromised adults.

“I didn't know at the time industry was targeting children as the next growth segment. Boy, they really got after me,” Dr. Gandhi says, after he found that the thinner outer ears and skulls of children allow more energy from their cell phones to short-circuit delicate brain tissue. “The reason industry doesn't like it,” Gandhi explains - “They don't want to lose this part of the market.” [IEEE Transactions of Microwave Theory and Techniques Oct/96]

"We're pretty bullish on increased usage by teenagers,” exudes Adam Guy, a senior analyst at the Strategist Group. “Usage penetration is exploding."

The good news and the bad news is that cigarettes are being replaced by mobile phones. Unable to afford both addictions, teen smoking fell off sharply in 1996 - the same year mobile phone use skyrocketed among 15- to 17-year-olds. And no wonder, since cell phones are marketed by the same ad agencies using the same self-image come-ons that attracted teens to cigarettes - a sense of individuality and sociability, a desire to rebel, the need to bond with friends. [British Medical Journal Nov 4/00]

Choose Mugabe or you face a bullet

Chris McGreal | Harare, Zimbabwe

18 June 2008 07:12

Mail & Guardian

Read it. I can't really form words, the horror.

God have mercy on them.

PS .... why the fuck can't we just kill the motherfucker?

2 things

Happy full moon everybody.

I been such a bloody noonah .... whinging about a sore mouth, and unable to get to a dentist. I should have known the system would be useless. Nature already provides everything we need. I have all the ingredients to fix sore gums in my home already, a quick google search on which to use how, and there you go.

Somehow i just was so down it didn't even occur to me ...*sigh* no cure for stupidity ;-)

Oh ... 3 things .... how is the picture below?? Awesome huh?

Motorcycles are better then women.

Motorcycles Curves Never Sag
Motorcycles Never Get Pregnant
You Can Ride A Motorcycle Any Time Of The Month
Motorcycles Don't Have Parents To Contend With
Motorcycles Don't Whine Unless Something Is Really Wrong
You Can Kick Your Motorcycle To Wake It Up
You Can Share Your Motorcycle With Your Friends
If Your Motorcycle Smokes, You Can Do Something About It
You Can Drink Beer While Riding Your Motorcycle
Motorcycles Don't Care How Many Other Motorcycles You Have Ridden
When Riding, You And Your Motorcycle Always Arrive At The Same Time
Motorcycles Don't Mind If You Buy Motorcycle Magazines
If Your Motorcycle Is Too Loose, You Can Tighten It
It's Okay To Tie-down Your Motorcycle
Motorcycles Don't Care If You Are Late
You Don't Have To Shower Before Riding A Motorcycle
If You Say Bad Things To Your Motorcycle
You Don't Have To Apologize Before You Can Ride Again
If You Get A New Motorcycle, You Do Not Have To
Keep Sending Money To The Old One
Your Motorcycle Never Wants A Night Out With Other Motorcycles
Motorcycles Will Not Insult You If You Are A Bad Rider
You Can Ride Your Motorcycle Until you Get Sore

OK, but to be fair, if it has tits or wheels it'll give you shit.

RANT

OK, i'm having a bad day. If you're looking for something *nice* then fuck off ....


My child was in hospital the weekend for pneumonia. I was sick too, spent a long (holiday) weekend sick and sleepless. Plus it seems she got gastro or something while in hospital, so she's double sick now.
My medical aid has been placed "under curatorship" which is NOT the same as being bankrupt, they assure me. Despite this, we are now forced to pay cash for any medical expenses, cash which we don't have. So i can't go to the dentist, which i apparently need to, my mouth is killing me :(

The economy is fucked, properly broken. I cannot sell my car, which i bought for 35k 2 years ago, now i'll be lucky if i get more than 15 for it, IF I'M LUCKY.
You feeling lucky, punk? House same thing, never gonna get my money back, so i'm stuck in a house, which is costing more and more every fuckin month because of the way the rates are rising. We have no disposable income, i go on breakfast runs and cannot afford coffee, never mind fuckin breakfast.

I got my father and grandmother staying with us, plus the nurse for gran, and we just gotta make food for them to eat. Never mind the BITCH about not having my own space, the reason i bought a big house in the first fuckin place. And of course the fucking TV he brought with, against my express wishes, now i have to deal with TV noise (god i'm gonna smash that stupid box with a really big stick) and kids that wanna be vegetable brains along with the old man. And him of course too brain dead to realise how he is the bad influence on them, countering my instructions at nearly every turn.

Wife is still on fraud charges, get this: she gets given a piece of paper in a govt office, a year later she gets told it's fraudulent, and arrested and charged. So now we have to pay lawyers, to get "justice". Murderers walk out of court, and the fucking president has more charges against him than brain cells, but he'll walk, because it's a conspiracy. But my wife return to court again and again, despite no evidence against her, other than a document that was accepted as valid on several occasions, except the final.

The country is going downhill faster an a bob sled in free fall, and everywhere people are dying, from crime, roads, hospitals, police cells, and in their homes. There is fuckall that we can do. We can't even arm ourselves because guns are bad. ANY fuckin criminal can get a gun for as little as R100, but i cannot get one for self defense, because there is no crime problem.

This government is fucked ... police, education, halth, transport, every single aspect of government has failed, but we pay double for everything, and get fucked over by all sides equally. Fucking stupid pigs that took the farm, and are WORSE than the humans EVER were. You go read animal farm, that is south africa, after they changed the slogans on the wall, and the pigs moved into Manor house, and used the dogs against the farm animals. Denialism works, there IS no problem, they are right, whatever they say. Mass delusion and denialism, government sponsored terrorism of the poeple, threats of no electricity, babies dying in truckloads in hosptals, and we are calmly told that the deaths were within the norms.

The recent xenophobic violence was just the tip of the iceberg. South africa is about to become a bloodbath, the people are hungry, and angry at the lies. Sadly they're also too stupid to understand who is lying. SO they buy the lies, vent their anger elsewhere, when come back for more lies and licking the jackboots of the liars.

The ANCYL vows to kill on behalf of zuma ... kill WHO i fucking ask with tears in my eyes? Anyone who opposes? Anyone? South africa is second ONLY TO IRAQ in terms of people killed daily, young girls accept the fact the more than half the females in this countrey will be raped. THEY CONSIDER EARLY DEATH AS NORMAL.

These things plague me daily, eat away at my soul, my life force. We consider ourselves lucky to be alive every day. Having armed men assalt you and rape your wife is lucky if you're left alive. As a human, i cannot but reach for the divine, try and see the good in things. And yes, usually it is easy to spot that which lifts the spirit, the bird singing, the fresh dew, clouds, trees, children.

But it is also a form of delusion, the magician stealing attention form the slight of hand, and suddently HEY PRESTO ... reality has been bent, what is should not be. And we are left feeling bewildered and confused. Certain that we have been deceived in some way, but unable to point it out.

I say these things, and my training tells me to feel shame, since i have more than others. There are those who are infinitely worse off than i, and truth be told i AM grateful for the things i have, and the people i know. But what i describe is nothing more nor less than the human condition. Being fucked over is common for most of humanity, so much so that to point and say THE EMPORER IS NAKED is akin to slaughtering the sacred cow. WE HUMANITY ARE BETTER THAN THIS. Should be. Could be. Aren't.

K, i'm done.
peace

Pwetty ...

Biophile

Check out the link on the right, well worth the time ;-)

Roehr

So long ... and thanks for killing us ...

Whales stranded off Madagascar (Page last updated at 09:38 GMT, Monday, 9 June 2008 10:38 UK)
By Jonny Hogg
BBC News, Antananarivo

Marine noise has been known to disorientate whales in the past

A mission is under way to rescue more than 100 whales trapped in a bay in the north of Madagascar.

About 30 whales have already died and experts are being flown in from across the world.

The site is near an area where ExxonMobil is carrying out seismic surveys but the oil company has denied any link.

The first whale became stranded at the end of May and the first fatality was reported three days later.

The majority of the melon-headed whales swam through a narrow entrance into a bay where they have become trapped.

ExxonMobil had been carrying out seismic surveying in the area, although it says this began several days after the first whale washed ashore.

However, it told the BBC it had been using echo-sounding before this.

The company said it is confident it is not responsible, given that its operation was over 50km (31 miles) away from the Baie de Loza, where the whales have been washed up.

Despite this, it has halted its surveying programme until the issue has been resolved.

Meanwhile, a rescue effort involving local people and international conservation agencies is under way to save the remaining animals.

Senegal's beached whales (Page last updated at 09:03 GMT, Thursday, 22 May 2008 10:03 UK)

More than 100 whales swam ashore in the Yoff neighbourhood of Senegal's capital, Dakar, on Wednesday.






I'm going to be sick.

We are sick of crime

Staff Reporters

June 11 2008 at 07:20AM

Still in shock, Richard Siluma walked with thousands of others in protest against crime - just hours after his cousin, entertainer Obed Siluma, had been gunned down in Joubert Park.

Siluma, better known as Tiny after the character he played in the Chicken Licken ads, is the third high-profile entertainer to be murdered in the past year.

Richard was taking part in the Million Man March, which was organised after actor Shimi Mofokeng was killed on March 3.

His widow, Letta Mofokeng, told the crowd at the Union Buildings that children were being deprived of their freedom.

"Children aren't able to play at parks because there are ruthless criminals. We need to stop intellectualising and philosophising the issue and tackle it head on."

Siluma, 42, was also the cousin of international reggae star Lucky Dube, who was killed in front of his children in Rosettenville in a botched hijacking on October 18.

Siluma was shot four times on Monday night at the Delmonico flats in Joubert Park, where he lived. Three suspects were later arrested in the same building.

Police spokesperson Captain Bheki Mavundla said the motive for the killing was unknown.

Richard, a music producer, was distraught on Tuesday as he spoke about how he heard the news just as he was preparing to be part of the anti-crime march.

Siluma is the fourth relative Richard has lost to violence.

"They all died from guns."

Actor Joe Mafela, who did the ads with Siluma, said: "Criminals are having Christmas while we are living in fear. There should be a referendum on the death sentence.

"We are sick of crime and we are part of the solution to the problem. Stop shutting us out."

This was the message to the government from thousands of concerned citizens who gathered for the Million Man March.

They called on government to stop ignoring their concerns about crime.

Organiser Desmond Dube said government officials who were responsible for safety and security should be held accountable for not doing their duty.

"Crime is not only when we get robbed at gunpoint or have our possessions stolen. When people are paid taxpayers' money to protect us but fail to do so, they are also committing a crime."

A memorandum was handed over to Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour, who said: "We agree that a strong message needs to be sent to the criminals. We need to let them know that they can't mess with our freedom."

Comment?

I don't make this up ... this is what people are saying ... and thinking ... and doing. How does one even begin to either understand the mindset, or fight against it?

Million Man March Today

Million Man March

The people still have a voice ... their feet.

Necronauts

That previous post looked K@K .... :-/

MOving SWIFTLY along ...

Necronauts

Yes ... necro as in DEAD ... and nauts ... as in travellers ....

Um ... ok we WILL all die ... and so on ... but .... no ways, there is something WRONG with this crowd ...

But hey humanity .... gotta love em ;-)

Phallic Epiphany

\

Ahem ... i has your attention pleasing?

*grin*
I like epiphanies, have at least a day ... mind numbing, soul wrenchin ... OMG so THAT's how it is epiphanies. OK, most are really awful, simplistic and silly, but i still like to think that some are good, even important.

Which is how i was thinking about obelisks the other day. And how they were symbolic of the male phallus and paternalism of all sorts, etc etc. Lo and behold, i look up and see a church steeple. Um ... you following?

I bounced the idea off my wife, as i do several of my thoughts, sort of sanity check, and she immediately agreed, church = male chauvenism at it's finest. Well we COULD talk about St Peter's square at the vatican, and the centrepiece, a magnificent obelisk. The point is, this was done to us, this INSULT really. We all congregate (well churchgoing people) every sunday to celebrate under the efigy of a phallus.

It's gross ... it's such a big lie, which is probably why we don't see it. I kind of like churches .. the ideas behind them, the goodwill displayed, and the sense of community. But so many ideas, like steeples, seem to come from elsewhere. Where??

Jimi Hendrix - Angel

Angel come down, from heaven, yesterday
Stayed with me just long enough, for afternoon tea
And she told me a story, yesterday
About the love between the moon, and the deep blue sea
And when it was time for her to go
She spread her wings high over me
And she said, "I shall return tomorrow"

And i said "fly on by, sweet angel
Fly on through the sky
Fly on by sweet angel
Tomorrow I will be by your side"

Sure enough, next morning comes to me
Silver wings silhouette against the glow
Of a child's sunrise
And my angel, she says unto me
"Today is the day, today you shall fly
She kissed me once, and a feeling so good it made me cry
Now, we fly together ...

And I said, "Fly on my sweet angel
Fly on through the sky
Fly on my sweet angel
Forever I will be by your side"

Crocs dying in Kruger Park

Crocodile deaths puzzle ecologists
June 04 2008 at 11:09AM

Ecologists at the Kruger National Park are puzzled over the recent spate of crocodile deaths, the park's management said on Wednesday.

Veterinary surgeons, scientists, researchers, rangers and managers met in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday to discuss the discovery of at least 30 crocodile carcasses in the Olifants River area last Thursday.

"We don't have the answers as to why these crocodiles are dying," said the Kruger National Park's Head of Department for Scientific Services, Danie Pienaar.

A carcass was first spotted by trail rangers. It had distinctive yellow-orange hardened fat in its tail.

During an aerial survey over the entire length of the Olifants River, 30 crocodile carcasses were discovered in various stages of decomposition, he said.

Tissue samples of the yellow-orange hardened fat were taken and sent by the Kruger National park to the University of Pretoria's Onderstepoort for further analysis.

Pienaar said: "It is believed at this stage that the yellow-orange fat is a condition known as Pansteatitis which is usually associated with the consumption of rotten or rancid fish.

"We are not sure, what caused this condition in the Olifants Gorge as there were no recent fish kills reported," he said.

The problem was being investigated and nothing had been ruled out as its cause.

"Although a clear cause/effect relationship cannot be found, it is clear that the Olifants River system is strained beyond it capacity to deal with this level of stress."

Pienaar said the Olifants River was the most polluted river in the park and the system had experienced further strain from the Massingir Dam that has pushed back into the Olifants Gorge, causing sediments to be deposited. - Sapa

Old style

Bob Dylan - You're gonna make me lonesome when you go


I've seen love go by my door
It's never been this close before
Never been so easy or so slow.
Been shooting in the dark too long
When somethin's not right it's wrong
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

Dragon clouds so high above
I've only known careless love,
It's always hit me from below.
This time around it's more correct
Right on target, so direct,
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

Purple clover, Queen Anne lace,
Crimson hair across your face,
You could make me cry if you don't know.
Can't remember what I was thinkin' of
You might be spoilin' me too much, love,
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

Flowers on the hillside, bloomin' crazy,
Crickets talkin' back and forth in rhyme,
Blue river runnin' slow and lazy,
I could stay with you forever
And never realize the time.

Situations have ended sad,
Relationships have all been bad.
Mine've been like Verlaine's and Rimbaud.
But there's no way I can compare
All those scenes to this affair,
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

Yer gonna make me wonder what I'm doin',
Stayin' far behind without you.
Yer gonna make me wonder what I'm sayin',
Yer gonna make me give myself a good talkin' to.

I'll look for you in old Honolulu,
San Francisco, Ashtabula,
Yer gonna have to leave me now, I know.
But I'll see you in the sky above,
In the tall grass, in the ones I love,
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

Copyright © 1974 Ram's Horn Music

Caroyn Baker dot net

Carolyn Baker

This is too good to not post. I'm hoping like hell that no lawyer will notice me reprinting this, but everyone has to read this, it is vitally important to us all.

The end is nigh ... no kidding ... we have front row seats for the end of western civilisation ... it's going to be a fireworks display of NOTE!!!!

Read it in full please. Re-read it. Then think about it.

Herewith ... RAPID UNRAVELING AND THE DEMISE OF ADOLESCENT AMERICA, By Carolyn Baker
Friday, 23 May 2008

Well here it is folks-the great unraveling so many of us have been forecasting during the past five years as we've read the tea leaves and researched the unprecedented convergence of myriad natural, political, economic, and environmental realities. As most of you know, I'm traveling, yes on the road, across this country. I was going to wait until arriving at my final destination before writing about my experience, but with oil rapidly heading for $200 a barrel, it feels important to do so sooner rather than later because our lives have just changed more dramatically than we can imagine, and we will only be able to comprehend to what extent as the repercussions of the end of the age of oil reverberate through what is left of industrial civilization.

In my travels I've seen exactly one RV on the road, a few SUV's and vans, a number of small cars and motorcycles, and lots of eighteen-wheelers going 55 MPH. Motels have a record low number of guests, and few people are eating in restaurants. I thought about writing an article entitled "Ghost Town USA: Echo Across America", but that was before oil reached a new record of $135 yesterday. The speed of collapse is taking even a seasoned collapse-watcher like me by somewhat of a surprise, and I feel compelled to talk about it as it unfolds in this moment.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of what we are witnessing-and there are oh so many, is the ubiquitousness of blame. Attending almost every report on skyrocketing gas prices is the question: "So whose fault is it?" I certainly am not surprised by this, but I find it unsettling to say the least. Because Americans in particular have been absolutely recalcitrant and incapable of looking at collapse, they are being and will continue to be increasingly blindsided by it. Sadly, when humans are traumatized, their functioning becomes progressively more primal and animal-like, and their capacity for taking in and assimilating new information is markedly reduced.

When Peak Oil experts first began sharing their research, they told us that food, perhaps more than any aspect of our lives, would be impacted by it, and so it is. The double-barreled trauma now hitting Americans which is putting both gasoline and food out of their reach, is certain to result in reactive, vindictive behavior that will irrationally target a plethora of scapegoats. Add to this a foreclosure or two, a bankruptcy, car repossession, job loss or loss of health insurance and you have a recipe for mayhem. Such behavior, understandable as it may be, is adolescent in nature and therefore, untempered and unwizened, making acting-out individuals exceedingly dangerous to themselves and others.

Like me, you are probably witnessing the barrage of blame in your community and nationally if you are paying attention to mainstream news. Dmitry Orlov has given us a treasure-trove of information about human behavior in the throes of collapse chaos. What is and will be different from the collapse of the Soviet Union for Americans, however, is the level of violence that is likely to proliferate as collapse accelerates. Russians were never intoxicated with affluence and entitlement as Americans are. Their history has been replete with suffering; ours marinated in privilege reinforced by gun culture and firearm fetishes.

What those of us who comprehend collapse must understand as we navigate the daunting days ahead is that what is happening to America and the human species is an initiatory experience similar to those which have been structured and honored by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The very best explanation I have read of this process is Nature And The Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness And Community In A Fragmented World, an extraordinary book by psychologist Bill Plotkin in which he illuminates the stages of human development and emphasizes how they have been skewed by a capitalistic, consumer-driven culture-and how each stage might be lived in fulfillment in the context of a holistic community. The current planetary initiation differs from the traditional, tribal initiation in that the former is involuntary and unwanted, whereas the latter is perceived as essential for the well being of the initiate and the tribe.

In tribal cultures young people have the opportunity to experience ritual rites of passage from adolescence to adulthood, that is, an initiation, which involves some type of ordeal created and supported by the tribe's elders. Ordeals may include rugged endurance challenges in the wilderness, treacherous hunting experiences, or isolation for a period of time in nature. In all instances, the experience is one of discomfort and danger and literally sets up a brush with death for the initiate. Many traditional societies, and some psychologists such as Carl Jung, believe that the human psyche requires initiatory experiences in order to develop in a functional manner and that without them, one's emotional and spiritual development is impaired.

Since cultures are comprised of individuals, it follows that when the individuals of the culture have not been initiated, the culture itself is likely to remain in an adolescent state. Many cultures that have experienced collective suffering such as protracted wars, famines, and disease have in the process, experienced a collective initiation which may produce some of the results of an individual initiation. This may be the reason that some European countries that endured two world wars appear to have a more mature relationship with the earth community. For example, many of those countries are far more aware of environmental issues and have taken more profound steps to live consciously in harmony with the ecosystem as noted in a recent National Geographic survey which ranks the U.S. last in environmentally conscious behavior.

I believe that the collapse of civilization, now accelerating at dizzying speed, is indeed a collective, planetary initiation of the human species. It involves all of us, not just those "clueless Americans out there", and it will deliver to each of us countless unwanted ordeals on every level-physical, emotional, financial, social, and spiritual. What traditional cultures which practice ritual initiation understand about it is that what matters most in the initiatory process is not whether the initiate survives physically, but that that person's consciousness is transformed-for her own enhancement and for that of the tribe.

What I want to reinforce for all of us is how imperative it is in the days ahead for us to walk consciously, cautiously, and compassionately through the fires of this long, protracted initiation. Beyond our physical, financial, and logistic preparations, we must continuously work-and it will be work-to open our hearts and minds to the larger purpose behind the ordeals. We must ask ourselves what each particular experience wants to reveal to us, how it comes to us to open our eyes and cleanse the doors of our perception. We will be incessantly reminded that civilization has come to all this-depletion and exhaustion of the earth community and all of the suffering that attends that. In a sense, I believe, we are fortunate to be living in this time and on this planet because something greater than our finite human egos is delivering a message with unmistakable clarity: Living estranged from the earth community as if we are the only and the most important species on earth does not work, and collapse wishes to make certain that we understand unequivocally and irrevocably that our only survival and our only serenity will be found in living as if we and the earth are one.

Moreover, because we and the earth community are one, it is imperative that we reach out to our neighbors and community members. Their awareness may range from totally clueless to that of fellow collapse watcher, but bonds must be made and trust built-for our well being and for theirs. In the days ahead, we will need them, and they will need us. The more familiar we are with each other, the less likely that any of us is scapegoated or victimized by panicked, hungry people who feel victimized and powerless to cope with what they perceive they have been dealt.

The time for a sense of entitlement is over. We are not entitled to anything; I repeat: We are not entitled to anything. Each day, each moment, each breath, each bite of food and drop of water, each smile or warm hand on our shoulder, if we are fortunate enough to have them, are precious gifts to be savored, treasured, and given thanks for.
As I have been writing in recent months, I hold a vision of possibility-the potential for small pockets of survivors to create local outposts of conscious community in which individuals can live compassionately, practicing out of necessity and choice, those behaviors that sustain themselves and the earth. Those who have already begun this process may have an advantage, but none of us will be immune-nor should we be, in my opinion. It appears that this momentous initiation is the only way in which humans can fully and finally comprehend the toxicity of civilization.

Many citizens of the former Soviet Union discovered through the experience of collapse what ultimately mattered most. Yes, there was violence, crime, paranoia, hunger, thirst, deprivation, and astounding loss, but unprecedented compassion, trust, bonding, cooperation, and support flourished in the midst of total societal disintegration. For me, collapse is the opportunity for an outpouring of the latter qualities that causes me to at least partially welcome the demise of all that has prevented us from living and sharing them. Perhaps finally, amid a frightening unraveling, we will grow up-becoming mature human beings who ultimately find it impossible to tolerate anything remotely resembling industrial civilization because we will at last have become adults.

Statement

The government is our enemy.

There. It is said.

By "our" i mean anybody who is not trying to get ahead by subverting those around him. South africans, foreigners, whites, blacks, syburban, urban, townships, farmers. All the normal people ... trying to live by the "rules". Like don't steal. Government is composed almost entirely of common thieves.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20080529071450353C863477
mbeki tells bush to butt out. Of Zimbabwe. We need US tropps running around here like we need mbeki and zuma running the country ... oh i'm sorry ...

New day

Peace and love and chickenwings!!!!!

It's a new day ... a good day at that. BAH and HUMBUG to all the crap.

Just close your eyes ..... it's HOT and DUSTY ... you've just had an ice cold beer. Sweat is dripping down your body. You get into leathers. Helmet tied ... gloves on ... you want wind ... cool water .... instead you start an engine ... animal like snarl ripping into your insides ... you climb on .... take a deep breath ....

Nog steeds

I don't have much to say ....
I guess once again when i take a moment of quiet, try and assess what i see around me in society, the rational thing to do is assume the foetal position and cry.

Mbeki the wet toilet paper he is, is off to japan to promote AFRICA, a vibrant place, while his (OUR) country burns. Manto the boozer in charge of health is so busy telling everyone else what to do, meanwhile people are scared to go to public hospitals.

The anc blamed the recent xenophobic violence on right wing 3rd forces ... even blacks are saying ENOUGH. That's such bullshit NOBODY can conceive of it, not even communist hard core black types believe it.

The eskom saga continues. Nothing changed. Now they are saying that water will soon be rationed too. This despite constant rains over the last season ... it does not add up. The poor are being fucked over even worse than before, THAT is the reason for the violence. But volunteers offer to help poor foreigners, and yet our own countrymen and women are going cold and hungry.

The only answer lies in civilian resistance. Of what sort i cannot say. This govt is not living up to any expectations, except their own. Mbeki and Zuma are getting richer by the day. Everyone else is suffering. Zimbabwe IS HAPPENING .. right before my eyes, in my own country. WHAT THE HELL CAN WE DO????

Following the legal route doesn't work. Parliment is just a stamp, the police more of a threat than the criminals. Any ideas?

Cuba ... you are allowed to get old there

Cuba loves her 100-year-olds
25/05/2008 14:27 - (SA)

Havana - About 1 800 Cubans are over 100 years old, making it the country with the highest rate of centenarians, an expert said on Saturday.

Eugenio Selman-Housein, chairperson of the 120 Years Club and previously head of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's medical team, also said "life expectancy has gone up to almost 80 years" on the communist-run Caribbean island.

There are "currently about 1 800 Cubans registered as over a century old," he said, according to the National Information Agency.

This figure would make Cuba, which has a total population of 11.2 million, "the country that has the most centenarians per number of inhabitants in the world," Selman-Housein said.

He noted that reaching the grand old age of 100 in good health required motivation, first of all, but also "a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, physical activity, culture and the right atmosphere."

The 120 Years Club, created in 2003, promotes a style of living and eating that will help people live a long and happy life.

Cuba has 16.6% senior citizens - more than 12% is considered high - which represents more than 1.9 million elderly people, official figures show.

The oldest Cuban is a 122-year-old woman who lives in Granma, 760km southeast of Havana. Her identity has never been disclosed.
____________________________________________________________________________

Wow ... big up to Cuba.

Bikers vs VIP

Biker 'strikes' VIP driver
May 26 2008 at 07:07AM

An angry motorcyclist punched a KwaZulu-Natal provincial VIP driver after the VIP driver had crashed into the back of another car, seriously injuring its occupant.

A transport spokesperson, confirming the accident on the N3 on Saturday afternoon, said officials at the scene reported that there "had been some sort of altercation".

The biker, who had apparently earlier been forced aside by the VIP vehicle, stopped at the accident scene and punched the driver before getting back onto his bike and driving off. - Sapa

This article was originally published on page 2 of Pretoria News on May 26, 2008
____________________________________________________________________________

These VIP drivers are a blot on the face of the earth. They drive like animals, force people off the road, and point guns at them too. I reckon big up to the biker, although he couldn't be very smart. These VIP guys will kill you and never have to answer for it :/

They're coming for you

Xenophobia & Racism

Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown, especially of strangers or foreign people.[1] It comes from the Greek words ξένος (xenos), meaning "foreigner," "stranger," and φόβος (phobos), meaning "fear." The term is typically used to describe a fear or dislike of foreigners or of people significantly different from oneself.

Racism, by its simplest definition, is discrimination based on race. One with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their race (i.e., bigotry), or in the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits. Racism typically starts with, though is rarely confined to the assumption that there are taxonomic differences between different groups of people. Prejudices on other grounds would strictly categorize as discrimination to national or regional origin, religion, occupation, social status or some other distinction.

According to the United Nations conventions, there is no distinction between the term racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination.
___________________________________________________________________

OK so the former is reactive and the latter proactive. The former understanable and the latter unforgivable.
SOuth africa, like the rest of the world, is racist. Completely and utterly, every single group hates every other group. Of course that's normal. It's like that everywhere on earth, it's US and THEM. South africa had the issue on the table, for everyone to see, that was bad. America pretends nothing is wrong and keeps neighbourhoods very carefully segregated, that's ok.
I guess to some degree apartheid covered up the tribal differences, by labelling black and white, simple. But even then, you had the "boere" (lit. farmers, referring to afrikaaners) or "dutchmen", and the souties, or rooinekke, ie english speakers)but they were all white, so it was ok.
You had zulus, shangaans, xhosa, sotho and a miriad other local tribes too, but they were all black, so it was ok. Nice big brushes to tar everyone the same.
Now we're all equal (well not really but we're pretending, ok) and small differences become more apparent. They're not black fighting apartheid anymore, they're zulu, or xhosa .... more than before. And now that they've beaten the enemy apartheid, like any people the world over they look for the next fight / threat.
Whites around here for some reason have ALWAYS fought. Although the pressure is starting to blur the lines between english and afrikaans. We're still a VERY fractured nation, whatever the bloody press thinks.
However, i think SA is lucky in having had all these things exposed, as the AVERAGE south africans, WHITE & BLACK, have been able to make peace, and the younger generation do not have the same feelings and prejudices, average people look deeper than skin, and black and white friends are now normal throughout all (ok most) layers of society (that i see).

Racism / xenophobia is normal. However killing people over it is not. That's the NEXT step. The reason it's got this bad, is it's been building a LONG time. Things getting worse, more foreigners, less land, higher costs for food, and materials.

The magic ingredient, is that the ANC govt has been encourtaging this for a while, this buildup. We have local school leavers who are waiting 3-4 years for an id document, without which they can do NOTHING. Immigrants take about 3 months, and they have documents, bank accounts, driving licenses and so on. I wish i were kidding, but this is the reality. Mbeki has worked hard to create a safe place in SA for all his northern friends. He has removed any and all border patrols, and we have apparently 3-4 millions immigrants in our country.

These are politically displaced people, who come with nothing except their talents, and try get a share of the small pie. In a country of 40 million (it was that a while ago) ... we're talking 10% of the poor are foreigners. And these foreigners come with drive and need and talents.

It was inevitable, but it will not go away, the ANC is still driving this stupidity.

We lost

The weapons destined for Zimbabwe have arrived in Harare, The Weekender reported today.
The report said the Zimbabwean government confirmed that 3-million rounds of assault rifle ammunition, 3000 mortar rounds and 1500 rocket-propelled grenades - ordered from the Chinese government - had arrived in Harare.

The South African government denied media reports that it assisted in the delivery of the arms by fuelling the Chinese vessel, An Yue Jiang, that was transporting the arsenal.

There were fears that Robert Mugabe was planning to use force to storm back to power in the presidential runoff election to be held on June 27.

He had deployed the army, police and intelligence units across Zimbabwe to campaign for him through intimidation and coercive tactics, the report said.

The Weekender quoted a Mozambican online newspaper, Canal de Moçambique, which reported that the ship had been refueled by the SAS Drakensberg off the coast of South Africa before sailing north to offload its deadly cargo.

It reported that the ship was offloaded at Ponta Negra in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Zimbabwean government officials said it was offloaded in Angola.

Canal de Moçambique reported that President Thabo Mbeki gave "a direct instruction" to Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George to send the SAS Drakensberg to refuel the An Yue Jiang.

Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga dismissed the reports, saying "it seems that the season of propaganda is upon us".

George said he had no instruction from Mbeki to dispatch the SAS Drakensberg and that the allegations had no substance.

However, the Canal de Moçambique article also said the arms were flown to Harare in an Ilyushin Il-76 belonging to Avient Aviation, a freight charter airline based in Zimbabwe but registered in the UK.

This was confirmed by government officials in Harare, The Weekender said.

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga confirmed the weapons have been delivered.

The Angolan government’s assistance came after an appeal by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, to member states to bar the delivery of the ammunition to Zimbabwe, saying the arms could deepen the country’s election crisis.

The US and British governments had also exerted concerted pressure on the SADC and China to stop the ship from docking in the region.

The ship has been spotted off the coast of Port Elizabeth, The Weekender said.

From The Times
_____________________________________________________________________

They won, and i am ashamed to say thanks to our wonderful democratic government DIRECTLY intervening and refuelling the ship. The SAS DRakensberg must go sink somewhere, once the pride of a fleet, now i am disgusted.
Mbeki ... go burn in hell, i hope those arms take your family too.

8

Many noted that the earthquake occurred exactly 88 days before the Beijing Olympics, which opens on August 8 - 8/8/8 - at 8.08pm, in line with Chinese numerology which considers eight a lucky number.

Speculation was heightened on Sunday when China's seismological authority revised up the magnitude of the May 12 earthquake to 8.0 on the Richter scale.

Volcano

Chaiten Volcano Eruption, CHILE 15 May 2008

Mural

Corn starch wave

Mugabe's bosses

Chinese troops are on the streets of Zimbabwean city, witnesses say

By Ian Evans in Cape Town
Saturday, 19 April 2008

Chinese troops have been seen on the streets of Zimbabwe's third largest city, Mutare, according to local witnesses. They were seen patrolling with Zimbabwean soldiers before and during Tuesday's ill-fated general strike called by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Earlier, 10 Chinese soldiers armed with pistols checked in at the city's Holiday Inn along with 70 Zimbabwean troops.

One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: "We've never seen Chinese soldiers in full regalia on our streets before. The entire delegation took 80 rooms from the hotel, 10 for the Chinese and 70 for Zimbabwean soldiers."

Officially, the Chinese were visiting strategic locations such as border posts, key companies and state institutions, he said. But it is unclear why they were patrolling at such a sensitive time. They were supposed to stay five days, but left after three to travel to Masvingo, in the south.

China's support for President Mugabe's regime has been highlighted by the arrival in South Africa of a ship carrying a large cache of weapons destined for Zimbabwe's armed forces. Dock workers in Durban refused to unload it.

The 300,000-strong South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said it would be "grossly irresponsible" to touch the cargo of ammunition, grenades and mortar rounds on board the Chinese ship An Yue Jiang anchored outside the port.

A Satawu spokesman Randall Howard said: "Our members employed at Durban container terminal will not unload this cargo, neither will any of our members in the truck-driving sector move this cargo by road. South Africa cannot be seen to be facilitating the flow of weapons into Zimbabwe at a time where there is a political dispute and a volatile situation between Zanu-PF and the MDC."

Three million rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and more than 3,000 mortar rounds and mortar tubes are among the cargo on the Chinese ship, according to copies of the inventory published by a South African newspaper.

According to Beeld, the documentation for the shipment was completed on 1 April, three days after the presidential vote.

Zimbabwe and China have close military ties. Three years ago, Mr Mugabe signed extensive trade pacts with the Chinese as part of the "Look East" policy forced on him by his ostracising by Western governments over human rights abuses. The deal gave the Chinese mineral and trade concessions in exchange for economic help.

The shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague called on David Miliband to demand a cessation of arms shipments.

A South African government spokesman Themba Maseko said it would be difficult to stop the shipment.

From: www.independent.co.uk

Bakers mini cricket world record!

Mini cricket sets new record
May 15 2008 at 07:31PM

2pm on Thursday marked a pinnacle moment for Bakers Mini Cricket as a new South African Guinness World record was set for the most children playing cricket at one time.

Over 6 000 children between the ages of six and twelve, took part in the mega festival across eight venues, which was planned by Bakers and Cricket SA (CSA) as a celebration to highlight the 25 year anniversary of Bakers Mini Cricket, the longest developmental sport sponsorship in southern Africa.

The festivities started with opening ceremonies attended by a host of dignitaries including local cricketers before the children took to the pitches, to start playing Bakers Mini Cricket at precisely the same time across the eight selected venues including; Johannesburg (Liberty Life Wanderers), Cape Town (Sahara Park Newlands), Paarl (Boland Park), Benoni (Willowmoore Park), Kimberley (De Beers Diamond Oval), KwaZulu-Natal (Sahara Stadium Kingsmead), Port Elizabeth (Sahara Oval St Georges) and Pretoria (Supersport Park).

A dignitary at each event signed off the official documentation to verify the world record claim.

Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's CEO, said: "Setting this world record is a fitting climax to the 25th birthday celebrations of the Bakers Mini Cricket sponsorship.

"Once again, Bakers Mini Cricket has brought fun and joy to thousands of young South Africans, boys and girls. South African cricket owes a big debt of gratitude to Bakers biscuits for its most meaningful contribution to the growth of the game and the development of the nation's youth". - Sapa
______________________________________________________________

I was a mini cricketer .... bloody long time ago. Was a really great effort, and i'm so pleased they're getting strong.
Way to go boys!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex's streets run with blood

Alexandria is a township on the outskirts of sandton, the "rich" part of jhb.
This is SO reminiscent of the apartheaid era .... then it was against whites, now its against foreigners. Then it was white policemen shooting at south africans, now it's black policemen. What's changed? Not much to my way of thinking.
___________________________________________________________________________

Staff Reporters
May 13 2008 at 12:37PM

They found him on 9th Avenue, where they knew he would be. It wasn't much of a hunt and a shot to the head satisfied their blood lust.

As the mob marched on through the streets of Alexandra, Lungile Ndiweni crashed through the narrow alleys between shacks and collapsed facedown in the sand.

The 30-year-old from Zimbabwe had spent five years in South Africa, but in less than 24 terror-filled hours he had become a mortal enemy.

His murder marked a second night of bloodshed in Alexandra, bringing the death toll since Sunday night to three.

Late into Monday night the popping sounds of shotguns firing rubber bullets could be heard across Alexandra - from London Road in the south to Vasco da Gama Street in the north.




Gangs darted across the streets, smashing into small shops and stealing everything they could carry.

Heavily armoured police vans criss-crossed the battlefield, dispersing rioters, arresting suspects and assisting the foreigners.

Determined to find safety in numbers, immigrants huddled in groups along the main roads. They made fires and wrapped up in blankets as night fell.

Many had gathered their belongings and fled Alexandra before sunset. Some had volunteered to be deported and were driven to the Lindela detention centre earlier in the day, a desperate move considering the centre's grim reputation.

The evening clashes began at around 6pm, when the mob met police in London Road and opened fire on officers. From then, and for some six hours, scattered skirmishes erupted across the township and violence spread like a virus.

One of the first victims was a young man who was struck on the head with a brick from near point-blank range.

He fell on the pavement and the blood from his face gushed into the gutter and down the street.

As the situation worsened, back up, including personnel from the crime combating unit and reservists, arrived and police packed into armoured Nyalas and Caspers.

Officers fired shotguns through the windows into dark alleys and at crowds.

At times they were dispersing local mobs and at least once they broke up a 500-strong gathering of foreigners who had armed themselves with sticks.

As midnight approached more and more cases of looting were reported.

"Notwithstanding that, we don't condone any acts of violence," Phalatse said.

Earlier on Tuesday blood flowed down the gutters, shattered glass and broken bricks littered the roads.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of foreigners inundated the police station, seeking refuge.

The holding cells were packed with suspects held on charges of public violence, robbery, rape and murder.

Three cases of rape have been reported since Sunday night, but one senior police officer said the figure was higher.

The township was calm this morning, but tension was high.

Residents stood in groups discussing events on the night of terror.

No police were on patrol on Tuesday, but police spokesperson Inspector Moses Maphakela was adamant that the situation was under control.

At the Alexandra Clinic, bloodstained floors in the reception and wards bore witness to the terror.

The clinic's Dr Muvili Simba said 39 people had been treated for injuries on Monday night.

Seven had been shot and and were sent to hospitals in the area.

Constable Neria Malefetse said 15 people had been arrested on Monday night.

Greater Alexandra ANC secretary Pule Phalatse said a meeting had been planned for this evening in an attempt to restore peace.

"While we believe that there could be illegal immigrants here, residents need to understand that some of them are here legally".

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on May 13, 2008

Hawking is here!

Hawking enthrals a capacity audience
John Yeld
May 12 2008 at 12:46PM

His immobile body is trapped in his wheelchair but his brilliant mind soars to the edges of the Universe as he ponders the most fundamental questions humans can ask: Why are we here? Where did we come from?

And, with the slightest of flickers in his right cheek and an infra-red "blink switch" clipped onto his glasses, theoretical physicist extraordinaire and internationally acclaimed cosmologist Stephen Hawking communicates not only his serious responses to these questions but also some, perhaps surprising, light touches - a combination that enthralled a capacity crowd in the Muizenberg Pavilion last night.

On his website, the famous father of three and grandfather of one explains how Californian computer expert Walt Woltosz wrote a program for him, called Equalizer, which enables him to communicate.

In his lecture on the nature of the Universe last night, he acknowledged that not all the problems had been solved. "God really does play dice," he quipped. But he concluded: "We are getting closer to answering those age-old questions."

At yesterday's luncheon hosted by British High Commissioner Paul Boateng, Hawking said the Einstein Initiative of Aims (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences) was "very exciting" and predicted it would have a major impact on the continent's development.

This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on May 12, 2008
From: IOL

Also see: Stephen Hawking's Home Page

Motorbike hero

http://theoasisofmysoul.com/


Ara Gureghian, his dog Spirit and his BMW R1100 GS.

May they live long and travel far.

Santana ... Abraxas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraxas_(album)


"Singing Winds, Crying Beasts" (Carabello) – 4:48
"Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" (Green/Szabo) – 5:24
"Oye Como Va" (Puente) – 4:19
"Incident at Neshabur" (Gianquinto/Santana) – 5:02
"Se A Cabo" (Areas) – 2:51
"Mother's Daughter" (Rolie) – 4:28
"Samba Pa Ti" (Santana) – 4:47
"Hope You're Feeling Better" (Rolie) – 4:07
"El Nicoya" (Areas) – 1:32

Despair ... com

www.despair.com

Despair ... com

Despair.com

I LOVE THIS STUFF ... hehehehehehehehehehehe

Yippeeeeeee

Ok, i could not log in :/ bloody annoying.

I AM SUPERLICIOUSFATASTICUS :D

peace and love ... i'll post something more readable shortly.

The end of legitimacy.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20080430105401529C511154

RSA - ZIM Comparison

NB .... this is the Communist party saying this ....

SA compared to Zim's early days
Bongani Mthembu
April 30 2008 at 07:27AM


South Africa could be plunged into serious political instability similar to that in Zimbabwe, SA Communist Party Deputy General-Secretary Jeremy Cronin has warned.

Delivering the Chris Hani Memorial Lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, Cronin said political turmoil could come quickly if the ANC continued to blunder.

The lecture revolved around challenges facing liberation movements that assumed power.

Cronin critically analysed this phenomenon, and drew comparisons between the actions of Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe and those of the ANC in South Africa.
'Zanu-PF won elections overwhelmingly'

"There are a lot of similarities. Both fought for freedom and negotiated settlements with previous oppressive regimes.

"Zanu-PF won elections overwhelmingly, just like our ruling party," he said.

The biggest mistake many liberation movements made, Cronin said, was to neglect the masses and create a small elite, detached from the people on the ground.

"Some say the ANC will rule until Jesus Christ returns, but I think that its decline may be sooner than we think if the will of the people is not respected," said Cronin.

"Both the ANC and Zanu-PF governments had delivered when they took over power. Zanu-PF did very well in education and the ANC government has done well in providing social grants, houses and electrification.
'Our government did not listen'

"But Zanu-PF failed to transform the agriculture sector, which remained in the hands of the few, and by and large South Africa has also failed to address the issue of land restitution," said Cronin.

He said there was a danger that liberation movements could become like Zanu-PF, adding that the government under President Thabo Mbeki had angered people at grassroots level by suppressing debate and refusing to take advice.

"Our government did not listen when told that there was going to be an electricity crisis, and our president continues to deny that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe.

"Issues such as price fixing, which result in our people paying more for basic commodities such as bread, are not addressed," he said.

Cronin commended the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union members for refusing to offload the weapons cargo from a Chinese ship, following widespread concern over Zimbabwe's political situation.

This article was originally published on page 2 of Pretoria News on April 30, 2008

Einstein says ...

Sunrise

And the new days breakin through
The morning
Of another day without you
And as the hours roll by
No-ones there to see me cry
Except the sunrise
The sunrise and you

Tired eyes drift across the shore
Looking for love and nothing more
But as the sea rolls by
No-ones there to see me cry
Excep the sunrise
The sunrise and you

Sunrise
Bless my eyes
Catch my soul
Make me whole again

Sunrise, new day
Hear my song
Im tired of fightin
And foolin around
But from now on
Till who knows when
My sword will be my pen
And Ill love you, love you
For all of my time

- Uriah Heep

Rasta bar

Anyone recognise this?

Sunset

Children die from tap water

Scores of children die from unsafe water
April 22 2008 at 03:16PM

Nearly 80 children have died in an Eastern Cape district due to unsafe tap water and authorities have failed to take any action, the Daily Dispatch Online reported on Tuesday.

Despite evidence of a lethal epidemic in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality (UKDM), which included the towns of Barkly East, Maclear, Sterkspruit and Elliot, municipal authorities had not yet issued a public warning .

An official health report indicated that there had been a breakdown in a water purification works in October last year and called for urgent action, but no action has been taken, the report said.

The babies had died from diarrhoea and other complications.

The health report, only tabled last week at a closed council meeting, recommended urgent action, including declaring an emergency in the area to save further lives, but this was not done, the Dispatch reported.

The UKDM's municipal manager, Zolile Williams, blamed the Cloete Joubert Hospital in Barkly East for the high number of deaths, saying it had failed to report them in time for a proper investigation.

He said the hospital had not conducted tests on stool samples, eliminating any chances of locating the cause of death.

However, a senior hospital manager, who asked not be named, said they had informed the municipality but nothing was done until 15 deaths were reported. - Sapa
Source
________________________________________________________________________

Would someone PLEASE remind me why it's wrong to take these fucking people out into the street and shoot them? (the council, in case you were wondering)

May the families find peace ... :(

Peace .... on a bike

ZIM

Angola and Mozambique have both told the arms carrying ship the An Yue Jiang that it is not welcome in their ports. It appears that the ship is going back to China.
Good news, unless the ship has already transferred it's deadly cargo, something which is a possibility.
The down side is that Angola have offered "crack troops" to assist zanupf in fighting the "imperialist" threat. Good god, the way these people bend words and ideas. Since when are hut dwellers imperialists?

Mbeki claims the desire to be impartial, but one side, mugabe is thanking Mbeki for his efforts, and the other side is not. That's not impartial. What is good, i think, is the way all players have shed their costumes, and stand naked before the world. There is no deception, only brutal honesty, and a very clear message. Mbeki is for dictatorship and oppression, oh, and stupidity.

I hate to be the one to say it, but even Zuma is better than this, he at least knows enough to shut up and listen to his advisors.

But they are all waiting to see, as are we,k the outcome of this .... free world beware, africa is killing her children again.
More here

Yeah!! fuck you and your signs mister!!!

Work

The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.
Robert Frost

The easiest job in the world has to be coroner. Surgery on dead people. What’s the worst thing that could happen? If everything went wrong, maybe you’d get a pulse
Dennis Miller

Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?
Edgar Bergen

Doing nothing is very hard to do…you never know when you’re finished.
Leslie Nielsen

The trouble with unemployment is that the minute you wake up in the morning you’re on the job.
Slappy White

I only go to work on days that don’t end in a ‘y’.
Robert Paul

It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
Muhammad Ali

A good rule of thumb is if you’ve made it to thirty-five and your job still requires you to wear a name tag, you’ve made a serious vocational error.
Dennis Miller

I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.
Jerome K Jerome

Hun on a Honda

MORE UNIONS REVOLT!!!!!!!! :D

Popcru: don't use police as scab labour
April 18 2008 at 02:20PM

Police officers should not be used as "scab labour" to offload a shipment of arms destined for Zimbabwe, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said on Friday.

Popcru spokesperson Benzi Soko said: "Satawu has very good reasons for offloading the ship. We understand their objection. Police cannot be used as scab labour."

Soko's statement follows the announcement by the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) on Thursday that its members would not offload the ship, the An Yue Jiang.

The An Yue Jiang has been at anchor off the port of Durban since Monday and is carrying a cargo of arms destined for Zimbabwe.

Asked what Popcru's position would be if police were asked to offload the ship, Soko said: "We are of the view they should not offload this ship."

He said Popcru would consider taking legal action if its members were asked to offload the ship.

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union said on Friday that its members would also not help offload the ship.

On Friday morning Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson Rafeek Shah called on government to revoke the conveyance permit issued in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (NCAC).

He said: "The [NCAC] clearly states that the committee must "cancel, amend or suspend the permit if it is in the interests of maintaining and promoting international peace or avoiding repression and terrorism."

Defence secretary January Masilela told Sapa on Thursday that the scrutiny committee of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee's (NCACC) scrutiny committee, which he chairs, had approved the conveyance permit on Monday.

He said an inspection team from the NCACC would still have to ensure the cargo met the requirements of the permit before the cargo could begin to be transported to Zimbabwe.

The permit would be endorsed by the NCACC when it meets next month.

Asked about the controversy surrounding the shipment Masilela said: "This is a normal transaction between two sovereign states. We are doing our legal part and we don't have to interfere."

Police spokesperson Captain Dennis Adriao, asked if he knew when the ship would dock, said: "I haven't actually got those details."

Noseweek editor Martin Welz told Sapa on Wednesday that "the cargo ship was openly delivering a containment of arms for Zimbabwe".

He said he had copies of all the documents, including a packing list.

The controversial cargo packed into 3 080 cases included three million rounds of 7.62mm bullets (used with automatic rifles), 69 rocket propelled grenades, as well as mortar bombs and tubes.

The cargo is, according to the documentation, valued at R9,88-million. - Sapa

JHB WATER - NB!!!!!!

Tap water may not be safe to drink: Joburg Water 18/04/2008 07:32:07

Joburg Water is warning that residents in some north-western Joburg suburbs that their tap water may not be safe to drink.

The utility says testing has shown the quality of water in Fairland, Northcliff, Blairgowrie, Linden, Cresta and surrounding areas may not be up to standard.

More tests are being conducted. Residents in the affected areas have been urged to boil their water before drinking it.

Officials have also advised that babies and sick people be given limited quantities of water.

__________________________________________________________

Yes, we all over reacted to the electricity shortage. No there are no other problems. Go back to sleep people, long dark cholera induced sleep.
Have a crappy day now y'hear?