Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Chakalaka and how to make that township delight that is so popular at Braai's or BBQ's

Born in the townships of South Africa, chakalaka is a simple, spicy dish of onions, tomatoes and often beans. It has been a staple for generations of black South Africans, and is a required condiment at South African braais, or barbecues. Chakalaka can be served hot or cold, over mealie pap, with slices of bread, or as a condiment for grilled meats. And what a fun name!
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Ingredients
1 large onion, diced
6 large tomatoes, grated
2 green peppers, diced
4 large carrots, peeled and grated
450-gram can of baked beans
4 spoonfuls of hot curry
2 raw chilli, cut into very small pieces
1 spoonful of peri-peri
150 ml of oil
half a teaspoon of salt

Preparation

Warm the oil in a cooking pot for 1 minute
Put in your onions and green pepper in the oil, and fry until soft
Add the grated carrots, tomatoes, chilli and baked beans and mix thoroughly
Allow the mixture to cook for 15 minutes in medium heat
Stir the mixture every five minutes to ensure that it does not stick to the pot. Also make sure that the mixture becomes smooth.
Add your curry, peri-peri and salt to season
Allow to cook for another 15 minutes

Note: Chakalaka keeps well, and can be stored in your refrigerator in a closed container for more than a week.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The effects of the Gulf Oil spill to dreadful to contemplate

IF THIS DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANGRY...THEN
NOTHING WILL !

This shot shows the serious

damage caused to the local wildlife
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I feel it is my duty right now to go down

to the coast and help clean the wildlife

with my own two hands.

Want to go with me?

Adriaan Basson says it like we all feel, it's time FIFA stops playing bullyboy

Who owns the sea? (BP might think they do, but no.) And street cricket? And climbing up Table Mountain? Horse racing? And walking your dog?

So why do we allow Fifa to continue behaving as if they own the beautiful game?

Why should I be forced to pay R30 for one reddish American beer when the pub opposite the road sells local quarts for R12? And why do we allow the Fifa police to arrest and detain young girls with orange dresses that has a 3cm Bavaria logo where even the most hi-tech TV camera wouldn’t pick it up?

Fifa Inc is in town and I’m pissed off for being pissed off because I really wanted to have a good time, get drunk with foreigners on the beer of my choice and watch beautiful footie, day and night.

But, alas, Herr Blatter, his cronies and my own government that signed away our sovereignty on 17 pieces of paper have made it impossible for me to relax. Or wear orange, for that matter.

Pause. Breathe. Who is Fifa and why do we allow them to do this?

On May 21 1904 a bunch of European countries came together and decided to establish a governing body for football*. A kind of voluntary association that would draw up match schedules, decide whose mom was bringing hot dogs to the next game and those sort of things. All good and well.

Pretentious as only a bunch of European men in one room can be, they decided to call the club Fédération Internationale de Football Association, instead of something like Football Lovers United.

Over the years they succeeded in convincing other continents and their soccer bosses to join the club. And soon the club realised the potential of making Big Bucks.

What Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange, a Brazilian chap who was Fifa president from 1974 to 1998, and Blatter essentially realised was that they could package football and sell it back to the fans. Easy, hey?

A few years down the line, they had those makers of cheap, affordable football gear, the Dassler family (Adidas), on board. Then health food experts Coca-Cola and McDonalds came by, and quicker than you could say “Joseph Blatter”, Fifa was rolling in the moola.

Let’s give the devil his due — World Cup 2010 is (mostly) a well-organised event and has finally brought decent highways and public transport to South Africa. For that we are thankful, Mr Blatter (although we paid the bill, of course).

But why the dictatorial tendencies to ban and prohibit and arrest and charge?

This morning I wanted to watch a clip of the Nigeria/Greece game on Youtube, and guess what? “This video contains content from FIFA, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.”

WHAT?

Herr Blatter and his cronies should be told loudly and clearly that they DO NOT OWN FOOTBALL. Football belongs to no-one and everyone.

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like football administrators (South Africa’s included) will soon bring about a change of regime and attitude at Fifa. The cushions are too soft.

It’s really up to the fans of football to claim back our beautiful game, and the right to drink whatever beer we want to, wear orange dresses if we like and watch the replay of a soccer match, whenever we feel like it.

* Read the history of Fifa at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA
** Then read the dark side of Fifa at http://www.transparencyinsport.org/

*** If you’re still sober, go to the FIFA Reformation page on Facebook

Original post at Thought Leader http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/amabhungane/2010/06/19/fifa-time-for-a-coup/

Introducing South Africas own Miss Kruger National Park 2010

What a babe or is that Baboo?
She has just picked up a contract to feature
in a full centre spread feature called babes of the wild

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Its a bird its a plane no its "Christiaan" flying his paraglider to near the Cape Town Stadium

This is just to funny poor Christiaan has he's wings clipped by FIFA regulations

Police arrested the bewildered pilot, who said he made an emergency landing after being blown off course during a pleasure flight from Signal Hill on Thursday.

Within hours, Slegter was standing in court, nervously wringing his cap, facing charges related to entering a restricted area under the Fifa World Cup South Africa Special Measures Act.

His wife, Erika, said she was horrified to discover that he had narrowly escaped being shot down by the authorities.

The mechanic from Hout Bay said he had not been aware that he had broken any law. Slegter was paragliding with friends when, he said, wind pushed him towards the soccer stadium. In order to avoid a golf course where people were playing, he said, he landed in a nearby parking lot.

"I landed, folded up my paraglider and they arrested me as I was walking out of the gates," he said.

Access to the Cape Town Stadium and its immediate surroundings is restricted during the World Cup.

Police confiscated the paragliding gear. "They said it would be evidence in court," said a fuming Slegter, shortly after he was released on R500 bail.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Lamb Shanks in Red Wine With Prunes a South African delight

Lamb Shanks in Red Wine With Prunes
You should figure one shank a person, so try to buy smallish ones, about a pound each. And serve the dish with couscous.
Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
1 cup pitted prunes
1 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 lamb shanks, about 1 pound each, fat well trimmed
1 cup finely chopped onion
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, cored and slivered
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs thyme
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
Cayenne to taste
Cooked couscous for serving.
1. Place prunes in a bowl, add wine and set aside. Heat oil in a 6-quart casserole or sauté pan. Add lamb and brown on all sides over medium heat. Remove. Stir in onion and garlic. Sauté on low until soft. Stir in bell pepper, cumin and paprika. Sauté a few minutes. Return lamb to pan, season with salt and pepper. Add thyme, prunes and wine. Cover and simmer 1 hour.
2. Turn shanks in pan and baste. Add zest and cayenne. Cover and cook on low about another hour more, until lamb is tender when pierced with a fork. Check seasoning. Serve with couscous.
This is a serious dish it is hearty and yummy with just the right amount of acid from the wine to give a delicious balance to the spices and fruit

Back home in Zululand another senseless killing

Father’s Day slaughter

Two young boys spent Father’s Day at Ngwelezana Hospital saying goodbye to their dad who was shot in their prescence on Saturday night. Darryll Westman (46) sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest after two intruders entered their Cactus Road home at around 8pm. The family were relaxing at home when the men scaled their back wall and walked into the living room, demanding their valuables. ‘They told us to keep our faces down and not look at them, but when one yanked my chain off my neck I looked up in shock,’ said wife Janie.‘He hit me, and my husband only pleaded with him not to hurt me.’ The intruder shouted at him to ‘shut up’ and was waving the gun everywhere. ‘Then he simply shot my husband,’ she said. The bullet hit Darryll in the upper chest and pierced his lung, liver and kidney.
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Locked up
The intruders then made off with the family’s vehicle and left them locked behind the electronic gate. It was the elder son, Nicolas who managed to override the gate and open it. The brave 17 year-old then took his mother’s scooter and drove to Mounties Ambulance and Emergency Services for help. Juan (13) stayed at his father’s side. ‘At first my friend tried to call 10111 and the local control room, but there was no answer.’ ‘Mounties actually notified the police and thankfully they arrived promptly after the medics,’ said Janie. ‘Mounties acted with amazing compassion and professionalism,’ said a friend of the family, René Nel. ‘The police were very helpful. ‘The doctors and nurses at Ngwelezana Hospital also deserve to be commended.
‘We received amazing attention and care. ‘I want to thank Dr Smith, Dr de Kock, Dr Ian Smith, Dr Barret, Dr Mngomezulu, Dr Usher, Sr Biyela and Sr Shabalala for all they did for my husband,’ said Janie.
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Faith
Despite looming financial difficulties, Janie trusts the Lord will look after her family. ‘My faith and friends are keeping me going.’ At the time of his death, long-time Zululander Darryll was unemployed. Janie is temporarily employed and the family now faces financial pressure on top of their emotional trauma. The funeral will be held at Empangeni Moth Hall on Monday, 28 June at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation towards the family would be appreciated.
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Friday, June 25, 2010

Vuvuzela's - annoying people since 1660!

Ah now I understand
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It's been annoying for longer than you think!
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However there is a silent more pleasurable method
of blowing the instrument
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Soccer balls and why the Jabulani is different

Click for larger Image

Every four years, the German company Adidas unveils what they hope is the perfect soccer ball, to be used in the FIFA World Cup. For the 2010 tournament, which begins in June in South Africa designers used a wind tunnel to create a highly calibrated soccer ball of optimal roundness and stable flight. But how much is the game influenced by player skill versus ball design? “If you have good technique, then I think you can hit any ball well,” says former U.S. national team member Alexi Lalas. “But the advances in technology have made it easier to use that technique consistently.”

Thursday, June 24, 2010

South African Swimmer Charlene Wittstock set to become Royalty

This Reminds me of the "King and I" in a strange way!
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Prince Albert of Monaco poses with Charlene Wittstock in Monaco in this June 23, 2010 handout photo released by the palace. Prince Albert II of Monaco, son of the late Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, is to marry former South African Olympic swimmer and model Wittstock, the prince's office said in a statement on Wednesday
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Prince Albert of Monaco announced goodbye to his bachelorhood with an engagement to South African ex-swimming champion Charlene Wittstock, according to media reports Thursday.

A brief statement confirmed the engagement but did not put a date on the eventual wedding.

According to protocol, royal couples must wait at least six months between the announcement of the engagement and the wedding day.

The 52-year-old prince is the son of deceased Prince Rainier III and the late Hollywood actress Grace Kelly and has ruled Monaco since succeeding his father in July 2005.

He has acknowledged fathering two children out of wedlock and his courtiers is hoping that this marriage might produce a legitimate heir.

"It's been 30 years since Grace died, 30 years they've been waiting for a first lady, a princess, a dream beauty, glam. And voila!" said Colombe Pringle, executive editor of Point de Vue magazine.

As a five-time Olympic bobsledder, the prince probably ranks as the most successful royal force in sports in recent years. He met the 32-year-old willowy blonde in 2000 when she traveled to Monaco for a swimming competition.

Wittstock won gold in the 100-meter freestyle in the All Africa Games in 2001. Before moving to Monaco in 2006, she also worked as a schoolteacher.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

This is kinda sweet and naughty all rolled into one "Helen Mirren" being daring!

“All that getting sanctioned by authority, settling down and doing the right things—well, I can’t say it appeals much,” Helen Mirren once said to a reporter. “What I really fancy is getting a bit notorious … ” Oh boy and the lady is still turning the attention on herself at the age of 62 as the photos show! I think it takes huge confidence and spunk to do these kinda photos at Helen's age so hats of to the lady and keep us all enthralled for a few more years

Her latest role, not to mention the Juergen Teller photos attending this article, should help remind everyone. After a raft of prestigious parts and three Oscar nominations in the last decade, Mirren signed up to play Grace Botempo, the madam of a booming seventies Reno whorehouse in her husband Taylor Hackford’s film Love Ranch, opening June 30. (The film, based on Nevada’s real Mustang Ranch, is scripted and produced by New York contributing editor Mark Jacobson.) For years, Hackford, whom she married in 1997, has asked her to play smaller parts in his films. “And I said ‘Oh, for God’s sake! Of course I’m not going to do that!’ ” says Mirren. “They were never interesting enough parts, and I wasn’t going to do it just because he was directing it.”

Interesting is probably underselling Grace says Mirren of her new part. Diagnosed with cancer and frustrated with an epically sleazy husband (Joe Pesci), Mirren’s madam begins a hot love affair with a beefy boxer 30 years her junior, played with abundant smolder by Spanish newcomer Sergio Peris-Mencheta. “He’s got a fabulous big-animal thing in that sort of raw, brutish, ugly-beautiful way,” says Mirren, who shares a steamy, and, because it’s her, entirely plausible love scene with Peris-Mencheta. In addition, she makes dick jokes, stomps on the throat of a misbehaving prostitute, and presides over the brothel with such swagger that Pesci shouts, “Who do ya think you are, the queen of fuckin’ England?” Well, yes.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Anjana the Chimp becomes surrogate mom to white Tiger Cubs

White Tigers find new Mom
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When hurricane Hannah separated two white tigers from their mother, Anjana came to the Rescue. Anjana, a chimp at TIGERS in South Carolina, became surrogate mom and playmate to the cubs, even helping with bottle feeding, according to The Sun. But here's the truly amazing part: This is something Anjana does all the time, having helped raised leopard and lion cubs on several occasions

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Lunch time with the titty bottle
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Play time always fun
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Isn't my baby beautiful?

The wisdom of our old friend Van der Merwe

He is a National Treasure Van der Merwe
In a fishy story
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"Old Van"

Every Friday evening after work Van der Merwe would braai "BBQ" a big, fat juicy
steak. But his neighbors, being Catholic and therefore reluctant to eat meat
on Fridays suffered agonies of temptation as the delicious aroma carried on
the evening breeze.

They persuaded their priest to try to convert Van. Success! Van attended
Mass and the priest sprinkled holy water over him and said, "You were born a
Protestant, raised a Protestant but now you are a Catholic."
Everybody was delighted.

But when Friday night came the wonderful aroma of grilled steak again wafted
over the neighborhood. The priest rushed into Van's garden just in time to see him
clutching a small bottle of holy water and sprinkling it over the grilling meat and
chanting, "You was born a cow, you was raised as a cow, but now you is a
snoek!" "Fishy"

A Doggy outplays old Septic Bladder “Dog 1 – Fifa 0”

Oh this is just so cool I love it!
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Stand aside, Zakumi the Leopard - the World Cup has a cheeky new mascot: Sepp the Dog.

The brazen Boston Terrier from Cape Town has barked his way on to the 2010 stage by claiming free flights originally offered to Fifa president Sepp Blatter by local airline, kulula.com.

The mutt bagged the flights after the airline ran advertisements apologising to Blatter and Fifa for sailing a little too close to the wind with a recent campaign in which it described itself as the "Unofficial carrier of the you-know-what" and featured soccer-related drawings.

Fifa's legal team took exception to the ad, to which kulula.com then responded with a conciliatory offer to fly Blatter around the country free of charge during the World Cup.

But the airline received a response by a Capetonian dog-owner who pointed out that the airline had not stipulated which "Sepp Blatter" the offer was extended to, and that he had changed his dog's name to "Sepp Blatter" to take advantage of the offer.

kulula.com has agreed to honour the offer and Sepp the dog will now be enjoying flights to Joburg and Durban over the next few weeks.

"We really wanted to make a gesture to Sepp Blatter for putting on such a great show and to make up for our somewhat cheeky advertising telling people how reasonable our fares are.

"We were somewhat surprised that instead of flying the president of Fifa around we'll now be giving a seat to a Boston Terrier. But he's quite cute and very well behaved, so why not," said Nadine Damen, marketing manager of kulula.com.

The dog's owner did not want to be named. He, unlike his canine companion, will still have to pay for his flights.

Monday, June 21, 2010

South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape

Bite me Ouch!

A new condom for women designed with teeth to ward off would-be rapists has been launched by a South African doctor.

Rape-aXe was dreamed up four decades ago by Dr Sonnet Ehlers when as a 20-year-old medical researcher, she met a devastated rape victim who was like "a breathing corpse".

In an interview with CNN, Ehlers told how the woman said: "If only I had teeth down down there" said Ehlers. "promised her I'd do something to help people like her one day."

True to her word, Rape-Axe has jagged teeth-like hooks that latch onto a man's penis during penetration.

"He cannot pee and walk when it's on"

Once its in place, it can only be removed by a doctor - a procedure Ehlers hopes will be done with authorities on standby to make an arrest.

"It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it's on," she said. "If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter... however, it doesn't break the skin, and there's no danger of fluid exposure."

Sunday, June 20, 2010

This cold snap got me into eating mode and here is one of my Favourites "Thai Chicken Curry" done in the oven


Thai Chicken Curry serves 2 to 4

A traditional Thai curry, the red chicken curry is made with a subtle blend of salty, sweet, sour and hot flavours. Whether you are cooking for your family or a group of guests, this easy recipe allows you to serve up and enjoy a lovely, tasty dinner.

Ingredients – main:

½ chicken, cut into parts or the equivalent weight of prepared chicken portions
1 tbsp lime juice
½ tsp cinnamon
fresh basil and coriander for garnish
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2-3 tomatoes, sliced into wedges

Optional: 1 aubergine, chopped into bite-size pieces (leave skin on)

Ingredients – red curry sauce:

1 tin coconut milk
½ cup red onions, sliced
1 thumb-size piece of ginger
3 cloves garlic
3 tbsp fish sauce*
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
2 heaped tsp. brown sugar
2 tsp shrimp paste, substitute anchovy paste if not available

Optional: 1 fresh red chili (minced) OR 1 tsp dried chili flakes OR 1 tsp cayenne pepper

*Ingredient substitution: for one tablespoon fish sauce, use one tablespoon soy sauce mixed with one anchovy fillet (finely minced).

Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
  2. Place chicken pieces in a large casserole dish.
  3. Place all curry sauce ingredients in a food processor blender. Process well.
  4. Pour the curry sauce over the chicken.
  5. Stir well and make sure that each chicken piece is covered with sauce.
  6. Add the lime juice and cinnamon.
  7. Cover and bake 45 minutes at 180°C.
  8. Remove dish from the oven.
  9. Add the vegetables and stir them into the sauce.
  10. Return the curry to the oven for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is well cooked.
  11. Dish the curry into a large serving bowl.
  12. Sprinkle generously with fresh basil and coriander.
  13. Serve with Thai rice or Basmati rice.

Perfect food for a cold winters day this feeds the soul as well as the tummy :0)

Seattle Cop punches teen girl in the face! Is this excessive force or justified you decide?



A Seattle teen seen on cell phone video shoving a police officer who then punched her in the face has apologized to him, and he accepted the apology, authorities say.

Separately, the King County prosecutor charged the 17-year-old as a juvenile, with third-degree assault. That's punishable by a maximum 30 days in detention.

The incident happened Monday as the teen was intervening in a friend's jaywalking arrest by Police Officer Ian Walsh, 39.

The video shows Walsh trying to arrest 19-year old Marilyn Levias. The two were already struggling when Levias' friend, the 17-year-old, pushed the officer, and he responded by punching the friend in the face.

Hell could you imagine the field day in South Africa if you could be arrested for Jaywalking its a common practice here!

Friday, June 18, 2010

South African traditional Circumcision Schools are a nightmare and brutal!

Twenty initiates have died following botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape, the provincial health department said on Thursday.

"The deaths occurred over the past 12 days, with nine of them occurring over the past 24 hours," spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said.

Sixty boys were rescued from 11 initiation schools that had since been closed down. They were taken to various hospitals in the area.

"All 60 of them have septic wounds and are dehydrated... Four of the boys even need their genitals removed completely, as it could result in death if it's not. We are just waiting for consent from their parents to perform the procedures."

Officials from the department raided illegal initiation schools in the Port St Johns area and Libode.

"Operations would continue in other areas tomorrow," he said.

Health MEC Phumulo Masuale and the king of western Pondoland visited the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on Thursday.

They also visited illegal initiation schools in Mthatha, Libode and Lusikisiki, before meeting traditional leaders in the areas about the deaths.

Earlier this week, seven under-aged initiates were rescued from an illegal initiation school run by Mtshiyelwa Mtshayina Ndoda, a 55-year-old unregistered traditional surgeon who had been arrested several times for the offence.

"He was recently given a three-year suspended sentence but he continued doing the same thing. In the past five years, close to 20 initiates died in his schools and 15 had their penises amputated."

Ndoda has a pending case of operating an illegal initiation school which would be heard on July 22.

Kupelo said the department was also seeking meetings with the police, justice department and the National Prosecuting Authority to discuss the prosecution of those contravening the Traditional Circumcision Act, which regulates the custom in the province.

"The major problem is that parents are reluctant to prosecute illegal traditional surgeons who sometimes force their children into circumcision at a very young age.

"We identify the perpetrators, but if parents are not willing to open cases against them, they are freed and continue illegally circumcising and killing these boys," Kupelo said.

Last year, 91 initiates died and hundreds were admitted to hospital in the province.
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This lot is archaic and brutal to say the least some of these quacks use old bread knives or razor blades and lord knows what else its horrific

Thursday, June 17, 2010

You got to have Balls to own an i Phone

Get a load of the latest Accessory for your i Phone
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The silicone rubber sheath comes in different colours including blue which gives you a delightful case of blue balls!
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Here is the company's hype on the product
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Presenting phoneballs…. maybe not a revolution in protective silicone cases, but we think a pretty fun way to show your support for those little fellas that give us so much.

Whether male or female, chances are you have been touched by a pair of balls in your life…. don't you want to touch em back?

Besides being a real gas at social gatherings, these are great silicone cases. They really fit snuggly, they "nestle to the goods"…

Features

  • Provides a little something to tug on. We play with 'em all the time.
  • Protects your data port from dirt and dust, yet easy to tuck back when you need to connect
  • Soft, grippy silicone case doesn't add much bulk (well, other than those bulky balls!)
  • If they get dirty, just wash those dirty, sticky little balls with a little soap and water, they will come clean. You had better believe it!
  • iPhone NOT included
  • Have fun while doing a good thing. Remember, 10% of what we make here goes to fight testicular cancer!
Go here to get your own Balls http://phoneballs.com/

FIFA big bloody bullies again they just like the Mafia!

Two Dutch women were arrested in their underwear in Roodepoort, western Johannesburg, yesterday morning for having worn orange mini-dresses, sponsored by a Dutch beer company, at a soccer match.

The two, Mirte Nieuwpoort and Barbara Castelein, appeared at a closed hearing in the special World Cup court at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon.

They face "three possible charges including the Contravention of the Merchandise Marks Act and the contravention of two sections of the Special Measures Regulation," the police said.

They were each released on R10000 bail and their passports were confiscated. They were members of a group of women who had worn the orange dresses to the Holland-Denmark game at Soccer City, near Soweto, on Monday.

Fifa officials complained that the wearing of the dresses was advertising for Dutch brewery Bavaria. The company reportedly gave the dresses away, with cases of its beer, in the run-up to the tournament.

Dutch embassy spokesman, Christoph Prommersberger, said: "We think it's disproportionate that two ladies have been arrested for wearing orange dresses at a football stadium."

Prommersberger said that if Fifa "had a problem" with a company, charges should have been brought against the company and not the two women "who might face time in jail".

He said representatives of the brewers were at court and had paid the women's litigation costs.

The Merchandise Marks Act was amended in 2006 as the "government fulfilled its guarantee to protect Fifa's intellectual property rights and prevent ambush marketing by designating the World Cup as a protected event," the government's World Cup website says.

The 2006 Special Measures Act defines the exclusion zones in which commercial activities cannot take place without Fifa permission.

It is all just tantamount to bullying and been so darn greedy that you wont let one cent slip past you!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

South Africa gets a mention in the Huffington Post and a good one at that!

South Africa rolls out the Ubuntu in Abundence
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I went on a rant the other day regarding the cost of the 2010 World Cup versus all the critical needs South Africa is facing and whether or not the most vulnerable of this country would gain anything from having the World Cup hosted in their country. At that time, I also had some very positive things to say about our hosts for the 2010 World Cup and I wanted to share that side of the coin as well, because it is equally important.

To say that I have been blown away at the hospitality South Africa has shown the rest of the world would be an understatement. I think back on recent Olympics and struggle to remember much reporting in the USA of athletes from other countries. I remember when a Togolese guy won a bronze medal in kayaking and NBC reported it and I thought to myself, "where are all the other fascinating stories like this one...like the Jamaican bobsledding team." In today's America, sadly, we have drifted so far towards being so US-centric that we only seem to root for the Americans.

Not so here in South Africa. I've been here since early May and each week I have become more and more impressed with the global embrace that South Africans have offered up to the world. On the way to the airport a couple of weeks ago, I heard a radio program that said each day they would focus on one country that would be coming to South Africa for the World Cup, and they would explore not only that sport's history in soccer, but also their politics, religion, and socio-cultural practices. On the television, I've seen numerous programs that focus on a particular country and it's history of soccer and how the history of that country is intertwined with their soccer history. I've seen programs on India, exploring why India enjoys soccer but hasn't really excelled at the global level... yet. And I've seen shows on soccer in Muslim countries. Maybe it's planned, maybe it's unplanned, maybe it's by chance, but it is happening. It's not just about South Africans showing off their varied and multifaceted culture to their global guests, it's also about using this opportunity to educate South Africa on the rest of Planet Earth's inhabitants.

As I moved through my work here in the provinces over the last six weeks, I had a pivotal meeting with the Board members of a rural NGO. They were explaining their guiding program philosophy of Ubuntu. No, not the Linux program. I'm talking about the traditional African philosophy of Ubuntu that essentially says, "No man is an island."

I found a better explanation from Wikipedia:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu further explained Ubuntu in 2008:

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality -- Ubuntu -- you are known for your generosity.

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.

To me, Ubuntu is the acceptance of others as parts of the sum total of each of us. And that is exactly what I have experienced during the lead up to, and the initial days of this World Cup. There is nary a South African citizen that I've met on the street, or in shops or restaurants or hotels, that hasn't gone out of their way to greet me and make me feel like I am home. And I don't mean that in the trivial, "Oh, aren't they nice, homey people here... " sort of way. I mean real, genuine interest and questions. People seriously want to know where I come from. What it's like where I live. How does it compare to where I am now. What do I think of South Africa. Oh yes, and what do I think of Bafana Bafana... The questions and conversations are in earnest. They are honest. And they are had with enthusiasm and a thirst to know more. South Africans are drinking deeply from the cup of humanity that has been brought to their doorstep. I would never imagine that an American World Cup or Olympics would ever be this welcoming to the rest of the world. And that saddens me for the state of my home country, but it also makes me feel the pride of the South African people.

I have been truly humbled on this trip. And while I have my gripes regarding development here, I cannot say one negative thing about how South Africa has handled its duties as host and hostess to the world. If I could say one thing to sum up being here during this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it would be that I've learned the value of Ubuntu, and that when found and offered in abundance, the world is indeed a better place to live in.

So, if South Africa accomplishes nothing more on the playing field, it will still have won as a host country. I am a cynic, no doubt about that. And yet I have to admit, I'm a little teary just writing this because I leave for home next weekend and I will be leaving a little piece of myself here in South Africa. I just hope I have learned enough to bring back a little piece of Ubuntu to my homeland, where perhaps with a little caring and a little water, it will take root as naturally as it does here, in the cradle of civilization. It's funny, many people in America still ask me, "are the people in Africa very primitive?" Yes, I know, amazing someone could ask that but they do. And when they do, I usually explain that living in a mud hut does not make one primitive, however, allowing kids to sell drugs to other kids and engage in drive-by killings -- isn't that primitive behavior? I think it is. When I think of Ubuntu and my recent experiences here, I think America has much to learn from Africa in general, in terms of living as a larger village; and as human beings who are all interconnected with each other, each of us having an affect on our brothers and sisters.

As the 2010 Cup slogan goes, "Feel it. It is here." Well, I have felt it, because I am here. Thank you South Africa, for giving me this unexpected gift. I am humbled.

Shari Cohen http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shari-cohen

Oh man Nandos is so over the top this is Hilarious

With the South Americans playing today
this advert is so fitting

No not that kinda Coke this is a family restaurant you know!
A free can of coke to all Uruguayan players
and there family's
What were you thinking?

South Africans love fridge tarts and here is an easy one Pinapple Marshmallow Tart

Ingredients
To make the crust crush one-box Tennis biscuits and mix with 4 Tablespoons melted margarine and press into dish to make the crust

1. Mix lemon juice and condensed milk.
2. Mix in marshmallows and cherries.
3. Whip cream stiffly then add vanilla extract and pineapple.
4. Mix everything together and pour into prepared crumb crust.
5. Refrigerate to set.
I find that doubling the Ingredients makes for a nice size pie for the whole family

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Do you want plump fat lips then blow a Vuvuzela!

The players from the 32 participating countries won't be the only ones nursing World Cup-related injuries over the next month.

Just ask a few World Cup crazy South Africans who have been overzealously blowing their vuvuzelas, only to notice later that their lips have swollen to twice the normal size.

On social networking site Facebook, scores of users this week complained that blowing their vuvuzelas had left them looking as though they had been stung by a bee, although many said this would not dampen their gees.

"Who needs collagen ... get yourself a vuvuzela," one Facebooker said.
"You have to buzz your lips to create the sound. While you are blowing your lips are vibrating around and inside the vuvuzela, against a solid piece of plastic.

"If you play the vuvuzela for an extended period, I suspect you will also have swollen lips."

Copley's advice was to use a bit of baby oil or Vaseline before blowing the vuvuzela, to reduce friction, and to keep something cool, like a can of cooldrink, against the lips to reduce swelling afterwards.

"People should also not forget to protect their ears when they go to the stadium," Copley added.

Dr Jantjie Taljaard, from the Division of Infectious Diseases at Tygerberg Hospital, said that as in the case of two people sharing a bottle of water, the transmission of respiratory viruses, like the common cold, was possible through sharing a vuvuzela.
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I suppose this gives new meaning to Blow job lips!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Oh this is great Peter Davies from Super Sport writes an open letter aimed at the British Press


This is not only true but hilarious as well! Thanks to Peter for saying what we have all been thinking "Good Stuff"
-------------------------------------------

Dear World Cup visitors,

Now that you are safely in our country you are no doubt happily realising you are not in a war zone. This may be in stark contrast to what you have been bracing yourself for should you have listened to Uli Hoeness or are an avid reader of English tabloids, which as we all know are only good for wrapping fish ‘n chips and advancing the careers of large-chested teens on page three.

As you emerge blinking from your luxury hotel room into our big blue winter skies, you will surely realise you are far more likely to be killed by kindness than by a stray bullet. Remember that most of the media reports you have read, which have informed your views on South Africa, will have been penned by your colleagues. And you know what journos are like, what with their earnest two thousand word opuses on the op-ed pages designed to fix this country’s ills in a heartbeat. Based on exhaustive research over a three-day visit.

Funnily enough, we are well aware of the challenges we face as a nation and you will find that 95% of the population is singing from the same song-sheet in order to ensure we can live up to our own exacting expectations.

We are also here to look after you and show you a good time. Prepare to have your preconceived notions well and truly shattered.

For instance, you will find precious few rhinos loitering on street corners, we don’t know a guy in Cairo named Dave just because we live in Johannesburg, and our stadiums are magnificent, world-class works of art.

Which is obviously news to the Sky TV sports anchor who this week remarked that Soccer City looked ‘ a bit of a mess’. She didn’t realize the gaps in the calabash exterior are to allow in natural light and for illumination at night, and not the result of vandalism or negligence.

The fact that England, the nation which safely delivered Wembley Stadium two years past its due date, is prepared to offer us South Africans advice on stadium-readiness should not be surprising. The steadiest stream of World Cup misinformation has emanated from our mates the Brits over the past couple of years.

If it’s not man-eating snakes lurking in Rooney’s closet at the team’s (allegedly half-built) Royal Bafokeng training base, then it’s machete-wielding gangs roaming the suburbs in search of tattooed, overweight Dagenham dole-queuers to ransack and leave gurgling on the pavement.

In fact what you are entering is the world’s most fascinating country, in my opinion. I’m pretty sure you will find that it functions far more smoothly, is heaps more friendly and offers plenty more diversions than you could possibly have imagined.

In addition to which, the population actually acts like human beings, and not like they are being controlled by sinister forces from above which turns them into bureaucratically-manipulated robots.

Plus we have world’s most beautiful women. The best weather. Eight channels of SuperSport. Food and wine from the gods themselves. Wildlife galore. (Love the Dutch team’s bus slogan: “Don’t fear the Big 5; fear the Orange 11”).

Having said all that, Jo’burg is undoubtedly one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Just ask those Taiwanese tourists who got out of their hire car to take close-up snaps of tawny beasts at the Lion Park a few years back. Actually, ask what’s left of them. And did you know the chances of being felled by cardiac arrest from devouring a mountain of meat at one of our world class restaurants has been statistically proven to be 33.3% higher in Jozi than in any other major urban centre not built upon a significant waterway? It’s true. I swear. I read it in a British tabloid.

Having recently spent two years comfortably cocooned in small town America, I’m only too aware of how little much of the outside world knows about this country. The American channel I used to work for has a massive battalion of employees descending on World Cup country. It has also apparently issued a recommendation to its staff to stay in their hotels when not working.

Given that said corporation is headquartered in a small town which many say is “best viewed through the rear-view mirror”, I find the recommendation, if it’s true, to be utterly astounding. In fact I don’t believe it is true. Contrary to the global stereotype, the best Americans are some of the sharpest people in the world. The fact they have bought most tickets in this World Cup proves the point.

Of course I have only lived in Johannesburg, city of terror and dread, virtually all my life, so don’t have the in-depth knowledge of say, an English broadsheet journalist who has been in the country for the weekend, but nevertheless I will share some of my observations gleaned over the years.

Any foreign tourist or media representative who is worried about his safety in South Africa should have a word with the Lions rugby fans from last year, or the Barmy Army cricket supporters (lilywhite hecklers by day, slurring, lager-fuelled lobsters by night). They managed just fine, just like the hundreds of thousands of fans who have streamed into the country over the past fifteen years for various World Cups, Super 14 matches, TriNations tests and other international events. Negligible crime incidents involving said fans over said period of time.

Trivia question: which country has hosted the most global sporting events over the past decade and a half? You don’t need me to answer that, do you?

In addition. Don’t fret when you see a gaggle of freelance salesmen converge on your car at the traffic lights (or robots as we like to call them) festooned with products. You are not about to be hijacked. Here in Mzansi (nickname for SA) we do a lot of our purchasing at robots. Here you can stock up on flags, coat hangers, batteries, roses for the wife you forgot to kiss goodbye this morning and a whole host of useful merchandise.

Similarly, that guy who runs up as you park the rental car outside the pub intends no malice. He’s your car guard. Give him a buck or two and your vehicle will be safe while you refuel for hours on our cheap, splendid beer. Unless someone breaks into it, of course.

We drive on the left in this country. Exercise caution when crossing the road at a jog-trot with 15 kilograms of camera gear on your back. Exercise common sense full stop. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you want to leave wads of cash in your hotel room like our Colombian friends, don’t be surprised if it grows wings.

Bottomline. Get out there and breathe in great lusty lungfuls of this amazing nation. Tuck into our world-class food and wines. Disprove the adage that white men can’t dance at our throbbing, vibrant night-clubs. Learn to say hello in all eleven official languages. Watch at least one game in a township. You will not be robbed and shot. You will be welcomed like a lost family member and looked after as if you are royalty. Ask those Bulls rugby fans who journeyed to Soweto recently.

With a dollop of the right attitude, this country will change your life.

It’s Africa’s time. Vacate your hotel room. Join the party.

Waka waka eh eh.

Original Letter http://www.supersport.com/football/blogs/peter-davies/Open_letter_to_our_Foreign_Media_friends

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Oh man so close to a win Bafana Bafana still in there what a magical day

Its a draw with Mexico

Tshabalala crashed home an unstoppable left foot shot high and wide of Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez after 55 minutes of a hugely entertaining opening match in Group A on an emotional opening day of the first World Cup staged in Africa.

Mexico, who had started brighter, equalised after 79 minutes when Rafael Marquez capitalised on some poor defending and picked his spot to score.

“The draw was a fair result. I think this group is very tough. The team that gets four points will qualify,” said South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. “I praised my team. We could have won the game but the result was fair.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre added: “Their goal changed the match a lot. I wouldnt say we got nervous but a little bit anxious. We tried to change our play and we managed to draw but it wasnt enough. We have to praise our opponents.”

Friday, June 11, 2010

Men have the best friends

Brilliant!
Proof that Men Have Better Friends...

--

Friendship among Women:
A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband
that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.


Friendship among Men:
A man didn't come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends.
Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there

Soccer fever has us all what a day woke to the sounds of Vuvuzele's blasting it's crazy out there!

The day is finely here people
World Cup Soccer Fever

I cannot begin to tell you the mood this morning I woke up to Vuvuzeles blowing at five this morning everywhere you drive there are flags! They are on cars on buildings they are everywhere! Vuvuzeles are blowing like crazy I can only imagine what this afternoon is going to be like.

National pride is at an all time high even higher than when South Africa won the Rugby world cup for Mandela. This is an amazing moment in our History so lets savour the moment and enjoy it for all it is worth.

Good luck to our National team Bafana Bafana we are counting on you to Massacre Mexico today so do us proud guys and good luck from us all

Feel it it is here

Thursday, June 10, 2010

You just got to love Nando's Chicken Adverts

South Africa's first game being against Mexico
Nando's Introduces
The Mexican Incentive

Lets just hope it works

On the eve of the world cup ANCYL attacks Afrikaans South Africans when is this racism and hate going to end?

Responding to reports that a North West farmer had laid a charge of genocide against league president Julius Malema, at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, league spokesman Floyd Shivambu issued a scorching statement in which he attacked the entire Afrikaner community.

"If there are people who committed genocide against our people, it is the Afrikaners, who slaughtered many freedom fighters and innocent South Africans to protect the racist apartheid regime for many years, and we have forgiven them for that," he said.

Shivambu's statement came after reports that an unnamed Afrikaans farmer had charged Malema in the International Criminal Court for singing a liberation song with the words "dubul' ibhunu" (shoot the boer).

The Rustenburg farmer reportedly interpreted the song as inciting league supporters to commit genocide against "Afrikaans boers".

Shivambu said "right-wing elements" were using the courts to "lodge ludicrous complaints" in an attempt to "divert us from our political programme".

"As a matter of principle, the youth league encourages all South Africans to watch out against right-wing agents provocateur, most of whom are beneficiaries of a racist, murderous apartheid regime.

"They recurrently abuse the rights fought for by the liberation movement in order to divert our attention from serious issues of economic emancipation of the black majority and Africans in particular," Shivambu said.

His statement came after the Equality Court forced the league's Free State leader, Thabo Meeko, to apologise for statements about University of Free State vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen.

Jansen was attacked for letting students involved in a racist incident at the university back on campus.

The DA brought a charge of hate speech against Meeko after he told supporters last year that Jansen was "equally a criminal like these racist young students at that university".

Shivambu said the league was confident that the complaint arising from "some Afrikaners' stupidity and insecurities" would not be entertained in The Hague.

The international court should instead focus on "prosecution of imperialist-sponsored wars that continue to happen in the world", Shivambu said.

"The reported complaint with the ICC has only come to our attention through media reports, and no communication has been sent to us . The youth league has never been engaged in any criminal activity, and will never, because we are aware that such undermines the freedom our forbearers fought for with their lives," he said.

"The issue of liberation songs is currently before the courts, which have issued an interim interdict on the singing of some songs until the ANC has successfully defended its struggle and liberation songs and heritage," Shivambu said.

The Jewish blockade saga another side of the coin: You decide on right or wrong?

Israel is not above the law and not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism. Israel's blockade of Gaza, together with Egypt, it should be recalled (though Egypt is never condemned in this regard), is probably not the wisest policy ever implemented by Israel. After the international outcry over the flotilla to Gaza that was poorly handled by the Israelis, and with tragic consequences, it is high time this policy was reviewed.

The issue, however, is not this or some other specific Israeli policy, but Israel-bashing, or the prejudicial way in which Israel is usually treated by the international community and the world media. Prejudice is recognised by its three constituent practices: it singles out the subject; it then applies a double standard; and, of course, the subject is always guilty. Israel is indeed singled out for special treatment and the double standard is also reflected in a specific vocabulary that is applied only to Israel.

The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Israel's behavior in the flotilla incident and called for the formation of an international commission of inquiry. Surely the order should have been the reverse, an inquiry first and condemnation later, if and when justified by the investigation. The resolution was so obviously biased that the US and other democratic nations either voted against it or abstained. Since 2006 this council has adopted 40 condemnations of countries, of which 33 have focused on Israel. This is perverse. Israel is a country locked in conflict with some of its neighbours. It is not the epitome of evil on earth.

There was much international outrage because of the flotilla incident. Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Secretary General, condemned the violence and said that it was "vital that there is a full investigation" and Israel, he said, "must urgently provide a full explanation". Oddly enough no similar international outrage and demand for explanations was recently evident in reference to other even more tragic events: not when Iran again hanged political dissidents, bringing the total to nearly 300 since early 2009; nor when the North Koreans sunk a South Korean ship killing 46 seamen; nor when attacks on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore killed at least 93 worshipers. International outrage is awfully selective.

The recall of South Africa's ambassador to Israel is typical of this double standard. As more information becomes available on the flotilla it is pretty obvious to any fair minded person that the Turks, and certainly the men on the ship who attacked the Israeli commandos, bear no small measure of responsibility for the tragic outcome. But South Africa could not wait to be bothered by all the facts and has already made its judgement. South Africa took no similar action after the genocide in Darfur, the repeated killing of tens of protesters and the hangings of dissidents in Iran, the horrendous human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and many other instances infinitely worse than the flotilla incident.

As a rule and long before the recent events, just about every Israeli act of self defence has been criminalised. When Israel targeted operatives responsible for the dispatch of suicide bombers or for the rocketing of Israeli civilians, it was frequently condemned for what was described as extra-judicial killing, assassination or murder, as if this kind of warfare was a judicial proceeding and Israel was operating against innocents. The US currently carries out identical operations against its enemies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but these are charitably described by the media as drone operations.

After the suicide bombings in Israel at the beginning of this decade Israel built a security barrier which its detractors like to call the "apartheid wall". That, of course, is to suggest that the barrier was constructed for racist reasons. The barrier/fence/wall was erected after hundreds of Israelis had been slaughtered in the restaurants and the buses by suicide bombers. Since its construction Israelis are safe, at least from the ravages of the bombers. Referring to the barrier as if it were a racist exercise ignores Israeli losses as if Israeli lives were no more than human dust.

Placing the barrier in a context of racial discrimination removes it entirely from its real context of conflict, completely dehumanising the Israelis in the process. Many states, some of which are great democracies, have fences and walls along their borders. None are condemned for apartheid. Walls separate the communities in Northern Ireland, but there they are called "peace walls". Some say the apartheid charge is levelled against Israel because the barrier protrudes in certain areas into the West Bank. That is true, and is a real problem, but what does that have to do with apartheid?

After eight years of rocketry on its civilian population Israel went to war against Hamas in Gaza. In such a densely populated battle zone, when enemy operatives are embedded among civilians, as the US and its Nato allies in Iraq and Afghanistan know only too well, the unfortunate loss of civilian lives is unavoidable. Israel, like the US and its allies, surely made mistakes and errors of judgement in the heat of battle. But only the Israelis face international commissions of inquiry and charges of war crimes, even though the civilian losses in both Iraq and Afghanistan have continued over a longer period of time and are far higher than in Gaza.

As aforesaid, Israel is not above the law, but the law should not apply only to Israel. The law should apply to Israel just as it applies to all other countries. Instead of demonisation, criminalisation and dehumanisation Israel should be judged just like everybody else. The jurisprudence of democracies upholds the principles of equality before the law and innocence until proven guilty. Israel should enjoy these rights too rather than constantly having to face selective prosecution.

Guys I would like to hear your comments on this article pro or against

  • Professor Asher Susser is a Senior Fellow at the Moshe Dayan Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Tel Aviv University and is presently a Visiting Professor at Brandeis University in the United States