it is an odd time to make a return to the blogosphere - instinctively i think it will be brief again - but thats part of the beauty of blogging. its yours to determine.
Recently all that i have penned have been reports, presentations and more reports. Analysis and apendices have spewed forth from my brain like never before. Despite all this induced direction, i feel like im floating...with little motivation to grip the paddles and aim for something.
and this gives rise to mediocrity. and waste. and perhaps all the more worrying is that 'floating' has an effect on spirituality.
a friend said i need an anchor - he seemed to think this means a girl. i told him, as has been my scathing responce to such comment over the last few years, that i wanted to sail, not to drop anchor.
his answer? then find a girl who is your sail! i thought the comment ridiculously bollywoodish. but later that day i thought again...
am i getting so old so quickly?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
floating
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
world's apart
the nerves, the sweat, the aniticaption for one kid was: will it be all a's? or just 5.maybe 4, God forbid.
and for the other: will it be a pass? will it be enough to get through, will there be enough 40's to see it to the end?...is there even a future....
world's apart, yet from the same family.
life has a cruel, painful way of showing up disparities.
Read the rest....
and for the other: will it be a pass? will it be enough to get through, will there be enough 40's to see it to the end?...is there even a future....
world's apart, yet from the same family.
life has a cruel, painful way of showing up disparities.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
mini panel van tour of sa
touring sa has always been fun and invariably an amazing experience - SA is a country that rocks!
car modification is always something thats fun. recently myself and a friend stumbled upon the idea of restoring a 1960 mini to 'sports car' condition - 1600 engine maybe, neat leather interior, drop top even - the sort of thing that would 'make champagne fall from the skies'
but then we visited the car show, and the idea evolved into finding a late-1960 Mini Van and converting it into a retro-limo. (anyone know of one? only half a million units were ever made unfortunately).
watching top gear and jeremy clarkson today, the idea evolved again, taking on a whole new dimension, a bed, and possibly a gas stove too. the idea now is to find, if ever possible, the old mini panel van and convert it into an all-in-one house/car/studio, in which to tour sa.
studio? well just a plug point for a laptop really. to make a movie of the trip, and maybe even run a live blog of sorts?
the idea rocks. lets see if we can ever make it happen
Read the rest....
car modification is always something thats fun. recently myself and a friend stumbled upon the idea of restoring a 1960 mini to 'sports car' condition - 1600 engine maybe, neat leather interior, drop top even - the sort of thing that would 'make champagne fall from the skies'
but then we visited the car show, and the idea evolved into finding a late-1960 Mini Van and converting it into a retro-limo. (anyone know of one? only half a million units were ever made unfortunately).
watching top gear and jeremy clarkson today, the idea evolved again, taking on a whole new dimension, a bed, and possibly a gas stove too. the idea now is to find, if ever possible, the old mini panel van and convert it into an all-in-one house/car/studio, in which to tour sa.
studio? well just a plug point for a laptop really. to make a movie of the trip, and maybe even run a live blog of sorts?
the idea rocks. lets see if we can ever make it happen
Thursday, November 13, 2008
citizen desgin - infinite possibility?
imagine the latest BMW gearbox being partly designed by a group of young independent engineers in China. Or the new Nokia interface generated by programmers from Zimbabwe in their spare time. Or the most recent Converse range dominated by designs from fashion designers in Brazil.
Odd? Weird? not any more.
The concept of Mass collaboration has brought to the world of design a whole new dimension, that will in all probability reshape the way companies and design studios run their R&D departments.
there is much to say about the idea, and the 'movement' of mass collab, but i am, as usual, short on time.
For now though, the thought i want to throw out in to the public domain, is how young south african's can use the concept of citizen design (i'm not sure, but i may be the first to use the term? or maybe im plagarising?) to create Research and Development practices that would level (some-what) the opportunity playing field. ie broader access to high level design projects by one and all. it stands to reason that well administered citizen design programs have the potential to propel (otherwise overlooked) young minds and great ideas to the top the economic food change, and contribute to better distribution of the countries resources.
An iniative i will launch, God willing, in the not too distant future aims (amongst many other things) at studying and implementing 'Citizen Design' programs, particularly with a view of harnessing what i believe to be the tremendous potential of the country's young minds. Contact me if you're interested in getting involved
Read the rest....
Odd? Weird? not any more.
The concept of Mass collaboration has brought to the world of design a whole new dimension, that will in all probability reshape the way companies and design studios run their R&D departments.
there is much to say about the idea, and the 'movement' of mass collab, but i am, as usual, short on time.
For now though, the thought i want to throw out in to the public domain, is how young south african's can use the concept of citizen design (i'm not sure, but i may be the first to use the term? or maybe im plagarising?) to create Research and Development practices that would level (some-what) the opportunity playing field. ie broader access to high level design projects by one and all. it stands to reason that well administered citizen design programs have the potential to propel (otherwise overlooked) young minds and great ideas to the top the economic food change, and contribute to better distribution of the countries resources.
An iniative i will launch, God willing, in the not too distant future aims (amongst many other things) at studying and implementing 'Citizen Design' programs, particularly with a view of harnessing what i believe to be the tremendous potential of the country's young minds. Contact me if you're interested in getting involved
Sunday, November 9, 2008
real change?
i have for a while now believed that the 'real change,' the kind of change that obama would have us envisage but never attain, would need to be sparked by a change in the way we do business. our age is one that is characterised by the pursuit of personal wealth accumulation and the instant satisfaction of material desire.
But this is a not a post about the deplorable state of the moral orientation of our world - its not meant to be about the problems, but rather more about solutions.
I'm under no illusions - the 'solutions' i will present here are not earth shattering. In fact they not even new. all it really is, is me joining a path already being followed by others. to me, this is the best way to Contribute. I have looked long and hard to find that ultimate solution, the answer to all problems, the instantanous once-and-for-all remedy - but without success. And so that experience brings me to this conclusion - change is not going to happen over night, and it won't solve everyones problems in one go.
however, i retain some naivity, and think that solutions are still possible :)
and so i return to my original point - real change, i think, must lie at the heart of the way we do business. the wealth generation of our societies must be more inclusive, and better distributed. pragmatically however, it means Business and its people being less greedy, less selfish.
if a People can be made to share their wealth, it would mean compassion and selflessness would have over-powered greed and opulence, and that this change would be more real than ever before.
the process of eradicating greed and shifting the objectives of Business is not a new idea, not a simple idea, not an idea that will heal all the world's wounds, and definitely not an idea that will heal them overnight - but is an idea that maybe holds most promise than most others.
Read the rest....
But this is a not a post about the deplorable state of the moral orientation of our world - its not meant to be about the problems, but rather more about solutions.
I'm under no illusions - the 'solutions' i will present here are not earth shattering. In fact they not even new. all it really is, is me joining a path already being followed by others. to me, this is the best way to Contribute. I have looked long and hard to find that ultimate solution, the answer to all problems, the instantanous once-and-for-all remedy - but without success. And so that experience brings me to this conclusion - change is not going to happen over night, and it won't solve everyones problems in one go.
however, i retain some naivity, and think that solutions are still possible :)
and so i return to my original point - real change, i think, must lie at the heart of the way we do business. the wealth generation of our societies must be more inclusive, and better distributed. pragmatically however, it means Business and its people being less greedy, less selfish.
if a People can be made to share their wealth, it would mean compassion and selflessness would have over-powered greed and opulence, and that this change would be more real than ever before.
the process of eradicating greed and shifting the objectives of Business is not a new idea, not a simple idea, not an idea that will heal all the world's wounds, and definitely not an idea that will heal them overnight - but is an idea that maybe holds most promise than most others.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
abdullah ibrahim
the musician, the gentleman,the maestro.
there are few things in life with that soft, soothing, elegant beauty that is so difficult to put your finger on - the music of one abdulla ibrahim is exactly that.
i count myself the lucky ones, having had the opportunity to see and hear The Trio live in jozi at the Wits Great Hall tonight. fantastic atmosphere, great company and a super performance from the master.
play the clip!
Read the rest....
there are few things in life with that soft, soothing, elegant beauty that is so difficult to put your finger on - the music of one abdulla ibrahim is exactly that.
i count myself the lucky ones, having had the opportunity to see and hear The Trio live in jozi at the Wits Great Hall tonight. fantastic atmosphere, great company and a super performance from the master.
play the clip!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
the Real Soldier
I have a deep respect for Mr Robert Fisk. And Mr John Pilger. And the few other journalists in the modern world who have risked life and limb to tell the tale of truth. As obscure and hidden as it has been in the greatest age of deception.
their tales, punctuated so very often, by extreme pain and dominated by death and destruction seem to me, in an odd way, the work of the Real Soldier in the modern world. the Real Soldier - i have always held it in my mind - is an agent of Good, who risks life and limb in upholding morality. the Soldier goes to war to vanquish the forces of Evil and knowingly places his life 'in the line of fire.'
Very few wars in the modern world have been about morality. Rather, they have been driven by greed and hunger-for-power (with most, if not all parties on all sides guilty). Illegitimate wars. Terrible consequence. Where does this leave the combatants of these wars? Are they, those Real Soldiers?
they cannot be. yes they may have risked life and limb. but for good? no again. so they are not those Real Soldiers.
recent wars, however, those in the Middle East and Africa primarily, were not without Soldiers. they were those who risked life and limb and fought for Good. who were they? what part did the play? they were those journalists, few and far between, that brought to the world in small, marginalised pieces the Truth of these conflicts. Truth is central to Goodness. without it Evil must triumph. Truth is also the first, baby step towards a human, moral responce to the tragedies of war.
So to the Fisks and Pilgers of the world, i salute you. as Real Soldiers should be. the war goes on.
Read the rest....
their tales, punctuated so very often, by extreme pain and dominated by death and destruction seem to me, in an odd way, the work of the Real Soldier in the modern world. the Real Soldier - i have always held it in my mind - is an agent of Good, who risks life and limb in upholding morality. the Soldier goes to war to vanquish the forces of Evil and knowingly places his life 'in the line of fire.'
Very few wars in the modern world have been about morality. Rather, they have been driven by greed and hunger-for-power (with most, if not all parties on all sides guilty). Illegitimate wars. Terrible consequence. Where does this leave the combatants of these wars? Are they, those Real Soldiers?
they cannot be. yes they may have risked life and limb. but for good? no again. so they are not those Real Soldiers.
recent wars, however, those in the Middle East and Africa primarily, were not without Soldiers. they were those who risked life and limb and fought for Good. who were they? what part did the play? they were those journalists, few and far between, that brought to the world in small, marginalised pieces the Truth of these conflicts. Truth is central to Goodness. without it Evil must triumph. Truth is also the first, baby step towards a human, moral responce to the tragedies of war.
So to the Fisks and Pilgers of the world, i salute you. as Real Soldiers should be. the war goes on.
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