A note on ‘The 48 Laws of Power’

This reminds me very much of ‘The Art of War’ by Sun-Tzu. I’m still researching this list (I’m still reading through it), but it seems fascinating. So far I can really identify with some of the rules, and I can see myself applying them daily. On the other hand I believe they have some of […]

Shocked by moderate liberals

What a shocking morning for me. It started out with a discussion of the on-line petitions, specifically the road tax and other issues. It quickly became an unsettling encounter with racism. On the way to work I met a respected man fro our community. He is at least a decade or more older than we […]

Personal vs career

Last night Kay made one of those comments that I absolutely love her for. Perhaps I enjoyed the comment just because I want to hear it. But I like to believe I enjoyed it because it’s true. On third thoughts, perhaps I enjoyed it because I want to hear it and it’s true. They’re not […]

Crass contrast

About ten years ago our philosophy professor prescribed his newly published book for our course on multiculturalism. The term assignment was to study it and write a critical analysis. Instead of focussing on his theories and arguments about why multiculturalism has worked wonderfully in South Africa – this was only the middle nineties – I […]

Critical

I hope people are not as critical of me as I am of them. Then again, I never expect anything of anyone else that I don’t expect a hundred times more perfect from myself.

Regular work worries

It’s not easy working for an ambitious American, especially when she’s older than I am and not a parent herself. She is well intentioned, but it’s still difficult to relate the priorities and difficulties of a working parent. Although she tries to understand, a natural misunderstanding exists which needs to be bridged first. And of […]

Military complex to guilt complex

As a born African – and having taught the brightest young technology minds in Africa for the last seven years, I am qualified to have an opinion on the future of Africa. At least, let me narrow it down to South Africa. Westerners should stop measuring African success by European standards. Africa only has problems […]

Sadam beats me

I found the Sadam video on YouTube today. It’s about two and a half minutes. I have seen thousands of deaths on television. I have been on my knees – face against the wall and hands tied behind my back – with a gun at my head myself. Despite all of that, I am amazingly […]

Assertiveness

Where does one draw the line between assertiveness and forcefulness? Conversely, where is the boundary between modesty and timidness? Having been (repeatedly) accused of arrogance, I put in an effort not to be overbearing at work. In addition to this I’m also a naturally shy person, and I hate getting things wrong – everything perfect […]

Slightly off centre

On the train, back from work. It’s 23:44 on a Saturday night and the train leaves in 6 minutes. My travelling companions are drunk, on alcohol, on life, on some other addictive drug. My body is tired and sore, having spent time in the gym. A quick trip into the city to visit the gym. […]