United 4 Bafana Bafana bracelet … check

Series of South African flags … check

Car window flags … check

Awesomely cool SWC Adidas shirt … check

Tickets to see a game … chec … wait a minute. No.

That's right – I have absolutely no tickets to see a game. Thus far, all my efforts to secure some people to bring along with me to watch something in PE (which is by far the closest) have been met with more opposition than freeing the internet in China. Not since Herr Blatter tried to introduce a FIFA charge for cheering at games has there been so much resistance.

It's a little dispiriting.

So, I suppose I will watch a couple of the games from the comfort of my own living room. Which I suppose should be fine – I have a pretty decent TV and good sound. And I guess if I get tired of it all I can just switch over to something else.

I just don't think it'll be the same though. I mean when you get right down to it, there's nothing quite like the feeling of being at an actual, live game.

The shouting, the potential for rain and even the Vuvuzelas.

So if you're one of the lucky ones who managed to a) get a ticket b) get time off and c) find people to go with, spare a thought for me as you hopefully watch some foreigner find out that South Africa really can do bloody well.

To that end, UniteSA is an attempt to bring people from all corners of our nation together in a call for peace, calm and rational thought.

Various ministers have called for restraint as has President Zuma – certain organisations have chosen to use this time to push a political agenda and we appeal to them to allow the authorities the chance they need to resolve the issues.

We urge the people of South Africa to express faith in the police force and the justice system at this time.

We call upon the ANC to rein in Julius Malema appropriately and urge him to behave responsibly.

We call upon the AWB to continue to act responsibly after the tragic death of Eugene Terre’blanche.

We call upon the National Government to plan for protection of farmers as they worry about their futures.

We express our solidarity and empathy for those who have suffered because of crime and corruption in our country.

We are far stronger united than we are apart.

Blogroll

http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/gatherer/

http://www.dreamfoundry.co.za/

http://www.6000.co.za

http://loveandpolitics.co.za

http://synapses.co.za

http://fsi.org.za

http://www.macgeek.co.za

http://www.futurechurch.co.za

http://www.robsramblings.co.za

http://antithesis.blognation.co.za

http://jhbprincess.blognation.co.za

http://www.pinkhairgirl.co.za/

In a more serious light, I wonder at the films that seem to use this “Documentary” style of shooting. Is it possible that they need to use this technique as a crutch? Often it seems to be used as a way of distracting us from the alarming lack of plot or conscious thought.

I think it’s time we moved past this. I’d like to be able to sit in a cinema and watch a whole movie without feeling nauseous if it’s alright with you.

She’s beautiful. She’s not the fastest in the world but now that I’ve tanked Vista and popped on my very favourite Ubuntu I’m loving her. I shall name her… well actually I don’t know what to name her. Any suggestions, you 5 people that read my blog?

I must take this moment to say that Ubuntu is everything I’m looking for in an operating system. It’s fast, easy to setup (barring one teeny, tiny problem with my graphics) and runs like a dream.

Now I’m just getting her to work with my phone and we’ll be completely sorted. Nifty no?

For those that are interested, these are the new toy’s specifications:

Processor type	AMD Sempron™ Processor for Notebook PCs SI-42 • 2.10 GHz, Level 2 cache 512 KB
Operating system installed	Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Standard memory	1024 MB
Memory layout	(1 x 1024 MB)
Maximum memory	Supports up to 4 GB DDR2 memory

Internal drives
Internal drives	160 GB
Storage controller	SATA Hard Disk Drive
Hard disk drive speed	5400 rpm
Optical drive type	Lightscribe Super Multi DVD Writer (+/-R +/-RW) with Double Layer support
Lightscribe	Create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe: Just burn, flip, burn.
Optical drive controller	SATA optical Drive

System features
Memory card device	5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
Modem	High speed 56K modem
Network interface	Ethernet 10/100BT integrated network interface
Wireless technologies	802.11b/g WLAN
External I/O ports	3 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI connector, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ45 ethernet connector, 1 RJ11 modem connector, 1 headphone-out, 1 mic-in
Display size	15.6″ Diagonal High Definition HP Brightview Display
Display resolution	1366 x 768
Graphic subsystem name	NVIDIA GeForce 8200M
Video RAM	Up to 319 MB Total Available Graphics Memory
Webcam	Webcam with integrated microphone
Internal audio	3D Sound Blaster Pro compatible sound 16 bit integrated
Speakers and microphone	Altec Lansing® speakers
Keyboard	101 key compatible keyboard
Power supply type	65 W AC Power Adapter
Pointing device	Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad, volume control, mute button
Battery type	6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery

That includes cleaning up the themes, getting Gravatars to work and me coding up a “Simple” and “Advanced” version of the Blogging platform.

I’ll also be working on some import tools to grab blogs from Blogger and so on.

So, here’s to a month of improvement, excellent work and some interesting collaboration. Wish me luck!

Powered by Twitter Tools

Powered by Twitter Tools

I consider myself one of a dying breed – as a young person (read less than 30), I’ve never shied away from commitment. While many of my peers were sowing their oats and trying like buggery to avoid the matrimonial noose, I ran headlong into it. The fear of being chained down like a tethered animal has never gripped me and although I married young, I feel I married well.

And I’m pretty glad that I did really. I can’t recall a single thing I’ve done that’s had as much impact on my life as getting hitched. Perhaps it’s the lady I’ve got but I haven’t regretted a single day since.

I may be married but dammit, that doesn’t mean I can’t still have fun.

Marriage doesn’t lock you down and force you to behave like someone you’re not – if anything it gives you a lifelong buddy you can take with you wherever you go. Someone to start a family with, someone who understands you and sympathizes even if you’re talking complete twaddle.

So if you’re one of the young oats sowers, enjoy your day in the sun. I’ll sit here and enjoy my day in the arms of my wife and look forward to the next 80 odd years of my life.

Tags: marriage, girls, young

This is beginning to sound awfully familiar.

I suppose only time will tell if we are to have a second Iraq on our hands. I sincerely hope not – once is enough in a lifetime I feel.

Of course, it is possible that the UN inspectors will find evidence of atomic activities – but will the US abide by their decision if nothing is found?

Tags: Syria, UN, Nuclear, Atomic, familiar