Hearken the voice of reason. Racial venom is like social dynamite.

I've been doing some writing about the last days of apartheid, so far mostly for myself but hopefully some will be sharable. In the process I've been rewatching some movies on the subject and listening to music from the time. I was rewatching, Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part ( Read more... )

There is so much I agree with in this intriguing radio bit about science fiction in Africa, and much of it I've been saying for years. The BBC get's South African SF author Lauren Beukes to answer the question, "Is Science Fiction Coming to Africa?" I think it was the wrong question... but the right answer.

BBC World Service - Your World, Is ( Read more... )

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Saw Johnny Clegg perform live tonight. An outstanding, energetic show. Sang my heart out. Gave me something of a healing and made me so very homesick for South Africa. One song paraphrased Hemingway, words for me to live by right now ( Read more... )

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We're now in the early days of a chilly, wet Portland fall. When we left on our South African adventure summer was playing the role of over-achiever, but when we returned summer had been vanquished and fall was upon us. We saw spring in South Africa and you can't complain about spring twice in one year, but I still missed those sweet Portland late ( Read more... )

I'm in Atlanta airport as I type this. We're on our way. Almost two weeks ago, we got married and now we are on our way to South Africa for our month-long honeymoon ( Read more... )

On this day back in 1964, before my mother had any children, Nelson Mandela gave a famous speech from the dock to open his defense during the Rivonia treason Trial, the trial that sent him to jail and made him the world's most famous political prisoner. Few South Africans were allowed to hear his speech. It started like this:I am the First Accused ( Read more... )

At work our team plays a song of the day every day... well most days, ostensibly for fun and inspiration. We take turns picking a song and this past Wednesday I was up. I picked Juke Box Hero by Foreigner. It's a bit of a classic from the era when hard rocking guitar music ruled. Well, it didn't rule me. I'm not big on hard rock, but I do like some ( Read more... )