I didn’t realize that Zimbabwe’s new media laws prohibit anyone from making rude comments about Mugabe, and it doesn’t matter whether they’re inside the borders of that country or not. It’s now illegal to say anything rude about Mugabe, anywhere. Therefore, can I join with the maker of this next site and say Robert Mugabe Is A Filthy Piece Of Sh*t
There’s a great local site that’s making Telkom wet its pants – and anything to irritate, outrage or generally make life difficult for Telkom, can only be good. If you’ve ever wanted to look up the unlisted numbers of local citizens – from the famous ones to old friends, this is the site for you. Look up your favourite celebrity or politician now, (while you’re at it, suggest to the site owners that they move their site onto a server outside the borders of SA, so that they can’t be legally stopped). Go to Easy Info. A comedy magazine that’s been in business for a long time – it even made the transition to making movies – is the always readable National Lampoon Magazine
Michael Moore, the amazing documentary film maker behind the classic flick Roger and Me, as well as the TV show we haven’t seen here, called The Awful Truth, has written about the Enron scandal. Take a read of Moore’s An Open Letter To George Bush.
The ‘Makes You Weep’ section. Given that Saambou Bank has gone belly-up (in what rumours suggest might have been a deliberate take-over by a Certain Other Banking Institution) take a look at a top 10 list of local banks and consider which is better; them, or keeping it under your mattress. Top 10 Local Banks. Then a look back to the bland ‘glory days’ at IT Careers – Saambou Bank Call Centre!
Once upon a time the US Government and US Military were making short films for soldiers and the public, on everything from ‘What to Do in A Nuclear Attack’ through to social education films like ‘What To Do On A Date’. For an amazing collection of classic, strange and historic films that can be downloaded or watched streaming, go to the Internet Movie Archives. And as a companion to some of the weirder Cold War films from the above site, browse through All Things Atomic.
Still waiting for someone to start war crime proceedings against surviving members of the old National Party? In the interim, why not take a look at some of the online documentation dealing with those naughty Nazi’s that the Nationalists liked so much in WW2. Go to Nuremberg Trials. Then for more info on ‘people who thought they could get away with it’ – try War Criminal Watch. Here’s a rather dry site dealing with United Nations policy making at Global Policy Forum and their main page at Global Policy.
It must be tough being Stephen King – especially if you’re not THAT Stephen King. And it’s probably worse if you happen to be a writer as well. For a fascinating read, try a site that’s dedicated and filled with the stories of people who just happen to have the same name as the Writing Dude from Bangor, Maine. Go to Being Stephen King. Then browse through the all too brief collection of classic rock momoents at Greatest Rock Photo’s. And, if you happen to spend every waking moment of your life thinking about food, or the next meal, then go join the obsessive fun at Chow Hounds!
For light relief I was browsing through declassified CIA files (yes, you can do that in a democracy – unlike here) and found some interesting data on South Africa, drawn up way back in 1952. Do a search on “South Africa” and read the report called ‘Probable Developments in the Union of South Africa’, at CIA Documents Search Engine. Finally, a site of use to local celebrities, politicians, talk show hosts and TV presenters – browse through the files at English For Beginners!
Until the next time, if Telkom and Mugabe don’t get me.
Ian Fraser is a playwright, author, comedian, conspiracy nut, old-time radio collector and self-confessed data-junkie. Winner of numerous Vita and Amstel Awards, he’s been an Internet addict and games-fanatic since around 1995, when the Internet began to make much more sense than theatre.