"Now because my editor (peace be upon him) has this odd idea that I focus on conspiracy issues too much, I figure I’ll try real hard to keep away from politics for the rest of this column, and instead snipe at safe and easy targets — like religion, the ANC, and rightwingers, and also give away the endings to some current movies instead". (<i>You’re fired. Ed</i>) Ian Fraser looks at the writing on the web.
Few people are naive enough to believe the kiddies’ rhyme that goes, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never harm me." But even the few die-hard believers will soon have to concede that, in the global economy, words can cost you money, at the very least. That’s because good domain names have become scarce, with most generic words already registered by individuals and corporations.
The recent ruling by the Federal Court of Canada — that music fans who download music for personal use via peer-to-peer (P2P) services are not breaking its local copyright law — highlights the risk the music business is taking in deciding to sue music file-sharers.
Several years ago, after one too many Dorothy Parker moments, I stopped drinking. From the high ground of the wagon, I expected to step into a hangover-free nirvana in which life was richer and relationships more meaningful. So how come life, and love, turned out to be as exhilarating as a beige jersey?
”Do you ever get hot?” ”How long is your hair?” ”Isn’t it awkward?” These are some of the questions I’m asked when people meet me for the first time. No, actually, it’s quite comfortable. I never have to worry about bad hair days and my hair getting wet in the rain. This is the life of a Muslim woman who wears the hijab. She is liberated in her covering.
”It’s wonderful that we have such a fabulously celebrated, all-embracing Constitution, but sometimes it can work against us women. Like the Recognition of African Customary Marriages Act four years ago, Muslim marriages could soon become legal in South Africa”. A young Muslim woman gives her perspective on life in a modern South Arica.
![]()
Women’s concerns have been drowned out of these elections by their unspecific inclusion under the big-ticket banners of poverty, unemployment, education and HIV/Aids. In general, women’s concerns and gender issues are mentioned in the political party’s election manifestos simply as a part of grander (hackneyed) political equations.
Bulls coach Rudy Joubert has made five changes to the side that lost to the Auckland Blues last weekend for the side’s clash with the Queensland Reds at Ballymore on Friday morning (South African time). Fullback Willem de Waal has been dropped after two lacklustre games for the side.
Parthiv Patel and Rahul Dravid put on 119 for the unbroken second wicket to help India consolidate in the third and final cricket Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The overnight pair batted through the morning session of the second day to take the total from 23-1 to 119 without further loss by lunch.
Top seed and world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne has been forced to withdraw from this week’s WTA Family Circle Cup, tournament officials announced on Tuesday. Henin-Hardenne, the defending champion, is suffering from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause lightheadedness.