Alex Sudheim Imagine pulling into the sweetest barrel you’ve ever dreamed of, then hitting pause and staying there forever. The surreal quality of this image is enhanced by the fact that, when looking out the far side of the tube you see not the ocean, but a giant video screen with yourself projected on it, […]

Simon Kuper Apparently baffling events, such as England beating Germany 5-1 away, often turn out to be part of a logical pattern. What made the result seem particularly curious was that Germany had lost only one World Cup qualifying match before. However, so had Brazil before 2000. This time they lost six, and the Dutch […]

I am appalled at the sloppy reporting and sensational headline that you permit in the article by Paul Kirk (“Newspaper sales figures ‘inflated’”, November 23). Routine checking would have established ignorance and a personal agenda. Independent Newspapers is a reputable company. We were founder members of the Audit Bureau of Circulations and comply with its […]

Judith February The report by the joint investigative team into the arms deal somewhat overshadowed the rising of Parliament last Friday. Seven of the parliamentary committees will scrutinise the report during recess. The parliamentary year has, however, been anything but dull and some key pieces of legislation have been passed to the president. In addition, […]

Marianne Merten Three New National Party provincial leaders Mpumalanga’s Chris MacPherson, North West’s Amie Venter and the Northern Province’s Schalk van Schalkwyk are certain to win places in their provincial cabinets in terms of the cooperative governance pact between the NNP and the African National Congress announced this week. In terms of the pact, NNP […]

Shyaka Kanuma hits the nail exactly on the head but a few more strokes would have completed the picture (“Look no further than taxis”, November 23). By using taxi passengers’ submission to the whims of the driver as a reflection of Africa’s submission to the whims of tyrants, Kanuma could not have used a better […]

drink Shannon Sherry The myth and mystique that imbues the marketing of Scotch whisky is almost as heady as the “water of life” itself. The makers of Scotch sell more than just a drink: with the “liquid gold” consumers get drunk on an entire body of Scottish legend. At a highly enjoyable whisky banquet put […]

Accidents of birth rob the World Cup of many of the world’s very best players Ian Ridley World governing body Fifa must have been cold-sweating in Switzerland but in the end it turned out nice again: all seven of the previous World Cup winners through to the finals after convincing last-gasp wins. Once the relief […]

I had of late started to lose enthusiasm for buying and reading the Mail & Guardian, what with that obnoxious man Sipho Seepe blathering all over my weekly read. I am told he also goes under the pretext of being a professor but I think he can safely be referred to as a palooka. But […]

The HRC’s capitulation on this week’s court challenge to the government HIV/Aids policy gives rise to questions over the commission’s independence Thuli Nhlapo and Nawaal Deane The Human Rights Commission (HRC) pulled out of helping the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in its landmark challenge to the government on HIV/Aids after the commission’s then chair, Barney […]