The brainfart factory

I don’t eat the stuff. And for the record, chickens and fish are made of meat. This is not a choice because of personal health either. It is a choice as part of a survival plan for the planet. If you think I am full of bovine excreta, read this report commissioned for the UN and released in 2006. Our livestock are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalents), more than the emissions from transport! The list goes on and on. Water contamination, drug resistant bacteria, pesticides, antibiotic and hormones in the food chain. That cow on the griddle is a major cause of the environmental pickle humanity finds itself in. Let me not get started on what our fish habit is doing to the oceans. So how much difference can a handful of tree hugging vegetarians make?

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Now just how obsessed can you get about a simple dish made from rice? Well, when you find yourself raving and gibbering about how sublimely sexy a risotto can be, you are officially pretty far gone. Making a risotto is an art that is best learned by just doing it, but just don’t do it with the wrong kind of rice. For recipes, talk to Gennaro Contaldo,  Nadine Abensur or Jamie Oliver. For some courage to try, read on. Read the rest of this entry »

What do Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, the badass who murdered the Good King Wenceslaus, William the Conqueror, Charlemagne, a whole bunch of mad Scots (is there another kind?) who held out from the British takeover (Asterix style) for some years, St Olga, Queen of Kiev (the first Russian ruler to convert to Christianity), Louis VI “the fat”, King of France, Lady Godiva, Erik Bloodaxe, King of Norway and Boudica have in common? Well, they are all ancestors of mine! Who would have guessed? All the sordid details have been recorded by Vanessa in astonishing detail and scope. We are now investigating a land restitution claim on Fontainebleau castle (a joke)! All of Vanessa’s amazing efforts (more than 8000 individuals spanning two millennia) are recorded here. Family members who want more access can contact Vanessa directly.

Update: Apparently, I am also descended from Attila the Hun!

In my position at my company, I have to sell our services. We ain’t cheap, so it has to be a good pitch. You are not going to sell a pricey service if you do not look the part. Web site design, business cards, product brochures and even the lowly CD cover are all manifestations of looking the part. This is a particularly good time for technical and financial people to get a simple fact: as hot as you may be at engineering or finances or whatever, you are most likely to be a terrible designer. Get over it. Read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday 16 June 2007, Dennis Cronje’s magnificently build F1 Rocket took off on its maiden flight at Stellenbosch Airfield. A first flight is a pretty big deal for the home builder. The test pilot was Gideon Langeveld who oozes the right stuff. It was an education to see how methodical and unhurriedly Gideon and Dennis went through the flight briefing. When Gideon finally advanced the throttles at the start of runway 19, the aircraft piled into the sky as if it had always belonged there. Gideon reports he took his hands off the controls (untrimmed aircraft) on climb out and she just flew straight as an arrow. After a few stalls at altitude to peg the approach speed, Gideon demonstrated a peach of a three point landing. The aircraft (designated ZU-FIR) is a testament to Dennis’s skill as a builder. Congratulations! Pictures are in the “rest of the story”. Read the rest of this entry »

A friend and famous artist, Frans Groenewald, was inspired to render the very flat cat in ink on paper. We have several of his paintings around the house, and they make me smile every time I look at them. Frans, thanks! May all your exhibitions sell out in minutes.

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I keep on being confronted with the argument that my expectation that a scientific theory will work on any given day is actually an act of faith. Equivalent to the faith that keeps religion on the go. So, for all those that do see a similarity, read on. Read the rest of this entry »

Through various complex circumstances, my company now possesses one of those “coffee at the press of a button” espresso machines. It puts a fairly decent crema on the espresso, but needs beans with a slightly darker roast. The milk foamer is a no-brainer (needed in this place) and it all arrived for free! In order to match Charl’s efforts, I have placed a photo of the device below. Charl, you are most welcome to join us for a cup next time you sneak into this geographic region (hint).

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Sometimes you find yourself in a situation which you just know will be a deep and wonderful experience you will remember for the rest of your life, but only if you can find a way of not obliterating the memories with the best beer you ever drank. Such was the experience of combining the best tipple with best company one can imagine, and all in Delft. This is living. Read the rest of this entry »

OK. Now Dave has an uncensored voice, largely due to the influence of his good buddy, Charl Botha. Watch while I do my best to waste this space!