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As we emerge from lockdown, blinking in the unaccustomed light like Rip van Winkel coming out of his cave, it is time to take stock and realise you have been wearing the same clothes for five months.
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It is also time to take stock of where we are as a human species. It is quite easy to get depressed about the greed, dishonesty, stupidity and self-destructiveness of humankind during this crisis, but we must also remember that people are capable of great beauty.
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So this week we will celebrate four examples of human achievement, where talent, skill, creativity and collaboration come together in moments that are sublime.
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Here is a sculpture by Michelangelo of the Pieta. Unfortunately a photograph cannot even begin to convey the heartstopping beauty of this living stone.
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And just to show that human dwellings do not have to be ugly, here are some beautiful intersections of habitat and humanity.
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This last week the world has been pummelled by fires, floods, wars and pestilence - combined with, well, you know. So it seems that the monsters who bring the apocalypse have not been co-ordinating their Zoom diaries very well.
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(Cartoon brought to you with the compliments of Krypton Radio, SciFi for your WiFi)
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Britain has the allure of timelessness and tradition, and a language that is spoken widely. The age-old traditions the Brits so jealously guard have their roots elsewhere. Even their English language was a Germanic import, brought there by Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
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As the Danes invaded in the 9th century, and even settled in places, the Wessex king Alfred kept them at bay. He is credited with saving the English language. But William the Conqueror’s invasion from Normandy in 1066 almost killed English. Fortunately three centuries of French at court introduced a lexicon that massively enriched modern English.
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When the Protector Becomes the Predator
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Police brutality once again reared its ugly head. The latest incident involving the death of Nathaniel Julius has exposed gaps in the training of law enforcement personnel to deal with disabilities. It has left those with disabilities feeling even more vulnerable, because if the police target them, then who will protect them?
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Named Book of the Year at the 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards, this is the reason we read to escape. A book review on The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion)
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Changing medical aid options
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As medical costs continue to rise, the last thing you want is to find out that you are on the wrong medical scheme plan.
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Ad industry slow to show LGBTQI+ realities
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By Iza Grek The blame for little to no representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in South African advertising lies squarely at the door of our ‘conservative culture’. While advertisers have worked hard to redress racial stereotypes in their creative executions, the same is not true for the LGBTQIA+ community. “Brands are not brave enough,” says Lynn Madeley, CEO of through …
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Writers, you shouldn't do your own editing.
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In an ideal world, most people - and all clients, especially those who are not trained writers - should not edit their own writing. Here's why.
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Is Snow Black - Is Coal white?
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There are many anomalies. If it weren’t a serious matter it might be funny. Read on and you might learn something. You might laugh. Perhaps you’ll cry
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Where Words Take Us - Ballet
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Breaking the rules and changing history, Kitty Phetla entered the western-centric world of ballet. She's too tall, she's a proud black South African, and she's forever changed the stereotypical image of Pavlova's famous Dying Swan.
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If your dog has a hacking cough or constantly making noises that sound like it may be choking, it may have a bout of kennel cough.
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The Case of the Diesel Wine*
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The ban on alcohol has forced many South Africans to buy their poison on the black market. This, at times, can be a perilous undertaking.
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