Latest Makana Moon News!

My beaten, beating Eastern Cape heart

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:46:25 GMT

There’s never really time for proper farewells.

It’s just a fat rush of stuff; children arriving, dog roaming, workers striking, cars in need of repair, homes shifting…

But 16 years and three months have passed.

Children have been raised, a marriage played out, a news agency, two newspapers started and ended, a few deaths of people close to me.

Today I have an image of my toddlers in flowery dresses running around the Village Green in 1996 relishing in the sights and scents of the exciting world out there, over the road.

Overview for the Grahamstown Residents Association

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:12:48 GMT

Comment: Wouldn't it be lekka to publish similar overviews from the ruling party? But they do not seem to make them as available. -- ML

Of Cheshire Cats and bi-centennials.

“Which way do I go from here?” asked Alice.

“It all depends,” replied the Cheshire Cat, “on where you want to go.”

“I don't care very much,” said Alice.

“Then it does not matter which way you go,” replied the Cat.

(Lewis Carroll: Alice Through the Looking Glass)

I am honoured to be ask to address you this evening, as it was in this Hall, at an A.G.M. of what was then the Ratepayers Association (now broadened to reflect the New South Africa by incorporating other, free loading, residents as well),

Loved

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:40:07 GMT

Activists from the struggle years have been urged to follow in the footsteps of a leading Eastern Cape Black Sash campaigner – and write up their stories.

This was said at a packed book launch of Grahamstown’ author and activist Rosemary’s Smith’s memoir, Swimming with Cobras published by courageous independent publisher Modjaji Books in Cape Town.

Over 140 of Grahamstown’s anti-apartheid community packed Cory Library for Rosemary Smith’s book launch.

Grey-haired fart tries to knock down gender activists

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:00:14 GMT

There is driver out there in a golden Merc who nearly injured or killed five Sexual Violence = Silence leaders this morning.

Spokeswoman and chair of the Gender Action Project, Michelle Solomon, says the man, who has a white beard and grey hair, approached the marshalls near the Somerset-Prince Alfred Street intersection.

She says the marchers declined to move. Coming after them, a few hundred metres away, was 1300 marchers, among them 1000 women who have taped their mouth shut in protest, and 100 rape survivors. Many of the 350 men who are joining the action in solidarity were also in the crowd.

What did you do during the war, granny?

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:15:42 GMT

Cory Library and Modjadji Books invites you to the launch of Rosemary Smith's memoir "Swimming with Cobras" to be held in Cory, Tuesday, 27 March, 17.30. Everyone who was anyone back in the day, will be there.

A great war story about modern-day Grahamstown

Mike Loewe

Too seldom do we read a local book that leaves the distinct feeling that this is how we lived -- and that it was dangerous, but ultimately magnificent.

Rosemary Smith’s “Swimming with Cobras” is her story of growing up the only child of a middle class English family, falling in love with a South African English academic, and spending the rest of her life in a strange and complex university town on one side of the valley and massive township poverty on the other.

It’s good to disclose that I knew a number of the people she writes about, and experienced some of the events she describes – isn’t that how local stories and histories should be?

Shouldn’t we all feel part of our story? Why don’t we still wear their philosophical and universal South African messages on our T-shirt? Why don’t we admit to holding ancestral voices deep down and proudly in our hearts?

Shopping around for a better existence

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:39:32 GMT

Climate change will be the biggest story of the century, says science journalist and author Leonie Joubert.

Many deny humans are to blame, but are more than happy to lament the population explosion, China’s popcorn of coal-fired power stations, loss of animal species, melting polar ice-caps, and just weird weather. It’s a long list.

But there are hundreds, probably thousands of scientists out there who know that global warming is not a purely natural cycle, that humans are giving those cycles a hell of a rev.

Loco not so lekka

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:33:22 GMT

Data.

This is the hotwire which connects climate change with local reality.

I’ve been trying to find out where the data – scientifically measured shifts in weather, temperature and everything to do with our local climate – is stored.

I’ve been poking around in scientific corners asking if anyone has data or knows where it is to be found.

All I found was a big echoing disconnect. Local was driving me loco!

Today Scifest delivered the very person who can answer some of those questions.

Hugh van Niekerk is the regional manager of the SA Weather Service.

100 000 HITS OLD TODAY!

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:16:26 GMT

Happy birthday to Makana Moon! The counter read 100 125 when I looked a moment ago.

I started the blog makanamoon.wordpress.com exactly 13 months ago. So that gives a monthy average of ... (journalist reaches for calculater ...) 7 700 visits a month.

Not bad for one man and his keyboard. I'll take it.

Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery rock the Lowlander -- don't miss their last show tonight!

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:41:26 GMT

Hey all,
Just a quick reminder that Guy and Nibs' final performance will take place tonight at the Lowlander/Highlander. Their performance last night was spectacular, from the speed of Nibs' 10-string quattro guitar, to the eeriness of Guy's musical saw, and everything in between, this is really a show not to be missed. Drinks and pizza will also be on special tonight, so drop by for a bite and a listen to some truly beautiful guitar music, performed by two of South Africa's best guitarists.
If yuo buy your tickets before 5pm at the Highlander, they will be R60, otherwise the door price is R70.
The show starts at 8:30 sharp, doors open at 7pm.

This A-Pad is awesome, my China!

mailer@istream.co.za (Makana Moon - Mike Loewe) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:00:18 GMT

Why spend R5 400 on a new iPad if you are a utilitarian Philistine like me?

Tablets are the way of the future.

Sometimes the simpler they make it, the harder it is.

Prodding your digit on a piece of plastic has taken me a week to sort-of master.

I’ll be honest. I’m not ready for the tablet.

But my wicked, addicted, techno-heart yearns for it.