Vladimir Putin meets Thabo Mbeki
Posted on July 27th, 2007 by Richard Catto 4,316 views
An oldie, but a goodie, this one is from the archive. This is from September 2006 when Vladimir Putin met Thabo Mbeki in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss economic possibilities between the Russian Federation and South Africa.
This cartoon has a unique two dialogue structure. The top dialogue in thought bubbles represents a private battle of wits between Putin and Mbeki, whilst the bottom dialogue represents the public relations version of their interactions.
Source:
Putin arrives for historic SA visit
Putin heralds Russian investment boom in SA
Filed under Cape Town, Cartoon, Politics, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, Vladimir Putin | No Comments »
City parking Marshals score big
Posted on July 20th, 2007 by Richard Catto 5,276 views
The new parking system has been operational for months now and I’d like to warn other motorists to pay attention to what the parking marshals are doing. I am in Seapoint or the CBD at least 3 times per week and the trip includes several stops. I have only encountered one parking marshal that actually entered the the parking transaction correctly.
Motorists are easily manipulated to pay the parking fee whilst the entry is not even logged. Who knows what the parking attendants do with the money? One attendant admitted to helping himself to between R100 and R200 per day.
Parking marshals use a combination of body language, intimidation and motorists lack of knowledge of the system to get money from motorists.
In most cases they enter your car’s registration number on their little black box, then demand parking money up front. You may think that the transaction is now entered, but it is not activated and the marshal can simply clear it once you are out of sight.
I always insist punching in the activation keys myself (they don’t like this at all). Sometimes the parking time expires on my activated transaction, they then proudly show me the screen "parking expired" and demand more money. The truth is that they have to make a brand new entry for the expired time as the machine does not show a new amount to the marshal.
I once waited for a friend in the car and watched the marshals collecting money from motorists and then head straight for their favourite fast food outlet, retiring with expensive takeaways.
There is also a guy on a bicycle monitoring them, making stops and holding his hand out for money. I am not sure if they have to pay him a portion of the money they take, before helping themselves to some money for themselves.
I was wondering when the parking marshals will start striking so i asked one of them and the answer was to be expected: I will never strike in this job!
Please make sure your entry is activated so that the City of Cape Town can get the parking money.
They have to enter your car’s registration number and your parking time. You then have to press the green activation key and the "C" button on the next screen for Cash. Only then do they have to hand that money in after their shift. When your parking expires they need to start a new entry for the remainder of the time. Don’t be scared of their aggressive attitude. Your parking money is supposed to go to the City of Cape Town and not fast food outlets. Make sure your transaction is entered and activated correctly!
Petra Du Plessis
Camps Bay
Filed under Parking attendants | 2 Comments »
Raised terror alert level in Britain
Posted on July 20th, 2007 by Richard Catto 5,385 views
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross".
Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the Blitz began in 1940 and tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued "A Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.
Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.
It is not only the English and French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert its level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides".
The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish Navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Filed under Humour, Joke | No Comments »
I’ve been thinking…
Posted on July 5th, 2007 by Richard Catto 9,575 views
Husband: I’m the MAN of this house, so starting tomorrow, I want you to have a hot delicious meal ready for me the second I walk through that door.
Afterwards, while watching TV and relaxing in my chair, you’ll bring me my slippers and then run my bath. And when I’m done with my bath, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?
Wife: The funeral director.
Filed under Humour, Joke | 2 Comments »
The domestic cat is 130 000 years old and comes from Ancient Mesopotamia
Posted on July 4th, 2007 by Richard Catto 46,728 views
It was previously thought that the domestic cat was only 9 500 years old, but recent research done on the mitochondrial DNA of domestic cats has revealed otherwise.
It turns out that all of today’s domestic cats can be traced back to a mere 5 feline mothers who resided in the Fertile Crescent of Ancient Mesopotamia.
Researchers speculate that cats were drawn to the agricultural settlements of humans which were heavily infested with their favourite food – rodents!
They came, they saw, they killed, they ate, they fell asleep beside the fireplace and they’ve been pretty comfortable with that arrangement ever since!
Source:
DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Filed under Admin | 1 Comment »
