martysmith.org

saelections2009

Hmm I wonder who is going to win…

The website seems a bit sad at the moment, but you can folow along here.

Frozen Four

Miami Redhawks

Went to the semis yesterday for the Frozen Four with Dean. Watched Miami beat Bemiji State 4-1 and then had the pleasure of sitting with some BU students as they expressed their inferiority complex with BC as they played Vermont… I like it when the fans get into it as much as the next guy, but lets try and alter our chants when BC is nowhere to be found.

Anyway DCist has some photos up here.

So anyway we will be back this evening as Miami tries for their first ever national championship. Go Redhawks. Now NCAA, about some beer tonight…

From NHL.com:

How the RedHawks win:

They must do what Vermont and New Hampshire weren’t able to do before them. Both the Catamounts and Wildcats caught BU slacking for a period of play (each time in the second frame), and while they both capitalized on their chances, they weren’t able to stem the tide when Colin Wilson and company turned it back on. Miami needs to turn BU mistakes into goals, and, more importantly, stop the Terriers from doing the same to them, especially in the BU end of the ice.

“They’re the number one team in the country for a reason,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. “They have a d-core that jumps into the play all the time, they have a d-core that sometimes initiates the rush. They’re very big, strong, they possess the puck well. They’re obviously well coached. It’s going to be a big challenge tomorrow night. Their puck possession game is very similar to our puck possession game so it’s going to be an interesting night. At the end of the day you have to play and see what happens.”

GREETINGS FROM LESOTHO!! | A Mother For Lesotho

The people of Lesotho have many resources but don’t seem to know how to put them to work. They have fertile land, cattle, water, diamond mines, etc., but they don’t have the mentality of making life better for themselves.

via GREETINGS FROM LESOTHO!! | A Mother For Lesotho.

Seriously? I encourage you to leave her some constuctive criticism.

Afrobarometer

So I found out about Afrobarometer because it was referenced in this Public Eye article about how the Basotho are divided about dual citizenship with South Africa. I assume that means they have released some new findings, however all I could find at the moment on their site about Lesotho were the findings from round 3 (out of 4) from 2005. You can find the full PDF here.

Anyway this is what Afrobarmoter is:

A comparative series of national public attitude surveys on democracy, markets, and civil society in Africa.

And out of this (in the above linked PDF) come a few interesting nuggets from Lesotho circa 2005:

And everyone’s favorite:

Police should shoot to kill: ANC's Mbalula

The Times – Police should shoot to kill: Mbalula.

“We are sick and tired of crime in our communities,” said ANC head of campaigns Fikile Mbalula to wild applause. “As the ANC we say criminals must be shot in broad daylight, finish and klaar.”

We at least we know that if there is ever another South African party naming crisis, the ANC could always switch to the PPP: People’s Populist Party or maybe JJE: Judge, Jury, Executioner.

But wait it gets better!

Mbalula told ANC supporters not to be persuaded into voting for Cope and the Democratic Alliance.

He accused the two parties of misleading South Africans when they claimed that they would address social and economic problems if voted into power.

He accused DA leader Helen Zille of destroying Cape Town, saying she has turned “it into a racist capital of the world”.

“Zille is not looking after the interests of our people. She just wants your vote.”

That’s so good I think we should quote it again:

“Zille is not looking after the interests of our people. She just wants your vote.”

It won’t matter as the ANC is predicted to take 64.7% of the vote, but it is still too bad. The South African people deserve more than a one party system.

For more on why the ANC is not excited about Zille see here.

Zuma dropped charges round up

Joy and fury at Zuma charges move – BBC NEWS.

“Thanks for believing in my innocence” – Jacob Zuma

S. Africa Prosecutors Drop Case Against Leader of Ruling Party – washingtonpost.com.

“On whether or not the charges were improper, all that is sound and strong and has not been shaken,” said Shadrack Gutto, a constitutional law professor at the University of South Africa. “Today has clarified the matter that whatever form of political interference really happened did not go to the merits of the case. I think it will be seen that political pressure has certainly made the [prosecutors] to buckle.”

Zuma: Payments from Shaik were loans

“I paid back some of the money. When I got my pension, I paid Schabir Shaik, which was from the MK Pensions Fund. It is on the record in court documents that there were loans. I paid it a long time ago; when I was still in KwaZulu-Natal [Zuma was provincial minister for finances] I repaid part of the loan. I have no hidden agenda on that,” Zuma said.

From the taxi rank in Gauteng – Sowetan:

BRIAN MOLEWA: “I am grateful that Zuma is free. He can now start on a clean slate as the new president .”

THOMAS RAHTANDO: “We all believed that he was framed as part of a political plot. There were too many court cases. We are happy that our president does not have any baggage.”

NONHLANHLA RADEBE: “We knew it was a smear campaign. Those responsible for this must be prosecuted . We want him to be our president.”

martysmith.org

Archiving a few things…

South Africans prepare for polls