Category Archives: south africa

I have Die Antwoord

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Al

My race relations seminar in South Africa was, perhaps, a little one-sided against the White South Africans, those of Dutch and English descent.  Having grown up in Colonial Williamsburg, I’m a little oversensitive to the evils of colonization.  But hell … Continue reading →

Posted in apartheid, music, south africa | Leave a comment

A Substitute Wedding Dance

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Al

If  you’re a bunch of white, aging frat boys and sorority girls, then you, too, might be invited to dance your way into Internet stardom.  Be sure the bride and groom choose a song by a man known for beating … Continue reading →

Posted in bootylicious, music, south africa, where's my invitation | Leave a comment

A Short Trip and Now Saturday

Posted on January 17, 2009 by Al

K and I flew to Cedar Rapids, Iowa Wednesday and returned yesterday.  Our presentations at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA corresponded with their record-breaking -29 F temperature.  That’s negative twenty-nine, as in 61 degrees below freezing.  I had smallish … Continue reading →

Posted in anonymity, contest, dining, foetry, library, poetry, privacy, south africa, teaching, tech, travel | Leave a comment

Baby Elephant’s Bad Mother

Posted on August 25, 2008 by Al

Rose-Tu and Tusko’s baby — born the other day at the zoo — has crazy eyes in every picture I see of him.  Perhaps that’s because his first minutes after the 22 month gestation were met with a stomping and … Continue reading →

Posted in ethics, fauna, south africa | 2 Comments

Space Envy

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Al

I went to see Mark Shuttleworth speak the other night at the Mission Theater here in Portland.  It was free, save for the Terminator Stout.  The room was full of dudes who made Metafilter Meetups look somewhat sociable.  But I … Continue reading →

Posted in south africa, tech | 1 Comment

Bruton High School: the ska report

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Al

When I was in highschool (83-87), someone* spray-painted two phrases on the building: Free Nelson Mandela ‘nam sucked. The administrators decided that the perps were not high school students because the messages were too political. *They were high school friends … Continue reading →

Posted in apartheid, south africa, students with special needs | Leave a comment

Happy 90th Birthday, Nelson Mandela

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Al

Last summer I toured Mr. Mandela’s Soweto home.  It was small, modest, and sweet.  It’s become a museum for gifts and awards he’s received.  Photos were not allowed.  I do, however, have photos of Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned … Continue reading →

Posted in apartheid, south africa | Leave a comment

Breakin’ 2: Soweto Boogaloo

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Al

It’s happened before.  The web makes the world a smaller place. And now, a young woman found my video of dancing kids in Soweto, South Africa, and sent the following: hey so i realize i’m probably going to sound totally … Continue reading →

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Friday Fez

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Al

Too much power.  I drink your milkshake.   I grade your papers. Noon our time.  Fingers crossed once again.  The difference between swabbing the deck and traveling in style. Are you old enough to remember this classic? Yesterday’s South African film … Continue reading →

Posted in misc., movie, south africa | Leave a comment

My Sabbatical Project

Posted on February 26, 2008 by Al

Two of the three screencasts I created during my sabbatical are now outdated, although I’m not sure how many people would realize unless I told them. The one I’m particularly sad about uses some of my safari footage as a … Continue reading →

Posted in fauna, south africa | Leave a comment