The Casual Observer

The Blue Wildebeest Hiking Trail – August 2015

By Dean McCleland in Hiking, Personal 24 August 2015 1 Comment

The Blue Wildebeest Hiking Trail outside Badplaas cannot by any stretch of the imagination be classified as tough let alone difficult but it was just what the members of the Quo Vadis Hiking Club needed: an insouciant hike through the savannah on the escarpment overlooking Swaziland in the distance.

When I first started hiking 35 years ago, I would vehemently oppose any suggestion of doing an easy hike. About five years ago without so much as an official injunction, the hikes evolved from route marches into – how should I put it without deflating too many egos – little more than a walk in the park. I have firmly placed this lackadaisical attitude to rights. Our next hike will be a 3 day affair in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Main picture: Arthur the Greek’s sketch of the view from the hut

When a Coalition of Cheetahs comes for a Closer Investigation

By Dean McCleland in Animals 21 August 2015 0 Comment

What happens when a coalition of cheetahs takes the injunction to do some of their own game viewing to a new level; except that in this case the animals which they wish to perform a closer inspection of, are humans. Bereft of options, the human animals had the presence of mind to remain calm and rather to shoot them – on camera of course. The expression of one of the human under surveillance is indicative of both surprise and anxiety.

The real reason for the cheetahs clambering upon the land rover become instantly clear. It was not hostile intent or to satisfy their hunger pangs but rather to use the height of the vehicle as a vantage point to perform some game viewing of their own.

If these photographs had not been taken, none of the individuals would have been believed when they returned with tales of having a tet-a-tet with a coalition of cheetahs.

Main picture: An anxious moment is shared with no amicable wave
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When curiosity gets the better of common sense

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 August 2015 1 Comment

I suppose that we can forgive them for as the adage goes “They know not what they do”. Taking the metaphor further, curiosity killed the cat could have applied in this case. Fortunately misfortune did not befall any of these curious individuals. Of course none of the culprits possessed common sense and part of the process of growing up is to make mistakes which one must do unless they result in serious injury or death.

A personal misdemeanour that I was reminded of later in life, but which I do not actually recall as I was too young, was when my father was constructing a canoe. I attempted to use the thin wooden strips as a walking beam which snapped under my weight.

Main picture: What sanction does one impose in this instance? No pocket money for the next 50 years?

In the Name of God

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Religion 19 August 2015 0 Comment

The past week or two has witnessed a number of revolting episodes which belie the various religions’ credentials as loving humane institutions. Instead they erode confidence in religion’s ethics and cast further doubt on the role of religion as a moral ethical institution. What lamentable actions have again brought religions in disrepute?

The incident that first raised my ire occurred in Dubai last week when the father of a 20-year-old daughter watched as she drowned to death at a beach in Dubai.

What he did was to prevent the rescuers from doing their job to save his daughter’s life. When they attempted to go against his wishes, he became violent and restrained them physically. His actions kept them from getting to the young woman in time.

Main picture: (1). Rescue boats retrieving the body of drown 20 year old female in Dubai after father prevented rescuers from saving her. (2) Ahmed Burqibah, the Deputy Director of Dubai Police’s Search and Rescue Department

Cape Town in all its Splendor

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes 18 August 2015 0 Comment

Cape Town must easily rank as the most stunning city in South Africa. Some Vaalies condescencingly claim that if there was no mountain, Cape Town would be a fraction of itself. There is truth in this assertion but Cape Town is so much more that one mountain. Its historical heritage, its colourful people, especially the Cape Coloureds with their own enchanting vernacular add a surreal mix to the equation.

The hinterland also bears a mention. With its numerous wine farms first introduced to South Africa with the arrival of the French Hugenots in the 1700s, add another flavour to the various strains that is the Cape.

Noakes Vindicated: BMJ Endorses LCHF Diets

By Dean McCleland in Health, Other Opinion Pieces 15 August 2015 1 Comment

Change to deeply ingrained ideas is never like a switch. It meanders through the societal consciousness igniting controversy at it proceeds and gathers momentum. The Banting or LCHF diet is no different. From the mid-1970s when the eminent Dr Ancel Keyes convinced the US Department of Health that fats were injurious to one’s health, as fat correlated with cholesterol, the received wisdom has been that fats except in extreme moderation were to be avoided. Now scientific evidence is inexorably negating this flawed thinking.

The case of the elusive cure for ulcers is illustrative of all the prevailing forces that hobble the forces of change: these are the existing dogma, entrenched industries and supposed scientific evidence buttressing the existing ingrained ideas. This requires the abandonment of a set of well entrenched beliefs that conflict with the new ideas.

Main picture: The British Medical Journal now condones the consumption of fatty food except that the sales assistant must be sternly informed to hold the chips and the bun but to put a few dollops of cream on it.

Life-like colourised photographs of WW2

By Dean McCleland in Historical, Military History 13 August 2015 3 Comments

World War Two black and white photos that are researched and colorized in detail by Doug and other artists from the ‘Colourisehistory Group.’ This is an example of their work.

Main picture:

A Finnish Brewster Buffalo 239 fighter (BW-352) of (Squadron) Lentolaivue/24 at Selänpää airfield. 24th June 1941. (Source – SA-Kuva. Colorized by Tommi Rossi from Finland)

Lions retreat before an indomitable foe

By Dean McCleland in Animals 10 August 2015 0 Comment

Sometimes even the mighty lion is intimidated by another animal. In this case it was the pesky fly. Due to the recent rains in the Serengeti, the grass was an ideal breeding area for these annoying creatures. The pride of lions was literally forced to pocket their egos together with ferocious mein and retreat to the sanctuary of the tree.

As many as 15 lions can be seen in the tree with some of these animals precariously balanced in the branches. Way above the ground based flies, the pride of lions could resume their sophorific activities while whiling away the time during the heat of the day.

A Notice From The Queen to the Citizens of The USA

By Dean McCleland in Jokes, Opinion Pieces 10 August 2015 0 Comment

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, Theresa May will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

Consequence of Showmanship

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Other Galleries 8 August 2015 0 Comment

Of course the real reasons for this fatal crash will probably never be known but all the evidence points to the fact that an act of showmanship was the probable cause of this gruesome accident.

The proud owner of a new car was killed with three of his neighbours’ children when his car was sliced in half when he crashed while taking them for a drive to show off his new wheels.

The 39-year-old man’s 10-year-old son was also in hospital fighting for his life after the accident on a curve near the Dros restaurant in the Mpumalanga city of Middelburg.