The Casual Observer

Around the World Challenge: 40 075kms in Official Races

By Dean McCleland in Running 24 May 2015 9 Comments

Having recently settled into portly late middle age – that sounds preferable to early old age – I still had one physical challenge outstanding in my life’s inbox to complete: run around the world. Perhaps lack of fitness would be too charitable a description of my physical condition. It was not only the slightly stout demeanour but also my back to consider. It had forced my withdrawal from the Paris Marathon in 2011. With 6000 kms still to run, it could even have prevented the achievement of my RTW Goal.

Climbing Mountain Everest was never seriously on my bucket list. Even if I had obtained sponsorship which was highly unlikely, there were the more serious factors such as lack of leave and an irascible wife to contend with. Aside from these considerations, it was utterly inconceivable in that as a South African I would not be able to obtain a visa to 80% of the world, Nepal being one of them, at that time in South Africa’s turbulent history.

Main picture: At the start of the Pick ‘n Pay 21km race on Sunday 5th February 2015 held at Saheti School together some some of the runners who would accompany me: Ken Swettenham, Laurie Shellard, Nigel Asprey, me, Myer Guinsberg, Mike Paxton, Amanda and Kurt Radzom. They had the heavy work to do: carry the banner for 21,1kms.

Living one’s Life as a Lie

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Religion 22 May 2015 2 Comments

The essence of mankind is sex and sexuality. When one’s physical sex is at odds with one’s mental gender, the person suffers mental anguish. Usually at a young age, they become aware that they are different from their peers. Their desires range from the relatively benign such as cross-dressing to the more overt form where the desire for one’s own sex is overwhelming. To make matters worse, there are implacable societal pressures to conform to accepted gender and sexual roles. What does it mean to these people so conflicted and what should society do to alleviate this burden?

In a bygone era and even amongst modern religious people and conservative societies, non-heterosexual sex is regarded as a taboo, an abomination to be exorcised from society. This exorcism takes many forms from “aversion training” to the other extreme of the death penalty. Such extreme “treatment” is still considered necessary by many to rid society of a vile polluting influence.

Main picture: Bruce Jenner transitioning from male to female

Pawel Kuczynski: The Master of Illustration Satire

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 20 May 2015 1 Comment

At first sight these illustrations are akin to a cartoon of the unhumourous variety. Upon reflection they highlight not only social, cultural & political realities in a thought provoking manner but they also subtly convey his viewpoint on these ills through his unflattering illustrations of their consequences.

Born in Szczecin, Poland in 1976, Pawel graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Poznan with specialisation in graphics.

Main picture: One of my favourites as it is probably as evocative as George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” in that it underlines the nature of mindlessly replacing one form of tyranny with another.

Haircuts: Barberous Acts

By Blaine McCleland in Family Histories, McClelands 19 May 2015 0 Comment

This is another episode in his Vignettes of Youth series whereby he recalls the quirks and oddities of life in Port Elizabeth during the 1960s and 1970’s when life was far simpler but discipline was more stringent. No doubt psychologists reading these sketches will be aghast and wonder aloud why our generation was not more ill-adjusted due to the trauma inflicted upon us by parents who did not appreciate the latest hair fashion: long hair. And I wanted mine as long as possible

Main picture: For us as pre pubescent youths, La Pebra was more important than food. Why we attached such importance to it, I will never know.

A Novel Perspective of the World Using Maps

By Dean McCleland in Miscellaneous Topics 18 May 2015 0 Comment

Curiously for me, even though I enjoy playing with words, pictures are more memorable. Whereas words have an almost visceral quality but photos embed themselves in my brain. Ironically both are equally as evocative for me but in divergent ways. Perhaps that is why I grapple with learning a new language whereas if one shows me something visually it is an instantaneous connection and memory. I hope that you find these maps as memorable and as entertaining as I did.

Main picture: Most common surname by country in Europe Continue reading

Guns do Kill

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 17 May 2015 2 Comments

This issue was again brought to the fore when my daughter was held up at gunpoint by three black thugs last Friday in our driveway at midday. The reflexive response by the gun lobby to resolve this problem is to meet fire with fire. Is this really a viable option?

The maxim “People kill, guns don’t” was conceived by the NRA – National Rifle Association – in the USA to deflect criticism from the devastation wrought by the wanton and callous murder of innocent people in the USA.

Dangers of the African Bush

By Dean McCleland in Animals 14 May 2015 0 Comment

I will now shatter the idyll of the African Bush. As a friend – who shall remain nameless but is a fellow hiking member – so articulately put it, “You want to see a charging Bull African Elephant in FULL MUSK with dripping, stinking, extended penis, green gunge and all on the hind legs charging you. THAT’S A ROAD BLOCK plus an INSTANT EMETIC! “

Maybe these photographs will disabuse you of these naive idyllic notions..

African Road Blocks

By Dean McCleland in Animals 13 May 2015 0 Comment

This is why I love Africa. A trip to the bush is what reconnects one with nature and its primal soothing influence. As one basks in the wishful thinking that this represents the idyll before the advent of mankind, reconsider one’s opinion.

The stark reality is that for both predator and prey life is precarious. For the prey especially herbivores, a carpet of vegetation is all that is required for sustenance. Just as crucial, if not more so, is the tenet of the survival of the fitness or in some cases the survival of the lucky. Any ailment however trivial or bad luck by being in the wrong place at the wrong time is hazardous to one’s longevity.

Spectacular Pictures from around the World

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes 12 May 2015 0 Comment

Have you ever wondered why my blogs have an overabundance of images in them? Even if I cannot find appropriate images on Google for an arcane subject such as euthanasia, I will instead embed images of winter scenes to evocate the response that I am endeavouring to achieve. According to the Pew Research Centre, the emotion and attention engendered by an image will result in an Internet User being 7.4 times more likely to click on the content.

Evocative images can more succinctly represent the essence of a story than a thousand worlds.

To be or not to be euthanised

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 12 May 2015 1 Comment

The recent case in South Africa in which Advocate Robin Stransham-Ford made a High Court Application to be afforded his constitutional right to human dignity respected and freedom to bodily and psychological integrity guaranteed has brought this issue to the forefront in South Africa. Rather than retrace the sanctity of human life versus the free will/ right to human dignity debate, the focus of this blog will highlight the human cost of not allowing euthanasia under certain rigorously controlled conditions.

The detractors of the dignity of life advocates base their opposition to assisted suicide on the principle of the sanctity of life. The medical profession in particular is incensed at this possible amendment to the Hippocratic Oath. Simply put, this tenet entrenches the right to life as being paramount to the exclusion of all other considerations including severe pain and imminent death.