The Casual Observer

Lost in Translation

By Dean McCleland in Miscellaneous Topics 25 April 2015 0 Comment

At least with the languages using the Greek alphabet one is able to pronounce what is written on a sign. But when faced with Chinese characters or the Arabic alphabet, one does not have any way of understanding what is meant. This is akin to an illiterate person seeing words in the Greek alphabet. Often in these countries, an English translation is provided but when the translator possesses a minimal command of the English the result can result either be complete mystification or mirth. Here are some of these translations which strain one’s ability to comprehend. All are from Standard Chinese or hanzi.

Main picture: No matter how hard I try, I cannot understand what message or instruction the sign is actually attempting to convey. Do you?

Some Politically Incorrect Comments by World Famous People

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, History, Opinion Pieces 23 April 2015 0 Comment

Exceptions notwithstanding, probably none of the persons whom society has beatified with sainthood has an unblemished record. The lessor mortals fare less well. By now, Jacob Zuma is well known for his racist and misogynist comments. What about the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini fanning the flames of xenophobia with his ill-advised comments? Finally it was an article by Jan Vermeulen entitled “This is why Gandhi’s statue was vandalised?” which propelled me to investigate further.

A case in point is Winston Churchill who is indubitably my history hero. Like all such luminaries Churchill was human. In the heat of moment, Winston did make some crass comments. Being an old-fashioned Imperialist and Royalist at heart – the last of a dying breed in the Nineteen Thirties’ – his vitriol was often directed at the Indian people & Gandhi in particular.

Main picture: Mahatma Gandhi Continue reading

God: Losing my Religion

By Blaine McCleland in McClelands, Religion 23 April 2015 1 Comment

Coming from a pretty religious family, Dad must have been a disappointment. My great, great grandfather, Rev Francis McCleland, was the first Rector of the St Mary’s Church. Our family actually owns a square foot of the historical parsonage house at 7 Castle Hill, P.E.

Main picture: As dad was an atheist and mom was religious, the church which we were supposed to attend as children was the Newton Park Methodist Church

What is the origin of “Kilroy was here”?

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 23 April 2015 0 Comment

Most people are vaguely familiar with the expression “Kilroy was here” but how did it arise and what was it real significance? This story must rate as no more than a footnote to history. Nonetheless it is tales like this that comprise the rich mosaic of life and provide its human interest.

Most people have sometime in their life seen the drawing of a bald head with an overlarge nose peering over a fence as it is now an iconic picture. Like us today, the Allies during WW2 – but mainly the Americans – had seen this quirky image adorning everything from tanks, vehicles to planes sometime during their service in the American military.

The Protea Hilton Hotel: Old World Charm Personified

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces, Other Opinion Pieces 22 April 2015 0 Comment

Perhaps it is the faux Tudor architectural style which creates an aura of elegance and graciousness. But it is more than that. Being out in the country with the verdant hillocks to the north, the setting is exquisite. The immaculate gardens with its huge trees complement the decorous setting.

Having stayed there for the past nine weeks, I am still enamoured and am not ready to swop for a bland B&B.

Accidental Ironies

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 April 2015 0 Comment

Of the many forms of ironies, the most sophisticated is Socratic Irony which is a means by which the pretended ignorance of a skilful questioner leads the person answering to expose his own ignorance. A more common form relates to the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. An example in this guise would go as follows: “The irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.” The type employed in this series of photographs is predicated upon their incongruity, the least intellectual incarnation of its use. In this sense it bears more the qualities of paradox than that of mordancy.

All of these photographs bear the hallways of the latter variant.

Do not attempt this if you suffer from Acrophobia

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 April 2015 0 Comment

Acrophobia is the extreme or irrational fear of heights which manifests itself even when one is not particularly high up. Often mistakenly called vertigo, this condition relates to spinning sensation when one is not spinning. All of these situation would prompt an immediate and overwhelming bout of acrophobia.

Main picture: The Grand Canyon Skywalk to nowhere

Another Perspective on the Destruction of Statues and Monuments

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 20 April 2015 0 Comment

Statues and monuments are an integral part of history. It is the future generations which bemoan their destruction and the loss of history, albeit painful. The misplaced notion that their obliteration will erase the impact of their milieu is fallacious. The desecration of 1700 year old Buddha statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan is just one exemplar of this ill-conceived notion.

Main picture: The removal of Rhodes statue from its plinth at UCT

Vandalism by ISIS in Mosul

A contemporary example of this barbarism was the wrecking of 3000 year old artefacts by the Islamic group known as ISIS. Priceless antiquities fell to the blows of these thugs. In their quest for religious purity, one vandal proclaimed that the items were being destroyed as they promoted idolatry. One of the items dating back to the 9th century B.C., depicted a winged-bull Assyrian protective deity, ‘The Prophet ordered us to get rid of statues and relics, and his companions did the same when they conquered countries after him,’ the unidentified attackers proclaimed.

Moon Landing: A Small Step for Man, A Large Leap For Boykind

By Blaine McCleland in McClelands 20 April 2015 0 Comment

1969 was a momentous year. It was my senior year in primary school and I was doing well at school. My brain had been awakened and was like blotting paper to this fascinating world. My interests rampaged across the sciences of aeronautics, electronics, chemistry, physics, astronomy and quite naturally space travel. I stalked the main public library for interesting books. I discovered the separate Reference section and photostated pages from the various Janes[1] so that Dean and I could discuss the latest weapon systems at home. They were carefully selected because of economic strictures.

Helen Zille: South Africa’s very own Iron Lady

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 19 April 2015 0 Comment

No-one could call Helen Zille indecisive and not forthright in expressing her views. For this Helen Zille was christened Godzilla. Unlike Jacob Zuma who attempts to placate all factions within the party, Zille would not equivocate about her viewpoint. What will her legacy be and what is the prognosis under a new DA Leader, probably Mmusi Maimane?

A past in serving black causes

In spite of all the spurious and racist accusations against Helen Zille by the ANC and other black organisations, Helen Zille has an unsullied indisputable past in not only fighting the Nationalist Party but also assisting its victims. Zille began her career in journalism in 1974 as the political correspondent for the anti-apartheid nemesis of the Nationalist Government, The Rand Daily Mail.