The Casual Observer

Four famous Paintings: Their Story: My View

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces, Other Opinion Pieces 11 November 2014 0 Comment

Art connoisseurs will probably be mortified by my untutored tastes and ignorant views but in truth I possess no appreciation for art especially where it bears little resemblance to reality. In contrast to this, art aficionados are able to divine a whole substrata of implied meanings from the brush strokes, the colours and the textures whereas I view a painting as a literal impression and not by some figurative interpretation of what is being viewed. Interesting as their observations might be, they are of little interest to me.

Main picture: The Night watch by Rembrandt van Rijn

Where women are prohibited from Driving

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 10 November 2014 0 Comment

Where in the world would females be prohibited from driving or a whole host of restrictions placed on their doing so? Does this country understand that this is the 21^st century? What about the concept of human rights?

This country is Saudi Arabia. Within this bastion of the ultraconservatives, women only possess the rights of a minor. Even a woman’s minor children have more rights than they do. In most circumstances, the permission of a close senior male family member is required before they may perform many tasks. Failing that, they may defer the decision to the minor male family members.

Dubai does things differently

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 7 November 2014 0 Comment

Being part of the UAE – The United Arab Emirates – the people of Dubai are referred to as Emiratis. Comprising nothing but arid desert and boundless oil deposits together with a miniscule population has engendered extravagance & opulence on a grand scale. No other nation is able to spurge on luxuries like the Emiratis can.

These pictures will illustrate this fact

My Past is Another Country

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Other Personal 6 November 2014 3 Comments

Notwithstanding the fact that I still reside in sunny South Africa, however the country of my birth has changed irrevocably since then. It has been refashioned to such an extent that it is no longer the same country that I remember as a callow youth. This alteration is more than a racial voting issue as the very fabric of society has been rendered asunder. This blog addresses these modifications and assesses whether they were for better or worse as the marriage in 1994 to the New South Africa was consummated.

Main picture: With my cousin Marilyn & her two boys circa 1976

The Tapestry of Life

By Dean McCleland in Inspirational, Landscapes, Other Opinion Pieces 4 November 2014 0 Comment

Have you ever considered why life is not a bland monotone? Imagine for a minute if it were. How boring would life be! Rather it comprises the strident highs of a tweeter and the thumping lows of a bass. It is the opposites and their interaction that makes life sweeter.

Switch on one’s favourite melody and close your eyes. Let the sound flow over and through you. One is enraptured by the interplay of the various components – the lead with its highs, the bass with its lows, the keyboards with its melody and the drums with its beat.

Main photograph: A bamboo forest in China

Animal Family Portraits

By Dean McCleland in Animals 3 November 2014 2 Comments

Who says that only humans can have family portraits, other animals can too?

Marilyn Monroe, the Showgirl, and Colin Clark: A Romantic Interlude

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 2 November 2014 0 Comment

Who one may well ask is Colin Clark, a nonentity, and many years Marilyn Monroe’s junior and what was his relationship with her in 1956 so shortly after her marriage to Arthur Miller?

Two superstars of the day, Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier both had designs on becoming even more famous. In both cases it was to highlight their versatility by also becoming famous movie stars. Marilyn had become an iconic model and singer and Lawrence Olivier a stage actor especially in the Shakespearean mould but both desired more accolades and had pretensions of being famous movie stars.

Not one’s everyday photographs

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 30 October 2014 0 Comment

In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, but some of the photographs are highly unusual. From alternative uses of everyday common place items to the wonders of nature; this series of photographs has them all.

The Post Office Strike: We will Smash it up whatever it Takes

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 29 October 2014 0 Comment

This is not a trick question so just relax and answer with the first thoughts that cross your mind. “What are the characteristics of a South African strike?” Apart from the toy-toying workers bearing semi-literate signs on pieces of cardboard, what is next aspect which crosses one’s mind: the wanton destruction of property?

Main picture: The destruction of the Benoni Post Office by members of the CWU

Kim Philby: The Ties that Bind

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 28 October 2014 0 Comment

The 1930’s was an epoch during which one’s loyalties were tested to the extreme. For some in contemporary Britain it was the Class or status that bound. Yet for others it was their lover, family or even friends. In the extreme as the season of treason evidenced, it was Communism. But which one would triumph when all three collided? Which would take precedence?

For some inexplicable reason, during the 1930’s the myth of a Communistic utopia was implanted in the imagination of the West. Instead of the lower classes being infected by this contagion, it was an array of the wealthy well-to-do students who contracted the most virulent strain.

Main picture: Kim Philby with a sunny disposition but a treacherous heart

Where in the world would females be prohibited from driving or a whole host of restrictions placed on their doing so? Does this country understand that this is the 21st century? What about the concept of human rights?

Have you ever considered why life is not a bland monotone? Imagine for a minute if it were. How boring would life be! Rather it comprises the strident highs of a tweeter and the thumping lows of a bass. It is the opposites and their interaction that makes life sweeter.

Who says that only humans can have family portraits, other animals can too?

Who one may well ask is Colin Clark, a nonentity, and many years Marilyn Monroe’s junior and what was his relationship with her in 1956 so shortly after her marriage to Arthur Miller?

In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, but some of the photographs are highly unusual. From alternative uses of everyday common place items to the wonders of nature; this series of photographs has them all.

Where in the world would females be prohibited from driving or a whole host of restrictions placed on their doing so? Does this country understand that this is the 21^st century? What about the concept of human rights?