The Casual Observer

Playmates in the wild

By Dean McCleland in Animals 30 June 2014 0 Comment

Generally in the wild different species cannot co-existent peacefully especially in those cases where one is a predator. Instinct will ultimately prevail resulting in the death of its erstwhile playmate. In this instance, nature did not prevail.

Norbert Rosing is a renowned international wild life photographer.Born in northern Germany in 1953; Rosing is a passionate nature and wildlife photographer with special dedication to the Arctic, North American landscapes, and the national parks of Germany.

Norbert has won several awards for single images as well as for books and magazine articles in Germany and the United States. His images have been published in magazines all over the world.

Hiking with the Lions in the Kruger Park

By Dean McCleland in Hiking, Personal 29 June 2014 0 Comment

Hiking through the Kruger National Park provides a close-up view of nature. If the truth be told, this is the correct way to observe nature.

There are two sacred rules when entering the Kruger National Park: never leave one’s vehicle after exiting the camps and never walk in the bush. In contrast, on the walking trails through the Kruger Park, all such safety rules are ignored in their entirety during the hike.

Old Photographs

By Dean McCleland in Historical 26 June 2014 0 Comment

Old photographs of a bygone age.

Dieting: The Fat Debate

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Health 21 June 2014 0 Comment

Studies reveal that 95%+ of people who diet never lose weight permanently. Fat which was previously vilified is now the redeemer.

The startling headline of this weeks’ Time Magazine reads: Eat Butter. Scientists labelled Fat the Enemy. Why they were wrong.

What a volte facie? What a heresy. Two generations of medical personnel will have to unlearn their mantra: Fat is bad. Fat will kill you.

Not surprisingly, we each have our own stories of our odyssey in this saga.

Best Photos of Cirque du Soleil

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 June 2014 1 Comment

The “dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment” show turned 30 this week, after three decades of incredible acrobatic acts—and astonishing photos of them.

Click on the arrow on the bottom right hand corner to view the next photograph.

How a lowly Russian Political Officer prevented a Nuclear Armageddon

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 20 June 2014 0 Comment

If not for courageous actions of Vasily Arkipov, the Cuban Missile Crisis would have become known as the Cuban Missile War

History is normally portrayed from the viewpoint of the person in charge: the King, the President or the Commander-in-Chief. Their memoirs – and more importantly history – are recorded from their point of view – the strategic level. I can well imagine a Montgomery or an Eisenhower gently sipping their 20 year old red wine in a plush air-conditioned mobile home 150 miles from the front while the ordinary soldier was enduring temperatures of minus ten degrees somewhere in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium during December 1944 at the height of the Battle of the Bulge.

These Photos Have Incredible Stories to Tell

By Dean McCleland in Historical 19 June 2014 0 Comment

This is one of the most amazing collection of photographs I’ve ever seen. Not because they are especially beautiful (although some are), but because of the meaning each of them has, and how each of them makes us think or feel something. These are worth more than a thousand words, and each tell a story about the world we live in. Continue reading

SONA 2014: The Platitude Factory

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 19 June 2014 0 Comment

Instead of the State of the Nation Address inspiring and spurring South Africa to greater heights, it is a bland and uninspiring affair.

The pattern has been set since the commencement of his presidency: make some outrageous promises which clearly would never be attained and then press the snooze button until the next SONA or General Election.

Even discounting the fact that Jacob Zuma is an uninspiring insipid speaker, his whole delivery is known to make the most afflicted insomniacs nod off to sleep. Given that I have more important things to do with my life such as clean my toenails, I have never had sufficient time to watch SONA on TV. Even the 12^th rerun of a 1950’s soapie is preferable.