* I wish all Hindus a Happy Diwali / Deepavali. I trust that the spirit of this auspicious occasion will last in your homes throughout the year. During your festivities, please spare a thought for those less fortunate or indigent and also for our animal friends.
* Walmart’s take-over of Game stores is a breath of fresh air. What I find most pleasing is the advertised cost of items. They have cut out the ludicrous ‘something comma 99c’ or ‘something comma 95c’ (for example R19.99 or R74.95). Their advertised prices are now rounded off, like R19 or R74 and so forth. Advertising like this takes the ‘bulldust’ out of marketing and doesn’t hoodwink customers. It’s encouraging to note that the Pick ‘n Pay pamphleteer has followed suit.
* The world likes big butts and it can no longer lie. Gone are the days when mega jugs were the talk of the town. Now it’s all about impressive behinds munching on a swimsuit, or celebs showing off their squat workouts. But the trend even extends beyond that. Exercise is in on the action – squat jumps are the workout ‘du jour’, as women work hard to add muscle definition to their butts. And for those who aren’t naturally gifted in the behind region, you can now purchase bum-boosting pants with concealed pads. They’re the Wonderbra for your ass. What does science have to say on the matter? Well, theories that men’s love of big bums is to do with an animalistic attraction to wider pelvises and their child-rearing connotations have been discredited. However, scientists are still puzzled and say there may still be something in that.
* Government plans to slash perks for all officials, from ministers to mayors, and hopes to save more than R2-bn in the process, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced in his mid-term budget policy review. Gordhan said the new rules would apply from December 1 and to all spheres of government. Cabinet’s initiatives will apply both to members of cabinet and to officials in national, provincial and local government. There will be a standardised cost limit for official cars, revoking all official credit cards immediately, shrinking the size of delegations travelling abroad, and putting up ministers waiting for official homes in rented apartments, not hotels. “The cost of cars will be standardised. It is hard for me to advertise a particular brand of car – you must choose your brand, but it will be the equivalent of a BMW 530 or something like that,” Gordhan told a media briefing ahead of his speech. From December, there will also be no compensation for the use of personal cars. Government will ban ministers from travelling first class and restrict the number of assistants accompanying them to two. Unlike ministers, they will not be allowed to travel in business class. He said the cost-cutting steps would go as far as a ban on buying alcohol with taxpayers’ money, with exceptions made perhaps for entertaining visiting foreign heads of state. “No public funds to be used to buy alcohol.”
* President Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, has also been afflicted with foot-in-mouth disease. Malawi summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner over President Jacob Zuma’s disparaging remarks about the country. Ntombile Mabude was asked to explain a Zuma statement seen as suggesting that Malawi was backward when discussing South Africa’s road infrastructure. Our president sparked controversy when he tried to convince motorists to accept the country’s plan to toll highways around Johannesburg. He said, “We are in Johannesburg, this is Johannesburg. It’s not some national road in Malawi.” Spokesperson Mac Maharaj defended the statement, saying it was reported out of context. He said Zuma was trying to justify the sophisticated road system in the country’s economic hub. During an interview with a local radio station, Power FM, Maharaj apologised for the comments, saying he had received numerous angry calls from Malawians. “Let me apologise for that and withdraw it,” he said.
* Diarise Saturday, November 12. The Eastern Extravaganza will be held at the Indoor Sports Complex.
