Category: economic issues

The World is in Cape Town

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It seems that way. Tourist numbers have never been higher [awaits statistic-carrying doom and gloom merchants with evidence to the contrary]. Everywhere is PACKED! For some reason, we decided to take a trip down to the V&A Waterfront yesterday to soak up some of the Christmas spirit, see some fishy stuff, play some cave golf and see The World.

Not the entire world, obviously. That would require a ridiculous amount of time and effort [and money – Mrs 6000], but the residential cruise ship and playground of the rich and famous.

She is in Cape Town for the New Year before heading north for Lüderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia and then back past Cape Town and the Southern Cape bound for Durban later in January 2012.

With penthouses going for around $14,000,000 [a cool R115m], maybe Mrs 6000 has a point about The World being a bit pricey, but with only 165 residences and over 200 crew, it sounds like you get decent service.

It’s also very, very nice to look at. Get down to the V&A Waterfront and avoid the rather hectic security near the jetty to have a gander.

Follow The World on MarineTraffic.com by clicking here or see some more photos here.

Heads up for dishwashing parents

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Just a quick Public Service Announcement from your genial hosts here at 6000.co.za:


Pick & Pay are currently stocking finish powerball™ dishwasher tablets (x30) with a free Madagascar 2 : Escape To Africa DVD included.

You can’t use it to wash your dishes, but at R84.95 for the 30 tablets or R84.95 for the 30 tablets plus a Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa DVD, it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

 

In fact, this post is brought to you courtesy of that very same DVD, which my kids are currently watching instead of pestering me.

I don’t think I need to tell you that this represents pretty amazing value. Just get there before stocks run out.

Political Soundbite of the Day

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We don’t do politics very often on 6000 miles…, but we are more than happy to share excellent political soundbites like this one whenever they come along:

So all the UK is isolated from is an impending disaster: the eurozone will fragment with countries leaving and debt defaults. It is like being as isolated as a man who failed to get onto the Titanic before it sailed.

That’s from Terry Smith in The Telegraph and comes via Perry de Havilland at Samizdata and is a good reminder that being the odd man out isn’t always a bad thing.

The 5 Best Toys Of All Time

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At a time when parents start panicking about Christmas gifts for the young ones, please enjoy this review of “The 5 Best Toys Of All Time” on Wired.com.

Here at GeekDad we review a lot of products — books, toys, gadgets, software — and I know it’s impossible for most parents to actually afford all of the cool stuff that gets written up. Heck, most of us can’t afford it either, and we’re envious of the person who scored a review copy of a cool board game or awesome gizmo. (Disclosure: that person is probably me.) So while we love telling you about all the cool stuff that’s out there, I understand that as parents we all have limited budgets and we sometimes need help narrowing down our wishlists.

So to help you out, I’ve worked really hard to narrow down this list to five items that no kid should be without. All five should fit easily within any budget, and are appropriate for a wide age range so you get the most play out of each one. These are time-tested and kid-approved! And as a bonus, these five can be combined for extra-super-happy-fun-time.

I went into the article, ready to disagree with some American subjective approach. I came out understanding and concurring with just about every word he wrote. “GeekDad” Jonathan Liu brings us a sobering reminder that childhood doesn’t have to be all about PS3, LeapPads and Wii.

His list – complete with reasoned argument for each entry – reads as follows:

  1. Stick
  2. Box
  3. String
  4. Cardboard tube
  5. Dirt

And yes, he’s correct, although I’d also possibly have ball, bucket, river, vuvuzela & rubber chicken on standby.

He’s even followed it up with another article, in which he rates water as the Sixth Best Toy Of All Time, pipping “rock”, “bubble-wrap”, “ball” and “tape” to the post. It’s worth a read.

Goodbye Gianluca

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Oh dear. A final appeal to be allowed to finally appeal is turned down:

 A private company, which built the R2 million Gianluca Vialli Soccer Centre at Sea Point High School, has lost an application for leave to appeal a Western Cape High Court judgment ordering it to cease operating the facility.

This means the centre has to stop operating by Monday.

Emilel Investments 19 completed the construction of the centre last June.
With the blessing of the school principal, Emilel forked out the funds to turn the school’s unused, dilapidated tennis courts into two new five-a-side, Fifa-approved astroturf football pitches and a modern clubhouse.
The biggest earner was a friendly corporate league in which companies’ five-a-side teams competed. A weekend market operated by businessman David van Rensburg was also introduced.

However, residents around the school lodged an application to stop the operation of the facility, saying it contravened the city’s zoning regulations and constituted a common law nuisance because of the timing of activities, loud noise and parking problems.

In September, Judge André le Grange found the city’s consent for the facility was necessary. He gave Emilel and Van Rensburg until 6pm on December 12 to stop operating and to consider their options.
On Tuesday, Emilel applied for leave to appeal the ruling.

It’s sad, because this was a great, well-maintained facility on a patch of land which was previously completely derelict. But I do have some sympathy with the local residents as well: 5-a-side football isn’t exactly the quietest of sports – we tend to bring some passion and some volume each Tuesday and Thursday evening.
Fortunately, this year’s “biggest earner” (this a laughable statement, by the way) leagues had already finished.

Anyway, it looks like we’re going to have to take our balls and play with them elsewhere.