Category: in the news

Murk

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When spring finally came, it came in HOT!

Temperatures have been into the 30s for most of the last week, and with the still, warm air over the city, the air quality has been noticeably decreasing. But what we’re seeing (or not seeing, because it’s so polluted) at the moment is only classed as “Moderate” on the AQI (Air Quality Index (low numbers are better numbers)) scale:

But look at that: today’s allegedly “Moderate” levels have nothing on tomorrow, where – in the early afternoon – we’re looking at “Very Unhealthy” air quality, before returning to something altogether (well, slightly) more satisfactory on Wednesday and Thursday.

Here’s the AQI scale for reference:

And you’ll note immediately that we run up 3 steps to the penultimate level of nastiness in the next 24 hours. That’s mainly due to high counts for PM2.5 and low level ozone:

PM2.5, (also written PM2.5) are tiny particles of dust or soot – especially prevalent in vehicle exhaust fumes – and which are contributing to the murky, hazy atmosphere over the city at the moment.

Then – and bear with me here – add in those high levels of low level ozone…

Yes, I know it’s a bit confusing: high levels of high level ozone are good – thanks for using your roll-on deodorant back in the 1980s and 90s – but we really only want the ozone about 20 or 25km up there, and not at ground level:

Ground-level ozone or the “bad” ozone that forms closer to the Earth in the air we breathe. This ozone is not usually emitted directly, but rather forms from chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight.

These pollutants can have acute effects on people who suffer with asthma or other respiratory diseases. Especially at these hugely elevated levels. It’s not called “Very Unhealthy” just for shits and giggles (neither of which are symptoms, by the way).
Longer term effects can include cardio-vascular problems and issues in pregnancy, but we’re fortunate in Cape Town that while quite ugly, these are fairly rare levels for this little corner of Africa.

A small cold front passing over or near to the Cape on Wednesday will see a lot of this nastiness blown out into the South Atlantic where it can dissipate and harm the wildlife instead of us important humans.

But in the meantime, if you are sensitive to pollution and/or you do suffer from asthma or a respiratory illness, you might want to take steps to protect yourself from what promises to be a rather unpleasant day tomorrow.

Stay safe.

Bring back Bok!

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Note: I ran the concept of this post past a reader before I wrote it, and I got the impression that I maybe needed to find a different angle. This can like to be that angle.

Now. On with the post.

Bring back Bok!

That was my cry when I started getting adverts and flyers for this concert all over my socials and emails:

For those who aren’t aware, I have been plagued by Afrikaans singing sensation Bok van Blerk for many years now. Much like Herpes, your presence on his mailing lists is something that you simply can’t get rid of, no matter how many drugs you take or how desperately you try.

But could Lighthouse – that’s these guys:

We are Lighthouse, a family band that loves making music for Jesus, our Lord, and Savior!

actually be worse than Bok?

Yes. Yes, I rather think that they could.

They’ve been aggressively marketing their upcoming Praise and Worship Aand (evening) in Struisbaai this weekend all over my internet. They might even have taken it further: I haven’t looked at the front of my house, but it wouldn’t surprise me if their ubiquitous message had been daubed all over there as well.

They’ve also been punting their BIG SONG: Fear Of The Lord (negative reinforcement is rarely a successful means of control, and this title doesn’t seem to suggest a good way to run any sort of organisation to me) in partnership with the popular series “The Chosen”, on Youtube (76 subscribers).
They tell us:

Go stream it free on The Chosen App. It’s a must-watch!

Hmm. Citation required.

At this point, I usually say something along the lines of:

I did this, so you don’t have to.

But in this case: no chance. You’re on your own.

I did watch the music video though:

Part smiley Jesus (especially when he realises that he’s turned the water into wine, lol), part Afrikaans singing family in their local school hall.

But wait. There’s more!

Binge Jesus for Free on thechosen[dot]tv/app

How exactly do you “Binge Jesus”? What does that process involve?

Yes, in the video, it does seem like he’s a nice bloke.
Yes, in the video, she does seem to have a pretty good voice.

But that doesn’t mean that you have to get tangled up with what almost exactly half of Americans think saved Donald Trump from that bullet in Pennsylvania.

Let’s cut to the chase: I won’t be down in Struisbaai this weekend, and so I won’t be seeing Lighthouse in concert at the Suiderlig Dienssentrum. I will miss Pastor Walters Joubert from Bredasdorp.

Their appeal to:

Kom geniet die Aand saam met ons!

has fallen upon stony ground.

They should at least understand that metaphorical reference.

Meanwhile, in a cruel twist of fate, look who has pulled into my inbox again this afternoon:

This time, he’s singing about the threat that the Afrikaans people and language are [allegedly] facing, and trying to inspire (and here I quote):

…a new generation of Afrikaners who would like to remember the past, preserve it and build on what was good.

Ah yes. The good old days in South Africa.

Bit awkward. Especially since the title of the song is in Dutch (although there is a lengthy backstory, which I read, so you don’t have to) (see? I am a nice guy, really).

Oh man. Nationalist politics or Organised religion?

My two most very favourite things which are doing so much the make the world a better place right now.

Shall we just not?

Was that ok? Do you think?

Table Mountain National Park actually very safe because of the work done by Table Mountain National Park, says Table Mountain National Park.

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There have been concerns about crime “on the Mountain” – and all over Table Mountain National Park – for several years now. The proximity of the park to Cape Town (it’s basically in it and all around it), and Cape Town and South Africa being what they are, well… it was always going to be a problem.

And there are a number of measures that you can take to be safer out there: Walk in groups, not on your own. Avoid crime hotspots. Tell people where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Don’t flash your valuables. etc etc etc.

All good until you are victim.

But apparently, things aren’t as bad as the media are making out. Who could have guessed?

South African National Parks (SANParks) has taken note of reports suggesting that there are growing concerns of crime in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). Considering official statistics and visitor numbers, such expressions are speculative and may cause unnecessary alarm which undermines worthy and successful efforts. Over the last year, the official crime statistics have drastically decreased from 16 and 32 respectively in October and November 2023 to 6 in July 2024 and 3 in August 2024.

Which seems like good news, but then this report came out on the same day:

Hikers and runners are being cautioned to be extra vigilant after a couple was allegedly brutally attacked on Slangkop mountain above Kommetjie on Thursday 5 September.
In a statement on social media, Friends of Table Mountain commented that it was unfortunate to report on the attack, which allegedly left one of the victims with potentially life-threatening injuries.

And I do wonder what constitutes a crime statistic, since our niece’s car was broken into on TMNP property in August. Does that get counted? It’s seems almost impossible to think that was one third of all the crime across 221 square kilometres of National Park in a whole month.

And there’s a telling off for the media outlets as well in the TMNP post:

These are objective and verifiable statistics. As such, SANParks vehemently discourages the use of unverifiable and subjective statistics. Whilst we encourage engagement by all parties with data and information that can assist us in the management of TMNP, we have never received credible information suggesting that currently deployed approaches are incorrect. Using speculative and unverifiable statistics, which are not supported by verifiable evidence and science, could lead to reckless and indefensible decision-making, which SANParks cannot afford.

I’m a big fan of supporting stuff with verifiable evidence and science.
So: well done, TMNP.

However, I’m also a big fan of independent agencies reporting crime statistics. Not the guys who are running the security effort, or the guys who need the visitors to not be put off coming to their National Park by some off-putting crime statistics.

And thus I’m really not sure who to believe here.

Take care out there.

Hostages release hostage

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I’m not saying that you should click through to the website from which I took this screenshot. In fact, I’m very much suggesting that you don’t do that, because it’s really not a very nice place.

But it does deliver on the headlines from time to time. And this is one of those times.

Kidnapping is never a nice thing, and can have terrible effects. But I’d never heard of hostages turning into kidnappers. That’s like Stockholm Syndrome gone mad.

Well, yes, I guess I am sort of coming around to your way of thinking.
And I’m going to demonstrate that by kidnapping someone as well.

When does it end? Hostages taking hostages taking hostages taking hostages?

Pretty soon, the police are only going to have to search the biggest buildings in town because there’s simply not room for all of the hostage’s hostage’s hostages to be hidden anywhere else.

Just another example of an incompetent reporter putting “getting the story out” over “the correct use of basic English”.

Hooligans

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English football at it again, I suppose?

Not like those nice Serbians. Or the lovely Croatians. The darling Greeks.
And I won’t hear a word said against those absolute sweeties from Italy.

But yeah. Always an English problem.

And always a football problem. You never see any trouble at a rugby match.
Well, unless it’s an SA schools match. Or an SA provincial rugby match. Etc etc.

But yeah. Only the English football. Or the South African rugby. Or the Irish ploughing.

Wait… what?

Not more ploughing news?

Yep:

It’s another brilliant article from the Irish local press.

The Electric Picnic turns out to be an annual music festival in County Laois in Ireland. It’s actually pretty big. And the Ploughing? Well, that’s the Irish National Ploughing Championships as mentioned (extensively) in this post here.

“More assaults and trouble come from the Ploughing match than the Electric Picnic,” Judge Cody said as he inspected an occasional licence application by The Wrens Nest. 

Judge Cody asked Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby if he was right to suggest there was more assaults and trouble from the National Ploughing Championships. 

“The statistics would back that up,” agreed Sgt Kirby. 

That exchange is so much better when you do it with Irish accents.

I love the fact that Ploughing is the third most important subsection of the local news site.

Just ahead of “National News” there.

And it really is great stuff. Everything you’d expect from a local Irish news site.

The big news, including the National Brown Bread Baking competition results:

The photos of all the lovely girls*, and the suspense! over next year’s venue.

As for the prospect of trouble at the National Ploughing Championships, Judge Cody decided that the best way forward was to grant all of the alcohol licences which for which applications had been made.

Hey, it is Ireland, after all.

* iykyk