south africa:

Cape Town Transport

I came across this yesterday – Capsule 02 – a project Gareth and I did ages ago which tells you about Cape Town Transport and other such stuff.

The content was distributed on a 1.44mb disk (mainly because they were cheap and deemed completely “unsuitable” for a magazine) and won numerous awards. I shudder at the navigation, but the content is still quite fun.

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Maak Gou Manne – Die Groot Beeker Kom

The Big Cup is coming to South Africa. Dress for success. Dress to impress.

Now available from the very fine MySoti Store

(* Headline translates roughly as: Hurry guys! The Big Cup is coming)

Smuggling contraband into space

You may know that South African Mark Shuttleworth was the first African in space. But what I’m sure you didn’t know, is that the Afronaut is also the first space smuggler. Radarboy gives you the low down on how he did it and what contraband was taken:

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South African Metro Map

radarboy-south-africa-metro

Happy 9-11 Berlin – Wir sind das Volk!

Berlin Wall Freedom

Congratulations to Berlin and Germany on a peaceful transition of power 20 years ago, a successful reunification and the end of the silliness, known as the GDR and the Berlin Wall.

Although we normally blog about installation art, design and other such things, today’s post is on the most beautiful art of all – the art of life.

That’s How The Light Gets In has a nice account of the buildup to the 9 November the peaceful revolution.

The “Friendly Revolution” and the mass mobilization of people across eastern Europe had a great personal impact on me, and many other fellow South Africans, in the belief that an end to Apartheid was possible.

tata

Under the banner of the Mass Democratic Movement hundreds of thousands of people flooded onto the streets of every city in South African, effectively leading to the un-banning of civic organisations, the release of Tata Madiba and to the negotiated settlement.

So 9-11 is a fitting day for me to get my residence permit in Germany. It was quite an ordeal. And as a reminder to the state of the nation, as I was walking into the visa offices, a girl came out crying – her residence permit having obviously being refused.

I am no longer really interested in the past. I only mention all this, as perhaps an opportunity for me (and maybe you?!) to reflect for a moment as humans on what kind of society we would like to create.

For me it’s one of an end to nationalism, and a strengthening of a community of respect. A society where quality of life is valued. An end to pragmatism. Where the spaces we design and the lives we lead are not merely a means to an end, but a celebration of beauty and magnificence. A society where details are important. Where the journey is as important as the destination.

The silliness, however, unfortunately, still continues. Our governments still have a lot to learn and a long way to go.

Now it’s time for the next revolution. The removal of all the other walls on our planet.

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“You should know that no human being is illegal. This is a contradiction in terms.
People can be beautiful or more beautiful. You can be just or unjust. But illegal?” How can a person be i
llegal? ”

Elie Wiesel

Read more about the Kein Mensch Ist Illegal movement in Germany here.

Alive In Joburg goes Hollywood

Neil Blomkamp’s amazing film Alive In Joburg is about to be released as a full length feature, produced by Peter Jackson.

Pretty cool, though unfortunately Amercianized, movie site here: http://www.d-9.com/