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Sunday, 29 September 2002
Individuals most at risk for diabetes include those who have an inactive lifestyle, a family history of diabetes and an overabundance of body mass.
"Overabundance of body mass"?
A German forensic pathologist said on Friday he can prove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has used at least three men as doubles for public appearances over the last four years.
Police are hunting for two armed men who tied up "Jurassic Park" author Michael Crichton and his 13-year-old daughter in the middle of the night and ransacked their home.
It had better not spread to rural areas just as the cocoa harvest begins. Prices would spike again, pushing up the cost of chocolate bars and candy.
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Saturday, 28 September 2002
Gay and lesbian people of Gauteng take to the streets for the 13th time this weekend in the country's original Pride parade. What began as a political act of defiance in a time when they were denied basic rights has turned into a cultural event sold to city dwellers as a moment to let go and have a good time. More ...
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Huffies was admitted at the kitty hospital last night. Hopefully she will be coming home tomorrow night. (Photo taken this morning.)
BLERGH TO THE ROOM SERVICE AT THE VET.
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Thursday, 26 September 2002
DadaDodo is a program that analyses texts for word probabilities, and then generates random sentences based on that. Sometimes these sentences are nonsense; but sometimes they cut right through to the heart of the matter, and reveal hidden meanings.
Yeah .... right!
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Wednesday, 25 September 2002
On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed ......
I am a baby boomer, a product of the 1946 -1964 generation.
Lots of baby boomer stuff here. On this site they list the top 20 boomer songs as:
1 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
2 Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
3 American Pie - Don McLean
4 Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
5 Yesterday - Beatles
6 Light My Fire - Doors
7 Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
8 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tokens
9 White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
10 Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
11 The House of the Rising Sun - Animals
12 Hey Jude - Beatles
13 California Dreamin' - Mamas and the Papas
14 Cherish - The Association
15 Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
16 Layla - Eric Clapton
17 Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
18 Born To Be - Wild Steppenwolf
19 Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
20 Maggie Mae - Rod Stewart
Yep, I know them all.
If you are a baby boomer and want to know (or want to be reminded of) what happened in the world during the year you were born, see here. More about baby boomer food here.
Doctors say that babies should smoke until they're 3
and people over 65 should bathe in Lipton Tea ......
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Tuesday, 24 September 2002
Today is Heritage Day. I have no idea how today is supposed to be different from yesterday's Proudly South African Day. (Other than that yesterday was not a public holiday and today is.)
Every day that Huffies is still with us, will be a celebration.
(Photo taken today, after another visit to the vet.)
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Monday, 23 September 2002
The Bloglurker, also from Sunny South Africa, now has her own blog. Please pay her a visit.
Today is Proudly South African Day. I feel obligated:
"The national flag of the Republic of South Africa was first used on 27 April 1994. The design and colours are a synopsis of principal elements of the country's flag history. Individual colours, or colour combinations were different meanings for different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colours.
The central design of the flag, beginning at the flagpost in a "V" form and flowing into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the fly, can be interpreted as the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity. The theme of convergence and unity ties in with the motto of the National Coat of Arms, "Unity is Strength"." More ...
Yeah, yadda, yadda, yadda.
HUFFIES UPDATE:
She is now on blood pressure medication, antibiotics, Animalax for constipation and Bromazeal for arthritis. This photo was taken this morning, in the garden.
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Sunday, 22 September 2002
What a weekend!
Two friends from THE BIG SMOG (Johannesburg) came to visit. Hence the silence here at Flightless Farrago.
They have now left Cape Town for their next destination, Hermanus, a coastal resort where the whales dance and play to entertain the inland folk during September and October.
It is always fun to spend some time with Johannesburgers as it gives one the opportunity to see places that one tends to neglect during the humdrum of day-to-day life.
The highlight was Boulders, a beach in Simon's Town where the Jackass penguins live.
Oh, and on Friday I purchased a digital camera. *BIG GRIN*
I am still learning, but dear Flightless Farrago readers, beware. This might just turn into a photoblog ...
Anyone want to buy an old Nikkormat FT2? Yikes! Just kidding, okay?
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Thursday, 19 September 2002
JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN AFRICA.
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Wednesday, 18 September 2002
Hmmm, I had a few minutes of fun browsing around the The 5k site's entries:
"... all the files which constitute the entry (whether it is a page or a site) must collectively total less than 5k in size."
"Behind the Mask is an organisation that aims to empower and support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in Africa - politically, culturally, socially and economically, by the gathering of information. Therefore, the organisation publishes an independent website magazine on gay and lesbian affairs in Africa and explores opportunities offered by ICT (Information and communication Technology) as well as ways in which these opportunities can be made accessible to LGBT people in Africa."
And, seeing as I am searching for a digital camera, I thought I'd share this link with others who might be doing the same. Does anyone have any other sites that they can send me off to? And why are these darn gadgets so expensive in South Africa? HRMPH!
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Tuesday, 17 September 2002
Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes.
It was a pleasant enough day and evening, but marred by the terribly sad new that Huffies has chronic renal failure.
Huffies is 17 years old and on 2 April 2002 her "sister" passed away at the age of 20 years old (same diagnosis).
She is now on the Hills Prescription Diet (k/d) and antibiotics.
The battle to do the best and what is right for her starts ... again.
Sad moments. Sad times.
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Monday, 16 September 2002
Today I celebrate my birthday!
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Sunday, 15 September 2002
What were they thinking?
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Saturday, 14 September 2002
Why I love the Internet:
In 1860 indentured Indian labour was imported to South Africa. Today there are over one million South African citizens of Indian origin, and 76% live in the KwaZulu Natal province.
Indian culture is an integral part of the cultural mix of Durban and how better to celebrate a culture than to partake of its food? Having grown up in Durban, I can vouch for the deliciousness of a true Durban curry. Sadly, I don't recall when last I had a hearty Durban curry.
I live in Cape Town now and there are hundreds of places where I can find a scrumptious Cape Malay curry. But, a Cape Malay curry is NOT a Durban curry.
For the past three weeks I have been craving a good Durban curry. I have unsuccessfully cooked a few curries in the past few week. Yes, they have been tasty, but there was always something missing. The "Durban" in "Durban curry" was missing.
I have since found a recipe for the masala (curry mix) I need to create an authentic Durban curry and will pursue the collection of the spices during the next week.
However, a friend sent me off on a bit of a wild goose chase this past week - to a little take-away shop in the Bo-Kaap called Biesmiellah, specialists in Indian and traditional Cape Malay dishes. He promised that once I try their lamb curry, my craving for Durban curry would vanish.
His plan did not work.
Nevertheless, at Biesmiellah I discovered falooda. It was listed on the menu under the "drinks" section. I asked the assistant what this was and all she said was "Like milkshake". This sounded good to me as I enjoy milkshake. And I was intrigued, specially because the drinks section of the menu also listed milkshake as an item.
So, along with the two lamb curry take-aways, I ordered two faloodas and took them home with me. They came in polystyrene cups which gave no clue as to what exactly these faloodas were.
The first thing I did when I got home was open one of the polystyrene cups. It sure looked like milkshake, strawberry milkshake, with a round blob of frozen ice cream floating at the top and chopped nuts sprinkled on top of that.
So far, so good. But I was about to discover what "like milkshake" actually means.
Then I dipped the straw into the cup and took a healthy sip. Ack! I got a mouthful of scarlet (I saw the colour as it was coming up the straw) semi-solid slimy bits. This was most unexpected and as I was not alone at home, I refrained from spitting out the scarlet semi-solid slimy bits.
I took a spoon and started investigating the concoction. The scarlet semi-solid slimy bits, it would appear, were bits of grated (??) jelly.
Falooda:
"An exotic Indian milk-based drink flavoured with rose syrup (sharbat gulab) and named for the strands of cornflour vermicelli that float in it. The vermicelli are not easy to make at home. An acceptable substitute is agar-agar jelly, flavoured with rose and coloured green or red."
This put my mind at rest and I was able to (carefully) enjoy the rest of the falooda. I have since seen a number of falooda recipes on the Internet, all different and all with a variety of exotic ingredients. I guess there are as many versions of falooda as there are curry versions.
Needless to say, my craving for Durban curry has not been satisfied and the search continues.
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Friday, 13 September 2002
Yeaaha! I took a day's leave, I am not going to work on Monday (will be my birthday)!
But, I am coming down with the flu. Badly. What stupid kind of luck is that?
I was going to tell you all about my first falooda experience, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
To bed with me!
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Thursday, 12 September 2002
I am curious about what brought you here today.
Please reply in the "Malicious gossip goes here!" or "# choice morsels posted!" link in this post.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2002
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Tuesday, 10 September 2002
JOHANNESBURG: Lesbian judge Anne-Marie de Vos said she was "ecstatic" after the Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that gays and lesbians could jointly adopt children.
The court ruled that legislation denying them this right was unconstitutional.
In a written judgment by Judge Lewis Skweyiya the court ruled that people in "permanent same-sex life partnership(s)" should be allowed to jointly adopt because such a relationship could provide the stability, support and affection envisaged for children by the Child Care Act.
"Of course I am ecstatic, and I am relieved it is all over," said De Vos, who, with life-partner Suzanne du Toit, also a judge, applied to have sections of the Child Care Act and the Guardianship Act declared unconstitutional.
The two women have been in a permanent partnership since 1989, and Du Toit will now be able to adopt De Vos's two children - Nuschka (13) and Reid (10).
"I needed to know that if something happened to me Suzanne would be able to take care of the children. We just want to be settled and secure in the knowledge that we can both take care of them," she said.
Earlier the Pretoria High Court ruled the legislation unconstitutional, but this ruling had to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, as it was on Tuesday.
De Vos said she had expected the ruling.
"The indications were that the (Constitutional Court) judges were positive about our case," she said.
She also said she and Du Toit had always intended bringing the issue to court because they believed certain of their rights were infringed by legislation.
The Constitutional Court judges agreed with them, saying the rights to equality and dignity were infringed by the specific sections of the un-amended Child Care Act and Guardianship Act, and that this legislation did not give "paramouncy" to the best interests of children.
"Family life as contemplated in the constitution can be lived in different ways... The stability, support and affection envisaged by the Child Care Act can be provided by people in permanent same-sex relationships," said Deputy Chief Justice Pius Langa, reading Skweyiya's judgment into the record.
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Monday, 9 September 2002
Traditional Waterblommetjiebredie* Recipe
*Waterblommetjie stew
(Aponogeton distachyos - Cape Pondweed, native of South Africa)
1,5kg mutton breast, diced
15 ml cooking oil
2 chopped onions
2 bunches waterblommetjies
1 bunch sorrel, finely chopped or 1 large cooking apple, sliced
250ml meat stock, heated
15ml salt
3 ml pepper
Rinse waterblommetjies thouroughly in salted water.
Cut the flowers form the stalks, rinse again and dry.
Brown the meat in heated oil, add onions and saute.
Add all remaining ingredients including the waterblommetjies.
Cover and simmer for 2 - 2.5 hrs until meat is tender.
Stir as little as possible to prevent the flowers form breaking up.
Replenish with hot stock if necessary.
Local and personal variations may be found.
WATERBLOMMETJIES
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Sunday, 8 September 2002
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Saturday, 7 September 2002
The blogger is asleep.
Thanks for all the advice regarding Movable Type. I am going to try and set it up on Netfirms for now and do a test run. By the sound of things, this can take years. But that's fine as I am not too busy right now ...
UPDATE: Whoops! Maybe I should wait for the update.
Looking for a weblog job? Sounds like a good idea to me - I didn't like my day job too much this week. (Too much of having to achieve the impossible.)
Have you updated your details at Eatonweb?
Is anyone still visiting or taking part in the BlogTree project?
What's up with Daypop? For the last few days it seems to be throwing out a lot of "ERROR in GetPopPageInfo!" messages as search results. HRMPH!
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Friday, 6 September 2002
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Thursday, 5 September 2002
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
~~Benjamin Franklin
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Wednesday, 4 September 2002
Would this then be the right time to convert the title of this blog back to FLIGHTLESS FARRAGO?
Probably.
Bon voyage, FARRAZILLA!
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Tuesday, 3 September 2002
Just two questions today:
1. Greymatter or Movable Type or Blogger?
I am currently using Cute SiteBuilder. [blush]
2. Which host?
I am currently using Netfirm's free hosting service.
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Monday, 2 September 2002
Oh, bwahahahaha ..... this is funny.
Look at the product and then at the mothers' reviews here!
Or, perhaps, this is really sad. I'll decide about it tomorrow.
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Sunday, 1 September 2002
HAPPY SPRING DAY, SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ...
JUST TOO MUCH IRONY:
A convention center worker prepares waste paper from the World Summit on Sustainable Development prior to it beng compressed and recycled, Friday Aug. 30 2002 in Johannesburg. The summit is expected to generate 300-400 tons of trash and just 20 per cent of this is being recycled.
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FARRAGO: n. (pl. -s or US -es) medley, hotchpotch.
©2002 FARRAGO, and all that.
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