Layout disasters

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More blogging by other people, and to be honest, this sort of thing would be better shared on the 6000 miles… Facebook page, but then it would be harder to go back to in the future (that’s not quite a film title, no). So it’s going on here:

Please enjoy to be beholding Buzzfeed’s Top 28 Newspaper And Magazine Layout Disasters:

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With 28 of these on offer, you’d surely have to expect that some may have been conveniently ignored rather than slipping under the metaphorical radar. But they are entertaining and I was entertained. You should click through and be entertained too. And then share the entertainment with your friends and neighbours.

Or… er… not.

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Interesting discussions yesterday over the potential validity (none) of the conspiracy theories surrounding the Boston bombings.

I’m not going to link to any of them – you can go google “loony tunes, boston bombings” if you want to read more.

However, I was sent this at the height of the manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev:

bostYou can click the picture for a larger version with bigger writing

Or… er… not.

Much like those annoying Sunday Times or City Press headlines, everyone remembers the story, and you can slip in a quiet retraction on page 79 (or not if you prefer) which 0.1% of the people who read the original make-believe will read, leaving 99.9% of the population believing that what you said was true.

My publishing the above image is just a little personal stand against that modus operandi and should serve as a reminder that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet – not least the people who are telling you not to believe everything that you read on the internet.

I recognise the fact that some people may find me slightly hypocritical in suggesting, here on the internet, that you shouldn’t believe the people on the internet who are telling you not to believe everything you read on the internet, but really, you just shouldn’t.

Question everything. Except me.

Had it

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As summer breathes its final breath and dies its final death, barely hanging on here in the Cape with a measly high of 28°C expected today, the bad news is that we still have a mosquito problem. Specifically in my bedroom last night. This is the downside of Cape Town summer for me and I will consider it a GoodThing™ when the cold comes and kills off the last of those little bastards.

It could be worse though.

Worse because right on our doorstep, a child is dying from malaria every minute. We’re lucky that SA is pretty much a malaria-free country, but every year, malaria kills 650,000 – mostly pregnant women and children under five – which is a huge, huge number, especially since malaria is a disease that is both preventable and treatable.
I’ve actually had malaria: thankfully, I didn’t die from it. But even then, it’s a wholly unpleasant and debilitating disease. It’s not something you want, even when you know it’s going to get treated.

Tomorrow – April 25th 2013 –  is World Malaria Day and one way you can help out is by buying a bracelet from Relate Bracelets, a social enterprise which has partnered with United Against Malaria Bracelet for R30.

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Fairly funky, I reckon, although I freely admit to not being a huge bracelet expert. I’m going to get my daughter one because she’ll love it and I’m going to get my son one, because he has that kind of surfer boy look when it’s sunny and the mozzies are out.
Funds sold from this bracelet go to The Global Fund, which distributes nets (I need this), indoor sprays and provides access to medication.

You can get your bracelet at selected Game and Tiger’s Eye curio stores (Indaba and Out of Africa) or if you are agoraphobic, online through Digital Mall.

Do your bit, get a bracelet and make a difference.