The bottom left of this world is, of course, Namibia. It is known as the ’smile on the face of Africa’ and if you look on the map–and also the people–you will see why. The bit that forms the smile is the Caprivi strip, annexed by General Caprivi in colonial times to give the Germans access to the Zambezi and hence a link with German Ost Afrika (Tanzania). Nobody told him about the Victoria Falls. These notes are occasional reflections on my life down here. Some are published on the ‘posts’ page and others (usually the more serious ones) have their own pages.
Latest posts
Into the Wilderness. This week I decided to go into the wilderness after the wild honey and locusts. Not just wild honey though. I also took a jar of lemon marmalade (because the stuff needs eating to provide jars for the new crop) and a bit of old rabbit I found in the back of the fridge…..[More].
The election’s other hole. I’m sitting under a tree on the edge of the Namib writing this. I dont even have a cellphone connection so I have no idea who, if anyone, has won the election at home in England. It was christened ‘the election with the hole in the middle’ by the pundits because of the refusal by all the politicians to notice the 13% of GDP deficit. But even the pundits did not notice the even bigger hole; perhaps because it has been sitting there unnoticed now for 40 or more years…. [more]
Some science notes. Genetic engineering [...]; volcanic ash [...]; why ship exhaust should not be cleaned up [...]; Archbishop Tutu’s genome [....]; why its just as well there were no aircraft flying around 200 million years ago in Namibia [...]; how green is Google [...]; why night is it not as bright as day [....]; how Namibia can avoid power cuts [....], the laser’s 50th birthday [....] why some Namibians, but not all are descended from Neanderthals [....], why Craig Venter’s company in the US has not really made artificial life.[....] , why methane hydrate is important. [....] how uranium is extracted.[....] and why heat capacity should be in the Nambian science curriculum [....].
Our general erection. So we are having a general election back home. Down here in Namibia where l and r are interchanged in pronunciation, they call these things general erections, an interesting and very African concept. ….[more]
Open letter to Dr Iyambo. Dear Dr Iyambo, Welcome to the Ministry of Education. It’s something of a poisoned chalice but as a fellow scientist you will understand that all poisons have antidotes. And you will also be aware that the antidotes are often very unpleasant. So here are a few antidote ideas. I’ll try and make them as palatable as possible…. [more]
Red spider on my aubergines. Take three. I have been told that Neem oil does for red spiders. It makes them forget to eat and have sex….. [more]
Red spider on my aubergines. Take two. Just after the last post on this I read that Indian scientists may have solved my red spider problem….. [more]
Namibian chemistry…When today’s talk is all of yellowcake, it is comforting to look back at the country’s first and greatest contribution to the well-being of the industrialised world, something a little whiter, birdshit….. [more]
Homely affairs… Living as a foreigner in Africa one of the periodic pleasures is doing business with Ministries of Home Affairs…… [more]
On Namibian red spider mites…. The 2010 International Red Spider Mite convention is currently taking place on my aubergines. Without permission…. [more]
African energy… A year or so ago I was in Tunis which for most of its existence has been called, of course, Carthage…. [more]
Pale hands I loved beside the Shalimar, Where are you now? Where are you now?. I have been playing through a huge number of CDs I bought at the end of last year at one of my favourite shops – Gillian Grieg’s Music shop on the outskirts of Taunton ….. [more]