Hardimans Top 5...

...things to do with a Trillion Zim Dollars...

5) Play “Who wants to be a gizzilonaire” with your mates…

4) Increase your bust size by stuffing your bra…

3) Play Zimbabwe monopoly and buy yourself three hotels, a Tobacco farm and Harare

2) Buy 6 Patricia Lewis albums

1) and the number one thing to with a Trillion Zim dollars…buy shares in Lehman Brothers.

Just so you and I know. I am alive.

I had to check - just in case I was dead and I could claim on it.

http://www.dha.gov.za/enquiry/living/status/living_status.asp

Maybe you should too...its better than feeling for a pulse...

The Dalai Lama, Chinese politicians and the goverment of SA....

The Dalai Lama, arguably one of the world’s most respected activist’s for peace and harmony on this planet has been refused entry to South Africa to attend a peace conference.

Lets quickly examine the facts shall we. According to radio reports this morning our erstwhile government of SA reckons that the time is not right due to something about the soccer world cup and something or the other. Huh? More believable reports suggest that the real reason is that China (not a huge fan of Mr. Lama) has put pressure on the boys upstairs to deny him a visa as its very much against him doing much in the world like promoting peace etc.

So in essence, a country once the battle ground for imposing its will on the masses; a land with one of the worst records of human rights abuse but one which now claims to be free and on its way to reconciliation chooses to bow down to an economically powerful China. A country with one of the world’s worst records of human rights abuse still to this day, and one that is making no obvious transformation to freedom and democracy. And of course the country that made the Dalai Lama effectively homeless along with the vast majority of his countrymen.

Those now in power know more than anyone what it is like to be exiled from their country and homeland.

Those in power know more than any of us what it is like to seek the aid and understanding of those who have the power to change what is wrong in our world.

However those that have been exiled, jailed and cast from their country because of what they stood for now refuse a man who is doing nothing more than the same.

It’s incomprehensible that you can morally make this judgment and think it ok to do so.

You are fools. There is no other way to put it. How stupid do you think we are? How long do you think you will last this way? Let those in the ANC who understand what is needed in this country rule and those that are simply in it for the money, the power and the hunger to strike out at those that dissent leave.

I am under no illusion that the ruling party can make this country great, they have the power and the people with intellect to do so however those that are making these kinds of decisions are not the ones that will do so.

UPDATE:**

Motlanthe's spokesperson, Thabo Masebe, said the president did not want the Dalai Lama to attend a peace conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

"It would not be in the interests of the country to invite the Dalai Lama to South Africa at this stage, because the attention of the whole world is on us as the host of 2010 Fifa World Cup.

For more read here:http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090324062119369C291105

RiRi...why I feel less for her now..

I have been mulling over the Rihanna thing for a while now. Naturally like the majority of people I was disgusted at what had been done to her. I was disgusted at that people were jumping to Chris Brown’s defence – arguments such as “he is a nice guy really”, and “Chris is young ” were thrown up from celebrity quotes and press releases.

But this is not one of those trial by media epiosoides. There is no defence for beating up a defenceless women. There is no excuse to attack anyone just because you are having an argument. Friends of mine even used the “she must have said something wrong or done something wrong to make him do it. And that friend is a women!

Its pretty simple guys (and girls) – no excuse. And if you start making an excuse then you are on your way to justification. It’s a very dangerous territory.

There is however a new dilemma. Most, myself included, cannot understand why she has gone back him? Love? The same love that hit her and strangle her? It’s quite amazing to see how this cycle of abuse plays itself out and how we don’t acknowledge that our situation will be the same.

I am willing to bet that Brown cried a lot, pleaded with her, blamed it on his past, said he cannot live without her, she is the only thing that can make him get through this and change him…etc. etc. I have never been abused but I will bet that if you have been in a similar type of relationship that this all sounds quite familiar in some way or the other.

So here is Rihannas dilemma as I see it. We all backed her 100% to leave him – move on, she deserves so much better etc. We felt for her. Hated him. But she went back.

Now presuming that the cycle of abuse is in play, there is little doubt that he will hit her again. But what does she do his time? The world saw it happen last time, the world asked her not to go back and she did.

So what will she do? This time she will remain silent. Not because she wants to maybe but because she has too. She is in the public eye. She was given her chance to make a change and didn’t so next time I might not be so sympathetic. You wont be either. Sure we will feel bad for her but not as bad as the previous time.

I now in a way dislike her for her lack of courage. She is an intelligent healthy women with amazing prospects, who has been attacked by an ill bred 19 year old whom she chooses to stand by. In an odd sense I have lost respect for her in her choice to remain with him.

And before you say “yes but maybe there were specific circumstances etc…”, if you can find a specific circumstance let me know – I for one cannot think of a reason to hit her even if she started the argument.

I feel for her. But not in the same way now as I did. It's just sad.

Stormers. it's clouding over...

There is a monkey on our back - we just dont know what it is...

I won’t ever back anyone else. I am a stickler for these types of things. I grew up in Cape town. Province, Stormers, Cobras and Ajax.

But man they are not making it easy right now!

Ultimately I could make the easy switch right? We all have friends who have changed over to Ferrari because they were winning. It’s easier to cheer for the Sharks because you would be a “winner” by default. Around the braai with the guys you can laugh under your breath when they talk about the latest round of losses at Newlands. They can scoff at your (our) team and be smug – because ultimately they jumped ship. You will always be a winner if you have no loyalty, it’s a fact of life. You will never be a true supporter though (of any team) because your bags are always packed and you are ready to leave the moment the team starts slipping in the logs – in parasite terms you jump host in order to survive.

So the Stormers are losing.

I for one thought this would be the year. We played with gust and glory in the dying embers of last season – the Rassie magic seemed to have taken hold albeit too late in the season but there was hope for 2009. On paper we have one of the strongest SA sides. Some 11 Springboks, some talented players coming up through the ranks and arguably one of the best captains on SA grass, who not only leads but plays his heart out everytime. We have Monty and AJ as back-ups on the bench for crying out loud! Our reserves are some of SA’s most capped players? And yet we will still can’t get it right on the field.

I heard guys on the weekend saying we didn’t get it together. We were sloppy – we just don’t care, we lack a winning mentality. I don’t agree. Any professional sportsman has a winning mentality – you don’t play lose.

I to be honest thought we had moments of magic out there – we were gunning their line and putting them under pressure. Some of our runs were damn classy. We lost it through some stupid handling errors, crap passes and a player mentality amongst some that would indicate they would rather go for glory on their own than have to rely on the team.

Luke Watson, I feel ,is still trying to stem the boo’s by getting the ball across the line (why the hell are we booing anyway? He is playing in a Stormers jersey not a bok one – be the man and move on) . He had an awesome game last week, at this level of rugby he really does excel and puts in some stellar moves – disagree?. Love him or hate him the man grinds the game and makes the ground. He just seems to want that try so badly that he is actually putting himself and the team under needless pressure. Schalk Burger. Love him too but without the hair there seems to be a Samson mentality going on. He seems off the boil a bit. Not really in the game. The season.

Bekker, Januarie, De Villiers – always there and in the mix – although perhaps Ricky we could leave the kicking for a bit – definition of insanity and all. It didn’t work the first time or the other few hundred. Inspired try though!

I am not sure what goes on behind closed doors but there is something smacking of desperation going on in the Stormers camp. We have the right players. The right captain. The Right coach? I think we do – certainly with Gary Gold backing him up.

So what’s wrong? I have no idea – hopefully you may have some insight. Post it here and lets chat.

Back to my earlier point though – born and bred in Cape Town there is only one choice of rugby team. I couldn’t go anywhere else just because of losses. I prefer to stick it out – take the abuse and love the team we have.

Hope you feel the same. This will come right!