Found via Andrew Sullivan. Beautiful or what.

We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves.

I wish for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography — to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience.

- Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient

More deception.

Twitter users are increasingly buying followers in a bid to boost their online reputations. A number of firms are now catering to the demand for phantom followers, offering thousands of fake profiles for just a few pounds. They say their clients include bloggers, entrepreneurs and aspiring performers. – The Sunday Times

In what could be a genuine job action the situation has been hijacked and manipulated by politicians who are trying to play saint and take advantage of the poor? Protests by mine workers in South Africa have given a new lease of life to the country’s political spent forces such as the former ANC Youth league leader. The expelled African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema has been addressing striking miners, urging them to go on work stoppages so that the government can hear their demands. The former youth leader has been on record calling for the nationalization of mines in South Africa. After getting the boot from the youth league Malema has been working tirelessly to destabilize the government of President Jacob Zuma.  Recently he addressed a group of soldiers in move that can be deemed to be treasonous acts in other countries. One wonders whether the South African constitution allows any civilian to be called in to listen to armed forces’ grievances and comment on the government. Or maybe Malema and the soldiers were just exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly as enshrined in the constitution. The precedent set by Malema when he addressed soldiers set alarm bells on the need for security sector reforms on the African continent.

Dodged by controversy throughout his political career, Malema was quoted in the press in 2008 saying, “”We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.” But in a turn of events it seems like he is now plotting to use the arms against a democratically elected government. This should be seen as an example to young people to be wary of politicians who would use them to perpetuate violent acts for personal gain.