Attie Heunis's Journey

The ramblings of a Caucasian African American

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Originally from South Africa’s magnificent Eastern Cape, my family and I now reside in Pennsylvania in the United States. To earn my keep I’m an executive for a multinational company in the Healthcare sector. I’m also a serious amateur photographer. Pro-environmental and conservation views.

  • De La Rey by Bok van Blerk – eeeiiisshh!!

    general de la reyOne of the bigger talking points in South-Africa (specifically the Afrikaans community) at present is the song De La Rey by Bok van Blerk.

    I must say that I liked the song after the first time I heard it but I didn’t have a clue what it was about – it just sounded good. Since then though I have seen the video and heard the song many times and I must say it really moves me. I know I know; I am a sucker for Boer nationalism. It is strange though because I’m not what you’d call a typical Afrikaner – I’ve got too many funny ideas for that, but I am immensely proud to be an Afrikaner.

    Some elements in the press thinks this song is so popular because the Afrikaners are searching for their “lost” identity, but I’m not so sure. I think this song will be popular regardless of identity issues and let’s not forget it is a very catchy song. Anyway I don’t think the Afrikaner is as lost as he was 6/7 years ago.

    Hierdie quote van Bok, oftewel Louis Pepler, som dit mooi op:

    Ja, Reënboognasie en al daai dinge . . . Maar ons is een van daai reënboogkleure. Jy moet saam met ‘n Zoeloe, Xhosa en Engelsman om ‘n tafel kan sit en weet wie jy is.

    I urge anyone to watch the video and I challenge any Afrikaner not to get a lump in the throat when watching it. You can Youtube it here. The video is distributed in mpeg format on the CD as well.

    Bravo Bok van Blerk!!

    Hanlie Retief from Rapport (not usually a newspaper I read) wrote this insightful article about Bok and De La Rey.

    Vir die wat meer oor De La Rey self wil weet gaan loer gerus na die Koos De La Rey wiki.

    Update: A friend sent me this article by Koos Kombuis about Bok van Blerk. It is certainly worth a read.

    Further Update: Die NY Times, een van die mees gerespekteerde koerante ter wêreld, het gister (27 Februarie 2007) ‘n voorbladartikel oor Bok en De La Rey gehad.

  • Adorable Elke

    Elke has grown considerably, both mentally & physically, in the last 2/3 weeks.

    She allready has the strength (but not the balance) to stand for up to 5 minutes. She can also focus on something for much longer periods than before. And her hand-eye coordination improves daily. She loves plants (specifically brightly coloured flowers) and going on walks. And her latest – and very cute – trick is to talk to herself. Sometimes she shrieks (of joy?) and other times she just gurgles.

    It is a joy to watch her grow into something intelligent. Almost everyday I am surprised at what she has learned.

    It sounds like I’m doting. Uuuugh!

  • The LOUDEST thunder I’ve ever heard

    After midnight on Saturday I awoke to the loudest thunder clap I have ever heard. I honestly don’t get scared by natural events, but my breath was literally taken away by this strike. I thought it must have struck one of the trees in the property – it sounded so close, but the next day we heard people from area also commenting on the thunder.

    Thunder is sonic shock waves caused by the rapid heating and expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. The bolt changes the air into plasma and it instantly explodes, causing the sound known as a thunder clap.

    To read more check out the Wikipedia on Thunder.

  • Beeldskone Boesmansriviermond

    Op dae soos vandag besef ek dat ons terugkeer na Suid-Afrika ‘n briljante besluit was. Dit is rêrig ‘n skouspelagtig aand. Dit is warm; daar is nie ‘n briesie in die lug nie en die rivier se water is soos ‘n dam.

    Dit was net so lekker op Boesmans se ou strand gewees – al die vakansiegangers wat nog oor is het almal af rivier toe gekom want dit was net eenvoudig onweerstaanbaar.

    So ‘n ondervinding is prysloos en tog verniet. Snaaks nê?

    Ek voel net jammer vir die vakansiegangers wat besluit het om vroedr huistoe te gaan oor die wind. Dit was erg hierdie jaar, maar in die Oos-Kaap moet jy maar geduldig wees met die wind.

    Vir Boesmansriviermond fotos en ander goed gaan kyk na die Boesmansriviermond webtuiste.

  • South Africa contributes to Rugby at a fundamental level

    Stellenbosch students in association with the IRB are looking at changing rugby to be more of a spectacle. Read more here.

    I suspect this is to help Rugby Union in the constant battle for TV ratings.

    I’m all for it.

  • Red Apple progress update

    Well its that time. Tomorrow is when we officially open. I’m a little nervous, but we had a trial run on Friday and things went really well.

    I still have lots to do though, so I best crack on!

  • Height from father; weight from mother

    Researchers from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital have established that taller dads make longer babies and that the mother’s weight has a major effect on the birth weight of the baby.

    Read more about How short fathers affect babies.

  • Afrikaans op SA TV

    Tans is daar ongelukkig meer sleg as goeie Afrikaanse programme op Suid-Afrikaanse TV.

    Die SABC se Afrikaanse dekking sou snaaks gewees het as dit nie so ernstig was nie. Hulle verkrag eenvoudig ons taal. Kim Cloete kan NIE Afrikaans praat nie en tog gee sy verslag op omtrent elke 2de item op die Afrikaanse nuus. Dit is eerlikwaar ‘n aanval op Afrikaners se konstitusionele regte. Die enigste Afrikaanse SABC program wat my aandag nog kan hou is 50/50.

    MNet (deur Kyknet) probeer darem, maar daar is hopeloos te veel gemors. Die sepies is natuurlik die heel ergste. Villa Rosa, Begeertes, Binnelanders en (die mees patetiese van almal) Plek van die Vleisvreters wys net weereens hoe sleg sepies en toneelspel kan raak.

    Nog ‘n swak advertensie vir vermaaklikheid is die vreeslike vervelige Saterdagnag waar in drie tewe die hele aand lank “bitch” oor hoekom Pretoria beter of slegter as Johannesburg is. Gaap!

    Gelukkig is daar hoop. Uitstekende programme soos Groen met die uitmuntende Dave Pepler, Roer, Kwela, Tuin, Laat Wiel en Wat’s die Storie wys die pad aan.

    Soos George Bush en die Amerikaners is ons self die skuldiges. Afrikaners moet stem met hul voete en net nie die gemors kyk nie. MAAR dit is makliker gesê as gedaan!!

    Update (5 Julie 2007): Nee wat daar is nie eintlik enige hoop nie; net meer twak. Oor die Kole, Glitterati en Hester en Ester Bester (behalwe vir die sexy Marisa Bosman) is almal shows wat erg treurig is. Rian met Rian is nie sleg nie.

  • Bulls EARN respect. Not even my words!

    The article below was posted by an independant journalist although I have it on good authority that he is actually a WP supporter.

    But I agree with him. Looking at the facts how could you not.

    Read JJ Harmse’s take on the Bulls.

  • Humans to "split in two"; very interesting

    Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics has some astonishing thoughts regarding the future, that is the evolutionary future, of mankind.

    Nobody can say for certain that he is right or wrong, but I must say that I can definitely see reason behind his thinking. From an evolutionary point of view things can change very randomly, but if our self created environments stay as they are now I can easily see his predictions coming true. Some of what he is saying is already happening. Race being ‘ironed out’ for instance.

    If I had to give my two cents, I think there is one reason why his prediction might not come true. I don’t think man will carry on as we are. I believe the human population is out-of-control and inevitably we are going to start wiping each other out. Be that through more (but truly global) wars, global famine or disease I couldn’t say.

    Read more about Oliver Curry’s thoughts.