Character Archives | Jedidiah

Replaceable parts and people

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:50:56 +0000

Between 1908 and 1927 Henry Ford’s motor company produced 15 million Model T Fords. He was the first automobile manufacturer that produced replaceable parts for motor vehicles. Before that, parts were either repaired or manufactured. To be able to walk into a shop to buy replacement parts for your vehicle was a revolutionary newbie. That was one of the major developments of the Industrial Era. Nowadays it is commonplace and businesses that specialise in selling automotive parts can be found in almost every city and town.

Replaceable people

On the ... continue reading

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Olympics 2021 – A reflection

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 20:21:00 +0000

In the aftermath of the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, the SA team’s achievements made me think of a scripture in Hag 2:16 that says “When anyone came to a pile of grain to get 20 measures, there would be only 10. And when anyone came to a wine vat to draw out 50 measures, there would be only 20 in it.”

Disappointment

The South African Olympic Committee expected that the South African team would bring home at least 13 medals, but only 3 medals found their way to ... continue reading

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Choice is yours

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 20:07:59 +0000

Right to vote

The other day I read something in the line of “At what point will having something to eat become more important than the right to vote?” Please don’t think that I regard the right to vote as not important. One of the greatest freedoms and privileges offered in a democracy is to have a choice in whom you want to govern your country.

Yet, if I look at the present situation where people are looting and destroying businesses and vehicles transporting goods necessary for our livelihood, I ... continue reading

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Born with a silver spoon

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 19:35:17 +0000

I recently received a WhatsApp message containing a video of an elderly man making a short speech after receiving his Doctorate degree (I suppose in Theology). Unfortunately, I do not know who the speaker is, neither the university, but I’ve decided to share his wit and good advice with you.

The speech

I am indeed humbled and honoured to be awarded a doctor’s degree from such an outstanding university.

I have a strong faith in God and I don’t know how people live without it.

Born with a silver spoon... continue reading

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Lockdown – From port to starboard

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:56:58 +0000

In one of his classic quotes Forrest Gump said, “Mama always said ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.’”

To my mind this is what we experience at present.

You never know what to expect when it is announced that the President will speak tonight.

Someone said it almost feels like when your mother used to say “Just wait till dad gets home tonight.”

Eenie meenie miney mo

The past year was like “eenie meenie miney mo,” you may not buy liquor, now ... continue reading

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The man who had everything

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:52:50 +0000

The Man Who Had Everything was one of the hit movies during 1920, a hundred years ago. The title of the movie grabbed my attention, because I never met or heard of anybody who said they have everything they wanted.
In those early years movies were black and white and silent with subheadings to show the dialogue. The plot is something I don’t think modern day scriptwriters would have imagined for their next movie.

The plot

Mark Bullway is a very wealthy business owner whose son Harry is a careless ... continue reading

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Do not add insult to injury

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:48:50 +0000

It is nice that we have entered level 1 of lockdown, but six months of low key business activity will definitely have a huge impact on our economy. Perhaps healthcare workers experience slightly less pressure than in earlier stages of the pandemic, but

for others, the longer their businesses remain closed, the bigger the pressure.

Tourism industry

This week I spoke to people working in the tourism industry involved with international travel, and for them there is no going back to work yet, neither did they receive any remuneration during ... continue reading

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Issues, causes and productive work

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:10:55 +0000

It seems like nowadays many people’s goal in life is to have some or other issue they can blow up to something big and then garner as much support as possible for it. Then they promote it as an important cause and somehow even find people who are willing to sponsor them.

Too many issues

Personally I believe that as a society we are busy losing our marbles with just way too many issues continually springing up. Then somebody must be found guilty and somebody must take the blame because ... continue reading

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The first day of the rest of your life

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 20:15:14 +0000

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. So what are you going to do with the rest of your life? Perhaps you are still young or perhaps you are retired already. Doesn’t matter, the question remains the same for each one of us.

If you are in your thirties, you may have many options of things you would still like to accomplish in your lifetime. But for people in their sixties or even seventies, there may be fewer options available.

Yet to keep on living a ... continue reading

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Economic reality and a new normal

David Malherbe (@DGMalherbe) — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:32:30 +0000

According to Mike Schüssler of economists.co.za the economic figures for the month of June gives a much more realistic picture of the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc in the South African economy.

According to Schüssler it is much worse than anticipated.

Fewer salaries

He says according to the figures released by BankServAfrica, 20,7% fewer salaries were paid out in June 2020 in the formal sector of the economy compared to the year before. This means that one fifth of workers in large and medium sized organisations ... continue reading

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