Afrodigiac

When one observes magic, let it be clear that the magician is a skilful human, an artist, and not a born wizard. His acts are crafty examples of sleight-of-hand, and no supernatural forces are involved.  

Beyond the wonderfully positive effects of the Harry Potter series (for example, the reported growth in the number of book readers, notably – of children, worldwide), an auspicious downside may be the diminishing in importance of “fake” muggle magic, as opposed to “true” wizard magic. (more…)

In November 2007, I moved this blog from a test location to its curent place online – live and open for visits. In the 12 months that followed, ToingToing! received a solid stream of unique visits – 59604 for the year, or an average of 4967 visits per month. I am deeply grateful to Big Friendly for technically birthing my blog and for nourishing it so beautifully ever since.

This celebratory piece is dedicated to three people who exemplify ToingToing’ing in action: learning creatively though personal expression.

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Professor Christo Doherty, Head of Digital Arts at the Wits University School of Arts (WSOA), had this to add to my piece on black swans:  “Black Swan was also the title of a novel (sadly now out of print,)  by the South African writer, Christopher Hope. The Black Swan was a township kid who develops the improbable ambition during the 1980s of becoming a ballet dancer. He is condemned from all sides: from the white establishment as a black kid who doesn’t know his place; from township activists who scorn ballet as an elitist and politically irrelevant activity; and from black cultural nationalists who condemn anything that isn’t authentic African culture.”  Thanks for this, Christo!

If one believes in the story about Tutankhamun’s Curse,  then it is only a matter of time before Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s head of antiquities, finds out if the enormous love and care with which he orchestrated the preservation work around Egypt’s legendary ruler were accepted by The Golden Boy. I have a strong feeling that King Tut will be pleased.  There is a much less savoury aspect to the story, an aspect that might indeed raise Tutankhamun’s ire. It has to do with the fascination with which the world stood to watch the face of the 3000 years old Egyptian monarch on TV.

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Arthur Goldstuck has been collecting urban legends and publishing books about them for years. Now, for the first time, we have a local website that (mostly) catalogues various local legends, hoaxes and fantasies.

ToingToing!Â
http://thoselegends.blogspot.com/