What distinguishes humankind from most other animals is the fact that he/she has a prehensile thumb; that is, he/she can grasp things with it or do something with it. That and only that – and the odd knobkerrie, some AK47s, an atom bomb or two - has been what has rapidly promoted humankind from cave man to modern man.

Since the inexorable rise of cellular phones from brick to slick, this prehensility has become somewhat reprehensive, however. Today one sees more and more children basically standing next to one another like robots and text-messaging one another.

While there is much apprehensibility for the children being able to fully grasp and understand the latest in telephonic technology – most of the time better and quicker than schoolwork - one does become apprehensive of the implications this may have on the social development of the children and, perhaps, on the continued existence of the human race.

Maybe even the much maligned Mxit is but another manifestation of the same phenomenon. One sits with one’s mobile and TYPES conversations with someone elsewhere in the coverage area. That is it! For most of the time no face to face confrontation and this, therefore, avoids another other type of confrontation as well. I suppose it IS easier to type in capitals rather than actually physically shout at each other.

Now the keypad has become mightier than the pen or the sword.

Taking into account that in the UK alone some 52 BILLION text messages will be sent during the current year, one wonders what has happened to the art of conversation – the verbal kind, the one with the mouth, and not the digital kind, the one with the thumb.

And they said I was the one born all thumbs. A fat lot of good it did me in my youth.

OK, so the UK has many more people than we have in Southern Africa – probably SA, plus the whole of SADC will equal the UK’s population – but the principle remains the same. Second by second and minute by minute being clicked away. Time that could have been spent doing something more more productive – like washing the dishes, doing homework or learning for an exam.

One can literally see the kid (and others!!) thumbing away the cents and Rands and Dollars and Pulas …. and then they still say talk is cheap.

Well, at least there is some peace and quiet. No noise ... just the clicking of the thumb on the keys.

Makes one suspicious, though: When the kids are quiet, they are up to no good!

Population Estimates
UK population grows to 60.6 million





OK, so the UK has many more people than we have in Southern Africa – probably SA, plus the whole of SADC will equal the UK’s population – but the principle remains the same. Second by second and minute by minute being clicked away. Time that could have been spent doing something more more productive – like washing the dishes, doing homework or learning for an exam.

One can literally see the kid (and others!!) thumbing away the cents and Rands and Dollars and Pulas …. and then they still say talk is cheap.Stop this crappy talk


In mid-2006 the resident population of the UK was 60,587,000, of which 50,763,000 lived in England. The average age was 39.0 years, an increase on 1971 when it was 34.1 years. In mid-2006 approximately one in five people in the UK were aged under 16 and one in six people were aged 65 or over.

The UK has a growing population. It grew by 349,000 people in the year to mid-2006 (0.6 per cent). The UK population has increased by 8 per cent since 1971, from 55,928,000. Growth has been faster in more recent years. Between mid-1991 and mid-2006 the population grew by an average annual rate of 0.4 per cent and the average growth per year since mid-2001 has been 0.5 per cent.



The UK has an ageing population. This is the result of declines in the mortality rate and in past fertility rates. This has led to a declining proportion of the population aged under 16 and an increasing proportion aged 65 and over.

In every year since 1901, with the exception of 1976, there have been more births than deaths in the UK and the population has grown due to natural change. Until the mid-1990s, this natural increase was the main driver of population growth. Since the late 1990s there has still been natural increase, but net international migration into the UK from abroad has been an increasingly important factor in population change. In the year to mid-2006 natural change was an important driver of change accounting for 45 per cent of total change.



≤

"In every year since 1901, with the exception of 1976, there have been more births than deaths in the UK and the population has grown due to natural change."

Accounts for you, too, I suppose

Hi Pietro,

Thanks for saying - I think - what I wanted to say. I just did not want to be rude, but Ar. seems to be missing the ball and the court by miles.

In most cases I must admit, ... I keep missing the point. Why? aybe I focus to much on business resilience or reduce risk or the overview for business continuity services.

Please forgive me, gents, in plat afrikaans, vergeewe tog toe die kleurling klong, met sy hout kop

This access to emerging technologies and resources get me carried away, really, I mean it.

This information on current developments which also comes with solutions and approaches, make live so much easier. It breaks also many barriers and put us on equal grounds, many a times. It gorgeous don't you think m8.

The waves is for every mode different - λб=с or else?

Important GNU - Tools m8 for partitioning Macs with x86 Processors, na?

This chances comes once a life time, there for we should use it absolutely with the aim at success and prosperity.

The show must go on.

If I made so many mistakes in what is supposed to be my mother tongue, I would also be ashamed .....

afrikaans = Afrikaans
kleurling klong - Kleurlingklong
hout kop = houtkop
vergeewe = vergewe


AND THAT IN ONE SENTENCE! ASK FOR YOUR SCHOOL MONEY BACK, PLEASE!