General Writing – Page 2 – Patrick Kayongo

I Review: David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

Three years ago, a friend of mine and her dad bought me Outliers as a gift. Before this, I hadn’t really heard of Malcolm Gladwell except a few references to his book Tipping Point by people I considered somewhat intellectual. I gave the book a read, and it absolutely blew my mind! So when his new book, David and Goliath came out, I was reading pre-release statements, watching videos, and waiting in heavy anticipation for the book.

Catechisms for a Secular World

Aren’t we happy we’ve moved away from the days when religion ruled the world. Thank heavens the universe we are no longer subject to rules and regulations created by archaic institutions subjecting everyone to oppression. But, in order to survive in this world without the bondage of organized religion, we need to create some laws common understandings so that everyone can just get along.

Social Business

In Summary: All business is social business.

Over the past few years, I’ve had conversations with people, asking them what they are doing with their lives, and there are various brag-worthy claims such as “I graduated cum-laude”, or “I ran the two oceans full marathon this year, twice”, or “I released red balloons into the air because all the blacks want to kill me”. But one of the most common brag-worthy traits of individuals is “I started an NGO”. The new ISO approved sign to show that you are a success in life is no longer a Bentley, or a house in Camps Bay, but an NGO.

1 – and – 2 – and – 3 – and – 4 – and –

It’s a Tuesday evening, and I’ve spent most of it sitting at my keyboard practicing for my piano lesson tomorrow. I’m a semi-beginner, so at the moment, I don’t really hear the music, but hear myself counting 1 – and – 2 – and 3 – and 4 for every bar. This doesn’t sound good. When I listen Jamie Cullum play, I don’t think he is hearing 1 – and – 2 – and 3 – and 4 – and – for every bar he plays. But at some point in his life, I’m sure he did. And to be good, I first have to be not so good. So here’s to a few more hours of 1 – and – 2 – and – 3 – and – 4 – and –

*Life lesson: Brilliance takes hard work. Nobody started perfect at anything. If you don’t start off by making mistakes, you’ll never be brilliant. Ceylon tea goes well with blog writing.

I Need A Doctor

Generally, I don’t get sick. Last weekend, I got sick. Runny tummy, weak, slept the whole day, bored.

While one is sick, they tend to get deep. There is nothing better to do than to think. And stare at the ceiling. And continue with that same lame boring dream you had before that, and then think some more. In addition to this, I went and read someone’s speech at Smuts Hall, UCT my former residence for the Alumni dinner. I thought I was going to collapse on stage. I didn’t. I like writing in short sentences. I’m being melodramatic. I need a doctor. Like Eminem.

Top 5 Songs of 2010

So 2010 is over, and with every year, there are new songs, new artists, new genres in music, and new everything. So below, you’ll find my top 6 songs of 2010. Also, let me know of your top [insert arbitrary number here] songs of 2010.

The Hero Saving The World

Something I mentioned in one of my previous posts were my career aspirations as a kid. I obviously went through the obvious boy fantasies of being a policeman, a fireman, a warrior, and all of that, but from the time I was about 9, I wanted to be Bill Gates. Bill Gates was my hero, this man who came and completely revolutionised the world, and the world knows him as absolutely brilliant.

2010 Thank You Note

So 2010 has been a long difficult awesome amazing wonderful challenging boring exciting year, and there are so many people who have contributed to this in my life. There are so many people to mention, and I didn’t want to miss out on anybody, so I thought I’ll just mention them by twitter username, and you can follow them and be play play friends with them. If you’re not on Twitter, unfortunately I would love to mention you, but the filter cut you out 😦

Aluta Continua

From Nursery School to Sub A (or Grade 1 as it’s known now), I went to school in a small private school in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. While each of us played on the playgrounds, the boys always used to compete about something. Whatever it was, the boys were trying to show off why they were better than the other kids in the playground.

I Heart

In my opinion, there are 4 levels of friendships: intimate friends, friends, acquaintances and randoms. It’s OK if each party knows where the other party stands, but it gets a bit complicated when you’re both on an acquaintance level, but both of you think that the other person thinks that you’re intimate friends. There’s that awkwardness of wondering whether you should talk to a person, wondering how much you should share, wondering if you should pretend you need something in the Outdoor Goods aisle in the supermarket even though you live in a flat facing a brick wall on the 30th floor in the middle of Joburg CBD.