I started taking my blog serious earlier this year and it grew rapidly. I never really received the support from the blogosphere that I deserved, except from a handful of fellow bloggers (and my most loyal reader, Island-Chic!), and many times I have considered quiting.

But I kept at it and months later, my blog has overgrown the functionality offered by the Blogger platform and it has become necessary to move it to a platform that can support a custom domain, highly customizable templates and ironically, better SEO support.

With this in mind, I have launched my blog on www.DChetty.co.za and will discontinue posting on this domain. I will leave this blog up for a few weeks, until all my faithful readers have been redirected to my new domain. I will then delete this blog entirely!

Thank you for your support on this domain and I truly look forward to having you on my new domain. If you have backlinked to me on any of your posts, Blog Rolls, Link Lists, etc, please consider changing this link to land on DChetty instead.

Sphere: Related Content

A few months ago, the CEO of MWEB, Rudi Jansen announced that a strategic decision has been made by Nasper's to "auction off MWEB" to a company that can provide MWEB with access to a network.

After months of rumours and speculation, it was announced today in a letter to the staff by Rudi Jansen announced that the sale process has been called off.

"Following months of work and endless late nights working on the sale of MWEB, I am now able to give you a final update on the process. Naspers has decided to end the formal auction process for the sale of MWEB South Africa due to current market conditions. MWEB South Africa will therefore remain within the Naspers group.

An agreement has also been concluded whereby Telkom will purchase the MWEB Africa business. This transaction will take some time to close, mainly due to regulatory approvals that are required. We expect the date of closing to be some time in quarter 1 2009."

Sphere: Related Content

This is flipping HILARIOUS!

Sphere: Related Content

Sprint and Clearwire have FINALLY cleared their differences today and the FCC has given the nod of approval for the companies to hit the road running with WiMax! The partnership is set to bring broadband wireless internet to 140million users in 2 and a half years, using WiMax technologies.This is BIG news for WiMax globally! I've been part of a few fairly heated arguments about the future of WiMax and the financial viability of rolling out a WiMax network now, when we have technologies like LTE already emerging in the horizon with a grin on it's face!

To clear that up, LTE and other new technologies will always be athreat to the success of WiMax. Like all great technologies, the glory only lasts as long as the press release of the next technology is still in the mail. But the financial viability is driven by the cost of establishing the network and the cost of consumer products that use the network!

Its that simple! South Africa, you better watch this space for exciting WiMax news ;)

Sphere: Related Content

Just as I finished my last Nokia article, I stumbled across another hot topic. That is the low end market. We have seen the product range go through a major storm of late with the iPhone, the Nokia E71, the HTC Touch HD, etc etc, but we really haven't seen much movement in the lower price bracket!
And this is the cue for Nokia's latest army of budget handsets. Designed specifically to target emerging markets, these handsets range in price from as little as $25 to $90! Most of them come packed with the standard features of late, MP3 playback, cameras of at least 1 Megapixel (but going up to 3Megapixels on the higher end phone), GPRS and browser functionality.

At $25, this is set to be Nokia's cheapest handset ever and it sports a monochrome screen and basic features that we have last seen on the Nokia 3300 :)

Sphere: Related Content

At midnight tonight, the petrol price in South Africa will be dropping for the 4th consecutive month now!

Dropping by a huge 45cents, this is a welcomed relief for the economy and highlights the strength of our economy and the ability for our markets to fight off further inflation!

Sphere: Related Content

Click on the image to few an enlargened version!

Sphere: Related Content

Click on the image to enlargen it!

Sphere: Related Content

If you can't read the text, please click on the image to enlarge it!

Sphere: Related Content

Windows only: Chart Advisor, a free plug-in for Excel 2007, takes the guess-and-hope element out of making your spreadsheet data presentable. The plug-in adds a single button to Excel's "Insert" toolbar, and clicking it brings up a window with the Advisor's recommended layouts, ranked in order of relevance. Mouse over the chart layouts to see a preview, then click on "Modify Chart" to filter and change the data being used.

It's definitely more helpful than Excel's default chart and graph chooser, and helps graphing newbies figure out how to tweak their displays. Chart Advisor is a free plug-in, requires 32-bit Windows XP or Vista and Excel 2007. See below for a video demonstration of Chart Advisor's features.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&amp;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:3092cdf1-75ff-409e-9bdb-b4a818b39952&amp;showPlaylist=true&amp;from=shared" target="_new" title="Chart Advisor Overview">Video: Chart Advisor Overview</a>

Sphere: Related Content

By now, I am sure that you have heard about the matric results of Julias Maleme, the guy driving the ANC Youth League. What I could never figure out though, is why call it a youth league and the guy in charge is 27 years old,

Anyway, you can always count on the guys at Madame & Eve to make you smile!

Click on the image to view a larger version of the image!

Ok bright spark Julias... How do you plan to set an example for the youth of our nation with grades like that? All those who voted Julias into the driver seat... how could you POSSIBLY not ask beforehand?

Sphere: Related Content

The last month has seen the South African Rand get kicked to hell and gone by a fearful market. Global recession has been the new hype on the block of late, before that it was iPhone and before that it was Facebook.

But even though the price of the dollar is still pretty much the price of a dozen syruped koeksusters, (since the price of sugar is skyhigh...trust me boet...its not cheap!), the international oil price is at a low unmatched in about 18 months. Reported to have traded at around $59 to a barrel recently, which puts it at lows that were last matched in Feb 2007 if I'm not mistaken.

35 cents off the petrol price and about 20 cents off diesel is expected to be announced this friday, which also marks the last day of October. Now, the pattern has been that price changes happen at 12:01 on the Wednesday after the announcement... so if you can hold off filling your tank for about a week, you could end up saving about R22 off your next tank of fuel... thats a box of smarties, a coke and a packet of crisps bru!

Sphere: Related Content

Sphere: Related Content

ChrisM from iMod has started a small campaign on Muti to raise funds for the Blogger Bake Off, which aims to raise $1million towards food for the Africa's hungry communities!

I think that it is a brilliant cause and ChrisM's plan is to donate R200 for 100 votes on Muti. He was quickly joined by Thakadu , Sue, Charl and Wogan who have each matched his pledge. Follow them on Twitter at @christopherm, @muti, @cow_grrrl, @zoopedup and @woganmay respectively!

I pledge R200 for every 100 votes received on Muti!

Please head over and vote asap as the campaign ends on Monday at 13h00 SA time!

Sphere: Related Content

Afrigator has been doing some amazing work and have really done well. They are social media aggregators for African publishers!

I was very honored today when I was informed by Afrigator that they rate me as one of Africa's top bloggers! They have compiled a list of 45 blogs that they feel worthy of representing Africa's best. I am ranked number 24 on the list!

It's REALLY funny to me though... you see, the list is called

Top 45 Female African Bloggers!

Thanks ChrisM for bringing it to their attention!

I have never felt it necessary to clarify my gender, though I have referenced my girlfriend and I would have thought that my obsession with tech stuff and cars would have given it away, but I guess that we live in a time when these things are tough to tell... so here goes...

HoTsTePPa is male!!!

The list is pretty amazing and I highly suggest that given the time, you read some of the blogs listed! Nice Work Afrigator!

1.	So Close	South Africa Rank: 9	Overall Rank: 10	Blog
2.	Urban Sprout	South Africa Rank: 10	Overall Rank: 11	Blog
3.	Black Looks	Nigeria Rank: 1	Overall Rank: 14	Blog
4.	Kenyan Pundit	Kenya Rank: 2	Overall Rank: 17	Blog
5.	Cape Town Daily Photo	South Africa Rank: 19	Overall Rank: 23	Blog
6.	Angel’s mind	South Africa Rank: 27	Overall Rank: 34	Blog
7.	Ladybrille	South Africa Rank: 30	Overall Rank: 38	Blog
8.	Cooksister	South Africa Rank: 31	Overall Rank: 40	Blog
9.	Bosom Buddies	South Africa Rank: 39	Overall Rank: 48	Blog
10.	Scarlett Lion	Uganda Rank: 1	Overall Rank: 57	Blog
11.	Hottest Gossip	South Africa Rank: 48	Overall Rank: 60	Blog
12.	Mother City Living	South Africa Rank: 51	Overall Rank: 65	Blog
13.	JustB[Coz]	South Africa Rank: 54	Overall Rank: 71	Blog
14.	Melissa Attree	South Africa Rank: 60	Overall Rank: 78	Blog
15.	Entertainment Blog	South Africa Rank: 63	Overall Rank: 85	Blog
16.	Sugar. Spice. And all things nice!	General Rank: 3	Overall Rank: 96	Blog
17.	Jackfruity	Uganda Rank: 3	Overall Rank: 98	Blog
18.	Africa Expat Wives Club	Kenya Rank: 8	Overall Rank: 108	Blog
19.	Anja Merret	South Africa Rank: 74	Overall Rank: 109	Blog
20.	Glad to be a Girl	South Africa Rank: 78	Overall Rank: 114	Blog
21.	Insight	South Africa Rank: 81	Overall Rank: 117	Blog
22.	Inside Candy	South Africa Rank: 82	Overall Rank: 118	Blog
23.	FeistyFemale	South Africa Rank: 87	Overall Rank: 124	Blog
24.	Through My Own Eyes	South Africa Rank: 88	Overall Rank: 125	Blog
25.	Szavanna_blog	South Africa Rank: 94	Overall Rank: 132	Blog
26.	Ore’s Notes	Nigeria Rank: 7	Overall Rank: 153	Blog
27.	Tania	South Africa Rank: 106	Overall Rank: 155	Blog
28.	Onder die maan en sterre	South Africa Rank: 115	Overall Rank: 165	Blog
29.	The Vegan Diet	South Africa Rank: 120	Overall Rank: 174	Blog
30.	What An African Woman Thinks	General Rank: 7	Overall Rank: 181	Blog
31.	The Adventures of Miss M	South Africa Rank: 153	Overall Rank: 223	Blog
32.	Photography by Jeanette	South Africa Rank: 154	Overall Rank: 224	Blog
33.	Libby	South Africa Rank: 160	Overall Rank: 234	Blog
34.	Vampira’s Life	South Africa Rank: 163	Overall Rank: 239	Blog
35.	Michelle Clarke	South Africa Rank: 183	Overall Rank: 269	Blog
36.	An Ordinary Life	South Africa Rank: 189	Overall Rank: 278	Blog
37.	Hunter of Genius	South Africa Rank: 191	Overall Rank: 281	Blog
38.	Deshanta’s World	South Africa Rank: 200	Overall Rank: 292	Blog
39.	Helen Zille	South Africa Rank: 202	Overall Rank: 294	Blog
40.	Afromusing	Kenya Rank: 21	Overall Rank: 307	Blog
41.	Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves	Kenya Rank: 22	Overall Rank: 314	Blog
42.	Wandering the World	Eqypt Rank: 15	Overall Rank: 323	Blog
43.	Mama Etiopia	Ethiopia Rank: 2	Overall Rank: 338	Blog
44.	Victoire	South Africa Rank: 238	Overall Rank: 355	Blog
45.	My Whorl	South Africa Rank: 239	Overall Rank: 357	Blog

Sphere: Related Content

I’m on my way to Beijing, China, to spend some time with my babes! I’ve been meaning to go for a long time, but circumstances and Murphy made sure that I haven’t made it as yet!

So early evening yesterday, 30 September, I was dropped off at Cape Town International Airport and a few hours later I’m boarding a flight to Doha. It was a pleasant flight, bar the stale toasted roll that I was served as a snack. Chicken, cheese and peppers…yum! The other meals were really good!

After a pretty long flight and me doing a small acrobatic stunt to fit my +PLUS sized ass across 3 seats dodging armrests and managing to stay strapped in with my seatbelt (This feat would make McGyver jealous!), I arrived in Doha about 2 hours ago, just before 7am local time.

Doha International is a kinda funny to pin down in words. It’s a mix between the glam life of Dubai but on a very rundown, unmaintained level. The floors are dirty, the bathrooms are horrible and the airport food court reminds me of a dodgy Gatsby take-away in Cape Town called Golden Dish, but the lights are bright and they have a Range Rover parked in the Duty Free area!

On arrival, I’m told that my visa wasn’t arranged by my travel agent, so I’m stuck here for 18 hours. Great!

The guys at Flight Centre better pull through for me, cos I’m borderline pissed now!

Sphere: Related Content

Tonight, at 7:30pm, during a national address the South African President, Thabo Mbeki has resigned.

This comes on the back of the ANC MEC's request for him to step down as leader of the nation.

Admittedly, he was not a very responsive leader and he did fail to make critical decisions in time, however, we as a nation should not forget the good that he has brought to our nation.

South Africa has come a very long way from our Apartheid era. We are not the most perfect nation and we are not the safest country to live in. But comparatively, our nation has made significant progress under the leadership of Thabo Mbeki.

I have a lot of respect for him for the good that he has brought us, though, hypocritically, I too have been eager to criticize him in his moments of weakness.

I really hope that we remember him for the good that he has brought us! Thank you Thabs, what you just did, must have been REALLY hard for you!

It is with great regret (to me) that the formality of handing over our nation to Jacob Zuma, has started!

Sphere: Related Content

Jacob Zuma's fraud and corruption case has been ruled as invalid by the PMB High Court!

Oh great!

Jacob Zuma has completely stuffed up the credibility of the "INDEPENDENT" Judicial system of South Africa. A system that is supposed to be above all entities and treat every South African with the same judgemental waryness, has successfully proved that Jacob Zuma is above the law!

My question now to South Africa is, why would we want someone who has been suspected of criminal activities (rape, fraud, corruption) to lead us? Why is he even being considered by the public? Is this the kind of leadership that we want?

With a discredited justice system, this nation is doomed!

And why are people still on Zapiro's case?

Sphere: Related Content

I really enjoy a good cup of coffee. I'm also naturally fullashit to the point that I rarely trust a cup of coffee to be good when I buy it, so I tend to prefer making my own. There are some really great coffee joints in Cape Town where you can buy a decent cup of coffee, but sadly, they are far and few between.

This evening, I tried the new Vida e Caffe at Century City. I grabbed an Americano on the run. I love Vida e for the concept, for being the only "on the run" coffee franchise in SA and for the excellent branding. But oh dear is their coffee CRAP!

But I know this! I've known it for a while. Infact, most would agree, the coffee at Vida really doesn't deserve to be called coffee, but more akin to dirty water with a bitter taste and a dash of milk!

I go back to their stores with this deep down hope that perhaps the refugee behind the counter with the cool personality and funky accent will by some great act of the heavens, pull off a great cup of coffee.

Sadly, it hasn't happened!

Kudos to the company for putting together an excellent brand identity and for a very slick experience everytime, but c'mon people...

How hard is it for a coffee shop to sell a good cup of coffee?

Sphere: Related Content

Zapiro, like David Bullard, is a journalist with kahunas. Boldly stimulating controversy, Zapiro finds himself in trouble again as the ANC and Jakob Zuma (JayZ) gear up for an all out onslaught because of his latest cartoon.
I say well done Zapiro! It's about time someone puts the situation into its brutal perspective.

Sphere: Related Content