I've decided to create posts for contemporary writing which I encounter which seems to me to be an example of particularly good writing, for whatever reason. It is, of course, entirely subjective (me being the only judge of the writing's worth) and half-random in that if it doesn't cross my path, it won't get mentioned.

There is no prize, no glory, and no-one will add to their CV the fact that they got a mention here, but I do this simply in the hope that where I have taken pleasure from something, someone else might too. Most of the writing featured in posts like these will probably be South African, as I mostly encounter South African writing. Criteria are (1) that I find it good and (2) that the writer still be alive. There will be no particular frequency to these either: when I encounter something I consider worthy, I'll post it.

Today's accolade goes to Jarred Cinman, a software director, for his blog posting Burining Paper on the recurrent and severe power outages which South Africa is experiencing at the moment.

Here is a sample:

"Gas-powered turbines — Eskom in fact already has two of these, which it runs at peak times. Why not run them all day? Because it’s expensive. Do we care? No. Eskom pays the government fat dividends at the moment and its executives big bonuses for making profits. Stop making profits, you bunch of near-sighted, pock-marked, incompetent, bat-eared fools. Make a loss and do your jobs."

I love a well-phrased rant!