My knowledge of African history is far from complete, but I have a pet theory that there’s a correlation between the degree of trauma experienced by the populace during their liberation struggle, and the quality of their later governance. I’m not sure that a detailed study would bear me out, but it sure does apply in…

Along with “What do you think of western civilization?” “I think it would be a very good idea”

Edit: I think the statement threatening a coup against any non-liberation-war political entity came from the head of the military, not Mnangagwa. Still they are usually, and currently, politically aligned.

The chapter about Botswana isn’t so bad.

Have you spoken to any Zimbabweans about this? Every Zimbabwean I have communicated with since this started (none of them white, by the way) is elated.

Though all of Zimbabwe is united in its desire for Mugabe’s departure, there is less unanimity about the way forward. It is most accurate, I think, to see this as a realignment of power within Zanu PF toward the remaining liberation war vets and away from Grace Mugabe.

Plus, the absence of an engine block certainly would help with crumple zone design.

If we could get the twingo-based forfour, I would swoon.

Sure, but no more diesel (sad trombone).

Sweet. Now if you could just get them to install a real clutch.

Rule number one of pipelines: Pipelines always leak.

I used to fly Spirit to Port au Prince, Haiti a couple of times a year, during the immediate post-earthquake period. Haiti’s infrastructure was in better shape than Spirit’s. (This is hyperbole, but my dog spirit is a mess.)

Completely off topic, but by the vertical door handles that looks like a canadian market diesel Smart (or else an import from Europe from before they were officially sold the U.S.) How on earth did it end up in Denver?

There seems to be something about the process of involvement in a liberation struggle that brutalizes leaders. A necessary skill for coming out ahead is the ability to coerce cooperation from an ambivalent populace, and also the ability to consolidate power by whatever means.

Few people appreciate that the ‘77 and on B bodies were a MASSIVE improvement in driving dynamics over their predecessors. You want comedy? Autocross one of these:

The lucky ones, anyway.

I starred you, assuming you meant in the presidential primary.

I don’t disagree. But I was talking about crosswalks, the North American equivalent of Zebra crossings.

On the plus side, women live longer than men...

In my original post, I specified a crosswalk without a walk/don’t walk light. This is in itself traffic control device, specifically one that means “pedestrians have the right of way here”.