The Somebody, Nobody, Anybody & Everybody Blog!

As the curtain descends on 2023, it reveals a stage set not for celebration, but for introspection. The year marched in with the promise of new beginnings, but swiftly unfurled a tapestry woven with unexpected transitions and profound challenges.  It was a year of recalibration, where familiar parameters dissolved and redefined themselves in the crucible of change.

Forget those typical high school stories about pep rallies and prom dates. Deon van Danville's high school experience in George, South Africa, was a whole different level of awesome. Picture this: 1967, a bunch of 12-year-old kids, a foundation of mud, and a dream to build their own school—literally. And Deon, with his sights set on becoming an electrician, was right at the heart of it.

Born in the quaint coastal town of Mossel Bay, Deon's childhood unfolded in a world far removed from the headlines of racial strife. Surrounded by a tight-knit community, his early memories are filled with shared laughter and simple pleasures. His world, however, held within it the unspoken lines of apartheid, where "Hotnots" and "Duusmanne" were familiar terms, yet camaraderie transcended the labels. He describes the cherished ritual of "China-cups" reserved for honored guests, a stark contrast to the everyday enamel mugs lining the fireplace. This innocent detail speaks volumes about the unspoken divisions within their seemingly integrated society.

Born ten years after the echoes of World War II faded, my childhood unfolded in a South Africa still bearing the scars of conflict. Poverty was a constant companion, gripping our land like a relentless winter. The farms, once vibrant, lay in disrepair, their owners forced to fight wars they barely understood.

Our modern lives are intrinsically linked with technology, yet the rapid pace of innovation casts a long, often overlooked shadow: electronic waste. This isn't just about old phones and broken laptops; it's a rapidly escalating environmental and health crisis. But who truly bears the brunt of the blame, and more importantly, how do we begin to fix it?

The technology industry has witnessed numerous blunders and missteps over the years, with some having far-reaching consequences for both the industry and consumers. Here's a look at five of the biggest tech blunders from 1991 to 2023, their impact on the industry, and how they affected consumers: