UPDATE – a $100 laptop for every schoolchild? Or not?
UPDATE!! Here’s an update on the laptops – looks like we may not get them after-all: Click here for the full article from tectonic.co.za:“According to MIT, the target price of $100 (or R653.66 at current conversion rates) should come down after the initial launch. Integrated prototypes of the Gen-1 laptop are expected in the third quarter of 2… 006, and manufacturing should start in the fourth quarter, with 10 to 15 million laptops expected to be shipped by the first quarter of 2007. Recipients of the laptops will most likely include Brazil, Thailand, Egypt, the State of Massachusetts in the US, Cambodia, Costa Rica and hosts of the last WSIS forum, Tunisia. South Africa was initially included in the list as a recipient of 1 million laptops, but Fantus Mobu from Sita’s procurement department told INET Bridge that SA had no commitment to purchase the laptops. This is despite the fact that one of the MIT professors leading the project – professor of education and media technology, emeritus for MIT’s Media Laboratory, Seymour Papert – was born and educated in South Africa, and was an active member in the anti-apartheid movement.” If anyone knows anymore on this – please do enlighten us…. ******************************************** 7 Oct Thanks to Stoffel for this great story, the MIT have designed a $100 laptop for every school-going child in developing countries – SA has apparently ordered a whole bunch – Fabulous – Can you just imagine what this investment in our children’s education will do for our country – MIT and Google – You rock! This summary is from THE ECONOMIST, however CLICK HERE for a full treatment from the BBC: The idea is as audacious as it altruistic: provide a personal laptop computer to every schoolchild-particularly in the poorest parts of the world. The first step to making that happen is whittling the price down to $100. And that is the goal of a group of American techno-gurus led by Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the fabled MIT Media Lab. When he unveiled the idea at the World Economic Forum in January it seemed wildly ambitious. But surprisingly, it is starting to become a reality. Mr Negroponte plans to display the first prototype in November at a UN summit. Five countries- China, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand and South Africa-have said they will buy over 1m units each. Production is due to start in late 2006. How is the group, called One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), able to create a laptop so inexpensively? It is mainly a matter of cleverly combining existing technologies in new ways. The laptop will have a basic processor made by...
Review – a weekend in Munster
Our Durban D-VA has been gallivanting down the luscious mango tree lined South Coast of Kwazulu / Natal – she popped into the small town of “Munster” to see what was on offer… she found a lot of chill time which sounds just like what we need… D-VA stayed at Casa Caroline – an affordable no-frills place to lay your weary body – here’s her take: “For those planning a holiday… to the Eastern Cape or the old Transkei and would like to break your journey between Durban and your destination; or for Durbanites wanting to escape the routine of the same-old same-old beaches and streets of your city, Munster is a very good option. Situated between Margate and the Wild Coast Sun, near the border of KZN and the Eastern Cape, it is something of a well-kept secret. Casa Caroline, Munster, is a new self-catering accommodation option that allows you to enjoy all that the area has to offer. So – you can enjoy the Wild Coast Sun, if that’s your thing, or just for the experience of it, without the expense of staying there; and you can enjoy the restaurants and nightlife of Margate and Ramsgate, minus the holiday crowds. Caroline Lynch has converted two wings of her house into self -catering holiday flatlets, each able to sleep four. Cottage One, where we stayed, has a partial sea view, tiled floors, and is simply but comfortably decorated – a no-frills, no-fuss pad only 5-minutes walk to the beach. Munster beach takes you back to your childhood with seashells galore, rockpools to explore, a lagoon and even a rusty piece of shipwreck for those “isn’t-South-Africa-beautiful” photo opportunities. During our visit, we cycled the maze-like, overgrown suburb; ate in front of a massive “Discovery-Channel” fish tank at the Wild Coast Sun; floated like otters in the sea; and read magazines in the sun on the patio of the cottage. Well worth a break to somewhere obscure but simple and laid-back. CASA CAROLINE MUNSTER Rates: Rates from R300 – R500 depending on season. Although bath towels are provided per person, you need to bring your own beach towels. Cooking facilities are basic (gas, microwave, no oven) but the communal braai area will satisfy most South African holiday makers. Contact: Caroline Lynch Cell: 072 478 9364 Tel: 039 319 1153 EMail Caroline DISTANCE TO MUNSTER: 9km north of Port Edward 157km south of Durban 732km from Johannesburg...
COMPETITION! Win tickets to Summer Storm – NOW!
We got a set of DOUBLE TICKETS to give away to the HOT HOT HOT 5fm Summer Storm tour tomorrow night at the Groove Bar – sounds really awesome. Simply EMAIL the Editorista on editor@represent.co.za with the answer to the following: Name three DJ’s that will be performing at the Joburg Summer Storm… Competition ends midnight on the 1 Dec.NG The 5FM Smirnoff Summer Storm Tour will be blazing through Johannesburg, Plettenberg Bay, Durban and Cape Town this December. Get your summer party gear in shape to face the freshest local sounds at some of SA’s hottest clubs. Groove Bar in Midrand, Johannesburg on Friday, 2 December, gets the storm brewing with a Roger Goode sundowner set from 6pm and a live broadcast of The Nicole Fox Show (7-10pm). The broadcast will also include exclusive sets from 115 DJs Octave, Kid Fonque, along with Roger Goode and others plus a live performance by Pro Kid. Following Nicole’s show, 4 dance floors open to engulf your senses in a tornado of lightning and sound. Roger Goode, Craig de Sousa, Ryan Dent, Craig Massiv, G-Force, Miss Red, Tim White, Mbuso and Euphonik are just some of the DJs who will ensure your senses are blasted into a storm. Soul Candi and House Afrika are hosting their own individual areas, along with Nicole’s Foxy 5-floor – featuring only female mixing talent. Are you ready for the storm? Tickets for Johannesburg are available via Computicket for R90; R100 at the door (from 5pm on 2 December). Bikini Bar in Plettenberg Bay is hosting The Goode Doctor’s sundowners and Nicole Fox’s broadcast on Saturday, 10 December. The party storm moves to Club VIP after Nicole’s show at 10pm. Thursday, 15 December (the next day is a public holiday) sees Roger Goode standing in for Nicole 7-10pm from Tilt in Durban. The 5FM Smirnoff Summer Storm Tour concludes in Cape Town at Miam Miam on Thursday, 22 December. Roger Goode is again delivering the sundowner-set as part of The Nicole Fox Show (7-10pm). Go to www.5fm.co.za for more info. More details on Plettenberg Bay, Durban and Cape Town still to be confirmed. These 3 cities will feature live performances by Flash Republic (feat Tamara Dey) as well as various other 5FM personalities. Entry into the events are exclusively for people over the age of...
FREEDOM TOASTER – make sure you get your slice
Thanks as always to one of our most loyal and on the mark Representers ‘Stoffel’ for his juicy bits that he sends us on nearly a daily basis… Check out this brilliant initiative, from the generous Shuttleworth Foundation – The FREEDOM TOASTER project – they’re making open source software available to all South Africans through their innov… ative FREEDOM TOASTERS – ‘conveniently located, self-contained ‘Bring ‘n Burn’ facilities that provide free OPEN SOURCE software downloads to anyone that feels like a piece of toast… All you have to do is insert your blank disks and make copies of the free software so you can empower yourself and your computer without spending a fortune on the big boy software like Windows and Apple whose tight grip on the market is a hard one to negotiate. Click here to go to the site. Here’s the basics: What is the Freedom Toaster The Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located, self-contained ‘Bring ‘n Burn’ facility, where users bring their own blank discs and make copies of the open source software they require. What is the Freedom ToasterThe Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located, self-contained ‘Bring ‘n Burn’ facility, where users bring their own blank discs and make copies of the open source software they require.But why do we need this? The Freedom Toaster project began as a means of overcoming the difficulty in obtaining Linux and Open Source software due to the restrictive telecommunications environment in South Africa, where the easy downloading of large pieces of software is just not possible....
AMAZON.com looking for Sou’ Africans to join the start up
At last – Amazon.com has ventured to the land of milk and money… our economy is Boom Boom Booming and any clever brand should want to be a part of it! They’re opening a ‘software development’ centre – sounds interesting! We wish them all the best of luck and welcome them to Mzantsi! They’re looking for potential EMPLOYEES to be a part of the start-up – now this is a company… that you REALLY want to work for – check it out: “Amazon.com is delighted to announce that our new software development centre in South Africa is now fully operational. The Centre offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a rather unusual start-up — one which will serve tens of millions of active customer accounts around the world. We are now looking for outstanding individuals across a number of different areas of expertise to join the start-up team. “ GET TO IT!!!...
A guide to South Africa’s 12th language – GELEZA!!
Did you know that Black Label beer is also known as 10111? Or that the latest BMW 330i BMW is known as “half past three”? Lebo Motshegoa, one of the visionary mfowethu’s behind Soweto Rocks, gives us another treasure all in the name of getting to understand each other better. In this case it’s an opportunity to really get into TOWNSHIP TALK and learn some street-taal. Get it from a book…store near you! For all those behind the times on Scamto, South Africa’s popular language of the streets, well here’s Township Talk Dictionary, a guide to South Africa’s 12th language, scamto. Geleza this dictionary and begin to frostun the language, the culture and the people of South Africa. Soon you’ll become a chizboy probably driving a G-string and sipping on Jesus & his Brothers, that’s J&B. Learn more with this Dictionary, compiled by Lebo Motshegoa, who compiled the first ever township glossary, titled Scamto Dictionary that won the much-coveted Loerie Awards in 2003 & 2004. The dictionary explores amongst other things, the history behind Township lingo. For example, the language emanated in Sophiatown in the 50 & 60s& it was known as Tsotsi Taal and was developed to ensure privacy between the boys and their ‘matharas’… Then the legacy continued and in the late 70s to 80s when “Mapantsula” came into the picture. Mapantsula were notorious for their rough nature and behavior… This dictionary tells how they wore expensive clothing and had expensive taste. Their girlfriends were known as Mshozas… The political uprisings of 1976 brought the realization for unity and common purpose in South Africa. The categorization of people based on their taste; company and patronage became a thing of the past… There was one common goal for all, and that was UNITY and the struggle for FREEDOM. Hence, another form of communication was born: Township lingo, fusing all South African languages into one. So when you do get a copy of the Township Talk Dictionary, expect to see words like regte, pluck, stompie, cherry, dom kop, chizboy, four five and many others that are spoken words in South African townships. The Township Talk Dictionary does not only include the A-Z of township lingo, it has included the street nicknames of di transie (cars), dice, street jargon for nyuku (money), words and phrases that give insight into urban black South Africans. No wonder it’s tag line is, the language – the culture – the people. This dictionary is truly hip to the...
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