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Thursday 25 June 2009
By Andy on Thursday 25 June 2009, 17:31
The African Institute for Mathematical
Sciences held the graduation dinner for the class of 2009 at the Muizenberg Pavilion on June 25, 2009. Present were
Vice-Chancellors from three of Cape Town's Universities, and the Kenyan
Ambassador Tom Amolo.
Thursday 11 June 2009
By Andy on Thursday 11 June 2009, 13:18
I visited Gabon
for the last two weeks of May 2009 by invitation of Yoan Anguilet, who has a
business and NGO there promoting ICT and Science literacy in schools. We had
met previously when setting up AUST, a new University on Nigeria. Yoan had invited me to
set up a similar system at two schools in Gabon, as a precursor to a larger
effort later in the year.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
By Andy on Tuesday 16 December 2008, 13:03
The
African National Congress has led South Africa since 1994 - the start of
majority rule. Disaffection with Jacob Zuma's recall of Thabo Mbeki has set an
unwanted ball in motion - a potential split of the party before the next
election.
Sunday 7 December 2008
By Andy on Sunday 7 December 2008, 15:08
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Zimbabwe is position in the Zimbabwean government is
currently subject to a tussle of control between Zanu-PF and MDC. However it is
overshadowed by the Provincial administration in the communal areas, which
largely controls food distribution.
Saturday 4 October 2008
By Andy on Saturday 4 October 2008, 16:42 - Zululand
Every year, Sangomas outside Eshowe hold a
ceremony to honour their ancestors and strengthen bonds between those of like
professions.
Monday 1 September 2008
By Andy on Monday 1 September 2008, 19:28
What is exciting about Cosmology today is how much
we do not know. The observable universe - baryonic
matter we are fairly sure comprises only a few percent of the total mass of
the universe. The rest is a mystery, but mainstream theories split it between
Dark
Matter and Dark Energy.
Thursday 19 June 2008
By Andy on Thursday 19 June 2008, 17:30
At the end of May in South Africa, a lot of violence erupted, apparently targeted against other black africans by fellow black South Africans. Meeting other Nigerians, almost all of them, given a little time, bring up the subject. I found myself having to apologise for the violence, and make some explanation of it.
Monday 9 June 2008
By Andy on Monday 9 June 2008, 15:36
Today, I visited two schools in
Abuja, Nigeria, both of
which were pilot schools for the new low cost laptops targeted at schools in
the third world. One Laptop per Child started
in Galadima Junior school, in Abuja Model Village,
and Intel launched 'One
laptop per teacher and child' at Jabi Junior Secondary school, in Jabi
district, Abuja.
Friday 30 May 2008
By Andy on Friday 30 May 2008, 17:31
Abuja, Nigeria, the
capital city, suffers from lack of infrastructure. Potholes, no landlines,
power cuts every day.
Sunday 11 May 2008
By Andy on Sunday 11 May 2008, 15:10
On May
11, the African Institute for
Mathematical Sciences opened its Research Centre. Present were a host of
dignitaries, led by Stephen Hawking, Michael
Griffin, the current administrator of NASA, and Nobel prize-winners
David
Gross and George Smoot. A lineup indeed.
Monday 14 April 2008
By Andy on Monday 14 April 2008, 17:27
Since the election itself, we have
watched, in slow motion, the frantic backpedalling of ZanuPF to steal the
elections after the fact.
Wednesday 2 April 2008
By Andy on Wednesday 2 April 2008, 12:00
Zimbabwe went to elections last weekend. The Movement for Democratic Change use the open hand as a symbol, ZanuPF the cockerel. ZanuPF were so bereft of
ideas that their slogan was "Get behind the fist" - a clear counterpoint to
MDC's open hand. That makes international opinion the Scissors - unable to
conquer the Rock.
Thursday 20 March 2008
By Andy on Thursday 20 March 2008, 16:09
Habeni Primary school is in
Zululand, and has recently acquired a computer lab. Courtesy of Kelsey Wood and Wizzy Digital Courier, it also has
Internet.
Friday 7 March 2008
By Andy on Friday 7 March 2008, 13:18
In 1999 I visited Khekhekhe with Graham, to
negotiate a price for National Geographic to do a piece on him. I wrote up that
encounter at the time. Khekhekhe held a ceremony on the 23rd of Feb every
year - which he called the First Fruits ceremony. It seemed really to be a time
for the old Mthethwa Sangomas to get together, Khekhekhe to show his prowess
with snakes, and some beasts to die for the table.
Sunday 17 February 2008
By Andy on Sunday 17 February 2008, 12:04
I
recently had a genetic analysis done to determine my ancestry - courtesy
Ancestry24, the
Medical Research Council, the National Health
Laboratory Services and WITS University. It was a
free test, and it came with an informative booklet to explain the results.
Sunday 20 January 2008
By Andy on Sunday 20 January 2008, 10:49
I have watched the election crisis in
Kenya unfold from the beginning, and am angry at the lack of concern the
leaders have for the people they claim to represent.
Monday 24 December 2007
By Andy on Monday 24 December 2007, 10:29
The Polokwane conference was a
triumph of process, and a disaster for results. Much negotiation remains to be
done during the last 18 months of Mbeki's presidency.
Tuesday 18 December 2007
By Andy on Tuesday 18 December 2007, 15:23
A traditional Zulu wedding is a step
back in time, with cellphone cameras in strapped next to leopardskin
loincloths. The ancestors are remembered, and the age-old tradion of Lobola is
observed.
Thursday 29 November 2007
By Andy on Thursday 29 November 2007, 09:12
All the indications are that Jacob Zuma will be
elected as ANC president at the 52nd annual ANC conference in Polokwane from
December 16 through December 20.
Wednesday 14 November 2007
By Andy on Wednesday 14 November 2007, 19:32
The next president of South Africa will
be chosen this December at the December ANC conference in Limpopo. This is a
tiny subset of the electorate that make this important decision.
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