Hola MaHigh School Volume 5, Issue 8 November 2016
That’s it!
See you all next year
Gauteng, home to Africa’s economic powerhouse, Johannesburg, boasts an exciting mix of urban lifestyle, diverse cultural and natural attractions, as well as advanced infrastructure. Call us and we’ll show you why Gauteng in South Africa is the perfect location to bring your big idea to vibrant, colourful life.
Contents 06 Editor’s letter 07 Poem 08 Writer’s needed 10 Contributors 11 holler at us 14 holidays 24 energy sources
Contents 28 November 30 Why are boys ... 32 antarctica 38 science: happy 41 quotes 44 the calendar 46 next issue
Editors Letter November! The year is by and large over. Where did it go? This is the last edition for this year. Yes, we are looking forward to next year. This edition is focused on summer holidays and what to do. And also on the dangers lurking out there. It is also the time for us to wish all the grade 12’s leaving us a ‘happy future’and all the best on this new journey. Life is waiting! We also welcome all our new grade 10’s who will be joining us in 2017. This edition is also the wrapup on energy sources. Masiziba has done a great job, but alas, she is also finishing grade 12 this year. HOWEVER, she will probably still be writing for us, so it is not a farewell just yet. Please read the science article: HAPPINESS. I had a giggle doing it. Eat veggies and be happy! See you next year! Good read!
Sybil
Time for poems:
Time is up! The year is out It is the end but It is the beginning Never look back. That was it And something new is waiting With promises and hope and fun And sadness probably as well All things have an opposite The end is the beginning And today is the first day In the rest of your life
Sybil
We need writers! Our writers are growing up and getting older That is og course good. BUT.... it means they are leaving us Therefore: would you like towrite for us? What is required? That is easy You have to be in grade 10-12 Impeccable in your preferred language-and that might not be English. We try to be more than just English Passionate about your topic of choice no dull articles here
Do you get anything out of it? Well, not money, sorrry. BUT if we publish your articles you will have: Your bio in a commercial magazine A photo of yourself You can put it all on your CV you can use us as a reference ... and it goes in your portfolio
Is it important? YES it is. Look what Rofhiwa said: My name is Rofhiwa and I love to write. I think I am rather decent writer too. I took my talent and have used it to express my thoughts on international dealings of the world which have been published in Hola MaHigh-School. It has paid off, not only is my work printed for young people in the country to read, but it also contributed to me gettng a bursary from CNBC-Africa to do my post-graduate studies. Would be a lot harder to get by if I didn’t have platform like Hola MaHigh-School.
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Meet our contributors My name is Masiziba, a 16 year old girl from a small rural town called Balfour in Mpumalanga. I am a matriculant in wait. My mother worked as a domestic worker and my father is a backyard Farmer. During my spare time I love reading, writing stories and watching TV. I am a confident girl who has big dreams and wants to prove that you can make it whatever your background is
Pinky Rapoo is a creative writer by nature and not yet by profession.She lives in Vosloorus and is currently in grade 12 at Vosloorus Comprehensive SecondarySchool. Listening to music is her hobby,writing is her passion. Her motto is “Think twice before speaking,think three times before acting and think thoroughly before writing�. My name is Fikile Unifire Zulu, I hail from Evaton West in the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng. I love art (writing included) and started doing so ever since I can remember. I am a go-getter, determined, ambitious and diligent young woman, I strongly believe in reading because it allows you to look at the world in a new perspective and writing .. well you get to express your thoughts and imagination without any fear. Besides writing, I am passionate about serving the community, currently I am a Provincial Secretary-General for Disabled Youth South Africa, Deputy Chairperson for Evaton West Local Drug Action Commitee, PR officer for Educate South Africa and part of Gauteng Youth Road Safety task team.
HOLLER AT US Hola MaHigh-School
The stuff we need to mention: Editor & Publisher Sybil Otterstrom sybil@romele.co.za
Advertising sales Next level Management services cc 011 614 5046 076 360 1792 sybil@next-level.co.za Publlishing Romele Publications cc 32 Eleanor street Troyeville 2094 011 614 5046/076 360 1792
Website www.romele.co.za
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“Sharpen your skills, Unleash your passion, Join the Economy and Shape up your Career at opportunity to all Grade 10-12 learners as well as youth seeking to further their education o Utility Studies.
As only a limited number of spaces are available in certain programmes, prospective studen
We are therefore inviting all eligible and interested prospective students to apply for any of
SEMESTER PROGRAMMES Business Studies
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Report 191/Nated Programme Offered
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Business Management
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Dobsonville / Roodepoort
Marketing Management
N4 - N6
Dobsonville
Human Resource Management
N4 - N6
Dobsonville
Public Management
N4 - N6
Dobsonville
Management Assistant
N4 - N6
Roodepoort
Financial Management
N4 - N6
Roodepoort
DISTANCE EDUCATION
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Offered at Technisa Campus only Programme Offered
Business Management
Utility Studiwes
Engineering Studies
Engineering Stu
LEVEL
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Business Management
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Programme Offere
Financial Management
N4 - N6
Civil Engineering
Human Resource Management
N4 - N6
Electrical Engineerin
Management Assistant
N4 - N6
Electrical Engineerin
Marketing Management
N4 - N6
Mechanical Enginee
Public Management
N4 - N6
Water & Waste-wate Management
Public Relations
N4 - N6
Tourism
N4 - N6
Educare
N4 - N6
Civil Engineering
N1 - N6
Electrical Engineering
N1 - N3
Electrical Engineering
N1 - N6
Machanical Engineering
N1 - N6
Water & Waste- Water Management
N1 - N3
DHET BURSARIES THOUGH THEY AR TO THE STUDENT THROUGH THE M MAKE THE WISE PLY NOW!
SWGC Pe
For further enquiries on applications, please contact any of our Campuses on 086Â headoffice@swgc.co.za or visit us on www.swgc.co.z Head Office Contact Centre Dobsonville Campus 1822A Molele Street, Klip Valley/Union Street, Kliptown 5604 Van Onselen Road, Dobsonville c/o Koma Road, Molapo Roodepoort Campus Roodepoort West Campus Technisa Campus 1 Lawson Street, Roodepoort West Cnr Main and Huguenot, Blairgow 1 Webber Avenue, Horizon
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TO BE INVITED TO ENROLL FOR D THIRD TRIMESTER 2016!
t South West Gauteng TVET College.” The College is offering an or advance their careers in the fields of Engineering, Business and
nts are advised to apply for enrolment at the College, NOW!
the following courses/programmes provided that they meet the set requirements:
Utility Studies Report 191/Nated Programme Offered
Level
Campus
Introductory Clothing Construction
N4
George Tabor
Clothing Production
N4-N6
George Tabor
Educare
N4-N6
Roodepoort
Hospitality & Catering Services
N4-N6
Roodepoort
Popular Music (Composition, Studio Work & Performance)
N4-N6
Dobsonville
PROGRAMMES
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Molapo
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eriod! Enough Said!
176 8849, Fax: 011 984 1262, za George Tabor Campus e 1440 Mncube Drive, Dube
Molapo Campus wrie 1822B Molele Street, c/o Koma Road, Molapo
Application procedure:
1. Manual Application forms can be obtained at any of the College Sites/Campuses and, or on the College Website; www.swgc.co.za 2. Online Applications can be found on the College’s Website: www.swgc.co.za and maybe completed electronically, please ensure to follow the system rules. 3. Returning of the Application Forms: - Semester Application Forms • Completed application forms to be sent to any of the College Sites, by hand, fax, email or post using the details or addresses given below, but must reach the College no later than 10 June 2016 • Applicants will be notified of their acceptance / non-acceptance no later than 24 June 2016 - Third Trimester Application Forms • Completed application forms to be sent to any of the College Sites, by hand, fax, email or post using the details or addresses given below. Completed Forms may be submitted from the 1 June 2016 and must reach the College no later than 1 August 2016 • Applicants will be notified of their acceptance / non-acceptance no later than 24 August 2016 - Distance Learning • Applications are opened throughout the year. 4. Completed Application forms must be accompanied by the following documents: - Certified copy of Identity document. - Certified copy of latest results/qualification
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED! Address all correspondence to Private Bag X33, Tshiawelo, 1817. Distance Education correspondence to Private Bag X7, Pinegowrie, 2123
Here are a few things I found on the net. Judge yourself, but there are a lot of things going on. All the time, actually. We have something on Cape Town – from http://www.getaway.co.za/activities/kidsthings-to-do-school-holidays-cape-town/. Don’t get too hung up on the ‘kids’. It is really for all ages. You, mom and dad, gramps, aand everything else. Cape Town Science Centre, Observatory For indoor family fun, the Cape Town Science Centre in Observatory is a great place to indulge your kid’s inner nerd. The Centre’s exhibits are are both mind-bogglingly cool and informative. Who says the holidays can’t be educational? During the holidays they have hands-on workshops, science shows, family bingo evenings and even cool stuff just for moms. The SciCafe has a basic menu of filling and healthy options. There’s also free Wi-Fi. Entry to the Science Centre costs R50 a person. Contact: Tel 0213003200, email info@ctsc.org.za, ctsc.org.za Artjamming, Cape Town Create a masterpiece (or mess) on a blank canvas, while listening to funky music. Artjammers are provided with a menu of 12 different size canvases, easels, a selection of non-toxic acrylic paints, brushes and tools to freely express themselves. Great idea for children’s parties! You’ll find Artjamming studios at the Cape Quarter, Cavendish Square, The Paddocks, V&A Waterfront and the Willowbridge Centre. From R120 a canvas, although combo deals are also available. Contact: Email manager@artjamming.co.za, artjamming.co.za This is from: http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do Things To Do in Port Elizabeth Algoa Grand Prix Indoor Go-Karting If you are looking for a thrilling and exciting afternoon out then search no more. Algoa Grand Prix Indoor Go-Kart Racing will give you that sought after adrenaline rush and provide you and your family with a fun filled day. Indoor go-kart racing is ideal for individuals, groups of friends or family as well as corporate events and team building. Why not take the kids and their friends for an exhilarating birthday party to remember. Where? Badger Building, Somers Road, Sydenham, Port Elizabeth When? Daily from 11h00 to 23h00. How? Call +27 (0)41 487-3981 or +27 (0)41 487-3982 How much? Price on request
Ostrich Ride in South Africa How many people can say they’ve ridden an ostrich? If you visit Oudtshoorn in the Karoo, South Africa, and if you dare, you could try to sit on an ostrich, ride the ostrich and perhaps even take part in an “Ostrich Derby” (not for the faint hearted). How many people can say they’ve ridden an ostrich? If you visit Oudtshoorn in the Karoo, South Africa, and if you dare, you could try to sit on an ostrich, ride the ostrich and perhaps even take part in an “Ostrich Derby” (not for the faint hearted)! Where? Cango Ostrich Show Farm, 14 km from Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo / Garden Route. When? Daily from 09h00 to 17h00. How? Call +27 (0)44 272-4623 How much? Price on request Whale Watching in South Africa Nothing prepares you for your first whale and the impact that seeing it has upon you. Perhaps it is their immensity. Definitely it is the whales’ authenticity and the absolute trust they show towards us. But mostly it is the overwhelming sense of awe, of joy, of having been touched by something greater than oneself that translates into 13 million people around the world enjoying organised whale watching annually. Whale watching is one of the Western Cape’s biggest draw cards For those of you who haven’t yet sat in a boat, or stood on land, and marvelled as a whale the size of a jumbo jet rises out of the water just in front of you, or glides past and ‘catches’ your eye, then you have yet to become obsessed with watching these gentle giants. Where? 1 Hopwood Street, Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route When? Daily from 08h00 to 16h00 (weather permitting) Other times possible by prior arrangement. How? Call +27 (0)82 926-6664 How much? Price on request Things To Do in Bela BelaHot Springs at Forever Resorts A visit to Forever Resorts Warmbaths means you are about to have as much fun as you can have in warm water! A trip to Bela-Bela can’t be complete without soaking your weary body in the restorative waters of the hot spring, which is also great for your skin and well-being, considering it is not only relaxing, it is also rich in limestone minerals, including calcium carbonate, sodium chloride and other salts. The source of the spring gushes out 22 000 litres of water at 52 degrees Celcius, every hour! Where? Forever Resorts Warmbaths, Bela Bela, Waterberg, Limpopo When? Day visitors are welcome at the resort from 07h00 to 17h00. How? Call +27 (0)14 736-8500 How much? Price on request
Tree Top Adventures While Johannesburg may be known as a shopaholic’s dream destination, that isn’t all that the City of Gold is about. In the north of this bustling urban metropolis is a forest that dates back almost six decades, and is known for its exquisite forest canopy and gorgeous views. Where? Riversands Commercial Park, Corner R511 and Erling Road, Fourways, Sandton When? Daily from 08h00 to 17h00. How? Call +27 (0)79 387-4217 How much? Price on request Seedpod Studio Founded in 1999, The Seed Pod Studio has grown from a small ceramics studio to be a large Arts & Crafts studio focusing on many crafts including; Ceramics, Decoupage, Mixed Media & Mosaics. Our unique combination of a training / workshop environment and our large range of supplies, crafty gifts and inspirational mosaics has allowed us to grow from strength to strength. Where? 13 4th Avenue, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, Gauteng When? Monday to Saturday from 09h00 to 17h00. How? Call +27 (0)11 447-0006 How much? Price on request Walk with Elephants The renowned Elephant Sanctuary is located in an area of untamed bush, just around the corner from the Hartbeespoort Dam. You will get to walk with the elephants and will also hear a brief talk by one of the guides. There are three daily programmes to choose from, all under the guidance of expert handlers and lunch can be added on as an optional extra. Elephant rides can be booked and overnight options are available Where? The Elephant Sanctuary, Hartbeespoort, North West When? Depends on programme chosen. Please enquire. How? Call +27 (0)12 258-0423 or +27 (0)12 258-0332 How much? Price on request Sutherland Star Gazing Trip We depart late afternoon directly to Sutherland passing over the mountainous landscape turning into the flat Karoo once past Matroosberg. One of the most picturesque views is the plateau before Sutherland turning into the ‘’Bo-Karoo’’ which gives Sutherland the elevation required for the excellent stargazing characteristics. After landing at about 17h30, a transfer will collect us from the airfield taking us to our
guest lodge followed by a dinner after 19h00. After dinner our local guide will take us to the on-site telescopes (about 4 of them, each highly advanced set on a solid foundation) giving us a 2 hour in-depth tour of our galaxy! The next morning after breakfast we depart for Stellenbosch. Where? Depart from Stellendbosch and fly to Sutherland in the Northern Cape. When? Seven days a week. Tours strictly by appointment. How? Call Cape to Karoo Flyventures on +27 (0)21 887-7283 or +27 (0)83 752-2600 How much? Price on request CityROCK, Observatory If you and the kids feel up to something more challenging, why not try some indoor rock climbing at CityROCK in Observatory. All the climbing gear you need can be rented or bought on site. First-timer to rock climbing? No sweat. You can get a day pass for R100 per adult and R80 per kid (excluding gear). There are also special programmes for children of different ages and skill levels, including a three-day holiday programme. The best option for kids who are new to rock climbing is the test-drive package which includes entrance and gear rental. CityROCK also offers yoga classes. Adults – R165, kids – R145 (includes bouldering and climbing on the automatic belay wall and gear rental). Add R190 per hour for an instructor. Contact: Tel 0214471326, email tarryn@cityrock.co.za, cityrock.co.za Paintball, Atlantis U-TAC – or urban tactical – Paintball outside Atlantis is one of the best paintball joints in South Africa and is the perfect place for you and the kids if you’re feeling trigger-happy. What makes U-TAC so special is that it allows you to enact a wide range of military scenarios such as battling it out in a village, in trenches or in the bush. You can also arrange for 48-hour wars or helicopter insertion. The premises also have a tuck shop and braai facilities if you feel like relaxing after an epic family feud. Contact: Tel 0837789111, email info@u-tac.co.za.
Please notice: This is what we found off the net. We do not recommend one over the other. This is for YOU to find out and enjoy. These are not the only one’s in your province. We do not take any responsibility for any of these mentioned. All said and done: ENJOY SUMMER
There are dngers out there! Don’t spoil your holidays on things you could have prevented and foreseen. Here are a few things to look out for. All from www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-helath/summer-hazards. Jellyfish Sting Jellyfish aren’t aggressive and don’t attack humans, but accidental contact with their tentacles can cause mild to severe reactions, depending on the type of jellyfish. If you are stung by a jellyfish, forget the old wives’ tale about urinating on the sting— it won’t help and may actually make the pain worse, says Jay Bradley, curator of the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. Instead, immediately flush the area with seawater (don’t use fresh water—it might exacerbate the pain) to wash away the toxins that caused the sting. (Vinegar works too, though your chances of having it at the beach are probably slim.) Once home, submerge the affected area in hot water for up to 90 minutes in order to neutralize any stinging tentacles that may be lingering. Tentacles that are still attached can be removed carefully with tweezers. Heat Stroke The lethal heat wave that’s plagued the U.S. this summer serves as a reminder that staying cool as the temperature climbs is serious business. Excessive heat may cause a rapid pulse and excessive sweating—a result of your body overheating and experiencing heat exhaustion—especially in people who are working or exercising outside. Without proper hydration, heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition that kills approximately 400 Americans every year. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature exceeds 104 degrees and is unable to cool down because the body loses its ability to sweat, says Ritucci. “The key to avoiding or preventing this condition is hydration,” he explains. “Drink plain water to replace any fluids you have lost.” On a hot day, reserve early mornings and evenings for strenuous activities such as exercising. Seeking out shade whenever possible, avoiding being outdoors at the hours of peak heat (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and wearing loose clothing can also help prevent overheating. Lightning Strike Though you might put your odds of being struck by lightning at about a million to one, Stephanie Abrams, on-camera meteorologist for the Weather Channel, says
everyone has a “1-in-300,000 chance of being struck by lightning in approximately one year.” In fact, lightning is the nation’s deadliest weather phenomenon. The varying degrees of injury a lightning-strike victim might experience include burns, memory loss, personality changes, headaches, nausea, sleep disorders, ringing in the ears, paralysis, and even death. If you’re outdoors and hear thunder, lightning is sure to follow. Seek refuge indoors or in a hard-topped car immediately: Lightning can be a threat to your safety from as much as six miles away (30 seconds from flash to bang). Don‘t think that wearing rubber-soled shoes will offer you extra protection. If you are stuck outdoors with absolutely no shelter in sight, minimalizing yourself and your point of contact with the ground may improve your odds slightly, says Abrams: “Squat down to be at the lowest point and balance on the balls of your feet to have as little connecting you to the ground.” … and this is from http://www.businessinsider.com/survive-the-summer-healthsafety-2015-6 Remember: public swimming pools are gross OK, the sunscreen is on and you’re ready to cool down. It’s time to hit the public swimming pools. There are plenty to choose from — 309,000, to be exact — and you wouldn’t be alone. Swimming is the fourth most popular sport or form of exercise in the US. But even with chlorine, swimming pools can act as giant petri dishes for bacteria like E. coli, which lives in the stomach and can cause nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. The CDC analyzed 2008 data from 121,020 routine inspections and found that one in eight pools had been immediately closed for serious violations, like not having any disinfectant in the water at all. That goes for ponds and lakes, too Freshwater lakes and rivers can also be hotbeds for viruses, bacteria, and amoebae. Last July, “70 people who swam in a lake near Portland were sickened by norovirus,” according to CBS News. Over half of them were between the ages of seven and 10. Norovirus, which is highly contagious, can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. The CDC reports that how the lake became contaminated is unknown, but suggests that if a swimmer with norovirus vomited or had “a fecal incident in the lake.” According to the report, “there is evidence that noroviruses can survive in water for several months and probably years.” [the] diagnosis is usually made after death.”
CALENDAR 2016
MAR Construction Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12 Launch My Career – Grade 11
Food for Life Holiday Program
Bloodhound Rocketry Course Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11 Fame Lab Speak2aScientist
APR Launch My Career – Grade 11
Bloodhound Rocketry Course Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11 Mathematics Week – Grade Subject Choice – Grade 9
FOCUS WEEK
ENQUIRING MINDS PROGRAMME
Speak2aScientist
1 - 29 FEBRUARY
JANUARY Life after school – Grade 12
25 Jan. - 12 Feb.
FEBRUARY Life After School – Grade 12
25 Jan. - 12 Feb.
Enquiring Minds Programme – Grade 12 - 3
1 - 29
Finance, Banking & Investment Industry Focus Days– Grade 9 - 12
24 - 25
Finding my Way– Grade 7
15 - 19
Electronics Club - (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Speak2aScientist
25
Spea
Scie
RCH 8 - 11 7 - 11
mme
19 Mar. - 4 Apr.
e
29 Mar. - 2 Apr. Feb. - Sep. 22 31
RIL 11 - 15
e
29 Mar. - 2 Apr. Feb. - Sep.
4 - 12
18 - 22 18 - 29 28
ak 2a
MAY Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Health Science Week – Grade 4 - 12
16 - 20
Engineering Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
23 - 27
Subject Choice – Grade 9
3-6
Minquiz (Provincial)
19
Exploring Careers – Grade 10
9 - 13
Speak2aScientist
26
JUNE
entist
Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Subject Choice – Grade 9
1 - 10
Astonishing Anatomy Holiday Programme
25 Jun. - 17 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
27 Jun. - 1 Jul.
Speak2aScientist
30
JULY Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Subject Choice – Grade 9
18 - 28
Astonishing Anatomy Holiday Programme
25 Jun. - 17 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
27 Jun. - 1 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
4 - 8 Jul.
Minquiz (National )
13 - 14
Astronomy Quiz
Jul.
Speak2aScientist
28
Exciting Careers For Girls
SEPTEM
AUGUST Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
National Science Week – Grade 4 - 12
1-5
Sustainable Energy Week – Grade 4 & 12
Media Week (Mnet) – Grade 9 - 12
15 - 19
Entrepreneurship Development & Support Bootc
ICT Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
22 - 26
Subject Choice – Grade 9 Speak2aScientist
Girl Power: Exciting Careers for Girls 5 - 6 – Grade 9 - 12 Speak2aScientist
25
OCTOB Maritime Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
Transport Week (special focus on Maritime We – Grade 4 - 12 Subject Choice – Grade 9 Space Explorers Holiday Programme Bloodhound Rocketry Course Mental Maths Speak2aScientist
NOVEMBER Early Explorers Month – Grade R
1 - 30
Subject Choice – Grade 9
1-4
Speak2aScientist
24
DECEMBER December Holiday Programme
10 - 31
MBER
camp
Feb. - Sep. 5-9 22 - 23 1 - 30 29
BER
eek)
24 - 28 (during Transport Week) 24 - 28
EARLY EXPLORERS MONTH 1 - 30 NOVEMBER
10 - 21 1-9 3-7 Oct. 27
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT BOOTCAMP 22 - 23 SEPTEMBER
Energy Sources -
Thanks to Masizba, we have now a firm knowledge about nuclear power. I do not believe that it could have been much better. THANKS Masizba. Let us just wrap it up a bit. Also by looking at the other energy sources. I found this on Wiki: Classified according to the energy reserves of the energy source used and the regeneration capacity with: renewable: When the energy source used is freely regenerated in a short period and there are practically limitless reserves; An example is the solar energy that is the source of energy from the sun, or the wind used as an energy resource. Renewable energies are: solar, wind, geothermal, oceanic tidal, waterfall, etc.
nonrenewable: They are coming from energy limited sources on Earth in quantity and, therefore, are exhaustible. The non-renewable energy sources include, non-exclusively: oil, gas, coal and nuclear. Let us be practical: The industry and modern city living require electricity. The options right now in SA are realistically: Solar, Wind, Coal and nuclear. However, let us not forget that rural areas still burn wood for cooking and heating. And that produces heavy pollution. It is a health risk in both rural areas as well as squatter camps. This is serious stuff and will need to be addressed sooner or later! SA has a huge reserve of coal and it does make sense to utilise this. It is not going to run out for decades. BUT: as much as we try, coal is not green! Pollution and global warming are realities. Let us look at the two recent power stations in SA – Medupi and Kusile: Medupi When completed, the power station is to have six boilers each powering an 800 MW turbine, producing 4800 MW of power. Completion of the first two units was expected by 2012 but various delays have impacted on progress. The power station was initially expected to cost R80 billion (2007 Rands), but is now forecast to cost R154 billion.(2013 Rands). Not exactly in-expensive.
- The conclusion Kusile It is expected that Kusile would consist of six 800 megawatt coal-fired generating units for a total generating capacity of 4,800 megawatts Kusile Power Station is estimated to cost R118 billion to complete The plant is expected to emit an estimated 36.8 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year once it is completed. A 2011 report “The True Cost of Coal: The monstrous price of South Africa’s coal addiction” by Greenpeace Africa and the University of Pretoria’s Business Enterprises unit calculated the full costs of the Kusile plant, from climate change to water use, and the impact on health and the environment. It was estimated that the damage caused by Kusile will cost South Africa between R31.2 billion and R60.6 billion a year, and that just 30% of Kusile’s externality cost would be able to generate five times the coal station’s proposed power with renewable energy. Roughly 70% of the total cost was water-related. So, yes. We have coal but it still costs a lot of money (and pollution) to use. But nuclear? The nuclear power industry in Western nations has a history of construction delays, cost overruns, plant cancellations, and nuclear safety issues despite significant government subsidies and support. Former NRC member Peter Bradford and Professor Ian Lowe have recently made similar statements. However, some “nuclear cheerleaders” and lobbyists in the West continue to champion reactors, often with proposed new but largely untested designs, as a source of new power. According to Masiziba, the ‘traditional’ reactors have a lot of set-backs. Costs, pollution, inherent dangers, waste storage, etc. The Russian reactor designs (4th and 5th generation designs) are promising and will not have the same draw-backs. BUT (as can be seen above) are by and large untested designs. What to do? Renewable energy then? Who is doing that? Is it even feasible to rely on it?
Renewab In 2013, China led the world in renewable energy production, with a total capacity of 378 GW, mainly from hydroelectric and wind power. As of 2014, China leads the world in the production and use of wind power, solar photovoltaic power and smart grid technologies, generating almost as much water, wind and solar energy as all of France and Germany’s power plants combined. China’s renewable energy sector is growing faster than its fossil fuels and nuclear power capacity. Since 2005, production of solar cells in China has expanded 100-fold. As Chinese renewable manufacturing has grown, the costs of renewable energy technologies have dropped. Innovation has helped, but the main driver of reduced costs has been market expansion. That should re-assure us all that it is possible to have a huge amount of energy being produced outside of coal and nuclear. PS: SA’s new nuclear reactors will produce 9,6 GW. That is some 3% of China’s generation from renewables alone! … and the most convincing one of them all: Denmark! Wind power produced the equivalent of 42.1% of Denmark’s total electricity consumption in 2015, increased from 33% in 2013, and 39% in 2014. In 2012 the Danish government adopted a plan to increase the share of electricity production from wind to 50% by 2020, and to 84% in 2035. Denmark had the 6th best energy security in the world in 2014. This is huge! And an added benefit for Denmark: The Danish wind turbine industry is the world’s largest. Around 90% of the national output is exported, and Danish companies accounted for 38% of the world turbine market in 2003, when the industry employed some 20,000 people and had a turnover of around 3 billion euro. The Danish wind turbine industry had a turnover of DKK 84 billion in 2014 (some Rand 168 billion). What to do? Where to go? It is YOUR future after all and your choices will be there for decades to come! Choose wisely as it is said in Harry Potter.
ble then? Can we live óff-the-grid’? Here is an example - Denmark again. Small island: Samsø Island.
The island of Samsø erected 11 one-megawatt, land-based wind turbines in 2000, followed by ten offshore 2.3 MW wind turbines completed in 2003. Together with other renewable energy measures, this community of 4,200 achieved fame, claiming that it is the largest carbon-neutral settlement on the planet. This claim exploits the general discourse, that one can neglect carbon-dioxide and other pollution from fossil fuel consumption (cars, imported electricity, heating for houses...), if the yearly average electricity production from sustained sources is higher than the total energy consumed.
November mont It is sort of a funny month. Exams of course. And countdown to December and holidays and do-nothing days. But has November got no redeeming qualities? Well, it has. There are a couple of things going for November, of which I shall be mentioning two. I like opposites. And this is really opposite.
‘Black Friday’. You know that one from America?
The first major event is All retailers having a sale?
Black Friday is the Friday after the US Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November). A lot of American states have declared it a national holiday. So the Americans really get Thursday and Friday off. Smart! The ‘word’ is spreading. Black Friday is now creeping into other countries across the globe. Germany, Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands, Denmark and so on. All in on it. Also SA of course. We promised to mention another event. Oh yes. Here it is:
Buy-nothing Day. You didn’t expect that one? Did you? Ok, clever you. Buy-nothing Day also falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. Same as Black Friday. However, Buy-Nothing Day was there before Black Friday. It was really a silent protest against over-consumption and was started in the 90’s. You simply cannot beat mom and dad’s activity level on these type of things. Flower-power was not in vain. According to Wiki: “Campaigns started appearing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Norway and Sweden. Participation now includes more than 65 nations” WOW!
th - The fun one But what to do? What activities? •
•
•
•
Credit card cut up: Participants stand in a shopping mall, shopping center, or store with a pair of scissors and a poster that advertises help for people who want to put an end to mounting debt and extortionate interest rates with one simple cut. Zombie walk: Participant “zombies” wander around shopping malls or other consumer havens with a blank stare. When asked what they are doing participants describe Buy Nothing Day. Whirl-mart: Participants silently steer their shopping carts around a shopping mall or store in a long, baffling conga line without putting anything in the carts or actually making any purchases. ... and a lot more
So, November is not boring, really. There is only one more thing: November is also
World Toilet Day. This is se-
rious. Wiki: “It was estimated in 2015 that 2.4 billion (about 1 out of 3 people) lack access to improved sanitation facilities, and just under 1 billion continue to defecate openly.[2] Sanitation is a human right, just like the human right to water. Lack of access to sanitation, impacts on health, dignity, and safety. Give that a thought as well. Also in South Africa!
And now to something serious for December!
Why are boys “weird”
Here is some absolutely useless piece of information for you. But you have to lean back
and reflect on it. Are you ready?
Have you ever wondered why there seems to be more boys/men as inventors? Test pilots? Rocket scientist? Nerds? Crazy? Stupid? Ever wondered why girls are not “crazy”? They don’t do “stupid” things, do they? Boring maybe. OK, so here is an explanation. It is in the genes all of it. Now, we know that boys have an X and a Y chromosome. And girls have 2 of those X chromosomes. The X chromosome has 1,846 genes. The Y has 454 genes. It was the belief that if a gene on one of the pairs was active, the other one would be inactive – like switched off. Sounds good, but not really the case. Both are active and both will influence behavior or looks or whatever we are talking about. Look at the X chromosome. Look at one gene. If that is a gene for “crazy”, the other X chromosomes “crazy” gene might just moderate it a bit. Making it less crazy, more middle of the road. Like boring. But if it is an X chromosome gene and it is a boy and there is no Y gene there. Then what? He just might be a bit extreme because there is nothing to moderate behavior and nothing to stop him from being “crazy”. After all, women have 1,846 times 2 genes with their X chromosomes, whereas boys have the first 1,846 genes, but only
” and girls “boring”?
454 genes to match it up with. That leaves some 1,392 un-controlled and un-moderated genes. Wow. No wonder. Here is another piece of the puzzle. If we now look at a stupid-genius spread, girls curve will look like a perfect Poisson distribution, the lambda curve (yes, I know, statistics, big numbers, yes, yes) and boys will be more flat. Here is one:
The perfect Because they to their 2 x X fewer “stupid” also less “Ein-
curve represents girls. are more “moderated” due chromosomes, you will find girls (left part of it) but hey, stein’s”.
Boys do not have any moderating influence (at least for 1,392 genes), hence more “stupid” and crazy boys, but also more Einstein’s. Look around you. How many men vs women as presidents? Millionaires? Living under the bridge? Chefs in restaurants? And also: taking care of others? Looking after the kids? Building the nest? Family centre? It can be very chauvinistic and sexist. But it isn’t. Fact is, boys can be more all over, but girls are not crazy. Now, that’s the truth, according to latest research. Useless piece of information, really.
Antarctica: A diff As promised, we look at a huge continent. Not Asia, not America… but Antarctica. Antarctica is 98% covered in ice, on average some 2 km thick. But there is solid land underneath. It is huge. Twice the size of Australia. However, there are only some 135 permanent people, but some 1,000-5,000 people on a non-permanent basis (research and scientists, etc). Nobody has been born on Antarctica yet. Because of the thick ice shield, it is rather difficult to look at what was before. But Antarctica has not always been where it is now. When Gondwana was around, Antarctica was around equator. Tropical climate! Antarctica is actually pretty close to the tip of Chile. So the coastal regions can be ice free. However, nobody had actually seen Antarctica before 1820. But here is a good one. There was a ‘myth’ that there would be a huge continent somewhere down South and it was proven that it should be there to ‘counter-balance’ all the lands in the Northern hemisphere. Wonderful! There were maps produced, speculations about what type of animals would be there, inhabiting the lush forest and so on. Maybe even some native antarcticans around? In came Cook. The one who ‘discovered’ a good load of the world (like Australia and so on). His second voyage proved that if there was a southern continent it would be rather ‘small’ and it would be totally covered in ice! And that was that! And now comes the big one we have all
fferent continent heard about! The race for the South Pole. Adventurers and all kind of people travelled the world ‘discovering’ all kind of things that no European had seen before (and that was the only thing which counted in those days). Roald Amundsen from Norway set out to reach the South Pole – nearly the last frontier. He managed before a competing expedition led by Scot got there, 34 days later. Scot and his entire expedition died in Antarctica. Enough of this! Why is Antarctica important? Well, it regulates the weather to a large extent. And it contains 70% of all fresh water on the planet (in ice form that is). Research is heavy as global warming will have a huge impact on the world if and when the ice sheets collapse. Holiday cruises are now a major activity and we can predict these will increase.
Antarctica: A diff The real business comes into play when we look at the usual raw materials: gold, oil, diamonds, minerals and so on. The problem is that it is hard to determine IF it is there and if so, in what quantities. First of all, drilling through some 2 km of ice to get to the bed rock is a task all by itself. Next problem is that the ice sheets are not static. They slowly slide towards the coast. It really means that the drilling platform (sitting on top of the sheet) is slowly moving along but the well to be drilled is static. Not a great prospect! But how can we then ‘guess’ on this? Insofar as Antarctica was a part of Gondwana (super continent some 500 million years ago) we can see what the ‘neighbours’ at that time had. The neighbours were South America and South Africa and Australia. What has South Africa got? Gold and diamonds. Australia? Gold and coal and iron. And so on. So by logic, Antarctica must have some rich deposits of gold and oil and all kind of things. The problem is that it is not so easy to get to. The season is short and the temperatures across Antarctica are not conducive to human endeavours. There are two theories for economic activity in Antarctica: Leave it alone. We will never need it This is the one that says that before we will need the resources – at a substantial high cost for exploration – other energy
fferent continent sources will be there. Like solar, fusion and others. This will then entail that Antarctica can be left alone to the scientists and researchers. We need to start now. The resources are needed shortly This is the one that says that we need to determine the extent of resources and at what costs we can exploit these. The danger is of course that we tip the rather delicate balance in a very fragile ecosystem. And if it is gone, it is not coming back. Predictions: Antarctica will be settled within the next 50 years. It is the last piece of real estate and the growing world population will have nowhere else to go. It will be ranking alongside some of the ‘Sea States’ we see in science fiction books.
A tyre? No Goodyear unve Unique spherical shaped concept tyre highlights ultimate manoeuvrability, safety and connectivity
Geneva, Switzerland, March, 2016- After 117 years of making tyres, Goodyear presented a vision of a fut Goodyear unveiled its latest concept tyre, Eagle-360, at the Geneva International Motor Show. The spher for the long-term future when autonomous driving is expected to be more mainstream.
According to a recent study from Navigant Research, 85 million autonomous-capable vehicles are expec Tech Choice Study, consumers are most concerned with ensuring safety through technology in autonom “By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tyres will play an ev president and chief technical officer. “Goodyear’s concept tyres the boundaries of conventional thinking and as testbeds for Spherical shape for ultimate manoeuvrability and safety The unique shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 could contribautonomous mobility.The spherical shape of the tyre is key to move in all directions, contributing to passenger safety. Active from potential hazards, such as black ice or sudden obstacles, so In addition, the spherical shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 This helps the car to overtake an obstacle without changing its Finally, because 360 degree turns are possible with this tyre, it less space will be needed for cars fitted with spherical tyres to same role, this could significantly increase the capacity of public
Connected via magnetic levitation To connect with the body of the car, the Goodyear Eagle-360 from the car by magnetic fields, similar to magnetic levitation “Though this is purely a concept tyre, it showcases some of drivers can be addressed. Based on our own recent research[3], able cars to be part of future mobility and that reliability and could deliver a safe and sustainable solutionfor our end consumer who is likely to drive or ride in autono as inspiration for the automotive industry as we continue to find solutions for the future, together.”
Sensors ensure connectivity with car and increase sa Goodyear imagined another feature, connectivity, to cles, which is brought to life in three features. First, s the road conditions, including weather and road surf to the car as well as to other vehicles to enhance safe and pressure monitoring technology, sensors in the E tyre to extend mileage. Finally, because the tread is p based on the region where the driver lives is a new p
Biomimicry - inspired by nature Elements of the Eagle-360 design showcase biomimi Goodyear often uses in its designs. The tread mimics blocks and grooves help to secure a safe contact patch. The groove bottom has the same elements as a n and aquaplaning resistance. This texture also absorbs water on the road and ejects water from the tyre f
o, Science eils Eagle-360
ture tyre that looks radically different from tyres today -it’s a sphere. rical, 3-D printed tyre highlights Goodyear’s vision for the future and presents an inspiring solution
cted to be sold annually around the world by 2035[1], for example. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. mous cars. ven more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice play a dual role in the future both as creative platforms to push next-generation technologies.” ute to safety and maneuverability to match the demands of delivering ultimate manoeuvrability. The multi-orientation tyres technology allows the tyre to move as needed to reduce sliding it contributes to staying on a safe path. provides a smooth ride by creating a fluid, lateral movement. driving direction. could tackle anticipated parking constrictions of the future, as pull into parking spots. Assuming public parking areas play the parking areas without increasing their size.
concept tyre relies on magnetic levitation. The tyre is suspended trains, which increases passenger comfort and reduces noise. Goodyear’s best innovative thinking and how the needs of future we know that young drivers are looking for smart and sustainsafety are key for them.4 We believe the Eagle-360 concept tyre omous cars in the future,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, President of Goodyear EMEA. “We also hope it serves
afety o optimize driving conditions in autonomous vehisensors inside the Eagle-360 concept tyre register face conditions, and communicate this information ety. Secondly, leveraging Goodyear’s tread wear Eagle-360 register and regulate the wear of the produced by a 3-D printer, customizing the tyre possibility.
icry, which is the imitation of nature, a principle s the pattern of brain coral, and its multidirectional natural sponge, which stiffens when dry yet softens when wet to deliver adequate driving performance footprint through centrifugal force to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
Happiness .. or h This is a little fun piece to write – HAPPY or HAPPINESS. Marvellous. Who does not want to be happy? Exactly. BUT what is to be happy? What is happiness? Can we even define it? Now here comes the fun part. It is indeed defined. Let us turn to Wiki: Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happy mental states may also reflect judgements by a person about their overall well-being So it is scientific after all. The United States Declaration of Independence of 1776, written by Thomas Jefferson, says “the pursuit of happiness.” But did they mean that all Americans should walk around grinning like fools? In fact, happiness at that time (18th century) meant “prosperity, thriving, wellbeing”. Remember the movie “in pursuit of happiness”? that is the right interpretation. Sonja Lyubomirsky concludes in her book The How of Happiness that 50 percent of a given human’s happiness level is genetically determined (based on twin studies), 10 percent is affected by life circumstances and situation, and a remaining 40 percent of happiness is subject to self-control. This is horrible! It means that whether I am happy or not is actually pre-determined. It is in my genes., nothing I can do about it. I can only control 40%. So “don’t worry, be happy” doesn’t mean anything then.
how to be happy Ok, then. But what about money: “It has been argued that money cannot effectively “buy” much happiness unless it is used in certain ways. “Beyond the point at which people have enough to comfortably feed, clothe, and house themselves, having more money - even a lot more money makes them only a little bit happier. “ In the book Lucky Go Happy : Make Happiness Happen!, Paul van der Merwe uses a graph to illustrate that money cannot make people happy. A Harvard Business School study found that “spending money on others actually makes us happier than spending it on ourselves” Psychologist Martin Seligman asserts that happiness is not solely derived from external, momentary pleasures,[16] and provides the acronym PERMA to summarize Positive Psychology’s correlational findings: humans seem happiest when they have Pleasure (tasty food, warm baths, etc.), Engagement (or flow, the absorption of an enjoyed yet challenging activity), Relationships (social ties have turned out to be extremely reliable indicator of happiness), Meaning (a perceived quest or belonging to something bigger), and Accomplishments (having realized tangible goals). OK, so now it is also about the entire life. This actually makes a little bit of sense.
I am happy! Cross-sectional studies worldwide support a relationship between happiness and fruit and vegetable intake. Those eating fruits and vegetables each day have a higher likelihood of being classified as “very happy,” suggesting a strong and positive correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and happiness. I give up now. So, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away – subject to your aim of course”. However, in 2015 a study building on earlier research found that happiness has no effect on mortality. Consistent results are that “apart from good health, happy people were more likely to be older, not smoke, have fewer educational qualifications, do strenuous exercise, live with a partner, do religious or group activities and sleep for eight hours a night.” Happiness does however seem to have a protective impact on immunity. The tendency to experience positive emotions was associated with greater resistance to colds and flu in interventional studies irrespective of other factors such as smoking, drinking, exercise, and sleep. There you have it! Eat fruits, sleep at night, go to the gym, be boring and be happy .... and don’t worry!
Quotes Obscure quotes from movies These are from a website: http://www.filmsite.org/funniestquotes.html
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.”
Dr. Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
“Don’t you find it a little bit (of a) coincidence that the body fell perfectly within the chalk outline on the floor?” - “I think they drew the chalk outline later.” - “Ah!” The Pink Panther (2006)
“There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?” Airplane! (1980)
We provide loans and bursaries to students at all 26 public universities and 50 public TVET colleges throughout the country.
Our calendar: C
If anyone should think that the calendar and the number of days and the months and those things are like ‘cast in stone’, well, think again. The French Revolution was in many ways also a huge step forward from backward regimes. It was also an enlightened and a scientific approach to all things. Of course the poor calendar was a target. So, to make life easier (as the metric system had just been introduced) a day got cut into ten hours, each hour into 100 decimal minutes, and each decimal minute into 100 decimal seconds. Thus an hour was 144 conventional minutes (more than twice as long as a conventional hour), a minute was 86.4 conventional seconds (44% longer than a conventional minute), and a second was 0.864 conventional seconds (13.6% shorter than a conventional second) (source: Wiki). That should be easy.
Now the calendar got a bit more funny. Twelve months were retained and they got depicted with roman numerals. Of course they had a new starting date: 22 September 1792, the beginning of the “Republican Era”. The names of the months? Autumn: Vendémiaire, “grape harvest”, Brumaire, “mist”, Fri-
maire “frost” Winter: Nivôse “snowy”, Pluviôse “rainy”, Ventôse “windy” Spring: Germinal “germination”, Floréal “flower”, Prairial “meadow” Summer: Messidor “harvest”, Thermidor “summer heat”, Fructidor “fruit” Oh yes, there were now ten days in the week.
Cast in stone?
… and that is where the wheels came off. So how many weeks should there then be in a year? After all it is not possible to get Earth to go faster (or slower) around the sun. There will still be 365 days in a year. So how to match this into 10 days per week? And what about people’s salaries? Still paid per week? Chaos reigned supreme. So they went back to the ‘old’ system. But didn’t we have something similar some years back? YES: Internet time Wiki says: “Swatch Internet Time (or beat time) is a decimal time concept introduced in 1998 by the Swatch corporation as part of their marketing campaign for their line of “Beat” watches. Instead of hours and minutes, the mean solar day is divided into 1000 parts called “.beats”. Each .beat is equal to one decimal minute in the French Revolutionary decimal time system and lasts 1 minute and 26.4 seconds (86.4 seconds) in standard time. Times are notated as a 3-digit number out of 1000 after midnight. So, @248 would indicate a time 248 .beats after midnight representing 248/1000 of a day, just over 5 hours and 57 minutes” … and that did not take off either!
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