Diary: J. M. Coetzee, (1) Mother Tongue
(books.substack.com)
A writer who made his name writing in English tries to leave it behind
A writer who made his name writing in English tries to leave it behind
Mini-satellite paves the way for quantum messaging anywhere on Earth
(nature.com)
Researchers have broken a distance record in quantum communication by sending a secret encryption key nearly 13,000 km from China to South Africa, using a cheap, lightweight ‘microsatellite’.
Researchers have broken a distance record in quantum communication by sending a secret encryption key nearly 13,000 km from China to South Africa, using a cheap, lightweight ‘microsatellite’.
XAI's Grok suddenly can't stop bringing up "white genocide" in South Africa
(arstechnica.com)
Grok has one thing on its mind, and it's going to let you know about it.
Grok has one thing on its mind, and it's going to let you know about it.
Grok chatbot repeatedly mentions 'white genocide' in unrelated chats
(theguardian.com)
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok went on the fritz on Wednesday, repeatedly mentioning “white genocide” in South Africa in its responses on completely unrelated topics. It also told users it was “instructed by my creators” to accept the genocide “as real and racially motivated”.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok went on the fritz on Wednesday, repeatedly mentioning “white genocide” in South Africa in its responses on completely unrelated topics. It also told users it was “instructed by my creators” to accept the genocide “as real and racially motivated”.
Grok wants people to know claim of white genocide in S.A. is contentious
(theverge.com)
Grok, the AI model from Elon Musk’s xAI, was sending strange responses to people on X earlier on Wednesday. In responses to a number of people, Grok focused on debunking claims of white genocide in South Africa – even when tagged into a post about totally unrelated topics.
Grok, the AI model from Elon Musk’s xAI, was sending strange responses to people on X earlier on Wednesday. In responses to a number of people, Grok focused on debunking claims of white genocide in South Africa – even when tagged into a post about totally unrelated topics.
In 1859, a South African declared himself emperor of the United States
(aljazeera.com)
On the morning of September 17, 1859, a “well-dressed and serious-looking man” walked into the offices of The San Francisco Evening Bulletin and – without explanation – handed over a document that he wished to see published.
On the morning of September 17, 1859, a “well-dressed and serious-looking man” walked into the offices of The San Francisco Evening Bulletin and – without explanation – handed over a document that he wished to see published.
Unsecured penguin caused helicopter crash in South Africa
(bbc.com)
An "unsecured" penguin in a cardboard box was the cause of a helicopter crash in South Africa, a report into the incident has found.
An "unsecured" penguin in a cardboard box was the cause of a helicopter crash in South Africa, a report into the incident has found.
South Africa's Post-Apartheid Justice Is Under New Scrutiny
(bloomberg.com)
Hailed worldwide as an exemplar of restorative justice, Nelson Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission left many crimes unpunished.
Hailed worldwide as an exemplar of restorative justice, Nelson Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission left many crimes unpunished.
South Africa's history uncovered: the 1k-year gap they don't teach in school
(theconversation.com)
Were you told that gold mining in southern Africa started after 1852? Or that the export of iron, steel, copper and gold began in the late 19th century? Or that South Africa became integrated into a global trading system only after 1652? Or that the first powerful state in South Africa was the Zulu kingdom?
Were you told that gold mining in southern Africa started after 1852? Or that the export of iron, steel, copper and gold began in the late 19th century? Or that South Africa became integrated into a global trading system only after 1652? Or that the first powerful state in South Africa was the Zulu kingdom?
How the roots of the 'PayPal mafia' extend to apartheid South Africa
(theguardian.com)
When Elon Musk’s arm shot out in a stiff arm salute at Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations, startled viewers mostly drew the obvious comparison.
When Elon Musk’s arm shot out in a stiff arm salute at Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations, startled viewers mostly drew the obvious comparison.
How the roots of the 'PayPal mafia' extend to apartheid South Africa
(theguardian.com)
When Elon Musk’s arm shot out in a stiff arm salute at Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations, startled viewers mostly drew the obvious comparison.
When Elon Musk’s arm shot out in a stiff arm salute at Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations, startled viewers mostly drew the obvious comparison.
Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines
(bbc.com)
Along with about 600 other men, Ndumiso lives and works in a small gang-controlled "town" - complete with markets and a red light district - that has grown up deep underground at a disused gold mine in South Africa.
Along with about 600 other men, Ndumiso lives and works in a small gang-controlled "town" - complete with markets and a red light district - that has grown up deep underground at a disused gold mine in South Africa.
Qantas South Africa flights delayed by falling debris from SpaceX rockets
(theguardian.com)
Qantas says it has been forced to delay several of its flights to South Africa at the last minute due to warnings of falling debris from Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets re-entering Earth.
Qantas says it has been forced to delay several of its flights to South Africa at the last minute due to warnings of falling debris from Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets re-entering Earth.
MPTA Finds Evidence of Gravitational Wave Background
(spaceaustralia.com)
The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array (MPTA) has detected the gravitational wave background within just 4.5 years, using South Africa's sensitive telescope. Lead author Dr. Matt Miles shares insights into this groundbreaking discovery.
The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array (MPTA) has detected the gravitational wave background within just 4.5 years, using South Africa's sensitive telescope. Lead author Dr. Matt Miles shares insights into this groundbreaking discovery.
Musk, Thiel and the shadow of apartheid South Africa
(ft.com)
Musk, Thiel and the shadow of apartheid South Africa
Musk, Thiel and the shadow of apartheid South Africa
Code that helped end Apartheid
(wired.com)
John Graham-Cumming, who happens to be Cloudflare's CTO, cracked a 30-year-old encrypted file that had a role in rewriting South Africa’s history.
John Graham-Cumming, who happens to be Cloudflare's CTO, cracked a 30-year-old encrypted file that had a role in rewriting South Africa’s history.
Cracking an old ZIP file to help open source the ANC's "Vula" secret crypto code
(jgc.org)
It's not often that you find yourself staring at code that few people have ever seen, code that was an important part in bringing down the apartheid system in South Africa, and code that was used for secure communication using one-time pads smuggled into South Africa by a flight attendant on floppy disks. But I found myself doing that one morning recently after having helped decrypt a 30 year old PKZIP file whose password had long been forgotten.
It's not often that you find yourself staring at code that few people have ever seen, code that was an important part in bringing down the apartheid system in South Africa, and code that was used for secure communication using one-time pads smuggled into South Africa by a flight attendant on floppy disks. But I found myself doing that one morning recently after having helped decrypt a 30 year old PKZIP file whose password had long been forgotten.