Just as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) are beginning to show promise in artificial intelligence (AI), new developments in application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are challenging to become devices of choice for AI in the future. The uncertainty began when Google announced its second-generation ASICs to accelerate machine learning. But […]
Reefsteamers NPC is one of only a few “heritage” steam operations run largely by volunteers still active in South Africa; others include Friends of the Rail (FotR) in Pretoria, (soon to become Wonder Steam), Ceres Rail (previously Atlantic Rail) in the Cape, Umgeni Steam Railway in Natal as well as Sandstone (a private preservation initiative) […]
When the mothers and daughters embarked on this epic trip around Ireland, the roles were reversed – Jodilee drove, Melissa navigated and moms Mandy and Annette sat in the back – with strict instructions to not utter the words “Are we there yet?” (we had planned revenge on their childhood trips…). Out–of–season November was the […]
Once a month, on atypical weekend, a corner of Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg is the scene of a very competitive regatta. Although the competition is between wind-powered sailing boats, the competitors seldom get wet, or even leave the shore. That’s because the boats used in these regattas are radio-controlled scale models. Click here to download […]
I always thought that dragonflies are the males and damselflies the females. As Cicero said: “I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know.” This article is about dragons and damsels, what they look like, where you can find them, and much more. But, before we get into all […]
I have always had an affinity for anything mechanical and from an early age I was making or modifying something. Initially it was making things out of bits of wood and nails, then I moved onto bicycles. My true passion, however, was ignited with the purchase of a 1960s Vespa 125 cc two-stroke scooter which […]
The smell of coal, oil and steam and the chuff-chuff of a 220 t steam locomotive as it gathers momentum to 60 km/h along the railway excites many people, young and old. One man keeps a beady eye on a wall of gauges and periodically shovels coal into a square hole, while a second man […]
Allison Heckman is a thirteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming the Women’s World Champion boxer. With the help of the school caretaker, Marcus Radebe and his friend Mr. Papenfus, Allison’s PE teacher, she learns the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. Mr. Radebe teaches Allison the words to the “secret recipe” […]
I trained as an environmental scientist and I now find myself deeply involved in cyanide and environmental management systems auditing. The essence of this is dealing with people. (The environment is fine, it’s had roughly four and a half billion years to sort itself out and a few billion people are not going to give […]
On the way home from a trip to the Wild Coast over the Christmas Holidays, my partner Kenny wanted to show me what he described as one of his favourite places, Weenen Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, near Estcourt. Driving into the reserve, the neat, serviceable entrance and buildings and well-kept gardens didn’t overwhelm with […]
