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Speaking of things that don’t fit with their namesake, there will eventually be a library named after George W. Bush. Let’s just say that there probably won’t be a lot of books there – you know, things we normally associate with libraries. I know it’s a cheap shot, but note that I have the decency not to go after his wife. As a city we already have a host of problems. The traffic, the smog, the language barriers, the economic gaps, the housing cost comparable to that for a condo on the lunar surface. We have issues, and we have plenty of people willing to point them out (I’m including myself). My point being: We don’t have to work hard to give our dissenters/residents fodder. So the next time you’re crawling along the segregation line of Los Angeles, named after a woman who personified protesting against segregation, go ahead and yell out, ”This city is retarded.” Those aren’t what you would call “fighting words.” Tina Dupuy is a stand-up comic and a writer living in Los Angeles. She’s the author of the blog www.sardonicsideshow.com.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! President George W. Bush may equate dissent with disloyalty, but the same is not true of those who can be called Angelenos. Complaining about Los Angeles is actually a citywide pastime. It’s a bonding ritual for the residents. Go to any bar, restaurant or public event and yell at the top of your lungs, ”This city is retarded!” Watch all within earshot nod their heads in agreement and then quickly go back to talking about themselves. A city undefended against critics? That’s part of its charm. It’s the glue that binds us as we sit alone in traffic. With that all being said, someone needs to point out the following: This city has a race chasm. It’s called the 10 Freeway. It has commonly been observed that that freeway is the racial divide for the city’s black residents. This city is racially segregated. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week Well, the Los Angeles stretch of Interstate 10 has been named the Rosa Parks Freeway. That’s right. The heroine of the civil-rights movement. The woman who became a symbol of integration. The icon, small in stature, who stood up to oppression. Rosa Parks died last month peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family at the age of 92. The Senate unanimously passed a resolution that allowed her to lie in repose at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. – the first woman shown that honor. How do we celebrate her legacy in the City of Angels? The answer: Ironically. My question: What would have been wrong with dubbing the 5 Freeway, or any other freeway in this city, after Rosa? This naming of the 10 after Rosa Parks is like naming a brand of crop pesticide after Cesar Chavez, renaming the Hooters chain after Gloria Steinem, naming a home for single mothers after Margaret Sanger, or naming a smart-bomb after Ghandi. Yes, it’s an honor to have things named after you – but not just anything. read more

By the end of this year, all South African universities and public research institutions will have access to internet broadband, at a speed equivalent to that of more developed nations.  (Image: www.cxo.eu.com) MEDIA CONTACTS • Christiaan Kuun  Project Manager  SANReN  +27 12 841 2876 • Tendani Tsedu   CSIR  +27 12 841 3417RELATED ARTICLES • SA universities to get fast broadband • Learning through gaming • Africa to get even more broadband • Great astronomy, with or without SKA • African eyes on the universe Emily van RijswijckBy the end of this year, all South African universities and public research institutions will have access to internet broadband, at a speed equivalent to that of more developed nations.South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training has announced that the Department of Science and Technology is to invest R886-million (US$117-million) into linking local universities and public research organisations, through a broadband connection with a minimum speed of 10 gigabits per second.The development signals a new era in research and cooperation for South Africa. It places the country on a par with the rest of the developed world for the first time.South Africa’s message to overseas scientists is clear. “Scientists will be able to come to the country, knowing that they can access the same quality ICT services as they are used to in their home countries,” says Christiaan Kuun, project manager for the South African National Research Network (SANReN)SANReN forms part of the government’s goal to expand scientific infrastructure and create a new national research and education network (NREN) in South Africa.The SANReN project, which is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, kicked off in 2007 to create an enabling information technology environment for students and researchers at tertiary institutions.SANReN for rural areasAccording to the Meraka Institute at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), tertiary institutions in rural areas are the latest to benefit from the SANReN roll-out.The Meraka Institute is in charge of implementation and oversight of the project. The institute focuses on advancement and research in information technology.As part of phase two of the project, infrastructure development is being extended to smaller, rural universities and satellite campuses around the country.The University of Venda and its satellite campuses in the North West province, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape among others, will later this year connect to SANReN for the first time.This will make it possible to access the internet at a minimum speed of one gigabit per second.Phase one, which was completed late last year, made it possible for 105 tertiary and research councils, among them 23 educational institutions and eight science councils, to connect to SANReN.The South African Large Telescope (Salt) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) connections were also finalised in the first phase, which now enables local and international scientists to process large quantities of data every day.How it worksThe SANReN national ring network connects all South Africa’s major cities – Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London –with each other. This connection offers a speed of 10 gigabits per second.International connectivity is provided through the Seacom undersea cable and a joint collaboration with the Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa and international networks such as GÉANT, a pan-European research and education network.ICT for EducationProf Hlengiwe Mkhize, deputy minister of higher education, says that the network forms part of the government’s desire to fast track research and education abilities through ICT at all tertiary institutions, with priority given to rural based institutions.Mkhize represented the country at the Southern African ICT for Education Summit held at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on 26 and 27 January.Significant investmentGovernment has made considerable investment in various projects and infrastructure, of which SANReN forms a part.Government-owned telecommunications company Sentech is building a national wireless broadband network focussing on rural access.Broadband Infraco, also government owned, is upgrading its network to increase capacity and reach.The government has also invested in submarine cable projects such as the West Africa Cable System (Wacs) and the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy).Wacs is an under-construction submarine communications cable linking South Africa with the United Kingdom along the west coast of Africa.EASSy is an undersea fibre optic cable system connecting countries of eastern Africa to the rest of the world.According to Mkhize, EASSy will offer an additional eight terabits to the country.SA’s global IT rankingThe 2010-2011 Global Information Technology Report of the World Economic Forum ranks South Africa 61st of 138 countries on its networked readiness index.The index assesses a county’s IT readiness in three areas: the regulatory, infrastructure and business environment for IT in the country; the readiness of business, government and individuals (three key groups identified) to use and benefit from IT; and actual ICT usage figures by these groups.For the second consecutive year, Sweden and Singapore were placed first and second respectively. Overall, Nordic and Asian countries lead in the readiness ratings.South Africa has both strengths and weaknesses in this regard. Its regulatory environment is excellent, but its individual readiness and uptake of ICT remains low.The high cost of access to ICT in South Africa is another challenge. However, SANReN is addressing this problem.This lies at the heart of the skills challenge in South Africa, admitted Mkhize.About three-million young people in rural and semi-urban areas have the most pressing educational needs, she says.While government’s investments will go a long way to improve the future of rural students, for ICT investments to be meaningful, a holistic approach is necessary, she added.“Above everything, we have to use centres of higher learning as hubs of technology transfer.” read more