SA free bandwidth campaign launched

Posted on May 31st, 2007 by Richard Catto 3,621 views

These people are spreading a message (by email) that is very dangerous.

They are attempting to persuade people to download some software that they have allegedly written that will do a “network test” of the local South African network.

They say that their software is open source and that the source code will be available for download from their site, along with a self installing program. Big deal. If you install their self installing program, you don’t know whether that program is actually the result of compiling the supplied source code.

What their program is supposed to do is access a list of local sites for about 5 minutes and then uninstall itself.

Fact is, they’re asking you to trust them that all the claims they make are true.

What they describe sounds to me like a DDOS (Distributed Denial Of Service) attack.

Even if they have the best intentions, their “network test” program could quite easily wreak havoc.

Do you really want to risk being part of taking down South Africa’s network?

I think this is madness!

Cool link: Brilliant Bru & Boegie cartoon strip of this story

Filed under bandwidth cap, bandwidth test, DDOS, June 30 2007, network test, SA free bandwidth campaign, Scam | 12 Comments »

Are South African parents ready for this?

Posted on May 31st, 2007 by Richard Catto 3,699 views

A draft bill has just been passed that outlaws corporal punishment of children.

Corporal punishment of learners in schools was constitutionally abolished in 1996 by the South African Schools Act. The Children’s Amendment Bill extends that to the home and, in fact, any and everywhere.

No child may be subjected to corporal punishment or be punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.
- Children’s Amendment Bill 2007

Are South African parents equipped to deal with this enforced change in the way they discipline their children? Are there any community programs offering workshops to teach parents alternatives to corporal punishment?

Part of the Bill stipulates that offenders be sent to a parenting programme.

Is this Bill a further erosion of "Christian values" which have traditionally encouraged corporal punishment as the preferred means of correcting disobedient children? Or is this a progressive step that will result in less child abuse and better mental health for our children as they grow up into adults?

Filed under Children's Amendment Bill, corporal punishment, spanking | 38 Comments »

SARS Small Business Tax Amnesty deadline extended

Posted on May 31st, 2007 by Richard Catto 1,874 views

To accommodate the huge volume of applicants, the deadline for the SARS Small Business Tax Amnesty has been extended till Saturday, June 02 2007 13h00.

Source:
Sars extends tax-amnesty deadline

Filed under SARS, Small business, South African Revenue Service, Tax Amnesty | No Comments »

Spicy Hibiscus – functions, parties or intimate dinners

Posted on May 30th, 2007 by Richard Catto 1,712 views

Filed under Catering, intimate dinners, Parties | No Comments »

No smooth path for same-sex couples to follow to wed

Posted on May 30th, 2007 by Richard Catto 4,625 views

It’s been over six months since South Africa decided to end its discrimination (on the grounds of sexual orientation) and allow same sex couples the same marital rights as male and female couples, and yet the obstacles to achieving a perfect union still loom large for them.

Whereas a heterosexual couple can quite easily find a Church willing to bless their union, same-sex couples are being told NO by all the major denominations.

The Anglicans, Catholics, Baptists and Presbyterians will not be officiating over any gaggle of gay betrothals.

The Methodists are simply stalling for time – 19 of their misguided ministers are keen to catch teh ghey (sic) bouquet, whilst the rest of their number fumes over their Heresy! In the interim, they have placed a moratorium on performing any same-sex weddings.

Don’t ya just love the smell of excommunication in the morning?

Source:
Churches bar gay marriages

Filed under bigotry, Christian bigotry, Church, couples, excommunication, gay, homosexual, marriage, queer, same sex marriage | 22 Comments »