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/ 7 February 2007

Apple wants to set the music free

Apple’s Steve Jobs posted an open message to record studios on Tuesday, asking them to abolish security software that prevents music bought online from playing on different types of MP3 players. Apple would embrace eliminating technology that prevents songs downloaded from its iTunes music store from being played on iPod rivals, he said.

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/ 7 February 2007

China to encourage investment in SA

China will use its Africa Fund to encourage Chinese companies to invest in South Africa, President Hu Jintao told President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on Tuesday. "We discussed this matter and looked at steps that must be taken to further intensify that cooperation in all areas — trade, investment, human resource development, technology transfers," Mbeki said.

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/ 7 February 2007

Hooked by the Pongola

Fishing. Even the word smacks of something men do, like golf, to ensure a few precious hours away from wives and girlfriends, or provide an excuse for a weekend away with the lads. It isn’t something immediately attractive to those who haven’t tried it.

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/ 7 February 2007

Number crunching

Your bank sends you a letter offering you a chance to enrol in its "points" programme. For an annual fee of R180, you will earn one point for every R6 you spend on your credit card. For every 2 400 points you accumulate, you will receive a R100 gift voucher. You can also use your points to buy air miles: three points buys one mile; 20 000 miles buys a domestic flight. Do you join the programme?

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/ 7 February 2007

SA – maths = crisis

There is a wonderful inherent logic and rationality to maths, and not just with equations. It is a great pity that the department of education is unable or unwilling to apply some of this rationale to dealing with the problem of low pass rates in maths in the country.

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/ 7 February 2007

Skilling up

Radhika Patel* wanted to become a lawyer, so she studied towards a BA degree in legal studies and psychology. After assisting a colleague who was studying law, she found that law "was too mundane and not as glamourous as depicted on TV".