Security tip

The main difference between http:// and https:// is all about keeping you security.

HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

The "s" stands for "secure".

If you visit a website or webpage, and look at the address in the web browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://. This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language. In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.

This is why you never ever enter your credit card number in an http:// website! But if the web address begins with https://, that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on.

If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with https://.

If it doesn't, you should NEVER enter sensitive information ... such as a credit card number.

Source: WikiAnswers.

Rules of preservation

By Penny Evans

Alan Jeffrey

On 21st of April 2012 our branch was addressed by Alan Jeffrey, a book restorer working at the Brenthurst Library, which is one of the finest privately owned Africana libraries, and contains books, manuscripts, artworks and maps.

He explained that all the materials he uses to preserve books and manuscripts are archival. The materials are expensive as they are imported from USA. Two of the products used are Mylar and Melinex which are made by Du Pont.

He advised members not to use plastics that contain a plasticiser (gives off a smell). The gas that is emitted can penetrate the document and cause damage.

Lamination is not advisable.

Biblioteek gereorganiseer

John Stephens

Graham Southey en John Stepehns

Daar is ‘n begin gemaak om die tak se biblioteek te reorganiseer sodat alles meer toeganklik vir ons lede sal wees.

Nou lê daar werk voor om die boeke genommer te kry. Daarna moet ook die ander items soos DVD’s, CD’s, items wat nog by ander lede is, ook hier geliasseer word.

‘n Behoorlike inventaris moet opgestel word sodat die hele biblioteek-inhoud verseker kan word.

Comparing genetic ancestry and genealogy. South African Y chromosomes and surnames

Christoff Erasmus of the Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria

Christoff Erasmus

Forty one members of the West Gauteng branch attended this interesting presentation on 24th March 2012.

There are only two sections of DNA which are carried over from one parent to the children. This is the Y chromosome which is carried over from father to son. By studying this Y chromosome, information about the male ancestors, going back thousands of years, can be seen. Similarly, the mitochondrial DNA is carried over from the mother to her children, but only the daughters can carry this over to their own children.