something found or shared: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Today’s health-care decision: In Plain English : SCOTUSblog

SCOTUSblog 10:18 am - HCR Ruling (Photo credit: justgrimes)

Today’s health-care decision: In Plain English : SCOTUSblog
Thanks Greg.

Friday, June 29, 2012

The lecturer: yes, there are jobs out there for journalists | Crikey

Another reason why high school students need access to social media in Australia as illustrated this article by:

Jenna Price

But what breaks my heart is the way in which young students, about to graduate, ask me if they will ever get work as journalists. My always truthful answer is — it depends.

Are you doing the best kind of journalism you can do? Can you break the odd story? Can you deliver it across all media? Can you curate Twitter feeds? Can you do a decent photo gallery? Do you know how to use Twitter and Facebook for research and promotion of your own work? Do you know how to bill? Alan and Arianna will not be the only ones to make their money from online.

The lecturer: yes, there are jobs out there for journalists | Crikey

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Book Week @ Taronga Video Conferences

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Another person who needs saving from extradition

Richard O'Dwyer is a 24 year old British student at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. He is facing extradition to the USA and up to ten years in prison, for creating a website – TVShack.net – which linked (similar to a search-engine) to places to watch TV and movies online.

http://www.change.org/petitions/ukhomeoffice-stop-the-extradition-of-richard-o-dwyer-to-the-usa-saverichard

- Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder

Monday, June 25, 2012

10 Reasons Why Twitter Is Great For Writers

Even writers think twitter is a helpful tool.

THE SWIFT HANDSHAKE

http://jasonarnopp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/10-reasons-twitter-is-great-for-writers.html

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Tree-roots Van Gogh

Just love this Van Gogh one of his lesser known works.

Tree-roots
(July 1890 - 1890)

Vincent van Gogh

http://g.co/artproject/cay2

Daubigny's Garden, July 1890, Auvers, Kunstmuseum Basel, one of Van Gogh's final works Pickvance (1986), 272–273 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Saga continues

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 22: A protester wearing a face mask displaying the American national flag next to a placard displaying an image of Julian Assange shows her support for Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorian embassy on June 22, 2012 in London, England. Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blowing website, has sought refuge in Ecuador's London embassy to prevent him from being extradited to Sweden on allegations of rape and assault. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Julian Assange (Photo credit: acidpolly)

John Pilager and others have not abandoned Assange but its not looking too good.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/charges-against-assange-drawn-up-in-us-says-email-20120228-1u14c.html#ixzz1wXkICSTW

Friday, June 22, 2012

GIF

You have to love the GIF Last week marked the 25-year anniversary of the Graphics Interchange Format, better known to Web surfers as the GIF.

AFL Sydney defeats Geelong June 22 2012

Old South Melbourne Football Club shield. The motto, "Aut vincere aut mori", is Latin for "either to conquer or to die". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The result Live AFL: Sydney Swans v Geelong
Go Swans.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Social Media and Choosing a High School #etmooc

Social Media Cafe (Photo credit: Cristiano Betta)

As a number of Australian teachers are taking part in the #etmooc I am hoping to hear some comments from teachers if things are changing in this area.

My youngest is entering High School next year and we have a fair number of schools in the area so we have been doing the visits. Making sure we ask questions and listening patiently as the principal or vice principal and students talk to us about why we should pick their school and what makes it great.

Being somewhat into social media (lol). As one person who I follow on twitter Blogged today the wealth of sharing is wonderful thanks Ellen. I agree with Ellen's short message entirely but what really disappoints me is to find that NSW education still thinks blocking social network sites is fine. Wait my partner just reminded me this is a federal thing shame on Australia then!

"Social media sites are at present blocked, but with its internet filtering contract due to expire, the department is surveying schools to ensure the next version of the software meets their needs".

But wait our school visit last night had the Principal proudly mentioning that they have brought in a writer in residence who is working with the students to improve their writing skills. This writer is renowned for their work in doing mash ups of twitter and other social media and is a published author. HUH!!

The principal admitted that blocking social media was stupid and what should be taught is how to use these tools in an ethical way YEAH! Our child has a high school to attend next year.

As the principal said last night "We will remain optimistic".

Even if you look at the NSW public schools web site their seems to be a lot of chatter

At a glanceMost of our kids are using multiple kinds of social media.Social media is just another way of receiving news – whether it's from friends and family or strangers we've never met.The best way to learn about social media is simply to visit the sites and see for yourself.

Related articles
From Steve Wheeler:
"One of the greatest barriers to innovative practice in schools arises from the ban many place on the use of mobile phones in their classrooms. Place this in the context of local education authorities concertedly blocking social media services due to 'safety' concerns, and there is little wonder that schools struggle to capitalise on the technological benefits being enjoyed by the rest of society. It is an abysmal situation."
http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/stuck-in-past.html

What skills do you need to be a good Journalist?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Is it the end for the Zig Zag Railway?

1072 passing Bottom Points Signal Box on the Lithgow Zig Zag railway line. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A historical view of the Zig Zag Railway line with top road on number 1 viaduct in the foreground and viaducts numbers 2 and 3 of middle road halfway down the valley. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Zig Zag Railway, a photo by markfchristopher on Flickr.

Another sad day.

Why is it so hard to care about our heritage in Australia?

This picture was taken a number of years ago at the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow and we had a great adventure on the Wizard Express on Platform 3 3/4. So many volunteer hours to keep what is one of the big historical railway wonders of the world that is part of our history being shut down and ignored as usual.

Copyright and access problems and a little devil

This is so true love it via @nazzer

Via the oatmeal

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Careless talk

English: Photograph of the The National Archives, taken by Nick Cooper 3 February, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The National Archives (United Kingdom)

Some amazing images that are now available through Wikipedia.

Friday, June 15, 2012

We have a new University Librarian @UTSLibrary

I am pleased Mal has been appointed. I have found him to be a great mentor myself and we have seen some dramatic changes.
Congratulations Mal!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

AZARIA. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Good on you Wendy.

AZARIA. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Related articles

Monday, June 11, 2012

Things that are no longer here

English: Main atrium of the State Theatre, Sydney (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Marcel Marceau (Photo credit: phoenixdiaz)

Mime Marcel Marceau, 06/16/1977 ARC Identifier: 175193 NLC-WHSP-C-01769-34 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Marcel Marceau as Bip the Clown

Regent Theater Sydney

I was once again lucky enough to see Marcel Marceau in the wonderful Regent Theatre in Sydney before it was destroyed leaving behind some crappy new architecture. The interior was probably comparable if not better then the State Theater in Sydney.

I know mime has been sent up over the years but i cannot believe anyone who experienced this man performing live would walk away unmoved.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" Speech (Complete Text), March 23, 1983 /Candide's Notebooks

I think its sad so many people have such short memories.

Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" Speech (Complete Text), March 23, 1983 /Candide's Notebooks

Farewell to the World

Band photo of Crowded House for the en.wikipedia project. Thank you, goodnight! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cover of Internationalist

English: Crowded House in San Francisco, California. L to R: Paul Hester, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What the end of the world? No just the end of what was one of the best Australian/New Zealand bands ever Crowded House.
It was 1996 and the band had decided to call it quits so what better excuse to have a fantastic farewell on the Sydney Opera House Steps. This turned out to be one of the very memorable live concerts I had the pleasure of being at and as is so often the case it was mainly due to good luck rather then planning that a group of us made it and as the Wickipedia entry has recorded: "The concert was the first ever to be performed on the footsteps of the Opera House and attracted a crowd of greater than 100,000 people,[6] with some estimates of 250,000 people in attendance." This is is not an exageration as they closed access to the area just after we had made it to what was an ideal location both for sound and viewing the concert. "The concert included many of Crowded House's most famous hits and many fan favourites also. The supporting bands were "You Am I" followed by Powderfinger. Powderfinger released their performance also with selected versions of their album Internationalist."
The icing on the cake so to speak was a huge full moon rising over the Opera House sails on that November balmy Sydney evening of the concert.
It is sad to think that Paul Hester the drummer for Crowded House went on to committ suicide.
Three weeks ago Peter Jones also passed away with Cancer.