This has possibly the most highly productive week I've had in 6 months. I've finished my marking, completed my administration and have even got some research done. My house is clean, I've caught up on some DVDs I hadn't seen, My desktop now has everything I need on it, I've backed up my systems, created a new CD for the MBA Orientation group and designed a new website for ANZCA.
It's extraordinary what I can achieve when I don't turn up to work and get caught in hours and hours of meetings.
I was probably more highly amused by the subheading than particularly interested in the article over at vnunet.com on men's use of Google for solving their personal problems. But the whole article, and its implications for the future of human communications, is of use in determining the level of dependence we are beginning to place on communications devices and internet-mediated research tools. It's the double-edged sword of information access: because we can now find answers to virtually any question we may have online, without all the angst associated with human communications, we are now more inclined to educate ourselves than to ask for assistance or advice.
I can perceive a number of problems with this trend, above and beyond the obvious issues about loss of the ability to communicate interpersonally. In the long run, utilising recorded "solutions" to individual problems will inevitably date any accessed solutions, and as time progresses, the very problems of information access and human communication are likely to shift - therefore the "solution" is less likely to fit any problem.
In the meantime, however, I'm just glad the Sub-Editor has a sense of humour :-)
Just been on the phone to Scott Murdoch at the Courier Mail who is doing an article on the influence and scope of Google. In many respects, the advance of Google is related to a lot of the research I've conducted on blogging. If it were not for Google, it's unlikely that many of the blogs that have developed in complexity and influence in the technosphere would have reached the level of prominence and popularity that they have so far achieved. And since the takeover of Blogger, and the development of Google's own blog, it's likely that the rise of blogging will continue, unabated.
Nice for those of us who are so interested in blogging research. Axel Bruns and I now need to get our Uses of Blogs book out to capitalise on the phenomenon.
My mate Kevin is the bestest friend in the entire world. He has spent 5 hours at my place today getting my PC running. He was methodical, but as it turns, out, in spite of my poor screwdriving efforts, none of the issues I was having were my fault. So we diagnosed the remaining fault fairly quickly, but then had to spend a great deal of time trasnferring files, formatting and installing stuff all over again. So that was the majority of the time. Kev also supplied me with round IDE cables and a decent optical mouse. He has looked after me very, very, very well indeed.
So thankyou hon. I owe you heaps and thank you for being such a fab friend :-)
At 2:30pm it was 39° Celsius. It still doesn't seem that hot, but I figure I must be mad so I've put the air con on anyway.
So do you think it's a bad thing that it's 35° and I'm thinking what a gorgeous day it is?
Oh and it appears email is back for me. I just received email messages from last Wednesday. I'm working through the backlog and will get back to people as soon as I can.
Thanks to Westy (and Slashdot!) for the rather amusing link to the Murphy's Law calculator. I think in my case right now, I'd say there's abou a 99.999999% chance of everything going wrong.
A hint of things to come at a fully privatised Telstra, with CEO Ziggy Switkowsky announcing jobs to go offshore to India.
And grave predictions about the future of the internet (or lack of it) are being published in European research.
Finally, this weekend I may actually have a working desktop PC for the first time in 7 months. Of course, in order to get the thing working, I have had to spend over $500. Fun. Not.
Apparently most of my emails aren't getting in or out. Until further notice, anyone who needs to contact me should probably try my other email address or email me at the MSN Hotmail address.
I have a few articles, several large projects and many emails to get back to. Only I don't want to right now. I want entertainment. Why is Warren Ellis still asleep at this hour?
I'm driven to make this post as a result of an absolutely gorgeous email I received this morning from a former student at Monash University. Jessica Hao was a first year student when she attended my classes in the Communication program at Monash. Rather brave, Jess decided to remain in the tutorial into which she was enrolled, in spite of the stories she had heard about how tough a lecturer I was, and how I was the 'bad cop' of the Coordination team of Leanne White and myself. Jessica has now completed her Masters degree at Sydney University and is returning to China to work in television media in Beijing. This morning she sent me an email thanking me for encouraging her to enter the industry. Here's an excerpt from her email.
My name is Jessica HAO, was your COM1010 and COM1020 student at Monash in the year 2001, and just loved your classes and your teaching style. Now I’m finishing my MA at the university of Sydney, and going back to China to work at the Chinese National TV and the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG). Beside this, I’m also assisting on some projects that running between Sydney University and Tsinghua University (the top uni. in China), and UTS and Tsinghua.Among so many lecturers and professors, you are the one who made me feel I would like to work in the area of Media and Communications, and started the
journey in this industry.
This is what teaching is all about. This is why it's so rewarding. I can't express how satisfying it is to feel I have had so much to contribute towards the lives and careers of my students.
You don't hear that often from former students, but an email like Jessica's this morning is enough to make all the hardships and struggle worthwhile.
And I'll let you in on a secret. Recently I've been considering leaving teaching and academia, to pursue some other career perhaps completely away from teaching. It's messages and moments like these that make me want to keep on trying, and keep introducing students to ideas and strategies for success to last the rest of their lives.
Thanks, Jessica, for your kind words, and your ongoing support. You've made my day.
A couple of birthday messages today! Happy birthday to my dear friend, Camilla, and happy birthday to another dear friend, Jean Dann. Hope you both have fabulous days. Thanks for letting me be part of your celebrations!
*hugs and love to you*
On the awards front, I suppose I should let people know that I received a High Commendation for the Innovation in Teaching award for QUT's Faculty of Business. Thanks to students and colleagues for their support on that front. At the other end of the spectrum, London's Swiss Re Tower (a.k.a. the "Erotic Gherkin") has won a design award. Rising up in the London skyline from the majesty and history of the Tower of London, I find the Swiss Tower an absolute eyesore. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course.
The other day I was wearing an old T-Shirt with an alien head on the back of it, and someone had the gall to ask me what the hell I was wearing. Furthermore, when I mentioned that I was wearing Schwa artwork, I was considered to have lost my marbles. Since that day I have been flipping through the Schwa World Operations Manual and my Schwa Sightings Journal, and have been trying to find all the websites and virtual reality aspects of Schwa online. The trouble is that they have all disappeared.
Now I know those of us associated with The Schwa Corporation should never follow instructions. We should suspect instructions. We should keep reality secret. But we should also support Alienology. So where have all the Schwa artifacts gone? And why is it that The Schwa Corporation website has been reclaimed by the ever-progressing threat of search engines?
Thanks to Jeremy Williams for the link to the article from BBC News Online on the integration of women and technology. The article claims that since the invention of the latest digital gadgets, women have been "lost on the way" of technology development. I explored these issues some time ago in an article for Wireless Systems Design, saying that women and wireless technologies are not a natural fit unless the functionality aspects of devices are heightened. As Melanie McGrath once said, men ask "what does the technology do?", where women ask "what does the technology do for me?".
The article from BBC Online argues that companies are seeking out women customers by offering fashionable aspects to the hardware, look, feel and comfort of technology use. While I agree that comfort and usability is important, I am most reticent to believe that cosmetic improvements will actually attract a woman customer to adopt new technologies. Unless there is some communicative benefit in adopting a specific technology, I doubt women will adopt pretty devices. As the article does go on to note, it's somewhat frustrating to have women users reduced to those who find dress size converters and pregnancy tests in mobile phones to be relevant enough to encourage women to adopt a specific device. It'd be so much more useful to show how a specific technology is actually going to be more useful than existing systems. Women are shrewd consumers, not mindless automatons, obsessed as the Stepford Wives with prettiness and order. Grow up, technologists. If you really want women to adopt you're just going to have to make something genuinely useful.
There are times when my mother is clearly the best mother in the world. This is one of those times. I would like to share with you all an excerpt from an email she just sent my brother and me:
Take care both of you - I think of you lots and lots of course. I think I will take both of you and Eloise away from work, and you can just go and sit in the sun on a beach in Queensland. This treatment will last about 6 months and you can just eat, swim, walk, sleep and relax. Sounds OK? Love M
Sadden me: Death of Chris Reeves, a.k.a. Superman
Concern me: Forthcoming sale of Telstra
Scare me: Hello Kitty Mastercard
Thanks to Mark Deuis in my GSN402 class for the link to the article at Computerworld on whether IT does indeed create any competitive advantage. There now appears to be some argument that IT now is so ubiquitous that it can no longer be regarded as a competitive strength. How managers use technology effectively is more important than the presence of technology in an organisation.
So in the end it wasn't just a victory by the Coalition but a net gain of around four or five seats. So much for the dissatisfaction with Howard's policies. Apparently Australia feels that:
- it was okay to invade Iraq with wildly inaccurate knowledge of Iraq's cache of WMD
- it's okay the lock up refugees in hideous conditions for an unspecified period of time
- it's okay to fail to acknowledge the prejudice and oppression with which our nation's indigenous people have been treated
- it's better to save jobs by cutting 50+ year old trees down on an annual basis than it is to preserve forests
- it's better to wait in a queue for high-priced health care and pay for everything in advance than to have bulk billing
- it's better to pay more for education than ever before.
Hmmm. There has long been an adage about Australian voting trends that the devil you know seems to be easier to vote for than the devil you don't - particularly if there is any chance of mortgage repayments going up with interest rates. Of course, the chances are just as likely (perhaps moreso) that interest rates will rise in the next term of the Howard Government. But this election result is remarkable for the fact that except in a handful of seats, the sitting member has tended to have a swing towards them rather than away from them. People have not voted for change. People have voted for a continuance of the status quo - whether their member is from the left or the right. And principles of government have had very little to do with voting trends. Instead, the very thing that Labor campaigned on - local issues - has produced a result which has returned the incumbents in an even stronger position than before the election.
Perhaps tellingly, the seat of Brisbane (not my federal seat - I'm in Lilley) was in many respects a litmus test for change and difference. Liberal Party contender, Dr Ingrid Tall, has spent the last 12 weeks on street corners and in the media, encouraging the people in the Brisbane electorate to vote Liberal. Sitting member, ALP candidate Arch Bevis, has held the seat since 1990 but it was previously a very marginal seat, requiring only a 1.0% swing to fall to the Liberals. But in an election where the swing to Liberal nationally has been around 3.3%, the swing against candidate Ingrid Tall has been around 1.5%. Why? I'm guessing here, but I'm prepared to bet that it has something to do with Tall being a lesbian. Rather than endorsing change and progression in social acceptance of difference, Tall's candidature has been battered by prejudice and isolation. It's interesting, because I've never seen a candidate work harder for her (potential) electorate. Now I'm not saying Arch Bevis was not a tough competitor, but I do note that the Brisbane seat has gone from being marginal to being a safe Labor seat. Coincidence? I think not.
Old barriers are not being broken down. Principles are not being upheld. Australians have voted for private prejudices, and not the public good.
Just an hour and 20 minutes after the poll booths have closed on the east coast of Australia, I'm calling the result as a comfortable Coalition win. While the swing to Labor in some seats has been remarkable, in most cases these have been in seats that are safe Labor seats to begin with. And in terms of where it matters, the swing against the government hasn't been substantial in marginal seats. Indeed, in some cases (particularly the logging seats in Tasmania) the swing has gone against a Labor-held seat, and two of these have been gained by the Liberals.
I am disappointed, though perhaps not surprised. History was against the Labor party in this election and difference in policies seem not to have been suitably reinforced except where logging is concerned in Tasmania.
I am less optimistic about the next 4 years. This will inevitably produce a change of government in the next election, but that's cold comfort when the next 4 years are considered. Not good news.
Have just met little Dylan Matthew Allan Foran. (YAY! They chose 'Dylan'!) He's tiny and placid and loves to cuddle his Mum. And his big brother Ethan looks enormous beside him, even though Ethan is only 18 months old himself. It's amazing how a brand new life can really brighten up a day! Lovely to see Mel and Dylan and my Godson, Ethan. Wishing the whole family a lifetime of happiness, peace and prosperity.
As the smell of smoke has permeated my apartment due to the fire on Mount Coot-tha just down the road, I can't sleep. Consequently, I have elected to use my time more efficiently and have responded to some emails and finally got a chance to do some reading. Thanks to Westy for a series of links that have proved most informative.
Firstly, the research conducted on internet deprivation was fascinating for its identification of the reliance many now place on these technologies. *looks at self* Hmm. A few years back I might have felt a tad reliant on internet connectivity. Lately though I think I could well go without it for a fortnight. I'd just hate to come back to my email!!!
And this link to a discussion of bug fixing for Microsoft operating systems explains just how hard it is to find all the various nuances of program functionality in updating system activities. At least it's good to know there are those out there who are dedicated enough to gaming to fix some problems! :)
Ever had that feeling that someone is out to get you? Or that you must have done something really bad in a past life?
I have just heard this evening that my (insert air quotations) Research Block (close air quotations) during November and December this year will now be spent teaching. Unless I can find someone to take two units that were supposed to be taught by a visiting professor. The visiting professor in question has decided it's not financially viable to come to Australia and teach - 3 weeks before the semester begins. So now I am faced with yet another resourcing disaster as I try to find someone suitably qualified and available to teach in e-business units, or end up giving up my only teaching period off for 2004.
Just as I appeared to have resolved the stresses of a couple of weeks ago, and on top of the hayfever/asthma and back injury I'm presently enduring, I'm having just the most delightful time at the moment.
Thank goodness that there was some good news in the past day or so, with the birth of my friend, Melissa's second son. A very easy labour in the end, the new arrival who still didn't have a name when I spoke to Melissa at lunch today, was 8 pounds and 2 ounces, and both Mum and baby doing well. Welcome little man! (I'm hoping for 'Dylan' - one of the shortlisted names!)
I should also say thankyou to all those who have sent me good vibes and kind wishes. Folks - you have no idea how much it's helped this past few weeks. You're all my heroes. Thankyou.
Physiotherapy this morning has not helped one bit. I'm in worse pain than before if possible, and the shooting spasms of pain are getting more frequent and more painful.
Insert expletive here.
Really tired. Thanks to all who have sent vibes. Sorry to all those I haven't got back to today. It's been another flat out day, and I just need to rest. And get my back fixed to stop all the nasty spasms that are shooting pain up and down my legs and up into the back of my ear and down my arms. Who said life was meant to be easy?
In more interesting news, Mount St Helens still hasn't erupted (at the time of writing), new mobile phones are vulnerable to attack, there's a new cluster-oriented search engine out there, the Chinese are investigating blood-swimming robots, and William Shatner is starring in a new mini-series for TV. And I can't get The Girl from Ipanema out of my head.
Most importantly, my friend, Melissa, mother of my Godson, is either giving birth or has just given birth to her second son. My thoughts are with her right now.
If anyone wants to know what it's like to struggle for breath, please read on.
In case anyone is unaware, I'm asthmatic. And this afternoon I had a pretty bad attack, with virtually no warning. Wasn't as if this was slow to develop because I was fine at 2pm this afternoon. But at about 2:30 I started wheezing for no obvious reason, and by 3pm I was coughing constantly. By 4pm I was scrabbling through drawers trying to find some of the more potent medication I keep on hand for emergencies and by 4:45 I had virtually controlled the attack with medication and the strategy of sitting over a sink of steaming water, a towel draped over my head, trapping the humid air to help settle my heaving lungs.
Now I'm exhausted, and feel like I could sleep for hours.
For anyone who has asthma, these symptoms will probably sound fairly normal. But for people who don't understand what it's like to go from breathing normally to feeling like your chest weighs about 40 kilograms and each breath is like raising a weight, I can tell you the experience isn't just horrible and scary, it's physically draining. My upper abdominal muscles ache from the effort of taking a breath.
It's not like drowning. I know what it's like to be underwater and not able to breathe. I know what it's like to gulp for air when you break the surface. But when you're having an asthma attack, to gulp for air would be so much easier. When an attack hits, you just can't get enough air in to stop the downward pressure on your chest.
I'm guessing this is a reaction to some pollen or air-borne substance which has just closed down my chest. I had a minor attack yesterday too, but not as bad as today. Apparently Spring isn't agreeing with me this year. But it's somewhat depressing because for the last two years asthma hasn't been a problem in my life. Seems like now I have aclimatised to Brisbane that my asthma has returned. In any case, I'm off now to try to recover from what feels like a two hour marathon. If anyone needs me, please you're just going to have to wait till tomorrow.
