Monday, October 09, 2006

 

Version 5 Point J

As some of you may know, Google launched Blogger Beta not too long ago. I have since decided to start blogging there. The ability to tag posts made the decision easy. So there'll be no more posts here for awhile. Time to update your bookmarks.

J Blogging in Beta

# posted by j @ 9:17 PM 3 comments links to this post

Sunday, October 08, 2006

 

Rape

Sometimes an idea or topic gets stuck in my head and keeps popping into my consciousness. Generally they're happy, inane or despicably geeky. However, on occassion, they can be quite dark and I spend a few days with my personal Aunt Irma.

Well, from my profile, you can see that I'm based in Stellenbosch, ZA, as a pseudo-lecturer/full-time student. Recently I've heard of several horrible rapes around here. For some reason, this is the crime I most detest. When I heard one story in particular, I felt a strange urge or need to go out and help the victim. I just wanted to make everything alright for her. Make it better. But I can't.

Now it'd be easy for us to call out for justice; life imprisonment, castration or excution. Yet, (this may come as a surprise) I'm not actually one for capital punishment. In my early years, while viewing a cartoon (I think it was Prince Valiant) Merlin pointed out that it is far better to let a 1000 guilty men go than to punish an innocent - especially when it came to execution. This kinda stuck with me. The oddest things shape you, don't they?

# posted by j @ 5:27 PM 3 comments links to this post

Thursday, October 05, 2006

 

More than meets the eye


Note it down now: July 4th 2007.

7.4.7.

Transformers the Movie

# posted by j @ 8:38 PM 0 comments links to this post

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

 

Wireless Access

I finally got an Internet connection at my flat. Now, finally, I do not have to brave the outside, with its pollen death rays and the horrible gaze of the day star. Hopefully this will be good for my productivity. Must not buy Guild Wars... must not... MMORPGs bad!

# posted by j @ 11:57 PM 1 comments links to this post

Monday, September 25, 2006

 

Gone in a puff of smoke

I haven't blogged much lately. Not too sure why. There's been a lot of stuff that cried out to be blogged, but as they're old news now, most of it won't be blogged. Yet, there are two topics which I thought should still be mentioned:
  • The new za smoking laws. Great. A step in the right direction. For too long has the beautiful outside been the domain of the uncaring smokers.
  • An article I read in a Gauteng newspaper: Police to start taking a crime prevention role. What? To start? Only now? How are they gonna deal with all the smokers? I haven't heard of many people being successfully caught and punished for driving while using a cellular phone. Yet another reason to become a vigilante.

# posted by j @ 8:42 PM 76 comments links to this post

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

 

Talk Like a Pirate


# posted by j @ 2:40 PM 76 comments links to this post

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

 

Imagine

Subject: BENEDICT ANDERSEN PUBLIC LECTURE

The Centre for the Book, in partnership with the Public Intellectual Life Project at Wits University and the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape, presents

a Public Lecture by Benedict Andersen.

Benedict Andersen is Professor Emeritus of International Studies at Cornell University. He is best known for his book "Imagined Communities," in which he systematically describes, using an historical materialist or Marxist approach, the major factors contributing to the emergence of nationalism in the world during the past three centuries. Benedict Andersen's visit to South Africa is hosted by the Public Intellectual Life Project at Wits University www.public-conversations.org.za

Tuesday 19 September 2006

19h15

Main Hall

Centre for the Book

62 Queen Victoria Street

Cape Town

www.centreforthebook.org.za

The Centre for the Book is a specialist unit of the National Library

RSVP:

Mark Espin

Centre for the Book

021 423 2669 tel

021 424 1484 fax

mark.espin@nlsa.ac.za



***********

I did project last year which examined the imagined communities which evolved around the use of social software. My study looked at Wikipedia, the Blogosphere and Folksonomies. Of course, much of my work was based on Benedict Anderson's 'Imagined Communities'. This could be a cool lecture to attend.

# posted by j @ 1:54 PM 77 comments links to this post

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