From the category archives:

Writings

The Tunnels in Gaza (This American Life)

Published on 2 June, 2010 in Writings View Comments

I wanted to write an elaborate post on my thoughts on the Gaza flotilla raid and its consequences but it was too hard for me to express them in writing, so I decided to postpone it for now.

However, I did want to share a story with you. It was broadcast on This American Life – a weekly public radio show I listen to as a podcast.

The section I decided to present deals with the tunnels in and out of the Gaza strip. It’s Act 2 of episode #407 entitled ‘The Bridge’, originally aired on 05 July 2009:

In the Middle East, hundreds and hundreds of tunnels connect the Gaza strip and Egypt, allowing supplies to bypass the Israeli blockade against Hamas-controlled Gaza. Producer Nancy Updike speaks with Ira about the tunnels, and plays tape from an interview she conducted with a tunnel owner.

This American Life – #407 The Bridge: Act 2 – Bridge and Tunnel Get Adobe Flash player

Every episode of This American Life has a theme and a “variety of stories on that theme. It’s mostly true stories of everyday people, though not always. There’s lots more to the show, but it’s sort of hard to describe.”

Our Digital Future (4+ important articles to read)

Published on 27 February, 2010 in Writings View Comments

In the past few weeks The Guardian has published a few articles that I generally refer to as ‘Our Digital Future’. These are important takes on the future of digital consumption, archiving, and rules, which, in my opinion, everyone should read and consider.

Why did Ofcom back down over DRM at the BBC?

Cory Doctorow tells us that… the corporation is endangering its own future by letting the Hollywood studios set the rules for its HD broadcasts.

Why 2010 will be the year TV and the web really converge

Steve Plunkett explains how milestones such as Project Canvas will bring together broadcast television and online media.

Is copyright getting in the way of us preserving our history?

Victor Keegan on The issue of copyright is a global nightmare for anyone interested in digital preservation.

and also:

Ducks, Nazis and Disney: well, that’s one way to get a TV transition

Cory Doctorow asks in part 2 of his article: Is crippling our sets, and handing over our cultural regulation to a foreign cartel, the best way to get viewers switched on to high-definition?

*** Update: a new article has been added.

John Naughton writes in The Observer:

The Google Three, Italy and Silvio Berlusconi

The web may be global but sovereign states still make up the rules.

– Let me know what you think.

Social Technology Profile Tool

Published on 6 September, 2009 in Media+Tech & Writings View Comments

A survey of data which shows how participation varies among different groups of consumers, globally.

Developed and researched by Forrester on what they call – Social Technographics – the tool can help identify the level of technological involvement by different groups of users across an identified 6 levels of participation: Creators, Critics, Collectors, Joiners, Spectators and Inactives. A brief explanation on the different types can be found here.

My Dissertation

Published on 5 December, 2008 in Projects & Writings View Comments

This is my dissertation “The Freedom to Create & Creating freedom”. It was written as part of my final year project for BA Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins College in 2006.

A lot of the ideas came to me from reading Lawrence Lessig blog posts and books, as well as the work of The Creative Commons.

I’ve uploaded the PDF to Issuu.com, Scribd, and you can view it here, or you can download and share the PDF (908 kb).

The Freedom to Create and Creating Freedom

This work is presented with a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 – you are free to share and remix the work, under the conditions that you will give credit and distribute the result under the same license.

The perfect match

Published on 22 June, 2008 in Writings View Comments

While looking at US presidential candidate John McCain and wife Cindy, I came to realise that they look similar to another beautiful couple – Battlestar Galactica XO Saul Tigh and wife Ellen.

While looking for the best image on Google, I came across another blogger, who had the same idea few months ago.

John and Cindy McCain

Soul and Ellen Tigh

I’m happy I’m not alone on this, but acctually – who cares?

Sold: 2 Radiohead tickets for sale, Berlin, 8 July

Published on 21 June, 2008 in Writings View Comments

Radiohead Berlin ticketI‘m selling SOLD 2 tickets to Radiohead show in Berlin at the Wuhlheide on July 8, 2008 [Sold Out].

I bought them from the official W.A.S.T.E website [booking confirmation available].

My partner and I really wanted to go, but have other commitments, so I have to sell them.

That’s part of the problem when buying a ticket 7 months in advance…

Contact me directly or go to the eBay page

:)

Chaim Witz – You are a disgrace!

Published on 19 June, 2008 in Writings View Comments

Gene Simmons in Family Guy“The record industry is dead. It’s six feet underground and unfortunately the fans have done this,” [Gene, aka Chaim] Simmons said, according to AOL News. “They’ve decided to download and file share. There is no record industry around so we’re going to wait until everybody settles down and becomes civilized. As soon as the record industry pops its head up we’ll record new material.”

Source: Gene Simmons blames fans, P2P for killing music industry [Ars Technica]

Gene, you belong to a dark past.

For your knowledge: Bad music killed the record industry. I’m afraid that Glam Rock was part of it.

… and it seems that Radiohead, Trent Reznor and Soul Williams are doing just fine.

Gene Simmons and Kiss in Family Guy, Episode 313Update:

“Oh man, I’ve lost all faith in man kind.”

Gene Simmons in Family Guy, Road to Europe, Season 3, Episode 20