Accept no substitutes

Month: September 2005 (Page 2 of 3)

International Talk-like-a-pirate Day! Monday

International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Avast, mateys! International Talk Like a Pirate Day sits on the horizon like a drunken parrot. Awk! Arrg! Thar she be lessen a fortnight away! Monday September 19!

Prepare with these great ibiblio resources these songs, this book, this book, and The Queen of Pirate Island and this ship.

And check out this great Blackbeard site.

Bones in the Paris Catacomb Photo from the Catacombs of Paris (WebMuseum) by Craig A. Merriman.

And use this non-ibiblio resource for your typing (thanks to Greg Cox).

Occupation: Dreamland and Media War panel

What: discussion of Iraq war and media focusing on the documentary
“Occupation: Dreamland”
Where: 116 Murphey Hall
When: 10:30 – 12:30 Soldiers’ View
2:00-4:00 Scholar’s Panel
Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Details: See below. Local prereview of movie

Media War:

During times of military conflict, interactions between the public and government–including the military specifically–are both critical and complicated. Since most of this interaction occurs through the ‘media,’ it is important to examine perceptions of how the media works and how this interaction shifts over time. Two panels will discuss this interaction and the media’s performance in relation to the current Iraq conflict. The first panel will present a military viewpoint including panelists currently serving, veterans, and military families. A second panel will present views of academics specializing in media and politics.

Location: UNC Campus, 116 Murphy Hall

Purpose: The purpose of this event will be to use the film

“Occupation: Dreamland” as a springboard for raising the level of public discussion concerning issues related to the war in Iraq. As the film creates a very human portrayal of the soldiers in this conflict, it can be used to inspire a broad discussion about media, history, and politics in relation to the current conflict and those that have come before it. By bringing together soldiers, veterans, and their families – as well as experts on media, politics, and history – the conference facilitators hope to create an environment in which the Iraq War can be viewed in its historical context. As such, this conference will explore the challenges American citizens and soldiers must address as we consider the influence of media on our understanding of the war and the consequences of that understanding.”

Info: The film is being distributed by Rumur Releasing (rumur.com). Rumur and the filmmakers are working together with Working Films to get the film seen and discussed.

Structure:

Morning Session- 10:30 – 12:30

Soldiers’ View:

10 minute clip from “Occupation: Dreamland”

A panel with soldiers and veterans as well as family members of both groups will discuss soldiers’ rights and needs. How are they affected by media representations of the current conflict. Would they rather see more
information? Does what they see on the news ring true with what they hear from others? Some of the discussion during this panel will make useful parallels between the Vietnam War and the current conflict.

This panel will also delve into the idea of how media representations of the conflict affect soldiers while serving and upon returning. This issue is especially touchy right now as anger is building up on both sides due to the actions of peace activists like Cindy Sheehan. Some say that calls of “Bring the Troops Home” damages morale. How do these soldiers feel?

Panelists
Captain Brit Erslev United States Army
James Massey- Former Career Marine/ Recruiter
Garrett Reppenhagen Cavalry Scout/ Sniper
Others to be announced

12:30- 2:00 lunch break

Afternoon Session: 2:00-4:00

“What we know, how we know it, and what it means”.

10 minute clip from “Occupation: Dreamland”

In this panel, experts in media and politics will examine media coverage of the war and how that influences and is influenced by political and public life. “Occupation: Dreamland” provides a starting point for the discussion,
which is given additional impetus by issues relating to media coverage of events in Iraq and Afghanistan, the impact on the military and their families, the controversy of Cindy Sheehan’s protest, and television series such as “Over There.”

Panelists:
Cori Dauber (UNC) Communication Studies
David Paletz (Duke) Political Science
Napoleon Bryars (UNC) School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Garret Scott Filmmaker “Occupation Dreamland”
Ian Olds Filmmaker “Occupation Dreamland”

This program is sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies and the Curriculum in Peace, War and Defense.

For additional information about the film, “Occupation: Dreamland,” please visit their site.

Will elections bring community Wifi to Chapel Hill

I wrote about seeing international teleconferencing at Carrboro’s Weaver Street Market last Saturday. This was made possible by Carrboro’s commuity wireless program.
Although UNC spreads wireless across parts of downtown Chapel Hill, that mesh is restricted to UNC id holders. If a business wanted to contribute as Weaver Street does in Carrboro they can’t even help out.
But Orange Politics is having a lively discussion on bringing community wifi to Chapel Hill. Jim Protzman’s initial post which sees community wifi as a way to get at the digital divide has caught up current candidates for office in the discussion. One interesting thing to note is the wide range in the political spectrum of the candidates supporting community wifi represent.
There is some opposition but the way the discussion is going gives me hope.

Stroms to help Storm-orphaned Animals

Chapel Hill Town Council member Bill Strom and his wife, Independent reporter, Jenn Strom are on their way to assist in animal rescue in Mississippi and Louisiana. They write about their decision to go down and help and they include a list of needs in the letter below:

Dear friends, colleagues, family members and fellow animal lovers,

After two agonizing weeks of watching the devastation Hurricane Katrina has wreaked on the Gulf Coast, Jen and I want to contribute to the recovery efforts in a hands-on way. One thing we have experience in and resources for is caring for rescued companion animals.

We are undertaking a supply and volunteer mission, working with Independent Animal Rescue, a Triangle-wide nonprofit organization we have been involved with for many years. It’s a gigantic effort to shelter several thousand displaced animals indefinitely while they recover from their ordeal and await reunions with their families or adoption. Next Friday, Sept. 23, we will set off in our camper to deliver supplies and contribute our elbow grease-walking and feeding dogs, constructing shelters, taking photos-whatever and wherever help is needed most. We are planning to head for Tylertown, Miss., where the Humane Society of Louisiana and several national organizations have set up a makeshift shelter to house and care for hundreds of animals still arriving from storm-ravaged towns in Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as many turned away from other temporary shelters that are full.

The rescue folks are sustaining themselves and their charges in very primitive conditions. Their list of needs is long and changes from day to day, and we’re asking for your help in fulfilling it. For current info and more particulars, visit the Humane Society of Louisiana’s website at www.humanela.org, which is updated regularly. Here’s a snapshot as of today:

  1. Monetary donations (to buy gas, food and other ongoing supplies as needs change–the most useful resource in this ever-changing situation)
  2. Hot-weather survival/camping gear such as: tents, tarps, insect repellent, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, batteries, bungee cords, flashlights, solar showers, water bottles, walkie-talkie two-way radios
  3. Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for people
  4. Portable, collapsible metal pet crates of all sizes, particularly large ones
  5. Treats and toys for dogs, cats, birds and small mammals, especially chew toys and rawhides for dogs
  6. Cat litter
  7. Leashes, collars, harnesses
  8. Food and water bowls
  9. Large towels
  10. Veterinary medicines and supplies
  11. Waterproof storage bins
  12. Fencing and building materials

Donations are tax-deductible through Independent Animal Rescue, a 501(c)3 organization (www.animalrescue.net). Mail checks (made out to IAR) to IAR, c/o Bill and Jennifer Strom, PO Box 2252, Chapel Hill, NC 27515. To donate goods, please email us at jenniferstrom@nc.rr.com or billstrom@nc.rr.com to arrange drop-off (we are still working on sites). If you can help us, step up now; we depart in just 10 days!

Thanks for your support on this mission, and we look forward to telling you lots of “happy endings” stories when we get back!

Jen and Bill

Philip Meyer Journalism Award

A great award in honor of a great guy was just announced!

Philip Meyer Journalism Award

The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, a joint program of IRE and the Missouri School of Journalism; the Knight Chair in Journalism at Arizona State University; and IRE are proud to introduce the Philip Meyer Journalism Award, a contest to recognize the best journalism done using social science research methods.

The awards are in honor of Philip Meyer, Knight Chair in Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Meyer is the author of Precision Journalism, the seminal 1972 book (and subsequent editions) that focused growing numbers of journalists on the idea of using social science methods to do better journalism. He pioneered in using survey research as a reporter for Knight Ridder newspapers to explore the causes of race riots in the 1960s.

Three awards will be given annually – a first, second and third place – to recognize the best work using techniques that are part of precision journalism, computer-assisted reporting and social science research.

The contest also helps identify the techniques and resources used to complete each story. Entries are placed in the IRE Resource Center, allowing members to learn from each other.

It’s important to note that Philip Meyer Journalism Award is unique in its efforts to avoid conflicts of interest. Work that included any significant role by a member of the IRE Board of Directors or an IRE contest judge may not be entered in the contest. This often represents a significant sacrifice on the part of the individual — and sometimes an entire newsroom. The IRE membership appreciates this devotion to the values of the organization.

Saints, Heroes and Well-lived lives

Our neighbor Susan Wolf was featured on Philosophy Talk where she, a philosopher, talked about “Saints, Heroes and Well-lived lives.”

The show is described this way:

Some actions are right, and some are wrong. But aren’t some even better than right—the kinds of things that heroes and saints do? Yet some philosophers think that such “supererogatory” acts make no sense; we should always do the best thing open to us, and there is no room for better than best. John and Ken discuss the philosophy and psychology of saints and heroes with Susan Wolf.

Katrina events locally

After my own very busy day that included phone conferences, dean conferences, IBM grant presentations, I’m taking time to think about how this community has tried to reach out to the Katrina victims.
Maple View Ice Cream had to quit serving ice cream (all sales go to benefit…) because the demand for ice cream and the urge to help was so great that their scooping employees were completely worn out.
Kids were selling cookies at Weaver Street on the Lawn.
Three kids from Duke took a road trip. Faked some press ids and snuck into N’wleans where they used a boat to rescue at least seven people who had been stranded.
Several hundred people flew into town in the last 48 hours and people here are doing their best to make them feel at ease (if not at home).
Then there are the many UNC campus responses to Katrina.
And that’s only a small sample of how people are trying to connect and to help out.

International and Local

Whilst sitting at Weaver Street Market this morning, I noticed — couldn’t help but notice really — a young woman with a wireless laptop which had a small video conferencing camera attached. She was talking to her computer loudly as anyone who is indiscreet on a cell phone might talk in public or maybe louder. I think that she thought that language was providing some sort of privacy for her. She was speaking Chinese. Suddenly she stood up and holding the computer, she spun slowly around describing the scene revealed behind her. After that area around her table, including my table, had been aired, she turned the camera away from herself and began to walk into the store chatting away as she walked. I could see her passing the various vegetables and fruit inside pausing at various bins. Then I lost sight. But soon she was back at the table talking away. I don’t know which video conferencing program she was using. I didn’t ask. I do know that she was on the Carrboro Town Wireless Network and that she seemed very happy to be sharing her experiences with someone somewhere else who also spoke Chinese.
In so many ways this was the perfect Carrboro moment. Local, international, public, private, relaxed and intense.

Feast of Paul Jones!

Today is the Feast Day of Paul Jones. The Paul Jones who is being celebrated is a Saint in the American Episcopal Church. Jones was an outspoken pacifist who as missionary Bishop to Utah from 1914 – 1918 opposed the US entry into the First World War. Jones continued to be a peace advocate until his death on September 4, 1941.

The Prayers and Lessons for the Feast of Paul Jones
and some memories from his family and friends.

Jones was one of the founders of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. The EPF offers a history pamphlet for 20 cents about Jones and his work.

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