Accept no substitutes

Category: Alumni and other friends (Page 22 of 38)

AV Geek: Country Code Please

My run in with DRM killing a legal use yesterday nearly killed a presentation. The distributor of Occupation: Dreamland asked me to set up to show part of the movie from a DVD he had burned. We were in a state of the art classroom with a great new DVD player, computer hookups and several projectors. I can do this.

Simple to place the DVD in the DVD player and hit play. Or it should be. But that happened was that the DVD was never initialized in the player. Out of desperation, I pulled out my PowerBook and stuck the DVD in there. Apple gave me a nice message telling me that a “Country Code” or “Zone” I forget which was needed. They suggested using 1. I did.

Everything then worked fine after that — except that the lights and screens and curtains didn’t like me changing devices so much. They went through several amusing gyrations as I tried testing between the DVD player and laptop.

The aggravating thing here is that we had a wonderful legal DVD copy with a wonderful legal and approved use, but the code (as Lessig warns us) nearly locked us out.

The battle over zoning DVDs was mostly fought five years ago. Here we were with a completely allowed use and we were stymied — almost but not defeated thanks to Apple.

But this is an incomplete thanks, as Cory explained in January, you only get so many region changes before Apple permanently fixes the Zone so that it will never change again. They are not required by law to do this (according to Cory).

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.

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.

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.

Three things

Sally reminds me that about Phil Levine’s wonderful Labor Day poem, What Work Is. Max Leach recorded Levine reading the poem a while back and we put it online soon after as part of the Internet Poetry Archive.

About half a dozen people have sent me notes about or links to The Interdictor, a blog that is now called the Survival of New Orleans blog includes picture feeds (astounding fire pics) and lots and lots of comments and many on the ground observations.

Cyberjournalist lists many Katrina blogs and collections.

Ruby gets roses and a new headline

The article on Ruby Sinreich was republished today in the Chapel Hill News with several improvements. First it’s headline is now Public Allies names Sinreich ‘change-maker’. The paper version has a color picture; the NandO one was in black and white, but both web pics are color. There seem to be fewer editorial changes except that this one has a more amusing close.

Ruby also received “Roses” (even if they are of the 2-D black and white ink on newsprint variety they are a good recognition).

Blood Done Discussion 2

Now at Tim Tyson’s talk that is a closeout to the Campus Reads a Book program. Tim introduced by director of the Stone African-American Culture Center. “Mercy” says Tim. Tim talks about the number of Methodist and Free Will Baptist preachers in his family. He introduces his parents and also Eddie McCoy who we all know from the book. Much said about Eddie as a local historian and notes that Eddie’s tapes and transcripts are in the Southern Historical Collection. September 8 5 – 7 Tim, his father, Eddie and Jacqueline Dowd Hall will be speaking at the Wilson Library.

3 point sermon to be delivered. MLK was a Southerner. The Black Power Movement was born in the South like King. King and Black Power Movement had much in common. The South is the major arena on which the problems and successes of our country are played out.

Tim’s talk is on MLK (Sally will have more on her blog later I’m sure. She’s writing now.).Tim talks about food. MLK’s fav food was fried pig’s ear sandwiches. Tim is big on food.

[taking time to listen here]

King as a realist not a genial black santa claus as we have made him. Eloquent description of King and is radicalism. Tim now speaks of King’s first speech at age 27. Embrasses the non-violent and Christian part of the movement.

Quotes King’s Chapel Hill speech. (Sally says that she’s read all that could be found on that speech and that she can’t recall that quote tho).

Now about the Black Power Movement. Black independent and Black separatism. Black Power are a revival of a tradition of resistance. James Meredith’s march and shooting changed the chat “Freedom now” to “Black Power” also the scene of Stokley Carmichael and MLK’s debate about the nature of power and how Irish, Italians and Jews had become white and how that might apply to blacks. They did not agree. No one was shouting “Irish Power” in order to get accepted in Boston.

Along Freedom Road: Hyde County, North Carolina and the Fate of Black Schools in the South by David S. Cecelski gets mentioned. As does Governor Aycock’s overthrow of the elected govenment of North Carolina.

Fusion movement turn of the century success of democratic vision. The Wilmington riots are mentioned. More readings on that movement here.

Standing ovation for Tim.

Active question time. Is violence necessary? How did he come to tell that story and how long did it take him (since he was 11)? What about the reappropriation of the word nigger is asked by a young black woman senior from Oxford. Tim talks about reappropriation of Tar Heel, Linthead, Redneck, etc. Now about the Wilmington takeover. Aycock and the next six governors were all involved. The beginning of the Jim Crow South. In response to a recently released soldier’s concern that he had never heard of the Wilmington riots. How can a white man do African-Amercian studies asks a young white man in African-American Studies. Tim talks about talking on Robert Williams to the Republic of New Africa. Funny but tough talk.

What do we do about working on racism? Friendship is fine but what about public policy asks Tim. How to keep the public sphere open?

Mary Williams will be playing and singing songs that are referenced in the book including a take the roof off the church version of “Blood Done Sign My Name”

Blood Done Discussion

At one of the many discussions at UNC of Tim Tyson’s Blood Done Sign My Name. This is not a discussion of undergrads, but one of graduate students and faculty. Since this is not exactly a private discussion but it is not exactly a public discussion either, I’ll be broad in my remarks.

Coordinator Dr. David Carr notes that he and several other folks here have come from leading freshmen discussions today. He tells of wanting to talk alot but that he once got a chinese fortune cookie fortune that said “Today is a good time to shut up” He then acknowledged that he has yet to learn to do that. Now he tells us that the freshmen were born in 1987 parented by parents born in 1962 (if their parents were 25 when they had these freshmen). David contextualized the period by describing the Kent State killings and the Augusta and Jackson State killings — all in the same month as the killing of Henry Marrow. May 1970.

Folks mention other books: “A Lesson Before Dying” and “Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” and Tyson’s “Radio Free Dixie” Personal reflections are brought up along the way. A bit about small town concepts and how the particularlity is more touching to some than the broad national pagents. “Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist, Imperialist Society” is being read by one man. Another person talks about the portrait of the South. Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” Bebe Moore Campbell’s “Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine” High school students are very aware of class notes Carr. I mention Frank Johnson and Sally’s class. I only know a little or do I know a lot?

What is this book about? asks David. One says: Information Access. (Glad he came to the ILS ;->). Special mention of Tim’s having left the paper that had the pages torn out. Tim left it that way so that people would know that it had been damaged. Mid-westerner claims she had no clue of the culture. She was shocked at first by Silent Sam, but then thought that avoiding history is not a good thing. Back to information. Why did it take so long after Brown v Board before segregation ended? How far have we really come? “Wolf Whistle” and James Baldwin’s interview with Martin Luther King are mentioned. David was on faculty at Rutgers with the former president of NC A and T. A little talk of Viet Nam. Viet Nam included black and white soldiers and that effect in noted. In Camp Lejune, racial tension was extremely strong.

“Henry Marrow thought he was going out for a soda” not to change anything. A young black woman talks about “Color Purple” and how racism infected and infects the black community as well. How racial heirarchy infects us all even blacks.

“Founding Brothers” is mentioned by one faculty member and how the founders couldn’t deal with it and left it for us to determine.

David envies Tim as a writer. How Tim uses the work “kenneled” in the phrase how he realized when he refused to drink from a certain water fountain that “racism was kenneled within him.”

Discussion of complexity. Return to the water fountain. And other stories told.

Ending? or Going on after an hour. What would we talk about if we had another hour to meet?
Sex and race (not gender but sex) brought up. The combination that killed Emmett Till and Henry Marrow. How to personally recognize racism within oneself.

David talks about the “Color of Water” which will be read by the Durham community. David is arranging and training the reading group folks there. He’s looking for volunteers to help out.

Carrboro on September will have a community book forum which will begin with “Blood Done Sign My Name.” Tim asks for sweet potato pie to be brought.

On September later, Richard Florida’s “Creative Class.” and in November “Rescuing Patty Hearst”

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