A Learning Lunatic
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Steli Efti
What is a blog to you? Well, for me a blog is a wonderful, magical and powerful tool to learn. I started with a very business oriented approach to blogging. I had this idea of Supercool School and as an unexercised Internet user it was the easiest and fastest way to do some important homework and get some real-life feedback. I used my blog as a very raw (and free) market research and alpha testing tool.
After that I started the project and kept my blog simply as a place for random thoughts and ideas. I didn’t know anything about the true beauty and power of blogging back then. I used to stand upon the roundtable to blog and talked to an audience instead of joining the conversations in the bloggosphere. Now, it’s so much more fun to blog and it has become even more then a learning tool - it’s a great way to find new friends!
How do I blog? I still have to figure it out for myself. What I can say is that I daily check my reader, my thoughts and the activity on my blog (comments, visitors, back links) and then decide what to write. I am very hard to myself when it comes to quality of content and writing something that I am happy with in the end is probably my biggest time-eater (I guess I’m not alone with this ;). I believe I have to learn how to be more effective with my blogging because I likely won’t have the same amount of time for it after SupercoolSchool.com has launched.
And how do I plan to become a better and more effective blogger? A big wonder, a little magic and some power is all I’m asking for ;) Some prominent links from my blog I want to share?
http://supercoolschool.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/i_used_to_stand.html
http://supercoolschool.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/the_education_a.html
http://supercoolschool.typepad.com/blog/2007/02/the_supercool_d.html
Check out the virtual EduBlogger Event07 on my blog (12 great bloggers posted something about education and started cool conversations...).
posted by Shirazi @ 1:31 PM,
, links to this post
Net Language
The idea of graphically depicting human emotions is not new. BBC claims that, “the original smiley was created in 1964 by commercial artist Harvey Ball.” Russian writer Vladimir Nobaokov who authored Lolita, answering a question in 1969 was quoted by Scott E. Fahlman as saying , “I often think there should exist a special typographichal sign for a smile- some sort of concave mark, a supine round bracket.”
“The emoticon or “smiley” being discussed is the first ASCII smiley,” reads Plato Emoticons, “like so many things, PLATO was doing emoticons and smileys, online and on screen years earlier. In fact, emoticons on PLATO were already an art form by 1976. PLATO users began doing smiley characters probably as early as 1972 (when PLATO IV came out), but possible even earlier of PLATO III.”
Consensus is that the original ASCII smiley {:- )} with which every one on the World Wide Web is so familiar came into existence with a note written by neural networks researcher Scott E. Fahlman of September 19, 1982 as a means of indicating a joke marker during a contentious online bulletin board discussion. The origin of this smiley has been meticulously searched by Mike Jones and Jeff Baird. It has led to the creation of many other facial expressions built with keyboard characters as well as invention of the term emoticon- a combination of words emotions and icons- to describe them all during the past over two decades. Web mail and instant messaging service providers like AOL, MSN and Yahoo! And some dedicated websites not only list the digital displays of these human emotions but also turn them into thematic imagery. Inclusion of emoticons in Web mail and chat windows by the three providers has done best of popularize them among millions of their subscribers all over the world.
Communication experts are of the opinion that when using text-based online messages, smileys provide for lack of the body language or tone of voice cues that convey meaning when talking face to face or on the telephone. They are innovative and add a splash of colour in the otherwise eerie uniformity of a sloppy prose.
Some critics, who are more conscious about preserving languages, shrink at the very idea of smileys, arguing that writers should have no need to explicitly put a label on their state of mind or heart. As was being done since the invention of the written word, writers should have no need to explicitly put a label on their state of mind or heart. As was being done since the invention of the written word, writers should be able to express themselves with words alone instead. But proliferating the use of smileys indicated that they have already been accepted as a mainstream phenomenon.
Smileys are being used in e-mails, chat rooms, bulltin boards, newsgroups, blogs or where ever human beings get together in digital form; it is no more possible to use the internet without encountering these curious creatures. They have started appearing on mobile phone screens as well. What is more, smileys come into view in students’ work, on class room blackboards and on different market items from bedspreads to mugs to mouse pads. Large size smileys are seen in cybercafés. They are also being used in letters written in long hand and sent by snail mail.
In the process, the undertone of smileys is evolving from just humouous to more expressive. Which is why besides enthusiastic youngsters, academicians, editors and professionals are using smileys fro greater creativity and expression?
The internet is visibly changing the traditional frontiers of human communication. Zaheer Hassan, a recently laid off knowledge worker, still hangs around in America, armed with excellent interpersonal skills. He is heavily dependent on e-mail in work and he pithily makes use of smileys. “Emotions have become an important part of the online culture,” he says, “They make it easy and quick to communicate emotions- something that many people find difficult to express using words- particularly when dealing with people from diverse social and educational backgrounds.”
Mary, a busy IT analyst and writer from Canada e-mailed in response to a query, “It is true that e-mails do not accurately capture our feelings. How could they? Most are written quickly, with little regard for nouns or are just official communication. I recall an incident at work when a young lady caused a lot of aggravation to a co-worker due to her (perceived) abrasive style. Confronted by the manager, she was at a loss and started crying, she simply was not good with written communication. Emoticons may help somewhat. I personally do not use them; I rely on my words to do the whole job. I think a lot also depends on who the recipient is, style or the rapport of the sender with other person. If the two correspondents do not know each other’s style, mishap can occur. Emoticons introduce a note of informality… I can hardly imagine an e-mail from our corporate heads bearing emoticons. It is suitable for peer to peer communication.”
“Emoticons may seem silly, but they fulfill an important function. Though emoticons cannot replace the full range of non-verbal communication,” e-mailed Maria Iqbal, “they can go a long way towards changing the mood of written statement, and the : -) or the (acronym that I think looks like smileys) can make it clear that you mean something in a light hearted manner, just as a reassuring smile or laugh might if you were speaking. So while I personally do not use a wide range of emoticons, or use them very often, I believe they are important tools for online communication.” Nan McCarthy, an expert in online relationship and author of three famous books (“chat”, “connect”, and “crash”) writes, “The primary purpose of emoticons in e-mail and live chats is to minimize misunderstandings, especially when a joke could be misconstrued as a serious statement and therefore hurt the recipient’s feelings. Hence, the frequent use of smiley faces, however, emoticons should not be overused or take the place of good writing and clear communication, even in live chats.”
Shahid Salahud Din, a programmer who spends most of his working time on computer, says “The last thing I want to do is writing more than what is absolutely necessary. So I use these typographical smileys that are computer equivalent of handmade drawings advantageously whenever I can. The problem is that smileys are yet not standard. There are so many different dictionaries each defining them differently dictionaries each defining them differently. Many have to be explained every time they are used even while communicating within IT professionals’ community.”
“I have gone past the age of sitting by a computer connected to the internet and waiting for an e mail or my chat buddies to appear online. I use computer as a useful working device. It has made my life easier as I ma more informed, accessible, and connected. I do not remember using smileys myself but I am familiar with them. I come across them every now and then mostly in mails from my contacts abroad. This is how I find out new emoticons if I cannot make sense out of them,” says Shamim Asghar, an advocate who is running his consultancy service for education abroad.
No one needs to sell to the young ones on the benefits of the internet these days. Traditionally, youth is the fraternity that has dominated the use of smileys here and elsewhere. For them smileys sometimes go beyond conveying feelings, cultural fusion or fun. Young e-mail and instant messaging enthusiasts normally remember the keystrokes for so many smileys by heart or keep a rich collection on their computers. But what is more, “rather than reading these sequences sideways they read in between and usually give deeper meaning to emoticons,” says Khalid Ahmed, a member faculty University of the Punjab.
Shahbaz Afzal is an IT undergraduate and a proud owner of a powerful machine. He keenly uses smileys in chat sessions and so many mails he exchanged with his friends and father in Dubai. “I have collected smileys from different sites, most of which sit in my favorite cache. I have also given print outs to my father and friends fro reference. They are all familiar with them” he says.
Like most people in this part of the world, I adopted this internet-ism and started using the pictographs of different facial expressions some time ago. I fine myself surfing different directories in an effort to know them all so that I am not caught “not knowing”. More and more icons are coming up every day. And, what some of my friends send me in their electronic messages sonly set me wondering where I stand with them?
It is safe to assume that new techniques of online communications will continue to evolve; smileys are one attempt at finding new ways for a new medium. Aptly and moderately used, these cute little sideway faces many are using on the internet can hit the mark perfectly or help clarify when one is being quirky or ironic or whimsical or miffed or emotional. Try them.
Beautiful image by Toni taken from here.
posted by Shirazi @ 12:00 PM,
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Mobile Matters
Monday, July 28, 2008
Advancement is a must if mankind is going to survive in the long term. Multifunctional mobile phones with cameras are one example. They are the hottest gadgets these days, making communications faster and easier.Primary function of most phones with cameras is simple: Point, click and send. Features depend on what handset manufacturer offer and they vary greatly. No matter what functions one wants in a phone, style and appearance is important to just about everyone. Some of the latest phones include highly fashionable and functional features that make the latest technology more usable -- swivel-style mechanics, 360 degrees rotating screens, vertical left turns and much more. Ever-shrinking microchip technology and huge sums being pumped in to research in the field has already made camera phone one of the newest and coolest pocket gizmo. Now the trendy camera pooches have also appeared in the market. What is more, Internet devices, music players and even good old television are poised to merge together with mobile phones already equipped with cameras.
As per reports, billions of mobile phones with camera have been sold worldwide. Mobile phone companies are always planning to launch new handsets, with newer innovations. Given the exponential growth and usability improving every day, industry executive are expecting that camera phones will surpass the need of digital cameras in less than a decade.
The difference in use of mobile phones with camera in America or in Japan and other developed countries and Pakistan is obvious. What is amazing, however, is the popularity of mobile phones with cameras in otherwise low tech Pakistan.
Locally the main users of the mobile phones with camera so far are 'stylish' people and youth. It is not so much of an issue whether or not some one uses a phone with camera compared to whether or not they actually have one. Azmat Hayat, a vendor in Hafiz centre says, "People do not buy camera phones for the camera. They buy phone that should have camera along with it. But camera phones are certainly common among those who can afford them (and now a large number can) and they are high on the wish lists of those who still do not have them. They are considered cool or just plain fun. For them having camera phones is a lifestyle."
"Visit any campus and see how people use the phones with camera. There is great peer pressure to join the picture messaging crowd, notwithstanding interpretability and multiple standards,” says Ali, “It is my hobby. I have been changing my mobile every six-month till I bought my present camera mobile.” About use he thinks that more sophisticated usage of the camera phones have not yet crossed the seven seas though it is growing.
In developed countries, cameras phones are being successfully used as business tools particularly for real estate, public safety, insurance, marketing, construction and advertising. Newspapers are publishing front-page pictures shot by amateur photographers using cameras built in their mobile phones, showing how advances in technology can assist traditional media in collecting and printing news. In Japan, it has already become common to sell pictures to television stations and other media channels. Industrial spies, disgruntled employees, criminals and irresponsible pornographers are abusing camera phones as well. Teachers have caught students sending photos of answers to another student across the same examination hall. The proliferation of mobiles with cameras is bringing more opportunities to use mobile phone devices in different capacities. Technology, however, is not the issue here. Usage of the mobiles with camera is.
The very technologies that make such mobile phones with camera so simple, tempting, and seductive can also be used to deceive wilfully. It is possible for any one to pretend to be in any desire situation from heavy traffic to thunderstorm during a mobile phone call – a software has appeared that would generates fake background noise while the users may actually be elsewhere. The software can even create the sound of another phone ringing to provide a handy excuse for cutting short a call. Developers of such software are also human like all others!
Imagine what the growing presence of cameras phones with the ability to snap any one distribute or store those images can do in a conservative society like ours. It reminds of paparazzi culture -- freelance and curious photographer roaming everywhere every time.
Use of Mobile phones with cameras has been banned in Saudi Arabia. Many sensitive businesses in the West have also banned camera phones on the job due to mounting suspicions that the high tech gadgets may pose threats to closely guarded trade secrets. More are considering doing that.
Banning the use of the technology is never the answer. It does not work. Instead, preventing abuse of technology must be done through education, awareness and at appropriate level. So how can we respond appropriately? We should definitely note that people have a right to choose, and need to maintain degree of privacy and security. Beyond that, we should encourage more openness instead of any mania. No body would like returning to the days of the mailing pictures via snail mails but first more purposeful usages of camera phones have to be found. Till then they are a fad among high-end consumers segment of the market?
How do you use your mobile phone with camera?
posted by Shirazi @ 11:19 AM,
, links to this post
Fired Bloggers
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wired's Threat Level blog cites an interesting study that found nearly 10 % of companies have fired at least one employee for leaving comments on a message board or a blog.
"Nearly ten percent of companies have fired an employee for violating corporate blogging or message board policies, and 19 percent have disciplined an employee for the same infractions, according to a new survey from Proofpoint, a messaging security company.
Almost a third of companies "employ staff to read or otherwise analyze outbound email," while more than fifteen percent have hired people whose primary function is to spy on outgoing corporate email. A quarter have fired an employee for violating corporate email policies. Twenty percent of the companies and almost thirty percent of companies with more than 20,000 employees had been ordered by a court or a regulator to turn over employee emails."
"The fact that message board comments were lumped in with blog comments in this study is a little unfair to the blogosphere but there may not be much that can be done about it. Corporations tend to frown on employees leaving comments anywhere -- whether it is a blog, website, news article or online forum," writes Bloggers' Blog.
Here is the list of fired bloggers that I have been able to compile:
2) Troutgirl
5) Iain Murray
10) this man
11) Amy Norah Burch
12) QueenofSky
Earlier Cubano pointed out to Blog harassment of another kind; threats, trolls and more.
Labels: Blogs, Society, Technology
posted by Shirazi @ 7:30 AM,
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OLPC Brings Porn To The Third World
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Earlier Cubano wrote about One Laptop Per Child initiative (In Search of Affordable Technology and One Laptop Per Child) here. Now "the initiative has reached new heights by delivering internet porn to third world children. According to a report from the official News Agency of Nigeria, laptops in a primary school in Abuja “have gone awry as the pupils freely browse adult sites with explicit sexual materials.” It’s heart warming to know that the efforts of the well meaning folks behind the OLPC project are delivering real results on the ground; providing the same opportunities for teenage boys to access internet porn no matter how impoverished they are or where they live.
The party however will be short lived; a representative of the One Laptop Per Child group was reported saying that the OLPC computers would now be fitted with porn filters." (via Teleread, OLPC Brings Porn To The Third World)
Labels: Business, Education, Internet, OLPC, Society, Technology
posted by Shirazi @ 12:53 PM,
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Best Bargain
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Shopping is an old phenomenon but the ways to shop have changed with the advent of the World Wide Web. Now savvy users turn to the Internet, look for bargains and shop want.
Have a look at Bargain Bay - an online department store that sells a broad range of items including health, family, outdoor sports and electronics to name a few. Explore the site and see what deal you can have.
Browsing their neatly laid out and users’ friendly site, I found digital picture frames, personal saunas and jumping stilts and pogo sticks in their best selling item section. I liked 7 inch digital picture frame and it is already on my wish list. This featured packed frame’s retail price is $220.00 Bargain Bay is offering this in $ 109.00 only. That is what makes them stand as a first shopping destination.
I suggest that you explore their full range in Health and Family, Outdoor Fun and Sports, Digital Frames and Portable DVD Players sections and pick the best bargain that suites your needs.
posted by Shirazi @ 12:48 PM,
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Grow Your Writing Business
To me blogging is about people connections. I am in awe of the potential of the blogosphere for sharing and learning. Blogging crosses borders of age, geography and ethnicity. As some people have observed, blogging is making the earth “flat” again. It breaks down barriers and promotes communication and understanding.A 15 year old in Finland can help a 73 year old in New Zealand. Someone in London can collaborate on a project with a fellow blogger in Singapore. We talk about the age of information, but it’s also the age of interactivity – both technology wise and conversation wise. Blogging is a catalyst for bringing people together, whether for work or just to share common interests. It can also broaden your horizons and open you to new perspectives.
Best of all blogging is interactive, so it stimulates buzz and conversations. My metaphor for blogging is a blog tapestry. I’ve written about this and said “I love the concept of a tapestry of bloggers with all the interwoven threads from our collective memories, experiences, different cultures, interests and expertise.”
At Grow Your Writing Business, the tagline is “For freelance writers who mean business”. I try to combine my writing skills and business background to share information and insights which may be of interest. I am thrilled that we’ve sparked some interesting conversations, and have started to build a community.
I also use my blog as a professional tool for my freelance writing business. I’ve found though, I’ve learned more than I’ve shared. – much more. I’ve made good friends, developed professional relationships and met some interesting people. I’ve also had lots of fun exploring and discovering other blogs on a diverse range of topics. Blog hopping is like a virtual cocktail party, calling in to visit, meeting new people, staying a while, listening, learning, joining conversations and heading on back home.
I was once asked to outline five reasons why I blog. In short, I love writing and business. I thrive on the sense of immediacy and currency which blogging offers. I love the feeling of being connected globally, and the diversity of the blogging world. Other bloggers inspire me. And of course, I enjoy the interactivity and the
comments.
Previous Posts: Liz Strauss, Aliza Sherman Risdahl, Mihaela Lica, Sterling W. Camden, Peg Haustetter, Steli Efti, Vicky Stringer, EXSENO, Axinia, Daniel S, Turo Jantunen, Alina Popescu, Dine Racoma, Chris Garrett, annamanila, Wifely Steps, Rolly, MrsPartyGirl, Ghee, Gitr Kargath, Richard Miles, Robyn McMaster, Elizabeth, Zep Hopper, Ellen Weber, Anita Bruzzese, Auntie Hattie, Bob Glaza, Isabella Mori, Paula Neal Mooney, Albert Pascual, Margot Potter, Ian Smith, Jean Yates, Christina Cedeno, Ayelet Noff (Blonde), Kristine, Kirsten Harrell, Lisa Gates, Evi Christodoulou, Peincess Haiku, Kent Newsome, David Johnson, Danica Radovanovic, Ev Nucci, David Johnson, Danica Radovanovic, Feng Brum, Janette Toral, Silviana Prioteasa, Pallab De, Jeanne Dininni, Laura Spencer, Maria Celina Gallo, Melanie, Damria Senne, Tammy Lenski, Enigma, Lizza, Pisces Iscariot, Maria Palma, Carol, Gayla McCord, Starr, Marc Faletti, Callie, CAPaige aka CapCity, Claire Carroll, Sylvia Hubbard, Allison Dickson, Bill C, Maryanne Moll, Papi Monkey, Lillie Ammann, Chad Perrin, Polliwog, Joseph Bernard, Roberta Ferguson, Julie R. Custodio-Fuertes, Lynda Winsor, Ilker Yoldas, Fracas, Daddy Papersurfer and Old Horsetail Snake
posted by Shirazi @ 8:24 AM,
, links to this post
Life With Cell Phone
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Advancement is a must if mankind is going to survive in the long term. Multifunctional mobile phones with cameras are one example. They are the hottest gadgets these days, making communications faster and easier.Primary function of most phones with cameras is simple: Point, click and send. Features depend on what handset manufacturer offer and they vary greatly. No matter what functions one wants in a phone, style and appearance is important to just about everyone. Some of the latest phones include highly fashionable and functional features that make the latest technology more usable -- swivel-style mechanics, 360 degrees rotating screens, vertical left turns and much more. Ever-shrinking microchip technology and huge sums being pumped in to research in the field has already made camera phone one of the newest and coolest pocket gizmo. Now the trendy camera pooches have also appeared in the market. What is more, Internet devices, music players and even good old television are poised to merge together with mobile phones already equipped with cameras.
As per reports, billions of mobile phones with camera have been sold worldwide. Mobile phone companies are always planning to launch new handsets, with newer innovations. Given the exponential growth and usability improving every day, industry executive are expecting that camera phones will surpass the need of digital cameras in less than a decade.
The difference in use of mobile phones with camera in America or in Japan and other developed countries and Pakistan is obvious. What is amazing, however, is the popularity of mobile phones with cameras in otherwise low tech Pakistan.
Locally the main users of the mobile phones with camera so far are 'stylish' people and youth. It is not so much of an issue whether or not some one uses a phone with camera compared to whether or not they actually have one. Azmat Hayat, a vendor in Hafiz centre says, "People do not buy camera phones for the camera. They buy phone that should have camera along with it. But camera phones are certainly common among those who can afford them (and now a large number can) and they are high on the wish lists of those who still do not have them. They are considered cool or just plain fun. For them having camera phones is a lifestyle."
"Visit any campus and see how people use the phones with camera. There is great peer pressure to join the picture messaging crowd, notwithstanding interpretability and multiple standards,” says Ali, “It is my hobby. I have been changing my mobile every six-month till I bought my present camera mobile.” About use he thinks that more sophisticated usage of the camera phones have not yet crossed the seven seas though it is growing.
In developed countries, cameras phones are being successfully used as business tools particularly for real estate, public safety, insurance, marketing, construction and advertising. Newspapers are publishing front-page pictures shot by amateur photographers using cameras built in their mobile phones, showing how advances in technology can assist traditional media in collecting and printing news. In Japan, it has already become common to sell pictures to television stations and other media channels. Industrial spies, disgruntled employees, criminals and irresponsible pornographers are abusing camera phones as well. Teachers have caught students sending photos of answers to another student across the same examination hall. The proliferation of mobiles with cameras is bringing more opportunities to use mobile phone devices in different capacities. Technology, however, is not the issue here. Usage of the mobiles with camera is.
The very technologies that make such mobile phones with camera so simple, tempting, and seductive can also be used to deceive wilfully. It is possible for any one to pretend to be in any desire situation from heavy traffic to thunderstorm during a mobile phone call – a software has appeared that would generates fake background noise while the users may actually be elsewhere. The software can even create the sound of another phone ringing to provide a handy excuse for cutting short a call. Developers of such software are also human like all others!
Imagine what the growing presence of cameras phones with the ability to snap any one distribute or store those images can do in a conservative society like ours. It reminds of paparazzi culture -- freelance and curious photographer roaming everywhere every time.
Use of Mobile phones with cameras has been banned in Saudi Arabia. Many sensitive businesses in the West have also banned camera phones on the job due to mounting suspicions that the high tech gadgets may pose threats to closely guarded trade secrets. More are considering doing that.
Banning the use of the technology is never the answer. It does not work. Instead, preventing abuse of technology must be done through education, awareness and at appropriate level. So how can we respond appropriately? We should definitely note that people have a right to choose, and need to maintain degree of privacy and security. Beyond that, we should encourage more openness instead of any mania. No body would like returning to the days of the mailing pictures via snail mails but first more purposeful usages of camera phones have to be found. Till then they are a fad among high-end consumers segment of the market?
How do you use your mobile phone with camera?
posted by Shirazi @ 9:20 AM,
, links to this post
Ever Since Adam and Eve
In 1980, Terry Hekker authored a book Ever Since Adam and Eve," in which she advised women to opt home life over career -- making good meals, keeping a clean house and bringing up fine children.” After about 25 years, Terry Hekker says, “She was wrong.”Hekker's still believes that those things are worthwhile, but she is under no illusions about marriage being forever. Today, she says, women have to look out for themselves as well - to prepare for being abandoned (read have a career).
Hekker (about her follow-up book) writes, “My anachronistic book was written while I was in a successful marriage that I expected would go on forever. Sadly, it now has little relevance for modern women, except perhaps as a cautionary tale,” Hekker wrote sometime back as she announced her U-turn. Once a role model for young homemakers, Hekke is now rapidly becoming an icon for so-called 'silver divorcees', older women who suddenly find themselves alone.
Like The Opt-Out Revolution by Lisa Belkin, assertions in this book are going to create a great debate; attention, criticisim both my men as well as women.
The question here is What is the perfect choice between home and career? Why women face the specter of future abandonment? Don’t men need women till end?
posted by Shirazi @ 9:14 AM,
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There is an End...
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Goldvish Illusion is made with 18 CT gold and fitted with diamonds. If that doesn’t satisfy your need for bling you could spend a cool million dollars on a phone from their limited edition PLATO collection. The PLATO not only has the typical boring features such as an MP3 player, a camera, a radio and a 2 GB memory card, it also comes with 120 CT of VVS-1 diamonds. Buying a PLATO will also grant you entry into the uber-exclusive PLATO owners club as only 100 such phones will be distributed around the world. I wouldn’t recommend pulling out the phone to make calls in the street but then again if you are spending a million dollars on a phone you probably have your own security personnel to protect you from thieves.
I can’t quite comprehend the absurdity of such a grotesque show of opulence but as they say “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” so why not upgrade your status by adding a million dollar laptop from Luvaglio to match your million dollar phone. The machine comes with a 17 inch self cleaning screen, a Blue-ray drive, and a cool 128 GB solid state drive and of course the power button is replaced with a diamond. Diamonds have also been placed in other locations on the machine. Luvaglio is so exclusive that they refuse to promote their products on their web site and one must make an appointment for further inquiry.
Conrad Quilty-Harper from engadget points out that instead of buying a million dollar laptop you could donate the money towards the OLPC project which could buy 1000 laptops for the poor children on the planet.
posted by Shirazi @ 1:29 PM,
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See Me Blog
Lizza
I’ve always loved reading and writing, and I’ve been doing both a lot since I was a kid. I started keeping a diary when I was a teenager and when the Internet came along it was just natural for me to go from paper to digital – a relief, actually, since my handwriting never won me any awards and even I sometimes have trouble reading it. My initial attempts at blogging were hiccup-y; I’d write something, post it, and delete it. Last year I started one on MySpace. (I know, what could I have been thinking?) Then through work that I do with my friend and business partner, Victor, on Expat Interviews, I made the online acquaintance of a Canadian lady living in the UAE. It turned out she couldn’t access my MySpace blog (it was one of the sites her ISP bans) so I started one on Blogger. The MySpace account is dead but my Blogger journal lives on.
In the beginning she was my only reader. Then as the months passed one reader became five then a dozen. People have come and gone, but a few have stayed on, bless their suffering souls. Some say they found my site through the Next Blog button, others through sites like Bestest Blogger of the Day, BlogBlast for Peace, and The Rising Blogger; some came via other bloggers.
I’ve found some great blogs via these avenues too – and made some amazing friends online. Mine is a personal site, not a business site. Its primary function was and is to be a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I write about silly stuff, sometimes it’s about an aspect of life here in the Philippines, sometimes I spew when I’m feeling blue and angst-y, sometimes I write about family. I do it simply because I want to write about it, nothing less, nothing more. I won’t deny, though, that I love it when people say they like a certain post, or what I wrote on a certain day resonated with them, or when I find that somebody has linked to me without telling me – that’s always a nice surprise. I should mention that I don’t like it when bloggers exhibit this “I linked to you, so link to me too” attitude. The people in my blogroll are there because I like their blogs, not because they asked to be placed there.
Blogging is not only fun. It can also be cathartic. It’s an outlet for whatever creativity is brewing in me. It’s a personal endeavor that’s a gratifying part of my normal life, just like eating or sleeping or playing. Right now I don’t feel the need to promote my blog through aggregate sites. Getting good traffic is great, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t ever want to reach that point where getting more comments and awards and higher search engine rankings will eclipse the reason why I started blogging publicly in the first place: to write what I want to write about, not what I think others want to read. Having readers come and return is the icing on the cake, and they’re non-fattening!
Reading other blogs, though, has greatly influenced my way of thinking and the topics I write about sometimes. Also, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve learned something new from what someone else wrote. A certain writer will have a post that makes me think, so I’ll blog about that topic too and mention that I got the idea from him or her. All of us probably agree that blogging is a great way to share information, and one of the ways I like to share is to mention every Saturday a handful of blog entries written by others during that particular week.
There is a great number of terrific blogs out there: they’ve made me laugh hilariously, they’ve made me teary-eyed, they’ve left me breathless by the way they’re written, they’ve made me marvel at their visual creativity – these are some of the characteristics of blog posts I share with regular readers and passers-by on weekends. People have said they like my Blogworld Saturdays feature because it leads them to blogs they otherwise wouldn’t have known about, and that’s gratifying to know. What they don’t realize is it’s a way to turn them into blogging addicts like me, haha! I jest – sort of.
The comments section is another enjoyable part of the blogging experience. Sometimes the comments I get are much more interesting than the post itself! Reading comments can be both entertaining and enlightening. (I’ve also found a few blogs through comments left on other blogs – sometimes they intrigue me enough to want to know more about that person’s writings, and before I know it, presto! I’ve become the fan of another blogger.) Reading a post and leaving a comment is a good thing to do, but please, at least scan the post first before you say something! Reading something that’s totally unrelated to the post can make a person feel like he or she is on the receiving end of a wrong number.
The Internet is adding another dimension to how people learn and interact. Like it or not, it’s here to stay as a way for individuals to hear and be heard. Through blogging I’ve come across quite a few terrific people both near and far. It’s probably true that I will never meet these people personally, but that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish “meeting” them online. I do, and I look forward to meeting more and learning from them.
posted by Shirazi @ 8:03 AM,
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Nouveau Riche University
Monday, July 14, 2008
Nouveau Riche University provides an educational environment that teaches adults the way to create wealth using the time-tested, foundational principles adhered to by all higher-education institutions. Instructional System Design (ISD) is commonplace in major universities worldwide. It is renowned as the taxonomy that accelerates learning and maximizes retention. The power of ISD has been proven, time and time again, throughout history.
Explore the Nouveau Riche University neatly laid out site and see what they are offering and how. Have a closer look at their curriculum from Understanding Mortgages to Negotiations for Real Estate and much more and learn how they can help you to take your career to the next level. I wish to take Creative Financing. “This course introduces a variety of practical techniques for financing real estate projects and presents creative, non-conventional financing alternatives. Students receive “behind-the-scenes” industry information that shifts their belief systems and empowers them to make informed, financial decisions.”
See how Nouveau Riche University can help you build your career.
posted by Shirazi @ 12:37 PM,
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Snow(ing)
posted by Shirazi @ 11:48 AM,
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Blog Study- Reasons for blogging or Reading Blogs
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Axinia points out to the The Blogstudy 2007 (available in German only) of the Leipzig University that gives an interesting insight into the bloggers' nature and psychology.
The study of 600 heavy-user in Germany clearly identify 5 blogger types:
- Knowledge-hungry(23,7%) - “fed up with regular media”
- Active consumer(22,8%) - “get references, tipps & tricks”
- Information seeker(18,9) - “get the knowledge behind the news”
- Social networker (17,7) - “staying in touch”
- Self-performer (17,7) - “I have something to say”
Reasons for blogging or reading blogs:
- Blog user are interested in new, fast knowlegde and intersting background information.
- The main motivation for blogger and blog-reader is the same: to learn something new what they can not learn from the other media.
- Every third blogger (66%) calims to “have something to say”, and only 7,5 % of blog-readers claim the same (can it be the reason for weak commenting?)
- Every 5th blogger has a mission “to enlighten” the public or even “to influence the opinion of others.”
- And quite a bit of bloggers (26,6%) - unfortunately - want to kritisize and express their arger.
Upshot: Blogger are extroverts, blog-reader are stronger comsumer. Bloggers love to communicate - 54% exchange their opinons with other bloggers.
That was not very much new but still intersting to get another statistical confirmation of the things we, bloggers, can perceve.
Pretty curious associations with the word “blog” and what the user really think of this phenomenon:
- 99% - trash and only 1% perls
- my blog is my home
- A diary without login
- big hype, will get less with the time
- big potential, underestimated
- self-marketing instrument
- opinion-leader
- worl-saviour
Commenting: the percentage of commenting is devided into two groups:
- only 12,3% of blog-reader confirm commenting
- 28%4 of active blogger-commenters
What kind of blogs get the highest credibility?
- The Study shows that the least credible are the corporate blogs (26,4% do not trust their content).
- Only 12,1% do not trust the content of privat blogs.
- Media- and journalists' blogs are highly credible (from 4 to 7% blog-useres do not trust them).
- But the top-credibility prise goes to the expert-blogs (only 2.1% do not trust them!).
Labels: Blogs
posted by Shirazi @ 1:16 PM,
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Daddy Papersurfer - Old Git
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Daddy Papersurfer
Anyone reading this won’t know me from Adam. I’m the one wearing a small fig leaf. Adam is completely naked.The fig leaf is my avatar - a lovely word, look it up in a dictionary. It’s like the shy actor who, when he dons his costume, can perform in public.
My son started writing a blog and being a complete pain in the arse, I nagged him into letting me do a guest blog. I had heard of blogging but had never read one and I didn’t want to be left out. That was 28th February 2007.
By the 10th of April he had had enough of the cuckoo in his nest and he very kindly set me up with my own blog.
My first appeared on the 16th of April and I’ve posted something everyday since. A blog can be used to vent, relieve and assess [and loads of other things as well, but I’m trying to finish this before lunch!].
The angst ridden teenager who writes in her padlocked pink diary about her latest crush and would actually like her secret lover to find it, read it and be overwhelmed with a reciprocating passion:
The bereaved who cry themselves to sleep every night and need a ‘screaming tree’: The young mum bored out of her mind by the mundane tasks that are essential: All these are out there and loads more; usually protected by an avatar. You can write about anything.
I hadn’t written for 35 years, other than pleading letters to the bank manager, since my thesis for my post-graduate teaching qualification.
I have re-discovered that writing is fun. Help (A little. Lo, TG Ed.)) is needed from the terrible Goddess: If you want to find out a little bit about who she is, you’ll have to read my blog [see WHO’S WHO in the right hand sidebar] My spelling, punctuation and syntax are sinful. As in all things for the past 40 years, the TG gets me out of trouble and makes sure I’m wearing clean underwear and haven’t dribbled down my T-shirt. . (Crumbs, Peabrain, steady on! Lo, TG Ed.) A problem that is getting worse by the way… that and being easily distracted.
What is fascinating is the number of contacts you make all around the world. As any blogger knows, one of the greatest pleasures is receiving comments. From the ones that have obviously been left in a hurry to the ones that make you crack up with laughter.
It is very re-assuring to see how different people are and at the same time to see the common ground that is shared.
The Blogosphere is a huge world that’s worth dipping your toe in.
And now as Daddy Papersurfer would say “Are there any toasted tea cakes left?
There are? Oh that’s a shame, I don’t really like them”.
The Devil’s in the detail and I believe that I’m handing over all my rights to this blog by responding to this invitation. Normally I would have refused but Diogenes is such a good avatar and Quasi Fictional is such a clever name for a blog that I couldn’t resist.
Previous Posts: Liz Strauss, Aliza Sherman Risdahl, Mihaela Lica, Sterling W. Camden, Peg Haustetter, Steli Efti, Vicky Stringer, EXSENO, Axinia, Daniel S, Turo Jantunen, Alina Popescu, Dine Racoma, Chris Garrett, annamanila, Wifely Steps, Rolly, MrsPartyGirl, Ghee, Gitr Kargath, Richard Miles, Robyn McMaster, Elizabeth, Zep Hopper, Ellen Weber, Anita Bruzzese, Auntie Hattie, Bob Glaza, Isabella Mori, Paula Neal Mooney, Albert Pascual, Margot Potter, Ian Smith, Jean Yates, Christina Cedeno, Ayelet Noff (Blonde), Kristine, Kirsten Harrell, Lisa Gates, Evi Christodoulou, Peincess Haiku, Kent Newsome, David Johnson, Danica Radovanovic, Ev Nucci, David Johnson, Danica Radovanovic, Feng Brum, Janette Toral, Silviana Prioteasa, Pallab De, Jeanne Dininni, Laura Spencer, Maria Celina Gallo, Melanie, Damria Senne, Tammy Lenski, Enigma, Lizza, Pisces Iscariot, Maria Palma, Carol, Gayla McCord, Starr, Marc Faletti, Callie, CAPaige aka CapCity, Claire Carroll, Sylvia Hubbard, Allison Dickson, Bill C, Maryanne Moll, Papi Monkey, Lillie Ammann, Chad Perrin, Polliwog, Joseph Bernard, Roberta Ferguson, Julie R. Custodio-Fuertes, Lynda Winsor, Ilker Yoldas and Fracas
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 5:00 PM,
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Untill Google Code Jam 08 Starts
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Badar Khushnood, Google Pakistan Country Representative
Do you enjoy solving tough problems and grappling with technical challenges? Then enter Google Code Jam!
Google Code Jam is a coding competition in which professional and student programmers are asked to solve complex algorithmic challenges in a limited amount of time. The contest is all-inclusive: Google Code Jam lets you program in the coding language and development environment of your choice.
Google Code Jam begins in July and continues in August, when you will compete in online rounds against contestants from around the world. The Top 500 participants will advance to onsite competitions at a local Google office to compete against those in their region (Asia Pacific; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and the Americas). The Top 100 will participate in the final round at the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California on Friday, November 14.
Don't be left out! Make sure to register between June 17 and July 17, 2008 and show your coding creativity in Google Code Jam.
Key Dates:
Jun 17 Registration Begins
Jul 16 24 hr Qualification Round Begins
Jul 17 Registration Deadline
Jul 17 24 hr Qualification Round Ends
Jul 25 Online Round 1: Sub-Rounds Begin
Jul 31 Online Round 1: Sub-Rounds End
Aug 2 Online Round 2
Aug 9 Online Round 3
Sep 22 Onsite Locals - Asia Pacific
Sep 29 Onsite Locals - Americas
Oct 6 Onsite Locals - Europe, Middle East, Africa
Nov 14 Onsite Finals
Prize Overview:
The top 100 finalists will divide over $80,000 in prize money:
1st Place $10,000
2nd Place $5000
3rd Place $2500
4th – 10th Place $1500
11th – 30th Place $1000
31st – 50th Place $750
51st – 75th Place $500
76th – 100th Place $250
Contest Rules @ http://code.google.com/codejam/rules.html
Contest FAQ @ http://code.google.com/codejam/faq.html
Past Results @ http://code.google.com/codejam/results.html
Contest Registration @ http://code.google.com/codejam/contest/registration
Labels: Google
posted by Shirazi @ 3:01 PM,
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Fine Art of Blogging
Information management professional, editor in chief, writer, artist
As information management professional, and person that beside everyday work is involved into blogging, human-computer interaction, online communities, blogosphere, web activism, writing, art and many more, this is my short blogging story.I started blogging, in its real sense, in 2003, using service blogger.com. It was blog on professional experience, travel notes, lifestyle and personal issues. Later on I moved to another blog service, at wired.com, where I started to use multimedia elements into my post (not only the photos, sounds, but self-made videos, before YouTube facilities).
Most of the content was referred to my work and 'here and there' my personal life, something that strikes me and should be read or seen. I had troubles with wired.com blogging service as entire blog of mine disappeared, or was deleted. However, I tried many times to make a contact with their support but everything was lost. Therefore, I found out for professional blog platform Wordpress.com, and I started in 2006 with using Wordpress. Also, I am the author and creator of science blog of Serbian electronic resources Consortia, as one of my research papers world wide was in relation with electronic publishing. I participate in few other group blogs that cover internet related issues, open source, science, art.
Blogging and blogosphere is interesting for me as great e-form phenomena including human-computer interaction. I am perceiving both as a part of broad online community that Internet brought to us. I also held lectures and write about blogs, science blogs, professional blogs and do the research from practical work. Some of the results, events, information I publish and interact, weather via blog or or wiki pages.
Why am I blogging? It is in my DNK code, as writing on paper: during mid 90's I switched to writing using computer, plain text. Not only because of great freedom of creative expression, but also because of the concept of hyperlinking with other professionals in my own pool and with others in blogosphere, communication, commenting, learning about new things (educational role), exchanging ideas, data, helping each other. It is very surprising how people, colleagues from different areas of work, are into solidarity and expressing themselves not as virtual but real people, humans behind their screens, as they are in nature (I know many bloggers in person before blogging started).
Human factor and interaction is the most important, this is the line where cybernetics ends and where humans 'cyber'- navigate the space called blogosphere.
*Belgrade is the capital and the largest city in Serbia, Europe.
posted by Shirazi @ 11:33 AM,
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Fracas Blogs
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Unlike the opinion of some people online, I don’t believe a blog needs to be defined. For some, blogging is a way to keep track of thoughts and personal growth. For others. it’s a way to catalog favorite quotes, poems, recipes, or any other tidbit of information that used to be collected and retained as intellectual treasure to the person who clipped it out and saved it in an old chocolate box. For others yet, blogs provide the means to share stories as opposite as a life or death struggle with cancer or a passion for gardening. Blogs can help people locate long lost family or friends, or even find a lifemate. Blogs take the place for many, of the newspaper columnist, providing a daily dose of humour and laughter to those who have stepped into this new world of internet communication and foregone the daily newspaper; blogs provide information for the knowledge seeker, on the technical ins and outs of communicating on the web.A blog can be a business, a blog can be a hobby. A blog can be entertaining or a blog can make you cry. A blog can sell you something, or a blog can out a bad business.
A blog, is as unique then, as you or I.
So why do I blog?
I blog because I write, I blog because I enjoy learning. I blog because I see the internet as an opportunity to create for myself, that which only a few years ago, would’ve seemed imposssible. I blog for fun and I blog for finance. While I develop a blog that is unique with my own personality, I am learning and what I learn will eventually become what I do for a living.
I chose WordPress because I honestly believe there is no better platform for a free blog.
There are countless bloggers who’ve been an inspiration to me. Some are financially succesful, some impress by the sheer volume of traffic they receive. Some are little known, but yet… it’s the blogger behind it that has somehow inspired me and just knowing they’re there is what makes me smile. What there is no question about though, is that all have in some way, provided the inspiration to carve for myself, a new path… a path not unlike Dorothy’s yellow brick road.
And what could be more fitting than a yellow brick road, for the woman behind the Red Shoe Diaries?
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 2:34 PM,
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Fine Art of Blogging
The Blog has redefined the Web in many ways. The Web has always been interactive and blogs help interactivity. And then there are new software and blog tools, making it easier and attractive for everyone to start a blog.Let us assume that you have a blog on a platform (software) of your choice. You define your goals; your target, audience and the content you will be writing. Your next aim is to pick the right blogging tools that work for you.
In addition to the integration of blogging tools, and free and premium blogging software, new blogging tools and services are being released every day to help blog masters add new features to their blog. This becomes quite overwhelming to choose from and to choose the best from among a number of blog promotion tools and add-ons. It all depends on your goals, your expertise, and the time you are consuming for it. Here are a few common solutions for different situations:
Any serious blogger needs to read a lot of other blogs to know what is going on in the ever expanding blogsphere. Technorati alone in its October 2006 report claims to track 57 million blogs. One of the marvels of technology is that you can have new post from every blog. It is delivered directly to you via “Really Simple Syndication”(RSS). Bloglines is a good online choice to start feed reading. And there are so many others.
Similarly, you can make it easier for your readers to subscribe to your blog's RSS feed. “RSS is a protocol, an application of XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) that provides an open method of syndicating and aggregating Web content. By using RSS files, you can create a data feed that supplies headlines, links, and article summaries from your Website. Users can have a constant updated content from websites delivered to them via a news aggregator, a piece of software specifically tailored to receive these types of feeds”, reads a Web definition. One of the ways to do this is to go to Feed Burner and burn your own RSS feed there and use the tools they provide to set up to automatic subscriber links so that even people who want to use Bloglines, Google Reader, My Yahoo or Pluck can subscribe to it. And it also can be figured out without the buttons but why not have a prominently visible button? It creates an option for people to subscribe by giving an email address so that they can receive your blog posts like an email message. Feed Burner offers this service for free.
Feed Burner also offers automatic pinging but in case you want to use a separate service for pinging, try Ping Goat and Ping O Matic. Most blog software these days ping each post automatically.
As readers search from blog to blog, they may find interesting sites that they want to point out to their readers. Online bookmark managers allow readers to collect bookmark and categorise blog pages and all other interesting stuff found on the Web. I use del.icio.us but Blink List does a fine job as well.
Then there are statistics produced by analysing the access logs for a blog which are very useful for the success of blogs, while boosting the webmaster. The number of hits also determines a click-through rate for those who have subscribed to Google AdSense or other similar affiliate programs. There are countless technologies, making it possible to track statistics in real-time to show what other web users may be visiting or still linking to you or posting about your blog.
In almost all blog software, you must go online and can post using a set of tools provided. Many bloggers like to use a desktop application like “w.blogger”, “Performancing and Qumana” to create and publish their posts as it gives them some extra help and allows them to integrate content and files more easily on their computer. Maybe it looks like they are far more tech-savvy folks but there is no harm in trying and learning in the process.
There is also a blogger’s display, automatically changing daily quotes or cartoons on the sidebar of their blog for their own interest or for their readers. I am not counting different revenue-generating blog affiliates (Google AdSense, Amazon) that turn in content-related ads on any blog.
The choice is endless and users can have anything on their blogs from blogchat to blogmap; time, temperature and weather display of any area or a nifty new blogbar (blogbar.com) that allows them to search from 12 search engines from single search box. On one blog, I clicked on an array of symmetrically stacked colourful buttons and found “email icon generator”, “official seal generator”. The good thing about the blogger community is that they share anything new that is announced. Thus, it gets moving fast in the blogsphere.
Since 2003 when I started blogging, I have been using many blog tools. The fact is that whenever any new blog tool was announced, I would try it. But over time, I have settled for site metre (statcounter.com), analytical tools (Google Analytics), news aggregators, news sourcing tools (Technorati and Blogpulse), polls (blogpolls.com), email subscription and newsletter service (feedblitz.com). And there are some others like Pingoat, Audiobloger, Blogrolling and Flickr.
When my daily blogging time starts, I first go to my invisible site metre to find out who has been reading my blogs. Then I read my feeds and know what has been happening on blogs of my interest since I last went offline, bookmarking items. In the meantime, I plan to write and post entries and start pinging. In the end, I read the feedback and find some burning replies but it doesn’t make any difference to me. In fact, it keeps me going.
Tags: Blogs, Blogging, Blog Tools
posted by Shirazi @ 8:43 AM,
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Criteria for inviting bloggers to join Fine Art of Blogging
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Where as I take open contributions as well, criteria to invite bloggers to write Fine Art of Blogging posts are simple. I email invitations to those who I think can contribute meaningfully and add to the bloggy knowledge; writers, experts in any chosen field, bloggers with good rank and authority (as Technorati says it). Those who have new things to say, others (and I) can learn from.
Alina Popescu, best wishes for your license paper and other academic pursuits.
PS: Suggest bloggers you want to be included in this project here.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 8:30 AM,
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How to Sell and What
Thursday, July 3, 2008
In advertising, ‘women being used like a piece of meat’ is an old debate. Some say they sell values, images, and concepts of success and worth, love and sexuality, popularity and normalcy. Some others say they sell addictions, particularly to adolescents who are new and inexperienced consumers and are the prime targets of many advertisements. They are in the process of learning their values and roles and developing their self-concepts. Most teenagers are sensitive to peer pressure and find it difficult to resist or even question the messages perpetuated and reinforced by women.Now, a new change is coming in. Feminist Naomi Wolf says that the beauty myth isn't good for men or women. "It prevents (men) from actually seeing women... in suggesting a vision in place of a woman, it has a numbing effect, reducing all sense but the visual..."
That's a fairly poignant statement regarding the numbification of society because marketing images portray impossible-to-achieve beauty and the representation of women as playthings.
The fact of the matter is that sex sells, and as long as society continues to buy into this concept how will we be able to stop it? Any suggestion?Tags: Women, Advertising
posted by Shirazi @ 12:22 PM,
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Can You Live Without the Internet?
The Internet is a shorter route to many things: obtaining information, conducting business, making decisions, socializing or spending leisure time. Researchers are trying to find out Internet's impacts on life on and offline. Celebration of the Internet Free Day or the 20-year net veteran Steve Cisler's expedition to put himself "in other people shoes who are not online" are some cases in point.
For generation that is growing up with the Internet, the essence of existence lies in their presence online and being disconnected in their totally connected circle means like living in a digital dark age. This fraternity thinks that every one in the world is online. They forget an overwhelming majority of humanity which is without the Internet. Convinced that there is nothing that cannot be done online, this generation looks up to the Internet world for help and support for every thing from writing term papers to writing emails 'to the future' or doing what many will not try in real life -- even shy adolescents are active and bold in the virtual world when engaged in Internet communications as a passionate past time. I browsed MSN Member Directory with my search preference (Pakistan, single and looking, age 20-29) and found 20 pages of results showing Pakistani males and 20 pages of Pakistani females. Well, in today's world, the Internet does net people in a well knit circle together!
Always looking to own new gizmos, experience new technologies and find ways to do novel things online, it is the youth who are future computer scientists, engineers, programmers, developers and end users (also the Web queens and the Net princes). Youth are worst affected by no access to the Internet or outages. How do you perceive life without the Internet? "Without the Internet my life is unimaginable. It gives me feelings of being a dweller of the Stone Age if all of a sudden I were to quit use of the Internet. But like radio, television, or telephone, or cars and microwave ovens, the Internet is not going to go away. So I think of making best of it rather than thinking about living without it," says Sara Kazmi, editor Ravi, a magazine of Government College University Lahore. Jaffar, a Syrian student of de'Montmorency College of Dentistry Lahore says, "A lot of thrill and interactivity is attached with the world online so it really is painful to perceive life without the Internet."
The other categories hit by no access or disconnections are of IT professionals and those end users who are supplementing their earnings by pursuing income generating activities online. Zahid Shahzad, a techie says, "When I am disconnected, I attend to those assignments that otherwise keep piling up in the in-tray waiting for my attention. And, I keep jotting down things and thoughts, what I would do when online." Hafiz Munir is an urbanite computer engineer with his roots in the village where his mother, brothers and sisters live without telephone or possibility of the Internet access. He says, "I have always been going to my village to refresh my urban attitudes but going has become greatly difficult since I have put my work and life on the Internet. And it is no only me. No IT professional can afford to live without continuous connectivity. One of the reasons is that others assume IT people as 'on call' every time."
Users who have been online all their life have started taking it for granted. Any interruption, short or long, is frustrating. What do you do when you have to live offline for reasons beyond control? "Me and every one in my circle (presence on the Internet seems to be defining social circles) groans and grumbles when ever there is a disruption in connectivity; and there are so many," says Sara. Enthusiastic users have connections from more than one ISP (and the Internet cards at hand) and still "the first thing I do is to ring one or two ISPs and inquire, then I ask my friends before I decide what to do. One has to run around if there is a hardware or software problem that needs a repair or reinstallation. In our country you can do nothing in case of electric failures, telephone line disruptions or ISP 'maintenance' problem. Even respective departmental inquiry stations and help lines will not tell you what is happening," laments Arshad Mahmud. And Hafiz says, "After ascertaining the cause, I look for alternatives to remain online till things are back to normal at my own work station."
Acquiring necessary skills and hooking on the Internet at later stages in life was a major shift for those who were in the middle of their life when Internet necessitated changes in job specifications and descriptions as well as in societal norms. It is comparatively easier for this class to strike balance in on and offline life.
For Maryum Yunus, switching from the position of a sub editor in a print publication was a major shift -- especially in terms of Internet access and experience online. "The usage of the Internet mainly depends on what sort of work one is doing. I have Internet exclusively available to me at work as well as home. For my newspaper job, use of the Net was essential for me. I would logon and remain online more though I never was a freak. My present job as the Assistant Manager Image Marketing does not require active use of the Net. I only need to go online every now and then for a short duration to download my emails, fire off replies, weed out spam to keep the inbox under limits, exchange Hello Hi with friends if I can could catch someone online or to surf any specific site and look for particular information. Life never stops for me if I am disconnected or do not go online for days. After all people had been living, working and communicating even before IBM launched the personal computer. No?"
Life offline is rather harder for those who are yet striving to go online; those who are aware of the Internet and what people are accomplishing online. In our infrastructure poor country, majority of people are not online, for a variety of reasons. "I always dream about life online and what all I will be able to do when I join college in the city," told Mumtaz, a metric student from village Mong who is using computer since last one year and is to go to the city for college education where he will be able get connected. "People are migrating to cities for providing opportunities to their wards in the online world," says Hafiz.
There is an equilibrium point between the virtual and real life though it is getting difficult to point out where that point is. Life online is difficult but life can be much more enriching for those who are online, can take control of the Internet and are not mesmerized by its rhythm.
posted by Shirazi @ 11:21 AM,
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One of the earlier recorded monument goers was Herodotus, the Greek historian who voyaged to Egypt 2400 years ago to stand in awe before the pyramids. One of the valid causes around the world these days is raising awareness about historic monuments and national sites in need of repair. Awareness can make the difference.
As a traveler, I have been all over the country paying tribute to Pakistan’s wealth of ancient sites. Starting from Karachi where 600 buildings have been listed by a heritage foundation to Multan and Lahore with their own distinct architectural style to Peshawar where legendary character of Qissa Khwani bazaar is changing and its old landmarks like city walls are disappearing. I also touched Thatta, Ptttan Munara, Uch Sharif, Sialkot, Nandna (in Salt Range) and Mansehra in the way. In my pursuit, I have traced the routes followed by conqueror Alexander the great and Chinese traveler Hieun Tsiang in the part of the world we call home. I have seen many extraordinary sights feeling comfortable and at peace and completely in the grip of history as I stood before each of them.Pakistan Federal Archeology Department identifies over 350 sites of irreplaceable and intrinsic value ranging from ruins in Mohenju Daro, Harappa and Texila to the tomb of the only Mughal Emperor (Jehangir) in Pakistan that has been rated third in the Subcontinent after Taj Mahal and Qutab Minar. The heritage sites in Pakistan are fast falling apart. Pilfering pollution, harsh climate, over development, lack of funds and expertise for maintenance, neglect and apathy of all concerned and law and order situation in the country all add up to crumbling monuments and disappointing travelers.
Celebrating Visit Pakistan year (2007), we are poised to lose forever countless bits and pieces of amazingly divers land’s history, it seems. One problem facing the heritage custodians and town planners in Pakistan is what to do with the splendid legacy of the past?
History and archeology make for good tourism that is largely a function of prosperity. The more money people have the more of it they will spend on travel and other intellectual pursuits. Today, worldwide tourism is an unprecedented 4.4 trillion dollar industry expected to be 10 trillions by 2010. Now once every beach, airport and other conventional tourist spots feel crowded like a cinema hall, people are constantly looking for quite unique and brand new destinations where they can see things and experience cultures that are not possible at home. Last year 90 million people came to Asia alone. But the irony is that outside world does not know about Pakistan or has a distorted image of it hence tourists cannot plan to visit. The tourism department foreign missions abroad, national airline. hotels and even the private sector and multinational giants of tourism could do a lot more than what they are doing to promote this industry. After all Pakistan has much more to offer than many other countries combined together.
This is the paradox and the joy of Pakistan a young national forged in the crucible of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Some of the initial human history began here. The cultures are expressed in beautiful mosques, gardens tombs, forts, temples, monasteries, palaces, havelis, and other Islamic, pre Islamic, Hindu Sikh and British architectures. All these are the magnificent vistas of a land of mountains and plans, fields and orchards, farmland and sweeping river valleys. But all this has to be opened to the rest of the world.
No ordinary coldness of phrasing can express the surprise and delight with which one makes acquaintance with the heritage sites spread all over Pakistan.
Their perspective gives you a wonderful sense of being. That is what I do when I am tired of being tied with the desk. In fact that is my recommendation: be there. More so during Visit Pakistan Year - 2007.
posted by Shirazi @ 5:29 PM,
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posted by Shirazi @ 12:39 AM,
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What is a blog to you?
Internet is a lonely place without Blogging; a fine art, science, also economics. Blogs are different to different people. Fine Art of Blogging asks you to share your views on what is a blog to you?
Please contribute your thoughts on blogging in general. In particular, write how you blog? Why? How blogging matters in life and work? Success stories and inspirations. Answer these questions and more (add what you feel is important dimension for you) and email me.
Fine Art Claimer
My blogs are a resource for my writings. More often, I blog informally, sharing impressions, generating ideas to see how they invoke reactions, keeping track of others’ work in the fields of my interest, or simply ranting or pointing out things that come to my attention.
Also, I use blogging as a platform to prune ideas. This is where I meet others and share experiences. “I am neither geek, nor nerd, I am not a hacker, a phreaker, a programmer or any variety of technoid dweeb.”
