aruh?

a question of publishing

cross posted on Shmedium:

I was recently published in two places - well actually three places, and my reaction was strange enough to warrant a post. It's all VERY meta. (which is another conversation entirely)

OK. I wrote a comment on a NOW Magazine Blog post in their section called Web Jam. It was regarding Google Wave and my thoughts on Digital Immigrants who are being left behind. (No Digital Immigrant Left Behind!) Fair enough. I looked in the side bar and my comment was published. Done.

Two, three days later, my housemate says - Did you write a letter to NOW because it got published! I'm sure it's you! and he brings in the paper version of NOW in which my comment has been pulled out and highlighted in a little blue box. It's in the letters to the editor page, in a section for online comments.

I felt a strange thrill! Published!

But wait a minute... re-published! published in print! in an alternative rag... commenting on digital media...

hmmm...

Part 2.

I went to the Urban Dictionary to look up the definition of Transmedia. Nothing. No entry. But an invitation to create one that would be looked at by the editors and possibly published.

So feeling very strange, I created my dictionary definition and submitted. Two days later I received word that it had been published. How did the other Big Wigs in Tech not do this already? Aren't I freakin' cool? How many loser post definitions to the Urban Dictionary? Who moderates and decides? How do they even know what Transmedia is and why I should have a definition of it? And so on...

Needless to say I was chuffed. Published. Online. In a dictionary. Defining my field. How cool that I got to define my field! Not a huge deal to some, but I was still pleased. It reminded me of my time in the world of Academia where Professors would snub Journalists because their writing was not considered Real writing. Newspapers in particular - snort! Call yourself someone who knows something! But in my world now, Academic writing has it's place, and if you have time to read it then you are either a big geek or are avoiding doing something. haha.

In actual fact, I will be working on a piece for an academic project based on Arts and Social Justice Education. VERY geeky! very exciting! It was initially supposed to be a book but now they are considering a "project" because there was such interest generated from the CFP (call for papers, in case you aren't a professor [you low brow you]) .

Americans More Familiar with Latinos, Poll Says

Wow.

Here's the opening line that came through on my aggregator this morning:

Latinos were once unfamiliar to more than half of all Americans, but a new poll indicates that two-thirds of those surveyed now say they have at least some contact with Latinos where they live, work or shop

This was conducted by telephone. And although 6 of 10 Latinos were born in the States, ""But nearly half of people we questioned said they assume that Latinos who they have never met areimmigrants, and one in five believe they are illegal immigrants," added Holland"

I want to know what neighbourhoods they phoned. Did they speak to any of "them"? Those. They. (whisper behind hand: latinos) From the way this article is written, I imagine a bunch of white doods in white lab coats standing behind 1950's style switchboard operators (Girls) and then split screen with Ward Cleaver on the other line of the phone, pipe in the corner of his mouth, June peeking around the kitchen door to call him to dinner.

Ward: Latinos?! Sure sure, I hired one last year. She's from the Philistines I think...

Art in Elora, ON

Dinner was divine but for the sad fact that I didn't get enough second helpings! (or thirds) I already ate my leftovers and am thinking that perhaps next year I should host the family meal... How scary is that?

After dinner I walked with our friends to downtown Elora to see an exhibit by local artist Tim Murton called the Twilight Zoo. I had the opportunity to chat for awhile with him as he strung up spider webs in the entrance to the zoo. His work is wild and far ranging in terms of materials he uses. What an interesting and talented person!

I highly advice taking the drive to Elora to see this! The added bonus is the Gorge and the river and the fall leaves are all breathtaking. A great day trip.

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