A common problem
(This post was originally published on my work blog)
It is strangely encouraging to see that, about the same time that Pugwash News was suffering its own dramas during issue 9 this year, Imperial College Union’s Felix newspaper was suffering as a result of non-editorial pressure to censor itself.
This isn’t going to be a rant - or any kind of discussion - about the role of independent student media within a parent students’ union institution, but it is interesting to read the following comment:
“We decided not to take the “publish and be damned” approach because it is ridiculous that Editor after Editor, year after year, Felix should keep coming up against the same problems over censorship by the constitution.
“Felix is regularly faced with the question of whether it is allowed by the Union to publish its news stories that are in the public interest. This is what must change.”
Pugwash News, and Pugwash Online (currently at upsu.net/news, but for how long?) will inevitably - if it is doing what it’s designed to do - run into similar problems next year. This year has already seen several occasions where the publications have been specifically instructed not to publish, for a variety of reasons, stories which have been arguably in the public interest.
That’s not to say that every story which was pulled was in the public interest, of course, but this year’s introduction of a newspaper and larger news-orientated media team has led the Union into a lot of previously unchartered territory, and has naturally caused concern among some members as to the role of student media - should it be an unbiased source of incisive observation about the effectiveness of the Union and the University? Or is it ever right to play down the problems and bad news encountered by its parent institution?
While it is important for students’ unions to act in the best interests of their membership, there are cases around the country where student media editors have questioned whether censorship has been thrust upon them appropriately, or whether it has been done to save face or due to an overcautious approach to information dissemination by their union, as is the case with the Felix article I mentioned above; for the sake of Portsmouth’s students and the Union’s media, I hope this never needs to happen again.
Two more days to go for me at Portsmouth, but the learning curve still continues…
Posted by Alex on Tue 29th July 2008
Telling it how it is
The Observer has a very interesting article which interviews ten drug users about their habits, ranging from the occasional cannabis user to a £100-plus-a-day unemployed heroin addict.
Last year, nearly four million Britons used illicit drugs: ten drug users tell their stories | Health and wellbeing | Life and Health - the Observer online
Posted by Alex on Wed 23rd July 2008
Greyhead’s house podcast: a little bit of everything
An hour of eclectic tuneage, from the chilled out sounds of Thievery Corporation and Junior D, via Julien Jabre and Hott 22, right up to Robot Needs Oil, Tom Day, Naughty Queen, Kaskade & Deadmau 5, and a bit of random to finish with.
How to get this mix
Download this mix- … or find out how to subscribe to the podcast and have it automagically delivered to your computer on my podcasts page
Tracks:
- Thievery Corporation ft. David Byrne - the heart’s a lonely hunter
- Kama - incanto d’amor
- DJ Mary - colours night
- Junior D - why
- Shawn Christopher - don’t lose the magic (15 South Mix)
- Julien Jabre - swimming places (Sebastian Ingrosso mix)
- Hott 22 - no promises
- Robot Needs Oil - volta (original)
- Tom Day - whisper (original)
- Naughty Queen - famous and rich (Angello & Ingrosso mix)
- Kaskade, Deadmau 5 - move for me (extended mix)
- Kruder & Dorfmeister/Depeche Mode - useless (Kruder & Dorfmeister mix)
Posted by Alex on Tue 22nd July 2008
Lost your camera? Ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com might have it…
This is very random, and very cool - web 2.0 at its best?
Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures.
Posted by Alex on Tue 22nd July 2008
Two to watch out for: Julien Jabre and Hott 22 (plus a couple of others…)
I’ve just discovered Julien Jabré’s beautiful “Swimming places” track on the MoS chillout CD and it’s definitely another one I heard on the Space terrace in ‘beefa. Luvly. :o) DJ Owen Clarke on Discogs.com has this to say about it:
“Without doubt the most stunning track of the year so far! I was a bit slow picking up on this as it was originally released on French label Elias about 8 months ago. Simple crunching drums coupled with a repetitive heart beating bass line drive this track along nicely, together with a tinkling piano hook that really gets into your head! The instrumentation and arrangement is top notch and betters with every listen. This is reminiscent of those early Frankie Knuckles supreme instrumentals with added spice for 2006… definitely one for the ladies!! The Jerome Sydenham mixes are cool and deep with a slight euro feel…. perfect for watching the sun rise on an Ibizan morning!”
I’ve also got a bit of a thing for happy, handbag, Hed Kandi’d house, so I’m really liking Hott 22’s summery “No promises” at the moment, too, as heard on the Hed Kandi Mix 2008 compilation. You can grab this one from DJdownload.com, too ;o)
Other tracks I’m loving at the moment include:
- Robot Needs Oil - volta [buy]
- Tom Day - whisper [buy]
- Naughty Queen - famous and rich (Angello & Ingrosso mix, of course) [buy]
- … and one recommended to me: Kaskade & Deadmau 5 - move for me
Two new mixes should be coming this week, and - boohoo - I’m selling my decks and Final Scratch. Noooo!! :o(
Posted by Alex on Mon 21st July 2008
Conway’s Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is interesting (if extremely geeky): Conway’s Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Typed using Wordpress 2.6’s new and very cool “press this” button. New toys ;o)
Posted by Alex on Fri 18th July 2008
Hero worship: Andre Jordan of A Beautiful Revolution
Insightful, witty, heartbreaking, funny, cruel, shocking, occasionally bordering on bad taste - A Beautiful Revolution is the work of 40-something Andre Jordan. Most of the content consists of striking pen sketches, telling stories of his day-to-day life (frequently touching on his hopelessness with women - something I can empathise with only too well… ;o).
I’ve been a reader of the site for a year or two now, but never knew any more about the author until now, ‘cos I just stumbled across this interview on the BBC’s Ouch disability website: BBC - Ouch! - Close Up - 13 Questions: Andre Jordan.
He also turns some of his work into artwork for sale, and if I was in the market for some artwork, this would be where I’d spend my money first. If I had any money, of course.
Well worth a look - seriously, go check out the interview, and then his website, now.
BBC - Ouch! - Close Up - 13 Questions: Andre Jordan
Posted by Alex on Fri 18th July 2008
Two weeks left - time’s ticking…
I’ve just realised that I only have two weeks left in office. That’s two weeks to change the world, train Tom (my successor) in changing the world, write a whole raft of training documentation for Tom and whoever else is unfortunate enough to have to tidy up my mess after I’m gone, and God-knows what else.
Fun times ahead indeed… ;o)
Posted by Alex on Thu 17th July 2008
Greyhead’s house podcast: a little bit chunkier
Another day, another hour of chunky electro stuff, featuring Jesse Garcia, Tocadisco, D Ramires & Mark Knight, Pryda, Mar-T, Miles Dyson, Enrico da Rosa, Wolfgang Gartner, Nastydirtysexmusic and the Plump DJs :o)
How to get this mix
- Download this mix
- … or find out how to subscribe to the podcast and have it automagically delivered to your computer on my podcasts page
Tracks:
- Jesse Garcia - Ibiza (original mix)
- Tocadisco - morumbi (Popof remix)
- D Ramirez & Mark Knight - columbian soul EP (columbian soul)
- Pryda - muranyi (original mix)
- Mar-T - gentlemen (John Dahlback remix)
- Miles Dyson - anthem (original mix)
- Enrico da Rosa - mosquitos malditos (Rishi Romero & Nikolai Dimitrov Fuego Remix)
- Wolfgang Gartner - get it (original mix)
- Nastydirtysexmusic - nastydirtysexmusic
- Plump DJs - system addict
Posted by Alex on Sun 13th July 2008
Photography fun at Jongleurs
Yesterday evening was spent at Jongleurs nightclub in Portsmouth’s rather-upmarket* Gunwharf Quays taking some pics.
It’s my first time using the D50 in a nightclub, and - photography geek mode on - I seemed to get better/more consistent results from shutter priority mode than I did using full manual, although I’m going back there tonight to see if I can improve things.
Out of the 400-ish pics, I’ve got 80-or-so which aren’t too bad, and you can find them here on Flickr.com.
Note to self: remember to pack the second bloody battery this time. Numpty… Anyway, here’s Freddie playing us out with some Shoe-Hat…
* That’s a subjective analysis - your experiences of Gunwharf may vary ;o)
Posted by Alex on Sat 12th July 2008