Mobile Media Strategies by Irwin Oostindie and April Smith at Fresh Media event at W2 Perel Gallery

W2 Community Media Arts  is hosting Fresh Media festival http://www.freshmedia.me ,  happening right  now at W2 Perel Gallery 112 West Hastings by Abbott in Vancouver

 

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Irwin Oostindie and April Smith spoke on Mobile Media Strategies -  and gave a live demonstration on Qik software livestreaming using WIFI on a Nokia N95 cellphone

Below is a photo of Irwin Oostindie speaking on different applications with mobile media. Jon Ornoy and Riel of Animal Mother Films together with Peter Davies of AHA MEDIA listen

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Below is a photo of April Smith after being livestreamed to play onto Qik’s website on a Mac Book Pro from an Nokia N95

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Below is a photo of April Smith discussing Livestream Video links being embeded into websites with Yuliya Talmazan

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Below is a photo of Anne Marie Slater – Artist/Photographer and Curator of a Children’s Photo/Video Walk exhibit using Cellphone Cameras,

April Smith of W2,

and Gillian Shaw – Digital Life Journalist for the Vancouver Sun Newspaper

Public relations

Schuldig! Ik gebruik sociale netwerken om mezelf te promoten. M’n facebookvrienden zijn het slachtoffer van een grootscheeps PR-offensief. Mijn excuses, maar mijn handen zijn gebonden. Wie het als journalist wil maken, moet de cahones hebben om zichzelf en zijn schrijfsels voor het voetlicht te brengen. Om de haverklap link ik artikels (van eigen hand), of update ik mijn status met -alweer- een ‘adembenemende’ carrièreontwikkeling. Hetzelfde geldt voor deze blog. U bent sluikreclame aan het lezen. Via anekdotiek betrek ik U in mijn ‘professionele’ escapades. Het gewenste(!) gevolg is een opgewekte interesse in mijn journalistiek werk.

Er is echter een probleem. U gaat deze schaamteloze vorm van zelfpropaganda niet blijven tolereren. Gelukkig heb ik reeds een oplossing bedacht. Ik laat me promoten door derden! In het onderstaande geluidsfragment hoor je een shout-out van enkele internationale- en nationale artiesten. Heerlijk! Helaas duikt er alweer een probleem op. Deze nog explicietere vorm van reclame zal U nog minder lusten dan m’n ietwat verdoken PR-offensief. Daarom ben ik blij aan te kondigen dat er een addertje onder het gras zit. In een reeks blogberichten die de naam “Parels voor Zwijnen” zal krijgen, publiceer ik onuitgegeven en onbewerkte interviews met alle artiesten die voorkomen in de shout-out.

Veel luisterprobleem!

Why I choose to follow-up

Job Pursuer's Planner

I believe that if I want the job, that I may have to make a follow-up phone call. Even if the posting states that only those selected for interviews will be contacted – I choose to ignore that going nowhere, fast one-liner.

When I send off my resume into cyberspace, I expect it to reach the destination email, and then I cross my fingers that it gets put into the right pile. Am I sitting back with my feet up, waiting for the invitation to come on down because I’m the next person they’re so eager to hire on the spot? Because I’m absolutely certain I’m so right for the position that my blue pant suit will be out of my closet in a flash? My goodness, no! I could be waiting until all the icebergs melt because of climate change. (Please note: the icebergs are melting because of climate change, but that’s another story, for perhaps another blog).

Today, I made a handful of follow-up phone calls. I have an email account with a calendar feature and I schedule when I’m supposed to make a call to a company. Some I left voice mail messages for and two people I had a chance to speak with. The staff members I left a voice mail message with I’ll call them a second time one week later. The two prospective employers that I’m talking to I play it by ear when I will call them back next, usually once a week – but I always have something to say to move the discussion along, otherwise, why bother?

I have a rule that I like to use. Only make two unsolicited, cold calls to the company I’m interested in working for. After that, I move onto the next pursuit. I continue to search. I also need to chase down a new pair of interview shoes.

However, if I’ve touched base and I’m discussing potentially being interviewed, then I choose to follow-up once a week.

And I have to remind myself that when I’m not working in this recession and while I’m on the job hunt, although it’s full time sweat looking for my vocation, the employer that I want to work for is unlikely to have me at the top of their to-do list every day. So patience is important.

I’m calmly waiting to hear from a friendly HR professional in the educational field. We’ve spoken twice. The first time it seemed that I was encouraged to apply for an administrative position and so I took the hint and I did. I then used my internet skills and found a contact in the department that I am hoping to work in and left a little voice mail message there. That message was then passed back to my newly acquired HR contact and I received a second call with a comprehensive explanation of what the next steps are before the interviews begin. The kicker is that I was told that I will hear back from HR when there is more information. Now there’s my low-heeled pump in the door! I’ll wait just over a week and then speed-dial my way to say that I’m still interested and to move the discussion along I’ll ask if they are closer to being ready for interviewing.

Now this is why I love the follow-up phone call. Sometimes I get voice mail, and sometimes I make an accessible contact in HR.

John Nichols Interview 9/29/09

Hi everyone,

This evening the fellow who runs the Directions Journal had a conference call interview with John Nichols. I found it very interesting and took a few notes that I hope you might also find interesting.

The whole discussion was based around this question: What are the main challenges to Alexander teachers today? Nichols responded with three main points:

1) Very few teachers have enough work to make a living teaching the Alexander Technique. Some very experienced teachers have enough work and say word-of-mouth is the best way to get students, but Nichols pointed out that word-of-mouth requires a certain critical mass.

2) Unlike other psycho-somatic-healing-mindfulness-type practices, such as some Eastern traditions like yoga and t’ai chi, the Alexander work is relatively new and so doesn’t have the cultural and philosophical background that comes from thousands of years of practice. Because of this, some people find placing the work in context of their own lives challenging. In addition, practices like yoga and t’ai chi have something you can actually do – people like having exercises, forms, and routines, whereas the Alexander has none.

3) Talking about the Alexander Technique is not easy, not only because it is so subtle, but also because the lexicon seems stiff and outdated. He related an anecdote about a presentation he gave to an audience about the Alexander Technique during which he used as little of the traditional wording as he could. Afterwords, an experienced teaching exclaimed that he hadn’t talked about “primary control” – one of the terms Nichols thinks sounds so outdated and opaque. His point was simply that if we are to reach out to people, we must change the way we talk about the work. Another example of this is that he said teachers must willing to use words that are more familiar to laypeople, such as “posture.”

Here are a few more points he made:

- Nichols also said that we musn’t be afraid to say that the work feels good!
- He mentioned some of the history of the work and its relation to other psycho-somatic-healing-mindfulness-type practices. He mentioned Alice Bailey, an author who spawned the “psycho-synthesis” movement – work that he said has some common ground with the Alexander work. He also cited Tristam Roberts, among others, a scientist who currently studies human movement, balance, and the mind-body connection. Nichols cited David Bohm’s book “Wholeness and the Implicate Order,” a book I’ve read and would highly recommend – fascinating stuff, though a lot of the math went right over my head.
- He talked about how people like group activities and communities. For example, some people who practice t’ai chi go to group classes regularly and feel they are a part of a larger t’ai chi community. He spoke of his efforts to start residential programs and group classes. Group introductory classes are also a good way to go
- Nichols spoke of our target market: people with musculoskeletal issues (back pain, etc.); the medical field including the offices of doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and so on; professional performing artists, in school or out; growth-in-consciousness people; and baby-boomers looking to stay in goos health through a long retirement.
- He also mentioned the need for good, clear materials to give laypeople, such as handouts with great graphics, or videos such as those found on Roy Palmer’s website (http://www.artofperformance.co.uk/AOP_Method.htm).
- In the midst of all this creative marketing and presentations, Nichols reminds us not to lose our connection with the power of hands-on work. This is a very powerful part of the work, he said, and if we are to get students, they must want to have more hands-on work.
- Lastly, he fielded a question from another listener about when a student can be self-sufficient. In sum, Nichols stated that yes, there can be a point where a student can do the work on his or her own, but it mostly depends on how far the student wants to go. He equated it with singing lessons – does the student want to sing in the shower or at karaoke night without embarassment? Or does the student want to be a professional opera singer?

I hope you found this interesting. If you want to hear the interview, I believe you can go to the Directions Journal website and download it.

Joseph

Citing Election Troubles, Kerry Opposes Troop Increase in Afghanistan

With Afghanistan’s “election crisis deepening, Sen. John Kerry says it would be irresponsible for the U.S. to consider sending additional troops to the region at this time,” the AP reports.

In taped remarks, Kerry said it would be misguided to have a troop buildup to achieve a mission of “good governance” when the election is not yet finished.

Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was in Kabul on Saturday.

His visit came as Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai, resisted international pressure to accept fraud rulings that could force him into a runoff with his main challenger, Abdullah Abdullah. Due to harsh weather, a runoff may not happen until next spring.

Kerry spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union,” which airs Sunday.

Post-Abortion Memory

   Our team arrived home today after a week of teaching about the sanctity of human life in Uganda. We had a wonderful time with Veronica Nakyewe, the director of The Comforter’s Center, and her staff. One of the services offered at The Comforter’s Center in Kampala is post-abortion counseling. Many women who have had abortions come to the center seeking help to deal with feelings of guilt and remorse. Veronica and her staff compassionately work with these women, helping them to accept God’s forgiveness, to heal, and to embrace new hope for the future.

   All of our team members did a wonderful job of teaching about the sanctity of human life and related topics over the past week. Leslie Joyce, one of our team members, taught about forgiveness. Although Leslie has never had an abortion, she knows the particular pain of having a post-abortion memory – one that has repeatedly surfaced over the years. This is her story.

Omar | Leslie, you have never had an abortion yet know the sting of a post-abortion memory. Explain your first experience with an unplanned pregnancy, which is at the root of your particular post-abortion memory.

Leslie | When I was sixteen years-old, my best friend was sexually active and became pregnant. Her boyfriend of two years abandoned her and wanted nothing to do with the baby. She was devastated and did not know what to do.

Omar | Did your friend tell her parents about her pregnancy?

Leslie | No. She was convinced that if her parents found out they would force her to leave home. So, she felt she had no other option but to seek an abortion.

Omar | What did she do or where did she turn for help?

Leslie | Since we had been friends since we were very young, she confided in me and asked me to help her. And, once she told me about her situation, I wanted to help her to get an abortion.

Omar | What steps did you take to find out about where she could get an abortion and what that abortion would cost?

Leslie | We looked in the phone book to find information about abortion providers and scheduled an appointment. The clinic we visited did not require my friend to get her parents’ consent. The nurse at the clinic talked to her about the procedure and the cost of the abortion but nothing else. If I remember correctly, the cost of the abortion was about $375.00. 

Omar | Did your friend have the money to get an abortion?

Leslie | My friend did not have the money. So, we each sold personal belongings in order to raise the money for her to get an abortion. Once we had raised enough money, I personally drove her to the abortion clinic. At the time, neither of us ever stopped to consider the life of the baby in her womb. I really don’t think I realized that she was carrying a living baby created by God and that God had a plan or purpose for the child in her womb. We ended a life that day. I supported my friend in her decision and did not try to stop her.

Omar | What was it like on the day of the abortion?

Leslie | On the day of the abortion, I drove my friend to the clinic. She was one of seven young girls having abortions on that day. The nurse gave each of them a Valium and a magazine to read. Then, each girl was escorted to the room where the ten to fifteen-minute procedure took place. We had to stay an additional half-hour and then drove to my house where my friend told me about the procedure. We cried together. At the time, we rationalized the decision because we did not understand much about how a baby develops in the womb or what that little baby must have looked like.

Omar | How has that experience impacted your life?

Leslie | Looking back on the experience, I feel nothing but shame and guilt. Maybe I could have changed my friend’s mind. Maybe it could have ended differently. Later in life, when I was pregnant with my own babies, I would often think about the horrible choice we made and the baby that was never given a chance to live. It wasn’t until I was preparing to be a part of this team to Uganda that I truly accepted that if I asked God for forgiveness, He would forgive me for the role I had played in helping my friend to end the life of her baby. I am so thankful for the assurance of forgiveness that is found in 1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Omar | What advice would you give to others who have had an abortion or who, like you, have supported someone who has?

Leslie | I would tell them that there is no sin that God cannot forgive. The Bible is clear that God will forgive sin. He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, to pay the penalty for our sin, including my sin of helping my friend to get an abortion. I would also tell others that God does not want for us to go through life punishing ourselves for our bad decisions or to be crippled by guilt. He wants for us to learn from our sins, turn from them, and seek the forgiveness He graciously offers us. No matter what we have done, there is no sin that falls beyond the scope of His grace and forgiveness.

Omar | I’m glad that Leslie shared her story with the various groups we spoke to in Uganda. So many who heard her story shed tears and nodded in affirmation as they listened. After each session many people approached Leslie to thank her for sharing her personal story and to talk about their own post-abortion stories. I’m thankful that she reminded those in attendance that our God is compassionate and gracious and offers us healing for the past and hope for the future.

Float like a butterfly...sting like a bee!

 

 

On a late Friday afternoon, on October 9, 2009, I sat down with  BC’s Champion Boxer, and friend, Pouyan Abedini, to catch up with him about his number one passion in life – boxing. Pouyan Abedini is 23 years old and is a part of Champlaign Heights Boxing Club in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

How old were you when you first started boxing?

11

How were you introduced to boxing?

             When I was 11 years old my best friend at the time told me about this boxing club
             and I went to check it out with him.

What happened when you were there? Were you instantly drawn to the sport?

            I was a really shy kid, and sat and watched for a while. I watched the whole work
            out and thought it looked cool. The coach came over and asked me if I wanted to
            punch the bag at all. I started punching and got out so much aggression, and have
            loved it since then.

Why do you think you were so drawn to it?

            As a kid I always had a lot of pent up aggression; I loved the ninja turtles and
             kicking and things like that. I had done tae kwon do for a little bit when I was
             even younger and had enjoyed that. Boxing was a good way for me to get out a lot
            of my aggression and was a good outlet.

How old were you when you had your first fight?

            I was 11.

How did you feel the first time you fought?

            Before the fight I was really nervous. I was just a kid back then. Incredibly
            nervous. I was a shy kid on top of it all, so that didn’t help.

How did you feel during the fight?

            Oh, during the fight, I loved it. It was such a crazy adrenaline rush. It felt like it
             went by so fast though.

What was the outcome of that first fight? Did you win or lose?

            I lost.

How did that make you feel?

            I was so disappointed. I mean, I was happy that I had actually done it, and gone            

            through with it, but so disappointed that I had lost. I was pretty pissed off actually.

Do you have a tendency to get angry easily, or quickly?

            Definitely (with a smirk on his face)

After you lost that first fight, did you feel discouraged at all?

            Yeah, so discouraged. I quit after that, I said I was never going back.

How long was it before you did go back to boxing?

            I was 13 when I went back.

When did you have your first win?

            When I was 13, when I went back. I trained really hard. I was so determined to
             win this time. I guess all my hard work paid off because I did win, and have been
             winning since then baby!

How did you feel after you won your first fight?

            Amazing, so amazing. I felt like I had really accomplished something.

What made you go back after that first time you lost?

            I was just really determined to win. I was ambitious. I loved the adrenaline rush
             that came along with it. I just wanted to succeed.

Why do you box?

            The adrenaline, the crowd…I love being in the ring and knowing all my family
             and friends are out there, watching me, cheering me on. And the girls, girls love
             an athlete, especially a boxer, haha just kidding. Not really.

Do you think boxing kept you out of trouble as a kid?

            Definitely. I would have gotten into so much trouble if it wasn’t for boxing.
             Boxing taught me about self discipline, and responsibility. It made me ambitious
             and determined. It helped me set goals. It helped me get over my shyness. I love
             boxing, if it wasn’t for boxing, I would have no direction in my life.

What did you mum think about you boxing? Did you family encourage it?

            Oh my mum totally hated it! After the first fight, she never wanted me going back
             to it. That was part of the reason I took that short break. I was still a kid and had
             to listen to her. When I did go back, at 13, and she saw my dedication, she
             became more accepting of it. She understood more where I was coming from. The
             better I got, the more supportive she got. In the end, obviously it proved to be a

             good thing, and even she agrees with that.

Tell me about your coach. Have you had the same coach since you first started out?

            Yeah, same guy. Same guy that invited me to punch the bag when I was 11.

What does he mean to you? Is he just a coach, or…?

            Oh he means way more to me than just a coach. I mean, this guy literally watched
             me grow up. He’s known me since I was 11 years old. He’s so much more than a
             coach. He’s my mentor. If it wasn’t for him and his encouragement, I wouldn’t be
             half as good as I am today. He’s the kind of guy I would want to know even if I
             wasn’t boxing. He knows me so well, and knows how to keep me on track. It
             means a lot that he cares enough to keep me on track too. We’ve really bonded
             over the years. But I mean, I guess you would, he accompanies me on my boxing
             trips and stuff, and we stay in the same hotel room, so we’ve really gotten to
             know each other over the last 11 years.

Where are you now in terms of boxing?

             I’m still training. Still loving it. The only thing is though, Canada doesn’t fund
             sports for me to pursue boxing as anything but a hobby. Canada doesn’t support
             or fund its Olympic sports, professional sports, amateur, nothing. While I’m in
             Canada, all I can do is enjoy boxing as a hobby. But I mean, maybe one day I’ll
             open up my own boxing club for kids or something. Who knows.