Enter World: exploring mediated cultures

Sunday, March 09, 2008

TrueCrypt ate my VIFs

TrueCrypt is absolute horror.

The idea of encrypting files in a folder seemed practical and like something I should do before embarking on my cross-country drive. I researched some available Mac programs and settled with TrueCrypt. I installed it, set up a space, and copied over every file I deemed really truly special: my Very Important Files. The top of the top. Receipts, business licenses, applications, taxes, scholarship info, student loan info, scans of important documents, everything financial, everything with personal information.

I did not immediately trust the program, instead I shut it down, reopened it, refusing to make a new backup or delete the files from their original locations until I had thoroughly tested it. Over about a week I opened, accessed, read files, moved files, renamed folders, closed, shut down, remounted, accessed, etc. without troubles.

Finally, I trusted the program and removed the original files. Then I didn’t look at the files between February 28 and last night when I decided to whip out my business tax files and start preparing what is needed ... and the whole thing was blank.

No files. No folders. Nothing.

I can open it, the password works, but it says all 400MB allotted is free and there are 0 files, even though on February 28 there were 4 folders with files dating back to 2001 that took up 149MB. I spent most of last night trying to find them. They no longer exist. Even the backup of that file is empty (or corrupted?) now.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Moving to Braddock, PA

Within the first day, we knew we were moving to Braddock.  There are so many energetic people there, taking on challenges and following or discovering dreams. It’s a hard place to be calm in. I’ve already signed myself up for a ton of projects. And what is equally exciting is that I was inspired to work on my concept paper revisions while I was there even though I am officially on leave right now.

We arrived during a happening week in town. We rolled in on Valentine’s Day and were invited to the Elks Club Valentine’s dinner. That night the cook made the first vegan dishes ever served there. (I hear the mayor got them to add veggie dogs to the standing menu also, and they are perhaps the only Elks Club in PA with such an offering.) We ended up applying for membership. It seems like it will be needed if we live there, not just for networking but also for a place to hang out in town.

Friday was a going away and birthday party at the gallery with a film screening. The films were made by a guy who is still in town, starting in 1979 and up into the 1990s I think. Saturday was a black history month celebration at the library and a dinner. Sundays are standing potluck dinners at the co-op, and we also had brunch at the mayor’s. Monday and Tuesday are a blur. One day we managed to make it into Pittsburgh and hit the Carnegie natural history and art museums.

We thought a large portion of our decision would be based on Pittsburgh, but other than knowing it is available Pittsburgh had little to do with everything we fell in love with in Braddock. My favorite part is that it is a place to live where you are free to do the things you want instead of the things you have to do. And the things people are choosing to do so far make all the difference.

Fossil Free Fuel
BraddockActiveArts

Monday, February 11, 2008

Published in APS Student Notebook

My article titled Understanding Media Psychology was published in the January issue of the APS Observer. 

Conference presentation in April

I’ll be presenting some of my research at the New Communications Forum, presented by the Society for New Communications Research, in Sonoma this April: Comparing Independent and Corporate Media Agendas. They asked me to participate in the track titled The Changing Face of Journalism & The New Business of the News Media. Below is my session summary:

Increasingly available participatory media technologies have led to easier production and consumption of independent news. Independent media outlets have been addressed as social movements, potential sources addressing oppression, and presenters of opposing views to corporate media. However, the producers of independent media are the public, and agenda setting research has shown that an increased need for orientation leads information seekers to integrate the media agenda. This session will explore the media agenda of independent media compared to that of corporate media. Based on original research using online news sources, we will discuss the tie between the corporate media agenda, the public agenda, and the independent media agenda. In addition, we will explore the nature and potential of independent media in relation to social change.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

On the perils of moving

It doesn’t seem like I’m in one place long enough to think any more. We still have not found a permanent place to live, and everything we own is boxed up in a storage unit. Last month we were back in Alaska, this month we moved into a new rental house. We have it for three months, during which time we hope to find a less expensive and more permanent residence where we can unpack all of our belongings. I’m also hoping that in this three months I will have the time to set up a working space where I can not only make a mad dash to check emails and keep up with work, but also unpack some books, review my notes, and get on with school. I really should have taken some time off from school this winter since I was unable to get to anything. But right now, I just want to bury myself in media pscyh.

Friday, November 09, 2007

These Days

Still procrastinating with fervor on addressing my dissertation. However, in an as yet inexpressible way I do know that I have come across a way to combine the topic I already wrote a concept paper for with all of the new information I have gathered. So in a way I am calm about it, just waiting for the concept to become clear so I can put it into words.

In the meantime, I submitted an article to the APS newsletter’s Student Notebook column. Now that my Div 46 associate editorship has wrapped up I want to keep getting things out there. It was accepted, and should be printed in January.

I also applied as a grant reviewer for a student competition and received the applications for review today.

And, I’m headed back to Juneau for a month. 

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Google’s move in the social networking puzzle

Google takes a hack at solving the social networking puzzle withOpenSocial

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Consolidating and networking the networks

After much searching, I finally found an application that appears to offer what I want for socializing and managing my social networks. I have reached the point that I have a bookmarks folder just to keep up with the accounts I create. I don’t even remember the purposes of many of them, and I certainly don’t want to log into each account to update bits and pieces everywhere. However there are benefits to the niche networking available in communities devoted to specific subjects—gaining feedback on creations, finding new resources based on shared interests, and connecting with similar people. So what is the solution?

• Not sending updates to email or using email for updating. Clunky.
• Unfortunately not 8hands, because it’s only for Windows and only covers the management end.
• Likewise, not Six Apart’s brilliant social graph, because it only covers the networked networks portion.

What then!? After much searching I actually found a solution through a political article discussing the management issues politicians face in the age of campaigning through online social networks: MyLifeBrand. While I’m not overly excited by the name, I applied for a celebrity account this weekend to test it out. Hopefully this won’t just become another bookmark in the folder, but instead a way to manage, link, and explore the many networks I’ve already lost touch with…

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

taking virtual worlds f2f

There is a definite progression of virtual interactions, which began as plain text and have evolved to multi-sensory experiences, from what appeared (to outsiders) to be an anti-social experience sustained wholly in the ether to technology available for use IRL. We count on each other, through this evolved technology, for directions, advice, entertainment, problem solving, stories, warnings, news, photos, games, recipes, help finding ingredients in the grocery store ...

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Social goes for broke

Online social networking, social marketing, and social media optimization have been targets of organizations and businesses trying to harness the power of the web. And now we can add social pressure.

I grew up hearing that peer pressure was a bad thing, but it looks like the city of Pittsburgh is trying to turn this often lamented form of social influence on attitudes, behaviors, and values around to its positive side.

To bring some money into the city, they have decided to collect on old tickets. And what better way to do that than to shame those who have not paid publicly? check the online database to see if you (or someone you know) has been charged with a summary offense

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In other social networking news, a global survey showed Facebook as the most mentioned company. Can we finally say goodbye to MySpace? Here’s hoping ...